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.

A to Z of Photography: Reflex Camera and Tony Ray-Jones

At pretty much three-quarters of the way through the alphabet we stop at R, an eminently popular letter, to look at the foundation of pretty much all contemporary cameras — the Reflex. This is followed by the inspiringly funny work of Tony Ray-Jones whose career was cruelly cut short.

 

Bird Photographer’s Field Review of the Olympus OM-D E-M1X

Intimate bird photography has usually been made possible by using some seriously hefty lenses paired with large pro DSLR camera bodies. Can a Micro Four Thirds system really be just as effective while physically being much smaller and easier to carry? 

Worldwide Camera Sales Take Another Tumble

CIPA, the Camera and Imaging Products Association, which tracks global camera and lens sales by major manufacturers, has released their report for June 2019, and it shows another significant drop in sales as compared to past years. 

In the Field With Nikon's 500mm f/5.6 PF

We dragged Nikon’s new 500mm f/5.6 PF out to the Galapagos islands, up over the Andes, and down into the Amazon jungle to put it through its paces — as well as through numerous rain showers, muddy trails, and squadrons of mosquitos. None of it fazed the lens a bit, though the mosquitos at times drove me a little mad. 

A Long-Term Look at the Canon EOS R for Video

Many photographers and videographers were not particularly pleased with the Canon EOS R when it was released, with seemingly middling specs and some seemingly arbitrary exclusions. Now that it has been on the market for a while, there has been time to form so more long-term opinions of the camera while taking into account things that can't be quantified by a specs sheet.

The Most Unexpected Surprise: The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1

Forget about Sony, Canon, Nikon, or any other mirrorless camera. Panasonic has the Lumix S1 and Lumix S1R, and those cameras are amazing. I have invested a lot in Canon, and I am really happy about the system. But if I had to do it all over again today, I definitely would choose the Lumix S1.

Lee Filters Announces the Lee100 Tandem Adaptor

Lee filters announced a new addition to their Lee 100 filter holder system today. The new development is quite a unique idea that many landscape photographers may have wished possible for a long time. The Lee 100 tandem adaptor basically makes way for a second filter holder to be mounted on top of the first.  

First Glimpse at High Resolution Raw Files From the 61MP Sony a7R IV

There have been numerous first glimpses of images taken with the new 61MP Sony a7R IV, but photographer and YouTuber Jared Polin is now sharing full-res RAW files. He has also made the images available for download, so you can have a go at editing for yourself.

Peek Inside this Landscape Photographer's Backpacking Bag

Take a peek inside this landscape photographer's backpacking bag to get an idea of the camera and camping gear that you might want to bring on your next adventure.  I don't know about you, but one of my favorite things to do when I was first learning about photography was watching those classic "what's in my camera bag" videos on YouTube.

Fstoppers Reviews the Moment Crossbody Wallet and Fanny Sling

Moment, best known for their high end phone lenses, have recently released new bags and wallets. Most notably the new Fanny Sling and Crossbody Wallet. Join me as I dive deep into the pros and cons of each item. 

 

The Crossbody Wallet

A Feature We Could All Make Use Of

While manufacturers go to war for our attention with cleaner high-ISO files, millions more pixels than any of us will ever need, and stabilization that counters our coffee addictions, some of the most useful features go completely unnoticed. In this video, Jordan Drake and Chris Niccolls take a look at a feature that made the Sony a99 but could really benefit every camera system. 

A First Look at the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD Lens

Tamron's 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD lens for Sony mirrorless cameras has been an absolute runaway success, with its combination of portability, image quality, and affordable cost winning over many photographers and videographers. The 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD follows a similar design philosophy, and many people are already excited about the lens.

More Canon Mirrorless Lenses Are on Their Way Soon

Canon's RF line of mirrorless lenses has impressed a lot of photographers with its stunning optical quality and extreme designs. Many photographers are still waiting on the lens lineup to fill out a bit more, but luckily, it looks like that will be happening fairly soon. 

High Resolution Nikon Z8 in the Works?

Nikon Rumors has recently reported on the potential for, among other things, a 60MP Nikon Z8 with “two CFExpress cards, improved VR”, and a pixel-shift mode. As they point out, this would seem to dovetail with their earlier reporting that Nikon had previously entered into an agreement with Sony to purchase Sony’s new 60MP sensor. 

Five Reasons Why You Should Switch to Sony Mirrorless

The mirrorless wars have been raging for several years now, with Sony going all in with its Alpha line-up of full-frame mirrorless cameras, but should you make the switch? Let’s talk about why you need to be shooting Sony mirrorless cameras and to ditch the Canikon cameras of olde. 

Pocket Powerhouse: A First Look at the Sony RX100 VII

The Sony RX100 VII is the latest iteration of the company’s powerful pocket cameras, and it brings some massive upgrades to the table. Is it the right do-it-all camera for you to take everywhere? This great first look video seeks to answer that exact question. 

The Professional-Level Canon Mirrorless Body Is on Its Way

So far, Canon seems to be focusing the majority of their wow factor on the lenses in their mirrorless line, creating some truly unique glass with incredible optical quality. On the other hand, their mirrorless bodies have sat more firmly in the midrange market, but that may be about to change, as a professional-level mirrorless body is likely on its way next year. 

Why Is Sony Giving Us 61 Megapixels When There’s so Much Else That Needs Fixing First?

A few weeks ago, I started drafting a list of everything that Sony needs to fix on the a7 III. Then suddenly, in a move that caught everyone off guard, Sony announced the a7R IV. Have many elements on my list been resolved by this new generation of camera, or has the rush for an insane number of megapixels meant that certain details are being ignored? 

Fstoppers Hands-On First Impressions of the Sony a7R IV

Last week, Sony surprised us all when they announced their latest a7R mirrorless camera. I had the chance to use the new a7R IV shooting a number of different portrait studio sets at the launch event, and in this first-impressions review I offer my opinions on its updated body design and performance. 

10 Camera Settings You Should Always Think About Changing

Modern cameras are remarkably capable machines, and with all those capabilities come a veritable plethora of options, features, and customizations, and it's well worth taking the time to explore them to customize your camera and make it work better for your personal shooting style and needs. This excellent video discusses 10 settings you should consider changing on your camera. 

All Hope Is Not Lost for Accidentally Deleted Photos

Ever since I bumped into the limits of my memory card at a wedding when I forgot to format it, I’ve been extra cautious about making sure I format before every shoot, which has served me well, except when it didn’t this past week, and I wiped out my children's first trip to Adventureland by accident. 

'Buy My New Presets' Said Every Targeted Ad From a Sony Shooter

We've all scrolled past a targeted ad on Facebook or Instagram with a caption screaming for us to buy their new Lightroom or Photoshop presets if we want to take better photos. Is it just me, or does it usually seem these ads are often from folks shooting Sony cameras? 

Lensbaby Composer Pro II With Edge 35: My First Time Doing Street Photography

Street photography is one type of photography that I'm honestly not brilliant at. It's different from most kinds of photography, because it's somewhat difficult to plan. For architecture, I can control most things, and this is comforting, because I know the kind of results I'm going to be able to produce. Street photography, however, is not quite the same.  

How to Properly Clean and Maintain Your Photo Equipment

Photography equipment is hardly cheap, and it's important to properly maintain it so it can last longer and you can maximize the return on your investment. This great video will show you everything you need to know to properly maintain all of your photography equipment.  

Why Mirrorless Autofocus Means Trade-Offs

Mirrorless cameras like the Sony A7 don’t use a traditional phase detect autofocus. While this enables popular features like eye tracking autofocus, it brings a number of tradeoffs, which could be a deal-breaker for certain applications. 

Why Gear Is the Least Exciting Part of Photography

Since I began taking photos 10 years ago, one constant has been that I have never been excited by gear. Granted, I like to have a nice camera and lens setup to shoot with, but it’s so rarely the focus of my attention. I’m happy to stick with the same gear until it falls apart, and I couldn’t even tell you what the latest model on the market is. 

Ryzen 9 3900X Versus Intel i9-9900K: Which CPU Is Better for Creatives?

If you have been thinking of building your own desktop computer for creative work, such as photo retouching or editing 4K video, then your CPU choice is one of the main things to consider. Should you choose the new Ryzen 9 3900X 12-core CPU or the Intel i9 9900K 8-core? 

Fujifilm Announces Two New Lenses: The XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR and GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR

Today, Fujifilm has announced two new lenses, one for X series cameras and one for their medium format cameras: the XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR and GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR. Check out these two new lenses!  

The XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR

The XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR looks to be a great walkaround lens with a versatile zoom range. Check out its specs:

If Sensor Size Doesn't Matter, Why Buy a Bigger One?

Recently Lee published a comparison between the images from several different-sized cameras and there was no apparent difference. What's the point of buying a camera with a larger sensor then? Sensor size matters. Sometimes.