SongRaw AF 85mm F1.2 MS Review

In August of 2026 I had never seen an 85mm F1.2 lens on Sony E-mount, but here in the middle of September 2026 I am testing not my first but second 85mm F1.2 lens available for E-mount (though I’m testing…

Sony FE 600mm F6.3 GM OSS Review

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard people request high performing telephoto prime lenses with smaller maximum apertures, smaller size, and smaller prices. Traditionally there has been a huge gap between telephoto zooms (typically costing $1000-3000) and the…

Sony FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS Review

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard people request high performing telephoto prime lenses with smaller maximum apertures, smaller size, and smaller prices. Traditionally there has been a huge gap between telephoto zooms (typically costing $1000-3000) and the…

Bluetti Elite 100 Mini Powerstation Review

The Bluetti Elite 100 Mini blends deep storage capacity (1004.8Wh) with a reasonable inverter (700W) in a unique, upright footprint that is 15% smaller and 7% lighter than Elite 100 V2. The Elite 100 V2 shares the storage capacity but…

Sigma 20-60mm F2.8-4 C Review

Sigma’s newest lens reminds me of a lot of classic lenses from “back in the day”.  No frills, but an exceptionally useful zoom range, useful maximum aperture, and a compact body that is easy to take everywhere.  Fujifilm shooters have…

Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | ART Review

Sony’s E-mount launched in 2010 for APS-C NEX cameras, and then expanded to support the a7 and a7R full frame cameras in 2013, and since that point, many armchair professionals on message boards and YouTube have pontificated on its limitations. …

Level8 Voyageur Suitcase Review

I’ve spent years reviewing camera gear, lenses, and accessories, but travel itself is a constant companion in this work. Long flights, multiple connections, and the inevitable luggage carousel scramble mean that the suitcase you choose matters almost as much as…

Thypoch Eureka 28mm F2.8 X-mount Review

Thypoch has been one of the more intriguing new lens makers out of China in large part because of their unconventional approach.  Viltrox has muscled onto the scene by sheer force of wills, standing up to the big brands and…

Tamron 12-20mm F2.8 FE Review

Tamron has proven to be the zoom king in the mirrorless era, releasing a number of popular and commercially successful zoom lenses for a variety of camera makes. They have released relatively few prime lenses (mostly leaving that space to…

Nikkor Z 85mm F1.8 S Review

I’ve noted over the years that Nikon’s marketing strategy at the typical prime focal lengths (35mm, 50mm, and 85mm) is a bit unconventional. In the past the usual strategy was entry level (F1.8), mid-tier (F1.4), and premium (F1.2) options. But…

Viltrox EVO 26mm F2.8 FE Review

Until this point, the Viltrox EVO series has been fairly predictable. The series has been a winning combination of compact size, rich features, excellent optics, and a reasonable price. Across the three full frame (35mm, 55mm, and 85mm) lenses and…

Sony RX10V Bridge Camera Review

Before I shot DSLRs, and then mirrorless, there were ‘bridge’ cameras. I used multiple bridge cameras because of the great appeal of having better image quality than a ‘point-and-shoot’ camera (and more telephoto reach) while not having to deal with…

7Artisans AF 135mm F1.8 Review

Just a couple of years the number of native 135mm lenses on Sony E, Nikon Z, and L-mount could be counted on one hand, but first Samyang (my review here), then Viltrox (my review here), and with a big splash,…

Sony α7RVI (a7R6) Review

The Sony a7RV was already one of the most complete high-resolution cameras on the market when it launched. It took the excellent 61MP sensor and refined nearly everything else—ergonomics, AF, video, buffer depth, and flexibility with MRAW options—into a truly…