Recent Gear Articles

Atomos Offers Hot Swapping With New Power Station

Atomos, known for their field recorders, has recently announced a new portable power solution. The Power Station, as it is called, has the ability to power up to 3 devices simultaneously and features hot swapping. The device is powered by Sony L-series batteries, but adapters for Canon LP-6 and Nikon EN-EL15 battieries will be available.

How Does This Extreme Zoom Compare to This Extreme Prime Lens?

Zoom lenses have made some remarkable advancements, but that does not mean primes have stagnated in the meantime. Canon's 28-70mm f/2L USM is one of the most impressive zooms in a long time, blurring the line between prime and zoom, while their RF 85mm f/1.2L USM sets the standard for 85mm portrait lenses. So, can the 28-70mm f/2L take the place of the 85mm f/1.2L, or does it still hold a special place all its own?

Clever and Useful: A Review of the Canon Drop-In Filter EF-to-RF Adapter

One of Canon's niftiest new gadgets is the EF-to-RF mount adapter that can accept both variable ND and circular polarizing filters, allowing you to use them with any EF lens without having to worry about individual filter size, making it useful for a wide range of situations. This great video review takes a look at the adapter and how it performs in practice.

Intentional Photography: Fewer Shots, Better Results

Taking fewer, more intentional photographs is a powerful strategy that many photographers overlook. It's not about capturing fewer moments, but instead about being mindful with each press of the shutter.

Sony Stuffs a 1-Inch Sensor Into a Smartphone, Sort Of

Sony's a bit of a niche player in the smartphone market, but with their latest offering, they seem to have managed the impossible, which is cramming a 1-inch sensor into a very thin cell phone.

Fstoppers Reviews Haida’s NanoPro Magnetic Kit: Essential Filters Made Easy

While there are dozens of options for filters, covering different effects, sizes, and manufacturers, I’ve found that I only need a few key filters for a landscape shoot. I like to use neutral density filters and circular polarizers, both of which are impactful and less easy to replicate in software. Haida’s NanoPro line has delivered great results in my past experience — can their magnetic filter line deliver the same quality?

A Review of the New OM System OM-5 Mirrorless Camera

The OM System OM-5 mirrorless camera is here, and it brings with a lot of the company's innovative features and technology at a relatively affordable price. This excellent video review takes a look at the new camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

A Review of the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD Lens for Nikon Z Mirrorless Cameras

The Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD has been one of the hottest lenses of the last few years, with many creatives clamoring for a tool that can tackle the work of several other lenses in one package, offering unmatched levels of convenience and versatility. How does it hold up in the real world? This excellent video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

Fstoppers Review the Monogram Creative Console

Photographers use their computers a lot. I'd say 50% of the time spent working as a photographer or creative professional would be done on a computer. What if that could change into a more enjoyable experience, where you exchange your keyboard, which was designed for typing, for a console. Enter Monogram’s Creative Console Studio.

New Firmware V2.0 for Fuji X-Pro1 and Lenses is FAST!

If you have one of these cameras, the update you've been waiting for is out! V2.0 promises faster response time, faster recording to memory cards (doubled!), faster focusing, and then some!

Sigma Introduces Photo Pro 5.5 Software, Focus on Monochrome

For those of you with Sigma cameras, today is a good day: Sigma has introduced Sigma Photo Pro 5.5 software, which includes upgrades and updates for both Mac and Windows platforms, as well as a new Monochrome Mode processing interface. This updated software is now available for download for both Mac and Windows operating systems.

How A $300 Camera Could Change The Movie Industry

What if you could shoot 1080p video for just $300 with a camera that was waterproof, basically indestructible, and so small and light it could be mounted anywhere? What if that camera could also shoot 60fps for amazing slow motion? This camera is the GoPro HD and we own 2 of them. Watch this video and then check out the previous post. I'm not saying that the GoPro is better than a pro film camera, but it does bring up an interesting debate. Which style of video do you like more and why?

GoPro HD HERO camera: The Ski Move from GoPro on Vimeo.

Updated Desktop Software Teaches Your Insta360 ONE X New Tricks

When the Insta360 ONE X came out last year, it was a slick unit with a lot of functionality for a consumer 360-degree camera, but most of it was tied to a phone app. That’s set to change with the launch of official desktop software for the camera.

A Review of the Samyang AF 75mm f/1.8 Lens for Fujifilm X Series Cameras

Samyang has long been known for creating manual focus lenses that offer fantastic image quality and sharpness in tandem with extremely affordable prices. However, in the last few years, the company has moved into producing autofocus options, though their prices have remained highly affordable. This makes the AF 75mm f/1.8 for Fujifilm X Series mirrorless cameras a particularly exciting option, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

Is the Panasonic S1 the Perfect Time-Lapse Camera?

If you were a time-lapse photographer about to buy yourself a shiny new camera, what would be your choice? Time-lapse aficionado Matthew Vandeputte was contacted by Panasonic asking him to try out the new S1, and to say that he’s impressed is something of an understatement.

Is This The Best Camera for Beginners?

At only $679, the Canon EOS R50 makes a strong case as one of the best camera for beginner photographers by offering plenty of modern features while still leaving room to grow into more advanced options. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in real-world use.

Cinevate Has Created My Dream Slider The Atlas FLT

A few months ago at WPPI I met Dennis Wood the president of Cinevate. Dennis told me that if we had a chance to play with Cinevate's DSLR rigging gear it would totally change the way we shoot. So we ended up getting a few pieces of gear from Cinevate, the most exciting piece to me being the Atlas 10 slider. The Atlas 10 turned out to be the best built slider I have ever gotten to play with. The track was long and amazingly smooth but there was one problem. This thing was big and heavy. The Atlas 10 is actually rated to hold a 40lb camera which means it was really built with cinema cameras in mind. The slider is a dream to use but quite difficult to travel with. Well I was just about to send Dennis a message to tell him I wanted them to make something that was smaller but still just as smooth when I realized they had read my mind. Cinevate just released the Atlas FLT and for my DSLR shooting and traveling needs, it is my "dream" slider. I literally JUST went over to their website and ordered one. At $579 it is way more expensive than our previous slider, but there is honestly no comparison when it comes to quality. Check out the full post to see a video of the Atlas 10 in action.
Hasselblad Offer: Buy an H6D-50c Now, Pay Only the Difference in Price to Trade up to the H6D-100c Later

Hasselblad recently announced that you can buy the new H6D body with the 50-megapixel CMOS 50c back and decide later to trade up to the newer 100c (100-megapixel) back for the original difference in price. This promotion works for anyone who buys the H6D-50c at the full $25,995 price between May 1 and May 27, 2016. To partake in the offer, you must also trade up to your new 100c no later than September 30, 2016.

A Hands-On Review of the Sony FE 28-70mm f/2 GM Lens

Combining a versatile zoom range with a bright f/2 aperture, the Sony FE 28-70mm f/2 GM is aimed at those who need excellent low-light performance, sharpness, and creamy background blur. Whether you’re capturing weddings, shooting video, or working in dim conditions, this lens offers impressive features that make it a top contender for professionals.

Canon 6D for Under $2000 & Other Deals

The Canon faithful were likely a little disappointed they didn't see the drastic price cuts that the Nikon D600 saw just before the holiday, but we can take slight solace in the current sale price of the Canon 6D this week on B&H and Amazon. Though not quite as steep as those D600 deals, the 6D can be grabbed for just a hair under $2000. For the Nikon shooters, two new bundles from B&H keep the deals for the D600 rolling with two new bundled kits at $700 off retail. Finally, RedRock Micro is having a big end-of-the-year sale worth looking into, rounding out these deals of the day.

A Quick Way to Figure Out Which Gear You Should Sell

Your eye is on a new piece of kit, but your partner, accountant, or guilt won't let you make another acquisition before you sell off some deadwood. Well, here's a (very) quick way to help with that decision.

Physical Filters vs. Digital Editing: What's Best for You?

Are filters still relevant in landscape photography, or have they become outdated? Deciding whether to invest time and money into filters or rely solely on digital editing significantly affects your photographic workflow and results.

The Best FPV Drones for Beginners Who Want Cinematic Footage

Drones have revolutionized photography and videography at a consumer and commercial level and there are many options for many different purposes. However, if you want to walk the line between ludicrous fun and incredible imagery, perhaps you want to look at FPV drones.
Which Is the Better Portrait Lens for Sony APS-C Cameras? Sigma Versus Viltrox

Viltrox has released a host of lenses over the last 18 months offering some excellent performance and solid alternatives to many of the bigger manufacturers. This review looks at the recently released 56mm f/1.4 for Sony APS-C cameras, a portrait lens that has some very stiff competition from Sigma.