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  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Winter

    Pixelmator Pro Debanding and Electronic Shutter

    December 24, 2022 /

    Pixelmator Pro Deband feature does not work on banding caused by the well known electronic shutter lag. The Deband feature has not been advertised as working also with ES-induced banding, so the fact that it can not handle it is not a bug. However, this limit seriously reduces the appeal of the new feature. I have flagged the issue to Pixelmator Pro Support: currently, they are out of work, but eventually, they should get back to me with some news. Good news, hopefully.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Out-of-Focus

    September 24, 2013

    The Actor’s Studio

    January 14, 2014

    A Few Shots with the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 in X-Mount

    October 24, 2024
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Doors&Windows,  Gear,  Photography,  Thoughts

    The Mystique of Film

    August 24, 2022 /

    I have resisted for a long time before giving out my two cents about the neverending debate ‘film vs digital’. I gave up after the next self-delusion I read in a well-known ‘semi-pro’ (purposely not linked) online photography magazine. It featured the umpteenth column explaining how shooting film ‘gets the experience back’, going full-manual ‘forces you thinking’, having limited exposures ‘pushes you to become more selective’, and all the usual motives connected with the choice of travelling on a horse-powered chariot instead of using a regular car. There is no need to shoot film to experience all that. Set the camera on full manual, disable OIS and IBIS, use a…

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    Andrea Monti

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    The Argument

    December 27, 2012

    Belgian Macarons

    November 2, 2015

    Lorenzo negli stadi

    July 11, 2013
  • Daily photo,  Gear,  Winter

    Bronine Volkit Camera Hub. Mixed feelings

    November 30, 2021 /

    The picture is self-eplaining. Patona batteries show odd parameters, while a Nikon original battery is more in line with the declared specs. This is by no way a reliable experiment, as the batteries’ state is not comparable. I will continue experimenting with different models because these results are pretty odd. However I can not blame Patona for the outcomes, for the bromine volkit itself might be defective and a fair comparison should be based upon batteries handled similarly.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Marshmallow

    November 15, 2014

    EOS-M. An act of fairness

    July 24, 2013

    Processing DSLR-digitized film with and without Pentax K-1 Monochrome Custom Image profile

    April 30, 2023
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Summer

    Fujifilm X-T3 Video Cheat Sheet

    September 5, 2021 /

    Although the Internet (and Youtube) are full of information about using the Fujifilm X-T3’s video capabilities —kudos to Chris Lee’s Pal2Tech Youtube channel for his incredible work— having a ‘quick ‘n’ dirty’ cheat sheet works better when all you need is information and not entertainment. This cheatsheet is organised according to (my personal) logic rather than to the camera’s menu order. It starts from the outside and goes deep down the intricacies of the various features. It also highlights some techicanilities that, although written in the manual, have not so obvious implications. A final word: this is a work-in-progress. More information will be added as soon as they become available.…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Who’s carrying Who?

    February 28, 2013

    Let’s get the party started…

    January 20, 2014

    Pillars Of The Beach

    August 25, 2013
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Fountains,  Gear,  Spring,  Thoughts

    A Fountain’s Jet

    April 12, 2021 /

    I took this shot with a Viltrox AF 56/1,4 XF at full aperture. The focus reacted swiftly, and the colours’ rendition is pretty accurate. There is minimal colour fringing. However, it is more likely caused by air bubbles rather than by the lens itself. Like its bigger sibling, the AF 85/1,8 XF, this lens is excellent.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Fancy a Beer?

    November 10, 2015

    PI Room At Palais de la Découverte

    June 7, 2015

    Suspicious

    December 2, 2014
  • Beach&Shores,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  People,  Technique

    Using a 1960 Leica Elmarit 90/2,8 on a Fuji X-T3

    April 5, 2021 /

    In short The Leica Elmarit 90/2,8 works flawlessly on a Fujifilm X-T3, also with third-party adapters having no electronic connection with the camera. It provides excellent results, notwithstanding its age. Using this lens for street photography requires using focus-peaking or zone focus. In this latter case, proper training is necessary to correctly assess the distance from the subject. Image quality On the X-T3 the lens preserves its unique identity. Its colour rendering gives pictures a distinctive ‘retro’ character. The Elmarit shows an excellent resolving power: thin lines are visible and well defined. Chromatic aberration is visible at F2,8. It disappears from F4 and ahead. Anyway, the lens profile is well…

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    Andrea Monti

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    (Not so) Intelligent Design

    October 26, 2018

    Bikers

    July 14, 2014

    Ugo Pagliai – Romeo e Giulietta@Teatro Marrucino

    March 29, 2022
  • Beach&Shores,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Technique

    In praise of ‘cheap’ lenses for ‘pro’ works

    April 4, 2021 /

    Full disclosure: I have no relationship with Viltrox. I purchased the lenses with my own money and did not receive any request to write this post. I have recently discovered Viltrox, a Chinese manufacturer of lenses for the Fujifilm X-system. I am using the AF 85/1,8 II XF and the AF 56/1,4 XF and I am very satisfied by their performance. They are very good for ‘professional’ sessions, however, there are many online reviews that snobbishly rate these lenses as ‘amateur’, ‘non-professional’ or ‘first time portrait photography enthusiasts’ grade. I think that these reviews are unfair and here is why: What does ‘better’ mean? It is a known fact that…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Fast Call

    December 28, 2013

    Shooting Kite Surfing

    September 22, 2024

    (Not so) Intelligent Design

    October 26, 2018
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear

    Viltrox AF85/1,8 II XF. Reflexless?

    April 2, 2021 /

    This is an Out-of-Camera Jpeg, shot at F8 and ISO 160, unprocessed but for the size. The Viltrox AF85/1,8 II XF shows no visible reflexes. Incredible for a lens that costs so little…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Kristina Miller live@Teatro Marrucino

    February 21, 2022

    Posing

    June 17, 2022

    A Fix for the Wikipedia Photos’ Copyright Scams?

    December 19, 2020
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Winter

    A Rudder

    February 19, 2021 /

    Pentax K-1/smc Pentax-A 135/2,8

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    Andrea Monti

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    Staring At The Infinite (While Waiting For The Fishes)

    August 1, 2014

    An Attentive Listener

    July 18, 2014

    Editing a photo taken with a Carl Zeiss Jena 135/4 Sonnar and a Fuji X-T3

    February 8, 2023
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Summer,  Thoughts

    Pentax SMC-A 50/1,7 – Nikkor 50/1,4 – Summicron 50/2

    February 9, 2021 /

    The left slice is taken with a Pentax K-1 and SMC-A 50/1,7, the centre with a Nikon D750 and a Nikkor 50/1,4, the right with a Fujifilm X-T3 and a Summicron 50/2. All the cameras were at their base ISO (100 for the Pentax and Nikon, 160 with the Fujifilm), at F2 and aperture priority. The K-1 and the X-T3 photos were shot in manual focus. Only the K-1 has IBIS stabilization. The jpg is taken in Affinity by slicing each OOC RAW file without post-processing.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Footprints

    March 27, 2021

    Yet Another Tokyo Tower Nightshot

    July 27, 2017

    Inside the Nazario Sauro

    November 26, 2020
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Thoughts

    Galaxy S21 Ultra 5g. The difference between Marketing and Reality in Image Quality

    January 24, 2021 /

    To put it short, this is what you get by purchasing a Galaxy S21 Ultra 5g using the standard camera app: access to all four lenses is limited to jpg, 108megapixel resolution is limited to one lens (the one Samsung calls ‘wide’ or ‘1x’), RAW format is only availble in ‘PRO’ mode, limited to ‘ultrawide’ (0,6x) and ‘wide’ (1x), with no access to 108megpixel resolution. Samsung advertises the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5g by spinning its 108 megapixel camera. However, it does not make clear that the 108 megapixel resolution is not available in “PRO” mode, the only that records in raw. By contrast, this super resolution is available in normal…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Rest in peace

    March 13, 2013

    Pure Joy

    May 25, 2014

    The Businessman…

    February 9, 2013
  • Actors,  B&W,  Daily photo,  Gear,  PhotoCritics,  Portraits,  Technique,  Winter

    Easy To Shoot?

    December 12, 2020 /

    This picture might look “ordinary” but for the fact that I shot it with a rangefinder film camera (guess which?) during the scene change between to acts of a theatre play. Scene assistants were placing the furnitures, actors were trying to focus on their parts, there was no time (and place) to design a proper composition and set the camera. No autofocus, no real-time exposure and white-balance setting. Maybe I have been lucky capturing the match flame close to the cigar, maybe it was because of “muscle memory”, but I did it nonetheless. Problem is that I could not be sure if I succeeded until, one week later, I saw…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Niccolò Fabi – Meno Per Meno Tour 2023 – Live@Teatro Massimo, Pescara

    May 7, 2023

    One Shot Story: (Un)Available Coin Lockers at Shin Osaka Station

    December 22, 2024

    Windows

    September 15, 2014
  • Daily photo,  Gear

    Fuji X-T2 records audio at 16bit/48Khz

    October 11, 2020 /

    Neither the user manual, nor the Youtube ‘experts’ tell this open secret: the X-T2 samples audio at 16bit. Although the sample rate is 48khz (a standard in video production) 16bit may not be enough to record (a minimum) professional grade audio. This is not a big deal for the rest of the humans, but If you want to ‘go pro’ or need to unleash your Gear Addiction Syndrome be advised that to have 24bit/48Khz audio you must switch to the X-T3.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Toxic Waste in Open Air

    August 31, 2021

    Landing

    December 4, 2021

    Writer Inspiration’s Tools

    April 17, 2015
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear

    A Weird Fujifilm Battery Issue for X-series cameras

    December 2, 2019 /

    A defective battery can cause a Fujifilm X-series camera to start rattling and displaying blue, white or purple-striped screen in the LCD viewfinder. After three months of troubleshooting, having the camera traveling back and fro between my studio and Fujifilm Italy tech support, they have been able to identify the issue: a defective battery didn’t send enough power to the camera, thus jeopardizing its operation. Here is a Youtube video I made that shows the issue

    Read More
    Andrea Monti

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    The Lost Church

    July 16, 2014

    A Bookstore in the Gallery

    December 22, 2013

    Outside the Courthall

    April 15, 2015
  • Autumn,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Technique,  Thoughts

    Will The iPhone Kill Traditional Cameras? Not Very

    October 15, 2019 /

    Read More
    Andrea Monti

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    Out-of-Focus

    September 24, 2013

    Guarding Democracy

    June 14, 2023

    Who The Hell Killed the Light Off?

    August 2, 2015
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Thoughts,  Winter

    A shot wasted by Iphone 7 plus poor low light performance

    January 22, 2019 /

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    Andrea Monti

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    The Solitude of Power

    May 6, 2018

    Italy, Street-Photography and The Law – A Real Case

    October 3, 2014

    Portrait of a Fin Swimmer

    June 5, 2021
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Winter

    Fujifilm XF 100-400: a quick test

    January 12, 2018 /

    Read More
    Andrea Monti

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    Final Arrangements Before the Hearing

    April 19, 2015

    Seeing What Isn’t There

    October 27, 2015

    Vive La France, The Oslo’s Way

    October 7, 2014
  • Artists,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Photo Journalism,  Summer,  Thoughts

    A Bad Experiment

    August 26, 2016 /

    I had to cover “in emergency” a date of the musical Notre-Dame de Paris and found myself “unarmed” (no camera available whatsoever), so I have been forced to fall back on my mobile. While, at the end of the day and with great difficulty, I have been able to shoot something vaguely useful, this experience blew away any possible plan to use a mobile’s camera to handle an assignment. Simply put, mobile’s cameras suck, unless you go for (very)close or cheap shots. This should have been pretty obvious without the need of looking for hard evidence. Nevertheless, out of necessity, I have been able to test and learn on my…

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    Andrea Monti

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    A promenade

    February 24, 2013

    Mid-Morning Break at Place Jourdan

    March 24, 2014

    Foto-Grafo featured on Yanidel.net

    March 20, 2013
  • Artists,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Reportage,  Thoughts,  Winter

    Daniele Silvestri – Live@Cinema teatro Massimo – Pescara

    March 21, 2016 /

    Be Canon, Nikon or whatever, when the assignment is demanding, there is no substitute for a DSLR. I kept taking with me a Fuji (mainly, an X-E2 with the 18-55 and sometimes an X100s) as a wide-angle camera. The results are very good but, in a scenario like a theater, can’t possibly match the versatility of a 5D Mk III with the mighty Canon EF 100-400. Enjoy the pictures!

    Read More
    Andrea Monti

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    The Sailor

    June 24, 2013

    Avid Readers

    August 17, 2013

    Real Time Update

    February 20, 2016
  • Artists,  B&W,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Photography,  Winter

    Gigi Cifarelli Guitar Solo (feat. Michele Di Toro) – Live@Florian Espace Pescara

    March 7, 2016 /

    This the reportage I did on behalf of Rockol.it with a Canon 5d Mk III and the venerable Canon EF 70-200/2,8. The theater was small and few were the angles to be exploited. Thus I’ve decided to focus on close-ups and american shots.

    Read More
    Andrea Monti

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    Toxic Waste in Open Air

    August 31, 2021

    Landing

    December 4, 2021

    An outdoor theatre?

    January 31, 2013
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  People,  Rome,  Winter

    Action! (beware of Fuji X-Pro 2)

    February 2, 2016 /

    I’ve shot this picture with a Fujifilm X-E2 and a Zeiss C Sonnar T* 1,5/50 ZM. The split-image manual focus confirmation worked properly (though with a strong light it’s more difficult to handle it) and the resulting file in term of size and quality is fairly satisfying. Enter the X-Pro2 with a bigger resolution and new RAW format. While a 24 Megapixel APS-C sensor creates file that can be handled by most of the computer currently in place, the new RAW format will require the latest Photoshop CC/Lightroom update. So, if you chose not to enter into the mud of a subscription-based software licensing model, all of a sudden you…

    Read More
    Andrea Monti

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    Game Over

    April 15, 2022

    Whithin The Cage

    October 22, 2014

    A Maserati GranTurismo

    July 15, 2023
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Milan,  People,  Winter

    After a Tough Day

    January 30, 2016 /

    I  took this photo with a Fujifilm X-E2 and a Leica Elmarit 90/2,8. Manual focusing with the split-image option has been fairly easy.

    Read More
    Andrea Monti

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    Burnt

    November 12, 2021

    Scarf’s Meeting

    March 5, 2014

    Nico Cilli Band@Chiostro Comunale – Città S.Angelo

    September 9, 2013
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Fashion Shops,  Gear,  People,  Rome,  Winter

    Should I Buy It? (Best Taken With an 85mm)

    January 23, 2016 /

    …but actually with a 23mm (35mm equivalent, cropped.) It’s not just a shopping street. It’s a stage. Look closer: this frame holds a silent performance — a subtle interplay of desire, decision, and doubt. Three women stand just outside the warmth of the boutique, their eyes fixed on mannequins who, ironically, seem far more confident than the living observers. The mannequin inside strikes a bold pose, clad in red and certainty. The women outside? Bundled in coats, their body language somewhere between ambivalence and negotiation. On the far left, another kind of window. A glowing child’s fantasy, plastered with Disney’s “Frozen” — a reminder of simpler times, when wanting something…

    Read More
    Andrea Monti

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    Sun Worshipers

    January 3, 2022

    The cameraman

    July 17, 2013

    On “timing the moment”

    January 20, 2020
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  People,  Rome,  Winter

    True Leather (Saved by Photoshop’s Crop)

    January 18, 2016 /

    A 35mm focal length is definitely much too wide for my kind of street-photography, but I must admit that the advantages of using a Fujifilm X100s in terms of efficiency and portability, beat any other issue related to the wideness of the lens. And the X100s’ resolution is good enough to obtain a good composition through Photoshop’s crop feature.

    Read More
    Andrea Monti

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    The Call

    March 4, 2014

    Processing a DSLR Digitised Black and White Film with Affinity Photo

    January 24, 2023

    Carabinieri:To Serve And Protect

    February 8, 2016
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