Photography Gear

Irix is known mostly for making manual focus wide angle lenses with rugged build quality and nice image quality, and the new 21mm f/1.4 Dragonfly lens seeks to continue that trend.

Astrophotography can be divided into two camps: terrestrial and deep space. Both can be equally challenging for different reasons. But recent advances in technology have also made both more attainable and enjoyable.  

Sigma makes some pretty standard lenses, but they also create some more unique and less heard-of designs that can be the sort of creative shot in the arm that excites a lot of photographers.

Some big new things are coming to Nikon’s line of mirrorless cameras. 

Aputure’s new flexible LED panels may be the best in class. Intellytech and Westcott will have some serious competition. How do they all stack up? 

Fujifilm Instax cameras are now the most popular instant cameras on the market. From these instant cameras, the Instax mini series holds the largest portion of the market. And the latest Instax mini camera is the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo. With its retro camera-like design, how does this new Instax camera compare against the previous Instax Mini LiPlay?  

The Nikon Z-series has a highly impressive firmware update coming, particularly for the Z9. Version 2.0 turns Z9 into a videography and sports photography titan, and if you have any interest in using it for either of those (or a great many other uses), you're going to want to check this out. 

Wide-aperture 85mm prime lenses are the classic choice for portrait photography, but that does not mean they are right for everyone. This excellent video comparison takes a look at two options, the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM and the RF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM, to help you choose the right one for your work.  

Ok — let’s start with a disclaimer: I’m a fan of Platypod (both the company itself and the products individually). The most compelling photographs show us the world in a way we’re not used to seeing, which is where the Platypod excels. 

Cameras in general tend to struggle in low-light scenarios. Even full-frame cameras such as the Sony a7S III will struggle to produce useful results in extremely low light situations. This is especially an issue for video; however, a company called Duovox has seemingly managed to overcome these obstacles.  

I estimate over 90% of my shots are taken indoors, so I don’t give much thought to how my cameras would perform in a rainstorm. I’m in the minority with my lack of concern in this area, apparently, because I frequently see photographers voice their concerns when a new camera is announced that does not have weather-sealing. 

Sennheiser recently sent me six different microphones from $49 up to $999. Does spending more money really get you better audio quality? You be the judge. 

This mic comes with a 1/8 headphone jack or USB-C. It's a quick, cheap, wired lav that could be used with a smartphone, computer, or directly into a camera. 

Gear isn't always about megapixels, dynamic range, or pixel-peeping. This piece of gear has changed nothing about the quality of my photos, but it might be my favorite purchase ever. 

I came into photography after being a newspaper videographer for several years. I thought that my video skills would transfer cleanly into photography, and while in some ways that were the case, in more ways, it was not. Here's a video that breaks down exactly why that is. 

Are you looking for a display that will make your precision editing and retouching more convenient? Let’s check out what a high-resolution pen display tablet can offer.  

The form of the digital cameras has become relatively standardized. There are certainly variations from manufacturer to manufacturer, but the basic design is generally stable across companies. That was not always the case, however, particularly in the early days of digital.

With every camera comes a nice strap, often mentioning the name of the brand. Although the strap works nicely, there are much better solutions. In the last decade, I have found a solution that suits my own needs. Since I often get questions about it, I decided to write an article about it.

Once you get wider than 20mm, you generally do not encounter apertures wider than f/2.0, save for a few rare circumstances.

The camera industry is quite the well-oiled PR machine, with short update cycles that get photographers drooling over new gear every few months and a lot of hype drummed up over the latest and greatest camera or lens — some deserved and some not so much. This great video essay discusses five things camera companies will not tell you, and it is well worth giving it a listen.  

With the release of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8, I thought it would be a good time to take a look at the current list of options for photographers of all types. 

When I first heard of this Sony 16-35mm f/4 lens with power zoom, I looked at it as a gimmick feature. But after actually getting to use the lens, I think people are really going to love this lens.  

Nikon has really started to step it up in the professional mirrorless realm lately, and the new NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens is particularly emblematic of that, offering professional-level performance and image quality in an extremely portable design, all at a frankly insanely low price.

You've probably never used a circular fisheye lens properly, which is to say in the manner it was designed. It's okay, almost no one has. 

Kyle Hart has been making photo/video products we love for over a decade now. We love our Rhino Slider, but it's never been big enough for long dolly moves. The Rhino Dolly is here to change that.  

The lens is probably the most important piece of gear any photographer will carry, having a tremendous impact on the technical and creative qualities of your images.

Today, Nikon introduced a new lens that should have wildlife enthusiasts very excited. 

I am not a wildlife photographer. But I really enjoy doing it. Kind of like I can’t sing to save my life. But that doesn’t stop me from testing the limits of my dog’s love for me by belting out the opening lines of “I Will Always Love You” each time I step into the shower.

Camera carts can be an expensive tool on set, and Inovativ are at the top of the bunch. Hopefully, these ideas can get more out of your cart for less. 

Apple's M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra chips have blown the doors off the industry by providing highly powerful performance with equally impressive efficiency to match. The Max and Ultra chips sit at the top of the line, but the Ultra chip is only available in the desktop Mac Studio.

Modern cameras are highly impressive, able to tackle just about any challenging situation you can throw at them, even those that just a few years ago would have thrown the best options off their game. As such, it can be easy to rely on that technology a little too much and to forget just how far you can get with good technique and a solid creative foundation.

85mm lenses with wide apertures are some of the most popular out there, but a high-quality one is often far from affordable. On the other hand, the Rokinon AF 85mm f/1.4 bucks that trend by coming in at over 75% less than the price of the highly respected Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM, making it quite the intriguing alternative. Can it keep up with those top-shelf options, though?

What is new and notable in Sony's new full frame ultra-wide angle lens? Let's take a look at how unique this lens is from similar focal length options. 

Rangefinder cameras are a long way from necessary, and yet, they are still popular, particularly because of Leica. What is it about rangefinders that makes them appealing and is this new Pixii camera a good example? 

Mirrorless lenses allow you to experience the fun of supertelephoto focal lengths without the often stratospheric prices, but they generally come with a few compromises as well. Nonetheless, depending on your needs and budget, they can be a decent alternative.

The Nikon Z 9 has put Nikon back into competition with Sony and Canon in the upper echelon of the full frame mirrorless market, offering a no-compromises design at a competitive price.

A lot of new lenses are amazing. Although the quality of the predecessors was already good, the new generations are even better. But with the amazing quality comes a size, weight, and prize. You should ask yourself if these are the lenses you need. 

There have been a few digital cameras that have been landmarks in the industry, whether as major technological steps forward or impressive performers. One such groundbreaking camera was the Canon 5D Mark II, and this neat video takes a look at the camera and how you can still use it for great shots even 14 years after it was released.  

Video is more prevalent than ever, and along with the expectation of high-quality production and editing, clients expect top-notch audio to match. The Rode Wireless GO II has been a popular choice for some time, but the DJI Mic has recently challenged it and offers some compelling features and smart design choices that make it a great alternative.

Shooting on location can be a stressful time. So, what are some of the questions I ask myself before heading out into the wild? 

Sigma has finally arrived on the Fujifilm X mount, and it has photographers excited at the prospect of using the company's popular lenses that are well known for providing excellent image quality at impressively competitive prices.

DJI's Action 2 is a tiny action camera meant to be placed in a variety of challenging environments and still come away with compelling footage, making it potentially quite the fun sidekick. This great video review takes a look at the camera after six months of usage, including how it holds up and the kind of performance and quality you can expect from it.  

For most photographers, the idea of a (relatively) fast lens covering everything from 35mm to 150mm is a dream come true. Does the Tamron lens live up to the dream? 

It's taken me years to figure out the myriad reasons why my photos weren't always as sharp as I expected. You can cut out all of that learning time by watching this one video that sums it all up. 

It's no secret that everyone is buzzing about the Sony a1 and the Nikon Z 9. Both are beautiful mirrorless cameras that have a lot of great features to offer. But, which one should you pick? 

I upgraded my camera to the Canon EOS R5 last year and have since been shooting with my adapter ring and the EF lenses. If this sounds like jargon to you: let me catch you up to speed. Canon launched its first mirrorless camera in 2018, and the mount on the mirrorless cameras is different than the ones of the previous DSLRs.

With Nikon and Canon starting to push quite hard in the professional mirrorless realm in the last few years, we have seen a resurgence of the development of professional supertelephoto lenses. Most such lenses have long been near the top of image quality and autofocus performance, so a lot of the focus has been on reducing weight and size while maintaining that performance and image quality.

A small, affordable prime lens with a relatively wide focal length can be tremendously useful (as long as it has the image quality to back it up), and at just $256 and 5.5 oz (155 g), the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 lens certainly fits the bill. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of sharpness and performance you can expect from it in real-world usage. 

Most street photography is shot at around 24mm or 35mm, but, of course, there is no reason you can't shoot it at longer focal lengths — even much longer if you so desire. This fun video follows a street photographer as he roams around Chicago, shooting at 200mm and showing just how different the photos look with such a distinctive focal length.  

When it comes to Sony's a7 series of camera, both the a7C and a7 IV are the most generalist options, offering the best balance of photo and video features at reasonable prices. So, if you are looking for an all-around option, which of the two is the best? This great video comparison takes a look at the two cameras to help you decide which is right for you.  

50mm (equivalent) lenses are rather versatile, able to cover a range of situations. Fujifilm shooters have quite a few options available to them at that focal length, and this excellent video comparison takes a look at three of them: the Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2, XF 35mm f/1.4 R, and the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR. 

LiteGear has announced the Auroris, a turnkey solution for overhead lighting.