Fstoppers Gear Reviews

In depth expert reviews and comparisons of the latest cameras, lenses, software, and other technology we as creative professionals rely on.
Our In-Depth Review of the Sony a7 IV

The popular Sony a7 III has been updated. Meet the Sony a7 IV, the fourth edition of this popular camera. Sony Netherlands provided me with this camera for a review, and I also got a chance to compare it with the previous model. These are my findings.

We Review the DJI Mic: The Best Portable Microphone for Your Video, Music, and Podcasts

Sound is a critical aspect of content creation in today’s world. Whether it’s for a YouTube channel, Twitch streaming, interviews, or podcasting, your voice will reflect who you are, and where you are recording can also have a profound effect on the audio. Viewers are used to loose camera work videos, but if the audio is bad, then most of the time, viewers give up. So, we tested out the new DJI Mic to see if does indeed produces great sound quality.

Our In-Depth Review After Shooting With the Nikon Z 9 Every Day for the Last Month

After my initial thoughts article, I have now spent the past month shooting with the new Nikon Z 9 pretty much every day. A month may not be enough for a long-term review, but I’ve already found myself in an incredibly diverse set of situations, and while some question the existence of love at first sight, I must say this camera has been something special right out of the box.

We Review the Haida M10 Generation II Filter Holder

I started using the Haida M10 filter system in January 2020, and I liked it a lot. Since that time I have been using the M10 filter system exclusively. Now, Haida released a second generation with many improvements. I was provided with an M10 generation II filter holder for review.

Fstoppers Reviews the Sundisc Softbox

When is a softbox not a softbox? When it's a Sundisc. Here's a long-term review of a multi-talented light modifier that packs down to the size of a pack of small tortillas.

Your Virtual Studio Just Got an Upgrade

If you are unfamiliar with 3D studio software, it's maybe something worth checking out. Ellixxier software produces a 3D pre-vis studio that hits the mark in terms of time-saving when in the studio, and the software has just received another upgrade, allowing more freedom when planning your shoots.

We Review the Powerful Canon EOS R3 Mirrorless Camera

I got excited when Canon Netherlands asked me to review the new Canon EOS R3. Together with the camera, I received three lenses and was offered just four days to use them under different circumstances. In this review, I share my first impression and shooting experience.

T7 and T7 Touch: The Best Samsung SSDs Money Can Buy in 2021  

In my opinion, the Samsung Portable SSD T7 and Portable SSD T7 Touch are some of the best SSDs available. While that sounds like a bold claim, it is based on using these drives daily for the past month. Let’s see what makes these particular models so great and why you may want to get one for the holidays.

We Review the Nikon Z 9 Mirrorless Camera

Nikon allowed me to try out a preproduction model of the Nikon Z 9. This long-awaited camera turned out to be a marvel. During a fortnight, I came to appreciate this camera a lot. In this article, I'll tell you about my experience.

Fstoppers Reviews Venus Optic’s 85mm f/5.6 2x Macro Lens: Amazing Magnification From a Tiny Lens

If you’re into macro photography, you might be wondering why so many macro lenses emphasize a wide aperture; f/2.8 is nice to have, but when focused down to 1:1, it’ll leave you with no depth of field. From my point of view, Venus Optics seems to have had the same thought. They built a macro lens with a spec sheet that’s focused on delivering macro results. Is this the new best option for macro photographers?

Fstoppers Reviews the HEX x Misshattan Ranger DSLR Sling Bag

I’ve never been one to consider style in my bag purchases, but if that style comes at no extra cost, then, why not? That’s certainly the case with the new HEX x Misshattan Ranger DSLR Sling, a different take on the company’s regular Ranger DSLR Sling.

How to Improve Your Wildlife Photography With the Topaz Image Quality Bundle

As a professional nature photographer, Topaz DeNoise is an essential part of my workflow. I had heard about it for years, but since I owned Lightroom and Photoshop, I didn’t add Topaz into my software library until last spring. I was late to the party, but at least I can save you the trouble. Just DeNoise alone is worth every penny. Come see why.

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.

Our DJI Action 2 Review: Good but Not Great

For the last week, I've been playing with the new DJI's completely reimagined modular action camera system, the Action 2. Aspects of this new system are ingenious, but it is far from perfect.

Simon Says Squid Game's Strategy Is the Future

How did Squid Game save Netflix? With a global launch on the same date with translations in over 130 languages. How can you adopt this strategy? Let’s look at Simon Says, an online transcription service that surprised me in a good way.

Could Wiral LITE Be a Videographer and Vlogger's Dream?

The Wiral LITE is a portable cable cam kit. It’s small, lightweight, versatile, affordable, and strong enough to carry my mirrorless camera and pro lens. This may be a videographer’s dream.

Review of the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens

It was only a matter of time before Canon would release a true macro lens for the RF mount. Instead of an RF version of the ever-so-popular EF 100mm macro lens, Canon had a little surprise up its sleeve. I got a chance to review this amazing lens.

Is Photo Mechanic Plus a Lightroom Killer? An In-Depth Fstoppers Review Part 2: The Image Catalog

In Part 1 of this In-Depth review, I outlined the core philosophy of Photo Mechanic Plus before going on to summarize and test the ingestion process. Arguably, this is the star in the crown however, Camera Bits have now added an image catalog allowing it to manage your photo archive. Read on to find out how it performs, as well as a comparison with Lightroom's own catalog.

Fstoppers Reviews the Insta360 Go 2: Leveling Up the Action Camera

On the surface, it doesn’t look like Insta360’s latest entry in the GO lineup is all that different from its previous model. Looks, in this case, are very, very deceiving. The Insta360 GO 2 fixes every issue with its predecessor and in the process, has become a versatile and eminently usable camera in its own right.

We Review The Sony ZV-E10: What Can It Do and Who Was It Made For?

Sony recently released the ZV-E10, an entry-level interchangeable lens APS-C camera that supposedly expands the capabilities for beginning photographers, videographers, and vloggers. What can it do, and who was this camera made for?

The End of the Strobe? We Review Viltrox's Weeylite Ninja 300

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.

PhotoDirector Gets Updates With New AI Features: We Review It

CyberLink has an update for its long-available PhotoDirector image editor, which runs on Mac OS and Windows. This latest version is called PhotoDirector 13. New light effects and color adjustment features have been added. The company claims you can turn any photo into a "visual masterpiece with a comprehensive set of AI tools, including AI-powered Sky Replacement and Photo Animation effects."

I Can’t Wait for This Photography Simulator Video Game to Be Released

Photographers and gamers, would you play a wildlife photography simulator? At first glance, it seems cheesy, but when I watched the trailer for Photography Simulator, it actually looks fun and engaging. I researched the game to learn more about it and share why you might enjoy this game too.