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.

The Presidential Portrait Was Taken by a Ten-Year-Old Camera

Well, so much for always needing the latest and greatest gear. Even the president's official portrait was shot on a decade-old camera. 

What you see below is President Trump's official portrait as it appears on the White House website:

FotoDiox Mirage Trio Novelty USB Multi Device Charging Dock

The Mirage Trio by FotoDiox is a novelty multi device charging dock that can charge up to 3 devices simultaneously. It's design is similar to an A series camera from Sony with lots of intricate details, including removable lens and lens cap.

 

Fstoppers Reviews the Google Pixel, a True iPhone Killer

Apple lovers around the world, including myself, now have some serious reason to leave behind their beloved iPhone they have for the new Google Pixel. Introduced back in October the phone was welcomed with huge praise boasting some incredible specs.

Leica Announces the M10

The Leica M10 is the latest iteration of digital German rangefinders. The M10 features a similar 24MP CMOS sensor to that of the M-P (Typ 240), expanded ISO performance from ISO 100-50,000, an improved viewfinder, new three-button back panel design, and more for a discount over the Typ 240. 

Why I Can't Love the Fujifilm X-Pro2

Some may say I'm squarely in the Fuji fanboy camp. I love their cameras and lenses, and will sing their praises whenever I feel it is due.

edelkrone QuickRelease One: A Solution to the Mounting Plates Chaos

Tripods, jibs and sliders; they all require an attachment mechanism for our cameras and different brands provide different mounting plate standards. A small company, edelkrone, based in Czech Republic claims to provide one universal piece of gear that allows to attach your camera to any mounting plate. 

Here to Stay: KitSplit Buys out CameraLends

It looks like Gear-Sharing could be here to stay after KitSplit announced they are buying out San Francisco based CameraLends. This will likely lead to a more reliable and capable rental service that bypasses regular rental houses. Will this be successful? Would you trust the system?

Fstoppers Reviews: The Lensbaby Trio 28

Lensbaby has been making creative effect lenses for SLR and DSLRS for many years, and maintain a high level of popularity among a wide range of photographers. They have three primary “looks” that they sell in their lenses: selected focusing, soft focus, and a “twist” effect (similar to a Petzval lens).

MotoCrane, the World's First Universal Automotive Camera Crane System

I initially dove into the world of cinema and photography because of my passion for the automotive world and the arts. I have had some plans for more video work with cars in action but I always wanted more than action camera footage that’s stationary on the vehicle. Even with a jib and other equipment, I wanted more production value out of my work.

Lily Robotics Sued for False Advertising and Unfair Business Practices

News came yesterday that the Lily drone would not be released and preorders would be refunded. The company indicated an inability to secure the funds needed for a production run, despite having raised $34 million. However, Lily Robotics failed to mention that they are also being sued by the San Francisco district attorney for false advertising and unfair business practices. 

Do You List Your Photography and Video Gear Like a Resume?

I've noticed a peculiar phenomenon lately that I don't quite understand. I'll be browsing someone's website or Instagram, and the piece of information they lead with is the gear they're shooting with. Why do photographers do this? 

ASUS Zenfone AR Takes 92-Megapixel Photos

Cell phone cameras have undoubtedly advanced to levels that make them legitimate photographic instruments in the right circumstances. ASUS is continuing to push the envelope with their new Zenfone AR, which can shoot massive 92-megapixel photos. 

Should We Be Paying for Firmware Updates?

Remember when Apple used to charge money to update your iPhone? While we’ve gotten rather used to free mobile updates over the past couple years, the trend is as strong as ever with our cameras. Should this still be the case?

New Panasonic Lenses on the Way: Lumix G 12-35mm 2.8 II, 12-60mm Leica, and More

At CES 2017 Panasonic has started to show off some new MFT lenses, which by no coincidence pairs nicely with their recent reveal of the Lumix GH5 specs. In this video, a rep from Panasonic goes over the details of the new lenses, some of which are updates to existing models. I'll list the all of the lenses and include what's new about them in the full post. 

Fstoppers Reviews the Hawkesmill Small Camera Bag

Back in June, I reviewed the Hawkesmill Jermyn Street Camera Bag, which I continue to love to this day. I have used it every day for the past nine months, easily swapping in panels for when I need to carry camera gear and removing them when I just need an awesome daily bag.

ExoLens Case With Zeiss Lenses for Your iPhone 7

ExoLens the iPhone case company that is known for its protective cases that are compatible with their range of Zeiss lenses, have just announced a new case for the iPhone 7 at C.E.S. Bringing professional-grade lenses to the iPhone, and now even more protection.

Polaroid Pop Brings the 3x4 Instant Film Format Into the Digital Age

Despite the company's unfortunate demise with the advent of a number of technologies that were simply cheaper and better, there's something to a Polaroid photograph that you can't get anywhere else: that tactile, one-copy, 3x4-inch film image seconds after taking the picture.

Why I'm Considering Selling My Nikon Gear and Moving to Panasonic

I'm not the type of person that likes switching brands. I've been with Nikon from day one, but my needs are changing, and Panasonic seems to have made my dream camera. I know this may sound crazy, but I may soon be selling the majority of my Nikon gear and buying six Panasonic GH5 cameras.  

 

Should You Give the Client a Wireless Video Monitor?

Caleb Pike released a string of interesting and fresh camera hacks over the past year. This time, he's tackling wireless monitoring; a problem that we all know can be expensive and time consuming. Does this leave you open to criticism before you've even finished the shot? Is it the equivalent to handing over raw images? Let's talk about how to do it, and why you should do it.

Step Up Your Landscape Photography Using Tiffen's Pro100 Series Filter System

The more you photograph people, places, and things, the more you understand how much control the available light has over the outcome of your image. Taking advantage of tools like filters to limit or modify the light coming into your camera is a great way to craft a unique image and even add a dramatic flare that you may not be able to create otherwise.  

Why Cinema Lenses Are Measured With T-Stops And What's the Difference With An F-Stop?

Cinema glass has always been way more expensive than still camera lenses. Combined with the cinema camera sensors these high end lenses provide an image that's far superior to DSLRs capable of recording video. But yet, there are decent films created with DSLRs with still camera lenses. I'm not going to compare the glass quality here.

How to Get Exact Color in Product Photography with a Color Chart

It's happened to me and it has most likely happened to you: you order a shirt and can't wait for it to arrive. Then it does and it's a completely different hue than what was pictured in the online store or catalog. Odds are the photographer may not have used a color chart during his or her shoot.

Fstoppers Reviews the Fujifilm 35mm f/2 WR

On an APS-C sensor, a 35mm lens is the "standard" lens. It is the equivalent of a 50mm on 35mm full-frame; a go-to for many. It took me a long time to learn to love this focal length, but once I got hooked, there was no turning back. I've written about my love affair with the Nikkor 58mm f/1.4G here on Fstoppers, and have included Fujifilm's 35mm f/1.4 in my top lenses for the system.

Do You Need a 4K Video Camera At All?

The megapixel war is almost over for still digital cameras. But we see another battle started, the same one for digital video cameras. All camera manufacturers are now marketing their 4K, 6K, and 8K devices, including phones. 2K starts to look quite old school, but is it? 

Fstoppers Reviews the Peak Design Everyday Tote

Peak Design is a camera accessory and bag maker that began on Kickstarter, producing the Everyday Messenger bag. They designed the Everyday Messenger in cooperation with photographer Trey Ratcliff, who supposedly had quite a bit of input on its usability.

The Ultimate Travel Tripod – Fstoppers' Initial Impression of the Gitzo Series 1 Traveler Carbon Fiber Tripod

If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent hours browsing sites like B&H Photo Video comparing different tripods, tripod heads, and their features. You may also take it a step further by watching reviews until your eyes burn before you decide to finally make that decisive click and add one to your shopping cart. It’s an understandable practice if you ask me.

The Best Slider Money Can Buy - The Rhino Slider Evo and Arc

The Rhino Slider Evo and Motion Controller is in my opinion the best slider system on the market. It's incredibly robust, shockingly simple to setup and use, and best of all, it's all powered with an internal battery in the controller itself. The new motorized pan head Rhino Arc takes this system to the next level.  

Is Your Canon 50mm f/1.8 II Lens Fake?

This week Canon sent out an advisory regarding counterfeit 50mm f/1.8 II lenses found in circulation. This issue was discovered by Canon after customers sent the lenses into their service centers for repairs. While looking almost identical to real thing on the outside, once a technician opened it up to fix it, they realized the lenses were not authentic.

The First iPhone 7 Battery Case With Headphone Jack

When Apple announced that the iPhone 7 wouldn't have a standard headphone jack, I wrote an article saying that I would never buy this phone until a battery case brought the jack back. Since that post I have been contacted by four different manufacturers currently working on this very concept. Yesterday we actually received a working unit in the mail.  

7 Knick Knacks That Belong In Any Portrait Photographer's Stocking This Christmas

Christmas is two weeks away and you are probably starting to panic about your lack of gift buying progress. Have no fear, Fstoppers is here! The stocking is a perfect opportunity to make your resident portrait photographer's Christmas magnificently jolly as there are so many wonderful little toys that fit into an oversized sock.

5 Tricks to Keep Your MacBook From Overheating

Apple MacBook Pro is without a doubt the laptop of choice for most photographers on the go. However, I've heard of many encountering heat issues when working on it for a prolonged period of time. After recently experiencing this problem myself and having my computer shutting down on its own, I started looking for a solution. It turns out that it's not complicated to control the heat.

The Best Computer Speakers At Any Budget

I'm no audiophile but I do appreciate high quality sound. I can't count how many different amps, speakers, and headphones I've purchased over the past 20 years. It seems like I'm always searching for something just a little bit better. Finally though, after years of searching, I feel like I've found the best audio setup for the money.  

Random Tests to Practice Using Your Gear

Yesterday was a really muggy day here in New Jersey and my partner and I both had off. We came downstairs to the office and worked on a few things when I realized we should be going out in this crappy weather and making something of it. We thought of a few ideas together and one stuck with us over the others, that was to shoot a car video using our Sony a7s ii and DJI Ronin M.  

The Brand New MeFOTO Air: First Impressions

The idea of a travel tripod causes hesitation. On one hand, you have a size that makes bringing a tripod on location no longer a physical strain. On the other, these tripods tend to be thin, causing them to be less sturdy than larger, thicker tubed tripods. The key to a good travel tripod is striking a balance of size and strength.

Fstoppers Review of the Blackmagic URSA Mini 4.6K RAW Cinema Camera

Blackmagic sent me one of their 4.6K URSA Mini Cameras to play with, and after just a few short days of messing around with it, the URSA Mini certainly made an impression. A RAW, 16-bit, 4608 pixel-wide impression to be specific. In short, this camera system is a beast, and comes at a price point that is very attractive.  

Really Right Stuff Tripods and Photography Accessories Now Available at B&H Photo

Really Right Stuff, the highly regarded camera support manufacturer, now has their extensive line of products at B&H. Before this announcement, the only way to buy RRS merchandise was directly from them through their own website, but having their inventory available at the largest photo retailer in the USA creates a few benefits for the consumer.