Gear Reviews

I’ve gotten the great pleasure of getting to spend the last two weeks with Nikon’s brand new, Z8 mirrorless camera. Here are a few reasons why this might be the camera for you.

At $1,499, the Canon EOS R8 is not the cheapest full frame camera available, but it is certain on the more affordable side of things and offers a lot of features that make it a worthwhile upgrade. Is it the best affordable full frame camera on the market at the moment? This great video review takes a look. 

I’ll admit I was seduced by digital medium format, with its ridiculous resolution and that “medium format look.” It has been two years of full-time use. Do I still think it was worth it? Better yet, should you drop $10K+ for a medium format digital camera kit?

The Fujifilm X-S20 mirrorless camera and XF 8mm f/3.5 R WR lens are here, and they bring with them the promise of great performance and excellent image quality. How do they hold up in practice? This excellent video takes a first look at what you can expect from both. 

Leica has just released their long-awaited update to the fan-favorite Q line-up called the Leica Q3. I’ve been using it for a couple of hours each day for the past three days. So, how does it feel to shoot with it, and should you want one?

Loved by many when it came out and adored by a solid user base today, the Fujifilm X-Pro2 was truly a hit camera made so well that it still has not truly been replaced even by the newer X-Pro3. And thanks to its age it is finally attainable even for the ones not willing to spend a ton on a quality camera.

When you get into wide and ultra-wide angle lenses, two of the most common focal lengths are 16mm and 24mm. There is a significant difference between those focal lengths, though, and something in between can be just the ticket, which is where the 20mm focal length comes in. With many options, you might wonder which is right for you. This fantastic video review features an experienced lens tester detailing five of the sharpest 20mm options you can purchase. 

A new breed of camera has recently hit the market, specifically designed for content creators. And the pocket-sized offering from Sony just got an upgrade with the Sony ZV-1M II.

50mm lenses with wide apertures are some of the most useful and versatile options a photographer can own, suitable for a wide range of genres and applications, including portraits, low-light events, and much more. For Fujifilm shooters, there is the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR, this excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in real-world usage.

The Google Pixel 7A smartphone offers a lot of features and capabilities at a reasonable price, making it a nice choice for a wide range of users. This great video review takes a look at the phone's photo and video capabilities and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice. 

Sigma's Contemporary line of lenses offers a nice balance of portability, affordability, and image quality, with one of the most intriguing options being the 50mm f/2 DG DN, which offers a popular focal length in tandem with a fairly wide maximum aperture. Can it back that up with good performance and image quality? This excellent video review takes a look at what you can expect. 

The Acer Swift X 14 Laptop offers a wide range of modern features, but perhaps the most exciting is its OLED screen, which promises stunning contrast and vibrant colors, making it an intriguing option for many creatives. Is it the right option for you? This excellent video review takes a look at the laptop and the sort of performance and experience you can expect from it.  

Panasonic makes some of the best hybrid cameras out there, and their latest, the Lumix S5 IIX, brings with it some of the company latest and greatest features. This excellent video review takes a look at the new camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

The Fujifilm XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR offers photographers a longer telephoto focal length in tandem with a wide aperture, making it an intriguing option for portrait and wedding photographers among others. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice. 

Fujifilm X Series cameras do have a reasonably usable selection of wide angle lenses available, but there is still a missing a piece. Tamron is here to fill that gap with its new 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD lens. Is it good enough? Is it worth considering instead of the Fujifilm originals?

35mm and medium format photography, though different, generally require the same fundamental techniques, knowledge, and approach, save for a few somewhat minor differences. On the other hand, large format photography is something entirely different, and while it requires an entirely different set of skills, it will reward you with a look and level of image quality that not even the best digital cameras in the world can approach. The Intrepid 8x10 Gen 3 offers an affordable and relatively portable entry point into large format work, and this great video review takes a look at how it holds up in practice. 

Bold claims for a title indeed, but as photographers, we've all had the opportunity to try different brands to see which one best meets our individual needs. So, when it comes to forking out your hard-earned cash for something like this, you want to be sure you are making the right decision. I would also like to say at the start, although this is a very positive review of the camera, I wasn't expecting it to be just as good as it is.

Panasonic has been quietly releasing some mightily powerful cameras in the last few years, and their latest, the Lumix S5 IIX, shows they have little intention of slowing down anytime soon. This great video review takes a look at the impressively well-balanced camera and the sort of performance and quality you can expect from it in practice. 

If you're considering replacing your pen tablet with another leading brand or are new to the benefits of using this type of peripheral instead of a mouse, I recently got to test the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle SE in Nebula, White and the results were astounding. 

Samyang has long been known for manufacturing impressively sharp and low-cost manual focus lenses, but in recent years, the company has started adding autofocus options to their lineup as well. And even though those options now bring autofocus, they have remained competitively priced. One of the most impressive recent options is the AF 75mm f/1.8 for Fujifilm X Series mirrorless cameras. This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of the performance and image quality you can expect from the lens in practice. 

Short telephoto macro lenses are tremendously useful, able to offer great portraits in addition to detail shots. Normal macro lenses offer a 1x magnification factor, but the TTArtisan 100mm f/2.8 2x Macro Tilt Shift doubles the magnification factor and adds tilt-shift capabilities as well, making it one of the most versatile lenses out there, at least on paper. Can it hold up in practice, though? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice. 

Nikon has started making APS-C mirrorless cameras a few years back, and they are definitely worth considering. Their image quality is decent, the autofocus isn’t half bad, and they undoubtedly have their fans. But they lacked a decent selection of dedicated glass. That is finally changing.

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens offers its users some of the best optical performance and image quality the company has ever put into a lens, making it a highly desirable option for a wide range of shooters, particularly portrait and wedding photographers. Can it offer what it promises in practice? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect from it. 

Although they are not that common, black and white cameras can provide a unique experience and incredibly smooth tonality. The Leica M11 Monochrom promises a pure photography experience and some of the best image quality out there. How does it hold up in practice? This excellent video takes a first look at the performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage. 

Wireless mics have come a long way in the last few years. In this post, we will look at four different systems, with a focus on the newest mics from Rode and DJI. 

Generally, as you move into supertelephoto focal lengths, lens prices start to increase simply because of the sheer amount of glass it takes to produce such extreme images. That's why, at $699, the Tokina SZ 900mm f/11 Pro Reflex MF CF is an intriguing option. Can it offer good performance and image quality despite that modest price? This excellent video review takes a look. 

The Google Pixel 7A smartphone strikes a nice balance between price and performance, making it an intriguing option for many Android users. This excellent video review takes a look at the phone and the sort of performance you can expect from it in usage. 

In the last few years, the increasing image quality and decreasing size of drones has made them a fantastic addition to landscape photographers' toolkits. The DJI Mavic 3 Classic strikes a nice balance of price and capabilities, making it an intriguing option. This excellent video review takes a look at the drone and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage. 

The Fujifilm X-T5 mirrorless camera takes the company's beloved X Series design and form factor and adds a huge range of new features and upgrades, most notable being a new sensor with the highest level of resolution ever seen in the line. This excellent video review takes a deep look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

When it comes to traveling as a nature photographer, one trouble spot comes up: charging. I recently fell down the rabbit hole of portable power stations, and let me share with you the difference a good power station makes for the road-tripping photographer.

Often, as a wildlife photography enthusiast, I would love to have more reach when out in the field. This excellent video features a brilliant young photographer who is looking for a big performance from this small portable device.

Canon has released some awfully impressive mirrorless lenses, but with all that top-level performance often come high prices as well. That is why, at $349, the Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM is a breath of fresh air. How much performance and image quality can it offer at that low price? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect. 

The Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary lens is so small that it barely reaches past the grip of the camera to which it is attached, making it an intriguing option for anyone looking for a highly portable wide angle lens. This great video review takes a look at the lens and if it can back up that portability with the performance and image quality professionals demand.

After 27 years, Canon finally released a new 135mm lens. Instead of a new EF lens, it’s an RF lens, obviously. How does this expensive lens perform, and is it worth the upgrade if you’re still using the old but trustworthy EF version?

Fujifilm's latest X Series sensor bumps its resolution to 40 megapixels, putting the company's APS-C sensors on par with many full frame options in terms of detail and even pushing toward medium format levels. Medium format still holds the image quality edge, but how significant is the difference? Will APS-C satisfy your needs? This excellent video comparison takes a look at the X-T5 and GFX 50S II to help you choose. 

With a 4K OLED panel, motorized built-in calibrator, and a range of other premium features, the ASUS ProArt PA32DC 4K OLED monitor is a top-of-the-line option that promises the sort of performance professionals demand. This excellent video review takes a look at the display and the performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Adobe recently rolled out one of its biggest Lightroom feature updates in quite some time: AI noise reduction. Promising to vastly out-perform the previous system, the new functionality has some stiff competition from many other options. How does it perform in practice? This great video overview takes a look at what you can expect. 

When they first came out, iPads were fun devices built for things like content consumption, but in recent years, they have evolved into some of the most powerful and versatile creative tools out there. Sitting at the top of the lineup is the iPad Pro M2, and this great video review takes a look at why it is so useful, particularly when paired with the latest Apple Pencil. 

Priced at just $679, the Canon EOS R50 is one of the most affordable mirrorless cameras on the market right now, though it still comes with a nice range of capable features. This great video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice. 

Canon makes a range of mirrorless cameras that range from sub-$1,000 to well over $5,000. The EOS R7 and EOS R8 both sit at $1,500, making them an appealing pair of cameras that balance capabilities and cost. Which is right for you, though? This great video comparison takes a look at both to help you pick which is right for you.

The Fujifilm X-H2 mirrorless camera took the highly respected X Series and added a high-resolution sensor for the first time ever, making it a desirable option for a wide range of creatives. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage. 

Lightroom Classic is playing catch-up. AI-based masking had been around for a long time in programs like ON1 Photo Raw, but has only recently been released in Lightroom. Now, Adobe has turned its hand to noise reduction. Does it stand up to scrutiny?

The Canon EOS R8. Is this the lightest, smallest, most diverse, and most affordable full frame Canon mirrorless camera yet? Let's see how it performs.

With a 45.7-megapixel sensor and a lot of dynamic range, the Nikon Z 7II mirrorless camera looks like a strong candidate for a lot of landscape photographers. How does it hold up in practice? This great video review features an experienced landscape photographer discussing his thoughts months after switching from a medium format setup. 

The Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary lens brings with it the promise of excellent sharpness at a useful focal length and in a very small and portable package, making it ideal for genres like landscape and architectural photography. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage. 

In recent years, energy has become a very hot topic. With the cost of solar energy at its lowest point ever, it only makes sense to look at products such as the Jackery 1000 Pro. Be it power outages at home or on-location shoots, having a solar power generator is a necessity in the modern digital workspace.

The Canon EOS R5 showed the world that Canon was extremely serious about professional mirrorless cameras, and while it remains a highly impressive camera, features like a 45-megapixel sensor and 8K raw video are overkill for many photographers and filmmakers. For those who want most of the capabilities of the EOS R5 in a more pragmatic and affordable package, the EOS R6 Mark II is an excellent option, and this great video review takes a look at the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

Fujifilm's X-H2 mirrorless camera brought a high-resolution sensor to the beloved X Series for the first time, along with a wide range of other new features and upgrades, making it an intriguing camera for many users. This great video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice. 

The new Canon EOS R8 mirrorless camera can be considered the replacement of the older EOS R and EOS RP cameras. It promises to be a great camera at a reasonable price point. Canon Netherlands sends me this camera for a review. Let's find out how it performs.