Recent Gear Articles

Velcro Man Super Desk By Efficiency Machine

Recently, I started working with a new steadicam operator for my video productions in the New York City area, Kyle. Aside from his upbeat positive demeanor, I noticed that every piece of equipment seemed to be customized with velcro for maximized efficiency. Little did I know, he had started a youtube series called "The Efficiency Machine" showcasing his different velcro-inspired inventions such as his "Super Desk." See below for more examples of his velcro madness/genius.

Fstoppers Review of the Canon 24-70mm F/2.8 L II

Reviewing this lens has not been a simple task. As is the case with, say, a new Apple product, many can argue that the original 24-70mm f/2.8 L lens is so good that any improvement would or should simply be a minor enhancement or fix. A new version should just address what little quibbles we all have had over the past several years. Little things. And with little changes should come minor price adjustments, if at all. This did not happen with the Canon 24-70 f/2.8 L II, and thus I am hit with the daunting task of wrangling in this new piece of hardware.

An Often-Overlooked Yet Very Important Aspect of a Photoshoot

Shooting or being involved in a fashion or beauty shoot is a lot of fun. It’s a day where creative personalities, the photographer, stylist, hair and makeup and assistants as well as the client's creative team get together to produce a story, a body of work that they want to show the world. Everyone is focussed on bringing their best ideas to the party.

DIY: Build A Video Camera Slider for $30

A recent tutorial online shows us how we're able to take our video production with the use of a video slider. Often, camera sliders can cost hundreds of dollars, and can even break $1000 for a professional quality one. This latest tutorial shows you how you can make one in just an hour of time, and a mere $30 spent at your local Ikea.

The 3 Lenses You Need for Landscape Photography

There seems to be an endless line of questions about what gear to get for landscape photography. For classic landscape photography, there are three lenses I could not do without.

An Affordable Bokeh Machine: A Review of the TTArtisan 90mm f/1.25 Lens

Portrait focal length lenses with wide maximum apertures will always be popular, but they can also be quite expensive, easily running about $2,000 at the top end of the spectrum. The TTArtisan 90mm f/1.25 offers that classic combination at a much more affordable price, making it an attractive option for a wide range of photographers. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

What is the Best Camera You Have Ever Owned?

Forget technology updates, larger sensor capacity, and more dynamic range. If you could only choose one camera to shoot with for the rest of your photographic life, what would it be?

Why a Mid-Range Zoom Lens Could Be Your Most Versatile Landscape Photography Tool

The mid-range zoom lens is often overlooked in favor of ultra-wide or telephoto options, but its versatility makes it essential for many types of photography. Spanning focal lengths from approximately 24mm to 105mm, these lenses strike a balance between wide and narrow fields of view. For landscapes, portraits, or even sports, a mid-range lens offers flexibility without compromising too much on other features.

DJI Phantom 5 Pro Quadcopter Wishlist of New Features

I absolutely love flying my DJI Phantom 4 Pro. This is my first quadcopter, and from talking with other pilots, the Phantom 4 Pro clearly evolved from previous generations. I am continuously implementing my Phantom in my still photography work and by no means is this a desire for obsolescence. The Phantom 4 hasn't been on the market that long and there are a ton of great accessories available that make it even better, too. This is part review of the Phantom 4 Pro and part feedback for what I hope inevitable future updates bring for so many pilots. While there is still time ahead of the next release, here is my wishlist for features that the Phantom 5 Pro might carry.

Every Photographer Ever: Camera Bags

Somehow, every three months, a new bag manufacturer figures out a way to bend the laws of physics to make a smaller bag that holds even more gear.

Here’s How Good the Image Quality Is From the Sony a7 IV

The Sony a7 IV is probably one of the best bang-for-buck cameras on the market right now. With its high-resolution 33-megapixel full frame sensor along with a slew of high-end video features, it fits the needs of professional creatives. If you're thinking about purchasing this camera but want to know how it performs, then this video might be useful to you.

Has Sony Made a Mistake With the a7 IV?

With the a7 IV, Sony is intent on producing the best hybrid camera ever created. However, one decision means that Sony has missed a trick when it comes to creating the perfect camera.

Comparing Medium Format Film to Digital

There is no doubt that digital has surpassed the quality of 35mm film, but medium format film still offers tremendous quality and is significantly cheaper than digital medium format. How does it compare to a modern medium format camera? This great video takes a look at the two and the results you can expect from them.

Why Megapixels Don't Matter...

...Or do they? Camera manufacturers today -- especially consumer camera manufacturers -- have created sensors that keep growing the megapixel count on each chip year after year, meeting consumers' general expectations for a higher number of 'MP' with every subsequent refresh. But what do these numbers really mean? Do you need all of those pixels? These are some of the many questions discussed in the full post article.

Taking on the DSLR Giants: Fstoppers Reviews the Pentax K-1 Camera

Earlier this year, Pentax released the K-1, its first foray into the digital full-frame market and a camera surrounded by a healthy dose of excitement and intrigue. I've had the chance to use it and some of the new system lenses for the past month. It's a fun and highly capable system that could be just the ticket for many photographers.

The Fujifilm GFX 50S as a Travel Camera

Over the past few years, we’ve seen digital medium-format photography go from something of a hulking utilitarian beast into something a little more elegant in terms of usability. The Phase One and Hasselblad flagships, although coveted by many, were only attainable by a select few and really only intended for methodical work. The latest additions to the medium format realm have flipped this market on its head and put digital medium format into the hands of the masses. The Hasselblad X1D-50c and the Fujifilm GFX 50S are more in line with the everyday consumer's needs in terms of both price and features. I have had the chance to spend the last six weeks shooting with the Fujifilm while traveling through northeast India and today I’ll share my thoughts on it as a travel camera.

A Deep Look at the Fujifilm X-T5 Mirrorless Camera

Fujifilm's new X-T5 mirrorless camera brings the beloved X-T series to the next level, offering a range of new features and advanced capabilities paired with a new 40.2-megapixel sensor, making it the most versatile option yet. This great video review takes a look at the new camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Are You a ‘Fanny Pack Photgrapher'?

Under the category of so-ridiculous-that-I'm-not-sure-it's-real-but-kind-of-a-cool idea is a video that chronicles the life of a "fanny pack photographer."

Here's What You Could Buy for the Price of an Canon EOS R5

There is no doubt that new Canon EOS R5 camera is an absolute machine and brilliant for content creators. However, there are a heap of other options that you could buy for the same price that would give you far more than just a body.

In Defense of the Screenless Digital Leica M-D

Where Leica goes, controversy is sure to follow. Last week, the M-D Typ 262 rangefinder camera was announced, and as usual, photographers were there to complain about it. While the constant eye-rolls in the direction of Leica are usually in regards to sky-high prices or other minor design decisions, this time, there's something truly worth talking about. The M-D is completely lacking an essential element of all digital cameras: the screen. It's bold, it's beautiful, and it was the perfect move for Leica.

How Does Canon's RF 50mm f/1.2L Compare to the EF Version?

The Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM lens was one of the first in the company's full frame mirrorless line, and it turned a lot of heads by establishing a new standard of quality that has been continued by many subsequent RF lenses. Just how much better is it than the original EF 50mm f/1.2L, and is it worth upgrading? This excellent video review takes a look at both lenses and what you can expect.

A DSLR Shooter Reviews the Hasselblad CFV-50c

Last time I wrote an article for Fstoppers was almost a year ago when I had just picked up a Hasselblad V-system medium format film camera for the first time. If you remember my first post, I taught myself to shoot 120 film while traveling in Europe. I reported my findings as best as someone with only a month of practical experience could. In the year that's passed I've learned so much about the modern uses and challenges of this legendary camera system and it has become a fixture in my studio. In today's market it's not always the right tool for the job, but when it is, it's a remarkably satisfying camera to use.