SnapBlog - Snapsort and LensHero » Camera Gear http://blog.snapsort.com Original Photography Articles and News Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:02:18 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Deal Alert: Canon T3i with a 18-55mm and 75-300mm lenses for $599 http://blog.snapsort.com/2013/01/03/deal-alert-canon-t3i-with-a-18-55mm-and-75-300mm-lens-for-599/ http://blog.snapsort.com/2013/01/03/deal-alert-canon-t3i-with-a-18-55mm-and-75-300mm-lens-for-599/#comments Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:18:12 +0000 Editor http://blog.snapsort.com/?p=3078 t3i
B&H Photo has the Canon T3i with a 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS and a 75-300MM f/4-5.6 III lens for $599 (price will update in cart), this package also comes with a 16GV SDHC memory card.

]]> http://blog.snapsort.com/2013/01/03/deal-alert-canon-t3i-with-a-18-55mm-and-75-300mm-lens-for-599/feed/ 1 Save $550 on a Nikon D7000 bundle http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/12/21/nikon-d7000-bundle/ http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/12/21/nikon-d7000-bundle/#comments Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:45:55 +0000 Editor http://blog.snapsort.com/?p=3063 872033B&H is offering the Nikon D7000 with an 18-200mm DX VR II lens and a lots of accessory’s including 50mm f/1.8D for $1496.95 which is a $550 savings.  If you order by 4:30PM you should receive your camera in time for Christmas. There is a similar package on Amazon, but it doesn’t come with the 50mm lens and the battery grip.

 

Buy now

 

]]> http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/12/21/nikon-d7000-bundle/feed/ 0 Canon 5D Mark II for only $1529 http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/12/18/canon-5d-mark-ii-for-only-1529/ http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/12/18/canon-5d-mark-ii-for-only-1529/#comments Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:26:41 +0000 Brenden Sherratt http://blog.snapsort.com/?p=3053 canon_eos_5d_markIIThe Canon 5D Mark II, is currently selling for $1529 on Amazon. The 5D Mark II was replaced by the 5D Mark III earlier this year, although the 5D Mark III is an improvement, it is also twice the price.

]]> http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/12/18/canon-5d-mark-ii-for-only-1529/feed/ 0 Save $700 on the Nikon D600 http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/12/18/save-700-on-the-nikon-d600/ http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/12/18/save-700-on-the-nikon-d600/#comments Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:10:12 +0000 Editor http://blog.snapsort.com/?p=3040 Nikon D600The Nikon D600 is currently selling on Amazon for $1996.95, which is a $700 savings. The package comes with a 24-85mm  f/3.5-4.5G ED VR Lens, 32 GB SD card, a camera backpack, free shipping, $100 gift card for Class on Demand and 2% back. B&H Photo has a similar deal, but it comes with a Lowepro bag, SanDisk 32GB SDHC card, a monopod and a spare battery.

]]> http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/12/18/save-700-on-the-nikon-d600/feed/ 0 10 Great Gifts for the Photographer on Your List http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/12/14/ten-great-gifts-for-the-photographer-on-your-list/ http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/12/14/ten-great-gifts-for-the-photographer-on-your-list/#comments Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:43:31 +0000 Jessica Rediker http://blog.snapsort.com/?p=3034 Gifts for Photographers

1. Digital Photo Frame
There’s nothing quite like seeing prints of your photographs for the first time, but sometimes you just need another way to show off your images without having to frame them all. This frame looks like it could hang with the rest of the photos and is a great alternative for someone who is constantly shooting.

2. 500px Plus/Awesome Account
The rapidly growing online photography community, 500px, helps photographers showcase their work while connecting with others and finding inspiration. Give your favourite shutterbug the gift of unlimited uploads and sign them up for an upgraded account.

3. Into Focus Lens Mug
Photographers eat, sleep, and breathe their craft. Now they can drink it too. This lens mug is a fun gift for the truly obsessed cameraperson.

4. SD Card
A commonly overlooked but no-brainer gift, an SD card is a great way to support your image enthusiast’s work. You will never hear anyone complain about having too much image storage and this 32g SanDisk card should do the trick.

5. Camera Keychain
A cute trinket, this keychain accessory is a fun way for someone to show off their obsession without having to wear a camera around their neck. It even makes a shutter sound and has an LED “flash”!

6. GorillaPod
For the photographer who loves to get that crazy angle or hates carrying around a full tripod, JOBY’s GorillaPod is a lifesaver. Sturdy enough to support an SLR with a zoom lens, the GorillaPod’s three legs can be wrapped around almost anything, creating the potential for truly unique perspectives.

7. 100 Ideas That Changed Photography
Creating can be tough, especially in a bustling industry. It is inevitable that, like all artists, a photographer will find themselves in a rut one day.  This book explains 100 concepts that changed photography over the years, giving new inspiration from the origins of the craft.

8. 50mm f/1.8 Lens
Whether they’re shooting Canon, Nikon, or anything else, this lens is a must for any photographer. The low aperture capabilities are essential to creating captivating portraits with blown-out backgrounds and highlighting key focal points. Check out the Nikon lens or the Canon lens.

9. Right Angle Mirror Spy Lens
For the photographer who isn’t quite comfortable approaching strangers or drawing their attention, this super spy lens is super handy. While the photographer aims the lens at one subject, it is actually taking a picture of whatever is 90 degrees to the left or right.

10. 4 Piece Filter Set
Of the many add-ons a photographer can use to create a specific look, filters are one of the easiest and most cost effective. This set contains the four most commonly used filters a photographer could want.

]]> http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/12/14/ten-great-gifts-for-the-photographer-on-your-list/feed/ 0 Cyber Monday deals on Cameras http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/11/26/cyber-monday-deals-on-cameras/ http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/11/26/cyber-monday-deals-on-cameras/#comments Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:31:41 +0000 Editor http://blog.snapsort.com/?p=2996  

 

]]> http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/11/26/cyber-monday-deals-on-cameras/feed/ 0 Black Friday deals on Cameras http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/11/22/black-friday-deals-on-cameras/ http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/11/22/black-friday-deals-on-cameras/#comments Thu, 22 Nov 2012 18:55:28 +0000 Editor http://blog.snapsort.com/?p=2985 Click here for our full list of Cyber Monday camera deals

 

Canon

Nikon

Sony

Panasonic 

Olympus

Software

Other:

]]> http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/11/22/black-friday-deals-on-cameras/feed/ 1 Comparing an iPhone 5 to a DSLR http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/10/03/comparing-a-iphone-5-to-a-dslr/ http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/10/03/comparing-a-iphone-5-to-a-dslr/#comments Wed, 03 Oct 2012 19:03:25 +0000 Editor http://blog.snapsort.com/?p=2712

Want to know how the camera on the iPhone 5 compares to a DSLR? Check out the video above to see how the resolution, focus and image quality compare to one another. The results just might surprise you.

]]> http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/10/03/comparing-a-iphone-5-to-a-dslr/feed/ 1 Be Careful Who You Buy From http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/01/20/be-careful-who-you-buy-from/ http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/01/20/be-careful-who-you-buy-from/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:32:11 +0000 Chris Poindexter http://blog.snapsort.com/?p=1737 camera photo

It's one thing to buy some flash units or lights from overseas, but don't risk it for cameras and lenses

As the world gets smaller and shipping gets easier, a new phenomenon is appearing in the camera market: Web sites that appear to be stores located in the U.S., U.K., or Canada that are actually storefronts for operations in other countries. For many of the cameras and camera electronics, the vendors are located in Hong Kong.

First off, there’s nothing at all wrong with shopping for camera gear outside the country, provided you know that’s where you’re shopping and are prepared to take the risk. I routinely shop at DealExtreme, one of those sites that ships from Hong Kong, because the discounts are pretty good and shipping is free. I know whatever I’m going to buy from them is going to take between 2 and 3 weeks to arrive and I’m okay with that.

I buy a lot of my flash units and strobes from Hong Kong vendors and quite a few of my video lights came from overseas, but buy a high end camera or expensive lens through them? No way!

The biggest issue for me is making sure I have a valid warranty here in the U.S. When you buy from vendors in Hong Kong, you may be getting grey market products, refurbished units, or products with menus in another language. What you won’t be getting in any case is a valid factory warranty where you live.

I probably see two or three sob stories every week from people who purchased products from an overseas vendor only to realize they would have to send the product back to China if they need warranty service. Most of those people were just trying to save a buck or two on their camera purchase.

Sometimes it’s worth paying a little more to be sure of who you’re dealing with and that you’re getting a top shelf product. When it comes to camera and video gear, I only shop three places:

B&H Photo Video
Adorama
Amazon

I’ve never had a problem with a return or exchange at B&H Photo, ever. You could buy a turkey from B&H, bring them a bag of bones the day after Thanksgiving and they’d still probably give your money back if you weren’t happy.

Shopping through Amazon you’re sometimes paying a higher price than direct through the vendor, but that means the vendor has to adhere to Amazon’s return policies. That’s a big friend to have on your side and the convenience of one-stop shopping is a time saver.

Snapsort only sells products through reputable sources, so you can shop with ease.

Sometimes it’s just not worth the price difference to shop with vendors you haven’t worked with before. There’s a reason companies like B&H have been around for years and have an excellent reputation in the professional community.  If you want to save a few bucks on a site that doesn’t have that reputation, you’re taking your chances.

 

]]> http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/01/20/be-careful-who-you-buy-from/feed/ 0 iPhone 4 Tops Flickr Camera Stats http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/01/20/iphone-4-tops-flickr-camera-stats/ http://blog.snapsort.com/2012/01/20/iphone-4-tops-flickr-camera-stats/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:28:05 +0000 Chris Poindexter http://blog.snapsort.com/?p=1753

The iPhone 4 shoots to the top of Flickr's camera ratings

Data from Flickr confirms what we’ve been saying for a long time: The camera people are most likely to use is the one they’re most likely to have with them. No surprise then that the number one camera on Flickr is the Apple iPhone 4.

Coming along in second place is the entry level Nikon D90. Priced at around $1,200 with the 18-105mm kit lens, Nikon seems to have found the sweet spot between price and performance.

The next three in the top 5 all belong to Canon. It’s no surprise to find the EOS 5D MK II in the list, although the Rebel T2i in the fourth spot is kind of a surprise. Perhaps it shouldn’t be such a surprise for the T2i to be on the list when I consider that among my friends who are professional wedding photographers, one uses the T2i as his main camera and two use it as their backup body.

Anyone who owns a Canon EOS 7D would not be surprised to find it in the top 5. It is one of the most reliable pieces of photographic equipment I’ve ever used.

One should take statistics on Flickr with a grain of salt. While they are reflective of the relative popularity of certain cameras, not all cameras record the camera type in the meta data, which is particularly true of smartphones, and those tend to be under-represented in the data.

Another factor to consider is that statistics on Flickr evolve slowly and are backward facing. So many of the hot new camera models may not be reflected in the statistics for some time to come.

In the point-and-shoot category, Canon owns all of the top five slots. The wildly successful S95 leads the parade, with the G12 coming in second.

Another factor to consider is that Flickr represents a sub-section of photographers actively sharing their photos. Not all photographers are equally active in social media sharing and many of the old timers are skeptical of using photo sharing services.

It is good to check on the statistics from time to time, just to watch the parade of technology. Judging by the stats, for many of you your new camera is also the device you use to make phone calls.

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