If You Own This Lens, You Hit the Jackpot

10 years ago, I reviewed the Laowa 105mm f2 Smooth Trans focus lens. And today, it's a lens that I still consider to be something extra special. Sure, you basically lose some light as a result of the STF lens elements. But you get with it much smoother bokeh and far more fascina…

Exercises in benchmarking and evals, part 7: DeepSWE, Senior SWE-Bench, napkin math, and winter tires

This is part of a series of exercises on benchmarking, evals, and experimental design (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)1. We're going to look at three questions, which are presented before the answers to give you time to think about the questions before seeing the answers. 29. A friend of min…

We Used to Be Able to Buy Things in This Country ....

We Used to Be Able to Buy Things in This Country. “Locking up toothpaste was a warning sign that our executive class was crazy.”

I Shot a Rare Film Emulsion That Sold for $5,000

I can't believe this, but I published the review of my favorite film camera around a decade ago. Purchased from a gentleman whom I believe used to run Nippon Photo Clinic in NYC, I remember going to a place deep in Brooklyn to get it. We either met up in a Chinese store or a lau…

A Shortlist of Potential Future Euro Banknote Designs

The European Central Bank is providing a sneak peek at the next design of the Euro banknotes. From a shortlist of 10 designs created by artists and designers from across the EU, one will be selected as the basis of how Euro banknotes from €5 to €200 will look in the future.…

“ Datatype is an OpenType variable font that turns...

“Datatype is an OpenType variable font that turns simple text expressions into inline charts. No JavaScript, no images, no rendering library — just type the syntax and Datatype’s ligature substitution does the rest.”

The Batman Effect : people in an experiment acted more...

The Batman Effect: people in an experiment acted more altruisticly when the caped crusader was present.

Forth

Once Upon a Time in Space

From the filmmakers who made the excellent Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland comes a four-part series on space exploration, Once Upon a Time in Space. A short trailer is above; here’s a synopsis: Drawing on intimate, unseen archive and powerful first-hand testimony, th…

The Place for Art Lovers to Find Authenticity

This year, we're throwing something special in celebration of photographers: it's called the 5 Boro Foto Fest. We've been working on something very big here at the Phoblographer for a long time now. The state of photography trade shows and festivals has needed a fresh new face a…

An Uncomplicated Man , Emily Wilson’s review of Nolan’s...

An Uncomplicated Man, Emily Wilson’s review of Nolan’s The Odyssey. “I would be ashamed to have written any part of this script. Sadly, Damon’s Odysseus isn’t complicated or wily or artful.”

Astronauts returning from long missions report a “jet...

Astronauts returning from long missions report a “jet lag of the self”: “a sense of watching their own lives from a half-step outside the frame”.

Trump’s Assault on Science Continues

I appreciate the plain speech of Science magazine’s Derek Lowe in his recent piece, The Assault On Science Funding Continues. When I talk to people about this subject (and that includes some journalists as well) and say what I’m about to at the end of this paragaph I am so…

Thypoch Ksana 35mm F2 Review: Not Worth the Money

Over the past few years, there has been an explosion of third-party M-mount lenses that have offered photographers everything from budget lenses to lenses that are nearly identical in terms of quality to that of Leica or Voigtlander lenses. Thypoch’s Ksana 35mm F2 sits on the…

Welp, right at the top of the CDC page on autism and...

Welp, right at the top of the CDC page on autism and vaccines: “The claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.” 🫨

What Happened to Syl Arena?

Syl Arena is a popular name for anyone who has a Canon system and was once interested in shooting with the company's speedlites. The California-based photographer is an educator and author who has been responsible for sharing his expertise on flash phtoography and lighting. Whil…

What to Know About Medium Format Portraits

If you're a photographer that has thought about getting into the medium format world, then congratulations: you're ready to step up into the next level of creating better portraits. You see, medium format photography often forces photographers to think in a different way simply…

Is the Nikon Zf Still Good in 2026?

If you're considering the Nikon Zf in 2026, we've got some really good news for you. Did you know that it's even better than the Canon R3? And even better than some higher end cameras still today. We've been updating our Nikon Zf review over and over again. And now, we think we'…