Nikonians Articles

We have many non-nikon articles and reviews, aka 3rd party vendor information, here at Nikonians. Enjoy! Read more...

Camera bags and photographers. Sometimes I think we go together like peanut butter and chocolate. Other times, I think we go together like oil and water. Picking the right camera bag for every situation is pretty near impossible and that’s why I have an entire closet devoted to just camera bags. Small ones. Big ones. Medium ones. Waist bags. Shoulder bags. Backpacks. Black. Green. Yellow. Read more...

Reviewing the Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM lens. With detailed examples, and sample shots, you'll have the picture painted – clearly. Read more...

Reviewing the Profoto RFi Softbox solution with sample images. Read more...

Thanks to Nikonians and Ilford for asking/allowing me to review/test some very nice photo paper.  I hope my review and data will be helpful to not only Ilford, but also potential customers looking for great printing paper for their photos, both pros and home printing photographers. I am an American living in Germany with an Event & Studio Photography business.  Primarily, I shoot Equestrian sports, but I do not limit my self to a single sport or subject. Read more...

While at first this may seem like a silly question (just get the cheapest and fastest card available), choosing the card that's best for you is in fact not a straightforward thing... First there's size to consider. Bigger is better, right? Well, not particularly. Read more...

Since 1879 Switzerland based Ilford has been at the forefront of photographic media development. Unlike some other pioneering photographic companies who have struggled to maintain a solid foothold in an industry that has been transformed in the last twenty years, Ilford continues to steadfastly produce fine quality photographic film and print paper. Read more...

Review of the Profoto D1 Studio Kit with sample images and video. Read more...

What camera to buy? What film to use? What tripod or lens to choose? These questions haunt many photographers. Nikonians co-founder, J. Ramón Palacios, put together articles guiding you through the choice of equipment and listed them in this overview. Read more...

The Markins Q20 Ball Head review by Marsel van Oosten Read more...

My first serious computer monitor was a LaCie Electron Blue IV, an incredibly heavy, blue beast. It served me well for many years, until recently. It can no longer reach the desired brightness, so I had to start looking for an alternative. Read more...

Do you really need a tripod? The background of why a tripod often is a necessity. Checklists and info on how to proceed selecting a tripod based upon your needs. Read more...

Most of the Nikonians I have met have a “dirty little secret”. We are bag junkies. While we can go on ad nauseum as to why a certain lens or camera is superior for a given application, we become baffled when confronted with how to store and transport our gear. Let’s face it, if there were a “perfect” bag solution out there, we’d all own it by now. Read more...

Comparisons between the ball heads from Arca Swiss, Burzynsik, Linhof, Kirk, Novoflex, FLM, RRS and Markins. Read more...

This will not be a laboratory-style review but a blend of subjective report and tutorial. I intend to provide information and reliable hints as to avoid frustration by duplicating my mistakes; tailored to those who newly own this printer or seriously consider buying one. Read more...

Since 1979, Tamron has produced 90mm macro lenses whose optical quality has rivaled the extraordinary Micro-Nikkors. Some photographers claim to have preferred the Tamron over the Nikkor because of its superior handling of out-of-focus areas ("Bokeh"). More recently, Tamron have introduced a range of “digitally integrated” Di lenses. Read more...

Lowepro’s Pro Roller x-Series was launched a year or so ago with a range of three differently-sized wheeled camera cases - the x100, x200 and x300 – to replace the earlier Pro Roller 1, 2 and 3 cases. This Nikonians review concentrates on the mid-sized x200 model, though many of the features described are common across the range. Read more...

In the fall of 2010 Epson introduced the highly anticipated replacement of their very successful 17-inch model Stylus Pro printers. Going back to 2003 Epson began offering a 17-inch companion to their wide format 24 and 44 inch professional inkjet photo printers. Their first model in the 17-inch size was the 4000. Read more...

How many camera bags do you own? One, two, three, even? Although you may have your eyes firmly fixed on more bodies, lenses and gizmos, another bag may actually be just what you're looking for. The secret to photography is preparedness. Read more...

An extensive user report of the Markins M10 ballhead. In pdf file format, 17 pages, 1.5 MB. A wealth of information right in front of you. Read more...

In episode #138 of the Image Doctors podcast, Rick and Jason review the revised Lowepro Street and Field (S&F) modular system, a major update to a system that's been around since 1998. The S&F system is based on interchangeable components that enable a photographer to create a method for carrying their equipment in the field. It includes the option of a vest, harness, multiple types of belts, and a large number of cases. The cases available will hold lenses, grad filters, speedlights, camera bodies, and other miscellaneous components. Read more...

I had long yearned for a true micro lens. The great pictures of bees, butterflies and detailed exotic flora had me wanting. Because of an accidental misfortune I could not buy the 105mm f/2.8D Micro Nikkor when I was out there looking for it several years ago. So, no Nikon that time around. I had admired the Tokina lenses for quite some time, so an alternative was there. Allow me to explain why. Read more...

I had the opportunity to use this do-all bag for the last four weeks. I used it at one wedding, a birthday party and a personal trip to Dallas TX so, how did this hybrid bag do? Let’s find out. Read more...

What is an L-Bracket for my camera? What are the pro's and con's of using one? Read more...

Lowepro has had a lot of success with their line of Sling and SlingShot photo gear bags. The SlingShot models are built around the teardrop silhouette of traditional outdoor wilderness photo backpacks. The Sling models however have a sleek rectangular shape and come in two sizes. The larger Classified Sling 220 AW is the subject of this review. Read more...

For those who expect extraordinary photographic performance look for the Tamron SP lens. The SP designates it was delivered by engineers who are free to innovate in an uncommon atmosphere where optical performance comes before price. Read more...

When I first heard that Epson was about to introduce a desktop printer in the 17 inch-wide category and after reviewing the specifications I was a little puzzled. At the time I owned Epson’s other 17 inch printer, the 4000 Stylus Pro. What made me skeptical was that the 4000 was the first and only (at the time) pro-line printer in the Epson line that allowed for both matte black and photo black inks to be installed simultaneously. Read more...

Sometimes, being a fellow Nikonian has sparkling advantages. I had the pleasure of attending an official hands-on presentation of the brand new Epson Stylus Photo R3000 printer and it is a pleasure to share my impressions with you. "Ah, yet another printer, move on, move on," you might think. Read more...

The Epson Discproducer is a commercial strength CD-R and DVD-R Robot, which fully automates the task of copying CDs and DVDs from a master file held on computer and producing a set of copies, printed on the surface with whatever artwork you designed to suit. As such, this is a boon to anyone who relies on CD or DVD distribution for their business. Read more...

For most photographers, a telephoto lens is like a specialized tool; you don’t often have need for it, but when you do, you want it to work right the first time. Tamron’s latest telephoto zoom, the SP 70-300 f4-5.6 Di VC USD, is exactly that – a very useful lens that gets you the shot you want when you need it. Read more...

Nikonians Moderators Victor Newman and Martin Turner recently teamed up to share their thoughts on the new Hydrophobia70-200 rain cover from Think Tank Photo. Read more...

This review of the Tamron 60mm f/2 Macro/Portrait lens for Nikon DX cameras is completely subjective and concentrates on practical aspects such as usability,  bokeh and field‐of‐view characteristics. It concentrates on the "hands‐on" aspect instead of the intricate performance data used by authors who emphasize resolution figures and lab‐style technical aspects determined through the use of equipment designed to gauge, measure and analyze lens performance. Read more...

A ball head is a ball head -- right? I used to think so! I've always had the attitude that it really doesn't matter what ball head you use, since all it does is clamp the camera in the position you want. I figured any ball head that was big enough to handle the weight was good, and all that really matters is the price. Read more...

An in-depth review of the Arca-Swiss Monoball B1 tripd ballhead by Ed Alexander Read more...

"Image Doctors" Jason Odell and Rick Walker, got their hands on a new super wide-angle lens from Tamron. Jason and Rick put the new Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II to the test on their D300 bodies and compared it against some other super-wide lenses. Read more...

At less than the price of a Nikon 35mm transparency scanner, the Epson 750 offers almost equally good scans from negatives or slides up to large format, as well as excellent A4+ scans from prints or graphic originals. This is a scanner which fits very well into a graphic design studio, with smooth, even and (relatively) rapid performance. Read more...

I first heard about the Lensbaby about a year ago. I was casually surfing photo-related sites on the Internet. Strange, I thought — an accessory that deliberately causes images to be out of focus! With all talk these days about high-speed autofocus lenses with the most refined optics and technology, the Lensbaby represents a technological leap—backwards! And that, my friends, was refreshing. Read more...

A while back in an issue of the American Outdoor Photographer magazine, I saw a notice for a new brand of hard case for photo gear. The product, called Storm Case, is what appeared to be a possible rival to the well-established Pelican brand. After going to the Storm Case site, I was fairly impressed by their cases and what the said that they offered. Read more...

I'll admit, spending twice as much as my F5 for a lens was an intimidating feeling. Talk about credit card anxiety! But “big glass” doesn’t come cheaply, and I really wanted to get closer to wildlife, especially small birds. I carefully did my homework to decide on a lens that would get the job done, would be of professional caliber, and wouldn’t completely bankrupt me. When the dust settled, I got the Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX HSM. Read more...

Over the last several years, I have progressed through a number of Epson large format printers. I have included the following brief overview of color management because I believe that anyone getting into large format printing needs to commit the time necessary to develop a personal color management philosophy, work flow, and operational procedures if they are to produce optimum results. Read more...

The quest for the perfect bag is much more complicated than it may seem at first, simply because there is no perfect bag for all occasions. Nikonian ladies will understand this very well, as they need to carry all sort of necessities every day, but for different occasions. Read more...

Do you entertain yourself by reading lens reviews and spend hours on eBay looking for the ultimate lens? Do you have the desire to own every lens ever made? Does your camera bag weigh more than you do? Then you may be a good candidate to read this article. Tamron® SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 Lens on a Nikon D300s Collecting lenses can be like collecting used Boeing 747 airplanes. Read more...

I recently got the HPRC 2550W and it is a really sweet, professional hard case. There is a whole lot to like about this Italian beauty, so let's get going. Read more...

If you like photographs on paper and you like to hold newspaper-sized prints of your images, the EPSON R2880 photo printer could be right for you. Read this extensive article and find out all there is to know about this printer. Read more...

I first heard about the Lensbaby about a year ago. I was casually surfing photo-related sites on the Internet. Strange, I thought—an accessory that deliberately causes images to be out of focus! With all talk these days about high-speed autofocus lenses with the most refined optics and technology, the Lensbaby represents a technological leap—backwards! And that, my friends, was refreshing. Lens Baby 2.0 I recently got a Lensbaby 2.0 in the Nikon mount and I decided to see for myself what it was, how it worked, and what it could do. Read more...

Many things in the life of photographers have become easier with many problems of the analog world solved through digital photography. This includes the 36 frames limit and the time we could evaluate results on the light table, slide projector or on paper, as well as operating costs. On the other hand, digital photography has produced new problems we never even thought existed or that had been of minor importance in the analog times. Read more...

About a year ago I decided to join a group of photo enthusiasts for a photographic safari in Namibia (which was performed just recently). I had all the photographic equipment available but no suitable bag compatible with modern air traffic regulations. My bag choices were either too small or way too bulky and I did not want to compromise my equipment selection. So I started to look around to see what was on the market. Read more...

How to get under the radar in places where flash is forbidden? Say welcome to the Merlin Stick, or the Walking Monopod. Read more...

HP's first pigment based inkjet printer gets high marks for ease of use and impressive results. No other technology has helped digital photography and imaging achieve its meteoric rise in popularity more than the ability of hobbyists, serious amateurs, and professionals to take printing into their own hands. Read more...

I had the opportunity to use a Gepe Card Safe "Extreme" model for a few months. I am still using it after accidentally putting it through a torture test. During my initial test period I found that the unit lived up to the manufacturer's claims about being shock resistant, crushproof, dustproof and watertight. One of the things I really liked about it was how secure it held my four CF cards totaling enough GB of memory. Read more...