Tests & Reviews
Nikon Lens Filter Size Charts
If you’re looking to add screw-in filters to your Nikon lens, you’ll need to know the lens diameter to know which filters will fit. Sometimes it’s marked clearly on the lens itself; sometimes it’s not. Here’s my updated master list of the lens diameters of Nikon lenses, including Z-mount and F-mount, as well as older manual-focus lenses.
Nikon Lens Hood Compatibility Chart
Here are lens hood compatibility charts for Nikon lenses, including F-mount and Z-mount as well as older manual-focus lenses.
Fisheye Lens Photography: Types, Examples & Things to Know
Discover the distinctive look of fisheye lenses & how you can use them to create unique perspectives in your photos. Explore types, tips & top picks for different mounts.
Fastest SD Cards – Speed Test Results
After buying and testing dozens of SD cards, these are the fastest SD cards I’ve found so far. Updated regularly.
Fujifilm XF 8-16mm ƒ/2.8 Hands-on Test & Review
I’ve been out shooting with the Fujifilm XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR ultra wide-angle lens on the new Fujifilm X-T5. Here’s my take on it.
Leica X-U Waterproof Camera Hands-on Test & Review
Leica has a waterproof camera in their line: the Leica X-U. I recently had the chance to shoot with it for a few weeks on a trip to the Arctic. Here’s my hands-on review.
Sony a7R IV ISO Range Sample Images Test & Review
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.
Cloud Storage for Photographers
Storing and backing up photos isn’t the most exciting part of photography, but it is crucial. And a cloud-based solution is now a good option. But not every cloud storage service is a good fit. Here’s a roundup of some of the best cloud storage for photographers.
OM System OM-5 High ISO Tests with Sample Images
I’ve been testing out the Olympus OM-1 under some challenging lighting conditions. Here’s a selection of images I’ve shot with the OM-1 in low light conditions at high ISOs to give a sense of how it performs in real-world shooting conditions.
Olympus OM-1 High ISO Tests with Sample Images
I’ve been testing how the new Olympus OM-1 handles challenging lighting conditions. Here are some high-resolution photos I’ve shot with it at high ISOs to give a sense of how it performs in low-light conditions.
Olympus OM-1 Sample Images
I’ve been testing out the Olympus OM-1 mirrorless camera. Here’s a selection of photos I’ve taken with it to give a sense of how it performs under real-world everyday shooting conditions.
Fastest MicroSD Card Speed Tests
Need a fast microSD card? If you’re shooting 4K, 5K, or 8K video, high-speed burst-mode photos, or some other demanding use, speed matters. These are the results from my independent speed tests of the fastest microSD cards. Updated regularly.
Latest Updates
Manfrotto 190Go! M-Series Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod Hands-on Test & Review
The Manfrotto 190go! M-Series Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod is a 4-section tripod that’s rated for a load capacity of about 15 pounds, stands up to 58 inches tall, and weights under 3 pounds. Here’s my hands-on review.
Black Friday & Cyber Monday Photography Deals 2023
Here’s my running list of handpicked 2023 Black Friday and Cyber Monday photography deals on camera gear and photography services of interest to photographers.
Nikon Z7 II Memory Card Recommendations
The Nikon Z7 II has two memory cards slots. Here are some practical recommendations on which memory cards are good choices to take advantage of all of the camera’s features.
How to Create a Contact Sheet with Photoshop
Contact sheets are an old-fashioned idea going back to film days, but they can still be very useful. Here’s how to create one with Adobe Photoshop.
Sony a6700 Memory Card Recommendations
It’s not always easy to choose the right SD card for your camera, and the Sony a6700 has some particularly high-end features that demand a very fast SD card. Here are some practical recommendations on which SD cards are good choices for the a6700 in order to be able to use all of the camera’s features.
How to Use ImageMagick to Generate a Contact Sheet
Contact sheets might be old-fashioned, but they’re still very useful even with digital photography. And one of the many things that ImageMagick can do with photos is to assemble them into a contact sheet. Here’s how to do it.
How to Strip Out Metadata from Photos on Mac
There are several options for removing image metadata for privacy on Mac, from standalone apps to highly versatile command-line tools. Here’s a rundown of some of the best options.
How to Remove Metadata from Images on Mac with ExifTool
Digital images are often loaded with metadata that contains information you might want to share. If you find that you often need to strip out metadata from images, the free command-line tool ExifTool is a powerful option for it.
SD vs. SDHC vs. SDXC vs. SDUC Memory Cards
These days, SD is shorthand for the entire category and form factor. But there are actual several categories of SD cards that are important when it comes to choosing the right type for your camera. Here’s an explanation of what they are and what to look for.
Fujifilm X-S20 Memory Card Recommendations
It’s not easy to know which is the right type of SD card for your camera. There are a lot of confusing codes and marketing hype to cut through. So here are my practical recommendations on good choices for the Fujifilm X-S20.
How to Enable Back Button Focus on the Nikon Z8
By default, the Nikon Z8 can auto focus with either a shutter half press or the AF-ON button. If you prefer, you can set it to use ONLY the AF-ON button.
Sony Lens Hood Compatibility Chart
If you’re after a replacement or spare lens hood for your Sony lens, here are the part numbers to look for. Updated with the latest Sony lenses.
Canon EOS R10 Memory Card Recommendations
It’s not easy to know which is the right type of SD card for your camera. Here are my practical recommendations on good choices for the Canon EOS R10.
SmallRig EN-EL15C USB-C Battery for Nikon Cameras (Including the Nikon Z8)
I’ve tested various aftermarket EN-EL15C replacement batteries for the Nikon Z8, but had trouble finding a compatible option. However, this one not only works but also offers an additional useful feature.
How to Get Video Output from the Ricoh GR III
If you’re shooting with a Ricoh GR III and wanting to get video output directly from he camera, here’s how to do it.
How to Reset the Ricoh GR III
If you’ve been changing settings on your Ricoh GR III and want to restore the default settings, or maybe you’re lending the camera to someone, here’s how to reset the settings.
Photo WorkfLow
How to View Image Metadata with ExifTool on Mac
Displaying all the metadata of an image is ExifTool’s bread and butter operation, and yet it’s also where ExifTool really shines. Here are several ways to use it.
How to Install ExifTool on Mac
ExifTool is the gold standard for viewing and workign with image metadata. Here’s how to install it on Mac.
How to Create a Drop Folder on Mac to Automatically Convert HEIC to JPG
Combining Mac Folder Actions and ImageMagick, you can create a drop folder to automatically convert any images dropped into it from HEIC to JPG.
How to Navigate to Specific Folders in Terminal on Mac
Many of the guides I’ve posted here for working with images from command line tools assume you’ve navigated to the folder holding the images. Here’s how to do that.
How to Convert JPG to AVIF Format in ImageMagick on Mac
ImageMagick is a very useful suite of tools for working with image files. While its command-line interface can be a bit intimidating at first, there are some real benefits to using it as part of a photography workflow. Here’s how to use it to convert images to AVIF for use on websites.
How to Install ImageMagick on Mac
ImageMagick can be a very powerful and efficient tool in a photography workflow. And while it might seem intimidating to use command-line tools through Terminal at first, it really is pretty straightforward. It doesn’t come pre-installed on Mac. Here’s a guide to installing it using the wonderfully helpful Homebrew package manager.
How to Use ImageMagick to Convert Images to WebP on Mac
If you have to convert a bunch of images to WebP or set up automatic conversion on your Mac, ImageMagick is a great option. Here’s how to set it up for batch conversion to WebP or watched folders for automatic converting.
How to Strip Metadata from Images Using ImageMagick on Mac
If you want to remove any identifying metadata information from your photos before posting them online, ImageMagick offers a quick and easy way to do it. It’s especially good when paired with macOS Folder Actions to do it automatically when you drop photos into a designated folder.
How to Use macOS SIPS to Batch & Automatically Convert HEIC Files to JPG
While there are many ways to convert HEIC to JPG, the SIPS tool that’s built into macOS offers some useful benefits when it comes to batch processing and automatically converting from watched folders.
How to Use macOS SIPS to Batch Resize Images
There are many ways to resize images. On Mac, SIPS is an especially good option for working with large batches of images. It’s a free command-line tool that’s baked into macOS.
How to Restore Your Custom Recipes When Upgrading from Google’s version of Nik Collection to DxO Nik Collection
When you upgrade from Google’s version of Nik Collection to DxO’s new version, it doesn’t bring your old custom recipes along. Here’s where I found them and restored them on Mac.
How to Resize Wordpress Thumbnails
If you change your Wordpress theme or even just tweak the layout of your existing theme, you might need to change the size of your thumbnails. Here’s how to do it.
Basics.Photography
Venus Optics Laowa Lens Codes
Laowa lenss use various codes in their names to denote compatibility or particular features. Here’s how to make sense of them.
What Does It Mean When a Lens Has an Aperture Range Like ƒ/4.5-6.3 in its Name?
Some zoom lenses have an aperture range like ƒ/4.5-6.3 in their names. Here’s what that means.
Rokinon Lens Codes
The names of Rokinon lenses include special codes to indicate compatibility and features. Here’s how to make sense of them.
What is a Fast Lens?
Get to grips with fast lenses–what they are, how they work and why they’re so popular among photographers. Learn what defines a fast lens, the benefits of shooting with one, and good lenses to start with. Plus, discover some lens gotchas to watch out for.
Sony Lens Codes Explained
Sony uses a bunch of confusing codes in naming their camera lenses. Here’s how to make sense of them.
Pentax Lens Codes Guide
Pentax has used a bunch of codes in naming their camera lenses over the years. So what do they all mean? Here’s a guide.
What is a Prime Lens?
You might have heard recommendations that if you want the fastest and sharpest lenses you should use prime lenses. So what is a prime lens?
What is the Sunny 16 Rule?
If you’ve ever seen mention of the Sunny 16 Rule and wondered what it means, here’s an explanation.
How to Batch Convert JPG to AVIF Format with BatchPhoto
There aren’t many user-friendly options for converting JPG images to AVIF yet. But BatchPhoto can do it. Here’s a guide.
What are Series-Size Filters?
You don’t come across series-size filters much anymore, but if you’re using a vintage manual-focus lens, you might run into them.
Identifying Kodak 35mm & 120/220 Film Stock from Edgeprint Codes
Here are the edgeprint codes Kodak uses for 35mm (135) and medium-format (120/220) film stock, including black and white, color negative, and color transparency films.
Zeiss Lens Codes Guide
Zeiss uses a bunch of codes and distinctive names n naming their camera lenses over the years. So what do they all mean? Here’s a guide.
