It was basically a year ago that I reviewed the Laowa AF 180mm F4.5 1.5x Macro, which was the first of their hybrid autofocus/manual lenses. In the macro range, it was a manual focus lens with a traditional focus ring…
Several months ago Viltrox released the extremely popular full-frame 26mm F2.8 pancake lens (my review here). It was that lens that I was most reminded of while reviewing the new 7Artisans AF 18mm F2. This is essentially an APS-C version…
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…
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…
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…
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’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…
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. …
I did a review of the 7Artisans AF 135mm F1.8 just a few months ago. Little did I know at the time that it was the first of a new series of lenses that 7Artisans calls their MAX series. The…
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 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 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…
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…
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…
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…