Gear

Today, a brief thought on when, sometimes, the solution isn’t X or Y, but X and Y.

One regular and boring argument proposed by some is that the camera doesn’t matter. That’s hogwash. A good quality camera is vitally important for photography, and here’s why.

Michael Sasser is a well-known boudoir photographer on YouTube and loves to shoot in natural light conditions only, but in this video, he is opting to use the Zhiyun MOLUS G200 lights. Join Michael in this video to see how he gets on and what amazing images he can create.

It's not often that my favorite flash system goes on sale, so when it does it's pretty big news. Now until August 31st, Profoto is offering up to $600 off their B10x and B10x Plus flash heads. If you looking to add to your kit or are wanting to switch over to a powerful and portable flash system that uses Profoto's light modifiers, this is a great deal to check out.

Third-party manufacturers have put a lot of pressure on first-party companies in the last few years by continually offering both innovative and unusual lenses and more standard options that perform just as well as more expensive glass at far more affordable prices. One such company doing that is Viltrox, with the AF 75mm f/1.2 for Sony APS-C E mount cameras being the latest example. This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from this lens.

The 16-35mm lens is the standard workhorse of landscape photography, but it is far from the only lens you can use for the genre, and, in fact, you are probably doing yourself a disservice if you rely exclusively on those focal lengths. If you are new to the genre and wondering what makes for a good lens kit, check out this helpful video tutorial sure to put you on the right path.

Perhaps no camera brand is more polarizing than Leica, with many photographers absolutely swearing by both the experience and the image rendering and quality, while others claim they are nothing more than overpriced status symbols. If you have been wondering what the experience is like but are not ready to spend thousands of dollars to find out, check out this interesting video that features a Fujifilm X100V user discussing his thoughts on the Leica Q2.

Sigma long ago established themselves as one of the premier manufacturers of lenses that offer top-level image quality that professional photographers demand at prices that often significantly undercut those of first-party manufacturers. Two of their options, the 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art and 50mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary, often similar capabilities but with different experiences and at different prices. Which is right for you? This insightful video comparison will help you pick.

With all the new advancements in technology, specifically with the emergence of AI, why would you still need to have a set of filters for landscape photography? How do you start and what should you start with?

There is a ton of gear on the camera market, a lot of which promises to give you an easy shortcut to better images, and while some of it can legitimately make your life easier, a lot of it is simply a waste of money that you will regret spending down the road. This great video featured an experienced photographer discussing some of the gear he most regrets buying and why.

Both the Nikon Z7 II and Z8 have earned reputations as highly capable cameras capable of producing excellent images in a variety of conditions. With a thousand dollars of difference between the two, you might wonder if you need the more expensive Z8 or if the Z7 II will cover all your needs. This in-depth video comparison takes a close look at both cameras to help you pick the right option.

In 2021, I bought the Think Tank Retrospective Backpack 15. This would be my lightweight backpack for holidays and day trips. I’ve enjoyed using this backpack, and now, it’s time to make a long-term review.

While interchangeable lens cameras rule the professional world, fixed lens cameras have always been an alternative option for anyone who does not want the hassle or expense of carrying around a bag of several lenses. With a long history of such cameras, there have been some remarkable options along the way. This interesting video takes a look at five of the best lenses ever made for fixed lens cameras.

In the past few years, we have seen an explosion of lenses that offer far more performance for the price than many comparable first-party options, and few manufacturers have been more competitive in that respect than Viltrox, who have created some of the most remarkably affordable lenses in recent memory. The AF 75mm f/1.2 offers APS-C continues that trend by offering APS-C users the combination of a portrait focal length and a bokeh-monster aperture. This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from the lens.

Nikon has dabbled in vintage-styled digital cameras for quite some time now, with some achieving more success than others, but they have yet to release a full frame mirrorless camera with that sort of design. That might change soon, with a new vintage-style full frame mirrorless camera rumored to be on the way very soon.

Wide angle lenses are the tool of choice for a lot of landscape photography, but they come with a large set of challenges that can make it difficult to produce worthwhile images with them. This interesting video essay discusses the difficulties of wide angle lenses, why telephoto options can often be a better choice, and what it takes to make a compelling landscape shot with a wide focal length.

Backup and storage solutions are 10 a penny these days, and with so much choice, knowing which ones to choose becomes increasingly more difficult. Each of these solutions has its own advantages and disadvantages. Whether that's cost, security, compatibility, or capacity, these solutions can range in price from free to hundreds of dollars per year.

With a cost of just $1,299, the Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 offers an incredible capable and versatile range of capabilities, at least on paper. Can its performance and image quality match those impressive specs in real-world usage? This great video review takes a look at what you can expect from the lens.

When I was sent a Pentax K3 Mark III Monochrome for review, I must admit that I didn’t know what to expect. Releasing an APS-C DLSR in 2023 – one that only captures monochrome images – is quite a bold move, and the K3 Mark III Monochrome is in fact the only camera in existence that can claim these unique specifications. After using the camera for a few weeks, however, I have found a lot to love about the K3 III Monochrome, and it doesn’t begin or end with the monochrome sensor.

Canon's 7D line of APS-C DSLRs were a massive hit for the company, as they borrowed many of the advanced features and capabilities of powerful full frame cameras like the 1D series and put them in far more affordable bodies that were accessible to a much wider audience. The EOS R7 has continued that philosophy in the mirrorless age, and it offers photographers some incredible features for the price. This great video review takes a look at the camera after a year of usage and discusses whether its combination of performance and image quality make it the right choice for you.

This portable power station can power almost any device you have and it can recharge itself on location.

Perhaps no workhorse lens is more ubiquitous than the standard zoom with an f/2.8 aperture. Capable of handling a diverse range of applications and needs, these lenses can be found in many photographers and filmmakers bags, though they are often rather expensive. At $799, that makes the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD rather refreshing. Can it keep up with more expensive options? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from the lens.

Standing desks have become somewhat ubiquitous over the last few years and hold a number of benefits for photographers and content creators. Having used them in the past with mixed results, I was pleasantly surprised by the standing desk from FlexiSpot in terms of quality, form, and function.

Like a lot of creatives, finding that perfect desk setup is sort of like searching for the holy grail. But after a lot of searching, I think I found mine.

Pop quiz, hotshot. What is the best investment you can make in your photography today?

The gimbal and drone giant DJI has just announced their next-generation mid-level drone set to replace the Air 2. The new DJI Air 3 brings many new and interesting features, and we managed to play with one for a few days before the announcement. So, what does it bring? Is it any good?

Canon came out swinging when they entered the full frame mirrorless market, with one of their most impressive lenses being the RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM, the first full frame autofocus zoom lens with an f/2 aperture. This has led many to hope that other f/2 zoom lenses might eventually be offered, and their wishes might come true.

We put a lot of time and effort into ensuring our workspaces are technically capable of tackling the often high demands we place on them for our photo and video work. Nonetetheless, the visual design of our workspaces can have a major impact on both our efficiency and our enjoyment of the work. This neat video highlights five minimal but highly functional workspaces to inspire your own design.

At just $1299, the Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 looks like a remarkable deal if it can offer the performance and image quality to match those impressively versatile specifications. So, how does it hold up in practice? This fantastic video review takes a look at what you can expect.

At just $479, the EOS R100 is remarkably affordable, making it an intriguing entry point into Canon’s mirrorless ecosystem or a convenient and portable backup for current users. At such a low price, can it satisfy the needs of modern photographers and filmmakers? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

There used to be a significant separation between prime and zoom lenses in several ways, and as such, it was easy to know which was appropriate for different situations. However, more modern zoom lenses have blurred the line, and they can arguably match prime lenses in some situations. One such lens is the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM. Is it all good, or are there drawbacks to having such a lens? The excellent video discusses the issue.

The brand name Exascend is synonymous with high-quality products. So, will their award-winning Explorer SSD, designed for challenging environments, live up to its name? When the going gets tough, will the tough get going?

If you are anything like me, you have probably found yourself staring at your open camera backpack, paralyzed by the decision of what gear to take and what to leave behind. Perhaps the solution is not to fill that backpack, but rather, to get a smaller bag. This fantastic video essay discusses the many benefits of carrying a smaller bag and why it can be such a freeing experience.

LED light panels, once used predominantly by videographers, have now become an indispensable tool for photographers. Whether you are a seasoned professional or an aspiring enthusiast, finding the perfect lighting setup can make all the difference in capturing high-quality images.

In last week’s article, I chose to talk about the joys of going small with lighting gear. In today’s article, we’ll go big, very big, with the Aputure LS 1200d Pro LED Light Kit.

Fujifilm's X Series of cameras and lenses have become increasingly versatile and feature-laden in the past year, with one of their most capable lenses being the XF 18-120mm f/4 R LM PZ WR, which covers the most popular focal lengths and includes a power zoom mechanisms for filmmaking applications. How does it hold up in practice? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect from the lens.

Logitech International has acquired Loupedeck, a Helsinki-based creator of custom consoles and software designed to elevate the creative process for streamers, creators, and gamers.

Rarely is a landscape photo finished when you press the shutter; almost all images require some degree of editing to produce a fully polished result. One of the challenges of editing a landscape image is bringing a sense of depth back to a two-dimensional photo. If that is something you are struggling with that, check out this helpful video tutorial that will show you everything you need to know to do just that.

The Sony a7R V offers the highest resolution available in a full frame camera, tons of dynamic range, built-in focus stacking, and a range of other features that make it a strong candidate as the best 35mm mirrorless camera for landscape photography. Can it live up to that in practice? This fantastic video review takes a look at what you can expect.

Pancake lenses place portability above everything else, and that used to mean that while they were convenient, you could not expect very good image quality out of them. However, optical design and technology has made some great advances in recent years, making lenses like the Nikon NIKKOR Z 26mm f/2.8 intriguing to many photographers and filmmakers who want a tiny and lightweight option. This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from the lens in use.

The Fujifilm X-T5 has been out for some time. It was announced back in November 2022, but I’ve been using it since a few weeks before that so you could say I’ve had the camera for a long enough time to be able to tell you my opinion on it. Is it the right camera for you? What are its pros and cons?

Laowa has been producing lenses since 2013 and now has a vast collection, from cine lenses to landscape, to specialist lenses, and everything in between. These lenses are sharp and solid and cater to the ever-growing needs of photographers.

Almost every modern camera comes with a variety of modes ranging from automatic to fully manual, with just about every possible option in between. What do they all do, and which should you be using for your work? This fantastic video tutorial introduces you to all the most common camera modes, how they work, and when you should use them.

Tilt-shift lenses are some of the oddest options out there, and they can be a bit tricky to use, but they hold a very valuable place in the toolkits of many photographers. What makes them so useful? This helpful video tutorial introduces you to tilt-shift lenses and their applications.

The Sony a7 IV is widely regarded as one of the best hybrid cameras out there, but with the a6700 now here, Sony users have two excellent options for their work. Despite the a7 IV having a full frame sensor, the a6700 has some better features and is also $1,000 cheaper. So, which is right for you? This fantastic video comparison takes a look at both to help you decide.

There is a lot to learn when you are a new photographer or filmmaker, but one of the most important bits of advice does not have anything to do with your creative approach, but rather with how you spend your money. Before you pull out your credit card and go on a shopping spree, check out this important video essay that gives some crucial advice that will save you from making costly mistakes.