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.

Photography With the iPhone 12 Pro: Better Than Ever

Mobile phone cameras have made huge strides in the last few years, and with multiple cameras and the power of computational photography, they have become legitimate photography and videography tools in our pockets. The iPhone 12 Pro brings with it the latest and greatest tech, and this great video review shows the impressive results you can get from it. 

Canon Is Resurgent and Sony Is Declining in Japan, But Does It Matter?

Photo Rumors recently covered the latest BCN report on the state of the mirrorless market in Japan, which showed a resurgent Canon growing at the expense of Sony, with Nikon trailing a distant third. However, the report only outlines what is happening in the Japanese camera market and only for current sales. How important is the Japanese market? 

Can the Sony a7S III Hold Its Own as a Stills Camera?

The Sony a7S III is finally here, and it offers impressive video performance and a refined feature set for professionals. Can it be used as a hybrid camera for both stills and video work? This excellent video review takes a look at the camera from both perspectives and if it is a good all-around choice.  

How Good Is the Autofocus on the New Nikon Z 6II?

Nikon’s second wave of mirrorless full frame cameras are about to hit the shelves and many will be asking whether the Japanese manufacturer has made changes to the autofocus system. Wedding photographer Taylor Jackson has put a pre-production model to the test. 

Sony a7S III Review for Filming and Photographing Wildlife

Everything else aside, the Sony a7S III’s recording options alone place it in contention for many potential buyers wanting high-quality video at a price that enthusiasts and budding pros can still justify. In this hands-on review I look at the a7S III in the context of capturing wildlife video and photos. 

How Good Is the 2020 iPad Air for Content Creators?

Apple's iPad line has long established itself as mature and powerful content consumption devices. However, in the past few generations, we have seen increasingly powerful processors, top-end screens, and the addition of useful tools (such as the Apple Pencil) also position the iPad as a versatile content creation device.

The Unique Way Tilt-Shift Lenses Work

Tilt-shift lenses are some of the most unique and useful lenses out there. This great video will show you how they work and why they are so prized for lots of different work. 

Should You Use Teleconverters Instead of Longer Lenses?

Long telephoto lenses can be very expensive, but a reasonable alternative is a teleconverter, which attaches between your camera and lens and increases its focal length. However, teleconverters come with their own set of drawbacks. This excellent video discusses the use of teleconverters, including why you might want to consider one for your own work.  

Fstoppers Reviews the Gaomon PD156 Pro Editing Tablet

When it comes to editing, most people prefer a pen over a mouse to get finer detail and more accuracy. And the holy grail of this experience is to be able to use your pen on an actual screen. So today, we are taking a look at the Gaomon PD156 Pro. 

The Camera That Changed Skateboarding Forever

In 1995, Sony released a camera that would go on to dominate skateboarding videos for the next 15 years, revolutionizing the culture in its wake. 

Note: Video contains some swearing and brief sexually suggestive scenes for historical context.

Why Is Pentax Convinced That DSLRs Are the Future?

Pentax recently announced the K-3 Mark III, the third iteration of their flagship APS-C camera, which reinforces their stance that their future (and as they argue, the future of photography) is in DSLRs, not mirrorless cameras. With an industry increasingly focused on mirrorless cameras, why is Pentax going against the grain? 

Fstoppers Reviews: Insta360 ONE X2

Insta360 brings its staple 360 camera into 2021, and it’s a joy to use. 

After some teasing, Insta360 has launched their ONE X2 today. I’ve had some time to play around with it and feel that it’s a worthy upgrade to the ONE X. How does it compete with the competition and the rest of Insta360’s lineup?

How Does the Powerful Fujifilm GFX 100 Hold Up for Landscape Photography?

The Fujifilm GFX 100 is a stunning camera in many ways, and its ultra-high sensor resolution and fantastic dynamic range make it seemingly tailor-made for landscape photography. This great video takes a look at an experienced landscape photographer's use of the camera and his thoughts on how it holds up for such work.  

Just How Great Is the Fujifilm XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR Lens?

Fujifilm has long had the XF 56mm f/1.2 R lens, which offers fantastic portrait lens quality and lots of shallow depth of field for bokeh fanatics. Now, the XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR is here, blowing past the f/1.2 lens with an even wider aperture.

A Review of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S Lens

85mm is the classic focal length of choice for portrait photography, and in the past few years, we have seen an influx of high-quality f/1.8 variants that are significantly more affordable than their f/1.4 and f/1.2 cousins. This excellent video review takes a look at one such lens, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S. 

A Review of the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM Lens

The Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM is the company's professional mirrorless wide angle zoom, making it a versatile lens for a variety of applications. This great video review takes a look at what you can expect from the lens in practice.  

Nifty Fifty: A Review of the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens

A nifty fifty lens is one of the most versatile and useful lenses many photographers can have, and given their generally affordable prices, they make a fantastic first upgrade from a kit lens for newer photographers or a backup lens for pros with more established kits. This excellent video review takes a look at Nikon's version of the lens, the AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G. 

Discount Alert: The Sony a7 III Has Never Been So Cheap

The Sony a7 III is still an incredibly popular camera and that’s probably one reason that it’s held its price for so long — until now. Sony has a number of discounts available at the moment but it’s the price of the a7 III that grabs the headlines. Will you be placing an order? 

The 12 Best Prime Lenses for Sony Shooters on a Budget

The Sony system is blessed with an abundance of thirdparty manufacturers making excellent glass. Many of them are available for a discount right now, so here’s a short roundup of the best autofocus prime lenses available on the FE mount, from wide to telephoto. 

iPhone 12 Pro Video Tested Against a Pro Camera

We all hate to admit it, but the most popular photo and video camera in the world is the iPhone. The iPhone 12 Pro was just released, and I decided to put its video cameras to the test by comparing them to the Sony a7S III. The phone did surprisingly well.  

The Fujifilm GFX 100: Can Medium Format Match the Demands of Wedding Photography?

When you think of medium format cameras, you do not generally think of them as working fast enough to keep up with the demands of wedding photography, but on the other hand, the Fujifilm GFX 100 is not a normal medium format camera. This great video discusses how well it performs for wedding photography. 

Versatile Reach: A Review of the Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens

Though they simply cannot offer the same level of image quality of less extreme lenses, superzoom lenses can often give you quite good image quality with the added convenience of a very wide range of focal lengths all in one device. This great video review takes a look at one such lens, the Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports. 

Five Steps to Find Your Perfect Photography Gear

Finding the perfect camera system is not that easy. Before you make a large and long-lasting investment, you should do proper research and critically analyze your own needs. Step by step, you will get closer to the best possible system for yourself. 

How to Decide When It Is Time to Buy a New Camera

Camera technology is moving at quite a fast pace nowadays, and it can be awfully tempting to pick up the latest and greatest gear. But on the other hand, cameras are hardly cheap, and it is the sort of purchase that should be carefully considered. So, how do you decide when it is time to actually buy a new camera? This great video discusses that question. 

You've Probably Never Seen Bokeh Like This

Photographers certainly love their bokeh, and not all bokeh is the same, as different lenses can have vastly different character. This neat video shows the kind of crazy bokeh you can get when you put a less common lens on your camera. 

How to Calibrate Your Autofocus for Ultra-Sharp Portraits

If you still shoot with DSLRs, you might have encountered issues (particularly when you have shot at wide apertures) with your focus missing by just a little bit. If you have experienced this frustration, you might benefit from an autofocus microadjustment, and this excellent video tutorial will show you exactly how it is done.  

Is This the Best Kit Lens Out There?

When you think of kit lenses, you generally do not associate them with the kind of image quality you expect to see in professional-level images. But in the last few years, we have seen some remarkably good kit lenses come to the market, and this great video review takes a look at what might be the best yet.  

Sony FS5 II Review and Comparison to Alpha Cameras for Wildlife Filmmaking

A little over two years ago, the Sony FS5 II compact cinema camera was released. Both the original FS5 and the FS5 II have become common names found in wildlife filmmaking thanks to their relatively low price, portability, and slow motion recording options maintaining 10-bit 4:2:2.

How Good Is the New DJI Pocket 2 Gimbal?

The original DJI Osmo Pocket was quite popular, offering impressive and versatile performance in an extremely compact and literally pocketable package. Now, the Pocket 2 is here, and it brings with it a bevy of worthwhile improvements while remaining at an affordable price.

Sennheiser MKE 200 Compact Microphone Review

Sennheiser recently introduced a new compact microphone, the MKE 200, that is more than just yet another Rode VideoMicro clone. I paired it up with the Sony a7S III, GoPro HERO9, and iPhone to test its sound quality in this hands-on review. 

What Is the Best 85mm Lens for Canon Mirrorless Photographers?

A good 85mm lens is one of the most valuable optics many photographers have in their gear bags, and as such, high demands are placed on manufacturers to produce sharp and fast devices that get the job done reliably. If you are a Canon mirrorless shooter, this great video review will help you choose the right 85mm lens for your work.  

4 Reasons to Consider Lenses Before Considering Which Camera to Buy

Most gear chatter online tends to center around the endless and ultimately useless debate about which camera bodies are the best on the market and will transform you overnight into a photographic superhero combining the skills of Ansel Adams, Annie Leibovitz, and James Nachtwey into one without ever having to practice or learn your craft. But with all the focus on sensors and capture devic

How Good Is Canon's Unique RF 800mm f/11 IS STM Lens?

The Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM certainly raised a few eyebrows when it was announced, due to its rather unique specs that offer extreme reach at an affordable price, but at the cost of using a very narrow and fixed aperture. How does it perform in practice? This great video review shows what you can expect and if it is workable in real-world situations.  

Comparing the Sony a7S III to the Canon R5 for 4K 120 Fps Slow-Motion Video

Shooting 4K at 120 fps is kind of a niche feature and something many may not even think about, but having it available when you need it is pretty great. Now that 4K has become more standard in the DSLR and mirrorless market, we are starting to see more cameras capable of shooting 4K at 120fps.