Gear Reviews

When I look back on the end of 2023, it'll be at Wacom's One 13 Touch. That's where it's going to start for me. I'm a bit older, and I've been using Photoshop for decades with a mouse. I was curious if I'd learn that the phrase about teaching dogs new tricks, old as this one may be, would prove to be true or not.

The Nikon Zf mirrorless camera is one of the latest to hop on the retro train, blending modern technology with a touch of nostalgia. Its features and design resonate with photographers who prefer the tactile experience of older cameras. This great video takes a look at five reasons one photographer loves the camera.  

At less than $1,000, the Acer Swift Go 14 is an appealing option for creatives looking for a laptop that will not break the bank. Can it meet the demands of professional users? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect. 

The Fujifilm XF 30mm f/2.8 R LM WR Macro lens offers a lot of versatility in a small package, suitable for a huge range of applications. Throw in its portable size and affordable price, and it is an intriguing option for a lot of photographers.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is Apple's flagship in their popular line of smartphones, and it brings with a huge range of advanced tools and features sure to please both photographers and filmmakers who want a versatile tool for creating on the go. This great video review takes a look at the phone and the sort of performance you can expect from it in usage.  

Once you have used an OLED screen, it is hard to imagine using anything else. With their gorgeous, inky blacks, infinite contrast, and vivid colors, OLED laptops make for quite an enjoyable experience. One such option is the new Asus Zenbook 14 OLED, and this excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect from it. 

There are wide lenses, and then, there is the 7artisans Photoelectric 9mm f/5.6, which offers the widest focal length available in a full frame rectilinear lens, which is sure to capture the attention of anyone who is a fan of extreme options. What kind of image quality and performance can it deliver, though?

I don’t hold back words for gear that has fancy specs but is not built to be a workhorse for high-volume photographers shooting under various conditions.

The Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera has been called a miniature version of the highly respected Z9, bringing with it a huge range of advanced features and capabilities in a more portable and affordable body. What can you expect from the Z8? This excellent video review takes a look at the performance image quality it offers.  

This tripod was so different from all others in the market when it was released four years ago. Now that it’s obvious that many other brands have copied its unique form factor one way or another, it definitely deserves a closer look. 

The Hasselblad X2D 100C is a very portable camera that packs a real punch inside, offering photographers a lot of power in a package that can easily go anywhere. How does it perform in practice, though? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect. 

Do you calibrate your screen? If you don’t then there are good reasons why you should. If it’s something you decide to do, then Datacolor Spyder X2 Ultra may be the perfect solution. 

2023 has been a great year for laptops, with fantastic models for both Mac and Windows users. Here were the best models of the year.  

Sigma continues to grow their line of small, fast, budget-friendly lenses for APS-C cameras. The Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN lens is their latest offering, and it does indeed have a lot to offer photographers looking for an excellent and fast wide angle zoom that won't break the budget.  

The Sony a6700 mirrorless camera is a compact powerhouse blending cutting-edge technology and exceptional image quality. Can it give the kind of real-world performance and image quality professionals demand? This excellent video review takes a look. 

The market is saturated with a wide array of 85mm lenses, ranging in price from a couple hundred to well over $2,000. While one might assume a direct relationship between cost and quality, there are exceptions offering outstanding image quality at a fraction of the price.

The Fujifilm XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR, with its exceptionally wide angle of view, is versatile for numerous uses, making it an intriguing option, particularly alongside an affordable price. In this excellent video review, the lens is explored in depth, showcasing the kind of performance and image quality it delivers in real-world scenarios. 

Just before I travelled to the Isle of Mull, Scotland for a week, Exascend offered me the opportunity to review their CFexpress Type A card, and I was very excited to give this a shot! Having only ever used SD cards before on my Sony cameras, would I notice a difference? 

Viltrox has rapidly established itself as a reputable lens manufacturer, known for delivering quality results at very attractive prices. Priced at $158, the AF 20mm f/2.8 continues this trend. This lens, with its compact size and a practical focal length, raises the question: can it achieve professional-quality outcomes despite its budget-friendly price?

The 15-inch MacBook Air rewrote the paradigm between the Air and Pro models, offering a larger screen in the svelte form factor that first made the model popular. This might leave you wondering if you need the Air or Pro for your needs. This great video discusses why you shouldn't overlook the larger Air model. 

When it comes to artificial lighting, small and portable lights can be as valuable as having larger and more powerful light sources. With an option that requires no cables and can be used virtually anywhere, this light from SmallRig definitely has a lot to offer.  

Tamron has emerged as a beloved brand in the photography industry, known for producing lenses that combine excellent performance and image quality with appealing prices. Among these is the 17-50mm f/4 Di III VXD lens, which offers a very pragmatic design, making it an ideal choice for those interested in landscape and architectural photography.

The Seestar S50, a portable smart telescope, is revolutionizing astrophotography by making it accessible and straightforward for everyone. This great video review showcases the S50's capabilities, emphasizing how it simplifies the process of capturing celestial images without requiring prior photography experience. 

Wide angle zoom lenses with an aperture of f/2.8 are often considered the standard for professionals, but there are many genres for which that wide aperture is not really needed, and photographers can take advantage of lighter, more affordable, and more capable lenses if they are willing to use an f/4 lens. One such lens is the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM, and this great video review take

I heard about the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 for Sony cameras almost two years ago, but never took the time to test the lens myself. Now that it's out for Nikon as well, I finally got a copy. After two weeks of shooting both stills and video with this lens, I regret how long I've taken to test it, because I believe It's my favorite lens of all time.  

Sony's a9 III is one of the most important cameras to hit the market in a long time, finally bringing to the masses the holy grail of a global shutter in a full frame camera. What do you get from a camera so jam-packed with groundbreaking features? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect.  

Tamron is one of the most popular and respected companies in the market, notable for creating a variety of lenses that use pragmatic design principles to offer a lot of the same capabilities and performance of first-party options at far more competitive prices.

Sigma's fresh 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary lens offers a compelling blend of a generous ultra-wide field of view and bright constant aperture, and that makes it an intriguing option for a wide variety of creatives. Can it deliver in practice, though? This great video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you will be able to expect.  

Looking for a camera that can serve many purposes, but not sure where to look? The Nikon Z f might be the right place to start. 

Fujifilm continues bolstering its medium format arsenal with ever more versatile GF mount options. One of the latest to come through is the GF 55mm f/1.7R WR, offering an unusually bright maximum aperture for the format. This fantastic video review takes a look at if the spec sheet lives up to its tantalizing promises in real-world practice. 

The Sony a7CR crams the formidable 61-megapixel full frame sensor from the nearly twice-as-expensive a7R V into a body barely bigger than the original a7C. What can you get out of this tiny powerhouse? This excellent video review takes a look at what you can expect.  

Tamron has gained popularity among photographers for their practical and budget-friendly lenses, as well as their innovative designs. The 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 is a prime example, being a staple, yet cost-effective option. Can it compete in a marketplace crowded with extremely capable 70-200mm f/2.8 options?

Most superzoom lenses ranging up to 800mm will cost you the close to the cost of a new car, but this definitely isn’t that. This is the Jintu 420-800mm f/8.3-16mm superzoom lens. 

Canon has been infamously restrictive over the RF mount, disallowing most third-party lenses, which is what makes the Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.0 Aspherical a rare find. And that isn't even considering its useful focal length and extremely wide aperture. What sort of performance and image quality can you expect from this unique lens? This excellent video review takes a look. 

Sigma is constantly increasing their range of contemporary lenses for various mounts.

The Sony a9 III is undoubtedly one of the most important cameras to come along in quite some time, offering the world's first consumer full frame global shutter in tandem with plenty of other remarkable features. How does it hold up in practice? This in-depth video review takes a look.  

As the holiday season approaches, you're going to see some fire-sale prices on previous gen hardware. One of these that's probably on the mind of a lot of Canon shooters is the EOS R6, as it's going to be a lot cheaper than its newer sibling, the EOS R6 Mark II. Is it worth saving the money? 

Instant photography has long held a special place in the hearts of photo enthusiasts, offering the unique charm of instant, tangible memories. In this modern era where digital photography predominates, the allure of instant film cameras persists, blending nostalgia with contemporary technology.  

Few manufacturers can compete with Viltrox when it comes to price, but of course, cheap does not mean much if you can't back it up with performance and image quality that can satisfy the needs of discerning users. The AF 75mm f/1.2 XF is a great example of one such lens, and yet, it offers impressively competitive results, even against much more expensive options. Is it the lens for you?

2023 has been one of wildest and most exciting years in recent memory when it comes to lenses. If you missed out on some of it, check out this awesome video that discusses the best releases of the year.  

Viltrox has quickly grown from a relatively unknown company to a highly respected manufacturer known for creating some of the most affordable lenses out there — lenses that still offer very good performance a lot of the time. At less than $200, the AF 20mm f/2.8 continues that tradition. But can it deliver the results expected of a modern lens?

The Sony a9 III is arguably the most important camera release of the last several years, and on paper, it looks incredibly capable. How does it hold up in practice, though? This excellent video takes a look at what you can expect.  

The Canon EF 200mm f/1.8L USM is an extraordinary telephoto lens from decades past that remains a modern classic. Despite its 35-year-old optical formula, its spectacular performance on high-resolution sensors, rich history, and mythical reputation in the Canon ecosystem still make it relevant for knowledgeable enthusiasts today. Check out what it can do.  

Wide-aperture 50mm lenses are some of the most popular out there, with their versatility making them at home in a huge range of genres and applications. For APS-C shooters, the Brightin Star 35mm f/0.95 offers that classic combination at an extremely affordable price, and it surprises with some impressive results.

Yet another re-review of a discontinued but still very valid camera. The Fujifilm X-T4 slightly moved away from what made Fujifilm unique, but not in a bad way. It pushed the series into new areas and appealed to the dual creator quite confidently. Is it still worth getting today? 

Many photographers seek a versatile "do-it-all" zoom lens to use for the variety of shooting scenarios they face, keeping it mounted to their camera at all times. This type of lens tends to offer a useful zoom range as well as a moderately fast aperture around f/2.8 or f/4.

I’ve used more than a few camera systems over my career. In the abstract, this can be a positive thing: diversity of equipment means you’ve got a lot of different ways to capture an image or tell a story, but more practically, this means I’ve got a lot of gear that doesn’t typically communicate well with each other.