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.
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.
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.
Sony A7 II review in 2024
Verdict: 4.5 stars The Sony A7 II was launched back in November 2014, which is a long time ago in the fast-moving world of digital camera technology. Yet for everyday stills photography, not that much has changed. Its 24MP sensor is on a par with modern rivals, its hybrid AF system lacks AI subject recognition but is still fast and responsive, and while its burst speed is a modest 5fps and it doesn’t shoot 4K video, these are not things that everyone needs. As a general purpose stills camera, the A7 II still feels fresh and modern – and it’s so cheap it’s hard to believe Sony can afford to keep selling it.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 III review in 2023
Verdict: 4.5 stars The OM-D E-M1 III may have been superseded by the OM-1, but it runs it very close in so many areas that – depending on the type of photography you do – it could prove just as good. You can occasionally buy it new, but it’s most likely you’ll need to buy used. I bought my example in excellent condition from MPB at well under half the price of a new OM-1.
Nikon D800 review in 2023
Verdict: 4.5 stars The Nikon D800 is the first of Nikon’s full frame DSLR multi-megapixel monsters, but Nikon had been making cameras for decades up to this point, so there’s nothing unfinished or experimental about either its design or operation. This is a tough, durable, effective DSLR that captures still images of a resolution that only a handful of cameras surpass even today.