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.

Is Canon About to Announce a 90-Megapixel Full Frame Mirrorless Camera?

Rumors of Canon producing a high-resolution, mirrorless full frame camera have been circulating for more than a year, and rumbling resurfaced recently with the suggestion that an EOS R5S is in the hands of a few professionals for early testing. How many megapixels, how fast a burst rate, and when will it be announced? 

The Contax 645 AF: A Very Longterm Review

The Contax 645 AF is a relatively small and lightweight medium format film camera dating from the late 1990s. It’s a camera that will largely appeal to analog photographers looking to benefit from the greater resolution of 120 film, while still retaining many of the advantages of a 35mm SLR in terms of speed and mobility. 

Zhiyun Crane 2S Gimbal Hands-on Review

On August 20, Zhiyun announced the updated Crane 2S which builds on the popular Crane 2 that launched in 2017. Here’s a hands-on review to see whether you should pay up or pass. 

Spending a Week With the Fuji X-T30

As a seemingly endless quarantine has made my daily afternoon walkabouts a mental necessity, I decided to go small and rent a Fuji X-T30 for a week to see if it could potentially save my back and my wallet. 

This Is the Sony FX6... Probably

On September 2, Sony announced that the previously rumored FX6 cinema camera was indeed coming before the end of 2020. Here’s some juicy speculation on what we can expect. 

A Review of the Quirky But Capable Sigma fp Camera

The Sigma fp is quite the interesting camera, with an extremely small footprint that makes it perfect for a variety of applications that call for a versatile device with a full frame sensor. If you are looking for such a camera, check out this great video review. 

Is the Fujifilm XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR the Company's New Best Portrait Lens?

For a long time, the XF 56mm f/1.2 R has been considered the ultimate Fujifilm portrait lens, but now that the crazy XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR is here, its place on the throne might be in danger. This video review takes a look at the new lens and the kind of images you can expect from it. 

You Might Not Need a Gimbal With the a7S III

Back in April, filmmaker Mark Bone released a video singing the praises of Catalyst Browse, free software from Sony that took the gyro data from the FX9 and processed handheld footage to make it look as though it was shot on a gimbal. It turns out that the Sony a7S III does exactly the same, and it’s far better than warp stabilization. 

Fstoppers Reviews the GIM 19” 48W Ring Light

Over the last 10 years or so, I’ve used quite a few different types of ring lights for my portrait and product work. Each had its own particular benefits and drawbacks. Nothing was ever quite “perfect,” but most worked well enough in their given role. This is my review of the very affordable GIM 19” 48W Ring Light. 

Panasonic's Silence: The Micro Four Thirds Conundrum

At the beginning of the summer, Olympus announced the sale of their imaging division, leaving the future of their highly regarded OM-D range and Micro Four Thirds (MFT) more widely in disarray. The other half of the MFT founding partnership — Panasonic — has been strangely quiet on the subject. Their next move is crucial, so what might it be? 

A Review of the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G Lens

A wide-aperture 50mm lens is one of the most versatile prime lenses almost any photographer can use. If you are a Nikon shooter looking for such a lens for your work, check out this great review of the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G lens. 

Can Pixel Shift Give You the Best High Resolution Images?

Olympus cameras, though micro four thirds, have a pixel shift mode seen in several other manufacturer's cameras, and it allows to take higher resolution images despite a smaller and lower resolution sensor. But can it compete with genuinely high resolution sensors? 

Light, Affordable, and High Quality: A Review of the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD Lens

The 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lens is the workhorse of choice for a wide range of photographers and videographers, offering a lot of versatility for different situations. Tamron's 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD lens offers that versatility at a very affordable price and portable footprint. How does it hold up in practice? This great video review takes a look at what you can expect.  

Is Canon Planning an Even Cheaper Full Frame Mirrorless Camera?

If you were impressed by Canon’s ability to keep the price so low on the EOS RP, you might be a little shocked to hear that the manufacturer might be planning a full frame mirrorless camera that’s even more affordable. Just how much cheaper can a camera get, and what features can be ditched to keep the price down? 

A Review of the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Lens

A good macro lens can be one of the most versatile optics a photographer can own. If you are looking for such a lens for your own arsenal, check out this great video review of the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS.  

Here's Why Natural Light Photographers Need to Learn How to Use Flash

One of the most important things a photographer needs to learn to understand is lighting. Without it, it's essentially not possible to do any kind of conventional photography. Learning how to use different kinds of light sources is also important. Although natural light can be great, being able to use flash effectively is extremely useful.  

Does the Sony a7S III Have Dual Gain ISO?

The recently released and long-awaited Sony a7S III marks a significant step forward in terms of camera technology, bringing some remarkable dynamic range and 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording. As the camera falls into the hands of more reviewers, a question remains: does it have dual gain ISO? 

Trying Out an Olympus OM-D: Why Are These Cameras Not That Popular?

I have met a lot of photographers who are using an Olympus camera. They are often very enthusiastic about their gear. A lot of their functions cannot be found in other cameras, which makes Olympus quite unique. If these cameras are so unique, why aren’t these more popular? I tried an Olympus for a few weeks to find out. 

Taking Apart a $10,000 Mirrorless Fuji Camera Damaged by Saltwater

LensRentals has shared a number of images of the inside of a Fuji camera after staff took it apart when it died without obvious explanation. The customer had used it underwater within dive housing, and despite appearing fine on the outside, LensRentals discovered that inside, there was evidence of saltwater damage. 

Why Buying a Camera From Wish Is a Bad Idea

Wish is a great place to go shopping if you’re looking for an odd assortment of Nicholas Cage themed home items, but it may not be the best place to go shopping for cameras, even in 2020 when cheap cameras should be a thing by now. 

Nvidia Announces New Graphics Cards: Should We Care?

If you've read any tech journalism over the last day or two, you're probably sick of seeing the words Nvidia and 3000 series designations. It's no question Nvidia has created some impressive technology, but is it actually going to change anything for photo and video editing? The answer might just surprise you. 

How Does the Canon EOS R5 Compare to the 5D Mark IV?

Canon has indicated that the EOS R5 is essentially a mirrorless replacement for the 5D Mark IV, which is one of Canon's most popular DSLRs and the workhorse of choice for a wide variety of photographers across lots of genres. If you are one of those people and wondering how the EOS R5 compares, check out this comprehensive video review.  

Sennheiser Releases MKE 200 Ultracompact Mic for $100

Today, Sennheiser released a new lightweight and ultracompact microphone for cameras and phones. The MKE 200 is aimed at creators who aren’t carrying around bags of gear, but still want higher quality audio that built-in microphones can’t match. 

That Nikon Guy Finally Sells All of His Nikon Gear

Now, more than ever, there are a ton of reasons to switch to a different camera ecosystem. whether you're making the switch from one brand to another or just switching to a mirrorless system. If you've been doing photography as a hobby for a long time or make a living with it, you've probably built up a collection of bodies, lenses, and even some flashes all within the same system.

How to Choose the Right Focal Length for Landscape Photography

One of the most important decisions you have to make in landscape photography is the choice of focal length. If that is something you struggle with, this great video will give you some helpful advice on how to choose the correct focal length for any given scene. 

A Photography Review of the Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Camera

The Canon EOS R5 has been making lots of waves for its video features, but beyond those, it is also a highly capable stills camera. If you are interested in the R5 for your photography work, check out this great video review for a look at the kind of performance you can expect.  

It's a Great Time to Print Photos at Home: Here Are Some Ways to Get Started

My first experience with professional photo printers was in graduate school in the mid-2000s. Back then, whatever behemoth Epsons the school had would always jam, eat paper, spew ink, and generally make it incredibly difficult to make prints, though when they did work, those prints were beautiful.

5 Reasons to Consider Buying a DSLR in 2020

There is no doubt that the industry is heading toward an almost totally mirrorless world, but that does not mean that DSLRs will suddenly become useless overnight. In fact, now might be a better time than ever to consider investing in a DSLR for your work, and this great video discusses five reasons why. 

Fstoppers Reviews the Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 APS-C (Don't Buy the Fuji Equivalent)

Viltrox comes with a pedigree for manufacturing good quality lenses at a low price point, so the entry of the 23 mm f/1.4 in Fuji X-mount and Sony E-mount is highly anticipated, not least because it is nearly $600 cheaper than the Fuji equivalent. Is it worthy of the hype and does that make it the perfect travel prime?

How a Pressure-Sensitive Pen Tablet Can Transform Your Editing

By far, one of the best investments a photographer can make is a pressure-sensitive pen tablet. They can make a huge difference in your editing workflow, both in terms of precision and efficiency. This great video illustrates why a tablet can be so useful in a photographer's workflow.