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.

Six Months With the Canon EOS R5

The Canon EOS R5 has been out for a little while now and has been in the hands of a lot of photographers for several months. This great video review takes a look at the EOS R5 and how it has held up after six months of usage.  

A Review of the Powerful Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a1 is here, and it has caused a ton of waves thanks to its ridiculous specs. It has started to reach the hands of some users, and this fantastic video review takes a look at this powerhouse and the kind of photo and video performance you can expect from it in practice.  

This Lens Was Made for Bokeh

A lot of photographers sure do love their bokeh, and this vintage lens has a unique property that gives it some fantastic bokeh. This great video takes a look at the Tair 11A 135mm f/2.8 lens, its unique design, and the sort of images you can take with it.  

How Does Sony a1 Image Quality Compare to the Canon EOS R5?

The Sony a1 is all the talk of the photography world right now, with some of the most impressive specs we have ever seen in a camera. The Canon EOS R5 is its main competition at the moment, and this great video comparison takes a look at the image quality between the two and which one comes out on top. 

Does the Sony a1 Have the Best Sensor Sony Has Ever Produced?

Sony has been dominating the mirrorless market for some time and has arguably had the most impressive cameras in that sector. The launch of their new flagship mirrorless body has raised some eyebrows for a number of reasons, not least because of the sensor. 

You Don't Need A Huge Lens to Take Great Wildlife Shots

Gear envy is an ever-present topic in the photography community, and not least so when it comes to wildlife photography. With the best super-telephoto lenses amounting to $5,000 and upwards, it's not hard to imagine why.

Printing Nikon D850 Iceland Landscape Photos the Size of a House

How often have you pixel peeped at another camera to see if you could print the images large enough to fit on your wall? I bet you've never considered printing it the size of your entire house, but that's exactly what this photography duo did in Iceland. 

7 Steps for Creating Powerful 70-200mm Telephoto Images

There is no doubt that the telephoto lenses are just as attractive for landscape photography as the wide-angles. In this article, I will give you seven steps to help you make powerful landscape photos with a 70-200mm telephoto lens. 

Is Telling People To 'Zoom With Your Feet' Bad Advice?

As a photography and video educator, I’ve advised people to “zoom with their feet” more times than I can count. On its surface, it makes sense. But photographer Matt Granger gives us a few reasons why that’s not necessarily the best advice in his latest YouTube video. 

How to Improve Your Wide Angle Landscape Photos

Wide angles lenses are very common for landscape photography, but they can be tricky to use effectively. This excellent video tutorial discusses how to improve your wide angle landscape photos. 

Do You Really Need a Gimbal? Sony IBIS Versus DJI RS2 Gimbal

The technology inside cameras is growing at an impressive rate and even the older technology has been improved and refined to near-unthinkable levels. One such area is in-camera image stabilization (IBIS) to the point where it can rival a gimbal in certain situations. But just how many situations can modern IBIS compete with a gimbal? 

A Review of the Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G Lens

For many genres, an ultra-wide angle zoom lens can be quite useful, and while an f/2.8 aperture can be quite helpful, the extra expense and bulk is not always necessary for people like landscape or architectural photographers.

Hands on With the Sony a1: Not Quite the Perfect Camera?

Sony made waves last week with the announcement of its brand new flagship a1. At an eye-watering $6,498, it brings some notable technological advances, but early testing suggests that there are few areas where it seems to fall short or perhaps doesn’t quite live up to the marketing spiel. 

Why You Should Consider Embracing Prime Lenses

No doubt, zoom lenses are extremely convenient and useful for a wide variety of applications across a wide range of genres. Nonetheless, prime lenses can help you improve by forcing you into creative problem-solving, and this fantastic video essay discusses why you might want to try using them more often. 

What Cameras Will We See in 2021?

When it comes to new cameras, 2021 has already started off with a bang, with the release of Fujifilm GFX 100S bringing high-level medium format capabilities down to unheard of price levels, and the Sony a1 pushing mirrorless full frame into exciting new realms. With 11 months still to go in the year and a lot of exciting gear rumored to be on the way, what can we expect?

A Review of the New Fujifilm X-E4 Mirrorless Camera

Fujifilm recently announced the X-E4, the latest camera in the company's beloved X Series line of mirrorless cameras, and it pairs their latest X-Trans sensor with a lot of new features and capabilities at an affordable price. This excellent video review takes a look at the new camera and the pros and cons you can expect from it. 

A Review of the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS Lens

70-200mm f/2.8 lenses are some of the most versatile and highly popular optics out there, but they are rather expensive and heavy. For those who want the flexibility of the reach of a 70-200mm but do not need the extra light-gathering power, the 70-200mm f/4 is a fantastic option, and this great video review takes a look at Sony's option, the FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS. 

5 Reasons To Buy a Nikon D850 — or Any DSLR — in 2021

When it was released in 2017, the Nikon D850 could be considered the alpha and the omega of the SLR photography world. It represented almost every advancement ever made for cameras with swinging mirrors. But are there still reasons to buy one of these, or any DSLR, in 2021? 

Shooting at Night With a 50mm f/0.95 Lens that Costs Only $755

Third-party manufacturers have gifted photographers with a plethora of extremely fast glass in the last couple of years and this 50mm lens might be far better than you might anticipate. Expect a weighty, manual focus lens with metal construction and some chromatic aberration — not to mention a lot of bokeh and more opportunities when shooting at night. 

What Are Focal Reducers and What Are They Used For?

Focal reducers are relatively rare compared to teleconverters, though they work based on the same idea (simply employed in reverse). If you have not seen them in use before, this awesome video tutorial will show you how they work and why they are useful. 

How Diffraction Robs Your Photos of Sharpness

Diffraction is a fundamental physical property, and no matter how expensive your lenses are or how advanced their designs might be, there is no hiding from it. If you are unfamiliar with diffraction, this fantastic video tutorial will show you why it happens and why you should be aware of it in your own work. 

Will Upcoming MacBook Pros Bring USB Ports Back?

As much as Apple's computers have led innovation in design, they also may have taken the minimalist approach too far with all their recent models only offering USB-C ports. 

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

Nikon's original 14-24mm f/2.8 was a bit of a legend among DSLR lenses, and now, we have an updated version for the mirrorless Z mount. This fantastic video review takes a look at the new NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S lens and the kind of images you can make with it.  

A Guide To Different Tripod Heads and When You Need Them

Getting the perfect tripod for your style of shooting and the genre you most commonly shoot can be a little tricky. Here is a guide to the different tripod heads you can buy and what each of them is used for. 

A Look at the New Fujifilm X-E4 Mirrorless Camera

The X-E4 is the latest camera in Fujifilm's popular X Series line of mirrorless cameras, and it brings with it a variety of improvements and great features suitable for a wide range of applications. If you have been wondering how it holds up in real-world usage, check out this great first look video.  

Fstoppers Reviews the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM Lens

Canon released an amazing 85mm lens. It is small, light, and perfect for portraits. It is also a macro lens, making it very versatile, especially for a wedding photographer. Canon Netherlands provided this lens for an extensive review. 

The New Nikon Z 7II Versus the Legendary D850: Which One Is Better?

In 2017, Nikon released what is widely regarded as one of the greatest DSLR cameras ever created: the D850. With the arrival of the Z 7II, has Nikon finally caught up with itself and produced a mirrorless camera that matches its mirrored predecessor? Check out this video to find out. 

Which Is the Better Portrait Lens for Sony APS-C Cameras? Sigma Versus Viltrox

Viltrox has released a host of lenses over the last 18 months offering some excellent performance and solid alternatives to many of the bigger manufacturers. This review looks at the recently released 56mm f/1.4 for Sony APS-C cameras, a portrait lens that has some very stiff competition from Sigma. 

What Cameras Would You Like To See in 2021?

2020 was a great year for camera releases and it's going to be a tough act to follow. Nevertheless, there are rumors of things to come, as well as a lot of speculation. What would you like to see launched? 

A Review of the Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens

A good macro lens is one of the most versatile optics a photographer can own, suitable for anything from macro work to creating ultra-sharp portraits. If you are a Nikon shooter, check out this great video review of the AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens. 

Fujifilm Announces the X-E4 and Two New X Series Lenses

Along with today's medium format announcements, Fujifilm has also announced a new X Series camera, the X-E4, along with two new XF lenses. 

Fujifilm X-E4

The X-E4 replaces the outgoing X-E3 and comes with a variety of features, including:

Fujifilm Announces New Medium Format Camera and Ultra-Fast Lens

Today, Fujifilm has announced a remarkably priced medium format camera and ultra-fast portrait lens for its popular GF platform.  

GFX 100S Mirrorless Medium Format Camera

The GFX 100S takes the 102-megapixel sensor from the GFX 100 and puts it in a smaller body and slashes the price almost in half. Its key specs include:

How Good Is Canon's Budget Mirrorless 50mm Lens?

Canon's RF 50mm f/1.2L is a spectacular lens that has garnered a lot of praise, but at over $2,000, it is extremely expensive and likely overkill for a lot of photographers. Canon also has the RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, however, giving photographers a much more affordable option, and this great video review takes a look at the kind of performance you can expect from it in practice. 

Forget Golden Hour, Shoot the Blue Moment

Golden hour, that time around sunrise and sunset that gives a warming orange glow, is often purported as the best time of the day for photography. But most of those people don't know the magic of the blue moment. 

What Does the Future Hold for Nikon?

There has been a lot said about Nikon's financial situation and its future in the industry, with a lot of speculation flying back and forth. This great video essay takes a deep dive into the numbers behind Nikon's current state of affairs, what they mean for the future of the company, and what they will mean for the industry. 

Three Months With the Nikon Z 6II, Part Two of Three: Chasing Birds and Wildlife

Today, we jump into part two of my three-part series on my experience shooting for the past three months with the new Nikon Z 6II mirrorless camera. In part one, we went over ergonomics and first impressions, while in today’s episode, we will take the camera out into the field to visit the wildlife.