Camera gear

SmallRig 1.55x Anamorphic Lens review – shoot cinematic video on your phone

By / July 27, 2022 / Reviews / , / Leave a Comment
SmallRig 1.55x Anamorphic Lens

REVIEW – Shooting cinematic video on phones has taken off in the last decade. Since smartphone cameras have gotten so good, it makes sense that people would want to use them for low-budget movies, short films, commercials, etc. Typically smartphone cameras are limited to 16×9 video so how do you shoot cinematic, widescreen footage without …

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OMBAR Portable Photography Studio review – A light box by any other name

By / July 21, 2022 / Reviews / , / Leave a Comment

REVIEW – Who needs a light box? Product reviewers, marketers, crafters, online sellers, bakers, or anyone who wants to create professional looking photographs of items that’ll fit inside one of them. A light box provides even lighting with either no shadows or faint shadows, and no noticeable corners to distract from the object. I’ll refer …

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Artman Cute Lite lighting kit review – A versatile inexpensive lighting kit

By / July 14, 2022 / Reviews / , / Leave a Comment

REVIEW – The Artman Cute Lite lighting kit is a great little light with tons of accessories at half the price of some competitors. What is it? The Artman Cute Lite is a small cube light, perfect for photography and video that doesn’t break the bank. What’s in the box? Artman Cute Lite Storage case …

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Datacolor SpyderX Studio kit review – professional color calibration for displays, cameras, and printers

By / June 8, 2022 / Reviews / , / 3 Comments

REVIEW – A monitor calibration tool is something I’ve wanted for years, but I’ve never dropped the money on one yet. I’ve had great monitors and terrible monitors, and a spectrum of photo printers across the years as well. It’s always been a crapshoot in terms of what gets printed out versus what I edited …

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Zhiyun Crane M2S Camera Stabilizer review

By / June 5, 2022 / Reviews / , / Leave a Comment

REVIEW – With the amazing advances in camera technology made in the last decade it’s now possible for aspiring videographers to create professional-level videos with little more than a smartphone and maybe a microphone and light or two. So, it’s not surprising to now see the massive camera accessories market shift toward supplying these creators …

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JOBY Wavo PRO camera-mounted shotgun microphone review – great audio capture for on the go filmmaking

By / May 10, 2022 / Reviews / , / Leave a Comment
JOBY Wavo PRO

REVIEW – JOBY is a company most well-known for their GorillaPod range of tripods for small to medium-sized cameras. In recent years they’ve released other video shooting accessories, including lights, smartphone cases, and microphones. Today we’re going to check out the Joby Wavo PRO microphone.    What is it? The JOBY Wavo PRO is a …

JOBY Wavo PRO camera-mounted shotgun microphone review – great audio capture for on the go filmmaking Read More

Hohem iSteady Q gimbal review – Well built, great value, but do you need it?

By / April 13, 2022 / Reviews / , / Leave a Comment

REVIEW –  It usually seems like a great idea to increase value by taking several products and building them into a single innovative and well-constructed package, which is what the Hohem iSteady Q gimbal is.  It does what it does very well.  But in my experience with it, I kept coming back to the same …

Hohem iSteady Q gimbal review – Well built, great value, but do you need it? Read More

ZHIYUN SMOOTH 5 review – an affordable gimbal for your mobile filmmaking needs

By / April 4, 2022 / Reviews / / 2 Comments
ZHIYUN SMOOTH 5 with phone mounted

REVIEW – Mobile filmmaking has taken off in the last few years but holding a phone, keeping it steady, and being creative with on-screen controls has always been a challenge. There are mobile cages you can use to mount your phone and other accessories but they don’t necessarily help you keep the phone steady. High-end …

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ShiftCam ProGrip review – adds a DSLR-like grip and more to your smartphone

By / March 10, 2022 / Reviews / / 8 Comments

REVIEW – I use my iPhone 13 Pro Max as my main (and only) camera. Except for photos that require the iPhone to be in them, that’s what I use for all my product shots for my reviews. I also use the iPhone when I go on vacation to capture memories. Over the years, I’ve …

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GeoSmartPro AirLit ring light review – keeps you cool and ready for your close-up!

By / March 8, 2022 / Reviews / , / Leave a Comment

REVIEW – Lighting can make or break your work area, and it can do the same for video. If making videos is your work, that’s a double whammy. Today’s gadget offers help in this area with some surprising sidebars. The GeoSmartPro AirLit is a wireless portable ring light with a fan. There’s also a mirror …

GeoSmartPro AirLit ring light review – keeps you cool and ready for your close-up! Read More

SmallRig Mobile Video Cage review – an essential mobile filmmaking tool

By / March 1, 2022 / Reviews / , / 1 Comment
SmallRig Mobile Video Cage and optional accessories

REVIEW – Mobile filmmaking has become a phenomenon in recent years. For over a decade people have been using shots from mobile phones in movies and TV shows, shooting short films with them, with some even shooting full feature-length movies on smartphones. SmallRig, a well-known video accessory manufacturer, has released the Mobile Video Cage for …

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Manfrotto Element MII Video Monopod Aluminum Kit with Fluid Head review

By / February 17, 2022 / Reviews / , / 1 Comment

REVIEW – I have been a photographer and videographer for many years, and over time I have accumulated more gear that I have storage space for. One piece of gear that is really important is a great tripod and for those of us who do a lot of mobile on-the-go shooting, a monopod becomes a …

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SandMarc Dolly for iPhone looks like something fun to play with!

By / February 16, 2022 / News / , / Leave a Comment

NEWS – SandMarc, makers of lenses and lighting for (mostly) iPhones has just announced a new product to further enhance your iPhone video work: the Motion Dolly for iPhone. It’s a machined, articulating, trackless, 4-wheeled dolly with a ball-head camera mount attached. The nylon wheels offer smooth traction. The locking, marked angling for the hinge …

SandMarc Dolly for iPhone looks like something fun to play with! Read More