If you're using a microSD card for 4K video or other demanding use, speed matters. These are the results from my independent, real-world speed tests.
Latest
Hands On with the LensBaby SOL 45
LensBaby have released a new model in their range of special effects lenses. This one, the SOL 45, has a focal length of 45mm and combines selective focus and tilting. Here's my review and some photos taken with it.
Which Battery to Get for the Sony RX0
Battery life isn't one of the Sony RX0's strengths. Whether you're looking for spares, a replacement battery, or external chargers, here's a rundown of the options.
Photos Taken with a Sony RX0 Camera
The Sony RX0 is tiny and looks like an action camera that's built for shooting video, but it's a surprisingly capable stills camera as well. Here are some example photos I've taken with it to give a sense of its real-world performance.
Sony RX0 Camera Hands-on Review
The Sony RX0 is tiny, rugged, and waterproof. But while it might look like Sony's answer to GoPro, it packs a surprising amount of high-end features and power.
A Grip, Table-Top Tripod, and Shutter Release for the Sony RX0 Camera
The Sony RX0 is compatible with just about any grip that folds out to a table-top tripod. But Sony makes one that adds a built in shutter release.
Hands on with the Spivo Flexible Tripod
Traditional travel tripods are straight and stiff--the stiffer the better. But these small portable tripods take an unconventional approach in being bendy.
Shooting Photos at High ISOs with the Sony RX0 Miniature Camera
The Sony RX0 is a tiny but surprisingly powerful camera. Here's what I've found when shooting photos with it in the ISO 3200 to ISO 12800 range.
Hands-on Review of the FujiFilm Finepix XP130 Waterproof Camera
Here's my hands-on review of FujiFilm's XP130 waterproof camera, an affordably priced go-anywhere waterproof compact camera.
GoPro Tips
Shooting Video with the GoPro HERO7 Silver: Resolutions, Framerates, and Features
The GoPro HERO7 Silver is the middle model in the three cameras in the new HERO7 range. Here's a detailed rundown of its video features and options.
Shooting Video with the GoPro HERO7 White: Video Modes, Resolutions, Framerates, and Features
Here's a rundown of the various features and options available when shooting video with the GoPro HERO7 White.
Best SD Cards for GoPro HERO7 Cameras
Here are some practical recommendations on which SD cards to get for the GoPro HERO7 Black, Silver, and White action cameras.
How to Open GoPro RAW (.gpr) Image Files Without Lightroom or Photoshop
How can you work with GoPro RAW format .gpr image files without using Lightroom or Photoshop? Here's a quick guide for a free option.
Putting Your GoPro in a Life Vest with a Bodhi Floaty Case
GoPros don't float by themselves. So if you let it go or it gets knocked loose unintentionally, you'll need to add something to prevent it from sinking straight to the bottom.
How to Find a GoPro's MAC Address
Here's a quick guide to finding your GoPro's MAC address.
How to Download Files Off a GoPro's Memory Card Without Touching the Camera
There are some shooting situations where you might want to get the files off a GoPro's memory card without touching the camera. Here are some good options.
How to Charge a GoPro Fusion
While charging GoPro batteries isn't complicated, the specific options vary from camera to camera. Here's a rundown of the charging and battery options for the GoPro Fusion.
Reviews
Hands-on Review of the Sony FE 16-35mm ƒ/2.8 GM Lens
I've been shooting with the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM zoom lens on a Sony a7 iii full-frame mirrorless camera. Here's my hands-on review.
Sample Photos Taken with a Sony a7iii
Here are some sample photos I've taken with the Sony a7iii mirrorless camera to give a sense of how it performs under real-world shooting conditions.
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Lens | Sample Images
A collection of high-resolution sample photos taken with the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM E-Mount Lens designed for Sony full-frame cameras.
Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM E-Mount Lens | Sample Images
A collection of photos taken with the Sony FE 16-35mm ƒ/2.8 GM lens to give a sense of how it performs in real-world shooting conditions.
Sony a7iii High ISO Sample Images
The cameras in Sony's Alpha range are well-known for their superb sensors. I've been shooting with the latest model, the Sony a7iii, at high ISOs to find out how well it performs in real-world shooting in low-light conditions at high ISOs. Here are the results and some examples.
Photos Taken with a Sony Distagon T* 35mm ƒ/1.4 ZA Lens
Here's a selection of sample images I've taken with the Sony 35mm ƒ/1.4 ZA lens, one of Sony's high-end E-mount prime lenses.
Photos Taken with a Sony 50mm ƒ/1.4 ZA Prime Lens on a Sony a7 iii
The Sony 50mm ƒ/1.4 ZA lens is one of Sony's high-end lenses. On full-frame sensors it offers a normal perspective and is especially good for low-light and selective focus shooting. Here are some sample photos I've taken with it.
How Useful are the Fujifilm X-T2's High ISO Settings in Real-World Shooting?
Wondering how useful the Fujifilm X-T2's high-ISO settings are that go all the way up to ISO 51200? I shot some images to find out.
Lightroom Tips
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 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.
How to Convert the GPS Coordinates in Lightroom's Map Module to Decimal Format
Lightroom's map module uses GPS coordinates in the degrees, minutes, and seconds format. If you need them in decimal degree format, here's a quick way to convert them.
How to Save a Single Frame from a Video as a JPG Using Lightroom
If you're looking to extract a single frame from a video and save it as a JPG, here's how to do it in Lightroom.
How to Enable the Publish Services Panel If It's Hidden
Here's how to enable the Publish Services, Catalog, Folders, or Collections panels in the Library module if they're not visible.
Best Waterproof Cameras for the Beach Under $200
If you're heading to a beach vacation this summer, here are some of my ideas for the best waterproof cameras under $200.
Using Burst Modes on FujiFilm Finepix XP120 & XP130 Waterproof Cameras
The FujiFilm Finepix XP120 and XP130 adventure cameras have a number of burst shooting modes available for capturing fast-moving action, but it's not necessarily self-evident what they do. So here's a rundown.
Silent Shooting with the Sony a7iii
Some cameras say they have a silent shutter, but when you go to use it they turn out to just have a very quiet shutter. I've been pleasantly surprised that the one on the Sony a7iii really is silent. Here's how to set it up.
Sigma 105mm ƒ/2.8 Macro Sample Images
A selection of sample images I've shot with the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM macro prime lens.
How to Enable the Fujifilm X-T2's Maximum ISO Settings
How to access all of the extended ISO settings on the Fujifilm X-T2 isn't really self-evident. That's because you need to customize one of the settings. Here's how to do it.
How Useful are the Sony a7r iii's High ISO Settings in Real-World Shooting?
How useful are the Sony a7r iii's high-ISO settings that go all the way up to ISO 102400? I shot some images to find out.
Sony a7r iii Sample Images: ISO Range
The Sony a7r iii has a well-earned reputation for boasting an extraordinarily good sensor, and it has an ISO range from 50 up through 102400. I shot some real-world examples through the ISO range to see how the ISO settings compare side by side.
How to Lock the ISO and Shutter Speed Dials on the Fujifilm X-T2
Locking the X-T2's ISO and shutter speed dials is very simple, but the lock works slightly differently to other cameras I've used. Here's how to do it.
How to Set the Sony a7r iii to Automatically Switch to Memory Card Slot 2 when Slot 1 is Full
By default, the Sony a7r iii doesn't automatically switch to memory card slot 2 when the card in slot 1 is full. So if you're getting an error message that there's no space on the memory card and it's not automatically switching to the card in slot 2, here's how to change that.
Fujifilm X-T2 ISO Range Sample Images
The Fujifilm X-T2 has an ISO range from 100 to 51200. Here's a collection of sample images shot across the full ISO range to give an idea of how to performs in real-world shooting.
Hands-on with the Fujifilm X-Pro2 Mirrorless Camera
The Fujifilm X-Pro2 might not have all the bells and whistles of some other mirrorless cameras out there, but it excels at refined shooting pleasure.
Manfrotto 190Go! M-Series Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod | 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.
Sirui W-2204 Waterproof Carbon Fiber Tripod | Hands-on Review
The Sirui W-2204 carbon fiber tripod has a distinctive feature: it's waterproof. A happy side-effect of that is that it's also protected against sand and grit.
How to Format a Memory Card in the Sony a6000
A guide on how to format memory cards in the Sony a6000 camera to free up space and to prepare the memory card just the way the camera wants it.
Sony Alpha a6000 Memory Card Recommendations
In some shooting modes, the Sony a6000 can be picky about what memory card you put into it. Here are some recommendations for which memory cards work best in the a6000.
How to Export a Single Frame as a JPG from Premiere Pro
There are two methods for exporting an individual frame from a Premiere Pro project. One is quick and simple but doesn't give you much control. The other involves more steps but gives you more control over things like size and compression amount.
How to Find an Instagram Location ID
Here's the quick way to find Instagram's location ID for any given place. This is useful for some plugins or feeds that can use location ID as a filter.
Review of the Formatt Hitech Firecrest Patrick Di Fruscia 100mm Signature Edition Pro Essentials Kit with 100mm Firecrest Filter Holder
Here's my hands-on review of the Formatt Hitech 100mm filter kit (Di Fruscia Signature Edition), which includes a holder, 3-stop ND filter, a graduated ND filter, and a polarizing filter.
WD My Passport Wireless Pro Hands-on Review
The WD MyPassport Wireless Pro combines an SD memory card reader, an internal hard drive, and a rechargeable battery into a pack-friendly device for backing up photos from a memory card while traveling.
Nikon D3400 High ISO Image Samples
A collection of images taken across the Nikon D3400's ISO range (ISO 100 through ISO 25600) to provide examples of the D3400's high-ISO performance.
Nikon D7200 Memory Card Recommendations
Here are some practical recommendations for SD cards that work well in the Nikon D7200, focusing on cards that are fast enough, reliable, cost-effective, and readily available.
Spare Battery and Charger Options for the Nikon D7500
A rundown of some of the best options for replacement EN-EL15a batteries for the Nikon D7500.
Photos Taken with a Nikon D7500 DSLR
A collection of sample images I've shot with the D7500 to give a sense of how it performs under real-world shooting conditions.
How to Make Your Twitter Photos Accessible to Visually Impaired Users by Adding Image Descriptions
Twitter has a built-in way to make your photos accessible to visually impaired users by adding image descriptions. Here's how to enable and use the feature.
Nikon D7500 High-ISO Examples
To give a sense of the Nikon D7500's high-ISO performance, I've put together a some example photos shot at a range of ISO settings.
How Do You Change the ISO on a Nikon D7500?
A guide to changing the ISO on a Nikon D7500, including an explanation of the D7500's Auto ISO feature.
Keeping Out the Wrong Kind of Light
We expect light to come in the front of the camera. Shooting with the lens cap on doesn't tend to work so well. But we don't always expect it to come in the back. Here's a real-world example of light leak through the viewfinder.
How to Use the Nikon D7500's Virtual Horizon Tools
The Nikon D7500 has built-in virtual horizon tools that provide a more precise alternative to the old-fashioned bubble level method of making sure you're shooting level. Here's how to use the three different versions of it.
Photos Taken with a Nikon 24mm f/1.4G ED Lens | Sample Images
If I had to pick one lens to take with me to the ends of the earth, it would be this one: Nikon's 24mm ƒ/1.4G. Here are some example photos I've shot with it.
Recommended Memory Cards for the Nikon D7100
Here are some practical recommendations for SD cards that work well in the Nikon D7200, focusing on cards that are fast enough, reliable, cost-effective, and readily available.
How to Extract Preview JPGs from RAW Files
If you're looking to extract the JPG preview that's embedded in a RAW image file, here are two free apps that can help.
How Do You Change the ISO on a Nikon D3400?
A quick guide to changing the ISO light sensitivity on a Nikon D3400, including an explanation of the Auto ISO feature.
Photos Taken with a Ricoh WG-50 Waterproof Camera
A collection of sample images taken with a Ricoh WG-50 waterproof camera under various conditions and with different kinds of scenes.
How to Format a Memory Card in the Olympus TG-5
The Olympus TG-5 has an extra feature when it comes to formatting your memory card to free up space. Here's a rundown of the difference between the Erase All and Format options.
Hands-on Review of the Mevo Plus Pocket-Sized Live-Streaming Video Studio
Need to stream some live video but don't want to mess with the complications or expense that usually comes with doing that? The Mevo Plus is like having a basic TV studio in your pocket.
Ricoh WG-50 Waterproof Camera | Hands-on Review
The Ricoh WG-50 camera is a waterproof compact camera that's designed to be adventure proof. Here's my hands-on review after shooting with it for a while.
Induro Stealth Carbon Fiber Hi-Hats / Induro Baby Grand Tripods
The Induro Baby Grand Tripods aren't your typical travel tripods. Truth be told, they're not really travel tripods at all. But if you can settle for something very short, they're extremely solid and portable.
Video Modes of the Garmin VIRB Ultra 30
Here's a rundown of the various video modes available on the VIRB Ultra 30.
Extraordinary Everyday Photography, by Brenda Tharp & Jed Manwaring | Book Review
The authors of this book encourage you to apply fresh eyes to the world close to home to capture creative photos and ultimately become a better photographer.
Photos Taken with a Fujifilm X-Pro2 with a 23mm f/2 Lens
A selection of images I've taken with a Fujifilm X-Pro2 with a 23mm f/2 Lens to give a sense of how it performs under real-world shooting conditions.