Canon offers two primary lens options: the newer RF mount lenses and the older EF mount lenses. Understanding the differences and advantages of each system is essential for making informed decisions about your photography gear.

Coming to you from Josh Sattin, this informative video delves into the world of RF and EF lenses, exploring their compatibility, performance, and overall value. Sattin emphasizes the significance of considering factors like cost, availability, and adaptability when choosing between these two lens systems. He highlights the affordability and vast selection of EF lenses, which have been a staple for photographers and videographers for decades.

Sattin also discusses the versatility of EF lenses, particularly their ability to be used on various camera systems beyond Canon through adapters. He showcases several adapters, including options for Sony E-mount, L-mount, and Fujifilm X-mount cameras, demonstrating the potential to expand the use of your EF lenses across different platforms. This adaptability can be a significant advantage for photographers who own multiple camera systems or plan to upgrade in the future.

However, Sattin acknowledges potential drawbacks of using EF lenses with adapters, such as autofocus performance and stabilization issues, particularly with older models. He recommends opting for newer Canon L-series EF lenses or Sigma Art EF lenses for better compatibility and performance on RF mount cameras. Additionally, he emphasizes the superior autofocus, stabilization, and image quality offered by native RF lenses, especially when paired with the latest Canon mirrorless cameras.

Ultimately, the choice between RF and EF lenses depends on your individual needs and preferences as a photographer. If you prioritize affordability, versatility, and access to a wide range of lenses, EF lenses with adapters can be a compelling option. On the other hand, if you seek the best possible performance, image quality, and native compatibility with Canon’s latest mirrorless technology, investing in RF lenses may be the ideal choice. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Sattin.
 

Photographer Stephanie Blum poses for a self-portrait, along with photogenic pup Jay, who is being raised by Blum and her husband as a potential Seeing Eye guide dog. Photo: Courtesy of Stephanie Blum; hair and makeup by Ericka Medina; blossoms by Colly Flowers in Morristown

When Stephanie Blum spent her early years in fashion as director of merchandising for Calvin Klein’s design team, she didn’t foresee her future as a full-time photographer specializing in pet portraiture.

“I love this job because I always wanted to work with people and their animals,” Blum says. “Growing up, my family had a lot of rescue animals, so I’m comfortable around pets, and I know how to read a dog’s body language.”

She adds, “Pets are beloved family members, so clients like to include them in professional images to celebrate their intimate bond.” Blum also captures the likenesses of solo humans and other critters in her Mendham Borough studio.

Full services with Stephanie Blum Photography begin with an at-home consultation to meet adults, kids and pets in their own environment. “Understanding how my clients live helps me envision a creative concept that will represent their authentic style,” she says. “It’s also good for animals to meet me before they visit the studio.”

Clients choose Blum because she makes photo shoots stress free by suggesting what to wear, providing professional hair and makeup artists, and offering posing guidance.

After the shoot, it’s time for the big reveal. Images are immediately available for viewing, and clients can select from digital portraits, heirloom-quality photo albums, and framed wall-art options.

Blum usually works with canine clientele because, she explains, “cats are not always willing participants.” However, she would be happy to collaborate with cooperative kitties, as well as horses, birds, bunnies or reptiles.

Blum and hubby Michael Ansell have two pups of their own: 12-year-old Winnie and 11-year-old Benji. In 2023, the couple volunteered as foster parents in the Morristown-based Seeing Eye’s puppy-raising program. Last November, they brought home Jay, a 7-week-old black Labrador retriever, and they are teaching him socialization and good manners for one year.

“I wanted to give back to the community because I’m blessed with good vision,” says Blum. “Michael and I are delighted to raise Jay to one day serve a visually impaired person.”

She is also working on a “pet project” in her spare time. Later this year, Blum will release a coffee-table book that features her portraits of rescue dogs and their poignant backstories. Proceeds will benefit See Spot Rescued, a Jersey City nonprofit dog-rescue organization that re-homes lucky pooches.

Stephanie Blum Photography, 2-A Hilltop Road, Mendham; 732-598-1291.

Follow our home & style editor on Instagram (@susanbrierlybush).

No one knows New Jersey like we do. Sign up for one of our free newsletters here. Want a print magazine mailed to you? Purchase an issue from our online store.

Research increasingly links smartphones and social media to rising rates of childhood anxiety, self-harm, and suicide. Against this bleak background, analog photography is emerging as a counterbalance to phone-based childhood, offering a hands-on, immersive experience that fosters a deeper connection to the physical world and imbues kids’ lives with meaning.

Recently at In-Sight Photography Project in Brattleboro, youth analog photography classes fill up more quickly than digital ones. This enthusiasm indicates something a lot of grownup film camera enthusiasts remember — throwback photography is a lot of fun.

“Using film cameras and being in the darkroom is a unique experience and radically different from the day to day for most youth,” says Emily Wagner, Executive Director at In-Sight, “In the darkroom, students have found friendships and community as well as a new connection to art and science that doesn’t involve a screen.”

In-Sight teaches students the entire flow of analog photography, from handling film, to learning the mathematics of exposure, to developing film, to making prints in a darkroom. The art form demands patience and care at every step, something children are naturally drawn to. It is highly effective at teaching important values that are being lost in the digital age, such as the value of slowing down and appreciating the moment.

“Analog photography requires the photographer to be present and consider a lot of factors, often taken for granted in digital photography,” Emily explains, “and in processing the film and images students learn to slow down and wait for the chemical reactions to take place, without being able to look at their phones.”

The tactile experience of handling film-based cameras, especially older ones which have a different, more mechanical feel when adjusting settings, loading the film, clicking a real shutter button and feeling the vibration, and even advancing the film after an exposure, can have unique payoffs. Physically developing the film, then entering the sightless world of the darkroom to create prints with enlargers and chemical trays, can provide a tangible sense of achievement and creativity, unlike the easy, no-stakes nature of capturing digital images.

In fact, In-Sight uses the darkroom as a way to teach principles of mindfulness, since the key sense of vision is nearly eliminated. Attitudes and voices naturally quiet in the darkroom and while there are moments of focus there are moments of celebration when unexpected results are achieved. Touch, time, and memory become very important. This is an ironic pleasure of the darkroom given how important light is in the origins of any photo, and it has been almost entirely lost today.

As kids delve into the world of analog photography, they find it’s not just about stepping away from screens. It’s about embracing a different rhythm of life that values the process as much as the result. There’s also a distinct embrace of mystery since so much needs to happen, from the time they frame a shot to looking at what they exposed, that they will often be surprised — sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way. Not knowing becomes a foundation for the whole mode of analog photography.

Another value children learn is how to develop a deeper connection to their environment, learning to observe and appreciate details they might otherwise overlook, since successfully creating a real photograph involves so much work and good fortune. In his 1952 book exploring the “decisive moment,” Henri Cartier-Bresson, an iconic photographer, reveals how capturing a significant moment in human activity requires a perfect blend of anticipation, composition, and timing. He could not have foreseen how cameras would one day be pulled away from our faces, that we would see the final exposure and print displayed to us as we capture it, and how it would erode our level of awareness and observation.

“As a parent, I was thrilled to see my child inspired to stop and observe the world in new and slower ways, through the lens of the camera,” remarked a parent of a recent analog student. “In our digital era, 35mm basics provided a rare opportunity for them to experience the magic of silver emulsion photography.”

This engagement with the process and history of analog photography opens the door to many lost skills, including patience, focus, and a genuine appreciation for the art of storytelling through images. As such, analog photography becomes more than a hobby; it transforms into a meaningful antidote to the digital harms of smartphones in our children’s lives, offering a pathway to creativity, mindfulness, and a renewed sense of connection to the physical world.

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is unapologetic in offering the best of the company’s current mobile technology in a single device. The Leica-tuned camera experience is a huge part of the phone’s appeal and for those keen to get the absolute most out of it, Xiaomi has also launched the Xiaomi 14 Ultra Photography Kit, which adds physical controls, better ergonomics and an additional battery. Even so, I think it could have gone further.

As you’ll see in the unboxing below, the (sold separately for £179 / €199.99 – approximately $225 / AU$345) consists of a dedicated case with a grippy woven leather-like finish, two interchangeable decorative metals rings that surround the phone’s camera, a 67mm camera filter adapter ring, a lanyard and the all-important Photography Grip – which includes an integrated 1,500mAh battery, a USB-C port for charging, a dual-detent shutter button, zoom lever, exposure dial and a video record button.

@techradar
♬ Blossom – Crispy Beats

So what could Xiaomi have possibly added to make the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s Photography Kit even more potent? Here’s a shortlist of five killer features that would have rendered it best there is.

Tripod thread

The 14 Ultra already includes dedicated shooting modes for a variety of long-exposure scenarios; from moving crowds and light painting, to modes like Starry Sky and Star Trails. But in order to pull of these latter two shooting modes effectively, photographers will already know that such scenes require an incredibly still camera in order to achieve the best results. Attaching a tripod seems like the most logical way to do that.

The underside of the Photography Grip already plays host to the lanyard loop, USB-C port and a power indicator LED for the internal battery, but with a little shuffling around, there’s little reason why Xiaomi couldn’t have squeezed a conventional 1/4-inch 20mm female tripod thread on there too; likely having to extend or better secure the grip around the phone, so too much force isn’t placed on the USB-C connection on the base of the phone.

USB passthrough

The Photography Grip connects to the phone via an inset USB, so naturally, there’s an additional USB-C port on its underside to let users recharge the grip’s internal 1,500mAh battery (said to extend the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s longevity by up to 23%) and in turn charge the phone’s main 5,000mAh battery (90W fast charging is also supported).

While the boon of the grip’s additional power cell is great to extend shooting sessions – as well as general usage, it would be incredibly useful if – akin to some of the best gaming phones – users could also change modes and connect power to this port to keep the phone alive without charging the battery.

From a photography standpoint, this could allow for even longer exposure times in low light or astrophotography scenarios, as well as when capturing time-lapse video footage – for which the Xiaomi 14 Ultra already has a dedicated mode for. Doing so would have reduced strain on the batteries (both the phone’s and the grip’s), while making the Ultra an even more versatile camera phone.

As in the case of gaming phones, USB passthrough would also allow for extended gaming sessions with excessive strain on the phone’s battery too.

Focus ring

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s Photography Kit included a dual-detent shutter button and a zoom lever, which the company has expanded upon on the 14 Ultra’s equivalent Kit, also adding an exposure dial and a dedicated video record button. However, there’s one more physical control that would have elevated the shooting experience even further: a focus ring.

While the case that comes as part of the 14 Ultra’s Photography Kit already allows for interchangeable decorative rings and that excellent 67mm lens adapter, considering the bulk the kit as a whole already adds there’d be little issue in also implementing a physical focus ring, letting you pull focus while maintaining a steady grip on the 14 Ultra during shooting.

Like the rest of the physical controls, the real sweetener would be the ring’s ability to be reprogrammed, so that it could be made responsible for zoom – or even perhaps exposure.

Xenon flash

Xenon flashes used to be the go-to flash on point-and-shoot cameras, as well as digital cameras. With the age of the smartphone, however, while many a camera phone has dabbled with these more intense means of illumination (the Nokia Lumia 1020 springs to mind), xenon flashes have fallen foul of the convenience the comparatively underwhelming dual LED flash offers. It helps that the dual LED also leads a double life as your phone’s flashlight.

Extending the top edge of the camera grip along the phone’s body in order to integrate a proper xenon flash seems like a worthwhile upgrade.

Hot shoe

If the xenon flash doesn’t float your boat, or you like the idea of even more versatility from the camera kit, then a full-fledged hot shoe would be the greatest addition. 

Its existence as a camera standard ensures compatibility with a range of photographic accessories; from flashguns to shotgun mics, opening up potential for the Xiaomi 14 Ultra as a next-level vlogging phone, as well.

You might also like

The Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) conference stands as a beacon for both emerging talent and seasoned professionals. With the photography industry witnessing rapid changes in technology, style, and business practices, WPPI’s role in a photographer’s career has sparked intriguing discussions.

The Allure of WPPI for Newcomers

For those at the beginning of their photography journey (or contemplating the leap into a full-fledged business), WPPI presents a golden opportunity. The conference’s inclusive atmosphere is fertile ground for learning, with workshops and seminars designed to elevate your craft, business acumen, and confidence. First-time attendees can expect to immerse themselves in a comprehensive educational experience, gaining invaluable knowledge on technical skills, creative expression, and business strategies essential for a successful start.

Evolving With the Audience: A Veteran’s Perspective

As we progress in our photography careers, the quest for growth transitions from mastering the basics to refining a unique style and expanding business frontiers. Regular WPPI attendees have witnessed its transformation and how it caters to an expanding audience spectrum. While the conference remains a source of inspiration and networking, seasoned photographers might find the curriculum leaning toward the foundational aspects of photography. This shift reflects WPPI’s aim to be accessible and beneficial to a broad audience, including those at the nascent stages of their career.

The Integration of Portrait Masters: A New Chapter?

A pivotal development in WPPI’s trajectory is the incorporation of the Portrait Masters, a move that promised to blend high-caliber education with the broader appeal of WPPI’s existing programming. This integration was anticipated to enrich the learning experience, especially for those seeking advanced mastery in portrait photography. However, feedback suggests that the essence of the presentations, including keynotes by renowned photographers such as Sue Bryce, still gravitates toward foundational themes. This observation underscores a strategic opportunity for WPPI to balance its offerings, ensuring that both beginners and advanced practitioners find value and advancement in their craft and business.

Strategies for Maximizing Your WPPI Experience

1. Set Clear Objectives: Before attending WPPI, identify your goals. Are you looking to enhance specific skills, explore new trends, or expand your professional network? A clear focus will guide your session selections and activities.

2. Diversify Your Agenda: Balance your schedule between technical workshops, creative sessions, and business seminars. This holistic approach will ensure a well-rounded enhancement of your photography career.

3. Engage Beyond Classrooms: WPPI is not just about the sessions; it’s a vibrant community. Leverage networking events, product exhibitions, and informal meet-ups to connect with peers, mentors, and industry leaders.

4. Seek Advanced Workshops: While navigating the program, look for sessions that challenge your current level of expertise. Advanced workshops and master classes can offer the deep dives necessary for growth.

5. Provide Feedback: WPPI evolves through community input. Share your experiences and suggestions for future events to help shape a more inclusive and enriching conference.

Final Thoughts

WPPI remains a cornerstone event in the photography community, offering a rich tapestry of learning and networking opportunities. Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience under your belt, the key to extracting the most value from WPPI lies in strategic participation and open-minded engagement. As the conference continues to evolve, it holds the potential to cater to the diverse needs of the photography industry, fostering growth, innovation, and a shared passion for capturing life’s moments.