The files we create on set are getting larger and larger. With 8K footage and 50+ megapixel stills becoming more common, we need fast portable drives to get our files from set to workstation and for working on the road. Caldigit have just updated their Tuff Nano NVMe drives to a 2TB Tuff Nano Plus to help alleviate this struggle.
The number of devices we need to connect to our computers on a daily basis seems to be never-ending. From SSDs to monitors and graphics tablets, it seems like we never have enough ports. The CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub attempts to address this by simply giving us a large number of our most commonly used ports, USB and Thunderbolt, and making sure they all operate at full speed.
Laowa is a company that never stops amazing me with their creative approach to lens design and cornering of a market sector that appreciates their unique designs. Today, we’ll be taking a look at their latest offering for APS-C cameras, the ultra-fast Laowa Argus CF 33mm f/0.95 APO.
This year seems like it’s shaping up to be the second wave of megapixel wars from the major manufacturers. In this review, we’ll take a look at the 102-megapixel Fujifilm GFX 100S medium format mirrorless camera and what it has been like to work with over the last month.
Venus Laowa, a lens manufacturer known for their off-beat collection of manual focus lenses has launched a series of free live stream events on its Facebook page called "Meeting Masters." For the rest of the year, the company will be hosting photographers from all over the world to cover various topics related to photography using Laowa's collection of lenses.
A neutral density filter has probably found its way into almost every photographer’s bag at some point. Variable ND filters can make the process of working with ND filters much simpler in certain situations. Today, we’ll look at a quality, and somewhat different, option from Haida, the NanoPro Interchangeable Magnetic Variable ND.
The ubiquitous need for USB hubs while we're in the transition period between legacy ports and the new standard has resulted in thousands of options flooding the market. It can often be hard to distinguish which ones are worth the money, but today, we'll look at one that certainly is: CalDigit's SOHO dock.
Gura Gear, a company known for its durable on-the-go focused bags, is back with an update to its Chobe shoulder bag. This time around, it comes in two different sizes and multiple configurations, but maintains that same excellent construction of the original bag. Let’s take a look at the new Chobe 2.0.
In the previous section of this review, I looked at the physical qualities and autofocus capabilities of Fujifilm's brand new XF 50mm f/1 R WR. In this second piece, I'll be looking exclusively at its optical characteristics. There's a lot to unpack here as well. So, let's get started with the juicy stuff!
Fujifilm recently released the XF 50mm f/1 R WR, a lens they are affectionately calling “The One.” With its extreme maximum aperture of f/1 and a price tag to match, it has been dividing comment sections ever since its release. Is it worth the extra cash? What does it offer over Fujifilm’s existing fast lenses? What does it give up? Let’s find out.
In today’s computing landscape, laptops are replacing desktops for many on-the-go creative and business professionals. There are still, however, a few things that make a desktop setup more productive for many. A Thunderbolt Dock, such as the OWC Thunderbolt 3 Pro Dock, can help to bridge that productivity gap when you return home or to the office. Let’s take a look at how it stacks up in today’s article.
The mid-range zoom is a staple for many working photographers. 24-70mm equivalent is one of those not-so-sexy-but-gets-the-job-done lenses that we all need in our bag from time to time. When it comes to M43, APS-C, or full-frame cameras, there are a plethora of options out there. In the form of the GF 45-100mm f/4, Fujifilm has attempted to address the lack of such a lens in the medium format world. So, how good is it?
Fujifilm's X100 series of cameras have won the hearts of photographers the world over. As a second body on client shoots or a walk-around camera with excellent image quality for travel or recreation, there are not many cameras out there that can take its place. On the fifth iteration of the camera, the X100V, Fujifilm made some major changes to the camera, but are they enough to make it a worthwhile upgrade from previous models?
When Haida reached out to me 12 months ago to test their M10 filter holder, they included their 10 stop Red Diamond filter. I was asked to give a honest review of the filter holder and how I felt about it.
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.
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.
Fujifilm has revolutionized the medium format digital world. Their cameras came in at one-tenth of the cost of the existing players, and they want to make them even cheaper! I have worked with the GFX 50S for several months and own a GFX 50R, so when I had the chance to spend a couple of days with the GFX 100, I snapped it up. I'll share my experiences with it here.
If you're anything like me, you're always struggling to find the perfect bag for the job at hand. While we can usually justify getting another bag based on function, it's often the cost that stops us from investing. High-end bag manufacturer f-stop have pulled out all stops (see what I did there?) for their spring sale this year with some great deals to be had across their entire range.
Late last year, Really Nice Images released their latest Lightroom preset pack, All Films 5. I've spent the last couple of months experimenting with it and will share my experience with it so far. I'll dig into the flagship features of creative profiles, native fading, and highlight protection to see if they are all they're cracked up to be.
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.
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.
There are many ways to approach composition in photography and filmmaking. One of the most powerful ways to add storytelling into your images is to compose using layers. In this video, travel photographer Mitchell Kanashkevich discusses the concept while taking us through several examples from his own work.
Following up from last’s week’s article about Capture One, today, we’ll take a look at its main rival in the raw processing field, Lightroom. To keep things on a relatively level playing field, I’ll be discussing what is now called “Lightroom Classic,” the desktop version of Lightroom.
Choosing the software to suit your specific needs is not an easy decision for most. A quick search of internet forums will introduce you to zealots from all sides who will tear down anyone who doesn’t use their chosen software. It’s unhelpful at best. As someone who has played for both sides over the past few years, I’ve had a good look into both Capture One and Lightroom. Today, we’re going to look at five reasons why Capture One is simply better than Lightroom. Next week, we’ll do the opposite.
Fast and reliable portable storage is a must-have for today's mobile creatives, and the big players in the space have been producing increasingly compact and speedy drives every year. In today's review, we'll be taking a look at Caldigit's new Tuff Nano portable drive.
Creativity, while seemingly endless for some, is a beast we need to feed in order to have it work for us. We cannot simply expect to be running at 100% all of the time without stopping, reflecting, and spending time to nurture the force we require to make our best work. As some of you may have noticed (I’m hoping someone other than my mother did), I have just taken a one-month break from writing here at Fstoppers. This was a personal month taken to reset and bring my focus back to what’s really important. This is something I feel we all should do from time to time. Let me explain.
As creatives, finding a cost and time-efficient way to keep our files safe is possibly one of our more mundane but necessary tasks. For years, I have been purchasing hard drives and running my backups manually for the most part with Backblaze being used for off-site backups. As my archive grew, however, this became cumbersome. After much searching, I settled on the QNAP TR-004 as my new solution and I’d like to share my experience with you today.
For many creatives, the desire to make things is often the driving force behind everything we do, and business decisions can sometimes take a back seat to this. In this video, photographer and YouTuber Evan Ranft discusses 10 things that he feels helped him bring his business to where it is today.
One thing many of us struggle with in our journeys as photographers and filmmakers is finding what we want to say and then expressing it effectively through our chosen medium. In this short documentary about Dutch photographer Viviane Sassen, we get a look into what informs a photographers choice of subject matter and method of expression.
The demands of photographers have changed over the years when it comes to transporting their gear. For those who demand a bag that gets the job done and looks great while doing it, there are some great options on the market these days. Today we'll look at one such option, the f-stop Dyota 20.
With extreme wide-angle lenses on the market from all the major players now that don't accept screw-in filters, filter manufacturers have stepped up their offerings with larger filter holders and dedicated attachment rings. One such offering is Haida's M15 Magnetic Filter Holder.
In the modern world, very few of us take the time to slow down and really explore the best possible expression of a subject. With much of the photography industry being results focused in the fast-moving market we live in and even personal work being shared directly to social media for instant gratification, very few of us take the time to photograph a laundromat for six months.
Fujifilm's XF 8-16mm f/2.8 lens is the widest available rectilinear lens on the system and has completed the "Holy Trinity" of professional-grade zoom lenses. Squarely aimed at the uncompromising photographer, this lens shows that Fujifilm is ready to offer working photographers of all styles great lenses to execute the images they conceive. Let's take a look at how it performs in the field.
Venus Optics (Laowa), a small Chinese lens manufacturer founded in 2013, has risen to prominence with their sometimes off-beat, always different, and always high quality lineup of lenses for all the major lens mounts. They have launched niche lenses like the 24mm f/14 probe macro and a series of their flagship close-to-zero-distortion Zero-D lenses. Today’s topic is the latest in that line and the widest lens available for the Fujifilm GFX system, the Laowa 17mm f/4 Zero-D.
While manufacturers go to war for our attention with cleaner high-ISO files, millions more pixels than any of us will ever need, and stabilization that counters our coffee addictions, some of the most useful features go completely unnoticed. In this video, Jordan Drake and Chris Niccolls take a look at a feature that made the Sony a99 but could really benefit every camera system.
