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GAS – so what should I spend my money on

You have a camera, not the latest but still well capable. A selection of lens, flash, and more camera bags then you know what to do with, plus a few extra hidden in the back of a cupboard from your significant other.

What to buy next?

Well spend some money on trips out, flex those photographic muscles, maybe if your a wildlife photographer a trip to a local nature park, a holiday of a lifetime to somewhere you have dreamed off.

For the people photographers like me, get a mood board sorted with ideas, collect some cheap props.

I often take a bag of cheap sunglasses to the studio and let the model experiment.

Photography purchases to not have to be expensive. Just something that will get you out shooting.

If your looking at kit, then think about clothing if your into landscape or wildlife. Think about tripods and heads. For studio photographers investing in three C-Stands will enable lots of creativity and will last forever.

For me the list would be like this:

  • Props (hats, material, glasses)
  • Lighting Grip (eg C-Stands)
  • Backgrounds and gels
  • Reflectors
  • Modifiers
  • Flash Heads
  • Filters
  • Camera straps
  • Equipment bags
  • Cleaning equipment
  • Lens
  • Cameras

There is a lot you can invest in, to improve your photography before buying that new camera and lens. Also remember things like storage and backup for your files. I have a large NAS holding all my photography files, then a bunch of external drives holding backup copies. Then an external SSD for my Lightroom database, and backup jobs copying that database to two different computers and a cloud storage provider. But that’s a different post.

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More Z7 firmware

I had a shoot this last Thursday, some art nude with colour gels; and I spotted on social media another firmware. update for the old Z7. I decided against applying it as it did not seem to offer me much but I’ll apply it this weekend and then start testing. Nothing like a bad update to upset a days shooting. I have to admit to Nikon their updates are pretty solid and I have never had an issue. Not like Adobe; I use Lightroom to tether and often an update just before a shoot will bring issues.

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Nikon Z6 III released

So here we have the new Nikon Z6 mark 3, or Z6III as it will be most likely known as.

Most reviews are positive and the processor out of the Z9/8 together with its lower resolution sensor, still 24 MP makes it a bit of a speed beast and excellent for event photographers who take lots of shots at each event and want a manageable file size.

Looking through the reviews there seems to be only three complaints

  • No improvement to resolution
  • More expensive
  • No battery charger

24MP is still a sweet spot for video and this is its strength, event photographers will be glad of 24MP. Others using this, especially new comers wanting a budget Nikon first Nikon Z might be disappointed its not more like 36MP.

A few comments on the price, but its prices well to its competitors and counting inflation over the last few years it might not actually be any dearer.

No battery charger. Nikon being a bit cheap. Part of me understands this, but maybe leaving the charger out for the Z9/8 would make more sense. Myself as a Nikon user of many years have lots of chargers for this battery format, but new comers will not. Is this camera or new comers. It will certainly please those looking at reducing electrical waste.

Over all a great little camera.

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Nikon Z6iii is coming

So by Monday next week we will finally now all about the long rumoured Nikon Z6 mark iii.

This is a tough camera for Nikon, its typically been the cheaper enthusiast camera, those that want something more capable then the base models Z50 and Z5 but cannot afford the Z8, Z9.

Its also been the faster more video focussed brother to the Z7.

Make it too good, it will be too expensive, you might as well pick up a Z8. Aimed at the cheaper end of the market and Nikon haters will say Nikon cannot make a decent mid prices camera.

We will see where they go with this but its a tricky balancing act.

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Canon R1 Development announcement

Its been a long wait, and for Canon users they have had the capable R5 and R3 available; but we finally have the pro R1 development announcement.

There’s going to be a lot of hype, and a lot of negativity around this, but we have to remember who its for and the field of work the EOS 1 targeted.

Do not expect a high megapixel global shutter monster; this will be a very solid very capable mid megapixel camera that will work in any environment and not let press or sport photographers down. If they want high MP they will reach for the R5.

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no picture of the month

Personal life has been too busy this month so very little work done worth showing so here’s a few from the archive. Toni model was retiring so this was our last shoot. No real idea except sunglasses as a theme.