Recent Gear Articles

A Review of the Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a7 IV was one of the most hotly anticipated mirrorless cameras of the last several years, and now that it is here, it brings with it a wide range of improvements and new features sure to capture the attention of photographers and filmmakers alike. If you have been considering purchasing the camera for yourself, check out this fantastic video review that takes an in-depth look at the camera and the sort of quality and performance you can expect from it.

5 Reasons to Buy the Original Leica M Monochrom is 2022

Leica has a rich history in photography and while their cameras are polarizing based purely on price, their pedigree isn't up for dispute. In this video, Mattias Burling discusses why the original Leica M Monochrom is a great purchase in 2022.

Is the Dell XPS the Best Windows Laptop for Photo and Video Work?

The Dell XPS (eXtreme Performance System) line has been long respected for its quality and performance, offering Windows users a lot of power and advanced features to tackle the heavy demands of professional photographers and filmmakers. If you are looking for a new computer that can tackle everything you can throw at it, check out this great video review of the latest XPS series.

One of the Weirdest Medium Format Cameras Ever Made

Before gaining popularity with the highly respected X Series and GFX Series, Fujifilm was quite active in the film industry, making some fantastic cameras that are still popular with enthusiasts today. One of the most interesting cameras they made was the GA645Zi, and this great video takes a look at what it is like to shoot with a medium format point and shoot.

Renting Photography Equipment Instead of Buying

Photography as a hobby can be rather expensive, especially when you want a high-quality camera and lenses. You can spend thousands and thousands of dollars without blinking. But you can also rent equipment, and there might be a few good reasons to do so.

A Review of the Affordable Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE Lens

An 85mm lens with a wide aperture is one of the most popular choices among photographers, offering the classic focal length for portraits paired with narrow depth of field and a lot of bokeh. Such lenses can run quite high in price, however, sometimes well over $2,000. The Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE comes in at a significantly lower price, and this great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

A Review of the Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR Lens

The Fujifilm XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR offers X series shooters quite a bit of reach at a relatively affordable price as far as supertelephoto zooms go. Does it still offer the sort of performance and image quality professionals demand, however? This great video takes a look at the lens to answer that question.

Have You Ever Used This Unique Type of Medium Format Camera?

There are essentially three types of modern cameras: DSLRs, mirrorless bodies, and rangefinders. There are a few other formats that mostly fell by the wayside, however, as time marched on, such as the zone focus camera and the TLR. This neat video takes a look at using a TLR, including its unique experience and images.

Canon R3 Versus Nikon Z9: Hands-on First Impressions

Canon and Nikon, after a slow start, have both been consistently releasing excellent mirrorless bodies. Their respective newest cameras are more or less direct rivals, so how do they compare?

5 Tips to Master Using Filters for Landscape Photography

Many aspiring landscape photographers hit a roadblock when it comes to long exposure and filters. They may seem confusing and too technical, but the following tips should clear the path for you.

The Best and Worst Parts of the Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a7 IV, one of the most highly anticipated cameras of recent years, is here, and it brings with it a range of new photo and video features and improvements, making it again one of the most balanced cameras out there, at least on paper. How does it hold up in practice? This excellent video discusses some of the best and worst aspects.

More Canon Cameras Are Coming in 2022

Canon started out slowly in the mirrorless space, but they exploded forward with the release of the EOS R5 and RF 28-70mm f/2L USM, showing they could go toe to toe in specs and that they had no intention of relinquishing their crown for creating some of the most extreme and innovative lenses. It looks like the company won't be letting off the gas, with more cameras likely to come later this year.

A Review of the Viltrox 35mm f/1.8 AF Lens

35mm has always been a popular focal length, offering a wide but still fairly neutral view that is useful for a huge range of applications from astrophotography to portraits and more. There are tons of 35mm lenses to choose from out there, and this excellent video review takes a look at one of the more affordable options, the Viltrox 35mm f/1.8 AF.

A Review of the Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Lens

A wide angle prime lens that comes with a large aperture can tackle a range of situations, such as astrophotography, weddings, and more. For Sony shooters, there is the FE 20mm f/1.8 G, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

How Good Is the New Leica M11 Camera?

Leica's M11 has hit the market, and it brings with it a variety of improved and entirely new features that help to modernize the company's M series. This great video review takes a look at the new M11 and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

A Review of the Samyang AF 50mm f/1.4 FE II Lens

Wide-aperture 50mm lenses are quite popular for good reason, as they offer a very neutral focal length in tandem with narrow depth of field and low-light performance, making them quite versatile for a wide range of applications. They run a huge gamut of prices, however, from under $100 to well over $2,000. This excellent video review takes a look at a mid-range option that could be the right combination of price and quality for a lot of shooters, the Samyang AF 50mm f/1.4 FE II.

A Decade of Fujifilm's X Series

Fujifilm's X series of cameras began a little over a decade ago as quirky, unique bodies, but in the time since, they have evolved into powerful tools used by many professionals while still maintaining those interesting designs that captured the imaginations of many users many years ago. This neat video takes a look at the X-Pro1 and how it holds up a decade later.

Gear Mistakes Beginner Photographers Always Make

The internet, as well as being a great resource for photographers, is also a black hole for our collective wallet. It seems that almost daily a new camera, lens, computer, or must-have bit of software is launched. So let's look at the biggest gear mistakes we make as beginners.

Our In-Depth Review of the Sony a7 IV

The popular Sony a7 III has been updated. Meet the Sony a7 IV, the fourth edition of this popular camera. Sony Netherlands provided me with this camera for a review, and I also got a chance to compare it with the previous model. These are my findings.

The Lens One Photographer Believes Everyone Should Own

The holy trinity of lenses — usually 16-35mm, 24-70mm, and 70-200mm — has been a staple for decades, but it is beginning to be tested. This lens is a convention breaker and Nigel Danson believes every photographer should own one.

A Look at the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 Lens

We have seen a move toward lenses that make smart compromises to reach more affordable price points in recent years, and that trend has made its way to first-party manufacturers. For Nikon mirrorless shooters, there is the new NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 lens, and this great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

A Low-Cost Path to Astrophotography

I’m occasionally asked to recommend a camera to get into astrophotography. Of course, my first answer is to use the camera and lenses you already have. Beyond that, it’s difficult to recommend a specific brand and model because I don’t have every camera at my disposal, and we are blessed (cursed?) with a continuous stream of new and improved cameras. Here are some thoughts.

A Review of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S Lens

Perhaps no lens finds itself as the workhorse of choice in more photographers' bags than the 24-70mm f/2.8. However, such lenses are quite expensive, and many photographers do not need that f/2.8 aperture. An alternative option for Nikon shooters is the NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S, and this excellent video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

We Review the DJI Mic: The Best Portable Microphone for Your Video, Music, and Podcasts

Sound is a critical aspect of content creation in today’s world. Whether it’s for a YouTube channel, Twitch streaming, interviews, or podcasting, your voice will reflect who you are, and where you are recording can also have a profound effect on the audio. Viewers are used to loose camera work videos, but if the audio is bad, then most of the time, viewers give up. So, we tested out the new DJI Mic to see if does indeed produces great sound quality.

Everything You Need to Know to Set Up Your Sony a7 IV

Modern digital cameras are incredibly complex machines, and to really get the most out of their capabilities, you need to understand their underlying menu structure and how to tweak it to your specific needs and style of shooting. Perhaps no menu system is more complex than Sony's, but this fantastically comprehensive video walkthrough will show you everything you need to know to get your a7 IV up and running exactly how you like it.

These Are the Best 360 Cameras for Photo and Video in 2022

It's the start of 2022, and once again the world has retreated into pandemic bubbles. If ever there was a use-case for 360 images and videos, it's now, when it's safer to experience things virtually than in-person. That's where 360 cameras come in, and here's a pretty comprehensive list of the best horse for both photo and video courses.

Our Hands-On Test of Lindsay Adler's Optical Spot by Westcott

A few weeks ago, I got my hands on a light modifier I've always wanted to have in our studio. Westcott's brand new Optical Spot is one of the coolest and most useful light modifiers I've ever seen, and in today's video, I'm going to show you why you might want one or two for your photography!

Does the Sony a7 IV Set the New Standard for Hybrid Cameras?

Sony's a7 series is split into three lines, with the a7 IV being the latest model in the generalist camp, offering a range of improvements and new features over its already highly respected predecessor. With impressive capabilities for both video and photo work, the a7 IV looks like a fantastic option for hybrid shooters, and this great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and quality you can expect from it in practice.