Recent Gear Articles

Fstoppers Reviews the Tahquitz Backpack

As someone that always seems to be on the hunt for that perfect camera bag for every occasion, I know there is no shortage of options. But in my everlasting search, one bag I have always been lacking is a good camping backpack that could also carry some camera gear. The backpack style bag I have had in the past have either been great camera bags, or great camping bags. When I saw the Tahquitz backpack though, I got excited.

How to Use Your Ball Head Like a Gimbal Head for Outdoor, Sports, and Wildlife Photography

One of the biggest challenges all photographers and videographers face is knowing what gear to bring on any given shoot. To make it worse, we are constantly torn on when to purchase or use dedicated specialty gear versus all-around multipurpose gear. Each photographer has to learn this for their own style and genre of photography; however, learning tips that can help you get the most out of each piece of gear will always increase the usefulness of that gear.

A Review of the Leica Q3 Camera

The Leica Q3 smashes a ton of modern features into a tiny body and pairs it all with an impressive sensor, making it an attractive option for anyone who wants a portable device that does not sacrifice quality. This excellent video review takes a look at the Q3 and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

Should You Buy the Sony a9 III or a1?

The Sony a1 and a9 III are two of the most impressive cameras ever made, and it can be tough to know which one is right for you. This fantastic video dives deep into both to help you choose the right camera for your work.

Panasonic Lumix S1 Versus Sony A7III Is Bigger Better?

Panasonic Lumix S1 compared to the Sony A7 III, is Panasonic able to compete with one of Sony’s best selling cameras? Are they too late to enter the full frame market? And is bigger always better? Let’s find out.

How to Get Creative Images by Using On-Camera Filters

Since digital cameras came into our lives like a storm a decade ago we photographers became more dependent on post processing programs and many times prefer to achieve the needed result by retouching instead of using on-camera products and in-camera settings. "I'll just fix it in post" is something we all say to ourselves during photoshoots, but it's not always the right or smart thing to do. This video gives a short overview of some of the less known lens filters many photographers don't even know exist and shows how it can elevate images in no time.

Will the 3x Optical Lens on the New Asus ZenFone Zoom Replace the iPhone 6s?

Professional photographers understand the quality of imagery that can come from a camera phone will never contend with the pictures and video you can capture with your DSLR. Phones will likely always have an innate handicap with sensor size, which leaves it's images lacking. That said, it would be quite unwise for photographers to neglect the most recent developments in camera phone technology. The ease of use, accessibility, and ability to quickly share your imagery can make your phone one the most important pieces of gear in your business. So, when phones like the new Asus ZenFone Zoom come out with a 3X optical zoom, it's best to pay attention.

Why Prime Lenses Are Sometimes Overrated

A lot of professional photographers espouse the use of prime lenses, whether for their sharpness, wider apertures, portability, or for some other reason. And while there are certainly advantages to prime lenses, you should not just automatically shun zooms without a second thought; in fact, they might actually be better for your needs, and this great video essay discusses why.

[Gear] New Favorites: Zeiss, Leica, Hasselblad, and More!

Between great announcements, imagined concepts, and juicy rumors, there's never a dull time for gearheads. These last few weeks are no exception. In the full post, read of Zeiss' new 15mm lens, the only Leica you can bring to a white party, some w i d e Hasselblad rumors, and then some.

The Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master: A Lightweight Powerhouse

The Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master lens is one of the best in the company's lineup. The standout feature is its remarkably light weight. However, there's a lot more to the lens than that, and this great video review takes a look at what you can expect.

Do Photographers Need a Graphics Tablet for Editing Photos?

The short answer is no, you don't need one; however, they do make some jobs not just easier but more enjoyable. Not all tablets are created equal, though, so this photographer gives his take on a brand you might not have heard of before.

Macro for Fuji Shooters: A Review of the XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR Lens

A good macro lens can be one of the most versatile lenses in your bag, offering not only the ability to take extreme close-up images with high levels of detail, but also portraits at a flattering focal length and with high levels of sharpness. For Fuji shooters, there is the XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro lens, and this excellent video review shows what you can expect from it in practice.

A Fujifilm Camera and Lens Kit for Wedding Photographers

Fujifilm's mirrorless cameras are highly respected for their design, capabilities, and innovative features, and they have become the system of choice for many wedding photographers. This great video essay features a wedding photographer taking you through the Fujifilm cameras, lenses, and accessories he uses for the big day.

Watch Adobe Explain Projects Mighty & Napoleon

We learned a lot about Adobe at Adobe MAX earlier this week. We learned that they are moving to a cloud-based system that will remove support for perpetual licenses. We learned about new features that are really something special. And we also learned just a little bit about Project Mighty and Project Napoleon, Adobe's push into hardware through a pen and ruler that link to the digital world.

An App to Help Photographers Find Workspace Away From Home

Culling, processing and editing jobs is a time consuming endeavor to say the least. Hours go by with you hunched over the Wacom as you find yourself leaning ever closer to your screen. Sometime you just need to get out of the studio (or your apartment) and find a different environment to keep yourself sane. Sometimes you are away on assignment and you just need to find a place with wifi, a plug, a comfortable seat and a good cup of coffee. Well the Work Hard Anywhere app aims to help you with that, by creating a community of freelancers who share their favorite haunts to plug in, plop down and post up in.

Fstoppers Review of the Moza Lite II 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer for Compact Video Cameras

I’m a huge fan of gimbal stabilizers, and absolutely love how easy it is to get dreamy, floating footage with these relatively inexpensive accessories. A lot of attention has been on products like the MoVi and Ronin, but other manufacturers have stepped up their game and are making products that are just as competitive in terms of features and price. One such item is the Moza Lite II, which I’ve been reviewing for the last few weeks.

iPhone 15 Pro Wins Best Camera Award 2023

Camera phones are now being taken more seriously than ever before. The improvements in technology have made it so that the results you can produce with a smartphone, in many cases, can rival those of "proper" cameras. And this year, one major award has been given to Apple for its latest flagship phone.

Is This Strange Sigma Lens Worth a Look?

Sigma makes some pretty standard lenses, but they also create some more unique and less heard-of designs that can be the sort of creative shot in the arm that excites a lot of photographers. The 65mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary, which sits in a strange middle ground between 50mm and 85mm, is one such lens, and this great video review takes a look at the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

[Gear] Everything Announced This Week and Then Some

A new Tokina 11-16mm lens, two new possible Leica cameras, Nikon and Canon's new mid-sized DSLRs...!? From the already-announced to the soon-to-be released, we have this week's updates on gear news. Check out the full post for the goods.
Maximizing Reach: The Truth About Teleconverters

Getting closer to your subject can be a real challenge. This is especially true when your subjects are birds. The simplest solution might seem to be adding a teleconverter, but it's not without its drawbacks.

How Much of a Difference Does Modern Lens Technology Really Make?

I've always been a fan of odd lenses and crazy rendering from some vintage lenses. I have even gone further than most and used vintage lenses on my Sony exclusively on actual customer sessions, and I have been pleased with the results. Today, I want to talk about how much difference modern lens technology really makes in actual real-world usage.

Turn Almost Any Lens Into A Macro

One of my favorite 'old school' photo tricks is the macro reversing ring. When you turn your lens around - literally having the mount pointing at your subject - you will notice a pretty interesting effect. The lens (whatever focal length it is) becomes a macro. Of course, holding a lens over an open camera body is a pretty terrible idea. This is where the reversing ring comes in.

A Hidden Gem: The Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8

Viltrox has swiftly transitioned from an under-the-radar brand to a well-regarded lens maker, celebrated for its budget-friendly yet impressive performing lenses. The AF 20mm f/2.8, priced under $200, continues this trend. The question is, does it live up to the high expectations set by contemporary lenses? This detailed video review explores the lens' performance and the quality of images it produces.