Recent Gear Articles

Goodbye Tether Cords: Testing out the New Case Air Wireless Tethering System [Review]

Do you live tied down? Weighed down by the ball and chain? Feel like you're living with a leash on? No, I'm not talking about your love life, I'm talking about that tether cord attached to your camera. In-studio or on-location tethering has become a necessity, especially if you're working with clients. The thought leader in their cable tethering technology, Tether Tools, has created their latest product, Case Air, to help make photographers live free again.

The Best Camera for Black and White Photography

For photographers who love working in black and white, there are certain cameras that are really suited for the task. This interesting comparison compares two dedicated Leica monochrome digital cameras to a Fuji camera using a black and white profile and a classic Leica film camera.

It's Back! The Nikon D750 is Once Again 35% Off

A few months ago we posted a deal on Fstoppers that appeared to be too good to be true. Brand New D750 cameras were selling for $1500, or 35% off retail. We bought 4 cameras and it ended up being legit. That deal is back again.

Bird Photography With the Canon EOS R5

The Canon EOS R5 is one of the most impressive cameras we have seen in quite some time, and it brings with it a huge range of impressive features and improvements. This excellent video puts it to the test with both native and adapted lenses to show you the kind of performance and image quality you can expect.

A Review of the Powerful Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a1 is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive cameras ever released, with features and capabilities that allow it to tackle just about any photo or video situation you could conceivably throw at it. This fantastic video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in a range of real-world scenarios.

A Beginner's Guide to Using Polarizing Filters for Better Photos

There are two fundamental lens filters in photography, the ND (neutral density) filters and the polarizing filter. While the ND probably gets a bit more usage, the polarizing filter is quite useful as well. This great video tutorial will show both why and how photographers use polarizing filters to improve their images.

Three Things I Appreciate About Fujifilm X Series Cameras

Fujifilm, in their eight years producing X Series cameras, have developed a reputation for producing digital cameras with a tactile feel and a few features that no other manufacturers are offering. While they still remain the underdog in terms of market share, their cameras have a loyal user base. In a concept straight up stolen from Alex Cooke’s series (with his blessings, of course), today, I’ll talk about three things I appreciate about Fujifilm’s cameras.

What Does a Box of $175 Worth of Junk Cameras Get You?

We all dream of heading to a thrift store, pawn shop, or storage unit auction and finding a great camera or lens for a fantastic price. This person actually took a chance on a similar auction, dropping $175 on mostly unverifiable camera gear to see if it contained any hidden gems, and this fun video takes you through the unboxing to see if the gamble paid off.

Is the Hasselblad X2D Worth It? A Year-Long Review

The Hasselblad X2D 100C isn’t your average camera. It’s designed for those who prioritize image quality above all else, and if that sounds like you, this camera might just be what you’re looking for.

Nikon Announces AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR and PC 19mm f/4E ED Tilt-Shift Lenses (UPDATED)

We have two, fantastic reasons to be happy today in the form of two, long-awaited lenses. First, Nikon announced an update to its flagship 70-200mm f/2.8 professional zoom that features fluorite lens components, an electromagnetic diaphragm, and a slew of other quality and durability improvements. Meanwhile, a new PC 19mm f/4E tilt-shift also features Nikon's latest electromagnetic diaphragm and fills a wide-angle tilt-shift gap where Canon has held an advantage for years.

DigitalRev Allegedly Selling Used Cameras As New, And Are Yet To Issue A Response

Rob Dunlop, creative director and brains behind PrettyInWhite.com, just posted an interesting and also somewhat humorous account of his purchase of a Canon 5d Mark III through DigitalRev.com. Rob, spurred on by a series of bizarre coincidences, ended up doing some research on his new camera, only to find that it had not only been used, but used somewhat extensively by DigitalRev to create a review.

A Review of the Nikon Zf Mirrorless Camera

Retro camera designs can stir nostalgia, but when investing in high-end gear, photographers need more than appearance. Functionality, versatility, and innovation must also be of a high level. So, does Nikon's Zf mirrorless camera deliver substantive performance to match its throwback aesthetic? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect.

Compact and Cheap: A Review of the Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR

The Fuji XF 35mm f/2 R WR lens is a very compact, lightweight, and affordable lens with a versatile focal length and wide aperture. This great video takes a look at it to help you decide if it deserves a place in your bag.

Apple Announces iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, and More

It's a big year for Apple. This is the year Apple finally introduces some major technological upgrades from augmented-reality and improved cameras to OLED screens in its iPhone lineup. And in doing so, they've released three new models alongside each other, the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X. Most importantly for us, however, is that the new iPhones not only feature the best cameras yet, but also more broadly represent the biggest leap in image technology in a single year thanks both to new hardware and software.

Stunning Quality: A Review of the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Lens

The 70-200mm f/2.8 is a workhorse lens for a wide variety of photographers in many genres, providing a versatile range of useful focal lengths paired with a wide maximum aperture. This great video review takes a look at the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens and if it continues the tradition of excellence established by its DSLR predecessor.

Arca-Swiss Announces New Tripod Heads and Camera Support Products

It seems that almost all the major brands of the photography industry have something new to share at Photokina 2016, and Arca-Swiss is no exception. The France-based company announced several new and improved camera support products this week that you’ll want to check out.

Should You Spend a Little Extra for This 50mm Lens?

50mm lenses can cost anywhere from under $100 to well over $2,000, with options filling out that range at just about every price point. While those sub-$100 lenses are fantastic learning tools, eventually, you will probably want to upgrade to a higher-quality option. The Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.8 lens seems to hit the sweet spot between quality and price, and 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.

Shooting the Nikon D5500 Campaign with (Gasp!) a Nikon D5500

Last summer, photographer and director Dixie Dixon was called upon by Nikon to shoot a campaign for their new touch screen DSLR, the D5500. This incredible opportunity had one interesting challenge in store for Dixon, however; All of the material would be photographed and filmed — kit lens, auto settings, and Photoshop-free — using the consumer-level D5500 itself.

Do You Need a 4K Video Camera At All?

The megapixel war is almost over for still digital cameras. But we see another battle started, the same one for digital video cameras. All camera manufacturers are now marketing their 4K, 6K, and 8K devices, including phones. 2K starts to look quite old school, but is it?

Lytro's Living Pictures: A Thing of the Past

If you don't remember Lytro cameras and have no idea what their “living pictures” are, don't sweat it. As cool as the idea was, the technology itself was either not ready or was so poorly received that the hardware was doomed to fail. The concept, being able to refocus an image after it's been taken, is a great idea. Who wouldn't want to be able to literally fix the focus itself in post-production? Alas, we're not quite there yet.

How Scratch-Proof Is a Camera Sensor?

Most photographer's anxiety levels shoot through the roof if they leave their camera sensor exposed for more than a few milliseconds. Question is, how much abuse can our sensors really take? Don't try this experiment at home, kids.

The Lowepro Transit Backpack is a Triumph of Simple, Effective Design

When it comes to bags, I’ve come close to seeing it all. I have a bag for basically any situation plus spares in each category. Over the years I’ve seen different designs from a broad range of manufacturers, and that means I’ve seen both good and bad ideas. Bags are seen as a commodity, and I won’t argue they aren’t. But in their attempt to reinvent themselves and grow out of that box, sometimes we end up with bag designs we never needed or asked for. That’s why it’s such a relief when a bag company just makes a no gimmicks bag that just works.

How to Master Your 24-105mm Zoom Lens for Landscape Photography

This lens is an essential part of my photography kit and one, which I would not go out into nature without. In this article, I want to show how you can master and get the most out of your 24-105mm zoom lens and hopefully inspire you to use it more in your landscape photography.

Canon Announces PowerShot G1 X Mark III

Despite retaining the same series name, the Mark III version of the G1 X is more than just iterative. This much is immediately apparent when one notices the larger, semi-pro level APS-C 24MP sensor and Digic 7 processor inside this new, compact point-and-shoot. I haven't been as excited about a compact APS-C camera since ill-fated and short-lived Nikon Coolpix A. Moreover, the Mark III features an entirely redesigned body that puts even more distance between itself and the Mark II.