Recent Gear Articles

4 Ways Smartphone Cameras Have Improved

Chances are, you can't afford the latest and greatest thousand-dollar smartphone, and you'll have to make some compromises when it comes to the smartphone camera and features. Learn from my mistakes. Here are four modern features smartphone cameras have.

Sony, Sigma, and Tamron: Who Makes the Best Supertelephoto Zoom Lens?

Supertelephoto zoom lenses are useful for a wide range of genres, including everything from sports and wildlife to landscapes. There are a lot of options out there, and this excellent video review takes a look at four of them, the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport, Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS, Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS, and Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD.

A First Look at the New Affordable and Portable DJI Mini SE Drone

DJI's latest drone, the Mini SE, is a bit strange, essentially taking some of the tech from the original Mavic Mini and putting it into the body of the Mini 2. Nonetheless, at $299, the Mini SE is highly affordable and remarkably portable, making it a potentially great option for a casual user or anyone who wants a drone they can drop in their bag for occasional photos and video without adding a ton of heft. This great first look video takes a look at the Mini SE and the kind of performance you can expect from it.

Would You Cool Down Your Canon R5 With This $165 Fan?

A few months after a $400 modification emerged to cool down your Canon EOS R5, there’s now another solution: a purpose-built fan that attaches to the back of the camera to help dissipate heat.

50mm f/1.0 Versus 56mm f/1.2: Which Fujifilm Lens Is Right for You?

Fujifilm has blessed its users with a couple of options when it comes to fast telephoto primes. This short video puts the 56mm f/1.2 alongside the more recently released 50mm f/1.0 to see how they compare when shooting portraits using natural light. Which one is the better choice?

A Long-Term Review of the Sony a7C Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a7C was the company's first major design departure from the highly respected a7 series of mirrorless camera, taking a full frame sensor and dropping it into a remarkably small and portable body, albeit with a few compromises. How does it hold up over the long run? This great video review discusses the camera.

A Review of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S Lens

An f/2.8 ultra-wide angle zoom lens can be useful for a wide variety of scenarios ranging from events work to astrophotography and landscapes. For Nikon mirrorless shooters, there is the NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S, and this great video review takes a look at the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Why Your Photos Don't Have to Be Pin-Sharp

Focus and sharp images are always at the top of the photographer's priority list. But you shouldn't just toss out a photo because it's not pin-sharp exactly where you want it to be. In fact, there are many reasons why you should covet that soft shot over the others.

A Review of the Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM Lens With Samples

Released back in October 2018, the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM has proven a solid choice for those requiring a fast, wide-angle prime. Christopher Frost puts it through his usual rigorous testing to see how it holds up.

We Review the Caldigit Tuff Nano 2TB Portable NVMe SSD

The files we create on set are getting larger and larger. With 8K footage and 50+ megapixel stills becoming more common, we need fast portable drives to get our files from set to workstation and for working on the road. Caldigit have just updated their Tuff Nano NVMe drives to a 2TB Tuff Nano Plus to help alleviate this struggle.

Thinking of Buying Some New Gear? Watch This First

No doubt, almost all of us are tempted by new gear at one time or another; after all, cameras and lenses are exciting technology. However, they are not cheap, and if you planning to invest in new equipment, it is important to ensure that you are doing so for the right reasons. This excellent video essay discusses the topic and offers some important advice in the process.

We Review the Haida Anti-Fog Belt

There is one problem with shooting the night sky for a prolonged amount of time. If the temperature of the lens drops below the dew point, condensation occurs. The new Haida Anti-Fog Belt will prevent this problem.

What's the Best 24-105mm for Canon?

While 24-70mm lenses are generally the workhorses of choice for a lot of photographers, many others prefer a 24-105mm for the extra reach, even if it means losing a stop of aperture. Canon shooters have a wide range of options when it comes to 24-105mm lenses, and this excellent video comparison takes a look at three of them, the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, and the RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM.

The Upcoming Canon EOS R3 Will Challenge One of Sony's Best Features

The Canon EOS R3 is inching closer to its full official announcement, and we are getting more and more details about the camera. The newest detail is particularly intriguing, as it shows Canon going toe to toe with Sony on one of its most innovative features.

How To Get an Incredible SSD for Video Editing for Less Money

High-end Solid State hard drives (SSDs) have all but replaced the traditional spinning drives, but for the best SSDs, you're going to have to spend a fair amount. In this short video, learn how to easily create your own which will outperform many on the market.

Is the Fujifilm GFX 100S the Ultimate Landscape Photography Camera?

The Fujifilm GFX mirrorless camera series has rewritten a lot of industry paradigms, bringing medium format to the market at prices that compete with upper-level full frame options, making it a tempting choice for landscape photographers. This great video follows a professional landscape photographer as he uses the camera in the field and shows you the experience with and image quality from it.

A Long-Term Review of the Incredible Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM Lens

Canon's RF system has brought us some of the most extreme and impressive lens designs in a long time, and one of the most show-stopping was the RF 28-70mm f/2L USM. If you have been eyeing this lens, check out this awesome video review that takes a long-term look at its performance, usage experience, and image quality.

5 Must-Have Travel Accessories for Photographers

If you're a photographer constantly on the go, the gear you carry with you plays a crucial role. In addition, as technology improves and the demand for quality content increases, we continue to consolidate our gear and fit everything we need into a small backpack.

Why Prime Lenses Are Sometimes Overrated

A lot of professional photographers espouse the use of prime lenses, whether for their sharpness, wider apertures, portability, or for some other reason. And while there are certainly advantages to prime lenses, you should not just automatically shun zooms without a second thought; in fact, they might actually be better for your needs, and this great video essay discusses why.

A Review of the Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 50mm f/2.8 Macro Lens

A good macro lens is one of the most versatile out there, offering you a window into the extraordinary world of the small all around us and doubling as a sharp portrait or all-around lens, depending on the focal length. One such lens is the Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 50mm f/2.8 Macro, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

ColorChecker Passport 2 Versus SpyderCheckr 48: Which Is the Best?

Over the last few years, I have regularly recommended the ColorChecker Passport. Colors are extremely important and the passport helps prevent issues that can come up with many digital camera sensors. Recently, I have been testing the Datacolor Spyderchekr and I wanted to see which of the two was the better option.