Winecountry Camera Filter Holder & Blackstone ND Filters

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When I sold the majority of my Nikon gear, I sold my filter system along with it and I have to admit, I’ve been missing being able to do really long exposures. That’s why I recently purchased this Winecountry Camera filter system.

At the heart of the Winecountry Camera filter system is the filter holder itself. This was the main reason for me choosing this system over the others in the market.

The system consists of three main components, the lens adapter ring, the filter holder what Wine Country Camera calls a filter vault.

The filter vaults are used to house square filters. The vaults are made from a high density glass epoxy material that’s approximately half the weight of aluminum but more capable of abrasion resistance, friction, impact, corrosion and material fatigue. These vaults help to provide protection for the filters and help prevent filter breakage. There are currently two vault sizes which accommodate 100x100mm square filters and 100x150mm rectangle filters.

Wine Country Camera also currently produce their own line of solid ND filters known as the Blackstone ND filters. The filters currently come in 3 densities, 3, 6, and 10 stop reductions. These ND filters are advertised to have color cast so slight that it is indistinguishable from having no filters at all. These filters were made from the highest quality optical glass and developed to be used with some of the highest resolution camera systems on the market to ensure that there is no loss in resolution.

The filter holder includes a dedicated recess built in to create a light-tight environment for the ND filters. Having the vault around the filters on all sides also helps to eliminate internal reflections that are caused by light entering from the edges of the filter. This ensures that you get the best possible results when using a filter.

This filter system utilizes a removable internal polarizer. The polarizer is mounted inside the body of the holder instead of on the outside like many other filter systems on the market. This eliminates possible reflections and vignetting that occurs when mounting the polarizer further away from the lens. The polarizer rotation is adjusted via the wood knob located on the back of the filter holder and allows for easy adjustment even when looking through the viewfinder. 

The filter holder allows you to hold three filters along with the aforementioned circular polarizer. The first slot closest to the camera is intended for use with a solid ND filter and the two other slots are for ND grads. I’m not currently using ND grads with this system so am using the outer slots more for stacking solid NDs when necessary. The holder features push buttons which allow you to adjust the filter vaults and make lining up ND grads much easier. Each filter stage is independently adjustable and there is a safety catch so that the filter doesn’t accidentally fall through and hit the ground.

The things mentioned earlier and all the attention to detail really added to the value of the Wine Country Camera filter system for me. Things like the ability to add and remove the filter system without disturbing framing, integrating various wood parts so users having an easier time handling the system in cold climates and manufacturing the parts in a way that increases the overall results. These wood handles were even carved away to reduce possible vignetting. 

This system is also very lightweight. A complete holder system with two vaults, polarizer and adapter ring weighs only 15 ounces so less than a pound.

I think that overall, this is a great filter system and really stands out from the crowd. The filter holder was a forethought and not just a means to hold filters that a manufacturer makes, like it seems to be for many other filter holder manufacturers. I don’t dread using this system and that’s where the value really comes in. I don’t mind bringing this system along on trips and actually look forward to using it. If you’re looking for a new filter holder or an entire filter system, I would highly recommend checking out what Wine Country Camera is offering.

If you're considering on buying any of these products, please support my work by using the links below.

Wine Country Camera Filter System
http://amzn.to/2r0w65D
Wine Country Camera Blackstone ND Filters
http://amzn.to/2Dry2Xq
Wine Country Camera Filter Vaults
http://amzn.to/2CUn9fG

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Jobo CPE2 Plus | Is a Jobo worth it?

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If you’re into home film development, you’ve probably heard of the name Jobo. For those that haven’t, this is one of the Jobo variations. This is my personal Jobo CPE2 Plus. 

C0117.jpg

 

For those new to film development, some developing process requires strict temperature management. By this I mean that the chemicals need to be held at a very specific temperature and this is where a machine like the Jobo comes in. 

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There are many variations to the Jobo machine. Some are very manual and are essentially just rollers and require you to do all the work. Some are fully automatic. You just press a button and don’t have to worry about a thing. Most people are going to buy a machine that falls in the middle, like this CPE2 Plus. Machines like the CPE, CPA, and CPP essentially do two things, they allow you to keep your chemicals and tank at a certain temperature via a water bath and the machine agitate the tank for you at a predetermined speed. These two factors contribute to consistency because if you were to do these things  manually, human error can effect the final result.

 

This leads me to the topic of this post, is a Jobo worth it? Well, like most things in life, the answer isn’t so black and white or straight forward. The answer is pretty much yes and no. I want to share with you my experiences with using a Jobo and you can determine for yourself wether or not it’s worth it, if you are interested in picking one up.

In my opinion, you have to be developing a lot of film for a Jobo to be worth it. I picked my Jobo up from eBay for a little under $600. This machine was new old stock meaning that although it is old, it has never been used. As the name indicates, CPE2 is the second version. Current models are CPE3 and CPP3. The CPE line is generally smaller with slots for 4 chemical containers and graduated cylinders instead of 6 in the CPP. The CPP are intended for the larger drums, but you can get quite a bit done with the CPEs.

Newer machines can range from $1700 to 3800 give or take depending on whether or not you’re going to be using a Jobo Lift or not. The lift costs around $600 and further adds to the consistence trend of the machine. These prices are of course only for the machine. You still have to buy the proprietary tanks. The tanks also need magnets or cogs to be used with the machine. The point is, there is a lot of stuff to buy and it’s all pretty expensive. Like I said, you have to be developing a lot of film, really care about consistency in film developing or you have some money to blow for this machine to be worth it.

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At the end of the day, owning Jobo like this doesn’t make film development effortless. You are still attached to the process. You still have to pay attention to development times, switch chemicals and clean everything. This is not an automatic machine. Like I said, the only thing that this machine really does is keep temperatures steady and agitate your drum. When I consider things in this regard, it’s almost clear in my mind that a Jobo is not worth it. That is why I’ve made videos on my YouTube channel (YouTube.com/TheUpperLeftUSA) showing alternatives to this machine that gets you similar results. Don’t get me wrong, having a Jobo is nice, but it is a luxury and is kind of over the top. It is not necessary. Most people hand develop in a sink and they get good results. Don’t think that you absolutely need this. To me, this should be the last thing that a film shooter should pick up. Try manually processing for awhile and see what kind of results you can get. If you feel that you are getting mediocre results, maybe send a couple rolls in to get them professionally developed and compare to your results. Try other alternatives first.

Check out these two videos where I've shown cheaper alternatives to the Jobo that I've come up with.

If you're considering on buying any of these products, please support my work by using the links below.

Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker WIFI + Bluetooth
http://amzn.to/2xROXyw
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Bluetooth
http://amzn.to/2za0aMy
EVERIE Sous Vide Container 12 Quarts
http://amzn.to/2zvwtby
Unicolor C-41 Powder Developer Kit
http://amzn.to/2Ad0A4O
Ivation Foot Spa Massager
http://amzn.to/2xknBoA
Cibachrome Motorized Roller Base / other motorized roller bases

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Nikon 50mm f/1.8G vs Nikon 50mm f/1.8D

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If you’re in the market for a cheap Nikon lens, then I’m sure you’ve considered between the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D and Nikon 50mm f/1.8G. These are the two cheapest full frame primes lenses that Nikon currently produce. The 50mm f/1.8D retails for $134.95 and 50mm f/1.8G retails for $219.95. So, what makes the 1.8G cost $85 more and is it worth it?

First, let’s look at the size. In terms of specs, they are very similar in both size and weight and are definitely among the smallest lenses in terms of the Nikon lens lineup. When I was considering one or the other, I didn’t really care about the weight because they are too close to really tell when the lenses are held in hand. I also didn’t really care about the width either. The only thing that I cared about in terms of size was the length of the lens because I was looking for a small all-purpose travel lens. The specs indicate that the 1.8G is only .6 of an inch longer but when you see them side by side, that .6 of an inch is a lot more than you would expect. So in terms of size and weight, the 1.8D is the clear winner. 

A lot of the 1.8G’s size is attributed to the fact that it has the Nikon AF-S or Silent Wave Motor built in. 

This leads me to my next point, autofocus noise. The AF-S in the 1.8G allows it to autofocus much more quietly than the 1.8D. Realistically, if you were outside and there is background noise from the city, no one’s going to be able to hear either lens, but if you were in a quiet environment, the autofocus in Nikon D lenses stick out like a sore thumb. 

One thing worth mentioning is the fact that the AF-S will be a major determiner for many people. Because the 1.8D does not have a focusing motor built into the lens, many of the cheaper bodies will not be able to autofocus with this lens. Make sure that your camera body has an internal focusing motor or it will not be able to autofocus with this lens. You can tell if your body has this feature or not by the screw drive on the lens mount. It corresponds with this female screw on the lens and turns it to autofocus.  

One thing that I really like about Nikon G lenses is that they have autofocus with manual override. This means that even when you are in autofocus mode on the lens and you turn the focusing ring, the lens will allow you to manually focus. On D lenses, if the camera body is switched to autofocus and you turn the focusing ring, there is resistance on the ring. You can still turn the ring and force the camera to manually focus, but it just doesn’t seem like it’s good for the lens or the body. 

Lastly, let’s talk about image quality. Here are various sample images taken from each lens for you to determine for yourself which you like better. All images are unedited raw files converted to jpeg and taken with the Nikon D810. These images are by no means meant to be award winning but just taken at various apertures to show what the lens can possibly produce.

 

Honestly, I think that images quality is a toss up between these two lenses. They are very similar and if I had to do a blind test to determine which picture came from which lens, it’ll probably be a 50/50 guess. One thing that I would say is that the 1.8G does seem to transmit about 1/3 of a stop more light, but that can very well have just been a variation in one of these lenses and another copy of either lens could transmit more or less light.

After everything that I’ve talked about, if I were to go back and buy one of these lenses again, I would go for the 1.8D. I will say that I like the 1.8G better because it is quieter and I like the option to have the manual focus override, but the price difference just does not justify the purchase to me. When I bought these lenses, I got the 1.8G for $174 new. I’ve seen he 1.8D go for $90 new quite often but I actually purchased mine used from Offerup for $60 and it is in near mint condition, no scratches and functions perfectly. I just think that the 1.8D offers much more value for the money and if it is compatible with your camera, I would recommend you save some money and pick it up rather than the 1.8G.

If you're considering on buying one of these lenses, please support my work by using the links below.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8G
http://amzn.to/2wRCae4
Nikon 50mm f/1.8D
http://amzn.to/2wRHSN6

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ConGRADulations

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Yesterday, I got a last minute phone call to do a surprise graduation photoshoot. This was really out of nowhere as I was expected to do the shoot within a few hours of the inquiry. This isn't exactly ideal but I felt that it was better to do the shoot on the day of the graduation, rather than another day as it would be a hassle for the graduate to get dressed, have makeup redid and everything that associates with getting ready for graduation day.

For this shoot, I decided to rely on my Sony A7Rii and the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM. The shoot was to be taken at the University of Washington, Tacoma campus. Interestingly enough, I've lived around the area for a good portion of my life and pass by the campus all the time but have never actually stepped foot on it. 

UWT is an interesting campus. It is very much so a part of the city and not just because it is located in arguably the busiest part of downtown Tacoma, but because some of the classrooms/campus is literally a floor above various stores and businesses. If I'm not mistaken, the UWT school gym is actually the Tacoma YMCA.

Needless to say, certain aspects of the campus is very cramped and there isn't much room to move around for photos. Considering that the campus is small, there weren't that many distinctive features that I could've used as a backdrop or to add to the photos. With all of this in mind, I felt that a 24-70mm lens would be best because this would allow me to go from wide to medium telephoto.

If you've ever seen a UW alum's graduation photo, you would know that it's kind of a tradition to take a photo with the giant W on campus. To keep up with tradition, we decided to make the W the first location for the shoot.

On this campus, the W just happens to be right next to an active city street, literally a few feet away. The 24-70mm was definitely the right choice because I wanted to make sure that I got a picture with the entire W in frame.

Next, was to get some detail shots. I personally feel that detail shots have a place in any photoshoot. There is always something that you can get close up shots of and sometimes this can be very rewarding.

We of course can't forget about photo's of the graduate! As you can see, the photos consist of headshots and group portraits. The graduate's family is most likely going to be there so why not include them in the shoot? This kills some time and gets everyone involved. I feel that this helps to justify your rate for the shoot because they are getting more out of it.

At the end of the day, it is all about making your subject look good! The client enjoyed the photos and that's all that matters.

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Sometimes you have to alter reality to paint a prettier picture.

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Photography is a lot of hurrying up and waiting. You get ready, get to the location early, and wait. There are a lot of variables that goes into a "good" picture. 

Looking at the picture above, you might think that it's a fairly simple picture. Just raise the camera, hit the shutter, and call it a day. This picture actually took WEEKS to make.

I've been attracted to this building for some time now. I liked the symmetry of the building and the flagpole in front of it. I've been doing a lot of walking just for the hell of it and this has been on my route for a few weeks.

The first approach was the obvious one, just go to the location and take the picture.  There are a lot of problems with this approach. First, I live in Washington so weather is always a thought. The weather has been fairly good for the last few weeks so all I really needed to wait for was a day with nice beautiful clouds and a good enough breeze to blow the flag. These two things were critical in my opinion.

The next aspect was to get an interesting foreground. I was looking for either interesting people or a nice car. The problem here is that this is Lakewood, so there aren't too many exotic cars around. This is also not a very busy street so it took some time between seeing people walk across the scene. All of this meant that there was a lot of waiting around. 

As you can see, the final picture was actually composed up of three seperate pictures. Each of the three photos was actually a part of a series that consisted of 10+ photos. In the original concept, I only planned on having one foreground subject but with a little bit of foresight, I was able to come up with the final image. Once I took the photo of the man looking back, I knew that I needed something else for the man to look at. Once I had the foreground, all I needed was the perfect waving flag. 

When I had all the elements, it was just a matter of putting the composition together. This isn't a photoshop tutorial so let's just say that there was a lot of layer masking to get all the elements in place. 

In the end, we have a picture that, although looks simple, tells more of a story as a whole than any of its one part.

This is not a technique that should be abused unless you want to specialize in this type of photography. You don't want to rely on this technique to the point that it becomes a crutch because "you can always use photoshop". It's always better to get it in camera with one shot because it can save you a lot of time and effort, but when that is not really possible, composite the image.

This is an extremely useful skill to know so I would recommend trying it for yourself! Go out, take pictures, and have fun.

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