I've used a 40mm (equivalent) lens for years, and while I first discovered this weird focal length more than a decade ago with Micro Four Thirds, it's become a staple of my collection enough to move it from "weird" to "wonderful."
I am not a Sony shooter, but, for the last couple of months, I’ve gotten a chance to play with the Sony a7S III and use it for an assortment of projects. Here are my impressions from the outside looking in.
What essential tools have you always wanted to mount onto your camera setup?
There are a lot of camera bag addicts in our community and it's easy to see why: they can revolutionize your shooting experience when outdoors. Of all the genres of photography that need the right camera bag, landscape is right up near the top. Here is one landscape photographer's new favorite bag.
DJI’s Mavic 3 is an amazing drone, but DJI’s pricing for their filters isn’t so amazing. Fortunately, companies like PGYTECH have made a range of filters compatible with the Mavic 3’s unique mount and camera setup. Are they worth pairing with the high-performance camera the drone is equipped with? I put PGYTECH’s Mavic 3 filter series to the test in this review.
I own a ton of photo and video gear, but if I had to keep only what I could fit in a single backpack, this is what I would choose.
I have a massive soft spot for fresnels. I love them. Fresnels give out unique light qualities that can’t be replicated by anything else. The Aputure F10 Fresnel is no exception, as it turns an LED into a super-light. Here’s why.
The Rode Videomic Go II certainly isn't the best-sounding microphone at $99, but there is no doubt it's the most versatile.
I have been using a square filter system for many years. It proved to be a flexible system that allows one filter to fit on every lens I own. A magnetic filter system is a great alternative, though. I tried both during my recent travels over Lofoten, Norway and I want to share my experiences.
Chocolate filters aren’t new, but they’re certainly not talked about. Is there something more to them?
Apple just held their Peek Performance event. How does the newly announced Apple Hardware compare to the existing lineup and the competition? What does the future hold for creatives using Apple hardware?
Rounding out today's Apple announcements is the new Studio Display, offering professional-level image quality for users of just about any Mac model. Let's take a look.
Canon's RF lenses have been mostly quite impressive, offering top-shelf performance and image quality while pushing the boundaries of design. And though the RF lineup is filling out nicely, Canon has confirmed they have no intention of slowing down, with dozens more lenses coming in the next few years.
Today's Apple event brought a ton of exciting new devices for photographers and filmmakers, but perhaps the most notable was the new M1 Ultra chip, the most powerful the company has ever made. Apple wasted no time putting it in a brand new computer, the Mac Studio, so let's take a look at this powerful new desktop, tailor-made for photographers and filmmakers.
Today's Apple event brought a ton of exciting new devices for photographers and filmmakers, including a new version of the thin and powerful iPad Air that brings the company's M1 chip to the device along with a lot of other new features and upgrades. Let's take a look.
Today's Apple event brought a ton of exciting new devices for photographers and filmmakers, including a nice update to the iPhone SE, their popular low-cost iPhone, that makes it quite appealing to photographers, filmmakers, and regular users alike. Let's take a look.
Wide angle lenses are almost always the first thing landscape photographers reach for, and, of course, there is a good reason why they are so popular in the genre. That being said, long telephoto lenses can produce equally interesting images and can actually be the better choice for certain images. This excellent video will show you some of what you can do with one and why it is so useful.
I aggressively tested an OM System OM-1 Camera in the field. As I had pre-ordered one, I was hoping that I would be pleased with the results. Was I? Here are my thoughts on the camera and what it means to the future of the OM System.
Panasonic's GH6 is here, and it brings with it a host of new features and upgrades over its predecessor. This informative video provides a first look at what you can expect from the camera.
Nowadays, most of us have far more devices than we have ports available on our computers, and rather than constantly hooking up and disconnecting different devices, it is far easier to just get a nice hub. One of the best available is the CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 18-in-1 Hub, and this excellent video review takes a look at its capabilities and the performance you can expect from it.
Forget technology updates, larger sensor capacity, and more dynamic range. If you could only choose one camera to shoot with for the rest of your photographic life, what would it be?
Wide-aperture 50mm lenses are quite versatile, able to fill the needs of photographers in a wide variety of scenarios. For Sony shooters, FE 50mm f/1.2 GM offers top-of-the-line design in tandem with a very wide maximum aperture, making it an intriguing option for anyone looking for that narrow depth of field look and great image quality to match. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.
Photographers typically have dozens of options when it comes to portrait lenses, with something available to fit just about every budget. Near the top of the mountain is the Fujifilm GF 110mm f/2 R LM WR, a premium portrait lens for Fuji's respected line of medium format mirrorless cameras, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
Fuji's XF 56mm f/1.2 lens has been a highly popular portrait lens for quite a while, but Sigma lenses have finally arrived for Fujifilm shooters, with the 56mm f/1.4 DC DN being one of the initial offerings. At a little less than half the price the Fujifilm offering, it should certainly catch the attention of a lot of portrait and wedding photographers. This excellent video review compares both lenses to see if you should drop more money on the original or if you can save a bundle by going with the Sigma.
As photographers, we often have a lot of different horses for different courses, and when it comes to traveling, it often seems really, really hard to choose the right one to take with you. If you're struggling with this dilemma, you're not alone. Photographer and YouTuber Omar Gonzalez is right there with you.
Canon has pushed into some new territories with the RF mount, and they are showing no signs of stopping, with some especially interesting lenses now being tested.
Sigma has produced some impressively advanced and innovative lenses in the last few years, and as the mirrorless race continues to heat up, the company seems to be showing no signs of slowing down. A few new patents have emerged, and some of them show some very interesting lenses.
Can this new hack for variable neutral density filters expand their usability in landscape photography and long exposure?
Medium format lenses are almost always more expensive than comparable full frame or APS-C counterparts, simply because that bigger sensor needs a bigger image circle and thus, more glass. As such, a medium format lens that sits below $1,000 is worth a look. The Fujifilm GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR is one of those rare lenses, and this great video review takes a look at it and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect.
The new Nikon Z 9 is nearly a perfect camera for my needs. So how could it get even more perfect?
If you only shoot with one camera, you will never have to deal with the issue of syncing clocks, but if you have ever shot a large event with multiple bodies that were not perfectly in sync, you know the frustration of trying to cull those images. This excellent video tutorial will show you why you need to sync the time between your camera bodies, how to do it, and how to fix a time discrepancy in post if you forget to sync beforehand.
A good wide angle lens can be tremendously useful for a range of photography genres, and Canon shooters have a few options from which to choose, with varying image quality, specs, and, of course, price. The excellent video comparison takes a look at three such lenses, the RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM, RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM, and RF 16mm f/2.8 STM.
For many photographers and filmmakers, a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the workhorse of choice for a wide variety of genres and shooting situations. That being said, such lenses can be quite expensive. Samyang's 24-70mm f/2.8 AF Zoom comes in at less than half the price of most such lenses, however, making it an intriguing option for a wide variety of creatives. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
These new camera backpacks from Manfrotto offer more than just a minimalist design.
Photography gear is quite expensive, and filling out your kit can quickly add up in cost. Purchasing used can save you a ton of money, but, of course, you want to make sure the camera or lens you are considering is in good shape and fully functional. This helpful video features an experienced photographer discussing what you should look for and how to evaluate used cameras and lenses before you agree to purchase them.
Leica is a polarizing brand by virtue of their prices and almost nothing else. But, if money was no object, would you shoot with them? Their Noctilux range is on many wishlists, but how good are they really and can they justify the price?
We are constantly pressured into buying the latest cameras. As the bottom has fallen out of the camera market, maybe it’s time that camera manufacturers had a rethink about what they offer us. Nevertheless, there are good reasons for and against both upgrading and changing your system.
Samyang, long known for producing highly affordable but sharp manual focus lenses, has expanded into autofocus offerings in recent years while still keeping their lineup at prices well below first-party options. The new AF 135mm f/1.8 FE offers a popular portrait focal length with a pleasingly wide maximum aperture, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
Portrait focal length lenses with wide maximum apertures will always be popular, but they can also be quite expensive, easily running about $2,000 at the top end of the spectrum. The TTArtisan 90mm f/1.25 offers that classic combination at a much more affordable price, making it an attractive option for a wide range of photographers. 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.
I am as big a fan of Canon's lenses as anyone; I resisted the temptation to switch brands for years simply because they offer certain lenses that I can't imagine not having. When it comes to the new RF 800mm f/5.6 L IS USM and RF 1200mm f/8 L IS USM lenses, however, you should really think twice before you buy them.
Most of us have made hasty purchases at one point or another, but have you ever bought something you genuinely regretted? In this video, Mattias Burling discusses five cameras he regrets buying and why.
Cinematographer Lewis Potts brings us through his methods in creating an indoor scene, as well as the rest of the commercial he shot. However, there’s something in particular worth sharing.
The Nikon Z 9 is built for speed. Here are the first customizations I’ve chosen to make mine even faster.
Travel photography is a staple genre of the craft and one that most photographers try at some point. However, with such a broad scope and the many other genres that it encompasses, it can be hard to keep your kit bag light. So, what's the best prime lens?
While it’s always fun to window-shop $14,000 lenses, the best value for the dollar can be had from some simple $30 or less accessories. Over the last year, I’ve found 4 pieces of gear that have earned a permanent place in my bag — here are my favorite cheap and functional accessories that can all fulfill a variety of roles.
I've spent a lot of money on backgrounds, and while for photographing humans, it's certainly the way to go, for product photography, sometimes, the solution is sitting right in front of your face. I mean that in the most literal of senses, as in your computer monitor.
Camera technology is evolving at a breakneck pace, and manufacturers are getting a lot right these days. But of course, no company is perfect, and there is always room for improvement. This great video features a photographer discussing seven things he wishes all camera companies would improve on.
A wide angle lens with a wide maximum aperture is one of the most versatile optics a photographer or filmmaker can have in their bag. If you are a Fujifilm shooter and looking to add one to your collection, the XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR is an intriguing option, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
The Canon 5DS and 5DS R were notable for offering 50-megapixel sensors at a time when that was an extremely high resolution for a full frame camera. Nowadays, 45-50 megapixels is much more common on higher-end camera bodies, with full frame options topping out at 61 megapixels. It looks like Canon plans to eclipse that figure by a significant amount with a new camera, however.
Today, Canon has announced the two latest lenses for RF mount mirrorless cameras, the RF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM and RF 1200mm f/8L IS USM, continuing to expand their lineup to new extremes.
