Jon Sienkiewicz Blog

If 2020 taught us nothing else, we collectively learned that things can go wrong. Terribly wrong. If your photos and video footage are important to you (and, as a photographer, they should be), then you need to buy a trusty storage or backup device pronto.

Labor Day is in the rearview mirror, and for many of us who enjoy four seasons, summer has ended. Oh, sure, she’ll linger for a little while like a damp firecracker that spurts one last courageous spark and then sits there threatening to pop—but she’s spent, and she’s truly unable to produce another bang. Soon she’ll simply whimper and limp away, gray and exhausted, same as last year. She has been worn out by too many rainbows and too many long, warm, peaceful nights full of stars and hopes and dreams. Summer doesn’t fade—she steps into the shadows to catch her breath.

If you’re interested in matching two or more pieces of your camera luggage, or even if you’re not, Think Tank’s Retrospective line, version 2.0, includes seven (7) separate pieces, including a 15 Liter photo backpack and a set of shoulder bags in sizes for everyone.

Prominent camera bagmaker NYA-EVO has introduced their popular Fjord 36 camera backpack with its main fabric made of Econyl, a sustainable material manufactured from nylon waste that would otherwise be part of the world’s solid, non-biodegradable junk pollution.

Is that your shutter snapping or your teeth chattering? If cold weather is bad for your body, it’s even worse for your camera body. Moisture of any kind is a camera killer. And freezing temperatures contribute to everything from internal condensation to diminished battery performance. Herewith, then, are my seven favorite cold weather tips and accessories. 

Topaz Labs just updated their powerful Sharpen AI software to Version 4, adding new features and improving operation. Even if you’re a superhero who never shoots out-of-focus images, we’re sure that occasionally the subject moves; Topaz Labs Sharpen AI v4 can help you there, too.

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…