đ¸ The Magazine For Photographers
Happy Sunday Everyone! Welcome to a NEW Magazine Issue with a new interview ;)
In this weekâs Issue:
The Worldâs First optical Exchange Autofocus Lens
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Interview with Quan Vu
An App that protects Photographers?
Sonyâs Brand New Portrait Lens
DaVinciâs Update made it SO COMPELLING
Photography Tip of the Week
Photographer of the Week
Sonyâs Brand New Portrait Lens
ProGradeâs Cheapest Memory Card
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The Worldâs First Optical Exchange Autofocus Lens
Samyang has announced the world's first optical exchange autofocus lens, called the Samyang Remaster Slim. This groundbreaking lens lets photographers switch out the internal optical system, allowing for quick swaps between different prime focal lengths without needing multiple lenses. Essentially, the Remaster Slim acts as the shell of a lens, with all the necessary physical and electrical components. The central optical elements are held in place using a magnetic mounting system, making it easy to switch between them.
Key Features:
Swappable Optics: Samyang is starting with three optical systemsâ21mm, 28mm, and 32mmâall with a max aperture of f/2.8. These focal lengths are inspired by those classic point-and-shoot film cameras from back in the day. The designs have been updated to work perfectly with modern digital sensors, but they still keep that old-school vibe.
Compact and Lightweight: This lens is tiny! At less than two centimeters (0.8 inches) long and only 80 grams (2.8 ounces), itâs Samyangâs thinnest autofocus lens ever. Because itâs so short, the manual focus ring is pretty narrow, but thereâs still a switch to toggle between autofocus and manual focus. When youâre in manual focus mode, you get a shorter minimum focusing distance, which is pretty standard for many lenses.
Analog Feel: Samyang says this lens doesnât just perform well; it looks and feels like something from the analog era. The goal is to give you that classic, warm look in your photos, something digital cameras often struggle to match. The lens is designed to produce images with a natural and soft tone, keeping the detail and texture of traditional optics while meeting todayâs photography needs. Itâs like bridging the gap between vintage and modern photography.
Easy to Carry: Given its size and weight, the Remaster Slim can easily turn any E-mount mirrorless camera into a compact, travel-friendly setup. If youâre someone who values portability but still wants the benefits of autofocus, this could be a game-changer.
A few sample images:
Pricing and Availability:
As of now, the Samyang Remaster Slim is only available for preorder in South Korea. There hasnât been any announcement regarding availability in other markets yet. The lens is available in a Sony E-mount and is priced at roughly $230. But as always, before you consider buying, please take a look at many more reviews ;)
Image Credits: Samyang
Get your Photos featured in this Magazine for Free
I am currently testing a new feature, where everyone can get a completely free chance to be featured in my magazine and get seen by thousands of fellow photography enthusiasts.
How it works: Every Week there will be either a Newsletter to subscribe to or an Advertisement. Everyone who clicks gets a chance to be selected, I will randomly select one or two ââwinnersââ and their photos/Instagram/website/portfolio will be published here in this magazine completely for free.
So do not hesitate make sure to take this chance on getting featured in the next issue next Sunday. (winner/winners will be notified by email)
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Interview with Quan Vu
This weeks interview is with the EXCEPTIONAL Photographer Quan Vu. His photography truly is one of a kind and im personally a huge fan of his work, so naturally I was thrilled to have had the chance to interview him.
He is a Vietnamese Landscape photographer, who travels Japan and captures amazing artwork.
You can find him on instagram as @quan.vu.photography
I know that typically I interview street-photographers, but a few weeks ago I created a poll on my Instagram and found out that A LOT of you are also into landscape/nature photography. So therefore I hope that lots of you are excited for this interview. And for those of you that are not particularly into landscape photography, please still read this interview because its a BANGER and Quan really knows what he is talking about AND his images are really STUNNING, they truly are one of a kind. And who knows, maybe after reading this you will want to get into landscape photography yourself ;)
Enjoy this truly amazing interview.
Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hello. My name is Quan, I am Vietnamese and currently living in Japan. I've only been doing 'serious' photography for a few years. I became interested in photography while living in Japan in 2012-2015. At first, I just took photos of the trip with my phone and in 2014 I bought my first camera. At the time, I would carry my camera around with me all the time and pretty much shoot anything that caught my eye. In 2015, I returned to Vietnam for many reasons and took fewer photos. I returned to Japan for the second time in 2019, I started taking photos of landscapes and cityscapes throughout Japan.
What initially drew you to nature and landscape photography?
I have always loved nature and the great outdoors. Hiking and climbing â being outside, away from busy, modern life is my way of relaxing
I am a huge advocate of protecting nature and the environment.
I ensuring that no actions will harm nature or leave any traces when leave a location.
How do you approach planning for a shoot in the wild? Do you rely more on spontaneity or preparation?
I love planning. Most of my time is spent coming up with ideas and plans for my photography projects like researching locations, weather, composition, techniques, etc. But nature is unpredictable and extraordinary scenes sometimes appear when least expected, so at such times simply go with the flow to capture the unexpected.
Can you walk us through your creative process when youâre in the field? How do you decide on the perfect moment to capture?
Nothing is perfect. I'm always experimenting with shooting different angles, compositions, and moments. And finally I chose a photo that I was most satisfied with.
What challenges do you often face when photographing in remote or difficult environments, and how do you overcome them?
Taking photos in remote or difficult environments is both exciting and challenging. You may encounter obstacles ranging from cultural barriers to harsh weather conditions.
I always research the area ahead of time for potential photography spots, weather conditions, and local regulations. Carry versatile equipment suited for various environments and ensure you have backups for essential gear. Then, connect photographers who know the area well; They can provide valuable insights and safety advice. Finally, always be adaptable and ready to adjust your plan based on available lighting and conditions.
Can you share a memorable experience or adventure youâve had while shooting in a particularly stunning or unique location?
Every photo shoot is a memorable experience. The most memorable was probably the first time I went to photograph fireflies, I had to go deep into the forest on a narrow, old and dangerous road. And the reward at the end of the road is an abandoned temple in the middle of the forest. When night falls, thousands of fireflies fly around the temple, creating a magical scene.
How do you handle unpredictable weather or lighting conditions that can drastically change the scene you intend to photograph?
Flexibility is key when shooting in unpredictable weather conditions. I am always willing to change plans and adapt to conditions. This could mean being willing to move to another location, waiting for the right moment when the light is ideal, or even rescheduling if necessary.
What role does patience play in your work, and how do you stay motivated when conditions arenât ideal for capturing the image you envision?
I have a few photos I want to take on a snowy mountain peak 2 hours drive from where I live and it takes 3 hours to climb to the top. I have climbed 9 times - all failed due to the weather. But instead of being upset, I enjoyed those moments and took some beautiful pictures beyond my plans. And I will continue to pursue until I take the photos I want.
Any tips for beginners?
Be yourself, feel and draw inspiration not only from photography, and above all experiment. Don't try to imitate a style or force yourself to create one, it doesn't work that way. Have patience â the journey into the world of photography is long and torturous and goes hand in hand with our daily life and our experiences. Photography speaks of ourselves, not of others.
Stay safe, stay healthy, enjoy and make the best of every situation.
What do you think about AI in photography?
AI has improved my workflow quite a bit in terms of image editing, especially with the masking tools in Lightroom. The software can identify objects very easily, making it easy to expose or color correction to part of an image a breeze. Personally, I don't use AI tools more than that, I like to edit myself and pay attention to every detail in each photo.
How do you choose the locations you shoot?
Before choosing a location, I always consider what story my photos will tell, what makes my photos special. I then look for primary locations and backup locations in case of bad weather
What gear do you use?
I am using Sony A7RIII, tamron 28-200mm for landscape, sigma 150-600mm for wildlife and 50mm or 85mm for night photography. Dji mini 3 pro for aerial photo.
What is your all time favourite photo location?
There are quite a few locations that I love to visit again and again to experience different weather conditions, but the Kansai area - western Japan is probably one of my favorite photo locations. It has almost everything that I love to capture in my photos. Romantic scenery in autumn - and spring - cherry blossom season in Kyoto, enchanting firefly forests in Hyogo in summer. I still have a few visions of the lighting and weather conditions I want to capture there, so I wonât stop chasing them.
How did you find your signature style?
The rest, 6 more questions, of this Interview are for Premium subscribers only.
An App that Protects Your Work?
Photographers are increasingly worried about AI scraping, where companies use images from the web to train their AI models. This raises concerns about unauthorized use of their work. Enter Overlai, a new app designed to safeguard your photos from being used without permission.
Overlai offers a fresh approach to protecting images. It adds an invisible watermark and creates a permanent record on the blockchain, which includes a âDo Not Trainâ label. This not only protects your images from unauthorized use but also disrupts AI training datasets. Overlaiâs âRandom Poisoning Technologyâ aims to make AI scraping less effective by interfering with the data used to train these models.
Built by Photographers, for Photographers
Developed with input from well-known photographers like Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier, Overlai is designed to fit seamlessly into a photographerâs workflow. âAfter over a year of development, Overlai is live on the Apple App Store,â says Nicklen. âYou can now protect your photos before uploading them online.â
Using Overlai is simple. Download the app on iOS, upload your photos, and it will apply its protective measures. The app also includes a verification tool that helps you confirm the protections on your images and retrieve metadata like authorship and EXIF data.
Whatâs Next
Currently, Overlai is only available for iOS, with Android and an Adobe desktop plug-in in the works. You can sign up on Overlaiâs website to be notified when these options become available.
Pricing and Availability
Overlai offers a free plan allowing three image uploads per month, with a special promotion for 30 uploads in the first month. Paid tiers are expected, but the pricing details havenât been finalized yet. The free version might include ads to cover server costs.
Overlai is now available for iOS users and offers a promising way to protect your photos from unauthorized AI use. Keep an eye on their website for updates on the Android app and Adobe plug-in.
Im very interesting to see where this app will be in a few years.
DaVinci Resolveâs Update makes it SO Compelling
Last week, Blackmagic unveiled DaVinci Resolve 19, and itâs a big deal. This update brings over 100 new features to the popular video editing software. Even Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro canât ignore that.
One of the standout features of DaVinci Resolve is its compatibility. Unlike Final Cut Pro, which is exclusive to Apple devices, or Adobe Premiere Pro, which struggles with native support for Windows ARM and doesnât officially support Linux, Resolve is available on macOS, Windows, Linux, and Windows ARM. This means more people can use it, without being tied to a specific platform.
Mobile Editing Like Never Before
Resolve has also made huge strides in mobile editing. The softwareâs app allows for smooth, full-featured editing between desktop and iPad. Final Cut Pro is getting closer to offering similar features, but it still doesnât support seamless transitions between iPadOS and macOS.
Affordable Yet Powerful
Bob Caniglia from Blackmagic Design reflects on how far DaVinci Resolve has come. âWhen Blackmagic acquired DaVinci, it was a high-end color grading system costing up to $800,000. Today, you can get a free version with 95% of the features found in the Studio version.â The Studio version costs just $295, making it an affordable option compared to Adobe Premiere Proâs subscription model, which ranges from $35 a month (if paid monthly) to $264 annually. Final Cut Pro costs $299, plus an additional $50 per year for the iPad version. The Studio version of Resolve also includes all future updates, so you donât have to keep buying new versions.
Caniglia also highlights Blackmagicâs commitment to listening to its users. âWeâre incredibly proud of how far DaVinci Resolve has come. We actively seek feedback from our users to continuously improve the software.â
Competitorsâ Responses
The rise of DaVinci Resolve hasnât gone unnoticed. Adobe is taking the competition seriously and focusing on fixing bugs and improving stability in Premiere Pro. Francis Crossman, Adobeâs Principal Product Manager for Premiere Pro, acknowledges this, saying, âWe welcome any competition that pushes us all to be better. Itâs good for the customer.â Adobe has been working hard to reduce Premiere Proâs crash rate and enhance export performance, but itâs a challenge to match Resolveâs all-in-one capabilities.
Paul Saccone, Adobeâs Senior Director of Product Marketing, explains that while Premiere Pro excels in editorial tools, Resolveâs strength in color grading and audio editing presents a real challenge. Adobe is working on expanding Premiereâs capabilities to compete more effectively.
Looking Ahead
As Adobe prepares to reveal new updates at the Adobe MAX conference in October, Blackmagicâs DaVinci Resolve continues to push and set new standards in video editing. With its powerful features and competitive pricing, Resolve remains a top choice for many editors, making it a key player in the video editing space.
Image credits: Blackmagic/DaVinci Resolve
Photography Tip of the Week
The weekly photography tip is only accessible to Premium Subscribers of The Magazine For Photographers.
Photographer of the Week
Photographer of the week goes to: Zane Waldron, a 15 year old talent
Congratulations on your luck:)
You can find him on Instagram as @zane.waldron
A few photos of his:
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Sonyâs Brand-New 85mm f/1.4 GM II Lens
Sony has just introduced the FE 85mm f/1.4 G Master Mark II, a lens thatâs set to become a favorite among portrait photographers. This new version builds on the success of its predecessor with significant upgrades, making it lighter, faster, and optically superior. As the latest addition to Sonyâs refreshed G Master lineup, the 85mm f/1.4 GM II completes the series of âIIâ versions, following the recent updates to the 24mm f/1.4, 16-35mm f/2.8, 24-70mm f/2.8, and 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses.
Whatâs New and Exciting:
Revolutionized Autofocus: The standout feature of the Mark II is its autofocus system. Sony has swapped out the older Supersonic Wave Motor (SSM) from the original 85mm f/1.4 for the cutting-edge XD Linear Motor. This change boosts autofocus speed by up to three times and improves tracking performance by seven times. For those who shoot fast-paced subjects, this is a game-changer. The lens is fully compatible with the Sony a9 IIIâs 120 frames per second drive mode, ensuring that you wonât miss a moment.
Slimmed Down and Lighter: Sony has managed to make the 85mm f/1.4 GM II both smaller and lighter than its predecessor. The lens is 13% shorter, now measuring 107.3 millimeters (4.2 inches), and weighs just 642 grams (22.7 ounces), a 20% reduction in weight. This was achieved by refining the materials and optical design, making it easier to carry and use for extended periods. Despite its compact size, the lens still packs a punch with 14 elements in 11 groups, including Sonyâs trademark extreme aspherical (XA) elements and extra-low dispersion (ED) glass, which help minimize various aberrations and chromatic distortions.
Enhanced Bokeh and Image Quality: Bokeh lovers will appreciate the improvements in the Mark II. The 11-bladed circular aperture creates stunningly soft and smooth background blur. Sony has taken extra care to ensure the bokeh is clean and free of common distortions like onion rings. Compared to the original lens, this one has three more elements, including an extra XA element, which further enhances image quality by reducing aberrations.
Designed with Users in Mind: The lens isnât just about performance; itâs also designed for ease of use. Itâs weather-resistant, making it suitable for outdoor shoots in various conditions. The linear response focusing ring offers precise control, and the lockable aperture ring is a welcome feature for both photographers and videographers. Users can easily switch between clicked and smooth aperture operation depending on their needs. Additionally, the lens includes two customizable focus hold buttons, offering even more flexibility in various shooting scenarios.
A few Sample Photos:
Pricing and Availability:
Sony has priced the FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II at $1,799, which is the same as the original lens ($2,599 CAD). Preorders start tomorrow, with the lens expected to be available this fall.
Image Credits: Sony
ProGradeâs Cheapest Memory Card
ProGrade Digital has introduced a new 120GB model to its CFexpress Type A Gold memory card lineup. This new size joins the existing 240GB and 480GB options, offering a more budget-friendly choice without compromising on performance.
Key Features
The 120GB Gold card provides the same performance specs as the larger cards, including adherence to the CFexpress 2.0 standard and NVMe host interface. It supports read speeds up to 900 MB/s and sustained write speeds of 450 MB/s, with burst write speeds reaching up to 800 MB/s. The VPG 200 certification ensures a minimum of 200 MB/s sustained write speeds, which is adequate for video recording needs on Sonyâs mirrorless cameras.
Durability and Quality
These cards come with thermal throttling to prevent overheating and feature laser-etched serial numbers for quality tracking. They are built to withstand X-ray radiation and shocks and include a three-year warranty.
Pricing
The new 120GB card is priced at $159.99. The 240GB card costs $239.99, and the 480GB card is available for $339.99. On a price-per-gigabyte basis, the 120GB card is $1.33 per GB, the 240GB card is $1.00 per GB, and the 480GB card is $0.71 per GB.
Image Credit: ProGrade