5 Best Cameras for Hybrid Shooters in 2024 (For Both Video and Still Photography)

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Need a camera for both photos and videos (for hybrid shooters)?

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Let’s face it…

A lot of people are hybrid shooters, meaning that they want to shoot both videos and stills.

If you are a content creator/influencer who’d like to stitch it together and post it on Instagram to increase your popularity, then this post is for you.

So, which camera is best for both photography and videography today, and what’s so special about them?

Well, the beauty of hybrid cameras is that: 

• they (generally) are compact, 
• they offer interchangeable lenses, and, 
• they have a large image sensor (which is important for high quality images). 

Not to mention that you can produce top-notch video clips too.

(Note that the term “hybrid camera” is often interchanged with the terms “mirrorless” or “compact system camera”, so I may use all three terms in this post.)

Best Camera for Video and Photo Round Up

Here’s a table that’ll give you a quick look of my roundup and the reasons to buy the product. For further details, simply click ‘review>’ in respective row.

FYI: When choosing which product to include, I didn’t focus only on the ‘latest and the greatest’, but rather on great price-quality ratio options, even if they are older models.

In any case, whether you’re a complete newbie or an enthusiast, bootstrapped or not, you’ll find a good option that works best for your needs and budget.

Let’s get started, shall we?

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1. Canon EOS M50

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Great Mirrorless Camera from Canon (Under $1000)

Type: SLR-style mirrorless | Weight: 390 g | Resolution: 24 MP | Sensor: APS-C | LCD: Fully articulated | Touchscreen: Yes | Weather-sealed: No | ISO: 100-25600 (up to 51200)

Reasons to Buy

• large APS-C format sensor
• 4K recording available
• very nice work in Auto mode
• advanced functionality, easily customizable controls
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology for fast and accurate focusing
• high image quality up to ISO 3200
• compact and light
• Built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and GPS using a smartphone

Reasons to Avoid

• No Dual Pixel in 4K videoshooting
• short battery life, especially when using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• USB charging not possible
• tripod will block the SD/battery compartment should you need to switch them

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Look…

This is the one I myself have and really enjoy using. Right now, Canon EOS M50 (Kiss M in other parts of the world) is the best affordable little camera that you can get.

Especially if you’re looking to produce online videos on YouTube.

Although I must say, while M50 has pretty good 4K at 24 fps, if you REALLY need about high quality 4K video shooting, then it’s not for you.

The major benefits of this little beauty:

• highly affordable,
• it’s compact and lightweight,
• has fully articulated LCD touchscreen,
• easy to understand and use,
• excellent image and video quality.

Just to name a few.

Bottom line: If you need an easy-to-use mirrorless for YouTube videos and high quality images under $1000, then Canon M50 is a no-brainer.

• What Photographers Will Love

In M50 there’s a Dual Pixel autofocus system, and it’s just incredible. The AF is fast and accurate even in difficult lighting conditions.

(However, if you video shoot in 4K, you lose this feature.)

Based on my personal experience, there’s a huge advantage to having a touch LCD screen. It offers the convenience of focusing with one touch on the screen and M50 does a great job dealing with it.

If you’re heavily into photography, its capabilities are great.

And guess what?

Even the 15-45mm F3.5-6.3 kit lens is great. Specifically, in the images I saw offer highly detailization, sufficient contrast, and good saturation.

The kit lens did a great job not only in taking shots during the day, but I also tested it during the night and the image quality was a lot better than I expected. 

A separate note on white balance…

When shooting in mixed and complex lighting conditions, the automatic measurement of WB proved to be working incredibly well.

In most cases, the M50 correctly determined the color temperature of the scene and selected the appropriate correction value. 

Without a doubt, the level of image quality is significantly better than that of smartphones. And it can certainly compete with other mirrorless cameras in the same category (just my humble opinion).

• What About Its Video Capabilities?

In case you didn’t know, Canon EOS M50 is the brand’s first mirrorless camera with the ability to record video in 4K format. Supported video formats:

• 3840 x 2160 pixels at 25 frames/s,
• 1920 × 1080 pixels at 50/25 frames/s, and,
• 1280 × 720 pixels at 50 frames/s.

Recording in 4K format is possible only when it is switched to the “Video” mode using the selector dial. 

Although I must say, 4K does have it’s limitations.

Specifically, if you switch to this mode, you lose the Dual Pixel AF feature. (I know, sucks.)

This being said:

If you REALLY want to create online videos with stellar 4K mode, then this baby might not be the best choice for you. I personally am not particularly crazy about 4K, so I would just record videos for YouTube in HD (which works pretty great so far) and use the Canon M50 as a travel camera.

Now, if you’re like me, who likes still photography more and needs a nice little cam for online videos as well as for travel purposes, then you’ll probably enjoy M50 as much as I do.

• What Lenses to Use with the M50?

One thing that I must note right away is that even though the M50 uses interchangeable lenses, you’ll need to get a mount adaptor from EF to EF-M lenses.

Second of all, to my surprise, the 15-45mm kit lens is pretty awesome. You can definitely work with it when doing landscapes, portraitures or street photography.

The downside is that the maximum aperture of the kit lens is f/3.5, so keep this in mind.

If you want to have a crisp look and blurry background in your photos and videos that the 15-45 kit lens can’t do, consider getting a 22mm pancake lens or the classic nifty-fifty lens.

Another great lens to consider is the 100mm f/2.8 macro IS lens. If you always shoot handheld, you’ll find its IS feature absolutely crucial.

I’ll be frank, I just love Canon M50.

It’s awesome for a variety of purposes, such as:

• social media content
• online videos on YouTube
• capturing shots when travelling 

Just to name a few.

Best of all? It costs less than $1000 (with the kit lens).

==> My full review of Canon M50 mirrorless camera.

Find the Best Deal

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2. Fujifilm X-T20

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Best “All-in-One” Mirrorless Camera Under $1200

Type: SLR-style mirrorless | Weight: 383 g | Resolution: 24 MP | Sensor: APS-C | LCD: Tilting screen | Touchscreen: Yes | Weather-sealed: No | ISO: Auto, 200-12800

Reasons to Buy

• quality build, compact, and convenient in work
• classic film presets
• advanced AF system, focusing on the face, eyes, settings tracking AF
• high-quality electronic viewfinder
• absence of lags and delays
• possibility of video recording in 4K
• great hybrid camera for your money

Reasons to Avoid

• no in-body stabilization, so you might have to use a tripod
• the inability to shoot in RAW in Auto mode
• absence of dust and moisture protection

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Look…

If you’re looking for an awesome “all-in-one” digital camera that costs around $1000 give or take, then Fujifilm X-T20 is for you. 

Not only is it affordable but it is also an official EISA Award winner as the “best consumer compact system camera 2017-2018″.

As a beginner, you’ll love X-T20 because of its Auto mode, built-in flash, touch screen, and 4K video capabilities.

But what is the most important “weapon” of this gear? 

It is definitely the X-Trans CMOS III, a high-performance sensor that we know from the X-T2 and X-Pro 2 flagship. 

It has also taken the video mode with high-resolution UHD and a stunningly fast focusing system. 

In X-T20 you get 90% of X-T2 flagship camera for a great price.

So, do I recommend buying it in 2024? You bet I do! Compare the prices here.

• A Bit of “Boring” Tech Stuff for Photographers

The X-T20 has a lot in common with the flagship X-T2.

For example the sensor and AF:

It is equipped with the same sensor format APS-C – X-Trans CMOS III – with a resolution of 24 megapixels and the same advanced hybrid autofocus system. 

It uses 325 focus areas distributed throughout the frame. (And 169 of them are phase type, their sensors are built right into the sensor.)

The burst rate speed is 14 frames per second when working with an electronic shutter. With a mechanical one it is 8 frames per second.

Now, Fujifilm X-T20 is much more affordable than its predecessor.

I mean it is almost twice as cheaper, plus it has many features that will be useful for a beginner photographer. For example, there is an intelligent auto mode Advanced SR AUTO, and a built-in flash. 

The ergonomics is also simplified. X-T20 has a touchscreen which is definitely distinguishable from previous Fuji models.

Here’s a sample photo of how it works in practice.

• What About Video in Fujifilm  X-T20?

Since this post was published for hybrid shooters, it’s important I mention the video capabilities of the cameras as well.

First of all, video is definitely of high quality. Your video clips will be stored in UHD resolution at a rate of 30 frames per second.

As was mentioned earlier, the autofocusing system is already known to us from the X-T2 model. It uses up to 325 separate focus points, and also provides the ability to select areas of autofocus.

It gets better…

There is an intelligent focus mode, which independently analyzes the scene being shot and can distinguish faces and even eyes, and also allows tracking of moving objects in five different pre-programmed situations.

For manual focus, users are offered tools such as focus-peaking and a focus bar with depth of field.

In terms of speed, Fujifilm X-T20 can almost always be ready for immediate start of shooting: even with insufficient amount of light, the scene taken becomes clear after 0.4 seconds.

(I may not be much of a video person but to me it sounds like a good deal.)

• What Lens Should You Get?

X-T20 comes with two kit lenses:

You can buy a kit with an inexpensive Fujinon XC 16-50mm F/3.5-5.6 OIS, OR, a more advanced Fujinon XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS lens. 

The latter will better reveal the potential of your new “toy”.

All in all:

Good autonomy coupled with compactness and the ability to charge from USB makes the X-T20 an excellent option for shooting on a trip.

It can also be considered as a second camera for a professional.

Overall, I’d recommend it to fans of street and genre photography, because…

• you’ll have lightning-fast focusing,
• a small, compact body,
• the possibility of silent shooting, 
• a 4K video,
• and a tilting touchscreen.

Without a doubt, Fujifilm X-T20 is stylish, compact, fast, and easy to use.

Thanks to a wide selection of film presets with it, you can make original frames without additional processing.

With the capabilities that it offers and for such price tag it comes with, you will definitely enjoy it and you will have enough for developing your photography skills.

Oh, and should I mention again that Fujifilm X-T20 is an official EISA Award winner as the best consumer compact system (hybrid) camera?

Find the Best Deal

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3. Sony a6500

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EISA Award Winner. A Great Sony for Stills and Video

Type: Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Weight: 453 g | Resolution: 24 MP | Sensor: APS-C | LCD: Tilting | Touchscreen: Yes | Weather-sealed: Yes | ISO: Auto, 100-25600 (51200)

Reasons to Buy

• comfortable and durable body
• integrated image stabilizer
• excellent image quality and AF
• extensive videoshooting capabilities in Ultra HD resolution
• clear viewfinder and flip-up display
• charging ability from USB

Reasons to Avoid

• slow SD card slot and fills up fast with 4K
• can’t swipe or enlarge gallery photos
• battery life could’ve been better
• no headphone jack

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Fujifilm X-T20 isn’t the only one in this list that has won an EISA Award.

Sony a6500 also was given this prestigious award as the “best prosumer compact system camera 2017-2018”.

(Which is just a fancy name for “hybrid camera”.)

If you ever held the previous model, you will realize that Sony a6300 is noticeably inferior to the a6500 model.

What’s so special about it? 

Specifically, photography enthusiasts will absolutely love that there is an increased buffer, 5-axis image stabilization, and the 425-point phase-detection autofocus.

The touch screen will become a pleasant bonus and the last argument in favor of Sony a6500 when shopping. Compare the prices here.

• Sony Alpha 6500 for Photography

The Alpha 6500 is one of the best models that the APS-C market currently offers. Great merit in this belongs to the quality of the image. 

24 megapixels at a minimum ISO provide clear and breathtakingly detailed images of the full-frame DSLR level.

I mean with the high resolution, extremely clear lines, low noise at high ISO, the images look amazingly good.

You will totally love the level of detail, which remains high up to ISO 3200. (It is even slightly better than the previous model.)

Without a doubt, the main innovation is the presence of an image stabilizer.

Specifically, an integrated 5-axis stabilizer compensates for the camera’s shake even when used with lenses without the “Optical SteadyShot” system.

In practice, this means that you can use an exposure 4.5 steps higher when hand held shooting. During the test, the Alpha 6500 with a 50 mm lens, even at 1/20 second exposure, continued to give clear images.

Sony a6500 touchscreen has the following options:

• one-touch shooting, and,
• setting the point for autofocusing.

And when framing through the viewfinder the screen works like a touch pad, allowing you to select the focus area with your finger, while still keeping your eyes on the viewfinder (see image below).

It’s the first time that this ability was introduced in Sony cameras.

• Stabilization Comes in Handy for Videographers Too

The image stabilizer will come in handy for videographers too.

At last, clear and detailed recording in Ultra HD resolution at 30 frames per second will look “calm”. There is also an ability to get rid of unnecessary shakes when you press the buttons.

Another thing you’ll love:

Sony a6500 is equipped with a flip down 3-inch touchscreen with high resolution. This very well facilitates the implementation of soft focus transitions with continuous video recording.

Make sure you pick up at least one more battery as well as an SD card that’s at least 64gb. I will be completely honest here, the battery life isn’t that great and the SD cards fill up fast with 4K. 

• Lens Recommendations for Sony a6500

If you’re looking for just one lens, the best recommendation would be Sony E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS. 

It’s f4 constant, but it can be a workhorse for you. 

This is basically the best native run and gun lens for a6500. For APS-C, this is your most reasonably priced lens to cover the major focal lengths. 

Also sharp enough for 4K video-shooting.

Now, this lens is not weather sealed and isn’t great in low light.

So, if you can afford buying two lenses, go for 18-105mm f/4 constant and 35mm f/1.8 prime. The latter will allow you to shoot in low-light situations.

All in all:

It’s Sony a6500 is a great hybrid camera.

In all areas of testing, it has proved to be an excellent model in terms of:

• image quality,
• burst rate,
• functionality. 

This mirrorless system gear achieves very good results in almost all categories.

Without a doubt, it’s a sweet choice and I am sure you’ll be very happy with it as a hybrid photographer. Especially if you travel a lot and prefer run-and-gun shooting.

I encourage you to give it a try!

Find the Best Deal

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4. Sony a7R III

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Amazing Mirrorless for Hybrid Shooters

Type: SLR-style mirrorless | Weight: 657 g | Resolution: 42 MP | Sensor: BSI-CMOS | LCD: Tilting | Touchscreen: Yes | Weather-sealed: Yes | ISO: Auto, 100-32000 (50-102400)

Reasons to Buy

• high detail images and solid ISO up to 12,800
• very wide dynamic range
• high speed of continuous shooting up to 10 frames/s
• excellent autofocus and effective image stabilizer
• high-quality video in 4K and Full HD
• dust and moisture protection
• using Wi-Fi and geotagging via Bluetooth available
• two memory card slots, one with UHS-II support

Reasons to Avoid

• takes some time to understand its abbreviations
• not always smooth work with compatible applications
• limited functionality of the touch interface

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Let’s face it:

While Sony a7R II is a cheaper alternative, without doubt the new a7R Mark III is one the best mirrorless choices on the market, whether it’s for portraits, landscape photography, or anything else.

Various improvements which were introduced in the a7R Mark III still make it one of the fastest multi-megapixel cameras today. Here’s why:

• continuous shooting up to 10 fps,
• continuous eye AF,
• a buffer for 42-megapixel RAW,

These added features really are amazing.

Many, even old-school photographers, will agree that this Sony turned out to be very successful and extremely universal.

Does it have any cons? In my opinion, most of them are not so noticeable compared to its pros.

Compare the prices here.

• Amazingly Sharp and Fast in Photography

One of the things that photographers will love is the autofocus.

It’s super quick and will appeal not only to amateurs, but professionals too. I mean, this full-frame mirrorless is able to produce a series of images at a speed of up to 10 frames per second.

(Both with a mechanical, and with a silent electronic shutter.)

The image buffer contains 170 pictures in JPEG format or 40 photos in RAW format.

Such fast, powerful autofocus is partly due to the reprocessed sensor: the graphics chip of 24 MP provides a good compromise between resolution and file size.

On top of that the sensor is built using BSI (backside-illuminated sensor) technology from Sony, which is especially important in poor lighting conditions.

This model also has an extended range of photosensitivity (ISO 50 – 204800), and at ISO 6400 this Sony will certainly produce very clean and detailed images.

I mean the detail of the image is extremely high and you can boldly use values of up to 12,800 ISO units.

Lastly, as a portrait photographer, you will like the eye-detect autofocus in a7R III.

What this means is that you can lock on to the eyes so you will never have to move the focusing point around.

• Professional Videos and Endurance When Shooting

Now let’s talk about what videographers will love about a7R III. The good news is that Sony paid a lot of attention to the video capabilities too.

To give you an idea, it has:

• Ultra-HD at a speed of 30 frames per second,
• slow-motion shooting in Full-HD resolution, and,
• 120 frames per second.

The range from 16 to 100 Mbps leaves a huge freedom of action for post-processing.

In addition to the SLog2 and 3 profiles, the HLG protocol is now available for selection, this makes it possible to get an impressive HDR-video.

Also practical for video recording is the touch function of the flip-down 3-inch display located on the reverse side.

(And when photographing, it’s opposite. It is more convenient to use a giant and also extremely accurate viewfinder with an OLED panel, on which 3.7 million subpixels lie.)

• Recommended Lens for Sony a7R III?

As a hybrid shooter you will very much enjoy Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM lens.

It is a solid, professional, weather-resistant lens that will produce ultra-sharp images. It also balances well on a7R III even without the grip.

Now, it definitely is pricey but the quality and versatility sure do stand out. 

Without a doubt, this gear will leave a very good impression on you.

In my opinion, Sony a7R III is perfect for many professionals, and not only as an additional camera, but also as the main working tool.

It will work with any genre, whether it’s:

• wedding fine art photography,
• subject photography for promotional purposes,
• fashion,
• and/or travel.

A number of technical characteristics will satisfy any artistic needs of yours. 

Now, with Sony a7R III you’ll have to work with it and adjust a little bit to it first, and only then fully customize it to your taste.

Bottom line:

It’s is one of the best price-quality options for hybrid shooters in 2024.

Find the Best Deal

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5. Nikon D850

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One of the Best DSLRs for Old School Hybrid Shooters

Type: Mid-size SLR | Weight: 1005 g | Resolution: 45 MP | Sensor: BSI-CMOS | LCD: Tilting | Touchscreen: Yes | Weather-sealed: Yes | ISO: Auto, 64-25600 (32-102400)

Reasons to Buy

• tenacious focusing and highest level of resolution
• wide dynamic range, flexibility in processing RAW files
• ease to use grip, button illumination, high resolution inclined display
• optical viewfinder with 100% frame coverage
• quiet shutter and noiseless Live View shooting
• high speed of continuous shooting (7 fps) and 30 fps 4K video shooting
• support of modern fast memory cards XQD and SD UHS-II

Reasons to Avoid

• a bit slow focusing of contrast type in Live View mode
• NOT for hobbyist photographers

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There is a reason why I keep recommending Nikon D850 and Sony a7R III over and over again, whether it’s for portrait or landscape photography. 

These two are just awesome in many ways. Now, when it comes to Nikon D850, many would say that it’s more for old-school photographers.

Why?

See, Sony a7R III takes some time to get used to (and some pro photographers still don’t fully accept mirrorless cameras). But, if you are bit nerdy for all the new camera features, then you’ll love the mirrorless Sony.

Anyway, Nikon D850 is the ultimate DSLR with amazing image quality, 4k video, lightning fast autofocus, and killer features.

Without doubt, it is one of the best Nikon DSLRs on the market right now. 

• 45 Megapixels: Will Blow Photographers Away

One of the great features of D850 is its sensor with 45 MP which will completely blow you away.

Why you need so many megapixels? This is because it gives you more detail. And more image detail means more freedom in everything. It allows you to:

• print pictures in large format,
• gives room for framing,
• and greater flexibility in processing.

For example, retouching a portrait or a subject photo becomes much more convenient if the shot is taken in high resolution.

There’s a catch though. 

The 45 MP comes at price. What I mean is that your old lenses will probably not handle this new sensor technology very well, so you will likely have to purchase a new lens with it.

Even at 36 megapixels, it is recommended that the exposure be at least 1 LW less. For example, at 30 mm at least 1/60 sec. At D850 it can be even more likely 2 LW, that is 1/100 with or is shorter.

Or else you will have slightly blurry images (when zooming in the images).

• What Will Videographers Like About Nikon D850?

When it comes to video shooting, here, too, the Nikon D850 is “charged up” with the latest technology. You can record 4K-video at a rate of 30 frames per second without a crop!

There is also this function of accelerated shooting Full HD with a frequency of up to 120 frames per second to create a spectacular slow motion. Making time-lapse in 4K resolution became much easier: the camera itself will shoot and create a quality video.

Without a doubt, D850 video recording capabilities are brought to the professional level. 

Important:

A prerequisite for using all these features is the availability of fast memory cards.

Either an SD card of the UHS-II standard in the first slow, or an expensive XQD card in the second slot. Better yet, use both. You need fast memory cards not due to high resolution images and videos, but more because of the high speed of continuous shooting.

Approximately seven frames per second is surprisingly swift for a camera with such an extremely high resolution.

• Lenses for a Nikon DSLR Hybrid Shooter

Remember I mentioned earlier that one downside to Nikon D850 is having have to get newer lenses? Well, one of my recommendations is to get Nikon AF-S FX 24-70mm f/2.8E VR.

Usually I try to provide cheaper (yet great) alternatives to expensive Nikon lenses but in this case I don’t want to recommend third-party lenses which I know might not satisfy you well.

So, if you can afford it, then absolutely go for 24-70mm f/2.8E VR lens.

All in all:

This DSLR has set the new quality bar for all camera manufacturers.

It is the one that other players in the market of full-frame cameras will have to equal to in the near future (at least in terms of image quality and detail).

Let me repeat myself…

If you are into all the modern gear and like all the new features, then definitely get Sony a7R III over old-school Nikon DSLRs.

If you are more old-school and want to be able to use a variety of lenses, then take Nikon D850.

It definitely is a pricey one, but if you can afford it, then go for it! It can be one that will make all your dreams as a photographer come true.

Find the Best Deal

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Best Hybrid Cameras for Videos & Stills (2024)

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So…

If you are a content creator who wants to take a few shots and grab a little video clip, then these are the 5 best hybrid digital cameras for both photography and videography that you can buy for 2024. 

Each of these suggestions will realize your needs as a hybrid photographer – whether you want stellar photos, or need to create a top-notch video clip to post on Instagram.

As it has been mentioned before, what’s great about hybrid cameras is that they are pretty compact, they offer interchangeable lenses and they have a large image sensor which is responsible for high quality of the images.

Whatever your budget is, you’ll certainly find the one that’s right for you.

Now…

I’d like to hear from YOU:

• In your opinion, what is the best camera for photography and video in 2024?
• What’s your current budget that you can invest in gear?
• Any particular brand you prefer for both videos and still photos?

If you have any hybrid photography examples to share, or have any suggestions, recommendations and/or questions, then let us know in the comments below!

Happy shooting!

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