Bokeh Face – The Digital Camera World Podcast

Digital Camera World
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From the team behind DigitalCameraWorld.com and Digital Camera World Magazine, Bokeh Face is our bi-weekly podcast where we talk all things camera-related – from analog to digital, photography to video, hot topics in the industry, buying advice and how to get the most out of your equipment. Each episode we tackle a topical talking point, chat about the hottest gear we've been using and troubleshoot problems from our listeners… as well as our co-hosts!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. MFT: The wildlife photographer’s cheat code? • Is VR the next imaging frontier? • Supercharge your street photos

    APR 3

    MFT: The wildlife photographer’s cheat code? • Is VR the next imaging frontier? • Supercharge your street photos

    Welcome to Bokeh Face! In this episode: We take an In Focus look at spatial photography – and virtual reality in particular. Where is the technology right now? Why is Canon leading the way in terms of specialized VR optics for mirrorless cameras? How does VR compare to augmented reality? And where is VR imaging headed in the near future?  Then we Gear Up with OM System’s incredible range of Micro Four Thirds super-telephoto lenses that make it such a tantalizing prospect for wildlife photographers. We discuss whether or not a small MFT sensor is really that big of a deal when the payoff is a 2x crop factor that puts you closer to the action, and the dramatically reduced weight and size of the system’s bodies and lenses. Finally, in Trouble Shooting, we reveal our top tips for street photography, including key compositional techniques, how to make the most of natural light, and why you might want to stop relying on that 35mm prime and consider mixing up your choice of focal lengths. Get in touch with us at: bokehface@futurenet.com Watch the show in full at: youtube.com/digitalcameraworld Get all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at: digitalcameraworld.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min
  2. Sony A7 V: Too pro for its own good? • Meta's smart camera glasses • Second-hand cameras: Bargain or beware?

    MAR 20

    Sony A7 V: Too pro for its own good? • Meta's smart camera glasses • Second-hand cameras: Bargain or beware?

    Welcome to Bokeh Face! In this episode: We take an In Focus look at Meta's smart glasses from Ray-Ban and Oakley. Do these camera-powered AI specs deserve a place in your imaging arsenal? How good is the image quality? Do they look better than all those other, ugly smart glasses? Can anyone tell when they're filming, or are they set to be the latest gadget for pervs?  Then we Gear Up with the Sony A7 V, the long-awaited fifth generation of Sony's mid-range mirrorless cameras… but this one is about as far removed from a mid-range camera as you can imagine. With pro-level specs and features, and an increasingly pro-level price, this camera is fantastic – but does it spell doom for mid-range bodies? Finally, in Trouble Shooting, we discuss the pitfalls, pros and cons of buying second-hand camera gear. Is it as risky as people fear? What are the things to watch out for? Where is the best place to buy (or sell) used gear? We share some happy stories and horror stories of buying second-hand kit – is it buyer beware, or simply buyer be aware? Get in touch with us at: bokehface@futurenet.com Watch the show in full at: youtube.com/digitalcameraworld Get all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at: digitalcameraworld.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min
  3. Is videogame photography REAL photography? • Nikon ZR: We were all wrong • Is Adobe really best for editing?

    MAR 6

    Is videogame photography REAL photography? • Nikon ZR: We were all wrong • Is Adobe really best for editing?

    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 AI 1:45 Virtual Photographer of the Year 2:39 What is virtual photography / videogame photography 3:18 This game is a fantastic photography simulator 4:43 Mike’s take: this ISN'T photography 6:18 James' take: in all technical respects, just like physical photography 7:28 In some circumstances, real photos are produced 10:41 Pokémon Snap is the closest thing to wildlife photography 11:35 Virtual photography as an outlet for disabled photographers 15:29 Some would say composites, chroma key also not "real" photography 17:24 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 ZR 22:24 Who is Red, and what is the "sunglasses Illuminati" controlling Nikon 25:35 The first official Z Cinema camera, distinct from Red cameras 26:28 Similarities to Z6 III, cheapest way to join Red ecosystem 30:35 Nikon ZR specs 32:53 Mike’s Misgivings 35:20 No open gate video – but no overheating 36:29 CFexpress and a… microSD card? 38:51 Offers an actual alternative to the Sony FX3 and Canon EOS C50 43:13 Which is the best photo editing software? 44:30 Luminar Neo 45:45 The world’s most useful editing slider? 49:05 If price and learning curve aren't a consideration 50:07 DxO 51:00 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 editing 1:02:40 If you're sick of Adobe, can you really move away? Get in touch with us at: bokehface@futurenet.com Watch the show in full at: youtube.com/digitalcameraworld Get all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at: digitalcameraworld.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 6m
  4. 5 companies make "Kodak" cameras • Instax Mini Evo Cinema • Travel lenses: is convenience worth compromise?

    FEB 20

    5 companies make "Kodak" cameras • Instax Mini Evo Cinema • Travel lenses: is convenience worth compromise?

    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 way 2:05 In America, Kodak WAS photography – but then it disappeared 3:33 Not a Kodak history lesson, but… here's a Kodak history lesson 6:28 Kodak had 2025's best selling compact camera 9:33 Transition film to digital, cameras to phones, back to cheap cameras 11:54 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 Cinema 18:35 This camera is a time machine 21:15 This is how the Eras Dial works – like a video version of Film Simulations 22:10 Forget image quality – this is the industry's smallest sensor 23:40 The perfect "pub camera"? 26:26 Instax Mini Evo Cinema Specs 29:05 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 control 38:01 Seeing some great mirrorless options 39:41 Different compromises at the wide and telephoto end 40:45 Upside of third-party manufacturers (downside for Canon and Nikon mirrorless) 41:36 Size and weight benefits 42:43 Slower apertures are a disadvantage… but you don't want bokeh! 44:00 Actually don’t want subject separation! Prove you’ve been on holiday 44:27 One superzoom vs a bagful of primes 45:26 Not changing lenses = lower risk of mugging and sensor dust 48:30 Don’t be THAT guy spoiling everyone's vacation Get in touch with us at: bokehface@futurenet.com Watch the show in full at: youtube.com/digitalcameraworld Get all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at: digitalcameraworld.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  5. Canon R6 III vs Nikon Z6 III vs Sony A7 V • Why are DSLR lens sales rising? • Where do you start with video?

    FEB 6

    Canon R6 III vs Nikon Z6 III vs Sony A7 V • Why are DSLR lens sales rising? • Where do you start with video?

    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 glass 6:39 Canon and Nikon's closed mirrorless mounts 7:58 By restricting mirrorless, Canon has prolonged the life of DSLR lenses 8:55 There are still significant lenses you can't buy for mirrorless 10:27 Sigma says (some) DSLR lens sales going up 15:15 Using DSLR lenses on mirrorless "upscales" their performance 18:48 Meet the Canon EOS R6 Mark III 19:30 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 III 31:01 Who has the best autofocus?  34:16 Canon EOS R6 Mark III vs Sony A7 V 38:48 Where should you start with video 41:09 Just shoot in 1080p? 43:48 Framerates, PAL vs NTSC, 25p vs 30p 46:43 TLDR 48:46 Don’t shoot RAW (unlike photography) 50:07 Log and LUTs 54:30 Sound is more important than video Get in touch with us at: bokehface@futurenet.com Watch the show in full at: youtube.com/digitalcameraworld Get all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at: digitalcameraworld.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min
  6. 8K cameras: fool's gold? • Leica Q3 Monochrom • Does your memory card really matter?

    JAN 23

    8K cameras: fool's gold? • Leica Q3 Monochrom • Does your memory card really matter?

    Welcome to the latest Bokeh Face podcast! In Focus this episode, James and Chris debate whether anyone truly needs an 8K camera. You don't need it today and it has a knock-on effect for your lenses, memory card, computer, storage, workflow… but is future-proofing your footage worth it? Then in our Gear Up segment, we play with Leica's Q3 Monochrom – a $7,800 camera that only shoots in black-and-white and can't change lenses. And yet, it might just be the best camera that anyone has ever made for street photography… And wrapping things up in our Trouble Shooting section, we discuss whether your memory card really matters. Can you just buy the cheap $10 one off Amazon, or should you invest in an expensive $200 card? Here's why there's more to memory cards than just the format. ⏰ TIMESTAMPS ⏰ 0:00 Will people be rewatching this podcast in 30 years? 1:43 Do 8K cameras actually matter, or is it the megapixel race all over again? 2:33 Canon brought 8K to the masses 3:55 Like 100MP stills, 8K video might be most useful for cropping 4:40 Your camera might resolve 8K, but what about your lens? 5:27 8K future-proofs your footage… 8:15 … but there's consequences to your lens, memory card, SSD, cloud and computer 10:08 Panasonic was staunchly anti-8K until 2025 11:34 Heat dissipation is a problem 14:45 Investing in a camera today? Think 5, 10 years down the line 17:49 Meet the Leica Q3 Monochrom 18:46 Why would you buy a camera with a fixed lens that only shoots black-and-white? 20:18 Some unsurprising cons 22:40 Advantages of a black-and-white sensor 24:45 Shooting at high sensitivities (with ISO200,000 sample images) 26:36 Leica Q3 Monochrom specifications 29:11 Content Credentials 32:29 The growing trend for cameras that only shoot black-and-white 34:28 Does your memory card matter? 35:55 Should you buy that cheap card on Black Friday? 37:58 Pros and cons of high-capacity cards 39:19 SD cards just won’t go away – and for good reason 40:47 SD vs CFexpress demonstration 43:30 My camera’s got two different cards – does it matter which I use? 44:39 Overheating also applies to memory cards 50:53 Older cameras may not even support new card tech! Get in touch with us at: bokehface@futurenet.com Watch the show in full at: youtube.com/digitalcameraworld Get all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at: digitalcameraworld.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    52 min
  7. Are retro cameras just nostalgia bait? • Canon EOS C50 • Tips for using a new or upgraded camera

    JAN 9

    Are retro cameras just nostalgia bait? • Canon EOS C50 • Tips for using a new or upgraded camera

    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 popular 4:07 – Polaroids were the OG "retro cameras" 7:14 – Retro camera timeline 8:44 – Nikon Df: the "Fallout camera" 12:00 – Are Film Simulations as important as the cameras themselves? 13:00 – "Digital disposable cameras" like the Camp Snap 14:58– 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 C50 20:30 – C50 specifications 22:18 – In-body image stabilization – a deal breaker? 27:09 – Split memory cards: pros and cons 27:35 – What is open gate video 32:37 – Canon EOS C50 vs Sony FX3 38:17 – Using a new camera 39:14 – JPEG or RAW? 42:59 – Learn to handle your camera in the dark 47:01 – Don’t do important shoots on a new camera! 47:49 – Should you Start in manual? Aperture? Program? 50:43 – Going from DSLR to mirrorless 54:25 – Camera straps: yay or nay? 56:29 – Use the viewfinder! Get in touch with us at: bokehface@futurenet.com Watch the show in full at: youtube.com/digitalcameraworld Get all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at: digitalcameraworld.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    59 min
  8. Do you really need a hi-res camera? • Fujifilm's LiPlay+ instant compact • Cutting through the crop factor

    12/26/2025

    Do you really need a hi-res camera? • Fujifilm's LiPlay+ instant compact • Cutting through the crop factor

    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.com Watch the show in full at: youtube.com/digitalcameraworld Get all your camera news, how-tos, reviews and buying advice at: digitalcameraworld.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min
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About

From the team behind DigitalCameraWorld.com and Digital Camera World Magazine, Bokeh Face is our bi-weekly podcast where we talk all things camera-related – from analog to digital, photography to video, hot topics in the industry, buying advice and how to get the most out of your equipment. Each episode we tackle a topical talking point, chat about the hottest gear we've been using and troubleshoot problems from our listeners… as well as our co-hosts!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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