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Latest by Daven Mathies

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What is depth of field? The secret to perfect backgrounds

Depth of field is a key aspect of image quality in DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, and mastering it is essential to getting the look you want in your images. Here's what you need to know to achieve tack sharp photos or beautiful background blur with your DSLR or mirrorless camera.
Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 review

Zoom, prime, wide, or telephoto? Here’s how to pick your next camera lens

Still shooting with just the kit lens that came with your DSLR or mirrorless? Your camera has tons of untapped potential in the world of interchangeable lens cameras. But buying a new lens introduces a confusing list of new terms -- we break it down in this guide on how to choose a camera lens.
GoPro Hero8 Black Review

GoPro Hero8 Black review: The best gets better

The Hero8 Black is a solid step forward for GoPro thanks to a new design with an integrated mount, improved user interface, and even better image stabilization. Plus, a new mod system will open up additional creative storytelling tools that take the Hero8 Black beyond its role as an action camera.
fujifilm instax sp 3 deal for amazon bh photo black friday share thumb

Instant film savings: Take $70 off on Fujifilm Instax SP-3 on Black Friday

From Black Friday through Cyber Monday, Fujifilm is offering discounts on a wide variety of Instax cameras and printers. The best deal is on the Share SP-3 printer which is down to under $110, but the Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic is also on sale for $120, $50 off.
what is iso button

What is ISO?

Have you ever wondered what the ISO setting on your camera is all about? It has to do with light sensitivity, and the ability to make adjustments can have a big impact on your photos, whether you're shooting in sunlight or at night with a digital or mirrorless camera. Here's everything you need to know.
Canon Rebel T7i review

Canon EOS Rebel T7 vs. Canon EOS Rebel T7i: One letter makes a big difference

Canon announced the new Rebel T7 in February 2018, but 2017's T7i is still the champ when it comes to beginner-friendly DSLRs -- and by a fair margin. Now discounted for Black Friday, here's everything you need to know about the differences between these two cameras.
Two GoPro Hero8 Black cameras.

GoPro Hero8 Black vs. GoPro Hero7 Black: Worth the upgrade?

GoPro's new Hero8 Black is here, but last year's Hero7 Black remains in the product lineup at reduced cost. Now for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, both models have received decent discounts making them even more attractive. But is the Hero8 worth it, or should you save a few bucks with the Hero7?
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The cardboard, all-mechanical Jollylook camera is a great gift for photographers

After a successful crowdfunding campaign two years ago, the Jollylook instant camera is now shipping. As a toy camera or a novelty, it makes a great gift for the photographer on your list. It shoots widely available Instax Mini film, produces a print in a just a couple of minutes, and costs just $69.
GoPro Hero 8 Black

GoPro Hero8 Black vs. DJI Osmo Action: Comparing two of the best action cams

The GoPro Hero8 Black and DJI Osmo Action are two of the best action cameras on the market. As similar as they are, they also have some key differences that could make either one the right choice for you. We put these two action cameras head to head to see how they measure up.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III camera top, on table.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III review: Still the camera to buy

It isn't perfect, but thanks to its lightweight design and capable performance, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is one of the best values in cameras today. From phone photographers looking for their first "real" camera to experienced enthusiasts who need good control in a compact body, it's hard to beat.
A GoPro Max on a tripod in the woods.

GoPro Max review: A smarter, easier-to-use 360 camera

360 still has some growing up to do, but the GoPro Max is a solid step forward for the format. While stitching and image quality don't take a giant leap forward, the Max offers a solid user experience and excellent mobile app.
Canary Flex review

Canary Flex review: Friendly yet futuristic

hasselblad x1d ii 50c review dm 2

Hasselblad X1D II 50C review

The Hasselblad X1D II 50C is a refinement, rather than a reinvention, of the original. The most impressive new feature is the price. At $5,750, it is thousands less than the X1D-50C and pushes into full-frame territory. But it might fall short of wooing photographers to medium format.
fujifilm x a7 review dm 8 in hand

Fujifilm X-A7 hands-on review: A classic in a modern world

The Fujifilm X-A7 replaces the X-A5 and brings big improvements to the autofocus and video modes. It also seeks to appeal to the smartphone generation while holding onto the old-school vibe that Fujifilm is known for. This hasn't quite paid off, but it's still a great little mirrorless camera.
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Canon’s new mirrorless lenses come with impressive specs — and high costs

The new RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM and 85mm f/1.2L IS USM DS bring unique designs not seen before in Canon lenses. The 70-200mm is smaller and lighter than its DSLR equivalent, while Defocus Smoothing on the 85mm creates better bokeh.
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The Fujifilm X-Pro3’s hidden LCD is an homage to film, but might be frustrating

The first thing you'll notice about the new X-Pro3 isn't what Fujifilm has added, but rather what it has appeared to remove. At first glance, it seems the street-photography-focused mirrorless camera has no rear LCD monitor, replaced instead with a small display that merely shows exposure information
photon light module system hands on featured

Photon Light Module System hands-on: Great for product pics

If this crowdfunded project becomes a reality, Etsy sellers and professional photographers will have a powerful new tool for product photography. The Photon Light Module System reimagines the classic light box as a set of modern, smart LED panels with individually controllable light sections.
Fujifilm GFX 100 review

Fujifilm GFX 100 review: Awesomely expensive

The 102-megapixel Fujifilm GFX 100 boasts the best image quality of any camera we've ever reviewed. New stabilization and focus systems make it more versatile and capable. But at $10,000, most photographers -- even pros -- are probably better off spending their money elsewhere.

How to download Instagram Stories on iOS, Android, and desktop

Curious about how to save someone's Instagram Story to your phone? Luckily for you, it can be done -- but it does take a few extra steps. Here's what you need to know to save Instagram Stories on both iOS and Android. Each requires a different app, but the steps are straightforward from there.
Netgear Arlo Pro 2 review

Arlo Pro 2 review

It may not be cheap, but the Arlo Pro 2 doesn’t cut any corners, making it the most versatile smart home camera we have ever tested yet. What's more, it has storage plans meet the needs of everyone from a small apartment renters to medium sized businesses, with support for up to 50 cameras.
Sensel Morph video editing overlay on desk.

For video editors, the Sensel Morph is what the Touch Bar wishes it was

The Sensel Morph is a multitouch, pressure-sensing accessory that looks like a giant trackpad, but place one of several rubber overlays on it and it turns into a bespoke keyboard for any number of different creative applications. It's a useful input device for any type of serious video editor.
iPhone 11 Pro

What is semantic rendering, and how it improves your iPhone 11’s camera

There's a lot to love about the new iPhones, but the upgrades to the cameras may be the most important. Ultra-wide lenses are great, but the real camera improvements are thanks to machine learning techniques, like semantic rendering, which can enhance human subjects separately from the rest of an image.
nikon z 85mm f1 8 s review f18 lens product 2

Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.8 S lens review

Nikon's first portrait lens for its full-frame mirrorless series proves f/1.8 is all you need for bokehlicious background blur. By taking a more conservative approach and avoiding the wider apertures the Z mount is capable of, Nikon delivers an affordable lens that also happens to be very sharp.
dji osmo mobile 3 review featured

DJI Osmo Mobile 3 review: Budget blockbuster

DJI's third-generation Osmo Mobile is better, easier, and even cheaper than its predecessors. If you shoot a lot of video on your phone, it's the best accessory you can add to improve the quality of your handheld footage, although it may not offer enough settings to keep power users happy.
built on a fast ssd lacies computer free backup drive just got much better lacie rugged 05

Built on a fast SSD, LaCie’s computer-free backup drive just got much better

LaCie's latest SSD drives turn up the speed on ruggedized, portable storage. The Rugged BOSS SSD offers battery-powered backups direct from memory cards without a computer, while the Rugged SSD and SSD Pro offer fast performance in palm-sized drives with IP67 dust and waterproof ratings.
lume cube phone sized led light panel hands on 1

The phone-sized Lume Cube LED panel is a powerful and pocketable video light

Lume Cube's newest light brings renewed form and function to the LED lighting category, with adjustable brightness and color temperature in a phone-sized panel that easily slips into your pocket. The $149 light includes a diffusion panel, shoe mount adapter, and velvet carrying pouch.
nikon d6 professional dslr first images teaser

Nikon gives us our first look at its upcoming D6 professional DSLR

Nikon is working on a new professional DSLR and telephoto zoom lens, both to be detailed later this year. We know nothing about them, but here are a couple of product photos Nikon released to whet your appetite for more news to come. We expect both products to be available for the 2020 Olympic Games.
Insta360 Go

Insta360 Go review: Everyday life becomes a (boring) movie

Weighing 20 grams and fitting easily into the palm of your hand, the Insta360 Go tries to breathe new life into the life-logging category. Combined with an easy-to-use mobile app that auto-edits vide-os with the help of AI, it could be the life-logging camera you use, but probably won't.
panasonic s1h first full frame 6k camera news lumix featured

Panasonic Lumix S1H camera will offer limitless 6K recording for $4,000

Panasonic's cinema-focused, full-frame camera will cost $4,000, but among hybrid mirrorless cameras, it looks like it will easily set the bar for video performance with features like 10-bit 60p recording that simply aren't found on competing brands. The S1H was detailed alongside a new 24-70mm f/2.8 lens.
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A photographer is shooting a 30-year time-lapse of NYC. Here’s how, and why

After 4 years and 4 million photos, photographer Joe DiGiovanna is just getting started on what he plans will be a 30-year time-lapse of the New York City. The project was inspired by his father's love of watching the sun set behind the skyline, and he hopes to grow it to include additional perspectives.
sandmarc hybrid fitler nd cpl for iphone filter

ND or polarizer? The Sandmarc Hybrid Filter for iPhone gives you both

Combining two standard filters into one, the Sandmarc Hybrid Filter gives phone photographers a simpler option when they need both neutral density and circular polarizers at the same time. The multicoated, metal frame filters come in a three-piece set with ND strengths of four, five, and six stops.
moment 37mm cine filters phone footage hollywood look filter 5

New cinema filters from Moment give your phone footage the Hollywood look

Moment's new line of polarizing and neutral density filters can be attached directly to the company's photo case via the new Filter Mount, without the need for an add-on lens, for those times when your phone's built-in lens is enough. The filters use cinema-grade glass and water-resistant coatings.
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Leica’s new 50mm lens will set you back $4,500, because Leica

Leica's newest lens uses an advanced optical design in a relatively compact form that promises sharp shots -- if you can afford it. When it comes to premium normal focal length primes, there are cheaper L-mount alternatives from Panasonic and Sigma -- but Leica fans probably don't care about those.
blackmagic design does it again pocket cinema camera 6k pcc6k header

6K for $2,495? Blackmagic Design does it again with the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K

With a new Super 35 sensor and 6K resolution in the new Blackmagic RAW format, the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K offers an easy upgrade path from the PCC4K. The 6K model uses the EF lens mount but leaves the rest of the body unchanged, including the excellent 5-inch touchscreen and less excellent LP-E6 battery.