Recent Gear Articles

Can You Create Good Landscape Photos With Shallow Depth of Field?

Shallow depth of field is a popular technique for genres like portraiture, but when it comes to landscape photography, deep depth of field with most or all of the frame in focus is the standard. That does not mean you can't shoot with a shallow depth of field, though. This neat video follows a photographer as he shows how shallow depth of field can be a powerful creative tool for landscape work.

How Good Is This Ridiculously Cheap 35mm f/1.4 Lens?

A 35mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is one of the most useful and versatile options a photographer can have in their bag, but such lenses can often be quite expensive, sometimes running north of $2,000. At $129, you probably do not expect much out of the dirt-cheap Pergear 35mm f/1.4 lens, but you might be surprised at the results it can produce. This excellent video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from this affordable lens.

One Lens to Rule them All? Sony 24-105mm f/4 Versus Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8

They might have different focal lengths and different maximum apertures, but the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 and the Sony 24-105mm f/4 are very similar in price thanks to a rebate, and each would make a solid choice when it comes to a lens that does a little bit of everything. Which one should you choose?

Is Panasonic Going to Announce the Lumix GH6 in August?

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 has been a solid choice for run-and-gun video shooters, offering 4K 10-bit 4:2:2, and 4K 60p from its micro-four thirds sensor. Three years after its release, the time for its successor might be upon us.

Bad Reasons to Upgrade Your Camera Gear

Let's be honest: camera gear is fun, and it can be a blast to get a new piece of equipment to play with. That being said, gear is also expensive, and it can be easy to convince ourselves we need that shiny new camera or lens when we actually do not. This great video features one filmmaker discussing some of the worst reasons he has upgraded his gear over the years.

Which Nikon Z Camera Should I Buy?

I must admit, I’m out of the loop when it comes to the latest Nikon Z bodies. I shot with Nikon cameras almost exclusively from 2005 to 2014, but then I sold all my kit and switched to Fujifilm. Ten years later, I’m mulling a return to Nikon, but which camera should I buy?

Comparing 17 Lighting Modifiers

In this video, I look at the difference between 17 of the modifiers in my studio. With such a huge selection of modifiers out there, it is often hard to work out what you need. Hopefully, this video helps.

Edelkrone Releases the 'World's Smartest 2-Axis Motion Control System'

In the quest to achieve smooth panning shots for cinematographers everywhere, there are several different methods and tools to use. Usually, if you want to do a targeted curved panning shot around your subject, you would have to set up a track and dolly system. With the advancement in drones, you can now use those for outdoor shots, but what if you wanted something that didn’t require as much space and work indoors?

What's in a Professional Wedding Photographer's Bag?

Wedding photographers often have to wear several distinct hats over the course of a day, and as such, they need a wide variety of gear in their bags to be sure they have all situations covered. If you are wondering what all it takes to pull off a full day of shooting, check out this great video that takes you through a professional wedding photographer's gear bag.

Fstoppers Reviews the Incase Ari Camera Bag

Incase has been making some of my favorite iPhone cases for the past couple of years. When I saw their camera bags, I was intrigued but skeptical. After doing some research and drooling over how this bag (Incase Ari) looked I decided to buy one and take if for a test spin. I figured I could always return it if it didn't meet my needs...

Adobe Reveals Project Mighty & Project Napoleon are Planned Products

Earlier this year at MAX, Adobe announced Project Mighty and Project Napoleon, new cloud-based hardware tools that were somewhat overshadowed by the Creative Cloud announcement. Today Adobe has revealed that their prototype concepts for Mighty and Napoleon will indeed become full fledged products.

A Look at the Pentax K-3 Mark III DSLR

Pentax may have a smaller market share than most, but their users are quite loyal to the company and its determination to keep DSLRs alive and evolving. The K-3 Mark III is their latest flagship APS-C DSLR, and this great video review talks about some of the improvements to the camera and shares lots of sample images to show what you can expect from it in practice.

A Review of the Top 10 Best-Selling Lenses for Under $100

In this video, Arthur R buys the top 10 best-selling lenses on Amazon that cost under $100 and pits them against one another. So, if you're looking for something affordable to play with, perhaps this is exactly what you need!

Three Ways to Save Thousands on Gear

Buying new gear can be one of the major expenses for any photographer, so taking any opportunity to save is important. There are a number of ways to save on any gear purchase, without compromising on the quality, warranty, or buying experience.

Why 40mm Could Be the Perfect Everyday Lens

The 40mm focal length occupies a unique space, sitting neatly between the popular 35mm and 50mm options. It offers a natural field of view that closely resembles how we see the world, making it an appealing choice for a wide range of situations.

Jony Ive Leica M to be Auctioned for RED

Designed by Apple's Jony Ive and designer Marc Newson, Leica's one-of-a-kind M for RED will be auctioned off at Southeby’s on November 23rd 2013 to raise money for The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The hallmark of Ive design is on display with the rounded anodized aluminum outer shell and machined aluminum body. The camera has s a full-format CMOS sensor, high performance processor and new Leica APO-Summicron M 50mm f/2 ASPH lens.

New Nikon DSLR Rumors Out for 2013

NikonRumors just gave us a few more rumors for new DSLR releases to come from Nikon next year. Among them is a claim that the D7000 and D300s lines will be consolidated into one semi-pro body APS-C camera that will sit just between the D5200 and D800...

The Nikon Z6 Mark III: Speed and Performance Unleashed

The Nikon Z6 Mark III is making waves with its new features and performance improvements. If you're interested in a versatile camera that excels in both stills and video, this review is worth a look.

5 Affordable Pieces of Gear Every Video Camera Rig Needs

Not too long ago, I remember going through a phase when the process of building up a camera rig was, for me, the most exciting part of owning gear. My decisions were based less on functionality, and more on the question of “will this item make my rig look more like a cinema camera?” Big and bulky was the order of the day, and if people ever advised cliches like: “the best camera you have is the one that’s on you” or “it’s not about what gear you have, it’s about how you use it,” their advice was taken with a pinch of salt.

Impact Introduces the Venture TTL-600, a Battery-Powered, HSS, TTL Monolight

Last week, the plethora of photography announcements from Photokina was incredible. One product that was introduced, but got barely any attention, was a new strobe from Impact, the Venture TTL-600. It personally stood out to me as something I could possibly add to my own kit immediately if it does what it says it does and more importantly, does it reliably. So right now, it currently sits at the top of my list of new gear to try out.

Master Your Histogram: Better Images With ETTR

Getting the right exposure isn't always straightforward, especially when your scene has extreme contrasts. Knowing how to manage these situations can significantly boost your image quality by minimizing unwanted noise.