đ¸ The Magazine For Photographers
Welcome to a brand new Issue of my Magazine. Another amazing one, enjoy the read :)
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In this Week's Issue
AstrHoriâs New Lens For Just $126
AstrHori is stepping into the autofocus world with its new AF 27mm f/2.8 lens, a budget-friendly, portable pick for creators who are always on the go. Known for their affordable manual lenses, AstrHori is taking things up a notch with this compact, lightweight option designed for APS-C mirrorless cameras.
Weighing just 167 grams (about 5.9 ounces), this lens is perfect for everything from street photography to pro-level video work. AstrHori has built a solid rep with manual lenses that focus on simplicity, but this step into autofocus shows theyâre ready to expand without losing sight of what makes their gear a great value.
The lens itself keeps things simple with a six-element, five-group optical design. Its six-blade aperture ranges from f/2.8 to f/16, giving you the flexibility to go for that creamy background blur or keep everything in focus across the frame. Itâs not going to give you perfectly round bokeh, but it gets the job done. Plus, with a minimum focusing distance of just 12 inches (30 centimeters), you can get nice and close to your subject.
The autofocus system is where things get interesting. It uses an STM (stepping motor) with a lead screw mechanism to deliver smooth, quiet focusingâgreat news for video creators who hate dealing with noisy lenses ruining their audio. The internal focus design is a nice touch too, keeping dust out and the lens length consistent, which is super handy if youâre using a gimbal or stabilizer.
It also comes with eye and face detection, which is a lifesaver for portrait shooters and event photographers who need to lock focus on moving subjects.
As for the focal length, 27mm on APS-C (around 40mm on full-frame) is a solid middle ground. Itâs close to what the human eye naturally sees, so it feels familiar and versatile. Street photographers will love it for capturing candid moments with a bit of context, portrait shooters get subtle compression and flattering framing, and even landscape fans can use it for wide, distortion-free shots.
A few sample shots:
Price and Availability
The AstrHori AF 27mm f/2.8 is up for preorder now in Nikon Z mount for $126. You can also get one from Pergear. Versions for Sony E and Fujifilm X mounts are on the way but arenât available just yet.
Image credits: AstrHori
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66M Views & 6-Figure Sales: How Ubiquitous Made Litter Robot Huge
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Interview with TomĂĄĹĄ Vlk
This week I sat down and interviewed the amazing Photographer TomĂĄĹĄ Vlk, he is a photographer from the Czech Republic, where I am from as well which is why this Interview has been very special to me (technically I am half Austrian and half Czech).
What I like about his work is that it really is instantly recognisably, his style is very very dark and moody, almost nobody dares to go this dark, which makes it somewhat if his signature style. I really havenât seen lots of people using such a moody style.
You can find TomĂĄĹĄ on instagram @wolfography_
Enjoy this amazing Interview ;)
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hello everyone, Iâm TomĂĄĹĄ, 33 years old, and I was born in a small town in the Czech Republic. I moved to Prague in 2017, which was one of the best decisions of my life. However, I feel that I have been living here for a long time and I expect to move abroad in the near future. I currently work as a dispatcher which is sometimes challenging for an introvert. I have always been passionate about art including photography of course.
How did you get into photography?
Iâve always wanted a camera but never had the money for one. I bought my first camera in 2020, at the beginning of the quarantine. After a month of trying and agonizing over automatic mode, I gave up and put the camera away. After a year, me and my wife went on a trip through Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. I tried to take the camera with me, I set the manual mode and thatâs when the true passion for photography began. The funny thing is, Iâve never liked instructions and advice, because I have to find my way. So I adjusted the values ââwithout knowing anything about the aperture or shutter speed and tried to see what would happen.
How do you approach storytelling through your photos?
I often choose a location in advance based on weather conditions. Each place has a different vibe in the fog or when the sun is shining. So I follow the forecast, see where the sun rises etc. and choose accordingly. Of course, sometimes itâs important to break your rules, so I randomly choose a place to go and wait to see what happens. I think this is the main thing for street photography - to be prepared and also to be spontaneous.
What attracts you to street photography compared to other types of photography?
Itâs just a subjective feeling, but street photography offers the most varied. I mean, I admire astrophotography for example. However, the individual photos still look the same, interchangeable, to me after a while. In street photography, one place can look a hundred times different and unique thanks to the light, weather, people. In my opinion, there are the most possibilities compared to other types of photography and it depends mostly on not missing the moment.
What gear do you use?
Last two years I use Canon EOS R and most often with prime 35mm. I also have a 24-70mm zoom lens. I realize itâs not much, but for me the enjoyment of shooting has always been more important than the exhibition of lenses. Having an unlimited budget, so of course I will buy more, but this set has never disappointed me.
I have seen that you really love England/the UK and Scandinavia why is that?
This started already during my childhood. First of all, I donât like the heat and I love the rain. In addition, I always liked their humour, architecture, films, music, etc. However, the passion for UK definitely deepened in 2022, when I was there for the first time (and three more times since then). Mainly thanks to the people who seem to me to have a completely different approach to life than in my native country. Plus, itâs a bottomless well of photo spots. In short, I feel at home for the first time in my life in the UK. If it wasnât for Brexit, Iâd already be living there. But it is what it is.
You photography style is very dark/moody do you ever get bored of that/are you planning on changing that one day?
Definitely not. Of course, Iâll occasionally take a photo of something happy/positive if needed. But I donât think Iâll ever break away from the dark, moody style, itâs simply what defines my style of photography. Otherwise, I am a positive, bright person.
What is your favourite season to shoot in?
I fall in love with autumn. It offers the most varied conditions through rain, fog and, on the other hand, colourful sunny days full of leaves. I also like winter when it snows. But practically every season has something in it. Even summer, although only because autumn comes after it.
What does photography mean to you?
Creativity and especially memories. Of course, it is important that a person looks at a photo and feels something from it. But what I love most is looking at my photos and remembering how I felt at that moment, what happened an hour before, after, what stage of my life I was at. Photography reminds me of moments in life that I might otherwise forget.
Do you think AI is going to replace photographers?
I think and hope that AI will not replace photographers. And thatâs because of what photography is about. Capturing the moment, authenticity, creativity. Of course, some things will change, but I donât think it will be a complete replacement. People like nostalgia. Thatâs why analog photos, vinyls, etc. are still popular.
What would you say is the ONE, best camera for beginners and why?
Iâm honestly not an expert on equipment, so I canât say a specific model. Anyway, if youâre just starting to take pictures, the equipment doesnât matter much. Try a cheaper camera first to see if you like it. You can always upgrade.
Any tips for beginners just starting with photography?
The rest, 8 more questions, of this Interview are for Premium subscribers only.
Lightroomâs New Competitor for Mac 11?
ACD Systems has introduced the latest version of its Mac photo editor, ACDSee Photo Studio for Mac 11, bringing a fresh lineup of features designed to simplify photo editing and organization for everyoneâfrom casual users to seasoned pros.
One of the standout upgrades is the inclusion of AI-powered tools, which aim to speed up workflows and enhance results. Among these tools is AI Super-Resolution, which helps improve the quality of low-resolution images by upscaling them. Another feature, AI selection masking, allows users to quickly isolate subjects, backgrounds, or skies with a single clickâno painstaking manual edits required. For more intricate tasks, thereâs AI object masking, which lets you broadly brush over an area, leaving the software to figure out the rest. Not quite perfect? Manual adjustments are still an option.
In addition to the AI features, the software introduces new Adjustment Filters, giving photographers precise control over elements like vibrance, temperature, tint, and color tones to fine-tune their images.
ACDSee Photo Studio for Mac 11 positions itself as an all-in-one photo editing and management tool, making it a strong alternative to Adobe Lightroom. With its upgraded People Mode, it can quickly detect and organize faces in a photo library, saving users time on sorting. Switching from Lightroom is now easier too, thanks to a new import option that lets you bring in your Lightroom Classic database, including collections and keywords.
According to Frank Lin, COO and CTO of ACD Systems, the focus this time was on creating a seamless workflow: âBy integrating advanced AI features, weâre helping photographers save time while delivering top-notch results. If youâre considering moving to ACDSee for photo editing and management, this is the perfect time to make the switch.â
Price and Availability
ACDSee Photo Studio for Mac 11 is out and available at a special launch price of $79.95, valid until November 27th I think. After that, the price increases to $99.99.
Image credits: ACDSee
The Magazine For Photographers: Extra Frame
I just launched a Sub Magazine called Extra Frame for all of those looking for even more content throughout the week ;)
7Artisans Fisheye Lens Update
7Artisans has introduced the second-generation 10mm f/2.8 fisheye lens, designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras. Priced at just $278, this new Mark II version is compatible with E, L, RF, and Z-mount systems, making it an affordable option for photographers looking to experiment with fisheye effects.
Whatâs New in the Mark II?
The most noticeable change is the lensâs redesigned body. While the original version tapered at the front, the Mark II has a slightly wider profile toward the end. The lens still relies on manual focus and aperture control but now includes glowing, glow-in-the-dark depth-of-field markings for improved usability in low light.
Optically, the lens has received some updates as well. The Mark II still uses an 11-element, 8-group design, but now features two ED elements (up from one) and a new aspherical lens. These changes aim to improve image quality, particularly in reducing chromatic aberration and enhancing sharpness. Additionally, the minimum focusing distance has been shortened from 0.17 meters (6.7 inches) to 0.15 meters (5.9 inches), giving photographers slightly more flexibility for close-up shots.
One trade-off with these updates is a slight increase in weight. The Mark II tips the scales at 600 grams (21.2 ounces), compared to the 570 grams (20.1 ounces) of the original model.
Despite its changes, the 10mm f/2.8 Mark II retains the core characteristics of its predecessor. It produces a diagonal fisheye effect on full-frame sensors, offering a unique perspective for creative shooting. Its aperture diaphragm is listed as 10-bladed in the specs but described as 8-bladed in the product descriptionâeither way, it promises striking sunstars when stopped down to f/4 or smaller.
7Artisans has also developed a lens profile for Adobe Camera Raw, which allows photographers to reduce fisheye distortion while maintaining the lensâs ultra-wide field of view.
A few sample shots:
Pricing and Availability
The 7Artisans 10mm f/2.8 Mark II is available now for $278, slightly more expensive than the original version, which remains available for $256. Notably, the older model also offered a GF mount for Fujifilm GFX medium-format cameras, an option missing from the new release.
Image credits: 7Artisans
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: Paddy
His Instagram: @pdy_graphy
Congratulations on your lucky feature ;)
A few photos of his (his nighttime in Girona, Spain collection):
Donât forget to check out the Advertisement up top âŹď¸
Lexarâs New Storage Solutions for Pros that mean Business
Lexar has unveiled a range of new products aimed at professional photographers and videographers, including CFexpress 4.0 memory cards, a modular docking station, and high-speed portable SSDs. These offerings are designed to streamline workflows from capture to post-production.
New Lexar CFexpress 4.0 Memory Cards
Lexar has expanded its CFexpress 4.0 lineup with three new cards: the CFexpress 4.0 Type A Gold, CFexpress 4.0 Type B Gold, and the high-performance CFexpress 4.0 Type B Diamond.
CFexpress 4.0 Type A Gold: Designed for Sony cameras, this compact card offers maximum write speeds of 1,650 MB/s and sustained write speeds of 1,400 MB/s. Priced at $649.99 for 1TB, it ensures smooth video recording without dropped frames.
CFexpress 4.0 Type B Gold: This card is compatible with a wider range of cameras and offers faster performance, with maximum write speeds of 3,300 MB/s and sustained write speeds of 3,000 MB/s. Itâs priced at $449.99 for 1TB.
CFexpress 4.0 Type B Diamond: Targeted at 8K RAW video workflows, the Diamond series is Lexarâs fastest, with sustained write speeds of 3,200 MB/s and maximum write speeds of 3,400 MB/s. Built for durability, it is temperature-proof, dust-proof, and shock-resistant. It costs $999.99 for 1TB.
Lexar Professional Workflow 6-Bay Docking Station
For creators managing large files, Lexarâs new Professional Workflow 6-Bay Docking Station provides a customizable and modular solution.
The docking station can hold up to six modules, including SSDs and card readers, allowing users to build a personalized workflow. It supports Thunderbolt 4 for ultra-fast 40Gbps data transfer speeds and features two bays with full Thunderbolt 4 compatibility, while the remaining four support up to 10Gbps.
The aluminum enclosure includes a built-in fan for sustained performance during heavy use and offers multiple connectivity options. On the back, there are three USB-C ports: one for daisy-chaining, one for connecting an 8K display, and one for power. A 140-watt GaN charger is included.
The 6-Bay Docking Station is priced at $599.99 and does not include any drives or readers.
Workflow Portable SSDs
Lexarâs Workflow Portable SSDs are designed to integrate seamlessly with the docking station or function as standalone drives. These IP68-rated SSDs are dust- and water-resistant, with maximum read and write speeds of 2,000 MB/s.
The SSDs are available in two sizes: 2TB for $299.99 and 4TB for $499.99.
Availability
All products, including the CFexpress cards, docking station, and portable SSDs, will be available this month. Lexarâs latest offerings aim to provide professional creators with the speed, reliability, and flexibility needed to handle demanding workflows.
Image credits: Lexar