PhotographyBanzai.com

Let's take a walk through the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago! I went there with friends and I also wanted to capture some of the trip. The easiest way to do that is usually with a smartphone. I also had a GoPro with the max lens mod for video.  Photography can be whatever you want it to be. A lot of the time, just using a phone is fine, and I enjoy it. You might not get as much control as with a high-end interchangeable lens camera, and the photos will be of lower quality, but I still enjoy the process as well as capturing memories. I don't need perfect photos all of the time.  The grand hall of the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, with its high, domed ceiling illuminated in blue. For me, with photography, memories are often more important than the technical perfection of the results. I really enjoy a documentary style of photography, just going out, taking photos, and trying to get some context. Years down the line, I can look at those photos and be like, ...

Llano sent me a 2-pack of their EN-EL15c compatible "fully decoded" batteries, which are designed as replacements for Nikon cameras. Keep in mind they had to agree to my collaboration terms, meaning they have no say in the video content and aren't allowed to preview it.  Read my  company collaboration terms  here so you understand the context of videos like this where I receive product samples at no cost:  The Llano EN-EL15c camera battery 2-pack box. One of the most interesting features right off the bat is that these batteries have USB-C connection ports directly on them. They should also be fully compatible with Nikon cameras and chargers, which I'll be testing. Update 5/16/2025: I just used one of the Llano batteries at an anime convention. 27% battery remaining after 1202 photos with quite a bit of idle time because I have the standby timer disabled. Though, I tend to switch the camera off when I don' think I'm going to use it for a bit. Used it for aroun...

I recently took a look at the Xenvo "Ultimate Smartphone Lens Kit," an add-on system designed to enhance your phone's camera capabilities. I purchased this myself; it wasn't sent to me, and I wanted to share my experiences using it. The kit aims to give you both wider angle shots and detailed macro photos using a clip-on lens system. Let's see what's included and how well it works. The Xenvo "Ultimate Smartphone Lens" Kit packaging. What's in the Box? Opening the box reveals the core components: the lens system itself, which consists of a 15x macro lens and a 0.45x wide-angle lens attachment. It's important to note that the wide-angle piece needs to be screwed onto the macro lens to function correctly; using the wide-angle part alone doesn't really produce a usable image. Inside the box: the lens, case, and accessories. You also get a plastic clip mount to attach the lens assembly to your phone. Alongside the lenses, Xenvo includes severa...