PhotographyBanzai.com

Let's take a look at these unique devices from LLANO Power called the 2-n-1 TurboCell, a combination camera battery charger and USB power bank. I have two of these chargers, one for the Sony NP-FW50 battery and one for the NP-FZ100. They sent me these units to test and make videos based on my collaboration terms. The gist is that they had no say in the content I produce and were not allowed to preview anything before release.  Check out the full video on YouTube for detailed information and testing.  They are available on Amazon through my affiliate links:  LLANO NP-FZ100 TurboCell 2x battery kit LLANO NP-FW50 TurboCell device As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases!  What’s in the Box Both demo units came with a USB-C cable, paper manual, and bag. The FZ100 included two batteries in the kit with their branding.  What was sent to me. Design and Build The TurboCell has a soft-touch exterior, which gives it a decent grip. There’s a battery compar...

As I’m sure most of the people who read this site know, the Nikon D600 was announced recently. The simple fact you need to know is that it is an enthusiast level full-frame camera. Not only that, but the starting price of $2099 in the USA is the lowest a full-frame (FF) camera has been offered for from release (technically, the Sony A850 that bombed was $2000?). This camera is interesting enough to me that I felt compelled to write an opinion article on it. (stock image from nikonusa.com) What can we expect from a low cost full frame? We can expect a change in the entire game. The other companies will most likely follow suit and that should really change the landscape of digital photography. While there are, of course, used full-frame DSLR cameras below that price point, it still doesn’t open the gate like a new product can. I think 2013 will be the year that we see a wider audience have access to FF sized imaging sensor cameras, which I think is a great step. We are moving ba...

The K-01 comes after the K-5 and K-r series of DSLRs. It was also proceeded by Pentax’s first mirrorless camera called the Q, however that camera was a completely new system. The K-01 appears to have a mixture of components from the K-5, and in some simple aspects, the Q camera.  The Pentax K-01 camera. It has an improved imaging engine that shares a few features of the Q such as manual video control with MPEG4 encoding and full time live-view, but primarily takes components and features from the K-5 series such as the 16mp sensor and K-mount. It is certainly a unique concept in the camera world being the first mirrorless to use an existing SLR system mount.  Personal appeal. I bought the K-01 as a replacement for my K-7 camera that was having issues. If you have visited my site before, you probably know by now that I frequently use two cameras at once. Each camera has a prime lens attached and serves a different purpose from the other. This allows me to have a nice rang...

How did you spend your transition into the new year? I spent mine editing photo gear overview videos I recorded earlier in the day! Yeah, I know… exciting, but one of my resolutions is to improve the traffic to this here website. 🙂 What better way than to produce more photography related content, right? KATA 3N1-22 Camera Backpack Sling Bag Overview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfIGO9fwFdg LENSPEN Overview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6uj0FFReOA Promaster Adventure 16 Zoom Pack Holster Camera Bag: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84pNtJYkIoE Swissgear Zinc Messenger Camera Bag Overview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzyE87mVmGE Promaster L300 Series Camera Bag: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaZtdgKpKUg Tamrac 5514 Holster Camera Bag Overview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kNAmDtgRts Tamrac System 2 Model 5602 Camera Bag Overview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkuc87-0sc0 I have one extra video on how I actually make these videos. So if you are wondering, check it out! ht...

Time for another opinion article. This time I’m looking at the viability of mirrorless cameras. In particular, one of the most interesting out there at the moment. This is an opinion article because I haven’t used the camera. I’m basing my words from reviews I’ve seen as well as the general specifications. All camera images are stock photos from Sony’s press department.  The Sony NEX-7 isn’t your normal mirrorless camera. It has a professional look to it, reminiscent of the Pentax K-7/K-5 series of cameras I currently use. It even uses magnesium alloy for the casing like they have. I like the look and the size (8% narrower, 31% shorter, 41% thinner). The camera looks to have a nice control layout. You can have aperture, shutter speed, and ISO all accessible with semi-dedicated controls. This sounds like a key feature and should make photographing with the camera a breeze. I would have liked more dedicated buttons in general though. I’ll give them a +1 for the dedicated v...

I made a video on a whim last night as I wanted to get some practice doing video with my 100mm macro lens. I tried making a product detail video with the K-5 as the subject. On a somewhat related note, the K-5 will be going back to the repair facility once I receive the shipping label. Hopefully the second time is the charm with that camera. The video was taken with the K-7 at the highest setting and edited in Kdenlive for Linux. I have a few ideas to get better clip quality that I will have to try in the future. I’d like to eventually try a similar video with the K-7 or *ist D as a subject to see how that works. Get a used Pentax K-5 through my links: B&H ,  KEH ,  eBay , and  Amazon An an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases! Videos related to the camera:  My full K-5 review… ( YouTube video ) DA* 55mm at a Japanese garden . FA* 24mm at a beautiful park . TAv mode for freezing action . Av mode with flash . Program modes on the K-5 . D-BG4...