Recent Gear Articles

A Review of the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens

Sigma's fresh 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary lens offers a compelling blend of a generous ultra-wide field of view and bright constant aperture, and that makes it an intriguing option for a wide variety of creatives. Can it deliver in practice, though? This great video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you will be able to expect.

Canon Contemplates Entering the Retro Camera Market Amid Rising Popularity

With the photography industry witnessing a resurgence of interest in vintage aesthetics, major players like Nikon and Fujifilm have successfully tapped into the nostalgia, capturing both attention and sales with their retro-inspired models. Amid this trend, Canon has hinted at potentially joining the fray with a fixed lens camera that nods to the past while embodying the present.

Which Exposure Mode Is Right for You?

When I started photography, many people would tell me to shoot in manual mode only, and because of that, it took me a long time before I realized what the other modes on the camera were. In this video by Steve Mattheis, Steve goes through each mode in depth and explains how they can be used to suit your style of photography.

Compact Telephoto on a Budget: Testing the TTArtisan 250mm f/5.6 Reflex Lens

Finding a compact telephoto lens that offers good reach without adding too much bulk to your kit can be challenging. Enter the TTArtisan 250mm f/5.6 Reflex, a mirror lens designed to provide a long focal length in a small, lightweight package. While mirror lenses don’t have the best reputation for image quality and usability, this one stands out as a modern take on a classic design that attempts to overcome some of those limitations.

Canon EOS M with Viewfinder to Come in 2013?

Some rumors have surfaced regarding the possibility of an updated EOS M with a built-in EVF, but not until late 2013 sources say. That makes sense given the timeline release for the original M. The sources also are reporting that Canon's original reason for not including the viewfinder (stating it wasn't necessary for a mirrorless camera) was fluff, and that the real reason was that Canon lacked the tech this year.

Fujifilm’s Best Standard Zoom? A Look at the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 II

The Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II lens is the brand’s new flagship standard zoom, offering a versatile focal range and bright aperture. If you need a workhorse lens for everything from landscapes to portraits, this could be worth a look.

How Many Ways Can You Use a Smartwatch for Photography?

Are you a fan of gadgets? When it comes to photography, there are plenty of fabulous extras that we can use to improve what we do, but how about a smartwatch? I experimented with the Kumi GW5 Pro to see how useful it would be.

Tamron Releases Pricing of New 90mm f/2.8 Macro and 70-200mm f/2.8 Lenses

Tamron's updated 90mm f/2.8 1:1 macro lens that was announced at Photokina got a price tag today, and will ship on November 30 of this year. You can get this new lens for a pretty low $850, which is great considering the prices that Canon and Nikon can ask for their branded lenses. Tamron also released the pricing for their new 70-200mm f/2.8 lens released at the same time for $1500.

Cinetics Launches Their (Fantastic!) LYNX Motorized Slider on Kickstarter

You might remember the team from Cinetics from their original product, CineSkates. Well, they're back at it, this time with a big update to their motorized slider system that they're calling "LYNX." We try to avoid promoting Kickstarters when possible, but I've had the chance to play with a pre-production unit of the LYNX system and have been blown away.

A Review of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR Lens

Superzoom lenses offer the ultimate level of convenience, replacing several other lenses and allowing a photographer to travel lighter and work faster. For Nikon mirrorless shooters, there is the 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from the lens in real-world use.

LensCoat Lens Cover Review: Camouflage Your Lenses for Wildlife Photography

You've probably seen them before, and the concept is nothing new to the market. However, as LensCoat keeps cranking out new Lens Cover designs to match all the hottest new lens releases, these protective camouflage sleeves are just as relevant today and worthy of taking a closer look at.

Should You Give the Client a Wireless Video Monitor?

Caleb Pike released a string of interesting and fresh camera hacks over the past year. This time, he's tackling wireless monitoring; a problem that we all know can be expensive and time consuming. Does this leave you open to criticism before you've even finished the shot? Is it the equivalent to handing over raw images? Let's talk about how to do it, and why you should do it.

We Review the Aputure LS600x: A Viable Alternative to HMI Lights?

When Aputure released the LS 600d Pro, it took the market by storm and signaled an era of high-power LED coming. But when the LS 600X Pro came out, it took the D version and made it greater. I’ve been using the 600X Pro for the past month, and here are some of my thoughts on it.

A Review of the New Viltrox AF 13mm f/1.4 Lens

Viltrox has established themselves as a company producing highly affordable but impressively capable lenses, and their newest option, the AF 13mm f/1.4, offers Sony and Nikon mirrorless APS-C photographers and filmmakers a versatile ultra-wide angle focal length paired with a very wide maximum aperture. This excellent video review takes a look at the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

2018 Cyber Monday Deals for Photographers

It looks like the folks at B&H are keeping the holiday savings going with some pretty awesome Cyber Monday deals on Apple products and over $300 off the Sigma 70-200mm, not to mention precisely one metric ton of other deals.

Billingham Anniversary Edition: Iconic Camera Bags Get a Limited Makeover

Billingham, the UK-based family business famous for its camera bags since 1973, is marking its 50-year anniversary. To commemorate half a century of production, the company has released a limited edition series of their most popular bags, each fashioned in black canvas and leather with red stitching, signaling a departure from their usual styling cues.

Nikon Approves New Models for Repair by Third-Party Service Centers, Allowing Grey-Market Repairs in USA

Nikon Rumors reports that Nikon has added several professional DSLR bodies to a list of those allowed to be serviced at authorized thirdy-party repair centers in the United States. This means that for many, both your grey market and USA model bodies can now be serviced within the U.S. for the first time. The list of service centers offering repairs on these bodies is still limited at around seven or eight total, but that's still seven or eight more than it was yesterday.

Essential and Rather Unique Filters: The 135 Series From PolarPro

A circular polarizer (CP) and a mist filter are two filters that, in my opinion, everyone should own. And PolarPro makes some lovely CP and mist filters. I’ve been using their CP for the past couple of years. From travel photography to tabletop food photography in the studio, it’s a great filter. So, with an already great CP and mist filters to their name, why did PolarPro launch new versions?

A Review of the Tamron 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD Lens

Tamron’s 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD offers an interesting option for those seeking a versatile zoom lens. It expands the standard range of 70-300mm telephoto lenses to start at 50mm, making it more flexible for a variety of shooting scenarios. Whether you’re capturing landscapes at wider angles or zooming in for distant details, this lens aims to cover it all.

Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this thorough video review dives into the features and performance of the Tamron 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD. Frost highlights that while the lens delivers a wide...

Sigma Announces 300-600mm f/4 DG OS | Sports Lens for Sony E and L-Mount

Sigma has announced the 300-600mm f/4 DG OS | Sports, a large-aperture ultra-telephoto zoom lens designed for professional sports, wildlife, and action photography. The lens is built exclusively for full frame mirrorless cameras and will be available for Sony E-mount and L-Mount in April 2025 at a retail price of $5,999.

SLR Lounge Interviews Headshot Photographer Peter Hurley

Pye Jirsa from SLRLounge.com recently sat down with Peter Hurley for an exclusive interview. Peter talks about his history as a photographer, his DVD, his favorite gear, business techniques, and PH2. Peter is a huge character and as always he makes the interview a pretty entertaining watch.

Photography's Busy 2023

The year 2023 has been pivotal for the world of photography, marked by significant technological advancements and shifting trends. This year was only about new camera and lens releases, but also about the broader implications developments had on the art and practice of photography.

A Review of the Irix 45mm f/1.4 Lens

A wide-aperture 50mm lens is often one of the most versatile options in a photographer's bag, suitable for a lot of work ranging from portraiture to low-light events. A lesser-known option is the Irix 45mm f/1.4, which offers some unique features along with an interesting focal length, all put together in a rugged package that can handle a variety of tough shooting scenarios. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Preserving Your Memories: Epson FF-680W Photo Scanner Review

Archiving old family photos can be a daunting task, especially when faced with large stacks of prints. If you’ve been searching for a faster way to digitize and preserve these memories, a high-speed photo scanner could be a game-changer.

Coppertone Commercial Shot Almost Exclusively With DSLR's

Besides getting a great glimpse into the filming of a well put together sunscreen commercial, Gary Lankford offers some great perspective on the usefulness of DSLR's as opposed to using some of the bigger and more expensive rigs that might be out there. The versatility of having several cameras and being able to take them anywhere can outweigh some of the higher quality option cameras. Check out the final commercial below.