ChatGPT, wonderful tool for photographers.

 I ran an experiment with ChatGPT to check its logic picking lenses for my next trip. Here is what I asked:

From these lenses, which 2 would you pick to travel with: Canon EF70-200mm L, Canon EF28-80mm L or Tamron 28-300mm? 

And here is the response: 

For travel, I’d pick the Tamron 28-300mm and the Canon EF 70-200mm L — here's why:

1. Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3

• Ideal for travel: One-lens solution covering wide to telephoto.

• Lightweight and versatile: You can shoot landscapes, street, portraits, and even some wildlife without switching lenses.

• Compact: Compared to carrying multiple L lenses, it’s easier to manage while walking or hiking.

2. Canon EF 70-200mm L

• Excellent optical quality: Razor-sharp images, fast focus, great for portraits and distant subjects.

• Durability: Built like a tank, perfect for serious travel and challenging weather.

• Pairs well with the Tamron: You can use the Tamron most of the time and switch to the 70-200mm when you want top-quality shots, especially for wildlife or compression shots.

---

Why Not the 28-80mm L?

• Great image quality, but...

• Too much overlap with the Tamron’s range.

• Less useful on its own unless you're only doing general street and landscape photography — and even then, the Tamron can cover that plus more.

---

If weight is critical:

Only take the Tamron 28-300mm. It covers almost everything, and you’ll save space and effort.

If image quality and reliability are more important, and you're okay carrying two lenses:
Tamron 28-300mm + Canon 70-200mm L is a powerful combo.

End of the Response. 

As you can see, it makes a lot of sense and the response is technically correct. The Tamron 28-300 while is not that sharp, it's a decent lens that I have used before in some occasions. Here is one of the pictures I took using this lens. 

  I think that I'll follow ChatGPT advise. 

From last weekend

I’ve been a bit busy this week and haven’t had time to post my favorite photo from last weekend—sorry about that! So here it is.

I like this one because of the hummingbird’s pose; it looks as if it was observing me.

Then and Now, do you see the difference?

Photography allows you to track your progress by comparing photos taken in the past with more recent ones. For example, here’s a picture of a hummingbird I captured back in January 2021.

And here’s a recent photo I took of the same bird.

Back then, I was using a Sony a7R III with a Sigma 100-400mm Contemporary lens. Now I’m using a Canon R6 Mark I paired with a Canon EF 100-400mm L Mk II and a 1.4x extender. With the settings I had on the Sony a7R III, there was no way I could have captured a shot like the one I took with the R6. The shutter speed on the Sony was set to 1/500—fast enough to photograph the bird while it was perched. But if I could go back in time, I would have set the shutter speed to 1/5000, as I did with the R6, to increase the chances of getting a sharp image in case the bird decided to take flight.

Another key difference is the editing software. At the time, I was using CorelDRAW Photo-Paint, whereas now I rely on Adobe Lightroom Classic.

When comparing the two images, the hardware didn’t make as much of a difference as the editing tool—and my experience using it. I never quite mastered Photo-Paint to the point of achieving the results I get now with Lightroom Classic. On the other hand, I have to say that Lightroom Classic feels like the ideal editing tool, at least for me, specially when you use this took with DXO PureRaw for denoising the photo.

Clearly, just four years ago, I didn’t yet have the skills to achieve the level of quality I see in my photos today. It makes me wonder where I’ll be in another four years.

 

Nature's Moments No 25

 

Nature's Moments No. 24

 

The EF70-200 f/2.8 IS II USM

The EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II USM is my favorite lens for indoor events. Yes, it’s a heavy lens—but the image quality it delivers is excellent.

If you can’t afford the RF version, I highly recommend picking up this EF version. It’s still a fantastic performer, especially for the price you can find it at on the second-hand market.

You can find more about this lens in this video. 

 

Initiating your kid into Wildlife photography

Wildlife photography—when taken seriously—is an expensive hobby. Even an entry-level camera paired with a decent lens can easily reach the $1,000 mark.

If you search on Amazon, you'll find a flood of inexpensive, often Chinese-made cameras marketed for kids. But let’s be honest: I haven’t come across a single one that delivers decent image quality—whether in still photos or video—despite their impressive claims about megapixels and 4K resolution.

So, what should you do if you have a child under 10 years old who’s starting to show a real interest in wildlife photography?

The answer lies in the second-hand market. If you're patient and avoid jumping on the first deal you see, you can find older bridge cameras for under $100.

I’ve been searching for a decent camera, with a good zoom and the shape and feel of a DSLR—something that’s really important when buying for a 10-year-old who’s constantly watching you use your gear and already has a sense of what a "real" camera looks like.

After some research, I’ve narrowed my options down to two Fujifilm models (Amazon links do not represent the best price for used cameras):

•     The Fujifilm S4200, with a 576mm zoom
•     The Fujifilm S8200, with a 960mm zoom

You can find more technical details about both cameras here. 

I'm not claiming these are the best options out there—if you have any recommendations, feel free to leave a comment below.

Keep in mind that for a kid, a camera is, among other things, a toy—and toys tend to take a fair amount of abuse. That’s the main reason why, in your first attempt to introduce them to more serious photography, you probably don’t want to spend more than $100.

Depending on how long the camera lasts (and how interested they stay), you can always move up to a higher price range with better features and image quality later on.