Hi There! You’ve found the STEMtropolis Resources page. This is where we share the products, software, and services we’ve used to build STEMtropolis.
We use the items on this page, and feel comfortable recommending them to you. You’ll find some affiliate links below, which means we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Thanks if you purchase through our links!
Web Hosting
We use Bluehost for web hosting. Bluehost has some good plans for starting a website, and you can move up as your website grows. We haven’t had any issues, and customer service was able to help the few times we’ve had questions.
Camera Gear
We don’t use many stock photos on SEMtropolis. Since we do most of our own photography and video work, it’s important to have some good gear.
Today I’m a fan of the Sony A6600 – It’s out a few years now, and still does a great job with both photos and video. (Many of the photos on the site were shot on this camera and it’s predecessor the Sony A6000.) It’s compact, lightweight, and you can choose from a variety of lenses. It’s not as big as the full frame DSLR models, which makes it easy to travel with. (My Sony rig has seen quite a few international trips.)
If I decide to go full frame, I’m eyeing up the or the Sony 7C.
Lenses
Your choice of lens for mirrorless or DSLR cameras can have a huge impact on the quality of your photos. Most cameras come with a ‘kit’ lens so you can get started quickly.
Kit Lens – Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6
This is the lens that comes with the Sony E-Mount series cameras. It is compact and versatile. I still use it when I want to shove the camera in my jacket or cargo pocket and go. It’s great to experiment with before moving into some of the pricier options. Sure, the kit lens is not the best quality option, but still capable of producing some great shots. Its low profile makes it a great choice for something small and easy to carry.
SEL18200
This is a great everyday lens, going from wide at 18mm to a respectable zoom. It’s larger than a prime lens, but has a much further reach with the 200mm telephoto. This makes a great all around lens and offers versatility.
SEL24F18Z
This lens is awesome. It’s a prime lens, so there is no zoom. If your main use case is shooting a pet in a controlled environment, it’s easy to set yourself up at the right distance. The fast 1.8 aperture gives great low-light performance. It also allows a wide depth of field, allowing parts of your image to be tack sharp, while other parts have a soft bokeh effect.
Zeiss lenses are not cheap, but you’re paying for quality. You can often find these lenses used for much cheaper than list price. Browsing the used listings on Amazon, there are usually numerous options for sale almost half off of list price. (Pro tip – I bought mine used!)
Bottom line – this is the lens that spends most of the time on my camera.
SEL55F18Z
This is the 55mm version and is also a Zeiss prime lens. The 55mm makes a great portrait lens on the Sony A6000 and similar models. It lets me shoot while being just a bit further away and allows great control over the aperture and depth of field.
I also like using this lens with Macro Tubes for close up photography.
Again, do yourself a favor and browse for a used one.
SELP18105G
This lens was purchased as a replacement when my 18-200 zoom lens broke. It makes a good lens for video with a fixed aperture and powered zoom, and we’ve been shooting some video and venturing into Youtube.
This is becoming our go-to video lens.
The Camera in Your Pocket
Camera gear aside, the best camera is the one you have with you. We still use our cell phones to capture the moment if that’s all we have handy, or if we doing something with an in phone app (Check out some augmented reality shenanigans in this post.)
Currently we’re using Galaxy S20. It still holds up after a few year’s of use. When I need to get a quick shot and don’t have a dedicated camera with me, the cell phone usually does the job (you’ll find cell phone shots sprinkled through the site as well.)
Buying a Lightbox
For product photography or items where you want to isolate the subject from the background, a lightbox is a great addition to any photography rig.
So, I’ll admit, I tried to save a few bucks and go cheap right out of the gate. You can find lightboxes under $20 or so, and I can tell you I wasn’t happy with the size, build quality, or lighting. Save yourself the hassle of returning and get something a bit bigger & better.
Moving up to the next size was an easy choice. It folds flat and has Velcro on the sides of the box for quick & easy set up and tear down. You can shoot from the front of the box or through a flap in the top, depending on the angle you need.
LED Lighting is built in to the top and can be controlled with a dimmer switch. It also comes with an assortment of colored backdrops for different moods and effects. This gives me a mini photo studio anywhere I can fit a 20 inch cube.
Most of the 3D models and toy shots throughout the site were done in this box.
