Recent Gear Articles

A Definitive Guide to Master Your Lenses in 15 Minutes

This is a great video for beginners and experienced photographers alike who are looking to get more out of their gear. In this video, Simon d'Entremont gives a definitive explanation of different lenses and how they can work best for you.

How to Take Great Wildlife Photos With Budget Gear

Wildlife photography can be a tremendously enjoyable genre, but it can also often need a heavy dose of rather expensive specialized equipment. Nonetheless, you can still create fantastic images with affordable cameras and lenses. This useful video tutorial will give you a range of useful tips to help you get the most out of budget equipment and still come home with excellent photos.

Should You Spend Money on a Camera or Lens?

You have some money saved up and you are ready to start building your gear collection. Should you spend your money on a good camera or a nice lens? It is an important decision that can have a significant impact on the quality of your images, and this excellent video will show you why.

The Fun of Shooting Portraits With a Supertelephoto Lens

When it comes to portrait photography, most people will reach for a lens with a focal length between about 85mm and 135mm, maybe a little longer or wider for certain applications or creative exploration. But there is no rule that says portrait photography has to be shot at those focal lengths; you can easily push into more extreme options for a bit of fun and creative invigoration. This short video will show you some of what you can create when shooting portraits with a supertelephoto zoom lens.

The Best Sony Ultra-wide Angle Lens for the Money

I'm not a big fan of ultra-wide angle lenses. Shooting at 12mm usually requires that you get really close to your subject and create weird, warped-out-looking images, but I was recently hired for a job that required a wide field of view. I ended up buying three lenses to find the right tool for the job.

The Joy of Infrared Landscape Photography

If you have never photographed in infrared before, that is not your fault; modern cameras are designed to reject infrared light. However, with a special modification, you can open up an entirely new world that is invisible to the naked eye. This great video will show you some of unique and fascinating images that can be made with an infrared-converted camera.

Will Canon Replace Another Supertelephoto Prime Lens With a Zoom?

One of Canon's most exciting lenses is the new RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM, which takes the popular 300 f/2.8 supertelephoto prime and replaces it with a far more versatile zoom option at essentially the same price. Now, it appears the company may be planning a second major supertelephoto zoom lens.

Is the Sony FE 2X Teleconverter Worth It?

Often, as a wildlife photography enthusiast, I would love to have more reach when out in the field. This excellent video features a brilliant young photographer who is looking for a big performance from this small portable device.

One of My Favorite Gadgets of the Year Is a Vacuum

Although at Fstoppers, we tend to focus on photography-related products, we occasionally feature gadgets and technology outside of our normal focus. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is one of the most incredible gadgets I've ever used, and I wanted to create a video about it.

This Ultra-Affordable Canon Lens Is Surprisingly Good

Canon has released some awfully impressive mirrorless lenses, but with all that top-level performance often come high prices as well. That is why, at $349, the Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM is a breath of fresh air. How much performance and image quality can it offer at that low price? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect.

A Review of the Very Portable Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary Lens

The Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary lens is so small that it barely reaches past the grip of the camera to which it is attached, making it an intriguing option for anyone looking for a highly portable wide angle lens. This great video review takes a look at the lens and if it can back up that portability with the performance and image quality professionals demand.

We Review the Amazing Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM

After 27 years, Canon finally released a new 135mm lens. Instead of a new EF lens, it’s an RF lens, obviously. How does this expensive lens perform, and is it worth the upgrade if you’re still using the old but trustworthy EF version?

Can Less Camera Gear Help You Take Better Pictures?

Many of us love our gear, and while it can be fun to play with, it can also (perhaps paradoxically) cause a certain amount of decision paralysis and actually become a hindrance to the creative process. If that is something you sometimes find yourself struggling with, check out this insightful video that shows why carrying just a single camera and lens can actually make you a better photographer.

Can Fujifilm's APS-C Cameras Keep Pace With Medium Format?

Fujifilm's latest X Series sensor bumps its resolution to 40 megapixels, putting the company's APS-C sensors on par with many full frame options in terms of detail and even pushing toward medium format levels. Medium format still holds the image quality edge, but how significant is the difference? Will APS-C satisfy your needs? This excellent video comparison takes a look at the X-T5 and GFX 50S II to help you choose.

A Review of the Premium ASUS ProArt PA32DC 4K OLED Monitor

With a 4K OLED panel, motorized built-in calibrator, and a range of other premium features, the ASUS ProArt PA32DC 4K OLED monitor is a top-of-the-line option that promises the sort of performance professionals demand. This excellent video review takes a look at the display and the performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

How Good Is the M2 iPad Pro?

When they first came out, iPads were fun devices built for things like content consumption, but in recent years, they have evolved into some of the most powerful and versatile creative tools out there. Sitting at the top of the lineup is the iPad Pro M2, and this great video review takes a look at why it is so useful, particularly when paired with the latest Apple Pencil.

A Review of the Affordable Canon EOS R50 Mirrorless Camera

Priced at just $679, the Canon EOS R50 is one of the most affordable mirrorless cameras on the market right now, though it still comes with a nice range of capable features. This great video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Which of These Canon Cameras Is Right for You?

Canon makes a range of mirrorless cameras that range from sub-$1,000 to well over $5,000. The EOS R7 and EOS R8 both sit at $1,500, making them an appealing pair of cameras that balance capabilities and cost. Which is right for you, though? This great video comparison takes a look at both to help you pick which is right for you.

Some of the Good and Bad of Each Camera Brand

Photographers and filmmakers have more choices in camera brands than ever before, with standards like Canon and Nikon to more niche options like Pentax. So, which is right for you? This excellent video opinion essay discusses the good and bad of 10 different brands to give a bit of insight into what each manufacturer is doing right and how they might fit your wants and needs.

When Is It Wrong to Upgrade Your Camera Gear?

Talking about camera gear and upgrading has always been a polarizing topic anywhere. We all love our cameras but differing opinions often lead to long discussions. But when is it really acceptable to upgrade?

An In-depth Review of the Fujifilm X-H2 Mirrorless Camera

The Fujifilm X-H2 mirrorless camera took the highly respected X Series and added a high-resolution sensor for the first time ever, making it a desirable option for a wide range of creatives. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

5 Things You Should Do When You Buy a Large Telephoto Lens

Large telephoto lenses are some of the most powerful and exciting optical tools out there, able to capture faraway action like birds or sports and create dynamic images. Nonetheless, they take some special considerations in order to get the most out of them and to ensure you are not straining yourself physically when using one. This helpful video tutorial discusses five things you should do whenever you buy a large telephoto lens.

A Review of the Nikon Z 7II Mirrorless Camera for Landscape Photography

With a 45.7-megapixel sensor and a lot of dynamic range, the Nikon Z 7II mirrorless camera looks like a strong candidate for a lot of landscape photographers. How does it hold up in practice? This great video review features an experienced landscape photographer discussing his thoughts months after switching from a medium format setup.

A Review of the Light and Portable Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary Lens

The Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary lens brings with it the promise of excellent sharpness at a useful focal length and in a very small and portable package, making it ideal for genres like landscape and architectural photography. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

Jackery 1000 Pro: Big On-Location Power in a Small Package

In recent years, energy has become a very hot topic. With the cost of solar energy at its lowest point ever, it only makes sense to look at products such as the Jackery 1000 Pro. Be it power outages at home or on-location shoots, having a solar power generator is a necessity in the modern digital workspace.

Why Most Landscape Photographers Should Use Zoom Lenses

Many photographers regard prime lenses as superior to zooms, since they often offer better image quality and more creative versatility via their wider apertures. Nonetheless, when it comes to landscape photography, sometimes, the balance of requirements is a bit different. This excellent video features an experienced professional discussing why zoom lenses are the better choice for most landscape photographers.

A Review of the Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera

The Canon EOS R5 showed the world that Canon was extremely serious about professional mirrorless cameras, and while it remains a highly impressive camera, features like a 45-megapixel sensor and 8K raw video are overkill for many photographers and filmmakers. For those who want most of the capabilities of the EOS R5 in a more pragmatic and affordable package, the EOS R6 Mark II is an excellent option, and this great video review takes a look at the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

How to Customize Your Sony Camera to Fit Your Work

Cameras are more complex and customizable than ever before, allowing users to tweak buttons and settings until everything is mapped to the photographer's personal workflow. In this video, watch how to change settings to how you work.
A Review of the Fujifilm X-H2 Mirrorless Camera

Fujifilm's X-H2 mirrorless camera brought a high-resolution sensor to the beloved X Series for the first time, along with a wide range of other new features and upgrades, making it an intriguing camera for many users. This great video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

We Review the Canon EOS R8 Mirrorless Full Frame Camera

The new Canon EOS R8 mirrorless camera can be considered the replacement of the older EOS R and EOS RP cameras. It promises to be a great camera at a reasonable price point. Canon Netherlands sends me this camera for a review. Let's find out how it performs.

A Review of the Affordable 7Artisans 15mm f/4 Lens

7Artisans has gained a reputation for making extremely affordable lenses, and while that sometimes means you may have to take a hit in image quality, the 15mm f/4 produces surprisingly good results without breaking that trend of low cost. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and if its results are right for your needs.

DJI Announces the Triple-Camera Mavic 3 Pro Drone

The DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone is here, and it brings with some of the company's most impressive technology yet, including a new triple-camera system, long flight times, and Hasselblad optics. Here's what you can expect.

Top Bokeh: A Review of the Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR Lens

The Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR promises users some of the best and most extreme optical design and performance on the platform, including an especially wide aperture, pleasing bokeh, and sharp images. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

What Would You Like to See From the Next Fujifilm X100 Series Camera?

Fujifilm's X100 series of cameras is now in its fifth generation, and it remains one of the most beloved cameras on the market, all but guaranteeing that we will see a sixth version at some point. What would photographers like to see in the next iteration? This interesting video features a photographer discussing his thoughts on the topic.

Don't Overlook This Affordable Gem of a Lens

Canon has some incredible lenses in their lineup, but with all that performance and image quality often come eye-wateringly high price tags. And yet, they also a lens for APS-C cameras that costs only $149, and it far outperforms its very affordable price tag. This great video review takes a look at the lens and if it can keep up with the demands of a modern, high-resolution sensor.

A Review of the Fujifilm XF 30mm f/2.8 R LM WR Macro Lens

Fujifilm's X-T5 mirrorless camera was a major step up for the X Series, and along with it came the XF 30mm f/2.8 R LM WR Macro lens, which offers a normal focal length in tandem with the versatility of a true macro lens, all in a small, lightweight, and affordable package, making it a very interesting option for a wide range of applications. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

Why One Photographer's Favorite Portrait Option Is the 35mm Lens

When it comes to portraiture, for the most part, 85mm is the traditional choice, with focal lengths around that number also seen as alternatives, such as 50mm, 100mm, and 135mm. 35mm is often used for portraiture, though it is rarely thought of as a primary option, being just a little wide for closer shots. Nonetheless, one well-known portrait photographer actually prefers 35mm above all other focal lengths, and this great video shares why, along with a wide range of images demonstrating its benefits.

10 Helpful Tips for Buying a Camera

Buying a camera is one of the most exciting and important decisions a photographer can make, and as such, it deserves some careful thought. Before you pull out your credit card, check out this fantastic video tutorial that offers 10 bits of helpful advice to help ensure you pick the right camera for your needs, wants, and budget.

The Digital Camera for Lovers of Film Photography

There is no lack of film photograpers, despite digital photography's dominance, though it is becoming increasingly more expensive to do. One film-centric photographer has become a disciple of a digital camera that does its best to straddle both worlds.
Are the Latest Camera Technologies Bad for Photography?

There have been some magnificent improvements in the abilities of cameras over the last few years, not least in lenses and camera focusing systems. The technical advancements have almost taken camera skills out of our hands. But is this good or bad for photography?

A First Look at the New Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens

Canon's latest lens, the RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM, is here, and it promises some of the most extreme design and optical performance ever seen, making it an especially intriguing option for a wide range of photographers, including sports and wildlife shooters. This excellent video takes a look at the new lens and what you might be able to expect from it.

Can’t Get a Fujifilm X100V? Try This Instead

I've long been a fan of Fujifilm's X100 series of cameras, the "T" model being my gateway drug into the Fuji X system. Fuji's X100V, the latest and greatest in the lineup, launched in 2020, seems near impossible to find even in 2023. So, what's a photographer to do? Try this instead.

Bluetti’s New Expandable Power Stations Help Photographers Go Anywhere

Photographers and videographers that are constantly on the move may require a reliable source of power to keep their equipment charged and ready to go. BLUETTI's new AC60 & B80 power stations provide a flexible and expandable solution for professionals shooting on location.