Articles

This page contains links to articles and posts I’ve written about photographic subjects including the equipment that I use (or, in some cases, have used or studied extensively) – including my tests, reviews, and subjective opinions related to DSLR and other camera bodies, lenses, tripods, bags, and other gear. (There is also a simple list of my current equipment.) Note that some of the review are now quite dated – but I have left them online since the posts still contain useful general information.

ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY

Making Photographs

•  A Photograph Exposed: Photography and Luck

“A Photograph Exposed” Series

• A Photograph Exposed: “Submerged Boulders, Lake, and Cliffs”
• A Photograph Exposed: Photography and Luck
• A Photograph Exposed: A Tale of Light

Photographic Myths and Platitudes Series

• Photographic Myths and Platitudes – ‘Landscape Photography Lenses’ (Part 1)
• Photographic Myths and Platitudes – ‘Photographer’ versus “Photoshopper’
• Photographic Myths and Platitudes – Primes Make You a Better Photographer
• Photographic Myths and Platitudes – New DSLR? Why You Do NOT Need a 50mm Prime
• Photographic Myths and Platitudes – No Post-Processing!

Ethics

• Petroglyphs Stolen: An Ethical Lesson For Photographers
• Disclosing Photo Locations: How Much Information is Too Much?”

Reader Questions

• Concerned About Image Theft
• How to Add Borders to Online Photographs
• One Lens for Landscape and Wildflowers on Hikes
  
• Yosemite in October?
• DSLR Sensor Cleaning
• About Sharpness and Detail
• Camera Stability and Long Lenses
• Photographing in the Rain

Post-Processing and Printing

• Post-Processing: A Shadow Recovery Example
• Borders and Watermarks

Technique

• Hints for Night Photography
• Fifteen Ideas for Photographing Professional Bicycle Races
• About Tripods

Photography Online

• Borders and Watermarks
• How to Add Borders to Online Photographs

Tongue in Cheek

• Telling Stories About Our Photographs

General Photography Equipment Topics

• Concerning Megapixels
• Beginner Question: What Lenses Should I Get For My New Camera?
• About Vignetting
• Asking the Wrong Question – Part 1
• My Approach to DSLR Sensor Cleaning
• Summer 2007 Backpacking Photography Kit
• When Sharpness Becomes an Unhealthy Obsession

Places

General

• TBA

Coastal California

• TBA

Death Valley

• TBA

Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada Fall Color

• Sierra Nevada Fall Color Season – Coming Sooner Than You Think
• Photographing the Eastern Sierra Aspens: A Few More Thoughts
• Searching for Aspen Color in the Eastern Sierra – the Show Starts Soon!
• Sierra Nevada Aspen Hunting and the Weather

Utah

• TBA

GEAR

Most of my photography is done using a Canon full-frame DSLR system with a range of lenses. I have used a cropped sensor DSLR in the past, but have shot with full frame for close to a decade now. In addition, I use a Fujifilm mirrorless system for travel and and street photography. Below are links to articles I’ve written based on the use of this equipment.

Canon Cameras

Canon EOS 5D

I used the original Canon 5D full frame DSLR as my primary body for about four years, and then used it for nearly another five years as my second/backup camera body. The 5D was nearly revolutionary at the time of its introduction, providing the benefits of full frame to those who need it at a much lower price point than previously. The image quality was and is excellent from this camera. It remains as good today as it was when it was introduced, though more recent cameras have added important and useful features and updated functional characteristics. You can read an updated post about this camera here at the blog.

Canon EOS 5D II

• Canon EOS 5DII: Early Observations on Image Quality
• Canon EOS 5D
• EOS 5D II at B&H

Canon XT/350D Digital Rebel

• Why I Chose a Canon 350/XT
• What Lens for XTi?

Canon Pro One

Canon Lenses

All lenses listed here are lenses that I either do use or have used extensively, so my descriptions are based on firsthand experience.

Canon EFS 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS

• Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS Lens

Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L II

• Review of this lens in pending

Canon EF 35mm f/2

• Canon EF 35mm f/2.0 lens

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4

• Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 Lens

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8

• Review of this lens is pending.

Canon EF 135mm f/2 L

• Review of this lens is pending.

Canon 16-35mm f/4 L IS

• Canon EF 16-35mm f/4 L IS: First Thoughts

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L

• Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 Lens
• Canon 17-40mm f/4 L Sharpness: Two Examples
• Corner Sharpness of the Canon 17-40m f/4 Lens on Full Frame
• Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L: Testing a Claim About Sharpness and Focal Length
• Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L at B&H

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

• Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L II vs. 24-70mm f/4L IS vs. 24-105mm f/4 L IS
  

Canon EF 24-105 f/4 IS L

• In Praise of the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 IS L lens
• Canon EF 24-105mm f4 IS L Lens
• Canon 24-105mm f/4 IS Lens Sharpness: An Example
• Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L II vs. 24-70mm f/4L IS vs. 24-105mm f/4 L IS
  
• Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L at B&H

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II

• Review of this lens is pending.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L

• Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L Lens
• Pricing on New Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 IS L

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L

• New Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L
• Thoughts About Long Zooms and Primes and ‘Image Quality’
• Thoughts About the Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS Lens

General Lens Topics

• A Test: Correcting Lens Distortion in Post-Processing
• A Test: Correcting Perspective in Post Processing
• Full Frame Lens Test
• Sharpness and Aperture Selection on Full-Frame DSLRs
• Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L II vs. 24-70mm f/4L IS vs. 24-105mm f/4 L IS
• Photographic Myths and Platitudes – ‘Landscape Photography Lenses’ (Part 1)
• ‘My Photos Are Soft!’
• Why Your 21MP File “Looks Softer” Than Your 12MP File at 100%
• Myth: Diffraction and Motion Blur Worsen With More Megapixels
• Some Thoughts on Aperture and DOF and Related Issues

FUJIFILM CAMERAS AND LENSES

Overview

In early 2013 I decided to acquire a Fujifilm X-E1 and a few lenses so that I could travel a bit lighter during an overseas trip. I had heard good things about this gear, felt it was probably “good enough” for how I intended to use it, and found the small size of the cameras and lenses to be very attractive. (I prefer to travel light, checking no baggage if possible.) I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of this gear, and especially by the image quality of the lenses. See my regularly updated page about Fujifilm gear here: Taking Stock of the Fujifilm X-E1, X-E2, S-T1 Mirrorless Camera

An extensive of Fujfilm X-series gear follows. (I have not used all of the equipment in this list, and equipment I have not used is indicated with an “*”.)

Cameras/bundles

• NEW Fujifilm X-T1 – Announced January 2014 and available for preorder
  • Fujifilm X-T1 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body – $1299 *
  • Fujifilm X-T1 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 18-55mm lens – $1699 *
• NEW Fujifilm X-E2
  • Fujifilm X-E2 Digital Camera Kit (Black) – with lens *
  • Fujifilm X-E2 Digital Camera Kit (Silver) – with lens *
  • Fujifilm X-E2 Mirrorless Digital Camera (Black) – body only *
  • Fujifilm X-E2 Mirrorless Digital Camera (Silver) – body only *
• Fujifilm X-E1 – replaced by the X-E2, but may still be available – a good value at reduced price
  • Fujifilm X-E1 Digital Camera Kit (Black) – with lens
  • Fujifilm X-E1 Digital Camera Kit (Silver) – with lens
  • Fujifilm X-E1 Mirrorless Digital Camera (Black) – body only
  • Fujifilm X-E1 Mirrorless Digital Camera (Silver) – body only
• Additional Fujifilm X-series bodies
  • Fujifilm X PRO – body only *
  • Fujifilm X-M1 Mirrorless Digital Camera with XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS Lens (Silver) *
  • Fujifilm X-M1 Mirrorless Digital Camera with XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS Lens (Black) *
  • Fujifilm X100s – fixed lens *

Accessories

• Fujifilm M Mount Adapter for X-Pro1 and X-E1 *
• Fujifilm HG-XE1 Hand Grip for X-E1 Digital Camera *

Lenses

• Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 R Ultra Wide-Angle Lens
• Fujifilm 18mm f/2.0 XF R Lens *
• Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R Lens
• Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8 Lens (Black) *
• Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8 Lens (Silver) *
• Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 XF R Lens
• Fujifilm 56mm f/1.2 XF Lens *
• Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 XF Macro Lens
• Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS Lens *
• Fujifilm XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS Lens (Black) *
• Fujifilm XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS Lens (Silver) *
• Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS Zoom Lens *
• Fujifilm XC 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7 OIS Lens (Black) *
• Fujifilm XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS Lens

OTHER GEAR

Tripods and Heads

• Induro C313  Carbon Fiber Tripod
• Gitzo 2542L “Mountaineer” Carbon Fiber Tripod (Gitzo GT2542L Tripod at B&H)
• Velbon 540 “El Carmagne” Tripod
• Acratech Ultimate Ballhead
• Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ballhead

Bags and Backpacks

Lowepro

• Lowepro Inverse 200 AW
• Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW
• A Question About the Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW
• Lowepro Nova 200 AW
• Lowepro Rover Plus AW
• Lowepro Toploader AW

ThinkTank

• Airport Acceleration – (Purchase directly from Think Tank Photo)

Crumpler

• Six Million Dollar Home
• Eight Million Dollar Home

Other Equipment

Filters

• Lens Protection: Ultraviolet (UV) Filter or Lens Cap and Hood?
• Very Basic Filter Advice for New DSLR Shooters

Electronic Flash

• Canon 580EXII (Canon Speedlite 580EX I at B&H)

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer whose subjects include the Pacific coast, redwood forests, central California oak/grasslands, the Sierra Nevada, California deserts, urban landscapes, night photography, and more.
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Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright G Dan Mitchell (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.