Recent Gear Articles

A Review of the Sony Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8 ZA Lens

24mm prime lenses with wide maximum apertures are popular for a variety of applications, as they offer a versatile wide focal length that is not so wide that significant issues with distortion or composition start to creep in, making them a favorite for everything from events coverage to nightscapes. For Sony users, there is the Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8 ZA, and 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 Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1.8 DA DSM PRO Lens

One of the original budget brands of the digital era, Yongnuo has long been known for creating very affordable speedlights. In more recent tears, the company has branched out into manufacturing lenses, such as the new YN 50mm f/1.8 DA DSM PRO for Fujifilm X Series cameras. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

How Reflectors Can Instantly Improve Your Portraits

Improving your portraits doesn’t always mean investing in expensive gear. Sometimes, a simple tool like a reflector can make a world of difference. Reflectors are versatile, cost-effective, and easy to use.

Canon Launches the RF 24mm f/1.4 L VCM Lens for Hybrid Photography and Video

Canon has released the RF 24mm f/1.4 L VCM, a new wide angle L-series lens tailored for hybrid content creators who work across both photography and video. The lens offers a 24mm focal length with a bright maximum aperture of f/1.4, making it ideal for low-light shooting, shallow depth-of-field effects, and capturing wide perspectives.

Tips and Tricks for Discreetly Vlogging in Public

Vlogging is often fraught with peril. Whether that's overcoming your own shyness, or overcoming people on the street uncomfortable with someone overcoming their shyness in a vlog, there are techniques and gear to help minimize issues.

A Review of the Tamron 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD Lens

The Tamron 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD is designed to be your go-to lens for almost any situation. For those looking for a single lens to cover a wide variety of shooting scenarios, it promises a lot of flexibility.

The PC Sync Cord Needs To Die

Why am I using digital SLR cameras and wireless radio triggers that are at the forefront of technology but I am also forced to use the PC sync cord which has been out for over 60 years. It never works and I want it to die. If you are on an iPhone click this article to watch this video on Youtube.
Chase Jarvis: "Backup Your Pictures"

Chase Jarvis has apparently figured out the secrets of creating a viral video. I think he released this video 3 days ago and it already has 50,000 views. I don't mean to keep posting CJ videos but they are all really good so here another. Check it out! <
How To Mount A Camera To A Drifting BMW

Dan Bartolucci and Gevorg Karensky over at Influxlab have put together a little montage video for everyone to see how they rigged the car camera up for the latest BMW M3 commercial. I'm sure many of you have wondered how they secured a camera when being so wreckless in a car; I guess now we all know.

BMW M3 - Behind The Scenes - Complete from Dan Bartolucci on Vimeo.

The new iPhone 4 is great for BTS video

Okay I'm not an apple fanboy or anything (I'm the only photographer still using a PC) but this new iPhone 4 is pretty cool. I'm most excited that it can now take 720p 30 fps video which is perfect for shooting behind the scenes videos of your photoshoots. I got my iPhone 4 early and figured I would take it out on the water to do a little video comparison with the iPhone 3Gs. If you are an iPhone user, this new phone is a necessary upgrade if only for the HD video and LED flash for low light photos and videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc6PTHhFNEE<
Jonathan Bergqvist Makes A Shoulder Mount For His 7D

Normally I would not be too interested in this sort of thing. Honestly I don't really get the hype with these shoulder mounts. However, this is so well made and the follow focus he added is genius. Check it out.

DIY DSLR Wooden Shoulder Rig from Jonathan Clifford Bergqvist on Vimeo.

How To Shoot Better Videos With Your DSLR 1 of 3

3 months ago Patrick and I didn't have the slightest idea how to shoot or edit video but in seeing the importance and the power of this movement we decided to teach ourselves how. It was challenging and frustrating (especially with Nikon gear) but we finally learned enough to produce decent videos quickly. If you own a DSLR that shoots video we are going to make this simple for you. In the next 3 days we are going to release 3 videos that discuss: camera settings, audio, and editing. Today let's start with the camera settings on the D300s. View the full post to see a similar video for Canon cameras. <
A Look at the New Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

While the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is getting most of the attention at the moment, for those who do not want the footprint of or the cost of a flagship, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 offers quite a nifty experience and a lot of the same benefits at about half the price. How does it hold up in practice? This excellent video review takes a look at the new phone and the sort of performance and experience you will be able to expect from it in usage.

Ray Demski Shoots Cliff Diving For Red Bull

Ray Demski, Marcel Lämmerhirt, and Chris Stadler were all commissioned by Red Bull to shoot their cliff diving event in Hamburg. Shooting the event was no easy task but luckily for us Ray Demski was kind enough to share how they did it. <
Film VS DSLR Video

Many of you have already seen this but if you haven't you should check it out. Zacuto (the company that makes add-ons for DSLR video) has put together the most extensive video quality test I have ever seen. You can check out this weeks video at http://www.zacuto.com/shootout . Below is just a trailer since the full video is not able to be embedded any longer
Designing a Better External Battery Pack

Have you ever been told by a professional photographer that the only way to increase your flash's refresh rate is to carry one of those frumpy battery packs that attach to your belt and wire up to your flash? What if there was another way to improve your flash's performance that did not require any extra cables or bulky battery packs? I may have just come up with the best alternative yet... <
How To Shoot Better Videos With Your DSLR 2 of 3

So yesterday we talked about setting your camera to shoot video. Today we get a little more complicated. Let's chat about audio. Tomorrow we will take it one step further and discuss the most dreaded part of video... editing! If you have a Canon camera that shoots video, view the full post to check out a video on audio made just for you. We are slowly turning all of you photographers into videographers; you'll thank us later... or you could thank us now in the comment box below. >https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XpjkBheeOQ<
The Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 VC Lens Is My New Favorite Lens For Video

I own the Nikon 24-70 and 17-55 so why in the world would I choose to shoot video with the Tamron 17-50? Because it has VC (vibration compensation) which helps me keep my video nice and smooth. Head over to the full post to learn more about why I use this lens and to view the vimeo version of this lens.
Mother's Day Photography Specials: Check Out These Deals

Although the best thing you can do for Mother's Day is to actually do something for your Mother, lots of specials on photography gear sure help sweeten the day for all. The sale options extend far and wide on different types of gear and different sized discounts. Many of these deals expire in the next day or two, so be sure to check out our favorites, and act fast.

Make your SB-800 better in under 10 minutes

I actually made a video about this over a year ago when I had no clue how to use Premiere. I also didn't have and wireless mics so I edited the whole video in movie maker and everyone who saw it said they couldn't hear me over the music. So we decided to reshoot it with our fancy D300s cameras, Sennheiser Mics, and Adobe Premiere. Hopefully you can understand me now because I am not going to do this again. Youtube version after the jump. ><
Camera Preset Buttons:  Quickly Returning to your Previous Settings

Have you ever had to move between 3-5 different environments and maintain consistent exposure and color among each scene? Many photographers move between several locations every half hour (studio setup, indoor bounce flash, outside natural light, low light video) and have to quickly reset their camera's settings over and over again. Imagine only having to hit one button to revisit your camera's settings for an environment you were just in 20 mins ago! There could be a faster way to make those transitions.
The Canon EOS R50 V: A Compact Video Powerhouse

The Canon EOS R50 V is the company's first camera in a new series geared specifically toward video creators. It builds upon the popular still-focused R50, but with key design changes and enhancements tailored directly for video use, making it a practical choice if you're stepping into more serious filmmaking without a steep budget.

How Much Camera Automation Is Too Much?

Automation can streamline your workflow, but it also has clear limits. Understanding when and how to use automation effectively can significantly impact your final images.

Zeiss Returns With the Otus ML 50mm f/1.4: Is it Worth the Premium?

Zeiss is back in action with their latest lens release, the Zeiss Otus ML 50mm f/1.4, designed specifically for full frame mirrorless cameras. For those considering a high-end lens, this release marks a significant shift from Zeiss’s older, larger Otus lenses.

The Falcam TreeRoot Quick Lock Pro: Because Your Camera's Worth It

There are dozens of tripods on the market, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. None are suitable for every circumstance. The new model from Falcam TreeRoot, the Quick Lock Pro R240T, has a very specific use, and I put it through its paces to find out whether I need one.