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.
It was about a year ago I reviewed the NIK Collection 2, a rebirth of popular Adobe plugins that laid fallow while its new owner, Google, tried to figure out what to do with them until DXO bought the software in 2017 and continually upgraded the collection. They have now added a feature that is really going to excite photographers.
In the midst of a mirrorless wave, the release of Nikon’s latest DSLR, the D780, has gone largely under the radar. But, for some photographers, it might just be what the doctor ordered.
Wildlife and sports photographers live on supertelephotos lenses, and Sony offers two great zoom options in that range. However, they have overlapping focal length ranges and some similar features, so you might be wondering which of the two is right for you. This great video takes a look at both of them to help you decide which one is right for your work.
The Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lens is the final entry into the company's trinity of f/2.8 zoom lens, and like the 28-75mm f/2.8 and 17-28mm f/2.8, it is quite a bit cheaper than similar first party lenses. If you are wondering how it compares to the more expensive options, check out this great comparison with the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/4.
Anyone who has shot buildings and interiors might wonder what possibilities shooting at 10mm could unlock. This lens definitely triggered my curiosity.
The DJI Mavic Air 2 is the latest drone from the company, and it brings with it a range of improvements along with new features. This excellent video review takes a look at the new drone and the sort of performance you can expect from it.
Leica cameras are some of the most expensive out there, and while some see them as a niche product for enthusiasts, other photographers swear by them for their work. This great video features a photographer discussing his thoughts on Leica ownership after a year with his camera.
Generally, you need to get into about the $300 range before you start to see any lenses that can really deliver great results, but occasionally, a gem comes along at a price that seems too good to be true. The Pergear 35mm f/1.6 seems like it could be one of those lenses, and this great video review takes a look at it and what you can expect.
DJI makes a range of consumer drones at varying price points, sizes, and capabilities, and you can generally find one that fits your needs within their lineup. If you are wondering which one is right for you, this great comparison video takes a look at the Mavic Air 2, the Mavic Mini, and the Mavic 2 Pro to help you decide which one is right for you.
Today on our new Fstoppers Live channel, we had the chance to interview Vasyl Nykolyshyn, the owner of Raycrown accessories, about a brand new shoot-through octabox concept he has designed. Not only is this light modifier wind-resistant and easy to build and break down, but it can also be used off-axis as a large soft light and on-axis as a massive ring light.
The rising popularity of mirrorless cameras has reinvigorated the vintage lens market, with many photographers opting for far cheaper older glass used with adapters over much more expensive modern options. This excellent comparison video takes a look at the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM versus the Canon FD 24mm f/2.8.
Zeiss lenses are well known for being very sharp with excellent contrast, and the Sony Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA (Zeiss design) is no exception. If you are looking for a 50mm lens, check out this great long-term review.
Luminar 4 has brought with it some advanced AI features that can save a lot of time in edits and enable new creative avenues. How does it hold up against Lightroom when it comes to editing? This great video shows a photographer processing the same image in both apps and what you can expect from each.
In the past few years, serious alternatives to Photoshop have started to crop up, with Affinity Photo being one of the most comprehensive options. If you are looking for a subscription-free alternative to Photoshop, check out this great look at using Affinity Photo to edit a beauty image.
Micro Four Thirds has a loyal following among photographers and videographers who value its light weight and portable size, high-quality lenses, and innovative features. If you are interested in the system and wondering which camera is right for you, this great video compares two upper-level options: the Panasonic Lumix G9 and the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III.
Whether you’ve just gotten a drone to escape quarantine via the skies, or you’ve been flying professionally for a while, having access to more detailed flight information can help make you a better pilot. Airdata, a flight data platform, promises to give pilots broad insight into their drone’s data. Do they deliver?
No doubt, a 50mm f/1.8 lens (a nifty fifty) is a lens that almost every photographer has a place for in their bag. If you are looking for such a lens for your Sony camera, check out this great review of the Samyang AF 45mm f/1.8 FE lens for Sony E mount cameras.
A cheap, portable lens with a normal focal length and relatively fast maximum aperture is one of the best lenses any photographer or videographer can own, useful in a wide variety of scenarios. This excellent video review takes a look at one such lens for Fuji shooters, the XC 35mm f/2.
Whether it be for shooting stills or lighting vibrant video clips, lighting solutions have really started to come in more shapes and sizes.
Do you ever ask yourself whether your method of retouching is correct or the best or if there is something new to learn, like how to use frequency separation and a tool in Photoshop that you’ve never tried?
The Canon EOS RP is a remarkably cheap full frame mirrorless camera and a great way to get into the Canon mirrorless system without breaking the bank. If you are considering picking up one yourself, check out this helpful video review that discusses how it holds up after a year of usage.
In a release cycle reminiscent of certain other manufacturers, Fujifilm decided to replace their flagship X-T series camera in 18 months rather than the usual 2 years. With a smattering of feature updates, a new battery, and a couple of cosmetic changes, is it really worth the upgrade from the X-T3? Let’s find out.
Tamron's new 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lens undercuts the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS by over a thousand dollars, making it a fantastic alternative for photographers if it can provide similar performance and image quality to its counterpart. This great video review takes a look at the two lenses to help you decide which one is right for you.
Samyang has begun to expand their lens lineup into the realm of autofocus while trying to retain their reputation for being sharp and affordable. One of their latest lenses, the 75mm f/1.8 for Sony E mount cameras, provides a unique focal length great for portraits combined with a wide aperture, all in a small package.
Last week, I sat down to do four portrait retouching courses from Chris Orwig. This enormous bundle of informative and accessible tutorials is packed with easily digested information. My confidence when it comes to editing portraits is now significantly higher.
The 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the workhorse of choice for many photographers across a variety of genres, providing a versatile range of focal lengths combined with a useful maximum aperture. This excellent video review takes a look at the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens for Nikon mirrorless cameras.
The MacBook Pro is the laptop of choice for a wide range of professionals who need to be able to work on the go. The latest version of the MacBook Pro comes with a bevy of new improvements and features, and this excellent video review takes a look at it and what you can expect from it in practice.
The Nikon Z 6 has been on the market for a while now, and the Z system has begun to work its way into the hands of more and more professionals. This great video features a photographer discussing his thoughts on the camera after logging 250,000 images on his Z 6.
Noise is one of the most common issues photographers have to deal with, and there are lots of different ways to deal with it in post-processing. This excellent video review takes a look at one of the most advanced pieces of specialized software for the task and how well it can take care of noise in your images.
A wide aperture 50mm (or equivalent) lens is a workhorse for lots of photographers in many genres, offering a versatile focal length and useful low-light and depth of field capabilities for a variety of applications. If you are looking for such a lens for your Fuji camera, this excellent video review takes a great look at the ultra-affordable Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 lens.
Several generations in, the Fujifilm X series is highly refined and a serious tool for lots of working professionals. This great video review takes a comprehensive look at the latest entry in the series, the X-T4.
DJI makes a variety of great drones at various price points and with different feature sets, with the Mavic Mini being one of the most inexpensive, making it an intriguing option for lots of new drone users. This great video review takes a look at the Mavic Mini and how well it performs, particularly how it has improved with new firmware updates.
There is no shortage of 24-70mm lenses for full frame cameras, but of course, when it comes to medium format, the landscape is a bit different. Fuji's GF 45-100mm f/4 R LM OIS WR lens fills that gap, and this excellent video review takes a look at how it performs in practice.
The fast 50mm lens is a staple optic for a wide variety of photographers and videographers, with a useful, neutral focal length and wide maximum aperture, making it great for anything from portraits to events work. This great video review takes a look at the Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S lens for the Z mount and what you can expect from it in practice.
Tamron's new 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lens completes the company's holy trinity of f/2.8 zoom lenses, following in the footsteps of the wildly popular 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD and 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD lenses. Can it keep up with the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS?
Despite coming in at under $1,000, the cheapest 2020 MacBook Air still offers some advanced features that can make it a great option for photographers on the go who want a portable work laptop without lots of bulk. This great video takes a look at the laptop and what you can expect from it.
The Canon 1D series is the company's flagship line, and it brings with it state of the art technology in an ultra-durable package that can step into any photographic scenario and excel. This fantastic video review takes a look at the camera in the real world and the kind of performance you can expect.
A walkaround lens with a decent zoom range, reasonable aperture, good image quality, and an affordable price is something of a unicorn for a lot of photographers. The Tamron 35-150mm f/2.8-4 Di VC OSD lens seems to check all those boxes, making it one of the most intriguing lenses I have seen in a few years.
In the last few years, Samyang has added autofocus to their already affordable and sharp lenses, making them all the more useful for any photographer looking for good optical quality that will not break the bank. If you are looking for such a lens, check out this great review of the Samyang AF 75mm f/1.8 FE lens for Sony E mount cameras.
Whether you already have a 35mm film camera or are looking to get one, the Nikon F2 is about as good as an SLR camera can possibly be.
Canon's EF-to-RF adapters are already a great way to ease the transition from DSLRs to mirrorless while maintaining good performance. Beyond enabling you to use your EF mount lenses, the higher-end adapters let you use a drop-in variable ND filter or circular polarizing filter, saving the need to carry large filters or step-down rings.
Tamron's 28-75mm f/2.8 lens for Sony E mount has been a huge hit for the company. They eventually filled out the lineup with the 17-28mm f/2.8 and the 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lenses, creating a fantastic alternative for photographers looking for a cheaper f/2.8 zoom trio.
The Fuji XF 35mm f/2 R WR lens is a very compact, lightweight, and affordable lens with a versatile focal length and wide aperture. This great video takes a look at it to help you decide if it deserves a place in your bag.
For many photographers and videographers, part of the fun of having a mirrorless camera is the wide variety of lenses that can be adapted to the body due to the shorter flange distance made possible by removing the mirror. In this article, we'll be taking a look at one such adapter, the Steelsring Nikon F to Fujifilm GFX Smart Autofocus Adapter.
The Canon C500 Mark II is not cheap, but with that price tag comes an impressive range of features sure to satisfy a lot of professionals. This excellent review gives a great overview of the camera and what you can expect in shooting with it.
Photographers and videographers are lucky to have a wide range of general-purpose full frame mirrorless cameras that can competently handle a lot of genres and scenarios. If you are wondering which model is right for you, this fantastic video compares the Sony a7 III, the Canon EOS R, and the Nikon Z 6.
The Godox V1 is a powerful round head speedlight with a variety of advanced features that make it a versatile portable flash for a wide variety of applications. This great video review takes a look at how the flash holds up after a year of usage in a few different genres.
Most professional photographers use full frame, medium format, or APS-C cameras, though micro four thirds has been chugging along for a little over a decade now and maintains a loyal contingent of users who value its especially compact size. Are the tradeoffs in sensor size worth the portability and other features?
Whereas Canon began their mirrorless lineup with a bunch of extreme lenses, Nikon mostly went for more practical designs for their Z mount. This excellent video review takes a look at one such lens, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens.
Almost every manufacturer has a 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens or something similar, as it represents a useful and versatile telephoto focal length range for many photographers without the stratospheric price of supertelephoto primes. This great video review takes a look at Sony's version, the FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens.