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.

Are Olympus Zuiko the GOAT Vintage Lenses?

Olympus has been assigning the Zuiko name to its range of high-quality lenses since 1936. Zuiko-branded lenses were made for SLR, rangefinder, and automatic point-and-shoot cameras in medium format, 35mm, and even half-frame formats. Assessing the best of anything in photography leads to vivid debate and lots of room for subjectivity.

When You Love Prime Lenses, but Choose Zooms

Zoom lenses have come a long way in the last decade, but primes still hold the advantage in maximum aperture, portability, and often, image quality. All this is why a lot of photographers steadfastly stick with bags of prime lenses instead of just a zoom or two. So, why would a prime enthusiast use zoom lenses?

Is This the Ultimate Landscape Lens?

There are a lot of ways to approach landscape photography, but when you are thinking about what gear to take, it is worth considering the fact that you will often have to hike several miles with a bag of cameras and lenses on your back. So, should you reconsider what is in your bag?

Just How Good Is the Canon EOS R7 Mirrorless Camera?

The Canon 7D line of APS-C DSLRs were quite popular during their era, as they offered professional features seen in much more expensive lines like the flagship 1D series at a much more affordable price. In the mirrorless era, the EOS R7 has taken over that role, and it brings with it an impressive range of new features and upgrades that make it an intriguing option for a wide range of options.

A Review of the Canon EOS R7 Mirrorless Camera

Canon's 7D line of advanced APS-C DSLRs were some of the most popular cameras of their time, offering professional-level features in a much more affordable body, making them attractive to a wide range of photographers. The EOS R7 is the mirrorless successor to the 7D line, and it inherits that heritage and modernizes it with some impressive new features and upgraded capabilities.

Everything You Need to Know About Rolling Shutter

Now that we are firmly in the age of mirrorless cameras, many photographers have discovered the silent magic of the electronic shutter, but that is not without its drawbacks. Filmmakers have known about the dangers of rolling shutter for years, and it is now something photographers need to be aware of as well.

Traveling With the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Lens

24-70mm f/2.8 lenses and some of the most versatile and popular choices out there, as they can tackle a huge range of needs and scenarios with easy. For Sony shooters looking for top quality out of such an option, there is the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, and 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. 

A First Look at the Fujifilm X-H2 Mirrorless Camera

The Fujifilm X-H2 is the company's latest entry in its highly popular X Series line of mirrorless cameras, and it brings with it some impressive new features, the most notable being its new 40-megapixel sensor, the highest ever in an APS-C camera.

A Review of the New Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD Lens

Tamron is one of the most exciting companies in the photography world right now, putting pressure on other manufacturers by releasing lenses that offer a ton of performance for their respective prices and that often push the envelope of design.

Is the Fujifilm X-H2 Mirrorless Camera the New Camera to Beat?

The Fujifilm X-H2 mirrorless camera is the company's newest option in the X Series line, and it is a major step forward, being the first to offer a high-resolution sensor — the highest ever in an APS-C camera, in fact. There is more than just that sensor to be excited about, though.

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

Standard zoom lenses with f/2.8 apertures are some of the most popular workhorses out there, as they cover many commonly used focal lengths and offer enough light-gathering power to handle a wide range of scenarios and needs. However, such lenses can be quite expensive, which is why the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD, which comes in at $799, is such an intriguing option.

After Banning Some Third-Party Lenses, What Does Canon's RF Future Look Like?

Recently, Canon banned the production and sales of some third-party lenses for its RF mount cameras. Many photography enthusiasts bemoaned the decision and claimed Canon would lose out because of it. Now that Canon has confirmed the prohibition, what does the future look like for its RF mount cameras and lenses? 

Why Did Olympus Fail?

In January 2021, OM Digital Solutions acquired the Olympus Imaging Division, and though the cameras and lenses live on, the original iconic company was gone in some sense. So, what caused the downfall of one of the most respected and oldest photography companies on the planet?

Can This Affordable 85mm Lens Compete With More Expensive Options?

85mm lenses with wide maximum apertures are some of the most popular out there, particularly for portrait photographers, where their flattering focal length and narrow depth of field make them ideal for photographing people. Nonetheless, such lenses can cost well north of $2,000, which is what makes the Meike 85mm f/1.8, which costs less than $200, so intriguing.

How Good Is the Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD Lens?

With lenses like the 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD, Tamron has shown that in addition to creating pragmatic, affordable lenses, they also have their eyes on those that push the boundaries of design and offer unique capabilities.

Has Canon Made a Big Mistake?

Canon recently caused a fair amount of controversy when it came out that they had requested that Viltrox stop manufacturing autofocus lenses for the RF mount, as they feel doing so infringes on their intellectual property. The incident seems to explain the curious lack of third-party lenses for the RF mount. Has Canon made a mistake? 

We Review the Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Mirrorless Camera

The Hasselblad X1D 50C and X1D II 50C helped to redefine the paradigm of medium format, putting a large sensor inside a sleek, small body. Now, the X2D 100C is here, and not only does it double the resolution of its predecessors, it brings with it a bevy of impressive improvements and new features. In this review, we take a look at the camera and what you can expect. 

A Review of the New Venus Optics Laowa 58mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO Lens

Venus Optics is well known for making unique, interesting, and versatile lenses that offer capabilities that are not possible with other options. Their newest lens, the Laowa 58mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO, offers the promise of fantastic image quality in tandem with ultra-high levels of magnification, all at an affordable price. How does it perform?

What Focal Length Should You Use for Portrait Photography?

In order to create great portraits, you need to have a lot of great components: lighting, composition, as well as camera and lens choice. Deciding what focal length to use for portraiture can be difficult, so in this article, I will make a few suggestions on lenses you should use for your next portrait photoshoot. 

Where Is the Canon EOS R1?

The Canon EOS R3 has been quite well received, and though it has some top-level professional capabilities that help it compete with cameras like the Sony a1 and Nikon Z9, it is not meant to be Canon's flagship mirrorless camera. That title will belong to the EOS R1, whenever it gets here, but when will that be? 

Which of These Versatile Lenses Is Right for You?

A few years ago, if you wanted good image quality from a supertelephoto zoom lens, your only real choice was a first-party option. In the past few years, however, we have seen a real surge in high-quality third-party options that offer a lot of versatility and image quality at prices that often significantly undercut first-party lenses.

Our Long-term Review of the Think Tank Airport Security Trolley

It has been 11 years since I bought the Think Tank Airport Security V2 trolley as my main bag for weddings. It served its purpose, and I’m still happy with the bag. In this article, I want to review the bag based on my findings from the first moment I bought the Think Tank trolley back in 2011. 

Drone Pilot's DJI Avata First Flight Review

DJI recently released the Avata, and it's made quite the buzz around town. So, how did this experienced drone pilot find flying the DJI Avata for the first time? 

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

In the past year, Fujifilm has been on a tear, releasing a wide range of powerful new cameras and versatile lenses. One such lens is the XF 18-120mm f/4 R LM PZ WR, which combines a do-it-all focal length range with a variable power zoom for filmmaking applications.

A Review of the Viltrox AF 13mm f/1.4 Lens

Viltrox has established themselves as a company producing extremely affordable lenses that nonetheless offer good image quality and respectable performance.

Is This Fujifilm's Most Anticipated Lens?

Fujifilm has recently announced the new and highly anticipated XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR. This lens is an update to the popular 56mm f/1.2 R lens, which has been a favorite of Fujifilm X users since it was announced in early 2014. But how much improvement can we see? Have the criticisms of the original lens been addressed? This fantastic video gives real-world insight.  

Are These the Most Absurd Photography Purchases You’ve Ever Seen?

Photography might well be the most gear-intensive pastime on the planet, which means that while there is some incredible gear available for purchase, there are also plenty of duds to waste your money on. Are these some of the worst photography purchases you've seen?

A Review of the Fantastic Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM Lens

When it comes to do-it-all lenses, few can tackle a wider variety of needs and shooting scenarios than a high-quality 50mm lens with a wide aperture, which is suitable for anything from portraits to low-light events coverage.

Landscape Photography With an 85mm Macro Lens

When it comes to landscape photography, a wide angle lens is usually the tool of choice and for good reason. Nonetheless, you do not have to use wide focal lengths exclusively. In fact, a telephoto lens can be a powerful tool that enables new creative opportunities.

A Review of the New Fujifilm X-H2 Mirrorless Camera

Fujifilm's latest X Series camera, the X-H2 is here, and it brings with it a 40-megapixel sensor, the highest ever in an APS-C mirrorless camera. Along with all that resolution comes a wide range of impressive features, and this excellent video review takes a look at all those features as well as the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.  

Weird Gear Buying Advice I Wish I Got Earlier

There is a ton of gear buying advice on the internet. It ranges from people telling you to spend thousands on gear, to people saying all you need is a stick and a brick. I try to be somewhere in between and buy gear based on factors such as return on investment, need versus want, and return on creativity. 

The Essential Zoom Lenses for Landscape Photography

When it comes to landscape photography, you can certainly use prime lenses, but most professionals prefer the versatility and convenience of a zoom lens. So, what are the essential zoom lenses for a landscape photographer? This excellent video tutorial features an experienced landscape shooter discussing the three essential zoom lenses for the genre.  

5 of the Best Portrait Lenses for Sony Shooters

Sony shooters have a huge array of portrait lenses available to them, and if you are in the market for one, it can be hard to know which one to pick for your needs, style, and budget. If you need a bit of assistance with that decision, check out this excellent video that will show you five great portrait lenses for the Sony E mount.  

How to Use a Flash Outside to Freeze Motion

Why not just a fast shutter speed to freeze motion? That's what I always think, but there are good reasons to use a flash or speedlight to do it instead. Take a look to see what they are. 

A Review of the New DJI Osmo Action 3 Camera

The DJI Osmo Action 3 camera is here, and it brings with it a huge range of improvements and new features that make it a competitive option for anyone needing a durable and versatile action camera. This excellent video review takes a look at the new camera and the sort of performance and quality you can expect from it in use.  

Why Photographers Should Care About Gear

A lot of photographers fall into one of two camps: those who could not care less about gear or those who chase every new piece of kit. So, does gear actually matter? This fantastic video essay discusses why photographers actually should care about gear and how it can help them be better.