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An Unlikely Intruder: The Fly Inside a Professional Canon Lens
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What seems like it could have been an April Fools joke if it had come out a few days sooner, the Lensrentals blog has posted a great (and enlightening) story on something that apparently has happened more than once: somehow, for some reason, a full-sized fly got into a lens, and the entire lens had to be disassembled to remove it. The question is: did it affect image quality?

Why Do Photographers Love New Gear So Much?
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Photographers have an insatiable appetite for new gear. The excitement of unboxing a new camera, lens, or accessory provides a rush of inspiration that compels us to get out and shoot. But why does acquiring the latest and greatest equipment motivate us so much?

Could This Be The Longest Slider Video Ever?
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We've featured Patryk Kizny a few times here on Fstoppers and his content is always mind blowing. Recently he decided to test a new portable and modular slide rail for the DitoGear PortaSlider. This time lapse video uses 14 one-meter long track units connected to make one single long track. Everything was shot on a few Canon DSLR Cameras and mainly wide angle Samyang 14mm and 8mm lenses. The location, Ogrodzieniec Castle, is one of the largest ruined castles in Poland and Eastern Europe and a pretty remarkable place to film. Check out more about the PortaSlider at http://ditogear.com/featured/porta-slider-prototype/

DitoGear PortaSlider Prototype Testing (timelapse) from Patryk Kizny on Vimeo.

New Aokatec AK-G GPS receiver for Nikon DSLRs
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Aokatec has released new AK-G GPS units for Nikon DSLR cameras (and also the Coolpix P7700) which are available on Amazon for $80. The pricing is in stark contrast to the Nikon's GP-1 GPS unit, which costs a rather hefty $194.95 (the GP-1A version for the D600 costs $312).

Spherical Versus Anamorphic Lenses: Which Is Better?
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You may be familiar with the term anamorphic lens, but what is the difference between them and spherical lenses? Which is better for videography? Here is a comprehensive comparison of a wide array of both!
Moment Announces a Mobile Macro Lens
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The team over at Moment are anything but idle. Earlier this month they have announced their newest product, The Moment Macro Lens. The lens is a 10x magnification and will work with all existing cases and mounting plates.

How To Wirelessly Control The Profoto D1 Air Studio Strobe
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I've been saving my money for months so that I can make the switch over to Profoto and take advantage of their new D1 Air Monolights. Not only are these things small and light but they are also completely wireless! You can now control your studio lights (on/off, flash power, modeling light) all from the Profoto Air Remote. You want to know what the best part is? WE ARE GIVING A SET OF THESE LIGHTS AWAY to the winner of our behind the scenes contest. Check out the full post to see 3 videos of these incredible lights in action.
A Review of the Affordable Viltrox AF 13mm f/1.4 Lens
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Viltrox has earned a reputation for producing very affordable lenses whose image quality often surpasses what you might expect at their respective prices. And at $429, the AF 13mm f/1.4 lens continues that trend, offering a wide focal length and wide aperture for Sony, Fujifilm, and Nikon APS-C users. 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.

Adobe to Share Creative Cloud, Photoshop Updates Next Week in Online Event
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Adobe has a smattering of changes and updates coming to Photoshop and the Creative Cloud next week, and they are hosting a live online event to go over all of the expected changes. We've been given a sneak peak of what they're going to cover and though we can't specify yet, we can say that some of the updates are significant.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 Is Now Available to Order
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New to the market is the GX8 "lite," the DMC-GX85. This is one of Panasonic's most recent mirrorless digital camera releases that comes with almost all the same perks as the GX8. The main differences between the two cameras are the lower resolution Live MOS sensor (16 megapixels versus 20 megapixels on the GX8) and a fixed EVF. Here are some of the specs the camera comes with.

A Review of the Impressively Affordable TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 Lens
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TTArtisan has established themselves as a manufacturer of often astonishingly affordable lenses that still offer decent or even good image quality, often far outperforming their cost. The 27mm f/2.8 continues that trend by offering Fujifilm X Series users a wide angle lens with autofocus for just $149. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in use.

[Gear] WIFI Enabled Cameras. How Will This Affect The Industry?
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With all the announcements coming out of CES 2012 in Las Vegas this week, there is one particular announcement that perhaps flew under the radar. Maybe not so much for the actual camera, as for one specific trait said camera can perform, and furthermore what it means for future cameras in general. See the full story here.

What It’s Like to Use an iPod Nano as an Everyday Camcorder
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Five years ago, I suggested that Apple get into the dedicated camera game again by turning its long-neglected (and now officially dead) iPod touch into a sweet connected camera. It didn't happen, but apparently there are some folks who appreciate iPod cameras just the way they are.

Rayflash: How To Get The Ringflash Look On A Budget
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Over the holiday we received a few emails about a video we shot where we used a ringflash as the key light (SB-800 Flash Mod). Obviously you can't shoot video with the ringflash look unless you have an expensive flash with a modeling light. But what if you want to shoot stills and get that hard yet even lighting that is common in macro and fashion photographs? Well if you already own an on-camera speedlight then you can use a product called the Rayflash to produce ringflash style images on a budget. I actually own one of these and use it every now and then, and what I really like about it is that I can use it on location where I would otherwise have to have a huge battery pack. If this sort of thing interests you, check out this video that was clearly made for ExpoImaging explaining the product. Any other Fstoppers readers using this product or something similar?
Why the Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM II Is a Must-Have for Portraits
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The Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II is a highly anticipated update to one of Sony’s most respected portrait lenses. The latest version promises improvements in build, autofocus performance, and image quality, making it worth a closer look.

How To Use A Crane To Give Your Video A Cinema Quality Look
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In Jay P. Morgan's newest video he shows us how he uses a crane to bump up production value by using a crane. Now I know you might be thinking there's no way you can afford a crane but you would be wrong. Last month we posted this video review of a $125 crane that anyone can afford. I purchased one and I am really excited to try it out in the near future.
2024's Best Laptops for Creative Professionals
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Modern laptops reflect significant advancements in technology and design, catering to diverse user needs from hardcore gaming to seamless productivity. These innovations are crucial for photographers, videographers, and creative professionals who rely on powerful, versatile tools for their work.

[News] Datacolor releases Spyder4 colorimeter lineup
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If you are like me, and constantly paranoid that your monitor color isn’t quite right, then today is a good day for you. The folks at Datacolor, who have previously brought us products such as the Spyder2 and Spyder3 screen calibration devices, have just released a new colorimeter. As you might have guessed, it’s named the Sypder4. Once again, there are three unique versions from which to choose, with three equally unique colors to distinguish them: red, blue and green, or RGB for short. Coincidence? I think not! There is an Express, Pro and Elite version of the Sypder4. Click on through to the full post to see more info and pretty pictures.
Sony Alpha a7 Kit Now In Stock at B&H Photo
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Perhaps the most anticipated camera this year has shown up as in stock on B&H Photo's website this afternoon. With a full frame sensor packed into the tiny size of a mirrorless camera body, you can bet that this camera is going to sell out quickly. Along with the Sony Alpha a7 and 28-70mm kit, the Sony 35mm f/1.8 has also shown up as in stock on the B&H Store.

We Review: Zhiyun X60 RGB LED Video Light
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Zhiyun is a brand name that is most known for its gimbals, which offer solid build, useful features and reliability, so it’s good news now that they have ventured into the world of studio lighting!

A Look at the New iPad 10 and iPad Pro M2 Tablets
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iPads have evolved from fun content consumption devices to seriously powerful creative tools, and they are fantastic options for a wide variety of photo and video work. The latest generations of the standard and Pro models are here, and they bring with them a wide variety of new and improved features. This excellent video review takes a look at both the new models and the sort of performance and experience you can expect from it in practice.

A Review of the Affordable Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 Lens
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Viltrox has quickly grown into a respected manufacturer of lenses that offer good results at extremely competitive prices, and at $158, the AF 20mm f/2.8 is no exception to that trend. With a small footprint and a versatile focal length, can this lens deliver professional-level results despite its rock-bottom price? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

Six Items I Take On Every Corporate Headshot Shoot (Other Than My Camera!)
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It’s easy to feel nervous about the logistics of a corporate team shoot—what will the space be like? How do you light each person consistently? The reality is that the lighting in an office can be harsh and unflattering—overhead strip lighting is no one’s friend! And space can be really tight. So, I always bring some extra lighting in case we can’t use window light and some compact equipment. Versatile and portable kit is handy here, so I leave my large lights at home and pack light.