There are very few products that inspire me these days. As journalists, we’re pretty bombarded with many products being the same thing repeatedly. But sometimes, a product comes out that’s just different enough to win us over. And for the first time in a while, I think Lensbaby absolutely nailed it. The Lensbaby Double Optic II is everything I’ve wanted their Composer Pro II to have for a while, optically speaking. Don’t get me wrong, I like sofer optics. But Lensbaby was always too soft. The Double Optic II, however, is just perfect with the tilt-shift mechanism of the Composer Pro II.
Last chance for Fuji rebates! The Fujifilm XH2 is genuinely one of the best APS-C cameras on the market that you can get right now. And it’s got a discount! The original Fujifilm 56mm f1.2 R is being sold at quite a heavy discount right now, and will until June 25th. There’s also stuff like …
For a while now, I’ve been dreaming of more Fujifilm SLR-style cameras without a pronounced grip. For that, I really like the XT30 style of camera. There are lots of photographers that would really prefer the newly announced Fujifilm XS20, though. Specifically, we think that there are vloggers who wish for the Fuji ergonomics and colors. But even if you’re not shooting video, there’s a fair amount to like with the new Fujifilm XS20.
The Fujifilm 8mm f3.5 R WR will probably be one of the most fun lenses you get your hands on. Generally speaking, that’s how super wide angles are. This is around a 12mm field of view when considering it against full-frame options. What’s more, it’s not a fisheye. Other things that make us want to swipe right on this lens are the metal bod, the smaller size, and the halation that leaves everything it sees with a dreamy glow. Yes, Fujifilm apparently did it. And it’s beautiful!
Canon has launched its smallest, lightest, and cheapest RF mount body yet. Meet the Canon EOS R100, a $480 mirrorless camera that, despite being launched today, May 24, 2023, already feels old. That’s because it’s essentially a slower, RF-mount version of the M50 Mark II. It has the same 24.1-megapixel sensor and DIGIC 8 process as the M50 Mark II — and the five-year-old original M50 also carries that same resolution and processor. The Canon EOS R100 has a few small things to get excited about, like the price and the fact that it’s possible to automatically upload photos to Google Photos or Lightroom. But, more Canon fans will likely get excited about the lens announced today: the Canon RF 28mm f2.8 STM, a $299 pancake lens.
The Leica Q2 is one of my favorite cameras for great reasons. It embodies all the best things about the rangefinder aesthetic while being super small, having autofocus, and more. There are lots of reports of the new Leica Q3 coming; and folks should be very excited about that. But something I’m really dreaming of is the Leica Q3D: a variant of the Q2 that doesn’t have the LCD screen. After shooting with the Fujifilm X Pro 3 for years, I’ve found that I really don’t have a need for it. And this feature could save a ton of battery life.
The 35mm lens is my personal favorite. It mimics the way that the human eye sees and has an incredible amount of versatility. With that said, manufacturers understand just how important this lens is. So they’ve made high-end versions and more affordable ones. So what’s the best cheap 35mm lens on the market? Well, we’ve reviewed the most of any publication. And here’s what we found.
I will never pass up the opportunity of photographing with an excellent black and white film. There is something very romantic and nostalgic about seeing your images in monochrome. It immediately transports me back to my happy days in the dark room. Naturally, I eagerly anticipated receiving a roll of Lomography Kino Babylon 13 film to review.
During the testing of the Leica 24-70mm f2.8 SL lens, we found out that Leica did quite an overhaul on it just being a Sigma variant. While it’s got the same optics, the exterior and autofocus performance is much different. Leica’s is very quick while Sigma tends to drag behind the rest of the industry. But in our short period of time, we also missed a big problem that was brought to us by our readers. And so we’ve updated our review. You can read the entire thing here or see the big changes below.
This is truly one of the best deals in the photo world! We love giving our members the best benefits of any photography publication around! And that’s why we created our membership program to do way more than just take away banner-ads. You get a ton of perks including a monthly giveaway exclusively for members; …