dslr

How DSLR Phase Detection Autofocus Works

Most photographers rely heavily on the capabilities of autofocus systems in DSLR cameras, but knowing how they actually work is something that even experienced photographers may not have learned. Here's a 4-minute video by ZY Productions that helps decode the mystery of DSLR autofocus by explaining the technical details behind it.

A Nikon D850 Review for Nature Photographers

It’s finally here! My Nikon D850 review is finally finished! It took me 11 states, two countries, eight weeks, and 16,000 images to get it done, but here it is! This is a true field test loaded with real-world examples, advice, and tons of tips for getting the most from all the new features.

This is How You Replace the Shutter in a DSLR

Want to see how the shutter system in a modern DSLR is replaced once it fails? The South African camera repair company Photographic Repairs shared this time-lapse of a shutter replacement surgery involving a Canon 6D.

Buying a Used DSLR Kit for $80: Here’s What You Get for the Money

Cameras and lenses are expensive. Really expensive. Even the cheapest entry-level DSLR kit today costs $500 or more. But what if you buy the cheapest possible used DSLR? A camera that's over 10 years old? How would it stack up against today's modern cameras? I was curious about this, so I decided to find out for myself.

Shootout: A $3,000 Canon 80D Kit vs. the $80,000 Arri Alexa

The Canon 80D is a popular enthusiast-level video-capable DSLR. The Arri Alexa is a professional video camera that is commonplace on many Hollywood feature film sets. Here's a 7-minute shootout by Potato Jet that compares what you get from a $3,000 camera kit versus a $80,000 one.

A Nikon D850 Field Test Gone Wrong

I was very excited when I first read about the new Nikon D850 and I knew that this camera would be exactly what I had been waiting for. The larger file size is welcomed from a fine art perspective and in combination with a highly improved focus system, fast processors and better ISO capabilities, I could easily see myself using this camera also for wildlife.

I Gave My 3-Year-Old Daughter a DSLR, and Here’s What Happened

My 3-year-old daughter is at that phase in which she wants to do everything that daddy does. Apparently photography is not immune to this phase and seeing this as a potentially huge win (it's not easy to coax her into driving 6 hours to go shoot some waterfall) I dug out my old Canon 40D DSLR and a 50mm prime lens that I had lying around and let the experiment begin!

NASA Just Ordered 53 Nikon D5 DSLRs

NASA just placed a hefty order for 53 unmodified Nikon D5 DSLRs. The cameras currently cost about $6,500 each, so if NASA paid full retail price for each camera, they just spent at least $344,500 on this purchase.

The Nikon D850 Doubles as a 45.7MP Film Scanner

Nikon's new D850 is more than a fast and powerful full-frame DSLR -- it can double as a 45.7-megapixel film scanner as well. It's the first Nikon camera to feature a new built-in Negative Digitizing feature. To use it, you'll also need the new Nikon ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter.

An Open Letter to Nikon from a Time-Lapse Photographer

Dear Nikon,

I am writing as a longtime Nikon photographer and someone who has been working extensively with your cameras and who has written many reviews in the past years. I have been shooting in the area of timelapse photography for many years now, and have given many workshops and training sessions.

Nikon D850 Will Be a ‘Baby Nikon D5’, Reports Say

The upcoming Nikon D850 will be a followup in name to the D810 from 2014, but it may actually be based on the flagship D5 instead of the D810. The D850 may be the materialization of a "baby D5" that has been murmured about in the rumor mill for a while.

How the Depth of Field Preview Button on a DSLR Works

DSLR cameras often have a little depth of field preview button beside the lens mount. This 3-minute video by ZY Productions revisits the basics of a DSLR camera and looks at how this handy button works, as well as some lesser-known things to consider.

Torture Test: See the Moment a Canon DSLR Shutter Dies

DSLRs generally have life expectancies based on how many "actuations" (i.e. openings and closings) their shutters can handle before they die and need to be replaced. To see what happens when a DSLR "dies" in this way, ContinueCrushingTech decided to torture test a Canon 7D Mark II with non-stop shooting until the shutter fails.

Nikon D820 Less Than a Month Away, Report Says

If you've been out on buying a Nikon DSLR because you're waiting for the followup to the D810, your wait may soon be over. The latest word in the rumor mill is that the camera will be officially announced at the end of July.

ShutterCount is Back for Canon DSLRs

Canon cameras are notoriously difficult to get accurate shutter actuation values from. A couple of years ago, the popular application ShutterCount was able to do this, but an internal change made by Canon HQ rendered it useless on newer cameras. But fear not, ShutterCount 3.0 has arrived with a fix.

This is the Canon 6D Mark II

We're about a week away from when Canon will reportedly announce the new 6D Mark II DSLR (June 29), but today we're finally getting a first look at the camera itself. Behold: this is the 6D Mark II, as seen in leaked photos.

Remembering the Canon 1D Mk II, The Only Camera That Got Me a Date

I dropped it because I was drunk. It was a brand new Canon EOS-1D Mark II, and I was drunk because I hadn't eaten any dinner. It fell from hip-height onto the sand-covered floor of a shipping container, which had been converted into a tiki bar at an outdoor music festival. It was 2005 -- tiki bars were a thing back then.