Recent Gear Articles

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. While it had some good points that could speed or improve a photographer's workflow, it left a lot of buyers unhappy and it seemed to wind up on a lot of shelves and in a lot of drawers, rather than in camera bags. Now we've got Arsenal 2.

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. In the middle of that range is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S, and this excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

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.

Is Laowa’s 12-24mm f/5.6 C-Dreamer a Dream to Use? We Test It To Find Out

Laowa's ever-increasing wide angle lens range is getting larger with the introduction of the 12-24mm f/5.6 C-Dreamer for mirrorless cameras. With a fixed f/5.6 aperture throughout the zoom range, an all-metal construction, 15 elements in 11 groups, is this lens a dream to use?

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? This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

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. 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.

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. With a range of new features and improvements, it looks to be quite the camera. This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in use.

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. This interesting video essay features an experienced landscape photographer discussing why he is considering doing just that anyway.