3 Affordable Lights for the Photographer Who Wants Extra Pop

Lighting is key to a better picture, not Photoshop.

There aren’t many things that can spruce up a photo like good lighting. Best of all, you don’t need to wait for it to happen. Instead, you can make it yourself. What’s more, you don’t need to spend a million bucks to make it happen. So we dove into our Reviews Index to bring you some affordable LEDs and flashes. If you’re still unsure about spending a lot of money on a flash or strobe, try these instead. You’ll love them! Dive in with us in our roundup of good, affordable lights.

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You’ll Love Our 4 Favorite Medium Format Film Cameras

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If you love film photography, you’re missing out if you don’t use medium format film cameras. Arguably, this is where you’ll really to start a major advantage over digital photography. There’s also things like the look, the feel, and the overall approach to how you work with subjects. You have to be a million times more conservative with how you shoot photos. So we dove into the Reviews Index to find some of the best medium format film cameras we’ve used.

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The 3 Best Everyday Camera Bags for More Than Just Photo Gear

Getting the right camera bag is sometimes a confusing thing, but we’ve got it figured out.

Fact: no one is making the perfect camera bag. Many bags come very close to being perfect. And there are only a few that we regularly take out with us. These everyday camera bags are made very well, can accommodate lots of gear, and are very comfortable. Even better, they find ways to work for both men and women, which is kind of a rarity. We’ve reviewed more camera bags than any other photo publication out there. So we dove into our Reviews Index to pick some of the best. Here’s our selection.

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New to Film Photography? Here Are 3 Film Emulsions You Need to Try

Film photography never died: it only evolved into something much better.

Fact: some of us have never shot film before. Others amongst us are just getting into it. In 2021, film photography co-exists with digital and is in demand by lots of clients. There are lots of the mainstays like Portra, Tri-X, and Velvia. But there are also lots of options out there that aren’t traditional. And we’ve reviewed a bunch of them. So we dove into the old Reviews Index to look at our many years of film photography coverage. Here are some of our favorite emulsions.

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3 Fantastic Cameras with Image Quality That Looks Like Film

If you want the film look, you’re going to love these cameras.

There is nothing like the look of film. Some people think they know what it looks like using editing presets, but you’re better off doing it in the camera. Luckily, a few companies have begun to recognize this and built those looks right into their cameras. We dove into our Reviews Index to find some of the most unique and highest quality choices. There are more that can give you the look of film, but here are some of our favorites and the best we’ve tested.

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Going on Vacation? 5 Lenses for Photography in Big Cities at Night

Tamron has a bunch of lenses for photographing in big cities at night.

Big cities are a lot quieter than they used to be. That means that you’ll have more room to explore. This is one of the most exciting things about photographing in big cities at night. Besides the surreal feeling of them being empty at times, there are still signs of life. So if you’re planning on heading to a big city for some R&R, consider one of these lenses. They’re perfect for just the occasion.

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Rulers of the Dark. The Best 3 Cameras with Great High ISO Output

There are lots of good cameras with solid high ISO performance, but these are our favorites.

First off, you should know that we’ve done the print tests. That’s right, we test cameras in a much different way when it comes to high ISO output. Looking at ISO 6400 on 5K Retina screen is much different than printing it. So for years now, we’ve done the standard thing for printing ISO 6400 at 17×22 inches. From there, we’ve found some of the best cameras for high ISO photography. Does your camera stack up to the competition? We dove into our Reviews Index to find three of our favorites.

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Vivid Dream: Blue Hour Photography Is Best with These Wonderful Lenses

E Mount Lenses

You only have a little bit of time to get the blue hour look.

The Blue Hour doesn’t get as much play as the Golden Hour. But nonetheless, it’s a lovely time to photograph. If you’re using a flash, it’s a great time to shoot portraits. If you’re walking around, it’s the best time to shoot cityscapes. And if you’re by the sea, it can lead to some really moody seascapes. Instead of shooting flat, it’s best to go super vivid. 

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3 Lenses The Passionate Photographer Will Love for Photowalking

The photowalk is one of our favorite ways to lose weight, blow off steam, and be creative.

Fact: photowalking is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy your hobby at the same time. We’ve burned over 600 calories walking a few miles for at least two hours. And thankfully, it’s time to photowalk again! Of course, you can grab any lens you wish, but some lenses are naturally better than others. So we dove into our Reviews Index to find three particular lenses we’ve loved for photowalking. We’re sharing them in this roundup. All these lenses are under $1,000, so take a deeper look below!

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9 Pieces of Gear That Make Travel Photography Even Better!

street photography

If you’re a nomadic soul, these pieces of gear are perfect for travel photography.

We know how it is. You spend time on the internet looking at glorious travel photography from around the world. You ask yourself, “How can I make photos like that?” You’re going to need the skills and the tools that allow you to utilize them. Tripods, lightweight cameras, and the right lenses are essential for the perfect travel trip. Here’s what we recommend.

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7 Digital Cameras That Had the Most Beautiful Shutter Sounds

These cameras whispered sweet sounds into your ear when you shot with them.

The past two decades of photography showed photographers constantly asking for quieter shutters. It went hand-in-hand with the requests of wedding photographers, street photographers, and photojournalists. And like those shutters, the voices of some echoed really loudly throughout the internet. Then manufacturers developed the silent shutter. Photographers who needed it used it, but some of us miss the romance of the beautiful shutter. Digital photography lacks the sensory stimulation of film. You can’t smell the sensor, and the sounds are that of a soulless machine. But these cameras had beautiful shutter sounds. Hopefully, camera manufacturers will bring that back.

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The Best 85mm Lenses Under $700. We’ve Reviewed Each of These Too!

The 85mm lens is essential for landscape, portrait, and street photographers.

There aren’t many lenses that can as versatile as an 85mm lens. We learned a while back that it’s a great choice for basketball. And we’ve known for a while that it’s great for portrait photography. But 85mm lenses also help landscape photographers focus on specific details really well. And for street photography, it can make a cinematic-looking image. But you’re on a budget, so we dove into our Reviews Index to find some of the best 85mm lenses for under $700. Here are the best of the bunch.

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3 Tools to Help Photographers Deliver Their Best Images

These tools are great for the photographer who isn’t stuck in the Mac ecosystem.

Many photographers have felt a little burned by Apple in the past few years. So, we experimented with various computers, printers, and monitors to cater to this. Many photographers end up never jumping ship because they don’t even know where to start. They care about a few things: ergonomics, the performance of their favorite programs, and ease of use. For the past few years, we dove into exploring some of the best computers for creatives. But we didn’t stop there: we look at printers and monitors too. Here are some of the best tools we’ve used in the past year. We’ve used these to deliver the best images to clients and also for our coverage.

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The 3 Best Compact Cameras for Travel Photography

If you’re thinking about traveling, these are the best compact cameras on the market.

There aren’t a whole lot of compact cameras out there. In fact, there are a lot more interchangeable lens options on the market. But a good compact camera is sometimes all you need. Think of it this way, these cameras are the same ones you’d buy but with a fixed lens attached. You’re not going to change the lens at all. And on most occasions, folks will be perfectly fine with that. So we paged through our reviews index to find the best compact cameras for travel photography. And these three are the only ones you’ll care about right now.

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Choose One: The Only Lenses You Need for a Road Trip

There are very few things as enjoyable and freeing as a nice road trip: use these lenses to get the most of it.

It’s pretty exciting to just get in a car and go on a road trip. The random experiences always create new memories. Documenting those memories and being creative tend to add to the fun of it all. On a road trip, packing minimally can be essential. So, we’re recommending five lenses that you’ll want to bring along. In truth, you’ll only really need one, but we’re letting you make that choice for yourself.

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These Leica Lenses Render a Medium Format-Like Look You’ll Adore

These lenses have a look that’s bigger than full frame!

In the past few years, super-fast aperture lenses have become a bit of a trend. Photographers love the look they can deliver: a medium format look on the full-frame format. That’s why lenses like those aren’t just for bokeh lovers. They’re also for those of us who want a completely different look. So, we dove into our Reviews Index to search for some of the best Leica lenses for just that occasion.

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Cast a Spell! 3 Lenses for Natural Light Portrait Photography Magic!

There’s a bit of wizardry going on with these lenses.

No one can deny that corny, romantic feeling that you get around the golden hour. If you’re a natural light portrait photographer, you know that it’s one of the best times for it. Everything naturally looks better as the world turns from golden to blue. To that end, certain lenses and cameras are just better at helping you capture and create that magic moment. Essentially, it’s all about color and light. So we dove into our Reviews Index to round up some of our favorite lenses.

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The Best Leica Lenses for Black and White Film Photography

Black and white film lovers rejoice!

Film has to be one of the most fun photography experiences we have! Some of us just want to create in a completely different way. Indeed, film does a lot of things that digital doesn’t. When used properly, it will ultimately make you think more about your photos before shooting. You’ll pay a lot of attention to the frame before you shoot. And eventually, you’ll become a master of the format. If you’re looking for the best Leica lenses for black and white film photography, check out our selects.

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We Tested 3 Best 50mm Lenses Under $500. Here They Are!

The 50mm lens is the standard for many photographers, and everyone grows from it.

When photographers start out, they usually go for a 50mm lens if they don’t reach for a zoom. It’s indeed the best way to grow as a photographer. A 50mm lens is incredibly versatile. In fact, some of the best lenses made are 50mm lenses. So, we dove into our Reviews Index to choose some of the best. Specifically, we looked for options under the $500 mark. Trust us, you’re going to love these. Here are the best 50mm Lenses under $500.

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The 3 Best Affordable 35mm Lenses for Portrait Photography

The 35mm lens is one of the best portrait lenses to make the viewer feel like they’re there.

We’ve tested a bunch of 35mm lenses over the years. The good news is that they’ve become progressively better for portrait photography. Photojournalists and editorial photographers use them these days. 35mm lenses deliver a look that makes us feel like we’re right there in the picture. Bringing people into the photo makes it that much more exciting. So we dove into our Reviews Index to find some of the best 35mm lenses for portrait photography. More importantly, we made sure that they were affordable.

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The 3 Best Instant Film Cameras for Your Next Party

These instant film cameras will shoot photos you and other guests will love.

If you’re going to a party, there’s no reason not to bring instant film cameras. They’re so fun. You point, shoot, and get the photo. What’s better than that? You can then get back to drinking and hang out with those you care about. And better yet, it’s almost impossible for anyone to look bad with instant film. That’s because of just how big the lenses are and how they work with the film. And yes, you’re shooting real instant film–sort of like Polaroids back in the day. Check out this guide on choosing the best instant film cameras.

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