Gear Reviews

Canon's new RF lenses are spectacular, but they are also very expensive, and you might not want to drop thousands of dollars on just one. The great thing is that the company has a very rich history of quality optics, and you can adapt pretty much any older Canon lens to their newer cameras.

Few lenses hold a more legendary status among photographers than the 50mm f/1.0L. Even 31 years after it hit the market, it still commands around $4,000 on the used market. What makes it so special? This great video takes a look at the lens affectionately known as the "bokeh beast." 

With the long-awaited release of the Fujifilm X100V — the fifth generation of the X100 series — it is fair to say that this is now a pretty mature camera system. The question is whether the improvement brought with this latest iteration makes the X100V the perfect camera for travel, documentary, and street photographers. 

The 24mm f/1.4 prime is a favorite lens of many photographers, offering a useful wide angle focal length with a large maximum aperture. How does Sony's version of the classic lens hold up in practice? This great video review takes a look at the FE 24mm f/1.4 GM lens. 

If you're looking for a lens that's super sharp, incredibly versatile, remarkably cheap, and able to cover almost every scenario you want from a walk-around lens, then this 35-150mm lens from Tamron is perfect. These images testify to that.

Sigma's Art series of lenses is loved by many photographers for its combination of great optical quality and relatively affordable prices that often undercut first party manufacturers by around 50 percent. Their 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art lens for Sony E and L mounts pushes boundaries a bit, as it is the first in the series with a maximum aperture of f/1.2. How does it hold up in practice?

Any bokeh fanatic knows that to push the boundaries of background blur further and further, you need ultra-wide aperture lenses. But it is not just a wide aperture that can produce that buttery smooth bokeh. Lenses with an apodization filter can also make bokeh much nicer.

The new firmware 3.0 update for the Nikon Z 6 and Z 7 has officially been released, and it seems the autofocus has undergone a huge upgrade. Here, one photographer reviews the enhanced AF tracking and the new subject-tracking. 

Fujifilm recently announced the X-T4, and it contains a bevy of improvements and new features sure to excite photographers and videographers alike. This excellent video takes a first look at the new camera and what you can expect from it in usage. 

Most macro lenses provide 1:1 magnification. However, if you want even more powerful capabilities, the Venus Optics Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO lens can offer double the magnification of standard macro lenses, and it comes in at quite an affordable price as well. How does it perform in practice? This great video review answers that question. 

Canon's L lenses are considered some of the best out there by many professionals, but they are also on the more expensive side of things. On the other hand, Sigma's Art lenses typically come in at about half the price of their Canon equivalents, making them an intriguing alternative for many shooters. How do they compare to their Canon counterparts?

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct is a fantastic lens with a stratospheric price tag to match. What is it like to shoot with, and is the image quality worth the price? This great video answers those questions. 

The Panasonic S1 is the company's first full-frame camera, and it offers a bevy of high-quality features in a rugged body, along with the benefits of the L mount alliance. This excellent video review takes a look at how the camera has held up after a year of use.  

The Nikon D780 is fresh on the scene, and it brings with it a bevy of improvements and new features over its predecessor that are sure to intrigue a lot of Nikon shooters looking for a reasonably priced full frame camera that can handle a range of scenarios competently. If you are considering purchasing one, this great video review will tell you what you can expect. 

The Canon 1D X Mark III made quite the splash when it was announced, with numerous head-turning features sure to please many professionals. Perhaps one of the most impressive is the new 5.5K raw video capability (at 60 fps no less) using the full width of the sensor. This great video takes a look at using the new feature in a low-light scenario. 

A few years ago, I reviewed the Hasselblad H6D 100c, and one of my biggest complaints was the lenses. This is not the case with Hasselblad's X1D system. Every XCD lens I've tested has far outperformed my expectations, and now, I've found the best portrait lens I've ever shot with.  

The Nikon D750 has been a highly regarded camera for quite some time, and its successor, the D780 builds on that legacy. With a highly practical and balanced feature set, it looks quite capable of satisfying the needs of a wide range of shooters. This excellent video review takes a comprehensive look at the new DSLR to help you decide if it is right for you. 

During the last photo trip I hosted at Lofoten, I used the new Haida M10 filter system together with their new filters. Although I was somewhat skeptical at first, I found it to be a really nice system that worked very well under cold conditions. This is my review. 

Canon's mirrorless lenses have been very well received and lauded for their high optical quality, but they are also quite expensive. Can you get good results by adapting some of their older and much cheaper lenses instead? This great video shows you what you can accomplish with one of their most legendary older lenses. 

The Nikon D750 is a highly popular and respected camera, but at almost six years old, it was almost certainly ready for an upgrade. Thus came the D780, which looks to be a solid performer that should be able to tackle a wide variety of shooting scenarios. Is it a worthwhile upgrade if you already own the D750? This great video answers that question for you.  

The Canon 1D X Mark III is quite the quantum leap forward from the already capable Mark II, with one of the most noteworthy features being the inclusion of 5.5K raw video at 60 fps using the full width of the sensor.

A lot of photographers love to have a walkaround lens they can keep on their camera for a variety of situations they encounter — typically a zoom with a decent range and an aperture of f/2.8 or f/4. If you are looking for such a lens for your Fuji camera, this great video review takes a look at the XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR lens. 

Tamron has been on a roll as of late, and perhaps one of the most interesting new lenses is the 20mm f/2.8 Di III OSD M 1:2, which comes in a lightweight and inexpensive package and offers macro capabilities in addition to normal wide angle usage. Is it the next lens for your bag? This great video review will answer that question for you.  

Bokeh fanatics love their wide-aperture lenses that can turn backgrounds into nothing more than gooey swaths of colors, but they know those capabilities are generally not cheap. So, is there something to be said for a sub-$200 lens with an ultra-wide aperture of f/1.2? This great video takes a look at just such a lens. 

Olympus has started 2020 positively with the announcement of two cameras and a lens. I had the chance to test-drive the pro camera in Costa Rica to give you a full rundown. 

For portrait photographers who shoot on Fujifilm cameras, the XF 56mm f/1.2 R lens is one of the highest quality options, offering great sharpness, an ultra-wide aperture, and smooth bokeh. If you have been wondering if this lens deserves a place in your bag, this excellent video review takes it through its paces and shares some helpful sample images. 

For any landscape photographer, the design of the filter holders we use can have such a significant effect on our workflow. This Vietnamese made carbon fiber filter holder might just be the simplest and lightest one yet.

Nikon recently brought raw video to the Z 6 and Z 7 mirrorless cameras, a huge step forward for filmmakers working with the cameras. However, the feature is not free, and you might be wondering if the upgrade is worth it for your own work. This excellent video discusses the new capabilities.  

Canon has been pushing the boundaries of lens design with many of their new RF mirrorless lenses, and while they are certainly quite impressive, some photographers just want more traditional workhorse lenses they can rely on. If you are one of those photographers, you should check out this great review of the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM lens. 

The new Canon 1D X Mark III is an absolute powerhouse camera on both the video and stills sides of the equation, with a specs sheet that should make just about anyone eager with anticipation. How does it hold up in practice? This excellent video takes a look at the new camera to help you decide if it is right for you. 

Fujifilm recently released the X100V, the latest iteration in their popular line of fixed lens compact cameras. With a bevy of improvements, it looks to be an intriguing option for lots of photographers. This great video takes a first look at the new camera. 

So far, Canon's RF mirrorless lenses have generally received a lot of praise for their optical quality and performance. The RF 85mm f/1.2L USM is the company's mirrorless version of its beloved 85mm f/1.2L lens for the EF mount, and it offers a bevy of improvements over its predecessor. This great video review takes a good look at this powerhouse lens. 

Venus Optics Laowa have made a name for themselves by producing unique lenses for all the major camera systems. From the 24mm f/14 probe lens to their series of Zero-D lenses, Laowa have produced excellent optics at reasonable prices. Today's focus is on the exact opposite of the spectrum from their Zero-D series - the 4mm f/2.8 Circular Fisheye. 

It seems to me that releasing a good lens these days isn't enough. There has to be some edge that the marketing department can use. Hasselblad recently released a tiny medium format lens for the X1D series of cameras, and I had a chance to test it out.  

The Fujifilm X-T200 is the company's newest entry in its highly popular X Series line of cameras. Despite being a midrange model, the camera comes with an impressive feature set for photographers and videographers alike, all packaged at a very affordable price. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera to help you decide if it deserves a place in your bag. 

Nikon recently released firmware version 2.20 for their Z 6 and Z 7 mirrorless cameras, which brought raw video to the cameras, a huge feature for many videographers. This excellent video takes a look at the new capabilities on the Z 6 to see just how much extra power the raw video features give you. 

For many years, the 16-35mm f/2.8 has been the wide angle zoom lens of choice for many photographers in various genres who shoot with Canon equipment. Canon recently released the RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS for R mount mirrorless cameras. Does it match the quality of their other RF lenses? This great review answers that question. 

Canon has been on a roll with its RF line of lenses, pushing the boundaries of optical design, with many reviews noting their stunning optical quality as well. This great review takes a look at one of the best of the bunch, the RF 50mm f/1.2L USM lens. 

The successor to Nikon's D750, one of their more successful full frame camera bodies, is here in the form of the D780 and here is what you need to know. 

The 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is the workhorse of choice for quite a few photographers, but most such lenses come at a hefty price for the quality and consistent performance demanded by professionals. The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art offers an alternative to its higher-priced competitors. Is it right for you? This great video review will answer that for you. 

The Fujifilm X-T200 is the latest camera body from the company and the newest member of the beloved X Series line of cameras. With some notable features and a very reasonable price, it looks to be like a potential winner for lots of photographers and filmmakers. This great video takes a first look at the camera and what you can expect from it. 

The 1D X Mark III is undoubtedly a powerhouse on paper, with specs that are sure to make any photographer drool. But do those specs translate to the sort of real-world performance working pros need? This excellent video discusses how it holds up when put to the test in the challenging environment of the NFL playoffs. 

Ever wished your laptop had a bit more workspace? The Asus Zenbook Duo has a secondary display right on the main panel that allows for increased productivity and multitasking.  

We would all love to have the absolutely astounding supertelephoto primes that the pros use, but with prices well into five figures, they are simply not in the cards for most of us. Luckily, in the last few years, companies have been releasing better and better long zooms at more affordable prices. This great review takes a look at the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens. 

I recently got the chance to use the new Hasselblad X1D II for a week. It was my first experience with medium format and required a bit of adapting on a learning curve. Here are my first impressions about the body, design, lenses, and general usability of the camera. 

Finding and licensing music: it has got to be one of those painful tasks for anyone who creates videos or slideshows for clients, which is why we are reviewing a new player in town, Audiio. 

The Sony a7R IV was a spectacular camera on paper when it was first released, building on the long history of success and innovation in the R line of cameras. The marquee features were the large bump in resolution and the addition of some impressive autofocus features taken from the a9, along with other improvements, such as better ergonomics.

With smaller mirrorless cameras becoming more popular for traveling photographers, smaller and lighter filter systems are becoming the appropriate choice for many more people. While 75mm square filters are nothing new, there are some great options being made for them, and today, we'll take a look at Haida's new M7 Filter Holder kit.  

A little over a year ago and after much success with their 150-600mm lenses, Sigma began selling an ultra-zoom 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports lens offered in Canon EF, Nikon F, and Sigma SA mounts. I went with option D and adapted it to Sony FE. 

Canon recently released the 1D X Mark III with features like 5.5K 12-bit internal raw video and a whopping 20 fps continuous rate (with mechanical or electronic shutter), along with a bevy of other improvements and new features. How does it hold up in the real world? This great video takes a good look at the new camera to answer that question.