Recent Gear Articles

Canon Announces 80D, PowerShot G7 X Mark II, PZ-E1 Power Zoom Adapter, and More

Before CP+ kicks off next week, Canon just announced the successor to the 70D, the Canon 80D. Featuring multiple improvements, especially in areas surrounding autofocus, the 80D provides a more professional standing for Canon's representation in the advanced APS-C DSLR segment. Additionally, Canon introduced a new PZ-E1 power zoom adapter for a new lens, the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM. Finally, the PowerShot G7 X was updated with a Mark II version along with a new compact superzoom, the PowerShot SX720 HS.

The Crazy Things You’ll Hear from Light, Makers of the L16

One of the first things I heard when I sat down at a large white table with Light CTO and Co-Founder Dr. Rajiv Laroia and VP of Marketing Bradley Lautenbach was that, when it comes to lenses, plastic is better than glass. Scratching my head for a bit, while searching for some logic, but keeping an open mind (I did ask for a meeting with the guy who decided to put 16 lenses in a small box and call it the future of photography), the meeting proceeded to somewhat blow my mind… if it’s all true.

Three Reasons Why Prime Lenses Are Great Besides Wide Apertures

No doubt, a lot of photographers love prime lenses because they often offer super-wide apertures and creamy bokeh, but that is not the only advantage primes offer over zooms. This fantastic video discusses three reasons prime lenses are not just for crazy bokeh.

Why Was the Canon 200mm f/1.8 So Expensive?

Canon has quite a storied history of extreme lenses, and one of the most famous of those was definitely the EF 200mm f/1.8. This great video examines what made that lens so special and why it was (and remains) so expensive.

The Nikon Z6 III: Flagship Features in a Compact Body

The Nikon Z6 series has long been a favorite, but it was time for an update. Enter the Nikon Z6 III. This camera brings many flagship features into a more compact and accessible body, making it an exciting new option for enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Bowling Ball Hits RED Camera: Real or Fake?

Look, accidents happen. Unfortunately, the worst happened to a $30,000 RED Epic while shooting on a bowling alley. A dumb idea? Or was it planned?

4 Shoot-Saving Products Every Beauty/Fashion Photographer Should Keep In Their Bag

Shooting fashion can be a whirlwind of activity as you try to corral a team of creatives into constructing an amazing array of images. More than with any other type of shoot, I find that things have tendency to go wrong during the course of the fashion shoot. As the photographer, it is your job to not only be prepared for these things to happen, but also to be fully equipped to solve the problems as they come up. Below you will find a series of things I like to keep in my camera bag that are often saviors during a shoot that seems to be going belly-up.

A Review of the Affordable Viltrox 75mm f/1.2 AF Lens

Viltrox is rapidly gaining popularity in the photography industry as a maker of lenses that deliver exceptional value. Known for producing highly affordable lenses with satisfactory to even impressive performance and image quality, their prices are surprisingly low. The AF 75mm f/1.2, providing APS-C enthusiasts with an ultra-wide aperture and a practical focal length. This informative video review explores the capabilities of the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

Is the Upgraded Sigma 50-150mm a Solid 'Do it All' Lens?

Even as a self-admitted prime lens lover, I can’t deny the allure of a telephoto zoom lens. A couple of my personal favorite tele-zoom lenses include the 24-70mm and the 24-105mm from Canon, which are touted by many as capable of "doing it all" if necessary. A bold statement, but you wouldn't find me arguing. But what other options are there? Though it may not be as recognizable, there certainly is a lot to love in Sigma’s 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM APO Lens.

Can the iPhone 12 Pro Replace a Dedicated Pocket Camera?

As advanced as phones have become, they are still outdone by dedicated professional cameras with larger sensors. However, the device they have largely replaced, the pocket camera, are on a more level playing field. So, how does a top-level cameraphone compare to a premium compact camera? This great video review compares the Sony ZV-1 to the iPhone Pro 12.

What Happens When You Put a Mega-Size Lens on a Gimbal and Shoot Video?

Some things involving esoteric and expensive gear we do because they help us bring our creative visions to fruition or enable new technical capabilities that can improve the quality or efficiency of our work. Some things we do just because we can. This video is about the latter.

We Review the Slimmest Fujifilm Autofocus Lens: The Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5

After making headlines for producing one of the slimmest full frame mirrorless autofocus lenses last year, Viltrox has made a bold move by making it available for the Fujifilm X-mount as well to fill a market gap. Introducing the Viltrox 28mm f/4.5 Fujifilm X-Mount, also known as a “chip” lens, resembling a potato chip—a reference to how thin the lens is. This Chinese lens maker even carries on the humor by featuring a bag of chips in the lens announcement poster, which was published on their Chinese social media.

The Proven Classic: A Long-Term Review of The Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R

Every once in a while, a piece of gear becomes an instant classic. The Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R carries that title with pride and deservedly so! I have been using it for nearly a decade and cannot recommend it enough. It's a brilliant lens with flaws that are easy to ignore.

Check Out the Nikon Z 6 II Eye Autofocus Shooting Wide Open in Low Light

Manny Ortiz loved shooting on the first iteration of the Nikon Z 6, but one of his big reservations was the consistency of the eye autofocus. He now has his hands on a pre-production model of the Z 6 II, so how will the autofocus cope in low light and shooting wide open?

Hands on With the Sony a1: Not Quite the Perfect Camera?

Sony made waves last week with the announcement of its brand new flagship a1. At an eye-watering $6,498, it brings some notable technological advances, but early testing suggests that there are few areas where it seems to fall short or perhaps doesn’t quite live up to the marketing spiel.

Stop Chasing the Perfect Camera

Photographers like to spend a lot of time comparing gear and considering how their own work might improve if they upgraded their camera or switched to a different brand. And while there are certainly objective differences between various camera brands and models, there is no such thing as a perfect camera. This great video explores that idea and why you might want to put your gear envy to bed.

Functional and Practical: We Review the Peak Design Everyday Sling

Peak Design is known for their functional designs of camera accessories that are coupled with sleek and modern aesthetics, and the Everyday Sling is no different. Available in three sizes: 3L, 6L, and 10L, the Everyday Sling has you covered whatever your shooting and wherever your travels take you.

A Beginner's Guide to Using Your Camera's Manual Mode

One of the best things you can do as a new photographer is to take your camera out of automatic mode and begin learning how to control it manually. This can be a bit daunting, but once you get the hang of it, you will b glad you made the leap. This helpful video tutorial will get you started on the right foot with using your camera's manual mode.

A First Look at the Fujifilm X-Pro3 Camera

The X-Pro3 is the latest camera from Fujifilm in their highly lauded X Series, and with it comes a highly interesting design with lots of features and power to spare. Is this unique camera the right one for you? This excellent first look video will give you a pretty comprehensive overview that should help you decide.

Are UV Filters on DSLR Cameras Pointless?

If you are like me, you have always bought a UV filter for each of your lens because that's what you are supposed to do, right? With today's lenses having built-in UV protection and high quality coatings, are UV filters even needed anymore? Check out this video by Karl Taylor as he weighs in on his personal thoughts about UV filters.

Fstoppers Reviews the AmazonBasics Carbon Fiber Monopod

Akin to the store brands that are found next to the name brands on the shelves in a brick-and-mortar supermarket, AmazonBasics products have become a go-to for equal quality at a budget price in the online realm. Daily-use items have traditionally been the mainstay for AmazonBasics, but more recently they’ve expanded and driven further into the comparatively niche markets, including photography. In this review, I take a closer look at the AmazonBasics Carbon Fiber Monopod which was released in April 2017.

Which of These Two Supertelephoto Zoom Lenses Is Better?

In the past decade, we have seen an explosion of highly capable supertelephoto zoom lenses, and the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS and Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR are two of the most versatile options. How do they compare? This great video review takes a look at both lenses, their various characteristics, and how they match up with each other.

Canon Versus Nikon: Which Is Best for Wildlife Photographers?

Wildlife photography is one of the more expensive kinds of photography, with some popular lenses costing over $10,000. For many photographers, trying to get close enough to the subject may require longer 600mm lenses, but when you consider the price for each of them, a little research can definitely go a long way. The Canon 600mm F/4L II is a little cheaper than the Nikon 600mm F4E; however, sometimes the price isn't a major factor when deciding which to buy.