Tweet About It

For the last several weeks, I’ve been tweeting about a wide range of topics including Marquette Madness, the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Badgers, the World Series and much more. I’ve had a Twitter account for over 4 years but after high school, I wasn’t as active on the site. However, this assignment gave me the opportunity to reignite my love for Twitter. I love that everything on Twitter is in live time which is especially useful for keeping up with sports or an unfolding crisis situation. Overall, I had a positive Twitter experience. While I didn’t get a ton of response on my tweets, I was happy enough being able to share my thoughts and tweets with my followers.

Happy Homecoming @MarquetteU #PurelyPR #MarquetteMadness

For the initial part of the assignment, I focused a lot of my tweets on the Cleveland Indians, my favorite baseball team, and post-season coverage, as well as Marquette Homecoming and Marquette Madness. One picture in particular that I tweeted at the official Marquette account was retweeted and received 9 retweets and almost 50 likes – a personal best for me. I also found myself responding to several posts put out by the university in regards to the new residence hall going up as well as tweets posted by Mashable responding to the Samsung crisis over a defect in one of its flagship smartphones.

Towards the end of the assignment, I wanted to focus my attention a little more on casual tweets. Rather than tweet about Marquette related topics or respond to tweets put out by other users, I wanted to have a little more fun with it and add some form of comic relief to my profile. Whether it was a GIF describing my state of exhaustion from midterms, my extreme dislike for the fact that daylight savings is gone once again, or the squirrel that made a guest appearance at Lambeau, I thought it was important to discuss “less serious” topics through my tweets to lighten the mood.

As a Twitter user for the past couple of years, there a few things that I have learned. For starters, there is always the temptation to tweet something that you might regret later on. While the thoughts may be genuine and in the moment, you might see an aggressive tweet as a simple form of expression, it could come back to haunt you later on. Twitter can say a lot about a person’s character and if one of your followers has never met you in-person, their opinions of you will be based solely off of what you tweet. If done in a tasteful, Twitter can be a fantastic platform for discussing issues and engaging your audience. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to start tweeting!

Capture Long-Exposure. No Tripod Required

Imagine being able to take sharp, long-exposure shots without the burden of carrying around a tripod – that dream is now a reality with Olympus’ newest addition to its expanding mirrorless lineup, the OM-D E-M1 Mark II. With its new 6.5-stop stabilization, exposures as long as five or six seconds long can be captured with ease. The camera comes equipped with 4K video capture, built-in Wi-Fi as well as a mechanical shooting speed of 15 fps and 60 fps in electronic mode – making it the fastest burst shutter rate on the market today. However, the real star of the show is the camera’s advanced 5-Axis Image Stabilization system – giving photographers the ability to capture sharp images at slow speeds.

Before getting to the main feature of this camera, first thing I’d like to point out is the design and build-quality of the camera. The E-M1 Mark II’s mirrorless design allows for the photographer to take advantage of its capabilities without the burden of lugging around heavy equipment. At a price point of $2,000, this is camera is also built for professionals and high enthusiasts who demand a durable piece of equipment. The design is similar to that of other Olympus cameras with top of the camera body being littered with buttons and dials for basic functions such as shooting mode, a headphone jack, function dials, ISO ranging from 64 to 25,600 and white balance adjustments. The LCD screen on the back of the camera tilts and swivels and the Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) behind the lens allows for more accurate framing while taking pictures. From personal experiences of owning an Olympus OM-D point-and-shoot, I can say that Olympus has done a fantastic job with its electronic viewfinders as well as the design and build-quality of its OM-D lineup and the E-M1 Mark II is no exception has remained consistently on par with the competition.

However, for those who enjoy night photography, having to carry around a tripod to get crisp-looking night shots can be a real challenge. As an amateur photographer myself, I enjoy taking night cityscape shots but without a tripod, I struggle to keep my hands still enough to get a decent shot – even at high ISOs. With that being said, the stabilization system on this camera is good…really good. The sample shots taken from Petapixel highlight just how unbelievably good this image stabilization really is. At ISO 64 and an aperture at f/9, to get a properly exposed night shot like this would require a shutter speed of at least 8-10 seconds and a tripod to prevent blurriness. This photograph, taken without the use of a tripod, has a recorded shutter speed of 5 seconds and zoomed in at 100x magnification, corners are still very sharp. Simply put, I’m blown away by this system. 

Despite the camera’s phenomenal stabilization system, the E-M1 Mark II does have its downfalls. For starters, the camera’s price is pretty steep when you take into account the camera’s lack of a full-frame sensor (compare the Canon 6D which costs $700 less and has a full-frame sensor of equal resolution) and most devices still aren’t capable of supporting 4K video which means this is (currently) not the best camera for video-capture and playback. All things aside, I think this is a fantastic camera and a great value. Yes it is pretty pricey for a mirrorless camera but it performs well. Its lightning fast shutter speed and versatility as a tool for photographers easily make it a candidate for being one of the year’s best cameras.

Olympus Launches Stylish and Compact E-PL8 Digital Camera

The latest newcomer in Olympus’s “Micro Four Thirds” lineup is the E-PL8 – which priced at $550, sits on the low-end of the price point for the company’s series of advanced compact cameras. It replaces the E-PL7 as the starter camera for consumers interested in using Olympus’s ILC system. It comes packed with a 16MP CMOS sensor, continuous shooting rate of 8 fps, built-in-Wi-Fi and 1.04M-dot touchscreen; The camera’s easy-to-use software and performance make it a great camera for those who are new to photography or are looking to upgrade their smartphone camera.

One of the first aspects about this camera that should be highlighted is the design – this thing is beauty. The E-PL8 looks more like a fashion-accessory than a camera but it still has the high-quality feel and build that one would expect from Olympus. Its aluminum body wrapped in leather gives the camera a very classy appearance. It comes in a variety of colors including White with brown accents, Black, and Silver with tan leather accents. Camera makers have been attempting to target younger clients and this design is proof that Olympus is one of those companies trying to appeal to millennials craving style and functionality.

Since the E-PL8 image sensor is essentially the same as what you would find in its predecessor, I expected the image quality to be similar (which it was). However, this is not the bad thing since the E-PL7 had good image quality for its class. For a camera of this size and class, it comes with higher end features and is an overall versatile photographic tool. The native ISO range of 200-25,600 on the E-PL8 remains the same as its predecessor with an expanded low ISO option of 100. Images don’t produce very much until you push the camera past ISO 6400. Images become almost unusable once the camera is pushed past 12,800 ISO.

While overall performance of the camera was good, I would’ve liked Olympus to be a little more innovative in terms of its features. I was underwhelmed with the lack of a new sensor and mediocre video specs. Olympus is advertising this as an “advanced amateur camera,” but I think the lack of a lens with the camera body could also leave customers feeling a little overwhelmed financially. When all is said in done, the camera can easily run $700-$800 and for a cheaper price, I think the PL7 will serve you just as well. 

Big Sensor in Small Package

For photographers wanting to get an insane amount of quality from their photos or serve clientele that demand the absolute best, most photographers would want to go medium-format. While some 35mm DSLRs have caught up with medium-format in terms of picture resolution, medium-format cameras are still leaps and bounds ahead when it comes to dynamic range and noise performance. Medium-format cameras also tend to be extremely costly and very large – the Hasselblad X1D announced earlier this year goes against the stereotype (for the most part). The camera is still very expensive at a cost of nearly $9,000 just for the body, but the body itself is the size of most DSLRs – which in the world of medium-format, is quite the achievement.

First thing that should be pointed out about the camera is the size. Most Hasselblad users are accustomed to carrying large, bulky cameras and for most photoshoots, Hasselblads will either be mounted on a tripod or will remain in a studio. With the X1D, it’s now possible to get the quality of a larger medium-format camera like the H6D but with the compactness of a 35mm DSLR. You might be wondering, how is this possible? The answer – no mirror. For the first time in the company’s 75 year history, Hasselblad has come out with a mirrorless camera. Sony, Nikon, and Canon have all come out with 35mm mirrorless cameras over the last couple of year that are more compact and much more affordable than Hasselblad’s X1D. What Hasselblad did was a smart move – rather than try to compete directly with 35mm brands, Hasselblad took what they do best (medium-format) and created the world’s first medium-format mirrorless camera.

The other highlight feature of this camera is that enormous 50MP CMOS sensor. With a sensor nearly 1.5x the size of most 35mm sensors, this translates to better noise performance, ability to capture more light, and nearly 14 stops of dynamic range. Being a new system, the X1D isn’t compatible with most of Hasselblad’s lenses but the company will be offering an adapter to current H system users. From sample images I’ve seen, image quality is good but the depth of field isn’t quite as shallow as I expected it to be from a medium-format sensor. Other 35mm camera brands like Canon have very fast lenses that produced shallower depths-of-field than the 45mm and 90mm lenses that are equipped with the X1D.

Aside from the depth-of-field, the Hasselblad X1D lives up to the name as an innovator of photography. It’s an expensive piece of equipment but when all things are taken into consideration (i.e. sensor size, same specs as the more expensive H6D, small package), the X1D is actually a great value. If you’re a photographer that demands this kind of quality from your images and have deep enough pockets, the X1D is a wise investment. 

Canon's Best 5D Yet?

Let's go back to the 2012 launch of Canon’s 5D Mark III which ultimately, turned out to be one of the company’s best-selling cameras…ever. Just this past month, the company announced a successor to the Mark III, the Canon 5D Mark IV. The Mark IV brings a couple of new features to the table; for starters, the camera now has a touch screen on the back, a new 30 full-frame megapixel sensor, built-in GPS, 4K video and NFC – just to name a few. With a burst frame rate of 7 fps, the camera is also ideal for sports photographers. However, at a price of over $3,000, this camera is not for amateur DSLR users. This is a very serious camera, with very serious capabilities. With that being said – if you take full advantage of what the camera has to offer – this 5D Mark IV, in my opinion, is worth the upgrade from the 5D Mark III.

Let’s start with one of the biggest upgrades since the 5D Mark III and that is the new 30 megapixel sensor. The Mark IV is built around a new 30.4 megapixel CMOS sensor and Canon’s latest and greatest Digic 6+ processor. Canon also incorporated the auto-focus system from its bigger, more expensive brother, the 1D X Mark II, containing over 60 AF points. I think this was a very smart move by Canon since the 1D X, which is geared more towards professional sports photographers and costs almost twice as much, because consumers now have a more affordable option if they’re looking for just as stellar image quality without the burst shooting capabilities. What this translates to is a high-resolution sensor that produces stunning images accompanied by one of the quickest auto-focusing systems I've seen on a Canon DSLR.

The other highlight feature of the new Mark IV would have to be 4K video. We’re living in a day and age where 1080p isn’t good enough anymore. Many compact cameras and other competitor DSLRs have 4K recording capabilities – even Apple's latest iPhone can record 4K video. Canon’s decision to implement 4K video in its latest flagship wasn’t merely a coincidence, but a wise business decision. With that being said, the 4K video on this DSLR was mediocre (see sample video below). Colors were saturated and natural looking but low-light performance left me feeling underwhelmed. The AF system does an effective job of keeping everything looking smooth but for a camera that costs over $3,000, I’ve been more impressed with Sony’s R-series.

Despite the lackluster 4K video experience, I still think this is a fantastic tool for photographers. Most consumers in this particular market will be buying the camera for the 30 megapixel sensor and sharp stills rather than the video capabilities; therefore I don’t see the video performance as a reason to not buy the camera. Sure, there are other options from Canon, Nikon, and even Sony that may be excellent cameras but as an all-purpose DSLR and for the price caliber, the 5D Mark IV will not disappoint. 

Sony RX 10 III: A good camera, with a VERY long lens

At the end of March, Sony announced the launch of the RX10 III – which features the same 1-inch sensor found in the RX100 IV. It comes with a mammoth-sized fixed lens with an equivalent zoom of 24-600 mm and a 1-inch sensor capable of shooting 20.1 megapixel photos, burst speeds of up to 14 frames per second, and 4K video with slow-motion capture of up to 960 frames per second. Though it’s not much different than its predecessor, the RX10 II, the RX10 III’s long-zoom lens is a feature that is going to be tough to come across for those in the high-end 35mm camera market. The camera is set to launch this May at a price of $1,500.

The star feature of this camera is that monster 24-600mm f/2.4-4 Vario-Sonnar T* Zeiss lens. While there are limitations to having such a large lens (such as compactness), the lens is still capable of taking photos with a nice shallow depth of field at f/4 – even at a 600mm focal length. Sony’s new lens is also capable of getting up those close-up, macro shots as little as 3 cm away from the lens. That’s quite impressive for a prosumer camera, especially for one of this size.

The design of the camera has a striking resemblance to that of its predecessor, the RX10 II: so if you were hoping for a fresh, new design, you’ll be sorely disappointed. It’s got the look and feel of most prosumer range DSLRs with its hot shoe on top of the built-in flash, mode dial, and a screen on top of the camera body that shows basic information like ISO, shutter speed, and aperture f-stop. It feels good in the hand (as any camera of this price caliber should). As a matter of fact, there’s really no way to tell the two cameras apart unless you notice the lens and extra Roman numeral added to the badge on the front of the body.

So the real question is “what are you actually getting with the RX10 III?” For starters, both the RX 10 III and the RX 10 II have similar image quality, they record 4K video, and both have 20 megapixel 1.0 inch sensors. All you’re getting is a bigger lens and for $300 extra dollars, I don't think it's worth the investment. It’s not that the RX10 III is a bad camera, it’s just that there's really nothing new about it. RX 10 II, for a couple of hundred dollars less, is just as capable of a camera. If something more compact is what you’re looking for, get the Sony RX100 IV.

 

Why Medium Format?

 In a world gone digital, film photography is becoming increasingly obsolete. Over the last 20 years, camera makers like Canon and Nikon have noticed significant impacts due to the shift from film to digital photography. The convenience of taking photos digitally as well as advancements in digital camera technology appealed to many amateur and professional photographers. However, there is still hope for film; in particular, medium format film. There are several advantages to shooting medium format film but the two key advantages to shooting medium format film over 35mm digital are picture size/resolution and overall cost. 

                Most professionals and non-professionals alike have used a 35mm film or digital camera at least once. Point-and-shoot 35mm cameras are compact and convenient for those who are looking to get better quality than he or she would get from their cell phone. 35mm DSLRs come in a variety of sizes, prices and come with a wide-array of features. However, medium format film cameras have a key advantage over standard 35mm cameras in picture size and resolution. In comparison to 35mm film, medium format film is nearly four times the size. What this translates to is a larger surface area that is able to take in more light and thus create sharper, higher-resolution negatives. While medium format cameras tend to be larger in size, the larger film rolls and higher resolution images make it clear as to why medium format is often the route professional photographers tend to take – especially if their line of work requires high resolution images such as in commercial photography.
                One of the biggest concerns people have over medium format photography is the price of equipment; not to mention the cost of buying, processing, and scanning film. Digital medium format cameras can be extremely expensive costing as much as $20,000 just for the body. However, film medium format cameras tend to be much more affordable due to a decrease in demand but can produce photographs that are often sharper than photographs taken with 35mm DSLRs. My personal recommendation is to buy a slightly used medium format film camera. Some of the best medium format film cameras on the market can still be bought through websites like Amazon and eBay at decent prices. The Hasselblad V-series camera in particular is known for its excellent Carl Zeiss lenses and durability. In addition to durability, medium format cameras – especially Hasselblad and Mamiya – tend to hold their value for much longer than digital cameras; meaning that the investment you make now will be well worth the money in the long run.
                With digital photography, convenience is its biggest selling-point; not to mention that film takes time and money to develop. However, many medium format film cameras are selling for great prices in comparison to their digital counterparts. Rather than spend thousands of dollars on a new digital DSLR that has all of the latest and greatest in technology, buy a camera that serves a simple purpose and will last you a lifetime: go medium format.   

Canon's Latest Flagship DSLR

It has been close to five years since Canon’s flagship model, the 1D-X, was launched and alas there is a successor. Its blazing fast burst shutter rate of 12 frames per second and insanely high ISO range made the 1D-X a hot commodity for demanding photographers. However, the 1D-X was quite expensive and this new model (Canon EOS-1D X Mark II) is no exception. This beast, at a price of $6,000, is not for amateurs looking to take pictures of their cats and post them to Facebook. With a couple of new features added to the camera such as 4K HD video, a touch-screen, built-in GPS, and a maximum ISO of 409600, one big question comes to mind; is this camera worth the money? My answer is no.

Before I begin explaining why I think there are better choices for professional photographers, there is one thing I will say about the camera – this is a very capable machine. For those who are looking for the absolute best, you will struggle to find anything else better for the job. Its burst shutter rate has been bumped up to 16 frames per second thanks to its new Dual DIGIC 6+ image processors. The ISO range (expansion to ISO 409600) allows for shooting in just about any type of light while producing little noise or grain. Canon has also improved the autofocus performance with its new 61-point High Density Reticular AF II system and 41 cross-type points. Essentially what this translates to is maximum control over what subjects will be in focus. The video capabilities have also been improved to record up to 4K HD resolution video at 60 fps and full 1080p video at 120 fps for slow motion capture.

Despite all of the great features that this camera has to offer, I struggle to see the value and justification behind the $6,000 price tag. If nature or sports photography is your niche, then yes this is the perfect camera for the job. Its blazing fast burst shutter makes it ideal for capturing the “perfect shot.” However, there are also plenty of other options that not only take higher resolution pictures (i.e. Canon 5DS) and offer the same processing power as the 1D-X Mark II (i.e. Canon EOS 7D Mark II), but perform just as well under low-light conditions. If the 16 fps burst shutter rate is something you can live without, save yourself about $3,000 and get a Canon 5D Mark III instead.