I’m sure many of you have wished at times that you could decrease your presets' opacity in Lightroom. There isn’t any real option existing, or so I thought until I stumbled upon The Fader by Capture Monkey. It's a simple plugin which allows you to increase or reduce your presets' strength.
Leica T users rejoice! Leica has officially announced a Summilux 50 equivalent for your aluminum wonder that gives you the benefits of autofocus, electronic aperture control, and metadata to go along with the blazing fast glass. I had an absolute pleasure spending some time with the new 'Lux and was able to put to get a good feel for it in the real world. Read on for my findings and sample photos.
It's been more than five years since the release of the original Godox AD600 Pro, and we finally have version two. Let’s see what’s new.
Before you blindly answer this question, you should know that fast memory cards are not only for sport and wildlife photographers. Wedding, event, and portrait photographers all benefit from having cards with fast write speeds to capture that unexpected moment. Even landscape photographers who take far less images can benefit. Cards with fast read speeds can download large image files to computers much faster. Memory card speed is just as important to your camera as it is to you in order to perform your best on the job. With this in mind, the folks over at Photoshelter have documented a series of tests to help determine which card is the fastest for your camera.
With so many new methods to create images, photography has gone beyond simply just taking a photo. This new device from MIOPS brings the photographer closer to the images they envision by making the process simpler.
With SmallRig’s multitude of tools and support gear, you’d probably have a lot of expectations for their tripod. Let’s see what this carbon fiber travel tripod has to offer.
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. At the same time, I wondered if a monitor would enhance my landscape and nighttime photography, so I took the plunge, and here are my findings.
When the Sony a9 Mark III is mentioned, it is all about the global shutter. While there is a benefit from this kind of sensor readout, the camera is much more than that. Although the global sensor needs to be mentioned, I want to look beyond that one single thing everyone seems to be obsessed about.
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.
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.
As an avid advocate for iPhone photography, I have written a ton of articles on the matter. However, I never reviewed the actual device I am using for my photos. Having had it for a year, it's time to give the iPhone 14 Pro a long-term review, as well as answer the question of upgrading to the 15 Pro.
In 2002, QT Luong became the first person to photograph all U.S. National Parks with a large-format camera. His experience in traveling these beautiful, natural lands is simply inspiring. He was even a featured artist in the epic Ken Burns documentary, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” With all his knowledge and stories gained from decades of creating stunning imagery across the United States, I feel fortunate that Luong authored his photography book, “Treasured Lands.”
It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Fujifilm cameras, and their Instax cameras are part of the reason why. I've owned several Instax cameras over the last few years, and now the SQ6 might just be the best one yet.
Recently, Wacom updated their Intuos tablet line with a new version of the Intuos Pro. With many tweaks, the new version is definitely a step apart from the old. Find out if it's worth the upgrade!
It's no secret that producing still as well as motion gives any photographer an edge over his competition. As the years go by, creating animated content is getting increasingly more accessible. In this article, I review Flugo, an iOS app that turns any still portrait into an eye-catching motion shot.
Hear me out on this one. As a concert and event photographer (and music lover), I will argue until my dying breath that the most important piece of equipment we have after our camera is ear protection. In fact, this made my recently published list of 10 concert photography tips for everyone. I've gone through nearly a dozen different kinds of earplugs over the past five years, but the Music•PRO high-fidelity earplugs from Etymotic are something absolutely unique, and I'm thrilled to be able to review them. They're electronic. And they're alive.
As photographers, we tend to care more about our cameras and lenses than the gear we use to process our images, such as monitors. It’s a shame, because it’s crucial too. Let’s find out in this review if the ViewSonic VP2785-4K could make your workflow better and easier.
After making headlines for producing one of the slimmest full frame mirrorless autofocus lenses last year, Viltrox has made a bold move by making it available for the Fujifilm X-mount as well to fill a market gap. Introducing the Viltrox 28mm f/4.5 Fujifilm X-Mount, also known as a “chip” lens, resembling a potato chip—a reference to how thin the lens is. This Chinese lens maker even carries on the humor by featuring a bag of chips in the lens announcement poster, which was published on their Chinese social media.
Every once in a while, a piece of gear becomes an instant classic. The Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R carries that title with pride and deservedly so! I have been using it for nearly a decade and cannot recommend it enough. It's a brilliant lens with flaws that are easy to ignore.
Peak Design is responsible for running some of the most successful Kickstarter projects to date. The company has now launched updates to its existing series of popular Everyday bags while adding a few new ones into the mix. This time, they’re even skipping Kickstarter: everything ships today.
Peak Design is known for their functional designs of camera accessories that are coupled with sleek and modern aesthetics, and the Everyday Sling is no different. Available in three sizes: 3L, 6L, and 10L, the Everyday Sling has you covered whatever your shooting and wherever your travels take you.
Akin to the store brands that are found next to the name brands on the shelves in a brick-and-mortar supermarket, AmazonBasics products have become a go-to for equal quality at a budget price in the online realm. Daily-use items have traditionally been the mainstay for AmazonBasics, but more recently they’ve expanded and driven further into the comparatively niche markets, including photography. In this review, I take a closer look at the AmazonBasics Carbon Fiber Monopod which was released in April 2017.
GuraGear has been making headlines with its new Kiboko City Commuter. The bag promises to be the perfect match between capacity, durability, and weight. Made not only for photographers, but content creators in general, the bag has a lot to live up to. Let’s see how it performs in the real world.
Last month we posted an article about a unique LED lighting solution called “Strahlen” that was crowdfunding. On paper, the specs of these lights look great, but how well do they perform in a real production setting? I got my hands on a kit of Strahlens, and after an interview shoot with them I found out that they were the real deal.
The Western Digital My Passport Wireless Pro Hard Drive is one of the best options for photographers looking to back up and access their files on the go. Western Digital updated the line in 2017 with new firmware features and capacities. Check out our review to see how the new version fares!
A few days ago, DJI sent me their soon-to-be-released DJI Flip Drone. Although they probably explained everything about it in the emails they sent, I’ll admit—I didn’t read a word. Instead, I ripped open the box, grabbed the drone, and decided to figure it out on my own.
As photographers and retouchers, we tend to rely only on a few of the numerous tools and techniques available in Photoshop. So why clutter our workspace with tools that are useless when everything could fit on a single panel? It’s precisely why the Retouching Toolkit by Conny Wallstrom exists.
In photography, faster lenses are better, aren’t they? Many struggle to see the benefits of having a range of f/4 lenses. But, if you start using them, you’ll realize there are good reasons for challenging that assumption.
Subscribing to the Adobe Creative Cloud is a big financial step for most beginning photographers. In this article, I’ll figure out if the free and open software RawTherapee is a real competitor when it comes to developing an image.
When I wrote an article back in January about my photo backup strategy, I received a polite email from a company called ioSafe that, in so many words, informed me in the nicest way possible how quaint my solution of rotating hard drives was.
A diffusion filter gives halation with lights, especially in low light scenarios. It also softens skins and harsh textures when shooting portraits. The aim of these filters are to get an organic, dreamy, almost cinematic effect in photography and video production.
There are plenty of camera bag options on the market today. Brands have introduced several styles and options in endless colors and features for every type of photographer. WANDRD is no different, but it offers some unique styles compared to its competitors. The PRVKE 31L is one of those bags. But how does it compare to other bags on the market?
I recently reviewed the SunwayFoto PCL-R5 L-Bracket for the Canon EOS R5/R6. Shortly afterward, I found another interesting L-Bracket made by Peipro, which has an interesting feature that other L-Brackets do not, so I chose to buy one and check it out.
This unique laptop from ASUS offers more than just a powerful computer. Let’s take a look at how the ProArt StudioBook 16 can contribute to your post-processing and retouching workflow.
Loved by many when it came out and adored by a solid user base today, the Fujifilm X-Pro2 was truly a hit camera made so well that it still has not truly been replaced even by the newer X-Pro3. And thanks to its age it is finally attainable even for the ones not willing to spend a ton on a quality camera.
Truly affordable macro lenses, especially for hobbyists who are just starting out, are tough to find. The Pergear 60mm Macro lens promises magnification beyond the standard 1x reproduction ratio, but at just $200, can it really deliver usable results? In this hands-on review, I’ll test out this lens and take a detailed look at its performance.
Petzval-type lenses have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years. Lomography's wildly successful Kickstarter campaign was a springboard for their Petzval 85 and later, their Petzval 58 lenses. Now, Lensbaby, well-known for their unique optical products, has thrown their hat into the ring. It's a fun and interesting lens.
Maybe it just fell through the cracks for just me, perhaps it did for you as well, but recently through a friend I found out about the Amazon Locker concept. With Amazon Prime's rapid growth, so has the complaints about stolen packages and damaged packages from shipping companies. So to counter-act, Amazon doubled down and introduced this concept as far back as 2011. I gave it a try recently where I am based in Tampa, here's how it went.
This is not the sharpest tool in the shed, nor does it have some crazy autofocus performance. Yet, this is my new absolute favorite lens. Read on to find out why the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 is a fantastic choice even in 2024.
Canon released the 1D X Mark II last year, representing the next generation of its flagship model, a camera meant to be without compromise — top of the line capabilities, durability, and performance. As even consumer-level cameras reach sometimes stratospheric heights, the truly professional models have had to reach for even greater heights to continue to distinguish themselves. Read on to see where the 1D X Mark II fits in.
If you've wanted to try macro photography but didn't want to outlay on all the special equipment necessary, you're in luck. If you're an iPhone user, SANDMARC has a 100mm Macro lens you can screw onto your phone, and I put it through its paces.
I fell into a canal in Venice with the ThinkTank StreetWalker HardDrive Bag on my back. I was walking too close to the edge while looking at the bridges and architecture, and how the water brushes up against them, when I stepped on a moss-covered section of the canal ledge. I slipped, hit my bum on the ledge, and gently slid into the canal. There was no splash, and my head didn't go below water, but the ledge was so slippery that I couldn’t get out by myself. I was floating in the canal for what was the longest 30 seconds of my life.
One of the biggest hits at a wedding reception (or any event) is the photobooth. It’s an area where guests can gather around and make ridiculous faces, dress in silly props, and have an overall great time. When running a photography business that shoots events, we are always asked if we offer photobooth services, so I think it's a natural evolution to want to incorporate one into your packages. When I first found the booth from Photobooth Supply Co, it instantly stood out from all the other options.
Do you own a drone? Have you thought about picking one up this holiday season? I can almost guarantee that you have been looking at something by the world leader in drone manufacturing DJI but what if I said you had options? Yuneec exploded on the scene as a real drone competitor with the debut of the Typhoon H with object avoidance which was a game changer for drones at the time. Today, the most popular drones are within the DJI family but Yuneec continues to innovate and build an incredible product easily rivaling that of the now famous Phantom line.
There is a unique series of lenses for the X-Mount. They do not offer the brightest apertures, nor do they use linear motors, but what they lack in features, they make up in beautiful vintage-looking, slanted, weather-resistant, and compact build. Some call them Fujicrons and the 35mm started it all.
Viltrox has released a new single-color LED continuous light under their Weeylite brand. At $179 for the base package, it's a compelling option. So, is this the end of the strobe? Find out in this exclusive Fstoppers review.
For many landscape and architectural photographers, a good filter system can be an absolute godsend. The kind of results you can produce are very difficult if not at all possible without them and it's for this reason they are ever more popular. Wine Country Camera is a company that specializes in making filters and their system looks pretty special.
It’s been seven months since the Canon EOS RP has been out in the market. While most others are looking at the performance of the camera in a general sense, I put it to the test and tried to find the right context for such a camera.
Apple's new Mac Studio has created an entirely new class of desktop computers for the company, offering some insanely powerful capabilities that should be able to tackle anything even the most demanding photographers and filmmakers can throw at them, all at a price that starts significantly below the Mac Pro line, making it an impressive value. In this review, we take a look at the new computer and just how much power it houses.
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.
