2018-12-21 05:30
December 2018 Update:I guess it's only fair to admit that the hiatus is no longer "short", as originally stated, but indefinite. The website will remain online normally.July 2018 Update:I ju… Read More
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Nikon Reviews, Photography Tips, Photoshop Tutorials.
2018-03-13 09:00
It has been quite a while since the last post - about a month - and there have been several reasons for this. I have been extremely busy with several things, plus other reasons. One of them… Read More
2018-02-16 06:24
Here's a quick Photoshop tutorial, after quite some time. Today I'll show you how to suppress shadow noise. It is often the case that noise generated by digital sensors is visible only in sh… Read More
2018-02-02 08:38
GeneralGoing through a near-forgotten hard drive, I discovered some old pictures taken with a wild assortment of lenses. Beginning my... digital photography life, I remember desperately tryi… Read More
2018-01-24 06:18
This is the second part of Chuck's guest article on manual focusing. You can read the first part hereTips for Better Manual FocusingFocusing screen calibrationThe most important thing you ca… Read More
2018-01-17 05:45
I'm happy to present another guest article today. It's a comprehensive look at manual focusing by Chuck, who some time ago reviewed the Nikon AF Nikkor 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5D lensGuest writer Ch… Read More
2017-12-30 08:57
January 2018 UpdateWell, technically it's December 30th 2017 when I'm writing this, but that's not important right now. What is important is that I found this older article, from three years… Read More
2017-12-26 06:44
What Do You Mean "Photographic Inspiration?"Last time, Bianca explained how creating art for a client versus creating art for one's self varies. This difference in scope is something I have… Read More
2017-12-17 14:57
Today's article, although not directly about photography, is very much relevant to it. Bianca Haeck explains the power of affect in the artistic process. Make sure to take a look at her YouT… Read More
2017-12-06 05:33
It's been a while since we've had a guest review. I'm happy to present one today, by Chuck. He's taking a close look to the Nikon AF Nikkor 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5D lens.GeneralHi, guest reviewer… Read More
2017-11-27 07:21
Note: I am going through a very busy period, with a lot of personal & other obligations. The frequency of articles might suffer a bit for the next couple of months or so, but I expect to… Read More
2017-11-08 18:12
Note: I am going through a very busy period, with a lot of personal & other obligations. The frequency of articles might suffer a bit for the next couple of months or so, but I exp… Read More
2017-10-23 05:08
Note: I am going through a very busy period, with a lot of personal & other obligations. The frequency of articles might suffer a bit for the next couple of months or so, but I exp… Read More
2017-10-13 11:00
Note: I am going through a very busy period, with a lot of personal & other obligations. The frequency of articles might suffer a bit for the next couple of months or so, but I expec… Read More
2017-09-28 05:39
Note: I am going through a very busy period, with a lot of personal & other obligations. The frequency of articles might suffer a bit for the next couple of months or so, but I expect… Read More
2017-09-17 10:36
Note: I am going through a very busy period, with a lot of personal & other obligations. The frequency of articles might suffer a bit for the next couple of months or so, but I expect to… Read More
2017-09-06 04:22
Note: I am going through a very busy period, with a lot of personal & other obligations. The frequency of articles might suffer a bit for the next couple of months or so, but I expect to… Read More
2017-08-29 10:59
GeneralToday's review was made when I gave myself a challenge: what's the cheapest lens I can get on Ebay that I can actually put on my Nikon and shoot with it? Well, the Sigma Zoom Master 3… Read More
2017-08-22 09:00
Taking photos has undergone a change in the digital age. We no longer have to carefully consider before we press the shutter button, and we don't have to wait for days before we see the fina… Read More
2017-08-15 09:02
GeneralA reader asked me on AmateurNikon's Facebook page a few days ago for camera bag suggestions. He specified that he needed a large enough bag that can fit two DSLR camera bodies, plus a… Read More
2017-08-08 14:06
"Shall I rent a lens or buy it?" "Are lens rentals worth it?" "Why would I rent a lens instead of buying it?"These are three ways to express the same question, which seems to be in the mind… Read More
2017-08-01 10:04
GeneralBased on the view count of film camera reviews, as well as from individual comments on AmateurNikon's Facebook and Twitter accounts, I've come to the conclusion that there are still m… Read More
2017-07-26 07:33
GeneralA lens review, after quite some time - indeed, I think last time I reviewed a lens was in April, when I offered you my view on the Tokina AF 100mm f/2.8 macro lens. Today's review wil… Read More
2017-07-19 07:42
Last week we talked about the way our eyes, once they become accustomed to a certain situation (in our case: seeing photos a certain way), tend to accept flaws, considering less-than-ideal p… Read More
2017-07-10 13:54
The title of this article might take you by surprise. "What on earth", you might say, "can I get blind while I'm taking photos?! And what does auto white balance have to do with it?"First th… Read More
2017-07-02 08:12
Last week we saw how important - indeed, pivotal - experiencing is, if great images are to be achieved. It's not important how many megapixels your camera has, nor is it meaningful to worry… Read More
2017-06-25 07:43
I'm back from that trip - once again to lovely Greece - and I have a lot of images and (perhaps more importantly) many new lessons to share. A couple of years ago I had told you how the bigg… Read More
2017-05-22 07:21
Note: AmateurNikon and its staff (meaning just yours truly) will slow down for the summer vacation - from where I'll hopefully have a lot of interesting photos and photography stories to sha… Read More
2017-05-12 11:28
Another Photoshop tutorial for today. It's a simple but very useful procedure that shows you how to properly scan color film negative for Photoshop use. To clarify, I begin by assuming you h… Read More
2017-05-05 06:40
Photoshop is one of the most flexible image manipulation programs out there, and although several other exist for the less-than-advanced user, Photoshop does remain the rightful king. In fac… Read More
2017-04-28 11:33
OK, this might surprise many of you - though I have mentioned it a couple of times in online discussions with friends and (now former) colleagues. But I decided to write a full post about it… Read More
2017-04-20 11:26
GeneralIn last week's article I told you about a bit older lens I came across which I planned to review. The lens in question was the Tokina 100mm f/2.8 macro, the subject of today's article… Read More
2017-04-14 06:23
Today's article will be very different from past AmateurNikon articles. I won't review a lens, I won't offer you tips for better photography, I won't offer you a Photoshop tutorial. Today, I… Read More
2017-04-06 05:11
GeneralIf you just bought a Nikon D500 (or even a D7200) and you're looking for an advanced midrange zoom for it, your options are pretty limited - at least when it comes to Nikkor lenses; y… Read More
2017-03-29 11:39
No, this is not an April Fool's joke ;)I'm pretty bad at promoting this website or my work in general, and as a result I often put something up and then forget about it entirely. As you can… Read More
2017-03-24 05:35
Some time ago I posted an article on sharpening techniques. One of the Photoshop tutorials included there involved aggressive sharpening of contrasty black-and-white images - I had referred… Read More
2017-03-16 09:47
GeneralLast week I was telling you how I happened to have come across a copy of a Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm lens and, realizing I hadn't reviewed it yet, I thought to do it now. I also found ano… Read More
2017-03-09 13:11
GeneralI know, this has been around for a while (for quite a while), but I happened to come across a copy and realized I hadn't reviewed that lens yet, so thought to take it for a short test… Read More
2017-03-04 05:37
Dear AmateurNikon readers, I owe you an apology. Long, long, long time ago I had promised you I'd write an article on sharpening - Photoshop procedures, how to do it properly, how much sharp… Read More
2017-02-23 10:13
GeneralAn older lens for today. But make no mistake: this has been the workhorse for many Nikon professional photographers up until the AF-S 24-70mm showed up. As newer and newer models keep… Read More
2017-02-17 05:40
Stabilizes lenses are awesome. Nikon calls it VR (from Vibration Reduction) for Nikkor lenses, Sigma calls it OS (Optical Stabilization), Tamron calls it VC (Vibration Compensation). It's al… Read More
2017-02-10 05:15
GeneralI have reviewed several Series E lenses on AmateurNikon (check the reviews page for more) and my general impression of the Series E lenses is generally a very favorable one. Optically… Read More
2017-02-01 07:43
I'm back from that trip, which this time took me to the Dominican Republic. Being in a tropical "paradise" (the DR is far from it, but that's the stereotype) creates an implicit pressure to… Read More
2017-01-10 13:22
Note:Once again I will be away on a trip. I should return at the end of this month, so AmateurNikon will be back with new articles in early February. Take care!IntroductionAnother comparativ… Read More
2017-01-02 05:58
GeneralHappy New Year! New year, new photographic opportunities. Let's begin 2017 with a review. Today we'll take a look at the Nikon Nikkor 35mm AF-S f/1.4 lens. As I'd mentioned here, 35mm… Read More
2016-12-21 17:50
The staff of AmateurNikon (meaning just yours truly) will be away for a couple of weeks - I'll be coming back after New Year. Enjoy yourselves, take lots of pictures, and - above all - love… Read More
2016-12-15 08:26
Today's article was inspired by something I saw on a photography discussion group. Someone was asking: "What lenses should I get for my Nikon D3300?" I was about to offer the obvious answer… Read More
2016-12-08 05:42
Let's be a bit playful today! In this article I'll show you how to create an out-of-bounds image using Photoshop (or any other similar program; if you're looking for a free and open-source a… Read More
2016-12-02 08:42
GeneralBased on my discussions online (but also in... real life), I think most DSLR beginners coming from a compact or, more probably nowadays, their cell phone camera are after reach. Wheth… Read More
2016-11-27 07:39
Time really does fly. Today, November 26, AmateurNikon celebrates its fifth birthday. Exactly five years ago, on November 26, 2011, the first ever AmateurNikon article was published. It was… Read More
2016-11-21 05:37
The 2016 Black Friday is just around the corner (with Christmas also approaching) and perhaps it's a good idea to take a look at what kind of deals a Nikon photographer should keep an eye on… Read More
2016-11-16 15:17
A Photoshop tutorial for today, after some time. This is an effect that has become very popular in the era of Instagram and built-in filters, but - as you'd expect from AmateurNikon - I thin… Read More
2016-11-12 15:20
My comparative reviews are very popular - see ultra-wide angle lenses for DX, 3 super zooms, 3 budget macros for DX, and 5 budget normal primes. As I've said before, this is no surprise. Peo… Read More
2016-10-31 06:30
Note:I will be away for a couple of weeks. AmateurNikon will be back with new articles around November 14th. Meanwhile, feel free to take a look at the countless other articles - you're sure… Read More
2016-10-24 08:36
GeneralYet another fast, dependable portrait lens from the older times of photography. Typically, old AI-S lenses are characterized by superb image quality, stunning build quality, a weight… Read More
2016-10-17 05:36
Few things are more disappointing and frustrating than equipment failure, especially when your camera or lens stops working just when you need it the most (read: on the eve of a wedding, or… Read More
2016-10-10 11:39
GeneralThis lens has been around for quite some time. There is already a newer version of this lens, which is actually a 150-600mm lens, not to mention it comes in two versions, sports and c… Read More
2016-10-03 04:40
GeneralI wanted to try this lens for quite some time, and I finally found a copy in reasonably good condition (those 80s wide angle lenses were often dragged through all kinds of deserts and… Read More
2016-09-26 05:33
This article conceived not during a stormy night, like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but during an online chat with an AmateurNikon reader, who asked me what would the perfect Nikon camera lo… Read More
2016-09-19 07:58
Introduction My comparative reviews are quite popular - see ultra-wide angle lenses for DX, 3 super zooms, and 5 budget normal primes. This is to be expected, as people often need an overvie… Read More
2016-09-12 14:39
Although I am a portrait photographer (in other words: I photograph people), nude photography is something I have not been too interested in. There is a very specific reason for it: more tha… Read More
2016-09-07 13:49
GeneralThis is a lens I had very briefly referred to during a comparative review of 5 normal primes for Nikon. I had then said that it wasn't anything special in terms of performance. I was… Read More
2016-09-02 11:25
Note: the text below is a slightly paraphrased excerpt from my book Photography and Affect: A New Theory of Vision. You can read a free preview and purchase the entire 125-page book by click… Read More
2016-08-30 06:12
I can almost hear your heart racing reading this catchy title. No worries, I know it all too well - if an article says "do this now", or "here's what you need to do in order to [insert requi… Read More
2016-08-25 08:07
Some days ago, someone asked "Is there an easy way to remove the background around hair?"I promised that reader I'd write an article about it, so here it is. Today, we'll see some Photoshop… Read More
2016-08-20 05:55
Nikon has officially announced a few new products. Normally I don't bother reporting on such things - unless there's something truly interesting going on - but this time I'll make an excepti… Read More
2016-08-13 08:36
Yes, another "Nikon or Canon" article. Normally I wouldn't bother with something like that, but every now and then (read: at least once per week!) I do get questions such as "Honestly, which… Read More
2016-08-08 09:45
This article came to being after I saw a fellow blogger's article: "5 Reasons why You Need a 70-200 f/2.8". I don't claim the article doesn't make valid points, but it's all a matter of pers… Read More
2016-08-01 07:33
GeneralA review, after some time. Full-frame camera users increase (thanks to the abundance of options at rather reasonable prices), and with them increases the need for cheap but competent… Read More
2016-07-25 05:51
This is an article I've been meaning to write for a while, but I kept postponing it. The reason is quite funny in its own right: I... don't have any suitable photos to accompany the article!… Read More
2016-07-17 11:07
Here's an entirely different post for today. Since you are here, you know I'm a photographer. Perhaps you wouldn't find it too surprising to hear I'm also interested in all kinds of graphics… Read More
2016-07-11 05:15
Two of the most popular Amateur Nikon articles are The Best Portrait Lens for Nikon and The Best Nikon Lens(es) for Baby Photos - 5 Points to Check. Similar articles have also received a lot… Read More
2016-07-04 04:53
A pretty different article for today. Long-time readers probably have noticed I use Adobe Photoshop - and, if you pay close attention to screenshots I post every now and then, you must have… Read More
2016-06-26 13:03
Over these several past years, I've tried my best to help you all out with your photography and camera questions, either indirectly by publishing articles and spreading the knowledge, or eve… Read More
2016-06-19 09:18
I'm back from yet another trip, which this time took me to Santorini, Greece (among other places). I'm sure many of you know that Santorini is a very popular destination for tourists of all… Read More
2016-05-31 06:38
Note:Once again, I will be away for a while. AmateurNikon will be back with new articles around June 20th. Meanwhile, feel free to take a look at the countless other articles - you're sure… Read More
2016-05-24 09:07
A rather tongue-in-cheek article for today. Thanks to the wonderful world of globalized economy (insert as many quotation marks as you want), it costs peanuts to design something small and e… Read More
2016-05-16 07:16
IntroductionThis article is based on an article I had written some years ago (in 2012 if I remember well). That article was published on AmateurNikon and was online for some time. I then pul… Read More
2016-05-09 09:00
IntroductionI'm back from a very busy period (there's another one coming next month), and let's start with something light: Another article for the Speculative 'Reviews' series. Once again… Read More
2016-04-22 14:35
Note:I will be away for a while due to very heavy workload. AmateurNikon will be back with new articles around May 10th. Meanwhile, feel free to take a look at the countless other articles … Read More
2016-04-15 14:38
It's been a while since we had a Photoshop Tutorial. So I thought I needed to come up with something really awesome for you, and I think I just might have! Long-time readers might remember m… Read More
2016-04-09 11:52
Let's try something special today! As you might remember from previous posts, I personally prefer to use prime (fixed focal length) lenses. Although the zooms are more flexible in terms of f… Read More
2016-04-09 11:52
Let's try something special today! As you might remember from previous posts, I personally prefer to use prime (fixed focal length) lenses. Although the zooms are more flexible in terms of f… Read More
2016-04-02 10:13
GeneralThis is a pretty popular lens, and for a good reason. It offers a faster alternative than the consumer 70-300, and a smaller alternative than the 70-200 f/2.8. Is the AF-S VR 70-200 f… Read More
2016-03-25 09:42
I had an interesting discussion on a photography forum some time ago. In particular, there was someone who absolutely insisted that Nikon's older CCD sensors give much better skin tones comp… Read More
2016-03-18 12:10
Another bit light topic for today - but make no mistake, it's 100% founded on my observations and experience. We are all unique, and of course I don't claim we can all fit neatly into merely… Read More
2016-03-11 10:40
GeneralIt is often the case that you hear people saying something in the direction of: "If you're serious about macro, you need a 200mm lens". This might or might not be true for your indivi… Read More
2016-03-04 15:17
Some of you might remember this article where I analyzed the reasons and the options behind giving up on DSLR photography. That text received tremendous response, perhaps unexpectedly. After… Read More
2016-03-04 15:14
Some of you might remember this article where I analyzed the reasons and the options behind giving up on DSLR photography. That text received tremendous response, perhaps unexpectedly. After… Read More
2016-02-26 05:17
Wow, that was unexpected. And sorely needed, too. Sigma has announced a 50-100mm f/1.8 Art lens for cropped sensors (DX, in Nikon lingo). Oh, Nikon, Nikon... These are the kinds of lenses yo… Read More
2016-02-18 12:43
How about something light for today? I put together a list of the 7 funniest things I have ever been told as a photographer. Photography has become a very common hobby, and owning and operat… Read More
2016-02-10 15:31
Introduction I'm back from that trip, and I have a pretty interesting article for you today. The title says it all, really: How to take the best photos in freezing temperatures. Perhaps some… Read More
2016-01-29 16:29
Note: I'll be away on a trip for a few days. Amateur Nikon should be back in action in about ten days. Today's article is inspired by a comment I saw on a photography forum. There, someone a… Read More
2016-01-22 11:14
GeneralI have to admit, I find the Samyang concept very solid: remove autofocus to cut down cost, but give the best image quality you can (within the price tag). Result? A cheap but opticall… Read More
2016-01-14 14:57
IntroductionAfter the somewhat surprising (although still long-anticipated) announcement of the Nikon D500, many of us Nikon users are in a sort of blissful daydreaming state. Finally, the s… Read More
2016-01-06 07:02
So, the waiting is over. The D300 replacement is finally here - and it's not called D400, but D500. What's in a name, huh? Well, do remember that the D300 was launched together with the D3… Read More
2015-12-31 05:30
It's the end of the year, and perhaps it's time to hear a bit from you. What kinds of things would you like to see more of on Amateur Nikon? What kind of things you would like to see less of… Read More
2015-12-25 12:52
First things first: I have immense respect for Thom Hogan, whom I consider to be one of the most knowledgeable Nikon photographers out there. Generally speaking, I agree with his insights, t… Read More
2015-12-23 16:19
GeneralDiscovering this lens was a bit of a surprise for me. The reason? After literally decades of taking photos, there are still old lenses I had never even heard of. This Tamron AF aspher… Read More
2015-12-18 08:28
GeneralAs we're approaching Christmas, it's perhaps a good time to offer a... retro review. There are dozens of normal primes out there (if you're on a budget, you might wanna take a look at… Read More
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