Gear Reviews

Samyang has long been known for creating very sharp and affordable manual focus lenses, but in the past few years, they have started offering autofocus-capable options while still keeping those budget prices.

With the Nikon Z 9 on the market, the competition for best mirrorless camera is a three-horse race again, with Nikon's option competing against the Sony a1 and Canon EOS R3. All three cameras offer highly impressive feature sets that can tackle just about anything you can throw at them, and this great video discusses the pros and cons of each and which edges out the other.  

A 24-70mm f/2.8 is the workhorse of choice for a huge number of photographers, suitable for a wide range of scenarios and needs. Sony recently released the second version of theirs, the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, and this excellent video review takes a look at the improvements and new features in the new lens and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it. &nbs

50mm lenses can cost anywhere between less than $100 to over $2,000, with every level of image quality and performance imaginable. At $179, Canon's RF 50mm f/1.8 STM sits at the lower end of the price spectrum, but it still brings with it a range of quite useful features.

The Fujifilm X100V is a popular and widely respected camera that offers a unique shooting experience and excellent image quality. With a fixed 35mm-equivalent lens, however, you might sometimes wish for a bit more versatility.

The newly released Profoto Clic Softbox is a modifier that is designed to fill in the void that the A1 system had: no soft modifiers. Find out now how Profoto created the first Clic softbox that you can assemble in one second and whether this softbox is even any good. 

Most modern cameras have ergonomic considerations built into them but are primarily designed to get results without getting in your way. However, the Fujifilm X100V mirrorless camera marries capabilities with an inspiring and fun to use design, making it quite the desirable and unique option.

Nikon's Z 9 turned the mirrorless camera competition into a three-horse race again, keeping the pressure on Sony and Canon to continue innovating. Furthermore, Nikon just released firmware 2.0, which makes the camera even more powerful.

The new Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G lens has turned quite a few heads as a portable, versatile, and relatively affordable wide angle zoom. This great video review takes a look at the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.  

Wide-aperture 85mm lenses are the classic choice for portrait photography, but, of course, they are not the only focal length you can use. 135mm lenses have long been a popular alternative choice, and several companies make impressive options.

70-200mm f/2.8 lenses are highly popular workhorses, suitable for a huge range of genres and applications. That being said, they are both expensive and rather bulky. If you do not need that extra aperture to stop, but still want the versatility of that focal length range, a 70-200mm f/4 can save you both bulk and money.

Creating a successful landscape photo takes creative vision, solid technique, and often, a bit of luck. If you would like to improve your landscape images, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you seven helpful tips sure to help you improve your photography. 

Is this the king of flash? Well, very likely, yes. The Profoto Pro-11 is the world’s most expensive flash, that behaves like the world’s most expensive flash. I had the Pro-11 unit to review and here are my thoughts.  

Voigtlander is known for making rugged lenses with good image quality, and the Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/2 Aspherical is no exception to that rule. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.  

Wide-aperture 35mm lenses are some of the most popular out there, at home in a quite varied range of applications, including portraiture, weddings, astrophotography, traveling, and a lot more.

100-400mm zoom lenses are some of the most popular out there, offering a highly versatile focal length range suitable for just about everything from wildlife photography to sports and more.

The Mac Studio is powerful — ridiculously so. It comes in two flavors, the M1 Max and M1 Ultra, and you might be wondering which version is right for your needs. This great video review discusses both and weighs their performance and cost to help you decide.  

One of the best parts of the Micro Four Thirds system is the wide selection of sharp but quite portable lenses, and if you do not need a particularly wide aperture, the OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4 PRO is especially compact and light while also not breaking the bank.

Tamron has established itself as a manufacturer of superbly practical and affordable lenses in the last few years, but they have also started to push the boundaries of lens design to create some impressively extreme lenses.

Samyang has long been recognized for creating affordable and sharp manual focus lenses, but in recent years, they have expanded into autofocus options, vastly increasing the versatility of their offerings while maintaining budget prices.

While the 85mm focal length is the classic choice for portrait photography, 135mm is a popular alternative, and there are some real gem lenses to be found there. One such option is the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM, and this great video review takes a look at the lens and the impressive performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.  

Perhaps no lens has a wider price range than the 50mm, which can cost anywhere from under $100 to well over $2,000 depending on the sort of performance and image quality you are after. Two options at the top end are the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM and Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM, and this great video review takes a look at both and which edges out the other.  

Irix is known mostly for making manual focus wide angle lenses with rugged build quality and nice image quality, and the new 21mm f/1.4 Dragonfly lens seeks to continue that trend.

Sigma makes some pretty standard lenses, but they also create some more unique and less heard-of designs that can be the sort of creative shot in the arm that excites a lot of photographers.

Wide-aperture 85mm prime lenses are the classic choice for portrait photography, but that does not mean they are right for everyone. This excellent video comparison takes a look at two options, the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM and the RF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM, to help you choose the right one for your work.  

Ok — let’s start with a disclaimer: I’m a fan of Platypod (both the company itself and the products individually). The most compelling photographs show us the world in a way we’re not used to seeing, which is where the Platypod excels. 

Are you looking for a display that will make your precision editing and retouching more convenient? Let’s check out what a high-resolution pen display tablet can offer.  

Once you get wider than 20mm, you generally do not encounter apertures wider than f/2.0, save for a few rare circumstances.

With the release of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8, I thought it would be a good time to take a look at the current list of options for photographers of all types. 

When I first heard of this Sony 16-35mm f/4 lens with power zoom, I looked at it as a gimmick feature. But after actually getting to use the lens, I think people are really going to love this lens.  

Nikon has really started to step it up in the professional mirrorless realm lately, and the new NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens is particularly emblematic of that, offering professional-level performance and image quality in an extremely portable design, all at a frankly insanely low price.

Apple's M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra chips have blown the doors off the industry by providing highly powerful performance with equally impressive efficiency to match. The Max and Ultra chips sit at the top of the line, but the Ultra chip is only available in the desktop Mac Studio.

Modern cameras are highly impressive, able to tackle just about any challenging situation you can throw at them, even those that just a few years ago would have thrown the best options off their game. As such, it can be easy to rely on that technology a little too much and to forget just how far you can get with good technique and a solid creative foundation.

85mm lenses with wide apertures are some of the most popular out there, but a high-quality one is often far from affordable. On the other hand, the Rokinon AF 85mm f/1.4 bucks that trend by coming in at over 75% less than the price of the highly respected Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM, making it quite the intriguing alternative. Can it keep up with those top-shelf options, though?

What is new and notable in Sony's new full frame ultra-wide angle lens? Let's take a look at how unique this lens is from similar focal length options. 

Mirrorless lenses allow you to experience the fun of supertelephoto focal lengths without the often stratospheric prices, but they generally come with a few compromises as well. Nonetheless, depending on your needs and budget, they can be a decent alternative.

The Nikon Z 9 has put Nikon back into competition with Sony and Canon in the upper echelon of the full frame mirrorless market, offering a no-compromises design at a competitive price.

With plenty of cloud-based storage systems, what makes Internxt any different, and should you trust them with your files?  

There have been a few digital cameras that have been landmarks in the industry, whether as major technological steps forward or impressive performers. One such groundbreaking camera was the Canon 5D Mark II, and this neat video takes a look at the camera and how you can still use it for great shots even 14 years after it was released.  

Video is more prevalent than ever, and along with the expectation of high-quality production and editing, clients expect top-notch audio to match. The Rode Wireless GO II has been a popular choice for some time, but the DJI Mic has recently challenged it and offers some compelling features and smart design choices that make it a great alternative.

Sigma has finally arrived on the Fujifilm X mount, and it has photographers excited at the prospect of using the company's popular lenses that are well known for providing excellent image quality at impressively competitive prices.

DJI's Action 2 is a tiny action camera meant to be placed in a variety of challenging environments and still come away with compelling footage, making it potentially quite the fun sidekick. This great video review takes a look at the camera after six months of usage, including how it holds up and the kind of performance and quality you can expect from it.  

For most photographers, the idea of a (relatively) fast lens covering everything from 35mm to 150mm is a dream come true. Does the Tamron lens live up to the dream? 

It's no secret that everyone is buzzing about the Sony a1 and the Nikon Z 9. Both are beautiful mirrorless cameras that have a lot of great features to offer. But, which one should you pick? 

I upgraded my camera to the Canon EOS R5 last year and have since been shooting with my adapter ring and the EF lenses. If this sounds like jargon to you: let me catch you up to speed. Canon launched its first mirrorless camera in 2018, and the mount on the mirrorless cameras is different than the ones of the previous DSLRs.

With Nikon and Canon starting to push quite hard in the professional mirrorless realm in the last few years, we have seen a resurgence of the development of professional supertelephoto lenses. Most such lenses have long been near the top of image quality and autofocus performance, so a lot of the focus has been on reducing weight and size while maintaining that performance and image quality.

The Westcott Optical Spot by Lindsay Adler is a modifier that can be used to create a variety of in-studio effects including shapes, patterns, hues, and selective shadowing of a subject or background. If you are a portrait photographer, this device can open up a myriad of creative options for you and your clients. 

A small, affordable prime lens with a relatively wide focal length can be tremendously useful (as long as it has the image quality to back it up), and at just $256 and 5.5 oz (155 g), the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 lens certainly fits the bill. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of sharpness and performance you can expect from it in real-world usage. 

When it comes to Sony's a7 series of camera, both the a7C and a7 IV are the most generalist options, offering the best balance of photo and video features at reasonable prices. So, if you are looking for an all-around option, which of the two is the best? This great video comparison takes a look at the two cameras to help you decide which is right for you.  

50mm (equivalent) lenses are rather versatile, able to cover a range of situations. Fujifilm shooters have quite a few options available to them at that focal length, and this excellent video comparison takes a look at three of them: the Fujifilm XC 35mm f/2, XF 35mm f/1.4 R, and the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR.