Recent Gear Articles

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone With a Long Lens

As someone who shoots 90 percent of my professional work with wide lenses, it seems like a daunting tasking to go reaching for a 70-200mm or longer when looking to capture a landscape. Long lenses require a lot more thought in how the compression is going to affect the way the viewer sees the image and its a focal length that the human eye can’t really grasp until you look through the viewfinder. With that being said, learning to use these long focal lengths will go a long way in making us more versatile in our craft. Lucky for us, Thomas Heaton has decided to make a video specifically about this.

Wide and Fast: A Review of the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Mirrorless Lens

The ultra-wide angle zoom lens is a staple for many photographers in several genres, but it is normally neither a cheap nor simple lens, making it an investment any photographer should think carefully about. Sigma's entry, the 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art, comes in both E mount and L mount flavors, making it an attractive option for mirrorless shooters. Is it the right choice for you? Check out this great review to find out.

A Review of the Sony a7R V Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a7R line of mirrorless cameras has long been popular for offering some of the highest levels of resolution available in a full frame camera in tandem with a wide range of features that make it suitable for many different genres and applications. We have now reached the line's fifth generation, and the a7R V brings with it some of the company's latest advancements and capabilities. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in usage.

A Review of the Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera for Video Work

Sony's a7 III was one of the most respected hybrid cameras of recent years, and the a7 IV builds on the camera's well-rounded capabilities with a range of new features and improvements that make it an intriguing option for a lot of creatives. This excellent video review takes a look at the video capabilities of the new camera and how they perform in practice.

Why You Should Try a 135mm Lens for Portraits

The most classic portrait focal length is 85mm, but 135mm lenses have a special place in the heart of a lot of photographers. If you have not tried one in your own work, check out this excellent video that discusses the benefits of working with one and offers some helpful tips.

Fuji Announces the X-E2S, X70, and XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 LM OIS WR Lens

In addition to the X-Pro2 announcement, Fujifilm also announced the release of the X-E2S, X70, and XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens, each helping to further refine and round out Fuji's mirrorless lineup. The X-E2S is largely similar to it's predecessor (the X-E2), but improves ISO performance and offers several software enhancements. The X70 offers the same 16-megapixel X-Trans II CMOS sensor as the X-E2S in an appropriate update to Fuji's more affordable, fixed-lens XF line-up with an 18.5mm f/2.8 (28mm in 35mm equivalent) lens. And the 100-400mm lens fills out a part of Fuji's XF platform that has historically been in sore need of bolstering: it's lens selection.

Could this be the new Nikon 1?

In the wake of the announcement of the Fuji XT-1 and Sigma dp Quattro high-end mirrorless cameras, Nikon appears to be taking a second look at their new generation of 1-Series offerings. After lackluster sales of the original launch of the Nikon mirrorless models, it appears that Nikon might be turning its attention to the prosumer market to compete with Fuji, Olympus, and Panasonic if these concept images are to be believed.

A Review of the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens

A wide angle lens with a wide aperture is useful for a huge range of scenarios, from landscape photography to astro work and events coverage. For Fujifilm X Series shooters, one option is the XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR, and this great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

Phase One XF Feature Update #3: Medium Format Brought to the Next Level

Phase One introduces its third feature update for the XF camera system. The freshly released firmware adds a couple of new features, including the world’s first complete electronic shutter in medium format photography. The Danish manufacturer proves once again its devotion to offering its customers a future-proof system that can evolve with time and professional photographers’ needs.

A Compact Powerhouse: Introducing the Viltrox 28mm f/4.5 Lens

Viltrox, as you know, has established itself as a go-to brand for photographers looking for quality glass at a more affordable price. The Viltrox 28mm f/4.5 takes that ethos a step further, offering a compact, lightweight option that seems tailored for street photographers and travelers. With its discreet design and modest f/4.5 aperture, this lens feels like it’s made for those who prioritize portability without sacrificing sharpness.

One Filmmaker's Essential Gear in 2020

A lot of gear we all gawp over — maybe even most of it — is surplus to requirements. But, some gear ends up being essential. What equipment is first in your bag in 2020?

Amateur Photographer Shoots With Nikon Z8

With all of the advances in camera tech these days, it’s easy to get confused when thinking about which camera to buy or which camera to upgrade to! There are a plethora of reviews, videos, and opinions out there on which camera is best for you.

A Long-Term Review of the Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera

The Hasselblad X2D 100C is a very portable camera that packs a real punch inside, offering photographers a lot of power in a package that can easily go anywhere. How does it perform in practice, though? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect.

[Review] Polamatic, the Polaroid for your iPhone

For many of us, Polaroid cameras hold a special place in our hearts. What started as the original instant camera evolved into an art form beloved by hipsters and pro photographers alike. Polaroid has struggled lately, as digital photography has forced the instant photo classic out onto the fringes. App developer Appadana licensed the Polaroid name to build an iOS version of their cult classic camera and make it modern. The result: Polamatic.

Learn How To Balance a Setting Sun With Strobes

In this video from The Slanted Lens, Jay P Morgan shows us a behind the scenes look at how you can achieve that colorful, rich-looking sunset. This is a technique that is a must if you do any type of portraiture or wedding photography. Your clients will be really happy with the results, not to mention it will look great in your portfolio. This photo shoot is for writer, Robert L. Harding's novel titled, Death of the Wayang.

The World's Thinnest and Lightest Filters: Cokin Pure Harmonie

Cokin has a new line of filters, the Pure Harmonie filters, that offer the lightest and thinnest solution for your lenses. They come in various sizes and promise to be amongst the highest in quality. Now, I've owned some "thin-line" filters before by top European brands and was already impressed by those...so seeing these would intrigue me...

Canon Continues to Explore f/4 Zoom Lens Designs

With the advent of the RF mount, Canon entered a new realm of lens design, with some of the most extreme designs ever seen for full frame cameras. Nonetheless, it seems the company is also exploring more measured and pragmatic designs as well, with some very interesting f/4 zoom lens designs emerging in a recent trio of patents.

A Review of the Nikon Z8 Mirrorless Camera

The Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera has been called a miniature version of the highly respected Z9, bringing with it a huge range of advanced features and capabilities in a more portable and affordable body. What can you expect from the Z8? This excellent video review takes a look at the performance image quality it offers.

A Beginner's Guide to Aperture in Photography

Aperture is one of the most fundamental and crucial parameters in photography, and having a complete mastery of it will give you greater technical and creative control of your images. This excellent video will introduce you to aperture, what it does, how it works, and how you can use it to make better photos.

Just How Great Is the Fujifilm XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR Lens?

Fujifilm has long had the XF 56mm f/1.2 R lens, which offers fantastic portrait lens quality and lots of shallow depth of field for bokeh fanatics. Now, the XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR is here, blowing past the f/1.2 lens with an even wider aperture. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens in a variety of situations and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it.

A Review of One of History's Most Important DSLRs

The late 1990s and early 2000s were the infancy of professional digital photography, and as such, they brought with them some groundbreaking cameras that laid the foundations for those we know today. One such camera was the Nikon D1, and this neat video review takes a look back at the camera, its performance and features, and what made it such a pivotal body.

What Is The Real Difference Between Budget and Premium Lights?

One of the greatest things to happen in recent years for photography is the huge increase in incredibly well-designed budget lighting systems. Although most of them come from the same factories as the premium brands, offer similar specs on paper, and often have alarmingly similar looks, what is the real difference?

What Would You Do With This Massive 9x11 Large-Format Digital Camera?

Marketed as an 8x10 digital camera, the sensor of LargeSense's LS911 is actually a bit larger at 9x11 inches. That's nearly 30 times the area of medium format digital cameras. All things considered, the price is somewhat reasonable if still relatively unaffordable.

Which of These Incredible Lenses Is Better?

As a Canon user, perhaps no lens has me more jealous of other camera systems than the 35-150mm f/2-2.8. Arguably one of the most versatile lens designs, such lenses can cover a huge range of needs and applications. Both Tamron and Samyang make 35-150mm f/2-2.8 options with different advantages and prices. Which is right for you? This excellent video comparison takes a look at both to help you decide.