Gear Reviews

IRIX is one of the lesser-known lens manufacturers, but they produce some rather interesting lenses that promise high levels of image quality, particularly suitable for landscape photography.

The Fujifilm X-H2 mirrorless camera was a major step forward for the company's highly respected X Series, as it was the first body to add a high-resolution sensor, increasing its versatility and making it all the more desirable for photographers and filmmakers. How does it hold up in the long run?

TTArtisan has established themselves as a manufacturer of some of the cheapest lenses on the market, making them a popular option for anyone who wants access to a variety of common options at prices that will not break the bank.

The Fujifilm XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens offers a giant range of focal lengths, making it an intriguing option for variety of photographers, particularly wildlife, bird, and sports shooters. Can it offer the performance and image quality needed in those demanding genres? This excellent video review takes a look at what you can expect from the lens in usage.  

The Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM is one of the craziest lenses to come along in quite some time, offering an unheard-of zoom range and aperture combination for a full frame lens, making it a unique option for photographers. Nonetheless, it is neither cheap nor small. Is it worth the price and size?

The latest lens getting all the attention is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena, which promises superlative image quality and creamy bokeh. Nonetheless, the portrait lens landscape is perhaps the most competitive of all, and it takes a major achievement to stand at the top. Can the 135mm f/1.8 deliver?

Sony has introduced the second iteration of its popular FE 16-35mm G-master lens. While improvements have been made, the most striking change lies in its reduced size and weight. Sony kindly provided me with this lens for an honest and unbiased review.

In the past few years, we have seen a real influx of highly affordable lenses that still offer serviceable to even good results, but even by those standards, the new TTArtisan 500mm f/6.3 is really, really cheap. Can it offer good performance and image quality despite that very low price? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect from it in usage.  

Viltrox has continued to establish themselves as one of the leading companies in the industry when it comes to competitively priced lenses that still offer the sort of performance and image quality that pros and advanced hobbyists require.

If you think digital downloads are enough to supply clients with, think again. USB drives are still the standard, and here is why. 

The 23mm f/1.4 Contemporary lens is the latest offering in Sigma’s lineup of fast, compact, prime lenses for Fujifilm X Mount cameras. With a 35mm equivalent focal length, the 23mm is sure to be popular for street photography, portraits, landscapes, and more. 

Maximum Aperture f/1.4

Minimum Aperture f/16

Lens Mount FUJIFILM X

Viltrox has been a company on the rise in recent years, establishing a reputation for lenses whose performance and image quality often far exceed what one would expect for their affordable prices.

It is another day, and we have another drone release from DJI. This time, it is the DJI Mini 4 Pro, and this could possibly be the best beginner drone available to you. In this video from Kai W, he runs the new drone through its paces.  

Retro cameras have become highly popular in the last few years, with many championing their tactile mechanical designs that encourage the user to be a more active part of the photographic process rather than someone operating a machine. Two leading options are the highly popular Fujifilm X100V and the new Nikon Zf. Which is right for you?

Apple's new iPhone 15 is here, and the latest model provides some serious upgrades for photographers and filmmakers, making it worth a look for many creatives. What can you expect from these upgrades and new features in real-world usage? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect from the phone in practice.  

The Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD has been one of the hottest lenses of the last few years, with many creatives clamoring for a tool that can tackle the work of several other lenses in one package, offering unmatched levels of convenience and versatility. How does it hold up in the real world?

I was intrigued to try Luminar Neo from Skylum. I’ve installed and used most of the image-editing software on the market except this app. Is it an app worth investing in? 

People shout online about Skylum’s Luminar Neo. Although I have used a wide variety of different software, and several programs are in my workflow, it is one I’ve not tried.  

The Sony a7C II mirrorless camera offers a lot of capabilities in a very small body, making it an attractive option for anyone who wants a lot of versatility in a portable package. How does the second generation compare to the first? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice?  

The new iPhone 15 is here, and it brings with it some major camera upgrades that should be quite exciting for photographers and filmmakers alike. How do all these improvements and new features perform in practice? This fantastic video takes a look at how the phone performs for photography work.  

Tube lights are all the rage. So, when a new one comes on the market, it better have some type of stand-out feature to differentiate it from the pack.  

Tamron has become one of the most respected lens manufacturers in recent years, creating both highly practical and very innovative lenses that both push the boundaries of lens design and that offer affordable alternatives to first-party options. The new 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 is one of those pragmatic options, and this excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the s

Medium format lenses are rarely cheap or portable, but the Fujifilm GF 30mm f/3.5 R WR is both reasonably priced and rather svelte, at least as these larger optics normally go. Can it still keep up with the demands of a modern medium format camera sensor. This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of image quality you can expect from it.  

Samyang has long been known for creating manual focus lenses that offer fantastic image quality and sharpness in tandem with extremely affordable prices. However, in the last few years, the company has moved into producing autofocus options, though their prices have remained highly affordable.

Whether you’re a new or avid drone pilot, one way to up your footage quality is through the use of drone filters. Just like for your terrestrial camera, optical lens filters make a huge difference. Let me show you what drone filters can do for you with the K&F CONCEPT filter kit. 

If you’re like me, then writing a blog for your website is probably the last thing on your mind. But content creation doesn't have to be a chore. In fact, it can be downright simple. 

Nikon may have just announced my dream camera for street and travel photography. 

I am a career long Nikonian as I have mentioned several times in this column. I’ve been using Nikon cameras professionally for almost 20 years and rarely reach for anything else when a big job is on the line. 

While 360 cameras haven’t quite entered the mainstream for most photographers, Kandao’s QooCam 3 makes a solid case why they should: Kandao’s third entry into its QooCam lineup is a solid 360 action camera at a bargain price. 

A 35mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is one of the most useful and versatile options a photographer can have in their bag, but such lenses can often be quite expensive, sometimes running north of $2,000. At $129, you probably do not expect much out of the dirt-cheap Pergear 35mm f/1.4 lens, but you might be surprised at the results it can produce.

Tamron has established themselves as one of the most innovative lens manufacturers in the photo industry, creating a library of lenses that use smart compromises to offer competitive performance and image quality and performance at prices far more affordable than those of most first-party options.

The Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 offers a hugely versatile range of focal lengths in tandem with particularly wide maximum apertures, all at an impressively affordable price, making it attractive for wedding, events, sports, and portrait photographers. How does it perform in practice?

Fujifilm recently announced a range of exciting new equipment, including the GF 55mm f/1.7R WR, which offers medium format shooters a remarkably wide maximum aperture paired with a versatile and relatively neutral focal length, making it attractive for a range of applications from portraiture to events. How does it perform in real-world usage?

The Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM is a truly small lens, which makes it a fantastic option for any creative who want an affordable lens suitable for multi-hour walks or long trips. Can it pack decent image quality and performance into that tiny footprint? This excellent video review takes a look at what you can expect from it in real-world usage.  

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens offers the promise of being the ultimate portrait lens for Z mount shooters by offering a combination of an extremely wide maximum aperture, top-level image quality, and smooth and buttery bokeh. Can it actually provide those in practice? This excellent video review takes a look at what you can expect from the lens in real-world usage.  

There is a lot to love about Sigma’s new 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN Contemporary lens for Fujifilm X mount cameras, including superb image quality, a compact design, and image stabilization – all at an affordable price. 

A 70-200mm f/2.8 lens is the option of choice for countless photographers, as it can handle a huge variety of situations and needs and produce quality images with a high degree of reliability. That being said, such lenses are often quite expensive, easily topping $2,000. If you do not need that wide aperture, a 70-200mm f/4 can be an excellent alternative.

Fujifilm’s newest camera and a series of lenses have, after many rumors, finally been unveiled! The successor to the outstanding GFX 100 is finally here, and it packs a punch! What is new? What is better? Is it worth the upgrade? 

Macro lenses with short telephoto focal lengths are fantastically useful, capable of offering a glimpse into an amazing world all around us and pulling double duty as razor-sharp portrait options. The Venus Optics Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO offers a particularly high magnification ratio even by macro standards, and this awesome video takes a look at what you can create

Smartphone cameras have evolved in the past decade from merely being tools for documentation to being actual devices that can be used for art. With most smartphones getting bigger, what does this small phone actually have to offer? 

You’d be hard-pressed to find a portable flash at the level of Profoto A2 in terms of build quality, size, weight, power, ease of use, and consistency. It is genuinely a tiny marvel for any photographer. It is almost hilariously simple to set up, and yet, it delivers terrific results. Best of all, if you buy a Profoto A2 between now and October 31, you get a Connect remote for free. 

The AstrHori 18mm f/8 macro 2:1 lens released a few months ago is the nearest competitor to the Laowa Optics probe lens and at half the price, it is something that should be considered by both macro photographers and videographers.  

Canon has produced some remarkably impressive RF mount lenses, and their latest, the RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM, is arguably the most stunning yet. With incredibly versatile capabilities and jaw-dropping image quality, it is the type of lens that makes people like sports and wildlife photographers drool.

The Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD is easily one of the most intriguing lenses to hit the market in some time, offering an extremely useful focal range in combination with especially wide maximum apertures, making it a dream lens for people like events photographers, at least on paper. How does it hold up in the real world?

I took a chance on purchasing a no-frills £12 tether cable to see how it performs in comparison to other well-known brand cables. If you shoot tethered, you might want to read on. 

If you’re looking for a vintage digicam for your travels, look no further than 2002’s Casio Exilim EX-S1. With a 1.3-megapixel CCD sensor, this ultra-compact digicam is sure to give your photos that early 2000s vibe. About the size of a credit card (though a little thicker), this is the perfect digicam for travel.     

100-400mm lenses are popular among photographers of many genres ranging from birds to landscapes, as they offer an extremely versatile focal length range suitable for a lot of applications. For Fujifilm X Series users, the new Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary offers that versatility at a relatively affordable price, making it an intriguing option.

The Canon EOS R5 and Nikon Z8 and Z9 are remarkable cameras that can tackle a huge range of genres and needs with ease, making them the workhorses of choice for countless creatives. Which is right for you, though? This great video comparison takes a look at all three cameras, how they perform in a challenging genre, and which is right for you.  

Take a range of modern and powerful features, pair them with a beautiful lens, and put them all in a small and portable body, and you get the Leica Q3. With a high-resolution sensor, 28mm f/1.7 lens, and a great set of capabilities, the Q3 looks like a great camera on paper. How does it hold up in practice? This excellent video review takes a look at what you can expect.  

50mm lenses featuring wide maximum apertures are typically some of the most popular options out there, offering a versatile and relatively neutral focal length in tandem with a lot of light-gathering and subject-isolating power. For Fujifilm shooters, there is the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can e

The X100 series of cameras from Fujifilm has long been loved for offering both excellent image quality and a uniquely fun and inspiring shooting experience. So, why are photographers so loyal to the X100 series after all these years?