Since moving to NYC, camera size has become top of mind because many times the gear goes in a bag on my shoulder or my back. When the Black Magic Pocket Cinema camera became available for 50% less than normal, I couldn’t be happier.
Sweet, small and high quality, the BMPC can go anywhere. The first place I took it was to the street for a parade. Lot’s of them in NYC, and they last for hours so you get a lot of time to capture.
(Small note, these cameras run through batteries, so get a bunch)
Now, the camera was small but the daylight was large and changeable. Using my Nikon lenses, I needed an ND like crazy.
I didn’t want to just stop down the lens. That was not the kind of shooting choice I wanted to make.
The I found this: Fotodiox Vizelex ND Throttle Lens Mount Adapter

With a solid fit, and a 10-Stop variable ND built into a smooth action ring, this is what I had been looking for. It’s the smooth variable part that was the winner. Being able to adjust the ND as needed, fast, is key.
Like most adapters, all of your auto anything operations of the lens were disabled, and there were no click stops for the f/stops, there is another ring to set your aperture, using 6 main markers. They are both fluid adjustments, Perfect for video.
Would I prefer a click-stop, aperture control? Perhaps for stills if shooting on the fly, but this unit did the job I was looking for @ a $100 price point.
There are a few other choices out on the market, but one in particular will always be in the conversation:
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I brought this show to your attention over 5 years ago. You will not believe the gold that is in here.

In a simple Interview format, ala Charlie Rose, Life Photographer Leigh Wiener and photo enthusiast and perennial sidekick, George Fenneman, interviewed photographers and talked about their work for 130 episodes of an Emmy Award winning program.
While on a set, I met the son of Mr. Wiener who shared with us the incredible archive of his father, along with select episodes of this program.
These interviews need to be seen. Ansel Adams, Joe Rosenthal, Andreas Feniger, Henry Diltz, even Graham Nash, who discusses collecting, as well.
In this clip vid, are just tastes of some of the materials.

Sound still needs to be equalized, and the shows were originally produced on 2″ Quad Video tape. Yeah, exactly. Hard to find machines that can playback that format, if you even knew what they were.
I’m working with the estate to find the perfect outlet for these programs and sponsors to cover the cost of post production on these valuable materials.
The world of photography needs them.
Sorry, they won’t just be posted on youtube for free.
If you would like more info, or better yet, can help this dream be realized, contact me at damonw@photoinduced.com.

This is truly a rich, vein of gold for the photographic world.

It’s baaaack!
Fashion Week is coming to NYC again this week, and it seemed like a right time to hear from Katy Winn, photographer who has covered the event around the world.
What we love about Katy is her no BS, straightforward thoughts on the subject.

And of course, if you have the time, check out her “What’s In The Bag” recent video, where you can see what, and why, she uses certain gear to get the job done.

The rumor mills have been creating the pre-buzz on this new camera for awhile.
50.6 dang MEGAPIXELS!
The MP wars are over? I think not.
Get ready to upgrade your media cards as well, as your wallets:Prices of $3,699.00 and $3,899.00 for the body only, respectively.
Reasonable actually, for the product. You do have some time to save up: These won’t be avail til June, 2015.
Aimed at the medium format user, these are not speed demons designed for sports, but for the commercial, studio, portrait, landscape and architectural photographer.
Now, this camera was in my hands for less than 45 min., so all I can say is, based your excitement on the track record of Canon. Once I can shoot with this, you’ll get a full review.

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It’s a vicious cycle.
We buy the latest smartphones with better cameras, and as photographers, we want to add some lenses for versatility.
But the lenses need to change with the new smartphone design cycles, so they fit over the new phone lenses.
We all know that.
And the manufacturers of all of these lenses, need to retool every time. Another sale, but another new product needs to be developed.
OK, no surprises here, and it is an unfortunate fact.
There is a set of lenses I use with everyone phone style change: Olloclip.
They are real glass lenses, metal lens barrels, and designed by a company that loves what the lenses are made for: photography.
I have had many discussions with the owners over the years, and I have to say, the excitement that they have over each new product development shows how much they care and make the lenses as much for themselves as for all of us.

Now available for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the first round was then ever popular wide angle and fisheye. Sure, a good parlor trick, and makes group photos a breeze.
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