Recent Gear Articles

Samyang 10mm f/2.8 Prototype Introduced For APS-C

Samyang 10mm 1:2.8 ED AS UMC CS is a prototype of the ultra wide-angle prime lens designed for use with cameras fitted with APS-C/DX sensors. Its extremely short focus length and rectilinear imaging system ensure extra wide angle of view amounting to 110 degrees (~107 degree for Canon version). As a result the lens is a comprehensive tool for architecture and landscape shooting. New Samyang 10mm 1:2.8 ED AS UMC CS is similar to the 35mm system lens with 15mm or 16mm focal length in the case of Canon APS-C cameras.

Can This Ultra-Affordable 85mm Lens Create Worthwhile Photos?

85mm lenses with wide maximum apertures are some of the most prized options out there, where their short telephoto focal length and narrow depth of field capabilities make them ideal options for portrait photographers. However, such lenses can easily run north of $2,000, which is what makes the Meike 85mm f/1.8, which sits at less than $200, so refreshing. Can it provide the performance and image quality pros need at that price? This excellent video review takes a look.

Zacuto Compares ISO Noise And Sharpness Of The Best Cameras On The Market

Have you ever wondered how DSLR cameras match up when compared to film and high end HD video cameras? Last year, Zacuto brought together some of the biggest names in the movie industry to see how well the first round of video capable DSLRs compared to the industry’s standard film and HD video cameras in The Great Camera Shoot Out of 2010. This year they have started another series which compares some of the top cameras including 35mm Kodak 5213/5219, Arri Alexa, Red One M-X, Phantom Flex, Sony F3, Panasonic AF100, Canon 1D Mark IV, and Nikon D7000 (where is the D3s?), and a bunch of other professional video cameras. The Great Camera Shootout is a must watch if you are a gearhead or simply enjoy seeing how well the current crop of DSLR cameras are at video. In this video they goal was to compare the overall noise sensitivity and perceived sharpness of different cameras. You might easily got lost in the technical talk used in these discussions (unless you really study this sort of thing) but nevertheless it's pretty interesting to watch as a photographer or film maker. You can also watch other Zucato Shootout Episodes Here.
How to Choose the Right Camera for You

As the holiday deals start to roll in, you may be eyeing a new camera for your kit. But modern cameras are complex, intricate devices, and you might feel a bit overwhelmed in trying to choose the right one for you. This helpful video discusses some great tips and ideas for choosing a camera that you will be happy with.

Freefly Systems Ups the Ante with New MōVI Pro

The original MōVI M10 shook the filmmaking world, liberating camera movement and taking the Steadicam head-on. Three years on, Freefly Systems is ready to take on the market again – the market they arguably helped create – with the MōVI Pro.

Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens Announced, Will Cost $598

A new APS-C zoom lens has been announced by Sony, and is set to start shipping next month. The E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 lens features Optical SteadyShot stabilization and comes in a compact, travel-friendly size for pairing with a6000-series mirrorless cameras. With a 35mm format equivalent of 27-202.5mm, the new lens is aimed at being a versatile, “one-lens solution” for Sony E-mount crop-sensor cameras.

James Cameron Shows Off His New Toy

I was one of the few people on the planet that actually wasn't a huge fan of Avatar but I did love the special effects. James and his team had to create new technology to produce the most successful movie of all time. Check out his camera setup below. Game Trailers - E3 2011 - Gadget Pr0n
Think Tank Keeps it Light with New TurnStyle Sling Bags

Think Tank just announced the release of it's new sling camera bag collection, the TurnStyle. Designed to be lightweight with easy access to your gear, the bags come in three sizes to match specific needs. Think Tank says the new bags are ideal for DSLRs in the larger options to mirrorless and smaller cameras in the more compact sized bags. These hybrid bags can be worn as a shoulder sling bag or as a belt pack for increased versatility and comfort.

Fstoppers Review of Red Giant’s Magic Bullet Denoiser III

We've all been there. You were hired for a run-and-gun shoot only to find the location has terrible lighting. Or your shoot is running later into the evening and the sun is going down fast, without any lighting to plug in. The ISO gets cranked up, and your exposure is saved at the expense of adding unwanted noise to your image. This is where noise reduction software becomes useful, and a new product from Red Giant has changed the way it approaches this task with Denoiser III.

Pergear Launches Their 256 GB CFexpress Type A Card: Does Budget and Type A Make Sense?

For Sony shooters, most modern bodies offer a choice: inexpensive SD cards or the pricier Type A cards that offer far higher performance. Pergear’s latest Type A card is designed to offer much of the performance of the Type A form factor, but at a more budget-friendly price per GB. In this review, I’ll test out the 256 GB model to see if it really delivers on the value promised.

Tips on Traveling With Drones and Cinema Equipment

Traveling can be a huge pain, especially when a bunch of large gear that needs to be transported from one place to another. Droneworks breaks down what his team does when he travels and gives us a few helpful tips.

iFootage Introduces New Tripods and Stabilizer

iFootage was one of the photography and video gear companies that attended IBC 2018 in Amsterdam, and they announced a new tripod range, a new fluid head, and a new stabilizer.

Sennheiser MKE 200 Compact Microphone Review

Sennheiser recently introduced a new compact microphone, the MKE 200, that is more than just yet another Rode VideoMicro clone. I paired it up with the Sony a7S III, GoPro HERO9, and iPhone to test its sound quality in this hands-on review.

Peter Hurley: The Art Behind The Headshot DVD Pre-Order Begins Now

A few months ago Patrick and I flew up to NYC and filmed our first ever full length DVD (dual DVD actually) with Peter Hurley. The DVD is still being edited but we can finally see an end in sight. Initially we didn't plan on having a pre-order but when Peter Hurley decided to start teaching workshops, we decided to create a special pre-order deal. When the dual DVD is released, it will cost $300. If you purchase it before October 1st, 2011, we will give you a $300 credit towards any of Peter's workshops (and this can be used at any time) so you are actually getting the DVD for free. Peter is also going to personally sign all of the pre-ordered DVDs. Patrick and I are working as fast as we can to edit this DVD while managing Fstoppers.com and also shooting a wedding every weekend. Things are busy but we hope to have this DVD released sometime this summer. Head over to Hurley's website to sign up for "The Headshot Intensive," his new 2 day workshop. There are currently 4 slots left for his first workshop on May 21-22.
A Look at the New Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 40 Camera

Fujifilm's INSTAX line of cameras have been wildly popular for the company, providing photographers and casual users alike an easy and fun way to take photos that harken back to the days of instant film in the 1970s and 1980s. The Mini 40 is the latest model in the lineup, and this great video review takes a look at how it holds up in practice.

Which of These Fujifilm Cameras Is Right for You?

The Fujifilm X-T5 and X-H2 mirrorless cameras are two of the newest and most capable options from the company, offering users a wide array of advanced features and capabilities that make them competent in just about any situation you can throw at them. With a lot of similarities between the two cameras, it might be hard to know which is right for your work. This excellent video will help you pick between the two options.

Is This the Worst Camera Ever Made? Fstoppers Reviews the Kenko Tokina DSC Toy Camera Pieni II

If you follow my TikTok or my YouTube shorts, you’ll know I have a thing for toy cameras. Over the years, I’ve picked up quite a few cool and quirky film cameras that I love to shoot with. When I saw earlier this year that Kenko had released a tiny toy digital camera, I had to try it. Before using it, I wondered if it could create unique images. After seeing the results, I'm left wondering: is this the worst camera ever made?

A Review of the Venus Optics Argus 18mm f/0.95 MFT APO Lens

Venus Optics has established themselves as a maker of unique lenses that often push the boundaries of design, and the new Argus 18mm f/0.95 MFT APO continues that trends by offering Micro Four Thirds photographers a versatile focal length paired with an extremely wide maximum aperture. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Did These Guys Just Rip Off The iPhone Fashion Shoot?

Now I am not going to jump to any conclusions. Maybe these guys and gals had a VERY similar idea, and not one of them had seen the iPhone Fashion Shoot (which has been seen by about a million photographers so far). And even though this video is filmed in the exact same way and has all of the exact same information, MAYBE it is just a coincidence. And MAYBE this really is the worlds first and I am actually living in the Matrix. Still a good video though :) < The strangest part about this whole thing is that we actually used a super-clamp to mount the camera in my video but we changed it and went with the velcro because it was blocking the button on the phone and it was never actually shown in the video. It's like these guys were spying on me as I was doing it!
Super Telephoto Video With RED's New Canon Lens Mount

There is no doubt that the RED's Epic video camera produces some of the most crisp and surreal footage you are likely to see at a reasonably "budget" price point. Up until now, the only lenses you could use with the Epic had to have the PL lens mount found on cine lenses. Recently, photographer turned videographer Vincent Laforet was able to demo the new Canon lens adapter which allows the RED cameras to use most of the EOS mountable lenses. In the video below, Vincent shows what the RED/Canon combo can do out in the field. One particularly interesting combo is the Canon 600mm f/4 L lens mounted with the 2x Canon Teleconverter. Some estimates give this combo a 35mm equivalent of 3400mm with the crop factor but I think it's actually a bit less than that (the RED should have around a 1.2x crop factor depending on the file output). Either way, the footage is pretty amazing and super exciting if you dream of using RED gear down the road with your existing Canon lenses. Any idea how he shot the video in low light? Looks like the lens would be at least at f8 which is almost unusable in anything but bright light.

One Degree from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

[Gear] Canon EOS-C300 Cinema Camera Available for Pre-Order

The new, much-awaited, and potentially game-changing cinema camera from Canon, the EOS-C300, is now available for pre-order at B&H in either the Canon EF mount or the PL mount. Additionally, in the full post, check out a great BTS video with Vincent Laforet on his new short, Mobius, shot on the C300.
Making Movies With a $9 Video Camera

A while back, I tested Amazon's cheapest non-kid camera, a $20 piece of junk that was sold under various scammy names on the online retailer's site. Lowering the bar in ways I didn't think was possible, one filmmaker has decided to challenge himself by using the cheapest camera on the site to make a short film, and this time, it is actually a kids' camera.

A Review of the Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3 Lens

The L mount has opened up certain Leica lenses to many photographers and filmmakers, promising the company's legendary image quality in a variety of options. One such lens is the Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3, which offers a versatile focal length for a wide range of applications, such as wildlife and sports photography. 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.

A Review of the New Sigma 20mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Lens

Years ago, Sigma reinvented themselves with the Art series, which quickly grew into a full line of highly respected lenses, known in particular for their image quality and affordable prices. The company has continued to expand its offerings, which now include the Contemporary line, meant to "achieve a balance between convenience and performance." The 20mm f/2 DG DN is the latest entry in that line, and this excellent video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from it.