Welcome to my RU-vid Channel! I am a professional photographer from the San Francisco Bay Area specializing in headshot and artistic portrait photography. My PHOTOGRAPHY based RU-vid channel will feature DIY, insight, tips, behind-the-scenes lighting setups, tutorials, How To's, reviews, and other ideas to help and inspire you to elevate your photography, whether you're an amateur, hobbyist, or even a professional photographer.
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My RU-vid channel will include DIY tips, product reviews, Photoshop & Lightroom tutorials, in-studio and natural lights ideas, small tweaks to elevate your work, and much more.
If you'd like to see my work, you can always visit my web site at: www.mikemcgeephotography.com
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Thank you for visiting, and I hope you enjoy my channel.
Seems to me that your view is niche based for your own requirements. Hobby photography is a completely different thing with its own requirements. But thanks for your comments.
Remapping the movie button to focus modes. It's genius. Thanks for that tip, it's a game changer for me too. Proof everyone has a little bit of knowledge that can really help others if they only knew.
What a great video! Unlike many reviewers, you review and then actually set up the equipment and show how it can be used in a shoot. I wish other youtubers would emulate your approach.
from 10min-11:30min you mention a really cool trick. AF-C and holding down the back button to constantly focus and refocus your subject.... i have a question- does that mean that I'd have to surrender my back-button focus setting? It's an old habit from my DSLR days
Hey there, this is using AF-C and the AF-ON button on the back, as it's the same button used in back-button focusing. It's just switching from AF-S to AF-C, but with AF-C, it's constantly locking focus while doing back-button focusing. It's still back button focusing and a game changer for getting so many more photos with locked focus, even when you subject may move a bit. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the video. I shoot live performances (mostly circus) and am contemplating going from my D5 to the Z6II. You've given me some food for thought. Cheers!
Great trick with AF-C with AF-ON activated in menu. I will have to try that. Just sold my Z5 and the prices of Z6ii are really low lately in my area so buying one soon (they are throwing in a free FTZii with the camera at some stores locally). Although the next camera Z6iii will have more features it will also cost a lot more, so a Z6ii is in my budget range, and you make it sound like a great camera! My Z5 was okay, images were sharp, but the Z6ii has the speed in AF, and is less likely to have flickering on the back screen like what the Z5 sometimes has when recording video with less processing power, due to the dual processors of Z6ii vs. single processor of Z5. (while Z5 did flicker sometimes, not always, on the back screen, the recording itself was still clean in Full HD with Z5). An upgrade would be better. Thanks for your review!
Hey Adrian, glad to hear you liked my review. I absolutely LOVE my z6ii. It's been about 2 years since I migrated from the D750 and I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. I still use the FTZ adapter as well with my 85mm f/1.4 F-mount lens, why? Because it's awesome, and to me there's no need to upgrade to the new (and expensive) Z-Mount 85mm f/1.2 prime, largely due to the cost/weight. The z6ii just works, and works so well. Can't say enough positive things about it. Thanks again for your comment!
This is technically not PVC but ABS. ABS is way more durable and resistant to impacts and it's not likely to crack longitudinally like a regular pipe. Withstands 220F and doesn't melt like candle wax, unlike other more common plastics. Car bumpers and plastic pieces under the hood, bike fairings and machine enclosures are made with this material, so it withstands high temps and harsh conditions. It's a really good idea, and the rubber caps are genius for impacts and in eliminating having to use PVC glue or making threads. I would maybe include a piece of foam with the caps to dampen even more and potentially avoid ripped edges.
This is the type of stuff I love, and the best of the Internet where comments like yours allow me to learn something and are extremely helpful. This is great to know, and thank you for the clarification. That's great to know that there's less opportunity of melting in the car, and more durable and less crack resistant. Even your foam suggestion is a really good one and worth a try. Thank you for your comment, great stuff!
@@MikeMcGeePhotography Thank you for taking the time to reply. You really nailed it with your choices. I really enjoyed your D750 vs Z6II video from years ago and helped me make the switch from my D750 so I wanted to let you know.
@@Willymaze Very kind of you to say, and that's exactly the reason I make these videos. Just giving back to the plenty of people who have also made videos over the years that have helped me. Glad to hear my video helped you!
@@MikeMcGeePhotography well, if you sand the tube and prime it, you can use even automotive paint. Maybe just a little bit of sanding and an stencil with a logo or a business name. I wouldn't use gaffers tape because heat makes it extremely sticky and messy. I learned my lesson after leaving an extension cord with tape in my garage for a couple of months.
@@Willymaze Gotcha, and that's definitely an option. For a logo, I would suggest a white vinyl logo that's a decal which would work nicely as well! For the black exterior, I'm normally OCD about this stuff, but I really don't mind the side writing. It's not overtly obvious, and the black finish is already a million times better than a beat up cardboard box I was lugging around, so I feel like I'm ahead of the game already. :)
wow really helpful video..question tho, what happens if we want to take a full body portrait, how far should we move the lighting n projector back? thanks
Did you mention what your frame rate was when you were setting up your aperture? Also can you select mic level and line level on your microphone menu settings for that camera?
Great content Mike! I love my D750 as well and about to make the upgrade (finally), but was also wondering about the FTZ vs FTZii adaptor? Anyone now an opinion on these two? Thanks!
Hey, glad you like the video. The only difference between the FTZ vs FTZii is that the FTZii doesn't have a tripod mount at the bottom. But they function the same. Thanks for watching!
this video was SOOO helpful.. I had no idea why the screen kept being black in the studio.. and voila! just one button clicked (view on and off) and now I can see what I am shooting.. Thank goodness!!! and Thank you!!
Thank you for the video! For those who still want or have the D750, regarding the focus system, AF-C with 3D mode works quite well on eyes and definitely on faces, and Group Area will choose a face if there is one . In Live View, the options Object Tracking and People Tracking do exist and they are for the whole sensor (unlike in view finder mode). It's not as precise as the Zs that selects the eye but still quite efficient for most situations. Happy shooting!
Still using my D750 but thinking if I should go for the Z6II this 2024 or the ZF (despite the ergonomics) or wait for the Z6iii this year. However, I use my camera for leisure as a serious photography enthusiast.
Just stumbled across this. In Canada we have a retailer that sometimes has special buys. 3 years ago I spotted some used but nice HD metal cases that looked to be good for photo gear so I started poking through them. One was much heaver so I opened it and here was a Powerlite 810, with all accessories and the manual, and even a book that recorded when and for how long it was used. Since it was priced the same as the other cases $35 Cdn, I took it to the till, paid for it and rushed home to try it. Works fine, connects to my laptop fine, so I just use that and project photos I've taken or downloaded. Also created a bunch of 'Gobo' .png images to project patterns onto subject, walls, etc., again just using the laptop or sometimes via a thumb drive. We even had a movie night where I projected a Netflix movie onto a building wall. It was like being at an old drive in theatre. Fun toy! Since Adobe and others introduced Ai 'Generative Fill' almost any 'background' I wish I had ...can be conjured up using that but for gobos, this is still great.
This video was made for me. I'm in the process of upgrading from the D750 to the Z6II and my main lens is the 85mm f1.4G. I absolutely love this lens as it has saved me on a lot of shoots. I can't wait to pair it with the Z6II. Magic will be made.
Even with the release of the Nikon native z-mount 85mm f/1.2 S lens, I feel no need to buy it since the combo of our 85mm f1.4G + FTZ adapter works so flawlessly. Our combo is also far lighter and smaller than the 85mm f/1.2 S, and not to mention about $2,500 USD, so I've still been using my 85mm f1.4G + FTZ adapter for portrait shoots and it works perfectly. I think you'll really like the z6ii and this 85mm f1.4G combo. I love it. Glad you liked this video. Make magic my friend.
Yup...I love this retro Nikon! I usually don't impulse buy a camera for style...don't need it but I want it! More than a pretty face...it's packed with tech too! Reminds me of my Canon AT-1 which I still own. Great video Mike!
I'm a long time D750 user...that said, I bought a Zfc to see what the mirrorless deal is and the focusing system alone blew me away so enter the Z6II...it is definitely a game changer! I have a lot invested in F mount lenses so the FTZ adapter is perfect while I take my time and pick out a few Z mount lenses. I can't part with my D750 yet...it would feel like losing an old friend. Great video Mike!
Great video. Just to be sure, the orange and blue light, were the flashes or continuous light. Since this is not my language, and also a I'm oretty new im photography, i think i might got lost in translation.
Nice review. I also owned a Yashica rangefinder which started me off as well. The Z50 also has the U1 U2 functions which I don’t believe the Zfc has. I don’t care I will buy one anyway but I will buy a Black body as all my film Nikons were black and I made a black aluminum grip with a nice wooden handle to go with it. I like your enthusiasm for this camera which I also share as I used my Nikkormat and my FE for many years. And you’re right, it’s important to have a connection with the camera as a tool in your hands. Regard Gerry
The moment you said you set your "CL mode shooting speed" to only 2 shots I figured you must be a professional photographer. I agree with 95% your shooting philosophy. Thank you.
Any way I can have help with mounting umbrella on LINK …..it just does not go in, tension clips do not give way to the shaft of umbrella ( less than 9 mm)?
