Here are the Canon RF lenses I have bought with my own money, for my own work as a travel photographer, photography writer and camera and lens tester. Canon’s exotic L-series lenses might be the stuff of dreams, but when it comes to parting with my own cash, I find common sense starts to take over.
Guides
These guides are for anyone trying to figure out which products they need and what to look for. They explain the key features of tripods, camera bags and other camera gear, why they're useful and what kind of photographers will find them most useful.
Which are the best cameras for manual exposure?
While all mirrorless cameras and DSLRs offer manual exposure controls, and some higher-end compact cameras too, they don’t all make it easy. So this guide is designed to highlight some of the camera features and designs you should look for if you want to reconnect with manual exposure techniques.
The three best beginner DSLRs you can still buy new
DSLRs still have a lot to offer compared to mirrorless cameras, especially for someone who is more interested in photography than video. Starter DSLRs are cheap to buy, easy to handle and easier to understand than most hybrid mirrorless cameras. The battery life is longer and there are large numbers of good-value DSLR lenses to choose from, both new and on the used market.
Manual photography: Why shoot manual at all?
Digital cameras have had auto-exposure and autofocus for so long now that a whole new generation of photographers may never have used manual controls, and an older generation of photographers raised on manual cameras may have abandoned these controls long ago in favor of labor-saving automation. But even today, all DSLR and mirrorless cameras, and many high-end compacts, still offer manual control. Why? And is it still worth shooting in manual when autofocus and auto-exposure are so much easier and quicker?
Which Fujifilm camera is best?
With the launch of the Fujifilm X-E5, Fujifilm has restored one of its most popular camera lines, but how does this new camera fit into the existing Fujifilm camera range, and which one is the best to get now?
My top 10 best used cameras to buy today: and I’ve owned all of them
This is not an exhaustive list! There are still lots of older cameras I will try to get hold of when good ones become available and funds permit. This list is of cameras I own right now or have owned, and which I think are particularly interesting buys. I happen to think that some of the best cameras have already been made, and that the new cameras now being released are not necessarily better than the ones we already had and which have now passed into history.
Best medium format cameras for full frame upgraders
This is not a buying guide to the best medium format cameras at all levels. It does not include high-end modular systems from Hasselblad and Phase One. It covers a new generation of much more affordable medium format cameras designed for portability and handheld use, and higher-quality and perhaps more desirable alternatives to full frame cameras.
This is not a shotgun mic
It’s an easy mistake to make because of the shape. This is a RØDE VideoMic GO II which is designed to be used on or off-camera and when you remove the foam cover you can see it’s a short metal tube. It looks a lot like a RØDE shotgun mic like the NTG series, just a little shorter. But it’s not a shotgun mic.
How to choose a tripod
Every photographer (and videographer) needs a tripod sooner or later. There are always some shots that need a tripod, whether it’s for long exposures, stable video clips or just as an extra pair of hands while you organize props, swap accessories or film yourself talking to the camera. But there are hundreds on the market, so how do you choose which type to get and what features should you look for?
How to choose a camera bag
You’ll need a bag for your camera kit, but what type should you choose and what should you look for? Here’s a list of bag types, from the smallest to the largest, followed by some tips on useful features. Holster bag These are the smallest and they’re designed to hold a single camera with a […]