Jon Sienkiewicz Blog

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Jon Sienkiewicz BlogOpinion
Rethinking Auto. Is Using Auto ISO a Bad Thing?
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Apr 13, 2017  |  1 comments

I used to believe that the Auto setting on a camera was something to be avoided the way a tired waitress avoids eye contact when you’re signaling for a coffee refill—she can’t deny that you’re there, but she can ignore the hell out of you. I still feel that way about fully auto exposure, but my maniacally stubborn attitude toward Auto ISO is softening like marshmallow Peeps in a microwave.  

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Jon Sienkiewicz BlogLens NewsLens Reviews
Torture Test: Do Small Scratches in Lenses Prevent Sharp Images? We Gouge a Zoom to Find Out
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Apr 06, 2017  |  0 comments

Does a 5mm scratch in the center of the front element ruin a lens? We gouged a brand new, straight-from-the-box, $499 Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 zoom to find out. Then we shot some test subjects. Was the defect visible in the images? See for yourself…

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Family Photography How ToJon Sienkiewicz BlogOutdoor Photography How To
Plan Ahead: 7 Photo Ops I Won’t Miss in 2017
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Mar 30, 2017  |  0 comments

President Eisenhower said, “In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” I get that. It’s a truism that applies to things much lighter than D-Day, too. So as I watch March melt into April, I summon my highly analog paper Day-Timer calendar and begin plotting my summer. In pencil, of course. Here are the seven “must-do” activities I’ve strategized so far. 

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HumorJon Sienkiewicz Blog
Yay! 15 Fun Questions to Test Your Right to be Called a Photography Fanatic
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Mar 23, 2017  |  0 comments

Last fall we published a series of fun quizzes and thankfully no one took them, or themselves, too seriously. Well, we’re doing it again. They’re a bit easier this time except for the first four and the last nine. Tell us how you scored in the comments. And no peeking at Google. Ready?

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Jon Sienkiewicz BlogPhoto Accessory NewsPhoto Bag NewsTripod News
5 Photo Accessories Worthy of Consuming Your Tax Refund Check
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Mar 17, 2017  |  0 comments

There’s something here for everyone this week. We look at a retro tripod from a famous filter maker, a messenger bag from a famous tripod maker, a lens case from my favorite photo backpack maker and a new circular polarizing filter from a not-so-famous accessory maker—plus a knockout protective case for your MacBook. 

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Jon Sienkiewicz BlogNews
7 Ways to Cover Your Assets
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Mar 09, 2017  |  0 comments

Hacking, wiretapping, malware downloads and televisions that watch us instead of the other way around—they’re all in the news and it sounds like they’re here to stay. We don’t want to give up our Amazon Prime memberships or Pandora tunes, but neither do we want to be plagued by viruses, Trojans and ransomware. There’s no magic pill, but it is possible to keep the bad stuff locked outside. Here are seven ways to protect your assets in an extremely connected world. 

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Jon Sienkiewicz BlogPhoto How To
Spring Training Checklist – 7 Things to Do Right Now to Prepare for Great Photography this Summer
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Mar 02, 2017  |  0 comments

Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday in March throughout most of the US. Despite the nonsensical grumbles about losing an hour of sleep, this annual event is a reason to celebrate. It heralds the first hint of spring—and if that’s not enough—it brings us an extra hour of useable light before dinnertime. It also stands to remind us to clean out the tackle box, as it were, to get things in order for another wonderful summer of photography.

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Jon Sienkiewicz BlogTripod Reviews
3 Legged Thing Corey Magnesium Alloy Travel Tripod with AirHed Neo Ball Head Review
 |  Feb 23, 2017  |  0 comments

Why do tripods have three legs instead of four? There is a reason, and we’ll get to it in a moment, right after we take a long, close look at a 3 Legged Thing from across the pond. 

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Jon Sienkiewicz BlogLens NewsLens Reviews
First Look Review: Hands-On with the New Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF G Master & FE 85mm f/1.8 Lenses
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Feb 16, 2017  |  0 comments

It was portrait shooter’s paradise with two new Sony lenses this week. The 100mm STF is a veritable bokeh machine, while the FE 85mm f/1.8 is a budget-friendly, professional quality portrait lens. Sony invited a small group of editors to a private studio and assured us that we were the first journalists in the world to shoot with this new glass.

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Jon Sienkiewicz BlogLens NewsLens Reviews
Sigma 12-24mm f/4 DG HSM Art Lens Review
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Feb 09, 2017  |  1 comments

If you’re into high quality glass, this is the kind of lens you can get lost in. Build quality is exceptional, performance is outstanding and…I’m getting ahead of myself, but you’ll see the world in a whole new way when you use this lens.

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Jon Sienkiewicz BlogLens NewsLens Reviews
Lensbaby Trio 28 Lens Review
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Feb 02, 2017  |  0 comments

Unless you’re completely new to photography, you’ve heard about Lensbaby, the marvelously creative series of lenses that are best described as intentionally unsharp and stuffed with almost every imaginable aberration and distortion. The Lensbaby Trio 28 is the latest model, and it has a secret. 

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Jon Sienkiewicz BlogPhoto Accessory NewsPhoto Accessory Reviews
UPstrap Review: A Serious Camera Strap that Stays Up
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Jan 27, 2017  |  1 comments

Ever drop a camera? Ever have a camera strap break? Or bust apart near the D-ring? Put those worries out of your mind. UPstrap offers a full lineup of some of the toughest camera straps you’ll ever wear. And, as the name proudly announces, they stay UP on your shoulder, too. 

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Jon Sienkiewicz BlogLens NewsLens ReviewsOpinionPhoto How To
Which Lens Should I Buy (Part 2): More Lens Advice for Beginners Moving up from a Point-&-Shoot
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Jan 20, 2017  |  0 comments

Welcome back! Last week we covered lenses that are well suited for five of the most popular camera activities, including kids’ sports, travel and online auctions. If you missed that piece, you’ll find it here. This week—as promised—five more lenses for five more activities. These are sometimes thought of as being in the realm of more advanced hobbyists, but that ain’t necessarily so. Read on…

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Jon Sienkiewicz BlogLens NewsOpinionPhoto How To
Which Lens Should I Buy (Part 1): Advice for Beginners Who Just Moved up from a Point-&-Shoot
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Jan 13, 2017  |  2 comments

People often ask me, “What sort of lens should I buy as my second lens?” and my answer is always the same: “What sort of pictures would you like to take?”  I’m getting that question a lot right now because a zillion people got new cameras over the holidays. There are so many options I’ve decided to deliver the answer in two installments. But first, let’s take a close look at that kit lens that came with your camera.

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Jon Sienkiewicz BlogPhoto How To
Be Prepared: 7 Essentials For Managing Photo-Related Emergencies
Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Jan 05, 2017  |  0 comments

Remember Albert? Not Einstein—I mean the Albert that’s also known as “Snowtober.” If you lived on the East Coast in October 2011 you remember Albert as the freak Halloween snowstorm that left more than three million homes and businesses without power. Talk about Trick or Treat. One thing that we all should have learned from that painful experience is what all Boy Scouts know: Be Prepared. 

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