Recent Gear Articles

Large Format Film for Corporate Brochure

I teamed up with Luquire George Andrews, an ad agency in Charlotte, NC, to create four images for a corporate brochure for Lincoln Harris, a commercial real estate company with properties in 26 states. LGA wanted to feature b/w photographs of executives in Lincoln Harris' properties.

Bird Photographer’s Field Review of the Olympus OM-D E-M1X

Intimate bird photography has usually been made possible by using some seriously hefty lenses paired with large pro DSLR camera bodies. Can a Micro Four Thirds system really be just as effective while physically being much smaller and easier to carry?

Do You Really Need All That Gear?

Landscape photography, with its sprawling vistas and majestic scenery, often captivates us with its beauty and challenge. However, delving into this genre requires careful consideration of the equipment you bring along. In this article, let’s explore the essential gear for landscape photography, emphasizing the principle that less is more. Contrary to the notion that a vast array of equipment is necessary for capturing stunning landscapes, we'll discuss how a minimalist approach can lead to more focused and rewarding experiences in the field. Let's look at the essentials.

CalDigit's TS2 Thunderbolt Station Dock is a Nifty Convenience Packed with Features

Thunderbolt docks have always been something that I've wanted, but haven't absolutely needed. The $300-$500 price range of these little all-in-one boxes didn't spark urgency in my search for the perfect dock either. Given a little time for the excitement (and price) of Thunderbolt-related technology to die down a bit, however, the prospect began to grow more interesting. An improvement on their previous dock, CalDigit's $200 TS2 seemed to be the perfect connection dreambox at the right price. So how did reality fare against expectations?

A Review of the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM Mirrorless Lens

Canon's RF mirrorless lenses have been highly lauded for their impressive image quality and for pushing the limits of design. The RF 85mm f/1.2L USM is the company's mirrorless version of one of its most famous most famous lenses, the EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM, and it steps up another level from the EF version. This great video review takes a look at the lens and how it performs in practice.

A Review of the Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera

Perhaps no camera has been more highly anticipated in the last few years than the Sony a7 IV, and now that it has been available for a few months, photographers and filmmakers have had a chance to evaluate the latest entry in the company's highly respected line of hybrid mirrorless cameras. This excellent video review takes a look a look at the new camera and the sort of performance and quality you can expect from it in practice.

CamRanger's New Wireless Motorized Tripod Head

CamRanger, maker of one of the must-have products that architectural photographer Mike Kelley uses on a daily basis, today announced a new set of products: the CamRanger PT Hub and MP-360 motorized tripod head. If this new product works anywhere as well as the current camera control device, we all have a reason to be excited.

A Review of the Versatile Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD Lens

In recent years, Tamron has shown that they intend on creating impressively versatile and often innovative zoom lenses that can take the place of several others in a photographer's bag. One such lens is the 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD, which covers everything from normal to supertelephoto focal lengths. 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.

Nifty Fifty: A Review of the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens

A nifty fifty lens is one of the most versatile and useful lenses many photographers can have, and given their generally affordable prices, they make a fantastic first upgrade from a kit lens for newer photographers or a backup lens for pros with more established kits. This excellent video review takes a look at Nikon's version of the lens, the AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G.

Can You Find Treasure in a Pawn Shop?

Every photographer dreams of walking into a pawn shop and walking out with an impossibly good deal. Here's what happened when one photographer dropped $100 on a box of 20 cameras in a pawn shop.

A Review of the Samyang XP 35mm f/1.2 Lens

A 35mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is one of the most useful optics a photographer can own, as it offers a versatile focal length along with excellent light-gathering and depth of field performance. This excellent video review takes a look at the relatively affordable Samyang XP 35mm f/1.2 lens and if it can stand up to the demands of professional photographers.

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

Few manufacturers can compete with Viltrox when it comes to price, but of course, cheap does not mean much if you can't back it up with performance and image quality that can satisfy the needs of discerning users. The AF 75mm f/1.2 XF is a great example of one such lens, and yet, it offers impressively competitive results, even against much more expensive options. Is it the lens for you? This great video review takes a look at what you can expect.

Check Out the New Zoom H5 Handy Audio Recorder

Zoom North America has officially announced the release of their brand new H5 Hand Recorder. With many features you will find on the flagship H6 microphone but for more than $100 less, the H5 employs a system of interchangeable input capsules, allowing the best microphone to be used for every recording situation. The H5 is currently available for pre-order for only $269.99.

[Gear] Save $840+ on Wi-Fi for the Nikon D4!

Via NikonRumors, this is something everyone should know about: a do-it-yourself $30 wifi kit for the Nikon D4! It really speaks for itself. Read on for the details. Who knows, maybe something similar could be done for the 1D X. I wouldn't be surprised at all...

Is Nikon Planning to Go Retro Again?

Nikon has dabbled in vintage-styled digital cameras for quite some time now, with some achieving more success than others, but they have yet to release a full frame mirrorless camera with that sort of design. That might change soon, with a new vintage-style full frame mirrorless camera rumored to be on the way very soon.

Do You Really Need a Gimbal? Sony IBIS Versus DJI RS2 Gimbal

The technology inside cameras is growing at an impressive rate and even the older technology has been improved and refined to near-unthinkable levels. One such area is in-camera image stabilization (IBIS) to the point where it can rival a gimbal in certain situations. But just how many situations can modern IBIS compete with a gimbal?

A Review of the Nikon Zf Mirrorless Camera

While vintage camera styles evoke a sense of nostalgia, serious photographers demand more than just good looks in their equipment. It's essential that high-quality cameras also excel in functionality, adaptability, and cutting-edge features. This question is pertinent when considering the Nikon Zf mirrorless camera. Does its performance live up to its classic design? This detailed video review takes a look at what you can expect from the camera.

Sony a7 IV Versus Sony a7 III: Should You Upgrade?

Sony kept fans waiting a long time before finally unveiling the a7 IV, and with the release date quickly approaching, a7 III users will be weighing whether it’s worth the upgrade. And what if you're pondering your first a7 camera? Should you shell out the extra cash for the newer camera?

Soft, Warm, and Cinematic: Formatt Hitech Bloom Gold Diffusion Filter Review

Why would you need one? I wondered that a year ago, and now I’m obsessed with mist/diffusion filters. It happened when I started taking filmmaking seriously. I use very sharp modern lenses for my filming and photography and wasn’t happy with the crisp, sterile results I was getting. I wanted a more natural, organic feel. I’ve tested many kinds of mist/diffusion filters, and now I’ve finally found one I really love.

Photojournalist Launches iPhone Watermarking App

Photojournalist John D McHugh was so fed up with copyright infringement on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that he has taken drastic measures and built an iPhone app called Marksta specifically to add watermarks to images uploaded to social networks. Apparently he was really tired of people stealing his images without credit, and came up with a solution that helps him and other photogs who feel the same.

[Rumor] Canon to Announce Two Cameras in June

CanonRumors is reporting that Canon plans to unveil two new cameras in June, not counting any PowerShot updates. One of the expectations is their long-awaited mirrorless debut, but that rumor has been swilling around for over a year.

Pentax Announces Its Entry Into the Full-Frame Market, the K-1, and New Lenses

Today, Pentax has announced their entry into the full-frame market, the K-1. Slotting in-between the company's APS-C and medium format offerings, the K-1 aims to be the do-it-all solution for working photographers. In addition, the company has also announced two lenses to complement the new system.

New Canon Flagship Camera to be Annouced as the EOS-1D X Price Drops

The EOS-1D X DSLR has been Canon's flagship camera since its release in March 2012. It started with a hefty price tag of $6,799.00 and has since seen a price drop to $5,299.00 and most recently down to $4,599.00. It's been more than three years since its release and with this latest price drop, from authorized dealers, there is little doubt that we will be seeing an announcement for its successor soon.

Fstoppers Reviews the Tamron 35mm f/2.8 Lens

Following on from the success of its f/2.8 standard and wide-angle zoom lenses for Sony, Tamron is in the process of launching a selection of primes. I’ve been using the 35m f/2.8 Di III OSD M 1:2 for the last couple of weeks, and it’s proven fun and surprising.

LensRentals Tears Apart the Zeiss 32mm Touit Lens

Carl Zeiss has always been known for manufacturing some of the most well built and desired lenses on the market. The quality control has always been insane, so when they announced that they were making affordable lenses for mirrorless systems, people questioned if the quality would suffer. LenRentals got their hands on one, and decided to tear it apart and see for themselves.

'Buy My New Presets' Said Every Targeted Ad From a Sony Shooter

We've all scrolled past a targeted ad on Facebook or Instagram with a caption screaming for us to buy their new Lightroom or Photoshop presets if we want to take better photos. Is it just me, or does it usually seem these ads are often from folks shooting Sony cameras?