Recent Gear Articles

A Retro Review of One of the Coolest Digital Cameras Ever Made

Today's modern digital cameras are small technological marvels, chock full of interesting and useful features. But back in the early days of digital photography, there was one camera that stood out from others, and this fun retro review takes a look at it.

Here Are 10 Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Mirrorless Camera

It's fairly safe to say the number of mirrorless options available to photographers is exploding at the moment, and you may be considering purchasing such a camera yourself. Here are 10 things to think about before you purchase a specific model.

How to Spend Money Wisely as a Photographer

With 2018 being the year of mirrorless, it is tempting for many of us to fall into the trap of trying to spend our way to good photography rather than using our own talents. And while having appropriate gear is essential to the trade, it’s equally important to think twice before sacrificing your business for the latest trends.

A Quick Guide to When You Need a Polarizer for Your Photos

When you're first starting out in photography, you may wonder what circular polarizers are and how they can improve your photographs. This quick and helpful video will show you why photographers use them and when you should consider pulling one out of your bag.

Stop Focusing on Camera Gear

With news of Nikon and Canon finally entering the full-frame mirrorless market, there have been endless discussions regarding stats and expectations. Don't let yourself get lost in all the gear talk, and remember that you don't need something new to make incredible photos.

Are L-Plate Brackets All the Rage Right Now?

It seems like more and more these days, people are touting the benefits of the L-bracket for their landscape photography. If you've ever used them, do you think they are all they're cracked up to be?

Lexar Makes Return to Flash Storage Market

The financial crisis hit everyone hard, and one of our favorite brands, Lexar, announced they were going to discontinue the brand in June 2017. A few months later, Longsys acquired the Lexar trademark and branding rights, but we hadn't heard anything until now.

Using a Wacom Tablet for Editing

When someone asks me what my favorite photography-related purchase has been, my Wacom tablet is always one of my first responses. Here is how purchasing one could help you and how to get the most out of it if you do.

Choosing a Lens for Storytelling in Photography

We often spend time choosing a lens for its technical qualities but there’s something more important. The sharpest lens in the world isn’t going to save you if you can’t convey something to your viewer with it.

The Nikon Z7 Is Better Than You Might Think

Nikon's full-frame mirrorless announcement has left the photography world, shall we say, nonplussed. But while many of the early reviews are quick to point out the Nikon Z7's shortcomings, Kai Wong's hands-on impressions paint a much more positive view of Nikon's exciting new platform.

Good Cameras Don’t Necessarily Make Good Images, So Conversely...

It was day one of the family holiday to Austria. A low-key photo week, with the camera on-hand to take some shots and grab anything interesting. We landed, checked in to the apartment, and then prepared to head off for the afternoon. Where had I put my camera?

Three Video Tips to Try Before State Fair Season Winds Down

It’s state fair season, and that means it’s time for corn dogs, funnel cakes and video opportunities. If you’re the type that goes every year, though, you might be struggling for new ideas, and so here are three ways to mix up your state fair video shooting.

Sony Announces "Tough" UHS-II SD Cards

Sony is claiming that these are now the world's toughest and fastest consumer SD memory cards. Meet the new SF-G series TOUGH SD cards.

Shooting Portraits With the Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM

When Sony announced the 400mm f/2.8 G Master lens, many of my sports and wildlife photographer friends were excited to add this lens to their kit. As a portrait photographer myself, I was curious to see what a lens like this could do when used for shooting fashion, beauty, and portrait work.

Fstoppers Reviews the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art for Sony E-Mount

It’s certainly well known that the Sigma Art line is beloved by many, and one of the great benefits of shooting with Sony is the ability to use most any lenses with adapters. As well as the adapters work, I could hardly contain my excitement when the Art line began to arrive in native Sony E-mount and today we’ll be going over the venerable 35mm f/1.4 Art.

Why I Chose Third Party Speedlights Over the Name Brands

Name brand speedlights — like a lot of things in photography — are absurdly priced, and although they carry the big brand names, they also lack in a number of key areas versus the lower cost, third party alternatives. Take a look at my reasoning for steering clear of the big camera manufactures brand speedlights.

What Does Nikon’s Entry into Mirrorless Mean for the Industry?

While there have been countless videos released reviewing Nikon’s latest release of the Z6 and Z7, there hasn’t been much of a discussion around what this means for the industry as a whole. Ultimately, is the release of the new bodies enough to keep Nikon’s base from defecting to other systems, or is there now a discussion among Nikon strategists on how to capture market share back from other manufacturers, mainly Sony?

Initial Reviews for Nikon Mirrorless Are Not Good

When Nikon first started with their teasers, there was a lot of excitement. Many people were intrigued about the larger lens mount and the potential for super-wide-aperture lenses. The excitement now seems to be fading and the reality of Nikon's mirrorless system is starting to set in.

Why the Nikon Mirrorless Already Sucks

We all know that Nikon and Canon are fueling up for a big battle for the mirrorless wars, with Nikon firing the first salvo in the form of the Z6 and Z7. But it just does not interest me.

The Nikon Mirrorless System: All the Little Things You Need to Know

As with any first-generation product, there's good and bad when it comes to Nikon's new mirrorless cameras, lenses, and accessories. Here's a little more information about some of the features of the Z6 and Z7 cameras and the system as a whole so you can decide if it's right for you.

[Update]: This is not necessarily Nikon's answer to a completely pro-line mirrorless body (scroll down for update).

Fstoppers' First Look at the New DJI Mavic Pro 2

Ever since its release in 2016, the DJI Mavic Pro has been one of the most popular, portable drones on the market. It's camera quality, size, and ease of use helped it become one of the best selling drones ever.

A Look Back: Viewing Nikon's F6 Film Camera Through a 2004 Lens

While there’s much abuzz about Nikon’s upcoming full-frame mirrorless cameras, it’s easy to forget that Nikon has been in the “full frame” business for a long time. Here to remind us of that is YouTuber Matt Granger, who reviews that Nikon F6, Nikon’s 2004-era 35mm film flagship, which he calls the “DSLR killer.”

A Quick Beginner's Guide to Crop Versus Full-Frame Cameras

When you're first starting out in photography, you might hear about "crop" and "full-frame" cameras and wonder what the differences and advantages and disadvantages of each are. This quick and helpful video will tell you what you need to know in just two minutes.

Could This Be the Best Studio LED Video Light Yet?

As more and more photographers are starting to dabble into video, the need for versatile yet affordable constant lighting gear is ever changing. Today I test the new Boling BL-50 lights to see if they could be the best bang for the buck.

Leica M10-P Announced With New, 'Virtually Silent' Shutter

The Leica M10 is the company's flagship full-frame rangefinder, and today it gets an upgrade with P-model styling and a new shutter that Leica says makes the M10-P the quietest analog camera it has ever made.

Try This Shadow Fix on Your Next Interior Shoot

When photographing interiors, flash is your friend, but a friend who needs some management. While flash brightens rooms, reduces glare, and brings out true colors, it can also produce the frustrating issue of ugly shadows.

Does Using a Neutral Density Filter for Time-lapses Make a Difference?

Most photographers are familiar with using a neutral density filter to create dreamy, long exposure photographs, but should you use a neutral density filter when shooting time-lapses too? In today's video, I explore why using a 10-stop ND filter might be perfect for more than just still photography.

Fourteen Little Things You Should Carry in Your Underwater Camera Bag

Over the years, I’ve acquired an interesting array of “tools” that I use for setting up and maintaining my underwater camera housing. I wish I had known earlier about some of the items I travel with, as they have made my life quite a bit easier. Most of what I carry with me has been a result of trial and error, and I’d like to pass along that information to any budding underwater photographers out there.