Recent Gear Articles
My New Travel Backup Photography Kit
With some lengthy upcoming trips for personal work, I have been doing some research into ways to keep my photographs and video footage backed up in the field. One of these trips involves a three-week stint in remote villages. A particular concern on this trip is data loss; so, I have been working to create a backup system that is durable and can run without access to mains power. Today, I will share my solution with you.
Canon Maintains Its Position at Number One
Canon Inc. has just announced that it has maintained its position as the global market leader for interchangeable lens digital cameras (DSLR and Mirrorless) for the 17th consecutive year (from 2003 to 2019).
Canon EOS R5 and Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1: First Impressions With Bird Wildlife Photography
I've had the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens for a couple of years now, and it's my favorite lens. Canon has recently introduced an RF version improvement of this lens in the form of a 100-500mm f/f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens.
A Fujifilm User's First Thoughts on Leica
Perhaps no camera brand is more polarizing than Leica, with many photographers absolutely swearing by both the experience and the image rendering and quality, while others claim they are nothing more than overpriced status symbols. If you have been wondering what the experience is like but are not ready to spend thousands of dollars to find out, check out this interesting video that features a Fujifilm X100V user discussing his thoughts on the Leica Q2.
Bought a New Lens? Here’s the First Thing You Should Do
Whether you just bought a new lens from a reputable vendor or snagged a deal off an auction site, you’ve got to test it. Fortunately, you don’t need a crazy, dedicated setup just to check out your gear. In this guide, I’ll run through how I’d test a newly acquired lens in about 10 minutes, all without any fancy gear.
Affordable Full Frame Mirrorless: A Review of the Nikon Z 5
The Nikon Z 5 is the company's affordable full frame mirrorless camera, and despite its price, it comes with a variety of features for both photographers and videographers that make it a good option for a variety of different applications. This great video reviews the Z 5 and compares it to the Z 6.
Five Reasons Why You Should Own A Tilt-Shift Lens
Besides making cool miniature city scapes and stopping converging lines, there are a host of reasons why you should consider buying a tilt-shift lens.
We Can Expect New Gear From Nikon This Week
While some manufacturers have been releasing gear at a breakneck pace, Nikon has been quite quiet the last few months. It seems they are finally waking up, though, with a lot of lens announcements rumored to come this week.
I’m About to Drop Nearly $10,000 on New Canon Gear: I Must Consider These Two Things First
I’m incredibly nervous. $10,000 is a lot of money. In fact, I can’t remember ever spending $10,000 at once. With that in mind, there are two things I must think about before I hit that big, blue "buy" button.
When Is It Time to Upgrade Your Camera?
Nowadays, it seems like cameras are released at a breakneck pace, but at the same time, modern cameras are highly capable devices already. As such, you might be wondering when it is the right time to upgrade your camera. If you are in that situation, this great video will give you some guidance on if it is time to upgrade or if you should sit tight with what you already have.
Crazy Deal on Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera, Canon 7D Bodies and Kits, and SanDisk Media
B&H is running some really great deals on the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera, which has to be the deal of the year so far. The camera is being marked down by the manufacturer to 50% off, making it really difficult to pass on it.
A Buying Guide for Canon Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras and Lenses
Canon took a bit of time to really hit the gas when it came to professional mirrorless cameras and lenses, but once the EOS R5 and RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM hit the market, the company started running and has not looked back since. Now that the company (and third parties) have a wide variety of cameras and lenses available, knowing what is right for you can be a little tricky. This great video buying guide will help you navigate the world of Canon mirrorless gear to find the best choices for your work.
Which Nikon Z Midrange Zoom Is Right for You?
With the release of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8, I thought it would be a good time to take a look at the current list of options for photographers of all types.
The L-Bracket; A Piece of Metal That Will Always Be a Part of My Camera Body
Once I bought a Manfrotto pistol-grip-upside-down ball head, with the typical Manfrotto camera plate. After a while I wanted something more robust, and I choose for an Arca-Swiss compatible ball head from Kirk Enterprises, and a matching L-bracket. The latter was one of the best choices I made.
Astrophotography: The Sigma 14mm F/1.8 DG HSM ART Lens and Coma
The Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM ART Lens is one of the most exciting lenses for astrophotography enthusiasts in recent years and here are some of the first real world Milky Way images taken with the lens that also answer the big question: How's the coma?
Which Size Memory Card Should I Use?
Probably like most of you, I have a plethora of different memory card sizes from 2GB up to 32GB. When I head out on a big shoot I tend to wonder if it would be better to use the smaller cards and spread the shoot out across a number of cards or shoot entirely with one. It seems every photographer has a different opinion on this one, here's what I think.
Sigma Patents Several Supertelephoto Lens Designs
In the past few years, Sigma has mostly focused on standard focal lengths between about 20mm and 135mm, but that does not mean they do not have their eyes on more extreme options. In fact, three new patents have emerged for lenses with long focal lengths ranging from 400mm to 700mm.
A Review of the Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless Camera
Canon's EOS R5 caught the attention of the photography world when it was announced, but alongside it came the EOS R6, which brought with it a lot of the same advanced features at a much more affordable price. If you do not need the 45 megapixels of the EOS R5, the EOS R6 may be the better choice, and this great video review takes a look at what you can expect from it.
3 Months With the Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera
The Sony a7 IV mirrorless camera was probably one of the most anticipated cameras of the last decade, as the a7 III had set a high bar for versatility, quality, and affordability in a hybrid mirrorless camera. The a7 IV brought with it several new features and upgrades when it finally arrived, and this great video review takes a look at how it has held up after three months of usage.
A 5-9 Stop Variable ND Filter on a 800mm Super Telephoto Lens? An Odd Combination With Great Results
It's not too often you associate a supertelephoto lens with variable neutral density filters, but I stuck a NiSi 5-9 stop variable ND filter on the end of my Canon RF 800mm lens and got some unique, creative results I loved.
A Look at the Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera for Stills Photography
Sony's a7 IV, the long-anticipated successor to the highly popular a7 III, recently arrived, and it brought with it a range of new features and improvements over its already well-balanced and capable predecessor. This excellent video review takes a look at the new camera's stills photography capabilities and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it.
A Beginner Photographer's Guide to the Magical World of Specialized Photography Lenses
Unlock the full potential of your photography journey with specialized lenses designed to elevate your creativity and skills. From capturing the minute details of a dewdrop to bending the rules of perspective, this guide introduces you to the world beyond standard lenses.
A New Sigma Lens Is on the Way
Who doesn't love a new Sigma lens? The popular company, known for its varied lines of quality, affordable lenses looks to be readying to announce their next lens in just a few days, and it will likely be a popular choice for a wide range of photographers and filmmakers.
How Much Should You Spend on a Camera?
All photographers at every level have a similar problem. How do you know how much to spend on a new camera?
The Difference Between Mechanical and Electronic Shutters
One of the nicest features of mirrorless cameras is the electronic shutter, which allows you to shoot in total silence, a fantastic option for situations where being discreet is key. That does not mean electronic shutters are without faults, however. Knowing when to use an electronic shutter and when to use a mechanical is important, and this great video tutorial will show you everything you need to know.
Fstoppers Compares the Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 and XF 16-55mm f/2.8
Fujifilm has become quite well known for it’s excellent APS-C lens lineup and now has enough lenses that several of them overlap significantly. One pair of lenses that bare consideration for many getting into the Fujifilm X system are the “kit” XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS and the “professional” XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR. Let’s take a look at the differences between them.
A Longterm Review of the GFX 50s: Living With Fuji's Medium Format Camera
It has been just over a year since the release of Fujifilm’s entry into the digital medium format market, the Fujifilm GFX 50s. Fstoppers reviewed the camera a few months later, and I talked about it as a travel and portrait camera a while later. It’s an exceptional machine, there’s no doubting that. But after a few solid months of using it, how do I feel about it? The initial “wow” that comes with the honeymoon phase is over now, so what’s left?
Lens Hood Basics: What You Need to Know
If you’re new to photography, you may be wondering what’s the big deal with lens hoods. Here’s a quick two-minute breakdown of why exactly you’ll find them attached to lenses everywhere.
Canon Hasn't Forgotten About the Flagship EOS R1 Mirrorless Camera
With the announcement of the EOS R3 now 18 months behind us, many have started to wonder where Canon's flagship mirrorless camera, the EOS R1, has gone to. In a recent interview, Canon reassured its users that the EOS R1 is indeed still in development and will be on its way eventually.