Fstoppers gear reviews are written by photographers who actually use the equipment — not benchmark testers looking at spec sheets. This section covers cameras, lenses, lighting, accessories, bags, software, and everything else in a working photographer's kit. The goal is always the same: give you an accurate picture of whether something is worth your money before you spend it.
All of the major camera companies have released some incredible cameras in the last few years, but many of us do not need top-shelf features and would rather opt to save thousands of dollars by buying a more generalist option.
When Aputure released the LS 600d Pro, it took the market by storm and signaled an era of high-power LED coming. But when the LS 600X Pro came out, it took the D version and made it greater. I’ve been using the 600X Pro for the past month, and here are some of my thoughts on it.
Ultra-wide angle zoom lenses with wide maximum apertures are popular for a variety of uses, ranging from astrophotography to weddings and events work.
HEX has been on a tear lately, releasing plenty of functional bags with some meaningful limited editions. The HEX Back Loader DSLR Backpack V2 continues the trend with a useful and stylish package that’s just about perfect for shooters with DSLR or mirrorless cameras.
Fujifilm makes some pretty impressive lenses, and in between their well-established X Series and the respected GFX medium format line, photographers have a lot of choices when it comes to narrow depth of field and bokeh. This great video compares an option from each line, the GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR lens and the XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR.
The latest camera from the ONE R is getting an upgrade, adding some needed features.
Insta360 has announced a new 4K module and “body” for their R line of cameras. In addition, the battery and accessories have gotten upgrades. Here are the best bits.
Leica is a legendary brand, well known for a very specific camera experience and a desirable, unique look to their images. Fujifilm has made significant strides in the past decade, though, and their X-Pro series offers an experience similar to a rangefinder with a variety of interesting advanced and hybrid features. So, is Leica worth its significantly higher price?
It used to be that most supertelephoto zoom lenses were significantly below the standards demanded by professionals, leaving you to either buy a stratospherically priced prime or make do. However, in the last few years, we have seen an explosion of better lenses, and one of the most impressive options out there is the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM.
It’s not just the price, which is considerably lower than any other camera in the market that gives the same quality. It's a camera like no other, and its digital film footage is pure eye-candy every single time I get into the editing booth.
A pen tablet improves your editing and retouching workflow. Here's an affordable option.
A good 50mm lens with a wide aperture is by far one of the most versatile a photographer can own, suitable for everything from portraiture to low-light events work and more. For Fuji shooters, there is the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR, 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 practice.
The Sony a7 IV mirrorless camera was probably one of the most anticipated cameras of the last decade, as the a7 III had set a high bar for versatility, quality, and affordability in a hybrid mirrorless camera.
Probably no lens runs a wider price range than the 50mm. You can pick up a new wide-aperture 50mm prime for anywhere from under $100 to well over $2,000 and just about everywhere in between. The most affordable options tend to have some serious limitations, though.
The OM System OM-1 is here, and with its impressive upgrades and new capabilities, it challenges the paradigm of full frame or even APS-C cameras ruling the sports genre, at least on paper. Can it really keep up with top-level professional cameras, though? This great video review pits the OM-1 against the highly respected Canon EOS R3 to find out.
50mm f/0.95 lens options have exploded in the last few years, all offering an ultra-wide aperture at a versatile focal length in an affordable manual focus design. So, which of the options is best?
Fujifilm's XF 56mm f/1.2 lens has long been one of the most popular portrait lenses out there. However, Sigma lenses recently arrived for XF shooters, creating a new option for X Series shooters, including the 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary. So, how do the two options compare? This excellent video comparison takes a look at both to help you choose the right one for you.
Apple's new Mac Studio has created an entirely new class of desktop computers for the company, offering some insanely powerful capabilities that should be able to tackle anything even the most demanding photographers and filmmakers can throw at them, all at a price that starts significantly below the Mac Pro line, making it an impressive value.
Normal focal length lenses with wide maximum apertures are some of the most popular options out there, suitable for everything from portraiture to low-light events coverage and astrophotography.
DxO PureRAW is a permanent part of my photographic workflow. Before anything else, I take my raw files from my mirrorless camera and my drone through PureRAW first. It checks my camera and lens data and outputs a raw file with corrections that eliminate lens distortions, vignetting, noise, and a host of other issues specific to my hardware.
The OM System OM-1 is here, and it brings with it some mightily impressive improvements and upgrades along with a range of new features that help to modernize the system and make it competitive with APS-C and full frame options again. This great video review takes a look at the new camera and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
To go with my new OM-1 Camera, I’ve bought the new OM System 40-150 f/4 PRO. I took it out for the first time in a violently windy afternoon to put it through its paces. Here's my real-world review of this lens.
Tamron has really gone through a renaissance in recent years, creating impressively capable and practical lenses that significantly undercut the prices of many first-party options. The 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD is quite a significant step forward, covering a huge range of common focal lengths with impressively wide apertures. Can it be the only lens some photographers need?
I am not a Sony shooter, but, for the last couple of months, I’ve gotten a chance to play with the Sony a7S III and use it for an assortment of projects. Here are my impressions from the outside looking in.
DJI’s Mavic 3 is an amazing drone, but DJI’s pricing for their filters isn’t so amazing. Fortunately, companies like PGYTECH have made a range of filters compatible with the Mavic 3’s unique mount and camera setup. Are they worth pairing with the high-performance camera the drone is equipped with? I put PGYTECH’s Mavic 3 filter series to the test in this review.
I have a massive soft spot for fresnels. I love them. Fresnels give out unique light qualities that can’t be replicated by anything else. The Aputure F10 Fresnel is no exception, as it turns an LED into a super-light. Here’s why.
The Rode Videomic Go II certainly isn't the best-sounding microphone at $99, but there is no doubt it's the most versatile.
I aggressively tested an OM System OM-1 Camera in the field. As I had pre-ordered one, I was hoping that I would be pleased with the results. Was I? Here are my thoughts on the camera and what it means to the future of the OM System.
Panasonic's GH6 is here, and it brings with it a host of new features and upgrades over its predecessor. This informative video provides a first look at what you can expect from the camera.
Nowadays, most of us have far more devices than we have ports available on our computers, and rather than constantly hooking up and disconnecting different devices, it is far easier to just get a nice hub.
Wide-aperture 50mm lenses are quite versatile, able to fill the needs of photographers in a wide variety of scenarios. For Sony shooters, FE 50mm f/1.2 GM offers top-of-the-line design in tandem with a very wide maximum aperture, making it an intriguing option for anyone looking for that narrow depth of field look and great image quality to match.
Photographers typically have dozens of options when it comes to portrait lenses, with something available to fit just about every budget.
Fuji's XF 56mm f/1.2 lens has been a highly popular portrait lens for quite a while, but Sigma lenses have finally arrived for Fujifilm shooters, with the 56mm f/1.4 DC DN being one of the initial offerings. At a little less than half the price the Fujifilm offering, it should certainly catch the attention of a lot of portrait and wedding photographers.
Can this new hack for variable neutral density filters expand their usability in landscape photography and long exposure?
As the artificial intelligence race intensifies among photography software companies, Boris FX is filling a completely different niche with their editing software Optics. With their latest release, Optics users now have access to their powerful Particle Illusion generator, which can create thousands of useful emitters like explosions, smoke, fire, and other particle effects.
Medium format lenses are almost always more expensive than comparable full frame or APS-C counterparts, simply because that bigger sensor needs a bigger image circle and thus, more glass. As such, a medium format lens that sits below $1,000 is worth a look.
A good wide angle lens can be tremendously useful for a range of photography genres, and Canon shooters have a few options from which to choose, with varying image quality, specs, and, of course, price. The excellent video comparison takes a look at three such lenses, the RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM, RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM, and RF 16mm f/2.8 STM.
For many photographers and filmmakers, a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the workhorse of choice for a wide variety of genres and shooting situations. That being said, such lenses can be quite expensive. Samyang's 24-70mm f/2.8 AF Zoom comes in at less than half the price of most such lenses, however, making it an intriguing option for a wide variety of creatives.
These new camera backpacks from Manfrotto offer more than just a minimalist design.
Samyang, long known for producing highly affordable but sharp manual focus lenses, has expanded into autofocus offerings in recent years while still keeping their lineup at prices well below first-party options.
Portrait focal length lenses with wide maximum apertures will always be popular, but they can also be quite expensive, easily running about $2,000 at the top end of the spectrum. The TTArtisan 90mm f/1.25 offers that classic combination at a much more affordable price, making it an attractive option for a wide range of photographers.
A wide angle lens with a wide maximum aperture is one of the most versatile optics a photographer or filmmaker can have in their bag.
Innovators and philosophers like Elon Musk and Sam Harris have been theorizing what our world will look like once artificial intelligence completely takes over our everyday lives. We aren't quite there, but if you've ever dreamed of a day when all your skin retouching might be completed using AI and neural networks, well, the future is a lot closer than you might think.
The Sony a7 III was widely lauded as one of the most impressive and well-balanced hybrid cameras ever made, making its successor, the a7 IV, one of the most highly anticipated releases in recent memory. Now that the a7 IV is here, is it worth upgrading from the a7 III or can you stick with what you already have? This great video comparison will help you answer that question.
With so many plugins out there to choose from and with nearly everyone trying to emulate old film looks, is this new plugin worth considering? Check out our review.
Telephoto lenses have a unique charm in landscape photography. How does the new Sony G Master telephoto zoom affect the way you shoot?
When it comes to wedding photography, most users will want well-balanced cameras with advanced autofocus, decent resolution, good low-light performance, and more, all without being too expensive. Two options that fit those descriptions well are the Sony a7 IV and Canon EOS R6, and this great video comparison takes a look at both cameras and discusses which is the better choice.
Fujifilm's GFX line of medium format mirrorless cameras brought a level of popularity to a sensor size traditionally reserved for rental houses and a select few photographers by offering a modern take on the format and more importantly, doing so at a competitive price.
The Leica M11 has arrived, and it has taken several impressive steps forward that establish it as a modern, professional camera while still providing the classic Leica experience the company's users look for. If you have been considering the camera, this excellent video review discusses one photographer's experience with it after four weeks.
The Panasonic GH6 is here, and it brings with it some significant upgrades and new features over the GH5. Check out what you can expect in this great video review.
Coming to you from Gordon Laing, this great video review takes a look at the new Panasonic Lumix GH6 mirrorless camera. The GH6 comes with a variety of improvements and new features, including:
Olympus (or OM System) is back, and it has made some impressive steps forward with the new OM-1 mirrorless camera that re-establish it as a competitive camera manufacturer. No camera is perfect, of course, and this great video discusses where OM System should invest time and money next to continue to reassert the brand.