Photography Gear Reviews

What’s in my Camera bag in 2016?

The camera gear of 2016

Here I reveal all the camera gear in my bag in 2016. We look at the bags, camera bodies, camera lenses and the accessories that can make or break a shot.

The requests have been flooding in for me to make this video and I have finally buckled under the pressure. Here I bear my soul and reveal much of what currently makes it into my camera bag. Sadly my Canon 70-200 is out on loan and the DJI Mavic Pro drone is yet to be purchased.

Is camera gear everything?

Whilst the camera gear is not the key to good photography we cannot help to love it a little bit. Despite that we can not all afford to buy good camera gear. If you fall into this camp, I am planning to create a video around shooting with budget gear very soon.

I have posted links below to check out all of the camera gear below. Follow the link to see all the individual review.

Review Videos - https://www.firstmanphotography.com/category/reviews

Subscribe to the YouTube channel.

Camera Gear Links

F-Stop Sukha Camera Bag Review

In this video we take a look at the best camera bag I have ever owned.

I have mentioned a few times in the comments recently that I have not been happy with my current camera bag. It is a Lowepro Backpack. It is fine but since I have started vlogging and needing to carry more and more gear with me I have needed something bigger, more rugged and more comfortable for carrying up mountains. This is where the F-Stop Sukha Camera Bag comes into play.

F-Stop are known for creating bags that are dedicated for photographers who like getting out and about into the elements. Most hiking bags are not designed for photographers. Accessing your gear can be extremely difficult, especially in the field when the lens you want is right at the bottom and it is raining.

F-Stop Sukha Camera Bag - Innovative design

The F-Stop Sukha Camera Bag deals with that problem with an innovative design. Roll the bag over into 'work station' mode and you have access to all your gear the through the back panel.

The gear sits in the internal camera unit, or ICU. F-Stop make various sizes of these to suit most photographers and includes one with the ability to take an exceptionally large telephoto lens. The ICU lifts out and can act as it's own protective case. The lid can just fold back and slide into the bag.

The Sukha is so big there is still plenty of room for things like camping gear or other trekking type gear. There is a pocket designed to accept a laptop but also doubles up to accept a hydration system.

The Sukha is designed to handle even severe weather. It is a waterproof camera bag but also uses snag proof material. The quality of this thing is exceptional. It feels well built and is also very comfortable even with a full load.

External Storage

There are a host of other pockets and external storage options. It even fits a travel tripod like the Manfrotto BeFree and easily accepts a gorilla pod. Bigger tripods will easily attach to the outside.

Clearly the F-Stop Sukha Camera Bag is not for everyone. However, for those getting out and about into the elements there are currently few, if any, better options than an F-Stop bag. It is especially versatile. It also acts as a normal hiking bag by taking the ICU out and leaving it at home.

The only downside is the cost. At over £300 with the ICU it's an expensive bag, there's no doubt about it. However, the high quality and the ability to use different ICU's will make this a valuable asset for years and years to come. I haven't tested this out in anger yet and will be doing so soon on my next vlog. I will give you an update then but I'm sure all will be positive.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Check out the F-Stop range - Click here

 

Ridiculously Powerful Head Torch

In this video I unbox a ridiculously powerful head torch.

When I started this channel I said I was going to feature things that might not obviously relate to photography. I have not done this as often as I would like so I'm putting that right today by featuring this head torch.

Having a torch is essential for photographers who are working outside at night. Particularly for Astrophotography but also we are often trekking to locations in the dark to capture sunrises and sunsets.

Up to now I have been using a small yet power LED torch. It is decent quality but holding it in your hand creates it’s own restrictions. I have also been using a different less powerful head torch. It does a job but never satisfied I want more. More light. I want more power.

Who wouldn't?

Canwelum head torch

I be picked up this Canwelum head torch with a massively bright CREE T6 LED lightsource. In the video I unbox the torch and give an example of it’s brightness where it can even double as a video light.

Many torches like use normal AA batteries but this one uses rechargeable lithium ion batteries for longer use. It also has the ability to focus the beam which is extremely useful. The head torch also has two power settings with a more economical mode for longer use.

Advertised run time is not as good as hoped at 2-5 hours depending on the mode. However that is still going to be plenty in most situations.

I can't wait to get out and use this. Even better it comes in currently at £19 in the UK and about $20 in the US. I'll put the links down below for you to check it out and I'll see you on another video very soon.

Please subscribe to the channel for videos every Wednesday and every Sunday.

Buy in the US - http://amzn.to/2cxyPKY

Buy in the UK - http://amzn.to/2cbkNje

Canon 18-135 STM Lens Review - Perfect Kit Lens Upgrade

Is the Canon 18-135 STM Lens the perfect kit lens upgrade?

In this video we take a look at the Canon 18-135 STM Lens and ask is this the perfect kit lens upgrade? Many new Canon cameras come with an 18-55mm kit lens. People are often surprised about how limiting that range can actually be and quickly look to upgrade. The Canon 18-135 STM Lens offers an impressive range so may seem like on obvious upgrade at the time of purchase or as a replacement for the 18-55mm. So let's delve into this and have a look.

I recently went to the Lake District to test out this lens, using the range fully to capture both landscapes and more zoomed in detailed shots. Check out my vlog of the day and see more of the beautiful landscape here:

https://www.firstmanphotography.com/vlog/vlog-6

The Canon 18-135 STM Lens is an EF-S lens so is only suitable for APS-C cameras like the Canon 750d/Rebel T6i or Canon 80d. With the crop factor of those cameras taken into account, the lens has a 35mm equivalent of 29-216mm. This is an amazing range that will be suitable for so many different areas of photography. When starting out in photography, this versatility is extremely useful allowing you to try lots of different styles of photography without having to switch lenses all the time and invest more money.

canon 18-135 stm
canon 18-135 stm

Specs

The lens has a maximum aperture between f/3.5 and f/5.6 depending on the focal length you are using. This is very similar to the 18-55mm kit lens. However thanks to those longer focal lengths, a much better background blur can be achieved. With 7 aperture blades the bokeh is not as creamy as you might find in more expensive lenses but anything from 85mm and above will achieve decent results. In the pictures below you can see the bokeh effect at 85mm, 100mm and 135mm. This works well for portraits where the subject can be isolated.

[tie_slideshow]

canon 18-135 stm
canon 18-135 stm

[tie_slide][/tie_slide]

Canon 18-135 STM
Canon 18-135 STM

[tie_slide][/tie_slide]

Canon 18-135 STM
Canon 18-135 STM

[tie_slide][/tie_slide]

[/tie_slideshow]

The camera has a:

  •  Minimum focus distance of 0.39m
  • 7 diaphragm blades
  • Weight 480g
  • Filter 67mm
  • 16 elements in 12 groups

The Canon 18-135 STM has 4-stop image stabilisation that is extremely useful on a lens with this focal range. The image stabilisation is particularly impressive on this lens. The IS on the Canon 18-135 STM performs better than the 18-55mm at the same focal range. At the longer focal lengths the stabilisation is capable of smoothing out some pretty severe movements. This is especially useful for shooting video and can provide some very steady footage even when handheld like this shot. The stabilisation also improves low light performance allowing you to reduce your shutter speed up to 4 stops slower than normal. The Canon 18-135 STM also has the STM focus motor meaning smooth focus adjustments can be made whilst shooting video.

Canon 18-135 STM Review
Canon 18-135 STM Review

Taking a quick look around the Canon 18-135 STM the thing that instantly strikes is the quality is slightly improved over the 18-55mm. It feels solid and the metal mount adds a little extra strength although like all EF-S lenses it is not weather sealed. The zoom ring is nice and smooth and has a lock switch you can employ to lock the zoom at 18mm. There is the IS switch and the autofocus switch on the side. The focus on this lens is a focus by wire system, like the other STM lenses, meaning the camera has to be powered on for the focus to function whether in autofocus or manual. The focus ring turns easily and smoothly although it feels a little loose. This should not cause too many issues thanks to the focus by wire system. Autofocus is accurate and fast enough for most situations.

Image Quality

Image quality of the Canon 18-135 STM is at the level you would expect for a lens in this price range. It is not the sharpest lens in the box but the quality is very reasonable for a lens with this amount of zoom range. At the wide end, the lens acts as a perfectly reasonable landscaping lens. The ability to zoom in so far also opens up opportunities that do not always exist when going out to shoot landscapes with a wide angle or normal kit lens. This shot of the misty Lake District mountains shows the kind of landscape images that can be captured at longer focal lengths. If you want to take your landscapes even further the Canon 10-18mm matches up very nicely to this lens giving you a combined focal range from 10-135mm for relatively little money.

Canon 18-135 STM-1
Canon 18-135 STM-1

Cost

This lens is £275/$285 so it’s offering very good value for money when it comes to camera lenses, particularly in the US. Alternatives include lenses with an 18-200mm zoom range from Sigma, Tamron and Canon themselves. These are older lenses though. The quality does not quite match up to this one and they don't have that all important STM focus motor that makes this lens so good for video.

Canon 18-135 STM-2
Canon 18-135 STM-2

Conclusion

Overall I really like the Canon 18-135 STM. Thanks to the versatility and the excellent image stabilisation the lens was a joy to use for both still images and videos. With good build quality and more than reasonable image quality this lens will be the only lens many casual shooters will ever need. If you are looking to buy a good quality family camera system with the versatility to do a few other things then this is the lens for you. If you are buying your first DSLR camera I would heartily recommend getting it with this lens as opposed to the standard 18-55mm. If you already own the 18-55mm this lens could be a worthy upgrade, particularly if you are not interested in changing lenses too often and just want a DSLR that is ready for anything.

Other Videos - https://www.firstmanphotography.com/reviews/canon-10-18mm-lens-review

Rode VideoMic Pro Review

Is the Rode VideoMic Pro the king of the video microphones?

When you enter the market looking to purchase a microphone it can be a daunting place. The terminology is immediately confusing with talk of condensers, dynamics, cardoids and directionals. It feels like you're like a child walking into the middle of a movie with no frame of reference.

If you are reading about this microphone it is likely that you want to shoot some video and capture great sound. With Rode now being such a respected manufacturer of microphones it is safe to trust them that this is the right kind of microphone to do that. And indeed it is, it is a directional, condenser microphone that will capture the sound from the direction it is pointing in.

The Rode VideoMic Pro is specifically designed for use with a camera. It attaches to the hot shoe flash mount and has a 3.5mm jack that will attach directly into your camera or portable audio recorder like a Zoom H4N.  It comes with an included shock mount to reduce some of the clicks and knocks that naturally occur from the camera, like focusing and zooming. If you buy the Rode VideoMic Pro today it ships with the new and improved Rycote® Lyre® shock mount.

The actual microphone is covered by a foam cover and this cannot be removed. It sits nicely on the shock mount and has this short wire to connect to your camera or audio recorder. Many reviews mention the flimsiness of this wire. Whist it certainly isn't a robust wire I have had it for a few years now and I have never had any issues and there is no sign of it breaking or snapping.

Round the back and it reveals the biggest strength of this camera that makes it perfect for shooting video with your camera. It has a switch that will add 20db of gain to your audio. This lets you manually turn down the gain in your camera, effectively reducing noise that is normally created by the poor audio circuits in your camera. This is a killer feature and for many the sole reason they buy this mic. You can also reduce the mic gain by 10 db to properly record very loud audio sources like concerts.

In addition to this it also has a selectable hi-pass filter that reduces low end noise such as traffic and other background sounds and this is just another nice little feature that will improve your overall sound.

These features do require power though and this brings me onto the only real weakness of the Rode VideoMic Pro. This is a portable microphone so a 9v battery is used to power it up. Although it claims to have 70 hours of use there is no auto-off feature so when you’re finished filming if you forget to turn it off you can be left without power the next time you come to shoot.

This has happened to me a few times before and can be potentially prevent you from capturing the moment. I now just carry a spare 9V battery so it never happens again.

So all in all this is an excellent video microphone that gets a full 5 star review from me. There are smaller and cheaper alternatives out there. There are also video microphones out there that do not require power so if you think the batteries may be a problem for you it might worth looking at alternatives such as the rode video micro or the Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun Microphone.

Get the Rode VideoMic Pro in the UK

Get the Rode VideoMic Pro in the US

Subscribe to the YouTube channel.

The other products featured in the video are listed below:

Canon 10-18mm IS STM Review

The Canon 10-18mm is Ultra Wide Angle on a Budget

The fact that Canon decided to make this lens is a great thing. Opening up ultra wide angle photography to a new audience is a welcome move with this Canon 10-18mm budget lens.

When you first strap an ultra wide lens to your camera it is an exciting moment discovering the new perspective it brings to the world. Scenes look bigger and it displays an image much wider than what your eyes would see. The Canon 10-18mm lens picks up nicely where your 18-55mm kit lens leaves off and is a perfect accompaniment to this on a cropped sensor EF-S camera.

Wide angle photography opens up your creative possibilities in landscape photography, architecture photography and is always used to sell houses by making rooms look bigger.

On paper the Canon 10-18mm lens is excellent. It has the ultra wide angle, it's relatively cheap, it's light, the front element does not rotate, meaning you can happily attach filters like a circular Polariser to improve your landscapes. It also has IS that assists video and the STM focus is an excellent focus by wire system that is literally silent.

So all in all the perfect lens?

Well no. In my written reviews over on my website one element of my star rating is ‘Joy Factor’. It describes that feeling you get when using a new product, the fizz, the excitement, the desire to use it again and again, that unexplainable feeling that makes you truly love a product.

The Canon 10-18mm does not have that. It just leaves you feeling flat and the images it produces are just ‘ok’ and nothing more. Other downsides include the plastic mount, the simply dreadful distortion when at the widest angle. Anything outside the very centre of the frame, whilst at 10mm, is going to be skewed out of shape like your image has melted. The lens is also quite slow at f/4.5 - f/5.6 with the aperture adjusting as you move through the zoom range. Also I have found the image stabilisation of very little use.

canon 10-18mm lens review
canon 10-18mm lens review
canon 10-18
canon 10-18

For stills it will allow you to handhold exposures down to around 1/20 second but at f/4.5 this will still be pretty dark in low light situations without a decent ISO boost. I have been using this lens for my blogs and I have haven't found the image stabilisation has been of any benefit over using a wide angle lens without IS. If you're stood still and handholding then it will do a good job but this is pretty restrictive for creating interesting and varied shots.

I'm not saying don't buy the Canon 10-18mm, especially currently at £180/$279. It will still do a job for you, as it is for me, it's just there are better options out there. The Canon 10-22 is a great lens and is pretty much L lens quality just without the red ring. The Sigma 10-20mm is also another good option and can be picked up very cheaply on the second hand market. Saving up for one of these lenses may be your better option.

Watch the First Man Vlogs - Click here.

Subscribe to the YouTube channel.

Manfrotto BeFree Tripod Review

Could the Manfrotto BeFree be the best tripod ever?

The Manfrotto BeFree Tripod is an impressive item before you even take it out of the very neat little carry bag that is included. Once removed, you immediately see the Manfrotto BeFree Tripod is an evolution in tripod design. The legs fold 180 degree up against the central column and allow the legs to wrap around the built in head so it can be packed into the very compact size.

For a landscape photographer, a lightweight tripod is everything if your shot requires any amount of trekking. Carrying this tripod around adds very little extra weight and would not be burden even if you had to carry it all day. It is so small that is should attach to most good camera bags without any difficulty and, if not, the included bag has a handy shoulder strap.

During the review the tripod was put to the test in very windy conditions in the Yorkshire Dales. A tripod like this is a balancing act between light weight and portability versus the risk of it moving or blowing around in the wind.

https://www.firstmanphotography.com/vlog/vlog-no-1

The Manfrotto Befree Tripod seems to have an uncanny ability to remain solid and secure even in heavy wind. The shot of the tree featured in the video was a four minute long exposure and you can see there is no lack of sharpness in the image other than where the branches are blowing around in the wind. This ability could be due to the Manfrotto BeFree maintaining very similar dimensions to much heavier tripods. The legs can also be adjusted to spread to about 45 degrees allowing for a wider base and lower shooting angle.

The Manfrotto BeFree Tripod comes with an included tripod head. This represents great value because tripod heads alone often cost more than this tripod in total. The camera attaches to the tripod via the Manfrotto RC2 quick release plate. This is used on several other Manfrotto tripods so if you already use this quick release plate it will slot straight onto the tripod.

There is not much more that can be said. The is potentially the best lightweight tripod on the market today. It will facilitate your ability to travel light whether you are trekking up a mountain or boarding a plan with only hand luggage.

If you were to only own one tripod then I would recommend buying something slightly bigger. However as a lightweight travel tripod the Manfrotto BeFree is the best tripod I have ever used.

Buy in the UK - Click here.

Buy in the UK - Green Version

Buy in the US - Click here.

Subscribe to the YouTube channel.

Unboxing the Perfect Vlog Setup

The best gear for your vlog setup.

Vlogging is becoming increasing popular with more and more people starting it up everyday. The concept is simple. Record aspects of your life in video and share them with the world. Family vlogs have taken YouTube by storm where we are allowed into people's homes to see how they live their life. Whilst this does not sound immediately brilliant, many are funny, cute and show experiences that the viewer may also be going through. Topics cover everything from a toddler potty training to break ups and deaths.

Many vlogs are creative, entertaining and moving stories that also provide valuable information and  are almost always free. It is little wonder people are tuning into vlog channels in their millions with the full spectrum of lives on offer, "hey, this guy is cool, he's just like me".

With the eyes of the world turning to vlogs it is also no wonder so many people are starting their own. Where to start can be a daunting prospect. A good story and an entertaining or interesting host are a must, but beyond that all you need is a camera.  Any camera will do to get started. We all have a mobile phones with a camera on, so do not waste anymore time and get started today.

This is a photography channel though so I wanted to enter the vlog world with the best shot possible using the best gear and vlog setup I either have or can afford. I decided that flexibility and weight were key. With camera gear this is so often a trade off as the better gear is often heavier.

Below is a list of my gear for my vlog setup and thoughts around why I chose each item:

GorillaPod SLR-Zoom - I knew I wanted to use a GorillaPod thanks to the flexibility it offers. Using the GorillaPod as a selfie stick keeps the camera away from your body which provides a better shot. It also ensures you don't see your whole arm in the shot. It acts as a small tripod and can be strapped to a post, fence or other object providing the flexibility for different shots. The GorillaPod SLR-Zoom is half the weight and cheaper than the more expensive version that features more links.

Buy the GorillaPod SLR-Zoom in the UK | US

Canon EOS 700D - This is where a trade off occurs in this vlog setup. The Canon EOS 700D is cheap and light and that goes in it’s favour. However the camera does not feature the Dual Pixel Auto Focus system ,featured on mid range cameras like the Canon 70d and 80d, that provides smooth and reliable auto focus whilst shooting video. The 700D does have a Hybrid AF system that does a similar job but just not as fast or reliably. The flip out screen is another feature the Canon EOS 700D provides and this makes composing your shot much easier.

Buy the Canon EOS 700D in the UK | US

Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM - A wide angle lens really helps to take a handheld vlog to the next level. Having the subject appear further back from the camera coupled with the ability to capture more of the background creates a more appealing image and increased context. The Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM provides that. Many vloggers are using the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. This offers a similar wide angle and has very slightly better low light capabilities but the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM has a couple of killer features. The first is the STM focus. This is very quiet and smooth and it would be greedy to ask for more, it is literally silent whilst focusing video. Secondly it also has image stabilisation. When it comes to hand held video this can really improve the quality of your shot.

Buy the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM in the UK | US

RODE VideoMic Pro - Using an external microphone is virtually a necessity when using a DSLR camera on a Vlog. The onboard camera is very poor quality and will be offensive to many viewers. The RODE VideoMic Pro is light but provides great quality. The key to this is the built in hi-pass filter that cuts out low level hiss and background noise and also the 20dB boost. This allows the gain on the camera to be reduced to a minimum level meaning sound quality will be improved with very little hiss. The final piece to the sound puzzle is to add a wind shield to keep quality up when shooting outside in windy conditions.

Buy the RODE VideoMic Pro in the UK | US

I will be starting my own vlog very soon.

Please Subscribe to the channel to get all the First Man Photography content as soon as it comes out.

Copyright © 2024 - First Man Photography. All rights reserved. First Man Photography is a trading name of First Man Ltd. Registered office: 11 South Hawksworth Street, Ilkley, LS29 9DX. Registered in ENGLAND: Company number 9681669.