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.

How Does the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Compare to Both Sony 70-200mm Lenses?

The Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lens is the final entry into the company's trinity of f/2.8 zoom lens, and like the 28-75mm f/2.8 and 17-28mm f/2.8, it is quite a bit cheaper than similar first party lenses. If you are wondering how it compares to the more expensive options, check out this great comparison with the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/4. 

Here's Why You Get Noise in Long Exposures Even at Low ISOs

Noise is something we pretty much all try to minimize in our photos, and we know that one of the best ways to avoid it is to shoot at as low an ISO as possible. But even at low ISO values, you can still see noise, particularly as you shoot longer exposures. This great video will show you what long exposure noise is, why it happens, and how you can fix it. 

Your Camera's Auto Mode Is Not Evil

A lot of photographers think that using automatic modes on a camera is a sign of a lack of technique or ability, but it is not such a black and white issue. Here is why you should consider using automatic modes in certain situations.  

Is the DJI Mavic Air 2 the Drone for You?

The DJI Mavic Air 2 is the latest drone from the company, and it brings with it a range of improvements along with new features. This excellent video review takes a look at the new drone and the sort of performance you can expect from it.  

A Year With a Leica: Is It Everything This Photographer Dreamed?

Leica cameras are some of the most expensive out there, and while some see them as a niche product for enthusiasts, other photographers swear by them for their work. This great video features a photographer discussing his thoughts on Leica ownership after a year with his camera. 

Sony a7 III Versus the Sony a7R IV: How Do They Compare in the Real World?

Sony’s a7R IV arrived in September last year, offering incremental improvements over the a7R III, but possibly quite a big step up from the a7 III. In this video, photographer Julia Trotti did some tests to try and find out where you’ll feel the difference when shooting stills. 

Fstoppers Reviews the Kandao QooCam 8K: The Holy Grail of 360 Cameras for Photographers?

In the automotive world, there’s a saying that there’s no replacement for displacement — a bigger engine is a bigger engine, and that’s all there is to it. One can say that this is the approach that Kandao is taking with its new QooCam 8K: more resolution and larger sensor sizes that make for quite an appealing 360 camera on paper and, as it turns out, in real life too. 

A Tour of a Commercial Photography Studio

In this video I show you around my commercial food photography studio. This is very much a place to create and steps away somewhat from the pristine white, minimalist set up to complete and utter (organized) chaos.

Can This Unbelievably Cheap Lens Actually Deliver Good Images?

Generally, you need to get into about the $300 range before you start to see any lenses that can really deliver great results, but occasionally, a gem comes along at a price that seems too good to be true. The Pergear 35mm f/1.6 seems like it could be one of those lenses, and this great video review takes a look at it and what you can expect. 

Which DJI Drone Is Right for You?

DJI makes a range of consumer drones at varying price points, sizes, and capabilities, and you can generally find one that fits your needs within their lineup. If you are wondering which one is right for you, this great comparison video takes a look at the Mavic Air 2, the Mavic Mini, and the Mavic 2 Pro to help you decide which one is right for you.  

Why 2018 Was When Nikon Pivoted to Mirrorless (and Canon followed)

By 2018 Apple was worth $1 trillion, the US-China trade war had intensified, LeBron James reached 30,000 NBA points, and Black Panther starred in the box office. Camera manufacturers finally stopped flogging the dead horse of DSLRs, with 2018 truly the year of mirrorless. But what happened?

 

Sony Announces the ZV-1: A Compact 4K Vlogging Camera With Fully Articulating Screen

Sony has just announced the launch of the ZV-1, a compact camera that’s ready for vlogging out of the box. 

The ZV-1, available for pre-order for $748 and due to ship on June 11, is a lightweight, compact camera featuring a one-inch sensor and a fixed 24-70mm equivalent lens, complete with optical and digital stabilization, and capable of shooting 4K at up to 30 fps.

Can a 6-year-old DSLR Keep Up With Modern Cameras?

Now the camera market has gone full swing into the new mirrorless market, does an old DSLR keep up with the new tech on the block? Can it still produce professional quality images that rival even the latest cameras, or does it fall short? 

How to Book More Wedding Clients With a Photobooth

I know a lot of wedding photographers that buy a photo booth in order to make a little more money from each client. While this is definitely a great reason to buy one, there are a few ways to use a photo booth that can help you book more clients instead of just making a little more money.  

Samyang/Rokinon Announces Updates to Two of Its Most Popular Lenses

Samyang/Rokinon has confirmed that it will be releasing updates to two of its most popular manual focus Canon EF, Sony E-Mount, and Nikon F-mount lenses: the 85mm f/1.4 and 14mm f/2.8. 

One of the major improvements made to both lenses is the addition of weather sealing, something that I personally hope to see Samyang add to its other lenses in the future. 

Can a $100 Vintage Lens Compete With Its $1,500 Modern Equivalent?

The rising popularity of mirrorless cameras has reinvigorated the vintage lens market, with many photographers opting for far cheaper older glass used with adapters over much more expensive modern options. This excellent comparison video takes a look at the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM versus the Canon FD 24mm f/2.8. 

Fuji Confirms 50mm f/1.0 Lens Is Coming This Year

You might remember Fujifilm's announcement of the development of an ultra-fast 50mm f/1.0 lens. Good news for those who have been waiting for it to arrive: the company has confirmed that we will see it later this year. 

The Canon EOS R5 Will Cost Less Than $4,000

The upcoming Canon EOS R5 camera has generated more hype than any other camera in recent memory, with some showstopping features that have caught the attention of photographers and videographers alike. With many wondering what the price of such a powerful camera will be, there is some great news. 

Hands-on First Impressions of the Fujifilm 8-16mm f/2.8

Ulta wide angle zooms are not a common lens type to see, but they're not without their uses. In this video, one photographer gives an honest hands-on with Fujifilm's offering. The Fujfilm 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR is a little under two years old now, which means the number of real world reviews we see are starting to appear.

Huge Canon Announcements Are Coming This Summer

It is a good time to be a fan of Canon. The company will be making some major announcements in the coming month or two that should excite a wide range of photographers and videographers. 

Which Camera Rules Micro Four Thirds?

Micro Four Thirds has a loyal following among photographers and videographers who value its light weight and portable size, high-quality lenses, and innovative features. If you are interested in the system and wondering which camera is right for you, this great video compares two upper-level options: the Panasonic Lumix G9 and the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III. 

How Do You Choose the Right Lens for Landscape Photos?

Focal length is one of the most crucial choices in making a landscape photo and can drastically alter the look of the final image. How do you choose the right focal length for a given scene? This excellent video the importance of foreground elements and how to create a balanced composition through the correct choice of focal length. 

Cheap and Lightweight: A Review of the Fuji XC 35mm f/2 Lens

A cheap, portable lens with a normal focal length and relatively fast maximum aperture is one of the best lenses any photographer or videographer can own, useful in a wide variety of scenarios. This excellent video review takes a look at one such lens for Fuji shooters, the XC 35mm f/2. 

When Should You Use Live View Instead of Your Viewfinder?

Using live view can sometimes be a way better choice than using the viewfinder or shooting blindly. This great video discusses when and why you should consider switching to live view to help you get the shots you want. 

5 Pro Photographer Hacks

There are many cool little tricks of the trade in photography, This video looks at some extremely useful and perhaps lesser-known photography hacks that pro photographers use. 

A Comprehensive Tutorial for the New Fujifilm X100V

Fujifilm introduced the first X100 model back in 2011, and since then X100 series quickly became iconic among other mirrorless cameras. Today, it is still on the market with its 5th generation version and this video covers all the details about how to use it properly.  

Switching to Canon's Mirrorless for Better Adventure Photography

Adventure photography has taken its place as a component of the broader commercial market. Characterized by stunning, hard-to-reach locations and demanding conditions, gear can be critical to getting the shot. These days, mirrorless’ features make it the format of choice. 

Five Reasons to Choose Full Frame Over Small Sensor Cameras

When it comes to choosing a system, opting for the sensor size that’s going to work best for you can be a bit of a conundrum. This short video looks at why one professional photographer thinks full  frame is the best option when it comes to shooting stills. 

Fstoppers Reviews the Fujifilm X-T4: A Deviation

In a release cycle reminiscent of certain other manufacturers, Fujifilm decided to replace their flagship X-T series camera in 18 months rather than the usual 2 years. With a smattering of feature updates, a new battery, and a couple of cosmetic changes, is it really worth the upgrade from the X-T3? Let’s find out. 

Video Editing Comparison of 13” and 16” Macbook Pro

Apple renewed its Macbook Pro line recently and introduced the new 16” model while keeping the good old 13” version. However, the latter comes with the newest 2020 chips and graphics unit as its bigger brother still has the 2019 hardware inside. 

A Guide to Macro Lenses From 15mm to 150mm

There is a surprisingly wide variety of macro lenses available, each with different capabilities and specifications that can make for an easier workflow or more unique images. This great video will give you an overview of some of the best and most popular options and the sort of images you can expect to make with them. 

3 Great Wide Angle Prime Lenses for Under $100

A good wide angle lens is a fantastic and versatile tool that can help you create all sorts of interesting images, but they can also be quite expensive. However, when you dive into the world of vintage lenses, there are quite a lot of great deals to be had. This great video features three awesome vintage wide angle lenses, all of which you can buy for under $100 on the used market.