Recent Gear Articles

What Do You Want to See in the Sony a7S III?

Few cameras are more highly anticipated than the Sony a7S III, and Sony users are hoping it will leapfrog the current crop of highly capable cameras and reestablish the S line as a leader in video. What are you hoping to see in the camera? This great video discusses what creatives would like to see and what we can actually expect in the camera.

Search for This Information Before You Buy a New Lens

More and more people get infected every day, and I’m a victim of it, too. Yes, I’m talking about GAS, which usually hits me when spring is coming. For this reason, I am focusing a little on purchase decisions lately.

Here’s Why You Don’t Need a Macro Lens

Macro photography has such a draw for beginner photographers because it opens up a world we can’t see with the naked eye. Most camera stores will tell you that you need a macro lens to do this kind of work, but don’t believe the hype. There are plenty of ways to do macro with the kit you already have.

What is the Best Way to Fire the Shutter?

It is surely the simplest of operations — instructing the camera when to take a photo. Surprisingly, for such a straight forward task, there are a myriad of ways to actuate the shutter. What are they and what is the best?

Reasons to Give the Nikon Z50 Some Consideration

If you haven't yet taken the mirrorless camera plunge, before you buy, ask yourself if you've given the Nikon Z 50 enough thought. If you haven't, this video offers some reasons to do so before you make a move.

6 Types of Lenses You Probably Won’t Need Anytime Soon

There are amazing lenses available. It is tempting to buy a special lens, because it can open doors to a whole different kind of images. But there are lenses which you probably won’t need anytime soon. Here are six of them.

Is This Tamron 35-150mm the Best Walk-Around Lens on the Market?

If you're looking for a lens that's super sharp, incredibly versatile, remarkably cheap, and able to cover almost every scenario you want from a walk-around lens, then this 35-150mm lens from Tamron is perfect. These images testify to that.

Comparing Medium Format Film to Digital

There is no doubt that digital has surpassed the quality of 35mm film, but medium format film still offers tremendous quality and is significantly cheaper than digital medium format. How does it compare to a modern medium format camera? This great video takes a look at the two and the results you can expect from them.

Film Photographer Gives His Opinion on Which Film Camera You Should Buy

If you think that there are too many options today when considering buying a digital camera, then spare a thought for those who are interested in buying a film camera. Thankfully, this video can give those who are new to the format a better idea of what's on offer.

The Fujifilm X-T4: The Best Camera I Won't Be Buying (Probably)

Fujifilm has officially announced the X-T4 and to me it looks like a brilliant camera. Fuji has implemented most of the major requests made by many within the community. My initial reaction in London was extremely positive towards the camera. Unfortunately, there are still a few reasons that hold me back from upgrading.

Fast and Sharp: A Look at the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art Lens

Sigma's Art series of lenses is loved by many photographers for its combination of great optical quality and relatively affordable prices that often undercut first party manufacturers by around 50 percent. Their 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art lens for Sony E and L mounts pushes boundaries a bit, as it is the first in the series with a maximum aperture of f/1.2. How does it hold up in practice? This great video takes a look to answer that question.

The Best Bokeh for Fuji Shooters: A Review of the Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R APD Lens

Any bokeh fanatic knows that to push the boundaries of background blur further and further, you need ultra-wide aperture lenses. But it is not just a wide aperture that can produce that buttery smooth bokeh. Lenses with an apodization filter can also make bokeh much nicer. This great video review takes a look at Fujifilm's version of such a lens and if it is worth the extra price.

All Photographers Need a Tilt-Shift Lens: Here's Why

One of the biggest misconceptions I have come across in the industry is that tilt-shift lenses are just for people who shoot architecture. Once you understand how these specialist lenses work, you'll realize how big of a deal they can be for almost any genre of photography.

Canon 1D X Mark III Versus Sony a9 II: Which Has Better Autofocus?

The two heavyweights when it comes to flagship sports and wildlife cameras are the Sony a9 II and the recently released Canon 1D X Mark III. The ability of the autofocus to track a subject is critical, so how do the two compare when placed side by side?

The L-Mount Alliance: Too Little, Too Late?

The L-Mount Alliance marked the culmination of a remarkable period in the history of the (digital) camera. However in five years time, will we look back and see this as the beginning of the end? Was the L-Mount Alliance simply too little, too late?

A First Look at the New Fujifilm X-T4 Camera

Fujifilm recently announced the X-T4, and it contains a bevy of improvements and new features sure to excite photographers and videographers alike. This excellent video takes a first look at the new camera and what you can expect from it in usage.

7 Things to Check When You Buy a Used Lens

Lenses are not cheap, and you can potentially save thousands of dollars by buying used, but of course, you assume certain risks in doing so. If you are thinking of buying a used lens, this helpful video will give you seven things to check to ensure that you get a high quality optic that will give you years of good performance.

Cheap, But Powerful: A Review of the Venus Optics Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO Lens

Most macro lenses provide 1:1 magnification. However, if you want even more powerful capabilities, the Venus Optics Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO lens can offer double the magnification of standard macro lenses, and it comes in at quite an affordable price as well. How does it perform in practice? This great video review answers that question.

Fstoppers Reviews the Elinchrom ELC 125 and 500

Elinchrom has always been known for its superb light modifiers. But the strobes designed by the Swiss flash manufacturer are just as good. Now marks a new direction for the brand with the introduction of the ELC 125 and ELC 500.

Why Less Megapixels Can Sometimes Be More

The number of things I have learned, unlearned, and relearned all over again along the road from hobbyist to professional photographer would require something of a short novella to recount in their entirety. So today, I want to share just one of them.

Why Leaf Shutters Are Sometimes Preferable to Focal Plane Shutters

Focal plane shutters are by far the most common mechanism for controlling exposure times, but leaf shutters are still around and preferred by some photographers, particularly when it comes to working with flash. This excellent video will show you the advantages of a leaf shutter when working with a strobe.

Why You Should Consider Using a Pen Tablet Instead of a Mouse

Pretty much everybody learns how to edit photos using a mouse, but as a photographer becomes more advanced, they will often switch to using a pen tablet to work on their images. If you have not yet made the switch, this helpful video will show you seven reasons why you might want to consider picking up a tablet for your editing work.

Canon L Versus Sigma Art Lenses: Which Are Right for You?

Canon's L lenses are considered some of the best out there by many professionals, but they are also on the more expensive side of things. On the other hand, Sigma's Art lenses typically come in at about half the price of their Canon equivalents, making them an intriguing alternative for many shooters. How do they compare to their Canon counterparts? This great video takes a look at a few common focal lengths to answer that question.

Canon EOS C500 Mark II Versus Canon EOS R: Can the Mirrorless Camera Keep Up?

At $16,000 for the camera body only, the Canon C500 Mark II is an impressive 6K camera that meets the needs of independent filmmakers and videographers alike. What happens if you can't afford a B camera at the same level as the C500 Mark II? Can the Canon EOS R keep up and deliver with its 4K footage?

Canon May Have Seven More Amazing RF Lenses Due for Release in 2020

Canon seems to be a little bit shy about announcing the lenses for the new RF mount that are due to appear in 2020. The official roadmap is still a little thin, but rumors are emerging, and we could see a total of seven lenses in the next ten months.

Is Nikon's 58mm f/0.95 Lens Worth Its $8,000 Price Tag?

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct is a fantastic lens with a stratospheric price tag to match. What is it like to shoot with, and is the image quality worth the price? This great video answers those questions.

A Review of the Nikon D780 Camera

The Nikon D780 is fresh on the scene, and it brings with it a bevy of improvements and new features over its predecessor that are sure to intrigue a lot of Nikon shooters looking for a reasonably priced full frame camera that can handle a range of scenarios competently. If you are considering purchasing one, this great video review will tell you what you can expect.

Just How Powerful Is 5.5K Raw Video on the Canon 1D X Mark III?

The Canon 1D X Mark III made quite the splash when it was announced, with numerous head-turning features sure to please many professionals. Perhaps one of the most impressive is the new 5.5K raw video capability (at 60 fps no less) using the full width of the sensor. This great video takes a look at using the new feature in a low-light scenario.