Photography Gear

Gear isn't everything — but it's not nothing either. This section covers the cameras, lenses, accessories, and equipment that photographers actually use, with an eye toward helping you make smart decisions rather than just chasing the latest release. Expect news, analysis, hands-on impressions, and the occasional reality check on whether that upgrade is actually worth it.

A Look at the Ridiculous Fujifilm GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR Lens

Medium format lenses generally have narrower apertures than their full frame counterparts, and it is very rare to see one that opens wider than f/2, which is what makes the Fujifilm GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR so intriguing. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens, including its performance and image quality, and also offers some helpful portrait posing tips in the process. 

We Review the Laowa Argus CF 33mm f/0.95 APO for APS-C Cameras

Laowa is a company that never stops amazing me with their creative approach to lens design and cornering of a market sector that appreciates their unique designs. Today, we’ll be taking a look at their latest offering for APS-C cameras, the ultra-fast Laowa Argus CF 33mm f/0.95 APO. 

Let’s Talk About these 200 MP Galaxy S22 Ultra and Olympus Rumors

It seems like the mirrorless/DSLR realm operates in a different dimension to phone cameras. Sony’s new a1 body boasts a 50-megapixel full-frame sensor and is cutting edge, yet Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Ultra claims to have a 108 MP sensor — and now there are some wild rumors about upcoming 200 MP phone sensors. 

A Review of the Compact Samyang 24mm f/1.8 AF Lens

The Samyang 24mm f/1.8 AF is a remarkably compact lens at a very reasonable price that still offers impressive image quality for Sony E mount shooters. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the kind of performance you can expect from it in practice.  

5 Camera Features You Might Not Be Using That Could Make Your Photos Better

Modern cameras are highly advanced machines, often with dozens of features and customization options to help you get the shot. With so many features, it is easy to overlook some of what you can do. Here are five camera features you might not know about that can help you take better photos. 

Canon Patents Another Crazy Lens

Canon has been releasing some mightily impressive lenses ever since they first dipped their toes into the professional mirrorless market, and it looks like they are showing no signs of stopping. The company recently filed patents for three new lenses, with one of them being yet another that pushes the boundaries of design. 

We Review the MSI Prestige PS341WU 34" 21:9 5K IPS Monitor

There is a lot of new tech showing up in monitors the last few years higher. With higher resolutions, HDR support, multiple color spaces, and ultra-wide panels, it can be difficult to find the monitor that meets your specific needs. If you're looking for productivity and a clean look, the MSI Prestige PS341W 34" WUHD IPS 5K2K might be worth checking out.  

A Review of the Affordable Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV Camera

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV offers fans of the company's micro four thirds cameras the chance to jump into the system at a very affordable price. What kind of features and performance can you expect out of the body? This excellent video review takes a look.  

Comparing the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 Versus the Hasselblad 80mm f/1.9

Medium format is known for producing some of the best image quality. Companies like Hasselblad offer some of the best cameras currently on the market. Its latest lenses for the Hasselblad X1D II are brilliant, so we decided to see how well a full frame camera system such as the Canon EOS R5 would fare against it.  

A Review of the Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens

100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lenses are highly popular among photographers, as they offer the reach of supertelephoto focal lengths and the versatility of a zoom, all in a package that is significantly more affordable than professional supertelephoto prime lenses. This excellent video review takes a look at Sony's option, the FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens. 

What Is The Real Difference Between Budget and Premium Lights?

One of the greatest things to happen in recent years for photography is the huge increase in incredibly well-designed budget lighting systems. Although most of them come from the same factories as the premium brands, offer similar specs on paper, and often have alarmingly similar looks, what is the real difference? 

If Fuji's Instax Is the Cash Cow, Should It Produce Digital Cameras?

Fuji's Instax line of products — the legacy of its film heyday — is successful. They've sold more than 50 million cameras, with 10 million alone in the 2019 business year. However, more than that, it's the financial powerhouse for its Imaging division, turning over twice as much money as its digital counterpart.

The Best 35mm Lens: Showdown Between the New Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art and the Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM

The newly announced Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art DG DN is the updated version of the previous and popular DG HSM version. With a greater number of elements, more aperture blades, and weather-sealing, all contained in a lighter design, the new lens seems like it could be a brilliant option. However, how does it compare with some of the other options on the market?  

Don't Overlook the Value of the Canon EOS RP

Mirrorless cameras have become incredibly advanced in the last few years, but not all of us need top-shelf features in our primary or secondary bodies. For Canon shooters, the EOS RP offers full frame mirrorless at a very affordable price, and this great video review discusses why it is still a relevant body a few years after its release.  

What Has Apple Got Planned for the iPad Pro?

Last week, on April 20th, 2021, Apple announced a range of new products. The Apple April event this year was one of the most eagerly anticipated in recent memory. Usually, the tech community has a good idea of what to expect from Apple at their events, but this time was different. 

A Look at the New Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM Lens

Sony's new FE 14mm f/1.8 GM lens is here, and it stands as one of the widest-aperture ultra-wide angle lenses ever made, giving photographers and videographers unique creative capabilities. If you are interested in what this new lens can do, check out this excellent video review that examines the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice. 

Does Sensor Size Make That Big a Difference in Your Work?

There is a lot of debate back and forth about just how important sensor size is in photography. And with professional-level camera and lens lines available in Micro Four Thirds, APS-C, full frame, and medium format, you might wonder which is right for your work.

5 Misleading Specs That Can Trick Camera Buyers

If you're looking at buying a new piece of equipment, you will likely just look at the spec sheet and compare it to something similar. But even the numbers don't tell the full story. 

Is the Canon EOS R5 Worth the Price for Landscape Photography?

The Canon EOS R5 has turned a lot of heads for its high-powered features, and while those are great to have, not all genres require such advanced capabilities. So, is it worth paying the premium price for the EOS R5 for a genre like landscape photography?

5 Great Tips To Help You Make the Most Of Vintage Lenses

Using vintage lenses is a great way to produce images and footage that is full of character. Here are five great tips to help you get to grips when attaching a piece of history to your shiny new digital camera. 

Bird Photography With the Canon EOS R5

The Canon EOS R5 is one of the most impressive cameras we have seen in quite some time, and it brings with it a huge range of impressive features and improvements. This excellent video puts it to the test with both native and adapted lenses to show you the kind of performance and image quality you can expect.  

A Look at the New DJI Air 2S Drone

The DJI Air 2S is here, and it brings with it some major improvements and upgrades over the Mavic Air 2 while still maintaining an ultra-portable profile. This excellent video review takes a look at how it compares to the Mavic Air 2 and the type of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice. 

A Look at a Classic Film Camera: The Canon A-1

Film photography has seen a bit of a resurgence in the last few years, and if you are just getting into it, the vast array of cameras out there can be a bit overwhelming at first. This great video review takes a look at a classic camera and a great choice for trying out film, the Canon A-1.  

Tips and Tricks for Shooting the Icelandic Volcano at Night

As the Icelandic volcano continues to erupt in Gelingadalur, Iceland, these two photographers share their very best tips and tricks for photographing a volcanic eruption, and luckily the same techniques can be applied to landscape photography anywhere in the world with an active, erupting volcano. 

We Review the Fujifilm GFX 100S Medium Format Mirrorless Camera

This year seems like it’s shaping up to be the second wave of megapixel wars from the major manufacturers. In this review, we’ll take a look at the 102-megapixel Fujifilm GFX 100S medium format mirrorless camera and what it has been like to work with over the last month. 

A Review of the New Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens

The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is here, providing an update to the company's first-ever Art Series lens with a bevy of new features and improvements, all at a very affordable price. This excellent video review takes a look at the new lens and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.  

Is This the Best Portrait Lens Available Today?

Portrait lenses are some of the most popular optics out there, and as such, photographers have a huge range of choices that offer a variety of capabilities at many price points. This great video review takes a look at one of the best portrait lenses out there, the Fujifilm GF 110mm f/2 R LM WR and the kind of image quality you can expect from it.  

Sigma Announces the 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens

The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art was the company's first in the Art line, a series that has grown to become some of the most respected optics in the industry. Now, the company has introduced the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art, an update to the classic lens, with a variety of new features and improvements. 

Is Sony Close to Announcing the a7 IV?

We’re now well past three years since the a7 III was announced, and Sony has just registered a new camera body, sparking another round of excitement. Is the a7 IV finally upon us? 

A Look at the New Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 40 Camera

Fujifilm's INSTAX line of cameras have been wildly popular for the company, providing photographers and casual users alike an easy and fun way to take photos that harken back to the days of instant film in the 1970s and 1980s. The Mini 40 is the latest model in the lineup, and this great video review takes a look at how it holds up in practice.  

10 of the Best Ultra-Wide-Angle Lenses for Astrophotography

Astrophotography is one of the few genres where gear can make a profound difference that is impossible to replicate without it. One of the most important tools — if not the most important tool — is the lens on the front of your camera.