Author: David Ashton

It’s fair to say that the 50mm focal length is one of the most commonly used. Often referred to as a standard focal length, a 50mm lens provides a view of the world almost identical to what the human eye sees which can be used for many different types of photography. In reality, some prefer a slightly wider or narrower viewpoint, but as a general consensus, you can’t go wrong with a 50mm lens. In this roundup we are focusing on the best Sony 50mm lenses, covering the native E-mount variety, rather than those that require an adapter. The simple…

Wide-angle lenses have a lot more to contend with in life than their more standard viewpoints siblings. These types of lenses are specialists in nature and have to counter more edge distortion as standard. The Venus Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D is aimed at the typical landscape or architectural photographer who wants something a little different from the norm, while also offering excellent optics. This lens isn’t exactly budget level though, which means it has to own the same level of characteristics as other pro-level offerings. Also, as this lens comes from a not so obvious lens manufacturer, it has far…

It’s fine and dandy to cart around a bag full of prime lenses all day long to cover every conceivable need. But if you only want or need one zoom lens to cover everything from the wide-angle to super-telephoto, then the likes of the Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM Contemporary lens can fit the bill. This type of lens is built more for convenience than anything else. This means that although this zoom lens has good quality optics, it ranks overall usability over precision at any one focal length. This point can be an advantage or disadvantage depending…

When it comes to high-quality studio lighting, one name usually pops to the top of the list on a regular basis. Profoto has been producing pro-level studio lights for some time, with the Profoto B10 aimed at those who want a more portable solution, while still providing all the functionality needed for every shooting scenario. This type of lighting gear may tick all the boxes for most monolights, but it also has a hefty asking price. This isn’t so much a problem if you’re shooting professionally on a daily basis, but can the overall features and build quality still be…

If you’re currently shopping around for a premium quality 35mm lens for the Sony platform, the ZEISS Loxia 35mm f/2 is one candidate that is usually recommended. The Loxia 35mm f/2 features the usual ZEISS niceties and design assets, along with a few added extras above a usual manual lens in the form of Exif-data and the ability to de-click the aperture. Sony already has a good relationship with ZEISS with its own line of cross-pollinated lenses. Plus, there’s a good few third-party solutions out there in the 35mm world. Which means the Loxia has to be an exceedingly good…

If given the choice, most DSLR and mirrorless camera users would love to play with the medium format on a regular basis. The main hurdles to owning one of these things are the high price point, slower shooting speeds, bulk, and expensive accompanying gear. However, all the downsides go out of the window once you’ve sampled the image quality. The Pentax 645D was released back in 2010, which makes its 40MP resolution relatively affordable by today’s standards. There is a certain virtue to owning a medium format camera that’s not just about high resolution, but also a certain look. Dissertations…

Samyang and Rokinon have been busy little bees, to steal a quote from a tyrannical Roman Emperor. Fortunately, they’re not working to bring down an empire, but to build cost-effective prime lenses. The Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC is aimed at users who are happy with manual focusing and need a fast lens, while also providing very good value for money. Value for money is one thing, but this lens still costs a good few hundred dollars for the privilege. This means the lens still needs to deliver the goods in all departments to make it a worthwhile choice above…

When it comes to the sheer quality of output, ZEISS glass is usually the top of any photographer’s list. Anybody who has been playing around with lenses for a good deal of time either owns some form of ZEISS optics or wouldn’t mind getting their hands on one. This is easier said than done for many, as the cost of ZEISS lenses is usually reserved for the serious hobbyist or professional. The ZEISS Distagon T* f/1.4 35mm ZM is one such lens, which features a highly usable focal length and an old school way of doing things. This type of…

When we think of Leica optics, it’s usually to do with high-quality prime lenses. Not necessarily zoom lenses, which is why taking the Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280mm f/2.8-4 for a test run will be very interesting to see how it measures up against the prime lens camp. As this zoom lens covers the 90-280mm focal range, it should be an ideal candidate for anything from portraits to wildlife, events, and action shots. However, as this is top draw Leica glass, it’s a given that it’s expensive. But that should also mean it’s one of the best zoom lenses around, in theory.…

Even the best drones that are currently available like to fly in as ideal weather conditions as possible. They also can’t exactly be used as handheld imaging devices, unless you want to look like you’re constantly about to launch the thing or poke someone’s eye out. However, the PowerVision PowerEgg X aims to be one of the best all-rounder drones available, which can be flown in all types of weather conditions and handheld like a traditional video camera. With the ability to land on water when you buy into the PowerEgg X Wizard bundle, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill drone. This…

The Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM was released back in 2012. In general technology terms, this lens should be drawing its pension. But in the world of camera lenses, this Canon 35mm has just hit maturity and has a good idea of its own capabilities. The lens has also lost some of the limelight to the likes of the faster Sigma Art series offering, which we will discuss soon. But as we will see, this lens still has some trick shots of its own. There are lots of plus points that weigh in favor of the Canon, not just…

For many, experience with a fisheye lens comes mainly from the peephole in a front door rather than a constantly-used piece of camera optics. This makes sense, as a fisheye lens gives a very bulbous view of the world, with distorted lines being a feature rather than the usual negative. However, a lens such as the Lensbaby 5.8mm f/3.5 Circular Fisheye provides lots of creative options that you simply can’t get from a standard view lens. The Lensbaby also comes in at a very affordable price point. This means that it has a low cost of entry for those who…

For anyone looking for a versatile telephoto zoom lens, the 70-200mm is the most popular option. This focal range has plenty of applications for the likes of wildlife, sports, action, and event photography, while also containing highly competent optics. The Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS is a more affordable version of Sony’s f/2.8 GM, with the lens still providing superior optics. Just as with other same-brand 70-200mm versions, the f/4 type is essentially for those who don’t need the speed and low-light capabilities of an f/2.8 aperture. This lens will also suit those who can’t justify or afford the…

It never ceases to amaze me how cost-effective camera drones have become of late. If you’re just getting started in this arena, the cost of entry has never been better, with lots of fully-featured drones readily available. One such model is the Eachine E520S, which strives to bring all the functionality of more expensive units into a cost-effective package. This S version of the drone is a slight update to the previous model, which still provides 4K camera functionality with slightly upgraded features. A decent bang-for-your-buck purchase is one thing, but can this drone also deliver in all departments? Design…

If you need a screen size bigger than the average smartphone but don’t require an extra-large, singing and dancing tablet, there are affordable units on the market such as the Lenovo Smart Tab M8 that will do the job nicely. These types of devices aren’t designed to perform processor-intensive tasks, but they are very handy and cost-effective solutions for the simpler tasks in life. They also function well as second screens, photo viewers, or just devices for general browsing and reading up on the latest photography techniques. The specifications on the latest model provide slightly better performance than before. But…

Those out there who want a top-quality, standard view lens with a little extra width usually opt for a 35mm prime. This focal length has more width than a 50mm prime and is great for things like environmental portraits. There are quite a few options out there to choose from, but if you want a break from the norm, the Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f/1.7 is a possible option. The Voigtlander brand may not be the most obvious choice if you’re used to sticking to the same camera brand options. However, these off-the-road choices bring fine optics to the table, while…

Anyone venturing into studio lighting or cost-effective light modifiers for the first time can be easily bowled over with all the options available (and the cost). Once you start pricing up a decent set of strobes or Speedlites and softboxes, you can be easily put off, justifying why natural light is the only way to go. However, lighting kits such as the StudioFX 2400 Watt bring affordability to a multi-light setup, with all the bits you need to cover a variety of studio shots. As with any cost-effective solution, there are going to be pros and cons along the way.…

The 35mm focal length provides a wonderful, standard view of the world. This focal length is ideal for capturing environmental portraits or when a bit more width than the standard 50mm prime lens is needed. As the 35mm focal length is one of the standards, there are plenty of examples on the market. But if you have a limited budget, you have to be far more strategic with your choices. The Meike 35mm f/1.7 is a cost-effective prime lens designed specifically for the APS-C-format, which is ideal for the budget-conscious. Like any cost-effective prime lens, the Meike is going to…

Large, fully-featured drones are the usual suspects for the most fun in the sky, but especially when you’re a beginner, a cheap and cheerful drone can provide equal amounts of enjoyment. The Cheerson CX-10 fits this category perfectly, being small enough to fit in the palm of your hand (plus the controller) and provides a surprising amount of functionality for the money. This little unit isn’t going to compete with a fully-fledged camera or racing drone, but it’s not meant to. The price can’t be argued with, so can the drone still provide good performance, or is it just a…

Samyang has traditionally not been at the top of many people’s wish lists when it comes to high-quality prime lenses. But with the introduction of the Samyang XP 85mm f/1.2, the company now has optics that can provide top quality at a very respectable price point. This lens may be manual focusing only, but the company has also poured all its efforts into the optic side of things, which is good news for those who want premium-level quality. As the 85mm focal length has traditionally been a good solution for portraits, there is strong competition in this marketplace. Can the…

For any long-standing full-frame camera owner, the medium format has always been in our peripheral vision. Generally speaking, the joys of a larger sensor, extra resolution, and depth of images are more than offset by the high prices and slower shooting speeds. Then came along the likes of the Pentax 645Z, which is now as affordable as one of the latest mirrorless cameras. Pentax basically showed the market that you didn’t have to trade a vital organ to buy into the medium format, with the likes of Hasselblad and Fujifilm following suit. The Pentax 645Z is also a relatively old…

Graphic or drawing tablets are a staple part of any designer’s workflow, especially important if you do lots of post-production retouching. One of the most popular brands for many years has been the Wacom variety. These tablets are excellent to use in practice, with lots of features and seamless workings, but they can also feel quite expensive. Units such as the XP-Pen Deco Pro are showing that you can have your cake and eat it, too in this department, providing very good functionality at a cost-effective price. There is also a good reason why the Wacom tablets have got such…

A 50mm prime lens will always be the go-to standard for any type of photography. This focal length provides a happy medium between a relatively wide view and the ability to get in close when needed. The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA is one such lens, which offers a fast aperture and some of the lovely design principles that come straight from ZEISS. As this lens is designed to be a one-stop solution for most shooting scenarios, it has to provide the best quality possible, especially considering the price. With so much competition in this arena, it will be interesting…

For many, the 24-70mm is the most widely-used zoom lens, which is why it’s most commonly given the workhorse title. For many photojournalists, this focal range is an invaluable tool, acting almost like a bunch of 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm lenses in one package. Each camera maker has its own version, which is why the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR is a significant release for the Nikon community. The lens has brought added bonuses such as image stabilization and an improved optical structure. But the lens also had its dissenters, when compared to its older sibling the Nikon…

There’s one thing that Leica makes sure of above any other lens manufacturer and that’s to make their high-end optics as exclusive as possible. I say this purely from a price point of view, as the Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH costs just shy of $5000 on a favorable day at current prices, making it one of the most expensive 35mm lenses around. However, for those who currently reside on either the Leica or Sony platforms and want the very best in optical performance, the price almost becomes secondary. Also, The Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH is not a new…

When shooting with a digital camera, it’s a wonderful feature to have an instant view of your masterpiece, but it’s a totally different experience seeing everything in print. The Fujifilm instax WIDE 300 is an instant camera that provides the look and tones of film, with straightforward workings and final images at a reasonable size. The main idea behind the camera is to provide not just instant gratification of printed images, but also to include straightforward workings. This should allow the user to focus on composition and simply to have fun with the camera. The instax WIDE 300 isn’t going…

As photographers, we train ourselves to be as pragmatic as possible when it comes to lens choice and acquisition. This is a good thing in part, but we also secretly long to own an all-encompassing lens that covers every focal length and contains every feature imaginable. Lenses like the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS go a long way to solve this problem. However, no lens maker is going to make the everlasting candle, and cramming the equivalent of a dozen high-quality primes into one lens is an almost impossible task. Weight and convenience in a zoom lens are also important…

If there’s one lens that you are going to spend big on for the long run, it’s going to be a 50mm prime. This focal length just so happens to slot into a wide variety of shooting scenarios. That’s why it is touted as a standard focal length. The Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH slots into this category and, typical of Leica, it doesn’t just contain fine optics but also has a hefty price tag. The lens has old-school workings with full manual focusing and quite a retro design. But as with all Leica optics, its the quality of output…

No matter the software you currently use for editing and managing your RAW files, use it for long enough and you will always be itching for extra features. DxO PhotoLab 3 is one of the many RAW converters out there, with its main focus being on quality of output and lens correction. As the company also owns the long-standing and highly-regarded Nik Collection, some of these technologies have filtered through. The software is available in two flavors, the Essential and Elite editions. However, with stiff competition from Lightroom, can DxO PhotoLab 3 check all the boxes for not just being…

If you’re in the position of needing more light output than what the average Speedlite can provide but want the same compact dimensions, the Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Pro is a likely option. This version is an upgrade to the original, with the same levels of output and improvements being focused on the build quality and features. One of the biggest selling points of this unit is the way it can deliver studio strobe-like power in a very portable package. As the design leans more towards a strobe rather than a Speedlite, it’s also available with a range of accessories and…