I was hoping that this newsletter would be a rundown of the PND PhotoPlus trade show which took place a couple weeks ago. I actually headed out to NYC for the event, but was called away at the last minute, so I pretty much missed the entire show except for the first two hours. Over the next few weeks, I'€ll do my best to update the blog with reports and reviews of new gear as I research them myself.

 

 

One thing I did take a close look at was the brand new Fujifilm XE-2. If you'€ve been reading my blog, then you know how much I'€ve been putting the XE-1 through the rigors, shooting landscapes, travel and even fast action with it. The XE-1 is a beautiful camera with a very usable and ergonomic design and killer image quality, largely because the Fuji XF lenses are so good. My dad even bought one!

 

The XE-2 is even better. Fuji took all the big upgrades that went into the X100s and brought them over to the XE-2. New features include super fast Phase Detection Autofocus, (AF sensors placed right on the 16.3MP XTrans Sensor) a vastly improved frame rate on the electronic viewfinder, built in Wi-Fi and an improved Image Processor.

 

Autofocus on the XE-2 is considerably and noticeably faster, which dispels any notion that it's not a sports camera. It's fast, responsive, accurate and with the new EVF, it's a real pleasure to use. I also got to try out the XF 55-200mm lens for the first time, and as a die hard long lens guy, this is a fantastic combination. Since you can select from the full-screen array of AF points, you can nail down your subject no matter where it is in your scene. That's huge. 

 

Keep in mind, the XE-1 is still a great camera, so if you've bought one recently, don't feel that you need to upgrade. However, if you've been waiting to see what's on the horizon, you should definitely check this one out. Or, you can save a few bucks and pick up an XE-1 while they're still available. Fuji has done incredible things with the X camera lineup and I think that the XE-1/XE-2 is the most versatile model in the series. The XE-2 is slated to hit streets on November 15, but you can preorder it from B&H Photo and Amazon.

 

 

Another product that caught my eye is the G-Tech G-RAID mini portable hard drive. There are a number of great external drives on the market, (I love the Lacie Rugged drives for going light and fast) but the G-Tech RAID mini gives you full RAID storage in a single, compact box. Great for taking your work on the road AND having a backup. In fact, this could even be your main image drive that you run between you desktop and laptop. I anticipate upgrading my entire storage system in the coming year and will likely include some of the G-Tech gear in my setup. You can pick up the G-RAID mini here.

 

 

Nikon unveiled their brand new retro styled 16.2MP DSLR this week to much fanfare, both positive and negative. It's basically a new digital camera that's built to look like an old F camera. I'm sure that you'll read all about it on the web in the coming weeks. I posted my thoughts on the blog yesterday. Joe McNally wrote a short piece on the Df as well on his own blog. He got to try it out, though. He's Joe McNally. 

 

At any rate, it's newsworthy and worth a look, especially if you're a longtime Nikon shooter. The new Df is compatible with all Nikon lenses, both new and old. AF-S, AF-D, AF, AI and even Non-AI. If you've got old Nikon glass in your cabinet, this will bring those lenses back into the game. Is that alone worth the price? Who knows. That's for you to decide.

 

 

I wrote this post a few months ago, but it's worth bringing back. Composition is a timely subject, and the whys of how and where to place subject matter in the frame is a topic for all ages. Literally. Many of the visual techniques that we use were established long ago. They still work because they're based on the complexities of the human brain, visual system and how we're geared to see mathematically. Read my post, brush up on your compositional ideas and the go outside and take some pictures.

 

 

Craft and Vision has just released Piet Van den Eynd's comprehensive new 356-page eBook, Lightroom 5 Unmasked. It's an excellent resource for getting the most out of Lightroom, and it costs about half as much as most of the Lightroom 5 print books out there. 

 

Lightroom 5 Unmasked runs you through a complete workflow and details all of the important steps that you'll need to master in order to be an efficient photographer, and it comes with a feature rich content, hyperlinks and a staggering 69 case studies which let you see how to put the tools in to context. Piet even includes cast studies for smaller topics that are often left out. 

 

Piet is an Adobe Certified Expert, so with this eBook, you know you're getting the very best caliber of instruction, and eBook format means that you can have it right there on your tablet for quick reference no matter where you are. Download Lightroom 5 Unmasked here. 

 

 

When I first started with photography, I spent hours combing through the photo section of the Boston Public Library. I got a pretty good look at all of the major titles, and the one that sticks the most in my mind is Bryan Peterson's book, Understanding Exposure. I learned so much from this manual, and looking back, I think that it's the best book out there for beginning photographers. Bryan has such an easy to read style, which is probably why his book has sold over 350,000 copies. 

 

The latest 2010 version is filled with updates to match the current digital photography gear, trends and techniques. If you're a beginning photographer, do yourself a favor and check out this book. 

 

 

Is the Death of the DSLR Greatly Exaggerated? Mirrorless gear and smaller camera technology keeps getting better year after year. 5 years ago, I never left the house without the DSLR. If I went anywhere and took a camera, I had my Nikon with me. Now, I leave it home all the time and often take the smaller gear. Does that mean that DSLR is dead? Certainly not. Read the post and see why not.

 

You're not too busy, you're just not organizing your tasks properly. Great. Like I needed to hear that. We all get busy and we don't always manage our time well. Heidi Thompson's post reminds us that busy is largely about mindset. We have control. Sure, some of these things are pretty simple, but they're worth reading. Even if you pick up one little tip, it'll make a difference. 

 

Your REALTOR® Would Like Some Free Photography, Please. Awesome rant by David Hobby, where he shares the ballsiest request for free pictures that he's ever gotten, and of course, his response. Killer post. Take my word for it, you WANT to read this one.

 

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I hope that you've been having a great fall. It's been pretty mild in many parts of the country, so the leaves have been staying on the trees for longer. I was in Kansas City last week and witnessed a few days of the most beautiful autumn that I'€™ve ever seen! 

 

As always, thanks for reading. Enjoy the posts below and don't forget to share this newsletter with your friends. Oh, and if you haven't picked up ZEN PHOTOGRAPHER yet, you still have time to grab it at the special launch price. Not very much time, though, so don' wait. If you've already bought it, then thanks so much for your support!

 

Best,

Dan