Category Archives: Accessories

REVIEW: Zhiyun FIVERAY M60 Ultra & Molus X100 RGB

Introduction

Many photographers use their still cameras, or sometimes dedicated video cameras to record video as well. Traditionally, still photographers have relied on speedlights or strobes, while videographers have needed large continuous lights.

Today, hybrid photographers and videographers, who often use the same camera for both, can choose from a range of compact, sometimes even pocketable, continuous lights that work for both photography and video. Modern continuous lights also have a major advantage over speedlights, strobes, and traditional video lights: you can adjust their color to match the existing light or balance different light sources in a mixed-lighting setup.

In this review, we’re looking at two such options from Zhiyun: the Fiveray M60 Ultra and the Molus X100 RGB. Both are compact, portable lights, but they take slightly different approaches to providing illumination for photography and video. We’ll look at their features, output, handling and performance in practice. Continue reading REVIEW: Zhiyun FIVERAY M60 Ultra & Molus X100 RGB →

Projector Lenses – Reviving the Joy of Old Petzval Lenses (Guest Article)

Introduction

Martin recently reviewed Lomo’s replica of a Petzval lens. I commented, perhaps slightly snidely, that vintage Petzval lenses are still around, often for less money, and often with better centre sharpness – and certainly with a vast choice of models and thus rendition nuances.

Martin suggested I share my knowledge in an article. And like an inverse Spice Girl, one became two. This one seeks to introduce you to the weird magic of Petzval lenses and their widespread availability from old cinema film projectors. The next will look at adapting them, and indeed any old projection lens, to a modern-day camera.

So here we go, I guess.

All pictures were taken on full-frame evils: a Sony a7r2 and an a7cr. Some were cropped; all were adjusted for proper blacks and whites according to ancient darkroom principles. None had additional sharpening or aberration correction applied.

Sample Images

Meyer  Görlitz Kinon Superior 50/2.2.
Meopta Meostigmat 50/1.3, 617-inspired 1:3 crop out of 3:2 full frame image.
Meyer  Görlitz Kinon Superior  50/1.6 – A characteristic of Petzval lenses is the swirly bokeh, which also results in lentilesque distortion of highlights (some call it cat’s eyes; you’d need a pretty deformed cat to see that analogy).
Meopta 50/1.3
The Meyers date from the 1930s! This 50/1.6 cost someone 6 pound sterling in 1938, according to an old advert.

Continue reading Projector Lenses – Reviving the Joy of Old Petzval Lenses (Guest Article) →

Review: Pergear CFexpress Typ B 512GB

Introduction

Pergear entered the memory card market later than many of the bigger players, but in 2022 and 2023 they launched high-spec CFexpress Type B and Type A cards at far more budget-friendly prices. They’re quickly carving out a place for themselves alongside more established brands.

When they asked if I wanted to test their newest card, I agreed—mainly because I wanted to see how it stacks up against the cards I already use in my cameras. Let’s take a closer look.

camera-icon2I tested this card on a 46 Mp Nikon Z7ii
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!

Continue reading Review: Pergear CFexpress Typ B 512GB →

Review: TTArtisan Flash M01 + Wireless Trigger J01

Introduction

TTArtisan had earlier released LED lamps in  the shape of a 35mm film roll. Later, they also released the RGB version of those lamps. Tiny LED lamps that can be easily carried in a pocket and hidden behind any object to be photographed, adding an extra element to the images. Now, they have released camera flashes in that format, the M01 flash together with the wirelless trigger J01. Let’s have a brief look at them.

camera-icon2I tested these falshes on a Nikon Zf  and a Nikon Zfc.
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in high resolution here.

Sample Images

Three off-camera M01 flashes
One on-camera M01 flash
Four off-camera M01 flashes
One on-camera M01 flash
One on-camera M01 flash

Continue reading Review: TTArtisan Flash M01 + Wireless Trigger J01 →