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Rode Wireless ME – a review of a low-budget Rode

When Rode released the original Wireless GO in 2019, they set a new standard for small wireless portable microphones. In 2021, Rode released the Wireless GO II, adding a whole bunch of great features. Things that people had been asking for. So why the Rode Wireless ME (link)? And why now?

The release of the original Wireless GO spawned a whole legion of similar devices. Other manufacturers saw the use case and clear opportunity. Many of the new units lacked certain features of the Rode system, but they came in at a much lower price point. Rode has now answered those competitors with their own lower-budget option, the Rode Wireless ME.

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Review: Insta360 announces its first gimbal – The AI-tracking Insta360 Flow

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Insta360 is most famous for its 360-degree cameras and action cameras. It looks like they’re taking a little change of direction and expanding out into helping you get great video with your smartphone, too. Insta360 has now officially announced the Insta360 Flow (Buy here). It’s its own take on the now ubiquitous smartphone gimbal, and having played with one now for a little while, I think it’s pretty good.

In a gimbal market dominated by companies like DJI and Zhiyun, it’s interesting to see Insta360 enter it. We’ve seen many other companies come and go in the gimbal world, but Insta360 isn’t just some random no-name brand that pops up out of nowhere and disappears just as quickly. If they’re going to have a go at something, they’re going to do it properly. And properly is exactly what they seem to have done.

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DIYP Reviews the Laowa Argus 28mm f/1.2 lens for still photographers

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Not every day, I get to put my hands on an f/1.2 lens. And a 28mm at that. So obviously, I was curious to test the new Laowa Argus 28mm f/1.2 lens. While my guess is that Laowa is targeting video photographers with this lens, I think it could be a wonderful asset for still shooters.

Before diving in, let me make sure that we are clear on the two most important spec points of this lens: It is an f/1.2 lens, and it’s manual. I guess you can see where I am going with this.

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DIYP reviews the Vallerret Markhof Pro V3 – Winter Photography Gloves

Staying warm in cold weather is essential for maximum creativity. The warmer you are, the longer you can stay out in the cold, maximizing on compositions and conditions. It’s important that you’re able to keep your fingers nimble and warm as your hands, along with your feet and the back of your neck, are where you lose the most body heat. Vallerret have a range of photography gloves designed to solve this problem and keep you going for longer.

Since their Kickstarter launch in 2015, Vallerret have been producing photography gloves based out of their headquarters in Norway. As a cold-weather photographer and northern lights specialist, these gloves solved a lot of problems for me. I previously had the original Markhof, and they were awesome, so when Vallerret asked me to review the latest model, the Markhof Pro V3, the answer was always going to be yes.

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DJI RS3 mini review – Small but mighty

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I have used the DJI RS3 on a few shoots. It is, by far, the most convenient, feature-rich, and intuitive gimbal I’ve ever used. So when DJI announced that they are coming out with a small, more budget-friendly ($359.00) version, I got excited. The DJI RS3 mini gimbal is, as expected, not a robust tool like its big brothers, but I found it to be useful in quite a bit of situations.

I am going to share my impressions below and would love to hear if you will opt for the DJI RS3 mini, or the DJI RS3 when you get a gimbal.

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IRIX 150mm T3.0 Cine lens review- a lens filled with character

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Irix just came with their IRIX 150mm T3.0 cine lens. But, wait, you say. They already have a 150mm T3.0 cine lens. Well, they do, but listening to customer feedback, they came up with a new version, that is more optimized for infinity focusing.

I know what you all want. We loved the Irix 11mm, 15mm, 21mm, and the 45mm. And IRIX coming up with a second-gen 150mm lens does not help to fill that gap. We were curious ourselves and asked IRIX, and they told us that 2023 will be the year when this gap closes, so stay tuned.

Till then, let’s take a deeper look at the 150mm lens, what it’s good for, and why you’d want it in your toolbox.

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Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II: In-depth review

The Sony 24-70mm F2.8 G Master was one of the earliest G Master lenses that I reviewed (in the summer of 2018), as I was fairly new to the Sony space.  While I found a lot of positives with the lens, I also though it twas too large and somewhat overhyped by the marketing materials. Sony must have thought it too large as well, as they have now released the MK II version of the lens – the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II – and one of the first things they are emphasizing is the reduced size.  According to Sony, the new 24-70 II (as we’ll call it for brevity in this review) is 191g lighter, 16mm shorter, and the overall volume has the lens has been reduced by 18%.  This is just the beginning of the improvements, though, as this Mark II lens has improved features, autofocus, and image quality performance.  The G Master series is supposed to be the best, and Sony has worked to accomplish that here.

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The Colbor CL60r is an almost perfect light – a review

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The Colbor CL60r and CL60 have everything I want in a small COB light. Do I have any complaints? Just one. And I 3D printed my way out of it.

Usually, I start those reviews by talking about light quality, but it’s 2023, no one is even making lights with CRI under 95 anymore. (For the record, we did measure a CRI of 96+).

There is a lot to like about this light, so lets move on.

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Zhiyun F100 review: a new kind of light stick

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The Zhiyun F100 RGB light stick is somewhat of a hybrid between a light tube and a more traditional bar. If you are familiar with the YN360 stick, you will find the form factor pretty familiar. But, unlike the YN360, the F100 is a significantly brighter light. In fact, the power draw is so significant that Zhiyun added a fan array for heat management. Between the battery, fans, and electronics, you are looking at quite a heavy piece of gear – almost a full kilo.

Let’s dive in

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Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens – Hands-On Review

Astrophotography is the answer. The question is, “what does this lens excel at?” I’ve proven it by being able to use it to film the northern lights in real-time, paired with the Sony A7S III. I’ve also tested the L-mount version of this lens with the Sigma FP-L. I have to say that in both instances, I’m sufficiently impressed at base-level, but there’s so much more. This is the Sigma 20mm F/1.4 DG DN Art lens. Let’s dive in.

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