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.

Should You Use Teleconverters for More Reach?

On the surface, teleconverters seem like a fantastic way to help a lens pull double duty by allowing you to extend its focal length for a lot less than it would cost to buy another entire lens. While they can be quite useful, they also have some drawbacks you should be aware of before you buy one.

A First Look at the New Fujifilm X-H2S Camera and XF 18-120mm f/4 R LM PZ WR Lens

Both the Fujifilm X-H2S mirrorless camera and XF 18-120mm f/4 R LM PZ WR lens are impressive new devices from the company, and so far, it looks like they will be quite popular with many photographers and filmmakers. This excellent video takes a first look at both the camera and lens to give you an idea of what you can expect from them in practice.  

A Beginner's Guide to Using Polarizing Filters for Better Photos

There are two fundamental lens filters in photography, the ND (neutral density) filters and the polarizing filter. While the ND probably gets a bit more usage, the polarizing filter is quite useful as well. This great video tutorial will show both why and how photographers use polarizing filters to improve their images.  

Canon Patents Two More Interesting Lenses

Canon has had the pedal to the floor when it comes to lens development for the last few years, and it seems they have no intention of stopping. Two new patents have emerged that show two more extreme lens designs, both based on respected DSLR lenses.  

A Review of the New Sony E PZ 10-20mm f/4 G Mirrorless Lens

The Sony E PZ 10-20mm f/4 G is one of the company's newest lenses, and despite its small size and relatively affordable price, it brings with it a huge range of features that make it desirable for both photographers and filmmakers.

The Good and Bad About Nikon Cameras and Lenses

Though it seemed doomed to linger behind Canon and Sony for a while, Nikon has made some serious steps forward in the mirrorless realm in the last year or so, and it seems full frame is a three-horse race once again. So, where does the company stand right now? This interesting video discusses the good and bad of Nikon's camera and lens lineup at the moment. 

A Look at the New Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary Lens

Sigma's latest lens is the 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary, and it offers the versatility of a wide angle zoom with a wide maximum aperture at a price that significantly undercuts typical first-party offerings of the sort, making it an intriguing option for many photographers and filmmakers.

A Review of the Powerful Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a1 is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive cameras ever released, with features and capabilities that allow it to tackle just about any photo or video situation you could conceivably throw at it. This fantastic video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in a range of real-world scenarios.  

Did B&H Just Leak New Apple Products?

Everyone's favorite camera store, B&H in NYC, has built placeholder product pages for Apple products that are supposed to be announced tomorrow. Is this actually a leak or are they simply preparing for any products to be announced?  

Can the OM System OM-1 Mirrorless Camera Compete With Full Frame Flagships?

The OM System OM-1 sets a new standard for micro four thirds cameras by offering features and capabilities that help it compete or even exceed those of APS-C and full frame options. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in real-world usage.  

How a Dry Cabinet Can Protect Your Cameras and Lenses

If you live in a particularly humid environment, you might not think about all that moisture very often, but it can cause some serious damage to your cameras and lenses in the long-term. If you live in such an area, a dry cabinet can protect your gear, and this excellent video will show you both how they are used and why they are beneficial.  

New Mac User Tries Apple Accessories for the First Time

I recently switched from a Windows desktop to a Macbook Pro, but I still haven't tried many of the Apple accessories that Mac users swear by. In this video, I try out the AirPods Max and the Magic Keyboard, Trackpad, and Mouse for the first time.  

A Review of the New Fujifilm X-H2S Mirrorless Camera

The Fujifilm X-H2S is the latest in the company's highly popular X Series of mirrorless cameras, and it brings with it a wide variety of improved capabilities and new features. This great video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.  

Product Photography Made Easy: We Review the Ombar Light Box

The Ombar Photo Studio Light Box is a 24”x24” LED box designed to make product photography simple, even for those with limited studio skills. In this review, we discuss the features, pros, and cons and whether this might be the light box for you. 

I Tried Traveling Light. How Did I Get Along Without My Kit?

As a keen photographer, whether professional or amateur, one of the best parts of traveling to unfamiliar places is being able to capture new and interesting images. Whether you’re going on a dedicated photography trip, working away, or on family vacation, I'm sure we all put aside some space for our main camera and a lens or two. What if you left your kit at home and traveled light? 

A Review of the New Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary Lens

Sigma's newest lens, the 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary, is here, and it offers photographers and filmmakers the versatility of a wide angle coupled with a wide maximum aperture, all at an affordable price, making it a great option for a variety of genres and applications.

A Look at the Weird New Laowa 24mm T14 2x PeriProbe Lens

The Venus Optics Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe lens was one of the weirdest and most interesting lenses we have ever seen, and it enabled photographers to get intriguing images that would be near-impossible to get otherwise.

A Review of the New Fujifilm XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR Lens

Along with the X-H2S, Fujifilm has announced the XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens, which offers a ton of reach for sports, wildlife, and bird photographers. How does it hold up in the real word? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you will be able to expect.  

A First Look at the New Fujifilm X-2HS Mirrorless Camera

Fujifilm's latest camera, the X-H2S, is here, and it brings with it a veritable plethora of improvements and new features. This excellent video review takes a first look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it. 

The Best Pocket and Action Cameras for Summer 2022

Pocket cameras and action cameras used to put convenience and ruggedness ahead of image quality, but in the past few years, we have seen remarkable steps forward, and now, you can have your cake and eat it too. If you are looking for one to add to your kit, check out this fantastic video overview that will show you the best pocket, action, and 360 cameras for summer 2022. 

One of the Benefits of Prime Lenses

Zoom and prime lenses both have their own purposes and respective pros and cons, although beginners typically default to using zooms, particularly since most kit lenses are of that variety.

Things I Never Go Cheap on as a Professional Photographer

If you’re anything like me, you like to save as much on gear as possible. As expensive as gear is, there are some things I suggest you should not go cheap on. This list consists of stuff that is long-lasting and will not go out of date quickly. 

A Review of the Samyang 50mm f/1.4 AF Series II Lens

Samyang has long been known for making affordable and sharp manual focus lenses, but recently, they have started producing autofocus lenses as well, but they have still managed to keep prices below those of many first-party options.

A Review of the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens

Sony's FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II takes what was already an impressive lens and improves on it to make it even better, making it a desirable option for a lot of photographers and filmmakers looking for a fast and versatile telephoto zoom.

Is This the Ultimate Landscape Photography Camera?

Fujifilm's GFX line of mirrorless cameras turned the paradigm of medium format on its head by making it far more affordable, so much so that it has become a viable alternative to full frame, particularly for people like portrait, wedding, and landscape photographers.

Sony Stuffs an Actual Zoom Lens Into a Smartphone

It's no secret about how Apple and other manufacturers get around the optical zoom problem on smartphones. One only needs to look at the back of the phone to see the ever-increasing number of lenses and sensors stuffed into the back shell. Sony, however, has figured out another way. 

Canon Is Planning a Remarkable Camera

Ever since the EOS R5 hit the market, Canon has pushed ahead with vigor in the mirrorless market, and it looks like they have no intention of slowing down. In fact, the company seems to be planning a camera that will challenge Sony for the crown of resolution by quite a bit. 

Why Do Lenses Flip Images?

Why do all lenses, including the one in the human eye, flip an image upside-down? Or do they? It's far easier to understand than you might think.  

Light is reflecting off of objects all around us, and although we are used to seeing diagrams with light being represented as a line, it's a bit misleading. 

A Review of the Impressive Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens

The Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II is the second iteration of the company's fast telephoto zoom, making it an appealing tool for a lot of professional photographers and filmmakers. It brings with it a wide range of improvements over the original, and it looks like quite the impressive lens.

Pro Light Mods Are the Coolest Light Modifiers of the Year

What did you do during the pandemic? With most of the industry at a standstill, sports photographer James Quantz started a new company, Pro Light Mods, and designed a prototype of his "Maxi Brute softbox". Not only are they super awesome, but any photographer can pick one up now! 

Three Years With the Impressive Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens

The Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM lens was one of the first made for the company's full frame mirrorless mount, and it put the photography world on notice by showing Canon was committing to a new standard of image quality in their RF lenses, a standard that has been upheld in many of their lenses released in the last few years.

A First Look at the New Canon EOS R10 Mirrorless Camera

The Canon EOS R10 is here, and it offers a lot of performance at a very affordable price, making it a great entry into the company's mirrorless systen or a reasonable backup body for photographers already shooting in it.

Is the Nikon Z fc a Perfectly Balanced Camera?

Nikon's first throwback retro camera, the Df, received a lot of mixed reviews upon its release, with most people noting that it placed a little too much emphasis on form and not quite enough on function. The Z fc mirrorless camera keeps the look but ups the ante, providing a nice set of balanced specs at very reasonable price.

The Holy Trinity of Landscape Astro Lenses

Are you using the right lenses for landscape astrophotography? The traditional goto lens for landscape used to be a 16-35mm or thereabouts, as long as it had a maximum aperture of f/2.8, it could double for night duty.

Shooting a Music Video in Extreme Conditions With the Nikon Z 9

High altitudes, snow, biting cold, and a lot of equipment. Some shoots are harder than others and this music video looked particularly grueling. Nevertheless, the Nikon Z 9 is well-equipped for such trials; see how it performs in a testing climate. 

A First Look at the Brand New Canon EOS R7 Mirrorless Camera

While Canon has been pushing aggressively in the mirrorless space, one place they have yet to explore with the RF mount is APS-C — until now, that is. The EOS R7 is here, and it fills the place left by the highly popular 7D DSLR series. This great video takes a first look at the camera and the kind of image quality and performance you can expect from it.  

How Have Mirrorless Cameras Changed the Way You Shoot?

As someone who's been a regular Canon EOS R system user for the last few years, it's really dawned on me through teaching students how much things have changed for the better with serious mirrorless cameras.