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.

Fstoppers Reviews the HoldFast Roamographer Camera Bag

HoldFast is known throughout the photography community for their amazing and well-made dual camera straps. What most people don't realize is that they also have a camera bag. The Roamographer bag has the same attention to detail as their straps and is also constructed out of the same great-looking leather.

Five Reasons to Shoot Medium Format Film

Let us venture back in time for a minute. 35mm film was always considered small. In fact, it was developed in the early 1900s as a means to make high-volume shooting and consumer photography possible. If you were a working professional, you were shooting at least medium format (6x4.5-6x19 cm) or even more likely, large format, like 4”x5” or 8x10”.

Seven Ways to Stretch More Life Out of Your Photography Gear During Tough Times

Almost everyone goes through times when the belt need to be tightened because money just isn’t abundant. During these times when income dips, we need to take care to avoid spending as much as possible. Photography, however, is an expensive vocation that seems to be an endless drain on the bank account.

Canon Announces the EOS-1D X Mark II: 20MP, 4K60p Video, ISO 409,600, and CFast 2.0

Just behind Nikon's announcement of the D5, Canon comes with their own anxiously-awaited update to their flagship DSLR: the new EOS-1D X Mark II. Building on the experience of both the 1D X and the 1D C, the 1D X Mark II features a modest increase in resolution to 20 megapixels, instead counting its improvements mostly in the areas of image quality, autofocus, and speed. 

$500 for an Ice Light got you Down? How About a $62 Light Wand From Yongnuo?

The Westcott Ice Light has been around for awhile, and a number of photographers in the community on our site have shown it to be a part of their kits. Whether they're being used to light cars for an automotive shoot, or for food or small product photography, one thing that's been noted more than a few times is the steep price. 

Behind-the-Scenes on a Stop Action Photoshoot Using the MIOPS Laser Trigger

Jay P. Morgan with The Slanted Lens has released a new video that demonstrates how he and his team were able to precisely capture the exact moment they wanted, using the laser mode on the MIOPS trigger system. Morgan breaks down the tricks for getting just the right shot, without having to rapid-fire a bunch of extra, useless images. 

Sigma Shows Off the Strength of Its New Ceramic Filters In Video Test

Last month we wrote about Sigma's announcement of their new ceramic filters which promise to add an extra level of protection for your front element over traditional glass filters, among a few other benefits. Well now there is a video to accompany those claims which goes to show just how much extra protection you can expect, and it looks very promising! 

Stop Fighting the Hot Shoe of Your Nikon D750

Since its release, the Nikon D750 has been praised as one of the best full frame cameras that money can buy. It has features that outperform cameras that are twice the price. One of the little frustrating elements of this camera though, that I still see being discussed to this day, is the finicky hot shoe. 

Photographer Tim Kemple Tests the New Phase One XF 100MP

It’s safe to say that this camera doesn’t suck, and in the hands of someone like Tim Kemple, who’s at the top of their game, the results are pretty incredible. I got the chance to chat with Tim about his thoughts on using the new Phase One XF 100MP camera, including what happened when he flew it on a drone over a waterfall. 

Comparing the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 and the Nikon 200mm f/2 Prime

A few years back, I rented the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II and absolutely fell in love. The focus speed, stabilization, and sharpness of this lens are top-notch and make it a truly versatile, high-quality telephoto lens. For a while now, I have been drooling over Nikon's 200mm f/2G ED VR II prime, the type of lens dreams are made of.

Fujifilm Announces the Long-Awaited X-Pro2

The X-Pro1 started it all as it cemented its place while paving the way for its segment — the mirrorless rangefinder-style APS-C camera — as the way of the future. But until today, Fuji’s focus has been on further diversifying the segment with other high-end, mid-range, and budget mirrorless systems.

Fuji Announces the X-E2S, X70, and XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 LM OIS WR Lens

In addition to the X-Pro2 announcement, Fujifilm also announced the release of the X-E2S, X70, and XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens, each helping to further refine and round out Fuji's mirrorless lineup. The X-E2S is largely similar to it's predecessor (the X-E2), but improves ISO performance and offers several software enhancements.

Do-It-Yourself Three SD Card Reader Plus Hard Drive RAID Enclosure

As a wedding photographer, the ability to upload multiple cards at one time has always been intriguing for me. The problem has always been that the price for these multi-card readers have always been a little steep in price. But with this DIY enclosure, it seems to be a little easier and cheaper than I thought. 

The Making of an Industry Standard: An Interview with WANDRD

There's a sort of running joke between the Fstoppers writers about the number of bag reviews we've published in the last couple months, and we've certainly caught our share of flack for it in the comments as a result. Despite all that, having had a chance to sit down for a brief interview with the people at WANDRD, I think we may have a new industry standard on our hands.

Go Behind the Scenes to Learn What Drives Successful Pro Photographers

Have you ever wondered what motivates all those successful, high-end professional photographers you look up to? Chances are, if you're a fan of this site, you already have a lot in common with them but Nikon Ambassador Corey Rich helps put that drive into words as he goes behind the scenes with five of Nikon's heavy hitters.

FilmmakerIQ's Introduction to the Properties of Camera Lenses

John P. Hess, over at FilmmakerIQ.com has launched a second video about lens technology this week. This time dealing with the properties of camera lenses. The information contained relates to both still photography and cinematography, and also details the subtle differences between the two as they relate to lenses.

See the Nikon D5's Blazing Fast Shutter at Full Speed

When Nikon's new flagship DSLR, the D5, was announced this week, the fact that it achieves a maximum ISO of 3,280,000 seems to have grabbed all the attention. That is until now, with a released video showing the 12 fps shooting power in all its glory.

Fstoppers Reviews the Case Remote Plus, a Wireless DSLR Controller

More and more companies are incorporating Wi-Fi into their cameras in an effort to make it easy to download and share images without the need to upload to a computer. The apps from camera manufacturers also allow you to remotely trigger the camera from your phone and see what you are taking a picture of before you trip the shutter.

How It's Made: The $10,000 Leica Noctilux 50mm f/0.95

Leica certainly has their share of both rabid fans and harsh critics, but no matter what side of the fence you may fall on, there are two undeniable facts tied to the red dot. The first is that they are priced into the stratosphere. The second is that their lenses are almost universally the best in the world.

CameraLends' New App Opens Easy Peer-to-Peer Gear Renting to iPhone

CameraLends has been letting gear owners rent out their gear to peers when it's not in use since its inception three years ago. Until now, everything has been done through their website. The new CameraLends iPhone app, however, lets users manage the entire rental process from the ease and mobility of their iPhones.

Zeiss to Release High-Performance Lenses for the iPhone’s Camera

Love it or hate it, mobile photography is the king right now. So what’s a world-renowned lens manufacturer for “traditional” system cameras to do when a large majority of photos these days are coming from smartphones? You adapt. Today Zeiss has announced, in partnership with Fellowes Brands, plans to ship a macro, wide-angle, and telephoto lens for iPhone in Q2 2016. 

Preorders for the Nikon D5, D500, and Accessories Are Now Available

Did you catch the news today? Nikon went on a spree, releasing flagship FX and DX cameras, as well as some exciting new accessories. Pre-orders are now available; use the links in this post to grab your gear as soon as possible, as these are likely to be some highly popular items! 

Samsung Announces 450MB/s Super Portable SSD T3

Samsung's Portable SSD T1, has been a fantastically tiny and handy external drive since its inception. Yesterday, for CES 2016, Samsung announced its successor, the Portable SSD T3, sharing many of the same features with the T1, such as the claimed 450MB/s transfer rate, 850 EVO-based NAND flash memory, and AES 256-bit encryption that won't slow the drive down.

Pentax Updates Teaser of Its Upcoming Full-Frame DSLR

Those eagerly awaiting the upcoming release of Pentax's new full-frame DSLR will be pleased to know that the company recently updated the teaser page for the camera, introducing an intriguing feature that will make current users of their DSLRs very happy.  

Easily Upgrade The Audio From Your DJI Osmo Gimbal

The DJI Osmo gimbal has been getting some pretty favorable reviews. It hits the sweet spot for a portable "run and gun" style gimbal when you consider many of its features and price point. That is not to say it has no downsides, and the audio quality just so happens to be one of them.

How to Make The Most Money Selling Your Used Camera Gear

You may have received a new camera or gear for the holidays, or you took advantage of all the deals in December and upgraded your kit with some new toys. But what about your old gear? Well, if you have decided not to keep it as a backup and have emotionally moved on, you might have decided to try and sell your old camera body or lenses.

Fstoppers Awards The Best Photography Gear of 2015

For the past few weeks, the entire Fstoppers team has been debating about the best photography gear of 2015. We even reached out to the Fstoppers community for your opinions as well. After hours and hours of debate, our list is finally complete.

Canon and Nikon's Year End Deals

If you've been saving up your holiday money for some new gear, check out this opportunity. In a big year end bash, Canon and Nikon are both offering some pretty big discounts on a bunch of different cameras and lenses. The best deal Nikon is offering gives you $1,000 off a D750 and lens while Canon is offering $650 off a 7D Mk II with various lens options.

Tony Northrup Reviews the 4K DJI Osmo Handheld Gimbal

Photographer Tony Northrup got his hands on the new Osmo from DJI, which records a 4K image on a gimbal stabilizer through its built-in camera. The whole thing fits into an incredibly small, handheld package and sells for around $625. Is it up to par with competing products, and is it as awesome as the hype has led us to believe? Northrup answers those questions and more. 

Fstoppers Reviews the Nissin i40 Flash for Fujifilm

As I use my Fujifilm X-Series cameras more and more for event work, I've needed fill flash here and there to enhance some of the portraits I'm asked to take on the fly. With there being very few good options for the Fuji system at the moment, I picked up a Nissin i40 back in April.

Ten Things You Should Do When You Have a New Camera

Was the holiday season good to you? Are you blissfully cradling a brand new camera? Before you run out and start firing frames, be sure to check this list to make sure you and your camera are in top shape. 

Fstoppers Reviews The Lumopro LP180R Speedlight

Lumopro has had several flashes on the market, like the LP160 and the wildly popular LP180 of Strobist fame. This fall, however, Lumopro announced a brilliant new unit, the LP180R. As far as specifications, the LP180R is almost identical to the LP180, but there is one key difference that makes it an excellent tool for photographers both experienced and inexperienced. 

Critique the Community Episode 15: Lifestyle Photography

A couple weeks ago, we asked the Fstoppers Community to submit their best lifestyle images for our next episode of "Critique the Community." This episode is particularly special because we are giving away two free camera bags from HEX to two of the photographers who were selected for critique.

Winner of the Tamron Prime Lens Contest Announced

Several weeks ago, Fstoppers partnered up with Tamron to offer one of our lucky readers a brand new lens for the holidays! There were a variety of ways to enter the drawing, but only one winner was selected. The prize is to be the winner's choice of a brand new 35mm or 45mm f/1.8 Tamron lens.

DJI Inspire Pro and X5 Camera Review - An Absolute Game Changer

I recently had the pleasure of picking up one of the first final production models of the Inspire Pro and X5 Micro 4/3 Camera, and immediately took it to one of the most beautiful photography destinations in the world to test it out: Meteora Greece.

LensRentals Releases List of Best and Most Popular Gear of 2015

LensRentals has released a great list of the most popular new photography gear of 2015, as well as some of their staff favorites. The post provides great insight into what cameras, lenses, and other gear photographers used this year. It also gives a snapshot of an industry that saw a lot of evolution in the past 12 months. 

Lily Announces Delivery Delay of Drone Pre-Orders Amidst Issues During Testing

Today's airspace is more and more crowded with drones that, for the most part, all do the same thing. This lack of product diversity is the reason Lily, with its unique combination of features including landing and taking off in water or on your hand, awed thousands when its promo video launched. Its incredibly good pre-order deal undoubtedly helped spread it further at a low price of $499.

Adobe's Explosive Profit Boost Could Help It Give Creatives the Leg Up They've Been Begging For

Adobe’s last quarter results are out, and they’re better than ever. Adobe’s Creative Cloud and media business rose 35 percent thanks to a 23 percent beat on subscriber expectations, while the company’s overall net income more than doubled from $88.1 million to a staggering $222 million. Adobe’s fourth-quarter earnings report shot its stock to all-time highs.