Best heavy duty setup		Manfrotto 2961D Deluxe Autopole Expan Kit		SEE IT	A great setup for those working in studios.
Best Backdrop for Tabletop Photography		Neewer 20×20 inches Tabletop Photography Lightbox		SEE IT	Perfect for taking product images right on your table.
Easiest to Set Up		Neewer Pro Stainless Steel Heavy Duty C Stand		SEE IT	These C Stands make backdrop setup quick and easy.

A backdrop stand may not seem like the most exciting piece of photography equipment, but it’s the backbone of any studio. If you are looking to shoot pro portraits against seamless paper or easily hang a cloth backdrop, investing in the best backdrop stands you can afford will keep your shoots running smoothly. 

Even if you’re not a studio shooter, you have a wide variety of backdrop stands from which to choose. They can handle everything from on-location portrait sessions to event coverage. Hanging your backdrop from a stand, rather than taping it to the wall, means that while you are shooting you don’t need to worry about the backdrop falling unexpectedly. Gaff tape is great, but it shouldn’t be holding up your backdrop.

• Best overall: Neewer Pro Stainless Steel Heavy Duty C Stand
• Best portable: Neewer Photo Studio
• Best for tabletop photography: Neewer 20×20 inches Tabletop Photography Lightbox
• Best heavy duty: Manfrotto 2961D Deluxe Autopole Expan Kit
• Best budget: BDDFOTO Photo Video Background Stand

The best backdrop stands: Reviews & Recommendations

Best overall Neewer Pro Stainless Steel Heavy Duty C Stand

SEE IT

C Stands are a photo studio staple, and although they are typically used for holding lights, they are a great way to easily set up a backdrop as well. These stainless steel C Stands are durable enough to hold fresh rolls of seamless paper or heavier cloth backdrops, have a max height of 11ft. The turtle base makes it easy to flop a sandbag over the stand to keep it secure. You will need two of these to hang a full-sized roll of seamless, some clamps to secure it from the top once it’s rolled out, and gaff tape to secure the edge of the paper, but it’s a slightly more cost-effective than an autopole system, a lot more versatile. You can set it up solo or bring it on location if you leave ample time in the schedule and don’t mind a little lifting.

Best portable: Neewer Photo Studio

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Neewer’s backdrop stand kit comes with a carrying bag, backdrop clips, and three different colors of backdrops—making it a great affordable package for photographers who are just getting started. The stand is made of aluminum alloy and is adjustable up to 8.5ft tall and 9.8ft wide, the cross bar is made of 4 sections which makes it easy to adjust the width of the stand. We wouldn’t recommend putting a fresh roll of seamless paper on this backdrop stand, it’s better suited for lightweight fabrics, but it can handle a roll that’s near the end of its life. Luckily, this kit comes with three lightweight backdrops to get you started.

Best for tabletop photography: Neewer 20×20 inches Tabletop Photography Lightbox

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A compact setup for smartphone shooters looking to sell their wares online or the photographer shooting small products. This backdrop stand tabletop kit comes with four fabric backdrops, four mini LED lights, a set of gel filters, and a stand for your smartphone. The stand is actually a foldable lightbox that folds into a compact case, making this a great option for shooters who are crunched on space. This tiny setup obviously doesn’t make sense for shooting portraits, but if you are the kind of shooter that deals with lots of small products it’s an excellent, easy-to-use solution. You can finally start that eBay store selling knick knacks.

Best heavy duty: Manfrotto 2961D Deluxe Autopole Expan Kit

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Manfrotto is one of the most trusted brands in the photo space and the company’s  Autopole system is an excellent choice for shooters who are primarily working in a studio. The autopoles securely wedge between the floor and the ceiling. They offer an expandable height of 6.5 feet to 11.4 feet—making it an excellent choice for a studio space. 

Best budget: BDDFOTO Photo Video Background Stand

SEE IT

Don’t expect this budget backdrop stand to last a lifetime, but if you are looking for something lightweight, easy to use and your backdrops aren’t particularly heavy—you really can’t beat the price on this one. This backdrop stand is adjustable from 2.3ft to 6.6ft in height and has a 4 piece cross bar that can be set up between 5ft to 10ft. It can only hold up to 5.29 lbs of weight though, so this is a system that you will want to use with lightweight cloth or vinyl backdrops, rather than fresh rolls of seamless paper. It breaks down small for easy storage in its compact carrying case. Don’t forget the sandbags if you intend to shoot with this one.  

Things to consider when looking at the best backdrop stands

Backdrop stands come in a variety of materials, sizes, and price points, and considering where you will be using the stand most often will help you consider what stand is best for you. If you are primarily working in a studio situation and have assistants working under you, you can’t beat the flexibility of an Autopole system. If you are a studio shooter who often works alone, investing in two solid C stands might be a better option.

If you are a photographer who regularly travels to weddings or events and is in need of a step-and-repeat or photo booth style set up, a collapsible backdrop stand that you build on site will probably serve your needs better. You’ll appreciate the portability when it’s time to pack up.

Pay close attention to what material your backdrop stands are made of though—a stand made of stainless steel or aluminum alloy will be stronger and more durable than a lighter weight model.

Other things to consider when shopping for a backdrop stand

As with many pieces of pro gear, the most expensive backdrop stand isn’t necessarily the best one for your specific needs. Full-sized backdrop stands can range anywhere from $30 to $500 dollars, but there is a significant range in quality that you will find online. The most expensive backdrop stands are a durable and excellent choice for studio shooting, especially if you are a photographer who regularly shoots with seamless paper. They are, however, often heavy and bulky, which makes them less than ideal for shooting on location.

If you are the kind of photographer who is typically shooting in the field, something collapsible may be a better option. Collapsible backdrop stands can be small enough for a single headshot or large enough to fit several people. They also come in a variety of color and pattern options. Although a lightweight option might seem like the go-to choice, if you are planning to hang heavy cloth backgrounds or heavy rolls of seamless paper from it, you will likely find yourself replacing it after only a few shoots. Many of the lightweight collapsible backdrop stands are really better suited for hanging a thin cloth backdrop or a vinyl step and repeat backdrop. You really don’t want your setup collapsing mid-shoot. It’s bad for the pictures and your insurance rates.

Regardless of the backdrop stand that you choose you will want to invest in some gaff tape, clamps and sand bags to keep your backdrop upright. Sandbags are particularly important if you are shooting outside with a collapsible backdrop stand to keep a strong gust of wind from taking your backdrop away from the set. An outdoor backdrop is basically a sail from a sailboat just waiting to take off with a gust of wind. 

Gaff tape will help you secure your seamless paper to the ground, while clamps will keep the top of your paper from unraveling. Read on to learn more about some of our favorite options for hanging backdrops.

The Expan system holds up to three rolls of paper, and a gear drive chain on the side of the rolls allows shooters to easily roll and unroll seamless papers. The system has a max weight capacity of 22 lbs, although we wouldn’t recommend keeping your seamless papers hanging from the stand when not in use because they can form slight bends that show up in photos. If you are a busy studio shooter you can’t go wrong with this system.

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best backdrop stands

A backdrop stand is an excellent way for taking your studio or event photography to the next level. A solid backdrop stand will allow you to eliminate distracting elements from your background so that the focus is on your subjects. Don’t forget your roll of gaff tape, sandbags, and a set of clamps—three helpful photo accessories to make sure you can set your backdrops up with ease.

The post The best backdrop stands in 2023 appeared first on Popular Photography.

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Best for travel		Best Tripod for travel		SEE IT	A great all-around solution for any video or photo need.
Best for vlogging		Sumcoo 53" Extendable Aluminum Tripod		SEE IT	This full-sized support system offers a variety of heights.
Best pocket tripod		Peak Design Mobile Tripod		SEE IT	It’s roughly the size of a credit card, making it easy to keep in your pocket.

Phone tripods allow shooters to get stabilized, professional-looking video content without the trouble of tired arms. Shooting smartphone video with a tripod also means you don’t have to worry about your finger covering the lens or the microphone while you are filming. They are an excellent tool for streamers, vloggers, TikTok creators, and even those just taking video calls. They come in a variety of sizes, and some feature the ability to attach external microphones or lights for an added level of professional content creation. When it comes to creating stabilized video content with your smartphone, these are some of the best phone tripods. 

• Best overall: Joby GorillaPod
• Best for vlogging: Sumcoo 53″ Extendable Aluminum Tripod
• Best pocket tripod: Peak Design Mobile Tripod
• Best with ring light: UBeesize 10”Selfie Ringlight with Tripod
• Best budget: Flexible Universal Tripod

How we picked the best phone tripods 

When selecting our picks for this article, we considered materials the product was made out of, versatility of use, and price. Although there are plenty of low-cost phone tripods on the market, if you are looking for something that will last a long time, your best bet is to purchase something made of metal rather than plastic. The PopPhoto writers and staff have decades of experience putting every type of camera on just about any tripod. 

When looking at each product’s versatility, we considered how the best phone tripods would be used. A mid-cost full-sized phone tripod is better suited for taking group photos outside, while a compact flexible-leg tripod is a better option for shooters on the go. If you are trying to record a lot of video content with your smartphone, having a tripod that allows you to attach additional accessories is ideal. 

The best phone tripods: Reviews & recommendations

Best overall: Joby GorillaPod

SEE IT

Why it made the cut: Joby’s GorillaPod has been setting the standard for compact, flexible tripods for a long time, and its phone tripod is no different. This particular model allows users to attach an external microphone and light for a seamless vlogging experience. 

Specs

• Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Flexible legs
• Compatible with cameras and phones

Pros

• Customizable configuration while shooting
• Sturdy build from a trusted brand
• Flexible legs make it easy to use the tripod anywhere
• All-in-one tool, lights and external mic included

Cons

• High price point 
• Some assembly required 

Every Joby GorillaPod has unique flexible legs that can be wrapped around virtually any surface for stable shooting—making it an extremely versatile tool for content creators. The wrap-around legs work just as well as traditional tripod legs or as a comfortable hand grip. 

This version was designed with vloggers in mind and in addition to holding your phone, comes with an external mic for crisp audio and an LED light that can be controlled through your phone to keep you looking your best on camera. It’s lightweight and compact, making it a great tool for shooters who are always on the go.

Although this all-in-one rig is substantially more expensive than other phone tripods on the market, and does require some assembly when you pull it out of the box, it’s coming from a trusted tripod brand and has a much sturdier build than anything else you will find for stabilizing your phone. If your smartphone is your primary camera for content creation, you can’t go wrong with the best phone tripod for travel, the Joby GorillaPod. 

Best for vlogging: Sumcoo 53″ Extendable Aluminum Tripod

SEE IT

Why it made the cut: This full-sized tripod is a low-cost, lightweight full-sized option for stabilizing your smartphone when shooting photos or videos. The three-way pan head and adjustable phone holder make it compatible with a wide variety of smartphones. 

Specs

• Extends up to 53” height
• Lightweight aluminum build
• Controllable with Bluetooth remote for selfies or video recording

Pros

• Extendable height from 16”-53 inches
• Bluetooth capabilities from 33 feet away 
• Very affordable price point 

Cons

• Not the sturdiest phone tripod 
• Carrying bag feels cheaply made

Sumcoo’s full-sized smartphone tripod is made of lightweight aluminum, is compatible with a wide variety of smartphone sizes and can extend up to 53” in height. This is an extremely basic smartphone tripod, but it covers the bases and you can’t beat the inexpensive price point. This is why it’s our pick for the best phone tripods for vlogging. 

It has a 360 degree 3-way pan head and you can adjust your phone to shoot horizontally or vertically. The quick-release plate makes it easy to pop your phone in and out of the phone holder. The Bluetooth-enabled remote shutter allows you to control your phone from up to 33 feet away. Although it doesn’t have the sturdiest build, and the nylon carrying bag feels cheaply made, if you are looking for a basic way to stabilize your smartphone this is a great choice. It’s light enough and folds down small enough that you can carry it around in collapsed mode if you want to shoot on the move.

Best pocket tripod: Peak Design Mobile Tripod

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Why it made the cut: This pocket-sized phone tripod magnetically attaches to your phone and is only slightly larger than a credit card, making it easy to slide into your pocket even with the tripod attached.

Specs

• 3.8 x 2.2 inches
• Magnetic attachment
• Machined/anodized aluminum build 

Pros

• Extremely compact
• Durable, metal construction
• Comes with a pin for adjusting ballhead tension
• Fast and easy to set up

Cons

• Requires the Peak Design phone case or Magsafe phones and cases
• Pricey

If you want a phone tripod that you can easily keep in your pocket, it doesn’t get much better than the Peak Design Mobile Tripod. When folded down, the tripod is roughly the size of a few credit cards stacked together. It’s incredibly slim and low profile, so you can even keep it on your phone when you’re not using it and still slide it into your pocket. It’s made of machined and anodized aluminum, so will withstand whatever you throw at it. And the feet feature grippy silicone so that they don’t slide and also dampen vibrations.

Because of the magnetic attachment, you can easily switch between landscape and portrait orientation. There’s not much height to it, and you’ll need a somewhat level surface, but the micro ballhead can help ensure you have level shots. And it comes with a magnetically embedded tool to adjust the ballhead tension if you need to.

The main downside with the Peak Design phone tripod is that you’ll either need the Peak Design phone case or a Magsafe phone or case. That’s because the tripod uses Peak Design’s SlimLink magnetic attachment technology to attach the tripod to your phone. It makes setup incredibly fast, though. And, if you go with a Peak Design case, you can also use the wide range of accessories that are designed for that.

Best with ring light: UBeesize 10”Selfie Ringlight with Tripod

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Why it made the cut: This ring light and tripod combo is an extremely convenient tool for streamers, makeup influencers, or any other content creator who wants to look their best on-camera without the hassle of additional lighting equipment. 

Specs

• Dimmable ring light 
• Smartphone attaches in middle of ring light 
• Extendable height up to 50”

Pros

• All-in-one tool for lighting and stabilizing video 
• Three light colors and 10 levels of brightness
• Phone can be placed in the middle of ring light for beautiful shadow-free shoots
• Wireless remote control allows touch-free operation

Cons

• Not the most stable tripod
• Not great for groups

This is one of the best phone tripods with a ring light for streamers, make-up artists, or any Youtuber who doesn’t want to fuss over lighting while creating content. This all-in-one ring light and tripod combo allows you to attach your phone in the middle of the ring light for beautiful shadow-free footage. 

The LED ring light features three different colors: warm, cool white, and daylight, and each setting can be adjusted between 10 levels of brightness. The phone tripod is extendable between 15 inches and  50 inches making it a great tool for tabletop use while seated, or while standing. The 10-inch diameter on the ring light makes this option most suitable for lighting a single person, rather than a group, but if you are solo this ring light and tripod combo will help you look your best on camera or on video calls. 

Best budget: Flexible Universal Tripod

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Why it made the cut: This compact phone tripod is one of the least expensive ones that can be found online. It’s flexible legs allow you to use it on a tabletop or wrap it around surfaces and can be controlled with a Bluetooth remote. 

Specs

• Inexpensive 
• Lightweight, only weighs 8.4 ounces
• Compact 8.85-inch height

Pros

• Extremely cheap
• Bluetooth capabilities from 30 feet away 
• Flexible legs make it easy to use anywhere

Cons

• Made of plastic
• Works best with smaller smartphones

If your budget is tight, you really can’t beat this compact, lightweight phone tripod. As with any budget product though, if you are saving big, you are probably going to sacrifice things such as product materials and build quality. Although this inexpensive phone tripod is made of plastic and is best suited for smaller, lightweight phones. The flexible legs make it a bit more versatile than other low-cost phone tripods. 

If you are shooting with the newest, most expensive iPhone or Android, it probably makes sense to stick with a higher-priced product, but if your phone is of a slightly older generation (and weight) this compact, inexpensive phone tripod will provide decent stability while shooting. This is the best budget phone tripod for novice shooters.

Things to consider before buying the best phone tripods

Before buying a smartphone tripod you should consider your budget and what you will primarily be shooting. 

Features

If you are looking for something inexpensive to stabilize your phone for shooting videos at home or taking video calls, a low-cost compact phone tripod will probably be plenty. If you are interested in creating YouTube videos, vlogging or streaming live a more advanced phone tripod that has the option to attach external microphones or lights will be a better match for you. 

Size

If you are planning to use the phone tripod to shoot TikTok videos or other content where you will be replacing original audio with something pre-recorded, a full-sized tripod that allows you to capture full-body shots is the way to go. Full-sized tripods can go over six feet in height, while tabletop tripods can stand just a few inches tall.

Shooting conditions

Consider whether you will be shooting indoors or outside—something that is made of cheap plastic materials will fare better in an indoor setting than it will outdoors. Ultimately the price of smartphone tripods tends to go up based on the materials that they are built out of. A tripod that has metal components will last a lot longer than one made of plastic, but will also cost more. 

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best phone tripods

• Best overall: Joby GorillaPod
• Best for vlogging: Sumcoo 53″ Extendable Aluminum Tripod
• Best pocket tripod: Peak Design Mobile Tripod
• Best with ring light: UBeesize 10”Selfie Ringlight with Tripod
• Best budget: Flexible Universal Tripod

While there are plenty of low-cost phone tripod options available online, if you are looking for something that is going to last, it’s worth spending a bit more money. Joby’s GorillaPod may be more expensive than some of the other phone tripods on this list, but it’s a well-known brand with a long history of making reliable tripods for full-sized cameras, and that’s why it’s our best overall product. We also love that the all-in-one kit features an external microphone and a little light—which means any video content captured with your phone will have an added level of professional quality. 

Why trust us

PopPhoto has a long history of delivering the opinions of some of the sharpest and most prolific camera dorks the world has to offer. Since 1937, we’ve been reviewing cameras, providing wisdom from well-known photographers, and generally just nerding out about all that goes into making great pictures. Our current crop of writers and editors have decades of professional photography and camera writing experience among them. Collectively, we’ve probably shot with just about every camera and lens combo you can imagine—as well as some obscure stuff you may not even know about. Remember the Casio Tryx folding camera? PopPhoto does.

We also get that buying a camera is a big decision, which is why we’re dedicated to helping folks choose the right one (or, in our case “ones”) for their needs. Case in point: Handing over top dollar for an expensive rig may leave you unsatisfied if it doesn’t fit your preferred shooting style. Sure, a $6,000 sports-oriented DSLR can capture landscapes, but do you really need to do it at 30 frames-per-second? No, you don’t.

The post The best phone tripods of 2023 appeared first on Popular Photography.

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For Canon shoters		Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT Flash		SEE IT	A great introduction to Canon’s flash system.
For Nikon shooters		Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight		SEE IT	This is a go-to for Nikon photographers.
For Sony shooters		Sony External Flash with Wireless Radio Control		SEE IT	Sony’s homegrown flash system includes radio triggering.

A detachable camera flash, also known as a speedlite, can change the way you approach photography. It’s one of the first accessories many shooters buy, but it makes a huge difference. Although many entry-level cameras come with a built-in flash, if you’ve recently invested in a more pro-grade camera body—like the Sony A1—you have probably noticed the lack of built-in flash. The best detachable camera flashes will give you more control and allow you to take more creative approaches to lighting. Once you’ve mastered a single flash, you can add more to your repertoire and start placing lights around the scene. It’s easy to get hooked. 

• Best for Canon Shooters: Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT Flash
• Best for Nikon Shooters: Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight
• Best for Sony Shooters: Sony External Flash with Wireless Radio Control
• Best High-End: Profoto A10 On/Off Camera Flash Kit
• Best Budget: Godox TT600 Camera Flash

The best detachable camera flashes: Reviews & Recommendations

Best for Canon Shooters: Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT Flash

SEE IT

This is a great starter-speedlite. It offers a zoom flash head with coverage from 24-105mm and radio compatibility. The 430EX III-RT features a built-in catch light panel, a dot-matrix display, and a multi-dial that makes it easy to operate on the go. It has a 6-stop range with increments as small as ⅓ of a step and has a recycling time of 0.1 to 3.7 seconds. If you are a Canon shooter who is just getting started with flash photography this is an excellent tool to add to your gear kit. You can add more Canon detachable camera flashes to the system down the line.

Best for Nikon Shooters: Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight

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The SB-700 can be set up as a remote that can control other Nikon flashes, making it a great tool for photographers who want to explore off-camera flash photography. The Nikon SB-700 comes with filters for incandescent and fluorescent lighting situations. It offers three different illumination patterns to give photographers more control over the light output from the flash. In commander mode, the SB-700 can control off-camera flashes in two groups and one of four channels, plus features quick A:B ratio wireless control for speedy setups. The flash runs on four AA batteries and has a recycle time of 2.5-3.5 seconds.

Best for Sony Shooters: Sony External Flash with Wireless Radio Control

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Sony’s flash has a 2.4 GHz radio transceiver that allows it to operate as a commander or a remote, it can support up to 15 flashes in five groups on one of 14 channels. It has full support for Sony’s metering system and is compatible with cameras across the Sony line. It has a recycle time of 1.7 sec, can fire up to 220 per fully charged set of batteries, and comes with green and amber color filters for balancing light. It features two memory settings so that users can save their setups and quickly pull them back up again.

Best High-End: Profoto A10 On/Off Camera Flash Kit

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This unit pricy unit mimics the look and performance of Profoto’s monolights and studio strobes. The A10 works with the Profoto app and Bluetooth technology for a button-free experience. Because it’s controlled through an app instead of a traditional trigger setup, it can work with any kind of camera. The round flash head gives users a natural light fall off, it’s powered by a rechargeable Li-Ion battery, and delivers 450 flashers per charge. It’s compatible with Profoto Air, AirTTL, and Connect triggers too, so if you are already a Profoto user, this one of the best camera flashes to add to your collection.

Best Budget: Godox TT600 Camera Flash

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Godox (or Flashpoint if you are buying from Adorama) has been a reliable and budget-friendly lighting option for photographers for a number of years now. And the Godox TT660 is no different. This light has built-in 2.4G wireless transmission, an illuminated LCD panel, and an automatic function to prevent flash overheating. Use it with the X1 TTL flash trigger to control manual output and fire remotely. It can shoot about 230 flashes on a full battery, and features high-speed sync when it’s used with a wireless transmitter trigger up to 1/8000s. This one even comes with a set of gels to get even more creative with your lighting capabilities. 

Things to consider when buying the best detachable camera flahes

Unlike built-in pop up flashes a detachable flash will allow you to control the intensity and angle of the light that is emitted from it. By simply turning the flash head around, you can bounce light off of the back wall or the ceiling. That creates a much softer, more flattering light in many cases than a direct blast. Wedding and event photographers can often rely entirely on a bounced flash to cover an entire room. 

Detachable flashes are smaller and less expensive than studio strobes, making them a great lighting tool for bringing on location. Your camera’s built-in flash, on the other hand, typically won’t have enough power to compete with the sun in bright conditions. 

Get the flash off of the camera

To use most mid-range detachable camera flashes you will need to invest in a transmitter and receiver to control the flash or an off-camera flash cord. These tools will allow you to control the flash even when it isn’t attached to the top of your camera. 

Transmitters will allow you to control multiple detachable flashes right from your camera. The flexibility makes them great for setting up low-cost portrait lighting solutions. With multiple strobes, you can light everything from dark interiors to bright exteriors shots that need strong fill. 

The best flashes have transmitters built-in so you can use them to control other remote flashes within a certain range. 

Get extra batteries

If you are planning to shoot with a detachable camera flash make sure to bring some extra batteries along. Many detachable flashes and transmitters run on multiple AA batteries. You can use rechargeable batteries to save money because lights typically chew through power quickly. 

Even if you typically use rechargeables, it’s worth having a set of standard batteries in your bag, just in case you run out of rechargeable juice and need backups. 

Some manufacturers offer flash units with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Those cells typically offer many pops per charge, but they cost more and typically aren’t as simple to swap. 

Should I buy a first-party flash or a third-party flash?

Camera companies typically manufacture their own detachable camera flash systems designed to work with its own gear. Canon, Nikon, Sony, and all the other big-name camera companies sell camera flashes that come in a variety of different power levels. Higher-end flashes typically offer faster recycle times, emit more light, and connect wirelessly over longer distances. A high-end flash will typically be a few hundred dollars more than a mid-range option. 

If you are looking for the best speedlite, a third-party flash can be an appealing option. Godox is one of the most popular third-party brands for lighting equipment. You can often save even more money buying several units at a time. If you are planning to use a third-party flash make sure that you are purchasing the version that was designed to work with your camera and a compatible transmitter. 

If money is no issue, a high-end third-party flash like the one made by Profoto might be what you are looking for. Profoto’s speedlight features a unique round flash head for light fall off that is similar to what you get with their high-end strobes and monolights. They’re powerful and create beautiful light with short flash durations, so they’re good for freezing action.

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best detachable camera flashes

Ultimately the best detachable camera flashes are one of the easiest ways to control the light and a lower-cost way to experiment than using studio strobes. A detachable flash is a must-have photography accessory when you are just starting out and building your gear collection. Learning to use a detachable flash will teach you a lot about the way that light works and how lighting conditions play a big role in the aesthetics of photography.

The post The best detachable camera flashes of 2023 appeared first on Popular Photography.

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Best overall		Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM Lens		SEE IT	The classic focal length for portraits.
Best zoom		Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II		SEE IT	A telephoto lens with lots of reach.
Best budget wide-angle		Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary Lens		SEE IT	A fast wide-angle ideal for environmental portraits.

The right portrait lens for Sony cameras can help you take your portrait photos to the next level. Portrait photography is a challenging genre that requires serious skill. You need to establish a relationship with your subject, choose the most flattering light, and nail that perfect eye focus. Choose the wrong lens, though, and none of that matters. If you’re seeking a Sony lens for portraits, it’s easy to hone in on the G Master glass. It’s undeniably beautiful, but it’s also big and expensive. 

Third-party lenses (lenses that are created by companies that aren’t Sony) can help you save money, but they may not be able to utilize your Sony camera’s image stabilization and autofocus capabilities in the same way that a lens made by Sony will. A little bit of research will go a long way in getting you one of the best portrait lenses for Sony cameras for your style.

• Best overall: Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM Lens
• Best zoom: Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II
• Best budget zoom: Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD Lens
• Best prime: Sony FE 135mm F1.8 G Master Telephoto Prime Lens
• Best budget prime: Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE Lens
• Best for beginners: Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm f/4 Lens
• Best wide-angle: Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens
• Best budget wide-angle: Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary Lens

How we picked the best portrait lenses for Sony

The writers and editors at PopPhoto have decades of experience in just about every genre of photography and with every major camera brand. We used this knowledge to assess lenses for Sony cameras that would be ideal for various types of portraiture. In making our selections, we considered overall lens quality, including sharpness, bokeh quality, distortion, and aberrations. We also evaluated various lens features like image stabilization and weather-sealing. Lastly, we aimed to find lenses at various price points suitable for different budgets and experience levels.

The best portrait lenses for Sony: Reviews & recommendations

Best overall: Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM Lens

SEE IT

Why it made the cut: Sony’s 85mm GM lens is a spectacular take on this classic portrait focal length, offering exceptional sharpness and beautiful bokeh.

Specs

• Lens mount: Sony E (full-frame)
• Aperture range: f/1.4 – f/16
• Image stabilization: No
• Filter size: 77mm
• Minimum focus distance: 2.62 feet
• Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Dimensions: 3.52 x 4.23 inches

Pros

• Stunning image quality
• Rugged build quality
• Includes a physical aperture ring
• Fast and bright f/1.4 aperture

Cons

• No stabilization 

An 85mm prime is generally regarded as the best lens for shooting portraits because of how it flatters your subjects. This Sony G Master 85mm is one of our favorite portrait lenses for Sony because it was designed to offer ultimate resolution and beautiful bokeh. It provides a fast maximum aperture of f/1.4, which is ideal for low-light situations. That and the 11-blade circular aperture found inside the lens will help you create portrait photos with tack-sharp subjects and beautifully defocused backgrounds. 

Sonys 85mm GM is made up of one XA element, three ED elements, and a Nono AR coating. These help to improve clarity, color, and contrast, even in tricky lighting conditions like backlighting. And it’s dust and moisture-resistant to give you more confidence using it outside. 

The lens utilizes Sony’s Linear Super Sonic wave Motor (SSM) to maximize autofocus speed and precision. It pairs well with the impressive autofocus systems found in Sony’s cameras. And you can de-click the physical aperture ring for silent and smooth aperture changes when recording video. It’s a well-rounded lens that offers the highest level of quality.

Best zoom: Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II

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Why it made the cut: Sony’s G Master telephoto zoom offers a versatile zoom range, a bright and constant maximum aperture, and of course, exceptional sharpness. It’s also quite lightweight for a lens of this focal length range.

Specs

• Lens mount: Sony E (full-frame)
• Aperture range: f/2.8 – f/22
• Image stabilization: Yes
• Filter size: 77mm
• Minimum focus distance: 1.3 feet
• Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Dimensions: 3.46 x 7.87 inches

Pros

• Lightweight for this lens class
• Fast, bright, and constant max f/2.8 aperture
• Dust- and splash-resistant design
• Extremely sharp

Cons

• Expensive

This is the second iteration of Sony’s 70-200mm, which offers noticeable improvements over the first. The most significant is that it weighs 2.3 pounds, which is 29 percent lighter than the first version. It’s one of the lightest lenses of this focal length range across brands, making it easier to carry around at a wedding or other day of shooting.

The weight savings is in part thanks to a new optical formula, which also improves image quality. The lens now features two ED (extra-low dispersion), two Super ED elements, including one aspherical ED element, and two aspherical lenses, all of which reduce aberrations and improve clarity. And it works. Images from this lens are extremely sharp and clear, making it a top choice for pros seeking a portrait lens for Sony.

Sony also implemented a new autofocus system in the second version, resulting in much faster focusing. Sony has prioritized video in recent years and managed to make this lens an excellent hybrid lens. It reduced focus breathing and focus shifting for better video results. The lens also features a physical aperture ring which you can de-click for video applications as well.

While we think the improvements in the second version are well worth the money, the original 70-200mm GM is still a fantastic lens and will save you some money. 

Best budget zoom: Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD Lens

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Why it made the cut: Tamron managed to make an ultra-telephoto zoom lens at an affordable price with a surprisingly compact body, fast autofocus, and great image quality. 

Specs

• Lens mount: Sony E (full-frame)
• Aperture range: f/4.5 to 6.3 – f/22 to 32
• Image stabilization: No
• Filter size: 67mm
• Minimum focus distance: 2.6 feet
• Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Dimensions: 5.8 x 3 inches

Pros

• Very versatile zoom range
• Extremely compact and lightweight
• Extremely affordable

Cons

• No stabilization

Telephoto zoom lenses with long reach typically get quite expensive and bulky. And yet, third-party optics company Tamron created an ultra-telephoto zoom with a highly versatile 70-300mm range that comes in under $600 and weighs more than a pound less than the Sony 70-200mm GM lens.

Tamron’s 70-300mm offers a lot of quality for the price. The lens body is weather-sealed, which you typically only get on higher-end lenses. Its autofocus is fast and nearly silent and works with Sony’s advanced autofocus features like subject tracking and eye detection. And the lens is surprisingly sharp in the center with limited aberrations. There is some edge softness, but it gets better as you zoom in.

Of course, the low price comes with some compromises. Most notable is the rather slow aperture that varies from f/4.5 to f/6.3 as you zoom in. And there isn’t any stabilization or vibration control in the lens. That won’t be as big of a deal for those with newer Sony a7 series cameras, which have five-axis stabilization. But without that, you’ll need to bump your ISO up pretty high in order to get blur-free images. All in all, the Tamron 70-300mm offers a lot of value despite these few downsides, making it one of our favorite portrait lenses for Sony cameras.

Best prime: Sony FE 135mm F1.8 G Master Telephoto Prime Lens

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Why it made the cut: Sony’s 135mm GM lens offers exceptional sharpness, a fast f/1.8 aperture, and lightning-fast autofocus.

Specs

• Lens mount: Sony E (full-frame)
• Aperture range: f/1.8 – f/22
• Image stabilization: No
• Filter size: 82 mm
• Minimum focus distance: 2.3 feet
• Weight: 2 pounds
• Dimensions: 3.52 x 5 inches

Pros

• Stunning bokeh
• Exceptionally sharp
• Rugged weather-sealed construction
• Fast f/1.8 aperture

Cons

• Pricey

Think of the 135mm G Master lens as the older sibling of the 85mm G Master. Telephoto primes are great for shooting portraits because of the flattering perspective that flattens everything out and the background separation that is possible. That is especially true with the 135mm GM, which features an 11-blade circular aperture for beautiful bokeh, especially if you are shooting wide open at f/1.8. 

This G Master lens is known for its extraordinary sharpness.  The lens is made up of XA, Super ED, and ED elements for high-resolution images edge to edge. But where it really shines is with autofocus. The lens utilizes an XD Linear Motor system and internal focus mechanism for accurate and quiet autofocus. It’s also extremely fast to focus, making this lens a great choice for sports or action.

Though 135mm is slightly less flexible than 85mm, the extra length makes it handy for things like wedding ceremonies where you can’t get as close or portraits in busy settings where you want to cut through distracting elements in the foreground. It offers a focus limiter and manual focus switch, as well as an aperture ring that can be de-clicked for video use. There are also two programmable buttons to make your shooting process more streamlined. It’s a pricey lens, but it is one of the best high-end Sony portrait lenses.

Best budget prime: Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE Lens

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Why it made the cut: Samyang’s 135mm for Sony E mount rivals Sony’s GM version in sharpness and offers the same bright f/1.8 aperture but comes at a fraction of the price.

Specs

• Lens mount: Sony E (full-frame)
• Aperture range: f/1.8 – f/22
• Image stabilization: No
• Filter size: 82mm 
• Minimum focus distance: 2.2 feet
• Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Dimensions: 3.7 x 5.1 inches

Pros

• Very sharp
• Affordable
• Weather-sealed
• Customizable controls

Cons

• No stabilization

Samyang is commonly overlooked, though the company has produced impressive lenses, especially in recent years. Its 135mm for Sony E mount is one such example. It is an extremely sharp lens, rivaling the powerhouse Sony 135mm GM lens. The lens is sharp across the entire frame, even when shooting wide open. It also features a fast f/1.8 aperture and 11-blade aperture diaphragm, like the Sony. As a result, it provides beautiful bokeh.

The lens is surprisingly customizable, so you can tailor things to how you shoot. One such control is a switch that allows you to use the focus ring as an aperture control, which the lens doesn’t have. You can also program the focus hold button as you wish. Some changes require the Samyang Lens Station, while some can be done in Sony’s menus. 

The lens’s autofocus is fast and quiet, but it cannot match the performance of the Sony. It won’t be as suited for action as a result. But you can still use all of Sony’s advanced autofocus features with the Samyang, so it isn’t anything to sneeze at. The Samyang lens is also weather-sealed and fairly rugged and weighs slightly less than the Sony. All of this, and it’s less than half the price of the Sony GM. It’s a truly excellent portrait lens for Sony, especially given the price.

Best for beginners: Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm f/4 Lens

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Why it made the cut: This classic standard zoom offers a bit of everything (wide, normal, telephoto) with fast autofocus in a rugged, compact, and affordable body.

Specs

• Lens mount: Sony E (full-frame)
• Aperture range: f/4 – f/22
• Image stabilization: Yes
• Filter size: 67mm
• Minimum focus distance: 1.3 feet
• Weight: 15.03 ounces
• Dimensions: 2.87 x 3.72 inches, 4.9 inches at maximum extension

Pros

• Affordable
• Versatile zoom range
• Durable build quality
• Includes stabilization

Cons

• Not very sharp zoomed out

We’d suggest everyone have a 24-70mm lens in their kit because of its versatility, but that’s especially true for beginners. You get a bit of a wide angle, normal, and telephoto all in one body, so you won’t have to change lenses as frequently. That also means don’t need to own a bunch of lenses as you are getting started. For portraits specifically, you can get some flattering telephoto portraits and take environmental portraits with the same lens. 

Sony’s Carl Zeiss-branded lens is a fantastic entry-level or enthusiast lens thanks partly to the reasonable price. Though the f/4 maximum aperture isn’t blazing fast, it is constant throughout the zoom range and still allows you to get some nice bokeh, especially when zoomed in. In addition, the lens features ZEISS T* anti-reflective coatings, which result in excellent clarity, contrast, and colors. And it’s dust- and moisture-sealed and offers tough metal construction for exceptional durability. Speaking from experience, this lens can take some hits and be just fine.

Unfortunately, this Sony portrait lens shows some rather significant softness in the corners at either end of the focal length range. Sharpness improves in the middle focal lengths, however. It won’t provide the same high-resolution results as Sony’s 24-70mm GM, but it does offer a lot of value considering the price.

Best wide-angle: Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens 

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Why it made the cut: This wide-angle lens makes unique environmental portraits possible with a versatile 16-35mm range while providing a fast f/2.8 aperture. It’s also sharper than any other wide-angle zoom available. 

Specs

• Lens mount: Sony E (full-frame)
• Aperture range: f/2.8 – f/22
• Image stabilization: No
• Filter size: 82mm
• Minimum focus distance: 11 inches
• Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Dimensions: 3.5 x 4.8 inches, 5.4 inches at maximum extension

Pros

• Fast f/2.8 max aperture
• Extremely sharp
• Durable build
• Attractive bokeh

Cons

• Expensive

Although a wide-angle lens isn’t the most common choice for portraiture, there are times this focal length is the best choice. Whether you’re shooting group photos at a wedding or capturing the scenery behind a skier, a wide-angle can provide a unique perspective and help you show more. Sony’s 16-35mm GM is the sharpest wide-angle zoom across all brands, making it a top choice for a wide-angle Sony portrait lens.

On top of being exceptionally sharp across the entire frame, even when wide open, the lens also offers a bright f/2.8 max aperture. This is ideal for low-light shooting, such as wedding receptions, but it also makes a shallow depth of field with nice bokeh possible. It can focus as close as 11 inches, and while it won’t offer the magnification of a macro lens, it can result in some unique closeups. 

As with all Sony G Master lenses, autofocus is quick and accurate. And the body is weather-sealed for greater durability. As we would expect on a lens this wide, there is some distortion, but it’s very easy to remove automatically, either in camera or in post. 

Best budget wide-angle: Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary

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Why it made the cut: Sigma’s 16-28mm is lighter than Sony’s 16-35mm, features all internal zoom, and is extremely sharp. And yet, it’s relatively affordable. 

Specs

• Lens mount: Sony E (full-frame)
• Aperture range: f/2.8 – f/22
• Image stabilization: No
• Filter size: 72mm
• Minimum focus distance: 9.8 inches
• Weight: 15.9 ounces
• Dimensions: 3 x 4 inches

Pros

• Internal zoom is ideal for use on gimbals
• Very sharp
• Affordable
• Lightweight and compact

Cons

• Less range than the Sony equivalent

Sigma’s wide-angle zoom offering for Sony E-mount is a fantastic lens. Of course, it doesn’t provide quite the reach of the Sony 16-35mm, which is a bummer. But we think it’s still a great option for portraiture nonetheless. The 16-28mm is perfect for getting ready shots, group photos, or reception images at weddings, as well as adventure portraits or even dramatic street photography.

Sigma’s 16-28mm features all internal zoom, which makes it much easier to use on gimbals, as you won’t have to worry about rebalancing. It’s relatively lightweight and compact, making it easier to carry around. And the autofocus is fast, quiet, and accurate, so it can easily handle some action shots of a snowboarder blowing past you.

On top of all that, this lens is also very sharp. It has great edge-to-edge sharpness even when wide open, meaning you can take full advantage of that fast f/2.8 aperture. Sigma applied Super Multi-Layer and Nano Porous coatings to reduce lens flares and improve contrast, so you’ll get great image quality even when the sun is in the frame. Overall it offers a lot of quality for the price for both video and photo applications. But if you want something more dramatic and don’t mind spending a bit more, the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN ART lens is one of my favorites.

More portrait lenses for Sony that we love:

For smooth backgrounds: Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS Lens

Sony’s 100mm utilizes a unique design that results in incredibly smooth backgrounds. Sony utilized an apodization (APD) element that allows for what Sony has dubbed Smooth Trans Focus. Essentially, the APD element allows for smoother, more circular bokeh for buttery soft backgrounds. 

Budget zoom: Sony 18-105mm F4 G OSS

This 18-105mm lens features a widely versatile zoom range, and yet it is relatively compact and lightweight (15.1 ounces and 4.3 inches long). Because of that, it’s a great travel portrait lens, as you won’t mind keeping it on you. It’s also quite affordable for what you get, making it an excellent option if you are just getting started with photography.

Budget wide-angle prime lens: Tamron 35mm f/2.8 Di III

Shooting portraits with a 35mm prime is a classic length favored by photojournalists. This f/2.8 lens has a close focusing distance of 5.9 inches and features a dirt-resistant fluorine coating on the front element. It only weighs 7.4 ounces, so it won’t weigh you down while you are shooting. It’s also one of the cheapest lenses you can get for taking portraits on your Sony camera. 

High-end standard zoom: Sony FE 24-70 mm F2.8 G Master II

You can’t beat Sony’s take on the classic 24-70mm lens. The lens provides a fast f/2.8 max aperture, perfect for low-light conditions. It offers exceptional image quality, lightning-fast autofocus, and attractive bokeh. It’s also weather-sealed and features a rugged build.

Bokeh monster: Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

You don’t typically see a super-wide f/1.4 aperture on a lens this long. Shoot wide open, and it will create a super-narrow band of focus that can separate a subject from a cluttered background. That wide aperture also lets in tons of light, which means it’s great for low-light situations. 

Ultra-fast ultra-wide: Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM

If you want something more dramatic than the Sony 16-35mm, the 12-24mm f/2.8 GM is the top choice. It’s beautifully sharp, is capable of attractive bokeh, and provides a unique perspective thanks to the ultra-wide focal length. And, like all G Master lenses, it’s weather-sealed and offers incredibly fast autofocus. 

Things to consider when shopping for a portrait lens for Sony

APS-C or full-frame lens

When selecting a portrait lens for your Sony camera, it’s important to understand that Sony makes cameras with two different sensor sizes: Full-frame and APS-C (a smaller sensor, also called crop sensor). Sony specifically designed lenses for each type of sensor, but because all Sony cameras utilize the E-mount regardless of sensor size, you can use any lens on any camera. 

That said, the lenses designed for smaller APS-C cameras—such as the a6400—don’t create an image big enough to cover a full-frame sensor. This results in a black circle around the image unless you go into your settings and ask the camera to crop in. And then you are losing out on parts of the image, which generally isn’t ideal. Of course, APS-C lenses are smaller and more affordable, so depending on your priorities, it may still be worth dealing with the crop.

The lenses that we’ve selected here are all full-frame lenses, but as mentioned, can be used on APS-C cameras. The important thing to know is that crop factor comes into play when using any lens on a crop sensor camera. With Sony cameras, there is a 1.5x crop factor, meaning you’ll need to multiply the focal length by 1.5 to determine how the focal length will actually appear on your APS-C camera. So, for example, an 85mm lens on an APS-C will behave like roughly a 127mm lens. 

Zoom versus prime lens

When selecting a portrait lens for Sony cameras, the first decision you’ll make is between a fixed-focal-length lens or a zoom lens. Fixed-focal-length lenses (also known as prime lenses) typically offer wider apertures than zoom lenses, making them a great choice for shooting in low light. That feature also allows shooters to create portrait photographs that are extremely sharp on the subject with a lovely defocused background. Prime lenses can also offer more quality at a lower price, but given you are just getting one focal length, it lacks the versatility of a zoom lens.

A zoom lens is a more versatile option for shooting portraits since they offer a range of focal lengths in one lens body. A 24-70mm lens or a longer telephoto lens are both handy tools to have in your kit. These lenses can be particularly useful when shooting portraits at an event. A long telephoto zoom lens will provide the same flattering perspective as an 85mm prime, while a shorter 24-70mm lens can make it easier to flip between portraits and event details without having to carry a second Sony camera body or swap lenses constantly.

Focal length

Both prime and zoom lenses come in a variety of focal lengths, but 85mm is the most classic portrait option. A lens with this focal length allows the photographer to be farther from their subject and capture a headshot-style portrait or a full-body portrait without adding distortion to the image. It’s popular with portrait photographers because of its flattering perspective. Longer lenses can result in more dramatic background blur, but you will have to stand further away from your subject, which may not be ideal.

Some shooters prefer shorter lenses in the 50mm or 35mm range. These focal lengths are a great option for capturing environmental portrait photos because of their slightly wider field of view. Most portrait photographers avoid going any wider, as a wider angle portrait will start to add distortion to the features of your subject. But some situations, such as large group photos at weddings or dramatic environmental portraits, may call for something wider. Just be aware that it will introduce some distortion, so ultra-wide won’t be suitable for most types of portraits.

Lens categories and brands

Sony makes three different categories of lenses: G, G Master, and Zeiss. The Zeiss line of lenses was designed in collaboration with iconic lens maker Zeiss. The G and G Master series were designed exclusively by Sony. G Master lenses are designed to offer ultimate resolution and beautiful bokeh, while the Zeiss lenses offer ultimate resolution and contrast. G Master lenses are some of the most precise lenses you can shoot with, but they tend to be quite expensive. G lenses are more affordable while still offering lots of quality.

Outside of those three classes of lenses, you could also choose a third-party lens, or one made by a company other than the camera manufacturer. Companies such as Tamron, Rokinon, and Sigma make lenses for various camera mounts that are generally priced significantly lower than first-party or OEM (original equipment manufacturer) lenses. 

At times the low price also correlates to low quality. And a third-party lens may not have all of the features of its OEM counterpart, such as image stabilization or even autofocusing abilities. But there are also plenty of third-party portrait lenses for Sony that work seamlessly and offer excellent quality, making them well worth your money. It’s important to read the details of the lens to ensure that it will work how you expect it, however.

FAQs

Final thoughts on portrait lenses for Sony

Ultimately, the best portrait lens for Sony is different for every shooter. You should consider your budget, the style of photos you like to take, and what else you might be using it for when selecting the right lens for you. An 85mm or 135mm prime lens is an excellent option for shooting beautiful portraits but might not be as versatile as something like a standard zoom lens. If you are tight on money or just starting out, consider a prime lens from a third-party company like Tamron or the less expensive Sony G lenses. If you’ve been shooting for a while and looking to splurge, a fancy G Master prime lens is a great piece of glass to add to your collection.

The post The best portrait lenses for Sony in 2023 appeared first on Popular Photography.

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Best overall		Flashpoint XPLOR 600 Monolight		SEE IT	A powerful strobe with a built-in battery and receiver.
Best for studios		Profoto B10 Plus 500/500 AirTTL Duo Monolight Kit		SEE IT	Profoto’s legendary light quality in compact form.
Best budget		Neewer 700W Socket Light Lighting Kit		SEE IT	Everything you need to get started learning to light.

Light is crucial when it comes to portrait photography. Shooting during golden hour sunset or having access to a large window are both great tools for harnessing the power of the sun when shooting portraits, but sometimes the weather isn’t going to be on your side. The best portrait lighting kits will go a long way in improving the creative control you have as a photographer when shooting portraits. 

These lighting kit setups will help you control the light, so you can feel confident shooting portraits regardless of location or what time of day you might be shooting. These are some of the best portrait lighting kits and lights for shooting.

• Best overall: Flashpoint XPLOR 600 Monolight
• Best for studios: Profoto B10 Plus 500/500 AirTTL Duo Monolight Kit
• Best budget: Neewer 700W Socket Light Lighting Kit
• Best LED lights for photography: Neewer 2 Packs Dimmable Bi-Color 480 LED Lights
• Best portable LED lights: Lume CubePanel Pro LED Light

How we picked the best portrait lighting kits

When selecting our picks for best lights and lighting kits we considered price, brand recognition, size and style of lighting tool. 

The monolights listed in this story are more expensive options and often require photographers to build their own kit by buying modifiers and light stands, but ultimately we believe these lights are more reliable when shooting portraits in the studio or on location. When shopping for lights paying more up-front often means getting a product that will serve your needs for much longer. 

The continuous lights in this story were more often sold as package deals. Both of the Neewer selects are low-cost options that are great for either beginners or photographers who are looking for something inexpensive. Ultimately these lights offer less flexibility than the monolights, give photographers less control and won’t last as long as higher priced alternatives. The Lumecube LED light demonstrates just how far LED technology has come in recent years. This pocket-sized LED panel won’t be ideal for shooting full body portraits, but can be a great way to pop some creative color on a tighter portrait sitter.

Best portrait lighting kits: Reviews and Recommendations

Best overall: Flashpoint XPLOR 600 Monolight

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Why it made the cut: Flashpoint’s XPLOR 600 Monolights are a fast and reliable tool for inside the studio or on location, plus they are a fraction of the price of other battery-powered strobes. 

Specs:

• High Speed Sync up to 1/80000 seconds
• Built-in 2.4G wireless
• 500 full-power flashes per charge 
• Recycle time of 0.01-2.5 second when fully charged

Pros:

• Affordable compared to other monolights
• 600w lights with 9 steps of power adjustment
• Built-in wireless receiver compatible with Canon or Nikon
• Fast 0.01 to 2.5 sec recycle time 

Cons: 

• Not sold as a kit, have to purchase stands separately 
• Built-in wireless receiver not compatible with non Canon or Nikon cameras

Flashpoint’s XPLOR 600 Monolights is one of our favorite mid-level monolights on the market. Although you will have to purchase light stands and light modifiers separately, the XPLOR 600 is the best portable portrait lighting kit for a photographer looking to build out a studio lighting kit. 

These lights offer 600 watts of power, 500 full power flashes time with a recycle time of 0.01-2.5 seconds on a fully charged battery, and offer a stable 5600K color temperature. Built in 2.4 G wireless transmission is stable up to 80M away and has high-speed sync of up to 1/80000 seconds, including first curtain sync and second curtain sync.

The battery-operated lights come with a battery, flashtube, lampshade, charger adapter, power cable, Bowens mount reflector, and a custom carrying case. These lights are an excellent place to start when building out the best portrait lighting kit. 

Best for studios: Profoto B10 Plus 500/500 AirTTL Duo Monolight Kit

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Why it made the cut: Profoto’s B10 Plus Monolights offer a powerful 500-watt output in a compact 4.2 lbs monolight, and are compatible with other Profoto lights and accessories. 

Specs:

• Lightweight, only 4.2 lbs 
• TTL and HSS capabilities
• 200 full power flashes and recycle time of 0.05-2.5 second when fully charged

Pros:

• Compact size, about the length of a 70-200mm lens
• Integrated continuous light in addition to strobe option
• Adjustable color temperature 

Cons: 

• Expensive
• Must buy light stands separately 

Profoto products are one of the most highly regarded lighting products in the industry and these compact 500-watt lights made a big splash when they hit the market. The Profoto B10 Plus is about the size of a 70-200mm lens, making them some of the smallest monolights currently available. With the addition of two light stands and some modifiers, you will be ready to shoot portraits in the studio or on location. 

The lights offer 200 full power flashes with a recycle time of 0.05-2.5 seconds when fully charged. The B10 Plus also features an integrated continuous light with adjustable color temperature, making these a great tool for video shooters as well. 

The lights are compatible with any of the light-shaping tools from the Profoto lineup and have an intuitive interface to get you started shooting fast. If money is no issue, you can’t go wrong with the Profoto B10 Plus, the best studio portrait kit.

Best budget: Neewer 700W Socket Light Lighting Kit

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Why it made the cut: A great choice for beginners, Neewer’s 700W all-in-one lighting kit allows you to explore portrait lighting techniques without breaking the bank. 

Specs:

• All-in-One Kit
• Continuous Lighting
• Includes 24×24 softboxes

Pros:

• Inexpensive kit, great for beginning photographers
• Includes bulbs, softboxes, lighting stands and carrying case
• E27 socket makes it compatible with all types of bulbs for versatile lighting

Cons: 

• No wireless option, must be plugged in

Using lights while shooting portraits can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Neewer’s 700W socket light kit is simple to use, has a non-threatening price tag, and is a great starter kit to learn the way that light can change the mood of a portrait. 

The 700W socket light kit comes with two 85W 5500K low-operating temperature light bulbs, although the E27 socket means you can screw in any color temperature or color of bulb you desire. 

This kit comes with softboxes, lighting stands, and a carrying case as well. They require an outlet to operate—so these aren’t going to be ideal for working on location and photographers looking to stretch their creativity will likely soon grow tired of the simplicity of this kit, but if it’s a low cost basic lighting setup you are looking for this is the best budget portrait lighting kit for you.   

Best LED lights for photography: Neewer 2 Packs Dimmable Bi-Color 480 LED Lights

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Why it made the cut: These dimmable, bi-color LED lights offer professional quality continuous light, for a fraction of the price, making them an excellent choice for new photographers or videographers. 

Specs:

• Variable color temperature from 3200~5600K
• Dimmable Bi-color light 
• Powered by AC adapter or NP-F550 NP-F970 Sony batteries 

Pros:

• Diffusers, stands and carrying case included
• Affordable price point 
• Dimmable bi-color lights with variable color temperature from 3200-5600K
• Can be used wirelessly 

Cons: 

• Can’t dial in exact color temperatures when shooting 
• Short power cords 

LED lights are well-loved by continuous light photographers and videographers and this set from Neewer is the best LED lights for photography. They’re also a great option for experienced shooters on a budget or amateurs looking to explore their options. 

This Neewer kit includes diffusers, stands and carrying cases so you will be ready to start shooting as soon as you unbox. The lights have 240 white and 240 yellow LED bulbs that create a variable color temperature between 3200-5600K. Because this is a budget LED light, you can’t dial in exact color temperatures while using them, but downloading a free light-meter app will help you approximate. 

The lights can be powered by an AC adapter or two Sony batteries (must be purchased separately)—making them a versatile option when it comes to shooting location. 

Color temperature and brightness of the light are controlled by two separate knobs on the back of the panel. A U mount bracket on the bottom of each lighting panel allows you to adjust the angle. These are decent-quality LED lights for such a low price. 

Best portable: Lume CubePanel Pro LED Light

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Why it made the cut: Lume Cube’s pocket-sized LED lights are extremely portable, making them a great choice for the portrait shooter who wants to travel light. 

Specs:

• Pocket-sized LED light
• Variable color temperature from 3000K to 5700K, with 360 RGB color options 
• Mountable to camera or on light stands

Pros: 

• Extremely compact light source
• Compatible with all types of camera brands
• Dimmable bi-color lights with variable color temperatures from 3000-5700K, with 360 RGB color options
• Versatile, great for portraits, video shoots, or vlogging 

Cons: 

• Build your own kit 

LED technology has come a long way in recent years, and Lumecube’s line of powerful pocket-sized LED lights prove it. The Lume Cube Panel Pro LED light is a super portable USB powered light that can be mounted to the top of your camera or on a lightstand. 

This LED light has a variable color temperature from 3000-5700K and 360 RGB options that can be precisely dialed in using the controls on the back of the light or the Lumbecube app. Brightness can be adjusted between 1 percent power to 100 percent in 5 percent increments. 

A compact diffuser is included with the light and through the app you can control the brightness and color temperature of multiple Lume Cube lights. If you are looking for a pocket-sized tool that has the option to introduce creative color to your portrait shoots, look no further than the Lume Cube Panel Pro LED light. Although the lights are sold individually rather than as a kit, if you are looking to build something that’s ideal for travel this pick for the best portable LED lights is a great place to start. 

Things to consider before buying the best portrait lighting kits

Shooting style

Ultimately your budget should be the number one thing to consider when purchasing portrait lights. If you are just starting out and trying to figure out how quality of light can enhance your images a set of continuous lights will serve you well. The continuous lights in this guide are all moderately priced, most of them come with included stands and diffusers and because they are always on you can see how subtle changes in light will create changes in your portraits.

Head type

If you’ve been shooting for a while and are looking to invest in more traditional studio strobes for creating portraits, you can’t go wrong with the monolights in this guide. Although these lights don’t come bundled with modifiers or light stands, that actually gives you the option to build out a customized kit that makes sense for your photography. The Flashpoint monolights are an excellent option for a shooter on a budget, but if money isn’t a barrier and your budget is sky-high we’d recommend going for the Profoto lights.

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best portrait lighting kits

Investing in the best portrait lighting kits is important when it comes to portrait photography. Learning to use artificial light sources will give you more control when shooting. Although there are plenty of all-in-one lighting kits that come with stands and modifiers, if you are serious about portrait photography it’s not a bad idea to build out your own kit with quality monolights and light stands.

The post The best portrait lighting kits 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 travel drone		DJI Mini 3 Pro		SEE IT
Best camera strap		Peak Design Slide Camera Strap		SEE IT
Best travel backpack		Lowepro PhotoSport BP 24L AW III		SEE IT

Shopping for travel gifts for a photographer this holiday season? There are plenty of presents in this guide that we are sure will delight them. Whether you are looking for a big-budget jaw-dropper (like a camera or a drone) or something with a more reasonable price point—we’ve got you covered. Read on to learn more about the gifts that we think the traveling photographer in your life will love.

• Best travel drone: DJI Mini 3 Pro
• Best travel backpack: Lowepro PhotoSport BP 24L AW III
• Best hard camera case: Pelican Air 1535 Case
• Best lightweight camera backpack: WANDRD PRVKE Lite
• Best camera strap: Peak Design Slide Camera Strap
• Best compact travel tripod: JOBY GorillaPod 5K Kit
• Best full-size travel tripod: Peak Design Travel Tripod
• Best editing console for travelers: Loupedeck Creative Tool
• Best SD cards for travel: Sony Tough Cards
• Best case for organizing memory cards: Pelican 0915 Micro Memory Card Case
• Best action camera: GoPro HERO11 Black Accessory Bundle
• Best international plug adapter: Sublimeware Multi Port Electric Plug
• Best noise-canceling headphones for quiet journeys: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
• Best way to encourage printing photos: Mpix Gift Card
• Best backup power when on the go: Anker Portable Charger
• Best tool for smartphone videographers: DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Smartphone Gimbal
• Best starter kit for smartphone cameras: Moment iPhone 14 Starter Kit – Three Lenses
• Best way to keep gear clean: Urth Glass Cleaning Kit
• Best packing cubes to stay organized: Cotopaxi Cubos Travel Cubes 
• Best way to keep files safe: LaCie Rugged SSD 1TB
• Best large duffel for big trips: Patagonia Black Hole Wheeled Duffel Bag 70L
• Best notebook for travelers: Moleskine Voyageur Notebook

Best travel drone: DJI Mini 3 Pro

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Sure, a camera is great for documenting travels. But if the photographer in your life wants truly unique, wow-worthy photos and videos, a drone is the way to go. The DJI Mini 3 Pro is the best option for globetrotting due to its tiny size (about the size of a soda can when folded), stability in the air, user-friendly flight modes, and quality camera. It also only weighs 249 grams (8.78 ounces), which is below the FAA’s requirement for registering drones in the United States. Though regulations will vary in each country, many have similar weight restrictions, meaning there will be fewer issues getting this little thing in the air while traveling.

Best travel backpack: Lowepro PhotoSport BP 24L AW III

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The LowePro PhotoSport backpack is a fantastic travel gift for a photographer who loves to explore the great outdoors. This is the third iteration of the backpack design, so you can trust lots of kinks have been worked out by now. The top-loading backpack is designed with plenty of space for hiking gear and personal items. It also features a dedicated insert for camera equipment that offers side access. The bag is lightweight (3.31 pounds), is made of 75 percent recycled materials, and features an ActiveZone harness system to help ensure that the weight of the pack is distributed evenly on your back.

Best hard case: Pelican Air 1535 Case with Foam

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If you know someone who travels with a lot of camera gear and wants the ultimate level of protection, the Pelican Air case is the premier choice. The case is crushproof, dustproof, and watertight. Despite all that, it’s 40 percent lighter than traditional hard cases. The case comes with the customizable TrekPak divider system to keep gear safe while in transit. Or you can choose Pick N Pluck foam or padded dividers as well. It has integrated wheels for easy transport through airports. And two stainless steel padlock protectors keep everything secure.

Best lightweight camera backpack: WANDRD PRVKE Lite

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Sometimes, you just don’t need a giant camera bag. Whether going on a quick day trip or wanting to travel quickly and lightly, many times, a small bag is best. The WANDRD PRVKE Lite is our favorite lightweight option. It has a built-in camera cube, a laptop sleeve, tons of pockets for personal items, and a roll-top design that easily increases its carrying capacity. 

The backpack has three points of access: a side pocket for quick camera access, a lay-flat clamshell opening (great for getting through security at airports), and the previously mentioned roll-top. And the PRVKE bag is made of durable, water-resistant tarpaulin and nylon. Photographers won’t have to worry about their camera gear getting ruined if they get caught in some bad weather during their travels.

Best camera strap: Peak Design Slide Camera Strap

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The Peak Design Slide is an industry-favorite camera strap. It’s made of padded nylon webbing, has a minimalist design, and can be used as a sling, a neck strap, or a shoulder strap. Peak Design’s unique anchors and quick-pull handles make it incredibly fast to get this strap attached to your camera so you can start shooting. Our favorite part? Those handy anchors can be attached to any camera body, so you can purchase an extra pack and move the strap between multiple camera bodies without much fuss.

Best compact travel tripod: JOBY Gorilla Pod

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Joby’s GorillaPod is one of the best tripods for travel and adventure. The tripod has a unique design with flexible legs that can be wrapped around nearly anything for stable shooting and interesting angles. It features a ball head with a 360-degree panning bed, 90 degrees of tilt, and a bubble level to keep your horizon lines straight while shooting. The GorillaPod only weighs 0.86 pounds, making it easy to pack alongside their camera equipment on their next trip.

Best full-size travel tripod: Peak Design Travel Tripod

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While the GorillaPod is great as a compact tripod, sometimes photographers need something full-sized. The Peak Design Travel Tripod offers the benefits of a full-size tripod yet is only the width of a water bottle when folded down. It supports a wide range of shooting angles and even features an integrated phone mount. This particular version is made of carbon fiber and weighs just 3.4 pounds. If you’d rather have a lower price point for a travel gift, the aluminum version is also fantastic.

Best editing console for travelers: Loupedeck Creative Tool

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Having an excellent camera to capture your adventures while traveling is really only the first step. A lot of the magic of photography happens in the editing room. The Loupedeck Creative Tool is a customizable console aimed at improving your efficiency while editing. It can be used to edit photos, videos, and even audio and works with a number of Adobe programs and Capture One. Functions can be customized based on your specific workflow, and it’s a lot more ergonomically friendly than using a mouse or a trackpad for long periods of time. The console has a relatively small footprint as well, making it easy to pack along on your adventures.

Best SD cards for travel: Sony Tough Cards

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The Sony Tough Card is the world’s first one-piece molded SD card. This design makes the card more durable than traditional SD cards, which feature tiny ribs that have been known to break off inside of cameras and wreak havoc on the precious files that are stored inside. They also happen to have an IPX8 waterproof rating, are dustproof, and have fast enough read and write speeds that they can handle 4K video shooting and burst mode. When photographers are making photographs far away from home, having cards they can rely on becomes extremely important. So far, Sony’s Tough cards haven’t let us down.

Best case for organizing memory cards: Pelican 0915 Micro Memory Card Case

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Having more than one memory card is essential, especially on longer trips. But, without a dedicated method of keeping them organized, they are liable to get lost. We love this tiny Pelican case because, like the company’s larger cases, it is made of rugged polycarbonate resin. Even if it ends up on the bottom of a pack, cards won’t get crushed. And it has a water-resistant seal with an IPX4 rating. It can hold 12 SD cards, six mini SD cards, and six micro SD cards, which is more than enough for even lengthy journeys.

Best action camera: GoPro HERO11 Black Accessory Bundle

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While GoPros aren’t a full replacement for a standard camera, they really are fantastic travel buddies, which is why we couldn’t leave them out of our travel gift suggestions. The Hero 11 is rugged and durable without needing any additional accessories. It’s even waterproof without a case down to 33 feet. That saves space (and money) while packing. It features a larger sensor that allows for 5.3K video and 27-megapixel photos and supports social media-ready vertical video. Plus, the video stabilization is truly outstanding, so even if they are mountain biking or trail running on rugged terrain, the footage will be smooth.

Best international plug adapter: Sublimeware Multi Port Electric Plug

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Those who travel internationally will encounter all sorts of plug varieties. It can be challenging–and annoying–to make sure you have multiple types on hand if going to a few different countries on one trip. That’s why a multi-port adapter is a fantastic gift for world travelers. This particular plug works in 150 countries using US, UK, EU, or Chinese outlets. It also has four USB ports, so it can charge four devices at once if needed. 

Best noise-canceling headphones for quiet journeys: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

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It can be hard to get quiet time when you’re on the road. Whether traveling by plane, train, or bus, having a good pair of noise-canceling headphones can be life-changing. These Bose headphones provide 11 levels of noise cancellation, so if the traveler doesn’t want to entirely tune out the world, they’ll have options. You’ll have peace of mind knowing they can get some sleep in noisy situations but worry less about them being totally unaware. These headphones provide excellent sound quality and also contain a mic for hands-free calls. And they offer 20 hours of battery life, plenty for even the longest flights. 

Best way to encourage printing photos: Mpix gift card

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Photographers are typically notorious for not printing their own work. That’s an extra shame for travel photographers. A gift card to a reputable printing company is a fantastic and unexpected way to get them to print their own photos. Mpix offers a wide variety of products: They can select from standard flat prints, canvases for walls, photo books, cards, or even mugs or luggage tags. And sure, gift cards aren’t the most exciting. But chances are, you don’t have the files to print their work, and allowing them to choose the format will likely be appreciated. 

Best backup power when on the go: Anker Portable Charger

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I’m sure anyone who has traveled even a little has run out of phone battery at just the wrong time. A battery pack is a must for situations like these. It can literally be a lifesaver. Anker’s portable charger is nicely slim, so it will easily slide in a backpack or even a jacket pocket. When fully charged, it will provide 2.25 charges for iPhone 12, 1.6 charges for Galaxy S20, and 1.2 charges for iPad mini 5. And it doesn’t make any annoying high-pitched noises when charging devices like others we’ve used.

Best tool for smartphone videographers: DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Smartphone Gimbal

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Sometimes, photographers like to travel without their cameras but still want a way to document their journey. If they like to create videos of their travels, this DJI phone gimbal will help provide smooth results even while the photographer is running around. It features easy-to-use controls and a compact design. And it offers a built-in extension rod for unique angles and extra reach when it’s needed.

Best starter kit for smartphone cameras: Moment iPhone 14 Starter Kit – Three Lenses

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Another way to help creatives document their trips without bringing a full camera kit is a set of phone lenses. Moment’s mobile lenses are some of the best you can buy. Despite being made for mobile phones, they are made of the same high-quality glass that you’ll find on high-end 4K film lenses. This starter kit comes with a case–which is required for attaching lenses–and three lenses of your choosing. They make kits for many different phones, so just be sure to get the right one. 

Best way to keep gear clean: Urth Glass Cleaning Kit

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Traveling will inevitably put you in dirty conditions at some point. And try as best we might, it’s impossible to keep lenses pristine. This lens cleaning kit comes with everything needed to keep lenses spotless. And, unlike lots of kits, it all fits in a weatherproof, recycled nylon case with a zipper. All cleaning supplies will stay put in one spot instead of falling out and potentially getting lost. Plus, Urth plants five trees in areas impacted by deforestation with each purchase, making this an even more beneficial purchase.

Best packing cubes to stay organized: Cotopaxi Cubos Travel Cubes

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If the photographer in your life likes to travel with one big stuff sack for camera gear and clothes, packing cubes will be extra helpful. They help keep clothes (or gear) organized, somewhat less wrinkled, and can separate dirty from clean clothes. They won’t have to dig around endlessly in the bottom of a bag before finding the shirt they need. Plus, these Cotopaxi cubes are made of repurposed materials for less waste. They are lightweight and breathable. And they feature handles on top for easier grabbing out of bags.

Best way to keep files safe: LaCie Rugged SSD 1TB

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It’s easy to take thousands of photos on trips, even relatively short ones. And while it is tempting to leave them on a memory card until you’re home, it’s much safer to back up the files as frequently as possible. Having a small, portable hard drive is the best way to ensure files are safe. We love this LaCie Rugged solid-state drive because, well, it’s rugged. It provides IP67 weather resistance, can withstand a nearly 10-foot drop, and offers two-ton car crush resistance. You can literally drive over the thing, and your photos will be fine. 

Best large duffel for big trips: Patagonia Black Hole Wheeled Duffel Bag 70L

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If you know someone who likes to go on long trips, a large pack will be a welcome gift. We love this Patagonia duffel in part because it is made of 100 percent recycled materials. That includes a recycled polyester ripstop with a weather-resistant TPU-film laminate. It won’t stay dry if dunked in water but can handle some rain or snow. It features a large opening to the main compartment for easier access. A zippered external side pocket, as well as mesh pockets inside the lid, provide space for smaller items. And there are wheels for easier airport maneuvering. 

Best notebook for travelers: Moleskine Voyageur Notebook

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We at PopPhoto are big proponents of notebooks for photographers. We think they are an invaluable tool, especially because of how simple they are. And for those who travel, having a notebook to job down trip details, plans, and memories is even more important. Beyond assisting with travel plans, it will help tell the stories of the photos better down the line. And it can just be a nice thing to reflect on later on. 

Moleskin specifically designed its Voyageur notebook for travelers. It features detachable packing and to-do lists, a planning section for scheduling purposes, and budgeting pages. And, of course, it also has plenty of journaling space. It even has an expandable inner back pocket for storing flat keepsakes like ticket stubs.

The post The best gifts for the travel-obsessed photographer appeared first on Popular Photography.

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

Best for mounting a Canon lens to a Sony body		Metabones Canon EF/EF-S Lens to Sony E Mount		SEE IT	This adapter has a rubber gasket that protects your Sony camera S E-mount from dust and moisture.
Best for mounting Canon EF lenses to a Canon EOS R body		Canon Mount Adapter EF – EOS R		SEE IT	Use your Canon DSLR lenses with your new Canon mirrorless camera.
Best for mounting Nikkor F lenses to Z body		Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ		SEE IT	The adapter is compatible with over 360 F-mount nikkor lenses.

Lens adapters are clever camera accessories that allow incompatible and vintage lenses to work together. A lens adapter allows photographers to use old-school lenses with digital cameras, attach a Canon lens to a Sony body, or attach an older DSLR (digital single-lens reflex camera) lens to a new mirrorless camera body. A lens adapter is a great low-cost way to upgrade your camera body without having to upgrade all of your lenses and other photography equipment at once. Make the most of your camera gear by investing in one of these great lens adapters now.

• Best for mounting a Canon lens to a Sony body: Metabones Canon EF/EF-S Lens to Sony E Mount
• Best for mounting a Nikon lens to a Fujifilm body: Metabones Nikon Lens to Fujifilm X-Mount Camera
• Best for mounting Canon EF lenses to a Canon EOS R body: Canon Mount Adapter EF – EOS R
• Best for mounting Nikkor F lenses to Z body: Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ
• Best budget: Urth x Gobe Lens Mount Adapter

How do lens adapters work?

Lens adapters come in two main varieties: passive and active adapters. A passive adapter has a simplified design that provides a secure connection between a camera lens and the camera body. A passive adapter is typically less expensive than an active adapter. 

Active adapters include electronic connections that allow the lens and the camera body to communicate with one another. Active adapters are more expensive, but also more popular because using one means that your camera body can use AF (autofocus) functions and also record details regarding aperture in the metadata of your files. Ultimately, a more expensive lens adapter will typically communicate better with your camera body. This is moot, of course, if you’re using an old-school manual lens. 

Most lens adapters have a female and male fitting design. The male fitting attaches to the camera body and the female fitting is what attaches to your lens. A massive hole in the lens adapter allows light to pass through the lens and hit the camera’s sensor. Although a lens adapter allows you to attach any style of lens to any style of camera body, most often they work best with camera bodies with short flange distances (i.e. the distance from the camera’s mounting flange to the film or sensor plane). If the flange distance isn’t conducive to adapting, you may need to buy an adapter with an extra glass element inside to make it work. 

Attaching a lens that was designed for a smaller camera body to a full-frame camera will result in vignetting because the lens won’t be able to cover the sensor. This is why it’s most common to see lens adapters used to attach DSLR lenses to mirrorless camera bodies.

Best lens adapters: Reviews & Recommendations

Best for mounting a Canon lens to a Sony body: Metabones Canon EF/EF-S Lens to Sony E Mount

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Metabones is one of the most popular brands of lens adapters for good reason. This fifth-generation adapter has a rubber gasket that protects your Sony camera S E-mount from dust and moisture and has an LED indicator to show you that the adapter is ready to go. Best of all, there is a dedicated switch that controls in-body image stabilization, allowing you to utilize Sony’s SteadyShot tech even when using Canon lenses. This is a great option if you are a Canon DSLR shooter who is making the switch to a Sony mirrorless system.

Best for mounting a Nikon lens to a Fujifilm body: Metabones Nikon Lens to Fujifilm X-Mount Camera

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The passive adapter from Metabones allows shooters to attach Nikon F, G, or D lenses to a Fujifilm X-Mount camera. It lacks some of the electronic connections of fancier Metabones products, meaning that the shooter will have to manually adjust aperture and autofocus, but it does have a sturdy construction made of chrome-plated brass. It also has a flocked interior to cut down on flare and the ability to infinity focus. If you have a lot of Nikon lenses that you would like to use with a Fujifilm body, you can’t go wrong with this adapter.

Best for mounting Canon EF lenses to a Canon EOS R body: Canon Mount Adapter EF – EOS R

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Released in conjunction with the Canon EOS R line, this adapter makes it so Canon DSLR shooters can easily use their existing lenses with the newer mirrorless bodies like the EOS R5 and the EOS R. It features a built-in control ring for easy access to camera functions, and it is dust and water-resistant and made of metal on both sides of the mount. The control ring can be set to a clicking mechanism or to silent operation mode. Since it’s designed by Canon, aesthetically it will match all of your EF lenses too. 

Best for mounting Nikkor F lenses to Z body: Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ

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Released in conjunction with Nikon’s mirrorless Z camera, the FTZ adapter allows photographers to use older Nikkor F lenses with the new mirrorless camera bodies. The FTZ adapter allows these lenses to utilize in-camera VR (vibration reduction), hybrid AF, silent shooting, and focus peaking. Lenses that are connected via the FTZ adapter will retain full sharpness and image quality, too. It’s weather-sealed, made of magnesium alloy, and is compatible with over 360 different Nikon F-mount lenses. 

Best budget: Urth x Gobe Lens Mount Adapter

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This passive lens adapter won’t give you access to any automatic functions on your lenses or your camera body, but you can’t beat the price. Urth X Gobe adapters are available in a wide variety of lens mounts, and they are made of hardened aluminum and copper to maintain a snug, light-sealed connection between your camera lens and body. Urth also uses a portion of the proceeds of this lens to plant trees in an area that has been affected by deforestation. It’s a low-cost adapter that supports a great cause.

Things to consider when buying a lens adapter

The most important thing to consider when shopping for a lens adapter is what style of camera lenses you want to attach to your camera body. Lens adapters are designed specifically to work with certain types of lenses,  so it’s important to know what lens mounts you are trying to shoot with. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation.

If you are looking to attach a DSLR lens to a mirrorless body of the same brand of camera, consider using an adapter made by that camera brand. Nikon and Canon both released lens adapters that allow photographers to use older DSLR lenses with the new mirrorless camera body with almost no lost functionality. 

If you are looking to attach a Canon or Nikon DSLR lens to a Sony or Fujifilm body, we recommend checking out the Metabones adapters. These are active lens adapters that will allow the lens to easily communicate with the camera body, while taking advantage of settings like AF.

FAQs

Final thoughts on lens adapters

Lens adapters are a really helpful tool if you are making the jump to a mirrorless camera system, but you’re not ready to splurge on a whole new collection of glass. A lens adapter can help you ease into the transition to mirrorless by allowing you to use older DSLR lenses with new mirrorless bodies. A more expensive, active lens adapter will give you access to features like autofocus and image stabilization, but if you are just getting started a less expensive passive adapter is a great way to try things out without breaking the bank.

The post Best lens adapters of 2023 appeared first on Popular Photography.

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

Best for Canon Mirrorless Cameras		Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens		SEE IT
Best for Nikon DSLR Cameras		Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens		SEE IT
Best for Sony Cameras		Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens		SEE IT

A quality telephoto lens is typically one of the first speciality lenses that a photographer adds to their gear bag. A 70-200mm lens is considered a medium-tele length and proves useful for many photographers for its versatility. It can shoot everything from portraits to wildlife and sports. 

Technically speaking, a telephoto lens is any lens that has a physical length that’s shorter than its focal length. In common language, however, photographers typically refer to anything with a focal length over 75mm in telephoto territory. 

A long lens captures a very narrow field of view, which gives the camera a close-up look at far-away objects. Telephoto lenses can be zoom lenses, but a zoom lens isn’t necessarily a telephoto lens. Super telephoto lenses are anything over 300mm, and once you hit this range it’s more likely that a telephoto lens will be a prime lens, meaning that it only has one focal length. Telephoto camera lenses over 300mm are typically used by sports photographers and wildlife shooters.

• Best for Canon Mirrorless Cameras: Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens
• Best for Nikon DSLR Cameras: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens
• Best for Sony Cameras: Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens
• Best for Smartphones: Moment Tele Lens – 58mm
• Best Under $1000: Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens
• Best All-in-One: Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Contemporary DC Macro OS HSM
• Best Prime Lens for Portraits: Sigma 135mm F1.8 Art DG HSM
• Best Enthusiast Super-Telephoto Zoom: Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Contemporary OS 
• Best for Fujifilm Shooters: Fujifilm XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
• Best For Sports: Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x

What telephoto length is right for me?

A 70-200mm telephoto lens is an extremely versatile lens that is a favorite of photojournalists, wedding photographers, concert photographers, and sports photographers. You can even use it as a flattering portrait lens. Because it lets you decide how far away you want to stand from your subject, you can have total control over the amount of perspective distortion that appears in the photo.

A telephoto lens allows the photographer to put more distance between themselves and the subject of their photograph, which is helpful when you can’t get up close to what you are shooting pictures of. Running on stage during a concert, onto the field during a game, or crowding a bride and groom during a wedding ceremony to get the shot would be a big photography faux pas. Photographers in these situations need to capture the moment, without interfering. A long telephoto lens helps them do just that. 

In some cases, photographers may find themselves needing to put even more space between themselves and their subject. It’s not unusual to see photographers on the sidelines of professional sports games with super telephoto lenses of 300-500mm long. Super telephoto lenses like these are also a favorite of wildlife photographers. If you love photographing wild animals it’s extremely important to put a lot of distance between yourself and those animals. Lenses this long, however, are typically very big and extremely pricy if you want a fast aperture. 

Zoom lenses with huge zoom ranges can be appealing because they promise everything from wide-angle coverage to super-telephoto performance. It’s worth noting, however, that those lenses typically introduce a lot of distortion and vignetting at the wider angle focal lengths and only offer very slow apertures when you’re zoomed in. Unfortunately, there’s no magic lens that’s great for everything. At least not yet.

Things to consider when purchasing a telephoto lens for your camera

Selecting the right telephoto lens has a lot to do with what you plan to shoot with it, your camera brand and your budget. A telephoto lens is an investment lens and the price tag reflects that. Longer telephoto lenses will be more expensive than a medium-length telephoto lens. Generally speaking a telephoto lens is going to be over $1000 dollars because there are so many glass elements inside the lens. 

Look for lenses that have some amount of built in stabilization. Camera shake is always something to look out for when photographing, but camera movements caused by vibration will be a lot more noticeable when you are shooting with long telephoto lenses. Shooting at high shutter speeds can help reduce camera shake, but that’s not always possible, especially if you’re using a budget telephoto that only offers a slow maximum aperture..  If your lens doesn’t have any built in vibration reduction you will definitely want to use a tripod to help stabilize the lens. Super-telephoto lenses tend to be extremely heavy and having it on a tripod will also help save your shoulders from all that weight. 

If you’re shopping on the very high-end, you can look for extra features like buttons to lock the focus or more advanced image stabilization modes that you can adjust depending on the subject you’re shooting.

Best telephoto lenses: Reviews & recommendations

Best for Canon Mirrorless Cameras: Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens

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One of the big selling points of going mirrorless is the ability to make traditionally big lenses much smaller. This telephoto lens is designed for Canon’s mirrorless cameras and only weighs 2.36 lbs and is 5.75 inches long when it’s focused at 70mm. It has a bright f/2.8 aperture, optical image stabilization up to 5 stops, and high-speed quiet autofocus. Its minimum focusing distance is 2.3 ft. If you are a mirrorless Canon shooter this is the 70-200mm telephoto lens for you.

Best for Nikon DSLR Cameras: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens

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The Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G features vibration reduction image stabilization up to 4 stops, ED glass and a Nano Crystal coat to prevent smudges on the front element. The constant 2.8 aperture makes it great for shooting low-light during sporting matches or fancy events. If you are using the lens with a DX camera body it becomes a 105-300mm lens. It has a close focusing distance of 4.6 feet.

Best for Sony Cameras: Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens

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Sony’s line of G Master lenses are some of the best on the market and the 70-200mm lens for Sony cameras is a thing of beauty. The lens has an 11-blade circular aperture for smooth bokeh and minimal focus breathing, which makes it a great option for shooting video too. It’s made up of ED and Super ED glass elements to minimize chromatic aberration and fringing and has a Nano AR coating for increased resolution that suppresses flare and ghosting. The dual floating focus system gives it speedy, precise autofocus, plus its dust and moisture-resistant so you don’t have to worry about getting the shot even if the weather turns.

Best for Smartphones: Moment Tele Lens – 58mm

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If you’ve ever zoomed way in when shooting with your smartphone you are well aware of how quickly the quality falls off. This 58mm tele lens for your smartphone will bring you 4x closer to your subject if you are shooting on a dual lens smartphone—the equivalent of 116mm. Moment lenses are made of high-quality glass for edge-to-edge sharpness and are compatible with iPhone, Android, tablets, and even laptop webcams. Get closer to your subjects when shooting with your smartphone without having to sacrifice image quality.

Best Under $1000: Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens

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Telephoto lenses are typically so expensive because there are so many glass elements inside helping keep the lens stable, reduce chromatic aberrations and give you beautiful bokeh. This Tamron 70-200mm lens still features vibration control up to 5 stops, has fast autofocus and an eBand Coating to eliminate ghosting and flare. But since it’s a little bit older and is made by a third-party manufacturer, it will save you some cash. If you are planning to go with a third-party lens make sure to check that it will be compatible with your camera body.

Best All-in-One: Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Contemporary DC Macro OS HSM

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This massive zoom range will cover everything from sweeping landscapes to fast sports action on the far side of the field. It’s just over four inches long at its shortest and only weighs just over a pound, so it’s compact enough to stay on your camera at all times. The f/6.3 maximum aperture at 300mm isn’t the fastest, but the built-in OS system will keep things steady while you’re shooting.

Best Prime Lens for Portraits: Sigma 135mm F1.8 Art DG HSM

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Sigma’s prime lens doesn’t zoom, but it does offer a maximum aperture of f/1.8, which is extremely wide for this focal length. As a result, it can create an almost dream-like image with buttery smooth bokeh in the background. It also uses Sigma’s high-end coatings to fight flare and its advanced glass elements to correct for distortion.

Best Enthusiast Super-Telephoto Zoom: Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Contemporary OS 

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This four-pound Sigma lens is going to want a tripod when you’re out shooting, but it’s hard to beat the value it offers. For less than $1,000, it promises high-end coatings and sturdy construction, as well as a robust image stabilization system for when you’re shooting handheld. Its 600mm reach is true super-telephoto territory, so even at f/6.3 (which sounds slow) you’ll get blurry backgrounds and nice subject separation. Take it all the way down to 150mm and you can even use it for portraits if you want.

Best for Fujifilm Shooters: Fujifilm XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR

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This four-pounder camera lens makes most Fujifilm mirrorless cameras look small, but it produces extremely crisp and vibrant images across its entire focal range. It’s fully weather-sealed, so it’s ready for any environment, and the built-in OIS offers five stops of stabilization when shooting handheld. On a crop sensor, it gives the equivalent field of view of a 150-600mm lens, which actually makes its maximum apertures seem even more impressive.

Best For Sports: Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x

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When pro sports photographers show up to the Olympics, they often choose this Canon telephoto lens for lots of their coverage. The 200-400mm range and fast f/4 maximum aperture are all excellent for shooting fast action. However, this lens also has a 1.4x extender built right in so photographers can quickly enable it and get even more reach out of the lens. It has Canon’s most advanced optical stabilization and highest quality glass and coatings. It’s truly a thing of beauty.

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Final thoughts on buying the best telephoto lenses

If you are in the market for a telephoto lens be prepared to spend a little more than you would on other lenses. Long lenses with fast apertures have a more complicated construction than a “nifty fifty” lens and that is reflected in the price. A quality telephoto lens is an excellent addition to your lens kit though, and will last a long time. Consider your telephoto lens as an investment into your craft.

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A quality leather camera strap is a timeless photography accessory. If you’ve ever owned a perfectly worn-in leather jacket or pair of boots, you understand why for some photographers a leather camera strap is the only option. Leather is a durable and flexible material that softens as it ages and will last for decades. Many photographers find a leather strap to be more comfortable during a long day of shooting than the camera straps that come with their gear. A leather strap also offers a level of refinement, making it a great option when shooting during weddings or other high-profile black-tie events. Looking to upgrade? Here are some things to consider before making your purchase.  

• Best simple leather camera strap: TETHER’s Leather Camera Strap
• Best leather harness for two cameras: HoldFast Gear Money Maker Water Buffalo Leather
• Best braided leather camera strap: Vi Vante Ultime Blackout; Black on Black Braided
• Best leather camera wrist strap: Ruth&Boaz Full Grain Leather Camera Strap
• Best budget leather camera strap: LeaTure Wide Camera Neck Shoulder Strap

Are leather camera straps really more comfortable?

Although every photographer has a different preference when it comes to strap comfort, a high-quality leather option is one of the best camera accessories that you can get for yourself. Some photographers might gawk at the price of a leather camera strap, but keep in mind that leather is a premium material and that is reflected in the overall price of strap. 

Although a leather strap might feel stiff when it first arrives, give it a little time. The more you shoot with one, the more it will conform to the curves of your shoulders to create an incredibly comfortable shooting experience. Unlike straps made of other materials, these will actually start to look better as they age. Plus you can keep your strap looking nice by applying conditioner to it, just as you might with a pair of leather boots. 

Ultimately a good camera strap should help feel good on your shoulders while carrying your photography gear around for a full day, but also keep your camera safe from accidental drops and falls.

Things to consider when shopping for a new strap

The most important considerations when shopping for a camera strap are the camera you intend to carry with the strap, the quality of leather, and your price range. 

Leather camera harnesses are particularly popular with event photographers and photojournalists who need to carry two bodies when they shoot. A leather camera harness goes over both your shoulders and fits like a vest with no back. It’s a popular material for this style of camera strap because of the way it conforms to the curves of your body over time. A camera harness designed to carry two cameras will typically be more expensive than a strap designed to carry only one. But if you are lugging around two bodies to your shoots, we’re guessing you already understand that good camera gear is an investment. 

There are also plenty of simple options designed to hold a single camera that come in a variety of colors, styles, and thicknesses. There are also small wrist straps that work best with compact cameras. 

When shopping for a strap, pay attention to the quality of the leather. Full-grain or top-grain leather is typically considered top-of-the-line. This style of leather is taken from the top layer of the animal’s hide. It’s known for its strength and durability and is often used to create premium leather products. Genuine leather, meanwhile, is made from any layer of the hide and is a popular choice for making lower-cost leather goods. Finally, bonded material is made from a mixture of leather scraps and polyurethane. It’s a lot more flexible than full-grain and typically much cheaper. 

Best simple leather strap: TETHER’s Leather Camera Strap

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This adjustable genuine strap has a suede backing for extra comfort and is designed to work with DSLRs or mirrorless cameras. The metal rings that attach to your camera body are protected by a little leather flap to help prevent scratches to the exterior of your camera. Because it’s made of genuine leather, this strap will become more supple and comfortable as it ages. This is a quality strap that won’t break the bank.

Best leather harness for two cameras: HoldFast Gear Money Maker Water Buffalo Leather

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HoldFast Gear has been making quality leather camera straps for a long time, and the HoldFast Money Maker is one of their most popular products. The X-style pattern across the back of this harness evenly distributes the weight of two large camera bodies for a comfortable day of shooting, no matter how long you’re on your feet. The strap is made of thick water buffalo hide and features rust-resistant stainless-steel hardware that attaches to the bottom of your cameras. For extra peace of mind, the HoldFast harness features two safety straps for keeping your cameras secure during your shoot. 

Best braided leather camera strap: Vi Vante Ultime Blackout; Black on Black Braided

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 If you’ve got a luxurious camera, you might as well attach an equally luxurious strap to it. Vi Vante’s black braided Italian top-grain product is just the thing. Consider attaching this strap to your favorite vintage Leica. This 47-inch-long strap is hand-braided and features a flat interior for added comfort. The strap attaches to your camera body with two electroplated gunmetal mounting rings. If you enjoy the finer things in life, this is the strap for you.

Best leather camera wrist strap: Ruth&Boaz Full Grain Leather Camera Strap

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A leather camera wrist strap can be a great low-cost option if you’re primarily shooting with a compact camera. This adjustable option is made of full-grain leather and connects to the camera via a closed loop. The wrist strap includes a protective leather O-ring strap to avoid scratching your camera. The strap is 0.79 inches wide, with an adjustable length of between 9.84 and 11.8 inches. The loop size for your wrist opens to a max of 5.9 inches. If you’re the kind of shooter who doesn’t like your camera to leave your hand, this is a comfortable and quality option.

Best budget leather camera strap: LeaTure Wide Camera Neck Shoulder Strap

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This simple, affordable strap is made of genuine leather, but lacks some of the more advanced comfort and hardware features found in the other straps in this list. In many ways, this strap is like a leather version of the strap that likely came with your camera body. It connects to your camera lugs using nylon straps and secures with a small piece of plastic. It doesn’t have the refined look of some of the other straps in this list, but for under $20 it certainly isn’t a bad looking strap. 

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Our final thoughts

Like any piece of camera equipment, a quality leather camera strap is an investment. Spending a lot of money on a strap will likely pay off in the long run as the strap conforms to your body. A good leather strap will last a lot longer than one made of nylon and will certainly be more comfortable with the one that came stock with your camera body. Treat yourself to one today.

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Best shoot-through umbrella		Neewer 2-Pack White Translucent Soft Umbrella		SEE IT	These easy-to-use umbrellas light subjects evenly and are perfect for beginners.
Best light reflector		Neewer 5-in-1 Light Reflector		SEE IT	This versatile reflector lights subjects beautifully, recreates golden hour, and travels easily.
Best softbox		Impact Luxbanx Rectangular Softbox		SEE IT	Recreate window light with this easy-to-use tool.

Light is everything when it comes to photography. It’s why photographers love shooting during a golden hour sunset so much. But sometimes your shoots aren’t going to happen during that perfect hour—sometimes you get stuck shooting in harsh midday glare. Luckily, once you learn to control the light it won’t matter during what time of day you are shooting. Investing in a few key lighting modifiers and learning to use them will go a long way towards improving the professional quality of your images. Accessories like softboxes, umbrellas, beauty dishes, LED light panels, and snoots are some of the most popular light modifiers used by professional photographers because they allow you to control the intensity and shape of your lighting sources.

• Best shoot-through umbrella: Neewer 2-Pack White Translucent Soft Umbrella
• Best light reflector: Neewer 5-in-1 Light Reflector
• Best beauty dish: Neewer Aluminum-Standard Reflector Beauty Dish
• Best softbox: Impact Luxbanx Rectangular Softbox
• Best snoot: Neewer Conical Snoot Kit

What do light modifiers do?

Photographers use light modifiers to shape and control their light sources. Although you can absolutely make beautiful photographs without lighting modifiers, introducing them into your tool kit will give you more creative control during your photo sessions. Light modifiers can be used with speedlights, studio strobes, or continuous LED lights. Depending on what modifier you are using, it can either produce soft diffuse light or dramatic contrast lighting. Using lighting modifiers is the best way to produce photos that are light and airy—or dark and moody. 

When shopping for a light modifier, it’s important to consider what you will want your end product to look like. If you are looking for light that is very soft, your best bet is to use a large softbox or a shoot through umbrella. These light modifiers will spread your light source out to create very even light. If you are looking for moodier, intense lighting, consider a beauty dish or a snoot. These modifiers will give you a much more defined light source.

Things to consider when shopping for light modifiers

For every style of light modifier ,you will find very high-end versions and very inexpensive versions. Higher-end brands like Profoto are often designed specifically to work with Profoto Lighting equipment, while lower-end brands tend to be more universal. 

If you are just starting to experiment with light modifiers, we recommend starting with the lower-cost modifiers. The biggest difference between high-end and low-end models is their durability. If you are shooting in the studio every single day, it obviously makes sense to invest in higher-quality tools. But if you are a more casual shooter, a low-cost modifier should be enough to get you started. 

Ultimately, the brand of light modifier that you choose to use is most connected to the style of lights you are shooting with and how often you plan to shoot.

Best shoot-through umbrella: Neewer 2-Pack White Translucent Soft Umbrella

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Shoot-through umbrellas like the Neewer 2-Pack White Translucent Soft Umbrella are easy-to-use tools, making them an excellent choice for beginners. They create light that is soft and incredibly forgiving, and they light your subject evenly. Umbrellas are easy to set up, work with a wide variety of lights, and pack down small, making them great for travel. Think of them as incredibly inexpensive softboxes.

Best light reflector: Neewer 5-in-1 Light Reflector

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The Neewer 5-in-1 Light Reflector gives you the option to fill in shadows, replicate golden hour, create a bright neutral fill, or block out unwanted light and cut down on reflections—all without having to invest in a light source. This 43-inch model collapses down into a compact bag for easy travel, too. Just make sure you bring an assistant along to your shoots to help keep this reflector working as intended.

Best beauty dish: Neewer Aluminum-Standard Reflector Beauty Dish

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An excellent option for lighting faces close up, the 16-inch Neewer Aluminum-Standard Reflector Beauty Dish will define bone structure by creating a soft contrast between your highlights and your shadows. It also creates a beautiful circular catchlight in the eyes. It’s not a bad idea to use a beauty dish in conjunction with a white reflector to minimize harsh shadows underneath your model’s chin and nose. If you are interested in beauty or fashion photography, a beauty dish light modifier is a great place to start. 

Best softbox: Impact Luxbanx Rectangular Softbox

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The Impact Luxbanx Rectangular Softbox imitates the quality of light created by a large window, which is why it’s a tool favored by portrait photographers. Changing the angle and distance of this light modifier from your subject will change the quality and intensity of this light. Softboxes come in various shapes and sizes, but for a large softbox like this one, it’s best to pair it with powerful studio strobes.

Best snoot: Neewer Conical Snoot Kit

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A snoot is a specialized lighting tool that will produce hard, precise light. The is a great tool for creating moody work with a lot of contrast between your subject and the background. You can use a snoot for a spotlight effect, to create low-key lighting, as a hair light, or to add flare to an image. Often you may use a snoot in combination with other light modifiers; the Neewer Conical Snoot Kit comes with a variety of small gels which lend the ability to add creative color to your images. 

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Final thoughts about photography lighting and modifiers

Lighting modifiers allow you to control your photography light with precision, which ultimately opens the doors to unleashing your creativity. Most light modifiers are designed to work with an artificial light source like studio strobes or continuous lights, although simpler light modifiers like shoot-through umbrellas will work just fine with a compact speedlite. Many photographers choose to shoot with a variety of modifiers to better control the way in which light interacts with their subjects. When shopping for light modifiers, keep in mind what you are planning to shoot and if you are looking to create imagery that is light and airy or dark and contrasty. Take control of your photography light today by integrating lighting modifiers into your photo kit.

The post Best light modifiers of 2023 appeared first on Popular Photography.

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