Picking The Perfect Lens For Portraits

Several factors combine to make a lens perfect for portraiture—focal length, optical design and speed, in particular

Text & Photography By William Sawalich

Every focal length reproduces a subject differently. Picking the right lens is as crucial, if not more crucial, than your choice of lighting and backdrop. Editor’s Note: This piece first appeared in our Summer issue and reflects the products available at the time of publication. To see our coverage of new lenses, visit our News section. What makes... Read more

Pro Power From Apple

With a new high-power iMac and the upcoming iMac Pro, Apple recommits to the photographer

David Schloss

Apple iMac Pro Apple’s iMac began life as a purely consumer-level computer—blob-shaped and pointy, the revolutionary all-in-one computer was born out of a need for computing simplicity, not computing power. As computers gained more and more power, the iMac remained largely a product for families and small businesses. Computing power evolves rapidly,... Read more

An Incredibly Big Sigma Lens For Even Bigger Sensors

Photographers now have new class of a cameras that combine speed and resolution

Text & Photography DL Byron

Out shooting street with the 135 attached to an a7R Well, it just so happens I have a max-resolution lens in on demo that performs wonderfully on a first-gen a7R, and can’t wait to see what the Sigma 135mm F/1.8 DG HSM Art will do on the new Sony a7R III. I can only guess Sigma released the lens anticipating the sensors in the latest Sony, the Nikon... Read more

Guide To Lenses

Complete your new camera kit with these essential lenses

William Sawalich

A portrait lens, with good background defocus (often called “bokeh”), is an essential tool for any type of photography. Photo by David Schloss Editor’s Note: This piece first appeared in our Spring issue and reflects the products available at the time of publication. To see our coverage of new lenses, visit our Gear/Lenses and News sections. So... Read more

Hands-On Review: Benro Aero 7 Travel Video Tripod

Collapsible, portable and durable, this carbon-fiber tripod is ready to take on video projects—anywhere in the world

David Schloss

Video tripods have never been known to be particularly light or particularly portable due to their need to provide stability for heavy, delicate camera equipment. Big beefy legs, a large center column and a heavy video head are the hallmarks of most models. This poses a bit of a problem for the traveling videographer, the person who’s looking to take... Read more

We Got That Cooke Look

We shoot with the Cooke miniS4/i 32mm T2.8-22 on a Sony a7S II, and the results are amazing

DL Byron

Have you ever wondered what a one-off cinema lens from a legendary manufacturer looks like attached to a Sony a7S II? After visiting the Cooke Optics factory, we did, so we tried one out. The results were lovely and left us at times amazed by the dimensionality, smooth rendering and quality. A Cooke lens of this type, the miniS4/i 32mm T2.8-22, is normally... Read more

Hands-On Review: SKB Cases With Think Tank Photo Dividers

Rock-solid performance meets protection at an affordable price

David Schloss

The SKB Cases 31-2011-7DZ hard-shell case featuring Think Tank Photo dividers, part of the Flyer series, in use on a recent photo press event in Utah (also called the iSeries 2011-7 With Padded Divider at some retailers). The hard-shell case is the double-edged sword of the photographer’s arsenal—while it’s protective enough to take the abuse... Read more

MindShift Gear FirstLight 30L Hands-On Review

The outdoor enthusiast-friendly FirstLight is a perfect choice for the photographer on the go

David Schloss

MindShift Gear is a division of camera bag manufacturer Think Tank Photo that’s aimed at creating packs and gear with the outdoor enthusiast in mind. While most camera bags are intended for a working pro who’s transporting gear from location to location, the MindShift line is designed instead for the photographer engaging in activities and braving... Read more

iMac Pro, New iMacs And MacBook Pro Target Photo And Video Markets

Updates to the existing lineup and a preview of the iMac Pro renew Apple’s commitment to pros

David Schloss

The history of Apple is tied to that of the creative professional, after all, Apple is the company that ushered in the age of “desktop publishing” with the original Mac computers, and enabled digital photography and digital videography to blossom thanks to affordable, powerful high-end Macs. Apple’s history with professionals, though, has not... Read more

Hands-On Video Review: Manfrotto BeFree Live Tripod

A specialized version of the company’s BeFree tripod line, the BeFree Live includes a special dedicated video tripod head

David Schloss

The Manfrotto BeFree Live is a specialized version of the company’s BeFree tripod line, and it includes a special dedicated video tripod head. We like to take the BeFree Live with us on photo and video shoots because of the unique locking collar, which is only found on the BeFree Live model. With a simple twist of a dial, the head goes from completely... Read more

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