Recent Gear Articles

Fuji UK Posts Full Specs and Release of X100s and X20

Fuji's latest mirrorless systems are some of the best in their category because of their new X-Trans sensor technology that allows for sharp, moire-free images without the blurring anti-aliasing filter. Now, we have specs on the newest updates to Fuji's line, the X100s and X20, both with new, X-Trans II sensors and speedy phase-detection autofocusing...

Samsung Announces NX300 Mirrorless with 3D and More!

Samsung just announced the replacement of the excellent NX210 camera with the new NX300. While the 210 was quite good as it was, the NX300 offers several features that make the camera something quite different -- in a very good way...

Canon's Controversial 24-70mm f/4 Lens Now Available

Whether you were excited for this lens or not, the Canon 24-70mm f/4 IS L lens from Canon is available now. I was rather baffled when I heard the news of its release last November, and I'm still scratching my head at this one. It just seemed like a money grab to me. Nevertheless, if you want it, you can pick it up starting today.

Photojournalist Launches iPhone Watermarking App

Photojournalist John D McHugh was so fed up with copyright infringement on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that he has taken drastic measures and built an iPhone app called Marksta specifically to add watermarks to images uploaded to social networks. Apparently he was really tired of people stealing his images without credit, and came up with a solution that helps him and other photogs who feel the same.

Canon 6D Showing Hideous Moire Problems in Video

Though we are still working on our review of the Canon 6D, Gizmodo just published their Lightning Review and besides the expected nods to the high quality of the stills, the unexpected moire issues they found in video have me frowning.

New Canon Camera Body Rumors for 2013

2013 is shaping up to be a pretty interesting year with regards to Canon bodies, even after 2012 brought us some pretty great ones. Most sources seem pretty sure that Canon will release the 7D Mark II sometime the first half of 2013, but this image that has shown up on Canon Rumors and Northlight Images is the first real visual representation of the updated bodies, one being the 7D II and another looks to replace the 60D.

As Toshiba Looks into Light Field Sensor, Is Lytro's Tech Catching On?

When we all first heard about the light field sensor in the Lytro camera, there was a considerable amount of excitement. Many of us really saw something great in the ability to focus our images after the fact. But when the tech actually made it to market, it turned out that though neat, it wasn't really practical yet. Now with Toshiba rumored to be developing a light field sensor for mobile phones, is it safe to say this is really catching on?

Take a Look at This Bizarre Banner Ad for the Canon 7D

I'm originally a marketing/advertising dude, so I'm always looking at ads. I actually watch commercials intentionally to see what brands are doing to promote their product. I just stumbled across this banner, and it's baffling to me how this got past the creative director's desk. I mean, really?

What To Do With All That New Christmas Money: Pop Photo's Best Gear of 2012

Pop Photo released a great guide for all things photography (including everything from high-end DSLRs to light wands and iPad apps) that were released this year. So if you don't know what to spend your new Christmas money on, check it out. Everything is on there for a reason -- and quite a few have been reviewed and are highly recommended by Fstoppers writers...

Canon France Teases New Product

Teasing products isn't new, but it's kind of fun to see how companies mix up their strategy. Canon France just posted a picture to their Facebook account with the caption: "Nous allons bientôt partager des infos qui vont changer la façon dont vous regardez le monde..." which translates to: "Soon, we will share information that will change the way you look at the world..."

The More Affordable Wide-Angle Tilt-Shift You've Been Waiting for Is Almost Here!

Samyang's T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS USM tilt-shift lens has been delayed until March 2013, but we're coming on that date soon enough. In the meantime, pricing via Samyang Russia came in around $1,100 after the conversion, significantly cheaper than its Nikon and Canon counterparts, each roughly $2,000. All that's unknown now are the performance characteristics of the lens, but we'll know soon enough...

Now You Can Wear Pantone Around Your Neck

Do you really, REALLY love Pantone? Did you forget to send your all important retoucher a gift this holiday? Do you have some Christmas money left over that you want to blow on your beloved Pantone? Check out the new Perfect Matching Scarf. This collection of 6 scarves will leave you set for life to match any outfit you could ever wear. Also, you will look like a moron. Enjoy!

Canon 6D for Under $2000 & Other Deals

The Canon faithful were likely a little disappointed they didn't see the drastic price cuts that the Nikon D600 saw just before the holiday, but we can take slight solace in the current sale price of the Canon 6D this week on B&H and Amazon. Though not quite as steep as those D600 deals, the 6D can be grabbed for just a hair under $2000. For the Nikon shooters, two new bundles from B&H keep the deals for the D600 rolling with two new bundled kits at $700 off retail. Finally, RedRock Micro is having a big end-of-the-year sale worth looking into, rounding out these deals of the day.

The Future of the Combination of Video and Stills

In the last several years camera development has taken huge strides in giving photographic capabilities of stills to video. Non film makers now have the capability of taking cinematic quality video without needing to upgrade from their dslr. In this video, Untitled Film Works unpacks the continual merging of stills and video.

I Just Bought The iPhone 5 For $40.

I use my iPhone camera more than any other camera I own. It is on me all the time and is so convenient to quickly share photos from. Even on photo shoots I always find myself pulling out the iPhone for a couple BTS snaps or video. I have had the iPhone 4 since it came out and it has been showing it's age. I heard of a way to get an iPhone 5 for the cost of sales tax, and so I decided to give it a shot tonight.

New Gear Rumors as We Approach January and CES 2013

PhotoRumors has a lineup from the Japanese magazine Impress' annual predictions of products to be released. The predictions include educated guesses and previously discussed products that will certainly come out, including news with Fuji's X-Trans sensor, Olympus' E-5 replacement, and a new Nikon with the D4 sensor!

Exclusive First Look: Really Right Stuff's iPhone Case

Ok, you're probably pretty skeptical right now reading that title alone. I hear ya, so was I. Really Right Stuff is known for extremely high quality carbon fiber tripods, not cases, and definitely not something in mobile computing. After hearing my surprise, the guys at Really Right Stuff laughed and made me think of it this way: the iPhone is the most popular camera on the market. It would be weird if they didn't support it, as they are one of the best camera support companies out there. Hearing that, I was ready to give this thing a look.

Kodak Announces Sale of Patents

Last week we reported the possibility that Google and Apple would snatch up the Kodak patents, but news out says that instead Kodak has made the sale to Intellectual Ventures and RPX Corporation, who are to pay approximately $525 million for them. Kodak is touting the sale as building "Kodak’s momentum toward a successful emergence in the first half of 2013."

Sample Footage From The Black Magic Cinema Camera NSFW

A few days ago my buddy Bryan Bowden called me and said that he was in possession of the currently unreleased Black Magic Cinema Camera. This camera could be the next big thing in videography because it's incredibly cheap ($3000) for what you get (2.5K RAW footage). I personally only got a moment to see the camera but I asked Bryan to write up something for our readers about his very short experience with the camera and release some RAW clips straight from the camera.

Using Film for Portraits of a Highway Patrolman

I started a new project recently creating portraits on 11x14 film. I have had an 11x14 back for my Deardorff for several years, but I have never shot much in that format. I decided to try a couple sheets in hopes of kick starting a new project.

Redrock Micro Launches Enhanced Support Rigs with New Rig Components

Redrock Micro today announced upgrades to their support rigs for DSLRs in the microShoulderPad, tool-less microBalance QR counterweights, and improved hand grips. The new improvements now come standard on all Redrock rigs, and are available as upgrades to existing customers.

DxO Mark Highly Praises Sharpness of Sigma 35mm f/1.4

A couple weeks ago I reviewed the outstanding Sigma 35mm f/1.4 lens and could not speak highly enough about its merits. In the week that followed, every single camera review site that I have read seemed to come to the same conclusion. Recently, Dx0 Mark also rated the Sigma lens, and said it was "one of the sharpest lenses, mounted on Canon, ever measured by DxOMark website."

FS Review: Lensbaby Edge 80 and Sweet 35 Optics

Creative lenses have become a popular way to do things “in camera.” Sure, there are hundreds of options for numerous editing programs that can do creative effects in post, but there is something to be said about getting everything in camera as it’s happening, including tilt shift effects. Unfortunately for most of us, tilt shift lenses are just not in the budget. That’s where Lensbaby’s modular lens system comes into play.

Big Sale on Four Popular Canon L Glass Lenses

B&H just listed four popular L glass lenses on discount when you add them to your cart. If you wanted to pick up new optics for you camera and were saving up for some L glass, you might want to take a look. On sale today, the 24-70mm f/2.8 L II, the 70-200 f/2.8 L, the 16-35 f/2.8 L, and the 50mm f/1.2/ L.

Drobo Mini, 5D, and 5N Preliminary Review

A few days ago, I went to Drobo's offices for a Q&A as well as some time with the new devices that Drobo promises are faster than ever. What I found surprised me...

Canon's Terrifying Recommended Way to Remove a Stuck Filter

Ever have a filter get stuck on the front of your lens? I personally have not, but I can imagine how irritating it can be. Travel photographer (and friend of mine) Craig Pulsifer posted the method he was instructed to use by Canon Professional Services to his blog. His warning: this is not for the faint of heart.

Using Cameras to Make Custom Music Through Heart Rate: PULSE

This is a crazy concept that is truly amazing: Directed by Emmy-award winner Patrick Moreau of stillmotion, the docu-short PULSE profiles the making of the BioBeats app, a new technology that utilizes cameras to generate custom music based on a human heart rate. The subject of this short is awesome in itself, but it's also one of the first Short films to be done on the Canon C100. Let us know what you think!

Major Nikon Discounts Effective Tonight: D600, D800 & D800e

UPDATE: D800e is now showing $200 discount! If you were waiting for a great deal on a Nikon camera, perhaps waiting was actually a good decision. Tonight a D600 kit with a 24-85mm VR lens, a Lowepro bag, a monopod, an extra battery, and a 32 gig memory card is on sale for $1,995 (reduced significantly from original MSRP $2,696) and the D800 is an additional $200 off.

Twitter Launches Update to Add Photo Filters

Last week, Facebook took Instagram preview support away from Twitter, and Twitter obviously was pretty prepared for that. Today you can download an update for Twitter that gives you a list of Instagram-like options with which to tweet till your heart's content. Yay?

Red Giant Gives 40% Off All Software!

Red Giant, known for its video editing tools such as Plural Eyes, which a lot of Fstoppers writers use for syncing audio and video with ease, is having a sale! They have plenty of other neat bits of software, too. So head over and check them out. Code 2012BSF40 will get you the discount here on their site.