Now that Canon has released the R1 and Sony has updated its a1 II platform, the Nikon Z9 has stiff competition. The title of "flagship camera" represents the pinnacle of each company's technological abilities and becomes the outward face of that company for all to judge. Should a flagship camera be able to handle anything that is thrown at it? And is there such a thing as a "best" right now?
I wanted to love this camera so desperately. When I first looked at the X-M5, I was won over by its handsome design and compact nature. And the world needs more stylish little cameras like this, which are within the reach of most people’s budgets. However, we might lose too much to make this lower $799 price possible. Most of the technical specs and features were covered in a previous video and subsequent article, but I want to focus on the make-or-break features today.
I’m an outlier in the photo world, especially regarding glass. I dislike the 35mm focal length, and as much as I love a good 24mm lens, a 28mm lens is even better. Maybe this is why I immediately gravitated to the quirky Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 zoom when it first came out. Despite its massive form factor, this bulbous gem of a lens quickly became a favorite of mine.
The original Sony a1 is one of the most capable, advanced, and expensive flagship cameras ever. When it first came out, it wowed potential buyers with a fast-scanning 50-megapixel sensor without major rolling shutter issues while offering fast burst rates. It has been almost four years since then, and now we have a version II from Sony in our hands. Does the apple fall far enough from the tree to make it worth the $6,500 cost?
The Xiaomi 14T Pro is a smartphone that takes better photos than the price indicates, pushing this device into something performative between mid-range and flagship territory. Xiaomi’s T Series continues to mature, and the partnership with Leica is a driving factor.
My first experience with the Canon EOS R1 was in the sweltering heat of Phoenix, Arizona with a pre-production unit. There is of course, only so much that you can test with a pre-production unit under predefined conditions.
Light Lens Lab (LLL) has released a re-creation of Leica’s first generation 28mm f2.8 Elmarit lens introduced in 1965. The Leica lens has become a collector's item known as the 28mm 9 Element. It contains nine spherical surfaced lenses in six groups and the fast f2.8 aperture was a significant improvement from the Summaron f5.6 lens that preceded it. If you can find an original Leica 28mm 9 Element (V1) lens on eBay, prices range from $8,000 to more than $15,000.
Small drones aren’t a new concept, but when they’re dependable in creating content, they change perceptions, which describes the DJI Neo in a nutshell. As much as DJI has captured so much of the consumer drone market, the Neo also feels like a response to what others have done.
Tamron has been in the lens-making business for decades and was initially known for making affordable optics if not always professional-grade optics. Many enthusiasts flocked to Tamron super-zooms for the inherent convenience and low cost that they represented. However, there is a focal length that gained legendary status amongst amateurs and professionals alike and the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro found its way into even the most discerning camera bags.
The latest-generation Mac mini sports a fresh and improved design and Apple's newest M4-series processors. The facelift and performance bump close the gap between the Mac mini and Apple's fantastic Mac Studio desktop in multiple ways, making the new Mac mini an extremely compelling choice for photographers and video editors alike.
Apple has steadily been improving the performance of its M-series chip generation over generation and if you're just comparing results versus the previous iteration, "steadily" would be the key word. However, with M4 Max, Apple is showing a notable jump in performance, especially for video editors.
Nikon's Z50 II is a long time coming. Although the Nikon Z50 II is -- by Nikon's own admission -- aimed at beginner photographers moving up from smartphones, the first thing you notice is just how capable this basic camera design is for serious photography.
In recent years, Venus Optics has developed a reputation for crafting innovative and unique optics, making a name for itself by producing lenses that often push the boundaries of engineering. I’d go so far as to say Venus Optics has become one of, if not the most exciting manufacturers on the market.
There’s something happening with foldable phones that isn’t as apparent in North America, and devices like the Honor Magic V3 make that clear. Thinner, lighter, yet also packing a bigger battery and large screen, Honor puts together a compelling combination further enhanced by the camera array.
If the original Ace Pro was Insta360’s way of getting its bearings in the traditional action camera landscape, its new Ace Pro 2 is its way of putting the rest of the action world on notice.
Fujifilm has one of the most expansive stable of lenses you could desire for its illustrious X-mount cameras and it just got two more. This time, it chose to expand its lineup on opposite sides of the focal length spectrum.
For many, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is the first look at one of the company’s foldable phones to see how it stacks up against the best in this emerging category. Indeed, it was my first chance to test a Google foldable since Canada wasn’t among the markets selling the original Pixel Fold.
Fujifilm's new entry-level X-M5 is very affordable and that is a good thing because mirrorless cameras are expensive. At a cursory glance, it feels like every smartphone and mirrorless camera nowadays is further and further beyond the reach of most people who are nonetheless enthusiastic about the art form.
Pentax's popular Pentax 17 showed the market that there is demand for a new-production analog film camera. It wasn't clear if this risky venture would float, but the Pentax 17 has found a loyal following and now we have another player ready to make waves: Mint's Rollei 35AF.
When I first tested the Panasonic Lumix S9, it took a while to truly understand the intention behind it. Although compact and adorable, the it lacked an EVF and had a very basic control structure. Clearly, the S9 was intended for beginner photographers or creators who desired a simple and approachable camera.
In the past, we did a versus battle between the Sony a7R V and the Nikon Z8 but recently Canon updated its R5 II and we thought it to be the right time for a three-way fight.
Whether you consider the Vaonis Hestia a telescope or a monocular device depends on how you interpret its strengths and weaknesses. It’s neither a full-fledged telescope nor equipped with the kind of specialized gear Vaonis includes in its far more expensive models.
The UnifyDrive UT2 is a portable and expandable NAS storage solution -- the first of its kind -- that looks like a bigger, better, and more customizable version of the now-defunct Gnarbox. Unfortunately, despite its many good ideas, the UT2 is plagued by poor design and a bad user experience.
ProGrade's new PG10 SSD, available in 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities, sports fast USB 4.0 technology and promises swift maximum speeds. However, while it's not the quickest drive in short sprints we have tested, its primary appeal is sustained performance, even when moving huge batches of files.
Xiaomi is bringing two new mid-range phones to a global launch in the 14T and 14T Pro, along with its first folding phone in the Mix Flip at an event in Berlin.
Photographers love fixed-focal-length cameras since a single lens forces you to think carefully about the composition and move within the scene to capture the shot. There is a simplicity and a meditative experience to be had, wandering the streets with a compact camera on your shoulder. Make no mistake though, the Leica Q3 43 is a pricey piece of bling at $6,895.
TerraMaster's F8 SSD Plus NAS was released recently and is designed for users who demand high-speed performance that can travel with them and doesn't create excessive noise like its SATA Drive siblings. The new system seems to cater to professionals and casual users who need fast network storage that doesn't take up a lot of space in their homes or offices. The question is, does it deliver on its promise, and is it worth the price?
Logitech's MX Creative Console is billed as a way to access important tools quickly so that photo and video editing is more streamlined and less hung up on navigating menus or toolbars. It succeeds in that endeavor, pulling the tedium out of editing in a way keyboard shortcuts just can't.
When the Nikon Zf was announced, it felt like an early look at what the Z6 III would eventually be. But a little less than a year later and the Z6 III came with some important differences compared to the retro-inspired Zf. So, which one should you buy?
After Apple concluded its keynote featuring the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, I dove into my review of this new smartphone as a photographic and videographic tool in the sunshine of California. Jordan Drake shot our entire video review on the iPhone 16 Pro and I scoured the area around Monterey and Santa Cruz to take pictures with the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
