Recent Gear Articles

Thoughts on the New OM System OM-1 Mirrorless Camera

Olympus (or OM System) is back, and it has made some impressive steps forward with the new OM-1 mirrorless camera that re-establish it as a competitive camera manufacturer. No camera is perfect, of course, and this great video discusses where OM System should invest time and money next to continue to reassert the brand.

The Google Pixel 6 Pro: The Best Camera, Is the One You Have With You

Sometimes the best camera is the one you have with you and at times it's not your DSLR or mirrorless one. This is difficult because there are pros and cons to both options. If you have a mobile phone with you, then that can be the best option. However, if you need a more professional or reliable camera, then your DSLR or mirrorless will of course be the better choice.

Sigma Lenses Finally Arrive for Fujifilm Cameras: A First Look

Fujifilm users have reason to smile today, as they will no longer be left out of the Sigma lens party. The company has announced their first three lenses for the Fujifilm X mount, and all three are impressively affordable. This great video review takes a first look at the new lenses and the sort of performance and image quality you will be able to expect from them.

$400 Versus $4,000 Camera on a Landscape Photography Shoot

The discussion of expensive versus lower-budget gear is age-old and well-covered. However, it's always worth reminding yourself of just how much you can achieve with your images without buying the latest and greatest cameras. And what better way than to look at images from the same shoot with a cheap and an expensive cared, side-by-side.

Can Nikon's Latest Lens Keep Up With the Demands of High-Resolution Photos and Video?

400mm f/2.8 lenses are one of the standard pieces of gear for professional sports and wildlife photographers, and given their extreme designs, they often contain some of the best technology and features a company can offer. The new Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens is no stranger to that trend, and this great video review takes a look at if it can keep up with the demands of 45-megapixel images and 8K video.

What's in a Professional Wedding Photographer's Bag?

Wedding photographers often have to wear several distinct hats over the course of a day, and as such, they need a wide variety of gear in their bags to be sure they have all situations covered. If you are wondering what all it takes to pull off a full day of shooting, check out this great video that takes you through a professional wedding photographer's gear bag.

Should You Spend a Little Extra for This 50mm Lens?

50mm lenses can cost anywhere from under $100 to well over $2,000, with options filling out that range at just about every price point. While those sub-$100 lenses are fantastic learning tools, eventually, you will probably want to upgrade to a higher-quality option. The Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.8 lens seems to hit the sweet spot between quality and price, and 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.

Which Program Handles Fujifilm Raw Files Better, Lightroom or Capture One?

Fujifilm cameras have long been praised for the colors they produce. Lightroom has often been criticized for being incapable of processing Fujifilm raw files effectively. Capture One is generally recommended. Therefore, in this article, we will be comparing Lightroom and Capture One to see which is best for Fujifilm raw files.

A Look at Sigma's Compact Portrait Lens, the 90mm f/2.8 Contemporary

A premium portrait lens with a wide aperture around f/1.4 often commands a high price, usually somewhere around $2,000. And while that wide aperture can be a fun and useful creative tool, you do not always need it to create great portraits. If you want to save money and don't want to carry around a bulky f/1.4 lens, check out this great review of the affordable and lightweight Sigma 90mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens.

A Look at Some of the Best Budget Gear for Filmmakers

Making good-looking footage isn't an easy or cheap endeavor. While for much work, it still makes sense to spend on the gear you need, sometimes, there's a workaround that is much, much cheaper. This video takes a look at some of the best video accessories you can get for under $50.

A Common Mistake Landscape Photographers Make With Wide Angle Lenses

Landscape photography is a challenging genre, and the tool of choice is often a wide angle lens. Wide angle lenses can be particularly tricky to work with, however. This excellent video tutorial will show you a common mistake landscape photographers make with wide angle lenses and how to correct it and improve your images.

More Extreme Canon Lenses Are Likely on the Way Soon

Canon has had their foot on the gas ever since the release of the EOS R5 and RF 28-70mm f/2L USM lens. It looks like they have no intention of slowing down, with two mightily impressive lenses likely on the way soon.

Can You Do Wildlife Photography on a Budget?

When it comes to serious wildlife photography, it generally takes some of the most advanced equipment out there to get the best possible shots, as you will often be dealing with situations with low light and a faraway subject, requiring fast shutter speeds, quick burst rates, great autofocus, and lenses with long focal lengths and large apertures. However, such equipment is often extremely expensive. So, what can you accomplish with low-end budget gear? This great video takes a look.

Is This $5,000 Drone Really Worth It?

Drones have become something of a staple in modern photography for a number of genres, with the financial barrier to entry now lower than ever. But, there are also high-end drones that cost a fair whack, so are they worth it?

Which of These Lenses Is the Better Deal?

A good 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is often worth its weight in gold, and unfortunately, they often cost about that much too. Luckily, in the last few years, we have seen a real influx of much more affordable third-party options from companies like Tamron and Samyang. This excellent video comparison takes a look at two such options, the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 and Samyang 24-70mm f/2.8 AF.

Four Months With the Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a7 IV mirrorless camera has been in the hands of photographers for several months now, allowing them to form long-term opinions about one of the most hotly anticipated bodies in recent memory. If you have been interested in the camera for your own work, check out this great video review that discusses a photographer's thoughts after four months with it.

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.

A Look at the Impressive New Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S Lens

When Nikon first got started in the mirrorless world, they released mostly pragmatic, standard lenses. Now that the system is a bit more mature and the impressive Z 9 has hit the market, the company has begun to expand its lineup, with one of the most intriguing options being the new NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens. This great video takes a first look at the lens and what photographers can expect from it.

Why Should Photographers Stay Up to Date With Tech?

Many of us spend hours of our lives reading gear reviews, checking rumor sites, getting excited about a new camera or computer releases, and generally keeping up to date with the technology behind modern photography. Some believe that by staying up to date with new technology we can make better-informed buying decisions and potentially get better at our craft. Some are simply interested in new technology. But how important is it for photographers to stay up to date with the bleeding edge of new technology?

All the Focal Lengths You Need: A Review of the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Lens

Photographers who travel a lot or walk long distances know that carrying around a bag of several lenses to cover every possibility is exhausting. A single lens that can cover all those focal lengths can make life a lot easier. One such lens is the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD, and this great video review takes a look at it and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

How to Best Protect Your Camera Gear

There are few horrors in life quite like dropping your camera or knocking it off of a table. We've all been there, but there are lots of ways you can prevent damage. In this video, David Bergman goes through a few of the methods you can use to safeguard your equipment.

Do You Need a Medium Format Camera?

Medium format has seen a bit of a renaissance in the last few years, with bodies gaining advanced features typically reserved for cameras with smaller sensors and coming down in price significantly — to the point that they are viable alternatives to full frame cameras. So, do you need a medium format camera? This great video compares some of the best cameras out there to help you decide.

Fstoppers Reviews the Sony Xperia 5 III Smartphone for Photography

When I got asked to review a smartphone I had my doubts. I don’t believe a smartphone can be used for serious photography. But I realized it was an opportunity to see if my opinion was biased or not. I received the Sony Xperia 5 III to look closer at its photographic abilities.

A Look at the Fujifilm GFX 100S Camera and GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR Lens

Fujifilm's medium format mirrorless cameras have gained popularity for offering superlative image quality and modern features normally reserved for cameras with smaller sensors at significantly more affordable prices than traditional medium format options. The great video follows a photographer as he compares the GFX 100 to the GFX 100S along with the GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR lens.

A Review of One of the Craziest Lenses Ever Made

Generally, the longest focal length lenses available are 800mm f/5.6 options, aside from rare or discontinued examples. And even as a prime, such a lens is massive. So, you can imagine just how big things get if you want to make a zoom that can reach 800mm with an f/5.6 aperture, but that is just what this lens known as the "Sigmonster" can do.

A Review of the Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera

Perhaps no camera has been more highly anticipated in the last few years than the Sony a7 IV, and now that it has been available for a few months, photographers and filmmakers have had a chance to evaluate the latest entry in the company's highly respected line of hybrid mirrorless cameras. This excellent video review takes a look a look at the new camera and the sort of performance and quality you can expect from it in practice.