Yongnuo YN-24EX twin light - An affordable rival to the Canon MT-24EX tw...

A macro twin light is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best macro lighting solution currently available.The Canon MT-24EX was one of the first macro twin lights released, and whilst it is exceptionally good, boy is it expensive. Yep, if you want one of these macro twin lights you are going to have to dig deep and be prepared to spend a lot of money. 

Fortunately, there is a cheaper alternative and whilst it is not as sturdy and robust as the Canon macro twin light it works in exactly the same way and provides the same results. The cheaper alternative I am referring to is the Yongnuo YN-24EX and it really is great. If you want to see just how good the Yongnuo YN is, or isn't as the case may be, take a look at the following clip:-




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Yongnuo YN-14EX - Affordable ring flash that rivals Canon and Sigma

A ring flash is a great light for macro photography, product photography and close up photography and, in my humble opinion, much better than a conventional flash or speed light. 

Ring flashes are quite expensive and before you go and part with your hard earned money and buy one, you need to make sure you can justify the cost. The premium branded ring flashes, i.e. Canon, Nikon and Sigma, are very expensive and you are going to have to dig deep to buy one. 

Fortunately, there is a cheaper alternative made by Yongnuo - the YN-14EX ring flash. This is a budget ring flash that is based on the Canon MR-14 ring flash, and also works in exactly the same way. 

Is the Yongnuo YN-14EX any good? Does the YN-14EX ring flash rival the Canon and Sigma ring flashes? Is the YN-14EX a viable alternative that is a good buy? Take a look at the following review and all will be revealed.




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Manfrotto Advanced holster bag review

Manfrotto are best know for making tripods and monopods, all of which are exceptionally good and highly rated kit. I, myself, use a Manfrotto tripod and monopod (for when I want to be mobile) and I am more than happy with them. 


I was so impressed with the quality of Manfrotto kit that when I was looking for a new holster bag for my camera I took a punt and ordered the Manfrotto advanced holster bag. Are Manfrotto camera bags as good as their tripod/monopod range? Take a look at the following clip, and all will be revealed..... 



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How water proof is the Lowepro Inverse 200AW camera bag?

It is vital that any camera bag is one hundred per cent waterproof. Even if you try and never go out and about with your camera in the rain there is always the possibility of getting caught out, and if this happens you need to make sure your expensive photography equipment is well protected and won't suffer any water damage. 


Whenever I buy a camera bag the first thing I check is how water proof it is, and this is exactly what I did with the Lowepro Inverse 200AW bag. To see how this bag performed in my waterproof test take a look at the clip below:-





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Essential wedding photography lenses

If you want to photograph all aspects of a wedding there are some "must have" and specific lenses that you must have with you, and if you have all of these lenses (and there aren't actually that many) you will have everything you need to capture and record the entire day. 

The following clip details all the essential wedding photography lenses, and if you are an aspiring wedding photographer it is a clip that will definitely be of use to you.



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Do you need an f2 8 lens for landscape photography?

Many wannabe landscape photographers lust after a 16mm - 35mm f2.8 lens, and whilst these are exceptionally good lenses I do question why. A fast lens simply isn't needed for landscape photography, and whilst it may be nice to say "my lens opens up to f2.8" how many times do you think you'll be taking landscape shots at that aperture? How many time do you think you'll be taking landscape shots at any aperture wider than f11? my guess is going to be none........ 

Landscape photography requires front to back sharpness, which requires shooting at narrow apertures. Consequently, a lens that opens up to f2.8 really doesn't matter. Check out the following video for more.



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Using a 16 - 35 zoom for portrait photography - really?

A 16mm - 35mm is a wide angle zoom lens that most photographers use for landscape photography, seascape photography and real estate photography. The 16mm - 35mm zoom lens is obviously useful for wide angle applications but it is also a great lens for portrait photography, as explored in the following clip:-



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