review

Unistellar eQuinox 2

Unistellar eQuinox 2 Review: An Expensive But Easy Telescope Camera

Most "serious" astrophotographers will balk at the idea of a smart telescope. While it may miss some of the professional level tools, resolution, and precision, the $2,499 eQuinox 2 from Unistellar does provide easy access to the cosmos for up to 10 viewers at a time, making it a great (albeit expensive) tool for beginners and casual stargazers to enjoy viewing interstellar objects in minutes.

iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max Review

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max Review for Photographers

Apple's iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max bring a lot to the table across the board, from a gaming-ready chip, to USB-C, and -- of course -- photography. It is that last point where we are putting the emphasis, and this review is specifically for those of you who care about the iPhone as a camera.

Panasonic G9 II hands-on review

Panasonic G9 II Hands-On: It’s Made for Photographers, But is it Really?

The original Panasonic G9 was quite a revolutionary camera. Built around a modern and intimidatingly professional-looking body, the G9 featured blazing-fast burst rates, an exceptionally good EVF, and motion-compensated multi-shot mode. However, it has been seven years since the G9 launch -- a long time to wait for a successor.

Pergear 60mm f/2.8 Mark II Review: A Basic Macro Lens at an Attractive Price

A while ago, after I reviewed an inexpensive shift lens, Pergear contacted me to review a lens available only in Sony and Nikon mounts. I told them I did not have cameras that would take the lens. Later, I learned that they reissued their 60mm f/2.8 macro lens, Mark II.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Review: Judging This Book by Its Cover

Foldable phones are probably going to be a viable part of future mobile devices, but for now, they’re not moving the needle forward in image quality. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is no different, except it makes a better case that the rear camera lenses are much better off when there’s a larger cover screen all around them.

GoPro Hero12 Black Review

GoPro Hero 12 Black Review: A Step, Not a Leap, Forward

It seems like every year a new GoPro action cam model is released. This creates a dynamic where changes are often incremental and many users hold off on purchasing the latest and greatest. However, every once in a while, GoPro makes a worthwhile change that demands attention. Is 2023 one of those years?

Sony a7C II and aC7R First Impressions Review

Sony a7C II and a7CR Hands-On: Entry-Level No Longer

The original Sony a7C was very much an entry-level camera. I really liked the minimalistic styling; a strong departure from the boxy DSLR look of the other Alpha cameras, and it was easy to navigate, but suffered from what many entry-level cameras suffer from: a lack of manual control dials, and a bargain basement viewfinder. But now we've got an upgrade. Or rather, upgrades.

Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II

Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II Review: Easy to Recommend

The classic professional photographer's kit has for decades consisted of the holy trinity of f/2.8 zoom lenses: a 16-35mm, 24-70mm, and 70-200mm. Armed with these, a photographer can cover almost any shooting situation. When Sony first started its full-frame mirrorless camera line, it quickly made these professional zoom lenses under the G Master moniker. Unfortunately, these lenses were not able to deliver the high-grade results that many of the other brands could.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Review

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Review: Baby Steps Forward

If you’re looking for dramatic shifts in image quality from Samsung, its foldable phones aren’t going to give it to you. Instead, you get a combination of incremental changes and far more flexibility in deployment than you otherwise might with a standard smartphone.

8K Camera Shootout

Sony A1 vs Canon R5 C vs Nikon Z8: Which Camera is Best for 8K Video?

In the last decade, 4K video recording has gone from a format only used in high-end productions to a feature found on even the most entry-level cameras and smartphones. It was inevitable that there would be another resolution bump as sensors and computing power improved, and now we have a number of compelling full-frame mirrorless cameras that can record 8K video internally (right to the memory card). We decided to compare the most compelling 8K-capable, full-frame mirrorless cameras to see which was your best option today: the Sony Alpha 1, Canon R5 C, and Nikon Z8.

Apexel APL-FL19 Two-Light Kit: Fit For Tabletop Photography

A while ago, I reviewed a couple of attachments by Apexel for phone cameras. They asked me to review their night vision scope but I told them nobody would believe my review of a product like that! I inquired if I could write a review of a couple of LED light kits and they agreed.

Canon RF 28mm Review

Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 Review: A Golden Pancake or a Flop-Jack?

If there was ever a focal length that the manufacturers tend to put by the wayside, it's the trusty 28mm prime lens. You see, ultra-wide lenses are dynamic and 24mm lenses are admittedly more versatile. However, the 28mm range is probably my preferred focal length for walking the streets with only one prime lens.

Fujifilm XF 8mm

Fujifilm XF 8mm f/3.5 Review: Great Things Do Come in Small Packages

A 12mm full-frame equivalent lens isn't my idea of a versatile do-everything piece of kit, but Fujifilm really needs something like this to supplement the very expensive -- and heavy -- XR 8-16mm f/2.8 zoom. That is a great lens, but it's beyond many people's needs and budgets. Enter the Fujifilm 8mm f/3.5 prime.

Canon EOS R100 review

Canon EOS R100 Review: It Feels Like an Old Camera, and Not in a Good Way

In my line of work, a lot of cameras corss my path. Like any good tools, they only do their best work when they match the specific tasks for which they were intended. It seems that lately, the majority of cameras I've looked at have been fairly pricey devices, so I was happy to get to review a new affordable entry onto the market. And of course, I don't have expectations that it will compete with higher-end products, but can the $479 EOS R100 even do what it was designed to?

Huion Kamvas Studio 16

Huion Kamvas Studio 16 Review: More Than a Pen Tablet, Not Quite a Laptop

Pen display tablets have been getting better and more affordable, so it makes sense that all-in-one devices like the Huion Kamvas Studio 16 would follow the same path. But what makes this device a little different is it's a pro pen tablet made for designers, illustrators, and photographers to help them get their art created quickly and easily while also being a fully functional Windows PC.

Nikon Z8 vs Sony Alpha 7RV

Sony a7R V vs Nikon Z8: A Battle of Mirrorless All-Stars

I recently stated that the Alpha 7RV is my favorite Sony camera to date, and one of the most ideal platforms for what I want personally in a camera. Since then I've had the pleasure of using the Nikon Z8, and it has definitely made an impression on me as the best Nikon camera I’ve used so far. When we saw that the price was similar, it made perfect sense to do a shoot-out between the two.

Lume-Cube-Tube-Light-Mini-Review---Little-Light,-Big-Potential

Lume Cube Tube Light Mini Review: Little Light, Big Potential

Lume Cube has been producing some interesting and creative lighting solutions for both photographers and videographers over the last few years that add an impressive amount of versatility to their users toolkits including the Tube Light Mini. That being said, the question remains that given the number of competing RGB lights on the market, are they good enough, and are they worth it?

Halumin H18

Halumin H18 Soft Light Review: Product Photography Lighting Made Easy

Product photography is often considered one of the most complicated and challenging genres. Besides having the right lenses and props to decorate the shot, you'll need a variety of light shaping options to create the best looking photos. This is where the $399 Halumin H18 Soft Light brings something interesting to the table.

TruHu

TruHu Review: A Simple Way to Calibrate Monitors with a Smartphone

Photographers use their monitors even more than their cameras, probably by a large margin. Even the best monitors should be calibrated to ensure that the colors users see are accurate. However, calibration can be expensive and tedious. TruHu aims to make the calibration process very easy and much more affordable.

Nikon Z8 Review

Nikon Z8 Review: The Best Camera for Most Serious Photographers

My first experience with an almost full production Nikon Z8 took me to stunning Yellowstone National Park. In the week or so that I had to play with it I found it to be a most enjoyable camera, and I was able to review most of the major aspects of the cameras handling and capabilities. However, there were still some features that I needed to test, and for that I would need to wait for a final firmware Z8.

Apple Final Cut for iPad Review

Apple Final Cut for iPad Review: Lots Here, But Some Things Still Missing

It's no secret that I have had an anti-Apple attitude in the past. As much as I may have made jokes at their expense, I have nothing against them. My perceived bias stems more from a fierce loyalty to the PC; I use to custom-build gaming rigs as a kid. Ever in search of more gaming power, I saw Macs as boring, work computers. However, now that I'm older, what I truly need a computer for is exactly that -- work.

Nikon Z Mount 17-28mm f/2.8

Nikon Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Nightscape and Astrophotography Review

Last September, Nikon released the Z mount 17-28mm f/2.8 lens. Immediately, two specifications piqued my interest when it came to how this lens would perform with astrophotography and nightscapes: it was a wide-angle lens and also fast at f/2.8.

The Best Photography Print Labs in 2023

One of the most frequently asked sets of questions I receive from other photographers is: What print lab do you use? Which online photo printing service is the best quality? Who prints the best quality photos?