Recent Gear Articles

The Differences Between Photo and Cine Lenses

The evolution of camera technology has blurred the lines between photo and video gear, leaving you to navigate a mix of options. One key area where this confusion is most apparent is in the choice between photo lenses and cine lenses.

9 Things You Should Check Before Purchasing a Used Lens

The used market is always full of lenses, and given how well many photographers take care of their gear, you can often save a fair bit of money and still get a quality lens by purchasing preowned. There are a few things you should check before you agree to buy that lens you are eyeing, though, and this quick and helpful video tutorial will take you through them all to make sure you are not wasting your money.

More Canon Mirrorless Cameras Are Coming in 2021

After getting off to a somewhat middle-of-the-road start with the EOS R and EOS RP, Canon blew the doors off the photography industry with the upcoming R5, which has jaw-dropping specs across the board. Not content to stop there, the company will likely be releasing two more mirrorless bodies in 2021.

An In-Depth Review of the Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Camera

The Canon EOS R5 is one heck of a camera that packs a wallop on both the video and stills side of the equation. If you are wondering if it is the right camera for you, check out this great video review that takes an in-depth look at the sort of performance you can expect from it in practice.

Why This $764 Lens Might Replace Your G Master

Choosing a quality portrait lens can be overwhelming, especially with so many options claiming professional-level performance. If you’re looking for a sharp, versatile lens that doesn’t break the bank, the Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB is worth considering.

First Look: Hands-On With the Hasselblad X1D

Hasselblad is touring the country (and the world) with prototypes of the new 50-megapixel X1D camera and the two lenses launching alongside it. Priced way below any other Hasselblad on the market (and in line with Pentax’s 645Z), the X1D ushers in unparalleled portability while creating a entirely new segment: the medium format mirrorless camera. Earlier this week, I got a few minutes with this interesting hybrid.

Search for This Information Before You Buy a New Lens

More and more people get infected every day, and I’m a victim of it, too. Yes, I’m talking about GAS, which usually hits me when spring is coming. For this reason, I am focusing a little on purchase decisions lately.

DJI Phantom 4 Is An Entirely New Beast and Looks Like It, Too

Over the last few years, there just haven't been that many massive updates to DJI's Phantom drone lineup. The biggest was perhaps the inclusion of its own camera when it ditched the need to add a GoPro to the bundle. But just looking at today's Phantom 4 design is enough to indicate the major steps DJI took to step into an entirely new generation of autonomy. Featuring class-leading obstacle avoidance and autonomous flying modes, the Phantom 4 is so good that people are afraid of the implications of never actually having to learn to pilot a drone.

Nikon Isn't Dead Yet: Flagship Z 9 Mirrorless Camera Specs Emerge

Now that the Canon EOS R5 is here to match step with the Sony a9 Mark II, eyes are turning to Nikon in anticipation of a possible powerhouse mirrorless camera from their side. It seems that that camera, the Z 9, is on its way next year, and its specifications look quite impressive.

Which Focal Length Is Right for Your Portrait Photography?

When it comes to portrait photography, one of the most important choices you can make is the focal length you use, as it will have significant consequences on the way your subject is rendered. If you are new to portrait photography and wondering about the relationship between focal length and the final image, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you portraits shot between 25mm and 135mm and how they differ from each other.

Why You Should Consider a Telephoto Zoom Lens for Landscape Photography

When you think of landscape photography, you probably think of using a lens with a wider focal length range, such as a 16-35mm. Of course, there is a reason such lenses are so widely used, but they are not the only option. In fact, much longer focal lengths can create equally compelling photos. This excellent video tutorial will show why a telephoto zoom lens can help you create eye-catching landscape photos.

The Invisible Camera: Your Mind Will Be Blown

Chris Marquardt has developed a really mind blowing new camera called The Invisible Camera. Using ground breaking technology developed by the Max-Planck Institute in Germany, Chris has designed a camera that can properly expose an image even when the film is exposed to ambient light. The special film uses a technique called "directional desensitization" which prevents the emulsion from capturing light; the only light registered is from the very small projection created by the tiny pin hole. What's even more mind blowing is this technique might allow for images to be captured at ISO 1/500th or 15 stops lower than ISO 100! Chris estimates that this increase in resolution would be equivalent to about 3,000 5D Mark II cameras which I can't even imagine. Hopefully some of our more technical readers can explain this to me since I have a feeling it's going on sale a week from this Friday and The Invisible Camera has offered a demo model to Fstoppers.
Know Your Gear: Five Tips for Better Images

First and foremost, gear is not the be all and end all. Creativity will bring the most out of the simplest of gear. We stand on the shoulders of giants now. Remember that it was only a few years ago that high ISOs were all but unusable and that once you'd shot a black and white frame, it stayed black and white. The fact remains, though, that understanding what your gear is capable of is the key to exploiting its strengths and weaknesses, which is where creativity lives. Learning a few simple things about what your existing gear is capable of will do more for your images than any shiny new purchase. Use these five simple exercises to learn more about what the tools you have can do.

Give your iPhone Manual Controls with the DxO ONE

DxO, a company best known for its software, has unveiled a pocket-sized DSLR quality camera that is meant to be paired with your iPhone. Using the iPhone as a control panel and proofing screen, the camera itself concentrates on capturing images using it's own lens and settings. This idea could be the best of the DSLR and iPhone worlds. It's small and offers much more versatility and control than the normal iPhone camera all the while, still capitalizing on the immediacy of sharing with an iPhone camera.

Which Premium Fujifilm Portrait Lens Is Best?

Fuji's XF 56mm f/1.2 lens has been a highly popular portrait lens for quite a while, but Sigma lenses have finally arrived for Fujifilm shooters, with the 56mm f/1.4 DC DN being one of the initial offerings. At a little less than half the price the Fujifilm offering, it should certainly catch the attention of a lot of portrait and wedding photographers. This excellent video review compares both lenses to see if you should drop more money on the original or if you can save a bundle by going with the Sigma.

This Ultra-Cheap f/0.95 Lens Is a Surprise Dream

Wide-aperture 50mm lenses are some of the most popular out there, with their versatility making them at home in a huge range of genres and applications. For APS-C shooters, the Brightin Star 35mm f/0.95 offers that classic combination at an extremely affordable price, and it surprises with some impressive results. This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Why Cinema Lenses Are Measured With T-Stops And What's the Difference With An F-Stop?

Cinema glass has always been way more expensive than still camera lenses. Combined with the cinema camera sensors these high end lenses provide an image that's far superior to DSLRs capable of recording video. But yet, there are decent films created with DSLRs with still camera lenses. I'm not going to compare the glass quality here. I'm about to talk only about this peculiar T-stop measure on the cinema lenses while still camera lenses have an f-stop. Why should they differ?

6 Pieces of Equipment That Really Improved my Images

I know I harp on about gear not mattering. Nevertheless, there are individual purchases that I have made over the years that have had a real impact on my work. Having been a commercial photographer for some time, I thought I'd share my opinion on this.

How Would You Build a Thousand Dollar Kit from Scratch?

This week DigitalRev put up a video challenging Kai and Lok to build a decent photo kit from scratch for a thousand bucks. While $1,000 is a decent amount of coin for most people (certainly including myself), it wouldn't put too much of a dent in any pro's photo kit. Just two days ago, Michael Woloszynowicz posted an article showing off his fleet of awesome Broncolor lighting gear - a $20K setup! While I wouldn't care to start my own (small) kit over from scratch, I think it's a fun little mental experiment. Here's what I've come up with.

Battle of the Presidential Portraits: Which Photographer Did It Better?

In a showdown of competing presidential (and vice-presidential) photographers, the White House released new official portraits of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday. The two portraits were shot by two different photographers, and it’s evident in the style of each photo. The question is, which photographer did it better?

Can This Sub-$200 85mm Lens Produce Professional Images?

An 85mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is one of the most popular options on the market, particularly useful for portrait and wedding photographers who want a flattering focal length and narrow depth of field. That being said, such lenses can cost well north of $2,000. This is what makes the Meike 85mm f/1.8 so compelling, with a sub-$200 price tag that still includes autofocus. 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.

10 Helpful Tips for Working With a Wide Angle Lens for Landscape Photography

A wide angle lens is one of the most common pieces of gear in any landscape photographer's bag, but such focal lengths come with their own unique challenges. If you struggle with creating effective images with your wide angle lens, this excellent video will give you 10 helpful tips for working with it.

My Favorite 35mm Film Camera I've Ever Used

There are literally thousands and thousands of 35mm film cameras that have been produced over the last 100 years or so, and more are being manufactured even now. However, there's one camera that sits at the top of the tree, at least for me.

Be Careful of the Brightness of the LCD of Your Camera

Since the introduction of digital photography our cameras are provided with a nice LCD screen to see the photo we’ve just taken, or to see the photo that we’re about to take. But be careful with these screens, they can be misguiding in some situations.

A Fascinating Look at How Film Cameras Superimposed Dates on Photos

If you have ever shot with certain film cameras of the past, you have probably noticed that the prints came back to you with the date of capture superimposed on them in the bottom corner. It is a neat and very useful function, and this fun video will show you how cameras of the past made it happen.

PocketWizard Plus X: PW Shakes Up Flash Trigger Market With New Product Offering

PocketWizard has just announced the addition of a new trigger to its lineup: The PocketWizard Plus X. Priced at $99 (and already in stock at B&H), the Plus X offers much of the same functionality and reliability as PocketWizard's much-beloved Plus II and Plus III, but with a simpler, no-frills interface and a gentler price. Read on for the spec list, a mini-review, and my thoughts on the new unit.