Jon Sienkiewicz Blog

The year is 2068 and the Dystopian Party has defeated the less conservative Cacotopian Caucus and all Americans are now permitted to own one and only one camera. You have five minutes to choose your system. When time is up, all of the gear you own that is not directly useable by your choice—and all of your other cameras—will be tossed straight into a cosmic wood chipper and shredded into impalpable dust. Which camera do you pick?

What can you buy for $29? A quick Google search suggested charcoal-based tooth whitener, a pair of crappy slippers and a few other bits of future garage sale fodder. I already have slippers, so I checked out a few major camera retailers to see what sort of camera bags are available for less than 30 smackers. 

Zorki Wins TIPA Award; White House Denies Russian Collusion
Members of the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) today announced that the Moscow Zorki TTL, a newcomer on the digital camera scene, has won the 2018 award for overall best product. Second place in the voting is the Zenit A, manufactured by the same company which is located in the foothills of Mount Narodnaya in the Ural Mountains. Although some competitive camera makers allege possible vote tampering, the White House has issued a strong statement labeling the accusations a ‘witch hunt’ and fully denying the insinuation of Russian collusion.

For more news stories from 2018, click Continue Reading below.

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than smart. For me, luck means getting a decent picture even though I use precisely the wrong settings, or when I use exactly the wrong equipment for the situation. Yep, I admit that I benefit from luck a lot. 

For years I’ve evaluated camera bags, photo backpacks and other camera carry solutions using a multi-point matrix that considers characteristics like comfort, durability, accessibility and protection. Once in a while a bag comes along with features that blow apart my sophisticated chart. Introducing Shimoda, a line of photo backpacks that demand a whole new classification. 

It’s that time of year again—the joyous holiday season. Whether your visceral approach is tinsel and glitter or Bah! Humbug! it’s nearly certain that you’ll be involved in some sort of gift giving ritual again this year. Here are some Black Friday photo gift suggestions, ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime, and all priced at $25 or less. Cheers!