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.

Combining Video and Stills to Tell Stories: Profoto and Emily Dahl

When you're working, are you shooting just stills? Just video? Is there a way to combine the two to tell better stories? Can gear help with that?

 Profoto ambassador Emily Dahl certainly thinks so.

I’m a storyteller and as such I want the audience to understand the whole story, from beginning to end. And the Profoto B10 enables me to make the story complete.

Who Doesn't Love a Good Camera Unboxing Video?

It's new, it's fresh, and it's from Nikon. If you'd like to see an unboxing video of the D780 and side-by-side comparison with its predecessor, the D750, then this is a video that you're going to like. 

What Three Lenses Is Tamron About to Launch and Why Is the Company Doing so Well?

Japanese lens manufacturer Tamron recently released its financial results for the year ending 2019, and as well as some promising figures, it also revealed that a total of five lenses will be unveiled in 2020, three of which are as yet unknown. Why is Tamron doing so well, and what lenses does it have in store? 

Three Cheap Gift Ideas

The holidays are over, you’ve spent all your money. How can you save money on a birthday or Valentine’s gift?

Affordable Versus Expensive Lens: Is There a Noticeable Difference?

I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t go through some amount of indecision when it comes to picking out a new lens to get. One major factor in decision making is the cost of the lens. Some are affordable, others are better but less affordable, and others are out right expensive. In the end, is there a noticeable difference? 

Canon Plans to Release Seven New Mirrorless Lenses This Year

Canon is showing no signs of slowing down, as alongside the announcement of the powerful R5 mirrorless camera, they have also announced that seven new RF mirrorless lenses are scheduled for release this year alone, along with two new lens extenders for the mirrorless mount. 

It Ain’t Over ’Til It’s Over: Canon Announces the EOS Rebel T8i

As the DSLR era may very well be coming to an end, Canon still has a few pieces more it wants to contribute to the system it dominated for so long. We’ve been in awe of the newly released DSLR flagship EOS-1D X Mark III, and now they’ve announced the entry-level EOS Rebel T8i. 

Ultimate Bokeh for Fuji Photographers: A Review of the Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R Lens

For portrait photographers who shoot on Fujifilm cameras, the XF 56mm f/1.2 R lens is one of the highest quality options, offering great sharpness, an ultra-wide aperture, and smooth bokeh. If you have been wondering if this lens deserves a place in your bag, this excellent video review takes it through its paces and shares some helpful sample images. 

Olympus Announces Two New Cameras and a Lens, With Detailed Specs

Olympus is starting the year with a bang by announcing two cameras and a lens, with two on sale as soon as this month! 

If you follow rumors, you'll already have a suspicion that 2020 is going to have a lot of new cameras coming, some of which Olympus has just announced.

Nikon's New Flagship D6 Announced Along With New Mirrorless Z Lenses

Nikon has announced their new flagship DSLR, the D6. With headlining features like the most powerful AF system in Nikon's history and a 20.8-megapixel full frame sensor capable of boosting to 3.2 million ISO, Nikon is promising to deliver a camera "purpose-built and inspired by the valuable feedback of professional users." 

How Badly Do You Have to Damage a Lens Before It’s Too Damaged to Use?

Protecting your lenses from damage seems like a necessary requirement to being a photographer. In those unfortunate cases where a lens gets damaged, how damaged is too damaged to get beautiful photographs? In this video, Benj Haisch presents us with his Mamiya 645 Pro and a pretty severely scratch 80mm f/1.9. Of all the lenses to damage too - the most sought after Mamiya 645 lens.

A Beginner's Guide to Autofocus for Action Photography

Action photography will challenge your skills as a photographer, but one thing you should pay particular attention to is your autofocus settings. If you are new to the pursuit and want to increase your chances of getting the shot, this helpful video will show you the basics of autofocus settings for action photography. 

The Difficulty With Knowing When to Upgrade Photography Gear

With a seemingly endless stream of new camera gear announcements rolling out on what seems like a daily basis, it can be difficult to separate what features you need from those that just sound good on a spec sheet. So, how do you know when to pull out your hard-earned money? 

Nikon Continues to Market the D6 with Videos About the D5

In a slightly odd move, the page on Nikon’s website announcing the development of the company’s forthcoming flagship sports shooter, the Nikon D6, has just finished publishing a series of promotional videos — all of which focus on its predecessor, the D5. 

Protect Your Gear With This Great Deal on a Pelican Case Today Only

Pelican cases are the choice of a vast range of professionals who need to transport their gear through a variety of conditions and trust that it will arrive safely, despite whatever bumps, water, or anything else it might encounter along the way. Today only, you can get a Pelican case for almost half off. 

Camera Design Is Horrible

When you really think about it, current camera design doesn't really make much sense. 

Is Nikon's Raw Video Worth the Upgrade?

Nikon recently brought raw video to the Z 6 and Z 7 mirrorless cameras, a huge step forward for filmmakers working with the cameras. However, the feature is not free, and you might be wondering if the upgrade is worth it for your own work. This excellent video discusses the new capabilities.  

How Much Resolution Do You Really Need?

The resolution of camera sensors is still increasing. Over the last decade it has grown from 3 megapixels to 50 megapixels and more. At first the increase in resolution was a significant one, but not anymore. Do we really need more resolution than the cameras that hit the market today?

Sigma Announces Full-Frame Foveon Camera Is Indefinitely Delayed

Sigma was expected to announce a new full-frame mirrorless L mount camera with its unique Foveon sensor later this month, but unfortunately, the company has announced that the camera will now be delayed indefinitely. Nonetheless, they still intend to release the camera eventually, albeit with a complete redesign. 

5 Spring Cleaning Tasks You Have to Do

If you go by the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, it’s going to be an early spring — a great excuse to get some photography-related spring cleaning done. Here are some of the spring cleaning tasks you should consider. 

Hands-on Look at the New Fujifilm X100V With Sample Photos

The X100 series of cameras have been my favorite for quite some time now. I first fell in love with this series when I bought the X100T. This camera was with me at all times, and I took so many personally, meaningful images with it. The only reason why I sold it was so that I could buy the X100F. Now, Fujifilm has recently announced its successor, the X100V.  

A Review of the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM Lens

Canon has been pushing the boundaries of lens design with many of their new RF mirrorless lenses, and while they are certainly quite impressive, some photographers just want more traditional workhorse lenses they can rely on. If you are one of those photographers, you should check out this great review of the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM lens. 

How Will 5G Change Photography?

5G, the fifth generation of cellular wireless technology, is currently in the process of being rolled out, and it promises blazing fast speeds that rival some of the fastest hard-wired connections. And that has me excited, as it could significantly change the way photographers work. 

Sigma Expected to Announce Unique New Full Frame Camera Later This Month

Sigma has always made niche cameras with special sensors that were beloved by the devoted few who used them, but in the last year or so, they have started to venture into more mainstream territory. Now, the company seems set to release a rather unique camera that combines both their old and new philosophies. 

A Look at the New Canon 1D X Mark III Camera

The new Canon 1D X Mark III is an absolute powerhouse camera on both the video and stills sides of the equation, with a specs sheet that should make just about anyone eager with anticipation. How does it hold up in practice? This excellent video takes a look at the new camera to help you decide if it is right for you. 

2019 Was a Bad Year for Cameras

It is no secret that camera sales have been in decline for quite a few years now, mostly due to the rise of the smartphone eliminating the need for a dedicated camera for most consumers and casual photographers. 2019 was no exception, as the drop in sales continued; however, there was a small bit of good news buried within the numbers. 

A First Look at the New Fuji X100V Camera

Fujifilm recently released the X100V, the latest iteration in their popular line of fixed lens compact cameras. With a bevy of improvements, it looks to be an intriguing option for lots of photographers. This great video takes a first look at the new camera. 

What Camera Will Be the First to 1,000 Megapixels?

Camera manufacturers are keenly aware of how much photographers love their gear and in particular, how much they love extreme gear. As lenses continue to push below f/1 apertures and ISO capabilities skyrocket towards seven-digit figures, is the next major specs war going to be making the first mainstream consumer camera that can shoot gigapixel (1,000 megapixel) photos? 

5 Underrated Items in My Camera Bag

With all the discussion of the best camera on the planet or the most powerful lights, there’s a lot in a professional photographer's bag that goes overlooked. So today, I’m going to take a short look at what’s in my own camera bag. 

The Ultimate Portrait Lens? A Review of the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM

So far, Canon's RF mirrorless lenses have generally received a lot of praise for their optical quality and performance. The RF 85mm f/1.2L USM is the company's mirrorless version of its beloved 85mm f/1.2L lens for the EF mount, and it offers a bevy of improvements over its predecessor. This great video review takes a good look at this powerhouse lens. 

Fujifilm Teases Bonkers 400-Megapixel Mode and 50mm f/1.0 Lens

Fujifilm recently held their 2020 X Summit in London, showing off some of the latest and greatest tech and future plans for the company. While some of the technology and products are things we have heard of before, Fuji also announced some impressive new features, including a jaw-dropping 400-megapixel mode for their medium format GFX100 camera. 

Fstoppers Reviews the Laowa 4mm f/2.8 Circular Fisheye for APS-C Cameras

Venus Optics Laowa have made a name for themselves by producing unique lenses for all the major camera systems. From the 24mm f/14 probe lens to their series of Zero-D lenses, Laowa have produced excellent optics at reasonable prices. Today's focus is on the exact opposite of the spectrum from their Zero-D series - the 4mm f/2.8 Circular Fisheye. 

 

Take $300 off a Sigma Art Lens Today Only

Sigma's wildly popular Art series lenses have become well known for offering high optical quality at very affordable prices. Today only, the price is even better on the Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, as you can get it for an extra $300 off. 

The Nikon D6 Is Likely on Its Way Soon Along With Two New Mirrorless Lenses

The Canon 1D X Mark III was recently released with some truly astounding specs, most notably a 20 fps burst rate with the mechanical shutter and 5.5K raw video at 60 fps. Now, attention is turning toward the Nikon camp, as the company prepares to announce the D6, the next iteration of their flagship DSLR.  

Affordable, Compact Power: A Review of the New Fujifilm X-T200 Camera

The Fujifilm X-T200 is the company's newest entry in its highly popular X Series line of cameras. Despite being a midrange model, the camera comes with an impressive feature set for photographers and videographers alike, all packaged at a very affordable price. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera to help you decide if it deserves a place in your bag. 

How Good Is Raw Video on the Nikon Z 6?

Nikon recently released firmware version 2.20 for their Z 6 and Z 7 mirrorless cameras, which brought raw video to the cameras, a huge feature for many videographers. This excellent video takes a look at the new capabilities on the Z 6 to see just how much extra power the raw video features give you. 

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

For many years, the 16-35mm f/2.8 has been the wide angle zoom lens of choice for many photographers in various genres who shoot with Canon equipment. Canon recently released the RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS for R mount mirrorless cameras. Does it match the quality of their other RF lenses? This great review answers that question.