Fstoppers Community
Photo of the Day
Editors' Picks
The Overlooked Resource That Actually Improves Your Photography

Here's a radical thought: the most underutilized piece of equipment in your camera bag isn't that expensive filter you never remember to use or the flash modifier gathering dust on your shelf. It's something else that came with your camera and that you probably tossed aside.

Active Contests
Abstract or Conceptual
Critique the Community

Abstract or Conceptual

Submit Your Best "Abstract" Images!

For the entire month of July, we want to see your best abstract or conceptual photographs! Enter the Fstoppers Critique the Community and show off your best images showcasing a slightly different view of the world. 

Submission Deadline:
July 30th 2025 - 11:30pm
Staying Sharp Starts With What You Drink

For several years, I have been more and more conscious about what I eat and drink. Gone are the days when I could survive on many cans of fizzy drink, chocolate, and snacks to fuel my photography adventures. I simply can't put my body through it anymore, plus it was having a detrimental effect on my ability to stay sharp and focus on my tasks. Instead, I switched to having water as often as I can during each day, and despite the temptations of the colorful refrigerators in gas stations, I have managed so far to avoid the temptations. Has there been a change? Yes, I can keep going for longer, I don’t feel as bloated, and I have saved money in the long term. But I’ve often wondered if I could do even better.

Can Viltrox's New 35mm f/1.2 Lens Rival High-End Sony Lenses?

The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE lens is attracting attention for its unique specs and a price that challenges traditional expectations. With few direct rivals, this lens might reshape how you think about premium lenses for Sony full frame cameras.

Top Ten Questions With Kevin Jairaj

Kevin Jairaj has been the Official Photographer for the College Football Playoff National Championship since its inception in 2015 and has become sought after for sports, weddings, and events in London; Trinidad and Tobago; the Bahamas; the USA; and, especially, his home state of Texas. Kevin has covered multiple Super Bowls and the Olympics. He shares why double exposures aren't artful, why panning skill is essential, and which standard piece of gear is "obsolete."

5 Camera Brands That Died Because They Couldn't Adapt

The photography industry witnessed one of business history's most dramatic upheavals during the digital revolution. Companies that dominated film photography for generations found themselves unprepared for fundamental changes in how images were captured, processed, and shared. This transformation claimed several iconic brands, each offering distinct lessons about navigating technological disruption.

Camovue Talon Pro Field Review: A Trail Camera That Could Actually Work in the Irish Landscape

After my previous experience with Reolink’s Go PT Ultra, which I reviewed here, I was curious to see how the company’s new Camovue Talon Pro would stack up in more realistic wildlife conditions. This time, it promised to be more purpose-built for the outdoors, with proper security features, solar charging, and app-based animal detection. Here’s what I found after three weeks of field testing in the Irish countryside.

Are Camcorders Coming Back Now, Too?

Going to make a bold prediction (or a hot take) here: Camcorders are going to make a point-and-shoot style comeback in the next year. In the same way that compact cameras have experienced a resurgence among youth looking for the nostalgic vibes, so too will the handy cams that those of us who actually used the things back in the day will never understand.

Sigma’s New 16-300mm Lens: Ultimate Versatility?

Sigma recently released the new 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary lens, designed to tackle everything from wide angle landscapes to distant sports action with one lens. It could simplify your kit, but is the convenience worth the potential compromise in image quality?

Tamron’s New 16-30mm G2 Lens: Worth the Extra Money?

The Tamron 16-30mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 lens has just landed, and it's worth your attention if you’re serious about your gear. Ultra-wide angle lenses can transform your landscape, architecture, and astrophotography, but not every lens gets it right, though this one might.

Why Prime Lenses Teach Better Photography Habits

In an era where 24-240mm superzooms promise to capture "everything you need" in a single lens, suggesting that photographers should intentionally limit themselves to fixed focal lengths sounds almost heretical. Yet the most compelling case for prime lens education lies in understanding how constraint-based learning accelerates skill development and creates better photographic habits.

Nanlite's FS-300C and Rapid 90 Softbox Reviewed: Affordable Power and Creative Color

The world of continuous LED lighting is more competitive than ever. In this landscape, Nanlite has carved out a place by offering powerful, reliable, and cost-effective lighting. The FS-300C brings a newer lighting trend—multi-color LEDs—along with high power ratings to an attractive price point. Does RGBW lighting really make a difference?

Leica’s New Summilux-M 50mm: Vintage Look Meets Modern Precision

If you're interested in lenses that capture vintage charm without sacrificing modern practicality, the reissue of the Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 might catch your eye. It blends elements from decades of Leica history into one lens, giving your images a unique character and feel.

Is the Fujifilm X-E5 the New Best Compact Camera?

Fujifilm's new X-E5 mirrorless camera has arrived, bringing intriguing upgrades from the X-E4 and catching attention with a sleek form factor and enhanced capabilities. For those considering a compact, interchangeable lens camera, the X-E5's improvements offer compelling reasons to take a closer look.

How Good Is the Nikon Zf Without Editing?

I've recently been exploring the world of photography without editing, and the options for cameras are quite limited. I picked up a Nikon Zf a couple of months ago to find out just how good the images it can make right in camera could be.

Is the Kase 85mm f/1.4 Lens a Portrait Photographer’s Hidden Gem?

Kase's entry into the autofocus lens market with the new Kase 85mm f/1.4 lens could shake things up, especially if you're into portraits or low-light photography. A company's first autofocus lens often reveals a lot about its potential, and Kase is making an ambitious statement here.

What It Felt Like to Use Your First 'Real' Camera

There's a lie we tell ourselves about photography equipment: that the camera doesn't matter. It's a comfortable fiction that lets us sleep at night, convinced that our artistic vision transcends mere machinery. But here's the uncomfortable truth that every photographer who lived through the transition from point-and-shoot to SLR knows deep in their bones: the moment you first wrapped your hands around a "real" camera, everything changed.

WANDRD PRVKE V4 Review: Is This the Goldilocks Camera Bag for Landscape Photographers?

The WANDRD PRVKE V4 has exploded on Kickstarter, hitting its funding goal in under 30 minutes and continuing to climb past expectations. With nearly half a million already pledged, it’s clear this isn’t just another camera bag launch. WANDRD’s latest update to their flagship bag has struck a chord with photographers, filmmakers, and everyday creatives alike. But what exactly makes the PRVKE V4 so appealing, and is it really worth the hype?

I Quit Editing My Photos and It Transformed My Photography

I've spent over a decade capturing photos with the intention to always edit them, no matter what. Thus, last year when I let myself just take photos and enjoy them right on the back of my camera, it completely shifted my photography.
Sigma's New 17-40mm f/1.8: Is This the Ultimate APS-C Lens?

Sigma recently released what might be the most significant APS-C lens in years with their new 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art. This lens updates the legendary 18-35mm f/1.8 that photographers and filmmakers have loved since 2013, promising the same cinematic look in a more refined package.

Fujifilm's Bold Medium Format Camera Experiment: The GFX100RF

The Fujifilm GFX100RF marks a significant shift in medium format photography, combining the portability philosophy of the X100 series with the image quality of a 102-megapixel sensor. This camera represents Fujifilm's first attempt at creating a fixed-lens rangefinder in their medium format lineup, targeting photographers who want large sensor quality without the bulk of traditional medium format systems.

10 Hilarious and Smile-Worthy Photo Books You Should Own

While the photography world obsesses over the latest mirrorless sensors and pixel-peeping debates, we've forgotten one of photography's most powerful features: its ability to make us laugh until our sides hurt. In an era where every Instagram feed demands perfection and every portfolio must demonstrate technical mastery, these irreverent collections remind us that some of the most memorable images are born from pure, unfiltered joy.

Can We Train Our Instinct in Photography?

As photographers progress in their journey, admittedly, there’s a natural tendency to gravitate more toward the technical side of things, including myself. The reason is simple: technical improvements are measurable metrics and rather reassuring. You can objectively tell if your images are sharper, your exposures more accurate, and have a higher dynamic range. Whereas growth in reactionary and observational skill sets like instinct is not easily measurable, let alone translated through a camera into our work.

Nikon 35mm f/1.2 Review: Is Optical Excellence This Good Worth the Price?

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S represents the pinnacle of wide angle prime lens engineering, but its $3,000 price tag raises serious questions about value and necessity. Understanding whether this ultra-premium optic justifies its cost requires examining both its exceptional capabilities and compromises.

A Look at the Only Full Frame 40mm f/1.2 Lens You Can Buy

The Voigtlander NOKTON 40mm f/1.2 Aspherical lens represents something truly unique in the lens world, as it's currently the only full frame 40mm f/1.2 optic available anywhere. For anyone seeking that perfect middle ground between the versatility of a 35mm and the slightly tighter framing of a 50mm, this manual focus lens promises an intriguing combination of ultra-wide aperture and compact size.

I Went to War With a Rifle and a Camera—Only One Came Home With Me

War teaches you how to see. Not in an artistic sense, but in a survival sense. Every detail is information, and every flicker of movement becomes a decision. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that constant scanning and forced situational awareness rewired the way I perceive everything. I went to war with a rifle and a camera; only one still shapes how I see the world today.

The Department Store Holiday Photo: A Family Tradition That Shaped Photography

Every December, millions of American families would pile into their station wagons and head to Sears, JCPenney, or their local department store for an annual ritual as predictable as Black Friday sales: the family holiday portrait. What most people don't realize is that this seemingly mundane tradition fundamentally shaped modern portrait photography in ways that persist today, creating standards for lighting, posing, and customer experience that professional photographers still follow—often without realizing where these conventions originated.

GFX vs X System: Which Fuji Camera System Should You Actually Buy?

Fuji's GFX medium format cameras promise superior image quality over the company's APS-C X system, but that advantage comes with significant trade-offs in weight, lens selection, and cost. Most photographers considering the upgrade focus entirely on pixel counts and dynamic range while overlooking how these practical limitations affect real-world shooting scenarios.

This Insanely Sharp Portrait Lens Costs Under $600

Affordable lenses with professional-level quality can seem too good to be true, especially for portraits. Choosing the right lens can elevate your images, but it’s important to make sure you’re spending wisely and getting something that fits your photography style.

It’s Not Just the Specs: Why Gear Reviews Hook Us

Gear content is everywhere—and strangely compelling. Even when we’re not shopping, we keep watching. What is it about reviews that draws us in, even when our photography might need something different?

5 Photography 'Rules' That Social Media Destroyed

Remember when photography had rules? Not guidelines or suggestions, but actual rules that separated the pros from the amateurs, the trained from the untrained, the serious from the snapshot-happy masses. These weren't arbitrary dictates from some photography ivory tower—they were hard-won principles developed over more than a century of image-making, refined through decades of darkroom experimentation, and codified in countless photography textbooks that gathering dust on our shelves. Then social media happened.

What It Was Like Getting Your First Roll of Film Developed

Sarah clutched the yellow Kodak mailer envelope like it contained state secrets. Inside, a single roll of Kodak Gold 200—thirty-six exposures of her life over the past three weeks, wound tight in its metallic canister.

Dabbsson 2000L Power Station Review: Pushing Down Price and Weight at 2 kWh

With power stations, everyone wants more capacity and longer life, but nobody wants to lug around a 60-pound brick. The Dabbsson 2000L aims to strike a balance by packing 2 kWh of energy storage into a surprisingly portable form factor at a very competitive price point. Is the Dabbsson 2000L an ideal entry point for creators looking for a large power station?

Is This the Best Camera for Street Photography?

Inconspicuous, intuitive, and with great image quality — can you combine all of that into one perfect camera for capturing life on the street? This photographer says yes.

The Best Beginner Landscape Camera Nobody's Talking About

Choosing your first landscape photography camera isn't about specs alone—it’s about finding gear that suits you personally. The right camera can make the difference between thriving or getting stuck worrying about equipment.

Affordable Sharpness: Testing the Meike 85mm f/1.8 Pro II Lens

The Meike 85mm f/1.8 Pro II, a fresh version of Meike's budget-friendly autofocus lens, is here, and it comes with some impressive upgrades. With portrait lenses often costing quite a bit, finding affordable yet capable alternatives is something every camera enthusiast appreciates.

Should Your Next Point-and-Shoot Be an Old Smartphone?

I think I've been thinking about old cameras all wrong. At least, this video from James Warner of Snappiness has me rethinking how I look at old smartphone cameras, as he talks about the three best "vintage" smartphones to use exclusively for photography.