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.

A Review of the New Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens

Sigma recently announced two new lenses, the 20mm f/1.4 DG DN Art and 24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art, both of which continue the Art series tradition of providing impressive image quality at a significantly more affordable price than many first-party options.

Sigma Announces 20mm f/1.4 DG DN Art and 24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lenses

Today, Sigma has announced two new additions to the highly popular and respected Art Series, the 20mm f/1.4 DG DN Art and 24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art. 

Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG DN Art

The new 20mm f/1.4 DG DN Art continues the tradition of its predecessor as the widest full frame lens with an f/1.4 aperture. 

What Is a Leica M Camera Good For?

As a film photography enthusiast, I am a firm believer that gear is a long way down the list of important factors in image-making. 

Is the Arsenal 2 for Advanced Photographers?

You may remember my 2019 review of the original Arsenal hardware. It was a block box you attached to your DSLR or mirrorless camera and it automated many of the tasks photographers face on a regular basis. The Arsenal sold quite well.

The Best Lenses for Sony E Mount Cameras

Sony users have the blessing of having both a large native lens library and a robust slate of third-party options. With all those choices, it can be a bit difficult to know which is right for you. This helpful video discusses the best lenses for Sony users, including zooms and primes and the full range of focal lengths.  

Are Prime or Zoom Lenses Better for Portrait Photography?

One of the most fundamental choices you can make is whether to use a prime or a zoom lens. For portraiture, there are benefits and drawbacks to each option. If you are new to portrait photography and wondering which is right for you, check out this great video tutorial that will show you the pros and cons of both to help you make the right choice. 

Can This Lens Replace One of the Best Portrait Lenses Ever?

Canon's 85mm f/1.2L lens is one of the most legendary lenses ever created and has been in the hands of countless portrait photographers for a few decades now. In the meantime, the company has developed some other remarkable lenses that give the 85mm a run for its money. So, can it be dethroned? This great video review compares two of Canon's best lenses to answer that question.  

Sony Made a Huge Leap in Technology and No One Is Talking About It

Sony produced what could be described as a game-changer of a camera with its current flagship, the Sony a1. Although this camera offers a plethora of new features that most reviews have raved about. One of its most remarkable features has gone a little under the radar. This feature is the increase in the flash sync speed to 1/400th of a second shutter speed. 

 

A Review of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S Lens

400mm is a tremendously popular focal length for things like wildlife and landscape photography, and you can spend anywhere from under $1,000 to well over $10,000 for such a lens, depending on the image quality and your needs.

Canon Says the Camera Market Is Looking Up, Shares Plan for DSLRs

It's no secret that the smartphone has decimated the camera industry for the past decade, but according to Canon, the market may have finally bottomed out, and there might now be reason to look up. It turns out even DSLRs aren't dead just yet.  

It the TTArtisan 23mm f/1.4 Lens Worth It?

The TTArtisan 23mm f/1.4 lens is a fully manual, all-metal lens designed for a variety of crop sensor cameras. In this video, I discuss my initial impressions using the lens and also whether or not I think it's worth picking up. 

Can This Ultra-Cheap 85mm Lens Give You the Results You Need?

An 85mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is one of the most desirable options out there, especially for portrait photographers, who prize the focal length and narrow depth of field. However, such lenses can easily cost well over $2,000 for a good option. At less than $200, the Meike 85mm f/1.8 is highly intriguing, but can it offer the results you need at such a low price?

Insta360 Announces 4K Webcam With Built-in Gimbal

They’re attempting to make an all-in-one solution. So, how does it stack up? 

Insta360’s Link is anything but a normal webcam. It appears to be a hybrid between an action camera and a webcam. As a result, it’s pretty feature rich for a webcam. Here’s a rundown of these specs:

A Review of the Voigtlander Nokton 21mm f/1.4 Lens

Voigtlander is known for making all-metal manual focus lenses that offer durable construction and sharp and contrasty images. The Nokton 21mm f/1.4 Aspherical lens is another in that tradition, and it offers a unique focal length paired with a very wide maximum aperture.

A Review of the Canon EOS R7 Mirrorless Camera

Canon's 7D series of DSLRs were some of the company's most popular cameras, as they borrowed many features from the company's more expensive full frame bodies and put them all in small and more affordable packages. And so, the announcement of the EOS R7, the mirrorless successor to the 7D line, has generated a lot of excitement.

Canon Users Are Better Photographers

And while we're on the subject of which is better, iPhones are far superior to Android devices, the iPad is objectively the best tablet available, and digital imaging is far superior to analog film in every way imaginable. 

Tamron Announces Development of Ultra-Versatile 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD Lens

Tamron has reinvented themselves in recent years, releasing highly practical and affordable lenses alongside innovative options like the 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD. They have now announced the development of another lens in the spirit of the latter group, the 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD, expected to arrive later this year.  

Why One Photographer Is Switching Back to Full Frame From Medium Format

Medium format is more affordable than ever, and its resolution, tonality, and dynamic range make it a dream for landscape photographers, who almost always prioritize image quality above anything else in a camera. So, to switch back to full frame from medium format might seem like a strange decision.

5 Reasons I Miss My DSLR: A Rant

Like it or not, mirrorless cameras have overtaken DSLRs as the cameras of choice for most photographers. As the major camera brands transition away from developing new DSLRs and focus on mirrorless technologies, there are still advantages to using a DSLR. 

The Bokeh Machine: A Look at the Leica Noctillux f/1.0

50mm lenses with wide apertures are some of the most popular out there, and you can find options from under $100 to well over $10,000. So, what can you get near the top end of that range? This great video takes a look at the Leica Noctillux f/1.0 to answer that question.  

Should You Buy the M2 MacBook Air or M1 Version?

The original M1 MacBook Air was a highly popular model that offered remarkable performance and battery life in the iconic Air chassis. The new M2 model brings with it a new chip, but it also comes with a wide variety of new options and upgrades. So, which is right for you? This excellent video comparison will help you choose.  

5 Point and Shoot Film Cameras Fujifilm Should Bring Back

Fujifilm gets a pretty bad rap these days from the film photography community. So, it’s easy to forget that from the 1980s to the early 2000s, Fujifilm produced some of the best cameras ever made: medium format, point and shoots, the extraordinary Xpan, and a sack full of other interesting goodies.  

Is the Leica Noctilux f/1.0 One of the Best Lenses Ever Made?

Leica is polarizing by virtue of — and this is almost the entire reason — their prices. Nevertheless, the quality of their products is not in question. One of Leica's most famous creations is the Noctillux f/1.0, but how is it to use? 

Should You Get a MacBook Air or iPad Pro?

A few years ago, asking whether one should get a laptop or a tablet for professional work would be a ludicrous question. However, with options like external display support and the same chip used in MacBooks, the iPad Pro is an intriguing option and in some ways, it is even a better one. So, which is right for you, the MacBook Air or the iPad Pro?

Is This Rechargeable Blower the Solution for Cleaning Your Gear?

Handheld air blowers are the type of accessory literally every photographer and filmmaker should have in their bag, as they allow you to easily get rid of grit or debris on your camera sensor and lenses without physically touching them and risking a scratch. The Nitecore BlowerBaby upgrades the standard handheld blower by adding a powerful motor and rechargeable battery.

Stabilise Your BMPCC Raw Footage With Gyro Data

A couple of weeks ago, Blackmagic Design released a firmware update for their popular Pocket Cinema Camera lineup, the BMPCC 4K, the BMPCC 6K, and the BMPCC 6K PRO variants. The update has a slew of useful updates to the interface and the camera's functioning, but the biggest feature was a hidden one: these cameras can now record gyro data to their Blackmagic raw files.  

Overheating of the EOS R5 While Photographing and the Solution

Do you have a Canon EOS R5? In that case, you’re probably aware of the overheating issues when filming. It isn’t of any concern if you’ll never use the video function. But what if an overheating warning occurs while photographing? I experienced that situation, and I have the solution. 

The Canon EOS R3 Can Now Shoot an Incredible 195 FPS

The Canon EOS R3 was no slouch to begin with, with the ability to shoot 30 fps continuous bursts. With a new firmware update, however, Canon is blowing the doors off that speed with a new firmware update that allows the EOS R3 to shoot at a whopping 195 fps.  

EOS R3 firmware 1.2.0 was recently announced, and it brings with it a range of massive improvements:

The 30-Year-Old Canon Camera That Introduced Eye Control Focus

Did you know that Canon introduced the world to eye control focus back in 1992? In this retrospective, I will discuss the Canon EOS A2E, the world’s first camera that allowed the user to select a focusing point by simply looking at it. 

What Should Your First ND Filter Be?

When it comes to landscape photography, few accessories are more useful than the ND filter, which allows you to extend your shutter speed to introduce creative effects in water and the sky. ND filters come in several variants, however. So, which should you buy as your first option? This excellent video tutorial will show you.  

A Review of the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Lens

A 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the workhorse of choice for a lot of photographers and filmmakers, useful for a huge range of situations and genres. For Sony shooters, there is the new FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, and this excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage. 

Why New Photographers Should Buy This Lens

If you are new to photography and working with your first camera, you are probably using a kit lens. However, the beauty of dedicated interchangeable lens cameras is that you can swap out the lens for any one of dozens that better suit your creative and technical needs.

How Good Is the Fujifilm X-H2S Mirrorless Camera for Video Work?

The Fujifilm X-H2S is the company's latest entry in the respected X Series line of mirrorless cameras, and it brings with it a wide range of new features and improvements that make it a fantastic option for photographers and filmmakers alike.