What Photoshop Books Should I Read? (UPDATED: Jan 30, 2014)

One of my top blog posts was my article entitled "Which Books Should I Read?" lacked a detailed discussion about Photoshop books because of the time of its writing I was still getting up to speed on Photoshop. I've now had time to read a big stack of Photoshop books and have some concrete recommendations to go along with that article now.

If you are like me you find Photoshop to be both poorly laid out and daunting to learn. It's easy to buy a stack of books and never get anywhere beyond cropping then clicking Auto Levels, Auto Contrast, and Auto Color (and possibly Variations if you've discovered that one) and calling it a day. In essence you've spend a fortune on a product that doesn't really do much to help you with your photos. Fear not, you aren't alone!

Starting with the Basics

One of the problems with most Photoshop books is that they've forgotten that there are still people on this planet who don't know the fundamentals of Photoshop. If you don't know how to add or subtract from a selection or even what all of the selection tools do, then it will drive you insane when the book simply says "select the girl in the photo" who inevitably has wispy hair going everywhere!

If you are a Photoshop novice (and it is okay to admit that you are) then I highly recommend you start with Teach Yourself VISUALLY Photoshop CC (My old CS3 version review). However, the important thing to remember when reading Photoshop books is that you MUST apply what you've read on the computer. If you simply read it and move on then you'll forget it, so practical application is essential.

Okay, I know the basics now just show me how to do cool stuff

Now there are a handful of really great Photoshop books, but there comes a point where you just want to get on with it and start doing some cool stuff. Once you see that you can do cool stuff yourself, then you have the motivation to read all of those other good Photoshop books. For this I've found that there is one definitive MUST READ Photoshop book for anyone who as ever wanted to create pro looking photos and its called Scott Kelby's 7 Point System for Photoshop CS3. Yep, that's right - it's the same Scott Kelby that wrote The Digital Photography Book - Volume 1 (2nd Edition) which is #1 on my list of recommended Photography books. While it may seem like I'm becoming a bit of a Kelby fan boy, the reality is that the guy just knows how to write great books in a way that gets down to business so you can get your work done. This book has helped me tremendously and I know it will do the same for you. Once again I'll repeat , the important thing to remember when reading Photoshop books is that you MUST apply what you've read on the computer and in this case you must also WORK WITH THE SAMPLE FILES!!!!

Just cut to the chase, what's your recommend reading list?

Okay, here in order of importance (always read #1 first) are the books I recommend you read if you want to master Photoshop:

1. Teach Yourself VISUALLY Photoshop CC  (see my Teach Yourself Visually Adobe Photoshop CS3 book review which still applies to newer editions)
2. Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3 (Review) - no CS4 or CS5 version but it is still applicable and a MUST OWN book)
3. The Adobe Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers (or the version that applies to your installed version of Photoshop – here’s my last reviewed version)
4. The Photoshop Channels Book is the magic resource that will teach you how to create complex selections that you find impossible to do right now (WAY better than Photoshop Masking & Compositing)

But wait, 3 of those 4 books are Kelby books. What the heck?

Yes, it's true Scott Kelby writes some great books and I highly recommend them. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't other great books out there. In fact, there are. However, I've found that great books like Photoshop LAB Color: The Canyon Conundrum and Other Adventures in the Most Powerful Colorspace  don't appeal to the masses and quite simple are too advanced for someone reading an article like this. At some point I may do an advanced Photoshop book list, but for now I'm catering to those who are getting started and Kelby is the man right now.

Extra Reading Recommendations

If you’ve finished my recommended books and want more, then you’ve gotta try these:

• Professional Portrait Retouching Techniques for Photographers using Photoshop – the bible for portrait editing
• Photoshop Compositing Secrets – If you ever need to do a composite, this will help you do one that looks natural and not like cheesy stickers on a photo
• Welcome to Oz 2 – Helpful for learning how to control the viewer’s eye / attention
• The Digital Negative – If you want more depth on RAW 
• Layers – Helps to understand blending modes & “blend if” feature (current version is better than the one I reviewed)

A word about Photoshop CS5

As of the time I wrote this article the selection of Adobe Photoshop CS5 books was getting better, but still some key books haven’t been updated for CS5. Photoshop CS5 has some drastic changes to its user-interface and performance improvements. In addition, most cameras released after June 2010 that create RAW image files can't be opened in Photoshop CS4 or Lightroom 2.x because the newer version of Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) is only integrated into Lightroom 3.x and Photoshop CS5 and up. If you can afford it, then it is a worthwhile upgrade, however you should always get the books for your specific version of Photoshop so look for CS4 updates to the books listed in this article.

What about Lightroom?

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 Book for Digital Photographers (my old review) is the bible for Lightroom and has stuff you won’t find anywhere on Adobe’s web site or manuals. I love it! It also includes an adaptation of the 7 Point System for Lightroom so it’s a great resource! If you want more depth, then check out The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 Book: The Complete Guide for Photographers.

What about HDR?

This is one place where I say skip the book and go to the video and there’s nothing better out there than HDR Workshop DVD by Trey Ratcliff of StuckInCustoms.com. It’s a great resource that is easy to follow and worth every penny – especially for those who own Photomatix and don’t know how the hell to get good results out of it (which is where I was until watching this DVD series).Trey does have a book called A World in HDR which is a decent resource, but I got a lot more out of the DVD’s. However, the best place to go these days is flatbooks.com and search for Trey’s latest eBooks.

I want more info about Printing from Photoshop?

Printing is a whole beast in and of itself which is why I created my printing series and even my own Printing 101 eBook, but if you really want to get into printing then again I say watch The Perfect Print DVD Series by Randy Hufford first. It’s also useful to read The Digital Print if you want more depth than what my book offers.

But Ron, I REALLY hate reading books - what other choices do I have?

If you are the ADD type like me, it may be hard to focus long enough to finish a book unless you have a lot of uninterrupted time (I read many of my books when I was on bed rest due to back pain). Now that I'm back on my feet again, I'm finding it difficult to read books again. As a result, I've found my Kelby Training membership be a valuable resource due to the great detailed videos the have on their site that simply "get to the point" of the thing I'd like to do. I also like their magazine because it allows me to review short articles that solve specific common problems.

I struggle to find time to read books and magazines, how do you do it?

I have this problem too, but I've found a few things that work well for me. First, if I'm home sick I'll try to read for as long as I can before I eventually fall asleep (if your eyes get heavy then stop reading - its pointless). Next, is when I'm on the airplane (which isn't that often for me). Planes are a great place because it makes the flight go quicker. Next is anytime I find myself waiting. I keep my book or magazine handy with me when I go to appointments or I am waiting for my kids (it's great when they are playing on the McDonalds play structure that I'm too big to fit in). Lastly, and perhaps the funniest, is when I'm in the restroom at home. You laugh, but I've found that if you simply read a couple pages each time you are perched on your porcelain throne that you can finish a book in a month or less. In fact, it usually causes you to get so interested in a chapter that you follow up with it afterwards so you can at least finish a chapter. Sure this might gross some people out and make them think twice about borrowing a book from me, but it's the truth and it works. Try it out!

I also always try to pick long flights when I travel and take my books with me. It’s forced time that I can dedicate to reading, and often I can finish at least one book each way of my trip. Get the Kindle version of the books to do this without having to carry a bunch of extra weight, but personally still prefer the printed or PDF eBooks over Kindle books since you sometimes loose the integration of photos and text together.

Okay, what if I'm too lazy to do any of the things you've suggested - what now?

I understand where you are coming from. When I started with Photoshop I got so frustrated that I just decided to throw money at the problem and pick up some plug-ins. While these work very well and I use them frequently today, despite my strong Photoshop skills, the key thing to realize is that being strong in Photoshop will teach you how to get the most out of your plug-ins by being able to control their impact on your photo using things like masks. With that said, I do have some favorite plug-ins and I would recommend that you get them even if you become great in Photoshop. My recommend list can be found in my What Plug-Ins Should I Buy? article.

I also teach and do contract work, so contact me if you want to pay me to get you up to speed or edit a photo on your behalf.

These are expensive, do you have any discounts?

See the Discount Coupon Code page for the latest versions and discounts.

Other articles you may enjoy

If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy these:

• ** My FAVORITE Lightroom Presets - Discount Code **
• B&W Software Editing Comparison - Nik vs onOne vs Topaz
• Choosing The Right Display Calibration Device
• HDR Software Comparison
• Photographers Gift Guide / Recommendations
• Things You Need AFTER You Buy Your New Camera - Must Have Photography Accessories
• What plug-ins should I buy? (for Photoshop & Lightroom)
• Where should I display and/or sell my pictures online? (Updated 2012)
• Which Photography books should I read?

Disclosure

If you make a purchase using links found in this article, I may make a commission. It doesn’t cost you a penny more, but it does help to support future articles like this.

REVIEW: Zen of Postproduction by Mark Fitzgerald

The book, Zen of Postproduction: Stress-Free Photography Workflow and Editing, with its attractive cover is a book that just begs you to pick it up and read it. It conjures up thoughts of the stress free photo workflow that helps you to get through those terabytes of photos sitting on your hard drive that are begging for the attention that you never seem to find time to give them.

If only there was some magical change to your workflow that could help you get through that pile and find all of those diamonds in the ruff that are just begging to be discovered for our outdated portfolio web site. Alas, what if there was a way that you could finally find that awesome photo that pulls you away from the job that you hate and lets you live the dream of being the full-time photographer that you wish you could be.

Alas, all of this is what I think many people will imagine when they see this book and I honestly believe that is the hope of the author, Mark Fitzgerald, as he effectively shares his digital workflow from Lightroom to Photoshop and ending with various output types. Could this be the perfect complement to Bryan Peterson's Understanding Composition Field Guide: How to See and Photograph Images with Impact which focus on the capture portion, and this book picks up where it leaves off?

Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but sadly like many things in life there aren’t any shortcuts. While this book is full of reasonable suggestions and one mans digital workflow using Lightroom, there are other such books that cover the subject both in more depth (The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 Book: The Complete Guide for Photographers) and in a more user-friendly “follow along” way (The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 Book for Digital Photographers). It also covers a Photoshop workflow but again, not in a way that is suitable for basics (like Teach Yourself VISUALLY Photoshop CC), or as effectively as Scott Kelby's 7 Point System, nor as comprehensively as The Adobe Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers.

So where does that leave us? It leaves us with yet another good book on the subject of photo editing and another photographers perspective on what works well for them. For those who have read many of the books I’ve mentioned individually and still are wondering how to tie things all together, this might be just the book to give them that “ah ha” moment. Of course it might also leave the more analytical types scratching their head and saying “but hey, that’s different from what <insert your favorite photographer or book here> told me, and they’d be right.

I have nothing against this book. It’s well thought out and written. It offers numerous helpful suggestions and shares the experience of what works for Mark Fitzgerald. However, it’s like getting someone’s recipe for Thanksgiving Dinner. What is great and wonderful for one person might be missing the most important thing for another, and it might be too complex for another. After all, if you don’t know how to cook then you probably don’t want a Thanksgiving Dinner book that says prepare the turkey and cook until brown. You want more details. If you know the details, then you probably want a book to give you tips on how to make the whole meal with half the effort and cleanup time, and the title of this book seems to suggest that is what it will do for your photo editing. However, what I read is your basic Photo Editing 101 overview with high level suggestions for those who already know how to use Lightroom and Photoshop, but there in lies a challenge – if you already know Lightroom and Photoshop then you probably already have a workflow that is some variant of what is suggested.

My fundamental issue with this book is that the stressful part of photography for most people that read this blog is that they have a full time job that doesn’t involve photography and very often a family that demands their attention. This results in taking photos when out with the family and barely getting time to dump them on the computer before it’s back to family duties. This results in backlogs of photos that don’t get the attention they deserve. Very often when the average person finally gets to their photo backlog there’s little time to invest in wading through the mountain of photos and giving them sufficient editing time. This is a simple hours in the day problem that is either solved by not sleeping (like me), jumping off the cliff to become a full time photographer or winning the lottery so you have time to triage and edit your photos. There’ no Zen involved – simply more time is needed where none exists.

In the end, Mark does offer his strategies for how he gets through triaging his photos as he offloads him off his memory cards. Personally I liked Scott Kelby’s workflow in his Lightroom book for triaging photos better than the one suggested by Mark, but fundamentally both accomplish something similar. This is like the Thanksgiving debate on stuffing that comes from being cooked inside the turkey or made separately – they are both good, so it’s just a personal preference as to which you like better. Ultimately this is how I felt about a lot of things in the book – it’s valid, but it’s not the way I like to do it. Perhaps, that my fault for being too set in my ways, and perhaps an amateur might find themselves appreciating the advice if this is the first time they read it. However, if that amateur was my student I’d probably have them read other books first to give them a better foundation of Lightroom and Photoshop.

Conclusion

I’ve written two best-selling books and a third book that wasn’t published through traditional means so it can’t garner the title of “best-selling”, but it’s earned more money than both of my best-selling books combined. I know very well the energy and effort that goes into writing a book, so as a fellow author my heart wants to always give a glowing review of books. However, I read a lot of books and I’ve tried hard to boil things down to what I think will give my readers the most bang for both their buck and limited time. This is why I wrote my Which Books Should I Read? and What Photoshop Books Should I Read? articles as one of the first articles when I started this blog. While like my Thanksgiving Dinner analogy, my recipe for success might differ from others, I’ve got a long list of readers who have been very grateful for my suggestions which gave them the info they need quickly and efficiently.

I still stick to those recommendations.

Zen of Postproduction: Stress-Free Photography Workflow and Editing is a very well written and organized book filled with helpful suggestions that have worked well for Mark Fitzgerald. I have no doubt that people who haven’t yet established their own workflow will find his recommendations to be very helpful and enlightening. However, I kept hoping I’d get to the “Zen” part that had the magic bullet that I might be missing, but I never got there. Instead, I was treated to a good book that seemed very familiar but lacked the depth of the collective of books I’ve already recommended on this blog.

I recommend this book for those who are seeking an alternative viewpoint on the digital workflow already offered in Scott Kelby’s Lightroom (The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 Book for Digital Photographers) & Photoshop books (7 Point System + The Adobe Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers).

Where to order

Click here to learn more or order either the print or Kindle version of this book.

Other articles you may enjoy

If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy these articles and reviews:

• What Photoshop books should I read?
• Scott Kelby's 7 Point System (Written for CS3, but still applies today)
• Lightroom 3 for Digital Photographers (My opinion is the same for the current edition)
• The Adobe Photoshop CS6 Book for Digital Photographers (CC book is only a minor update)
• The Photoshop Channels Book – Old but still helpful if you struggle making good selections
• Welcome to Oz 2 – Helpful for learning how to control the viewer’s eye / attention
• The Digital Negative – If you want more depth on RAW 
• Layers – Helps to understand blending modes & “blend if” feature (current version is better than the one I reviewed)
• What plug-ins should I buy? (for Photoshop & Lightroom) – The real “Zen” occurs when you let the plug-ins do the hard work so you can speed up your editing workflow
• Trey Ratcliff Interview – he has some useful suggestions for his workflow in this article
• Which books should I read?

Disclosure

If you make a purchase using links found in this article, I may make a commission. It doesn’t cost you a penny more, but it does help to support future articles like this.

FUJIFILM X-T1: The Best X Series Yet - Now Available for Pre-Order

Fujifilm X-T1 Mirrorless Digital Camera (links to kit)
Optional Lens & Grip Shown

I’m officially VERY excited about this announcement! I was happy with the improvements in the X-E2, but I was wanting a little more than it offered. The X-T1 seems to be the answer to many X-Series fans wish list!

FUJIFILM X-SERIES REACHES A NEW PEAK WITH WEATHER RESISTANT X-T1

X-T1 features a huge, real-time OLED viewfinder, extreme AF speed, and premium craftsmanship for photographic freedom anywhere 

Valhalla, N.Y., January 27, 2014 – As a leader in advanced digital camera technology and outstanding image resolution, FUJIFILM North America Corporation today announced the new FUJIFILM X-T1, a weather-resistant premium interchangeable lens camera with a large OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) that delivers a near-instant image preview, the latest generation 16.3 Megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor and the segment’s fastest autofocus of 0.08 seconds^*1 for a truly remarkable photographic experience anywhere.

The FUJIFILM X-T1 now gives professional and enthusiast photographers the award-winning imaging power of the X-Series in a water, dust and temperature resistant body that braves outdoor challenges like never before.

OLED viewfinder perfection

Fujifilm X-T1 - Rear View

The FUJIFILM X-T1 combines a unique wide-angle 2.36m dot resolution OLED view with the world’s highest magnification (0.77x) for a digital camera ^*2 and shortest display lag-time of just 0.005sec^*3 to react as quickly as you need in any environment. 

The OLED viewfinder also includes cutting-edge technology to bring users even closer to their subjects. The X-T1’s viewfinder uses a newly designed Graphic User Interface that provides an exciting shooting experience with clear details and a comfortable at-a-glance view of your settings.

The X-T1 has four OLED EVF Display Modes:

1. "FULL" mode takes full advantage of the high magnification ratio of the X-T1's viewfinder to give an unrivalled view of the scene
2. "NORMAL" provides an optimum view, including shooting settings
3. "DUAL" is specially designed for manual focusing with a clever split view. The regular view and manual focus area can be simultaneously checked (with Digital Split Image^TM or Focus Peak Highlight)^*4
4. “PORTRAIT” view in “NORMAL" and “FULL” modes automatically rotates the displayed information when the camera is held vertically

Award-winning 16.3 Megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor and EXR Processor II

The FUJIFILM X-T1 uses the award-wining EXR Processor II and X-Trans^™ CMOS II sensor with built in phase detection that delivers an astonishing response time of just 0.08 seconds and a super-fast 0.5 second start-up time^*5, along with a 0.05 second shutter time lag and a 0.5 second shooting interval^*6.

The X-T1 can also shoot up to 8 frames per second^*7 with tracking AF and is the first-ever CSC^*8 to be compatible with SDXC UHS-II format memory cards for data writing speed (in Continuous Mode) that is approximately twice that of a conventional SD card.

Tough, weather-resistant design  

Fujifilm X-T1 - Overhead View

The FUJIFILM X-T1 is the first weather-resistant X-Series CSC (when used with a weather-resistant lens) that performs in a wide range of challenging environments. The X-T1 uses more than 75 points of weather sealing, and the camera body is dust-resistant and water-resistant. The X-T1 is also freeze proof to -14°F for full-fledged field photography work, while the premium clear 3” LCD screen with 1.04 million dot resolution is made of tempered glass for additional outdoor protection.

Traditional handling, modern response

Fujifilm X-T1 - Tilt LCD View

With five mechanical dials on the top-plate, two command dials; one on the front and one on the rear, and six fully customizable function buttons, the FUJIFILM X-T1 feels and functions like a proper photographic tool in the hand. The top-plate includes two machined-aluminum double-deck dials for the shutter speed and metering, and the ISO sensitivity and drive modes, and each is designed to turn with a reassuring click, while their textured surfaces gives a firm confirmation when setting up a shot.

With their exposure values clearly marked, the X-T1’s settings can be checked at a glance without using the rear LCD and the dials are perfectly arranged so that functions can be changed without removing your eye from the viewfinder. The six customizable function buttons and two command-dials arranged on the front and rear complete the picture, ensuring instant setting satisfaction.

WiFi and remote camera operation

The X-T1 one-touch WiFi connectivity lets you easily share images to your smartphone or tablet – pictures that these devices cannot capture - and remote shooting via smartphone or tablet using the Fujifilm Camera Remote app for unique capture opportunities.

Additional grip and weather resistant lenses

The optional vertical battery grip (VG-XT1) has the same hardy structure as the X-T1, so when added to the body, it is completely secured against the elements.

Fujifilm is launching three weather-resistant zoom lenses to complement the X-T1 camera in 2014, including the XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R OIS WR, XF16-55mmF2.8 R OIS WR and the XF50-140mmF2.8 R OIS WR.

FUJIFILM X-T1 key features list:

• 16.3 million Megapixels APS-C X-Trans CMOS II Sensor
• Dust and water-resistant body with more than 75 points of weather sealing. Freeze resistance to -14°F
• EXR Processor II
  • World’s fastest AF of 0.08 seconds
  • Startup time of 0.5 seconds
  • Shutter time lag of 0.05 seconds
  • Shooting interval of 0.5 seconds
  • Phase detection AF and motion predictive AF for continuous shooting up to 8 frames per second
• High-precision 2.36 million dot OLED viewfinder
  • Highest viewfinder magnification for digital cameras of 0.77x
  • Wide viewing angle (diagonal 38° and horizontal 31°)                     
  • Ultra-fast Real Time Viewfinder with a lag-time of 0.005sec (less than 1/10 of existing models)    
• Four different display modes: Full, Normal, Dual and Vertical.

o   Full mode: Displays shooting information at the top and bottom of the screen to avoid obstruction of the view

o   Dual mode: Adds a small second screen for checking focus point with Focus Peak Highlight or Digital Split Image

o   Normal mode: Lets you concentrate on framing the shot in Auto Focus mode while keeping you aware of how the shooting conditions are changing, making it the perfect setting for sports and action photography

o   Portrait mode: When in Full or Normal modes, it rotates the shooting information interface when the camera is turned vertically

• Tempered glass 1.04 million dot high-precision 3” tilting LCD monitor
• Digital Split Image and Focus Highlight Peaking
• World’s first compatibility with Ultra High Speed UHS-II SD memory cards
• Vertical battery grip VG-XT1 and three new zoom lenses offer the same weather resistance to secure the entire system

• Redesigned circuit board design enables high ISO 51200 setting^*9
• ISO200 - 6400, extended ISO 100, 12800, 25600, Auto(maximum ISO setting from ISO 400 – ISO6400 available)
• Lens Modulation Optimizer technology maximizes each lens’ performance
• In-camera RAW converter
• Die-cast magnesium body provides a sturdy and durable, while compact and lightweight design

• Body and grip designed for correct balance when attaching telephoto and large-diameter lenses             
• Two command dials and six Function buttons for instant control and customization
• Interval timer shooting for Time Lapse photography is available with intervals of 1 second to 24 hours and up to 999 frames

FUJIFILM X-T1 accessories:

• Dedicated all-leather case BLC-XT1  New
• Vertical battery grip VG-XT1 New
• Hand Grip MHG-XT New
• Four dedicated flash models to choose from depending on requirements (EF-X8 New, EF-X20, EF-20, EF-42)
• Protector filters (PRF-39, PRF-52, PRF-58, PRF-62 and PRF-72 (For XF10-24mmF4 R OIS) New)
• DC coupler CP-W126 NEW
• AC adapter AC-9V NEW
• M Mount Adapter for additional lens compatibility
• Remote release RR-90
• Stereo Microphone MIC-ST1

The FUJIFILM X-T1 (body only) will be available for $1,299.95, and the X-T1 with the XF18mm-55mm (27-84mm) F2.8-4 lens (kit) will be available for $1699.95, both in February 2014.

The FUJIFILM X-T1 uses the same FUJIFILM X-Mount as the X-Pro1, X-E2, X-E1, X-M1 and X-A1, and all FUJIFILM XF and XC lenses work with all X-Series interchangeable lens cameras.

The current Fujifilm lens family includes the following FUJINON XF and XC lenses:

• XF 14mm F2.8 R
• XF 18mm F2.0 R
• XF 23mm F1.4 R
• XF 27mm F2.8
• XF 35mm F1.4 R
• XF 56mmF1.2 R
• XF 60mm F2.4 R Macro
• XF10-24mm F4 R OIS
• XF 18-55mm F2.8-4.0 R LM OIS
• XF 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS
• XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS
• XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS

*1: Fastest AF speed among digital cameras equipped with an APS-C or larger sensor. Measurement conducted by Fujifilm research based on CIPA guidelines using the X-T1 equipped with XF14mmF2.8 R lens in High Performance mode as of January 2014

*2: Highest VF magnification ratio among digital cameras. Fujifilm research as of January 2014. Approx. 0.77x magnification with a 50mm lens (35mm format equivalent) set to infinity and -1.0DP

*3:  Fujifilm research as of January 2014

*4: “X-Trans” and “Digital Sprit Image” are a trademark or registered trademark of FUJIFILM Corporation.

*5: Equipped with XF27mmF2.8 in High Performance mode

*6: MF mode

*7: AF-C shooting mode

*8: RAW shooting mode

*9: Expended output sensitivity

About Fujifilm
FUJIFILM North America Corporation, a marketing subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation consists of four operating divisions and one subsidiary company. The Imaging Division provides consumer and commercial photographic products and services, including: photographic paper; digital printing equipment, along with service and support; personalized photo products; film; and one-time-use cameras; and also markets motion picture archival film and on-set color management solutions to the motion picture, broadcast and production industries. The Electronic Imaging Division markets consumer digital cameras, and the Graphic Systems Division supplies products and services to the graphic printing industry. The Optical Devices Division provides optical lenses for the broadcast, cinematography, closed circuit television, videography and industrial markets, and also markets binoculars. FUJIFILM Canada Inc. sells and markets a range of Fujifilm products and services in Canada. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmusa.com/northamerica, go to www.twitter.com/fujifilmus to follow Fujifilm on Twitter, or go to www.facebook.com/FujifilmNorthAmerica to Like Fujifilm on Facebook. To receive news and information direct from Fujifilm via RSS, subscribe at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss.

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including electronic imaging, digital printing equipment, medical systems, life sciences, graphic arts, flat panel display materials, and office products, based on a vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. The company was among the top 10 companies around the world granted U.S. patents in 2012, and in the year ended March 31, 2013, had global revenues of $26.7 billion*. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmholdings.com.

* At an exchange rate of 83 yen to the dollar. 

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.

Conclusion

While I would have loved to have seen a full-frame version come out in response to the a7/a7R, this is really quite an impressive camera that I can not wait to review. I thought I’d end up getting the X-E2 based on what I saw from the press release, but alas the unit that arrived didn’t captivate me so much that I felt like I had to have it. I think this one may be different, so I can’t wait to get my hands on it and find out.

Please come back to this blog and check the right column regularly for the release of my X-T1 review.

Where to order

Click here to learn more or order at B&H. My friends at Adorama have it available here.

Other articles you may enjoy

If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy these:

• Fujifilm X20 (My personal P&S camera)
• Fujifilm X100s
• Fujifilm X-E2
• Fujifilm X-M1 Preview
• Fujifilm XPro-1
• Fujifilm XQ1 (vs X20 & Canon s110)
• Fujifilm X-S1
• Fujifilm X-E1, X100s, X20 & X10 Compared

Disclosure

If you make a purchase using links found in this article, I may make a commission. It doesn’t cost you a penny more, but it does help to support future articles like this.

Drastically Improve Your Handheld Shots with the Leica Tabletop Tripod & Large Ball Head (NOW WITH VIDEO)

Leica Tabletop Tripod with Folding Legs (1/4" Screw)

The above little device looks simple huh? You may be thinking that is just a table top tripod and you don’t need an expensive one like this – and for years I agreed with that thought. The device below is a more insanely priced ball head for the aforementioned tripod which I thought could certainly live without (or find a cheaper alternative).

Leica Large Ball Head

I’m here to confess that I was wrong and stupid for not buying these both years ago, but NOT for the reason you might think. While these make a fine combo for a tabletop tripod, I don’t need a table top tripod. I can usually find a table or garbage can or something to rest my camera on that does a perfectly fine job as a tripod. That isn’t why I use this combo – and specifically recommend THIS combo ONLY. What’s more I use it with full size DSLR’s including my Canon 1D X pro body – not small cameras (but it’s usable with them too).

The reason why I love this combo and paid the outrageous price for it was because of a brilliant thing that a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer showed me during one of my own workshops. You see, Gary Parker demonstrated that his 20+ year secret weapon for stable for slow shutter speed shots (for lenses with and without stabilization) is this combo as you see shown here:

My smartest investment ever ($328.95) – thanks Gary Parker (shown above)

You mount your camera – any size – and using your hand on the camera as normal you can leverage the tripod on your chest to stabilize the camera. This has allowed me to get shots two to four stops lower than image stabilization alone (super valuable for D800/D800E shooters) which means I can use lower ISO’s. Despite his advice, it took me almost two years to bring myself to finally buy it myself. In short, it changed my life and helped me to realize how this little investment helped me a lot more than many of the $1000+ investments I made to improve my photography.

The Leica Tabletop Tripod ($119) and Leica Large Ball Head ($209.95) combo are stupid expensive ($328.95), so I can understand your resistance buying them. However, I’ve not found anything else that has worked as well – and I’ve tried! The stability of this model of tripod is stronger than anything I’ve used and the ball head (the expensive part) is long enough to work well with big DSLR’s and flexible enough to let me get whatever position I need.

Given the ridiculous price of this combo, almost no photographer will buy this set for themselves, but like a great set of high quality steak knives – you never regret it (or can go back) once you own it. As a result, this is the perfect gift for your photography friend!

Video Demonstration

Click here to view on YouTube (1080p version available)
This video was filmed using this lens and these lights with a 5D Mark III

Conclusion

I know that I’ll get flamed for the stupid price of this pairing – I CAN RELATE. I knew about this combo for years but refused to buy it due to its insane pricing, but I can honestly say that nothing has improved the sharpness of my lower handheld shots better than this combo. If you own a Nikon D800/D800E then you will thank me after investing in this!

I finally rationalized this purchase when I realized that if it is good enough for a Pulitzer prize winning photojournalist who prides himself on getting the shot with the least expensive solutions – why am I not using it? Now that I have it, I’m kicking myself for waiting so many years to do this!

Where to order

Click here to learn more or order the tripod and click here for the ball head on the B&H web site. My friends at Amazon have the tripod available here and the ball head here.

Other articles you may enjoy

If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy these:

• My Tripod Recommendations (includes ball heads and monopods)
• Ron’s Photography Holiday Gift Guide–2013
• Which Printer Should I Buy? Epson or Canon?
• Choosing The Right Display Calibration Device
• Things You Need AFTER You Buy Your New Camera - Must Have Photography Accessories

Disclosure

If you make a purchase using links found in this article, I may make a commission. It doesn’t cost you a penny more, but it does help to support future articles like this.

Landscape Shooting with the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 (Review Part II)–Unedited Forest Photos

Copyright (c) Ron Martinsen - All Rights Reserved
This image has been edited but only sharpening was due to resizing

Normally when I review a lens, I try to incorporate the review into my everyday life events as a photographer. I don’t usually seek out special locations or go too far out of my way beyond hiring the occasional model. However, this lens is very different and it warrants very special treatment. You can see my review with bookshelf test shots and more at MINI-REVIEW: Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4–Is It Really That Good? (Canon 50mm f/1.2L comparison), but this article is about seeing what this lens can do out in a beautiful forest with no help from Photoshop or Lightroom. 

Zeiss 55mm f/1.4 Otus Distagon T* Lens
This image came from B&H probably via Zeiss

Real World Sample Images

I enjoyed shooting with this lens so much I decided to pack up my Canon 1D X, Gitzo GT1541 (the perfect travel/hiking tripod) with the Arca-Swiss Monoball Z1 sp head into my StreetWalker Pro backpack and head out for a rare chance to shoot just for fun. I had no client, family or objective – just walk and shoot what looked interesting to my eyes.

You can download them and view them out for yourself, but you may not print, edit, or otherwise use these photos beyond that. You must delete them after viewing as all images featured in this article are Copyright © Ron Martinsen – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

These images come from my Canon 1D X with zero post-processing, but they are the in-camera JPEG’s so it does do a little bit of internal processing. I did turn off all noise reduction just to avoid any softening of the images. I was also using the Landscape picture style for nearly all the shots, and my white balance was set to Shade.

Click here to see the gallery where I’ll store all my test images, and you’ll notice that all the shots here are featured numerous times because I shot them at various apertures.

Click any of the images to see the full-size in-camera original.

Canon EOS-1D X, f/11 @ 55 mm, 0.8s, ISO 100, No Flash

Canon EOS-1D X, f/11 @ 55 mm, 1.3s, ISO 100, No Flash

Canon EOS-1D X, f/8 @ 55 mm, 1.3s, ISO 100, No Flash
If possible, I tried to limit myself to no more than f/8 simply to show off the sharpness of this lens

Canon EOS-1D X, f/11 @ 55 mm, 2.5s, ISO 100, No Flash
Anything after f/11 gets soft so when I wanted sharpness and DOF this was my go to setting

Canon EOS-1D X, f/11 @ 55 mm, 2.5s, ISO 100, No Flash
I got some nasty flare here despite the very big hood that was attached
Click here to see an edited version

Canon EOS-1D X, f/1.4 @ 55 mm, 1/30, ISO 100, No Flash
Click here to see an edited black and white version

Canon EOS-1D X, f/1.4 @ 55 mm, 1/30, ISO 100, No Flash
See the top of this article for the edited version

Canon EOS-1D X, f/1.4 @ 55 mm, 1/30, ISO 100, No Flash
The bokeh on this lens rocks!

Canon EOS-1D X, f/4 @ 55 mm, 0.5s, ISO 100, No Flash
In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I dig moss and ferns <g>

Canon EOS-1D X, f/1.4 @ 55 mm, 1/15, ISO 100, No Flash
While I took shots at multiple apertures, this lens caused me to love wide open

Canon EOS-1D X, f/1.4 @ 55 mm, 1/50, ISO 100, No Flash
I had f/11 & f/16 versions of this, but I preferred the shallow DOF leading to the bridge
Wide open under exposes by a stop but I liked the mood here as it matched
the lighting of this scene when I took it (sun had already set)

Canon EOS-1D X, f/1.4 @ 55 mm, 1/50, ISO 100, No Flash

Canon EOS-1D X, f/1.4 @ 55 mm, 1/30, ISO 100, No Flash
This shot was about the fern, but I included the cool scenery
While I did this shot in all apertures, this was still my favorite

Canon EOS-1D X, f/9 @ 55 mm, 1/3, ISO 100, No Flash
This is a shot I also did at f/1.4 with a focus on the distant tree,
but unfortunately the details of the tree were lost but the rest of the photo was cool

Want to shoot with me here?

I’ve taken about 1% of the amazing shots that are possible in this forest, yet I got these after only a couple hours in the forest (and about 45 minutes of walking – round trip). I have these and many other beautiful places to shoot near me, so if you are interested in hiring me for one on one or small group private training please contact me! I’ll make sure you get shots like these or better, and we’ll have a lot of fun talking about photography while we are at it!

Conclusion

If you’ve paid attention to the camera settings, you’ll see that f/1.4 darkens the image by a stop and after f/11 things start to get soft probably more due to diffraction than the lens itself. The D800E’s lack of a optical low pass filter will probably be help it to be able to go deeper beyond f/11 with much better results, but I’d suspect f/16 is still soft. The sweet spot for this lens is definitely f/4 – f/5.6, so when I wanted maximum sharpness I favored f/5.6.

You can see my review with bookshelf test shots and more at MINI-REVIEW: Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4–Is It Really That Good? (Canon 50mm f/1.2L comparison), but this shoot today just made me love this lens even more. In fact, the biggest complaints I have are the obvious lack of automatic focus (because I’m a people photographer), the price (ouch), and the fact that it is so sharp that it screws up your workflow because you have to avoid sharpening until the final resize because creative sharpening will easily over sharpen these images.

Yeah, it’s that good! If you can afford it – get it!

Where to order

Zeiss 55mm f/1.4 Otus Distagon T* Lens

Click here to learn more or order either the Canon or Nikon version on the B&H web site. If you enjoyed this article, I strongly encourage you to purchase from them as this wouldn’t have been possible without their support!

Where to rent with a discount

Can afford this lens? Me either – ha, ha! It’s still fun and worth checking out, so rent it and have your day of fun with it too!

My friends at BorrowLenses.com and LensRentals.com both offer discounts on my discount coupon code page where you can rent this awesome lens.

Here’s the pages that link to this lens on their web site:

• LensRentals.com Zeiss Otus
• Zeiss-55mm-f14-Otus-Distagon-T-Lens-for-Canon
• Zeiss-55mm-f14-Otus-Distagon-T-Lens-for-Nikon

Remember, to visit my Discount Coupon Code page for this and other discounts!

Other articles you may enjoy

If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy these:

• MINI-REVIEW: Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4–Is It Really That Good? (Canon 50mm f/1.2L comparison)
• Canon 1D X (Real World Usage)
• Canon 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye Zoom
• Canon 24-70 f/2.8L II (vs 24-70 f/4L IS Comparison)
• Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM First Look
• Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS vs 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 DO
• Canon 200-400mm f/4L IS with 1.4X Extender
• Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS II at the Zoo
• Fujifilm X100s
• Fujifilm X-E2
• Nikon D4
• Nikon D600 (vs Canon 5DM3 & 6D)
• Nikon D800
• SIGMA 120-300mm
• SIGMA 35mm Art Series (My favorite Sigma!)
• SIGMA 85mm f/1.4 EX DG
• Sony a7R
• NEC PA242W Monitor Review (PA241W & PA271W Review)
• NEC PA302W Monitor Review (PA301W Review)
• What plug-ins should I buy? (for Photoshop & Lightroom)
• What tripod Should I Buy? (includes heads & monopods)
• Choosing The Right Display Calibration Device
• HOW TO: Drastically Improve Your Handheld Shots
• Printing Series 

Disclosure

If you make a purchase using links found in this article, I may make a commission. It doesn’t cost you a penny more, but it does help to support future articles like this.