Author: Alberto

A New Luxury Compact Camera: the Sony RX1R III Announcement

Sony RX1R III on a black background. Courtesy of Sony Electronics.
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This week, Sony did what seems impossible these days; it announced a camera that no one had any clue was in the works: the Sony RX1R III. High-end compact cameras have really become all the rage among deep-pocketed photographers, both pros and hobbyists alike, and it makes sense that Sony would bring back a camera model that has been sitting in a corner, ignored like a stepchild. But is this truly a revival of Sony’s full-frame compact or a scramble to regain market relevance?

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Harman Announces Phoenix II Color Film and We’re Stoked

Harman Announces Phoenix II Color Film and We’re Stoked Film is (thankfully) not dead. That’s the message from Harman, as today they announced the release of their latest film emulsion, Phoenix II. Back in 2023, Harman produced its first color negative film, and today’s announcement reminds us that their foray into color isn’t a one-off but a serious attempt to create something unique specifically for photographers. The Phoenix II film stock is available as a 36-exposure ISO 200 emulsion in 35mm or in 120 formats, edge numbered one to 19. It produces a stronger contrast, more balanced color, and finer grain than its predecessor, but keeps all of the character that made the original special. Compared to traditional color films (like a Kodak Gold 200 or Fujifilm Superia 400), it may produce images that lend themselves to high contrast, cooler tones, but from the samples Harman provided, I’m really loving the feeling they elicit. They sit somewhere between nostalgic and cinematic without being heavy-handed either way. Harman’s Phoenix II can be processed in C41 chemicals, which should make it easy and relatively inexpensive, unlike some cine film stocks that require special processing or more expensive E-6 processing. For me, the exciting part of this announcement is the fact that there are companies that are still seriously pushing the boundaries of film. Finding new and innovative processes and in turn, giving photographers a new set of tools to work with. Even if you’re not a pro, the more options available to hobbyists or simply the artistically curious, the more likely we are to see innovation in art. And there’s no downside to that. A recent conversation about some of the boredom I’ve had with new digital cameras revealed what I’ve known for years—most digital sensors are made by Sony, and this has made the resulting images kind of monotonous. In my opinion, analog film continues to capture viewers’ attention and imagination because of its organic nature—no two film stocks are alike, and even the same film stock can look wildly different over time. I’m excited by this bit of news, and while I might not make a dime from the images I make with Phoenix II, I hope that it will help me create images that are not only unique but also timeless.
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Film is (thankfully) not dead. That’s the message from Harman, as today they announced the release of their latest film emulsion, Phoenix II. Back in 2023, Harman produced its first color negative film, and today’s announcement reminds us that their foray into color isn’t a one-off but a serious attempt to create something unique specifically for photographers.

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Annoucnement: New Affiliate Program

money on a tote bags and coins on the table
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We’re about to get like Scrooge McDuck up in here! Not really, but we did get approval to run affiliate links for KEH.com. First, we like and use KEH.com to buy and sell our used gear. Second, it costs money to run a website, and we consciously do not run ads on the site – yup, you get reliable information without being bombarded with irrelevant ads cluttering up your screen.

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Going Wide with Sigma’s 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens (X-Mount)

The Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 Closeup.
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Shooting wide is a new obsession for me. I’ve long loved the 35mm—50 mm focal length for most of my photography, but there are several times when opening things up can help you create spectacular images. Using a wider field of view presents a few challenges, but the rewards are worth it. With the Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 Contemporary Lens, Fujifilm photographers can go ultra-wide with great results. Here’s what I learned from using this lens as my daily driver.  

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The KEH.com Experience: Buying Used and Why You Should Try It

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 against a brown, textured background with two lens around it.
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Over the holidays, I wanted to upgrade my daily carry camera. For the past few years, the camera that went on vacation with me, to the store, or anywhere else that wasn’t a job has become my Fujifilm X-Pro 1. Yes, a more than a decade-old camera has become my daily driver, and for good reason—it’s a solid camera for everyday captures. That is, until it began having card write errors—this made me turn my attention to another X-Pro body and KEH.com.

Editor’s Note: This post is not sponsored in any way; I paid the listed price for my camera. Any Paid Promotions would be titled as such.

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The Amazon Prime Day Deals That I’m Checking Out

The Noisecast Prime Days (Summer 2025) Guide - stylized poster of electronics and text.
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It’s that time of year again, it’s Amazon Prime Day(s), and aside from some really good marketing, the deals are honestly kind of mid. Sure, there are some really great buys, but it really only comes down to whether you’ve been eyeing buying any of the things that are on sale. If you’ve been eyeing a fancy (expensive) electric kettle? It’s on sale, but it’s still a little rich for me. That being said, here are the five Amazon Prime Deals I’m currently checking out.

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Podcast: AI News Is Not Wrong, Just Hallucinating

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It’s been a minute, but The Noisecast is back with a new episode and an old friend. In this episode we go in on why AI-written news shouldn’t be a thing, Tesla’s I, Robot ripoff flop, and NYC’s Mayor Adam’s obsession with using tech to violate people’s right to privacy.

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Fujifilm’s X Summit 2024 Brings 2 New Lenses and a New Camera

Collage of new Fujifilm Products announced at X Summit 2024. Including Fujifilm X-M5, XF16-55mm F2-8 WR II, and XF500mm F5-6 R LM OIS WR
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Today, Fujifilm announced three new products into the X-series family – 2 new lenses and a fun-sized mirrorless camera body aimed at content creators. As far as the news goes, Fujifilm has been teasing the new lenses on social media ahead of their announcement and they lived up to the hype with the announcement of the new XF16-55mm F2.8 WR II and the XF500mm F5.6 LM OIS WR – the longest prime on the XF system. Rounding out the news was the announcement of the all-new X-M5 X-mount camera, here’s what you need to know about all three.

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Moment’s SuperCage and BaseCage Bring Pro Video Rigging to Your Phone

Man Holding Moment SuperCage for Kickstarter Campaign Hero Image
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Today’s phones often double as feature-packed cameras capable of crisp photos and cinema-quality video (just ask Apple). While many of these features are casually lauded by their manufacturers, if you want to get that level of quality from your phone you’ll need a dedicated rig. That’s where Moment’s SuperCage and BaseCage come in. 

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The Canon PowerShot V10 Long-Term Review

Canon PowerShot V10 on white background
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In today’s video-centric world, it’s no surprise that there are several options for people looking to start or improve their vlogging and social video content creation workflow. Whether the goal is to get a million subscribers on YouTube, go viral on Tik Tok, or simply have a far more discrete way of capturing life’s moments, the Canon PowerShot V10 aims to do it all. Here’s how it stacks up.

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