The bain of every photographer using speedlights is the rather ugly, harsh light blasting out of the end of them.

It needs to be tamed, shaped, many times softened so that your subjects are treated with respect, and beautiful, flattering light.

It’s a quest we’ve all been on.

Last week I shot an assignment for 3 days using the new Rogue Softbox for speedlights, the small guy.

This has now become my standard, on-camera lighting, diffusion, and here is why:

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You know, when one of our compadres make a  good video, you have share.

Up in Calgary,Canada, there’s snow on the ground but that doesn’t stop Chris Nicholls from walking around and showing of the mew Nikon Df

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Maybe it was the proliferation of speedlight modifiers.

Maybe it was the entire wireless control feature of our lives and electronics becoming ubiquitous.

Or maybe it was just that photographers needed a high quality, battery powered, lighting system that had TTL and no wires?

Heck Speedlight king like Joe McNally has been living life like this for years. hmmmm… I wonder if he’ll switch!

Enough blathering, here are the deets:

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it’s been teased, it’s been rumored. And earlier today, it may have leaked out a bit.

Multiple commercials have spoke to the heritage and classic lines of Nikon.

Today, they have introduced the Nikon DF – looks like the classic F but has the guts and sensor of the D4.

Now the D4 is a supreme piece of photographic machinery. To have a cool design, with the essential power of the D4, at half the price, it’s a no brainer for Nikon owners.

Now they didn’t go for video on this one. Lot’s of photographers feel that they are paying for capabilities they don’t use, perhaps, never will.

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It was the gorilla in the room.

On the PhotoPlus Expo show floor, the buzz was all about the new Sony full frame mirrorless cameras.

Enter the Alpha 7, and Alpha 7R

Unrelenting in their development of product to secure solid footing in the #3 slot of camera manufacturers, the next move up may be close.

Following on the extreme success of the NEX series of cameras, this Full Frame, small unit, could be the place to go for every street shooter. 36.4 mp ? Sure.

Leica lenses work brilliantly on this system. As you watch the vid, Mark Weir goes through the lenses available now, and know they will get there, but there is plenty of glass to satisfy.

I was surprised that they had to walk away from the flat top design, but the overall size, is fun size.

DxO had a chance to get you some tech specs, and comparisons to the other leaders in the category.

Have a look.

Alpha 7, 24 mp, $1700. body only

Alpha 7r, 36 mp, $2300. body only

Available soon.