If you're a portrait photographer, you'll know the feeling of getting a new lens and going on your first portrait shoots with it. That feeling was strong for me over a decade ago and it's just as strong now!
Fujifilm has established itself as a leader in the photography industry with cameras that have earned devoted fans from all genres. Just like any other company, though, there are good and bad aspects. What are the pros and cons of Fujifilm cameras? This excellent video essay takes a deep look at Fujifilm cameras and how they perform in a competitive world.
Panasonic’s latest and greatest cameras will have a much better chance of success.
Ricoh's GR series of compact cameras have long been considered some of the best options for street photography, as they offer a wide angle lens paired with a large sensor for a compact body, making them discreet but powerful. This excellent video review takes a look at the latest version, the GR IIIx, and how it performs for street photography.
There's been a long-held belief that higher-megapixel cameras produce more noise in low-light situations. Here, different models of Fuji, Canon, and Sony cameras are compared side-by-side to prove that high-megapixel cameras do not produce more noise than lower-megapixel models when lighting conditions are poor.
Glyn Dewis takes a look at the Sony A7R V with his usual comedic but incredibly informative style. He compares it to his existing A7R IV and looks at the new updates to the software and hardware on this updated camera model. Now if you managed to catch his earlier video that was recently taken down you'd have seen that the issues he had when using the new Sony A7RV whilst focussing on the subject in the video were less than ideal. This refresh of that video comes as Sony reached out and sorted a few of the issues that plagued the version he was loaned. The changed settings are clearly...
In the past few years, Tamron has reinvented themselves as a company that offers both lenses that make smart compromises to be highly affordable and lenses that push the boundaries of design. The 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD falls into the latter category, and it looks like an impressive option, particularly for wedding photographers, and this great video takes you behind the scenes with the lens and shows you just what it can pull off.
TTArtisan makes some of the most affordable lenses currently available, and the 28mm f/5.6 is no exception to that trend, offering a relatively wide angle focal length in a lens that fits in the palm of your hand. Can it offer image quality too? This great video review takes a look at what you can expect.
The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens is the new addition to the Sigma range for Fuji X Mount to accompany their three existing contemporary f/1.4 prime lenses. So how does this lens fair when it comes to image quality, value for money, and useability? We test it to find out.
Tamron has established itself as a manufacturer of both practical and competitively priced lenses as well as options that push the boundaries of lens design. The 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD offers Nikon Z mirrorless users a versatile focal length range for an array of applications, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.
Lighting is everything to photographers, but how much thought have you put into the place where you work? Whether you shoot in that space, record videos and vlogs, or just are in there a lot, you can use your professional lighting to improve the space.
Okay, so I know a lot of readers may disagree with me on this and have different opinions. My writing here isn't intended to cause any offense, but more to offer an opinion and start a discussion on the matter. My evidence here is based on having worked in the IT industry for over 30 years and working in the photographic industry with creatives. Hopefully, after reading this you'll come up with an understanding which may help your next (or first) computer storage purchase.
When Fujifilm announced the X-T5 mirrorless camera, they also announced the XF 30mm f/2.8 R LM WR Macro lens, which offers the versatility of a true macro lens and a normal focal length in a lightweight and portable package, making it an intriguing option for everything from detail work to portrait photography. This excellent video review takes a look at the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.
24mm lenses are favored for offering a reasonably wide focal length without going so wide as to start running into major issues with distortion, making them great for events, astrophotography, weddings, and more. Viltrox's AF 24mm f/1.8 offers those advantages at a very reasonable price, and this excellent video review looks at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
Traveling with photography equipment can be a challenge. Airlines limit the size and weight of cabin bags so much that it's nearly impossible to bring all gear as carry-on. While I've accepted that my tripod has to go into checked luggage, cameras, lenses, filters, and laptop have to stay with me. In this article, I share a little travel hack that helps to get around hand luggage limitations.
The Sony a7 series of cameras really accelerated the photography world's transition into the mirrorless realm, and the company continues to offer highly competitive options that keep other manufacturers on their toes. Are they right for you? This interesting video features one photographer discussing his thoughts after a year using the Sony system.
A quality 50mm lens is one of the most flexible optics a photographer can have in their kit, with the ability to tackle just about everything from portraits to events, street photography, and much more. Such lenses can cost anywhere from under $100 to well over $2,000, which makes the Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.8, which sits at $379, a nice middle-of-the-road option that offers you higher levels of performance and image quality without breaking into stratospheric price levels. 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.
Sigma has announced one of their most versatile lenses yet, the 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports.
The holy trinity of zoom lenses is traditionally considered an ultra-wide angle zoom (like a 14-24mm f/2.8), a standard zoom (24-70mm f/2.8), and a telephoto zoom (70-200mm f/2.8), so named because they can competently cover the majority of situations a photographer will encounter. However, since that term was coined years ago, the lens and camera market has changed significantly. Is there a new and better holy trinity of zooms? This great video makes a case for one.
The latest generation of Canon mirrorless cameras brings with it a nice array of features for wildlife photography, including fast continuous burst rates and advanced autofocus features. With such advanced systems, it is worth taking the time to customize the camera to your exact needs to ensure you have the best chances of getting those fleeting shots. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced wildlife photographer walking you through how he sets up his Canon camera.
There was a time when you had a few options when buying a camera of a particular brand. That's rarely the case anymore and you can find yourself lost in a sea of acronyms and initialisms.
DjJI has released a miniature version of their popular RS3 gimbal series, reducing its overall size to fit into a backpack and giving it enough power to handle most mainstream camera setups.
Apple's introduction of the M1 series of chips was a major paradigm shift for the company, bringing with them some of the efficient performance ever seen, allowing for powerful laptops that still managed to last all day. That, combined with other features, like a large and vibrant display, make the 16" MacBook Pro with the M1 Max chip the seeming frontrunner for creatives on the go. Can it keep that title in practice? This excellent video review discusses one creative's thoughts after a year with the laptop.
A well-made camera that can make great pictures and only costs $10 sounds too good to be true, right? Here's why you need to add a point and shoot to your camera bag.
Traditionally, decent image quality from a supertelephoto focal length costs a pretty penny, which is what makes the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM, which costs less than $1,000, a particularly intriguing lens for many creatives. Can it offer performance and image quality that punch above that budget price, though? This excellent video review takes an in-depth look at what you can expect from the lens.
With the release of cameras like the EOS R7, Canon has shown they are dedicated to building their APS-C mirrorless platform alongside their well-established full frame line. If you are shooting with such a camera and looking for a kit lens for shooting a variety of scenarios, check out this fantastic video review that compares two good options.
The Fujinon XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR is hailed to be one of the sharpest Fuji lenses for its size and very reasonable price, so how does it fair on the Fuji X-T5 with its 40mp sensor? It's one on a list of lenses that Fujifilm recommends you use to get the best out of the sensor, and if that in fact is the case it certainly does it well.
One of the calling cards of the Fujifilm X Series is professional features and image quality in significantly smaller packages, and the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR continues that by giving photographers a useful wide angle focal length that fits in the palm of the hand. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.
Few cameras are as unique as the Leica M Monochrom, which, as its name implies, only shoots in black and white. While that might sound like a gimmick, it can provide a notable difference in image rendition in addition to the shooting experience. This interesting video takes a look at the original Leica M Monochromea decade after its release and discusses why it might be worth a look today.
I’ve always had a set of “work” cameras and “fun” cameras, the former being big, heavy professional tools and the latter being the kind I’d bring on family trips and for street photography.
