Bokeh Face – The Digital Camera World Podcast

Welcome to Bokeh Face! In this episode: In Focus we look at virtual photography. Is it really photography to take photographs in a videogame? If you can change aperture, shutter speed, lens and exposure, is it technically the same? Does the argument change if you're a disabled photographer who can't use a physical camera any more? Can videogames simulate real photography? Mike and James have two very different views!Next we Gear Up with the Nikon ZR, the first camera to be co-developed by Nikon and Red. Was everyone was wrong about this camera, from quirky decisions like the choice of a microSD memory card to the omission of open gate video? Does this actually offer a much better alternative to the Sony FX3 and Canon EOS C50? What does this mean for Z Cinema cameras going forward?And in Trouble Shooting we navigate the minefield of photo editing software. Is Adobe really the best option? We discuss the alternatives, whether someone is completely new to editing or a seasoned pro looking to get out of the Adobe ecosystem. Mike also argues why Adobe's pricing actually isn't that bad, and explores the pros and cons of the "free" Affinity as well as the other options on the market.⏰ TIMESTAMPS ⏰0:00 Mike hates AI1:45 Virtual Photographer of the Year2:39 What is virtual photography / videogame photography3:18 This game is a fantastic photography simulator4:43 Mike’s take: this ISN'T photography6:18 James' take: in all technical respects, just like physical photography7:28 In some circumstances, real photos are produced10:41 Pokémon Snap is the closest thing to wildlife photography 11:35 Virtual photography as an outlet for disabled photographers15:29 Some would say composites, chroma key also not "real" photography17:24 Question is photography art? Is virtual photography art?20:41 Videogames are the only way to shoot historical street photography 22:11 Meet the Nikon ZR22:24 Who is Red, and what is the "sunglasses Illuminati" controlling Nikon25:35 The first official Z Cinema camera, distinct from Red cameras26:28 Similarities to Z6 III, cheapest way to join Red ecosystem30:35 Nikon ZR specs32:53 Mike’s Misgivings35:20 No open gate video – but no overheating36:29 CFexpress and a… microSD card?38:51 Offers an actual alternative to the Sony FX3 and Canon EOS C5043:13 Which is the best photo editing software?44:30 Luminar Neo45:45 The world’s most useful editing slider?49:05 If price and learning curve aren't a consideration 50:07 DxO51:00 People will hate Mike for this: Adobe isn’t badly priced!56:32 Affinity is now free – is it as good?1:00:20 Recommendation for a total newcomer to editing1:02:40 If you're sick of Adobe, can you really move away?Get in touch with us at:bokehface@futurenet.comWatch the show in full at:youtube.com/digitalcameraworldGet all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at:digitalcameraworld.com

Welcome to Bokeh Face! In this episode:We go In Focus on Kodak in 2026. How is it beating all the other camera companies, does it have better brand recognition than Canon and Nikon, will we get another mirrorless Kodak system and how come there are five companies making "Kodak" cameras?Then we Gear Up with perhaps the nuttiest camera Fujifilm has ever made, the Instax Mini Evo Cinema. Are Eras the new Film Simulations for video, will we see them come to X and GFX cameras, how does Taylor Swift fit in, does a camcorder need to print photos / does an instant camera need to shoot video, and how does this camera compare to the Camp Snap CS-8?And closing the show with Trouble Shooting, we discuss superzooms and travel lenses. Are these all-in-one optics really worth it, or does the convenience merit the compromise in terms of optical quality? How good can an 18-400mm lens really be? ⏰ TIMESTAMPS ⏰0:00 Kodak has made some terrible formats!1:33 Kodak is back in a big way2:05 In America, Kodak WAS photography – but then it disappeared3:33 Not a Kodak history lesson, but… here's a Kodak history lesson 6:28 Kodak had 2025's best selling compact camera9:33 Transition film to digital, cameras to phones, back to cheap cameras11:54 Will Kodak make another mirrorless interchangeable lens system? 12:43 How much equity is in the name? Better recognition than Canon and Nikon?14:26 Will the compact camera bubble burst? 17:24 Meet the Instax Mini Evo Cinema18:35 This camera is a time machine21:15 This is how the Eras Dial works – like a video version of Film Simulations22:10 Forget image quality – this is the industry's smallest sensor23:40 The perfect "pub camera"?26:26 Instax Mini Evo Cinema Specs29:05 X-Half didn’t find an audience, but this is already trending 34:24 All-in-one travel lenses; is convenience worth compromise? 35:09 What is a superzoom? 37:17 Focal length choice as a creative control38:01 Seeing some great mirrorless options39:41 Different compromises at the wide and telephoto end40:45 Upside of third-party manufacturers (downside for Canon and Nikon mirrorless)41:36 Size and weight benefits42:43 Slower apertures are a disadvantage… but you don't want bokeh!44:00 Actually don’t want subject separation! Prove you’ve been on holiday44:27 One superzoom vs a bagful of primes45:26 Not changing lenses = lower risk of mugging and sensor dust48:30 Don’t be THAT guy spoiling everyone's vacationGet in touch with us at:bokehface@futurenet.comWatch the show in full at:youtube.com/digitalcameraworldGet all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at:digitalcameraworld.com

Welcome to this week's Bokeh Face podcast!We take an In Focus look at the fact that DSLRs are apparently dead – so why are DSLR lens sales increasing? There are many reasons – one of them being the ways that Canon and Nikon are locking down their mirrorless mounts…We Gear Up with the Canon EOS R6 Mark III, a pro-caliber camera that detonates the old definition of 6-series bodies. We compare it to the Sony A7 V and Nikon Z6 III, and ask whether the market for midrange cameras actually exists any more.And in Trouble Shooting, we help the would-be hybrid shooters who ask us where to start with video. It's arguably harder to learn videography when you come from a photo background, so we give you a crash course in the basics!⏰ TIMESTAMPS ⏰0:00 What the heck is a partially stacked sensor?1:09 DSLRs are dead… so why are DSLR lens sales on the rise?3:09 (Actually, DSLRs are NOT dead)4:27 Price check: trinity mirrorless glass vs trinity DSLR glass6:39 Canon and Nikon's closed mirrorless mounts7:58 By restricting mirrorless, Canon has prolonged the life of DSLR lenses8:55 There are still significant lenses you can't buy for mirrorless10:27 Sigma says (some) DSLR lens sales going up15:15 Using DSLR lenses on mirrorless "upscales" their performance18:48 Meet the Canon EOS R6 Mark III19:30 Has flagship tech squeezed out midrange cameras? 25:43 Canon won't like us saying this…26:38 Canon EOS R6 Mark III vs Nikon Z6 III31:01 Who has the best autofocus? 34:16 Canon EOS R6 Mark III vs Sony A7 V38:48 Where should you start with video41:09 Just shoot in 1080p?43:48 Framerates, PAL vs NTSC, 25p vs 30p46:43 TLDR48:46 Don’t shoot RAW (unlike photography)50:07 Log and LUTs54:30 Sound is more important than videoGet in touch with us at:bokehface@futurenet.comWatch the show in full at:youtube.com/digitalcameraworldGet all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at:digitalcameraworld.com

In Focus this episode, James and Mike ask whether retro cameras are style over substance. When did the retro trend start (clue: it's over a decade old!), which cameras (and brands) were ironically ahead of their time and what's the future of retro cameras? We Gear Up by checking out Canon's Sony FX3 killer, the EOS C50 cinema camera. From open gate to 7K RAW, the C50 outclasses the FX3 in every way – but does it have what it takes to loosen Sony's stranglehold on content creation? Lastly, in our Trouble Shooting section, we share our tips, tricks and horror stories of using a new camera – whether it's the first camera you've ever used, you're upgrading from DSLR to mirrorless or you're switching systems. Here's everything you need to know!⏰ TIMESTAMPS ⏰ 0:00 – Having a gut might cost you your award-winning shot!2:07 – Why are retro cameras so popular4:07 – Polaroids were the OG "retro cameras"7:14 – Retro camera timeline8:44 – Nikon Df: the "Fallout camera"12:00 – Are Film Simulations as important as the cameras themselves?13:00 – "Digital disposable cameras" like the Camp Snap14:58– What's the future of retro cameras?16:28 – Canon AE-1-inspired retro camera this year (Canon RE-1)?18:42 – Meet the Canon EOS C5020:30 – C50 specifications22:18 – In-body image stabilization – a deal breaker?27:09 – Split memory cards: pros and cons27:35 – What is open gate video32:37 – Canon EOS C50 vs Sony FX338:17 – Using a new camera39:14 – JPEG or RAW?42:59 – Learn to handle your camera in the dark47:01 – Don’t do important shoots on a new camera!47:49 – Should you Start in manual? Aperture? Program? 50:43 – Going from DSLR to mirrorless54:25 – Camera straps: yay or nay?56:29 – Use the viewfinder!Get in touch with us at:bokehface@futurenet.comWatch the show in full at:youtube.com/digitalcameraworldGet all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at:digitalcameraworld.com

In Focus, James and Chris debate whether high-resolution cameras with 60MP or 100MP sensors are really necessary. What's required for prints, what's practical for pro use, can your lenses even keep up with your sensor's resolution, and do we really need Canon's 400MP sensor?For our Gear Up section we get hands on with Fujifilm's latest instant compact camera, the Instax Mini LiPlay+. This has the biggest and most obvious addition we've ever seen in an instant camera – along with a divisive feature that Chris hates!Finally, in our Trouble Shooting segment, we get into the weeds of crop factor. Why is 35mm "full frame" the standard? Why don't APS-C lenses have the equivalent APS-C focal lengths on them? Why do all the manufacturers have different names for crop formats?!?!?Get in touch with us at:bokehface@futurenet.comWatch the show in full at:youtube.com/digitalcameraworldGet all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at:digitalcameraworld.com

In Focus on this week, James and Mike argue the merits and demerits of fast lenses. Does anyone really need f/1.2 and f/0.95 glass? Should anyone really be shooting wide open? What counts as a fast lens in telephoto terms? We also discuss how Canon has returned fire against the onslaught of cheap superfast glass made by Chinese brands.Then, in our Gear Up segment, we get up close and personal with the Fujifilm X-T30 III. On the surface it's a beginner camera, but it's also loaded with high-end features like 6K open gate – so who is this camera for, and can it tempt Mike away from Nikon?Closing the show, in Trouble Shooting, Mike shares his pro tips as a motorsports photographer as we break down how to shoot fast action, from tech to technique, to help you shoot everything from sports to wildlife.Get in touch with us at:bokehface@futurenet.comWatch the show in full at:youtube.com/digitalcameraworldGet all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at:digitalcameraworld.com

In Focus on this show, James and Chris discuss one of the hottest trends: retro, sub-$100 "toy" cameras. Kodak's Charmera is ultra-popular, the TLR-style Chuzhao is hotter than hot cakes, the Camp Snap CS-8 brings Stranger Things vibes… these cameras are so viral that social media forgot about the Fujifilm X100 But are they any good?For our Gear Up section, we look at the Sigma vs Laowa battle of 200mm f/2 lenses. We've gone 40-something years since the last ones from Canon and Nikon, and all of a sudden two arrive within weeks of one another. But are these sports lenses, portrait lenses or something else?Finally, in Trouble Shooting, we wax lyrical about focus peaking – which is far from just a tool for macro! From video and portraiture to unlocking a world of bargain lenses and vintage glass, this enormously useful tool can save you money and even inject fun and tactility back into our increasingly automated world of photography. Get in touch with us at:bokehface@futurenet.comWatch the show in full at:youtube.com/digitalcameraworldGet all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at:digitalcameraworld.com

In Focus this episode, James and Mike argue the pros and cons of firmware. Is it worth updating your camera, when the rewards are new features and better performance but the risks include bricking your body? We discuss horror stories and best practices. For our Gear Up section, we get to grips with the "dream lens" of Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki: the 300-600mm f/4 Sports lens, which is remarkable not just for its image quality but also its incredible price. But how do James and Mike, as Canon and Nikon shooters respectively, feel about missing out on such a great lens?And in Trouble Shooting, we go over the tips, tricks and techniques to cure camera shake and ensure sharp shots, whether you're shooting with a 600mm monster like the Sigma or you're trying to get blur-free pictures from your everyday photography.Get in touch with us at:bokehface@futurenet.comWatch the show in full at:youtube.com/digitalcameraworldGet all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at:digitalcameraworld.com