Nikon Z fc, New Canon RF Glass, Bad News for Fujifilm | Rewind 7/5/21 By Seth Miranda AKA Last Witness

All right, let's see how rusty I am what's going on everyone Seth Miranda here this is rewind. Hopefully, in its final form, I know I've tried to bring it back a few times. I've tried live and that didn't really work out too well. So hopefully this is the real comeback of rewind. If you're new to this channel, this is a photo. Video industry-wide news show that I've done on other platforms or channels rather, but this is on my own.

I am not a brand ambassador, I'm not sponsored. I do use basically all the brands on some level. Furthermore, I do create content for other channels and platforms within the industry, and I am friends with a lot of people on that work for the brands and are part of this industry after being a pro photographer right here in New York for 20 plus years. So hopefully I got some insight for you. There's definitely some videos that I'm probably going to pull up right now of using the newer gear.

So hopefully I have some more hands-on insight for you guys on some gear coming out and some other things. So if you're new to this channel, that's pretty much what's going on here. So hopefully this helps you out and let's just go right into it with Nikon bringing out the AFC yep. So this is their vintage throwback to the fm2 kind of style, camera uh, but in APC, so think of z50. But with that vintage aesthetic and some things we wanted in the z50 to begin with, like let me go back to this, the USB delivery.

That's one of the things I really wanted, Nikon to bring to the z50 with a firmware update, but they couldn't because there's a micro USB, not a voltage. This has USB-C. So now you can power the camera indefinitely through USB power and also send a video signal via that same cable, not full resolution. So you still might want to do something to do with the HDMI port, but it is a great option out there, and it gave you the flip out screen. I know a lot of people wanted flip out screens for the z50.

You got to flip down screen. I personally like the flip down screen because it keeps you on access with the lens when you're talking you're not like looking off to the side like this, while the lens is over here, but I understand why some people want that flip out screen. They gave it to you, but they also give you this vintage aesthetic, which is a lot of fun, to use. It's also good for people just starting out in photography. They actually manually, get to see and adjust their settings, and it gives them more of a tactile learning curve type thing I guess or experience.

Rather so it's all around its kind of like getting a z52, but with a different aesthetic to it. They did pretty good with the Nikon of, which was basically the Nikon d5 flagship camera with a vintage skin on it, and they took out the video features and lowered the cost. They did pretty well on it because it was a flagship camera at way. Much of a discount. Is that even English? I don't even know.

However, this is an APC camera. Are they testing the waters to try to make a full-frame version of it? I don't know what I would like to see. Nikon do is actually bring us their old rangefinders, their s3, the 35 ti, because then you're really giving us more options in the market, not just doing a different style of what we already have. I understand people wanting the full frame version of this. I even understand people liking the APC version.

This was super fun. I even got through the video for it, we'll go with that in a second, but if we had another rangefinder out there right it wouldn't be just Fuji and Lacey. We would have a Nikon throwback to their rangefinders that were awesome with the new z mount and all this other glass we can throw on it. I think that'll be fascinating. I do love a good rangefinder, the x100v from fulfill easily one of my favorite cameras of all time uh, but using this camera was super fun.

If you check out adoramatv, you see my video on it. I quickly threw it out to the balcony. We did some quick shots with it and I even plugged it in as a webcam really quickly to show you how I would go about doing that if I was using their webcam utility all the autofocus functions and stuff like that. So there's a lot to this camera and I think they had a nice price point on it of being uh about a grand which does cloud it against the z5 right. So now you have the APC z50.

Now the AFC APC and the z5 all hovering around that thousand dollar price point, giving you options or is it more confusing you? Let me know down below what you think. I personally think it's getting a little confusing um. I do understand that the z5 is way more value for you. Furthermore, I think you get stabilization full frame all the bells and whistles that you're getting from this, except for the flip out screen, and you get stabilization. So I don't know its kind of uh.

What would you go for is. Is this something that interests you? Let me know if the vintage vibe is something that you find fun, or is this something that they're hoping would just bring in new people to Nikon? I can tell you right now: they're, basically saying they're looking at it as canon has yet to do anything that shows off their legacy with their older cameras, their analog cameras and Sony doesn't have a legacy in analog cameras to show off, so they're thinking that this is kind of like a standout moment for them. I don't know, I can say the sales seem to be pretty strong for it. They can't even meet demand. Shocking Nikon can't meet demand of the product.

I think that's like every release. If they release a lens cap, they'll be like yeah, we can't well, we can't, I hit uh, you know fill the demand for this. I don't know what's going on, but I feel like that's. What all brands are doing is almost like a Kickstarter style where they announce something see what the demand is, and then they slowly fill the orders instead of like putting money into stock and then hoping it doesn't sit there which could be smart, but it is aggravating for us consumers, especially in this era, where we're dealing with a lot of chips, shortages and things like that. The other thing I'm going to bring up is- and I know this is old- I'm playing catch up.

I also did the video for the Nikon one. I got to use it, so you might want to take a look at this. Furthermore, I put it through its paces, with some portrait stuff, a lot of fun with that and took it on to a rooftop, and I also shot the 50 millimeter 2.8 by the way. So this was two macros in one uh video. So give that a check.

If you have a moment, I would appreciate it, and I'll put the links down below. Let's talk about another lens release, this one's a little older, but again I'm playing catch up here. I'm sorry about that. This is the first episode back. Let's take a look at the fulfill millimeter.

This was a killer lens. I had a lot of fun with it had a very interesting aesthetic to it, and I had a lot of fun at night. Shooting all these portraits of arena. If you got a chance just check out that video down below it was a pretty good one uh. I know people were like 18 millimeter 1.4, but there's a 16 millimeter, there's and there's, something very fun about this 18 millimeter. It's just enough to not be ultra-wide that you don't feel like you're, always shooting in that ultra-wide mindset where all your photos look like it's bent out of shape or gets overtaken by that wide look all the time and has a perfect, close focusing distance.

So you can get in there really tight if you want to so for me, it felt like a perfect walk around lens, which I literally did in that video. If you get a chance check that video out uh Fuji, I think you guys have been killing it, but they do have some negatives coming uh. I am going to negatives as in down points of their brand, I'm going to bring that up in a little. Stick with me, but in more lens news, canon 14 to 35 f4. So this is the rounding out their uh f4 series.

I'll say this is a rectal linear lens, meaning at wide focal lengths like 14 millimeters. You don't have bent up lines. They stay pretty straight, which is pretty great again. You don't get that overwhelming feeling of an ultra-wide, but you do get a wide lens that can keep for the most part your lines pretty straight. I did get a chance to check out this lens.

I was there when we filmed the video. Furthermore, I can say that it really does feel more like a clean lens, as opposed to like a 14 millimeter ultra-wide, where things get like pretty bent out of shape on the corner. So you might like that it is a hundred dollars, though, don't forget about that a little up there in price, but it still is cheaper than the 15 to 35 2.8 at 2 300. So a 600 difference here. What are you getting well with this canon's, really trying to bring down the price and get people to round out their systems with the RF line, I think they're doing a pretty good job.

It is pricey, but you get a control ring a custom control ring. It is very lightweight, it is very small. Furthermore, it does have an incredibly nice close, focusing distance of just like seven inches or something like that, as well as it being stabilized. So you get over. I think six stops, maybe even seven stops of stabilization when it works in collaboration with uh the in-body stabilization of some r cameras.

The original r doesn't have stabilization, so this lens might be good for you. If you wanted optical stabilization with that camera, and it also has a regular filter size in the front ultra-wide. Like 14 millimeters. In the past, we haven't been able to put just a regular filter on them, because they've been bold out front lens elements here and a lot of mirrorless glass has shown that the 410 millimeters and wider focal lengths can actually take regular filter sizes. I think this one is a 77 millimeter thread, which is a pretty typical thread size.

I think I use it a lot and then I step down to all my other lenses with an adapter like a two dollar adapter will get you uh, stepping down your larger filters to your smaller lenses. You know, that's kind of the way you go is buy your filters for the biggest lens and get the adapter I'm digressing here. It's nice, it's a little pricey, but the canon RF glass has yet to disappoint. It is incredible, and it's really nice to see them pay attention to the f4 series. If you're, someone doesn't shoot shallow all the time if you're someone that shoots a lot in the studio that might always close down anyway, but you want these focal lengths.

If you're, someone doesn't want to pay a premium but still wants to have a nice set of lenses that can handle you through all the focal lengths. I mean a 24 to 105 mixed with this 14 to 35 is a nice two lenses set that'll get you covered for most things or, let's say, you're, a wedding photographer who's just starting out or getting back into things after this rough year, and you don't want to invest in hardcore gear, but you need to get going. It's an easier price point more chance on return on investment. I think they're doing a pretty good job. Of course, remember: launch prices for everything in this industry is just the top dollar, after that it gets cheaper with rebates, cheaper with age, cheaper with used market prices and so on.

So don't get discouraged over that. I'm going to give a huge shout out now to second congratulations on your 70th anniversary, and they are releasing this. The 398a studio, deluxe 3, 70th anniversary edition. This thing is beautiful. I mean look at this.

This is a light meter that has been out forever and every photographer I ever assisted. When I was coming up had one of these somewhere, it was like their first meter, or they always depended on as a backup, and now I think, second really going like hey. This is who we are as a company here. This is who we are as a brand. It's fascinating that they chose this as their 70th anniversary, because they were actually established in 1949.

However, I think it was around 1951 is when the laconic brand trademark actually came into existence, and that's why we're getting this here? They only made 700 of these, which is kind of cool, so it is a collector's piece. I don't know how much of a market there is for it. I don't know how many nerds are out there, but in the entire world of traditional photographers like this is definitely a nice piece to have, and it's clearly collectible at such a limited uh production rate of 700 and shout out to ab side friend of the channel friend of drama in general, who worked very hard on this, so check out the link down below. If you want to grab one, I don't know if they're pre-sold or sold out, but it is definitely cool to look at, and I also think that, out of all the light meters out there, this uh, the original version of this is the one that everybody always picks up and goes like. Oh, I remember it has a story about it all the digital ones and all the highly accurate ones and the ones have amazing technology in it.

We all love them, and they're they're super useful and stuff like that, but it's kind of funny how everyone always goes back to the analog when it goes and has a story about it. I just think that's super cool. Let's talk about Fuji. This is heartbreaking. Right fulfill closes four us photo equipment plans and cuts, 400 jobs, so they're saying that there's less demand fulfill has been crushing it they've been doing their own thing, making things like medium format and range finders and anything they want being the only instant film uh camera in the game right now, basically, aside from the independent companies, but you know what I'm talking about: they've always done their own thing and people have always applauded them, for it, and they've never been a threat to the big three canon Nikon Sony, they've, never gone after the full frame market and I think everybody.

I know that works professionally, that shoots with a brand as a full frame system or medium format, somehow has a Fuji in their kit somewhere as a sidearm. I've even seen high level brand executives, I'm not going to say who have a Fuji sitting on their desk, while they're telling me about their new uh. You know NDA camera, that I can't talk about, and it was kind of funny, but it's kind of understood, Fuji's awesome. They are hurting apparently, and I think this whole industry is hurting, and this is where I'm going to give you a little of a monologue where I don't believe in brand bashing. I think every brand brings something to the table and I think we are extremely lucky to have what we have.

What we see out. There is pre-judgment of brands and cameras and systems before they even get put into someone's hand. We look at a CGI mock-up of a model, and we look at the buttons, and we go. Oh, that's stupid, there's no joystick or something like that, and we say that company is going out of business. These companies are all like a century year old I mean canon Nikon Olympus 100-year-old companies are talking about here, and they're, not really going anywhere they're shifting their, you know evolving with the times they're they're, taking their hits, and they're getting their accolades all the same you're just not hearing it all the at once, especially if you're someone that just jumps on YouTube and listens to what these channels say to you, there's no vetting when it comes to YouTube.

You can literally say whatever until the comments tell you're completely wrong or fact checked, the video can exist out there and just spread the misinformation, and then people can just regurgitate that onto forums and then becomes a big mess. I will say that brand bashing does nothing but hurt this industry, both consumer industry market wise, when you discourage someone from checking out a brand, because you somehow think that something about that camera is just not for you, but could be for somebody else: you're, discouraging sales, you're, discouraging someone from even trying it out renting it anything. If that happens, resources get lost. If resources get lost, companies shrink people get laid off like 400 positions at Fuji. Why no real reason for this, except for the industry, is already hurting, and we're making it worse with this tribalism, and we really need to stop that.

I can tell you from my personal experience, having shot with every brand, and you can find videos of me doing that they all have something different to them. Does anyone have the god camera? Does anyone have the one that does everything? No, they all have fall points, but you have to look at your own work, your own workflow. What you're looking for out of your shots, how you take those shots, how you work? What you're looking to do and look at those positive points in what gear is out there and move towards those brands and those models, and that's how you move forward. There is no like well, they did this and successful, so they're, all following Nikon isn't following after Fuji with the AFC they're doing their own thing with the legacy of a hundred years of the analog cameras, it just so happens that fulfill has been doing this really cool design for a while. Now you know they're not chasing Olympus, they're doing their own thing, and I think we get caught in this idea that there's this like perfect recipe, and why didn't they do this? I got news for you, kids.

What you see coming out now is a two-year development cycle. That means these engineers have to predict where the market will be in two years. Can they build? It will be it be accessible for the market? Does the market have the resources meaning? Can you afford that 4k 60 frames per second camera two years from when they start developing it? Will the parts be there? Can they manufacture it and then, when it comes to market, you go? Why didn't they do this? Well, that was a year and a half ago, and they have to move forward the design you got to, let them off the mat a little, and we keep moving forward uh faster than ever years ago. You didn't see a new camera for five to seven years. Every camera manufacturer put something out because back then it was the lens in the film that took the shot.

The camera was really about autofocus how fast the frames could go per second and maybe battery life. You know, but that was pretty much it now. The camera really is the shot. Now the technology's moving crazy fast. Now, when you're already hearing about that 8k camera 12k is already being developed.

It's what it is. You have to kind of look at what you need what's good for you, stop worrying about the other guy and stop bashing the person next to you for what they chose to buy or what they like. It's that simple everybody. It doesn't help anyone to bash brands to eliminate more options on the market. Competition goes away.

What do you want? Two brands left, I, if you look, some channels are only covering two brands now because other companies have been like. You know what we don't need all this bashing for no reason: you're, not even giving us a fair shake, and they're looking for other outlets to get their word out and uh. Nikon is a great example of that when the z series has been bashed from day one, but now that it's two years older, so people actually have it in hand. There are people that genuinely like it, and they're speaking their point of view and all of a sudden we're seeing a rebound happening of that series. In fact, you're looking at me on an icon right now, so it's kind of interesting right.

All I urge you guys to do is before you regurgitate something really think about what's in front of you and try to make your own assessment really think about. Did you even get a chance? Have you even held in your hand, go to your local store, hold the cameras in your hand and then make a decision, because, after that, it's genuine before that, it's just regurgitation, more tribalism, more poison, more factories, closing more brands, closing more layoffs and so on, and so forth, um boy that was really long, and I'm sure I repeated myself like 40 times, but it is what it is all right, guys I'm going to leave it there. I know it's like the first one was pretty rough I'll get back into the groove of this. It's been a while. I'm sorry, I can't believe this every week for years anyway, if you're new this channel, you can also join me, live on twitch.

TV last x, witness I will be going back to doing live, photo critiques of your work, hit the links down below I'll, be doing those probably Friday, 7 p. m. Eastern time, hopefully I can get that clicked into being the momentum, but that's what I'm aiming for yell at me on Twitter check out my work on Instagram last. Witness don't forget to hit like share this video around hit, subscribe, plus the bell to see more videos like this or get notified when more videos that come out, and I'll see you guys next time later.

Source : Seth Miranda AKA Last Witness