Popular Gear Reviews

There are many instances where I’m working on site and I need to adjust camera position while on a tripod. From interiors and architecture, food and product photography, often a tripod alone can’t provide the convenience or flexibility I need to get a job done quickly. In other situations where space is limited, my gear needs to occupy as small of a footprint as possible while shooting tethered. That’s where the Tether Tools T Setup and Tether Table Aero Traveler comes in.

Although I've watched videos and read reviews about Topaz products, I had never actually tried them, remaining faithful to my workflow and not venturing farther afield. I do like software and seeing what it can do with my images, but felt safe with what I currently use. So, what could Topaz Photo AI bring to the table that I couldn't already accomplish?

Travel often and want a dedicated hard case for safely transporting your camera gear? SKB Cases and Think Tank Photo teamed up to release a range with this in mind.

Outsourcing for me has always been one of those things I just never thought to be possible. How could someone who doesn't know what I’m thinking know how I want an image to look? Sometimes I don't even know what I want an image to look like and some of my favorite images have come from playing around while editing. So when I was contacted by Pro Image Editors, one of the largest postproduction companies around with 400-plus employees, and offered the chance to try their services, I was a bit skeptical.

Color has always been one of the most important elements of my work. The NBP ColourmapX Photoshop panel came just in time for me as I have been doing this work by hand and the panel both saves me time as well as improves the quality of my color analyzing.

The Shoulderpod S1 is a versatile and portable grip for any iPhone or smartphone. It promises to improve the stability of your mobile phone's video footage by letting you handhold the device safely as well as screw it on a tripod if needed without either limiting you to a simple cellphone clamp or forcing you to get a larger rig.

Color calibration is a necessary step in getting the very best results in your photography, yet many photographers avoid it altogether, leaving the final color edits to their printing lab, and basically turning over the outcome of an entire session to a complete stranger who knows nothing about your editing style or desired end result.

I tend to be fairly wary of brands I've never heard of before, particularly when it comes to buying something that is meant to keep my camera from falling over, but the guys over at K&F Concept offered to let me test out one of their tripods so I figured I might as well throw caution to the wind and give it a go. Is the K&F Aluminum Tripod the perfect value tripod for you? Only one way to find out.

If you’re all about capturing those sweeping landscapes or immersive cityscapes, the Viltrox 20mm f/2.8 lens might just be your new best friend. Available in both E and Z mounts, this surprisingly inexpensive lens quietly snuck under the radar for a lot of people last year. Perhaps because of the price point at only $158, many didn’t consider it, thinking low price, low quality.

In 2008, Olympus created a camera system in which lenses and camera bodies could be shared between brands and manufactures under what they called the Micro Four Thirds (M43) standard. The system based on the sensor size, a quarter of full frame, is easily one of my favorite to use and wildly underrated. Olympus has released an update to the iconic family with the entry-level OM-D EM10 Mark III that now packs a serious punch for those professional photographers and consumers alike wanting 5-axis stabilization, 121 focus points, and 4K video. They are on the hunt to innovate across the line and it begins with their latest at the beginner level.

The Zenitar 85mm f/1.4 is designed to be a more modern lens with a hint of Zenit's vintage bokeh style.

Benro has been familiar name in the tripod game for some time now, and recently they’ve been picking up some new fans including Fstoppers’ Lee Morris. Last summer, they launched a new line of travel tripods under the ProAngel moniker. In this review I take a look at the Benro ProAngel #3-Series Tripod with B2 Ball Head kit, the most expensive travel tripod in this line and yet still only $249.

Coversplash, a new photo sharing and photography forum site, is the creation of four college guys who wanted to create a one stop shop for all your photo needs. Coversplash gives you the ability to create a website to show off your work, easily tell stories with integrated tools, sell stock images and even interact with other photographers in the community.

Sigma recently sent me its new 40mm f/1.4 Art lens. Read more for an in-depth review.

A little over a year ago, Fujifilm released their first ever square format Instax camera, the Instax SQ10. This camera used a 1/4" digital sensor to take the image and then used that file to print on the square film. This year, Fujifilm released their latest update to this camera, the Instax SQ20.

FotoClient is a new cloud based platform which aims to be a total business management solution for photographers and studios. From lead management to invoicing FotoClient wants to tackle it all. I put it to the test at my studio to see how it performs in the real world. Starting at just $10/month, could this be the solution you are looking for?

After thorough consideration, I made the decision to purchase the Shimoda Action X50 backpack a few years ago as my primary backpack for photography travels. Now, after several years of use, I want to reflect on its performance. Is it worth the investment? Let's find out.

Before I even get into this review, I just want to state that I absolutely love flexible LED light panels now. I have properly been missing out on how brilliant they are. From now on, anything I shoot in a studio environment will be shot with a flexible LED panel.

There is something innately annoying about having to carry stuff. I can't decide if it’s shoulder pain, back pain, or just a general need to do physical activity. If you are a photographer who has to bring out more gear than a camera bag’s worth, this is a product for you. Don’t think so? Then read on!

Not so long ago, I reviewed the Fujifilm Instax SQ6 ,and I absolutely loved it. Its compact design and medium format square film immediately made it my favorite Instax camera. Since then, Fujifilm asked me to review their latest printer, the Instax SP-3. Admittedly, I was a little skeptical at first, but this is definitely growing on me.

Okay, so when were you all going to tell me how awesome magnetic lens filters are? Have you tried them yet? These are a game-changer for my kit. Seriously, check out these photos, and let me share my experience with the brand new Kase magnetic filters.

Light & Motion has become known for making high-end, battery-powered, water- and weatherproof LED lights. The Reflex is similar to their other constant lights, but it can also flash.

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.

I've been an avid landscape photographer for many years, and I've been a drone flyer for almost 4 years. I liked the idea of getting landscape shots from angles I simply couldn't get to from the ground. Living in Arizona, there's a lot of opportunities to get some lovely images from the air.

The Wotancraft bag company is an up and coming brand that has been making a name for themselves. They are most known for their handmade quality and World War II styling, which features a mixture of waxed canvas and leather. The Commander backpack is no different; with enough room to store a full professional kit, this backpack has the looks and features to make any photographer happy. But how does it hold up to real-world use?

Film photography is back, and one of the biggest pushes of the analog format comes from the especially and newly resilient surge of the instant photograph. Impossible Project is now the new Polaroid (literally), Fujifilm has found success with the Instax format, and Kodak is pushing right along with its Printomatic. How does this option compare with the former two? We have a hands-on review of the Printomatic right here.

Fstoppers is at it again with another amazing tutorial. This time, Clay Cook is bringing his talent as an advertising and editorial photographer to the table. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Cook has worked for a variety of local, national, and international clients. However, his work all maintains a common visual style regardless of the end publication, whether it be printed in The Voice of Louisville or used globally by ESPN. Fashion and Editorial Portrait Photography brings you Cook’s start to finish workflow, including his process of working with a retoucher, to show you how you can create similar, amazing images using these techniques.

Often, desk equipment gets overlooked as we yearn over new camera bodies, lenses, and other accessories begging for our attention. Recently, my trusty desk lamp died, giving me the opportunity to rethink how I light my desk, and in the process, I was able to reclaim precious desk space.

There are countless hard drives of all shapes, sizes, types, speeds, and capacities flooding the market now. As professionals, it's often quite a task to wade through the hype about every new offering and decide what's really the best drive for us. For users of the new line of MacBooks, things got a lot more difficult recently, as drives with native USB Type-C ports are few and far between so far. A few scattered offerings are around, and the Caldigit TUFF is a drive squarely aimed at being compatible with future devices, as well as a good option for professional on-location use.

Nowadays, post processing images is becoming an entirely new discipline on its own. Every photographer needs a reliable machine to work on.

Vincent Laforet’s Directing Motion workshop has done what every workshop should do – it’s challenged my current way of working and given me clarity on how I can improve my work. Less than 24 hours after the workshop, I was working differently, shooting differently and thinking differently. This might just be the best workshop for those shooting (or with an interest in shooting) motion work, ever.

There is a lot of new tech showing up in monitors the last few years higher. With higher resolutions, HDR support, multiple color spaces, and ultra-wide panels, it can be difficult to find the monitor that meets your specific needs. If you're looking for productivity and a clean look, the MSI Prestige PS341W 34" WUHD IPS 5K2K might be worth checking out.

After working with lightweight, compact jib options for DSLR sized cameras, I decided to check out a more affordable and durable option. In this review I’ll show you a sample of the footage from the Taurus Jr. Heavy Duty Jib, and point out where it rocks and where it could be better.

he Camera Cubes from Peak Design have been quite popular with photographers, offering several options for travel with cameras, lenses, drones, and the varied accessories we are all weighed down with.

A long time ago, I picked up my first Leica, a beater of an M4 that had been collecting dust and mold at the bottom of an old leather camera bag in a retired photographer's closet. With it came a number of oddities: close-up adapters, table tripods, and the like. But perhaps most interestingly, it came with an old Leica MC light meter.

For many photographers, the 35mm focal length is their go-to lens, as it sits comfortably between wide enough and too wide. Sony’s newest 35mm may be the perfect 35mm lens.

Just like many other product lines that cater to smartphone users, the clamp arena is saturated with clones and cheaply made accessories. So when well-known photo accessory company Manfrotto enters with their own original, $50 premium take on the smartphone clamp, should we expect nothing less than greatness?

In 2021, I bought the Think Tank Retrospective Backpack 15. This would be my lightweight backpack for holidays and day trips. I’ve enjoyed using this backpack, and now, it’s time to make a long-term review.

Shooting film is wonderful. Shooting film can be immeasurably rewarding. However, no matter how fun film is to shoot, there are some tradeoffs in the convenience department. We have to acknowledge that we live in a digital world. Most people need a way to get their analog images into a digital format.

Best suited for the those that run light on camera gear, the Lowepro StreetLine BP 250 is a great looking pack that has just enough features to be called a camera bag at all. Its unique collapsable interior pockets allow for a couple photography items to be stored securely, otherwise it’s free-for-all with what you choose to throw inside. This well-made bag is not without issue, however. Check out what works and what doesn’t in this review.

I have been following and reporting on Vincent Laforet's "AIR" series since its first round was released. I came across an early printing of the book itself in the waiting area of San Francisco's Storehouse startup while I was about to take on another interview. I knew Storehouse and Laforet had a good working relationship, and I knew the images so well. But I didn't have time to look inside -- not that I felt I had to, however, since I knew the work inside and out. So when Laforet offered me a copy of the book to review, I simply had to say, "Of course," even if it was with mixed feelings. What could I, objectively speaking, really get out of it? Hadn't I seen it all?

It was a fascinating experience comparing the reactions to the Comodo Orbit online to those who saw the rig in person at WPPI Las Vegas this year. Almost 100% of the comments online were negative, non-believing dismissals of the product, while nearly 100% of the comments in person about the product were an excited thumbs up. It was easily the most popular product at the show. So what did we think of it?

Lowepro recently announced an update to their popular Flipside series of backpacks aimed at meeting the modern photographer and videographer's needs. Here I review the largest and most robust of the series, the Flipside 500 AW II.

Wide angle lenses are favorites for real estate, landscape, and underwater photographers. The AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm proves to be versatile in wide angle focal lengths with a maximum aperture of 4.0 allowing consistent illumination. Curious how it would perform below the surface, it tagged along in a recent shoot.

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.

Topaz Studios seems to have endless releases of powerful tools for photographers, and many of us have at least one Topaz application or plugin in our collection of editing tools. So, just how good is the newly released Topaz Studio 2?

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 best camera is the one you have with you.” To an extent, that quote is correct, and with current cell phones having pretty good cameras built into them, this is usually a camera we all have with us most of the time. Sometimes, we find ourselves wanting more out of our cameras in the phone. With the current lineup of available add-on lenses for our mobile devices, we can capture some macro or even wider shots.

Do you travel light with your equipment? Take a look at this review of a shoulder messenger bag, which may just fit everything you need.

If you're a fan of extreme lenses, the Venus Optics Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 lens is one that should definitely be on your radar. With its insane focal length, it's a fascinating lens to shoot with — both a lot of fun and a challenge. Check out our review of this interesting lens.