Recent Gear Articles

A Look at One of the Coolest Cameras of Yesteryear

One of the neatest things about early digital photography was that because few things were really standardized, there were numerous interesting designs and experiments with features. Sony's Mavica line was one such example of this, and this awesome video takes a look at the camera 24 years after its release.

DxO Mark Highly Praises Sharpness of Sigma 35mm f/1.4

A couple weeks ago I reviewed the outstanding Sigma 35mm f/1.4 lens and could not speak highly enough about its merits. In the week that followed, every single camera review site that I have read seemed to come to the same conclusion. Recently, Dx0 Mark also rated the Sigma lens, and said it was "one of the sharpest lenses, mounted on Canon, ever measured by DxOMark website."

Is Low-Light Footage From the Canon C500 Mark II at ISO 12,800 Useable?

Wait a minute. Who would dare to shoot at such an ISO? Just use a fast lens and don't go over ISO 1,600. Well, in this case, the camera was set to such an uncommon ISO to help us understand if it's worth paying for the Canon C500 Mark II to use it in low-light situations.

Model Testing with the Broncolor Siros Monolight

A couple of weeks ago I had a chance to shoot with the Broncolor Siros Monolights for the first time. Until now, my light of choice has been the Profoto D1. I, like many of you, have seen reviews on Broncolor's new monolight, and like many of you as well, have been a bit skeptical about their delve into competing with Profoto's D1 and B1 Series for the high-end monolight market. The Siros is available in two models, a 400W/s monolight and an 800W/s monolight, and for this shoot I used five Siros 800s. In this article I will give you my complete lighting setup, gear list, a retouching preview, and complete review of my experience with the Siros Monolight and BronControl app.

Vibe's Selfie Flash Is the Phone Accessory You Didn't Know You Needed

You've already mastered sneaking your selfies by the window to grab that natural soft light, but now with this smartphone accessory you don't have to work around the sun's schedule. Lenovo's new Selfie Flash is exactly what it sounds like. A 3.5mm headphone jack mounted light designed to illuminate your face for the front-facing camera.

40,000 Frames per Second for Just $3,500? Check Out the Chronos 1.4

Not too long ago, shooting at a thousand frames per second meant a huge rig and a massive bill. Now you can buy a camera that shoots 1,057 fps at around 720p, going up to an insane 38,565 fps albeit at a resolution of 335 x 96. All of this now arrives in a package that costs a mere $3,500.

A Review of the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens

35mm lens with wide maximum apertures are some of the most popular and versatile options available, offering the ability to tackle a huge variety of shooting scenarios and genres, including things like wedding photography, astrophotography, street work, and more. For Fujifilm users, there is the XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR, and this excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

How to Add a Quick Release Plate to the Zhiyun-Tech Crane Gimbal

The Zhiyun-Tech Crane is our favorite gimbal for mirrorless cameras but it has one small problem: each time you remove the camera you'll have to balance the gimbal again and again. We've found a way around this by adding our own quick release plate.

Zeiss Tells the Story of Melding Design and Performance in the Upcoming 55mm f/1.4

Zeiss lenses have been around for over 120 years, but admittedly "product design has never been the foremost factor." In designing their new high-end Distagon lenses coming to the market at the end of 2013, Zeiss wanted to really consider aesthetics in the project. "The newly-defined design is intended to reflect the lenses’ unique character and make Zeiss lenses truly unmistakable in the future."

Looking for a Video Crane? Pro Am Has a New Light Weight Option

Cranes can add that extra bit of "oomph" to a video, giving it that one extra piece to make for compelling and dynamic footage. If you saw Patrick Hall's review of the Rhino Slider, you probably noticed some footage from a crane in there too. Pro Am just announced a new $300, 12-pound, 3-foot crane that can support a camera rigs up to 20 pounds and manually tilts cameras up to 10 pounds.

A Review of the Canon RF 135mm f/1.8 L IS USM Lens

135mm lenses have long been a popular second option to 85mm lenses for portrait photography, where their longer focal length and higher levels of telephoto compressions offer flattering renderings. Canon’s EF 135mm f/2L lens was long one of the company’s best hidden gems, offering fantastic image quality in tandem with deep contrast and colors and snappy autofocus. It’s successor, the RF 135mm f/1.8 L IS USM is here, and it looks like an awfully impressive lens. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

Is the Huion Kamvas Pro 27 the Ultimate Tool for Digital Artists?

As creatives, we rely on our tools not just to keep up with our ideas but to enhance and streamline the creative process. The Huion Kamvas Pro 27 aims to be that kind of tool—a professional pen display that blends cutting-edge technology with thoughtful design catering to professionals across various disciplines. Whether you’re an illustrator sketching intricate designs, a photographer editing your images, or an artist bringing your creations to life, the Kamvas Pro 27 promises to deliver.

Steadicam Volt Smartphone Stabilizer Blows Kickstarter Goal Out Of The Water

Have you ever been interested in creating professional looking videos but haven’t been able to justify the cost of dedicated professional video gear? You’re in luck considering the remarkable video quality that is achievable using the most current smartphones. Combine the latest smartphone video recording capabilities with stabilization technology developed by the originators of the Steadicam and you’re now able to capture professional looking video easier than ever.

How to Add Depth to a Landscape Photo Through Editing

Rarely is a landscape photo finished when you press the shutter; almost all images require some degree of editing to produce a fully polished result. One of the challenges of editing a landscape image is bringing a sense of depth back to a two-dimensional photo. If that is something you are struggling with that, check out this helpful video tutorial that will show you everything you need to know to do just that.

Using Film for Portraits of a Highway Patrolman

I started a new project recently creating portraits on 11x14 film. I have had an 11x14 back for my Deardorff for several years, but I have never shot much in that format. I decided to try a couple sheets in hopes of kick starting a new project.

Is the Sony FE 2X Teleconverter Worth It?

Often, as a wildlife photography enthusiast, I would love to have more reach when out in the field. This excellent video features a brilliant young photographer who is looking for a big performance from this small portable device.

The Most Confusing Thing About The Canon R6

Katelyn James answers the most common questions she gets about the Canon R6. She's done a ton of videos on the R6, but there are still more questions here that get answered. Like, are low megapixels an issue with the R6? This is the video to watch.

My Most Used Studio Photography Kit

For most studio owners, outbuildings end up full of all sorts of junk, but there will be those key bits of kit that are just used day in and day out, and it's probably where you really want to invest your money.