Gear Reviews

Forget about Sony, Canon, Nikon, or any other mirrorless camera. Panasonic has the Lumix S1 and Lumix S1R, and those cameras are amazing. I have invested a lot in Canon, and I am really happy about the system. But if I had to do it all over again today, I definitely would choose the Lumix S1.

Moment, best known for their high end phone lenses, have recently released new bags and wallets. Most notably the new Fanny Sling and Crossbody Wallet. Join me as I dive deep into the pros and cons of each item. 

Ergonomics may not be something that is directly discussed in the workshops and classes you’ve attended on landscape photography but as one progresses further into the craft, one will realize that equipment that allow you to adjust and adapt promptly to sudden changes in the scene are crucial in getting the shot that you want.  

Tamron's 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD lens for Sony mirrorless cameras has been an absolute runaway success, with its combination of portability, image quality, and affordable cost winning over many photographers and videographers. The 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD follows a similar design philosophy, and many people are already excited about the lens.

Envision flying around with a jet pack creating massive film sets like you are a cinematography superhero. Cinetracer is a realistic cinematography simulator where you play a Director, and your quest is to make an epic movie. The real purpose of this program is to create beautiful storyboards for pitching. 

If you're looking for the ideal vlogging accessory, look no further! However, JOBY GorillaPod 3K PRO tripod can be just as useful for photographers, alike. Take a look at our review! 

The GoPro Hero 7’s most talked about feature, HyperSmooth, can give gimbal quality stabilization without the need for any external hardware. But if you already own a Hero 5 Black, Hero 5 Session, or Hero 6, a software plugin called ReelSteady GO can bring that feature to your camera. 

Our regular readers may remember a recent traumatic video for Fstoppers’ founders Lee and Patrick, where Lee’s D850 spent some intimate time with a wave and didn’t come out the same. Today, we’re going to look at the filter system he was testing on the day, the Haida M10. 

The Sony RX100 VII is the latest iteration of the company’s powerful pocket cameras, and it brings some massive upgrades to the table. Is it the right do-it-all camera for you to take everywhere? This great first look video seeks to answer that exact question. 

Last week, Sony surprised us all when they announced their latest a7R mirrorless camera. I had the chance to use the new a7R IV shooting a number of different portrait studio sets at the launch event, and in this first-impressions review I offer my opinions on its updated body design and performance. 

With camera technology as good as it is nowadays, it can be easy to forget just how quickly things have advanced in the span of just a few short decades. As a case in point, this fun video reviews the Sega Digio SJ-1, a nifty point and shoot camera from 1996. 

As Nikon continues to push into the mirrorless market, the Z 6 and Z 7 are finding their way into the hands of more and more photographers. Wedding photography is one of the most demanding of all genres, and many Nikon shooters are wondering if the cameras are up to the task. This great video review seeks to answer that exact question. 

I've watched with interest as videographers use external small monitors attached to their DSLR or mirrorless cameras. I could see the advantages: the larger screen, the ability to see vectorscopes, histograms, and the variety of focus tools available.

The Tamron 35-150mm f/2.8-4 Di VC OSD lens offers a highly functional focal length range with wider apertures than we normally see in high zoom ratio designs. In addition, it's quite affordable, making it an interesting prospective lens for quite a few photographers, especially those who do not want to carry multiple lenses.

When Google announced the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, the company touted its camera as the best in its class, becoming the first camera manufacturer to ever partner with legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz. In this in-depth look into the camera's capabilities, we can see just how great the camera can be. 

Portrait photographers who have shot with the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II will probably tell you about how wonderful that lens is. Having this particular focal length with such a wide aperture produces very unique and beautiful results. The new RF mount lens looks to take the crown for the best portrait lens, however.  

Tenba has been creating some very stylish and excellently designed camera bags recently and the Tenba Roadie Air Case Roller 21 is the pinnacle of these new offerings.

In a move that potentially threw the Profoto marketing team into a frenzy, Godox recently released their V1 hotshoe flash. Sporting a round fresnel head and all the features of a great flash system, the V1 is a hefty contender at its price-point. But, how does it perform? Let's check it out after the jump.

Both the Panasonic S1 and Sony a7 III are strong do-it-all cameras that can satisfy the needs of most hybrid shooters, but which one is right for you? This great video review aims to answer that question. 

The Canon EOS RP is an ultra-cheap mirrorless full frame camera, and as such, it's an intriguing option for those looking to try the full frame or mirrorless world without breaking the bank. Of course, to get to that price point, compromises were made. This comprehensive video review takes a look at the camera to help you decide if it's right for you. 

My colleague Ryan Mense just gave us the announcement from Topaz about their new AI based filters called Topaz Adjust AI, and I wanted to give them a try. 

The Panasonic S1 has been making waves as a truly tricked-out camera made for professionals. Is it a camera that can step up to the most demanding needs for both stills and videos? This thoughtful review takes a look at the camera from both perspectives to answer that question. 

While Canon's RF mirrorless lenses have generally been receiving stellar reviews, the response to their camera bodies has been decidedly more mixed.

Astrophotography can be an incredibly rewarding and awe-inspiring photography genre to get into, but it can also requires loads of specialized equipment that is decidedly not cheap. This awesome video review takes a look at a budget option to see if it can still get great results that make it worth the cost. 

Modern professional and semiprofessional cameras can generally withstand moderate exposure to the elements and an occasional bump or knock, but dunking them in 30 feet of water is an entirely different proposition. For that sort of use, you'll want to look into rugged compact cameras, and this excellent video review compares three of the best models.  

When the Hasselblad X1D came out, it was the world's first medium format mirrorless camera, and as such, it ushered in an exciting new era that has since been joined by the Fujifilm GFX series. Nonetheless, it wasn't the perfect camera, and now with the second version, Hasselblad has made some changes sure to improve the experience.

The Profoto A1 was supposed to be a revolution in speedlights (though the company refers to it as the "world's smallest studio light"), though it carried with it the typical Profoto price tag. The Godox V1 is a very similar light with a much more affordable price. How well does it work in practice? This great video review discusses just that. 

Early on in my career, I was quite reluctant to use any kind of filter system. I was under the impression that any filter effects could be achieved by utilizing a few techniques such as mean stacking. I've changed my mind since then and I now regularly use filters for my work. The issue is they can be a hassle, however, a company called Alter may have a solution. 

Sony has announced what I would consider their first true bird photography lens, the FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS. Here are my initial thoughts and ramblings based on my hands-on experience. 

The Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Lens is a staple for most photographers. I purchased mine about 10 years ago, and I am about to retire it. 

All roads have led to this. After spending an entire month with the Fuji GFX S, today, I’ll offer my final thoughts on whether the camera is worth the price of admission. 

Many of us remember the debut of NIK Tools in 1995. They were a powerful set of plugins for Photoshop that did color adjustments, created lovely black and white images, and could sharpen images and lower noise in them. Just about every photographer I knew snapped them up at $500. 

For those of us who insist on lugging our gear out on location, a sturdy backpack is a must-have. As a hiker, climber, and chronically over prepared photographer, I’m used to packing a heavy load up the side of a mountain. That’s why I was so excited to get my hands on the 20L Tenba Axis Backpack. 

Hiring retouchers is something often talked about but I’ve never considered until recently as it has always seemed out of reach. Canadian company, The Image Salon, recently allowed me to try their portrait retouching services and I was excited to give them a whirl!

In this section of my five-part series, I’d like to look at the overall experience of shooting with a medium format camera versus shooting with a full frame or APS-C sized sensor. We’ll also look at some of the unique quirks to take into account with the Fuji GFX 50S. 

Most of us have used an f/1.4 or f/1.8 lens at some point and seen the crazy bokeh you can get once you start getting into those really wide apertures. But f/0.95 is more than a stop wider than even f/1.4, and the light-gathering power and bokeh you can get from such a lens is on an entirely different level.

Today I'll be going over the NBP Ultrasharp plugin and how to use it for your workflow. Normally I am not too excited about new apps or plugins unless they really do provide something I couldn't previously do, or makes something I can already do faster and easier. 

Full disclosure: this plugin is developed by long-standing Fstoppers writer, Nino Batista.

One of my biggest fears as a professional photographer is that someday, somehow, for some reason, I’m going to lose critical images from a shoot and make a client, and myself, very unhappy. A memory card gets corrupted, a hard drive fails, or my studio burns down.  There are so many ways we can lose data — from fires and floods to normal wear and tear to just plain malpractice.

They say the best camera is the one you have with you, and certainly, the DJI Osmo Pocket is one that you can easily carry everywhere with you. But do you have to sacrifice video and image quality for that small size? This great video review takes a long-term look at the device and answers that exact question. 

Tamron has long been known as a reliable manufacturer of high-quality lenses, and their recent series of SP lenses has more than demonstrated their commitment to excellence. Through priorities for speed, clarity, optics, and a field-friendly design, Tamron has created a fabulous workhorse lens in their new 15-30mm (Model A041).

In part three of my five-part, in-depth review of the Fuji GFX 50S, I will compare it to the current queen of my household, the Nikon D850. While they each share a similar megapixel count, how does the sensor size affect performance? 

Though the Canon EOS RP is certainly limited in some respects, it remains a highly affordable full frame mirrorless camera and thus, an intriguing option of any photographer who is looking for a full frame camera at a budget-friendly price. Is it right for you? This excellent and balanced review takes a look at the camera. 

If you're a bokeh fanatic, you're probably always chasing those wide aperture lenses to get that smooth, out-of-focus look that makes your subject pop against the background. But, you might be surprised by the beautiful bokeh you can get from a lens that only has an aperture of f/2.8. Check out this great video on a fascinating lens. 

Fujifilm has a storied history with film cameras, having created some bodies that are still beloved by photographers even to this day. This great review takes a look at one of the most unique of those cameras: the GA645.  

The Profoto A1 was met with mixed reactions when it was released, with many shying away from the price, but also generally quite good reviews from those who used it. Profoto recently released an updated version, the A1X, which improves on the original in several ways. This great video takes a look at the changes in the new model and what it's like to shoot with. 

You've probably seen them before, and the concept is nothing new to the market. However, as LensCoat keeps cranking out new Lens Cover designs to match all the hottest new lens releases, these protective camouflage sleeves are just as relevant today and worthy of taking a closer look at. 

Many photographers and videographers like to work on dual-monitor setups with the two screens side by side, but that can cause some complicated logistics with connections and the like, and of course, it can be quite annoying to have bezels right in the middle of your vision. Can you solve that problem with an ultrawide monitor?

In part two of my five-part, in-depth month-long review of the Fuji GFX 50S, I looked to compare the GFX S to the camera that originally inspired my interest in its potential, the smaller X-T3. 

Three years ago, I reviewed the original camera bag offering from the team at Hawkesmill and it has remained my favorite bag in the years since. Recently, Hawkesmill reached out to me about reviewing their updated and improved model. Read on to hear how the best bag has been made even better. 

Venus Optics makes some unique and impressive lenses, and the Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro lens is another entry into that line. With its highly affordable price tag and crazy magnification capabilities, it's a very interesting option for macro photographers or anyone who's interested in the genre. This great video takes a look at the lens and its capabilities.