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by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Are accessories essential to completing a look? As a camera store, we're not exactly fashion experts. That said, we can confidently say that certain photo accessories are essential to getting the most out of your compact cameras. In this guide, we're looking at the must-have accessories that every compact camera owner should own—from absolute necessities to the more stylish options. Let's get started.
Memory Cards
When unboxing a point-and-shoot camera, expect to find a camera, battery, wrist strap, and a charger. What's usually not included
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
The travel tripod conundrum is a cruel reality of physics and practicality. The larger and heavier a tripod is, the steadier it will hold a camera. The larger and heavier a tripod is, the less likely you will ever want to carry it around or take it on a trip. Why are we left with a photographic reality like that which makes the tastiest food bad for you?
Tripods come in all shapes, weights, heights, and styles. If you are new to the world
by Luke Rollins · Posted
Everyone and their mothers are in on the digicam trend, a fact reflected in the used-market prices found across most platforms. Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, eBay, B&H Used--everywhere you look, the best-known models are selling for prices that often meet or exceed their debut MSRP.
Take that old favorite of mine, the Canon S95. Extraordinarily capable, exceedingly pocketable, I got it for a song ($130) back in 2023. Three years later, the going rate has more than tripled, with the average price sitting above $400 and pushing $500
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Traveling with our camera gear can be a daunting experience, especially as we start expanding our arsenal of lenses. Picking the right lens for the job is a challenge in itself, and now we're finding the space to pack it among our clothes and other essentials. Wouldn't it be nice if we had one lens to do it all?
Luckily, such lenses do exist, and these travel-ready all-in-one zooms come in a variety of mounts, some brand specific, and others available for many different cameras. In today's guide, we're covering the best travel zooms for full
by Luke Rollins · Posted
At first glance, studio photography and the compact camera may seem strange bedfellows. The type of work associated with the studio—still life, product photography, portraiture, macro photography—usually wants cameras with larger sensors and interchangeable lenses, especially in professional applications. Compact, point-and-shoot cameras, for their part, have their natural home in everyday, travel, nightlife, and street applications, where their discretion and size become virtues.
It might seem almost cruel to introduce the compact to the
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Ever find yourself still struggling to make out a bird, even when your binoculars are trained directly on it? No matter how steady you hold yourself, you simply just don’t have the reach. You could get a stronger pair of binoculars, but these come with inherent drawbacks, such as stability issues and, of course, a heftier build. What’s our solution?
It’s only natural that after using a pair of binoculars, some birders will find that they yearn for more, and the only way to practically get more reach is to use a spotting scope. These are
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
It's only natural that after using a pair of binoculars, some birders will find that they yearn for more, and the only way to practically get more reach is to use a spotting scope. These are essentially terrestrial telescopes, using one optical path to magnify an even greater distance than our typical handheld optics can manage.
As covered in our guide to choosing a spotting scope, finding the right scope can be as
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
Solar eclipses are awesome spectacles of nature that are irresistible to photographers. Besides eclipses, the star at the center of our solar system is an amazing photographic subject—even when it is not being partially or totally blocked by the moon. If you want to photograph a solar eclipse, or just photograph the source of our fragile planet’s warmth and light, you need a solar filter for your
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
As complementary as peanut butter is to jelly, the camera and tripod are an age-old pairing that still manages to maintain relevance and unmatched functionality in a world dominated by image stabilization and Photoshop tricks. While the form and function of a tripod is far simpler to understand than the scrolling menus of today’s feature-packed cameras, it can still be a chore to choose the right setup for your needs from among a sea of manufacturers and seemingly comparable models.
Now, what’s the big deal with tripods? Most photographers
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Bird-watching, known colloquially as birding, has quickly become one of the most popular past times for nature enthusiasts of all ages. In this fast-paced digital world we find ourselves in, getting outside and winding down to the sounds and sights of birds is quite therapeutic.
Every hobby has its fair share of essential gear,
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Traveling with camera gear can be a daunting experience, especially as we start expanding our arsenal of lenses. Picking the right lens for the job is a challenge in itself, and now we’re finding the space to pack it among our clothes, and other essentials. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had one lens to do it all?
Luckily, such lenses do exist, and these travel-ready all-in-one zooms come in a variety of mounts, some brand specific, and others available for many different cameras. In today’s guide, we’re covering the best travel zooms for APS-C or
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Let's face it: smartphone cameras are not the vibe anymore. What we want is a dedicated point-and-shoot camera, whether it be a classic hand-me-down model from the early 2000s or a more current spec'd out model with modern bells and whistles. These small point-and-shoot cameras may be made for travel but they excel in some scenarios more than others.
In today's guide, we're covering just a few of the best travel-friendly
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Dental photography is a unique genre of photography that requires a specialized set of tools to deliver the clarity, brightness, and color accuracy dentists rely upon to accurately record their patients’ progress.
In this guide, we’re going to cover the essential tools dental professionals need to capture the best quality images of their work, from the camera itself to the lighting tools required to accurately capture the color and detail of those pearly whites.
The Camera
Of course, one could use almost any camera, so long as it produces
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Choosing our first point-and-shoot camera can be a daunting task. There are so many cameras on the market, and at various price points. Do we need the most expensive model? Do we need the one with the longest zoom range? There’s a lot to consider, and a lot of options on the market, but which is right for us? Set tech specs aside and focus on the basics.
When choosing a compact camera, we must first consider what we’re photographing. That might sound obvious, but we can often be blinded by the size of a camera, a singular feature, or even the
by Mary Latvis · Posted
No matter how compact your camera is, you’ll find that your film and video shoots will still require keeping multiple accessories close by. While hard cases keep these items safe for travel, they are quite bulky. Backpacks can hold many items, but they don’t always provide the quickest access. So for on-set use, smart creators turn to set bags and pouches to save space and time.
Tote Bags
A wide storage area and simple design make tote bags perfect for carrying a variety of accessories and supplies on set. Larger ones are handy for