Recent Gear Articles

Portraiture With the Fujifilm GFX 50S

Two weeks ago, I wrote about using the Fujifilm GFX 50S as a travel camera. As part of that article, I touched briefly on using it for portraiture. I also touched briefly on using the GF 110mm f/2 lens and a few autofocus issues that I had. Today, I would like to dive a little deeper into using this camera for portraiture and my experience with it. We’ll take a look at focusing, sharpness, skin tones, working with flash, and handholding the camera. Finally, I’ll wrap up by giving you my personal feelings about the camera and whether or not it could be an effective portrait camera.

The Number One Camera Bag Staple

We all have a different bag setup. Some prefer to travel light and mobile while others go for a more heavy duty option. Some people want a stylish option that shows off some personal flair while others just want something practical. We each like a different layout and store our gear and accessories in a different way or in a different pocket. In spite of our different preferences when it comes to our camera bags, there is one universal truth. One item that, regardless of your specialty, you positively need to have somewhere in your bag. You must keep a few up to date business cards in your bag at all times.

The Sensel Morph Tablet: The Best Accessory for Premiere Pro

Making videos on Premiere Pro using just my mouse has been getting really old really fast. Keyboard shortcuts are a way to make the whole process a little less monotonous, but it's still not perfect. Recently, however, I've been testing the Sensel Morph tablet and I think I've found the best thing for Premiere Pro.

Can’t Get a Fujifilm X100V? Try This Instead

I've long been a fan of Fujifilm's X100 series of cameras, the "T" model being my gateway drug into the Fuji X system. Fuji's X100V, the latest and greatest in the lineup, launched in 2020, seems near impossible to find even in 2023. So, what's a photographer to do? Try this instead.

A Review of the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens

A 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the workhorse of choice for a ton of photographers and filmmakers, offering a versatile focal length range and a wide maximum aperture. They can be quite expensive, however, which is why Sigma's 24-70mm f/2.8 Art, which is about half the price of first-party options, is so intriguing. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and if it can compete with more expensive options.

Canon Is Finally Bringing Out a Premium 35mm Prime Lens Soon

Once they got serious about mirrorless cameras and lenses, Canon wasted little time expanding the RF mount's offerings, but one standard lens that is still missing is a fast, premium 35mm prime. No doubt, that lens is coming eventually, and it looks like we can expect it later this year.

Using Full Frame Lenses on a Medium Format Camera

Medium format cameras offer an elevated experience for those who want more detail and depth in their images, yet they’ve traditionally been seen as impractical or overly expensive. Fujifilm's GFX100S II challenges this idea by bringing impressive quality in a compact, user-friendly format, but lenses are still pricey. What if you could adapt more affordable full frame options?

Is the Sony a7 IV the Best Hybrid Camera Available?

Few cameras were more hotly anticipated than the Sony a7 IV, the long-awaited update to the popular and highly respected a7 III. Meant to be equally at home in both photo and video scenarios, the a7 IV brings with it a balanced feature set for hybrid shooters, and this excellent video review takes a look at what you can expect from it on both sides of the coin.

5 Tips for Choosing the Right Tripod

One of the most useful accessories any photographer can have is a tripod, suitable for anything from allowing you to get sharp images at longer exposures or to take some of the weight and strain off your neck and back. There are a ton of options out there, however, and if you are wondering which one is right for you, check out this awesome video that will give you five tips for choosing the correct option.

Why Tamron Has a Lot to Prove Now That They Have Redesigned

Yesterday Tamron announced the development of a new lens, but what caught my attention more than specs and the PR-speak that comes with a product launch was the way the new lens looked... strikingly like what Sigma is going for. I’m excited and happy to see Tamron pushing with a new design, but they have a lot to prove with the change and, arguably, a lot to lose if it doesn’t stack up.

Ten Great Cameras That Shoot 1080p for Less Than $300

With the endless hype surrounding the amazing features of every new camera, it’s easy to forget that there are plenty of incredible tools available for those on a tight budget. Cinematographer Caleb Pike has put together a list of 10 cameras that are great for video but cost less than $300.

Using an 8K Video Camera for Stills and Video: Overkill or the Way to Go?

Video cameras' resolution war has already started. So has the frames-per-second race. Current DSLRs shoot high resolution stills and lower resolution video. What if you can have an 8K video camera that captures both raw stills and raw video in 8K? Would you replace your stills camera with it?

New DJI Osmo Mobile 2 Only $129

DJI have just released an update to the mobile version of their stellar Osmo system. The updates are pretty sweet, but not as sweet as the new price.

Can This Affordable, Long Zoom Lens Keep Up With More Expensive Options?

100-400mm zoom lenses are some of the most popular out there, offering a highly versatile focal length range suitable for just about everything from wildlife photography to sports and more. There are many versions of such lenses at a wide range of prices, with the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM sitting at the budget end of things, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in real-world usage.

Which of These Is the Perfect Camera Backpack?

Photography is not all just bodies and lenses. There's lots of other equipment that goes into creating the perfect setup. One of the most vital is your camera backpack, so if you want to find the perfect one for your needs, take a look here.

The Best Canon Lenses for Portrait Photography

Choosing the right lens for portraits can significantly impact the quality and emotion conveyed in each photo. This consideration is particularly crucial for photographers specializing in family and children's portraits, as selecting an appropriate lens can address challenges such as maintaining the right distance and capturing fast-moving subjects.

How Much Ink (and Money) Is Your Printer Wasting? A Lot More Than You Think.

When your printer is telling you it's time to change that cartridge, it's probably fibbing about how much ink is actually left in the tank. The folks at Bellevue Fine Art Reproduction had an inkling that their Epson Stylus Pro 9900 large format printer was lying to them every time it said a cartridge was empty and since printer ink is one of the most expensive consumer liquids on earth per fluid ounce, that could equate to some serious coin being thrown in the trash with each replacement. Watch them go step-by-step, weighing the cartridges and calculating how much ink is left inside when the printer won't use it anymore. Not only can you see their results, but you can do it yourself at home with their instructions.

Fstoppers Reviews the Portable and Powerful Polaroid Travel BrightSaber

Polaroid is a brand many have forgotten, a true classic of yesteryear, but today they seem to continue to push out new and innovative products that can be used by any type of photographer. Last week I reviewed the Polaroid Snap Touch and today, I am checking out the latest BrightSaber. A powerful yet portable light in a form factor many find appealing to those on the go or wanting to simplify their gear.

What Light Meter Should You Buy in 2018?

Before you say your camera has a built-in exposure meter, light meters have more advanced features and there are still many reasons to have one. You might need to consider a light meter to achieve accurate results for both photography and video.

Sony Versus Canon: How Does the Sony 85mm f/1.4 Compare to the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2?

Photographer Manny Ortiz has been pretty impressed when testing the Canon EOS R, especially in light of the recent firmware upgrades to the eye autofocus. In this short video, he puts two premium prime lenses under the microscope, pitting Sony’s 85mm f/1.4 lens attached to his Sony a7 III in direct competition with the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 attached to the EOS R. Which will he prefer and why?

Review of the Canon C200 Cinema Camera

Canon's C200 has been on the radar for quite some time as an affordable cinema camera. This review shows if it's really worth buying it because of its advertised key features such as ability to shoot raw footage, dynamic range, build improvements from previous models, and others. The test has been performed by the guys from The Slanted Lens on a sunny day outside in the city. The reviewers mostly shot in Raw Light format although they've got some files in AVCHD, so they could compare the results later.