Fstoppers Gear Reviews

In depth expert reviews and comparisons of the latest cameras, lenses, software, and other technology we as creative professionals rely on.
TourBox Elite Plus: Revolutionize Your Photographic Workflow

TourBox, which manufactures a range of easy-to-use creative consoles, released their Elite Plus version. Speeding up your workflow, this is a must-have device for those who spend time developing and editing photos. Testing it for the last month, here’s what I found.

The Ray-Ban Meta Glasses: A Photographer’s Perspective

I’ve had the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses for a while now, and this is what I think of them as a professional photographer, as well as why I picked them up and whether I would do so again. Smart glasses have come a long way from their initial inception many years ago. While there is still a lot of ground to cover—where I’m sure they will become a more portable version of the Apple Vision Pro—for now, this is what we have. But is it worth it?

We Review the 2025 Mac Studio: The New Performance King

Craving a Mac that tears through demanding projects without crowding your desk? The new Mac Studio with M4 Max aims to be your next power-packed desktop, merging blistering performance with a compact form factor that sits discreetly on any workstation.

We Review the World First Remote Control Lighting System: Falcam Move LightGo

If you’re a one-person crew or working with a small team on photo production, you’ll know the pain—especially when it comes to lighting setups. It can be one of the most frustrating parts of a shoot. It’s not just about turning a light on. It’s the constant need for micro-adjustments: tilt it a little more, feather it to the edge, raise it higher—only to realize the angle’s off and you have to bring it back down again. When your light is way up there, you never really know how much to tilt until it’s already in the air.

We Review the Viltrox 35mm f/1.2 FE LAB: Flagship Performance, Remarkable Value

Lenses like the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 Art and Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM have long dominated the fast 35mm space on Sony E-mount. But Viltrox, with its new 35mm f/1.2 FE LAB, is aiming right at the high end. Is this latest entry in Viltrox’s already impressive LAB series a competitor for the best-performing 35mm on E-mount?

We Review the ASUS ROG Flow Z13: A Portable Powerhouse for Photographers, Creatives, and Coders

The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 combines the power of a high-end laptop with the versatility of a tablet. This 13.4-inch 2-in-1 packs cutting-edge hardware in a sleek CNC-milled aluminum chassis, aiming to deliver pro-level performance for photographers, digital artists, and programmers on the go. In this in-depth review, we’ll explore its design, display quality, performance benchmarks, thermals and battery life, connectivity, cameras and audio, and overall user experience to see if it lives up to the hype.

UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus: The Ideal NAS For Photographers?

As creators, we're constantly managing massive raw libraries and hefty high-resolution video clips. External hard drives quickly turn into clutter, and direct-attached storage can limit flexibility when switching between devices. Network Attached Storage (NAS) is the logical next step, but historically, high-performance solutions with features like 10GbE have been prohibitively expensive. Enter the UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus: promising robust hardware, content-creator-focused capabilities, and affordable 10GbE connectivity. In this review, I tested it to see if it genuinely delivers for demanding creative workflows.

Hands-On With the Viltrox DC-A1: Clarity, Control, and Convenience

Do you struggle to see your camera screen in bright light or fine-tune critical focus? This compact tool might be the simplest upgrade to transform how you shoot in the field, without changing your camera. Here's why a 7-inch external monitor could be the piece you didn’t know you were missing.

A Photographer’s Safety Net: We Review Stellar Photo Recovery 12

As a photographer, your photo library is one of the most important things to keep safe and backed up. Of course, you can have backups on multiple drives, cloud storage, and servers, but hardware can still fail. The risk is exceptionally high during or after a shoot, between the time you take the SD card out of the camera and plug it into your card reader. The last thing you want to see is a drive read error, but it happens. Luckily, there's an easy solution.

We Review the Latest DJI Osmo Mobile 7: The Perfect Smartphone Gimbal for Beginners

DJI has long been a household name when it comes to drones and camera stabilization, consistently pushing the boundaries of what compact gear can achieve. With the launch of the DJI Osmo Mobile 7 (OM7), the company has decided to bring a highly capable gimbal to the hands of beginners without the usual high price tag. While many smartphone gimbals are often geared toward enthusiasts or semi-pro users, the OM7 is designed to be a true entry-level option that doesn’t feel basic. It offers minimal compromise in functionality while still packing in big capabilities, making it one of the most approachable and reliable tools for new content creators to elevate their mobile shooting game.

We Review the Latest DJI Osmo Mobile 7P Gimbal for Professional Smartphone Videographers

DJI’s latest smartphone gimbal, the Osmo Mobile 7P, marks the brand’s seventh generation of innovative smartphone gimbals, bringing a completely new foldable design that’s even more compact and refined than before. It introduces a couple of pro features that really take content creation to the next level, including the new ActiveTrack 7.0 technology, which pushes three-axis stabilization and intelligent tracking to new heights. Compatible with a range of smart tools, capturing stabilized high-quality footage has never been easier. Judging by the letter “P” in its name and its expanded functionality, DJI seems to be clearly targeting the Osmo Mobile 7P toward pro smartphone videographers.

Trying Nikon After Again After 7 Years With Sony

Over 20 years ago, when I started my professional photography career, I shot exclusively with Nikon. Back then, I had zero intention of switching brands, but eventually I was forced to.

Meet the Roller Bag That Actually Delivers

Whether you're a travel or commercial photographer, getting your bag around the airport or to your next shoot can get annoying—if only there were a bag that made traveling a little easier.

Freewell Pro Reader: A Fast, Versatile Reader With Bonus Storage

Freewell aims to simplify the modern card storage conundrum with their Pro Reader, a device that promises not only high-speed reading of multiple formats but also integrated storage for cards when you're out in the field. I've been testing one out to see how it fits into a creator's workflow.

Which Neewer Panel Light Would You Choose?

Neewer has released two new panel lights. Perfect for video and great for photography too, these powerful yet affordable arrays have slightly different functions and open up a host of creative possibilities. If you were seeking this kind of lighting, which would you choose?

Is This the Best Budget 35mm Lens for Sony?

In this review, we’re diving into the Viltrox 35mm f/1.2, a lens that surprised me in the best ways. I’ve had this thing in my hands for more than a month and have used it on multiple sessions now, and—spoiler alert—this is one of the best and most affordable 35mm lenses for Sony.

PTGui Version 13: The Powerhouse Panorama Editing Tool Got Even Better

Panorama photography presents unique challenges, both in the field and during post-processing. For years, PTGui has been a favorite powerhouse tool for photographers needing more control and better results than the basic stitching tools provide. Now, with the release of PTGui 13, this already excellent panorama stitching software gets a significant update, focusing on a streamlined DNG-based workflow, performance boosts, and useful new features. Is it worth the upgrade?

The Falcam TreeRoot Quick Lock Pro: Because Your Camera's Worth It

There are dozens of tripods on the market, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. None are suitable for every circumstance. The new model from Falcam TreeRoot, the Quick Lock Pro R240T, has a very specific use, and I put it through its paces to find out whether I need one.

Transforming Mobile Shots With Leica's Lux Grip

The Leica LUX app brought some fresh tools to mobile photography, but handling your phone like a real camera? That’s where the LUX Grip steps in. This isn’t just a Bluetooth shutter button. It’s an ergonomic extension that is meant to give you a DSLR-style hold while unlocking full control over your iPhone’s native features and LUX app functionality.

Reolink Go PT Ultra Field Review: Excellent Footage, But Not Quite a Wildlife Camera

I’ve spent some time testing the Reolink Go PT Ultra to see if it’s a viable option for use as a remote wildlife camera, particularly in woodland areas. With 4K video, pan/tilt control, and 4G connectivity, it looked promising on paper. In practice, the footage quality is superb, but the battery performance in real-world conditions—especially shaded woodland—is a significant limiting factor.

Leica Lux App: Leica Looks on Your iPhone

In a sense, the Leica LUX app brings Leica’s look and feel to the iPhone. It offers a less convoluted UI, a more tactile shooting experience, and access to custom Leica color profiles. It doesn’t try to mimic pro cameras through gimmicks and the like—it leans into what the iPhone can already do and gives you more control over it.

I used the app in various locations: architectural shots, teaching sessions, and as my main iPhone camera when used in conjunction with the Leica LUX Grip. It hasn’t replaced my camera, but it’s the only mobile app that made me want to slow...

Studio-Grade Lighting, Pocket-Sized Power: The Hobolite Micro Bi-Color Light Review

In the ever-evolving world of studio lighting, innovation isn’t just about power—it’s about precision, adaptability, and pushing creative boundaries. While industry giants dominate the conversation, companies like Harlowe quietly redefine what’s possible. With cutting-edge technology and an artist-first approach, Harlowe’s latest lighting solutions challenge conventional setups, offering photographers and filmmakers new ways to shape light with control and finesse. Could this company be the next big disruptor in the lighting game?

Maono Wave T5 Lavelier Mic: A Sound Investment

If you’ve ever watched a YouTube video or taken part in a Zoom meeting, you will know that sound quality is usually more important than any other factor. With this in mind, I put the new Maono Wave T5 wireless lavalier mics through their paces.

We Review DXO PureRAW 5

We spent some time on the new DxO PureRAW 5 when it was announced in February, but now it's out and I've had a chance to give it a run.

Hands On With the New Canon EOS R50V

Canon’s new EOS R50V has just hit the shelves, and I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an early unit to put it through its paces.

The New Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB Lens Enters the Ring Swinging!

The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB lens is the second full frame autofocus lens in the company’s flagship line, after the 135mm LAB, which was released in 2024. And, like the 135mm LAB lens, the 35mm continues to raise the bar and offers photographers outstanding quality and performance at a much more affordable price.

Is It Really Worth Spending $600 to Import Your Files?

The ingest process is rarely the most glamorous part of being a photographer or videographer. It can often feel like a bottleneck, especially when you're juggling multiple card formats, dealing with slow readers, or fighting a tangle of dongles after a long shoot day. Lexar aims to change that with its Professional Workflow ecosystem, a modular system designed to streamline and accelerate this crucial step.

I got to try all the core components, including the Workflow Docking Station and a selection of its reader and SSD modules, to see if it lives up to the...

My Favorite Luxury Camera Accessory: A Hawkesmill Strap

We like to buy ourselves little luxury indulgences once in a while that make us feel good—something as small as a fancy bar of Swiss chocolate, or maybe a new piece of jewelry or a designer shirt. So my thinking is, why not do that with camera accessories? It makes sense. After all, you’re likely to use your camera more than you’ll wear a shirt, and too much chocolate is bad for you. When I treated myself to my Leica Q2 Monochrom, I did just that. I bought the perfect luxury accessory for it: a Hawkesmill strap, proudly handmade in England.

Saramonic K9 Review, Wireless Audio For True Audio Professionals

A few weeks ago, I tested the Saramonic Ultra against the Rode Wireless Pro and DJI Mic 2 — and to my surprise, the Ultra held its own, even outperforming in a few key areas. But what if you need something more professional? The Saramonic K9 is the answer.

Shure’s New MoveMic 88+ Is Versatile and Impressive

Don’t expect a tech review where I list a whole bunch of numbers and stats—and copy and paste lines oozing hyperbole written by young copywriters looking to impress—from the media release. I’m bored just thinking about that. No, I’m reviewing this neat and rather unique little wireless mic from Shure from the perspective of an actual vlogger and filmmaker. Because, well, that’s exactly what I am.

PolarPro's New Bags For Lightweight Travel & Street Photography

I have two photography scenarios that maybe you can relate to. I like to travel and spend a day or two exploring a new destination but don’t want to carry much—maybe a couple of lenses, some filters, and spare batteries. What I do carry is heavy enough that a backpack makes sense, making photography easier. If I pop out for a few hours to wander around doing street photography, I have one little camera and lens, a filter, and a spare battery. I may have my reading glasses and phone too. I only need a small bag for that, where I can stow the camera if the weather gets bad. Otherwise, the camera is around my neck, so the bag is virtually empty.

Hands On With The Canon PowerShot V1

I got to spend a week with the new Canon PowerShot V1 and wanted to share with you my impressions that might hopefully help you decide if this is the right camera for you.

M4 Macbook Air Vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Is Embarrassing

Apple's latest M4 MacBook Air is here and I put it head to head against Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 7th Edition. Both laptops are exactly $1,000 and have almost identical specs, but one of them is better in almost every way.