If you’re using a microSD card for 4K or 5K video or other demanding use, speed matters. These are the results from my independent, real-world speed tests.
Latest
Canon R5 Mirrorless Camera Sample Images
Here’s a collection of sample photos I’ve taken with the Canon R5 mirrorless camera to give a sense of how it performs in everyday shooting conditions.
Zhiyun SMOOTH-XS Smartphone Gimbal and Stand Review
Jerky video footage isn’t fun for anyone. The Zhiyun SMOOTH-XS is a smartphone gimbal that smooths out video footage, provides convenient external controls, and also works as a stand for selfie shots.
Nikon D3500 Sample Photos
Here are some sample photos I’ve taken with a Nikon D3500 to give a sense of how it performs in real-world shooting conditions.
Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Zoom Lens Sample Images
Here are some sample images I’ve taken with the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens, a versatile zoom for Canon EOS R series mirrorless cameras.
How to Download Nikon D3500 Photos & Videos to a Computer
Here’s a rundown of how to download photos and videos from a Nikon D3500 to your computer.
Examples of the Zoom Range of the Canon 24-105mm F4 IS USM Zoom Lens
Here are some practical examples of the zoom range of the Canon 24-105mm ƒ/4 IS USM lens, a kit lens option with the Canon R5 mirrorless camera.
RAVPower PD Pioneer 65W 4-Port Desktop Charger (RP-PC136) | Review
The RAVPower PD Pioneer 65W 4-Port Desktop Charger (RP-PC136) offers a handy combination of tiny size and powerful and fast charging via PD USB-C and iSmart ports.
VAVA 12-in-1 Dual 4K Docking Station
The VAVA 12-in-1 Dual 4K Docking Station adds a lot of extra flexibility to your laptop, especially with dual HDMI outputs and an integrated SD and microSD card reader.
GoPro Tips
GoPro HERO9 Black Battery Recommendations
A rundown of the GoPro HERO9 Black batteries, chargers, and compatibility options.
GoPro HERO9 Black vs HERO8 Black
Here’s a detailed breakdown of how the GoPro HERO9 Black compares to the HERO8 Black.
How to Switch Between NTSC and PAL on the GoPro HERO9 Black
If you need to switch between NTSC and PAL video shooting modes on the HERO9 Black, it’s not quite as obvious how to do that as it could be. Here’s how to do it.
How to Change the Video Compression Codec on the GoPro HERO9 Black
The GoPro HERO9 Black has two video codecs available for recording video. Both of these produce files with an .mp4 extension. The difference is in how the video is compressed and encoded.
Protune Options of the GoPro HERO9 Black
Here are master lists of the Protune options available when shooting video and photos with the HERO9 Black.
GoPro HERO9 Black SD Card Recommendations
Not all SD cards will work well in the GoPro HERO9 Black. Here are some practical recommendations for which microSD cards are fast enough to keep up with the high-bitrate 100Mbps video recording and burst photo modes.
GoPro HERO9 Black Video Modes
GoPro has released their latest and greatest flagship action cam, the HERO9 Black. Here’s a rundown of the features and modes available when shooting video with it.
Taking Photos with the GoPro HERO9 Black
Here’s a rundown of the features and modes of the GoPro HERO9 Black for taking photos.
Reviews
Nikon Z7 Mirrorless Camera Sample Images
Here’s a collection of full-size sample images I’ve shot with the Nikon Z7 full-frame mirrorless camera.
Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S Zoom Lens Sample Images
Here’s a collection of photos I’ve taken recently with the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S zoom lens. All of these were shot on a Nikon Z7 body.
Review of the Ricoh GW-4 21mm Wide-Angle Conversion Lens for Ricoh GR III
Ricoh has made available a dedicated wide-angle conversion lens for the Ricoh GR III. It takes the standard 28mm lens to a wider 21mm. Here’s how it works and what it does in real-world terms.
Sony a7R IV Review
Sony has released a new version of their flagship full-frame mirrorless camera: the Sony a7R IV. After having been shooting with it quite a bit, here’s my take.
Sony a7R IV Sample Images
Here’s a collection of images shot with the Sony a7R IV full-frame mirrorless camera under different lighting conditions and with different settings to give a sense of how it performs in real-world shooting.
Sony FE 12-24mm F/4 G Ultra-Wide-Angle Zoom Lens Review
The Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G zoom lens has an ultra-wide perspective that adds a lot of drama and packs a lot of scene into the frame, but it manages to do it without the distracting parts that you often get at such extreme focal lengths.
Sony FE 12-24mm F/4 G Ultra-Wide-Angle Zoom Lens Sample Images
Sony’s FE 12-24mm F/4 G lens is an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens designed for their full-frame cameras. For an unusually wide lens, it’s remarkably true and sharp and doesn’t suffer from the usual optical flaws you’d expect.
Sony FE 24mm ƒ/1.4 GM Lens Review
The Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM is a high-end fast prime designed for Sony’s full-frame mirrorless cameras. Here’s my hands-on review.
Lightroom Tips
Best Lightroom Tutorials & Lightroom Classes for Online Learning
Whether you’re new to Lightroom or looking to dive deeper, here are some of the best places to find Lightroom tutorials, classes, and courses.
How to Filter by Image Orientation of Landscape, Portrait, or Square
If you need to filter out just the portrait (vertical), landscape (horizontal), or square images, you can use the Aspect Ratio filter criteria.
How to Change the Background Color of Single Images in Lightroom Classic
You can change the color of the space behind single images in Lightroom. That can be simply a matter of preference or used as a visualization tool
Can Aurora HDR 2019 Salvage Otherwise Unusable Photos?
HDR is traditionally all about the drama. But it doesn’t have to be all about overly saturated and uber dramatic images. The tone-mapping tools built into apps like Photomatix and Aurora HDR 2019 can be useful for making otherwise blah photos more interesting and perhaps salvaging them as keepers.
How to Change the Thumbnail Image for a Video in Lightroom
Changing the thumbnail image, or poster frame, used for videos in Lightroom can be a handy way to provide a more useful visual reference point when you’re trying to find the video you’re after. Here’s how to do it.
How to Trim Videos in Lightroom
Lightroom doesn’t have much in the way of editing tools when working with video files, but it does have the ability to trim the beginning or end of video clips.
How to Customize the Color Labels in Lightroom
Color labels are one of several useful workflow tools in Lightroom. And if you want to customize what text label is paired with which color, you can. Here’s how.
How to Switch between Landscape and Portrait Orientations When Cropping Images
Lightroom has a super quick way to switch between landscape and portrait orientations with the crop tool. Here’s how to do it.
USB and AC Charging on the Go: RAVPower RP-PB055 30000mAh 100W 3-Port Power House
The RAVPower 30000mAh 100W 3-Port Power House is a portable power outlet, with a large battery and even an AC port. So you can charge USB devices on the go as well as mobile devices that only charge via AC.
How to Connect a Nikon D5600 as a Webcam for Zoom Calls or Live Video Streaming
It is possible to use a Nikon D5600 as a webcam or for real-time capture to a computer. But it’s not quite as simple as just plugging your camera in with a USB cable. Here’s a guide on how to do it and what you’ll need to make it work.
How to Use a Nikon D3500 as a Webcam for Live Video Streaming
It is possible to use a Nikon D3500 as a webcam or for real-time capture to a computer. But you’ll have to manually reset the Live View every 30 minutes. And it’s not quite as simple as just plugging your camera in with a USB cable.
How to Recover Photos & Videos from a Memory Card with Disk Drill
Here’s a rundown of how to use Disk Drill to scan and recover photos and videos that have been accidentally deleted from your memory card.
Shooting in Sh*tty Light, by Lindsay Adler & Erik Valind | Book Review
This book will be of use to portrait, family, fashion, engagement, and wedding photographers shooting on location.
How to Find and Update a Nikon Z7’s Firmware Version
Keeping your camera’s firmware up-to-date gives you the benefit of the latest bug fixes and features. Here’s how to check the firmware version and update the firmware on the Nikon Z7.
Best Books on Macro Photography
I’ve been reviewing a bunch of books on macro photography. Here are my favorites so far.
Understanding Close-Up Photography, by Bryan Peterson | Book Review
This book is a great choice for amateur and enthusiast photographers looking to open up new photographic possibilities by getting in close.
The Garden Photography Workshop, by Andrea Jones | Book Review
Take a masterclass in garden photography as you tag along with a professional garden photographer as she works through the challenges and rewards while shooting a selection of beautiful gardens.
Close Up Photography in Nature, by John and Barbara Gerlach | Book Review
A comprehensive instructional book on techniques and technicalities of capturing photos of flowers and insects you might find in your garden.
Macro Photography for Gardeners and Nature Lovers, by Alan Detrick | Book Review
A review of Macro Photography for Gardeners and Nature Lovers: The Essential Guide to Digital Techniques, by Alan L. Detrick.
Best Online Photography Courses
Whether you’re looking to brush up, dive deeper, or learn a new photographic skill, here’s a roundup of some of the best online courses for photographers.
Photographing Flowers, by Harold Davis | Book Review
A review of the book Photographing Flowers: Exploring Macro Worlds, by Harold Davis.
How to Customize the Control Ring on the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S Zoom Lens
A guide to customizing the behavior of the control ring on the Nikon Z 24-70mm ƒ/4 S zoom lens.
Practical Examples of the Zoom Range of the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S Lens
Here are some practical examples of the zoom range of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, with side-by-side examples shot at 24mm and 70mm.
How to Use Step-Up & Step-Down Rings for Screw-in Lens Filters
If you don’t have a screw-in filter that’s the right size for your lens, step-up and step-down rings work as size adapters.
How to Remove a Lens Filter That’s Stuck
If you can’t get your lens filter off because it’s stuck, here are some things to try.
Quick Guide to Using Hugin Panorama Stitching Software
Here’s a quick guide to using the free Hugin panorama stitching software to create a basic high-resolution panorama from a sequence of individual images.
RAVPower 10,000mAh Power Bank
The RAVPower RP-PB186 10,000mAh powerbank packs a lot of battery juice and fast charging in to a small size.
The Basics of Screw-in Filters for Camera Lenses
Here’s a quick rundown on using some of the most common types of screw-in filters and considerations when using them.
How to Make Custom YouTube Thumbnails with Canva
A guide to creating custom YouTube thumbnails for your videos using Canva’s free account.
YouTube Thumbnail Size Guide
A up-to-date guide to the best YouTube thumbnail size, how to enable and upload custom thumbnails, and best practices.
RAVPower 20,000 Battery Pack
The RAVPower PD Pioneer 20000mAh 18W 3-Port Power Bank offers high power output for rapid charging via USB-C and a more precise percentage-based status indicator.
Nikon D3500 Questions & Answers
The answers to some common questions I’ve gotten from readers about the Nikon D3500 DSLR camera.
Photos Taken with a Sony FE 24mm ƒ/1.4 GM Wide-Angle Prime Lens
Here’s a collection of photos I’ve taken recently with the Sony FE 24mm ƒ/1.4 GM wide-angle prime lens on a Sony a7R IV body.
Sony a7R IV High ISO Image Samples
Here’s a collection of images shot at high ISOs on the Sony a7R IV, Sony’s flagship model with a new and improved 61MP sensor.
Photos Taken with the Sony RX100 VII Compact Camera
Here’s a sampling of photos I’ve taken with the Sony RX100 VII, the latest in Sony’s high-end compact camera line.
Sony RX100 VII High ISO Sample Images
Here’s a collection of images taken with the Sony RX100 VII at high ISOs to give a sense of how it performs in low-light conditions.
Which Color Space Should You Use When?
Color spaces and color profiles can get complicated and technical fast. But here are some simple, practical recommendations on which color space to use when shooting and sharing photos.
Sony RX100 VII ISO Range Examples
The high-end compact Sony RX100 VII camera has a relatively narrow ISO range from 64 through 12800. Here are some example shots showing what that means in real-world shooting.
Ricoh GR III ISO Range Examples
The Ricoh GR III has an ISO range from 100 to 102400. Here are some high-resolution practical examples of how that translates in real-world shooting.
Sony a7R IV ISO Range Sample Images
I’ve been out shooting with the brand-new Sony a7R IV, the full-frame flagship model in Sony’s mirrorless camera range. Here are some side-by-side examples taken through the ISO range from ISO 50 to ISO 102400.
Hands on with the RAVPower 6-Port USB Charger FileHub
In addition to handling the high-power fast-charging needs of today’s devices, the RAVPower 6-Port USB Charger FIleHub has a neat party trick up its sleeve.
Ultra Portable Backup Storage on the Go with the RAVPower External SSD
External SSDs have been getting smaller, with higher capacities, and cheaper. The new RAVPower Portable SSD is the smallest and most portable I’ve used yet.
Shooting Panoramas with the Sony RX100 VII
The Sony RX100 VII has a panorama mode. Here’s a rundown of what it does and how it works.
Sony RX100 VII Zoom Range
The Sony RX100 VII high-end compact camera has a 24-200mm optical zoom and two kinds of digital zoom that go beyond that. Here’s what each type does, along with practical examples.
The RAVPower FileHub is Like a Digital Swiss Army Knife for Traveling
The RAVPower FileHub is like a digital Swiss Army Knife, solving several connection and networking issues that you commonly run into when travelling.
Review of the HooToo 8-in-1 USB-C Hub
Modern laptops have been getting fewer and fewer ports. The HooToo 8-in-1 USB-C Hub adds several useful ports in a compact and portable package.
Lumix S1 Mirrorless Camera Review
Here’s my hands-on review of the Lumix S1, a new full-frame mirrorless camera from Panasonic.
Lumix S1 High ISO Range Side-by-Side Examples
Here are some side-by-side comparisons of the Lumix S1’s high ISO performance from ISO 3200 through ISO 204800.
