Every popular lens manufacturer has a flagship 70-200mm zoom, as it’s one of the most popular solutions for covering the short-to-medium telephoto range. Sony is no different, and for those wanting the best in performance from the platform, the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS now features a floating focusing system, with improved autofocus motors, image stabilization, and lovely levels of weatherproofing. To cover this level of optics, the Sony is a sizeable chunk of lens. But as we have come to expect from high-quality glass, the quality of output more than makes up for that extra bit of weight.…
Author: David Ashton
David Ashton
David started as a youngling playing with a Werra mat camera, then progressed into the digital age loving everything from events, action, weddings and virtual tours.
Anyone with even a modicum of knowledge about long telephoto prime lenses will know that they cost a king’s ransom and are large and heavy. At least the Vivitar 500mm f/8 checks the “large” box, but for a prime lens at this focal length which costs just shy of a hundred dollars, the price point is almost laughable. In comparison, you can’t even buy a lens hood for one of the expensive versions for the price of this lens. The kit version comes with a 2x teleconverter, which bumps the focal length up to an incredible 1,000mm and also comes…
Canon was admittedly not as fast as the rest of the pack when it came to delivering their own line of mirrorless cameras. Now, it’s full steam ahead, with mirrorless camera bodies available from the entry to the pro level. The Canon EOS R6 is aimed at the serious enthusiast who still wants pro-level features but in a more relatively affordable package. The R6 body may appeal to those who are buying into a ‘proper’ camera body for the first time. But there will also be a big chunk of the market who are coming from DSLR ownership and want…
Let’s dive in before I come up with some groan-worthy pun about the Elinchrom D-Lite RX 4/4 being a signature model for the early 90s dance group ‘Deee-Lite.’ The RX 4/4 is a self-contained lighting rig with two studio strobes, stands, softboxes, and a transmitter, which truly proves groove is in the heart. When it comes to the process of selecting all the bits needed for a studio lighting setup, the journey can become wearing. Elinchrom has simplified the process with this all-in-one kit and most importantly, it’s extremely affordable. With 400W of power available from each strobe and two…
Without diving into all the standout benefits of shooting through a prime lens, this type of glass can more than make up for the lack of zoom ability with their own zest of final image rendition. If you’re currently checking out the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED VR II, you may have come from the 70-200mm zoom camp or want this particular focal length for a specific need. Either way, Nikon has tried to cram in all the features and optics you would ever need at this focal length. Also, the lens has a wide aperture of f/2 and…
The usual course of action when first diving into interchangeable lens cameras is to purchase some sort of 50mm prime lens. Experience eventually tells you why this is a good happy medium option, as the 50mm focal length is great for everything from landscapes to quality portrait shots. If you’re on a budget or just starting out, the expensive options can seem like too much of a commitment. This is why the likes of the Yongnuo 50mm f/1.8 could be a good starting point. Yongnuo may not be the first lens makers you think of, but what the company is…
If you’re in the position of needing a decent camera solution for regular posting to Instagram, you’re not short of options. However, the best cameras for Instagram photos need a few prerequisites, like any other area of photography. Generally speaking, to get a regular flow of images onto the platform, a camera needs to be lightweight and portable, high resolution, have seamless connectivity, and not be too complicated to use. The big elephant in the room is of course the smartphone, which in the right hands can be very capable. These devices can cover the whole workflow from image capture…
When you start to get really serious about long-range photography, there’s nothing like owning a super-telephoto prime lens. There are zoom lenses out there that can cover the same focal length as a 500mm, but a prime lens will always give you that extra zap of quality. However, a 500mm prime is going to be large and heavy, and with so much glass contained inside, they tend to cost a pretty penny. One alternative solution is the Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX DG APO HSM, which isn’t exactly cheap, but is still far more cost-effective than camera brand versions. This Sigma…
The best point-and-shoot cameras for beginners should offer not only good automatic shooting modes but also a way to slowly ease you into fully manual workings. Generally, beginners want the thrill of being able to produce high-quality images without too much fuss. But once your skills and knowledge progress, you want to be more hands-on with all the settings. It is also arguable that the top range of cameras can be used in fully automatic mode. But these cameras can also look initially overwhelming, with all those dials and buttons. Therefore, we have brought you a mix of point-and-shoot cameras…
When it comes to choosing the best cameras for hiking, I keep hearing that “the best camera is the one you have with you”. I understand the premise, but it’s not that helpful for choosing the best option in the first place. It’s a bit like saying the best pair of pants are the ones you are currently wearing. This is why we are providing you a shortlist of the best thermal pants, sorry…cameras for hiking in a variety of conditions. The main prerequisites needed in a camera to cover outdoor shooting are decent levels of weather sealing, a camera…
The two operative words to take into consideration when choosing the best cameras for wildlife photography are wild and life. Gone are the niceties of a warm studio or street scene where you can quickly take a break by popping into the nearest coffee outlet. These are replaced with damp and possibly humid conditions, where you may have to lie down for hours at a time. Therefore, a few requisites are needed to capture the most skittish of wildlife. The first main choice is between the DLSR and mirrorless camera types, each having its pros and cons. DSLRs still provide…
It’s possible to argue that any camera can be used by a hobbyist. Mainly because, until you start earning from this art form, everybody is in the hobby category. This is being very loose with the terminology, but I’ve seen many times people with very deep pockets buy a high-end camera and manual lens without any clue of how to use the things. So, the best cameras for hobby photography really depend on your skill levels. You want something that can still produce fantastic results without overwhelming you. There’s also the matter of if you want a more compact solution…
An 85mm prime lens has always been a good solution for portrait shots, but the highest-quality versions have always been a bit pricey. This means that if you are on a limited budget and still want good image quality, you have to be more strategic with your choices. This is where the Meike 85mm f/1.8 comes into play, available at a very affordable price point. Like many things in life, you do eventually get what you pay for. But the Meike 85mm f/1.8 also squeezes out as much optical quality as possible in this price range. And if you read…
Kodak is a brand that has been around for quite a while. The company has been producing photography equipment in one form or another since the 1880s, most commonly known for its film stock, which is still replicated today. Kodak may not be as obviously popular as they once were, but their rich history of producing point-and-shoot cameras is still alive today. Therefore, we’re bringing you the best Kodak point-and-shoot cameras currently available. Ironically, you can still get hold of the old type of disposable film cameras, which for the price of a franchized coffee and muffin, can provide the…
There was a time in our long-distant past where the fashion was to own the smallest phone possible. These times are exemplified by the cellphone Derek Zoolander used in the first Zoolander movie, which is of course the best one ever made. But as we are living in reality, we still need our small smartphones to have a sizeable screen for checking social media and similar. So, no matter if your look is Magnum, Blue Steel, or Le Tigre, all the major smartphone manufacturers have downsized models, though not necessarily downsized features. 1. Apple iPhone SE Even the best hand…
Usually, when it comes to buying into a high-quality 70-200mm zoom lens, the first port of call is to check out the camera manufacturer offerings. But for the vast majority of us, price is always a big consideration, which is why the likes of the Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 will always be high up on the list. These third-party lenses don’t just provide great optical quality, but also have equal features to camera manufacturer versions at far more affordable price points. When you’re saving a good thousand dollars on a lens to gain very similar features,…
When you need a camera to perform all the heavy lifting in a relatively small package, the point-and-shoot solutions are worthy candidates. However, to really dig into the basic foundations of exposure you will eventually need to dive into manual mode. Rummaging through the details of the exposure triangle is beyond the scope of this article, but if you want this to be a long-term hobby, these factors are the foundation for every shot you will make. Thus the reason for bringing you the best point-and-shoot cameras with manual mode. The shortlist of cameras we bring you today will ease…
Most people know Sigma for its range of lenses, but if you dig a little deeper the company also produces a range of cameras, with today’s focus being on the Sigma fp. On the surface, it’s an unusual little camera that houses a full-frame sensor, is equally capable in both stills and video mode, and also has some features the competition probably wishes they had thought of earlier. The camera can take interchangeable L-mount lenses and, with an adapter, other lens types can be fitted such as Canon EF and Sigma SA lenses. As a high-quality solution that should be…
The best point-and-shoot cameras for low-light photography need a few essential ingredients. These include the obvious need for instantly correct exposures, a very good ISO range, and RAW file output. The point-and-shoot side of things should be covered so you can concentrate on the composition to happily snap away. Meanwhile, a high-sensitivity range means better low-light capabilities, with RAW files providing the best overall quality. However, high ISO levels can be both a positive and a negative. Positive in that a high ISO range will enable you to capture a scene in very low light without using artificial lighting. But…
Once you’ve been down the road of owning a bunch of prime lenses, you’re more likely to revel in the more obscure and specialist versions available. Common, highly touted, and pin-sharp primes are one thing, but there’s also an eagerness to find the lenses that produce their own individual character and look. One such lens is the Voigtländer APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/2, (which has no relation to German beer or a character from the Highlander movie). Instead, it is a high-quality 50mm prime, built specifically for the Sony platform. The Voigtländer will not be for everybody, especially being only available to…
Fujifilm decided early on to jump onto the mirrorless camera train. What set them apart was the decision to offer retro looks in both design and output. The designers took hints from classic rangefinder and SLR cameras, while the film simulation modes provided the picture look of old film stock. That’s our main reason today for checking out the best Fujifilm mirrorless cameras. It was clear from the start that Fujifilm was going to do things their own way when they offered only APS-C cameras, then, later on, jumped straight to medium format. The combination of classic old school design…
If you started off down your photography journey with a compact camera but now need something more substantial, there are lots of options on the market to choose from. When I was first tasked with finding the best Canon cameras for intermediate photographers, my cynical response was, it depends on how much cash you want to spend, end of story. However, I was given a virtual wrist slap, complete with face coverings, gloves, and other PPE, of course, and told to be far more informative. Budget is one factor in the equation, but it’s also about buying into a camera…
One of the nice side benefits of sitting squarely on the Sony camera platform is access to native ZEISS lenses. The relationship has been going on for many years, which means the average Sony user has a wealth of glass to choose from in many different focal lengths. To cover the slightly wide-angle side of things, today’s closer inspection will involve checking out the ZEISS Batis 25mm f/2. This lens is designed to cover the likes of landscapes and architectural work, while also providing a wider-than-normal standard view. The Batis 25mm f/2 is aimed at serious enthusiasts to professional shooters,…
There always seems to be a common route taken when working up to owning a long telephoto prime lens. The journey usually starts with some sort of cheap and cheerful zoom lens, which may get you to your chosen focal length, but doesn’t quite doodle do. We then eventually stumble across images taken with a high-quality, long prime lens and finally realize what all the fuss is about with the highest-quality versions. That’s why today we are diving into the workings of the Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports. There is just no replacement for a lens that provides…
A Speedlite, or Speedlight, depending on your spelling preferences, is an essential piece of kit for both studio and runaround photographers. Each camera manufacturer has their own set of Speedlites, which seamlessly work with their own systems. On the Canon side of things, the Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT brings radio transmission to the party, which means if you own two or more of these things, they can be remotely triggered without the need for additional kit. This point alone has been a saving grace for most Canon users, who in the past, using the likes of the 580EX II, would have…
Up until recently, the fastest Sigma 35mm prime lens for the general populace was the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art. Now, the company has come out with an even faster lens in the form of the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art. This huge chunk of glass is built specifically for the mirrorless format, geared toward the Sony users out there. But given enough time and lots of pleading on forum groups, we should hopefully see this lens being ported to other camera mounts in the near future. Judging from the reputation of the rest of the Sigma Art series, this…
One thing is for sure, when you need the best Canon cameras for everyday use, you’re not short on choice. There are a plethora of options out there from point-and-shoot solutions through the whole range of DSLRs, down to the latest mirrorless versions. If you only need to capture a few snaps on vacation, then a point-and-shoot solution is the ticket. The DLSR range runs from the enthusiast models up to the pro solutions. Then, there are the latest mirrorless models, such as the EOS R5, R6, and the still-very-capable EOS RP. As even the most basic of cameras these…
Huge telephoto lenses seem to always make other photographers envious. Before you start getting all Freudian about this point, large telephoto lenses do usually imply high quality, which is no different a point with the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8. For those times in life when you need to capture far-off wildlife, action shots, or fast-moving events, there’s nothing like the fast workings of a long telephoto zoom lens. This particular model is equally capable on crop sensor cameras, providing a 192-480mm viewpoint. This, when coupled with the rest of its features, could make the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports…
If you want to capture images of the smallest subjects in sumptuous detail, you either have to be best buds with Marvel’s Antman or own a high-quality macro lens. Today’s rundown is going to cover the best Sony macro lenses under $500, which will be a mission in itself as Sony sticks all their main macro lenses in the high price bracket bands. That’s not to say you can’t get a good-quality macro lens under $500. It just means that if you want one with Sony branding, the options are far fewer, which results in having to turn to third-party…
As people slowly discard their bulky DSLR cameras for the more svelte and lightweight mirrorless versions, you’d think all of the new breed can be used for travel purposes. In theory, any camera can be used as a travel imaging device if it’s not bolted to the ground. But for travel purposes, we generally want to move with the least mass possible and with a device that is still capable of very high resolution. Thus, our reason for digging into the best mirrorless cameras for travel. As with any camera choice, there are several options to choose from, so it…