Recent Gear Articles

Canon Isn't Done With Professional DSLRs Yet

As Canon continues to dive deep into the mirrorless waters, its DSLR shooters may be wondering if Canon's professional mirrored cameras have seen the last of their days and they'll be forced to eventually migrate. Luckily for those shooters, it seems as if Canon isn't done with high-level DSLRs just yet.

A Sony User Tries the Fujifilm X-T3

The current mirrorless race is often framed as a competition between Canon, Nikon, and Sony, but of course, Fuji is making some great cameras that its users are fiercely loyal to. This interesting video follows a Sony user as he takes a Fuji X-T3 out for a spin and shares his thoughts.

What Do You Need for the Perfect Vlogging Setup?

If you’re putting together a list of gear for creating your perfect system for vlogging, check out this video from YouTuber and photography industry guru Ted Forbes.

'Bland and Cheap': Kai W Reviews the Canon EOS RP

It's not exactly the ringing endorsement Canon would have wanted, but Kai Wong brings his usual humor to this savage review of the company's newest full-frame mirrorless offering.

Ten Great Cameras That Shoot 1080p for Less Than $300

With the endless hype surrounding the amazing features of every new camera, it’s easy to forget that there are plenty of incredible tools available for those on a tight budget. Cinematographer Caleb Pike has put together a list of 10 cameras that are great for video but cost less than $300.

The Asus Zenbook Pro 15 UX580: A Better Alternative to MacBooks

As a company, Apple has been catering to the creative market for most of its history. This is one of the reasons you'll find so many photographers and video editors using Apple products including the MacBook. More recently it seems Apple has been moving away from creator-specific products and many in the industry are starting to notice.

G-Technology's G-Drive Mobile Pro SSD Is a Portable Speed Demon

My favorite drives of the last several years have been these newer, compact, portable SSD drives, especially as they’ve become more affordable. But G-Technology’s G-Drive Mobile Pro SSD is in a class of its own for those that need real speed.

Can You Use a Sound Bar for Computer Speakers?

Believe it or not, the most popular sound bar in America is made by Vizio. At $150 it's incredibly cheap, but I have to admit, it sounds surprisingly good. Does it make a good computer speaker system? Let's find out.

How We Built Our New Fstoppers Studio Set

In today's video we take you behind the scenes in our new Fstoppers studio and show you exactly how we built and designed our latest video set. We will show you all the microphones, cameras, and lighting gear as well as our thought process in tackling this empty canvas of a room.

Fstoppers Reviews the Kandao QooCam: A Cool Camera, but Who Is It For?

As consumer 360 cameras enter a second generation for many manufacturers, a lesser known name is joining the fray with a unique offering. Kandao’s QooCam bills itself as the “World’s First interchangeable 4K 360° & 3D Camera,” bringing some interesting tricks to the party. How does it measure up?

Fstoppers Reviews the Smith-Victor Edge LED Light

In certain situations, having a rechargeable and portable constant light source can really come in handy. In this review I look at the Smith-Victor Edge Light, a powerful and versatile LED light stick.

How Much Use Is a UV or Protection Filter for Your Lens?

Whenever I bought a new lens, I always added a UV filter to it. It was obvious to do so, and I never gave it any thought. But there was a moment that I stopped adding that sort of filter and I never looked back since. Does a UV filter still have any benefit, or is it a waste of money? Let’s find out.

A Hands-On First Look at the Canon EOS RP

The Canon EOS RP is Canon's latest entry in the full-frame mirrorless market and their second such camera overall. Meant to be a budget version of the EOS R, it's been generating a bit of a buzz around its feature set. This great video takes a hands-on look at the new camera, including both its pros and cons.

The Future Is Full Frame: Will Canon and Nikon Ditch Crop-Sensor Cameras?

The mirrorless tsunami is well under way. We have a wealth of full-frame options with new mounts, smaller flange distances, vastly improved EVFs, and smaller bodies. Given the dent that this is already putting in DSLR sales, what’s the next step? Sony already has a well-established range of crop-sensor mirrorless bodies, but will Canon and Nikon follow suit?

How to Get Macro Images Without a Macro Lens

Have you wanted to give macro photography a try but don’t have the budget for the proper gear? Here is an excellent lens hack to get close up photos without losing depth of field.

Why the Canon EOS RP Sucks for Video

As an avid Canon user I tend to ignore the constant stream of hate for Canon across the Internet but this just doesn't make any sense. How can you leave these features out regardless of the price?

Tips for Shooting Vertical Video as a Pro

With most website traffic overwhelmingly coming from smartphones, a client is going to ask for portrait content sooner or later. How can you avoid the major pitfalls?

Sony a6400: Perhaps the Best Camera Under $1,000

I've gotten to play with the Sony a6400 for the last couple of days and although it's not exactly what I'm looking for, it still may be the best camera for sale currently under $1,000.

Which Is Better, a $589 'Proper' Boom Pole or a $10 Broom Handle?

Boom poles are an indispensable tool for both filmmaker and photographers. They can hold microphones, lights, bounces, and even props. This video by the recently-resurrected Indy Mogul compares a $10 broom handle to a $589 K-Tek K-102CCR to see which one is better for audio.

A Sony User Tries the Canon EOS R

When you hear about photographers talking about switching brands between Sony and Canon, it's almost exclusively from the latter to the former. However, with Canon finally jumping seriously into mirrorless cameras, it's interesting to see how Sony users feel about the EOS R.

Wacom Introduces the New Pro Pen Slim

Wacom updated its Pro Pen series a while ago, and to address the needs of users, the new Pro Pen Slim has been introduced.

Building the Fastest Network We Can In Puerto Rico

As many of you know, Lee and I recently moved to Puerto Rico, and with that move, we are having to completely redesign our new studio space. In today's video, we tackle our in-home network and wireless Internet connection. Surely the limitations in Puerto Rico will prove to give us trouble... or will it?

Hands on With the New Fujifilm X-T30

The latest Fujifilm camera is here and based on the spec sheet, it looks like a minor update at best. Personally, I don't think this is a bad thing because considering the price point this is a fantastic camera. The X-T20 was a brilliant well-priced camera and the new X-T30 continues in that vein.

Jonas Rask Discusses the New Fujinon XF 16mm f/2.8 Lens

I've always enjoyed seeing what Jonas Rask has to say about the latest Fujfilm gear releases. He's insightful and focuses more on the abstract of the gear than the nitty-gritty numbers and curves.

Why I Can Never Quit Full-Frame DSLRs

I’ve had a long flirtation with mirrorless cameras of all stripes, from the earliest Panasonic to Fujifilm to Olympus. I’m usually quite happy with and shoot them all frequently, but at the end of the day, it’s always a full-frame DSLR that reminds me why none of those have ever become my main squeeze.

Does Expensive Gear Really Make You Better?

It's the age old conundrum isn't it? If only you had better gear you'd take much better photos and be a much better photographer. But is that really true? Let's see what happens when it's put to the test.

The Canon EOS RP: Cheap and Cheerful, Assuming You Don't Shoot Video?

With Canon’s latest announcement causing a few waves, many people — myself included — are getting a bit sore from sitting on the fence. The EOS RP will no doubt sell a bucketload, but is it the right camera for you? It might be cheap as chips but I won’t be advising anyone to buy it. Here’s why.

LG gram: The Lightest 17-Inch Laptop in the World Is a Photographer's Dream Come True

When you photograph in a studio you have the luxury of having an abundance of electrical power, access to bigger monitors, and grip equipment for your computer devices. The newest 17-inch LG gram is a compact-body laptop in the 15.6-inch class. It weights only 1,340 grams and allows you to have a similar experience not only in studio, but also on location.

How to Find and Buy Photo Gear Cheap

As I'm sure you already know if you've spent any amount of time as a photographer, gear isn't cheap. You start off believing you just need a camera and a good lens, but next thing you know you're filling your online shopping cart with memory cards, batteries, camera straps, bags, and more. Since making a gear purchase is inevitable, is it possible to make your next purchase without breaking the bank? Absolutely.

Do You Know the Maximum Acceptable ISO Value for Your Camera?

Modern cameras can be set to very high ISO values. But the higher your ISO is, the more noise will be visible. There is a point when the noise levels become higher than acceptable. Do you know what high ISO value is still acceptable for you?

Olympus Announces the New 12-200mm Lens, and It’s Tiny

Olympus has just announced the launch of a new lens, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 (35mm equivalent 24-400 mm). It features the highest range of zoom of any lens available for mirrorless systems, giving users more than 16 times magnification. At just $899, it goes on sale at the end of March.