Like it or not we live in an era where camera manufactures compete with each other for how much resolution their products offer. But there’s a big difference between what you want and what you really need. That’s why, budget notwithstanding, it’s time to ask yourself how many megapixels are necessary for your style of photography.

Another question arises when you factor in the cost of investing in new gear; namely, will you be better served by an expensive new camera or by dumping you kit lenses and purchasing better glass. This 12-minute tutorial answers these questions and more by evaluating the benefits (and drawbacks) of the latest high-megapixel wonders for different types of photography.

Instructor Gavin Hardcastle is a Canadian landscape pro whose videos span the gamut from behind-the scenes shooting tutorials, post-processing techniques, up-to-date gear talk, and more. This episode is all about the best way to spend your hard-earned cash in a way that will result in higher-quality imagery (rather than wishful glances from envious photographers).

An informed decision to upgrade a camera for a newer model with greater resolution rests on several key valuables, beginning with the types of images you shoot most. Is landscape photography your thing, or are you more interested in portraiture, sports/action photography, or capturing nature and wildlife images in the field.

For some shooters it’s sort of like the speedometer on a car with a top limit of 140mph—even though you never drive faster than 80. In other words, there are a few questions to ask yourself before taking the high-res route. How important is cropping to you? Are you more concerned with weather-sealing or dynamic range?

And what about the manner in which you share and display your imagery; namely, do you regularly make large prints and submit your work for publication, or just need your photographs to look great online?

After discussing these issues Hardcastle demonstrates the difference a good piece of glass makes in terms of sharpness and price by delving into some Raw files from his recent shoot with the OM1 Mark II—a highly regarded, small sensor micro-four-thirds camera. He also illustrates the kind of results you can expect when upscaling images to the point where you may start wondering if a super high-resolution camera makes sense for you.

There’s much more to learn on Hardcastle’s interesting YouTube channel, so be sure to pay a visit when you have time to explore.

We also recommend watching the tutorial we featured with another top landscape photographer who demonstrates how to choose the most appropriate ISO setting for every outdoor image you shoot.

Earlier this week we discussed how to step out of your comfort zone by trying your hand at capturing dramatic high-contrast b&w photographs. We’re following that up today with thia post-processing beginners guide for inexperienced Photoshop and Lightroom users.

Instructor Neil Medland is a professional outdoor photographer and image-editing expert based in Australia whose popular shooting and editing tutorials are targeted at those new to the game. This episode reveals a simple and effective method for converting color to b&w, followed by a selection of suggestions for using various of processing tools to arrive at a perfect result.

The lesson run 20 minutes despite its simplicity, so you may want to jot down a few notes for future reference. Medland was on the coast before sunset intending to capture colorful photos, but the sky clouded over and there was barely any color in the scene. “So rather than pack up and leave, I decided to take some photos because dull overcast days tend to make nice b&w images.”

Medland divides the lesson into two parts: one for Lightroom users at the onset and another for Photoshop devotees that begins at the 10:30-minute mark of the video—so feel free to skip to the section that interests you most. As he explains, the techniques are very similar “but Photoshop just gives you a few more options.”

He kicks off with Lightroom while offering this reminder: “Most of what I do in Lightroom can be done in Photoshop via Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) and I’m not going to repeat these parts in the Photoshop section later in the tutorial.” So even if Photoshop is your weapon of choice, you may want to watch the entire lesson.

Medland leads off each section with a basic and super easy workflow before delving into specific tools. When it comes to Lightroom he concentrates on the Tone Curve and B&W Mixer. As mentioned above, the Photoshop section is a bit more expansive, with tips for exposure blending, b&w adjustment layers, and straightforward techniques for modifying white points and black points.

The Photos on the Bay YouTube channel contains a wealth of valuable information for all outdoor photographers, so be sure to take a look.

And don’t miss the tutorial mentioned above, so that you understand the starting point, which is how to capturing dramatic high-contrast b&w photographs in the camera.

We brought you one eBook last week, and we’ve got another for you today! Nasim and I just published “Photography Basics: The Complete Beginner’s Guide” for the first time in a downloadable PDF format. This 145-page eBook explains the most important basics of photography in detail, including camera settings, composition, and more.

It wasn’t just Sony that had a big day yesterday! Sigma also announced the arrival of four APS-C lenses for the Canon RF mount: a 16mm f/1.4, 23mm f/1.4, 30mm f/1.4, and 56mm f/1.4. These fast prime lenses bring the total number of Sigma RF lenses up to six – all APS-C so far.