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.

How to Use a Standard Zoom Lens for Landscape Photography

The standard zoom lens (24-70mm) is one of the most practical and versatile out there, able to tackle a wide range of applications with ease, including landscape photography. This great video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer sharing how he uses a standard zoom for his own work. 

One Photographer's Thoughts After Four Years With the Leica M System

Perhaps no camera system is more iconic and more polarizing than the Leica M system. While some see it as an overly extravagant status symbol for wealthy people, others absolutely swear by both the experience it offers and the images it produces. So, who is the system really for?

A Versatile and Effective Two-lens Kit for Landscape Photography

The beauty of landscape photography is that there are so many different ways to photograph the same scene. As such, it is nice to have options to cover the full range of scenarios, but that also needs to be balanced by keeping the amount of bulk you are hiking with in check. This excellent video discusses a versatile two-lens kit that will not break the bank or your back. 

A Review of the Impressive and Affordable 7Artisans 15mm f/4 Lens

7Artisans has become well known for producing some of the most affordable lenses available to photographers. While that sometimes means significant compromises in performance or image quality, their 15mm f/4 lens offers rather impressive results while still coming in at a very low cost. Is it the right lens for you?

A Long-term Review of the Canon EOS R7 Mirrorless Camera

The 7D line of APS-C DSLRs from Canon were some of the most popular the company ever made, bringing many of the features and capabilities from higher-level full frame cameras like the 5D and 1D series to far more affordable cameras. Now in the mirrorless age, the EOS R7 has picked up that torch and brought along a modernization of the body with a range of upgrades.

Samyang's New 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Lens Is Creating Buzz

We would be hard-pressed to find a photographer who wasn't familiar with mega-brands Tamron and Sigma offering lower-priced lenses to rival the designs put out by the giants: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and more. This week, there has been buzz in the nerdy sublayers of photography sites about a new lens coming out: the Samyang 35-150mm f/2-2.8. Let's dive into this.  

A Review of the Affordable Canon EOS R50 Mirrorless Camera

At $679, the Canon EOS R50 offers an affordable entry point into Canon's mirrorless system, though it still brings along an array of enticing features. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.  

Why the 50mm Focal Length Is Overrated

I know, I know. I'm likely guilty of photography blasphemy here. The 50mm focal length, often referred to as the "nifty fifty," has long been one of the most commonly used in photography, noted for its versatility and often, its affordability relative to other focal lengths.

The Magic of a Forgotten Sensor

Camera sensors have evolved at a breakneck pace since the advent of the digital era, but many photographers lament the loss of a sensor from the early days of the technology, often calling its color rendition "magic." Is it nostalgia, or is there really something different in the way it produces images? This awesome video takes a look.  

Creating a Michael Bay-Level Rig in the Back Garden

It seems that every year we see crazier and crazier setups, usually reserved for high-end cinema productions, made available to the average person. In this video, you can see an absurdly cool orbital shot made in a back garden. 

Why You Shouldn't Overlook This Fantastic $400 Full Frame Camera

Top-level full frame cameras can easily run north of $3,000 and much higher, and while they are, without a doubt, tremendously capable machines, you may not need all that power. This fantastic video takes a look at a full frame camera that costs only $400 and can still compete with modern options in many ways.  

A Review of the New Sigma 50mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Lens

The new Sigma 50mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary lens offers one of the most popular focal lengths in tandem with a modestly wide maximum aperture, all in a very travel-friendly package, making it an appealing lens for quite a few photographers. Can it deliver good performance and image quality to back up those appealing characteristics?

Who Makes the Best APS-C Camera: Canon or Fujifilm?

The Canon EOS R7 and Fujifilm X-T5 are two of the most advanced APS-C cameras on the market, sporting high-resolution sensors in tandem with fast burst rates, advanced autofocus systems, and a wide range of other useful features. Which one is right for your needs? This excellent video comparison takes an in-depth look at both cameras to help you decide.  

Should You Buy the Godox AD200 Pocket Flash? We Review

The Godox AD200 has been around for a few years now, and in 2019, Godox released the "Pro" version of the AD200. Is this small, lightweight, powerful flash the right choice for you in 2023? Why do so many photographers think so highly of this pocket flash?

 

The Best Budget Sony E Mount Lenses for Wedding Photographers

It used to be that wedding photographers had to carry expensive top-level optics in order to ensure they could reliably deliver professional shots. However, in recent years, third-party and mid-tier lenses have made remarkable steps forward, and it is now possible to save both your back and your bank account by purchasing more modest options and still be able to deliver excellent images.

A Common Pricing Mistake New Photographers Make

Being competent with your camera and having creative vision is, of course, essential to finding success as a professional, but it also takes a fair amount of business savvy as well. One of the things newer photographers struggle with the most is pricing.

A Review of the New Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary Lens

The new Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary lens promises nice image quality and a wide focal length in a very light and portable package. Can it deliver on that promise? This great video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from the lens in practice.  

Hands-On With the New Sigma 23mm f/1.4

Sigma has announced a slew of new lenses that are attracting favorable reviews so far. One of which is the 24mm f/1.4 and this photographer has spent some time hands-on with it for this video. 

Sigma's Latest Lenses: A Perfect Fit for Mirrorless Enthusiasts

Sigma has announced the release of three new lenses: the 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary, the 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary, and the 50mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary. 

The Sigma 17mm and 50mm lenses are designed for full frame mirrorless cameras, while the 23mm lens is designed for APS-C cameras. The lenses are priced at $599, $630, and $549, respectively.

Putting the New Canon R6 Mark II Through Its Paces

We shoot with the Canon EOS R6 Mark II mirrorless camera at a real wedding and a live concert and test the camera that changes the rules when it comes to shooting in low light and at high speed. 

A Review of the Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera

The Canon EOS R5 burst onto the scene and instantly showed the industry that the company was extremely serious about contending in the professional mirrorless market. The EOS R6 came with the EOS R5 and brought with it most of the same features as the EOS R5, save for the high-resolution sensor and 8K raw video, and did so at a much lower price.

Is This $8,000 Bokeh Machine Worth the Price Tag?

Portrait photographers will often drop significant amounts of money on top-level lenses, but even by those standards, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct is particularly expensive. At $8,000, can its performance and image quality justify that stratospheric cost? This great video review takes a look at everything you can expect from the lens.  

A Review of the New Venus Optics Laowa Argus 28mm f/1.2 FF Lens

Venus Optics, well known for creating some of the most unique lenses available, recently released the Laowa Argus 28mm f/1.2 FF, which offers an extremely wide maximum aperture in tandem with a popular in-between focal length. This great video review takes a look at the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.  

Which of These Premium 50mm Lenses Do You Prefer?

The wide-aperture 50mm lens is, by far, one of the most common lenses out there, and for good reason, as it is also one of the most versatile, able to tackle a humongous range of scenarios and needs thanks to its neutral focal length and top-notch low-light and narrow depth of field capabilities. Both Sigma and Sony have recently released professional-level 50mm f/1.4 options.

Super Telephoto Lenses: Amazing or Overrated?

Last summer I bought a super telephoto lens to capture wildlife in Alaska. After more than half a year of using it as a lens for landscape photography, was it worth it? 

The Canon EOS R3 Just Got Smarter

The Canon EOS R3 is already the company's most advanced camera at the moment, and thanks to a new firmware upgrade, it just became more capable.  

The DIY Food Photography Setup: The Gear You Shouldn't Bypass

It's annoying, I know. You thought you had it figured out. You thought you'd ticked every box, but I guarantee you didn't. I certainly didn't and haven't to this day! The amount of gear we use as photographers is ridiculous. It makes even the smallest of shoots a test in organization, packing, loading, unloading, setting up, packing down, and remembering to do it all again.

What Does a Box of $175 Worth of Junk Cameras Get You?

We all dream of heading to a thrift store, pawn shop, or storage unit auction and finding a great camera or lens for a fantastic price. This person actually took a chance on a similar auction, dropping $175 on mostly unverifiable camera gear to see if it contained any hidden gems, and this fun video takes you through the unboxing to see if the gamble paid off.  

A Quick Look at The New Sony ZV-E1

Sony just announced the new Sony ZV-E1 full-frame interchangeable lens camera. Currently the smallest and lightest full-frame interchangeable lens camera on the market. But who is this camera designed for? 

Is This the Best Landscape Photography Lens for Fujifilm GFX Users?

The Fujifilm GFX line of mirrorless cameras has become popular for making medium format more modernized and financially accessible than ever, making it a legitimate alternative to full frame for many photographers. For landscape photographers using the system, the GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR looks like the ideal lens.

Eye-controlled Autofocus Is Coming to More Canon Cameras

Eye-controlled autofocus, in which the camera selects the autofocus point by detecting which one you are looking at, is one of the niftiest features in the Canon EOS R3 mirrorless camera. In a bit of good news, Canon has confirmed that the feature will be coming to more mirrorless models in the future. 

Product and Food Photography: This Is the Way

When it comes to product and food photography, lighting is critical and can make or break the final image. Achieving the perfect lighting can be a complex process, even more so if you are just starting out with this type of photography.   

3 Reasons the Fujifilm X-T5 Is a Great Camera

The Fujifilm X-T5 mirrorless camera takes the company's well-established and respected X-T line and adds a range of new features and capabilities, most notable being the new 40-megapixel sensor, the highest ever in an X Series camera. The great video features an X-T5 user discussing three reasons why he recommends the camera.  

A Look at Canon's Seven Craziest Lenses

Canon has a long history of producing some of the most interesting and extreme lens designs out there, and they can be a blast to look back on and even use today if you can track them down. This fun video takes a look at the company's seven most extreme designs, ranging from an insane 5200mm f/14 lens from the 1960s to one of the most useful options on the market today.  

Will the Canon EOS R5 Soon Shoot 400-Megapixel Images?

Recently, news broke that Canon is likely planning a significant firmware for the EOS R5 later this year, including a high-resolution pixel-shift mode. Now, it appears that mode may offer a whopping 400 megapixels of resolution.  

A First Look at the Impressive Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S Lens

The new Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens has arrived, and with it comes some of the company's most extreme design and impressive optical performance. And while it looks impressive on paper, can it hold up in the real world? This great first look video examines the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.  

A Deep Review of the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM Lens

A good wide-aperture 50mm lens is one of the most versatile optics a photographer can own, capable of comfortably tackling a huge range of genres and needs. For Sony users, the new FE 50mm f/1.4 GM offers the promise of high-level performance and image quality in a relatively portable package.