Hi, everyone! Welcome to mybeloved.camera. I have been pretty fortunate when it comes to business travels. I shifted some of the work from the team in Budapest to India while ago. As my team expanded, I hired a couple of people in Prague during the pandemic. After two and half years after I hired the first person, I finally had the opportunity to travel to Prague Czech Republic. It was my first time visiting Prague, and I only had a few days to spend there. But I found some time to walk around the city to photograph this beautiful city.

First and foremost, I really got lucky (in an unlucky situation). Since I only had limited time, I booked a photo tour through Tripadvisor. Unfortunately, it fell through as my flight from Budapest was cancelled and did not get in time to meet the guide. But I got in early enough to check in to the hotel and start shooting photos. I powered through most of photogenic buildings around the town on the first day/evening without spending time to really appreciate the history. One of the buildings I wanted to photograph was the oldest castle in the world, Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge. I arrived at the Charles Bridge tower a couple of hours before the sunset, and I stayed at the tower until the sunset. I did not choose the timing of my visit based on where the sun would set. I did not even know. But I wanted to see how the castle would look in the sunset and got really lucky.

While there are many historic and photogenic buildings around this beautiful city, another thing I appreciated walking through the city is the vibe of the city. This tourist friendly city has a lot of entertainment to offer, good food, and good looking restaurants and cafes.

But to me, nothing really beats the beauty of the Prague castle and Charles bridge.

My first day in Prague ended there as I need to grab dinner and get ready for the next day in the office. But I got to continue pretty close to where I wrapped up the next day. After dinner with my team, I spent few moments taking another iconic building. Though I did not have a tripod with me, R5 with 24-105mm L lens at 1.6 sec produced a decent photo.

Prague is an absolutely beautiful city and a lot to see. I simply wanted to "see" and photograph as much as I could on my first trip. But as I focus developing my team in Prague, my plan is to come back here twice a year for several years. I will trip to capture these beautiful architectures and others I did not get to see in the future.

Hi, everyone! Thank you for visiting mybeloved.camera. I had the pleasure of taking another business trip to Budapest Hungary in July 2022. This trip probably would be the very last trip I take to Budapest for business. I have shrunk the operation of my team there and moved to elsewhere over the past few years. Due to flight changes, I ended up with a free Saturday in Budapest. It was extremely hot and humid. There were a lot of constructions including the closure of Széchenyi Chain Bridge. But I walked around photographing familiar sites in a day light.

This time I did not stay at Hilton Budapest given the Széchenyi Chain Bridge was closed, and it made staying on the Buda side little more inconvenient. I stayed at Marriott Budapest with an amazing view and great breakfast buffet. On Saturday, I walked across Erzsébet Bridge, walked by St. Gerard Sagredo Statue, Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion, walked along the Danube river, walked across Margit bridge, walked around the Parliament building and back to the hotel.

It was an extremely hot summer day. After few hours of walking I had to stop to rest for a while. I went to one of my favorite restaurant in Budapest. Pest Buda Bistro in the castle district. It is only a few minutes walk from the Fisherman's Bastion serving Hungarian cuisine. My favorite is grilled chicken salad. After lunch, a good cup of coffee, and water, I walked by the Danube river and crossed Margit bridge.

There were a lot, I mean A LOT, of people marching for the Pride parade.

As this was the last day of a week long business trip in the hot and humid summer, I decided not to explore the Pest side. It was unfortunate Széchenyi Chain Bridge was closed for the repair and there were a lot of repair work taking place as you can see many cranes in the pictures. Though most likely this would be the last time I visit Budapest for work, it was a great experience going through the familiar sites during the day. Budapest has been one of the cities I have visited the most in the past decade. I have learned the importance of taking time to shoot, photographing same subjects in different season, time of the day, with different lenses.

Hi, everyone. Today, I will go over my experience buying and selling on eBay, and explain why eBay still remains as one of the go to place for me to buy cameras and gears. eBay is a global marketplace that has been connecting millions of buyers and sellers for over 25 years. In this guide, we will unlock the secrets to finding rare cameras and photography gear that are treasures to photography enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Disclaimer: This post contains marketing or advertising links. This site may receive a small amount of compensation if you make purchases through these advertising links.

Why eBay is Your Best Bet

While eBay has started as an online auction site, eBay stands as a behemoth in the e-commerce sector, offering a plethora of items through its technologically advanced platform. I have purchased several cameras and gears on eBay. Here’s why it should be your go-to place for finding rare photography items:

Unparalleled Global Marketplace

1.9 Billion Live Listings. Yes, 1.9 billion listings. No, not all listings are camera related. But there are millions of listings related to cameras. But there are listings from sellers around the globe.

• Variety: From vintage cameras to rare lenses, find a diverse range of products.
• Opportunity: The vast number of listings means there is something for every collector or photographer.

132 Million Active Buyers. This makes eBay as a great market place for sellers with better chances of connecting with buyers who are interested in what they are selling.

• Community: Engage with a community that shares your passion and interest. While there are established businesses and professional sellers, many of eBay sellers are passionate about their hobbies/what they sell. It is this connection that has contributed to eBay's success.
• Feedback: Leverage the feedback system to make informed decisions.

Operational in 190 Markets. Unlike Amazon who does not ship some of items internationally, many eBay sellers are shipping items globally.

• Global Reach: Source unique items from different corners of the world.
• Cultural Diversity: Find items that carry a rich history from various cultures.

I have purchased Mamiya RB67 and YASHICA124G from eBay. In terms of lenses, most of Lensbaby I owned through the years were purchased on eBay. I have also sold used gear on eBay as well. There are unique cameras Yashica Y35 and Lytro still widely available on eBay. There are films from different countries that may be difficult to find in your country.

Strategies to Find Rare Photography Items

Embarking on the journey to find rare items can be thrilling. Here are strategies to help you succeed:

Know what you want and how much you are willing to spend

Let's be honest here. I personally would not spend thousands of dollars to purchase most up to date cameras and lenses on eBay. The reason is I would want US manufacturer's warranty which should only be available if you purchase items from authorized sellers. I went through the purchasing process of R5 here. But if I am looking for rare DIY cameras or used cameras/lenses, eBay would be the go-to marketplace for me. There are new items from authorized dealers, refurbished items by sellers, used items, and parts for repair available on eBay.

Mastering the Search Function

• Keyword Optimization
  • Specificity: Use specific keywords to narrow down your search.
  • Synonyms: Try different synonyms and related terms to expand your search.
• Utilizing Filters
  • Condition: Filter items based on their condition – new, used, or refurbished.
  • Price Range: Set a price range to find items within your budget.
• Save your Searches: you can save the search and go back to eBay from time to time to see what you are looking for is available or at a reasonable price.

Analyzing Seller Profiles

Just like any other marketplace, there are good buyers and bad buyers. You would have to be careful who you purchase from. eBay offers Buyer Protection. But who would want to go through bad experience and dealing with a seller after you make a purchase? You would have to weed out some bad sellers.

• Feedback and Reviews
  • Reliability: Reviews can give you an insight into the seller's reliability. Make sure they have good amount of positive feedback.
  • Past Transactions: Look at the seller’s past transactions to gauge their credibility. Also, check on what items they have been selling. Has there been any recent changes? If there are weird changes, it maybe a sign of something nefarious.
• Seller Ratings
  • Rating Score: A high rating score is generally a good indicator of a reliable seller.
  • Communication: Check ratings for seller communication to ensure smooth transactions.

Auction Dynamics

Auctions are fun. Auctions give a sort of thrill. Auctions give a hope of buying something at a reasonable price or a bargain. But to enjoy and actually win the auctions, you would need to have some strategies

• Smart Bidding
  • Strategy: Develop a bidding strategy to increase your chances of winning.
  • Timing: Learn the best times to place your bids to stay ahead in the auction.
• Using the Watchlist
  • Monitoring: Keep a close eye on items you are interested in by adding them to your watchlist.
  • Notifications: Set up notifications to stay updated on the auction progress.

If you are into photography and if you are always looking to try something new and stretch your budget as much as possible, take a look at eBay. Give it a try and see if you like it.

Hi, everyone! Welcome to mybeloved.camera. Yes, it was 10 years ago. I have been going through my photographs and reorganizing/rewriting my blog posts and came across some photos from my first visit to Budapest. The reason I started photography was to capture the pictures of my kids and send them to my parents living away from me. But I have to say taking pictures while traveling, especially on my business trips was the reason I really got into photography. I have to say this trip back in March 2023 started all. Looking at my photos from 10 years ago was little embarrassing in a way. I realized how bad I was back then. Nevertheless, this trip was the beginning. It was the first time I really took time on my own to shoot what I wanted to shoot. By myself. Taking the time I needed to take.

Why Budapest Hungary?

You might ask why Budapest? Yes, it is a beautiful city. But there are a lot of beautiful cities, and probably more popular or well-known destinations. I have to say it was simply pure luck. It was a business trip. Back in 2012, I resigned my position at Amazon and move to my current company. My department outsourced some of the operations to an offshore company, and one of their offices happened to be in Budapest. We visited there to retrain the team we had there. When I learned my boss was sending me for a trip, I was mildly shocked and wildly excited.

Attractions of Budapest

If you search Budapest on Google or Bing, you can easily find beautiful photos of the Parliament, Castle, Bridges and other historical places. There are a lot of beautiful things to photograph for sure. Most of these are in walking distance from each other, and you can spend a day taking a leisurely walk and shooting beautiful and historic architectures.

St. Matthias Church

Centrally located St. Stephen's Basilica

Budapest is also a tourist-friendly city. Of course, it has to do with the fact tourism is one of the most important industry for the city. Also, there are street vendors and shops with tourist traps. Pick pockets seem to be a common petty crime as well. But I have never experienced any danger or any negative experience as a tourist there. I have walked all over Budapest. Even early in the morning or really late at night, I felt fairly safe walking around the city taking pictures, carrying my camera and tripod.

Hungarian Parliament at night time

We stayed at Hilton Budapest. It probably is one of the best, if not the best, hotels to stay for photography. While it is not the most convenient for sightseeing of the pest side and central area, it is right next to the St. Matthias Church, right by the best photo spot to shoot the Parliament building, and is in the historic district of Budapest. Their restaurant for breakfast overlook the Danube river and the Parliament. It was a wonderful way to start the day looking at the beautiful city drinking coffee. Their buffet breakfast is also awesome.

Walking down the Buda hill

I believe this is a part of Buda castle. Walking through the "wall" and climbing down the stairs and the hill gets to the Széchenyi Chain Bridge. As this bridge and the castle district is the most popular and iconic attractions, there are a lot of tourist from the morning to night.

Széchenyi Chain Bridge and walking by Danube river

Back then, I was shooting Canon Rebel XTi with 28mm-135mm. It was not the best combination given the APS-C censor. Since this trip, I visited Budapest 8 times until July 2022. I took photographs of same buildings, bridges, and architectures with different cameras, lenses, in different seasons, at different times. I have shared some of these photos through the years here on this site. If you are interested, please take a look at them.

Hi, everyone! Thank you for visiting my site. It has been a long time since the last update, and this time I wanted to share what I have learned shooting soccer games. Along with travel photography, I have been shooting soccer games for my sons' teams for the past several years. It has been a great learning journey, and there are several things I have learned. Here are some of the tips.

First and Foremost: Asking for Permissions

I have been shooting my sons' teams for several years and sharing the photos with the team and parents. I have never had any issues or anyone complaining about shooting games. I do not make any money off of these. I shoot in public. But as the subjects of my shots are kids/minors, it can be sensitive. It is always a good practice to ask for permissions.

Permissions from the club

I have never had any issues shooting games with a couple of different clubs. Also, the current club my sons play actually use the photos I have taken on their website. But I have asked permissions to take photos just in case clubs care about their players photographed. In my recent trip to England for my older son's soccer trip, there was a player from semi-professional team practicing on a field next to ours. There was another photographer (a professional) shooting our practice, but also clicked few shots of this particular player on the next field. Yes, it was a private property, and their coaches really got pissed off with this photographer and got into a huge argument. While I shoot in a public field and my sons belong to a club, I ask to make sure the club is okay with me photographing games. Asking never hurts.

Permissions from the parents

As I do not shoot commercially and do not post in social media, I should not have to get model release. But as these players are kids (8ish~17ish), they are considered as minors and taking pictures of minors may be sensitive to some parents. In the beginning of the season, I ask parents to make sure they are okay with me photographing players during the game. Only thing they ask is if I would be sharing the photos with them. My answer is always yes to this. While I do not like shooting photographs of people in general, being able to capture and share some of the moments in kids lives has been really rewarding for me. I have never had any parents who did not want their kids pictures taken. Parents usually get really excited after seeing the photos from the first game as they realize the differences in the quality of photos between their smartphone pictures and my set up (Canon EOS R5 with 100-500 mm L lens).

Permissions from the referees

You might wonder why I would need permissions from the referees. As long as the club and parents are okay with my photographing the game, there should be no issues. You are right about that. The reason I ask the referee's permissions is for my positioning for taking photographs. I will get into the details on the positioning more later. But some referees do not like parents/audience sitting anywhere other than the opposite sidelines from players benches. In several years of shooting soccer games, there have been two referees who actually asked me to stay on the sidelines. Also, in England, referees told me they would allow me to to shoot on the field because it was a friendly game. If it was an official game, I would not have been able to get inside the fence to shoot the game. In order to avoid disrupting the game and referees, it is always a good idea to check with them before the game where we can shoot from.

Positioning Matters A LOT

One of the factors that differentiate my photographs from other parents photographs are angles and compositions. Usually, most parents are sitting on the sidelines on one side of the field. This really limits the angle of what we can shoot. To really capture the actions and exciting shots, we have to position ourselves correctly. I usually move around the field during the game depending on which way my sons' teams are facing and how games are going. There are few spots I position myself during the game.

Next to the goal

This (marked with "1" above) is the primary position I take. I position myself far enough from the goalie not to disturb players and the goalie. I also stay far away from the corner in order not to disturb corner kicks. But more importantly, I choose this position for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, I can shoot my sons' teams facing me rather than from the side. Second, actions (goal scoring opportunities and corner kicks) are close. Yes, a lot of photos may be focused on the offensive plays by positioning here. But as long as I have a long lens and enough pixels to crop, my photos of defensive players come out pretty good as well.

Center line

The second position I usually take is right on the center line. I certainly prefer taking photos next to the goal. But sometimes a lot of actions are on the defensive end. If that is the case, I position myself right on the center line to capture at least the half of the field. While the angle of the images may be from the side more especially for the mid fielders, defensive players tend to face the side lines little more than other players as they try to push the opponents to the side rather than letting them go inside.

25 yards

The last spot I may position myself during the game is about 25 yards from the goal line. This is specifically to take photos of the goalie. While I shoot for my own pleasure and my main subjects are my own sons, I try to capture everyone. As I share my photos with the team by sharing a folder in a Google Drive rather than individually, the team and parents see all photos I take/edit. I prefer not to disappoint players and parents for not seeing a lot of their action shots. The angle certainly is not the ideas. But there are less obstacles compared to the center line. There are usually several players in the foreground even if I try to capture the goalie. Even for the penalty kicks, there are players lined up at the 18 yard line getting ready to run towards the goal. If I am at 25 yards, I can avoid unwanted players in the frame to a certain extent.

Camera Settings for Success

Shooting with a dedicated camera produces usually better results than with a smartphone for the most part. Dedicated cameras usually have bigger sensors and better lens quality producing better image quality for sure. They usually have less time lags allowing shooters to capture the image they intend to take rather than a few moments later. But there are more controls we have, and setting the camera correctly for the occasion produces much better images. For that reason, I shoot in manual mode.

Shutter speed dictates all

One of the reasons a lot of sports pictures do not turn out good for parents (mostly blurry pictures) is the slow shutter speed. Most photographers may not need to use a shutter speed faster than 1/200 or 1/250 second for family photos or especially landscape photography. This shutter speed is fast enough for these types of photographs. But in sports photography, it is not fast enough and causes blurry images. We need a faster shutter speed. For my younger son's team (11 years old) I use 1/500 or 1/640 second. For my older son's team (15~16 years old), I use 1/1000 second. These shutter speeds usually stops the motion and produce sharp crisp images of players while the ball may show little blur for the movement.

Aperture to keep the subjects in focus

When I started photography, I was obsessed with wide apertures. I loved the bokeh and the blurry background. It is good for some photographs. But not necessarily great for the sports photography. I use Canon EOS 5D Mark III and EOS R5. Both of these have full frame sensors. Also, I use Canon EF 70-200mm F4 USM IS L or RF 100-500 mm F4.5-7.1 L lenses. These gears result in shallower depth of field. For that reason, I do not shoot with aperture wide open. I shoot either at F5.6 or 6.3 (for 100-500 at the long end, it forces to F7.1). These narrower aperture allows me to capture the players in focus, not only parts of players. Even the camera/lens keeps track of face/eyes, these apertures keep the entire body in focus.

ISOs keep everything together

While I shoot manual, I have my ISO setting on auto. I set the range between 100-6400, and the camera changes ISO as necessary for the light condition. With the shutter speed of 1/500 ~ 1/1000 second with the aperture of F5.6~6.3, it is pretty dark unless it is super sunny. Some of you may be hesitant to use high ISOs. I completely understand. I was really shocked with the amount of noise when I shot ISO 400 film. My first DSLR did not even have ISO above 1600. But this is where the technological advancement shines through Images with ISO 6400 are still great.

Even these these settings, there may not be enough light to shoot. In these situations, I either clank up ISOs little more or just give up on shooting the game.

Keeping the moving subjects in focus

The most difficult part about shooting sports is keeping the moving subjects in focus. In soccer, there are 22 players on the field chasing the ball. Keeping a particular player moving with a ball has been difficult. For the focus mode, I use AF Servo with face/eye tracking. With Canon 5D III using AI-Servo, it was not perfect and I had a lot of images out of focus. With R5's, face/eye tracking capabilities, there are a lot more images in focus on the players I wanted to capture.

Continuous shutter to capture the moment

Even with the minimal shutter lag time (the time gap between pressing the shutter button and camera actually capturing an image), it still is challenging to capture the "best" moment. To help with this, cameras offer continuous shutter mode. Canon 5D Mark III offers about 6 frames per second. R5 offers up to 20 frames per second with electric shutter. These continuous shutter mode generates a lot of images and few of them may have the ideal moments.

With R5, as I use Dual Pixel focus, I cannot use the high speed continuous shutter mode, and I use the slow speed continuous shutter mode. It is limiting in a way. But I choose a sharp focus over the speed of continuous shutter.

Gears

I would say all DSLRs or mirrorless cameras that came out in the past 15 years would have enough capabilities and features to shoot sports photography. I was quite happy with Canon EOS 5D Mark III (released in 2012). While there were a lot of images that were out of focus, I produced a lot of great images that players, parents, and the club appreciated. But as I touched on the post on my decision to upgrade to R5, newer cameras have amazing features that provide better chances of producing more satisfying images. Also, there are other gears and accessories absolutely necessary and helpful in shooting soccer games.

Face/eye detection and tracking

I would say face/eye detection and tracking is a must have feature. This definitely is a game changer. The good news is, this feature (canon calls it Face+Tracking AF) is available even for an entry camera like Canon R100. I can shoot with R100 with the same settings as I have with R5.

Only other features I may consider is the weather sealing depending on the geographical region/weather and how serious you are about shooting soccer games.

Lens: The longer is not necessary better, but 200mm is recommended.

When I first started shooting soccer, I only had 28mm-135mm. Quickly I learned it was not long enough even for smaller fields. As my older son plays on a full size field and plays defense, 200mm started to feel limiting. I upgraded to 100-500mm. But I would say 100-500mm is not practical for other purposes. If you are interested in shooting only your own children, 200mm should be long enough.

If you do not want to spend that much money, you can try RF 100-400mm. While it is a slower lens and does not have the same level of weather sealing, it is less than a half of 70-200mm F4 lens and gives you twice the length.



A must have: Monopod

I do not see many parents with tripod or monopod on the field. But a monopod is an absolute must for me while shooting soccer games with a heavy camera and a long lens. Not having to hold/carry a heavy camera and a long lens really help my shoulder/arm/wrist. Also, it stabilizes the camera further. My strong recommendation is to buy a solid and sturdy monopod with tri-feet for added stability and a solid ballhead for smooth control.

A must have: Lightweight foldable stool

I do not shoot standing up. I shoot sitting down on a stool. It helps me with my legs/feet/back. But more importantly, it gives little more balanced angle vertically. Rather than shooting down my subjects from my eye level. I would be shooting from players' hip level. This gives a better angle especially for younger/shorter kids.

An absolute must if you shoot in rain: LensCoat Raincoat Standard

As I live and shoot in the Pacific Northwest, there are a lot of rain/misty weather during the fall and winter. While I have shot with my 5D Mark III and 70-200mm F4 lens without any covers before, it is a necessary protection to take care of my investment. I have asked a professional photographer about their take on using rain covers for their gears. His advise was put a cover on the gear if I have to use an umbrella or raincoat. It makes sense. Though R5 and 100-500mm lens are both weather sealed, I feel much better if they do not get wet. LensCoat Raincoat Standard covers 70-200mm F4 comfortably and fits 100-500mm perfectly.

Really nice to have: Photographer gloves

I am usually cold and my hands and feet get really cold especially during winter while shooting. I used several different gloves and put one over another. But nothing really seemed to work. Then, I came across Vallerret Markhof Pro V3. This pair keeps my fingers warm and dry. If you are to shoot in winter in wet condition, I strongly recommend investing in a good pair of gloves.

In Conclusion

I hope this would be helpful in your photography journey of shooting soccer games, especially the positioning and the camera setting part. Of course, everyone has their own styles and he/she finds the settings they like for their photos. Just play around with different settings, changing things little by little to find what works. Happy shooting and sharing precious moments!

One of the cities I had the opportunities visiting several times in the past decade for business was Budapest Hungary. It is a beautiful city, and I felt safe enough to walk around by myself with my camera gear even at night time. My mission this time around (March 2016) was to shoot the city using Lensbaby 2.0 and also to take the Chain Bridge from different angles.

All of these were taken along the side of Dunabe River. While it is definitely walkable, it is pretty hilly as well and carrying a tripod and camera maybe little hard for some. A good pair of walking shoes, light weight travel tripod, and a cable release are must have items.

Thank you for visiting mybeloved.camera!!! Today's post has to do with the iPhone set up for photographers. As a photo geek, the only reason I started using iPhone back in the day was my desire to use Gizmon iCA case. However, Gizmon has not produced cases since iPhone 5, I was using "ugly" cases just to protect my iPhone. However, I finally came across a set up I was interested in last year. As I enjoy taking photographs with my iPhone as well, I would like to share my set up this time.

What I look for in iPhone cases

First and foremost, what I look for in iPhone cases is to make taking photographs more enjoyable. This may seem like a good reason for selecting a case. However, my main purpose/use is taking photographs, this was the most critical factor in selection of cases. To make iPhone photography more enjoyable, there are few things that are important:

• Attach external lenses (Moment Lens in particular)
• Solid/protection
• Attach a strap (I drop phones a lot)

Why Moment Lens?

As I wrote previously, my reasons for using Gizmon iCA case had to do with expanding photography experience through attachable lenses in addition to the cool camera-like look. Yes, there are clip-on lenses I can (and I have) use to expand the types of lenses to take photographs with. Nevertheless, I wanted to use Moment Lens. My main reasons are:

• Quality of the product.
• Ease of attachment and secure attachment

I have used many different types of lenses for smartphones; however, the quality of Moment Lens is by far the best I have seen. Yes, it is big, heavy, and more expensive than others; however, the quality is well worth the price. As you can see from the comparison pictures below, Moment Lenses look like "camera lens" rather than cheap toy lenses. Yes, I agree and understand what kind of gears we use or how they look do not make any differences in the skills of the photographers. But Moment Lens simply looks great.

Next, the ability to attach/switch lenses easily and securely was important. With Moment Lens, we can attach by inserting the back of the lens to the designated "hole" and twisting 90 degrees to attach lens securely. As this method of attachment is much better than clip-on lenses because there is no need to manually align the attached lens to iPhone lens. Also, this is a much secure way of attachment compared to the magnetic lens attachment like Gizmon iCA. Once attached securely, it takes more than accident to knock off Moment Lens.

Only one thing I do not like about Moment Lens is rear caps cost $9.99 each. Given the price point for each lens from Moment Lens series, I really wish rear caps are included.

Case must be solid and protective ... obviously

I believe there are a lot of people who would choose a smart phone cases based on the looks or the convenience of use (stand, wireless charging capabilities); however, a solid built and actual protection of iPhone was important. The reason as you can guess is I have dropped phones a lot. While I was using Gizmon iCA case made out of polycarbonate/plastic, I have broken bits and pieces of the case and I had to order parts separately several times. Also, when I was using a "slim" case, I have cracked the screen. I hoped the case would actually protect iPhone from dings and drops.

Why a strap?

We usually do not see people attaching a strap to their iPhones, especially in US. However, I wanted to use a strap given my history of breaking/dropping phones. Also, a strap on a phone can be highly convenient as I tend to take photography with iPhone even while I am carrying a bigger camera. I can simply dangle my phone with a strap attached to my wrist while taking a photograph with a bigger camera.

What I fell in love with is ... Smallrig iPhone Cage

After identifying what is important for my iPhone case, I did some research. I read reviews on dedicated cases manufactured by Moment Lens. In the end, my research was pretty short as I came across Smallrig iPhone Cage. As it is named a "cage," it somewhat looks and built like a cage. This Smallrig iPhone Case is:

• Moment Lens compatible. There are models that are compatible with 17 mm threaded lenses.
• Built solid with aluminum alloy while I still needed to protect the front and back of the phone.
• Customizable with many different accessories, including a strap, with multiple 1/4" - 20 holes. I can attach a plate for tripods.

While this case is bulky and little on the heavy side, this case protects the phone and expands the photo taking experience. Smallrig manufactures and sells rigs other than iPhones and smartphone.

Once I had a clearer idea on what I am looking for in an iPhone case, I started the actual search. Of course, I considered the line of genuine Moment Lens cases. However, I reached to my conclusion of Smallrig iPhone Cage fairly quickly, mainly because there are limited number of cases that are Moment Lens compatible. As this is named "Cage," it looks and feels like a cage. This case is:

• Moment Lens compatible (there are models that are compatible with 17mm threaded lenses)
• Made of Aluminum Alloy that looks and feels sturdy while I still need to protect the front screen and the back of iPhone.
• Expandable with accessories because of cold shoe attachments and multiple 1/4"-20 holes. This means I can attach camera straps and tripod plates through 1/4"-20.

Its size and weight definitely are on the negative side. However, its expandability outweighs its cons. Smallrig actually manufactures and sells cages and other accessories like handles for DSLR/Mirrorless cameras or GoPro.

Finally ... my current set up

I reached to my current set up not all at once because Moment Lenses are expensive. My set up is listed below. While I do not carry around every single item or lens, this whole set up would be much less bulky or heavy compared to my full frame Canon R5 set up.

Smallrig iPhone Cage for iPhone 11 Pro

Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap

Moment Lens 58mm

Moment Lens 18mm Wide

Moment Lens 14mm Fisheye

Moment Lens 10x Macro

Moment Anamorphic Lens - Blue Flare

SmallRig Aluminum Side Handle for Smartphone Cage

In conclusion ...

For now, I am satisfied with my current set up. I will probably keep this set up simply upgrading to a newer cage as I upgrade my iPhones in the future. Only addition I am thinking of and actually waiting for is Fjorden (https://shop.fjorden.co/) which will be shipped later in 2022. I am currently using Fjorden app, and I do like the control/UI/features over the default camera app. I will be sure to make an update once I receive Fjorden.

After 7 years with Canon 5D Mark III, I have made a decision to upgrade my camera. Not that I was not happy with Canon 5D Mark III, but I was intrigued by new technology (much better AF and image quality) and was fortunate enough to come up with some funds to invest in my hobby. While purchasing a new gear, especially a new camera, seemed fun, it was a lengthy process and many factors to consider. I wanted to share my experience making a decision on upgrading to Canon R5.

DSLR or Mirrorless???

I know it is 2022, and everyone at this point knows mirrorless systems are the present and future, and major camera manufacturers like Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, and Sony have great systems and lens selections. However, I still spent time considering the pros and cons of remaining with a DSLR or moving to a mirrorless system. There were three reasons for me to consider DSLR.

• Familiar menus and layout. I can upgrade to Canon 5D IV and transition pretty smoothly without learning too many new things.
• Can use EF lenses natively. While I do not have an extensive collection of lenses, I have several lenses for Canon EF system I want to use.
• Cost. Simply upgrading to 5D IV would be the cheapest option. It would be a simple swap of Mark III and Mark IV.

These three reasons are good enough to stick to DSLR. But there are also pros to mirrorless systems.

• Focus peaking. This feature was extremely useful when I shot with Samsung mirrorless system with Lensbaby. As Lensbaby lenses can be little more tricky to get the focusing right, focus peaking was definitely one of the features I wanted. Canon 5D III or IV does not support focus peaking natively.
• Better autofocus. As I shoot sports (my kids' soccer games), autofocus quality is extremely important. One of the frustration/limitations I felt with 5D III was its autofocus/tracking. Even with AI Servo mode, keeping the subject in focus during games is difficult. I missed a lot of shots. From what I have learned through various Youtube reviews, mirrorless systems available now have much better autofocusing system and subject (eye/face) tracking which I was truly attracted to.
• New technology and firmware update. While DSLR systems are still somewhat mechanical, mirrorless systems are mostly electrical which firmware updates can give these systems new life. I believe 1.3.6 is the latest firmware available for 5D III while R5 already have 1.5.2. I believe more frequent firmware update will prolong the lifetime for mirrorless systems.

In the end, future proofing with more frequent firmware updates and focusing capabilities of mirrorless won my decision.

Sony vs Nikon vs Canon or Fujifilm?

With my decision to move to a mirrorless system, now I had the option of selecting a new system. As Canon EF lenses I had do not work on mirrorless systems natively, and these lenses still can be used on a mirrorless system with an adapter, I had a real opportunity to consider an entirely new system without strict limitations forced by the lens system I had. After reviewing many Youtube reviews and my own hands-on experience, I made the decision to stick with a Canon system. There are two reasons.

• Autofocus. While all camera systems I have tested from different manufacturers have much much better autofocus capabilities than 5D III, Sony I believe had the best autofocus and tracking capabilities followed closely by Canon.
• Menu system. Navigating through different menu system and learning how different camera systems work was much more difficult and uncomfortable than I anticipated. I am sure it will come with time and I will be comfortable with any system I choose in some time. Nevertheless, it was time/opportunity cost I did not want to take.

With above two points, I decided on a Canon system.

R5 or R6???

Now I have decided on a Canon system, the next decision was which model. As of 2022, Canon has R, RP, R5, R6, and R3. Realistically, I only considered R5 and R6. My points of considerations were:

• Cost. While I had some funds, I did not win a lottery and did not have unlimited funds. That simply eliminated R3. While R3 may be the "best" offering Canon has at this time, the cost of R3 (USD 5,999) is not something I can justify for my hobby. If I had a photography business, it would be a different story. But at this point, my photography would not pay for $6,000. Also, a bigger and heavier camera was not too attractive given new RF lenses are heavy.
• Autofocus. Given R5 and R6 are newer and higher end models, their autofocus capabilities are much better than R or RP. As autofocusing capabilities is one of the most important factor for me, R5 or R6 are logical choices.
• Image size. This was really a difficult decision. No, I do not print anything big. 45MP for R5 is probably not something I would need. However, 20MP for R6 is a bit underwhelming. As I crop some images I capture for soccer, 20MP does not leave as much room as R5 would. I thought 45MP also would further future proof the possible needs I may come across.
• Weather sealing. This is another important factor. 5D III has been a tank. I have shot (or attempted to shoot) in a heavy fog/rain in Hawaii. I have shot in the cold Alaska. I have shot many soccer games in rainy Seattle. I have never had any issues. R5's weather sealing is similar to 5 series while R6 is similar to 6 series. I did not want to take any chances on this.

Where to buy???

With my mind set on Canon R5, next decision point was where to buy. While there is a supply chain issues and chip shortages during the pandemic, there were several options available. Local camera store, directly from Canon, Amazon, or other online retailers. In the end, I made the decision to go with Adorama. There are four different reasons for choosing Adorama.

• Trust. There are several famous online retailers specializing in cameras and photography gears. These retailers also sell on Amazon or eBay as well. Few of these retailers have Canon R5 at cheaper prices. While they do not mention clearly, these cheaper cameras are "international" models meaning it is not eligible for Canon warranty in US. Who wants that? B&H photo and Adorama are only two online retailers clearly distinguishing US models vs international models.
• Experience. I have made purchases from Canon, Amazon, B&H, and Adorama previously. Canon was out of question. I purchased Canon 5D Mark III directly through Canon; however, it was a painful experience where I had to have several phone conversations with them for identity verification. I purchase many thing on Amazon, and in general, it works. However, Amazon had few issues with delivered items and how they deliver (delivery person tossing packages). I have had good experiences with B&H and Adorama.
• Available bundles. Online retailers offer some bundles. With an upgrade to R5, I needed EF to RF adaptor, CFExpress Type B card, Card reader, and I wanted at least one RF lens. Adorama offered few different options while I did not see similar option at B&H photo at the time.
• Reward program and cashback. Who does not want money back and/or free money? Adorama offers a reward program where you get 1% back in points. Also, Adorama works with several cashback sites offering 1% to 3% cashback. I chose Lolli for this purchase which offers 3% cashback in Bitcoin. With my purchase about $5400, I received (pending) over 5400 points which translate into $50 at Adorama. Also, with 3% in Bitcoin, I received close to $180 in Bitcoin which at this point has increased to $210.

Few days after I placed my order, I received all of my items in pristine condition in two separate boxes. I cannot be happier with my decision. While it was a lengthy process, I am happy with my purchase and Canon R5. I am happy with the size and build. I am impressed with the autofocus capabilities. I am sure I will have more shots in focus than I did with 5D III.

Along with the R5 bundle, I purchased ProGrade Digital Xpress B card reader and SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB card from Adorama, and screen protectors and extra batteries from Amazon. With everything I purchased, I was ready to start my photography journey with Canon R5.

In conclusion ...

This camera purchasing experience was fun, but a lengthy process. It was the first time in years I had a real opportunity to consider different camera brands. In a way, it force me to reflect on what I value in taking photographs. Also, it was a good learning experience that there are ways to maximize my limited budget through bundling, reward programs, and cash back program. You are likely to make different decisions than I did with different experience, values, and budget. But I can guarantee that it would be a fun experience.

As for R5, I was blown away with its performance. Its auto-focus capability and eye-tracking AF made shooting kids playing soccer a lot more fun and A LOT more accurate. Yes, it is not the camera, but the photographer that makes photographs. But the camera as a tool definitely adds capabilities and opens up what is possible to capture.

After COVID pandemic started in 2020, many photographers must have changed what and how they photograph with certain restrictions on travels and group activities. Some started product photography or macro photography where they can enjoy at home. Some learned how to use external lighting. I lost many opportunities of taking photographs because I mainly shoot my kids playing soccer and travel photography, and I spent most of my free time not taking photos, but editing my old photographs and looked at how I store my old photographs. It is a good practice to review photo storage options as many people take a lot more photos on smartphones, image sizes continue to increase, we need to adjust the methods and sizes of our photo storages.. How are you saving and storing your photographs? In this post, I share my photo storing practices.

Introduction

How many of you have lost photographs/images or any data on your PC? I hope there are not that many. But I can almost guarantee it will happen soon or later. A lot of people do not realize any data storage media is NOT permanent. Most of us do not think of this on a day to day. Regardless of the types of the media (HDD, SSD, USB, Bluray etc), has life expectancy and all data storage will stop working sooner or later. As we photographers spend a lot of money on gear and travel, hundreds of hours shooting and editing, losing photographs would be a devastating experience. For that reason, saving and storing photographs is one of the most important processes in enjoying photography.

How many images do you have on your phone?

How many photographs do you have overall and what is your storage size?

Imagine losing all of them. I can tell from my own experience it is emotionally devastating. This is the reason I spend time saving and storing photographs carefully and in multiple methods at multiple locations. Managing photo storage can be a daunting task if you do anything in addition to putting them on your PC. With the advancement of technology, the file size for each image has increased over the years. Also, most of us have multiple devices to edit and enjoy photographs. These factors add additional challenges. But once I established the process that worked for me, it did not take too much time getting used to the workflow.

Storing photos using multiple methods at multiple locations

Not many people have lost photographs. But I bet there are a lot more people who have lost unsaved data for work or school using Excel, PowerPoint, or Word. How many of you have experienced a dead hard drive? Do you remember how frustrating it was? Imagine you saved all of your photos on a hard drive and it dies on you. What do you do?

I have lost some photos on a NAS before. It completely died on me without any signs of deterioration. It was emotionally devastating experience. I sat there motionless for few min. "Speechless" is a great term to describe me at the time. I tried to figure out ways to retrieve photos. I spent hours searching on the web for what to do. In the end, I gave up. While it may have been possible to recover the data, I would have to spend a lot of money for a professional service. Through this experience, I learned to save and store photographs using multiple methods and at multiple locations.

Additional SSD for PC

I use a Windows PC as a main machine for editing photos at home for the past few years. For editing photographs, I added an additional SSD. As it is an internal, it is really convenient. But more importantly, it allows me to hedge risks against OS troubles and also speed of SSD.

Over the years, I have had few OS issues where I had to reinstall OS and all software, losing data on the same drive. There are professional data recovery services, and it is costly. It is something most people cannot do anything on their own. Having all photos on a separate drive avoids such issues, and I can move the drive to another device if I decide to upgrade my PC. It is simple and fairly cost effective way to have a main photo storage.

There are few reasons I chose SSD over HDD. Yes, I am using a laptop and there is not space for SSD. But even if I was using a desktop PC, I would choose SSD over HDD for a main storage. SSDs tend to have less issues and faster speed. HDDs have physical disk that spins meaning there are moving parts. SSDs on the other hand do not have any moving parts. Physically, HDDS have a higher risk of troubles with moving parts. Also, SSDs offer higher speed. When I am editing photos, slow speed can be stressful when I am editing a lot of photos.

The prices of SSDs have come down a lot though they are still more expensive than HDDs. For now, the SSD I have on my PC is big enough to hold all photos I have. But I may either need to get a higher capacity SSD or be selective about photos I store on SSD for 1) photos to edit and 2) best shots.

External HDD

While my main storage is an internal SSD, I use an external HDD for the main backup. Main reason is HDDs are cost effective. I have a 4TB RAID drive where I dump all photos and other files as well. I considered NAS as well. But I simply did not find anything that I was truly able to trust (given my experience with a dead NAS). The factors I considered while choosing an external HDD was 1) size, 2) ease of swapping HDD, and 3) connectivity (USB3 & USB-C).

Since it is a RAID, it gives additional comfort in having redundancy and storing photos.

Online storage

In 2023, I believe most people use some type of online storage services. Apple provides iCloud. Google provides Google Drive. Microsoft provides One Drive. These services are free for certain amount of storage and subscription fees for additional storage. I use all of these at some capacity. But for storing photographs, I user Amazon Photos. The reason is this is a part of Amazon Prime. Most people know Amazon Prime provides 2 day free shipping and Prime Video. But for photographers, the benefit of Amazon Photos are 1) unlimited photo storage (Yes, unlimited!) and 2) supports RAW file format (for Canon for sure).

In general, I do not like subscription services and I try to consolidate as much as possible. While Amazon Prime has increased its cost over the years, unlimited photo storage along with other benefits are no brainer. It also offers desktop and mobile app for Amazon Photos where I have auto upload/backup of photographs I save on my SSD. This automation along with the support for RAW files, I do not have to worry about additional steps and simply upload photos to my PC. For mobile, all photos and videos are uploaded once I am connected to WiFi. Amazon Photos definitely provides additional comfort in having all photos I have online where I can view and also download if something happens to my local devices. For details of Amazon Photos, please check here.

DVD-R

Yes, you read it correctly. DVD-R. Most of PCs on the market do not even have an optical drive. Some of you may not have even seen a DVD-R disc. Also, DVD-R discs have a small capacity of 4.7GB which is smaller than the memory cards most of us have in our cameras. But I own an external DVD-RW drive for the purpose of storing best photos on DVD-R discs and storing at my desk at my work. Yes, this probably is an overkill, especially given the fact I have all my photos on Amazon Photos. Just in case some natural disaster hits the area or something unimaginable happens on Amazon Photos, I like to keep best photos of the year on DVD-R discs. If you are to invest in an optical drive, I would recommend Blu-ray drive with BD-XL with 128GB of storage.

With these four methods, I feel pretty confident in storing photographs and safety of my images. Even if you do not want all four, I would highly recommend an external HDD and Amazon Photos as the basic photo storing processes.

Saving photos on the go

In addition to saving and storing at home, I have certain practices when I am on the go. Other than taking photos of my kids playing soccer, I shoot when I am traveling for work. My trips are usually at least a week long, and I usually have time editing photos at hotels or in the air. As the risk of losing images on the go is still there, I have few methods of saving photos.

Simultaneous recording

Most of higher end cameras offer dual card slots where photographers can record images on two separate cards simultaneously. 5D Mark II and R5 both offer dual card slots. This is a feature that is extremely important to photographers who get paid to shoot. While I have never experienced any issues with memory cards and I am not paid to shoot, losing photos of places I take on the go is something I would like to even think of. Some places I have shot are places I am not very likely to visit again or places that are not easy to reach on a regular basis. I want to be extra cautious. Being able to record on two cards simultaneously is something I really appreciate.

Using multiple cards

In addition to using dual card, I also use smaller memory cards rather than using big memory cards. As I only shoot still photos and do not shoot video, there is no reason for me to have memory cards with big capacity. Also, I do not like having all my photos on two cards that are in my camera. While having the dual card slot and recording on two cards simultaneously reduces the risk of losing photos, there is a risk of something happening to the camera. There have be increasing cases of photographers targeted for theft. If my camera gets stolen, it can be replaced. But images that are stolen with a camera cannot be. Using multiple cards and limiting the number of images on each card will reduce the risk of losing all images if something happens to my camera. Some of the memory cards are still expensive. But most retailers have sales on memory cards several times a year. I would recommend waiting for these sales events and adding to your camera bag. For carrying

Saving on PC and Amazon Photos

Just like at home, I upload all my photos on a PC after shootings. There are a couple of differences from work. First, I usually do not have my personal PC and upload to my work Mac. From there, I upload photos to Amazon Photos manually. Second, I save photos to an external SSD I take to trips. I use SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD. It is water, dust, and shock proof which gives me little comfort. Also, it is a SSD drive with USB C which is fast enough dump a lot of photos and edit them when I want to without stress.

In Conclusion

These practices may be overkill for some of you. But the key is to save photos in multiple methods at multiple locations. This will mitigate the risks of losing your photos and losing the time and money you invested in taking photographs. Yes, it can be a tedious workflow. I strongly recommend having multiple methods of saving/storing photos. You will feel more comfortable and can enjoy photography by knowing your photos are safe regardless of where you are.

It is hard to believe we only have a month until Christmas. I am sure some of us are starting to think about what we get for our beloved camera geeks for Christmas. Sometimes it is just easy to settle for gift cards; however, it is not always the ideal. Here are some of items I recommend for our camera geeks. Though it is from my own view, it will hopefully give you some ideas. The links in this post include affiliate links.

Before we begin

Some of you may think you should get a new camera for your camera geeks. The issue is most of the cameras us camera geeks want are usually expensive. Also, it requires significant investments in lenses and other accessories. Investing in multiple camera systems is expensive (I did it for a while), and I recommend against giving a camera as a present. Rather I recommend gifting something camera geeks would want, but may not want to buy on their own, or something that will spark the joy of taking photography or creativity in camera geeks.

You cannot go wrong with accessories

The main reason I would recommend getting some accessories is most of accessories are useful and improve photography, and there is nothing wrong with having multiples of same accessories. Also, camera geeks are always prioritizing what to get next, and accessories tend to come after new cameras and lenses. Memory cards, camera bags, tripods are some of the accessories camera geeks would invest in. The accessories I recommend are camera straps, lens filters, monopods, and photo editing software.

Surprisingly useful camera straps

A camera strap usually comes with a new camera. Many photographers may simply use the strap that comes with the camera. I did that as well, and the experience was not great for my neck and shoulder. Most of camera straps are simply not comfortable, especially when we have to carry a heavy camera and a lens attached. The strap I recommend is CarrySpeed Pro Mark IV. This strap has a wide neoprene bad, and we sling this across our body. This really helps to reduce the weight we feel on our shoulder and neck. Also, unlike the similar BlackRapid straps, the part that attaches to our camera is a plate that is compatible with Arca-Swiss tripod mounts. This helps putting our camera on a tripod easier and quicker.

Lens filters to control light

Taking photograph is essentially capturing lights and shadows. How light reaches camera sensors depends on the quality of lens and camera systems. However, lens filters allow photographers to manipulate the light to a certain extent. Using different lens filters opens up new possibilities for taking different types of photograph.

However, buying lens filters can be difficult. There are filters available under $10, and there are filters that cost few hundred dollars. Also, it is difficult to really understand which ones are good and which ones are not unless we actually take photos. Usually cheap ones end up degrading the quality of photos to a noticeable level, similar to how we may not see outside clearly though dirty windows. My recommendation is to spend some extra money to buy good quality filters. Really useful information is available on Photo Taco Podcast by Jeff Harmon. I agree with the recommendations made in this Podcast and would go with Breakthrough X4 series.

Extremely useful monopod

A lot of photographers own a tripod or two, and tripods are something a lot of photographers would invest pretty early on, especially when landscape photography or night time photography is what we are interested in. However, there are not as many photographers who own a monopod. I was one of them for a long time. But once I got a monopod, it has been extremely useful when I take pictures of my kids playing soccer, not having to hold my camera with a long lens attached with my hands all the time. Also, there are some national parks where tripods are not allowed. I would recommend getting a carbon fiber monopod for its durability and lightweight.

Editing software to unleash creativity

One of the best things about taking photographs digitally is the fact we can develop and edit photos on a computer. Most people who take photography seriously are using some sort of photo editing software. Adobe, known for Photoshop, now offers Creative Cloud subscription for Lightroom and Photoshop as Photography Plan. The cost is reasonable at $10/month, and most photographers can benefit from such software package. Those who do not like Adobe or subscription services can look into Skylum Luminar. Luminar utilizes AI power to edit photos easily.

Lenses to expand creative output

For camera geeks, one camera and one lens are simply not enough. For photographers using DSLR or Mirrorless camera systems, the more lenses, the better it is. I have to say there is certain truth to the statement, and the more lenses or different types of lenses can certainly help expand creative output for photographers. If we are using a full size sensor (equivalent of 35mm film size), 16-35mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm F2.8 lenses are called "trinity" and all serious photographers would love to have all three lenses. These three lenses would cover most of the ranges and types of photography. However, these "trinity" lenses are for professionals and they are as expensive as or even more expensive than a camera body itself.

What I recommend for our beloved camera geeks are creative lenses by Lensbaby or macro lens. Both lenses have particular purposes, and will introduce different ways of approaching photography. One thing to note is that you would have to make sure the lens mount matches the camera system.

Absolutely fun lens: Lensbaby

Lensbaby is known for unique lenses. Their lenses introduce different perspective and output which force photographer to challenge themselves to be more creative. What I recommend is Composer Pro II system which we can bend the lens to manipulate focus area. With the Composer Pro II system, we can swap optics, the actual lens part, and produce different effects. Though I have traveled to same cities over and over, taking photos with Lensbaby definitely puts little more creative juice in me and see things differently.

Invitation to the small world: macro lens

Macro lenses allows photographers to get close to the subjects to capture 1:1 size. I am sure most of us have seen really up close photos of insects or flowers. The reason I recommend a macro lens is not only it opens up possibility for different type of photography, it also allows photographers to be creative inside their own room/house. One of the biggest challenge for photographers to keep taking photos is weather/climate. Not many of us wants to drag our camera gear in a really hot weather or in freezing rain. With a macro lens, we can find interesting subjects inside our own house.

If we still feel giving a camera is the way to go....

If we are still compelled to give a camera to our beloved camera geeks (they should be so lucky), I would recommend getting a camera with specific purposes rather than a main camera system. My recommendations are action cameras, film cameras, and toy cameras.

If we want to capture action and experience, get an action camera

GoPro has become "the" action camera. I would say GoPro is not for enjoying taking photos, but for capturing our point of view while we engage/enjoy activities. The image stabilization has improved in GoPro Hero 7, and we can really use it as an action camera. As we can use different attachments, we can mount GoPro to many different surfaces such as on helmet, car window, surf board, or kayak to capture whatever we are doing. I would say it is not easy to take a still photo as it is too small and lightweight to hold steady and compose well. It has 12 mega pixel sensor and allows RAW capture. 4K video at 60 f/s. 16~39mm lens. Its HyperSmooth 2.0 image stabilization capability really works well to minimize the vibration and make the video capture smooth and enjoyable. We can see the effect on its official site. Also, it has time lapse and HDR which many of us seem to enjoy on SNS platforms.

A contender to GoPro is DJI OSMO Pocket. DJI is known for their Mavic drones. OSMO series are DJI's answers to GoPro. I would say OSMO Action is the direct competitor to GoPro while OSMO Pocket is an unique design and purpose. Actual camera part of Pocket sits on 3 axis gimbal which really stabilizes the image and video. This gimbal technology is someting DJI has improved through their drones. We can see how it works on their official site. I would say its specs are comparable to GoPro Hero 8; however, its active tracking technology makes keeping a subject in frame even easier.

Another contender and I would say my number one recommendation is Olympus TG-6. While some of us may not consider this as a true action camera, this camera is tough and can be used to take photos in a lot of harsh environment. It is waterproof up to 50 feet, dust proof, shockproof from 7 feet, crush proof (100kgf), freeze proof to 14 degree Fahrenheit and even, anti fog. Its size is just bit bigger than other compact digital cameras. It has 12 mega pixel sensors which may feel like small for true digital camera; however, the limited pixel numbers help with the quality of photos, especially in low light environment. I would say this one is for camera geeks who are more into still photography and not for video capturing.

Still has its place... film cameras

Even though most of us take photography only digitally nowadays, film photography still has big audience. I also do take film photography using SLR, TLR, Medium Format camera, and toy cameras. Though it can be really costly as we would have to develop and print (and scan into digital format), there is some good in analog photography.

One thing to consider while making a purchase of a film camera is that most of film cameras are old and often used items. I have personally made purchases of used film cameras on eBay without any issues; however, we may not want to take chances for Christmas present. So my recommendation for film cameras at this point is instant cameras using Fuji Film Instax films. I especially like Fuji Film Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic and Leica Sofort. Fuji Film is of course the one responsible for extremely popular Instax films. Leica is also a well established, well known, well respected, and extremely expensive camera manufacture out of Germany.

Nostalgic toy cameras

Another type of film camera I recommend are categorized as "toy" camera. Toy cameras are usually made out of plastic and use plastic lens as well. This plastic lens captures not clean/beautiful images, but unique and analogue images. My recommendations are Lomography Holga, Lomography Diana, and DIY TLR kit from Gakken. Holga and Diana use 120mm medium format film, and it definitely is different from 35mm film. Gakken TLR camera is available in Japan and copied version is available in US as well. Building a TLR camera is also a fun activity.

Last word

I hope these recommendations give us some ideas on what to get for our beloved camera geeks. Probably these items are not as fancy as best and newest camera systems available at this point; however, I believe these are useful items that will help us photographers enjoy taking photos and challenge us to be more creative.

Stocking Stuffer

Accessories for iPhone/Smart Phones

Lens Thermos/Mugs

Around the desk