Photography is more accessible than ever before, with a plethora of cameras and lenses available and affordable. So, I decided to figure out what the best setup I could build with a maximum budget of $500 was.
The holiday season, and the rash of sales that goes with it, always inspires a simple question: “what purchases would make an improvement to my photography business?” But, the more pertinent question, far less often asked, is: “do I really need to make any purchases at all?”
Having reviewed more than 35 50mm lenses over the last decade, Christopher Frost can make a strong claim in being able to judge which lens is the sharpest. Here’s his run down of the seven best 50mm lenses, with a few APS-C honorable mentions along the way.
After we've bought all the important pieces of kit we need for landscape photography — a camera and tripod — there are other not so obvious things we pick up along the way when we realize we almost can't do without in certain situations.
Sigma's Art series of lenses has matured into a very comprehensive and capable line, allowing the company to also add some more unique offerings, such as the 40mm f/1.4 Art. Today only, you can take $500 off that lens.
As a reviewer, companies regularly get in touch offering some interesting products. This one piqued my curiosity as the technology was intriguing: a gadget that holds your phone or camera and tracks your face in order to pan while vlogging or live streaming.
Fujifilm's X-S10 mirrorless camera sits as a more affordable alternative to some of the company's more expensive X Series options, but it still brings with it a variety of useful features for professionals and amateurs alike.
The second generation of Nikon's full frame mirrorless cameras is here, and the Nikon Z 6II takes the foundation laid in the original version and brings a number of improvements and new features. If you have been interested in the camera, check out this great video review.
There is literally no piece of photographic equipment more important than the lens, and it behooves any photographer to become well acquainted with the properties, types, and characteristics of them. This ultra-comprehensive video discusses everything you will ever need to know about lenses, ranging from their properties to how to choose the right kind for your work.
Enter the world of high magnification bug photography without breaking the bank. Learn how to turn kit you probably already have into a close-up winner and take macro masterpieces at home in no time.
There are a lot of guides telling beginner photographers that they’ll need this lens or that filter to make good photos.
Backing up is easy, right? You import your photos from a memory card, then everything is safe and sound on your hard drive. Wrong. Norwegian startup — Piql — believes the answer is to back up your files to film.
Leica’s SL2-S was announced last week, bringing a 24-megapixel sensor and improved video capabilities to a truly rugged body. At just shy of five grand, is it the better option over its 47-megapixel sibling?
Last year Westcott released the FJ400, a battery/AC powered strobe. If 400watts is overkill for you, Westcott has now released the FJ200 and FJ80 and all three lights work with the same remote system.
My favorite feature of the FJ400 was the universal remote (FJ-X2m) which works with Canon, Nikon, Sony with an adapter, FUJIFILM, Panasonic Lumix, and Olympus.
The Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM and RF 800mm f/11 IS STM lenses both offer extreme reach in portable packages and at very affordable prices, but with so many similarities, you are unlikely to buy both. So, how do you choose between them? This helpful video answers that question.
Canon's RF 28-70mm f/2L lens is absolutely spectacular, but it is likely overkill both in terms of size and price for a lot of photographers and videographers, who would rather opt for a more standard 24-70mm f/2.8 lens.
Canon's EOS R5 and R6 cameras have been very popular and well received, while the EOS RP and EOS R help to round out the lower ens of the company's mirrorless lineup. However, besides the upcoming flagship model, one notable absence is an APS-C model, but it now seems likely we will see such a camera next year.
Deciding on which camera to buy is one of the most important decisions a photographer has to make. With so much on the line, it's vital to ask yourself these questions before you splash the cash.
A good 135mm f/2 lens can be a very versatile optic for a variety of situations. This excellent video takes a look at one such lens (and a rather affordable one), the Samyang 135mm f/2 ED UMC.
The ubiquitous need for USB hubs while we're in the transition period between legacy ports and the new standard has resulted in thousands of options flooding the market. It can often be hard to distinguish which ones are worth the money, but today, we'll look at one that certainly is: CalDigit's SOHO dock.
Customers are spoiled for choice when it comes to full frame hybrid cameras, but how do three of the major bodies compare against one another, and which one is right for you?
The Canon EOS R5 certainly stole all the camera hype of 2020, but Canon also brought along the EOS R6 at the same time, and it might actually be a more appropriate camera for most professionals and amateurs who do not need or want to pay for the most extreme capabilities.
2020 has been quite the year for camera gear, with groundbreaking cameras like the Canon EOS R5 and highly impressive lenses coming to the market. 2021 is shaping up to be another exciting year for gear enthusiasts, and this interesting video discusses what we might see.
Sometimes gear grows on you. And sometimes a piece of equipment’s effectiveness is less about specs and more about combinations.
Canon's RF 600mm f/11 IS STM and RF 800mm f/11 IS STM lenses raised a few eyebrows when they were announced, but they offer photographers the chance to reach extreme focal lengths at much more affordable prices than more traditional lenses cost.
A superzoom lens can be a great way to capture everything you need to without having to drag a ton of heavy lenses along with you. Canon's latest superzoom, the RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM, covers everything from wide angles to supertelephoto focal lengths, and this excellent video takes a look at how it holds up in a variety of shooting scenarios.
Canon mirrorless shooters have a wide variety of fantastic lenses to choose from, but many of them are also extremely expensive. Luckily, both Canon and third parties offer more affordable options, and many of them are excellent performers. This great video review takes a look at three of the best 85mm lenses for Canon mirrorless shooters.
The Sony a7S III finally made its way to the market this year, and it has been receiving generally good reviews. If you have been considering purchasing the camera for yourself, this excellent video review takes a detailed look at the camera and the kind of performance you can expect from it in practice.
As with everything else, there’s a right a tool for every job. For a photographer, the decision between film and digital is sometimes simple, sometimes less so.
The Z 6II, the second iteration of Nikon's original general full frame mirrorless camera is here, and it brings with it a number of improvements over the original model. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera and the kind of performance you can expect from it in practice.
Have you ever considered introducing a slider in your videography kit? This video reviews the compact Smartta SliderMini 2 and also compares it to the Rhino Slider. Which one would you choose?
A diffusion filter gives halation with lights, especially in low light scenarios. It also softens skins and harsh textures when shooting portraits. The aim of these filters are to get an organic, dreamy, almost cinematic effect in photography and video production.
Brand new kit breaking the bank? No problem. Take a snoop in the photography bargain bin to discover used camera kit that's still top quality at a fraction of the price.
A wide-aperture 35mm lens is quite versatile, suitable for numerous applications ranging from events coverage to portraiture. The Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE for Sony E mount cameras is one such lens, and it comes in a very small package at quite an affordable price. This great video review takes a look at what you can expect from it in practice.
Bokeh fanatics, you read that right! This lens opens to an insanely wide f/0.75. If you are a fan of backgrounds being blown to smithereens, this might be the ultimate lens. Check out the unique look this 65mm f/0.75 lens creates.
Spy agencies have come up with some ingenious means for capturing images in enemy territory and this fascinating interview with a former CIA chief shows how pigeons and fountain pens were useful tools for gathering information through photography.
Canon has created some very innovative and impressive lenses for the RF mount, with optics like the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM pushing the boundaries of lens design and offering photographers new creative opportunities. It seems Canon is showing no signs of stopping, with several further patents for new mirrorless lenses emerging.
If it's a full frame camera with a high-resolution sensor you're after, you've now got quite the selection. Two of the titans in that competition are pitted against one another to see which is the best for stills photography.
2020 has seen some remarkably good cameras released and perhaps a dud or two. Which was the best? Here is my pick.
With more options than ever before, buying your first camera or upgrading to a newer camera can be tricky. The amount of research that will likely go into your acquisition will be vast, so here's a video that may aid in your selection.
The Canon EOS R5 has received a ton of fanfare for its highly impressive features, but its companion, the EOS R6, is also a highly capable camera and costs significantly less than the EOS R5. This excellent video review takes a deep look at the camera and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
Lens breathing is a common problem (particularly in video work), and understanding it can help you to take better control of your work. This excellent video tutorial will show you what lens breathing is and why you should be aware of it, particularly if you shoot video.
Today, Leica has announced a new addition to their SL System of full frame mirrorless cameras in the Leica SL2-S.
Viltrox has quietly announced its new 85mm f/1.8 STM lens for Nikon Z cameras, making it the first third-party lens for the mount that features autofocus.
During the previous years, many of my photographer friends and colleagues switched over to Sony, often for good reasons. I also considered a switchover, but I never did. Now, I am grateful I never did.
Today we are asking our readers to vote which of these two photos is the better image. I'm not going to tell you anything about these two images, but I'm excited to reveal the twist in a few days after everyone votes on the more appealing image.
With the exponential growth of content creation, trying to pick out the best gear can be daunting, especially if you are unfamiliar with it all. The market for microphones is constantly growing as brands dish out new models faster than they did several years ago. With many competing brands out there, which one should you get?
Medium format film cameras are a rarer sight than ever, and taking portraits on them can be an experience. These portraits, however, are taken on one of the most expensive film cameras you can get your hands on.
Canon's RF 50mm f/1.2L USM lens is absolutely spectacular, but at $2,300, it is prohibitively expensive for a lot of photographers, and many may not need its insane levels of image quality. Luckily, Canon also has the RF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens, which is just $200, representing the nifty fifty of its mirrorless lineup. How good is the lens?
With Christmas almost upon us, perhaps it's time to bring that child you spawned — or one you just know — into our beloved hobby. Here is a selection of the best cameras for different ages, applications, and attention spans!