Articles by Mike Tomkins
Fujifilm XF23mm F2 R WR lens review Original
The Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR is a very compact, portable, wide-angle prime lens for Fujifilm X-mount cameras. It makes a great walkaround lens and is well-suited for uses like travel and street photography, as well as things such as moderately wide landscapes and environmental portraiture. The XF 23mm F2 R WR carries a list price of $450.
Skylum Luminar Neo review: Stylish, swift and packed to the gills with features
It's been almost six years now since iOS and macOS software developer Macphun first decided to enter the Windows market. Six years later and having changed its name to Skylum Software, the Ukrainian company's flagship Luminar Neo package has matured significantly and gained a loyal following. Yet until now, we've never reviewed the application for ourselves. Today, that changes. So what is Luminar Neo?
ON1 Photo RAW 2023.5 review: More AI smarts and a powerful mask refinement tool
Late last year I took a look at Photo RAW 2023, ON1 Software's long-running image management and editing toolkit. Photo RAW can trace its roots back to mid-2016 and has made big leaps and bounds in that time. And development hasn't slowed in the past eight months, with ON1 releasing a couple of significant updates to the Windows/macOS application since our last review.
Capture One Pro 23 review: A much-improved image editor with cool collaboration features
It's been a few years since we took a look at Capture One, but today we address that with a look at the popular photography suite's current version. First created to accompany digital camera backs from the Danish company Phase One, Capture One is nowadays made by a separate company. The eponymously-titled Pro 23 software is available for either Windows or macOS and is compatible with a wide range of camera brands, including most higher-end gear.
Neurapix review: Swift and capable Lightroom Classic image editing without lifting a finger
For a professional photographer, every press of your shutter button can prove to be something of a double-edged sword. Sure, each extra shot you take is a new opportunity to turn your vision into reality or to sell another of your creations. But each time that shutter fires, you're also increasing your editing workload, and with it the time you'll need to spend in front of a monitor rather than behind your viewfinder.
Nik Collection 6 review: Upgraded UI, much easier selections as plugin suite grows
It's been a couple of years now since last we looked at the venerable Nik Collection. With a new version having launched recently that overhauls some of its component plugins, now seems like a great time to revisit the popular plugin pack to see what it can do and what's changed since our last review. If you're not already familiar with the Nik Collection, its roots can be traced all the way back to the mid-1990s debut of Nik Software's Sharpener and Color Efex tools for Photoshop.
Adobe Denoise vs. DxO DeepPRIME XD...which NR algorithm is best?
Recently we took a look at Adobe Denoise, the company's noise reduction technology which made its debut in mid-April. The new feature can be found in Lightroom Classic v12.3, Lightroom CC v6.3 and Photoshop's Camera Raw v15.3. We found a lot to like in its results, but when last we wrote we'd yet to evaluate how it compared to its strongest rival.
Google Pixel 7a: A new owner's thoughts on the highest-resolution Pixel to date
After years as a devoted fan of Sony's criminally-underloved Xperia line, I finally made the leap to Google's self-produced Pixel phones almost six years ago now. Although my Xperias were great phones, the Google Pixel 2 XL remains my favorite handset to date, and so when my carrier finally forced an upgrade after a few years, I stayed with Google once more for the Pixel 5A.
Finally! Adobe Denoise brings Photoshop / Lightroom NR into the modern era
Throughout its 16-year existence, Adobe's Photoshop Lightroom has impressed us in many ways, but there's one area in which it has trailed the competition to a frustrating degree. While it tends to beat its rivals in terms of camera support, processing performance and in the sheer breadth of tools and adjustments on offer, when it comes to noise reduction processing Adobe was long ago bested by alternatives like DxO's PRIME / DeepPRIME and Topaz Labs' Denoise AI engines.
Aftershoot Pro review: The promise of an AI assistant who'll take away all the gruntwork
Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you've noticed the onslaught of AI these days. As the state of the art of machine learning moves forwards in leaps and bounds, it's making headlines on a daily basis. And in pretty much every field, software makers are quickly integrating new AI tools into their creations.
X-Trans ex-noise: Testing DxO's new denoising tech for Fujifilm cameras Original
Mk82 "No, it's certainly not an ARM processor doing the task, but instead a dedicated ASIC." All camera manufacturers are integrated the image processing to their SoC that is most commonly a ARM processor. Canon, Olympus/OM, Nikon, Sony etc. Are all using ARM based SoC to perform image processing. Example Sony BIONZ that is responsible to perform the general processing, and it is based to ARM.
DxO PureRAW 3 review: Give Adobe's apps a much-needed boost with modern AI algorithms
Two years ago, French software company DxO took a new tack with the noise and optical defect corrections for which it has long been famed. Previously, if you wanted to use these tools, you had to leave your existing imaging app and learn to use DxO PhotoLab instead. With the new DxO PureRAW, though, you can stick with your existing workflow and still take advantage of some undeniably impressive correction technology.
Head-to-head: Adobe Super Resolution vs. ON1 Resize AI vs. Topaz Labs Gigapixel AI Original
In my recent review of Topaz Labs' Photo AI, I came away more than a little impressed by its AI-powered Enhance Resolution function. Although I've used competing resolution-boosting tools like Adobe's Super Resolution and ON1 Resize AI in the past, I was nevertheless surprised by the usability of Photo AI's resolution enhancement.
Topaz Photo AI review: Numerous ML-powered tools all in one app Original
If you want the ability to fettle your artworks to perfection, applications like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, DxO Optics Pro, Capture One and others give you access to a vast selection of controls with which to tweak to your heart's content. But what if you have a batch of photos to process and just want good results with a minimum of fuss? That's where Topaz Labs' latest offering, Topaz Photo AI, comes in.
DxO PhotoLab 6 review: A powerful alternative to Adobe's editing suite Original
It's been five years now since DxO relaunched its long-running Optics Pro Raw editor under a brand-new name, DxO PhotoLab. One of the strongest rivals to Adobe Lightroom, PhotoLab is available for both Windows and macOS, and has long been a favorite of ours thanks both to its automated lens/exposure corrections and its powerful – arguably, class-leading – DeepPRIME denoising engine.
ON1 Photo Raw 2023 review: AI smarts speed up your photo edits
Since 2017, Portland-based ON1 Software's flagship product has been ON1 Photo Raw, an all-in-one photographic toolbox. This suite gives you pretty much everything you'll need to import, organize, edit and print your photos. With year's end fast approaching, another major release of the app has just landed and it's jam-packed with new features.
Canon R6 II vs R6: What's new and why it matters to you Original
Introduction The Canon EOS R6 II is a higher-resolution, better-performing follow-up to 2020's EOS R6. Like its predecessor, it's a mid-range, full-frame camera aimed at enthusiasts or pros. But while it looks very familiar externally, it's actually packed with upgrades throughout. In this article, we'll take a look at its new features and what they bring to the table for photographers and videographers alike.
The best open-source Lightroom alternatives (three winners and two that broke our hearts)
There's no escaping the fact that if you're looking to process your raw photos, Adobe's Lightroom Classic is the 800-pound gorilla in the room. But in addition to its raft of paid rivals, did you know that there are quite a few open-source alternatives available completely free of charge, some of which actually predate Lightroom's own existence?
Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Art field review
Introduction The Sigma 24–70mm F2.8 DG DN Art is a bright, premium zoom lens for photographers on either the Sony E-mount or the L-mount shared by Leica, Panasonic and Sigma camera bodies. Although for this comparison we're mostly looking at its Sony E-mount competition, there are some intriguing lenses on L-mount that it goes up against as well. Designed specifically for mirrorless, the lens is compatible with either full-frame or APS-C camera bodies.
Film Friday: Lomography DigitaLIZA+ and Max film scanner review
After more than a decade in decline, sales of photo film have picked up in recent years. Sure, the visual aesthetic of film, flaws and all, can be faked in post-processing. But an increasing number of photographers have sought out the authenticity of the real thing, as well as the more deliberate and considered shooting style film requires. At the end of the day, though, we still live in a digital world. Even if our creations start off in the analog domain, chances are we'll want a digital copy too.
MonsterAdapter LA-KE1 review: Get Eye AF with your Pentax lenses on Sony E-mount!
MonsterAdapter LA-KE1 $439 With Ricoh's Pentax brand now firmly and irrevocably committed to DSLR cameras, Pentaxians who would prefer to shoot with a mirrorless body have been left with no choice but to consider the move to another brand. That's a difficult and painful decision to make, though, because it typically accompanies another, no less gut-wrenching choice: either you ditch all of your existing beloved lenses or you continue to use them via a dumb adapter.
Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S field review
Strangefinder They are excellent light options for APS-C and FF systems for Panasonic, Leica, Sony and Sigma cameras. The Sigma fp L has an in-line crop-zoom feature for stills and video, so it is a kit under 900g with a FOV range of 28mm (FF 1x) to 140mm (m4/3 2x) and beyond depending upon the mode (~400mm, 1080p 5.6x). The Panasonic and Leica S/SL cameras also have crop modes, but they require configuration and only for a few steps, like ~APS-C and ~m4/3, rather than the 26-steps of the fp L.
Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S field review
Introduction Nikon's Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S is a fast standard zoom lens for the company's Z-mount mirrorless cameras. With a focal range of 24-70mm on FX-format bodies or 36-105mm equivalent on DX-format bodies, it's well-suited to everything from landscapes and street photography to portraits, weddings and event photography. It can also serve double-duty as an impromptu macro lens in a pinch and is quite well-suited to video capture, making it a pretty versatile all-rounder.
Xencelabs Pen Tablet Small review: The more affordable rival to Wacom's Intuos Pro
Xencelabs Pen Tablet Small $199.99 If you're looking to speed up your editing workflow, there are few pieces of hardware that can make complex masking, brushing and cloning jobs easier and more intuitive than a digital pen.
Exposure X7 software review: More powerful masking and a UI that adapts to your needs
Exposure Software Exposure X7 $129-149 | exposure.software Each autumn since 2015, Exposure Software has released a major update to its eponymously-named flagship photo editing and organization software. Affordably priced and packed to the rafters with features, the Exposure X-series has built a loyal following among photographers looking for a subscription-free rival to the likes of Adobe's Lightroom Classic. And 2021 didn't buck the trend, as Exposure X7 made its debut in late September.
Software review: Nik Silver Efex Pro 3 gives the look of black and white film without the fuss
Nik Silver Efex Pro 3 $149 as part of Nik Collection 4 A few months ago we found a lot to like in the latest iteration of the Nik Collection, a suite of eight image processing tools initially developed by Nik Software and these days owned by French software company DxO. At the time, we looked at the overall suite with a focus on what was new. For this review, though, we'd like to take a closer look at just one of the suite's most useful components, Silver Efex Pro 3.
Nikon Z 14-24mm F2.8 S field review
Introduction Nikon's Nikkor Z 14-24mm F2.8 S is a bright wide-angle zoom lens for the company's Z-mount mirrorless cameras. With a focal range of 14-24mm on full-frame bodies or 21-36mm on APS-C bodies, it's a great walkaround lens for landscapes and cityscapes alike. It's also an interesting option for astrophotographers, and performs equally well as a wide-angle video lens. Available since November 2020, list pricing is set at $2399.95.
Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS 'Sports' lens field review
Introduction The Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports is an ultra-telephoto zoom lens for full-frame and sub-frame mirrorless cameras based around either the Sony E-mount or the Leica L-mount. With 35mm-equivalent focal lengths equating to 225-900mm with an APS-C crop, it's aimed primarily at still photographers looking to bring distant subjects up close, and will be of particular interest to wildlife and sports shooters. Available from August 2021, list pricing is set at $1499.
Software review: ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2021 is a speedy Lightroom alternative
ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2021 $149.99 perpetual or $69+/year with subscription Over the past couple of years, I've reviewed several subscription-free rivals to Adobe Lightroom, including DxO PhotoLab 4, Exposure Software's Exposure X6 and Phase One's Capture One 20. After publishing every one of those reviews, I heard from readers praising ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate, a Windows-only Lightroom alternative that allows you to forego a subscription.
Panasonic Leica 25-50mm F1.7 ASPH field review
Introduction Panasonic's Leica DG Vario-Summilux 25-50mm F1.7 ASPH is a bright zoom lens aimed at photographers using Micro Four Thirds camera bodies. With a 35mm-equivalent focal range of 50 to 100mm, the 25-50mm F1.7 could make for an attractive – if somewhat unusual – portrait lens for still photographers. But it's clearly been designed first and foremost for video capture, where it makes a really great companion for Panasonic's existing 10-25mm F1.7 lens.
Olympus M.Zuiko 8-25mm F4.0 Pro field review
Introduction The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 Pro is a compact, high-end lens designed for photographers using Micro Four Thirds camera bodies. Covering a 35mm-equivalent focal length range of 16-50mm and boasting surprisingly good macro performance, it shows great promise as a versatile, single-carry lens for landscape, street and travel photography. Available now, list pricing is set at $1099.99.
Fujifilm XF 50mm F1.0 R WR field review
Introduction The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 50mm F1.0 R WR is an especially bright portrait prime for the company's X-mount cameras. As its super-fast maximum aperture (and corresponding premium pricing) might suggest, it's something of a niche product. With a roughly 75mm-equivalent focal length after accounting for the APS-C sensor size used by X-mount bodies, it's aimed at both photographers and videographers seeking shallow depth of field for an aesthetic reminiscent of that from a full-frame camera.
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art field review
Introduction The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art is a designed-for-mirrorless companion to the company's first Global Vision lens, the 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art from 2012. It's available for both the L-mount shared by Leica, Panasonic and Sigma, as well as for Sony E-mount and will work on both full-frame or APS-C cameras.
DxO Nik Collection 4 review: Viveza and Silver Efex rebooted
Nik Collection 4 $149 Every year around the start of June, French software company DxO releases a new version of Nik Collection, a suite of eight image processing tools that can be used either as standalone apps or plug-ins for third-party software like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom Classic. And 2021 is no different, with Nik Collection 4 now making its debut.
Field review: Fujifilm XF 18mm F1.4 R LM WR
Introduction The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 18mm F1.4 R LM WR is a bright, fast walkaround prime lens that's particularly well-suited to landscape and street photography. It also makes a good video lens thanks to its small size, light weight and confident, silent autofocus. Available only for Fuji X-mount cameras, all of which share an APS-C sensor size, it offers a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 27mm. The Fuji XF 18mm F1.4 R LM WR has a list price of $999.
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV review
Natalie007 George, I have been very careful with my facts, I also pointed out that the AF depends upon your requirements, yet you dismiss time time and time again, claiming you are not an Olympus Fan Boy. Like I said, if the Contrast AF is ok for you, great, but the camera still lacks Phase detect AF and virtually all its competitors have this system. This puts the camera at a disadvantage in the situations I described earlier.
DXO PureRaw review: Impressive noise and lens processing for any editing app
DxO PureRaw 1.0 $129 Introduction For years now, DxO Labs' Optics Pro and PhotoLab products have impressed photographers with their automatic lens corrections. And more recently their CPU-intensive PRIME / DeepPRIME noise reduction technology has also garnered plenty of praise, as we saw in our recent DxO PhotoLab 4 review. Yet while DxO has earned more than a few plaudits and built a devoted following for its software, it has never gained quite the mass-market appeal of rival Adobe.
Field review: Fujifilm XF 70-300 F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR
Introduction The Fujifilm Fujinon XF 70-300mm F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR is a very versatile, compact telephoto zoom lens for the company's APS-C X-mount, arguably filling a much needed gap in the company's lineup. The XF 70-300mm offers a 35mm-equivalent focal length range of 105-450mm after accounting for the APS-C sensor size. Given its far-reaching telephoto, it's well-suited to sports and nature photographers. Thanks to impressive close-focusing capabilities, it makes for a decent macro lens, too.
Adobe Camera Raw vs. Capture One Express Fujifilm: A worthy free contender
Introduction Over the past few months, I've been comparing the editing tools provided for free with your digital camera purchase with the 800-pound, subscription-ware gorilla in the room, Adobe Camera Raw, to see if it's really necessary to pay for software when you're on a tight budget. So far I've looked at Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Sony, and in this article it's time to turn my attention to Fujifilm. Capture One 21 Express Fujifilm build 14.1's user interface.
Field review: Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN
Introduction The Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens is a very compact, lightweight standard zoom lens for full-frame and APS-C mirrorless cameras. It boasts a constant F2.8 maximum aperture across its zoom range and is available for both the Sony E-mount, as well as for Leica, Sigma and Panasonic cameras from the L-mount Alliance.
Software review: DxO PhotoLab 4 brings several small improvements - and one big one
DxO PhotoLab 4 $129-199 Introduction First launched in early 2004 under the name Optics Pro, DxO rebranded its Raw processor as PhotoLab back in 2017 to better reflect that its capabilities now go far beyond just lens corrections, and simultaneously absorbed the popular Nik Collection plugins from Google for integration into its own software.
Review: Nikon NX Studio answers our plea for a free, all-in-one editing app
Introduction Nikon NX Studio version 1.0.0's user interface. A few weeks ago, we published an article comparing Nikon's free ViewNX-i and Capture NX-D utilities with their dominant payware alternative, Adobe Camera Raw, which also underlies the popular Adobe Lightroom Classic. In summary, I found both ViewNX-i and Capture NX-D to offer pretty decent image quality and good performance. But one of my primary complaints with this duo was that neither app offered a complete feature set.
Field review: Panasonic S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS
Introduction The Panasonic Lumix S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro O.I.S. is a moderately sized, moderately far-reaching and optically stabilized telephoto zoom lens for full-frame or APS-C L-mount cameras. Aimed at wildlife, sports, aircraft and vehicle photography as well as portraiture, it helps you tightly frame more distant subjects when you can't get up close on foot. It also offers impressive close-focusing capabilities, and so can serve double-duty for light macro use.
Adobe Camera Raw vs. Olympus Workspace: Which app should you use?
Did you receive a brand-new Olympus camera over the holidays? If so, chances are good that the next addition to your photographic toolbox will be a Raw processor from the likes of Adobe, Capture One, DxO or one of their many rivals. But is payware or even subscriptionware software really necessary, when Olympus provides its own software free of charge with your camera purchase? Olympus Workspace version 1.4's user interface.
Adobe Camera Raw vs. Canon Digital Photo Professional: Which should you use and why?
If you're like many photographers, the first thing you do upon taking a brand-new camera out of its package is to set aside the included software download info (or, with older cameras, the CD or DVD), opting instead for a third-party option like Adobe's Camera Raw or Lightroom. But is that a smart move in our newly-normal, more cost-conscious world, or could you get by just as well with your camera's bundled software? Canon Digital Photo Professional version 4.12's user interface.
Adobe Camera Raw vs. Sony Imaging Edge Desktop: Which is your best bet?
For most photographers, the digital darkroom is based around payware or subscription software from the likes of Adobe, Capture One, DxO or one of their many rivals. But if you're a Sony shooter, there's an option which is available entirely free of charge along with your camera purchase: Sony Imaging Edge Desktop.* Sony Imaging Edge Desktop version 3.0's user interface.
Comparison Review: Can VueScan or SilverFast archive your film better?
Introduction A difficult 2020 that has blended into a difficult 2021 has made it harder for many of us to get outside and shoot, but that doesn't mean you have to neglect your photography. If you're like me, you probably still have years' worth of unscanned slides and negatives waiting to be tended to some rainy day, and a COVID lockdown gives you a golden opportunity.
Tamron 17-70 F2.8 Di III-A VC RXD field review
Introduction The Tamron 17-70 F2.8 Di III-A VC RXD is a very compact general-purpose lens for Sony's APS-C, E-mount mirrorless cameras. Think of it as roughly equivalent to a 24-105mm F4 lens on a full-frame camera, but scaled down to match the APS-C sensor format. Although it's designed for cameras with APS-C sensors, it can still be used with full-frame models when cropped to APS-C.
Adobe Camera Raw vs. Sony Imaging Edge Desktop: Which is your best bet?
For most photographers, the digital darkroom is based around payware or subscription software from the likes of Adobe, Capture One, DxO or one of their many rivals. But if you're a Sony shooter, there's an option which is available entirely free of charge along with your camera purchase: Sony Imaging Edge Desktop.* Sony Imaging Edge Desktop version 3.0's user interface.
Adobe Camera Raw vs. Nikon ViewNX-i and Capture NX-D: Which should you be using?
Introduction Recently, I kicked off a new series of articles comparing the software provided by camera manufacturers with one of their most popular third-party alternatives, pitting Canon Digital Photo Professional head-to-head against Adobe Camera Raw. Now, I'm back with the second in the series, in which we'll take a look at how Adobe's raw processing rivals that offered for free with Nikon's cameras. Nikon ViewNX-i version 1.4.3's user interface.
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