Viltrox’ New Nifty-Fifty(-Five) Is Done Being Just a Budget Option: We Review the Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO APO Prime

Nicco Valenzuela — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:03:01 -0400

This lens is the perfect example of why one should not judge a lens by its cover. While it may seem like any other budget fast prime, it offers a real, visible difference for your images.

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Viltrox Redesigned Its 35mm f/1.2 LAB (N) and We Can See Why It Makes Sense: A Close-Look Review

Nicco Valenzuela — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:03:01 -0400

Why fix what isn't broken? Well, Viltrox seems to have a good subtle reason as to why it did with the 35mm f/1.2 LAB (N) that photographers might appreciate.

Last year, Viltrox launched one of its most unique lenses, and it was received with a lot of positive reactions. The Viltrox 35mm f/1.2 LAB is a straightforward large-aperture prime that came in a large and relatively bulky form. However, with that came the optics that became the standard of the Viltrox LAB series that could perform even in significantly low-light situations.

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Sleek, Durable, and Unassuming: We Review the Wandrd Prvke Zip Backpack

Nicco Valenzuela — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 17:03:01 -0400

A lot of photographers nowadays prefer camera bags that are built to protect gear but barely look like it. This variation of Wandrd's Prvke backpack takes that to a whole new level.

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The Baseus Spacemate RD1 Pro Docking Station Aims to Make Your Desk Efficient and Uncluttered

Nicco Valenzuela — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 18:30:08 -0400

If a docking station can support or charge everything you use on your desk, this might be it. This 15-in-1 docking station powers all your devices safely and efficiently while keeping your desk neat.

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Peak Design’s Expanded Travel Line Is Here and We Took a Close Look

Nicco Valenzuela — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 20:06:14 -0400

Everybody has different ways of traveling, and that's why bags, tripods, and even camera gear come in different shapes and sizes. Peak Design took note of that and has come out with more options.

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Barely Lifting a Finger: Editing With the XP-Pen Pilot Pro Editing Console

Nicco Valenzuela — Mon, 18 May 2026 14:06:50 -0400

Imagine your editing workflow being enhanced by something that resembles the controllers you once played video games with. That, plus customizable efficiency, is what this editing console offers.

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The Difference Is Clear as Day: We Review the New Viltrox 35mm f/1.8 II EVO

Nicco Valenzuela — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:27:20 -0400

This isn't just another third party lens for your mirrorless camera. This new lens focuses (pun intended) not just on aiding the shooting process but even more so on delivering quality images.

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Which Carbon Fiber Monopod Suits You Better? We Review the YC Onion PINETA Pro and SmallRig 5565

Nicco Valenzuela — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:03:01 -0400

Monopods used to be just assistive tools for heavy camera setups. Now they can stand on their own. These two monopods take it further by being extra efficient, but which one is better for you?

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For Anyone Who Wants To Fly: Our First Look at the New DJI Avata 360 Drone

Nicco Valenzuela — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:20:38 -0400

It used to be scary and intimidating to fly a drone, let alone film using one. Nowadays, flying a drone means seeing the world from a different perspective — in this case, all 360 degrees.

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Compact, Convenient, and Complete: Saramonic Air SE Review and Demo

Nicco Valenzuela — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:32:13 -0400

Simplicity has an undeniable charm, especially when it comes to setting up for filming. This new, thoughtfully designed wireless microphone from Saramonic offers exactly that.

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UGREEN’s Thunderbolt™ 5 Docking Stations Are Here and We Take an Exclusive Look

Nicco Valenzuela — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:19:55 -0400

Just when you thought Thunderbolt™ 4 was fast, here comes the new generation that takes it further. UGREEN's new docking stations offer to upgrade your workflow if you're up for it.

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Sharpness Beyond the Corners: We Review the Laowa 17mm f/4 Tilt-Shift Zero-D Lens

Nicco Valenzuela — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 20:29:15 -0400

Tilt-shift lenses used to be rare and unattainable for most photographers. Back then it would cost an arm and a leg just to get one, but now Laowa has made it more available for almost every major camera system, and this new lens expands the available options.

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The Huion Kamvas 22 Gen 3: Raising the Bar on the Editing Experience

Nicco Valenzuela — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:03:01 -0400

For detail-oriented creative work, the experience is just as important as the process itself. This new-generation pen display from Huion showcases refined features and capabilities.

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The H&Y Nova VND + CPL Filter Solved the Biggest Problem With Variable ND Filters

Nicco Valenzuela — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 17:03:01 -0500

If you’re a photographer, admit it: there was something about variable ND filters that most of us hated. This new filter line from H&Y aims to fix exactly that.

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From Everyday Carry to Day Hike: WANDRD PRVKE V4 Backpack Review

Nicco Valenzuela — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:03:01 -0500

If you only had one bag that can fit your camera gear comfortably, can let you bring it every day, can withstand less-than-ideal environments, and can adapt to other things when you don’t need your camera, this might be one to consider.

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Geared Precision Without the Unnecessary Bulk: We Review the Leofoto G4 Geared Tripod Head

Nicco Valenzuela — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:02:01 -0500

The head of the tripod that you use can greatly affect your efficiency in shooting, which can indirectly affect your creative output. Geared heads often seem too complicated and cumbersome, but this one from Leofoto might be worth a try.

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An Everyday-Carry Pancake Lens: Testing Out the TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 Lens for APS-C Cameras

Nicco Valenzuela — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:06:01 -0500

If you had just one lens in a very small pocket of your bag to accompany you for everyday creative pursuits, this tiny pancake lens might be worth a look.

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Before You Buy the Sony a7 V

Nicco Valenzuela — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 15:04:01 -0500

While gear reviews can offer a lot of secondhand insight and opinion, there’s nothing like being able to try out the camera for yourself. While there is no way for us to let everyone interested try out the camera physically, this might be the next best thing.

[Read More]

The Antigravity A1 360 Camera-Equipped Drone Officially Unveiled

Nicco Valenzuela — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 16:48:19 -0500

Take the flexibility and straightforward user experience of a 360 camera and combine it with the nearly unlimited capabilities of a drone—that’s what the Antigravity A1 aims to offer creators who want to show their audiences a totally different perspective.

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Sony a7 V Hands-On: Dynamic Range, Speed, and AI in One Hybrid Body

Nicco Valenzuela — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:04:34 -0500

One of the year’s most awaited cameras is finally here, and it comes with major upgrades that users of the previous generation will love. The Sony a7 V may look almost the same, but the internal hardware and handling have a lot to offer.

[Read More]

Traveling With Your Camera Gear? Let’s Take a Look at the WANDRD Transit Carry-on Roller

Nicco Valenzuela — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 17:06:01 -0500

Bags used for travel should always offer a lot of flexibility in terms of use, and that’s even more true when photographers use them. Carrying camera gear must mean keeping it protected and, at the same time, efficient with space.

[Read More]

Black Friday Deals We Think You Should Know About

Nicco Valenzuela — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:04:01 -0500

Black Friday is fast approaching, and hopefully your hearts and wallets are ready. A lot of sales are already ongoing, so let’s talk about some of our favorites.

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The Manfrotto ONE Offers to Be Your Tripod for Anything and Everything: Review and Demo

Nicco Valenzuela — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 15:04:01 -0500

This new tripod from Manfrotto is trying to win your loyalty by offering to do everything you’d want a tripod to do. If you have various workflows and want to minimize your gear options, this might be for you.

[Read More]

Minimalist but Multi-Functional: We Review the Pgytech OneGo 2 Backpack

Nicco Valenzuela — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 17:06:01 -0500

This simple-looking backpack offers far more functions than you would expect. It also maximizes space so you can carry almost everything you need for a shoot in the city or even a quick trip away.

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An Uncalibrated Screen Is Just Inches Away From Chaos: The Datacolor SpyderExpress Makes Calibration Faster, Easier, and More Accessible

Nicco Valenzuela — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 17:06:01 -0500

Your fancy camera is useless if your display’s colors aren’t accurate. For all you know, you might be looking at an entirely different image. Here’s how the new entry-level Datacolor Spyder Express has come to meet you halfway.

[Read More]

Beyond All-In-One: We Review the Huion Inspiroy 2 Pen Tablet for Editing, Retouching, and Illustration

Nicco Valenzuela — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:06:01 -0400

Pen tablets are probably the only precision tools shared by photographers and illustrators, and they play a key role in the creative process. However, they could never really be that functional without a keyboard or mini keyboard on the side. This aims to change that.

[Read More]

A Compact Tripod for Your Compact Camera: The Fotopro X-Aircross 3 Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod

Nicco Valenzuela — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 17:06:01 -0400

Every photographer has those days (or trips) when we just want to bring a small and light camera and be more casual photographers. Then there are those, like me, who do not want to miss out if a tripod is needed on the go. This might be an option.

[Read More]

The Key to Dynamic Yet Natural-Looking Outdoor Portrait Lighting

Nicco Valenzuela — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 16:06:01 -0400

Creating stunning portraits outdoors with flash doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with the right understanding of ambient and artificial light, two small accessories can make a world of difference.

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Changing the Standards of Your First Portrait Prime Lens: Viltrox 85mm f/2.0 EVO Review

Nicco Valenzuela — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 13:20:20 -0400

Next to the very popular nifty fifty, the 85mm prime is the most accessible fast prime lens for photographers who want to get into portrait photography without having to spend so much immediately. This redesigned 85mm from Viltrox 85mm f/2 EVO just might change things.

[Read More]

This Desktop Camera Arm Is a Handy Tool for Anyone With a Home Studio or Small Space

Nicco Valenzuela — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:06:01 -0400

This might be the most reliable desktop camera arm you can get, especially if you shoot tabletop products or content.

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One of a Kind Ultra-Wide Angle Zoom: We Review the Schneider Kreuznach X LK Samyang 14-24mm f/2.8 Lens

Nicco Valenzuela — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 17:06:01 -0400

This lens is definitely not what we expected, and I’m saying that as a good thing. Gone are the days of wide lenses being such a hassle to use, and this lens is one of the reasons behind that.

[Read More]

Pen Display Tablets Have Surely Evolved to Fit Our Editing Needs: XPPen Artist Ultra 16 Review

Nicco Valenzuela — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 02:06:02 -0400

If you’ve dreamt about editing and retouching on a large screen with a pen, this might be the perfect time to achieve that because new-generation pen displays have arrived, and they’re now as good as, or probably even better than, your computer monitor.

[Read More]

The Unexpected Camera That Offers to Solve My Marketing Problems as a Photographer

Nicco Valenzuela — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:06:01 -0400

Let’s admit it. Social media platforms now favor video content, and it’s not enough to just post your output anymore. Video content can be a way to tell potential clients more about what we offer, but it’s no walk in the park to produce.

Nowadays, no matter how much hate we have for social media platforms, photographers can’t just be photographers anymore. For any photographer, especially those who are still building their client base and aiming to reach more potential quality clients, being on social media and producing marketing content is necessary.

[Read More]

Don’t Underestimate This Cheap Wide Angle Lens From Viltrox. It Just Might Change the Game.

Nicco Valenzuela — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 15:06:01 -0400

This new lens from Viltrox is definitely cheap for what it is, and it can be quite transformational for the right photographer. Now you can get a 14mm full frame for just $200.

[Read More]

Which One Is the Better 360 Action Camera? Comparative Review of the Insta360 X5 and DJI Osmo 360

Nicco Valenzuela — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:06:02 -0400

There’s always room in your gear bag for a 360 camera to help you document what you do. What’s even better is that now, you have highly evolved tech and multiple options for it.

360 cameras have greatly evolved in the past few years and have become so easy to use. For anyone who does anything worth filming, a 360 camera is a convenient way to record behind-the-scenes or perspective videos that take your viewer along with you. Insta360 has been pretty much unopposed for the longest time until DJI finally decided to join the 360 game.

[Read More]

Recent articles from Nicco Valenzuela on Fstoppers.com

Viltrox’ New Nifty-Fifty(-Five) Is Done Being Just a Budget Option: We Review the Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO APO Prime

Viltrox Redesigned Its 35mm f/1.2 LAB (N) and We Can See Why It Makes Sense: A Close-Look Review

Sleek, Durable, and Unassuming: We Review the Wandrd Prvke Zip Backpack

The Baseus Spacemate RD1 Pro Docking Station Aims to Make Your Desk Efficient and Uncluttered

Peak Design’s Expanded Travel Line Is Here and We Took a Close Look

Barely Lifting a Finger: Editing With the XP-Pen Pilot Pro Editing Console

The Difference Is Clear as Day: We Review the New Viltrox 35mm f/1.8 II EVO

Which Carbon Fiber Monopod Suits You Better? We Review the YC Onion PINETA Pro and SmallRig 5565

For Anyone Who Wants To Fly: Our First Look at the New DJI Avata 360 Drone

Compact, Convenient, and Complete: Saramonic Air SE Review and Demo

UGREEN’s Thunderbolt™ 5 Docking Stations Are Here and We Take an Exclusive Look

Sharpness Beyond the Corners: We Review the Laowa 17mm f/4 Tilt-Shift Zero-D Lens

The Huion Kamvas 22 Gen 3: Raising the Bar on the Editing Experience

The H&Y Nova VND + CPL Filter Solved the Biggest Problem With Variable ND Filters

From Everyday Carry to Day Hike: WANDRD PRVKE V4 Backpack Review

Geared Precision Without the Unnecessary Bulk: We Review the Leofoto G4 Geared Tripod Head

An Everyday-Carry Pancake Lens: Testing Out the TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 Lens for APS-C Cameras

Before You Buy the Sony a7 V

The Antigravity A1 360 Camera-Equipped Drone Officially Unveiled

Sony a7 V Hands-On: Dynamic Range, Speed, and AI in One Hybrid Body

Traveling With Your Camera Gear? Let’s Take a Look at the WANDRD Transit Carry-on Roller

Black Friday Deals We Think You Should Know About

The Manfrotto ONE Offers to Be Your Tripod for Anything and Everything: Review and Demo

Minimalist but Multi-Functional: We Review the Pgytech OneGo 2 Backpack

An Uncalibrated Screen Is Just Inches Away From Chaos: The Datacolor SpyderExpress Makes Calibration Faster, Easier, and More Accessible

Beyond All-In-One: We Review the Huion Inspiroy 2 Pen Tablet for Editing, Retouching, and Illustration

A Compact Tripod for Your Compact Camera: The Fotopro X-Aircross 3 Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod

The Key to Dynamic Yet Natural-Looking Outdoor Portrait Lighting

Changing the Standards of Your First Portrait Prime Lens: Viltrox 85mm f/2.0 EVO Review

This Desktop Camera Arm Is a Handy Tool for Anyone With a Home Studio or Small Space

One of a Kind Ultra-Wide Angle Zoom: We Review the Schneider Kreuznach X LK Samyang 14-24mm f/2.8 Lens

Pen Display Tablets Have Surely Evolved to Fit Our Editing Needs: XPPen Artist Ultra 16 Review

The Unexpected Camera That Offers to Solve My Marketing Problems as a Photographer

Don’t Underestimate This Cheap Wide Angle Lens From Viltrox. It Just Might Change the Game.

Which One Is the Better 360 Action Camera? Comparative Review of the Insta360 X5 and DJI Osmo 360