Gear Reviews

Fstoppers gear reviews are written by photographers who actually use the equipment — not benchmark testers looking at spec sheets. This section covers cameras, lenses, lighting, accessories, bags, software, and everything else in a working photographer's kit. The goal is always the same: give you an accurate picture of whether something is worth your money before you spend it.

Tamron’s New Ultra-Wide Zoom: Worth the Money?

Tamron just dropped their newest ultra-wide lens, the Tamron 16-30mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2, and it could be the ultra-wide you've been waiting for. If you’re serious about landscapes, architecture, or astrophotography, you'll want to pay attention to this one.

A Very Useful LED Light in a Class of Its Own: Harlowe Iris 5 Spectra

As a photographer and videographer/filmmaker, having a small LED light or two in my bag is essential. I’ve accumulated 5 or 6 over the past few years, keen to try out different brands and styles of lights. Recently, I came across a relatively new brand called Harlowe. They just launched a pocket-sized light called the Iris 5 Spectra.

Pergear's New Master CFexpress 4.0 Type A Card: Affordable Speed?

Sony photographers and videographers have a choice when it comes to memory cards: stick with common and cheap SD cards or step up to the significantly faster, albeit pricier, CFexpress Type A format. Pergear has been making Type A more accessible for a little while now, and their latest Master CFexpress 4.0 Type A card aims to push performance boundaries further, at a great price. Does it deliver?

This Budget 85mm Lens Delivers Surprising Results

The new Samyang AF 85mm f/1.8 P FE lens promises sharp portrait performance at a budget-friendly price point that could shake up your lens buying decisions. At just $449, this lightweight option targets photographers who want quality without breaking the bank.

Can Full Frame Keep Pace With Medium Format?

Switching camera systems is one of the most nerve-wracking decisions you can make as a serious photographer. After 15 months of real-world testing, one photographer's bold move from medium format to full frame reveals surprising insights about what actually matters in the field.

Is the DJI Mini 4 Pro Too Small for Professional Use?

As a practicing professional photographer, I evaluate my gear from time to time and make necessary upgrades to improve the efficiency of my workflow. After my recent crashing experience with the DJI Mini 4 Pro, I have decided to take a step back again to reevaluate whether this ultra-light drone is truly suitable for professional use or if I should just take the opportunity to get another drone.

New 85mm f/1.4 From Kase Changes the Portrait Lens Game

The 85mm f/1.4 lens market just got more interesting with Kase's entry. This represents a significant shift for a company traditionally known for filters, and it could reshape your options in the portrait focal length space.

Why This Bizarre 200mm Reflex Lens Might Change How You Shoot

The Kase 200mm f/5.6 MC Reflex Mirror lens creates those distinctive donut-shaped bokeh circles that either captivate you completely or leave you scratching your head. This manual focus mirror lens forces you to abandon your usual shooting habits and discover compositions you'd never consider with conventional glass.

Operating Hands Free With Peak Design In Challenging Environments

I work in some pretty extreme environments. Day to day, I'm hopping on and off boats, climbing steep grades, and walking on some very slippery surfaces. Some days we're climbing mountains or glaciers, walking on shale beaches, dodging fur seals, watching out for polar bears, or even driving zodiacs. I'm also responsible for helping my guests navigate many of these same obstacles. On top of all this, I need to be ready at a moment's notice to snap a breaching whale, sparring polar bears, a mobbed eagle, or a leopard seal degloving a penguin. How? With help from Peak Design's Capture Clips.

A Review of the New Tamron 16-30mm f/2.8 G2 Lens

Wide angle zoom lenses face intense competition in the f/2.8 market, with manufacturers constantly pushing boundaries to offer more range and better performance. The Tamron 16-30mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 enters this crowded field and challenges both Sigma's 16-28mm and Sony's premium G Master options.

Is Fujifilm’s Older GFX 50R the Perfect Travel Camera?

If you're thinking about picking up an older option in 2025, the Fujifilm GFX 50R medium format mirrorless camera might catch your interest. Despite being seven years old, it still packs serious value, especially if you're looking to balance portability with medium format image quality.

Why the Thypoch Simera 75mm Might Be Your Next Favorite Lens

The Thypoch Simera 75mm f/1.4 ASPH lens offers a unique focal length option, giving a little more versatility than traditional choices like 50mm or 90mm, especially for portrait and street photography. Here's a look at how it performs.

Can This Gadget Really Turn Your Old Film Camera Digital?

Film photography has undeniable charm, yet the hassle and cost can be hard to swallow. Digital convenience is appealing, but it sacrifices the tactile joy of analog gear. This device aims to give you the best of both worlds by turning your film camera into a digital camera.

Sigma’s APS-C Showdown: Which Zoom Wins Your Bag?

Choosing the right zoom lens for your camera isn't straightforward, especially when the options have different strengths. Sigma's recent APS-C releases, the 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art and 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary, offer very different benefits, making the decision tougher but more interesting.

We Review the Viltrox AF 85mm f/1.4 Pro Lens

Viltrox has been on a tear lately, dropping new products, including lenses, video monitors, flashes, and more. It seems like every other week they are releasing another new lens, and the latest from the company is the Viltrox 85mm f/1.4 Pro lens, which is sure to be popular with portrait shooters.

Testing Out the New Thypoch Simera 21mm f/1.4 Lens

The new Thypoch Simera 21mm f/1.4 lens isn’t a thing of subtlety. It’s heavy, unapologetically mechanical, and it demands a bit of muzzle discipline when carrying it around. Forget where you’re pointing it, and you may end up either receiving or handing out some bruises. And arguably, it’s not for everyone; it’s a big chunk of metal hanging off the end of your camera. It stands out, and if you’re looking for subtlety, there are other lenses—smaller lenses—that might fit the bill.

Is the Rokinon AF 14-24mm f/2.8 Worth the Savings?

Wide angle lenses are notoriously tricky when it comes to distortion, and finding the right balance between quality, size, and cost can be tough. The Rokinon AF 14-24mm f/2.8 might be a lens you're considering, but does it check all your boxes?

Is This the Ultimate Walkaround Camera?

Exploring a familiar location with fresh eyes is one of the best ways to discover something new about your photography. It pushes your creativity by forcing you to find new perspectives in places you think you already know.

The Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB Z Mount: Better Than Nikon’s 135mm?

Viltrox lenses are a better choice than Nikon’s Z-mount native lenses. There, I said it. And this is coming from someone who has used Nikon for 40 years and may even be somewhat of a “fanboy.” I’ve been impressed with Viltrox lenses for a few years now—and own three—but the new Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB full frame is a whole new level of impressive.

Powering Your Photography Workflow: CUKTECH 15 Ultra Power Bank Keeps You Going Anywhere

As a photographer, power on location is important. When editing on the go in coffee shops, airports, or on train journeys, you can use supplied power outlets, but what if you are on location somewhere that doesn’t have power outlets? This article takes a look at using a power bank designed with laptops in mind to keep the post-shoot workflow going no matter where you decide to work.

FirstPower NP-FZ100 Dual Charger: A Charger for Home and Field Use

If you’re in Sony’s Alpha system, the NP-FZ100 battery is a familiar sight. It powers a huge range of cameras, from the a7R V to the a6700, FX3, and FX30. While the battery itself is a solid performer, Sony’s charging solution is a basic, single-slot affair with little feedback beyond a blinking light. This has created a huge market for third-party solutions, and the FirstPower NP-FZ100 Dual LCD Charger Kit is one of the more interesting options. It promises not just to charge your batteries, but to do so faster, smarter, and in a more convenient package.

Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8: A True Prime Killer for Crop Sensors

A lens that can replace a bag full of primes, while still being lighter and smaller than its predecessor, is not something you see every day. The Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art lens pushes APS-C systems into territory that used to be reserved for much more expensive gear. 

Smaller, Lighter, Sharper? A Review of the Kase 85mm f/1.4 Lens

If you're considering adding a portrait lens to your kit, finding the right balance between quality, performance, and price isn't always easy. Third-party lens makers are rapidly improving, giving you impressive options that won't drain your wallet.

Ultimate All-Rounder? Testing the OM SYSTEM 12-100mm f/4 Lens

When you're choosing a lens for your camera, versatility matters: being able to handle different kinds of photography keeps things simple, making trips and shoots more enjoyable. A perfect all-arounder for Micro Four Thirds users might seem elusive, but this video tests one contender that's well worth your attention.

Staying Sharp Starts With What You Drink

For several years, I have been more and more conscious about what I eat and drink. Gone are the days when I could survive on many cans of fizzy drink, chocolate, and snacks to fuel my photography adventures. I simply can't put my body through it anymore, plus it was having a detrimental effect on my ability to stay sharp and focus on my tasks. Instead, I switched to having water as often as I can during each day, and despite the temptations of the colorful refrigerators in gas stations, I have managed so far to avoid the temptations. Has there been a change? Yes, I can keep going for longer, I don’t feel as bloated, and I have saved money in the long term. But I’ve often wondered if I could do even better.

Can Viltrox's New 35mm f/1.2 Lens Rival High-End Sony Lenses?

The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE lens is attracting attention for its unique specs and a price that challenges traditional expectations. With few direct rivals, this lens might reshape how you think about premium lenses for Sony full frame cameras.

Camovue Talon Pro Field Review: A Trail Camera That Could Actually Work in the Irish Landscape

After my previous experience with Reolink’s Go PT Ultra, which I reviewed here, I was curious to see how the company’s new Camovue Talon Pro would stack up in more realistic wildlife conditions. This time, it promised to be more purpose-built for the outdoors, with proper security features, solar charging, and app-based animal detection. Here’s what I found after three weeks of field testing in the Irish countryside.

Sigma’s New 16-300mm Lens: Ultimate Versatility?

Sigma recently released the new 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary lens, designed to tackle everything from wide angle landscapes to distant sports action with one lens. It could simplify your kit, but is the convenience worth the potential compromise in image quality?

Tamron’s New 16-30mm G2 Lens: Worth the Extra Money?

The Tamron 16-30mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 lens has just landed, and it's worth your attention if you’re serious about your gear. Ultra-wide angle lenses can transform your landscape, architecture, and astrophotography, but not every lens gets it right, though this one might.

Nanlite's FS-300C and Rapid 90 Softbox Reviewed: Affordable Power and Creative Color

The world of continuous LED lighting is more competitive than ever. In this landscape, Nanlite has carved out a place by offering powerful, reliable, and cost-effective lighting. The FS-300C brings a newer lighting trend—multi-color LEDs—along with high power ratings to an attractive price point. Does RGBW lighting really make a difference?

Leica’s New Summilux-M 50mm: Vintage Look Meets Modern Precision

If you're interested in lenses that capture vintage charm without sacrificing modern practicality, the reissue of the Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 might catch your eye. It blends elements from decades of Leica history into one lens, giving your images a unique character and feel.

Is the Fujifilm X-E5 the New Best Compact Camera?

Fujifilm's new X-E5 mirrorless camera has arrived, bringing intriguing upgrades from the X-E4 and catching attention with a sleek form factor and enhanced capabilities. For those considering a compact, interchangeable lens camera, the X-E5's improvements offer compelling reasons to take a closer look.

Is the Kase 85mm f/1.4 Lens a Portrait Photographer’s Hidden Gem?

Kase's entry into the autofocus lens market with the new Kase 85mm f/1.4 lens could shake things up, especially if you're into portraits or low-light photography. A company's first autofocus lens often reveals a lot about its potential, and Kase is making an ambitious statement here.

WANDRD PRVKE V4 Review: Is This the Goldilocks Camera Bag for Landscape Photographers?

The WANDRD PRVKE V4 has exploded on Kickstarter, hitting its funding goal in under 30 minutes and continuing to climb past expectations. With nearly half a million already pledged, it’s clear this isn’t just another camera bag launch. WANDRD’s latest update to their flagship bag has struck a chord with photographers, filmmakers, and everyday creatives alike. But what exactly makes the PRVKE V4 so appealing, and is it really worth the hype?

Sigma's New 17-40mm f/1.8: Is This the Ultimate APS-C Lens?

Sigma recently released what might be the most significant APS-C lens in years with their new 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art. This lens updates the legendary 18-35mm f/1.8 that photographers and filmmakers have loved since 2013, promising the same cinematic look in a more refined package.