Verdict 4.3 stars The Fujifilm X-T1 is a terrific low-cost used choice that makes a great camera for photography students and enthusiasts today. Its traditional external exposure controls are perfect for re-discovering the lost art of exposure, and its excellent build quality and handling make it a very satisfying camera to use.
Reviews
Many of my reviews are published on Digital Camera World, but here are some more that might not make it on to the larger sites. I review cameras, lenses, camera bags, tripods and photo and video accessories of all kinds.
Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 Di III VXD review: a unique standard zoom alternative
Verdict: 4.5 stars The Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 Di III VXD might sound like an odd sort of crossover lens somewhere between a wide-angle zoom and a kit lens, but with a 2x zoom range that sounds distinctly limiting. However, that 2x zoom range offers more framing and perspective variation than you might expect, the constant f/2.8 maximum aperture is excellent at this price and the handling is smooth, light and sweet. I like it a lot.
Nikon D610 review in 2024: Nikon’s forgotten classic
Nikon D610 verdict: 4.6 stars The Nikon D610 is from what I consider the golden era of Nikons DSLRs. As a camera for regular stills photography it’s as good as any modern 24-megapixel full frame camera for image quality and offers a completely different – and refreshing – shooting experience. Its video features are pretty primitive, as you would expect, but that aside, this is a superbly made camera that is heavy, yes, but handles brilliantly. It’s also cruelly undervalued, even forgotten, as a used buy.
Fujifilm X30 review in 2024
Verdict: 4 stars I honestly consider this to be one of the best cameras Fujifilm has made. Is 12MP enough? That depends on you. I think that it probably is, and if you accept that then the X30 is not just a stunning little travel camera for its time, it still is today. Its specs are good, its design and handling are superb and while Fujifilm might have decided it wasn’t a camera people wanted any more, the used prices say otherwise! I will never sell mine.
Canon EOS 50D review in 2024: excellent design, exceptional value
Verdict: 4.1 stars The Canon EOS 50D was launched way back in 2008, so its sensor specifications are some way behind a modern camera’s, and yet its 15.1MP resolution is still perfectly usable today for any kind of online imagery and even mid-large size wall prints. This is a camera for stills photography not video, as you would expect from this era, but perhaps the biggest surprise is this camera’s design, build quality and finish, which you just don’t see in the enthusiast sector today.
SmallRig L-Shape Grip for Fujifilm X-T5 review
Verdict: 4.8 stars The SmallRig L-Shape Grip for Fujifilm X-T5 review isn’t expensive but feels well made and does make a big difference to the handling of the X-T5. It adds a much more substantial grip which also adds a valuable few millimetres in height, which contributes to a much nicer hold. The base includes a sideways-fit Arca Swiss slot for mounting directly on a tripod, and while there’s no L-bracket for vertical shooting, you do get a great little soft-touch shutter button.
Olympus PEN-F review in 2024
The Pen-F was a high-water mark for the PEN brand, with its beautiful design and construction and surprising practicality. Today, the lack of 4K video will be an obstacle for vloggers and hybrid shooters, but for stills photography it’s as effective now as when it was launched in 2016. All this is reflected in its scarcity and high used prices, however.
3 Legged Thing Pano Clamp review
Verdict: 4.5 stars The 3 Legged Thing Pano Clamp could transform the usefulness of your tripod head if you shoot video, panoramas or panning shots. It fixes one of the principal problems with ball heads by adding a panning axis above the ball, where you actually need it, rather than below the ball where makers always put it.
Joby Beamo Studio Creator Kit review
Verdict: 4.5 stars Joby makes a lot of content creation gear for new users or beginners on a budget. The quality and performance may not impress professionals, but Joby gear is typically easy to use, very effective and excellent value. This definitely applies to the Beamo Studio Creator Kit, which has impressed me more than any other Joby product.
3 Legged Thing Ultra plates review
Verdict: 4.5 stars These new 3 Legged Thing Ultra plates are brimming with fresh ideas and could be perfect for content creators shooting with multiple accessories or stills photographers looking for better balance with bigger lenses or extra flexibility for close-up work. I’m still getting my head around the possibilities. They provide a much more secure mounting point for lights, mics and external recorders than the camera’s hotshoe, and make a very interesting alternative to a camera cage for video.