K&F Concept Variable ND8-128 Filter – Nano-X Series with Water and Dust-Proof Coatings Anyone who’s been following this site for a while will know that I’m not a fan of glass filters, with the main reason being: sharpness loss. And these aren’t just words. After having a suspicion and reading about it on a forum,... Continue Reading →
Understanding Version Management in RawTherapee: A Comparison with Lightroom
5 minutes read time Version Management in RawTherapee: A Flexible Approach When it comes to version management in photo editing, Adobe Lightroom offers a history panel and virtual copies, allowing users to revert to previous edits and compare different versions easily. However, this system is deeply tied to Lightroom’s catalog, which has some drawbacks: the... Continue Reading →
I Bought a Lumix DMC-G81M (G80-85) in 2025
5 minutes read time Hands-on with the Lumix G81M I ordered it on eBay in Germany, and just four days later, it was in my hands. You often see the question: "Is this camera still worth it in 2025?" Well, of course it is! In fact, it’s still sold as new in some stores. That... Continue Reading →
Ulanzi M Rig a light cage for multi use
2 minutes read time Sometimes, you buy accessories for your camera, phone, or other gear, only to leave them unused. Then, much later, you suddenly find a new purpose for them, or they fit perfectly into a new project. The Ulanzi M Rig is one such accessory for me. Maybe you have something similar lying... Continue Reading →
Testing the Zhiyun Weebill S Gimbal: A Lesson in Frustration ?
12 minutes to read + 4 1/2 minute video I finally got around to testing the Zhiyun Weebill S gimbal—a little at request, partly out of curiosity, but mostly because it was long overdue. I bought it in the period while switching from Fuji to Olympus, but never actually used it. So, after sitting on... Continue Reading →
The OM System OM-3
When the first rumors of a new camera started circulating, expectations ran high. Some were hoping for a refreshed Pen F, while others were looking forward to a new sensor with higher megapixels. But what Olympus (OM System) ultimately unveiled took many by surprise. While plenty of people are excited, I’ve also seen and heard... Continue Reading →
Stop Overpaying: 120 Reasons to Switch to RawTherapee
Only 5 minutes to read + the first 5 minutes of a video For a while, I’ve been encouraging others to explore RawTherapee—not to push them, but to share my experience. It’s a reliable, user-friendly program that’s often misunderstood as overly complex. In reality, it’s straightforward to use and can save you money by eliminating... Continue Reading →
The Kamlan 15mm f2.0 Put to the Test
5 minutes reading time Let me start with this : Not Every Photographer is the SameI often hear people obsessing over pixel sharpness, minor lens distortions, flares, edge blur, and so on—but what about the photos themselves? Isn’t that what truly matters? Sharpness matters, but does your audience care ? Sharpness is subjective. Some chase... Continue Reading →
The Kamlan 15mm f2.0 in MFT – Unbox and First Impression
Less than 5 minutes reading time. Last Friday, I touched on this lens while discussing AI advancements, but today, let’s focus on the lens itself—why I bought it and how I plan to use it. Over a year ago, I began searching for a versatile lens for landscapes, street photography, and specifically also suitable for... Continue Reading →
Birds & Wildlife Special 2024 – 2025
Bird and Wildlife Photography: The Full Picture Capturing the beauty of birds and wildlife goes beyond having the right camera and lens; it's about the entire setup—gear, techniques, and knowledge working together for an immersive experience. In my bird and wildlife photography series, I cover key aspects for success. The Ultimate Micro Four Thirds Wildlife... Continue Reading →
Underrated micro 4:3 cameras
Looking for a camera for bird and wildlife photography? You might want to take a closer look at the Micro Four Thirds system! At first glance, the title might suggest this article highlights a few underrated cameras. In reality, it’s about the entire Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system being underappreciated, not just a few models.... Continue Reading →
Crop – Teleconverter or Bigger Lens
Crop, Teleconverter, or Longer Lens: What’s the Best Option? When your lens doesn’t give you the magnification you need, what’s the best solution? Should you crop your image, use a teleconverter, or invest in a longer lens? This is a question I’ve tackled myself using several Olympus lenses, along with extensive research through reviews and... Continue Reading →
Gimp Crowned Best Free Photoshop Alternative of 2024
There are plenty of excellent free photo editing programs available, such as RawTherapee, Darktable, and DigiKam, to name a few. But whether they suit your needs is something only you can determine. Even if a program is widely praised or deemed "the best," it’s the subtle differences between them that ultimately matter—and those differences can... Continue Reading →
From 150mm to 2400mm FOV: The Ultimate Micro Four Thirds Wildlife Lens Guide
Here's a breakdown of Olympus/OM System and Panasonic micro four-thirds (MFT) lenses suitable for bird and wildlife photography. These lenses are evaluated with their key strengths and weaknesses, along with an average new price/second-hand sorted table. The pros and cons listed here are sourced from well-known review sites, but I don’t always agree with them. If I own or... Continue Reading →
Leica D-Lux type 109 – First Impression
It’s Here: My New (Second-Hand) Camera! Yesterday - Thursday, it finally arrived. The first thing I always do with a second-hand device is give it a thorough inspection to know exactly what I’m dealing with from the start. This time, I was amazed: the camera was in like-new condition. The LCD even had a screen... Continue Reading →
RawTherapee Crowned Best Free RAW Editor of 2024
On October 15, 2024, Amateur Photographer reviewed RawTherapee as the best free RAW editor. However, the well-known magazine didn’t shy away from pointing out some drawbacks alongside their praise. As a long-time RawTherapee user since its very first version, I was naturally curious to read their take on it. What immediately caught my attention—after skimming... Continue Reading →
SG-Image Ultra Wide 12mm f2.8 L mount – Unbox, First Use and Review
First Impression: I was so pleased with the SG-Image 25mm and 35mm lenses that I immediately ordered the 50mm and 12mm as well. I’ve already received the latter. So far, every delivery has come with a colorful floral-patterned strap—not really my style, but it might come in handy for someone else someday—along with a lens... Continue Reading →
SG Image 25mm f/1.8 – Is This the Best Budget Lens for L-Mount ?
Introduction: In this review, we’ll take a closer look at how the SG-Image 25mm f/1.8 lens performs in real-world shooting conditions, especially on crop sensor bodies. We'll explore whether it truly delivers on its promise of affordability without compromising precision. If you're interested in the first impression, read my article about it here : /2024/09/25/affordable-precision-first-look-at-the-sg-image-25mm-f-1-8/... Continue Reading →
Artistry Meets Affordability: First Look at the SG Image 35mm f/1.2
What started as an unboxing and first look ended up more like a first-use review and perhaps even offers a different perspective on manual lenses and their sharpness— but that can only be a good thing for anyone already interested in this lens or looking for this focal length or manual lenses in general. The... Continue Reading →
Lightweight Stability : The novoflex Pistock-C
During my search for solutions to make photography lighter/easier or to create greater stability without adding much bulk or weight, I came across this small rifle-like chest support. It was originally designed to support long and heavy Novoflex telephoto lenses from the analog era, but conveniently, it is also usable for digital setups. Its compactness... Continue Reading →
LUTCalc: The Ultimate Tool for Precision Color Grading
Every now and then, you come across something exceptional, and this is one of those moments. Our camera and photography equipment is already expensive, and when you want to edit and use LUTs, you often have to pay even more. Fortunately, there are people who create software or LUTs and tools without profit in mind—Ben... Continue Reading →
The Olympus TG-5 Red – Four Camera Generations
Well, I started with the Olympus TG-6, then downgraded to the TG-3, upgraded again to the TG-4, and today, I’ve reached the TG-5. It’s been quite a journey through various models and features. By chance, not long after purchasing the Olympus TG-320, I received another notification about a TG camera I had been eyeing—the TG-5,... Continue Reading →
Affordable Precision: First Look at the SG Image 25mm f/1.8
In my article about the Leica T Type 701, I mentioned that I would have liked to get a manual TTArtisan 25mm f/2 lens because it’s almost pancake-sized, which would make the camera very compact while providing an attractive field of view. Unfortunately, I couldn't find an L-mount version available anywhere. L-mount lenses are very... Continue Reading →
Exploring the Godox Lux Series: From Retro Simplicity to Professional Power – Part II
In the world of photography, lighting can make or break a shot, and having the right flash is essential. Godox, known for its innovative and versatile lighting solutions, has introduced the Lux series, a range of camera flashes that cater to both nostalgic photographers and modern professionals. Whether you're drawn to the vintage charm of... Continue Reading →
Let There be Light – the Godox Lux Junior – Part I
Retro Flash: The Godox Lux Junior is a retro flash, and retro has been making a comeback for a while now. However, real retro isn’t always good, especially when it comes to flashes. Many years ago, I bought a Pentax K10D in a camera shop as a backup for my main camera at the time,... Continue Reading →