This could ruin your day!

Memory card failure may be costly!

Lexar SDXC memory card broken into three bits. 64 GB of images could be lost forever.

People say that memory cards are known to be tough and take a beating.
This is not altogether true.

What is true is that memory cards have survived a cycle in the washing machine, being run over by a car, and delivered images after surviving a flooding. These stories are accidents to be certain, but not the norm.

Face it. Memory cards fail. They fail for numerous reasons. The internal flash memory chip is corrupted or damaged, the contacts break off, the locking tab is broken off or missing, and a variety of other reasons.

Fact is that your images on a memory card may be valuable, if not replaceable.

Memory cards may be the weakest link in an expensive photographic chain. You spend thousands of dollars on a camera body, the same for lenses, additional money for accessory equipment, yet a few dollars for a memory card. This does not include cash for travel, lodging, guides and other potential expense.

Therefore, it makes perfect sense to buy quality cards, keep track of them and protect them. Especially if all your images are on them. And, don’t just put them in a pocket or purse.

A specially designed case for memory cards by Think Tank Photo. All cards are visible, enabling counting and knowing which are missing and/or ready to shoot. (Turn over cards that are full).

Keep them in a specially designed case or wallet. Number them. Know which ones are full and which ones are ready to shoot. The images on your cards are the result of a lot of planning, travel, and expense. Treat them as the most expensive part of your trip or outing. you will be glad you did.

The card above was six years old. It had been used countless times in numerous cameras by countless students. It was not abused, per se, but fell apart due to fatigue. The images for a student’s final project had to be photographed again. And successfully, I might add.

Copyright © 2023 Brian Loflin. All rights reserved.

Tired of squinting at your image on your camera-back monitor?

Today’s cameras now provide us with larger and brighter monitors with more features than ever before. Some fold or articulate making viewing and shooting from odd positions with greater ease. And many provide an array of information before and after image capture and can even provide the capability of focus, zooming, and triggering the image with a fingertip.

But, let’s face facts. Even a 3.5-inch screen does not provide a large enough area for some applications, especially video capture.

Not surprisingly, manufacturers now provide an HDMI connector for video image output. This output allows both still and video images to be displayed on a suitable video device with an HDMI cable. Those devices include purpose designed video monitors and television sets.

A 7-inch video monitor is mounted on a Nikon D850 DSLR camera. Normal attachment of such monitors are provided to fit the camera hot shoe. This method is precarious and poses a danger of breaking. The best alternative is an articulating arm such as this one from Small Rig and a suitable Arca-style clamp.

This view illustrates a 19-inch television set connected to the DSLR in a lab setting. Critical focus of highly magnified images is confirmed with the greatly enlarged TV image.

Now through the use of the camera’s “Live-View”, still images may be viewed at a much larger size and with the added value of zooming into the image to check fine focus.

Additionally, purpose designed monitors may display a variety of additional camera and lens information including the histogram in real time.

A detailed view of the 7-inch monitor image displaying exposure information, shooting mode, file type, metering mode, and the histogram in real time.

Copyright © 2023 Brian Loflin. All rights reserved.

What is this and why should I have one?

The answer starts with another question: How many lenses do you own with different front thread diameters? 49mm, 52mm, 63mm, 72mm, 77mm? If you have several like these, then maybe you also have several sets of filters to fit the lenses.

The answer to the real question is that the above object is a set of step up and step down filter adapter rings. It consists of ten adapters of each type ranging from 30mm up to 82 mm. A set like this is available from suppliers like Amazon for about $25.00 USD. Individual rings used to cost about $10.00 USD each.

The value of this set is that you need only buy one set of filters; the largest diameter to cover your largest lens. Then with the appropriate ring in place, the large filter will cover any lens in your bag.

High quality filters like neutral density and polarizing filters are expensive and may cost as much as $100.00 USD or more. And why would you not want to use a high quality filter on your good lens?

Having a good assortment of adapter rings is a no-nonsense investment. Get one for your camera bag, and invest in high quality filters instead. Your images will show the difference.

© 2023 Brian Loflin. All rights reserved.