Atlantis Dive Resorts Celebrates New Atlantis Infiniti Liveaboard with Special Discounts
If you have even a passing interest in diving the Philippines, you will know of Dumaguete’s mind-blowing critters and Puerto Galera’s stunning coral diversity, and you’ll also know that Atlantis Dive Resorts has a home in each of those prime locations that will serve your every need as an underwater photographer. But what you may have missed is that Atlantis also gives you the option of venturing further afield via their liveaboard Atlantis Adventurer, including the best of the Visayas and Tubbataha regions.
Now, with the acquisition of the Infiniti at the end of last year, Atlantis has greatly increased its offerings with the addition of a second liveaboard. Appropriately named Atlantis Infiniti, the 39-meter (128-foot) metal-hull vessel boasts 11 cabins with ensuite bathrooms, a spacious lounge and sun deck, and of course, a fully equipped camera room. (Our favorite part: The snack and drink bar, which is open all day, offers complimentary beer, wine and local rum!)
To mark the occasion, Atlantis is offering some great deals on upcoming trips—20% or 30% discount on selected itineraries till the end of the year. Check out the press release below and head over to the Atlantis website for information about availability on the new Atlantis Infiniti.
PRESS RELEASE
Introducing Atlantis Infiniti
We are excited to share fantastic news from the Philippines!
Last October Atlantis Dive Resorts and Liveaboards completed the purchase of the Infiniti liveaboard.
At 39 meters long, the Infiniti is a metal hull, IACS (RINA) classed Liveaboard. Spacious and comfortable, the Infiniti is fully air conditioned with nicely appointed indoor areas, a large, fully equipped dive deck with personal diving stations, and a beautiful lounge area and sundeck on the upper deck. The Infiniti offers 11 spacious cabins, all with ensuite bathrooms. The Infiniti offers guests 4 dives a day, and when possible, a 5th dive as a night dive.
Atlantis acquired the Infiniti Liveaboard late last year to increase our liveaboard offering for our guests. We are operating the existing charters until July when we will begin a two months drydock. Extensive upgrades will take place at that time including increasing the size of the dive operation, new chef’s kitchen, refreshments to the interior and exterior as well as mechanical and safety upgrades!
The Infiniti offers three different itineraries, each is 7 nights: Tubbataha, departing from Puerto Princesa, and Visayas North and Visayas South, departing from Dumaguete. Visayas North takes divers to Malapascua, Southern Leyte and Bohol, while Visayas South takes divers to Cebu, Bohol and Negros.
Atlantis has a resort in Dumaguete; you can easily combine the Infiniti with Atlantis Dumaguete with no extra transfers and not losing any dive days!
Infiniti Celebration!
20% Tubbataha June departures!
30% off our standard rates for August 30th and September 6th departures!
All remaining Infiniti 2025 Visayas departures are confirmed, and 20% off!
A couple weeks ago, I asked my subscribers to let me know what kinds of online photography courses they’d like to see me teach, and I got some incredible feedback! After reading hundreds of answers, I have some solid direction about how to proceed, and I’m looking to start filming some brand new courses in the next few weeks.
In addition, I’m now offering 3 different options for my signature 30-lesson course, Photography On The Brain, that are designed to better match a variety of budgets and commitment levels.
ESSENTIALS gets you unlimited access to all 30 lessons and downloadable PDF assignments, at the lowest price I’ve ever offered. (Even lower with the discount below!)
WORKSHOP adds full forum access where you can share you own insight, post your images for critique, and get input from me and other students.
MENTORSHIPgoes even deeper by adding personal coaching with a series of 4 one-hour video calls. This is the ultimate way to keep your motivation up and get targeted instruction and insight as you progress through the lessons.
Photography On The Brain is still the most thought-provoking instruction on composition and creativitythat I’ve ever offered.
I cover such a wide variety of topics that you are guaranteed to come away with a huge batch of new ideas, confidence and inspiration.
If you want to be better at composition gain more creative confidence, then I strongly urge you to check out this course, because I know it will help you expand your creative skills in a big way.
With three different video call options that range from 30-minute Quick Coaching sessions, 60 minute 1:1 sessions and an extended series of 4 one-hour monthly sessions, I can give you one-on-one advice, targeted instruction, and provide critiques, direct feedback and direction that will help you progress in your current photography life.
Whether you just need quick answers about a specific topic you’re struggling with, insight about how to better apply a certain creative technique, or if you want more in-depth feedback and ongoing follow-up, this is an incredible option for learning.
Awesome New Course Interface and iOS App
I’m so excited about my new course site, which is built with the Teachable interface. The user dashboard and lesson pages are so easy to navigate, and they look great! You can view the lesson videos and assignment briefs with unlimited access on any device, and there’s even a free iOS app you can use for streamlined viewing of lesson material when you’re offline.
I actually did a 12-week online singing/vocal course last winter that was built with the the same framework, and I was really impressed by the clean format and ease of access that Teachable offers. That’s why I’m using it for my own courses, and I think you’re really going to like how it looks and functions.
Limited Time Launch Discount!!!
Finally, to celebrate the launch of my new course site, I’m offering my readers a special limited time discount code for Photography On The Brain.
Use coupon code LAUNCH20 at checkout to save 20% on either theESSENTIALS or WORKSHOP tiers. (This code is only good for the next two weeks.)
My readers have been incredibly supportive over the years, and that’s why I’m so excited about my new course site. I know that you guys like to learn from me, and you deserve the best possible user experience to access and absorb the information that I share.
I’m looking forward to building and uploading more courses in the coming weeks and months, but for now, I encourage you to check out the site, try out my free color course, and the share my courses with your other photographer friends.
Canon is offering up some holiday treats as we head into winter. The company has announced two new full-frame RF lenses, one APS-C RF lens, a Power Zoom Adapter, and firmware updates for the EOS C70 and EOS R5 C cameras. The three new lenses cover everything from wide-angle to ultra-telephoto, offering a bit of something for everyone. They include the RF-S10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM, the RF24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z, and the RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM. There’s lots to unpack here, so let’s get into it.
We are especially excited to see the RF24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z. This lens is the world’s first 24-105mm focal length lens with a consistent f/2.8 maximum aperture. Canon designed the RF24-105mm as a hybrid lens, tailoring it to high-level video content creators and video production individuals or firms. It did specify that this is not a cinema lens but does approach that category with new features.
Though it offers many video-centric features, it should also be a superb still photography lens. The 24-70mm has long been the workhorse lens for many photographers, but we could see this extended range becoming the new go-to for many. The fast and constant f/2.8 aperture will offer excellent low-light performance, adding to its versatility. It will be ideal for a vast number of applications, including portraits, weddings and events, fashion, photojournalism, sports, wildlife, and more.
RF24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z build & design features
Canon’s RF24-105mm offers a constant overall length when zooming and focusing, which is a big advantage for videographers. It also offers a stepless manual aperture ring for video use. Canon optimized the optical design for high-end video, with excellent focus breathing performance and superb image quality. The image stabilization results in 5.5 stops of optical IS or eight stops of coordinated IS.
The lens can focus as close as 1.5 feet at all focal lengths and offers a maximum magnification of 0.29x at 105mm. Two Nano USM focus motors drive the autofocus system, resulting in fast and accurate focusing abilities. Its 11 aperture blades provide beautifully smooth bokeh.
The RF24-105mm weighs 2.9 pounds and is 7.8 inches long. It offers an 82mm filter thread.
Power Zoom Adapters
For videographers, one of the most exciting aspects of this new lens is the option to use a newly developed Power Zoom Adapter. This new optional accessory will connect to the side of the RF24-105mm without any tools required. It enables super-smooth zoom control when recording video. Zooming will look more natural, and it will make control easier for solo creators.
Canon is making two different versions of the Power Zoom Adapter. You can opt for a standard version (PZ-E2) with only a USB port or a 20-pin port version (PZ-E2B) to support zoom and focus demands. It’s important to note that, as of now, the Power Zoom Adapter is only compatible with the RF24-105mm.
Pricing & availability
The Canon RF24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z will be available in December, though is available for pre-order now for $2,999.00.
Both versions of the Power Zoom Adapter won’t be available until the spring of 2024, but you can already pre-order both. The standard version (PZ-E2) is priced at $999.00, while the 20-pin port version (PZ-E2B) is $1,299.00.
Canon
Canon RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
For those who need ultimate telephoto reach, the RF200-800 F6.3-9 IS USM should fit the bill. This lens is impressive for many reasons, most notably the range it offers. There are not many zoom lenses that offer a maximum focal length of 800mm, with most topping out at 600mm. And at $1,899, it’s very reasonably priced for what it provides. For context, Nikon’s new NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens is $1,696.95, so you’ll get 200mm more reach for roughly $200 more.
Its long reach makes it perfect for photojournalism, wildlife, outdoor sports, and dramatic landscapes. Should you need even more zoom power, it’s compatible with the Canon RF 1.4x and 2x tele extenders, which will get you up to a whopping 1600mm.
The maximum aperture varies from f/6.3 at the wide end to f/9 when zoomed in, so its low-light capabilities are slightly limited. But as we would expect on such a lens, it offers image stabilization to assist with obtaining sharp images even when handholding the lens. You’ll get 5.5 stops of correction at 800mm, and 7.5 stops at 200mm. It also offers automatic panning detection.
RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM design & features
The RF200-800mm uses an extending lens design, meaning it gets longer when you zoom in. Even though this lens isn’t in Canon’s pro-level L-series, it did apply weather sealing, meaning it is still durable and protected against the elements despite the extending design. The lens is surprisingly lightweight for what it is, weighing just 4.5 pounds. It should be feasible to shoot handheld for at least short durations. A rotating tripod mount on the lens makes it easy to attach to a tripod as well.
Canon pointed out that even though the lens RF200-800m is white, it is not the IR reflective surface found on the latest L-series lenses. A single, compact Nano USM motor drives the autofocus system, which is fast and quiet. It is a varifocal lens, meaning it won’t stay in focus as you zoom in. But Canon promised superb image quality thanks to an optimized optical design.
Pricing & availability
The Canon RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM will be available in December, but you can pre-order it now for $1,899.00.
Canon
Canon RF-S10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
The third lens of the new trio is a beginner-friendly APS-C lens. And at just $329, it is extremely budget-friendly as well. The RF-S10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens offers a full-frame equivalent view of 16-29mm. Canon designed this lens for video and vlog creators as well as amateur photographers. The wide-angle perspective is ideal for selfie videos, travel videos, and landscape, travel, or architectural photography. For many, this could be the only lens they use on their camera because of its versatility and size. It would pair well with cameras like the R100, R50, or R7.
RF-S10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM design & features
Canon created an entirely new optical design lens for the RF-S10-18mm, one that isn’t based on any current Canon lenses. It is absolutely tiny, weighing only 5.3 ounces. It utilizes a collapsible design to maximize its compact size for travel, meaning you’ll need to extend it out in order to start shooting. But when collapsed down, it is a measly 1.8 inches.
Surprisingly, Canon included image stabilization on the RF-S10-18mm. You’ll get four stops of optical IS and six stops of coordinated IS with your camera’s in-body image stabilization. For video users, this can also be combined with Movie Digital IS for added stability, but that will result in a crop. Canon also mentioned that the focus breathing is very well handled with this lens. There is some present, but it is minimal, and some cameras offer focus breathing correction in-camera to improve it even more.
A stepping motor drives the autofocus, and it offers close focusing abilities of 5.5 inches with autofocus at all focal lengths or 3.4 inches at 10mm with manual focus. Unsurprisingly for such a compact, budget-friendly lens, there is no focus switch on the lens, so you’ll need to change between manual focus and autofocus in your camera’s menus.
Pricing & availability
As with the other two lenses, the Canon RF-S10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens will be available in December (just in time for you to pick it up as a Christmas gift for a photographer in your life) and is available for pre-order now for $329.00.
I’m excited to announce my brand new online course, MASTERING THE FUJIFILM AUTOFOCUS SYSTEM. It just went live this week, and it’s already getting great reviews from people who have enrolled.
“Great course on Fujifilm Autofocus Dan! I ran through all the video without even picking up my camera, now I will go back and watch all the videos again with camera in hand to insure I understand all the settings.”
“Everyone with a Fuji camera should watch this course.
Thanks very much, keep up the good work!”
—————–
-Neil M.
In my new course, I’ll walk you through the entire Fujifilm AF/MF system, show you all the features, setting and controls, teach you how to use them, and I’ll even share invaluable shooting tips I’ve learned from my 26+ years as a pro outdoor action and adventure photographer.
Whether you shoot still or moving subjects, sports, birds, wildlife, kids, pets, adventure, or any other kind of real-life scene, knowing how to navigate the X Series focus system, and knowing how to work around its limitations, will make you a better all around photographer.
LEARN PRO SKILLS FOR SHOOTING ACTION
APPLIES TO ANY X SERIES MODEL CAMERA
I also cover what I feel are the essential Fujifilm settings that can help ensure even more success when shooting action and moving subjects.
I’ll show you how to customize your camera so that it’s ready for action, and teach give you tips on how to capture more dynamic & visually stunning photos with your X Series camera.
I also cover what I feel are the essential Fujifilm settings that can help ensure even more success when shooting action and moving subjects.
I’ll show you how to customize your camera so that it’s ready for action, and teach give you tips on how to capture more dynamic & visually stunning photos with your X Series camera.
With the tips and techniques I share with you in this course, you are guaranteed to increase your skills and confidence when photographing things that move. I even show you tips that are specifically designed for the new 5th Gen Fuji cameras, like the X-H2, X-H2S and X-T5.
ALMOST TWO HOURS OF FOCUSED CONTENT
LEARN HOW TO DO MANUAL FOCUS OVERRIDE
BECOME AN AUTOFOCUS MASTER
This course is the product of my many years of experience shooting a wide range of subject matter, so it’s your chance to take advantage of my 26+ years as a working pro shooter, in an area where I feel I’m an expert. If you want to be better at focusing, no matter what you like to shoot, then I promise, this will be a very helpful resrouce.
I’m excited to announce that the 2nd edition paperback version of my bestselling FUJIFILM guide book, X SERIES UNLIMITED has just been published, and is now available from RockyNook, Amazon, other booksellers and select camera stores.
Now at 306 pages, with lots of new text and a host of brand new images, FUJIFILM X SERIES UNLIMITED has been fully updated to cover the powerful new fifth generation X series models, including, X-H2, X-H2S, and X-T5.
And of course, it also covers all previous X SERIES cameras as well, since nearly every single model has the same menu system, and they all share many of the same settings and functions.
The Ultimate Fujifilm Guide Book
As with the ebook version, you’ll learn every feature and every menu item, button, and function of the FUJIFILM X Series lineup. More importantly, you’ll learn how to use these features and settings in actual shooting situations out in the world in order to capture great photographs.
Sign up below and I’ll send you a special discount code so you can start learning how to master your Fuji camera today.
In addition to all the technical info and tips on how to adjust all your camera settings, FUJIFILM X SERIES UNLIMITED is packed full of inspiration. I show you how to optimize your settings for maximum creative control and I tell you how to take advantage of the best features on the X SERIES cameras so that you can have the most fun possible with your camera.
If you’ve taken a workshop with me, or seen my presentations or video lessons, then you know that my primary goal as an instructor is to show you how to have maximum confidence and fun with your photography.
I want you to love taking pictures as much as I do. I want you to love your Fuji camera as much as I do, and I want you to be able to take awesome photos that you love, and that you’re really proud of. Thats what you’ll get from this book.
Get Your Copy Today!
Order your print copy of FUJIFILM X SERIES UNLIMITED, 2nd Editionto feel that luscious real paper beneath your fingertips, and learn how to get the most from your Fujifilm camera in the process.
We thought the Sony a1 was an impressive camera, but the image-making company has just topped it with its latest release. The main highlight of the newly released a9 III is its global shutter, the world’s first for a full-frame mirrorless camera. The unique shutter design, along with a powerful Bionz XR processor, allows for a host of impressive specs, including 120 fps, 1/80,000 max shutter speed, and flash sync at any shutter speed. Additionally, the company also announced the FE 300mm F2.8 G Master OSS lens, which offers superb reach and performance in a relatively compact body.
Global sensor exposes and reads every pixel at the same time
120 fps blackout-free burst shooting
Improved ergonomics
1/80,000 maximum shutter speed
Flash sync at any shutter speed
759 AF points with more sizes of focus area spots
8-stops of optical in-body image stabilization
6K oversampling for 4K 60p movies
4K 120p video without cropping
Weighs 1.4 pounds
Available in spring 2024 for $5,999
What is a global shutter?
The star of the show for the a9 III is, by far, its global shutter. Global shutter technology isn’t new, with a handful of cinema cameras utilizing it over the past few years. But the Sony a9 III is the first full-frame mirrorless camera to jump on board. So, why does that even matter? What is a global shutter?
Currently, most cameras rely on a rolling shutter. With the rolling shutter design, the camera’s sensor receives and reads information line by line from top to bottom. This means that there is a delay between the first line of data and the last. That delay can cause problems when capturing fast-moving subjects in photos or videos, resulting in warping and distortion. You likely have seen this in helicopter rotor blades. In photos, those blades can appear curved or bent when in reality, they are straight.
The global shutter design solves this problem by exposing and reading every single pixel on the sensor at the exact same time. That means that the Sony a9 III will benefit from zero distortion in stills and video, which is a significant advantage for those shooting action. It also allows for a range of other benefits, including the ability to work with flash at any shutter speed, including the camera’s max shutter speed of 1/80,000 (no, that’s not an extra zero). This unlimited flash sync even works with third-party flashes. Additionally, there will be no banding from artificial lights or displays. To aid in this, Sony has also employed an Anti-Flicker mode that automatically syncs the shutter with the brightest point in the light’s cycle to keep the exposure consistent in photos and videos.
Along with the camera, Sony has released a new vertical grip that offers the same ergonomics as the new camera. Sony
Sony a9 III details
There are plenty of other things to swoon about in the a9 III beyond the global shutter, though many are dependent on that feature. Sony built the new camera around a 24.6-megapixel full-frame stacked CMOS sensor and Bionz XR processor, which results in eight times the processing power as the a9 II. the five-axis optical in-body image stabilization system allows for eight stops of compensation with the camera alone. You’ll get even more stabilization if using a stabilized lens as well.
On top of fancy guts, the a9 III features a redesigned body with better ergonomics. Sony says the grip is improved to make the camera easier to hold in the palm of the hand, even when using a telephoto lens. It says that it also moved the shutter button up slightly to be in a more natural, comfortable position. It features a four-axis multi-angle LCD touchscreen (the same as the a7R V) and 9.44 million-dot Quad XGA OLED electronic viewfinder. And as we’d expect from a pro-level Sony camera, it is dust and moisture-resistant.
To pair with the pro-level features of the a9 III, Sony is also releasing a new vertical grip—the VG-C5— that offers the same ergonomic design as the new camera. That includes the same shutter button placement and a new custom button (C5) in the same position so that it feels the exact same when switching between horizontal and vertical shooting. The new battery also pulls parallel power instead of drawing from one source and then switching to the other. Sony says that this allows for 15 percent more battery life.
Sony
Burst shooting
One of the main selling points of the a9 III is its absurd burst shooting capabilities. This alone will earn it a top spot as one of the best Sony cameras. It is able to shoot 120 fps blackout-free with real-time recognition AF and auto exposure. The fast burst shooting even works with 14-bit raw. Shooting fast bursts is only one piece of the puzzle when documenting action, though. You also have to get the timing right in the first place. To help ensure you get the shot, Sony has added a Pre-Capture function. This new setting allows the camera to continuously record (also up to 120 fps) for up to one second before the shutter is released.
Even when shooting action, you don’t always want your fastest fps setting. Sony has found a clever way to get around that with the Speed Boost function and a newly added a new custom button (C5) on the front of the camera. The new button allows you to instantly switch to a faster, preset speed at any time and then go back to a more reasonable fps just as quickly.
Image selection of 120 fps with Pre-Capture can be massively overwhelming. Sony even considered this when developing the a9 III. It has added a new playback image filter that allows you to select a large number of images at once, along with a function menu that can be used during image playback. The camera also plays back bursts as a video, so you can mark the shots you want without individually pressing through images.
Autofocus
As with other recent Sony releases, the a9 III features a dedicated AI processing unit to support its advanced phase detection autofocus system. It offers Real-time Recognition AF and Real-time Tracking and can detect a wide range of subjects, including humans, cats, dogs, planes, and more. The system can even detect an eye even when the subject is wearing goggles or helmets, is small in the frame, or moving fast. Sony also expanded the sizes of its focus areas to include XS and XL for more control over your focus points.
Sony a9 III video specs & features
Sony emphasized still photography during its announcement with a tagline of “the power of one frame.” But the company certainly didn’t leave video out of the mix in its new camera. The global shutter definitely benefits video shooters since rolling shutter has been a pain point. The a9 III is capable of 4K 60p video oversampled from 6K. It can also shoot 4K 120p without cropping, which is a first for an Alpha series camera. It offers the S-Cinetone profile, S-Log3, 10-bit 4:2:2 capture, and 16-bit raw video over HDMI.
Sony a9 III pricing & availability
Of course, with such an advanced, pro-level camera, we should expect a pro-level price. And indeed, the Sony a9 III is priced at $5,999. It is available for pre-order now and will begin shipping in the spring of 2024.
The 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens is an advanced, compact telephoto prime lens for pros. Sony
FE 300mm F2.8 G Master OSS lens details
In case the groundbreaking camera wasn’t enough, Sony has also announced a new lens. Like the camera, the FE 300mm F2.8 G Master OSS lens is also a pro-level piece of equipment geared towards serious sports and wildlife photographers, as is evident in its matching $5,999 price.
As a G Master lens, the new 300mm offering will provide superb resolution and edge-to-edge sharpness. The optical design includes three Super ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and one ED glass element to reduce chromatic aberration and improve contrast across the frame. The 11-blade circular aperture results in beautiful smooth bokeh. And two XD linear motors drive focus that is fast, precise, and silent. It’s also able to keep up with the fast burst shooting of the a9 III.
Beyond image quality, the best feature of the 300mm f/2.8 GM is its size. The lens weighs just 3.2 pounds, which makes it the lightest lens of its class. For context, it is 40 percent lighter than the 400mm f/2.8 GM and roughly the same weight as the original 70-200mm GM. Sony was also very intentional about how the lens balances, designing it with optimum balance for smooth panning and easier handheld shooting.
The new 300mm telephoto prime lens is compatible with Sony’s 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters. It offers a function ring to instantly engage the APS-C crop, providing a 420mm view. It is dust and moisture-resistant with magnesium alloy inside and out for a durable, rugged build.
Sony FE 300mm F2.8 G Master OSS pricing & availability
Like the new camera, the FE 300mm F2.8 G Master OSS lens is available for pre-order now for $5,999. It will begin shipping in the spring of 2024.
