When it comes to standard prime lenses, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm are generally the most popular. Nonetheless, there are plenty of other focal lengths out there, and one particularly worthwhile option is 24mm. This great video discusses why a 24mm lens can be such a compelling option and why you should consider including one in your arsenal.
The new HEX Ranger Sling XL bridges the gap between a large backpack and a traditional sling, combining elements of both for photographers who want to travel light without leaving almost everything at home.
Under the category of so-ridiculous-that-I'm-not-sure-it's-real-but-kind-of-a-cool idea is a video that chronicles the life of a "fanny pack photographer."
We are living in an age of incredible lenses that offer combinations of versatility, performance, and image quality that were unimaginable even just a decade ago. One lens makes a strong case for the best combination of those aforementioned factors, however, and it is from a manufacturer you might not expect.
Fujifilm has made some excellent cameras and glass to adorn them with, but one photographer claims that this lens is the cream of the crop. So, is he right or is there something better that can be found in Fujifilm's extensive line-up?
It is easy to get caught up in the remarkable performance and image quality of modern lenses, but the past century has given us hundreds of fantastic lenses full of character, and if you can find the right one, you can discover an entirely new creative world while spending far, far less than you would on a new option. The Pentax Asahi Super Takumar 55mm f/2 is one such lens, and this great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can get from it on a modern body.
One of the greatest innovations by modern camera and lens manufacturers is image stabilization, which helps to compensate for our natural tendency to slightly shake when holding an object. Like any such feature, though, it is not free, and lenses and cameras with stabilization tend to cost more. So, do you actually need it? If you are new to photography and wondering, check out this great video that will teach you what you need to know.
TTArtisan makes some very affordable lenses, and at $118, the 17mm f/1.4 is no different. Offering a wide focal length paired with a maximum aperture and available for a wide variety of APS-C mounts, it looks like a potentially useful budget option for a wide range of shooters. If you are interested in such a lens, check out this great video review that takes a look at the 17mm f/1.4 and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
I was sent this live production system that doesn’t require anything else to get you streaming six feeds of live camera action to your social video platforms, all at the same time. It’s an encoder, switcher, recorder, and monitor, all in one. You can even insert a SIM card to stream over your mobile network if your destination doesn't have a stable internet connection.
85mm lenses are the traditional focal length of choice for portraiture, but on the other hand, they are certainly not the only option. 135mm lenses have long been a popular alternative, and there are some high-quality choices out there, such as the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens, its performance and image quality, and what makes it unique among other high-end portraiture options.
There’s something about the analog process that will slow down your photography, making you more thoughtful about image creation. What if you take it one step further and push yourself with an instant camera? Could it make you a better photographer?
With specifications and features that look quite pedestrian by today’s standards, the Canon 5D Classic might not seem like it deserves much attention nowadays, but it was a revolutionary camera for its time and well worth a second look in 2022. This fun video takes a look at the famous camera and gives 10 reasons why it was such an important body.
Viltrox has developed a reputation for creating very affordable lenses that still offer very good performance and image quality. One of their newest options is the Viltrox AF 13mm f/1.4, which offers Sony, Fujifilm, and Nikon mirrorless APS-C shooters a nice combination of an ultra-wide focal length and a very wide maximum aperture. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
If you asked many photographers what magical device they would love to have, an adapter that turns manual focus lenses into autofocus ones would probably be near the top of many lists. For Sony shooters, there is the Techart PRO Version II, which allows Leica M lenses to autofocus on E mount mirrorless cameras, and this awesome video review takes a look at the adapter and the sort of performance you can expect from it in real-world usage.
Investing in a camera system is a costly business. Once you are tied to a particular brand, you seem stuck with it. Changing is a big decision, but there can be good reasons both to and to not swap systems.
Why would you get a hard case instead of a backpack? This review of the Nanuk 935 Hard Case will make you think differently about how you store and get your gear from point A to point B. There are other hard cases out there, but this one has a lid organizer, which in my opinion, sets it apart.
A couple of years ago, I got a chance to review the Profoto B2 flash with the AirTTL trigger. Although I loved the flash, I had some doubts about the trigger. Now, there is the new Profoto Connect Pro trigger. Is it worth the upgrade?
An 85mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is one of the most popular options on the market, particularly useful for portrait and wedding photographers who want a flattering focal length and narrow depth of field. That being said, such lenses can cost well north of $2,000. This is what makes the Meike 85mm f/1.8 so compelling, with a sub-$200 price tag that still includes autofocus. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.
The people and websites that sell the most products make the most money, but at what cost?
Most of the time, a worthwhile lens is going to cost you at least several hundred dollars, if not somewhere in the thousands. So, the prospect of a $69 lens is certainly intriguing. Can it produce worthwhile images, though? This excellent video review takes a look at the TTArtisan 50mm f/2 and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in real-world usage.
Simplicity is the name of the game when it comes to powering your video system.
The Sony a1 mirrorless camera is, by far, one of the most capable and versatile cameras ever released, with just about every feature you could ever want for any photo or video need you might have. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.
Aside from the price, often in the vicinity of thousands and thousands of dollars, can you actually tell the difference between an f/2.8 lens and an f/4 lens?
Usually, if you want to use a supertelephoto prime lens for things like wildlife or sports photography, you have to use first-party options. However, Sigma offers a rare exception to that rule, the 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports, and it offers that combination of extra-long focal length and wide aperture sought after by many professionals at a significantly more affordable price. Can it match pace with the likes of Canon and Nikon? This great video review takes a look at the lens to answer that question.
Digital camera technology has reached a point where even our phones can produce images that can be mistaken for a “real camera” to the untrained eye. Photographers have never had more affordable access to image-making tools that can produce crisp, high-resolution images, rivaling those of professional gear from not very long ago. So, why then have objectively inferior vintage digital cameras been making a sudden comeback?
When you want to travel light but still have a quality camera in hand, you often have to make some difficult decisions and settle for regrettable compromises. But what if a light, pocketable camera solved many of those problems?
Sony has recently released a lightweight, compact power zoom lens that is perfect for all types of creators regardless of whether you shoot stills or video. What's not to love?
Consumer 360 cameras have come quite a long way in the last few years, and you can now get professional-level video and photos from many models. Well-known manufacturer Insta360 recently released the ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition in collaboration with Leica, and this excellent video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
The Fujifilm X-H2S is the company's newest mirrorless camera in the renowned X Series, and it comes with a variety of new features and improvements over its predecessor. If you are interested in the camera, check out this great video review that takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
A variable neutral density filter can be very handy. You only need one filter that covers multiple strengths. Haida released the CPL VND Pro II, a variable neutral density filter that works also as a polarizing filter. Haida asked me to review this new variable ND filter with polarization abilities.
In the world of influencers and competition for social media gravitas, it's no small feat to amass 217,000 followers. That tells me they must have something good to offer. So, when this photographer shared which filters he uses, I took notice. You should too.
The 50mm lens is one of the most common lenses out there, and yet, it can be a weirdly challenging one to use. Why is it so difficult to master, and how can you create better photos with one? This excellent video takes a look at the 50mm lens, why it is tough to work with, and what you can do to improve your shots.
35mm lenses with wide maximum apertures are some of the most popular and versatile out there, suitable for a huge range of applications, from events coverage to portraits, astrophotography, and more. The Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.2 SE is quite an interesting alternative to many mainstream options, and this excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
How big can sensors get on a phone's camera? Leica has done a collaboration with a rather surprising company to give you a glimpse of the future.
While the ports on modern laptops are enough for most users, photographers and filmmakers have much higher connectivity demands than the average person. A portable hub can be a lifesaver for a creative on the go. In this review, we take a look at the Anker 555 USB-C 8-in-1 Hub and if it can provide both the ports and performance a demanding workflow requires.
Sigma's Art series of lenses features some of the most highly regarded options in the industry, offering impressive image quality at prices that often significantly undercut those of first-party options. The 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art is the longest focal length in the lineup with an f/1.4 maximum aperture, making it an intriguing option for portrait and wedding shooters. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
Canon's RF lens library has been steadily growing, with a wide variety of standard lenses and more extreme options for a range of photographers' needs. Nonetheless, there are still a few lenses that professionals are looking for, and thankfully, another one will likely be on its way soon, with some major improvements in tow.
An 85mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is the tool of choice for countless portrait and wedding photographers, offering a classic, flattering focal length in tandem with shallow depth of field and plenty of low-light capabilities. Such lenses run a wide gamut of prices, however. This excellent video comparison takes a look at three options with a $1,000 price difference between them, the Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE II, Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM, and Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art.
Choosing the right tripod often means finding the balance between portability and durability. How does a tripod with no center column add more flexibility to your setup?
A 35mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is useful for a huge range of applications, including portraits, landscapes, astrophotography, events coverage, and more. However, such a lens can easily cost over $2,000. As such, at $799, the Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AF II is quite an intriguing option. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.
Sigma's latest two lenses, the 20mm f/1.4 DG DN Art and 24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art, continue the Art series custom in that they provide sharp and impressive image quality while significantly undercutting the prices of many first-party options. This excellent video review takes a look at the 24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art and the performance and image quality you can expect from it.
When it comes to getting around with my primary camera, collection of lenses, filters, and miscellaneous lighting accessories, I’m a backpacker all the way. But what about those instances when you already have your hands full, but still want a capable camera to bring with you and don’t want to haul out the production-ready camera bag? As a father with two young children, this scenario is an increasingly common occurrence for me, and I believe I’ve found the perfect solution.
It's been nine months since I started to live a nomadic life and do full-time travel and photography. To stay productive on the road, I had to exchange my old and trusty desktop PC for a portable solution. I'm a Windows user and decided to go with the Dell XPS 9510. In this article, I explain why and share how it held up over the past months.
It’s one thing to have a dedicated graphic tablet for editing and a whole world of convenience to have a versatile editing console. Let’s check out why the Inspiroy Dial 2 can be considered more than just a tablet.
Laptops are more powerful than ever, easily capable of replacing a desktop for many creatives. However, when it comes to the needs of creatives, the ports on most laptops simply aren't enough to cover everything. Enter the docking station. In this review, we take a look at the Ugreen USB-C Triple Display 13-in-1 Docking Station and if it can cover all the needs of a demanding professional.
The Canon EOS R3 is the most advanced camera the company has ever created, offering some incredible features, like a 195 fps continuous burst rate, making it a compelling option for a wide range of creative applications, particularly sports and wildlife work. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it.
When it comes to mirrorless cameras, there are normally a few specifications and features that capture all the headlines — things like frame rates, sensor resolution, and autofocus. And while those are important, every camera comes with little features that might not capture those top headlines but that make a significant difference in your day-to-day usage. This interesting video discusses some of the best little features in Canon cameras.
It is common today to find professional photographers eager to embrace new equipment offerings from manufacturers. I recall a time when things were different and professionals were content to stick with gear that was adequate for their current needs.
The 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the workhorse you will find in a ton of photographers' bags, as it provides a useful zoom range in tandem with a wide maximum aperture. That being said, such lenses are generally rather expensive. If you do not need that wide aperture, you can save a lot of money and get more reach by opting for a lens like the NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
Mirrorless cameras have come quite a way in the last few years, offering some incredible technology. As awesome as all that tech is, not all of us want to spend a ton of money on a camera. Canon's EOS R10 packs a lot of the company's advanced features into a body that sits below $1,000, making it quite the intriguing option. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
