Recent Gear Articles

The Do-It-All Lens: A Review of the Tamron 28-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD Lens

Tamron has been on a roll the last few years, producing highly popular lenses that offer great image quality at prices far below comparable first party options. Their latest lens, the 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD for Sony E mount, offers an all-in-one solution for photographers looking for a single lens to handle a variety of scenarios, and as this great video review shows, it looks like the company has another winner on their hands.

Canon Announces the RF 85mm f/1.2L USM Lens

Canon's EF 85mm f/1.2L II lens is one of the most popular portrait lenses of all time, and it was surely a given that it would be coming for the RF mirrorless line. Today, Canon has announced the RF version, which features an entirely new optical design that should give it increased performance over its predecessor.

Camera Companies Are Really Bad at Promoting Why Their Cameras Are Better Than Phones

There’s a lot of press about how phones are hanging right in there with “real” cameras. And while sometimes this is true, for the most part, a Canon EOS R5 is still going to be much more capable than a cell phone. It’s just a shame that major camera brands’ marketing departments haven’t figured out how to show that.

Shooting Natural Light Portraits With the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM Lens

Canon's RF 85mm f/1.2L USM is the company's premium portrait lens, practically begging to be shot wide open for natural light portraits, where its f/1.2 aperture can turn backgrounds into nothing but amorphous blurs of light and color. This awesome video shows the sort of shots you can get with it.

Can Your Smartphone Really Replace a Camera?

Smartphone cameras have made remarkable strides, becoming a tool you always have on hand. They’re convenient, portable, and capable of taking impressive shots. However, are they truly enough to replace traditional cameras for at least some serious photography?

Field Review of the Sony a9 for Bird Photography

Published bird photographer and YouTuber Mark Smith loves his Nikon D850 and D500 cameras. So what does he think of the Sony a9 when it comes to capturing his flighty friends?

A Review of the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD Lens for Nikon Z Mirrorless Cameras

The Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD is easily one of the most intriguing lenses to hit the market in some time, offering an extremely useful focal range in combination with especially wide maximum apertures, making it a dream lens for people like events photographers, at least on paper. How does it hold up in the real world? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from the Nikon Z mount version.

DJI Announces X5 and X5R Micro-Four-Thirds 4K Cameras for Inspire 1 Drone

Traditionally offering drone technology to the creative imaging market, DJI ditched its common GoPro-oriented drones in favor of a device with its own included camera. Now, DJI offers professionals a way to capture higher-quality video in a package that is specifically suited for drone photography and that capitalizes on a larger, micro-four-thirds sensor size.
The Ultimate 35mm Lens Showdown for Fujifilm Users: From Budget to Premium Picks

The 35mm lens is a staple in many photographers' kits, offering a versatile focal length ideal for a range of shooting scenarios. Its popularity stems from its ability to capture scenes with a natural perspective, making it essential for street, portrait, and everyday photography. This helpful video overview takes a deep look at the best options out there.

LUMENATOR- LED Photography Light

Kickstarter product "LUMENATOR™" is a portable and battery powered LED light stick. The 1200 lumen bar has a dimmer on it so you are able to adjust the power. The bar will have attachments that allow you to change the white balance and even add on a color hue bar. Check out the Kickstarter video and see if this possible product will fit your needs and help back this project.

Is the Fujifilm 50mm f/1.0 Worth the Premium Over the 56mm f/1.2?

I am a long-time user and fan of Fujifilm’s excellent XF 56mm f/1.2 R lens. I’ve never even thought twice about another portrait lens for the system since I bought it, that is, until I saw the specs on the company’s new XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR lens.

The Down and Dirty on Photographers Insurance

Photography equipment is expensive, and regardless of whether we are amateurs or full-time professionals, losing your equipment to theft or damage could be catastrophic. A single event (be it theft, natural disaster, etc.) could completely devastate your business and leave you without means of income to recover the loss. Fortunately, DSLR Video Shooter has recently published a video and article aimed at helping those photographers who currently have uninsured equipment find a plan to protect themselves in case of such an event.

Everything You Have Ever Wanted to Know About Lenses

There is literally no piece of photographic equipment more important than the lens, and it behooves any photographer to become well acquainted with the properties, types, and characteristics of them. This ultra-comprehensive video discusses everything you will ever need to know about lenses, ranging from their properties to how to choose the right kind for your work.

One of the Weirdest Medium Format Cameras Ever Made

Before gaining popularity with the highly respected X Series and GFX Series, Fujifilm was quite active in the film industry, making some fantastic cameras that are still popular with enthusiasts today. One of the most interesting cameras they made was the GA645Zi, and this great video takes a look at what it is like to shoot with a medium format point and shoot.

New Nikon Capture NX-D RAW Processing Software

On top of the new Nikon D4s annoucement, a new announcement came out about Nikon Capture NX-D RAW Processing Software. The software will allow you to maximize the Nikon camera and lens capabilities and create the "ultimate image quality that Nikon intended."

How to Get Cinematic Results From Your Gimbal

Along with improvements in resolution and dynamic range, one of the biggest changes witnessed in the world of videography in recent years is how easy it has become to add movement to a shot. A gimbal can open a world of possibilities, and this short video gives an excellent introduction.

Two Illuminating Products That Will Rattle Other Manufacturers

I am becoming a fan of Neewer gear. Since they changed direction and started producing equipment for themselves, the designs have vastly improved, and the quality of the products has rocketed. Here are two new lights from their stable that are exceptionally good. Their competitors should look out.

A Comparison of the Autofocus in the a7R III, a7R IV, and a9

Sony's a7R III, a7R IV, and a9 are some of the latest and greatest from the camera manufacturer, and with them come some powerful autofocus capabilities for demanding photographers. How do the three cameras stack up against each other? This excellent comparison review takes a look at the autofocus systems in all three cameras to help see which is right for you.

Sigma Wants You to Let You Test Drive the New dp2 Quattro

Sigma wants to encourage new users to try their new dp2 Quattro so badly they've decided to tear down the walls: you can borrow the dp2 and test drive it before you buy it... and even before it’s available to purchase in stores. Though you have to throw down the value of the camera as collateral, if you return the camera you get the money back. Free rental? Yes please.

ExoLens Case With Zeiss Lenses for Your iPhone 7

ExoLens the iPhone case company that is known for its protective cases that are compatible with their range of Zeiss lenses, have just announced a new case for the iPhone 7 at C.E.S. Bringing professional-grade lenses to the iPhone, and now even more protection. The new protective case for the iPhone 7 will be available for purchase during the first quarter of 2017, though a price is not yet released.

Was That Camera Actually Good, or Is That the Nostalgia Talking?

I’ve bought and sold a lot of photography gear over the years, between system switches and jumping into mirrorless. Some cameras I remember quite fondly and others not so much (it wasn’t me, Canon 7D Mark II, it was definitely you). What about cameras I loved though. Were they good, or am I looking through rose-tinted glasses?

A Look at Some of the Sharpest 85mm Lenses Made

Perhaps no type of lens generates more admiration, envy, and fighting than a wide-aperture 85mm lens. As the classic portrait focal length, such lenses often carry their respective manufacturer's best technology, offering that shallow depth of field and buttery bokeh so many photographers crave. This fantastic video takes a look at seven of the sharpest such lenses out there and which comes out on top.