Gear Reviews

The TTArtisan 23mm f/1.4 lens is a fully manual, all-metal lens designed for a variety of crop sensor cameras. In this video, I discuss my initial impressions using the lens and also whether or not I think it's worth picking up. 

Just when you thought there were more than enough raw image editors out there, along comes another one with some fresh thinking and excellent results. This new editor is called Radiant Photo. 

Laowa's ever-increasing wide angle lens range is getting larger with the introduction of the 12-24mm f/5.6 C-Dreamer for mirrorless cameras. With a fixed f/5.6 aperture throughout the zoom range, an all-metal construction, 15 elements in 11 groups, is this lens a dream to use?  

The 2022 MacBook Air is a major departure from models of the past, with a complete redesign, a bigger screen, new color options, and a lot more. Is it the laptop for you? Read on for my review.  

An 85mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is one of the most desirable options out there, especially for portrait photographers, who prize the focal length and narrow depth of field. However, such lenses can easily cost well over $2,000 for a good option. At less than $200, the Meike 85mm f/1.8 is highly intriguing, but can it offer the results you need at such a low price?

The Laowa 10mm f/4 Cookie lens is one of the new offerings from Venus Optics. With an impressive 109.3-degree field of view, it's currently the widest rectilinear APS-C lens on the market, so how does it perform? 

Voigtlander is known for making all-metal manual focus lenses that offer durable construction and sharp and contrasty images. The Nokton 21mm f/1.4 Aspherical lens is another in that tradition, and it offers a unique focal length paired with a very wide maximum aperture.

Canon's 7D series of DSLRs were some of the company's most popular cameras, as they borrowed many features from the company's more expensive full frame bodies and put them all in small and more affordable packages. And so, the announcement of the EOS R7, the mirrorless successor to the 7D line, has generated a lot of excitement.

When a lens is sold out, you always know it's a good sign. See what all the fuss is about with the new Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 PZ G lens. 

The Nikon Z fc is styled after one of the greatest 35mm cameras of all time, the Nikon FM2. And although the Z fc looks like an FM2, does it live up to the hype? 

Skin retouching can seem a daunting task if you are a beginner. What brush do you use, what layer goes where, and how do you smooth the skin? And on top of that, you have to remember all the steps involved. So, how does Infinite Guide make the whole process simple? 

50mm lenses with wide apertures are some of the most popular out there, and you can find options from under $100 to well over $10,000. So, what can you get near the top end of that range? This great video takes a look at the Leica Noctillux f/1.0 to answer that question.  

The original M1 MacBook Air was a highly popular model that offered remarkable performance and battery life in the iconic Air chassis. The new M2 model brings with it a new chip, but it also comes with a wide variety of new options and upgrades. So, which is right for you? This excellent video comparison will help you choose.  

A few years ago, asking whether one should get a laptop or a tablet for professional work would be a ludicrous question. However, with options like external display support and the same chip used in MacBooks, the iPad Pro is an intriguing option and in some ways, it is even a better one. So, which is right for you, the MacBook Air or the iPad Pro?

Handheld air blowers are the type of accessory literally every photographer and filmmaker should have in their bag, as they allow you to easily get rid of grit or debris on your camera sensor and lenses without physically touching them and risking a scratch. The Nitecore BlowerBaby upgrades the standard handheld blower by adding a powerful motor and rechargeable battery.

This tripod has been around for quite a few years and its unique mix of features has won awards for design. Let’s check out what this relatively affordable tripod has to offer. 

A 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the workhorse of choice for a lot of photographers and filmmakers, useful for a huge range of situations and genres. For Sony shooters, there is the new FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, and this excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage. 

Portrait retouching is a process that requires consistent, well-practiced technique and an efficient, well-organized workflow to produce professional results in a reasonable amount of time. In this review, we take a look at retoucher Pratik Naik's Infinite Retouch Panel and how it can help you create better results in less time.  

The Fujifilm X-H2S is the company's latest entry in the respected X Series line of mirrorless cameras, and it brings with it a wide range of new features and improvements that make it a fantastic option for photographers and filmmakers alike.

Do you have a lens in your collection that brings you joy every time you use it? One that begs to be used because of how beautifully it renders the world around you, and you can’t help but wonder how a specific subject might look when photographed with it? I recently found that lens for myself with the Zeiss Milvus 50mm f/1.4, and to be honest, it has been an unexpected love affair. 

With an 80-300mm equivalent focal length range in a light and compact body, the OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4 PRO looks like the ideal lens for a wide range of applications. Can its performance and image quality keep up with professional demands, though? This excellent video review takes a look to answer that question.  

The Canon 7D series was one of the most popular cameras the manufacturer ever made, offering many of the features of more advanced full frame cameras in smaller and much more affordable bodies. The EOS R7 is its mirrorless successor, and it brings with it a wide range of new features and impressive capabilities.

Film has seen a major resurgence in popularity in the last few years, and Fujifilm's line Instax line of cameras and printers has been a runaway hit for the company.

The new Apple MacBook Air has arrived, and it brings with it a newly designed chassis, a new chip, a bigger screen, and a whole range of other new features and improvements over the already highly respected M1 MacBook Air. So, how does Apple's ultra-portable laptop perform with all these upgrades?

Most of us over 30 have at least one box of old photo prints in a closet somewhere, and digitizing them is a worthwhile if tedious task. The Epson FastFoto FF-680W scanner seeks to make quick and easy work of that task while still producing high-quality results, and in this review, we take a look at what you can expect from it in practice.  

Fujifilm's X-H2S is the newest camera in the company's popular X Series line of mirrorless cameras, and with it come a variety of improvements and new features, most notable being a new sensor. This awesome video review takes a look at the camera for photography purposes, including the performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.  

The 85mm lens is generally the most popular choice for portrait photography, but 135mm has long been an alternate favorite of a lot of photographers. Just like the former focal length, there are some impressive 135mm options out there, one being the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM.

The Canon EOS R5 got most of the attention when it was first announced along with the EOS R6, but the latter is an impressively capable camera, and for a lot of creatives, it might actually be the more appropriate choice. This excellent video review takes a look at the ESO R6 and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.  

If you are someone who spends many hours or even days away from a power source, you know how difficult it can be to keep all your devices properly topped off. With a huge battery and a variety of smart features, the Anker PowerHouse II 300 seeks to remedy that conundrum. In this review, we take a look at the PowerHouse and how it performs.  

2022 has been a triumphant year for film photography, and although we are yet to see big companies produce anything in the way of serious film cameras, we have seen a few exciting, plastic toy cameras hit the market. Kodak has now delighted the community with these stylish half frame cameras manufactured in collaboration with the Reto Project. 

Fujifilm's GFX line of medium format mirrorless cameras rewrote medium format's role in the industry, taking it from a niche tool used by a few studios and rental houses and making it a viable alternative to full frame bodies, particularly for landscape, wedding, and portrait photographers.

These days, most of us are carrying several battery-powered devices at any given time, and that can add up to a lot of cables to keep track of and a lot of inconvenience if you forget to bring along the right power adapter.

The Fujifilm X-H2S is the latest entry in the company's respected X Series line of mirrorless cameras, and it brings along a wide range of new features and improved capabilities. 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 real-world usage. 

85mm lenses with wide maximum apertures are some of the most popular out there, particularly for portrait photographers, but they can also run well north of $2,000 for a good model. And so, at less than $200, the Meike 85mm f/1.8 is quite the intriguing lens, but do you get much at such a low price?

24-70mm f/2.8 lenses are the workhorses of choice for a huge range of photographers and filmmakers, as they offer a very versatile focal length range in tandem with a wide maximum aperture. Nonetheless, not everyone needs that f/2.8 aperture, and if you are willing to exchange that for f/4, you can get even more focal length range at a reduced price.

A few years ago, a small Hong Kong-based company called Megadap raised some eyebrows when they announced their newest product, the MTZ11, which allowed Leica M mount lenses (along with a host of other manual-focus mounts when used with adapters) to be used with the Nikon Z body with autofocus. 

Normally, lenses with wide maximum apertures, such as f/1.4, sit at the expensive end of the spectrum, costing anywhere from several hundred to multiple thousands of dollars. And so, a new 35mm f/1.4 lens that costs just $73 is sure to turn some heads, but can it actually turn in decent images?

The Canon EOS R3 and EOS R5 are the company's two most powerful full frame cameras at the moment, offering powerful though different feature sets at two distinct price points. So, which is right for your work? This great video review takes a good look at both cameras to help you decide which is right for your needs.  

Canon's supertelephoto prime lenses are some of the most extreme lenses out there in terms of image quality, performance, and yes, price. If you are able and willing to shell out for one, though, you can generally expect a superlative experience. So, what exactly does that $13,000 get you?

The Venus Optics Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe lens captured the photography world's attention by being one of the most unique lenses we have ever seen and allowing photographers and filmmakers to get shots that simply would not be possible otherwise.

24-70mm f/2.8 lenses are the workhorses of choice for a wide variety of photographers and filmmakers, suitable for anything from weddings to landscape work and much more. Sony recently released the second iteration of their version, the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, and this great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in p

Viltrox has been manufacturing thirrd party lenses for some time now and has been hitting the mark with build and quality at a very reasonable price range. Their latest release, the 13mm f/1.4 is aimed at photographers and vloggers. 

Insta360’s cameras have been using the same 360 sensor setup for about three years, and now, it’s getting a serious update. Will the quality make up for the bulk? 

When considering what lens to buy, there are a few features and technical aspects you should consider to help make your choice. If being able to customize the way your lens focuses is important to you, you will want to check out the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2. 

Sony has expanded their lens lineup quite a bit in the past few years, and they now offer a wide range of focal length options for many applications and budgets. If you are wondering which lenses are right for your work, check out this great video that features an experienced photographer discussing his 10 favorite Sony lenses.  

The GH6 is the latest entry in Panasonic's popular line of mirrorless micro four thirds cameras, and it brings with it a wide variety of improved capabilities and new features. This great video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.  

The Samyang AF 75mm f/1.8 FE offers a unique focal length in a lens that is quite lightweight and compact in addition to being very affordable, making it an interesting option for portrait photographers. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.  

A 50mm lens with a very wide maximum aperture can tackle a wide variety of scenarios and needs ranging from portraiture to events coverage. Nonetheless, such lenses can easily run north of $2,000, which makes the $218 price tag on the TTArtisan 50mm f/0.95 lens particularly eye-catching. Can it offer much at that price point, though?

Creating a successful portrait photograph takes knowledge of lighting, posing, proper camera settings, and a lot more. A good composition brings it all together, though with a person as the main focus, you have to make some special considerations.

A 35mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is one of the most versatile a photographer can have in their bag, offering a wide but relatively neutral focal length in tandem with the ability to leverage narrow depth of field or work in low-light situations.