Recent Gear Articles

Fstoppers Reviews the Powerful New Apple Mac Studio

Apple's new Mac Studio has created an entirely new class of desktop computers for the company, offering some insanely powerful capabilities that should be able to tackle anything even the most demanding photographers and filmmakers can throw at them, all at a price that starts significantly below the Mac Pro line, making it an impressive value. In this review, we take a look at the new computer and just how much power it houses.

A Guide to Shooting With Premium Sony Cameras and Lenses

Sony creates some of the most advanced cameras and lenses in the world, and if money is no object, you can put together a kit that can tackle just about any photo or video situation you could possibly throw at it. There are a lot of options out there, though, so if you are wondering where to start, check out this helpful video guide that will show you some of the best choices in the Sony full frame system.

A Review of the Venus Optics Laowa Argus 45mm f/0.95 FF Lens

Normal focal length lenses with wide maximum apertures are some of the most popular options out there, suitable for everything from portraiture to low-light events coverage and astrophotography. The Venus Optics Laowa Argus 45mm f/0.95 FF lens offers that sort of package at a fairly affordable price, and this excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

Zhiyun Announces the Crane-M2 S: A Mirrorless Capable Gimbal at a Lower Price

Looking for a gimbal that's capable of stabilizing your mirrorless camera, phone, or action camera, all without taking up too much space in your bag? Zhiyun's newly announced Crane-M2 S brings the unique features of the larger M3, including a fill light, USB-C fast charge, and a built-in display, to the more compact form-factor of the Crane-M2. Want to see what makes this gimbal such a powerhouse?

Would You Buy a Digital Xpan?

The Xpan was one of the most innovative cameras ever produced. Launched in 1998, it was a joint venture between two giants: Hasselblad and Fujifilm. Its unique design brought panorama images to 35mm, with the ability to switch between standard and panorama images on the fly.

How Good Is the New OM System OM-1 Mirrorless Camera?

The OM System OM-1 is here, and it brings with it some mightily impressive improvements and upgrades along with a range of new features that help to modernize the system and make it competitive with APS-C and full frame options again. This great video review takes a look at the new camera and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

6 Pieces of Gear You Will Regret Buying in 2022

There is a lot of advice on what gear you should buy in 2022. But, if you look beyond the marketing of companies, is there gear that you probably don’t need in 2022? The answer is, yes, there is a lot of gear you don’t need. Here are my top picks on what you should not get.

How to Choose the Best Aperture for a Photo

Along with shutter speed and ISO, aperture is one of the three fundamental exposure parameters that help to create a technically sound photograph. However, aperture is not just a tool for getting the correct exposure, as it gives you powerful creative control over the look of the resultant image. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to choose the correct aperture for a variety of images both to create a technically correct photo and to convey what you want creatively.

A Guide to Shooting With Sony Cameras and Lenses on a Budget

Sony offers some of the most advanced cameras and lenses in the world, but of course, tricking out your entire kit can quickly cause the costs to add up. That being said, if you do not insist on having the absolute best equipment, it is quite possible to build a competent and capable Sony kit without breaking the bank. This helpful video will take you through the best options for cameras, primes, and zoom lenses.

Is This the Only Lens a Photographer Needs?

Tamron has really gone through a renaissance in recent years, creating impressively capable and practical lenses that significantly undercut the prices of many first-party options. The 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD is quite a significant step forward, covering a huge range of common focal lengths with impressively wide apertures. Can it be the only lens some photographers need? This fantastic video review takes a look.

The 40mm Focal Length Is Just About Perfect

I've used a 40mm (equivalent) lens for years, and while I first discovered this weird focal length more than a decade ago with Micro Four Thirds, it's become a staple of my collection enough to move it from "weird" to "wonderful."

A Review of the Sony a7S III In the Field

I am not a Sony shooter, but, for the last couple of months, I’ve gotten a chance to play with the Sony a7S III and use it for an assortment of projects. Here are my impressions from the outside looking in.

A Landscape Photographer's New Favorite Camera Bag

There are a lot of camera bag addicts in our community and it's easy to see why: they can revolutionize your shooting experience when outdoors. Of all the genres of photography that need the right camera bag, landscape is right up near the top. Here is one landscape photographer's new favorite bag.

Great Performance at a Great Price: Fstoppers Reviews PGYTECH’s Mavic 3 Filter Line

DJI’s Mavic 3 is an amazing drone, but DJI’s pricing for their filters isn’t so amazing. Fortunately, companies like PGYTECH have made a range of filters compatible with the Mavic 3’s unique mount and camera setup. Are they worth pairing with the high-performance camera the drone is equipped with? I put PGYTECH’s Mavic 3 filter series to the test in this review.

The Ultimate Modifier? We Review Aputure F10 Fresnel

I have a massive soft spot for fresnels. I love them. Fresnels give out unique light qualities that can’t be replicated by anything else. The Aputure F10 Fresnel is no exception, as it turns an LED into a super-light. Here’s why.

The Best Cheap Microphone

The Rode Videomic Go II certainly isn't the best-sounding microphone at $99, but there is no doubt it's the most versatile.

Haida Magnetic Filters Versus Square Filter System

I have been using a square filter system for many years. It proved to be a flexible system that allows one filter to fit on every lens I own. A magnetic filter system is a great alternative, though. I tried both during my recent travels over Lofoten, Norway and I want to share my experiences.

Apple Announces New Studio Display

Rounding out today's Apple announcements is the new Studio Display, offering professional-level image quality for users of just about any Mac model. Let's take a look.

Canon Confirms a Lot More Lenses Are on the Way

Canon's RF lenses have been mostly quite impressive, offering top-shelf performance and image quality while pushing the boundaries of design. And though the RF lineup is filling out nicely, Canon has confirmed they have no intention of slowing down, with dozens more lenses coming in the next few years.

Apple Announces Insanely Powerful New Mac Studio Desktop

Today's Apple event brought a ton of exciting new devices for photographers and filmmakers, but perhaps the most notable was the new M1 Ultra chip, the most powerful the company has ever made. Apple wasted no time putting it in a brand new computer, the Mac Studio, so let's take a look at this powerful new desktop, tailor-made for photographers and filmmakers.

Apple Announces New iPad Air

Today's Apple event brought a ton of exciting new devices for photographers and filmmakers, including a new version of the thin and powerful iPad Air that brings the company's M1 chip to the device along with a lot of other new features and upgrades. Let's take a look.

Apple Announces New iPhone SE

Today's Apple event brought a ton of exciting new devices for photographers and filmmakers, including a nice update to the iPhone SE, their popular low-cost iPhone, that makes it quite appealing to photographers, filmmakers, and regular users alike. Let's take a look.

How a Telephoto Lens Can Improve Your Landscape Photography

Wide angle lenses are almost always the first thing landscape photographers reach for, and, of course, there is a good reason why they are so popular in the genre. That being said, long telephoto lenses can produce equally interesting images and can actually be the better choice for certain images. This excellent video will show you some of what you can do with one and why it is so useful.

This Thunderbolt Hub Has Just About Every Connection You'll Ever Need

Nowadays, most of us have far more devices than we have ports available on our computers, and rather than constantly hooking up and disconnecting different devices, it is far easier to just get a nice hub. One of the best available is the CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 18-in-1 Hub, and this excellent video review takes a look at its capabilities and the performance you can expect from it.

What is the Best Camera You Have Ever Owned?

Forget technology updates, larger sensor capacity, and more dynamic range. If you could only choose one camera to shoot with for the rest of your photographic life, what would it be?

A Review of the Impressive Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM Lens

Wide-aperture 50mm lenses are quite versatile, able to fill the needs of photographers in a wide variety of scenarios. For Sony shooters, FE 50mm f/1.2 GM offers top-of-the-line design in tandem with a very wide maximum aperture, making it an intriguing option for anyone looking for that narrow depth of field look and great image quality to match. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

Is This the Best Portrait Lens Money Can Buy?

Photographers typically have dozens of options when it comes to portrait lenses, with something available to fit just about every budget. Near the top of the mountain is the Fujifilm GF 110mm f/2 R LM WR, a premium portrait lens for Fuji's respected line of medium format mirrorless cameras, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Which Premium Fujifilm Portrait Lens Is Best?

Fuji's XF 56mm f/1.2 lens has been a highly popular portrait lens for quite a while, but Sigma lenses have finally arrived for Fujifilm shooters, with the 56mm f/1.4 DC DN being one of the initial offerings. At a little less than half the price the Fujifilm offering, it should certainly catch the attention of a lot of portrait and wedding photographers. This excellent video review compares both lenses to see if you should drop more money on the original or if you can save a bundle by going with the Sigma.

How to Pick the Right Travel Camera

As photographers, we often have a lot of different horses for different courses, and when it comes to traveling, it often seems really, really hard to choose the right one to take with you. If you're struggling with this dilemma, you're not alone. Photographer and YouTuber Omar Gonzalez is right there with you.

Canon Is Testing More Interesting Lenses

Canon has pushed into some new territories with the RF mount, and they are showing no signs of stopping, with some especially interesting lenses now being tested.

Sigma May Be Planning Some Quite Interesting Lenses

Sigma has produced some impressively advanced and innovative lenses in the last few years, and as the mirrorless race continues to heat up, the company seems to be showing no signs of slowing down. A few new patents have emerged, and some of them show some very interesting lenses.

A Look at the Affordable Fujifilm GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR Medium Format Lens

Medium format lenses are almost always more expensive than comparable full frame or APS-C counterparts, simply because that bigger sensor needs a bigger image circle and thus, more glass. As such, a medium format lens that sits below $1,000 is worth a look. The Fujifilm GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR is one of those rare lenses, and this great video review takes a look at it and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect.

Why You Should Be Syncing Your Cameras

If you only shoot with one camera, you will never have to deal with the issue of syncing clocks, but if you have ever shot a large event with multiple bodies that were not perfectly in sync, you know the frustration of trying to cull those images. This excellent video tutorial will show you why you need to sync the time between your camera bodies, how to do it, and how to fix a time discrepancy in post if you forget to sync beforehand.

Which Canon Wide Angle Lens Is Right for You?

A good wide angle lens can be tremendously useful for a range of photography genres, and Canon shooters have a few options from which to choose, with varying image quality, specs, and, of course, price. The excellent video comparison takes a look at three such lenses, the RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM, RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM, and RF 16mm f/2.8 STM.

How Good Is the Affordable Samyang 24-70mm f/2.8 AF Zoom Lens

For many photographers and filmmakers, a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the workhorse of choice for a wide variety of genres and shooting situations. That being said, such lenses can be quite expensive. Samyang's 24-70mm f/2.8 AF Zoom comes in at less than half the price of most such lenses, however, making it an intriguing option for a wide variety of creatives. 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.

What to Look for When Purchasing Used Cameras and Lenses

Photography gear is quite expensive, and filling out your kit can quickly add up in cost. Purchasing used can save you a ton of money, but, of course, you want to make sure the camera or lens you are considering is in good shape and fully functional. This helpful video features an experienced photographer discussing what you should look for and how to evaluate used cameras and lenses before you agree to purchase them.

Hands-on With the Leica 50mm and 75mm Noctilux Lenses

Leica is a polarizing brand by virtue of their prices and almost nothing else. But, if money was no object, would you shoot with them? Their Noctilux range is on many wishlists, but how good are they really and can they justify the price?

To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade: That Is the Question.

We are constantly pressured into buying the latest cameras. As the bottom has fallen out of the camera market, maybe it’s time that camera manufacturers had a rethink about what they offer us. Nevertheless, there are good reasons for and against both upgrading and changing your system.