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.

Your Guide to All of Canon's APS-C Mirrorless Cameras

Canon has filled out their APS-C mirrorless line quite nicely with an array of models that offer everything from highly affordable options to professional-level models capable of tackling just about anything you can throw at them. So, which model is right for your budget and needs? This helpful video gives an overview of every option to help you choose. 

Our Long-Term Review of the Shimoda Action X50 Backpack

After thorough consideration, I made the decision to purchase the Shimoda Action X50 backpack a few years ago as my primary backpack for photography travels. Now, after several years of use, I want to reflect on its performance. Is it worth the investment? Let's find out. 

We Review the New Sony a6700 Mirrorless APS-C Camera

After four years, Sony finally released this new APS-C camera. This is the a6700 with a completely new design. It features the new A.I. engine for identifying and tracking subjects. Unfortunately, Sony forgot to make a few other improvements. 

A Review of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR Lens

Superzoom lenses offer the ultimate level of convenience, replacing several other lenses and allowing a photographer to travel lighter and work faster. For Nikon mirrorless shooters, there is the 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from the lens in real-world use. 

Here Comes Another Extreme Canon Lens

Canon has taken advantage of the additional capabilities offered by the RF mirrorless mount, creating a variety of highly capable lenses that push the boundaries of lens design. It looks like they have no intentions of slowing down, with yet another high-level professional lens likely on the way soon. 

Spherical Versus Anamorphic Lenses: Which Is Better?

You may be familiar with the term anamorphic lens, but what is the difference between them and spherical lenses? Which is better for videography? Here is a comprehensive comparison of a wide array of both! 

Canon Patents More Interesting Lenses

Canon has produced some incredible RF mount lenses thus far, and they have shown they have no plans of slowing down. A new set of patents have emerged, and they show quite a versatile lens in the works.  

Canon Watch uncovered the patents recently, and they show three designs for new superzoom lenses: 

Viltrox Does It Again on the Z Mount: We Review the 75mm f/1.2 Lens

Viltrox has gained a reputation for creating high-quality prime lenses for different lens mounts.  Allowing for accessibility to everyone due to a very affordable price bracket, these lenses are sharp, robust, and fast and Viltrox is very rapidly establishing itself as a top contender in the 3rd party lens market. 

A Review of the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM Lens

The Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM is an absolutely tiny lens, making it an intriguing option for anyone who wants a nice walkaround setup that will not break their back or bank account. How does it hold up in practice? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you will be able to expect from it in use. 

Natural Light Boudoir Photographer Tries Artificial Lights

Michael Sasser is a well-known boudoir photographer on YouTube and loves to shoot in natural light conditions only, but in this video, he is opting to use the Zhiyun MOLUS G200 lights. Join Michael in this video to see how he gets on and what amazing images he can create.  

My Favorite Flash System is On Sale

It's not often that my favorite flash system goes on sale, so when it does it's pretty big news. Now until August 31st, Profoto is offering up to $600 off their B10x and B10x Plus flash heads. If you looking to add to your kit or are wanting to switch over to a powerful and portable flash system that uses Profoto's light modifiers, this is a great deal to check out. 

A Review of the Viltrox AF 75mm f/1.2 Lens

Third-party manufacturers have put a lot of pressure on first-party companies in the last few years by continually offering both innovative and unusual lenses and more standard options that perform just as well as more expensive glass at far more affordable prices. One such company doing that is Viltrox, with the AF 75mm f/1.2 for Sony APS-C E mount cameras being the latest example.

The Best Lens Kit for Landscape Photography

The 16-35mm lens is the standard workhorse of landscape photography, but it is far from the only lens you can use for the genre, and, in fact, you are probably doing yourself a disservice if you rely exclusively on those focal lengths.

A Fujifilm User's First Thoughts on Leica

Perhaps no camera brand is more polarizing than Leica, with many photographers absolutely swearing by both the experience and the image rendering and quality, while others claim they are nothing more than overpriced status symbols.

Which of These 50mm Lenses Is Better?

Sigma long ago established themselves as one of the premier manufacturers of lenses that offer top-level image quality that professional photographers demand at prices that often significantly undercut those of first-party manufacturers.

What Camera Gear Do You Regret Buying?

There is a ton of gear on the camera market, a lot of which promises to give you an easy shortcut to better images, and while some of it can legitimately make your life easier, a lot of it is simply a waste of money that you will regret spending down the road. This great video featured an experienced photographer discussing some of the gear he most regrets buying and why.  

Is the Nikon Z7 II or Z8 the Right Camera for You?

Both the Nikon Z7 II and Z8 have earned reputations as highly capable cameras capable of producing excellent images in a variety of conditions. With a thousand dollars of difference between the two, you might wonder if you need the more expensive Z8 or if the Z7 II will cover all your needs.

5 of the Best Lenses on Fixed Lens Cameras

While interchangeable lens cameras rule the professional world, fixed lens cameras have always been an alternative option for anyone who does not want the hassle or expense of carrying around a bag of several lenses. With a long history of such cameras, there have been some remarkable options along the way.

A Review of the Ultra-Fast Viltrox AF 75mm f/1.2 Lens

In the past few years, we have seen an explosion of lenses that offer far more performance for the price than many comparable first-party options, and few manufacturers have been more competitive in that respect than Viltrox, who have created some of the most remarkably affordable lenses in recent memory.

Is Nikon Planning to Go Retro Again?

Nikon has dabbled in vintage-styled digital cameras for quite some time now, with some achieving more success than others, but they have yet to release a full frame mirrorless camera with that sort of design. That might change soon, with a new vintage-style full frame mirrorless camera rumored to be on the way very soon. 

The Difficulty of Wide Angle Lenses

Wide angle lenses are the tool of choice for a lot of landscape photography, but they come with a large set of challenges that can make it difficult to produce worthwhile images with them.

Small, Mighty, and Safe: We Review the Synology 1 TB BeeDrive

Backup and storage solutions are 10 a penny these days, and with so much choice, knowing which ones to choose becomes increasingly more difficult. Each of these solutions has its own advantages and disadvantages. Whether that's cost, security, compatibility, or capacity, these solutions can range in price from free to hundreds of dollars per year.  

A Review of the Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Lens

With a cost of just $1,299, the Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 offers an incredible capable and versatile range of capabilities, at least on paper. Can its performance and image quality match those impressive specs in real-world usage? This great video review takes a look at what you can expect from the lens.  

We Review the Pentax K3 III Monochrome DSLR

When I was sent a Pentax K3 Mark III Monochrome for review, I must admit that I didn’t know what to expect. Releasing an APS-C DLSR in 2023 – one that only captures monochrome images – is quite a bold move, and the K3 Mark III Monochrome is in fact the only camera in existence that can claim these unique specifications.

A Review of the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for Fujifilm X Series Cameras

Perhaps no workhorse lens is more ubiquitous than the standard zoom with an f/2.8 aperture. Capable of handling a diverse range of applications and needs, these lenses can be found in many photographers and filmmakers bags, though they are often rather expensive. At $799, that makes the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD rather refreshing. Can it keep up with more expensive options?

The Best Photographer Work Station? We Review the FlexiSpot Standing Desk

Standing desks have become somewhat ubiquitous over the last few years and hold a number of benefits for photographers and content creators. Having used them in the past with mixed results, I was pleasantly surprised by the standing desk from FlexiSpot in terms of quality, form, and function.  

The Ultimate Desk for Creators

Like a lot of creatives, finding that perfect desk setup is sort of like searching for the holy grail. But after a lot of searching, I think I found mine.  

We Got Our Hands on the Just-Announced DJI Air 3

The gimbal and drone giant DJI has just announced their next-generation mid-level drone set to replace the Air 2. The new DJI Air 3 brings many new and interesting features, and we managed to play with one for a few days before the announcement. So, what does it bring? Is it any good? 

Is Canon Planning Another Extraordinary Lens?

Canon came out swinging when they entered the full frame mirrorless market, with one of their most impressive lenses being the RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM, the first full frame autofocus zoom lens with an f/2 aperture. This has led many to hope that other f/2 zoom lenses might eventually be offered, and their wishes might come true.  

Ideas for Minimal but Effective Workspace Setups

We put a lot of time and effort into ensuring our workspaces are technically capable of tackling the often high demands we place on them for our photo and video work. Nonetetheless, the visual design of our workspaces can have a major impact on both our efficiency and our enjoyment of the work.

A Review of the Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Lens

At just $1299, the Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 looks like a remarkable deal if it can offer the performance and image quality to match those impressively versatile specifications. So, how does it hold up in practice? This fantastic video review takes a look at what you can expect.  

Sony a6700 Versus FX30 Battle: Which Flagship Should You Choose?

Sony's latest flagship APS-C camera, the a6700, offers many compelling features that make it a powerful contender to the cinema-focused FX30. Creator and filmmaker Terry Warfield puts the two cameras in a head-to-head battle to help you choose the best option for your needs. 

Sony has updated its flagship hybrid APS-C camera lineup with the release of the feature-packed a6700.

How Good Is the Highly Affordable Canon EOS R100 Mirrorless Camera?

At just $479, the EOS R100 is remarkably affordable, making it an intriguing entry point into Canon’s mirrorless ecosystem or a convenient and portable backup for current users. At such a low price, can it satisfy the needs of modern photographers and filmmakers?

Can This Single Zoom Lens Replace Several Prime Lenses?

There used to be a significant separation between prime and zoom lenses in several ways, and as such, it was easy to know which was appropriate for different situations. However, more modern zoom lenses have blurred the line, and they can arguably match prime lenses in some situations. One such lens is the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM.

The Joys of a Small Camera Bag

If you are anything like me, you have probably found yourself staring at your open camera backpack, paralyzed by the decision of what gear to take and what to leave behind. Perhaps the solution is not to fill that backpack, but rather, to get a smaller bag.

We Review the Genaray Bright Beast LED Panel

LED light panels, once used predominantly by videographers, have now become an indispensable tool for photographers. Whether you are a seasoned professional or an aspiring enthusiast, finding the perfect lighting setup can make all the difference in capturing high-quality images.

 

A Review of the Fujifilm XF 18-120mm f/4 R LM PZ WR Lens

Fujifilm's X Series of cameras and lenses have become increasingly versatile and feature-laden in the past year, with one of their most capable lenses being the XF 18-120mm f/4 R LM PZ WR, which covers the most popular focal lengths and includes a power zoom mechanisms for filmmaking applications. How does it hold up in practice?

How to Add Depth to a Landscape Photo Through Editing

Rarely is a landscape photo finished when you press the shutter; almost all images require some degree of editing to produce a fully polished result. One of the challenges of editing a landscape image is bringing a sense of depth back to a two-dimensional photo.