Gear Reviews

We have seen a boom in affordable third-party lenses in recent years, with many of them offering good performance and image quality at prices that significantly undercut those from first-party manufacturers.

With an array of flagship features and a gigantic folding display, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 looks like the sort of powerhouse phone that creatives who want to do serious work on the go crave. With an improved hinge, brighter display, and faster processor, should you place your preorder?

After thorough consideration, I made the decision to purchase the Shimoda Action X50 backpack a few years ago as my primary backpack for photography travels. Now, after several years of use, I want to reflect on its performance. Is it worth the investment? Let's find out. 

After four years, Sony finally released this new APS-C camera. This is the a6700 with a completely new design. It features the new A.I. engine for identifying and tracking subjects. Unfortunately, Sony forgot to make a few other improvements. 

Superzoom lenses offer the ultimate level of convenience, replacing several other lenses and allowing a photographer to travel lighter and work faster. For Nikon mirrorless shooters, there is the 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from the lens in real-world use. 

Viltrox has gained a reputation for creating high-quality prime lenses for different lens mounts.  Allowing for accessibility to everyone due to a very affordable price bracket, these lenses are sharp, robust, and fast and Viltrox is very rapidly establishing itself as a top contender in the 3rd party lens market. 

The Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM is an absolutely tiny lens, making it an intriguing option for anyone who wants a nice walkaround setup that will not break their back or bank account. How does it hold up in practice? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you will be able to expect from it in use. 

Third-party manufacturers have put a lot of pressure on first-party companies in the last few years by continually offering both innovative and unusual lenses and more standard options that perform just as well as more expensive glass at far more affordable prices. One such company doing that is Viltrox, with the AF 75mm f/1.2 for Sony APS-C E mount cameras being the latest example.

Sigma long ago established themselves as one of the premier manufacturers of lenses that offer top-level image quality that professional photographers demand at prices that often significantly undercut those of first-party manufacturers.

Both the Nikon Z7 II and Z8 have earned reputations as highly capable cameras capable of producing excellent images in a variety of conditions. With a thousand dollars of difference between the two, you might wonder if you need the more expensive Z8 or if the Z7 II will cover all your needs.

In 2021, I bought the Think Tank Retrospective Backpack 15. This would be my lightweight backpack for holidays and day trips. I’ve enjoyed using this backpack, and now, it’s time to make a long-term review. 

While interchangeable lens cameras rule the professional world, fixed lens cameras have always been an alternative option for anyone who does not want the hassle or expense of carrying around a bag of several lenses. With a long history of such cameras, there have been some remarkable options along the way.

In the past few years, we have seen an explosion of lenses that offer far more performance for the price than many comparable first-party options, and few manufacturers have been more competitive in that respect than Viltrox, who have created some of the most remarkably affordable lenses in recent memory.

There are plenty of photo cataloging programs out there. Lightroom and Bridge from Adobe are the key products in the category, but there are many other entrants, including Skylum with its Luminar Neo, On1, and Apple Photos on the Mac side. There are even more for Windows users.  

Backup and storage solutions are 10 a penny these days, and with so much choice, knowing which ones to choose becomes increasingly more difficult. Each of these solutions has its own advantages and disadvantages. Whether that's cost, security, compatibility, or capacity, these solutions can range in price from free to hundreds of dollars per year.  

With a cost of just $1,299, the Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 offers an incredible capable and versatile range of capabilities, at least on paper. Can its performance and image quality match those impressive specs in real-world usage? This great video review takes a look at what you can expect from the lens.  

When I was sent a Pentax K3 Mark III Monochrome for review, I must admit that I didn’t know what to expect. Releasing an APS-C DLSR in 2023 – one that only captures monochrome images – is quite a bold move, and the K3 Mark III Monochrome is in fact the only camera in existence that can claim these unique specifications.

Canon's 7D line of APS-C DSLRs were a massive hit for the company, as they borrowed many of the advanced features and capabilities of powerful full frame cameras like the 1D series and put them in far more affordable bodies that were accessible to a much wider audience.

This portable power station can power almost any device you have and it can recharge itself on location. 

Perhaps no workhorse lens is more ubiquitous than the standard zoom with an f/2.8 aperture. Capable of handling a diverse range of applications and needs, these lenses can be found in many photographers and filmmakers bags, though they are often rather expensive. At $799, that makes the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD rather refreshing. Can it keep up with more expensive options?

ON1 Photo Raw keeps leaping forward in its functionality. It seems that Lightroom is forever playing catchup with the program's innovative features. The new facilities in the latest release make ON Photo Raw even more attractive. 

The gimbal and drone giant DJI has just announced their next-generation mid-level drone set to replace the Air 2. The new DJI Air 3 brings many new and interesting features, and we managed to play with one for a few days before the announcement. So, what does it bring? Is it any good? 

At just $1299, the Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 looks like a remarkable deal if it can offer the performance and image quality to match those impressively versatile specifications. So, how does it hold up in practice? This fantastic video review takes a look at what you can expect.  

At just $479, the EOS R100 is remarkably affordable, making it an intriguing entry point into Canon’s mirrorless ecosystem or a convenient and portable backup for current users. At such a low price, can it satisfy the needs of modern photographers and filmmakers?

The brand name Exascend is synonymous with high-quality products. So, will their award-winning Explorer SSD, designed for challenging environments, live up to its name? When the going gets tough, will the tough get going? 

LED light panels, once used predominantly by videographers, have now become an indispensable tool for photographers. Whether you are a seasoned professional or an aspiring enthusiast, finding the perfect lighting setup can make all the difference in capturing high-quality images.

In last week’s article, I chose to talk about the joys of going small with lighting gear. In today’s article, we’ll go big, very big, with the Aputure LS 1200d Pro LED Light Kit. 

Fujifilm's X Series of cameras and lenses have become increasingly versatile and feature-laden in the past year, with one of their most capable lenses being the XF 18-120mm f/4 R LM PZ WR, which covers the most popular focal lengths and includes a power zoom mechanisms for filmmaking applications. How does it hold up in practice?

Rarely is a landscape photo finished when you press the shutter; almost all images require some degree of editing to produce a fully polished result. One of the challenges of editing a landscape image is bringing a sense of depth back to a two-dimensional photo.

The Sony a7R V offers the highest resolution available in a full frame camera, tons of dynamic range, built-in focus stacking, and a range of other features that make it a strong candidate as the best 35mm mirrorless camera for landscape photography. Can it live up to that in practice? This fantastic video review takes a look at what you can expect.  

Pancake lenses place portability above everything else, and that used to mean that while they were convenient, you could not expect very good image quality out of them. However, optical design and technology has made some great advances in recent years, making lenses like the Nikon NIKKOR Z 26mm f/2.8 intriguing to many photographers and filmmakers who want a tiny and lightweight option.

The Fujifilm X-T5 has been out for some time. It was announced back in November 2022, but I’ve been using it since a few weeks before that so you could say I’ve had the camera for a long enough time to be able to tell you my opinion on it. Is it the right camera for you? What are its pros and cons? 

Lomography recently announced the release of a new film, LomoChrome 92, a 400 ISO C-41 process color negative stock. The film is touted as a throwback to older stocks, with vibrant colors and a more noticeable grain structure.  

Laowa has been producing lenses since 2013 and now has a vast collection, from cine lenses to landscape, to specialist lenses, and everything in between. These lenses are sharp and solid and cater to the ever-growing needs of photographers.  

The Sony a7 IV is widely regarded as one of the best hybrid cameras out there, but with the a6700 now here, Sony users have two excellent options for their work. Despite the a7 IV having a full frame sensor, the a6700 has some better features and is also $1,000 cheaper. So, which is right for you? This fantastic video comparison takes a look at both to help you decide.  

A large screen with a precise pen, 4K resolution, and color accuracy? What more could you want on your dream editing setup? 

Camera straps are an often-overlooked accessory for photographers. If it’s something you’ve not considered before, then it’s worth looking at the adaptable Peak Design Leash.

Many photographers know the famous Ricoh GR lineup. Unsurprisingly, it is a widely loved and appreciated series of APS-C fixed-lens compact cameras. But it is not alone in this space. Many Fujifilm users know the X70 well, but is it still a good choice today, nearly seven years after its release?  

This is the first 70-200 f/4 lens Sony has released in nine years. Is the product worth the wait?  

It seems Sony is on a roll with their releases. And now, they have announced a new camera and a new lens on the same day. While a new camera is pretty exciting, this new lens offering definitely should not be placed in the back seat. 

Photographers and filmmakers who work on location a lot have to strike a tricky balance between having all the gear necessary to complete a job and handle anything unexpected that might come up while still being able to travel without a ton of hassle.

Recently, I bought a Soligor 300mm 1:5.5. It’s over half a century old, built in 1971 by Tokina. I picked it up for a song and decided to put it through its paces. 

It’s been a while since Sony released a new crop sensor camera designed for serious photographers and videographers. But that day is finally here with the launch of the new Sony a6700.  

In a time when older cameras and lenses are getting new updated versions left and right, one of the best things to see is when the piece of gear gets an entirely new purpose. This is definitely something that no one expected from the new Sony f/4 telephoto lens. 

On paper, the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM is a remarkably versatile and affordable lens, offering a wide aperture, macro capabilities, and image stabilization, making it useful for a huge range of applications. Can it keep up with the more demanding, pixel-dense sensor found on the EOS R7 mirrorless camera? This quick and helpful video review takes a look.  

In the last few years, medium format has seen itself reinvented from a niche, prohibitively expensive option to an alternative to full frame for those who want access to some of the best image quality that money can buy. It is not without drawbacks, though. So, is it right for you?

Peak Design has a great reputation for well-made equipment. So, I was eager to try out their new Micro Clutch, as it met a need I had. Would it be as good as it promised? 

When it comes to cameras, two of the most important specs for landscape photographers are resolution and dynamic range. In recent years, cameras from Fujifilm and Hasselblad have reinvigorated medium format by modernizing camera options and reducing their prices to the point that they have become a viable alternative to full frame. So, which company makes the best camera for the genre?

A decade ago, the idea of a reasonably affordable supertelephoto zoom lens that also produced professional-level images was almost unheard of. However, that particular market niche has exploded and recent years, and photographers now have a huge range of options to choose from. Which lens is right for you?

Don’t get me wrong, Pentax has made some incredible cameras in the past, many of which are still brilliant to this day. One of my favorite SLRs to this day is the KM released in 1975. But technology is advancing, and this “new” camera feels a little out of place, even though it produces great files. 

The X100V has been on the wishlist of many. So many in fact, the waiting period to even get their hands on one can exceed six months. But why? What is the hype all about? What makes the camera so unique? Is it truly as good as everyone says? Is it worth the wait?