Recent Gear Articles

A Review of the New Venus Optics Laowa 58mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO Lens

Venus Optics is well known for making unique, interesting, and versatile lenses that offer capabilities that are not possible with other options. Their newest lens, the Laowa 58mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO, offers the promise of fantastic image quality in tandem with ultra-high levels of magnification, all at an affordable price. How does it perform? This great video review takes a look at what you can expect.

Can Pixel Shift Give You the Best High Resolution Images?

Olympus cameras, though micro four thirds, have a pixel shift mode seen in several other manufacturer's cameras, and it allows to take higher resolution images despite a smaller and lower resolution sensor. But can it compete with genuinely high resolution sensors?

Nikon Z 9 Video Leak Reveals Some Potential Dealbreakers for Pros

Nikon India accidentally posted the release video for the Nikon Z 9 flagship just a bit early, and while they were quick to remove it, photographer and YouTuber Tony Northrup was able to get his hands on it and do a deep dive into the uphill battle against Sony and Canon that the camera will face.

The New Mac Studio Is Now Available to Order

The Mac Studio, Apple's powerful desktop computer, has been upgraded with new chips and a range of new features and capabilities. Here's what's new and how you can order yours.

7 Changes Camera Companies Should Consider

Camera technology is evolving at a breakneck pace, and manufacturers are getting a lot right these days. But of course, no company is perfect, and there is always room for improvement. This great video features a photographer discussing seven things he wishes all camera companies would improve on.

Fstoppers Reviews The ONA Prince Street Leather Messenger Bag

When it comes to bags and backpacks, ONA isn't known for making anything cheap. Their premium bags have caught the attention of many photographers, myself included. I was very pleased when ONA sent me The Prince Street to review because aside from a few minor issues, this is without a doubt the best messenger bag I've ever used.

Wacom releases Bamboo Stylus Mini for Tablets and Smartphones

With the recent push into mobile editing software like Adobe Photoshop Touch, it's no surprise that additional support in various forms will start to crop up. Today Wacom released a new Bamboo stylus designed specifically for smartphone and tablet editing, which is a plus for anyone who lacks dexterity in their fingertips (like myself).

Turning the Lumix S5 II Into the Ultimate Cinema Camera

The Lumix S5 II is the first full-frame mirrorless camera from Panasonic to offer hybrid phase detect autofocus and a plethora of other cinematic video options. With all of the new improvements on the S5 II, could it be an ideal choice as a full-fledged cinema camera?

[Video] Philip Bloom Reviews The 5D Mark III

Even though both Patrick and I purchased the Nikon D4 and D800 the day the preorder became available (and we are NPS members) the cameras still have not been shipped to us. Ironically B&H was kind enough to send us a 5DM3 for review and we should receive it by tomorrow. Neither of us are Canon shooters so our review may take a while but until then, check out this full review by Philip Bloom.

Hoya Introduces New Solas Infrared Neutral Density Filters

Hoya has just debuted a new series of neutral density filters called Solas IRND, bolstering there array of already stellar filters for photography and video. This new line of IRND (Infrared Neutral Density) promises to produce no color casts in your images and videos, which is a very common issue when using ND's.

Sony Releases New Cameras, Including Mirrorless and DSLR

Sony has had a busy morning, with the release of five new cameras including three Cyber-shot point-and-shoots, a new mirrorless in the NEX-3N and a new 20.1 megapixel DSLR in the SLT-A58, the last of which is priced incredibly competitively at just under $600.

How 2011 Fundamentally Changed the Camera World

It was the year that Osama Bin Laden was killed, Barack Obama was President, the Space Shuttle was retired, and "Game of Thrones" was premiered. Meanwhile 2011 turned out to be one of the most pivotal years in camera history, putting us on the path to where we are today. Here's what happened.

A Review of the Apple QuickTake 100, a Digital Camera From 1994

We're kind of spoiled these days: digital cameras are ridiculously capable, and there are few (if any) images that can't be taken with the right gear. Just a few decades ago, consumer digital cameras were in their infancy, and this fun retro review takes a look at what the experience was like back then.

Portfolio Advice From A Getty Professional

Harry How is a sports photographer without any prior photography training. With hard work, determination, and a pressing urge to create images that hold up against his peers' photographs, Harry now has a career shooting for Getty Images. In this video Harry explains in detail what it takes to make the transition from hobbyist to full time professional and outlines his gear and little tips throughout his own transition into a sports photographer. If you enjoy this type of candid interview, be sure to hit the full post to watch part 2 and part 3 of this video series.
Canon Vs Sony: Could You Tell the Difference and Win $10,000?

The ongoing battle between Canon and Sony when it comes to video performance can stir up some heated debates. Check out how seven well-known YouTubers fare when trying to spot the difference between all-but-identical footage with a prize of $10,000 on the line.

Nikon Launches Firmware 3.0 for the Z 9

After a promising launch and a massive update with version 2.0, Nikon has announced the release of version 3.0 for their flagship mirrorless camera.

Phottix Prices and Releases New TTL Speedlight

Announced over a year ago at CES 2012, Phottix has priced and released their Mitros TTL Speedlight for Canon cameras today, with the Nikon and Sony versions coming in May. It's priced at $349 MSRP, but I expect to see it from dealers for around $300.

Iconic Images from the 2019 Solar Eclipse

To witness a solar eclipse is a once in a lifetime experience and to photograph two within 2 years is an amazing opportunity to leverage your experience to create incredible imagery. Ted Hesser was able to garner a second opportunity with the 2019 eclipse and put his ideas into motion with only weeks to spare before this year's eclipse to gather ideas and compose images that engage our humanity within the cosmos.

Quick Review of the Aukey Clip-on Circular Polarizing Filter for Smartphones

The circular polarizing filter is one of the most important pieces of equipment to own as a photographer. Its effects are one of the few that can’t be faked in post-processing. It didn’t even occur to me until browsing Amazon that circular polarizing filters are now being made for smartphone cameras, and that got me excited to try one out.

Thoughts on The FUJIFILM GFX Eterna Filmmaking Camera Development Announcement

This week, Fujifilm announced the development of a new camera designed with filmmakers in mind, the Fujifilm GFX Eterna. The camera builds on Fuji’s GFX line of medium format still cameras but will be focused on video capture and is aimed at independent filmmakers and documentarians.

Samyang's New 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Lens Is Creating Buzz

We would be hard-pressed to find a photographer who wasn't familiar with mega-brands Tamron and Sigma offering lower-priced lenses to rival the designs put out by the giants: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and more. This week, there has been buzz in the nerdy sublayers of photography sites about a new lens coming out: the Samyang 35-150mm f/2-2.8. Let's dive into this.