Film Photography - Shooting with the Canon EOS 30 & Kodak UltraMax

So recently, I have been shooting more film photography and even though I have had my ventures into Medium Format, I decided to pick up a 35mm film camera. I wanted something that felt familiar, easy to use and could match my current set up. After much research, I stumbled across the Canon EIOS 30 - a film camera with the feel of a modern DSLR.

This video takes a look at my first impressions of the Canon EOS 30 and I combined it with Kodak UltraMax film - would I be happy with the results? Find out below…

REVIEW: Adam Audio T8V Studio Monitors

WATCH THE VIDEO REVIEW BELOW

I long be fan of Adam Audios equipment. The build quality is excellent and more importantly, the sound quality is incredible. So when I was invited to try the T8V’s - a budget friendly monitor with 8” woofer - how could I say no?

Key Features

• U-ART 1.9” ribbon tweeter

• Polypropylene 8” woofer

• HPS waveguide

• Rear-firing bass-reflex port

• 90 watts of RMS power

• Amplifier Power U-ART Tweeter: 20 W [RMS]

• Amplifier Power Woofer:70 W [RMS]

• Frequency response 33Hz – 25kHz

• Max. peak SPL at 1 m per pair: 118 dB

• Built-in Amplifiers: 2 x Class-D

• Crossover Frequency: 2.6 kHz

• Analog Inputs: XLR, RCA

Out of the box impressions & Build Quality

Max. peak SPL at 1 m per pair: 118 dBI’m going to cut straight to the point, these are obviously large monitors, measuring H400mm x W250mm x D335mm and weighing in at 9.8kg each - this is obviously all necessary to house that 8’ Polypropylene woofer. However, thanks to Adams beautiful cabinet design, they some how manage not to feel too bulky and are definitely a good looking monitor.

As you would expect from a German manufacturer, the build quality is excellent. Each unit feels solid and well constructed and if they did go for an unadvised tumble - I suspect they would damage what they hit more than be damage themselves, but obviously don’t try this! However, the bevelled front gives you a hint that more thought has gone into these than simply ‘big cabinets’. Inside is where the magic happens and they are design to be acoustically optimised. But if you do have any concerns, Adam also through in a generous five year warranty, so you are well covered.

A strong family heritage…

The T8V is the big brother to it’s predecessors, the T5V & T7V - with the number reflecting the woofer size (so 5”, 7” & 8” respectively) but all sharing the U-ART tweeter and HPS waveguide. The T-Series line-up represent Adam Audios more budget friendly alternatives launching in 2018. The T7V’s and in particular, the T5V’s received fantastic reviews from most that tried them and have been warmly embraced by those who need high-end quality studio monitoring options whilst not breaking the bank.

As an owner of Adam’s slightly more expensive A5X’s and Sub7 - I was keen to see just what the extra money gets you compared to their ‘entry level’ options. In fairness, I would almost be disappointed if the more expensive options didn’t outperform the T8V’s but having long been amazed by the quality of Adam’s product, I knew that nothing would really surprise me.

Main Features

So the obvious headline feature is the 8” woofer and the first thing you notice is that this thing wants to be pushed. Lower volumes will never do a speaker like this justice and to be frank, the T8V’s aren’t really built for casual listening. The ideal situation for getting the most from the woofers is a large studio environment where they can be driven at high volumes.

However, the real star of the show is the ribbon tweeter up top. This special piece of kit as a clarity to the high-end that just needs to be heard. It offers accuracy without being so bright that it’s unlistenable and makes the overall package, combined with that large woofer, a very compelling one.

Who should buy them?

They are, beyond doubt, a very capable studio monitor. However, they are not for every space. They really do call for a larger room that can accomodate them and I don’t just means their physical size - they offer a big sound when pushed and need a bit of breathing space.

The price is very appealing and for this reason, those looking to buy their first studio monitors should take a long, hard look at the T8V’s. For those looking for a little more refinement and maybe an upgrade from existing monitors, then maybe a look at the A5X’s may be a nice alternative.

Final Thoughts…

These are a great studio monitor. I really feel it’s unfair to call them an ‘entry level’ monitor as their price tag suggests - these are very capable. Size may be an issue but if you have the space, they are fantastic. Sound quality is good and clarity excellent and whether plan to use them for ‘actual’ monitoring or just casual music listening, they are a sound option.

10 Essential Accessories for Photographers UNDER £50!!!

Photography is very expensive. Whether photography is a hobby or a profession, it can be expensive to buy all of the things that you feel you need. So it is always nice when you find a bargain! I have therefore compiled a list of items that I think all photographers would appreciate and all of them are under £50! The video below details 10 items that I would personally recommend!

In the description below the video, you will affiliate links for the products and if you decide to purchase, I gain a tiny commission and best of all, it doesn’t cost you a penny extra!!

REVIEW: Mamiya 645 Pro - The perfect Medium Format Film camera for beginners?

There is no doubting the allure of film photography. For a number of years it has been in a form of ascendency amongst the photography community. It still struggles to shake off the ‘Hipster’ tag but in truth, there is a lot to love about the format. However, in more modern times, many of us crave better resolution, better aesthetics to the image and just the ‘feel’ that Medium format can give you - step up, the Mamiya 645 Pro!

Once the ‘go to’ camera for working studio professionals, this beast of a camera has been refined over the years and now offers all of the mod-cons you would expect from a modern DSLR. More importantly, it allows you to capture a look & feel to your images that just can’t be replicated by it’s digital counterparts. In the video below, I describe what it’s like to shoot with and who I think it’s for, enjoy!

Why shoot Film Photography in 2020?

The Corona Virus Pandemic has undoubtedly been a terrible time for a lot of people. Personally, I have seen all of my work cancelled which has left me with a lot of free time. Rather than simply binge on box sets, I have tried to use this time productively. One of the things that I’ve wanted to do for a while now is to get back into shooting film. On a side note, I will be making a series of videos about this on my YouTube channel, so keep an eye out for them.

Why Film?

The obvious question for a lot of people, is why shoot film when you have a perfectly good digital camera? The simple answer, for me at least, is to achieve a look & feel that has eluded me for years. Looking at my images, it’s fairly clear that I always try to achieve an element of nostalgia, shooting in soft light and adding grain etc. to make the images feel older than they actually are.

That’s all well and good apart from the fact that digital images tend to be over sharp and well, are clearly digital images. This might sound counter-intuitive to a lot of photographers, ‘you don’t want sharp images?’ - in a way, no. You only have to look at any family album with 70’s, 80’s or 90’s and look at those blurry images to get an instant nostalgia fix! The brain seems to make a correlation between those images and something in our past that always seemed to feel like a ‘better time’. Now, this is obviously not factual, but something in those images makes us feel a sense of comfort - and that is something that I’m always striving to achieve.

OK, so get an old 35mm Camera…

Well, again, things are never quite that straightforward. I’ve shot enough 35mm in the past to understand it’s benefits and limitations. So straight away, I knew it wasn’t going to cut it. So I did what any ‘want-to-be’ hipster photographer would do and went straight to medium format and in particular, the Mamiya 645 Pro. Again, I will make a separate video on the perks & quirks of this particular camera but the simple benefits are that it feels modern enough that I could use it without thinking too much and more importantly, it’s a 120mm film camera - and I want that medium format goodness!

I was always sceptical over people saying that you ‘just can’t replicate the medium format look’ and I still don’t fully subscribe to it, but I do agree that the extra negative size has its own benefits over its 35mm counterpart. Most notably, I love the fall off in the out of focus areas that are very difficult to replicate on 35mm. That combined with the go-to Kodak Portra stocks, is a winning combination for me.

OK, so you just want to be a Hipster?

Well, I do have a beard and more than one check shirt. However, the truth is no. The camera, the medium and even the subject matter are all just ‘tools’ to provoke an emotion. I am not trying to get ‘Insta famous’ - far from it. I have simply found a way to translate the feelings of nostalgia that I want to achieve into an image in the most natural way.

That being said, there is obviously a bit of a trend for photographers turning to film in an attempt to show their credentials as a fully-fledged master of light! Again though, it is not about achieving any acclaim for me, it is simply to understand the process better and to take full control, from start to finish, of the images that I create. So that means I am also developing my own film and scanning my own images - again, more videos on this soon on my YouTube channel.

So no more digital then?

Far from it, I actually still carry my digital camera even when I am shooting film. I will obviously be shooting digital for client work - though I am interested in offering commissions on film, that would be fun! The whole process of shooting film is merely to help convey a metaphor in my images, in the same way, that some might choose to shoot purely black & white because it makes their images feel more ‘honest’. Digital is still absolutely a necessary tool but film simply allows me another option, depending on the subject matter.

What’s next?

I will be shooting a lot more film in the interim and will also be travelling to some of the lesser shot areas of Birmingham to find the kind of gritty, run-down scenes that I like. As previously mentioned, I am developing and scanning at home so I will be looking at simplifying and improving that process too.

Overall, shooting film in 2020 is a great new area for me to explore and allows me to keep developing my own skills. It allows me to slow down a little and work on my composition skills and also improve my ability to meter and read light. All of these will hugely benefit my commercial work and throughout the process, I will, of course, bring you with me to share my experiences and knowledge. I am really excited and glad that I can take at least one tiny positive from the crazy times that we are living in.

The Ultimate Canon EOS-R Cinema Rig

If you want to get the most from your Canon EOS-R for filmmaking, then look no further. Whether you use the EOS-R for cinematic short films, corporate work or simple talking heads, I have compiled what I believe to be the ultimate EOS-R Cinema Rig. These items will boost your cameras abilities and supercharge it to handle almost anything that is thrown at it.

Check out the video and see the links in the description below the video if you wish to purchase any of the items yourself.

VIDEO: MY DREAM DESK/STUDIO SETUP FOR 2020!!!

Being a Photographer & Videographer - I need a space for editing and to store my gear. I also need a space for creating my YouTube videos (don’t forget to Subscribe!) and therefore, I think I have finally created my dream desk/studio setup! Watch the video below for more ;)

VIDEO: The Canon EOS-R is the BEST camera of 2019!!

What is the best camera of 2019? Well, I may have one recommendation for you. There were obviously lots of very good cameras released in 2019, but I have absolutely loved using my Canon EOS-R - Watch the video below to find out more!

How to get the Black & White Film look with the DXO Nik Collection 2.3

If you’ve been in the photography game for a while and done any kind of serious digital editing, you’ve probably come across the ‘Nik Collection’. I’ve been using the Nik Collection for a number of years and swear by the ability for these handy little plug-ins to take your images from a ‘7’ to a ‘10’! So I was obviously intrigued when I learnt that DxO had launched their latest update to the now legendary ‘Silver Efex Pro’ plug-in.

The upgrade sees the introduction of a range of new film effect emulations from top brands such as Polaroid, Bergger and Rollei. Not only does this allow you to expand your creativity by lifting your black & white edits to another level, but it also allows you to stay true to those halcyon film days with the introduction of the 10 new film types.

To find out more and purchase, visit: Nik Collection

VIDEO: The Loupedeck CT for Photographer & Videographers

The Loupedeck CT is genuinely perfect for Photographers and Videographers looking to improve their editing workflow. It support apps such as Lightroom, Photoshop, Ableton, Premier Pro Final Cut and more - it really is a great tool, but it has one massive drawback! Would you stump up for the Loupedeck CT?

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