There are already lots of great gear roundups for beginners and photographers on a budget. The strobes, kits and LED panels below fall into another category entirely. The gear featured here is for professional photographers who want to invest in the best possible lighting equipment on the market without flinching when they see the price tag. The key word here is “invest.” No need to question quality, reliability or performance, the gear below delivers to the highest standard on all fronts.

Profoto D2 1000 Monolight

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The Profoto D2 is the brand’s flagship monolight, offering 1000Ws of power with 10 stops of output control in 1/10 or full stop increments, flash durations as short at 1/50000s (t0.5), recycle time of 0.03 to 1.2 seconds, and a burst mode that can fire up to 20 flashes per second. Additionally, you get Through the Lens (TTL) metering, High Speed Sync (HSS) support that allows you to use the flash at shutter speeds up to 1/8000s, and extremely consistent color temperature (+/- 20K) from flash to flash. The Profoto D2 1000 AirTTL is not battery-powered like the brand’s B1X or B10 monolights, but this allowed Protofo to pack much more power into a light that’s still completely self-contained.

Broncolor Siros 800 L Monolight

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The Siros 800 S is the most powerful battery-powered monolight Broncolor makes, delivering 800Ws of power while still promising 220 full-power flashes per charge. The Siros 800 S offers 9 stops of power control in either 1/10th or full stop increments, a recycle time of 0.03 to 2.7 seconds, and a minimum flash duration of 1/7400 of a second (t0.5). The flash also supports HSS up to 1/8000s as long as you’re using an RFS2.2 trigger. It’s not quite as fast or powerful as the Profoto D2, but if you need the convenience and versatility of a battery-powered monolight without sacrificing much power, the Broncolor Siros 800 S is the way to go.

Profoto B10 Plus Duo

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Smaller than anything else in this power range, the Profoto B10 Plus boasts 500Ws of power with 10 stops of control, a recycle time of 0.05 to 2.5 seconds, TTL support and HSS up to 1/8000s, all inside a housing that’s only 9.3 inches long and weighs just 4.2 lbs with the battery and stand adapter attached. The flash can fire up to 200 full-power flashes on a single charge and, as a bonus, the built-in modeling lamp is both brightness and color temperature adjustable, outputting up to 2500 lumens with a CRI of 90-96. The Profoto B10 Plus Duo Kit packs two of these monolights into the Profoto Core BackPack S along with two batteries, two chargers, two power cables, and a stand adapter for each.

Westcott Flex Cine Peter Hurley Kit

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The Westcott Flex Cine LED lights are high-output, flexible LED mats that have become popular with photographers who occasionally trade in their strobes for continuous lights. Each mat is fully dimmable and daylight balanced at 5600K, with an impressive CRI rating of up to 96. The flexible mats can be used as they are, or you can mount them to Westcott’s lightweight Flex Cine frames so you can attach them to light stands, add diffusion material, and use them as a standard LED panels. The Westcott Flex Cine Peter Hurley Kit was designed for professional headshot photographers, and includes three 1 x 2-foot Flex Cine Daylight Mats with Flex Cine frames, two Scrim Jim Cine full-stop 2-layer diffusion scrims, dimmers, AC power adapters, shoulder straps, mounting hardware, and a roller bag tailor-made for this particular kit.

Broncolor Siros 400 L Outdoor Kit

The battery-powered Siros 400 L monolight at the core of this kit offers 400Ws of power with 9 stops of adjustment in 1/10th or full stop increments, a recycle time of 0.03 to 1.2 seconds, and a minimum flash duration of 1/11300 of a second (t0.5). We really wish Broncolor had packed about 100Ws more power into this monolight, but to their credit, the drop in power allowed them to squeeze an impressive 440 full-power flashes per charge out of the battery. At 12.6 inches long and weighing 6.8 lbs without the battery, it’s much larger and heavier than the Profoto B10 Plus, but it’ll last almost twice as long in the field. The Broncolor Siros 400 L Outdoor Kit is an all-in-one kit that includes two of these monolights, their batteries, one charger, one silver/black umbrella, one softbox with adapter ring, one sync cable, and a convenient roller bag.

The post The best high-end lighting gear appeared first on Popular Photography.

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Best 4K laptop		Dell XPS 15		SEE IT	With touchscreen controls and Dolby Vision colors, this laptop will allow you to edit photos with precision for the best results.
Best portable		M1 MacBook Air		SEE IT	It’s tiny, but it’s mighty
Best overall		Apple MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro		SEE IT	One of the best laptops ever made

There was a time when serious photographers did all of their post-production on a desktop, but that’s changed. In recent years, laptops have gotten thinner, lighter, and more powerful all at the same time, with “creator” models offering a dynamite combination of performance and portability that lets you do serious photo editing from anywhere in the world. But with so many options to choose from, it can be hard to know what features to prioritize.

The best laptops for photo editing needs to have a high-resolution, color-accurate screen, a powerful CPU, a dedicated graphics card, and a rugged and reliable design. But that’s just the beginning. You’ll want a computer with plenty of ports, an SD card slot, and a large battery, and all of this should be packed into a relatively lightweight design that won’t add needless bulk to your bag. With such a laundry list of requirements, it might seem like finding the best laptops for photo editing is an impossible task, but these laptops do exist, and we’re here to help you find the best option for your specific needs.

• Best Overall: Apple MacBook Pro M1 Pro
• Best 4K laptop: Dell XPS 15
• Best portable: M1 MacBook Air
• Best rugged: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme
• Best 2-in-1: Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel

How we picked the best laptops for photo editing

The writers and editors at PopPhoto.com have spent thousands of hours editing photos in front of computers. For this roundup, we pulled from a mixture of hands-on experience, editorial reviews, and user reviews. We compared specs line by line and chose models that offer the best performance-to-price ratio for most people. Not everyone has the same editing needs, so we’ve collected an array of options.

The best laptops for photo editing: Reviews & Recommendations

Best overall: MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro

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Specs: 

• Processor: Apple M1 Pro or M1 Max
• GPU: Apple M1 Pro or M1 Max
• RAM: Up to 64 GB
• Storage: Up to 8 TB
• Screen size: 16 inches
• Screen resolution: 3456-by-2234

Pros: 

• Exceptional performance, even on battery power
• Long battery life
• SD card slot
• Ample ports
• Fantastic screen

Cons:

• Pricy

Apple set an ambitious goal when it announced it was breaking up with its long-time processor partner, Intel. The first round of true high-end MacBook Pro machines has made that look like a fantastic decision. The 16-inch MacBook Pro does basically everything. The system on a chip style design integrates the system memory with the other components like the CPU, GPU, and neural engine. That allows the entire system to work absurdly efficiently. As a result, even the base-level MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro chip hammers out desktop-like performance. Step up the specs and jump to the M1 Max processor and you have one of the fastest machines around full-stop.

Apple added more ports to the machine, including the returning MagSafe adapter and an HDMI to go along with three USB-C Thunderbolt ports. It even has an SD card slot built-in. The screen relies on mini LED backlighting and provides exceptional brightness and meticulous color reproduction. At the end of the day, this is one of the best laptops ever made and it’s worth the high price if you can afford it (or find one in-stock).

Best 4K: Dell XPS 15

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Specs: 

• Processor: Intel Core
• GPU: Nvidia RTX
• RAM: Up to 64 GB
• Storage: Up to 2 TB
• Screen size: 15.6 inches
• Screen resolution: 3456 x 2160

Pros: 

• Fast
• Touchscreen display
• Compact

Cons:

• Tired design
• OK keyboard

The 4K OLED “InfinityEdge” display you’ll find on Dell’s XPS 15 and its big brother, the XPS 17, checks every box. It’s got tiny bezels, 4K UHD+ 3456 x 2160 resolution, and 100% Adobe RGB coverage for an unmatched photo editing experience. As a bonus, the screen can hit a very bright 500 nits with Dolby Vision support, allowing you to view and edit HDR content on-the-go.

Best portable: M1 MacBook Air

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Specs: 

• Processor: Apple M1
• GPU: Apple M1
• RAM: Up to 16 GB
• Storage: Up to 2 TB
• Screen size: 13.3 inches
• Screen resolution: 1680 x 11050

Pros: 

• Extremely compact
• Very fast for its size
• Beautiful screen

Cons:

• Small display
• Lack of cooling system hinders performance during long editing sessions

With the release of the Apple Silicon M2, Apple’s in-house processor, and graphics chip, the MacBook Air instantly became the lightweight laptop of choice for photo editing. The computer offers exceptional battery life, a beautiful Retina display, and Apple’s legendary aluminum unibody design, all in a machine that weighs just 2.8 pounds.

Best rugged: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme

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Specs: 

• Processor: Intel Core
• GPU: GeForce GTX 1650
• RAM: Up to 32GB
• Storage: Up to 2TB
• Screen size: 15.6 inches
• Screen resolution: 3840 x 2160

Pros: 

• Rugged design
• High-end specs
• 4K screen

Cons:

• Chunky design

Lenovo is the king of durability, using MIL-SPEC testing to make sure their ThinkPad laptops can survive in conditions that would destroy most computers. The ThinkPad X1 Extreme offers this military standard of durability in a great photo editing laptop that can be configured with up to an 8-core CPU, NVIDIA GPU, and a high-quality 4K display.

Best 2-in-1: Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel

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Specs: A hybrid form factor makes this versatile beyond its competition.

• Processor: Intel Core
• GPU: Nvidia RTX
• RAM: Up to 32GB
• Storage: Up to 2TB
• Screen size: 15.6 inches
• Screen resolution: 3840 x 2160

Pros: 

• Doubles as a tablet
• Easy to use with a stylus
• Fast

Cons:

Heavy

The Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel was designed specifically with photo editing in mind. This highly versatile 2-in-1 can be configured with an 8-core Intel Core i7-10875H CPU, NVIDIA RTX 2080 Super Max-Q GPU, 32GB of RAM, 2TB of SSD storage, and a 4K display with 100% coverage of the Adobe RGB color space. It also comes with a built-in pen that uses Wacom EMR technology, and a screen that can be used in several different drawing and viewing orientations depending on your needs.

Features to consider when shopping for the best laptops for photo editing

No single computer can do everything well, but when you’re looking for the best laptops for photo editing, you can begin by prioritizing the features that matter most to photographers. Power and graphics performance are a given, but do you want a 4K display? Is a lightweight laptop a must for you? What about durability? And do you want a traditional clamshell laptop, or would your workflow benefit from a versatile 2-in-1 design?

These are all things you’ll want to consider when searching for the best laptops for your photo editing workflow.

Display

Most people can get away with skimping on the quality of their laptop display, but not photographers. If you’re going to buy a photo editing laptop, a high-resolution display with great advertised color accuracy is a must.

In terms of resolution, all modern laptop displays break out into three categories: 4K, QDH (also known as 2K), and Full HD. The smaller your screen, the less you need to worry about resolution, but a 4K laptop is always best when you’re looking for the best laptops for photo editing.

When it comes to color accuracy, you’ll want to pay attention to the advertised color space coverage. Creator laptops will usually list color accuracy as a percentage of three different color spaces: sRGB, DCI-P3, and/or AdobeRGB. The higher the percentage the better, but you’ll want your photo editing laptop to cover at least 99 to 100% of sRGB. The best laptops for photo editing will go above and beyond this, boasting 95% to 100% coverage of the more extensive DCI-P3 or AdobeRGB color spaces.

Performance

The performance core of every computer is its CPU, and if you’re looking for the best photo editing laptop, you want to make sure you don’t cut corners on performance.

Raw CPU performance is measured in clock speed (GHz), the higher the better, and the number of “cores” that it has at its disposal. Most laptops will use either an Intel Core or AMD Ryzen CPU, with Apple’s latest MacBook Pro and MacBook Air featuring their own Apple Silicon M. But no matter who makes the processor, you can usually judge overall performance by looking at the maximum clock speed and the number of cores that your processor offers.

The most powerful photo editing laptops will use the latest 6- or 8-core CPUs from Intel, AMD, and Apple. Clock speeds start around 2.3GHz but can “boost” under certain conditions to as much as 5.3GHz. These are usually paired with a great graphics card, like NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX or RTX cards, which helps the CPU on graphics-intensive tasks like heavy-duty photo and video editing.

Weight and design

All laptops are portable in theory, but there’s a huge difference between a 13-inch ultra-portable and a 17-inch desktop replacement. If you haul your computer with you everywhere you go, you’ll want to consider a lightweight laptop that will save you back-ache without slowing you down when you’re using your favorite photography tools like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom Classic.

Most modern laptops range in size from 13 to 17 inches (measured diagonally), and are classified by a variety of buzzwords. If you’re looking to save weight, you should be looking for a lightweight laptop that’s marketed as “ultra-lite” or “ultra-portable,” and you probably want to favor 13- and 14-inch models over the heftier 15-inch and 17-inch options. Fortunately, there are some surprisingly powerful lightweight laptops out there that won’t skip a beat during an intense editing session.

Durability

A lot of photographers take their laptops on location to dank, dusty, or dangerous places all over the globe. If that describes you, then finding a rugged photo editing laptop is crucial. This goes beyond the typical definition of a “well-built” laptop.

To be clear, we don’t recommend getting caught in the rain with any laptop, but some brands are tested to comply with “military-grade” standards and can handle everything from humidity and dust, to vibration and drops, to extreme cold and extreme heat. If you’re busy surviving arctic conditions to capture the perfect wildlife photo, the last thing you need is your photo editing laptop sputtering out on you.

Versatility

Most laptops come in the traditional “clamshell” design that we’re all familiar with, but if you want a more versatile photo editing experience, you should definitely consider a 2-in-1.

The 2 in “2-in-1” refers to the ability to use these computers as both a traditional laptop and as a tablet. These photo editing laptops feature touchscreen displays, sometimes with stylus support, that can be removed or folded in various ways so that the keyboard is out of the way. Once in tablet mode, you use them the way you might use an Apple iPad or Microsoft Surface Pro, allowing you to take notes, have a more immersive video experience, or interact directly with your photos.

The benefits for photographers are obvious since photo editing is so tactile. In moments, you can go from typing up a report to editing your photos in Photoshop using a pressure-sensitive stylus.

Budget

It’s hard to find the laptop for photo editing on a budget that still delivers great specs. There’s always a trade-off, usually in terms of CPU performance, screen quality, and/or build quality. The good news is, you can definitely still get a great photo editing laptop without breaking the bank, you just have to know which corners to cut.

If you drop the discrete graphics card, opt for less built-in storage, and choose a Full HD screen, you can save a lot of money without sacrificing too much in the way of performance.

FAQs

A final word on shopping for the best laptops for photo editing

Buying the best laptops for photo editing is a balancing act. It’s all about finding the right combination of features, performance, and price for your particular workflow. To make sure that you get the most out of your photography tools, you should always look for a laptop with a color-accurate display and a powerful processor, but beyond that, consider your own editing workflow and prioritize features like portability, durability, and versatility to suit your needs and your budget.

The post The best laptops for photo editing in 2023 appeared first on Popular Photography.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		Peak Design Travel Tripod		SEE IT	This compact pick is easy to pack up and carry, so you can take stunning (and still) photos from any adventure.
Best aluminum		Manfrotto Befree Advanced		SEE IT	The aluminum frame and M-locking design on this tripod make it both lightweight and durable enough to hold heavier cameras.
Best on a budget		Mefoto Roadtrip S		SEE IT	This pick has a variety of adjustable capacities at a budget-friendly price.

Tripod makers have it rough. The bigger and heavier you make a tripod, the more stable it’ll be—and stability is the whole point. But if you want photographers to actually take your tripod with them on location, you have to make it lightweight and compact enough to carry around. This contradiction is most pronounced when you’re trying to find the best travel tripod. These tripods have to be even smaller, lighter, and more versatile than your standard set of sticks and ball-head. They have to be small enough that you can easily strap one to the side of a backpack, rugged enough to withstand being banged around in luggage, fast enough to be set up in seconds, versatile enough to let you shoot from multiple angles, and sturdy enough to keep a full-frame camera and lens stable on a busy street or windy cliff face.

Fortunately, there are plenty of great options for every skill level and budget. You just have to know what to look for. 

• Best overall: Peak Design Travel Tripod
• Best aluminum: Manfrotto Befree Advanced
• Best carbon fiber: Gitzo Traveler Series 1
• Best heavy-duty: 3 Legged Thing Leo 2.0
• Best budget: Mefoto Roadtrip S

How we picked the best travel tripods

The editors and writers at Popular Photography have decades of photography experience in nearly every genre and have covered just about every major camera and tripod brand on the market. When looking at travel tripods, we looked at the essential components of a tripod that get brought along on trips. Weight and folded length were critical factors, as travel tripods must be easily packed and carried. The weight capacity was also significant, as the tripod should be sturdy enough to hold most major cameras. Lastly, we factored in the extended height, minimum height, and other miscellaneous features.

Best travel tripods: Reviews & Recommendations

Best overall: Peak Design Travel Tripod

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Why it made the cut: The Peak Design Travel Tripod has a novel design that allows it to be compact enough to fit in a water bottle pocket on a backpack yet still expand to 5 feet in height. Available as either aluminum or carbon fiber, this lightweight option is sturdy and travel-ready.

Key features

• Material: Aluminum or carbon fiber
• Tripod weight: 3.4 pounds
• Weight capacity: 20 pounds
• Extended height: 60 inches
• Folded height: 15.2 inches

Pros

• Very compact
• Available as aluminum or carbon fiber
• Built-in mobile phone mount
• Comes with a padded, weatherproof case

Cons

• Pricey

The Peak Design Travel Tripod boasts a fresh design that reimagines just how small a travel tripod can be. Thanks to its one-of-a-kind leg design, this camera stand folds down to the diameter of a water bottle, allowing you to pack it in a standard water bottle pocket on a backpack. In addition, the unique, low-profile ball-head mechanism lets you adjust your camera angle with a single hand. It may take some getting used to, but it is a nice feature.

The Peak Design Travel Tripod is available in carbon fiber or aluminum. You should pick the carbon fiber version if you want to save weight and the aluminum version if you want to save money.

Best aluminum: Manfrotto Befree Advanced

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Why it made the cut: Manfrotto’s Befree Advanced travel tripod is a 3.5 pound aluminum option that is sturdy enough to hold heavy gear. And at only 15.2 inches when folded, it can fit in most luggage.

Key features

• Material: Aluminum
• Tripod weight: 3.5 pounds
• Weight capacity: 19.8 pounds
• Extended height: 59.45 inches
• Folded height: 15.75 inches

Pros

• Lightweight aluminum build
• Can handle full-frame gear with heavy lenses
• Quality ball-head

Cons

• A bit wide when folded

Manfrotto’s Befree tripods are popular among travel photographers, and it’s easy to see why. The aluminum version weighs in at just 3.4 pounds, with a folded length of 15.2 inches. In addition, it has a weight capacity of 19.8 pounds, making it capable of holding full-frame cameras with heavy lenses. As a result, it has a great balance of price to performance for an aluminum travel tripod. 

But it’s not just about size and weight. The Befree Advanced has twist-style M-lock leg locks that make setting up the tripod a breeze. The included ball head is surprisingly solid, and the leg angle selector offers more options than some competitors at and above this price point.

Best carbon fiber: Gitzo Traveler Series 1

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Why it made the cut: The Gitzo Traveler Series 1 is an excellent carbon fiber tripod. At 3.3 pounds, it isn’t the lightest one on the list. But it can handle the heaviest load, making it a great option for those wanting something sturdy.

Key features

• Material: carbon fiber
• Tripod weight: Tripod: 2.34 pounds, Head: 0.9 pounds
• Weight capacity: 22 pounds
• Extended height: 60.24 inches
• Folded height: 16.73 inches

Pros

• Excellent build quality
• Compatible with lenses up to 200mm
• Quality ball head

Cons

• Very pricey

The Gitzo Traveler Series 1 is the go-to professional tripod for photographers who demand uncompromising build quality. At 3.3lbs and a folded length of 16.73 inches, it’s not the smallest or lightest carbon fiber travel tripod you can buy. But it offers a weight capacity of 22lbs, making it a sturdy choice. In addition, it has a max height of 60.24 inches and can go as low as 8.66 inches, making it useful for low-angle or macro shots and high-angle ones. 

This kit comes with the Gitzo Series 1 Traveler Center Ball Head, which is the slimmest Gitzo head. It has an independent pan lock and an incredibly smooth rotating ball head. This head is also compatible with plates from other brands as long as the dimensions are similar, which could be helpful when traveling. 

Best heavy-duty: 3 Legged Thing Leo 2.0

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Why it made the cut: The 3 Legged Thing Leo 2.0 has the highest weight capacity you can find at 66 pounds. And yet, it still packs down to around the same size as other compact travel tripods.

Key features

• Material: Carbon fiber
• Tripod weight: 3.35 pounds, 4.08 pounds with head
• Weight capacity: 66 pounds
• Extended height: 57.7 inches
• Folded height: 14.7 inches

Pros

• Excellent weight capacity
• Folds down small
• Legs detach to become monopods or booms

Cons

• Lots of leg locks

With a maximum weight capacity of 66lbs, the 3 Legged Thing Leo 2.0 is about the sturdiest travel tripod you can buy, and yet it still folds down to under 15-inches and tips the scales at just 4.1lbs. The large weight capacity means you can use it with larger mirrorless or DSLR cameras or even medium format setups.

The Leo is also unique in its versatility. Each leg is detachable, allowing you to use them as monopods or booms. They also feature a 3-position angle lock and boast twist locks for quick and easy setup. And, if you buy separate footwear, it can be used as a tabletop tripod with the legs removed as well. These features make it one of the most versatile, heavy-duty travel tripods money can buy.

Best budget: Mefoto Roadtrip S

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Why it made the cut: The MeFOTO Roadtrip S is a very affordable travel tripod for beginner photographers while still having plenty of good features. It weighs only 2.5 pounds, packs down to 13.2 inches, and can even convert to a monopod.

Key features

• Material: Aluminum
• Tripod weight: 3.65 pounds
• Weight capacity: 17.6 pounds
• Extended height: 59.4 inches
• Folded height: 13.98 inches

Pros

• Budget-friendly
• Swappable head
• Converts into a monopod

Cons

• Weight capacity is fairly low

MeFOTO’s BackPacker, RoadTripper, and GlobeTrotter tripods are travel-friendly favorites that regularly make roundups like this. The aluminum version of the Roadtripper S weighs in at just 3.65 pounds and still boasts a respectable weight capacity of 17.6 pounds. 

The Roadtripper S also has some nice features for a tripod at this price. For example, it has a scale on the center column for lining up panoramic shots right, a separate lock for its pan axis, and can convert into a monopod. It’s not the most capable on the list, but it’s a great entry-level travel tripod for beginners.

Features to consider when shopping for the best travel tripods

The main difference between a regular tripod and a travel tripod is size and weight. While regular tripods—especially high-end video tripods—are often large and heavy in order to offer as much stability and weight capacity as possible, travel tripods have to balance these core features with the need for portability. The best travel tripod is the one that offers the most rigid and stable construction in a package that folds up small and weighs no more than a large DSLR. 

To do this, lightweight tripod makers rely heavily on materials like aluminum (good) and carbon fiber (better), creative designs with thinner legs that fold 180° over the ball head, telescoping legs with as many as 5 sections, and smart extras like sandbag hooks for adding weight while you shoot, reversible center columns, and built-in bubble levels. 

The goal is to create a tripod that delivers the best of all worlds: something compact enough that it will fit comfortably in a carry-on bag, light enough that it won’t bog you down on a long hike, and yet stable enough that it’s actually worth bringing along. Here are the key features you should consider when shopping for the best travel tripod, and a few of our top picks.

Size and weight of a travel tripod

As we’ve already mentioned several times at this point, the first and most important features to consider when shopping for a travel tripod are size and weight. The best travel tripod overall will be lightweight, with a respectable weight capacity, an ingenious design that allows it to fold up really small, and a carbon fiber construction for the best possible strength-to-weight ratio.

In terms of raw numbers: a compact travel tripod should weigh no more than 4lbs, it should be able to hold at least 15lbs, and it should fold up to less than 16-inches long for easy packing. Once these boxes are checked, everything else is a bonus. Smaller folded diameter, vari-angle legs, reversible center column, a well-designed ball-head, and easy-to-deploy legs are the secondary features that separate the “good” travel tripods from the “great” ones.

Skill level and budget

Another important consideration is your own skill and interest level. While it’s always tempting to purchase the best-of-the-best camera gear right away, there’s no need for a beginner travel photographer to drop $500+ on a high-end carbon fiber tripod with all the bells and whistles—no matter what the ads try to tell (or sell) you. 

If you’re just starting out, look for important core features (lightweight construction, compact foldable design, reasonable weight capacity, and solid build quality) in an affordable aluminum model that will offer you everything you need and won’t cost you a bundle. If you can afford to spend a little more than the budget options, but don’t want to get carried away with Gear Acquisition Syndrome (also known as G.A.S.), a great entry-level tripod is the way to go.

Aluminum vs. carbon fiber tripod

One of the most important decisions you’ll need to make when looking for the best travel tripod is whether to go with aluminum or carbon fiber. 

A carbon fiber tripod is the premium choice. Weight for weight it’s both stronger and more rigid than aluminum, which translates into tripods that are both lighter and sturdier. As a result, it’s also a lot more expensive. Aluminum may be heavier and a little more flexible, but it’s a lot cheaper and plenty of photographers rely on it day-in and day-out. Plus, the added weight helps keep your shots stable when you don’t have any way to weigh the tripod down.

Fortunately, many of the most popular travel tripods from the most recognizable brands are available in both aluminum and carbon fiber variants. You get to decide what’s more important: a lighter tripod, or a heavier wallet?

Weight capacity

Most travel tripods can handle a maximum load of about 22lbs, with many of the lightest options cutting that number down even further in order to save weight. Fortunately, that’s plenty for most mirrorless cameras or DSLRs with a regular lens attached. However, if you plan to tote around a huge DSLR and lens combo, or maybe even shoot medium format, you’ll want to find a tripod that can handle a lot more weight without flinching. 

Keep in mind that there will be a trade-off here, usually in terms of tripod weight. The higher the weight capacity, the thicker and sturdier the lens and ball head will need to be, and the heavier the tripod itself is likely to become. Only you can decide if that’s a worthwhile compromise.

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best travel tripods

The list above is not a comprehensive overview of all the best travel tripods on the market. With so many great brands like Gitzo, Benro, Manfrotto, 3 Legged Thing, MeFOTO, and Peak Design putting out solid products, there’s no shortage of great options. That said, we’ve found the Peak Design Travel Tripod to be the best overall option. It has a unique design that allows it to fold down smaller than any other option in the same class. However, it can still hold a good amount of weight, making it sturdy enough to use with heavier cameras or on windy days. The added touch of a built-in phone mount and the included padded carrying case are nice additions as well.

The post The best travel tripods in 2023 appeared first on Popular Photography.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

There are a few things you need if you want to get serious about photo editing. We’ve put together a starter kit—from monitors for photo editing to cloud storage. that will make sure you have all of your bases covered when it’s time to dig into those RAW files.

BenQ SW2700PT Monitor

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The BenQ SW2700PT is one of the most popular and affordable photo editing monitors on the market. This 2K monitor sacrifices a little resolution over 4K competitors, but it delivers where it counts. The BenQ SW2700PT features a 10-bit panel with 99% Adobe RGB coverage, a hotkey puck that lets you switch between preset display modes, a built-in SD card reader, and factory calibration out of the box—they even throw in a monitor hood.

Wacom Intuos Pro (Medium)

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You almost never see professional photographers editing their images with a mouse, because a good pen tablet delivers a level of control that no mouse can match. The Wacom Intuos Pro is our pick for a pen tablet that will keep you editing professionally for years to come. The tablet supports multi-touch gestures, features several programmable express keys and a radial wheel, and the battery-free Wacom Pro Pen 2 offers an astounding 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity.

The Wacom Intuos Pro is available in Small, Medium and Large variants, but we recommend the Medium size so you have enough room to work.

X-Rite i1Display Pro

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Once you own a color-accurate monitor, a calibration device like the X-Rite i1Display Pro Plus will ensure that it stays that way by measuring the display’s output and adjusting the color and brightness to fit the ambient light in the room.

Creative Cloud Photography Plan

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Proper photo editing software is a must, and Adobe is the company to beat. With the Creative Cloud Photography Plan, you get access to Adobe Lightroom CC, Adobe Photoshop CC and 1TB of cloud storage. That’s everything you need to organize and edit your RAW images or try your hand at more extreme retouching.

Steelcase Gesture Chair

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Don’t underestimate the benefits of a great office chair. If you’re going to be spending hours editing photos on the computer, you’ll want to do it from a chair that will take good care of your back. There are many options to choose from, but our pick is the Steelcase Gesture Chair. Often cited as a more affordable alternative to the Herman Miller Embody Chair, the Steelcase Gesture Chair offers the same standard of quality for much cheaper.

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There’s a lot of lighting gear out there, ranging from curiously cheap to extravagantly expensive, but don’t let that scare you off. If you’re ready to learn to light, there are plenty of affordable and user-friendly speedlights and monolights on the market. Whether you prioritize savings, or you want an affordable option that still has features like Through the Lens (TTL) metering and High Speed Sync (HSS), this round-up covers some of the most popular options for the beginners.

Neewer 43-inch 5-in-1 Reflector

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Not a piece of lighting gear per se, the Neewer 43-inch 5-in-1 reflector is still an incredibly useful bit of kit. Pick one (or two) of these up to use as a diffuser, or use the white, gold and silver surfaces to create some fill for your one-light setups. Just about every photographer has one of these in their kit. You should, too.

Powerextra Professional DF-400 Speedlite Camera Flash

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If you’re looking for a bare-bones, fully-manual speedlight for Canon and Nikon cameras, you won’t find anything more affordable than this. No frills at all. You get eight power levels, three flash modes, an optical sensor, and a PC sync port that will let you fire the flash off-camera using a separate trigger.

Yongnuo YN600EX-RT II

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The Yongnuo YN600EX-RT II for Canon (pick up the YN968N for Nikon) is a feature-rich speedlight based on a Canon flash that costs more than four times as much. It features a guide number of 60m, 20-200mm zoom range, 29 levels of power adjustment from 1/1 to 1/128, a built-in 2.4GHz wireless radio with support for 15 channels and 5 groups, and support for both TTL and HSS. As if that’s not enough, there’s also a USB port for firmware updates, and the Nikon version comes with a built-in LED light on the flash head.

Godox V1

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A great flash for the aspiring wedding photographer, the Godox V1 is based on Profoto’s much more expensive A1, which they called “the world’s smallest studio light.” The Godox V1 boasts 76Ws of power with a flash duration of 1/300 – 1/20,000 of a second and 28-105mm zoom range. It features a built in 2.4GHz wireless radio with support for 32 channels and 4 groups, and boasts full support for TTL and HSS up to 1/8000s.

The Godox V1′s battery offers up to 480 full power flashes on a charge, and the circular lens features a magnetic rim that supports several useful modifiers, which can be purchased separately.

Neewer Q400N

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If you’re ready to step up to a more powerful monolight, and you don’t mind taking full manual control, check out the ultra-affordable Neewer Q400N. This 400Ws strobe features a guide number of 65m and the ability to choose between 60 different power levels from 2.0 to 8.0. There’s a built-in 2.4GHz wireless radio and the strobe comes with an on-camera trigger that supports multiple camera brands. There’s also a built-in 150W modeling lamp, an LCD display, and plenty of physical controls on the back if you’d rather adjust settings from there.

For more power, step up to the 600Ws Neewer Q600N.

Godox AD200Pro

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The Godox AD200Pro packs a lot of punch into a monolight the size of some large protein bars. This battery-powered 200Ws strobe is equipped with a 2.4GHz wireless radio and compatible with both TTL metering and HSS, allowing you to use the flash at shutter speeds up to 1/8000s. The power can be adjusted in 1/10th increments from 1/1 to 1/256, the battery is rated for 500 full-power flashes per charge, and the flash comes with two swappable heads—a bare bulb and a fresnel head.

In short, the AD200Pro offers way more power than a speedlight, without giving up any of the versatility.

Godox AD400Pro

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The most expensive option on our list, the Godox AD400Pro is a battery-powered, 400Ws monolight with a guide number of 72m and support for both TTL and HSS up to 1/8000s. Power output can be adjusted from 1/1 all the way down to 1/256. The included rechargeable battery is rated for 390 full-power flashes per charge. There’s also a built-in 2.4GHz wireless radio, 30W LED modeling lamp, and a side-mounted LCD and physical controls that make it easier to check and adjust the strobe while you work.

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If you’ve ever gone digging inside your camera bag or backpack for an extra memory card, you know that a loose memory card is usually either lost or broken. Don’t let the lack of an inexpensive accessory lead to headaches or lost images. Pick up one of the memory card wallets or rugged card cases below, and you’ll know that your cards are safe and organized at all times.

Think Tank Photo SD Pixel Pocket Rocket

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The Think Tank Photo Pixel Pocket Rocket is consistently rated among the best memory card wallets out there. This 4.5 x 2.5 x 0.5-inch wallet is made of durable 420D Diamond Rip-Stop Nylon and features slots for nine SD or XQD cards. It’s compact enough to fit comfortably in your pocket, or you can use the built-in belt loops to attach it to your clothes or camera bag. Plus, there’s a built-in business card holder on the back.

MindShift Gear House of Cards

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If you want a velcro-free memory card wallet, the lightweight MindShift Gear House of Cards is a good alternative to the Pixel Pocket Rocket. It uses an elastic closure instead of velcro and offers slot for six CF cards and three SD cards inside. There’s also a removable tether clip so you can attach the MindShift Gear House of Cards to your clothing or a camera bag.

Neewer 14-Slot Memory Case

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Neewer doesn’t just make affordable lighting gear, they’re also the brand behind this 14-slot high-capacity memory card case that can hold up to 18 cards at once: 10 microSD cards, four SD cards and four CF cards. The 4.9 x 3.15 x 0.9-inch case comes in a variety of colors so it’s always easy to spot, and it promises to be airtight, shockproof and water resistant, although there’s no official IP rating to fall back on.

Pelican 0915 Memory Card Case

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The Pelican 0915 Memory Card Case is a little bit more expensive than the other cases on our list, but you get the peace of mind that comes with the trusted Pelican name. This rugged polycarbonate case features IPX4 water resistance (splashproof) and has room for 12, which slot into a removable shock-absorbing liner.

Lensgo Memory Card and Battery Case

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The LensGo case is the most versatile option on our list, allowing you to securely store your memory cards and two spare batteries as well. Inside, there’s room for eight microSD cards, four SD cards, two CF cards, and two DSLR batteries about the size of Nikon’s EN-EL15 or Canon’s LP-E6. LeansGo has also included two convenient battery level sliders that you can adjust by hand to indicate how much juice is left in each of your spare batteries.

Like all of the cases on our list, the LensGo camera battery and memory card storage case is water and dust resistant, although there’s no IP rating to back that up so we wouldn’t recommend submerging it.

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Smartphone cameras are getting better every day, but that doesn’t mean you should skip the editing step. A great photo editing app can help you fix, tweak, and enhance your images to perfection. From basic edits like exposure and contrast, to extreme touch-ups like removing distractions or combining multiple layers, use these apps to make sure your smartphone photos look their best.

Snapseed

The gold standard for free photo editing apps, Google’s Snapseed app gives you access to a plethora of editing tools that cover almost any scenario. It does just about everything: from preset filters, to basic edits like exposure and color temp, to more advanced features like local adjustments, perspective crops, and a healing brush to tackle blemishes.

Snapseed is available for free on both iOS and Android, without an ad or in-app purchase in sight.

VSCO

VSCO is all about making your photos look more like they were shot on film. The free app gives you access to a built-in camera, ten presets and some basic editing options like exposure, clarity, vignette and grain. You also get access to VSCO’s curated Feed and a Discover tab where you can find and follow fellow photographers. To unlock more features, you’ll need to sign up for an annual VSCO membership.

VSCO is available for free on both iOS and Android, with the option to unlock over 100 additional presets and advanced editing features via in-app purchase.

Adobe Lightroom

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The Adobe Lightroom app offers powerful editing sliders and professional-grade adjustments like curves, as well as a built-in camera app with features like long-exposure and HDR capture. If you’re an Adobe Creative Cloud subscriber, you get access to even more features like RAW photo editing, selective adjustment tools and syncing across multiple devices.

Lightroom Mobile is available for free on both iOS and Android, but you’ll need to sign in with an Adobe ID to use it.

Adobe Photoshop Mix

As the name implies, Adobe Photoshop Mix is all about combining multiple images using layers-based editing to create something totally new. Standard photo editing sliders are joined by intelligent selection tools, blending modes, and other features you don’t typically find in a free smartphone app. That includes Adobe’s powerful Content-Aware Fill technology that intelligently removes unwanted or distracted elements.

Adobe Photoshop Mix is available for free on both iOS and Android, but you’ll need to sign in with an Adobe ID to use it.

Lens Distortions

Once you’re done tweaking your photos in Snapseed, VSCO, or Adobe Lightroom, you can bring them into Lens Distortions to add realistic looking flares, light leaks, weather effects, and more. Lens Distortions is about adding that extra something that’ll make your photo stand out. The free version comes with five effects in each category. To unlock the rest, you’ll need to pay for an LD Unlimited subscription.

Available for free on both iOS and Android, with the option to unlock over 200 premium filters via in-app purchase.

Enlight

Enlight packs a ton of powerful editing features into a beautiful and easy-to-use design that earned it the Apple Design Award in 2017. There’s not much Enlight can’t do. Use it to make global edits, recreate the film look with analog filters, heal away imperfections, or go crazy by blending multiple images together into faux double exposures and creative designs.

Enlights is available exclusively on iOS.

Photo Studio PRO

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Photo Studio PRO is one of the most popular photo editing apps available for Android. The app is great for everything from basic photo edits to more creative work thanks to unique options like picture-in-picture effects, hundreds of overlays, and an easy-to-use blending mode for merging two photos together into a double exposure.

Photo Studio PRO is available exclusively on Android.

TouchRetouch

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TouchRetouch only does one thing, but it does it very well. The app was designed to remove unwanted objects from photos: whether those objects are power lines, pimples, or people. Use the brush to paint out objects, the line selector to automatically select power lines, or the lasso tool to select away distractions.

TouchRetouch is available on both iOS and Android.

Afterlight 2

Afterlight 2 is for anybody who wants the power of Adobe Lightroom Mobile without paying for an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. Users get 130+ customizable filters, advanced adjustments like curves and hue/saturation, local adjustment brushes, dust and light leak overlays, frames, and the ability to blend photos together into creative double exposures. You can even edit RAW images.

Afterlight 2 is available on both iOS and Android, no additional in-app purchase or subscription required.

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The best camera may be the one you have with you, but if that camera is a smartphone, a few extra accessories can make a big difference when it comes to image quality and flexibility. Get the most out of the powerful little camera in your pocket with these useful accessories.

Moment Lenses

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A good set of attachable lenses can really expand your smartphone photography horizons, and when it comes to smartphone lenses, Moment is the brand of choice. Cinema-quality glass and aerospace-grade metal make them durable, and they fit snugly onto stylish companion cases compatible with Apple, Google, Samsung and OnePlus phones.

Choose from wide-angle, telephoto, anamorphic, fisheye, and macro options, and if you really wanna go pro, Moment also makes lens filters that you can use via a companion filter mount.

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The PIXI Mini Tripod from Manfrotto (with the optional smartphone mount) is small enough to fit in a large pocket, but stable enough to capture time-lapses or churn out long exposures using your favorite slow shutter app. The ball head uses a simple push-button locking mechanism for quick adjustments, and the tripod is actually rated for 2.2lbs, so it can handle a small ILC in a pinch.

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If cinematic footage is on your smartphone wish-list, a gimbal is a must.

This one from DJI has a quality build that delivers rock-steady performance. Your phone attaches to the extremely portable, 3-axis gimbal via a magnetic clip. Use DJI’s smartphone app to enjoy advanced features like gesture control, active tracking of subjects, and many more.

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A bluetooth remote is a must for smartphone photographers, especially when you pair it with a small tripod. Use the CamKix Wireless Bluetooth Shutter remote to take group shots without enlisting the help of a kind stranger, capture brooding self-portraits, or snap a few photos from hard-to-reach angles where neither the screen nor the volume rocker is within easy reach.

This tiny little remote is small enough to fit comfortably on a keychain, features a separate button for Android and iOS devices, and can trigger your device from up to 30 feet away. You can even pick it up in various colors.

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Forget that lame little flash on the back of your phone, the Godox A1 is a proper smartphone speedlight that can work wonders. Pair the A1 with the companion iOS or Android app, and you can trigger the 8W flash at full power up to 700 times on a single charge. You can also step down the power to ½, ¼, ⅛, and 1/16 in Manual mode, or set it to Auto and let the app do the work for you. If you own any other Godox or Flashpoint strobes, the Godox A1 does double duty as a radio transmitter.

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Photographers know the value of printing photos, but that doesn’t have to mean high-end professional prints. If you’re planning to start taking more photos with your phone, we definitely recommend picking up Fujifilm’s INSTAX Share SP-2 mobile printer.

The Share SP-2 uses Fuji’s popular INSTAX Mini film—which holds up much better than the ZINK paper most mobile printers use—and produces a print in about 10 seconds. The printer uses a built-in rechargeable battery, and there’s even a “reprint” button so you can share a single photo multiple times without having to re-send it from your phone. If you want even bigger prints, check out the Share SP-3 SQ, which uses Fuji’s 2.4-inch x 2.4-inch INSTAX Square film.

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Paper and ink fade, and while we highly suggest you print at least some of your digital photos, it’s just as important to scan and preserve your old prints, slides, and negatives. Whether you’ve got a shoe box full of old 4×6’s and film strips in the attic, photo albums spanning decades, or just a few heirloom prints passed down through generations, the scanners below will make sure those memories never fade, even if the ink and paper do.

Epson Perfection V39

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The Epson Perfection V39 delivers high-quality, 4800dpi photo scanning at an affordable price point. It packs plenty of convenient features for newbies, like shortcut buttons for different scanning jobs, a removable lid, digital dust correction, and ‘Easy Photo Fix’ tech that adds in saturation and contrast to faded photos. You can also scan straight to Google Drive or other Cloud services using Epson’s Easy Photo Scan software for easy backup, and there’s even a kickstand on the back so you can place it vertically to save desk space.

Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 Slim

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The Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 Slim is an affordable scanner built with ease-of-use in mind. It uses a single USB-C cable for both data and power, five “EZ” buttons for hassle-free scanning, and an Auto Scan mode that can tell what your scanning and adjust the settings to match. Like the Epson V39, the CanoScan LiDE 400 Slim delivers 4800dpi optical resolution, automatic dust removal and color correction for old photos using the companion software, and a thin design that can be mounted vertically so it doesn’t clutter your desk.

Plustek ePhoto Z300

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If speed and convenience is your goal, it’s hard to beat the Plustek ePhoto Z300. This quirky looking scanner was purpose-built to quickly scan your 3×5, 4×6, 5×7 and 8×10 prints at up to 600dpi. Simply feed photos one by one into the ePhoto Z300, then use the included software to crop, ‘de-skew,’ enhance photos, remove dust, and save or share on Dropbox, Google Photos, Facebook, Instagram, or Flickr.

You get two resolution options—300dpi or 600dpi—and if you’re willing to scan at 300, the Plustek ePhoto Z300 can get through each 4×6 print in just 2 seconds. An 8×10 print takes only 5. It’s not the fastest printer on our list, but it offers a phenomenal combination of speed, performance, and price.

Epson Perfection V600

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Your standard flatbed scanner isn’t built to handle prints, slides, and negatives, but the Epson Perfection V600 definitely is. This high-performance scanner crosses the line into professional-grade territory, featuring a maximum scan resolution of 6400 x 9600dpi, 3.4 Dmax for great dynamic range when scanning film, Epson’s “Digital ICE” technology that automatically removes imperfections from old prints and film, and a built-in transparency unit that can hold negatives, slides, and panoramic film strips up to 6x22cm. Fortunately, all of these professional-grade features don’t mean the Epson Perfection V600 skimps on convenience. Users still get four customizable buttons, the ability to scan straight to PDF or email, and an environmentally friendly LED scanning light that requires no warm-up.

Epson FastFoto FF-680W

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As the name implies, the Epson FastFoto FF-680W is a speed demon. It boasts twice the resolution and speed of the Plustek ePhoto Z300, delivering a maximum 1200dpi optical resolution and the ability to scan up to one photo per second if you’re scanning at 300dpi. It’s convenient too, with a loading tray that holds stacks of photos so you don’t have to feed them in one by one, and the ability to scan both sides of a photograph simultaneously so you can capture any hand-written notes on the back. As with all the rest of the scanners on our list, Epson includes software for fixing, restoring and enhancing your old photos once you’ve scanned them, and built-in sharing features that let you instantly archive or share 300dpi scans to Dropbox, Google, Facebook, and more. There’s no faster way to digitize a large collection of old prints at home.

Epson Perfection V850 Pro

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The Epson Perfection V850 Pro is a flatbed scanner for professional photographers, with performance and a price point to match. Dual lens technology and advanced optical coatings deliver exceptional scanning quality at resolutions up to 6400x9600dpi, and the V850 Pro boasts a Dmax of 4.0 to pull the best possible tonal range from slides and film. Included film holders let you scan up to twelve 35mm slides, three 35mm film strips, one medium-format film strip (or panoramic frame) up to 6x20cm, or one 4×5-inch large format frame at the same time, and the V850 Pro is compatible with wet scanning using an optional fluid mount tray that is sold separately. There’s also support for batch-scanning of various film formats, Digital ICE technology for automatically repairing and restoring old prints and film, and Epson’s LaserSoft Imaging SilverFast SE Plus software for more advanced image processing.

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It’s never been more affordable to pick up a good quality pen tablet for photo editing. Features that once cost hundreds can be had for 60 or 70 bucks if you know where to look. Stop struggling with that pesky mouse and step up your photo editing game with one of these affordable pen tablets.

Wacom Intuos (Medium)

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Wacom is the brand to beat when it comes to pen tablets, but that also means you’ll pay more for fewer features. The Intuos line is Wacom’s entry-level, and we suggest you pick up the Intuos Medium. It features an 8.5 x 5.3-inch drawing area, a battery-free EMR pen with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, four customizable express keys, and the ability to connect to your computer wirelessly over Bluetooth.

XP-Pen Deco 02

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Once you break out of the Wacom bubble, prices go down and feature set goes up. The XP-Pen Deco 02 gives you a large 10 x 5.63-inch drawing area, battery-free pen with 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, six customizable shortcut keys, and a convenient roller wheel that can be programmed to zoom, opacity, brush size and more. No wireless connectivity here, but you can step up to the Deco 03 if that’s a must-have.

Huion HS610

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The Huion HS610 trades drawing space for features. You only get a 6.25 x 3.91-inch drawing surface, but the battery-free pen supports 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, there are 12 customizable express keys, and you still get a touch-wheel that can be programmed to multiple functions. Most notably, the HS610 isn’t just a computer tablet: it’s also compatible with Android devices, so you can use it to edit on your smartphone or tablet in a pinch.

Ugee M708

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The Ugee M708 isn’t as well-known as the options from Wacom, Huion or XP-Pen, but it promises the same level of performance. The M708 features a 10 x 6-inch drawing surface, battery-free pen with 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, and 8 programmable express keys.

Apple iPad (6th Generation)

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This iPad and Apple Pencil will become an incredibly compelling option for photo editors who want a “display tablet” experience. There are no published specs for the Apple pencil, but it seems to offer the same 8,000+ levels of pressure sensitivity as the competition, with virtually no lag and all of the benefits of the Apple ecosystem thrown in.

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