Gear Reviews

Whether you’re a photographer or videographer, you know the difference lighting can make in creating a compelling shot. While there are dozens of tools and techniques you can leverage in your next shoot, the Godox TL60 tube light might offer the creative possibilities you’re looking for, particularly for video work. Want to see what makes it so special? 

The 70-200mm f/2.8 lens is the workhorse of choice for photographers in a wide range of genres, but such lenses are both heavy and quite expensive. For those who want the versatility of those focal lengths but don't need that f/2.8 aperture, a 70-200mm f/4 lens is a far cheaper and more portable option.

Coming in at nearly five times larger than a full frame sensor, the RZ has resolution for days and can produce tack-sharp images, making it great for landscape work. 

A wide angle zoom lens is a versatile option suitable for a wide range of scenarios, and for Fujifilm shooters, one option is the XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR lens, a recent update to the original. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.  

Buying used camera gear doesn’t mean just private parties anymore. Commercial sellers have entered the market of used gear, and it’s a growing business. I tried out one of them and was quite surprised. 

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct is anything but cheap, but it is also one of the most impressive lens designs out there. So, what does all that money get you? This great video review takes a look at what the 58mm f/0.95 can offer you. 

The original Rode Wireless Go was probably the best microphone system for the money when it came out. The new version, the Rode Wireless Go II, is better in every single way and still incredibly affordable.  

The XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR lens offers Fujifilm X Series shooters a versatile set of long focal lengths suitable for things like wildlife and sports at a reasonable price. This fantastic video review takes a look at the lens and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.  

A 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the workhorse of choice for a ton of photographers and filmmakers, offering a versatile focal length range and a wide maximum aperture. They can be quite expensive, however, which is why Sigma's 24-70mm f/2.8 Art, which is about half the price of first-party options, is so intriguing.

I understand what color grading and LUTs (Color Lookup Tables) are and how they can improve a photo or video. But a new application for Mac and Windows has a rather revolutionary interface that helps you visualize what your image values are and lets you modify them to your heart's content.  

As an unabashed proponent of the Nikon D850, specifically my own personal D850, as being the greatest DSLR to ever come off the assembly line, the prospect of ever actually trading in my beloved camera for a mirrorless option has always been met with a healthy dose of skepticism. So, today, having had both a Z 7II and a D850 in my possession for a couple of months, I thought I would try to

One of the most annoying aspects of using front-mounted circular filters is that there are many different common sizes, which can quickly add up in cost and make you carry around a bag with a bunch of different filters. Canon's unique Drop-In Filter EF-EOS R Mount Adapter solves that issue, allowing you to use a single ND or polarizing filter with any EF lens.

The Canon EOS R5 has been widely lauded for its highly impressive feature set. However, its sibling, the EOS R6, comes with a lot of those same impressive features and is much more affordable than the EOS R5.

Not too long ago, any Sony shooter wanting an f/2.8 standard zoom would have only a single option. Thanks to Sigma and Tamron, there are now three more to choose from. Which of these more affordable options is the best? 

Fuji's medium format system has proven wildly popular, and as the company has expanded the lineup, they have released some quite impressive lenses. The GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR is one of those lenses, and this great video review takes a look at it and how it performs in practice.  

Is your tripod not giving you access to the heights you need? Check out this Gitzo GT5563GS Giant review. 

The Nikon FE is the perfect blend of a lightweight construction that still feels sturdy and has perfect functionality with my favorite camera feature: aperture priority mode. I never thought I’d find a 35mm camera that I’d use more than my F100 or F2, but here we are.  

The Fujifilm GFX 100S is one heck of a camera, taking the company's highly respected GFX 100 medium format mirrorless camera and cutting both its size and price nearly in half. This great video review takes a look at the camera's image quality and autofocus performance, as well as having some fun by adapting some full frame lenses to it.  

While most of us own multiple lenses suited for different purposes, sometimes, whether for convenience or necessity, we want one lens that can handle all possible situations. For Sony shooters, there is the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD, and this excellent video review takes a look at what you can expect from it in practice. 

A wide-aperture 50mm lens is one of the most commonly owned and versatile options, useful for a wide variety of situations. This great video review compares two options for Sony shooters, the Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA and the Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA. 

A 70-200mm f/2.8 lens is one of the most versatile and popular options out there, but not everyone needs that f/2.8 aperture or wants to spend that kind of money. A 70-200mm f/4 lens offers the same versatility in a smaller and more affordable package, making it a great alternative for a lot of different photographers and filmmakers.

Traditionally, professional zoom lenses have filled the role of convenience, while primes have taken on more specific needs and creative pursuits.

While smartphone manufacturers seem intent on making smartphone gimbals redundant, there are a number of excellent products on the market, and the AOCHUAN Smart XR from PERGEAR offers stiff competition given its aggressive pricing. 

The Sony a1 is here, and it brings with it what is quite possibly the most impressive set of specs we have ever seen on a camera. Do those impressive numbers and features pan out in practice? This great video review takes a look at 10 good and not so great parts of the Sony a1.  

Sigma recently announced the 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens, which is billed as the lightest and smallest f/2.8 standard zoom lens available for mirrorless systems. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.  

The standard resolution of camera sensors has skyrocketed in the last few years, and the once niche 50-megapixel level is now very much a standard figure. This excellent video compares the image quality between four of the most respected modern cameras, the Sony a1, Sony a7R IV, Canon R5, and Nikon Z 7II. 

The Sony a7C is sort of the odd duck out in the a7 line, with a significantly different design than other cameras such as the a7R IV. That means some good things and some drawbacks, and this great video review takes a look at 10 pros and cons of the camera.  

A wide-aperture 35mm lens is a great choice for a wide range of genres and scenarios, and Sony's FE 35mm f/1.4 GM offers the company's G Master standard of excellence for photographers and filmmakers looking for high levels of quality and performance. This great video takes a look at the lens and the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it.  

Canon has two amazing lenses for their mirrorless system. This is the RF 600mm f/11 IS STM and the RF 800mm f/11 IS STM. Although the aperture is not that wide, these lenses can be very useful. I got a chance to try both for a few weeks and these are my findings.

Few lenses have the reputation of being sharp, fast(ish), small, light, feature the best coatings, and boast quick autofocus. This premium lens with Zeiss glass for less than $1,000 does. 

With the release of the Z 7II and the specs running so close to those of my beloved D850, it makes sense that it’s the first of Nikon’s mirrorless cameras to really make me consider the switch. But what will happen when I get out of testing mode and put my feet to the fire in the real world? 

For many years, the Canon 5D series was the camera of choice for a variety of photographers, useful for a wide range of applications and highly reliable. Now that the company has moved on to mirrorless, is the EOS R6 the new 5D? This excellent video review takes a look at the EOS R6 and how it holds up against the venerable 5D Mark III. 

The Fujifilm GFX 100S is one of the most impressive cameras we have seen in a long time, taking Fuji's highly respected 102-megapixel sensor from the GFX 100 and putting it in a much smaller body at nearly half the price, while still maintaining almost all the features from its larger sibling.

A wide-aperture 35mm lens is one of the most useful lenses a photographer can have in their bag, as it is versatile enough to tackle a wide variety of scenarios. Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM takes that even further by adding macro capabilities, all in a very compact and affordable package. This excellent video review takes a look at how it holds up in practice.  

Wide-aperture lenses are quite popular for a variety of creative uses and technical requirements, but they can also be highly expensive. The 7artisans Photoelectric 35mm f/0.95 is just $249, and this excellent video review takes a look at how it performs in practice.  

Godox’s line of flashes, including the incredibly popular AD200 and V1, have become a mainstay of the on and off-camera lighting market. They’ve become so popular, in part, thanks to the surprising value and feature set offered at each price point. As a result, the AD100Pro, a new addition to the line, has quite the legacy to live up to. Has it earned a place in photographer’s bags? 

I recently tested out the Hasselblad CFV II and 907X with the XCD 4/45P lens, which Hasselblad totes as the smallest medium format setup on the market. 

A good macro lens is one of the most versatile you can own, useful not just for close-up shots, but also as an ultra-sharp portrait lens. Tamron's SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD is highly affordable, and this fantastic video review takes a look at the kind of performance you can expect from it in practice.  

The Canon EF 135mm f/2L is one of the company's most beloved portrait lenses, but having been released in 1996, you might wonder if it can keep up with today's high-resolution sensors. This excellent video pairs it with such a sensor to see how it performs. 

A wide-aperture 35mm lens is one of the most versatile a photographer can own, suitable for a huge range of applications from portraiture to astrophotography or even as a walkaround option that lives on your camera. For Fuji shooters, there is the XF 23mm f/1.4 R lens, and this excellent video review takes a look at how it holds up in practice.  

Many newer mirrorless cameras are on the more expensive side, but we have also seen a few budget models that offer affordable entry points into the world of full frame mirrorless. This excellent video review takes a look at one such option, the Nikon Z 5. 

The Sony a1 mirrorless camera is here, and it takes a no-compromise approach to its design that is meant to handle whatever photo or video work you can throw at it. This great video review takes a look at the camera for both photo and video applications and discusses the sort of performance you can expect from it in practice.  

70-200mm lenses are highly versatile, and though f/2.8 is the professional standard, not everyone needs that wide aperture or wants to spend the money to carry around that sort of bulk.

Having previously spent a few months with the 24-megapixel Nikon Z 6II, today, we move to its bigger brother, and I will begin a series of essays on Nikon’s latest high-resolution entry into the mirrorless camera market, the new Nikon Z 7II. 

When it comes to modern autofocus lenses, your options are typically cheap-feeling plastic up to nice-feeling plastic. Finally, there’s an option for getting the build quality of a beautiful, vintage prime with modern optics and coatings.  

The 35mm focal length is great for a huge variety of uses and is one of the most often-used lenses in a lot of photographers' bags. For Nikon mirrorless shooters, there is the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S, and this great video review takes a look at the performance you can expect from it in practice.  

Many camera bags are created for limited applications. Not all bags can be as useful for every shooting situation. However, this expansive camera bag system just might have covered most, if not all. 

For many photographers, using a hand held meter is considered next-level — particularly for film photographers. Often times though, they are a bit bulky and can get in the way. Is the Reveni Labs Spot Meter is the solution we've been waiting for? 

For a lot of photographers, the need to edit and present their portfolio on the run is ever-present. Can the iPad Pro meet the needs of a modern photographer? 

The X-E4 is the newest camera in Fujifilm's X Series of cameras, and it brings with it a range of new features and improvements at a very reasonable price. This great video review takes a look at the camera from a stills perspective and the kind of image quality and performance you can expect from it.