This month, I’ve gotten a chance to spend some time shooting with one of Nikon’s two new macro lenses, the NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 Macro.
In a previous article (Easing into Astrophotography with a Telescope), I listed a few resources for stepping up to telescopic astrophotography. Beyond learning the basics of sky navigation and learning to extend your photographic equipment knowledge into long exposures, an introductory overview of astronomy is a good idea so that you are aware of the photographic possibilities available to you and the wide array of equipment that may be needed.
Two successful SpaceX missions last week, one on each coast, prompted me to review my rocket launch photo procedures, particularly since the Monday (Sept. 13) launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base was the first after a long hiatus. For those of us in southern California, it was a photo op we were eagerly awaiting since it was scheduled for after sunset.
The Sony a7R IV is the highest resolution full frame camera ever made, and it brings with it a range of advanced features from Sony’s other camera lines, making it a versatile option for everything from portraiture to landscape photography and more. This great video review takes a long-term look at the a7R IVA and how it holds up for photo and video work in a range of scenarios.
A 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the workhorse of choice for a wide variety of genres, offering a useful focal length range in tandem with a wide maximum aperture. However, most such lenses are quite expensive. Tamron’s 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD is about half the price of first-party options, and this excellent video review takes a look at the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.