đ¸ The Magazine For Photographers
Another Sunday, another brand new Issue of my Magazine. A truly amazing one, enjoy the read :)
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In this Week's Issue
Hasselbladâs New XCD 75mm f/3.4 P
Hasselblad just added a new lens to its XCD Portable series, the XCD 75mm f/3.4 P, marking its first standard lens in this "P" series. With a 59mm full-frame equivalent focal length and an f/3.4 apertureâthe widest in the P lineupâthis lens is built for those who love capturing environmental portraits, street scenes, and documentary-style shots. While Hasselblad also offers faster portrait lenses (like the XCD 90mm f/2.5 V), the 75mm f/3.4 gives you a similar depth of field as an f/2.8 lens on a standard full-frame camera, so you get a good mix of versatility and control.
This lens is all about balancing performance with portability. Hasselblad describes it as âpowerful performance in a lightweight, agile form.â Inside, thereâs a lot going on: 10 elements in 10 groups, including one aspherical element and three ED elements, all aimed at delivering sharpness across the entire image, even when youâre shooting wide open. Plus, itâs designed to pair seamlessly with Hasselbladâs 100-megapixel cameras. Like its P-series siblings (the 28mm f/4 and 45mm f/4), the 75mm f/3.4 P is incredibly compact and lightâjust 71mm long and 398 gramsâmaking it a strong choice for medium format photographers who need something portable.
The autofocus is powered by a lightweight linear stepping motor, and Hasselblad fine-tuned it with a smaller focus group to ensure itâs quick and responsive. If youâre using a Hasselblad X or V System medium format camera with PDAF, youâll also get a smooth, quiet, and highly responsive focusing experience.
This lens, like all of Hasselbladâs, includes a leaf shutter with speeds as fast as 1/2,000s and full flash sync at all shutter speeds. That leaf shutter setup is one of the unique things that sets the Hasselblad X series apart from other systems.
Hasselblad also launched a 9mm X Extension Tube, designed to work with X System cameras, 907X cameras, and any XCD lens. This little addition increases the distance between the lens and sensor, which means you can focus on closer subjectsâperfect for close-up photography. The extension tube is available now for $299.
Pricing and Availability:
The XCD 75mm f/3.4 P is available now at $2,229.
Image credits: Hasselblad
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Interview with Borkography
This weekâs Interview with the incredibly talented borkography, a photographer from Warsaw who is famous for his colourful, poppy, nighttime shots.
You can find him on Instagram @borkography
Enjoy this amazing interview ;)
Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Adam and I am a photographer of urban landscape, architecture and street in Warsaw. I specialize in night shots. Through my lens and unique editing style, I want to show what Warsaw looks like through my eyes. I am currently retired from photography, but that doesn't change the fact that photography has always occupied a special place in my life.
How did your photography journey start?
As a child, I liked taking pictures. I was using an analog camera back then. Then I had a few years break, until I became more interested in this topic again. I started with the phone, and a moment later I bought my first camera. At the beginning, I photographed everything I could (like every photographer at the beginning). And then I discovered that this city is what I like the most. And so borkography was born.
When did you start with Instagram and what was the hardest part regarding the growth of your account ?
I started a few years ago - probably around 2015. At first, I didn't pay much attention to my IG profile because I didn't think that anyone might be interested in my photos. Then it changed a bit and I gathered around 4k followers - people liked what I do! And that was the beginning that was the hardest. Then it was downhill from there. Currently, I consider the combination of quantity and quality to be the most difficult part of this whole adventure. Very exhausting but I think I managed it for a long time (or at least I hope so).
What do you think sets your work apart from others in the field ?
I think it's mostly the style of editing and attention to detail. I put a lot of effort into making each photo as refined as possible. At the same time keeping my spirit in it. And many times I heard that you don't have to look at who is the author of the photo to know it's me.
When you go out to shoot, do you have specific shots in mind or is it all freestyle ?
Most of the time it's freestyle. I'm not the type of person who likes to plan. The greatest satisfaction gives me the moments when I bring the most unusual frames from a boringly promising walk. It sometimes happens that the photos are preceded by planning - but unfortunately I am often unlucky with the weather, which often thwarted my plans in the future. Less plans, more pure pleasure and positive surprises!
What gear do you use ?
Now I don't have as much equipment as before but I used Sony A7R IV and Sony A7R II cameras (the second one I usually gave to my fiancĂŠe when we were photographing together). When it comes to lenses, I had several and tried to use each of them as often as possible to keep the variety of perspectives and not got too used to one focal length. I had 200-600mm, 50mm and 20mm from Sony. 35-150mm from Tamron, 9mm from Laowa, 35mm from Sigma and 85mm from Samyang.
What is your editing software of choice and how much time do you spend editing
The duo of Lightroom and Photoshop. I start processing with Lightroom, where I make basic changes to exposure and colors, and then the photo goes to PS where more advanced magic happens. And most often at the very end the photo goes back to LR where it gets the final touches. It's hard to say - everything depends on the photo and whether I know what I want or am just looking for. But generally from 1 to 4 hours.
Do you prefer to shoot architecture or people as your subject ?
Once upon a time I would say architecture. But now I will say that the combination of people and architecture. It gives a nice balance between static and dynamic photography
Why do you take photos and what is that you wish to transmit thought your photos?
Photography is my escape from everyday life. It's 100% just a hobby for me and I'm working very hard to keep it that way. I take pictures because it allows me to express myself. Because it gives me pleasure and satisfaction. It is a great way to spend time actively, get to know the city and people. It allows me to satisfy the creative side of my personality. Through my photos, I want to show that every place has potential. Many people thought Warsaw was an ugly city, but after seeing it through my photos, they changed their minds. I want to show that the combination of camera, lens and processing can create wonders.
Any tips for beginners?
The rest, 5 more questions, of this Interview are for Premium subscribers only.
This might be Appleâs Best Deal Ever
Appleâs new Mac Mini packs impressive power and value into a small, redesigned desktop. Starting at $599 and now with 16GB of RAM as standard, the M4 Mac Mini is easily the best value in Appleâs Mac lineup. With its 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and 16GB of memory, itâs more than capable of handling most tasks without breaking a sweatâand itâs likely to stay fast and responsive for at least four or five years.
The standard M4 model, available with either 256GB or 512GB of storage, is more than enough for most users. Itâs especially great for anyone who already has a monitor and keyboard setup, as the Mac Mini is a âbring-your-own-display-and-accessoriesâ deal. With support for up to three displays, it offers flexibility for various desk setups, all while maintaining a small footprint at 5 inches wide, 5 inches deep, and 2 inches tall.
The new design optimizes space and adds two front USB-C ports and a headphone jack for easy access. The back offers three Thunderbolt 4 (USB 4) ports, HDMI, and gigabit ethernet (upgradable to 10-gigabit), though it lacks a built-in SD card slot and USB-A. The M4 Pro model, targeted at creative professionals, adds Thunderbolt 5 ports with data transfer speeds up to 120Gb/s, but for most users, the regular M4 is more than enough.
Appleâs revamped thermal system ensures the Mini runs quietly even during demanding tasks like photo editing. While video editors might benefit from the extra GPU cores in the M4 Pro, the standard M4 handles photo work and other creative tasks smoothly. macOS on the M4 Mini offers solid multitasking features, such as iPhone Mirroring and window tiling, making it a seamless fit for productivity workflows.
With three Thunderbolt ports, users can also add fast external storage rather than opting for Appleâs pricier internal upgrades. For those needing more memory, the $799 configuration with 24GB of RAM and 256GB storage could be a smart choice, but since RAM and storage arenât upgradeable later, itâs important to choose wisely.
Overall, the M4 Mac Mini combines compact design, performance, and versatility, making it a top choice for anyone seeking a reliable desktop Mac and the Pro seems to be amazing for professionals in the creative industry (according to plenty of reviews).
Image credits: Apple
AI is now trying to recreate Candid Photography
Black Forest Labsâ AI image generator, Flux, has released its 1.1 update, adding a âraw modeâ that promises a more âauthenticâ feel to AI-generated images. But despite the hype, this new feature may not be quite the game-changer the lab suggests. Unlike true RAW files familiar to photographers, Fluxâs raw mode simply aims to make images look less synthetic â a goal easier said than done with AI, which often struggles with producing realistic, diverse human subjects and natural scenes. Black Forest Labs claims raw mode boosts realism, but their preview images donât entirely sell the story; some look convincing at a glance, though there are still oddities (like a top-hat-wearing octopus) that suggest thereâs still a long way to go.
The 1.1 update also introduces an âultra mode,â a high-res option that supposedly quadruples the resolution without compromising prompt accuracy. While Black Forest Labs boasts about faster-than-average processing speeds, high-res image generation has historically been a mixed bag with AI â itâs unclear if Flux can deliver consistent quality or if these gains are meaningful for regular users.
Fluxâs rapid ascent on the AI Model Leaderboard might seem impressive, but itâs worth remembering the context: the tool was created by former Stability AI engineers who left amid friction with management. The original team behind Stable Diffusion now finds itself trying to recreate the magic â without the backing or resources Stability AI once provided. Also Flux AI and or their old company is currently facing a big lawsuit from Getty Images for scraping their content for AI training.
Image credits: Flux AI
Canonâs Firmware Updates for Cine Cameras
Canonâs latest firmware updates bring a set of practical improvements to its Cinema EOS cameras and pro camcorders, aimed at making life easier on set. Initially, Canon announced an LCD mirroring feature for some models, but that was later corrected due to an error in the release.
Hereâs whatâs new:
Frame.io Integration: Cameras like the EOS C400 and C80 now connect directly to Frame.ioâs Camera to Cloud ecosystem, letting users upload proxy files straight from the camera over Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Itâs a big help for fast-paced environments, enabling real-time review and remote editing as footage is captured.
Anamorphic Display Assist for the C400: This feature âde-squeezesâ the image preview when using anamorphic lenses, giving filmmakers a truer view of the final look on set.
Enhanced Lens Compatibility: Models like the EOS C70 and R5 C now support Canonâs new RF lenses, allowing for better control over focus, zoom, and aperture settings, and keeping these cameras in sync with Canonâs latest lens lineup.
Better Autofocus on the R5 C: Users can now drag the AF frame across the screen and use a new subject-tracking trigger, making it easier to lock onto moving subjectsâgreat for action and wildlife shooters.
Improved XF605 Controls: Canon has also fine-tuned the XF605âs headphone volume and lens focus ring responsiveness, which could be a nice workflow boost for those in documentary or interview settings.
These updates will be available for download on Canonâs website
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: j. Stafford
His Instagram: @jstafford_wildlife
Congratulations on your lucky feature ;)
A few photos of his:
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Four Tips For Film Photography Beginners
Start Easy with 35mm Film
If youâre just getting into film, 35mm (or 135) is the way to go. Itâs the most popular type, meaning youâll find a huge variety of cameras to choose fromâwhether youâre after a classic or something more unique. Plus, 35mm film is easy to find and develop, so you wonât have trouble sourcing rolls or getting them processed. Another perk? Unlike medium or large formats that give you only around 16 shots, 35mm lets you snap up to 36 shots per roll.
Master Focus with Trial and Error
Most analog cameras donât have speedy autofocus like digital ones, so moving subjects can end up blurry, or you might just miss them entirely. To build your manual focus skills, practice on static subjects firstâlike buildings, plants, or people who are staying still. Once youâve got the hang of it, challenge yourself with moving subjects to hone your timing and focus accuracy. Pro tip: Keep a little notebook with you to jot down camera settings and techniques for each shot. Itâll help you learn faster!
Try Black and White (and Skip the Flash)
Shooting in black and white helps you focus on light, shadows, and shapes rather than color, which is fantastic for training your artistic eye. Working in monochrome also pushes you to think about contrast, textures, and composition more deeply. A word of adviceâavoid using a flash, especially when working with black and white film. Flash can be unpredictable, especially for beginners. Save it for spontaneous moments, like with instant film for some authentic, candid shots.
Experiment with Tricks Unique to Film
Film photography opens up some creative tricks that digital canât quite replicate. Here are a few to try out: Push and Pull Photography: By underexposing or overexposing your shots and adjusting development times accordingly, you can create unique tones and depths, especially with black and white film. Expired Film: Using expired film is a fun gamble. You can often pick up old rolls for cheap, and youâll never know what the result will look likeâexpect interesting colors, unexpected textures, and visual quirks. Double Exposure: Double exposure is a classic film trick where you layer two images on top of each other. Some digital cameras can simulate this effect, but film gives you more creative freedom. For instance, shoot over the same frame twice, or try shooting bright objects against a dark background at a slower shutter speed for a dramatic effect.