Popular Gear Reviews

Fstoppers Reviews the CalDigit SOHO Dock

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.

Fstoppers Reviews Polar Pro Filters for Drones

Designed for DJI photographers and cinematographers alike, PolarPro's Cinema Series for the Phantom 4 Pro/Advanced includes six incredibly useful filters: three neutral density filters and three polarizing and neutral density filters. I had been looking at filters for quite some time and wasn't sure where to begin so this set was the perfect place to start. Available for a wide array of quadcopters well beyond the Phantom 4 Pro tested, if you are looking to improve your quadcopter's image quality by adding filters, check out this review of PolarPro's Cinema Series.

Fstoppers Reviews the Elinchrom Skyport Plus System

For years, Elinchrom users have been complaining about the aging Skyport. A few months ago, the Swiss flash manufacturer finally released the brand new Skyport HS, and it is a great product. However, not everyone needs its advanced features. Some photographers couldn’t care less about technical stuff and only want their transmitter to do the job it is designed for: triggering the flash remotely. Well, that’s why the Skyport Plus was recently released.

Fstoppers Reviews VueScan 9 Scanning Software

Ah, scanning. If you're not printing in the darkroom, it's a necessary evil when dealing with film. You could argue that outside of the moment of exposure, scanning carries the most weight in determining the quality of the final image. For those that choose to develop their film at home, scanning is the next step in our workflow. Most of us want to get in, get the best scan we can, and get out to the greener pastures of Photoshop to make our final edits. Your choice of software has a lot to do with how efficient and how tolerable it will be to get your negatives into the computer. It's through that lens that we take a look at VueScan.

Fstoppers Reviews the Intrepid Camera, Version 2

Last fall I reviewed the Intrepid Camera, a low-cost 4x5 large-format film camera. Although the sentiment behind the camera was admirable, I found it lacking in finish and functionality. Well now Intrepid has come out with their second version which aims to correct many of the flaws of their first generation. Were they successful? In a word: Yes!

Fstoppers Reviews the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM Lens

Canon released an amazing 85mm lens. It is small, light, and perfect for portraits. It is also a macro lens, making it very versatile, especially for a wedding photographer. Canon Netherlands provided this lens for an extensive review.

Correcting Every Error in my Speedlight Review Video

A couple of weeks ago, I released a detailed video reviewing the top five speed lights currently on the market. I had the opportunity to communicate directly with Neewer, Godox, Westcott, and Profoto about my review, and I've learned a lot. I'd like to correct a few errors I made.

An Assistant On Wheels: Fstoppers Reviews The INOVATIV Scout EVO 37 Equipment Cart

Over the last decade or two, photography and videography technology has evolved drastically. Computers, monitors, servers, and other digital technology are no longer being left in an office or studio somewhere; they’re showing up on set, typically on a cart or table of some type. The INOVATIV Scout EVO 37 is an equipment cart built to meet the demands of professional digital photography and video.

Fstoppers Reviews the Tenba Roadie Air Case Roller 21

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. With a semi rigid hard shell case surrounded by a 1680 denier ballistic nylon shell, the roadie air case is not only an inconspicuous and highly stylized camera bag, but it's also an incredibly protective roller case that’s great for domestic and international travel.

XP Pen Artist 16 Pro Review

Graphics tablets are standard fare in a photographer’s arsenal of retouching tools, but could a pen display make retouching even easier?

Maha Powerex Pro Batteries and Accessory Bag Review

Maha Powerex AA and AAA batteries have been my go-to choice for nearly a decade. Their longevity is crazy reliable and they really hold their own in the long term. Maha recently updated their battery lineup with the Powerex Pro while adding some new accessories at the same time. Check out the new goodies after the break.

We Review the Elinchrom THREE

Elinchrom has a pretty wide range of lights on offer, but their newest edition fills a gap in their lineup that users will be happy to see.

Fstoppers Reviews the Portabrace BK-1HDV Backpack, Currently $99 From B&H

After enough time in the broadcast industry, it's hard not to have a soft spot for Portabrace. They are incredibly well made. However, outside of generic television and news gathering, I would say that Think Tank, Lowepro, and Pelican are the top dogs. I never found a Portabrace bag suiting my needs entirely, nevermind that they can cost a small fortune — until now. I managed to pick up an amazing backpack for just $99 after instant savings from B&H.

ProMaster Chroma TL9RGB Tube LED Light Review

There are rare occasions when I need a lightweight lighting setup for on-location portraits. I have several kits pre-packed for this sort of thing—Nikon flashes with radio triggers, Flashpoint portable strobes, and once in a while, LED panels.

Color-Match Any Image Using This Simple Yet Effective Plugin

Color grading is a science, and it can take professionals years to perfect. With so many variables in the mix, is this something that you would want to try for yourself? What if there was a plugin that could take out the time involved in the matching of colors over a series of images using a reference image, and in doing so, allow you to get the results you are seeking without as many hoops to jump through?

What’s New With The Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II?

It’s no surprise that the well-loved 16-35mm G Master is getting a revamp, as this one completes the trinity of second generation G Master zoom lenses. But what does it have to offer, and is it worth the upgrade?

A Review of the New Haida M10 Filter System and Red Diamond Filters

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.

A Closer Look at the Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth From Haida

There are times when you need some extra protection for your equipment, even if you transport it in your camera bag. A pouch can offer that extra protection, or you can wrap it in a cloth. Haida has created the Magic Stick-It Wrapper Cloth for that.

We Review the H&Y Revoring: A Look at Its Design, Practical Applications, and Limitations

What exactly can the H&Y Revoring do and how does it work? This unique type of filter from H&Y has definitely turned a lot of heads due to its unique design and how it solves a problem that generations of photographers (who use filters) have had for a while. In this review let’s check out how the H&Y Revoring works, what are its limitations, and what instances is it useful in.

Testing the Moment Superfish Lens

My wife and I went to Copenhagen for the weekend to shoot 7 models together. We stayed in this awesome Scandinavian-styled apartment with a lot of wood finishing and great character. I wanted to try out the Moment Superfish lens to shoot some interiors, typically what I think these lenses will mostly be used for.

A 5-Year Late Review of the Canon Pixma Pro-10

Canon released the Canon Pixma Pro-10 around 2014 and changed prosumer printing. Even though it was released over five years ago the Pro-10 (and the Pro-10S) is still one of the the flagship models until you reach into professional level territory.

Fstoppers Reviews the Peak Design Everyday Tote

Peak Design is a camera accessory and bag maker that began on Kickstarter, producing the Everyday Messenger bag. They designed the Everyday Messenger in cooperation with photographer Trey Ratcliff, who supposedly had quite a bit of input on its usability. Peak Design recently released three new bag lines following its most recent take to the crowdsourcing site that started it all for them. I supported the campaign and, after a bit of a run-around with a delivery service clearly feeling the pre-Christmas rush, received the Everyday Tote in time for this review.

The Fastest Way to Cull Your Photos? Fstoppers Reviews Narrative Select

I don’t know about you, but I really hate culling images. I hate waiting for images to load. I hate zooming in to see if it’s in focus. I hate the time it takes to go through so many images. About six months ago, I started using Narrative Select for culling, and it might be the fastest way to cull images.

Fstoppers Reviews the ORCA Carry-On Wheeled Suitcase

ORCA is the maker of a wide range of photo and video accessories: primarily bags and other protective gear. They sent me their new rolling camera bag to try out, and I was eager to give it a go. As you'll see below, I've been using a $50 suitcase from Target as a camera bag for the last four years, so I was excited to see how an actual camera bag would hold up.

We Review the Haida NanoPro Magnetic ND Filters

Do you like photographing long exposures with an ND filter, but don’t like carrying a large filter holder and square ND filters? In that case, Haida’s NanoPro magnetic filters may be a nice solution.

Product and Food Photography: This Is the Way

When it comes to product and food photography, lighting is critical and can make or break the final image. Achieving the perfect lighting can be a complex process, even more so if you are just starting out with this type of photography.

How I Used the New Topaz Photo AI to Save My Low-light Wildlife Photographs

Topaz Labs, the company behind the wildly popular DeNoise AI, Sharpen AI, and Gigapixel AI, has made a huge change. These apps, once a triad of separate programs to fix your photographs, are now combined into one beefy app that is here to save the day. Meet Topaz Photo AI, your new best post-processing friend. Let me show you how I used it to save my low-light wildlife photographs.

We Review the Fujifilm GF 23mm f/4 Lens: Wide, Sharp, and Beautiful

Recently, I had the opportunity to try out the Fujifilm GF 23mm f/4 lens along with two other lenses and a GFX 100S, and I have to admit it has left a lasting impression on me. As landscape photographers, we value wide angle lenses for capturing wider vistas with stunning detail, and this lens didn't disappoint.

Funleader x Brightin Star XSLIM-M Lens Review

Over the past few years, there has been a remarkable rise in M and LTM lens manufacturers, throwing in with Leica and Voigtlander in an attempt to carve out some space of their own. Many of these lenses lean towards the more affordable side of the marketplace, with TTArtisan and 7Artisan joined by revived "classics" like Meyer-Optik Görlitz or handmade, artisanal lenses like MS-Optics.

Fstoppers Reviews the Godox ML60 Handheld LED Light

The Godox ML60 light gives you a whole lot of features that can really improve your lighting when you’re a run and gun type of shooter, or want constant light on location. I mean, it can run on a battery, and has a handle.

Fstoppers Reviews the Medium Format of Battery Powered Flashes: The Broncolor Move L

Broncolor is often thought as one the most exclusive flash manufacturers. Its studio units are renowned to be built like tanks and to be remarkably consistent in terms of color and exposure. The Move L is no exception even though it’s meant to be used outdoors. Solid, well designed, and powerful, it will match any sport and action photographer’s needs, even more so now that it can sync up to 1/8,000s with compatible cameras, thanks to HS.

SnipBack for iOS and Android Gives You a Second Chance at Photos

How often is it that you miss that great selfie expression, kid photo, or sports play because you didn't have your camera running at the right time? It happens to me a lot, but a new app for iOS and very soon coming to Android called SnipBack has some good ideas to fix this issue, and it makes me think that our pro gear could learn a few lessons here.

Finally a Classy Photography Bag for Us Girls

This is a bag for the females, the girls, the chicks, the ladies. This is a bag made for women. Women photographers. It’s chic and practical, light but resistant, and most of all, adapts to your needs. It’s a great offer for the urban shooter. The very fact that it exists shows how much the photography sector has evolved in the last years.