With just a few tweaks to the lighting, you can transform an image’s mood or atmosphere. These creative lighting ideas will improve your skills. And they’ll give you more control over one of photography’s most vital ingredients.

Our article is the best starting point for learning about creative lighting. It has information on slow-sync flash, firelight, sparks, and loop lighting. Each section has a link to an in-depth article on the subject, so remember to click the link to find out more.

Recommended Courses With Creative Lighting Ideas

SLR Lounge’s Lighting 201

SLR Lounge’s Lighting 201

Lighting 3 by SLR Lounge

Lighting 3 by SLR Lounge

Lighting 4 by SLR Lounge

Lighting 4 by SLR Lounge

13 Creative Lighting Ideas

Are you an experienced photographer? Experiment with these creative lighting ideas. They’ll enhance your skills and broaden your perspective. And if you’re going through a lull, trying a new type of lighting can reinvigorate your passion for photography.

We kick off our list with some advice on DIY lighting before moving on to techniques like slow-sync flash. We also cover more ambient forms of light, like natural, candle, and firelight.

Not all the tutorials will be for you, but we’re sure a few will pique your interest. You’ll also learn skills to apply to different types of photography. That’s why anyone from fine art to portrait photographers can learn something from our article.

Experimenting with different types of lighting is fun and educational. Understanding light and what to do with it gives you more creative control. It’s true whether you’re shooting portraits or landscapes.

DIY Lighting

You can create DIY photography lighting using simple items. Use flashlights and light modifiers made from repurposed materials. Most of these can be found at home, but you may need to visit a hardware store for some supplies.

Make a basic DIY diffuser by stretching white fabric across a large picture frame or rectangular frame made from plastic pipes. This technique creates a softbox effect. The distance between the light source and the diffuser determines it’s harshness or softness.

White and black poster boards also make effective reflectors and flags. Use them to bounce light onto the subject or block it to create moody shadows.

Fairy lights are another versatile DIY lighting option. You can incorporate them into photos in various ways. Have the model hold them, string them in the background, or place them in front of the lens for a dreamy bokeh effect.

Our article offers many creative techniques for those who want to learn more about DIY photography lighting. Explore and experiment with them all.

DIY Light Reflector

Making a DIY light reflector is a simple way to improve your photography lighting. All you need is some foam board or cardboard, scissors, tape, and, as an option, aluminum or golden tin foil.

First, decide on the size of your reflector based on your subject and the amount of light you want to reflect.

Cut the reflector to size and attach white paper or foil using tape. If using foil, wrap it tightly around the board and secure it with strong tape on the back. Use the dull side of the foil for a more diffused reflection.

To set up your reflector, use bulldog clips on smaller reflectors to create stands or prop larger ones against tripods or other objects. Experiment with different angles to achieve the desired lighting effect on your subject.

With a DIY light reflector, you can easily improve your photo lighting without expensive equipment.

Slow-Sync Flash

Slow-sync flash is a creative technique for capturing stunning low-light photos. It involves using a slower shutter speed combined with a flash. This setup lets you freeze motion while capturing ambient light trails in the background.

You need a camera with manual controls and a flash to use slow-sync flash. Set a slow shutter speed. Then, choose either the first curtain sync (the flash fires at the beginning of the exposure) or the second (the flash fires at the end).

The first curtain sync makes light trails appear in front of your subject. The second curtain sync places them behind.

Mastering slow sync flash requires experimentation, but the results are worth it. You can capture unique images with a strong sense of motion and beautiful background detail.

Our in-depth guide covers everything you need to know about slow-sync flash photography.

Ring Flash

A ring flash is a versatile lighting tool that can improve your photography. It fits around your lens and provides even 360-degree lighting on your subject. This setup reduces harsh shadows and creates a unique catchlight in the subject’s eyes.

Ring flashes are popular for macro, portrait, fashion, food, and underwater photography. They allow you to keep your ISO low and shutter speed fast, even when shooting close-up subjects.

In complex lighting setups, a ring flash can be used as a key or fill light. Many ring flash options are available, from dedicated units to adapters that work with your existing flash. Prices range from budget-friendly to professional-grade.

Our full article is the perfect starting point for those interested in ring flash lighting.

Natural Light

Natural light is the best light for photography. It’s free and available any time of day. The key is knowing how to work with different types of natural light to get the best results.

Direct light is great for emphasizing textures and creating dramatic shadows. Sidelight creates a moody, atmospheric look perfect for portraits, food, and still-life photography.

Soft light from cloudy days is even and balanced, making it a photographer’s best friend. Backlight is when the light source is directly behind your subject. It can create dramatic silhouettes or dreamy sun flares.

Golden hour light is before sunset and after sunrise. It’s soft and warm, allowing you to shoot from any angle. By using natural light techniques like these, you can take your photography to the next level.

Candlelight

Candlelight photography creates a soft, warm glow that evokes emotion in your images. Use a tripod and adjust your camera settings for the low light to capture the best shots.

A wide aperture lens, like a 50mm f/1.8 prime, will let in more light and create a shallow depth of field that complements the soft candlelight.

Position your subject carefully and check the entire frame before shooting. You can use extra candles to add background light or reflectors to bounce light back onto your subject and define their outline in the dim setting.

Meter the light based on your subject. And experiment with their positioning to find the most flattering shadows.

Candlelight photos offer many creative possibilities. It includes everything from barely visible subjects emerging from darkness to subtly lit shadows. Candlelight photography is a great way to create unique, atmospheric images.

Fairy Lights

Fairy light photography is a fun way to take eye-catching photos while improving your lighting skills. You can use fairy lights to create dreamy self-portraits at home or stunning background bokeh with colored lights.

White string lights are perfect for glowing portraits in the dark. Cover part of your lens with the lights to add a gorgeous foreground to your shots. You can also use a long exposure to capture surreal photos of moving light.

Combine a clear umbrella with fairy lights for moody photos, or turn a kerosene lamp into a unique light holder. Fairy light photography lets you get creative and express yourself.

To learn more about fairy light photography, check out our in-depth guide.

Fire Light

Fire photography is an exciting genre that lets you capture powerful images of flames, sparks, and glowing subjects. To take the best fire photos, use a narrow aperture like f/8 for sharp details or a slow shutter speed to show movement.

You can also use fire as a creative light source for portraits. But always prioritize safety when working with fire. Shoot in a spacious area away from flammable objects, keep your models safe, and have a fire extinguisher nearby.

You can capture friendly bonfire atmospheres, mysterious silhouettes, and beautiful bokeh. You can even recreate light leaks with the right techniques.

Fire photography encourages you to master your camera settings and think quickly. You can explore endless creative possibilities. Our article is a must-read if you want to learn more about capturing stunning fire photos safely and creatively. 

Light Sticks

Light stick photography is a fun and easy way to add flair to your photos. Use a light stick to create interesting patterns and designs by drawing in the air during a long exposure.

LED light sticks are a popular choice for light painting. They come in many colors and use less power than flashlights. Experiment with different light sources to make your images unique.

To begin with, you need a camera, tripod, remote, and portable lights. Set up in a dark location and use manual settings. Focus the camera, then start painting with the light off. Turn it on when you hear the shutter open, and turn it off before it closes.

Light painting is experimental, so try writing words, making abstract shapes, or adding color with gels. Basic edits like exposure, contrast, and noise reduction can improve light painting photos.

Read the full post if you’d like to learn more about light stick photography.

Prism

Prism photography is a fun way to add creative effects to your photos without Photoshop. Prisms can bend light to create rainbow colors, dreamy looks, and reflections in your images. They’re also affordable and fit in almost any camera bag.

You only need a triangular glass prism and a camera to get started. Place the prism close to your lens and slowly move it around to see the different effects you can create. Use manual focus and Live View to avoid focusing issues caused by the prism.

Experiment with placing the prism’s edge towards the camera for rainbow effects. Or, use reflections to create mirror images and doubles. With the prism, you can add extra light to your photos or hide unwanted background elements.

You can even blend objects or create kaleidoscope effects with trial and error. Prism photography is a playful way to make unique images.

Starburst

You need a small aperture, like f/11 to f/22, to create a starburst effect in your photos. This setting closes the blades inside your lens. It creates a small opening that diffracts light from the sun or other bright sources, resulting in a starburst look.

During the day, partially cover the sun with an object like a tree or building to avoid overexposure. At night, street lamps work well without needing to be covered. Use a tripod and low ISO to minimize noise in low light.

Experiment with different aperture sizes and compositions to create the perfect starburst effect. Use Lightroom’s “whites” or “recovery” slider in post-processing to bring back detail in overexposed areas.

Starburst effects are a simple way to add visual interest to your photos.

Sparks

Steel wool photography creates stunning images with flying sparks. You’ll need a camera, tripod, shutter release cable, steel wool, string, a metal whisk, lighter, and protective gear. Choose a safe location away from flammable materials.

Pack grade 000 or 0000 steel wool into a metal whisk attached to a 1-1.5m string. Wear gloves, a hat, and safety glasses. Set your camera to manual mode with a small aperture, low ISO, and a 5- to 20-second shutter speed.

Light the steel wool and start spinning as you press the shutter button. Try different spinning techniques, such as vertical, horizontal, or walking, for unique effects.

Steel wool photography is a creative way to capture incredible images with simple tools.

Loop Lighting

Loop lighting is a popular portrait technique that creates a small shadow of the subject’s nose on their cheek.

To achieve this effect, position the light source slightly above eye level and angle it down to create the desired shadow size. The ideal angle is around 45 degrees.

Move the light until the nose shadow is just about right—not too large or fused with the cheek shadow. If the light is too high, you’ll lose the catchlights in the subject’s eyes, resulting in a lifeless image.

Loop lighting tends to flatter most faces, making it a go-to choice for many portrait photographers. Explore our in-depth guide to learn more about loop lighting and how to master this technique.

This article will teach you how to add grain in Lightroom to get a film look. This process allows you to quickly change your photograph’s aesthetic and overall feel. It can be used to make event photography feel more timeless or add grit to street photographs.

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• Learn to use every tool for quick, professional edits.
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What Is Film Grain?

Film grain is caused by the chemistry that allows us to freeze and fix photographs. Grain is the noticeable texture we see in an enlarged film photograph.

Different film types will have different types of grain. Films with lower ISOs will have a finer grain. This makes the photographs sharper, and the grain texture is only noticeable when the image is enlarged. Higher ISO film has a larger grain. This is why we associate large grain with gritty photographs. For example, street photographers shooting at night would use films with high ISOs.

Film grain is now used as an artistic effect. It is an aesthetic that works in many different contexts. Continue reading to learn how to add film grain in Lightroom.

Adding Grain in Lightroom Classic vs. Lightroom CC

The process of adding grain to get a film look is the same in any version of Lightroom.

You will find the Grain adjustment in the Effects panel of the Develop module in Lightroom Classic. It will be in the Edit panel in Lightroom CC.

How to Add Grain in Lightroom to Get a Film Look

Now, we are going to look at how to add grain in Lightroom to change the aesthetic of your photograph.

Lightroom has a dedicated tool to add grain. You can find the Grain tool inside the Effects section. This tool not only allows you to add grain but also allows you to customize the grain effect.

The two customization options are Size and Roughness. You can edit these options after you apply any increment of grain to your photo.

Size adjusts the size of the grain. As mentioned earlier, different film types had different size grains. If you want a subtle grain effect to your photograph, you may want to reduce the size.

The larger grain is more noticeable. This larger grain emphasizes the timeless or gritty effect you may want to achieve. Notice that the sharpness will change with the Size adjustment. This is an accurate simulation of real film effects as the larger film grain is less sharp.

Roughness is like contrast for the film grain. It is a way to amplify or reduce how noticeable your grain is. This is the most effective control for fine-tuning your grain effect.

Conclusion: How to Add Grain in Lightroom

The Grain tool in Lightroom is a quick and easy way to change the aesthetic of your photograph. There are many uses for film grain, as film grain existed in every photograph before the digital era. This means you can add it to beautiful fashion or wedding photography as well as gritty, intense street photography.

Make sure you play with the customization tools that Lightroom provides. These sliders are crucial and may change the overall feel of your photograph.

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• Learn to use every tool for quick, professional edits.
• Discover seamless subject selection with a single click.
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Today, we will examine the different methods you can use to produce more interesting or accurate colors. Each section will link to a longer article that discusses each process in more detail. By the end of this article, you will be familiar with all the ways to edit color in Lightroom.

How Can You Edit Color in Lightroom?

There is no right way to edit color. It all depends on what style you’re trying to achieve. Lightroom knows this, so it provides us with various methods to edit color. These range from simple sliders that can enhance your colors in a single motion to detailed and professional controls.

Color editing is simple, thanks to Lightroom’s attention to detail. You can adjust the whole spectrum of colors in one slider or adjust particular colors or locations in others.

Lightroom has multiple panels for color editing. You can find adjustments in the Basic, Tone Curve, Color Mixer, Color Grading, and Calibration panels.

Editing Color in Lightroom CC vs Lightroom Classic

The two current versions of Lightroom include the same adjustments and methods to edit color. However, the panels and adjustments are ordered differently in the Edit (Lightroom CC) or Develop (Lightroom Classic) workspaces.

Lightroom CC provides a panel that condenses all the color editing actions together. Meanwhile, Lightroom Classic spreads each color editing action into multiple panels. This makes it easier to find all the color adjustments in Lightroom CC. But this isn’t an issue, as you will likely only use the editing actions you need, not every single one.

A noticeable feature you will have to find is the Color Calibration for Lightroom CC. At first glance, it seems they don’t have it, but they do. Click the “…” on the right-hand toolbar and select “Show Color Calibration.” This reveals the Color Calibration section under the Color panel.

Ways to Edit Color in Lightroom

There are a few different ways of editing color in Lightroom. And each way has specific uses for specific situations. Continue reading to learn which method is best for you.

Vibrance and Saturation

The quickest and easiest way to enhance the colors in your photographs is with the Vibrance and Saturation sliders. You will find these adjustments in almost every photo editing software.

Vibrance and Saturation sliders act differently. Vibrance boosts the colors and potential colors in your photograph. By potential colors, I am referring to areas that seem void of color. If you shoot RAW, there should be enough information to draw out colors from these areas.

Saturation boosts the color intensity and enhances every color in your photograph. This only affects areas where the color is clear and obvious. But be careful when using this slider. It’s easy to go overboard and make the colors look fake.

You can slide both these sliders all the way to the left to reduce the colors to monochrome. Vibrance and saturation adjustments are located in the Color section of Lightroom CC and in the Basic section of Lightroom Classic.

White Balance

Understanding white balance is extremely important if you want to take photography seriously. Different lights and different times of day produce different colors. Adjusting the white balance in Lightroom depends on the color temperature and color tint.

Our camera normally adjusts to these colors automatically. But sometimes, the colors may look different than they do in real life. Color temperature is measured in Kelvins. Lightroom allows us to adjust the color temperature according to this scale, ranging from warm to cool light.

You can also use this slider to manually edit the feel of your photograph. If you want a more summery feel, you can warm your image slightly. Or you can make the colors cooler for a more wintery feel.

The color tint is also affected by the type of light in your photos. This scale is between a green tint and a pink tint. You can adjust this slider to create a more natural-looking result.

Using a color card is the best way to get the perfect white balance. This is an essential piece of equipment for editorial or commercial photographers.

You can find the White Balance adjustment in the Color section in Lightroom CC and at the top of the Basic adjustments in Lightroom Classic.

Tone Curve

A tone curve chart is an editing tool that all photographers should be familiar with. You can use the tone curve graph to perform global adjustments to your whole image. But more experienced photographers will use it to control specific colors.

In the tone curve graph, you can split the adjustment into three different color channels: red, green, and blue. Adjusting the line that passes through the graph can produce different effects. This is similar to a histogram, so you should be familiar with these first.

A tone curve graph allows you to place anchor points, giving you full control over your edit. Lightroom now provides a great color layover when adjusting the different channels. This helps you understand which color to add or subtract.

The tone curve exists as its own panel in Lightroom Classic. You can find the tone curve in Lightroom CC as a drop-down feature in the Light section.

Color Mixer/HSL

The Color Mixer or HSL adjustments are a great way to adjust a particular color, especially for beginners. This section allows you to control the appearance and pungency of each color in your photograph. You are even able to take entire colors out of your photograph!

HSL stands for Hue, Saturation, and Luminance. Lightroom splits each color and tone into eight different sliders covering the color spectrum. The Color section of the Color Mixer allows you to make the same adjustments. But here, you can adjust each color separately.

The hue of a color dictates which side of the color spectrum shows in your photograph. This allows you to get the exact color you want. The saturation we covered previously lets you adjust how pungent your color is (or remove it completely). Luminance lets you decide how bright or dark you want this color.

A Point Color tool also makes selecting the color much easier. You simply click on the dropper and then click on the color in the photograph you want to adjust. You can then apply the same HSL adjustment to this color.

In Lightroom CC, you get a useful color comparison in Point Color. This shows your original color and your current edited result. Lightroom Classic gives you much more control in its Point Color section. It allows you to move the color around your selected spectrum. It also adjusts the sliders automatically.

Color Grading

The Color Grading tool in Lightroom is another method that gives you expert control over the colors in your photos. This tool may seem similar to the HSL sliders, but instead of adjusting each color, it adds a filter across your photograph in your chosen color.

The Color Grading tool takes the shape of a color spectrum. You can pull the center point (white) toward the color tones you want your photograph to have. The Color Grading tool allows you to do this globally or separately for the midtones, highlights, and shadows. You also get a Blending and Balance slider to make your filter look natural.

The addition of this Color Grading tool is perfect for creatives who want to achieve a particular feel in their photographs. Lightroom has made color grading incredibly easy with this tool, so even beginners can use it.

Color Calibration

The Color Calibration tool is a quick and easy method to calibrate the colors in your image if you feel they are off. Lightroom does a great job identifying the key colors and tints that affect our images. And it gives us specific sliders to combat these unwanted colors.

The sliders are simple and let you control each color however you like. Like other color adjustments in this list, Lightroom has different ways of solving the same problem.

Color calibration is particularly important for commercial or editorial photography. It is also super important for film photography as scanning film can produce a strange color cast you will need to work against.

In Lightroom CC, you will need to enable Color Calibration through the Edit Options “…” icon on the right-hand panel. In Lightroom Classic, you can find this section near the bottom of the Develop panel.

Conclusion: How to Edit Color in Lightroom

Color editing in digital photography is extremely important. Luckily, there are numerous ways to edit color in Lightroom. Lightroom constantly offers new and user-friendly ways to perform professional adjustments.

Once you understand all these color adjustment tools, you will have a much better understanding of photographs as a whole!

Adobe Lightroom does more than simple editing adjustments. Our article covers how advanced editing techniques can change how we think about our photos. Thankfully, Lightroom is packed with numerous features. These tools let us experiment with different techniques. So, let’s dive in!

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Advanced Editing Techniques in Lightroom (CC) vs Lightroom Classic

When you buy Adobe Lightroom, you can access two different versions. Because the programs have different approaches, one may lack features in the other. Let’s first outline which advanced Lightroom editing techniques you find in which version.

What is the biggest difference between these programs? Lightroom (CC) does not provide the array of output options that Lightroom Classic does. You won’t find the Book or Slideshow module in Lightroom CC. And you can’t make a collage because it lacks the Print module.

Lightroom CC also lacks the Photo Stacking technique. But this isn’t too much of an issue, as you can still batch-edit photos. Lightroom CC does include the Photo Merge technique, one of the most important techniques featured on our list.

You can read our full review of Adobe Lightroom to compare all their similarities and differences.

7 Advanced Lightroom Editing Techniques

These advanced Lightroom editing techniques are niche, so you may never need to use them in your photographic journey. But for other photographers, some of these features may be crucial:

1. Merge Photos
2. Create Masks
3. Blur the Background
4. Stack Images
5. Create a Collage
6. Create a Slideshow
7. Create a Photo Book

It is worth understanding and attempting these techniques to see if you enjoy them and what imagery you can create! Click on the links at the end of each section to learn about each feature more in-depth.

1. Merge Photos

In modern digital photography, it is unsurprising that some of our favorite images are made up of multiple images. What is surprising is to learn that Lightroom lets us perform these edits in a super simplistic way.

The Photo Merge tool can be found by selecting photos and right-clicking. It allows users to create HDRs, Panoramas, or even HDR Panoramas.

After we select our images and find Photo Merge, an interface lets us adjust the action in specific ways. The new image is then saved straight into Lightroom!

Lightroom has found a way to make these merge actions as simple as possible. Its great usability lets us test different techniques without proficiency in imaging software.

Read our complete article if you want a step-by-step walkthrough of merging images in Lightroom.

2. Create Masks

If you want to learn advanced Lightroom editing techniques, one of the first things you must do is create masks. Masks let you apply edits and adjustments to certain areas of your photographs. You can create a mask with a brush, linear gradient, radial gradient, or AI!

Masking brings photographers into the realm of professional digital photo editing. This ability is usually found only in programs like Photoshop, but it is now in various digital editing software.

Because Adobe has the capabilities, it has added masked editing to Lightroom with ease and excellent usability. This technology’s newest development allows AI to read our images and mask them for us!

Adobe execute executes this perfectly and saves us time, especially with portraits. Lightroom can now identify different sections of someone’s body to mask. Thus, we can apply specific edits to certain areas in no time.

Read our full article about creating makes if you want to go through the entire process.

3. Blur the Background

Another advanced Lightroom editing technique that is helpful to learn is how to blur the background. This technique can help you draw more attention to the subject of your photograph. It is useful for portraits or advertisement photoshoots.

Applying a blur to the background also helps us counter mistakes we should have avoided while photographing. Using a wide aperture blurs the background. If you forgot to shoot with these settings, you can always simulate a bokeh with a blurred background.

To blur the background in Lightroom, you must create a mask. This allows you more control, as you can select every element you want to be in or out of focus. Learn more about how to blur the background.

4. Stack Images

Stacking is an organizational feature in Lightroom that lets you control your images. It involves grouping images inside a Catalog or Folder, which can be useful if you like taking photos quickly.

Once you have stacked some images, you can remove certain images or change the order. This is helpful if you want one image to represent the entire stack.

Lightroom provides hotkeys to collapse and collect your stacks. Photographers who value organizational abilities will love this feature. Lightroom also has an auto-stack feature so that we can do even less!

Auto stack lets the program group all images based on their capture time. When selecting this feature, you can edit the time between stacks. This is super helpful for a photoshoot where burst and continuous shooting lead to a huge number of photos.

Read about how to stack your images in Lightroom in more depth.

5. Create a Collage

Lightroom also offers a way to create a simple collage without any other software. This could be helpful for photographers who want to advertise their business or create custom posters from their images.

The Print section at the top right of Lightroom Classic allows you to create a collage. You can use a simple contact sheet format or a more detailed arrangement of photographs there.

If you want to overlay and cut out images, Lightroom cannot help you. You will need to use Photoshop for these actions.

Adobe offers plenty of customization in this advanced Lightroom editing technique. You can save the template you build and then cycle different images through it to create different collages. You can even add your branding or watermark to your collage.

It’s excellent that Lightroom features this ability in its software. Without it, you would need to buy and learn Photoshop, which would cost more and take much longer.

In our full article, learn how to make a collage in Lightroom from start to finish.

6. Create a Slideshow

Do you need to present your photographs in a public setting? Set up a simple slideshow to cycle through your pictures while presenting. A slideshow may also be a great way to show your friends or family the photographs you have been working on.

Thankfully, Lightroom provides a module specifically dedicated to slideshows in Lightroom Classic. The Slideshow section is at the top right of Lightroom Classic. There, you can customize a professional slideshow of your selected photos.

You can dictate all the image sizes and the background. You can even add an image to the background!

Toward the end of the customization, you can organize the slideshow timing if you want it to cycle through images automatically. This involves high levels of control, including the time the photos are displayed and the crossfade time. Lightroom even lets you add music at this point!

Adobe lets you export your slideshow as a PDF or video. The video settings offer various options for the quality of the video. Lightroom also lets you play the slideshow inside the program if you don’t want to organize another option.

Read our full article about the slideshow feature in Lightroom if you want to learn more.

7. Create a Photo Book

If you are happy with a range of your favorite photographs or have photographed a certain event, you may want to make your own photo book! Adobe provides an easy template-based photo book maker inside Lightroom Classic.

The Book section is along the top right of Lightroom Classic. Inside, you can layout and format the book to your desired outcome. Lightroom provides a wide range of customization options so you find a way to make the best layout for you.

The Book section lets you export your book directly to Blurb to get it printed through their service. This is super easy, letting you select the paper type and cover inside the app.

You even get the estimated price shown in Lightroom. If you don’t want to use this print service, you can always export the document to a PDF to take to another printer.

The amount of control Lightroom provides is outstanding. Adobe has specialist software for making publications, so it’s not surprising that it is well done. The Book section is worth experimenting with, especially if you already have a large selection of edited images in Lightroom.

Read our article about book-making in Lightroom to learn more about the process.

Conclusion: Advanced Lightroom Editing Techniques

Our selection of advanced Lightroom editing techniques shows there is much more to this Adobe software than meets the eye. These extra abilities make Lightroom stand out from all its competitors. Of course, this makes sense becasue Adobe is behind all the top media software.

If you are new to photography, familiarize yourself with these actions. You never know when you may need to produce specific content. And if you want to know how to perform each technique, read about each in more detail through the links provided.

Check out our Effortless Editing With Lightroom course for comprehensive, easy-to-follow Lightroom tips!

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• Learn to use every tool for quick, professional edits.
• Discover seamless subject selection with a single click.
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Let’s look at the wide variety of Lightroom filters and brushes inside the program. By the end of this article, you will know the full range of filters and brushes Lightroom has to offer and how to use them.

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• Learn to use every tool for quick, professional edits.
• Discover seamless subject selection with a single click.
• Unlock hidden details in photos with our unique method.

What Are Lightroom Filters and Brushes?

Lightroom filters and brushes are tools that give you more advanced control over your photographs. Unlike most Lightroom adjustments, these tools do not use sliders. Instead, you must learn how they work to get the most out of each tool.

Lightroom filters are actions like gradients and masks. You can put these filters over a photo, allowing you to adjust specific sections of a photograph. By using these tools, we can fine-tune our edits to get the most out of each photograph.

Lightroom brushes work similarly to brushes in Adobe Photoshop. These brushes allow you to edit images by clicking or painting over particular sections. The adjustments range from removing unwanted features to painting in adjustments to specific areas.

Lightroom Filters and Brushes in Lightroom CC vs Lightroom Classic

The tools and their locations in the two current versions of Lightroom are the same.

The Clone, Heal, and Remove brushes are located in the Heal section. You can access this section by clicking the plaster icon under the histogram in Lightroom Classic or on the right-hand panel in Lightroom CC.

The Radial and Gradient filters are in the Masks section, which is identified by an icon of a dotted circle with a shaded-in center. The brush for making custom edits is also in this section, as it is technically a mask.

Lightroom Filters and Brushes

Below is a quick summary of what these tools allow us to do. Make sure you click the link in each article to learn about any method in more detail.

Clone Tool

The Clone tool is effective if you want lots of control over your healing brushes. The Clone tool directly clones a certain section of your photograph and places it over your selected area. This is extremely useful if you have a repeating pattern in your photograph, for example.

To use this Lightroom brush, you click or paint over the area you want to remove from the image. Lightroom then selects an area it thinks would be a good replication. This may not always be accurate, so you can move the source spot wherever you like.

Lightroom CC may not show the source spot. If it doesn’t, select the “Show Overlay on Hover” button. Here is our full article on how to use the Clone tool in Lightroom.

Heal Tool

The Heal tool is perfect for quickly clearing up small unwanted items like blemishes on your model’s face or dust on your lens. The Heal tool differs from the Clone tool in that it doesn’t directly clone the referenced area. Instead, it copies the texture while attempting to keep the color and tone similar to its surroundings.

The Heal Lightroom brush functions similarly to the Clone tool. Unlike the Spot Healing brush in Photoshop, Lightroom allows you to change the location your spot or stroke is referencing. This is similar to how the Clone brush functions.

Select the “Show Overlay on Hover” button in Lightroom CC to move your reference point. Here is our full article on how to use the Heal tool in Lightroom.

Content Remove

The Content-Aware Remove tool is an excellent feature for photographers. It allows us to brush away particular features we don’t want in our photos. Unlike the Heal tool, the Remove tool produces computer-generated imagery inside your selected area.

The Remove brush in Lightroom can sometimes create unwanted effects. This is likely because a computer cannot easily replicate the surrounding area. AI is dramatically improving this technology, but even the most advanced versions of these tools struggle in certain situations.

If your result is close but not perfect, try adjusting the size of your brush or the selection area. I do this regularly and it works most of the time.

Masking

Lightroom’s masking has dramatically improved in recent years. Thanks to the integrated AI, Lightroom can identify key features in our photographs and apply a mask. The current masking options are Subject, Sky, or Background.

The most impressive feature comes from the People option. This feature allows you to mask different body features such as the lips, eyes, facial skin, body skin, and more. You can even group these masks together! This feature makes advanced portrait editing extremely accessible.

You can make masks in many different ways. Here is our full article on how to use masks in Lightroom.

Masking Brush

To make controlled adjustments in a particular area of your photograph, you must become familiar with the Masking brush. This Lightroom brush allows you to make any Lightroom adjustments and then brush them into your photograph. You also get control over how your brush acts, including the size, feathering, flow, and density.

Using the Lightroom Masking Brush tool is an easy way to start making advanced edits. Here’s our full article on how to use the Brush tool in Lightroom.

Linear Gradient Filter

The Linear Gradient filter allows you to place a gradient over your photograph in Lightroom. Gradients were traditionally produced as a filter you would place over your lens. Gradients are useful because they allow us to see more detail in particular areas of our photograph. This is mostly relevant for the sky.

Lightroom’s Linear Gradient filter is extremely easy to use and provides multiple levels of customization. You can select the area that the gradient covers, the direction it comes from, and even how harsh it is. Here’s our full article on how to use the Linear Gradient tool.

Radial Gradient Filter

A Radial Gradient filter is very similar to the Linear Gradient filter, but it takes a circular shape instead of a line. This Lightroom filter is brilliant for drawing attention to a specific area of your photograph or creating a vignette.

Lightroom makes this tool extremely accessible, even for beginners. Simply click and drag and a circular shape will appear that you can edit. You can always adjust the size and shape even once you let go of the click. Lightroom also gives you a single button to inverse this selection.

Here’s our full article on how to use the Radial Gradient filter.

Conclusion: Lightroom Filters and Brushes

Adobe gives photographers key editing tools in Lightroom that enable them to create detailed edits. If you learn to use all of these tools effectively, you may never have to open up Photoshop again!

Make sure you read all our in-depth articles to get the most out of each tool. If you understand all these Lightroom filters and brushes, you will be able to perform advanced digital photo edits.

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On the other hand, there are cameras and other bits of gear that can take your landscape photography to the next level. We’re going to look at a whole range of photography gear to help you improve your landscape photography. From cameras to tripods to backpacks, we’ve got you covered.

Our Top 3 Choices for Landscape Photography Gear

Nikon D850

Nikon D850

Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM

Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM

Manfrotto Element MII Tripod

Manfrotto Element MII Tripod

The Best Landscape Photography Gear

We’ll begin our review with the best camera for landscape photography. Then we’ll move on to look at the other kit you might need and want.

Product Name

Why We Love It

Buy From

Nikon D850

Best Camera

• Impressive 45.7 MP sensor
• Shoots 4k video
• Excellent dynamic range
• Built-in time-lapse feature

Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM

Best Lens

• Fast f/2.8 aperture
• Ultra-low dispersion elements
• Very sharp at all apertures
• Weather sealed for durability

Manfrotto Element MII Tripod

Best Tripod

• Light but strong
• Maximum capacity of 17.6 lbs/8 kg
• Maximum height of 63 inches/1.6m
• Aluminum construction

Wandrd Prvke Backpack

Best Backpack

• Weather-resistant construction
• Lightweight and comfortable design
• Has a protected laptop sleeve
• Dedicated tripod holder

NEEWER HD Soft Gradient ND Filter

Best Graduated ND Filter

• Nano-coating for protection
• ND factor of 8
• Wide range of thread sizes
• Aluminum frame

Cokin Nuances Extreme ND 10 Stop Filter

Best ND Filter

• Tempered optical glass
• Holder can be mounted on multiple thread sizes
• 10-stop exposure adjustment
• Available in three different sizes

Lee Filters LEE100 Polarizing Filter

Best Polarizing Filter

• Multicoated glass
• Clamshell case
• Circular polarizing pattern
• Range of thread sizes available

Canon BR-E1 Remote Control

Best Shutter Release

• Works across multiple Canon cameras
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Working range of 16 feet (5 m)
• Shutter release and AF buttons

Altura Photo Camera Cleaning Kit for DSLR & Mirrorless

Best Cleaning Kit

• Contains blower, brush, and wipes
• Lens pen for removing blemishes
• Large-volume blower bulb
• Complete with sealable carrying pouch

SIMARI Winter Gloves

Best Gloves

• Water-resistant polyester material
• Warm but flexible
• Fleece lining
• Touchscreen finger point

BM Premium LP-E6NH Battery 2-Pack and Charger

Best Spare Batteries

• 2130 mAh capacity
• Set of two batteries
• Twin charger included
• Available for a range of cameras

The Best Camera for Landscape Photography

1. Nikon D850

Sensor Format	Sensor Format Full Frame
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Nikon F FX
Megapixels	Megapixels 45.7 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 153
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 25,600
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 7 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3.2"

×

Nikon D850

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$2,496.95 $2,996.95

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$2,796.95 $2,996.95

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$1,929.99

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The best camera for landscape photography will need to meet the following criteria:

• High image resolution
• Wide dynamic range
• Good ISO range
• Live view display
• Weather sealed
• Good battery life

One camera that catches the eye in all these areas is the Nikon D850. It’s an outstanding camera for a whole range of uses. And it is particularly suited to landscape photography. The D850 is one of Nikon’s finest DSLRs ever made. It has a 45.7 MP full-frame sensor. There’s little (other than medium format) that can stand up to a full-frame camera for landscape photography. This level of detail makes an incredible difference.

A full-frame sensor also helps with dynamic range. A landscape might include both a bright sky and sunlight, and darker shadows. Exposure bracketing for a high dynamic range (HDR) photo won’t always help with this. Clouds, leaves, and wildlife are likely to move in between exposures. It’s much better to have a camera that has a great deal of dynamic range to start with. The D850 happily meets this criterion.

A camera and lens that have good weather sealing will help protect your precious and expensive gear. And the D850 has durable weather sealing for outdoor shoots in any weather conditions.

The last thing you want after hauling your gear all the way out to your location is to run out of battery. And there won’t be any outlets in the field. It’s always good to carry a spare, but the longer your battery lasts, the better. The D850 has excellent battery life that will provide hours of shooting.

The D850 also has a useful time-lapse feature, making 4K videos a breeze. Getting the exposure right on lengthy time-lapses can be tricky. So this is a handy feature. Another aspect that landscape photographers will appreciate is the minimum ISO of 64. This can really help in very bright situations.

In recent years, you’ll have noticed that mirrorless cameras are taking over from DSLRs in almost every price bracket. If you want to see a range of the best cameras for landscape photography, then we’ve collected the best for every budget and purpose. If cost is your main consideration, look at the best budget cameras for landscape photography to help you choose.

The Best Lens for Landscape Photography

2. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

Brand	Brand Canon
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 2.8
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 24-70 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Canon EF

×

Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM

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$1,899.00

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The next most important item on your list is the lens. The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is a superb lens for many situations. And landscape photography is one of them.

It’s loved by photographers and is often on the top of the list of “best lenses,” and for good reason. The 24-70mm focal length is very handy. And the f/2.8 constant maximum aperture is great for low light. There are ultra- and super-low dispersion elements that help prevent chromatic aberration.

If you’re not a full-frame Canon user, we have a review of the best lenses for landscape photography. It will help you decide what’s the best choice for you.

The Best Tripod for Landscape Photography

3. Manfrotto Element MII Tripod

Brand	Brand Manfrotto
Material	Material Aluminum
Tripod Weight	Tripod Weight 3.3 lbs / 1.5 kg
Max Height	Max Height 63 inches / 160 cm
Folded Height	Folded Height 16.7 inches / 42.4 cm
Max Load Capacity	Max Load Capacity 17.6 lbs / 8 kg

×

Manfrotto Element MII Tripod

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$88.81 $109.00

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Amazon.de

$125.03

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$152.96

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$159.88 $159.99

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Amazon.it

$162.12

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Amazon.es

$165.86

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$212.00

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Amazon.com.au

$290.69

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Amazon.sa

$647.36

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The Manfrotto Element MII Tripod is an impressive blend of stability and lightness. It will easily handle full-frame DSLRs, given its 17.6 lbs/8kg maximum capacity. Keeping your tripod level is always important. And it can be tricky on uneven ground. You can adjust the angle and length of each leg individually, making it easy to keep it level wherever you’re shooting.

It has other great features you’ll want in a tripod for landscape photography. There is a hook on the center column to help stabilize the tripod, especially if it’s windy. You can hang your backpack on this hook to add a stabilizing weight.

You might find your location puts one tripod leg on a rocky surface and others on wet grass. In this case, rubber feet help to grip the rock. And retractable spikes dig into the soft ground.

Sometimes the best angle is low to the ground. Conventional tripods are often unsuited to that. The Element MII has a removable center column. This lets you invert the column and lets you shoot from ground level, all without your camera touching the ground.

We’ve got a great article for choosing the best tripod for landscape photography. You’ll find a great range of tripods to suit every budget!

The Best Backpack for Landscape Photography

4. Wandrd Prvke Camera Backpack

Weight	Weight 1300 g
Capacity	Capacity 21 L
Access Points	Access Points Back, side, top
Airflow Back Support	Airflow Back Support Yes, with mesh
Laptop Sleeve Capacity	Laptop Sleeve Capacity 15-inch
Tripod Holder	Tripod Holder
Warranty	Warranty Lifetime
Waterproof Rating	Waterproof Rating Weather-resistant

×

Wandrd Prvke Backpack

Wandrd

$310.00

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Now that you’ve got your camera, lens, and tripod, you’ll need to carry everything. And our top pick is the Wandrd Prvke. It’s lightweight and has plenty of carrying capacity, good weather protection, and can carry a tripod easily. The Wandrd Prvke scored the highest out of all the camera backpacks we reviewed.

You might need a bigger backpack to haul a lot of gear for your landscape photography shoot. In that case, then my choice would be the Manfrotto PRO Light Multiloader. It has amazing capacity and can carry up to three tripods or lighting stands. It even has a reversible waterproof/UV cover to protect your gear.

What backpack you choose will depend on your needs, of course. And because you’ll be walking into the wilderness, you’ll want a lightweight selection of the best backpacks for hiking.

The Best Filters for Landscape Photography

There are three types of filters that are specifically recommended for landscape photography: graduated neutral density (GND) filters, neutral density (ND) filters, and circular polarizing (CPL) filters. Let’s look at each one.

The Best Graduated Neutral Density Filter

5. Neewer HD Soft Gradient ND Filter

Brand	Brand NEEWER
Filter Size	Filter Size 77mm
Other Available Sizes	Other Available Sizes 49mm, 52mm, 55mm, 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 72mm, 82mm
ND Factor	ND Factor ND 8
Key Features	Key Features Nano coating, water-repellent, aluminum frame

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NEEWER HD Soft Gradient ND Filter

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$41.49

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$41.49

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$41.99

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$48.99

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Amazon.com.au

$52.99

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Amazon

$52.24

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Amazon.co.uk

$51.99

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Amazon.sa

$165.76

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Amazon.sg

$217.30

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Even with a high dynamic range, a camera can struggle to capture very large exposure differences in a landscape. Very bright sun and skies combined with darker land are an exposure nightmare.

One way to compensate for this is with a GND. Unlike a normal ND filter, a GND is only darkened on one-half of the surface area. This allows you to expose both the sky and land correctly.

The Neewer HD Soft Gradient ND Filter is a great value filter. It’s not the cheapest. But you don’t want to compromise on quality when the filter literally sits between the landscape and your lens.

The Neewer is light and slim. Its rim is aluminum alloy, and the glass has a special nano-coating. This coating both protects the glass and helps reduce lens flare and ghosting.

It provides three stops of exposure difference, and the edge between the dark and clear sections has a soft transition. This removes any harsh edge to the effect.

We’ve reviewed a range of graduated neutral density filters in case the Neewer isn’t quite right for you.

The Best Neutral Density Filters

6. Cokin Nuances Extreme ND 10-stop Filter

Brand	Brand Cokin
Filter Type	Filter Type Square
Size	Size 84 x 100mm
Available Densities	Available Densities 10-stop
Key Features	Key Features Tempered optical glass

×

Cokin Nuances Extreme ND 10 Stop Filter

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$109.95

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If the light is too bright, we can increase the shutter speed and/or choose a smaller aperture. Or we can lower the ISO setting. But there are situations when this strategy won’t work.

If you stop down your lens beyond f/8, you start to lose sharpness in most cases. This is caused by diffraction in the lens body. And if you want to use a slow shutter speed for some effect, you will run into trouble on a bright day.

This is the situation that an ND filter can help with. It makes the whole scene darker without affecting color or contrast. So you can adjust the exposure to get the effect you want.

The Cokin Nuances Extreme ND is a great choice. The Cokin filter system was groundbreaking back in the day. It allowed photographers to use one filter across a range of lenses. All you needed was the filter, the holder, and a mounting ring for each of your lenses.

This filter comes in two densities, allowing either a 6- or 10-stop exposure change. It’s made out of tempered optical glass, making it strong and durable. And that’s very handy for the landscape photographer.

If you need a different filter, we’ve put together a review of the best ND filters to help you choose which is best for you.

The Best Polarizing Filter

7. Lee Filters LEE100 Polarizer

Brand	Brand Lee Filters
Fitting Type	Fitting Type Slot-in
Multicoating	Multicoating Yes
Key Features	Key Features Fits the Lee 100 holder

×

Lee Filters LEE100 Polarizing Filter

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$332.50

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A CPL will remove glare on bright days, giving water and sky a deeper blue. The Lee100 Polarizer mounted on the Lee100 filter holder is a top-quality product. The glass is high transmission and imparts a slightly warm tone to your photos.

The Lee filter is not the cheapest, but it has a very good reputation for quality. If you need a different one, here are our recommendations for the best polarizing filters.

The Best Shutter Release Accessories

8. Canon BR-E1 Remote Control

Brand	Brand Canon
Brand Compatibility	Brand Compatibility Canon
Camera Compatibility	Camera Compatibility PowerShot G7 X range, EOS M series, EOS R series cameras
Connectivity Type	Connectivity Type Bluetooth
Connection Range	Connection Range 16 ft / 5 m
Functionality	Functionality Shutter release
Key Features	Key Features AF button

×

Canon BR-E1 Remote Control

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Even when your camera is securely mounted on a sturdy tripod, there is still a risk of camera shake. That’s because the act of pressing the shutter release can easily jolt the camera. A remote shutter release takes away that fear. 

The Canon BR-E1 is one of the best camera remotes you can get. It’s compact, effective, and reliable. There are other wireless and wired options out there, as well. But many camera manufacturers allow you to control your camera functions with dedicated phone apps.

Another accessory worth having for landscape photography is an intervalometer. This allows you to take a sequence of shots at preset intervals for a set period of time. This is perfect for creating a timelapse video. 

Here’s our review of the best shutter release remotes to help you choose which one is right for you.

The Best Protection for Your Camera

9. Altura Photo Cleaning Kit

Brand	Brand Altura Photo
Type	Type Blower, brush, and wipes
Lens or Sensor	Lens or Sensor Lens
Key Features	Key Features Lens pen, brushes, blowers, and wipes

×

Altura Photo Professional Cleaning Kit

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$16.99 $19.99

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Of all the types of photography, landscape photography usually involves the greatest risk of your camera getting dirty, wet, or both. Being able to clean your gear regularly or after an incident is important. The Altura Photo Cleaning Kit is a great choice for keeping your lens clean.

There are other options for regular maintenance and cleaning of your camera’s sensor. Here’s our guide to the best camera cleaning kits to help you choose.

The Best Photography Gloves

10. SIMARI Winter Gloves

Brand	Brand SIMARI
Material	Material Polyester
Waterproofing	Waterproofing Water-resistant
Available Sizes	Available Sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL
Key Features	Key Features Fleece lining and touchscreen finger point

×

SIMARI Winter Gloves

Amazon

$14.99 $19.99

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It’s not just your camera that needs protection. You do too! You don’t want to stand around in the cold without gloves. On the other hand, you’ll struggle to operate your camera’s controls if you’re wearing bulky gloves.

That’s where the Simari Winter Gloves come in handy. Warm without being bulky, they will keep your fingers protected. And the touchscreen pads let you operate your touchscreen while wearing the gloves.

If this pair isn’t for you, here’s our list of the best photography gloves.

The Best Spare Batteries

11. BM Premium LP-E6NH Batteries and Charger

Brand	Brand BM Premium
Compatible With	Compatible With Canon DLSR and mirrorless cameras
Capacity	Capacity 2130 mAh

×

BM Premium LP-E6NH Battery 2-Pack and Charger

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$54.99

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Even if you have a camera with great battery life, you’ll want at least one spare battery. The trouble is batteries are not cheap. And cheap batteries might let you down or even damage your camera. Thankfully, trusted brands produce third-party solutions like the BM Premium Version of the LP-E6NH. And it is about a third of the cost of a Canon camera battery.

It even comes as a twin pack with a dual charger. So you can always have one battery in the camera and two charging and ready to go! We’ve compiled a guide to the best third-party camera batteries to figure out which battery is best for you.

Where Can I Find Landscape Photography Inspiration? 

Lanscape photography inspiration comes from two places—locations and photographers. There are some truly iconic places to take landscape photos, from Venice to Stonehenge. But the challenge is bringing a fresh look to these places.

When faced with the familiar, it’s time to try new and creative ideas for your landscape photography. This might mean trying a telephoto lens or using high ISOs. Experimenting and learning is the key!

If you think all landscape photography is the same, think again! Here are 21 different types of landscape photography. It’s all about learning the craft. And who better to learn from than Ansel Adams? Adams’ meticulous darkroom practice is beyond most photographers—he would sometimes spend a whole day on one print! But with modern photo editing software, we can dodge and burn like he did in a fraction of the time.

Adams was one photographer who helped to make Yosemite National Park in California, USA a camera magnet. If you’re lucky enough to visit this breathtaking place, we’ve put together a list of location suggestions for you. One of the great things about Yosemite is that it looks great whatever the season.

Every season offers its own challenges and opportunities. Spring photography doesn’t have to be just about melting snow and budding flowers. It might be about rain and city streets.

Autumn offers some of the richest colors. And it is called the “season of mists” for a reason. And fog and mist can be wonderful in your photographs.

And we can’t forget about summer with its blazing sun and deep blue ocean or winter landscapes with their snow and ice.

Landscape photography can be as varied as the landscape itself. The challenge is to capture all the variety. For instance, waterfalls can create stunning photos. The same is true for trees and forests.

One of the beauties of landscape photography is the way the light is so dynamic and changeable. Although photographers have identified particular times of day and given them names—golden hour and blue hour—the truth is that light can change minute by minute.

Of course, the light rarely looks better than during those hours. Taking photos at sunrise and capturing the sunset both seem easy. But there is some skill in taking photos of the sky, and it’s worth learning the ropes.

Some people say that J M W Turner was so good at painting seascapes, that even his landscapes look like they’re moving. The sea can provide the most magical of subjects for landscape photography. And that applies whether you include cliffs and coastlines or simply the beach.

Conclusion—The Best Landscape Photography Gear

Sometimes the landscape presents itself, and all we have to do is grab a phone or camera and snap. But great landscapes can be captured at their best by having the right equipment and learning the right techniques.

You can’t go wrong with choosing any of the products on this list to take your landscape photography to the next level!

Our Top 3 Choices for Landscape Photography Gear

Nikon D850

Nikon D850

Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM

Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM

Manfrotto Element MII Tripod

Manfrotto Element MII Tripod

Full-frame cameras might still reign supreme in the professional world. But it’s not unheard of for a pro to carve out a successful career with nothing more than an APS-C. But it’s probably a discussion for another time whether this trend will continue.

For now, we’ve put together a selection of compact, DSLR, and mirrorless APS-C cameras for you to consider. There’s something for every photographer and every budget on this list. Continue reading to see which is best for you.

Our Top 3 Choices for the Best APS-C Cameras

Nikon Z fc

Nikon Z fc

Sony a6700

Sony a6700

Sony a6100

Sony a6100

What Is the Best APS-C Camera?

The very best APS-C cameras have very high pixel counts on their sensors. They feature some of the best autofocus (AF) and image stabilization (IS) systems available. Whether you are an APS-C fan or remain to be convinced, there’s something here to meet your needs.

Our Top Pick

Nikon Z fc

Nikon Z fc

• Face- and eye-detect AF for humans and animals
• Lots of easy-access control dials
• Attractive and stylish design
• 4K video capabilities

Best Sony for Video

Sony a6700

Sony a6700

• Improved CMOS sensor
• Wide expandable ISO range (50 to 102,400)
• Built-in image stabilization
• Weather-sealed body
• 4K video recording with 10-bit 4:2:2 color
• 120 fps slow-mo frame rate

Best-Value Sony

Sony a6100

Sony a6100

• Great value for the price
• Eye-detect autofocus for humans and animals
• Compact size
• 4K video option
• Flip-out touchscreen for selfies and vlogging

Best-Value Canon

Canon EOS R100

Canon EOS R100

• Excellent image quality from the 24.1 MP sensor
• Canon's reliable Dual Pixel CMOS AF system
• AF also has auto subject, face, and eye detection
• 4K video recording and Full HD at 60 fps
• High-precision 2.36 million-dot electronic viewfinder

Best Canon Mirrorless APS-C

Canon EOS R7

Canon EOS R7

• 30 fps burst mode with electronic shutter
• 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization
• Fully articulating touch screen
• Unlimited, oversampled 4K video
• Animal eye-detect AF for wildlife and pets

Best for Video

Fujifilm X-H2

Fujifilm X-H2

• Powerful 40.2 MP APS-C sensor
• Pixel Shift High-Res mode for 160 MP images
• Built-in 5-axis image stabilization
• 8K cinematic video at 30 fps
• 4K recording at 60 fps and Full HD at 240 fps
• Fully weather-sealed body

Best Nikon APS-C

Nikon Z30

Nikon Z30

• Compact and lightweight body
• Responsive and accurate AF with eye detection and tracking
• Wide ISO range with excellent low-noise performance at the top end
• Vari-angle screen is perfect for videos and vlogging
• Environmental sealing for outdoor shoots

Best Fujifilm APS-C Mirrorless

Fujifilm X-T5

Fujifilm X-T5

• Incredible 40.2 MP resolution from an APS-C sensor
• AF uses AI to identify and track moving subjects
• Built-in 5-axis image stabilization
• Pixel Shift Multi-Shot mode for ultra high-resolution photos
• Long-lasting, 680-shot battery
• Outstanding 6.2K video recording

Best Compact APS-C

Fujifilm X100V

Fujifilm X100V

• 26 MP sensor for good noise reduction and fast readout
• Sharp JPEGs with low noise
• 15 quality film simulations
• Hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder
• Tilting touchscreen
• Excellent 4K Ultra HD video

Best Value Compact

Ricoh GR III

Ricoh GR III

• High-resolution 24 MP sensor in a compact camera
• Manual exposure and focus settings
• Face-detection autofocus features
• Built-in image stabilization
• Wi-Fi connectivity and USB charging

Choosing the Best APS-C Camera

Now that we’ve seen a summary of the best APS-C cameras around, let’s take a closer look at why we like them.

1. Nikon Z fc

Released	Released 2021
Sensor Format	Sensor Format APS-C
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Nikon Z
Megapixels	Megapixels 21 MP
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 209
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 51,200
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 11 fps
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Video	Video
Key Features	Key Features Stylish design, 4K video, excellent AF
Best For	Best For Rekindling that old-school feel with incredible modern image quality

×

Nikon Z fc

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Focus Camera

$1,206.90

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The Nikon Z fc looks so good that you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a case of style over function. But its real beauty lies in its blend of looks and photo capabilities.

The Z fc has a 20.7 MP sensor. This is capable of an impressive on-paper maximum native ISO of 51,200. Impressive on paper is one thing, but the Z fc performs well in the real world. You’ll be happy with anything shot up to 1,600 ISO. And realistically, you can even shoot up to 25,600 ISO and still get good results.

For most situations at most viewing sizes, you’ll be more than impressed with how photos look. And don’t forget that it delivers 4K video at up to 30 fps as well.

Because it’s a mirrorless camera, you get really good sensor coverage with the AF system. The 209 hybrid zones cover 87% vertical and 85% horizontal of the sensor. It’s a hybrid phase and contrast-detection system. It can detect and track human faces, animal faces, and eyes. And it will track and adjust exposure at up to 5 fps (11 fps with AF and AE lock). 

One of the strengths of the Z fc is its connectivity. Videographers are big fans of mirrorless cameras. But you’re wasting your time if you can’t add an external microphone or if you can’t monitor the sound you’re recording. The Z fc covers that with jacks for both those functions.

It has HDMI, USB-C, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth for an impressive set of connectivity. But there’s no GPS and only one SD card slot. There’s no built-in flash, but there is a hot shoe for firing a speedlite.

Both the LED touchscreen and the electronic viewfinder (EVF) are excellent. They are bright and clear, and there’s no perceptible lag. Not everyone uses or likes a viewfinder. But there are plenty of situations where they are a real bonus. And the Nikon Z fc’s are fantastic.

Videographers probably care less about viewfinders. But they will like the articulating screen and overall video performance. You can shoot 1080p at up to 120 fps and 4K at 30 fps. There is a recording limit of 30 minutes, but this is common in a lot of cameras. That might deter some filmmakers, but it’s a handy performer for both still and video work.

And that brings us on to the real delight of the Nikon Z fc. How it handles, and how it looks. In real life, it’s surprisingly small. Because it looks like an old-fashioned SLR brick, you expect it to be the same size. But it is tiny by comparison, which is great for long photo shoots.

The aesthetics are beautiful. Metal dials engraved with numbers allow the tactile joy of physically controlling the settings. A tiny LCD screen to display your f-stop is a touch of modernity mixed with a retro look and feel. I think it looks best in faux leatherette and brushed metal, especially when paired with a matching DX 15-50mm lens.

There are many things to love about the Nikon Z fc. It looks amazing and takes superb photos in a range of settings. It’s small, lightweight, and unobtrusive, making it a perfect travel, street, or candid camera. And it performs well for both stills and video.

2. Sony a6700

Released	Released 2023
Sensor Format	Sensor Format APS-C
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Sony E
Megapixels	Megapixels 26 MP
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 759
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 32,000
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 11 fps
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Video	Video
Key Features	Key Features Excellent ISO range, up to 120 fps video
Best For	Best For Anyone looking for a capable video and stills camera

×

Sony a6700

Amazon.co.uk

$1,369.00 $1,449.00

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Adorama

$1,398.00

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Amazon

$1,398.00

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Amazon.de

$1,399.00 $1,699.00

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Amazon.it

$1,583.02 $1,699.00

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Amazon.es

$1,626.50 $1,699.99

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Amazon.sg

$2,050.00

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Amazon.ca

$2,399.99

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Amazon.sa

$5,956.50

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Sony is known for having incredible autofocus, and the Sony a6700 carries on the tradition. But it’s not a one-trick pony. There are many aspects to this camera that make it a solid choice for an APS-C camera.

The sensor boasts 26 MP, which is plenty for most uses. It allows the a6700 to shoot 4K video at 120 fps, which is impressive. It shoots at up to 11 fps, which is faster than many pro-level cameras from just a few years back. And with a buffer that copes with 59 RAW images, it’s good enough for sports and wildlife photographers.

The AF system uses 759 phase-detection points to cover 95% of the sensor area. You can select a range of subjects, from humans, birds, and animals to planes and cars. The AF will track them as they move and keep focus locked on. It’s very effective.

One very handy feature is the 5-axis in-body IS. This works in conjunction with any image-stabilized lenses you use. The overall result is the ability to get great shots even when the light is low.

Image stabilization is also popular for video, and many filmmakers are fans of Sony cameras. The a6700 offers an impressive 120 fps 4K video option, but it does it from a crop of its sensor. If you want the whole sensor, then you’re limited to 60 fps, which is still very good. And if you want to post your videos on social media, even the cropped output will be big enough.

Something else that appeals to the video user is the fully articulating touch screen. It makes awkward camera angles or selfies a breeze. If you’re more a fan of a viewfinder, the a6700’s EVF is bright and can handle 120 fps refresh rates.

One advantage that APS-C has over full-frame cameras is their size. Sony’s a6700 uses the shape of a rangefinder camera to exploit the size benefits. But it doesn’t do away with the viewfinder completely. Not everyone likes the offset EVF. But it is better than no viewfinder in very bright conditions. 

The Sony a6700 is a superb little camera that nicely balances the needs of photographers and videographers. But like most Sony cameras, the menu system leaves a lot to be desired. And in such a competitive market, that can be a problem.

3. Sony a6100

Released	Released 2019
Sensor Format	Sensor Format APS-C
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Sony E
Megapixels	Megapixels 24 MP
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 425
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 32,000
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 11 fps
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Video	Video
Key Features	Key Features Compact size, 4K video, 120 fps EVF refresh rate
Best For	Best For Vloggers and anyone looking for a compact camera that offers great value for money

×

Sony a6100

Amazon

$598.00 $749.99

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KEH

(second hand)

$665.03

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The Sony a6100 is one of the best-value APS-C cameras available. Especially if you don’t want too many fancy features but rather a simple-to-use camera that will perform reliably in most circumstances. It’s not as fully featured as the a6700, but it still impresses with image quality, autofocus, and video.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is some barebones product. It comes with some very impressive specs, like a 24 MP sensor, 11 fps burst speed, and eye-, face-, and smile-detect AF. What it lacks are some other (often specialized) features, like a live-view color histogram in the EVF, customizable minimum ISO in auto ISO mode, or a headphone jack.

Someone looking to move up from their smartphone to a more capable camera will find lots to like about the a6100. Although it’s small, it’s easier to hold than a smartphone for video work. And the EVF is bright and fast for more traditional photography. The 120 fps refresh rate makes it responsive, although it will have an impact on battery life. One minor weakness with the a6100 is the small battery tends to drain quite quickly.

Where the a6100 shines is in how easy it is to take great-quality images. This is helped by the AF, the automatic exposure, and the quality of available lenses. All of this will be appreciated by videographers. They will also like the 4K video at 30 fps and 1080p 120 fps.

The AF system uses both contrast and phase detection and has 425 detection points. The AF will track eyes or faces and will recognize up to eight faces, allowing you to choose whom to follow. It will continue to track even as the camera rattles off bursts at 11 fps. That’s impressive. And it’s one of the features that make it so easy to get great results, even as a beginner photographer.

The same can be said of the automatic exposure. The a6100 brings point-and-shoot simplicity and delivers near-perfect exposure shot after shot. You simply have to whip it out of your pocket, start it up, and press the shutter. In most circumstances, that’s all you will need for a perfectly focused, well-exposed photo. Of course, you still have to choose the composition. But the camera takes care of all the settings, leaving you free to concentrate on composition.

The Sony a6100 makes taking excellent photos a breeze. It’s not perfect, and you wouldn’t be wrong if you found Sony’s menu system confusing. It’s the one thing that detracts from the experience of using this (and every Sony) camera. But overall, it’s compact, lightweight, and takes great video and still photos.

4. Canon EOS R100

Released	Released 2023
Sensor Format	Sensor Format APS-C
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Canon RF
Megapixels	Megapixels 24 MP
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 3,975
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 12,800
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 6.5 fps
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Video	Video
Key Features	Key Features Dual Pixel AF system, 4K video, excellent EVF
Best For	Best For Anyone looking for a good-value Canon RF camera

×

Canon EOS R100

Adorama

$299.00

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Amazon

$399.00 $599.99

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Amazon.co.uk

$415.00 $669.99

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Amazon.it

$484.44 $739.99

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Amazon.de

$499.99 $699.00

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Amazon.es

$538.99 $699.00

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Amazon.ca

$599.99

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Amazon.sa

$3,025.88

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The Canon EOS R100 is the lightest mirrorless camera with a viewfinder. It looks like a DSLR, but it’s much smaller. However, its performance matches many larger, more expensive cameras. It has a 24 MP sensor and shoots 4K video at 24 fps. And you can increase that to 120 fps for 1080p video.

The R100 gives you the excellent image quality you’d expect from a Canon sensor. And with the full fleet of RF lenses, you have a decent set of options. If that’s not enough, then a Canon EF-to-RF adaptor makes every EF and EF-S mount lens work perfectly. And that is a lot of lenses.

Bearing in mind that this is a budget-friendly camera, the specs are decent. The maximum ISO is 12,800, which is pretty low by modern standards. And to be fair, the sensor doesn’t handle even that maximum speed as well as some other cameras. But you’ll be fine using up to ISO 3,200. And for a compact, easy-to-use camera, that’s more than acceptable.

Likewise, the 3.5 fps burst speed with AF and AE tracking won’t make any headlines. But unless you’re shooting sports, it’s more than decent. And it will handle 6 fps with focus and exposure locked. That AF system uses 143 detection points if the camera selects them automatically. For manual selection, you have the choice of 3,975 points.

Because the body is so small, you must press a few buttons before you access the controls. On my Canon EOS 5D Mark III, I can access 35 different functions without taking my eye off the viewfinder or moving more than a finger or thumb. But that camera is a beast and meant for a different market. The EOS R100 gives you most of what you need for simple, fast, photography.

There’s no in-body IS and the screen is fixed. So you’ll need to decide if those are must-have features for you. But sensor quality, AF, and automatic exposure are strong positives for this camera. And some pros might sneer, but the built-in flash is a great addition to a camera of this type.

If you want a compact, reliable, simple-to-use camera, the Canon EOS R100 delivers excellent photos. 

5. Canon EOS R7

Released	Released 2022
Sensor Format	Sensor Format APS-C
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Canon RF
Megapixels	Megapixels 33 MP
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 651
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 32,000
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 15 fps
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Video	Video
Key Features	Key Features Self-leveling sensor, up to 195 fps burst speed
Best For	Best For Anyone looking for a top-spec APS-C camera

×

Canon EOS R7

Amazon

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If you want a more fully featured APS-C camera, then the Canon EOS R7 could be for you. It is blazingly fast, has excellent autofocus, and even has a self-leveling sensor! And all of this is in a body that’s substantially smaller than a DSLR.

You’ll love the sharpness of the EOS R7’s images. Not only is the sensor an impressive 32.3 MP, but its pixel density means the images are crisp. In-body image stabilization keeps the sensor stable. And it’s the same mechanism that automatically levels the sensor as you shoot stills and video.

You can shoot video at 4k and 60 fps or crank the frame rate up to 120 fps with 1080p video. The in-body IS, working in tandem with any lens IS, can help you achieve almost gimbal-steady shots.

6. Fujifilm X-H2

Released	Released 2022
Sensor Format	Sensor Format APS-C
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Fujifilm X
Megapixels	Megapixels 40 MP
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 425
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 12,800
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 15 fps
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Video	Video
Key Features	Key Features 160 MP images with Pixel Shift mode, records 8K video
Best For	Best For Anyone wanting an APS-C camera for fine detailed imaging

×

Fujifilm X-H2

Amazon

$1,999.00

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Moment

$1,999.00

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The Fujifilm X-H2 is a solid-looking APS-C mirrorless camera. It is traditionally styled with a central viewfinder lump and a chunky handgrip. It has some pretty incredible specs, including a 40 MP sensor, 20 fps burst speed, and a max shutter speed of 1/180,000 s!

If you feel slightly cheated by a “mere” 40 MP, you can activate the Pixel Shift mode. This takes a series of 20 RAW images in five sets of four. The sensor moves slightly between each shot, exposing each pixel five times. The images are combined to give an effective sensor resolution of 160 MP. It takes about a minute to combine the images later in the computer. But beware, the final image is about 640 MB! It works well for static subjects, but any movement from the camera or subject will spoil the shot.

Film presets are another feature that old-school film photographers might like. These process the JPEGs in-camera to recreate the feel of some classic films. So if you want to relive the glory days of Fuji Velvia, you’ll love this feature.

Truth is, you’ll get better image quality than any film camera you probably owned. The clarity and sharpness of the sensor is terrific. And this is a good place to mention that this camera can shoot 8K video at 30 fps. And it’s one of the best value cameras for getting into that level of video resolution. It also shoots 6.2K video at 30 fps, 4K at 60 fps, and 1080p at 240 fps.

The Autofocus works well and has eye, face, and object recognition. And the low-light shooting is very impressive, with a high degree of ISO invariance. There are fewer lenses available for the Fujifilm X-H2 than, say, the EOS R7. But there are enough to meet most needs. It’s the best-value 8K camera out there and makes a compelling case as a general-purpose camera as well.

7. Nikon Z30

Released	Released 2022
Sensor Format	Sensor Format APS-C
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Nikon Z
Megapixels	Megapixels 20 MP
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 209
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 51,200
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 11 fps
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Video	Video
Key Features	Key Features Excellent performance at high ISOs, great AF tracking
Best For	Best For Videographers looking for a fast-tracking AF system

×

Nikon Z30

Amazon

$696.95

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B&H

$846.95

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If you don’t need a viewfinder, then the Nikon Z30 might be the right camera for you. There’s no getting around it—a viewfinder takes up space. But the Z30 looks neat and tidy without one. The layout of the body and controls is as good as you can ask for. And as you’ll always be using the screen, you can place the rear controls for easy access.

The Z30 has a 20 MP sensor, which is relatively modest. But Nikon knows a thing or two about sensors, and you’ll get excellent image quality from this camera. Like many cameras in this review, it shoots 4K video at 30 fps or 1080p at 120 fps.

There are 209 hybrid AF points, using both contrast and phase detection. It works well, especially for face detection and tracking. And the Z30 performs exceptionally well at high ISOs. There is almost nothing sacrificed in quality up to 3,200 ISO. And you can shoot usable images all the way up to 204,800 ISO.

Those are unusual circumstances, however. We mainly want our pictures to be in focus, sharp, and well-exposed. This Nikon takes care of that. With no viewfinder, it’s important that the screen is good. And it is. It’s clear, bright, and can be viewed from any angle.

This is a great little camera with some minor annoyances. When you hold it in portrait orientation, the menus and buttons remain at 90 degrees. And there’s no in-body IS or built-in flash. Other than that, the Nikon Z30 shows us how good a compact APS-C mirrorless camera can be.

8. Fujifilm X-T5

Released	Released 2022
Sensor Format	Sensor Format APS-C
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Fujifilm X
Megapixels	Megapixels 40 MP
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 425
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 12,800
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 15 fps
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Video	Video
Key Features	Key Features AI-powered AF tracking, records 6.2K video
Best For	Best For Photographers looking for a high-spec camera with a classic feel

×

Fujifilm X-T5

Amazon

$2,099.00

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The Fujifilm X-T5 is a stills photography specialist. It will shoot video, but it is made for the old-fashioned stills photographer. The X-T5 looks like a “classic” camera. And the control dials give photographers total exposure control.

Many people suggest the APS-C X-T5 is nearly as good as full-frame cameras. The 40 MP sensor certainly outguns many full-frame cameras in terms of pixels. And the Pixel Shift mode offers incredible 160 MP images.

Fujifilm makes the most of the mirrorless camera’s AF advantages, using 3.3 million on-sensor phase-detection pixels. That covers pretty much the whole sensor. An AI processor expands the type of subjects the AF system can recognize and track. This includes humans and animals, as well as planes, trains, and automobiles.

The burst rate is 15 fps with the mechanical shutter and increases to 20 fps with the electronic shutter. And it has the same unbelievable 1/180,000 s maximum shutter speed. We use the phrase “blink of an eye” to describe something that is very fast, but that shutter speed is 54,000 times faster!

The Fujifilm X-T5 is a good-looking, well-built camera that delivers excellent image quality. It is backed up by an extensive range of lenses. So you would have no problem building up an impressive camera system.

9. Fujifilm X100V

Released	Released 2020
Sensor Format	Sensor Format APS-C
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Fixed
Megapixels	Megapixels 26 MP
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 425
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 12,800
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 11 fps
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Video	Video
Key Features	Key Features Superb looks, hybrid viewfinder, physical control dials
Best For	Best For Retro lovers and anyone looking for a compact camera with traditional dials

×

Fujifilm X100V

Amazon

$2,189.95 $2,399.00

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The Fujifilm X100V is different from the other cameras we have reviewed so far. It is one of two compact APS-C cameras in this review. Smartphones have largely taken over the compact camera market. But the X100V has bucked that trend, and at times it’s had a significant back-order list. And it’s easy to see why.

In any retro camera beauty contest, the X110V would do well. Its old-school styling is matched by the quality of its construction. Lots of metal, including the physical knobs and dials, add to that feel of a crafted object. And those same dials mean that this is a great camera to learn all about photography and exposure.

The X100V has a 26 MP sensor that delivers beautifully sharp images. As a compact camera, we can also talk about the lens that comes attached to the body. It is a 23mm, equivalent to a 35mm lens on a full-frame sensor. It’s a classic length lens for press photographers. And there’s enough detail in the X100V sensor to allow one of this camera’s very neat ideas. A simple turn of a dial gives you a 50mm and 70mm digital zoom.

Perhaps one of the  X100V’s smartest features is found in the EVF. This is a hybrid viewfinder offering optical and electronic options. You can switch between the two easily. And most impressively, you can choose the optical viewfinder with digital overlays and immediate digital playback.

The AF system is fast and accurate, and the AE is impressive. One of the most convenient aspects is the ease with which the X100V balances fill-in flash from the built-in flash. It makes shooting in bright light with a fill-in flash a breeze. And it syncs with the mechanical shutter all the way up to 1/4000 s, which is extremely useful.

The electronic shutter leaves the mechanical one in the dust, with a maximum of 1/32,678 s speed. And if the light is still too bright for the effect you want, there is a selectable 4-stop neutral density filter. This is another clever touch, although the shutter speed dial only goes up to 4000. But if you’re using the electronic shutter, it selects speeds above that automatically.

The Fujifilm X100V is a wonderful camera. It’s as easy to use as a point-and-shoot camera and has the image quality of more “pro-minded” cameras. It is especially good at photographing people, with its fast and reliable AF and AE. It’s not such a great video camera, and the limitations of the fixed lens mean you won’t be shooting many sporting events. But it’s a camera you’ll want to take with you (and use) everywhere!

10. Ricoh GR III

Released	Released 2018
Sensor Format	Sensor Format APS-C
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Fixed
Megapixels	Megapixels 24 MP
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 1
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 102,400
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 4 fps
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Video	Video
Key Features	Key Features Very compact size, in-body stabilization
Best For	Best For Anyone who wants a very small compact camera with great performance

×

Ricoh GR III

Adorama

$759.00

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Amazon

$1,159.95

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KEH

(second hand)

$765.04

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The Ricoh GR III is another beloved compact APS-C camera. It’s roughly half the price of the Fujifilm X100V. But it is no slouch in specs or performance.

It has a very capable 26 MP sensor, 3-axis in-body IS, and an f/2.8 lens. At this price point, it’s impressive to see an ultrasonic sensor cleaner as well (although dust on the lens is less of a problem for fixed-lens cameras). Autofocus uses an on-sensor hybrid contrast and phase-detection system.

The AF has face detection and tracking, although some users find it to be a touch unreliable. However, with a 28mm equivalent lens, tracking fast-moving objects is unlikely to be a frequent activity. Shooting sweeping landscapes is easy with the handy infinity lock focus mode.

The GR III has no viewfinder. This leads to a small camera that will fit in your shirt pocket. But the GR III has a crisp and clear touchscreen. And because it puts many of its controls on the screen, it has fewer physical buttons on the camera body.

Most photographers know this isn’t the camera for serious video work. Video is limited to 1080p, and if your main use is videography, look elsewhere. But for stills, the resolution, the AF, and the high dynamic range make this an attractive choice.

There is an impressive level of ISO permanence. You can comfortably shoot with -5 stops exposure in RAW and pull up the details in post. JPEG rendition lacks a little “pop” for my liking, but you can tweak these things in-camera to get the effect you want.

There’s a lot of fun to be had with a camera like the Ricoh GR III. I’m not as convinced that it saves the compact camera sector as the Fujifilm X100V might. For the same money, I can get a top smartphone. But it’s a fine piece of gear that’s worth considering.

The Best APS-C Camera—Buyer’s Guide

There are many things to think about when choosing the best APS-C camera. There is such a big range of products available that it can be confusing. So we’ve unpicked some of the main things you need to know before making your choice.

What Is APS-C?

The Advanced Photo System (APS) actually started out as a film-based format. It added some digital information storage and some format flexibility to film cameras. You could shoot a conventional 4 x 6, 16:9 format 4 x 7″, or a panoramic 4 x 11″.

APS, as a format, was ultimately (and in a few short years) undone by digital. So in the digital world, we have its grandchild, the APS-C. Unlike the original APS, which was uniform across all manufacturers, APS-C isn’t quite that standard. All APS-C cameras have the same size sensor, except Canon. The Canon sensor is a fraction smaller than all the others.

For comparison, the APS-C sensor is roughly twice the size of the old 110 film. But it’s more than ten times the size of the biggest iPhone sensor. A full-frame sensor is 1.5/1.6 times bigger than an APS-C sensor. If nothing else, this shows that sensor size is not the only factor that affects image quality.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of an APS-C Camera?

When I bought my first DSLR, it was an APS-C, simply because that’s what I could afford. And I bought a Canon, as I already had a couple of lenses that would fit. So price is one of the advantages of an APS-C camera, especially compared to a full-frame equivalent.

At the other end of the size equation, the APS-C sensor is significantly larger than even the best smartphone cameras. Size isn’t everything, but a larger sensor tends to have better low-light performance. What the APS-C cameras in this review show is that you can get exceptional-quality images from this sensor size. The truth is for most users, most of the time, you won’t need anything bigger.

Mirrorless, DSLR, or Compact—What’s Best?

For many, the APS-C DSLR made them want to switch to a full-frame version. The demise of the APS-C DSLR is probably more advanced even than the full-frame DSLR. Mirrorless cameras are unstoppable in the quality end of the market.

Compact cameras, on the other hand, are losing out to smartphone cameras every day.

Mirrorless APS-C cameras with interchangeable lenses probably have a bright future. Full-frame cameras remain the choice of most pros. But you’ll find plenty of pros, especially videographers, who do just fine with an APS-C. And it makes sense. If the main destination of your video is social media, APS-C will fit the bill. You save money and neck pain by choosing the smaller, lighter device.

Conclusion: The Best APS-C Camera

There’s no doubt that the quality of the cameras in this review is quite remarkable. The image quality, autofocus capability, and overall versatility now reach astonishing levels. Once you decide what you need from a camera, you’re sure to find one here to suit your needs!

Our Top 3 Choices for the Best APS-C Cameras

Nikon Z fc

Nikon Z fc

Sony a6700

Sony a6700

Sony a6100

Sony a6100

We review all the adjustments in the Lightroom Effects section to offer the best advice. You can then click links for each adjustment in each section to learn more about how they work.

What Is the Lightroom Effects Panel in Lightroom?

The Lightroom effect panel is a section found in the Edit (Lightroom CC) or Develop (Lightroom Classic) section. Each slider replicates an effect that comes from different photographic tools or techniques.

These effects are useful because they can help replicate a camera or technique in post-production. This is practical if you want to achieve a particular style or aesthetic but don’t have the right equipment.

Effects in Lightroom CC vs Lightroom Classic

Lightroom CC and Classic differ slightly in their approach to the effects panel. The Lightroom CC panel features Texture, Clarity, Dehaze, Vignette, and Grain adjustment sliders. The Vignette and Grain sliders have a dropdown menu, so you have extra control over these Lightroom effects.

In its Effect panel, Lightroom Classic only features Vignette and Grain. It doesn’t feature the same dropdown menus as Lightroom CC. Instead, the extra controls over each action are already displayed. Texture, Clarity, and Dehaze are found in the Presence section in Lightroom Classic.

The vignette is labeled as Post-Crop Vignetting. This is useful as it will always apply an even vignette over your image, even if you decide to crop your photo further after editing.

A dropdown menu in the Post-Crop Vignette section dictates the style in which the vignette affects your image. This is an extra level of detail not found on Lightroom CC. We will look at how these work later in this article.

5 Adobe Lightroom Effects

We summarize five Adobe Lightroom effects. Follow the links for more in-depth articles covering each one.

1. Vignette

One of the most popular effects in photography is a vignette. A limitation of photographic equipment causes a vignette effect.

A vignette happens when the sensor or film is larger than the lens’s covering power. This causes an even and gradual fade into the edges of the frame.

Photographers now use vignetting to draw attention to the center of the photograph. This helpful tool can be as subtle or as harsh as you like. A vignette organically fades into black, but now editing software like Lightroom lets you fade the image into white.

Vignette adjustments in Lightroom CC and Classic work similarly, apart from the Style in Lightroom Classic. Read our full article to see how each vignette adjustment slider changes our image.

2. Grain

Another important Lightroom effect is grain. Grain is an optical effect found in film photography. It is a texture formed in the chemical process that lets film capture light. Film grain changes depending on the film type and its ISO.

Photographers now use film grain as an artistic effect. Grain adds a gritty, rough aesthetic to a photograph. It is particularly effective in black-and-white photography. It is also useful for achieving a dated or low-fi feel in photos.

The Grain slider sets the amount of grain you want in your photograph. This is a simple 0 to 100 adjustment slider that increases the intensity of the grain effect.

3. Texture

The Texture adjustment is in the Lightroom Effect panel for Lightroom CC and the Presence section in Lightroom Classic. It is similar to the Clarity or Sharpening adjustments but acts slightly differently.

Multiple types of photography equipment can strengthen or weaken a texture effect. This gear ranges from the camera and sensor type to specific photo filters.

The Texture adjustment affects the smoothness and contrast of tones in the mid-range. It’s not as harsh as the Clarity slider. It subtly does exactly what it says, boosting the texture of specific details. You can also turn it down to smooth over these specific textures.

Check out our full article about the Lightroom Texture tool.

4. Clarity

The Clarity adjustment is in the Lightroom Effect panel for Lightroom CC but is in the Presence section in Lightroom Classic. It aims to make finer details more visible. This is handy if you upload your image in a small format (like social media) but want the details to pop more.

Numerous factors affect the clarity of an image, from equipment to film or filter types. Analog post-production methods can also boost an image’s clarity.

Clarity affects the contrast in the mid-tones, particularly the luminance. This is done so in a harsh way that can quickly blow out the colors in this range. Like texture, this adjustment appears to add more detail to a small image.

Read our extended article on the Clarity effect in Lightroom.

5. Dehaze

The last adjustment in the Lightroom CC effects section is dehaze, which you can find in the Presence section in Lightroom Classic. Dehaze is another self-explanatory action. It aims to reduce haze that may be blocking the clarity of your image.

You can combat slight atmospheric haze with UV filters. These are mostly helpful for shooting landscapes with a good distance between us and our subject.

The Dehaze adjustment reduces the atmospheric haze apparent in photos. And it lets us extract much more detail than a photography filter would.

Increasing the Dehaze value gives us a clearer, contrasting view of our scene. Reducing it adds haze. It is great for adding more atmosphere to your photo.

See our extended article on the Dehaze feature in Lightroom for more info.

Conclusion: Lightroom Effects Panel

Now, you should understand each adjustment in the Lightroom effects panel. We have outlined how these effects come from old photographic problems and how they still exist in modern photography.

Luckily, we live in a time when photo-editing software like Adobe Lightroom can perform these tasks with a simple slider.

If you want to know more about each adjustment, click the link in each section. Our articles give you a step-by-step guide for each effect. So you can get the most out of each adjustment!

Try our Effortless Editing With Lightroom course for more tips to edit photos quickly and beautifully!

So, let’s look at some of the most popular photography terms and what they mean. Fair warning, there’s a lot of them.

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129 Photography Terms for Beginners

We’ve broken down our photography glossary into 12 sections. We’ve alphabetized photography terms A-Z to make finding what you’re looking for easy. Use the links below to jump to each photography definition.

What Are Key Terms to Photography?

The key terms in photography are too many to name. But a few are aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure. We go through these and many others to help you learn the basics of photography.

Camera Terms

1. 360 Camera
2. APS-C
3. APS-H
4. CCD
5. CMOS
6. DSLR
7. Dynamic Range
8. Full Frame
9. Large Format
10. LCD
11. Light Meter
12. Low Pass Filter
13. Medium Format
14. Micro Four Thirds
15. Mirrorless
16. Point-and-Shoot
17. Rangefinder
18. Resolution
19. Shutter
20. Single-Lens Reflex (SLR)
21. Twin-Lens REflex (TLR)
22. Viewfinder

Lens Terms

1. Aperture
2. Aspherical Lens
3. Fish-Eye Lens
4. Focal Length
5. Image Stabilization
6. Lens Distortion
7. Lens Hood
8. Macro Lens
9. Prime Lens
10. Spherical Lens
11. Standard Lens
12. Super-Telephoto Lens
13. Telephoto Lens
14. Tilt-Shift Lens
15. Wide-Angle Lens
16. Zoom Lens

Photography Equipment Terms

1. Cold Shoe
2. Extension Tubes
3. Flash
4. Graduated Neutral Density Filter
5. Gray Card
6. Hot Shoe
7. Neutral Density Filter
8. Polarizing Filter
9. Remote Flash Trigger
10. Remote Trigger
11. Strobe
12. Teleconverter

Photography File Format Terms

1. DNG
2. EXIF
3. JPEG or JPG
4. RAW
5. TIFF

Terms for Camera Settings

1. Aperture Priority
2. Autofocus – AI Focus
3. Autofocus – AI Servo AF
4. Back Button Focus
5. Bulb Mode
6. Burst Mode
7. Exposure
8. Exposure Compensation
9. Exposure Value (EV)
10. ISO
11. One-Shot AF (Autofocus)
12. Shutter Priority
13. Shutter Speed
14. TTL (Metering or Flash Metering)
15. White Balance

Photography Lighting Terms

1. Ambient Light
2. Fill Light
3. Hard Light
4. High-Key Light
5. Kelvin (K)
6. Lighting Pattern
7. Low-Key Light
8. Main Light or Key Light
9. Reflector
10. Soft Light

Terms for Metering Modes

1. Center-Weighted Metering
2. Matrix Metering
3. Spot Metering

Terms for Photography Techniques

1. Bokeh
2. Bracketing
3. Depth of Field
4. Flash Sync
5. Focus Stacking
6. Forced Perspective

Terms for Photography Rules

1. Looney 11
2. Overcast 8 and Variants
3. Sunny 16
4. Snowy 22

Terms for Photography Problems

1. Camera Shake
2. Chromatic Aberration
3. Digital Noise
4. Fringing
5. Lens Flare
6. Moiré
7. Motion Blur
8. Overexposure
9. Perspective Distortion
10. Red Eye
11. Underexposure
12. Vignetting

Terms for Photo Editing and Printing

1. Aspect Ratio
2. Crop
3. CMYK
4. Contrast
5. DPI
6. Highlights
7. Histogram
8. Metadata
9. Midtones
10. Pixel
11. RGB
12. Shadows
13. Watermark

Photography Slang

1. Blown Out
2. Chimping
3. Flag or Gobo
4. Glass
5. Nifty-Fifty
6. Opening Up
7. Selfie
8. Shutter Lag
9. SOOC
10. Stopping Down
11. Wide Open

Photography Terms for Cameras

360 Camera

A 360-degree camera lets you record your scene in a full-circle panorama. You can create photographs and videos viewers can move around in.

APS-C

The advanced photo system type C (APC-C)  is an image sensor format. It’s approximately equivalent in size to the advanced photo system “classic” negatives of 25.1 × 16.7 mm, with an aspect ratio of 3:2.

APS-C sensors are also called “crop sensors.” You can find APS-C cameras in manufacturers’ entry-level DSLR, beginner, and mid-range camera lineups.

Compared to the 35 mm full-frame format, this gives a lens a crop factor of 1.5 to 1.6x. A 50mm lens is effectively an 80mm full-frame equivalent. For more information, see our crop-sensor vs full-frame sensor article.

APS-H

The advanced photo system type-H (APS-H) is also an image sensor format. It falls between full-frame and APS-C sensor sizes. Their crop factor is 1.3x. This means your 50mm lens is effectively 65mm. These were specifically used in the original Canon 1D line.

CCD

A charge-coupled device (CCD) is a semiconductor device. CCDs differ from CMOS sensors because their pixels cannot be accessed individually. The readout is thus time and energy-consuming.

CCD cameras have to use the whole surface of their sensors. In turn, advanced CCD technology tolerates low light better than CMOS.

CMOS

The complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) is a type of imaging sensor. It’s used in modern imaging systems, such as DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.

They operate at significantly lower voltages than CCD sensors, consuming less power. They were once considered an inferior technology. Today, they have been vastly improved. And CMOS sensors are the more common sensor type of the two.

DSLR

A DSLR is a  “digital single-lens reflex” camera. They work with the same mechanical system as single-lens reflex cameras (SRLs). But instead of using film, they capture the image digitally and store it on a memory card.

Many camera brands have discontinued production of DSLRs. But Pentax still makes a good selection of DSLR cameras. You can read our review of the best DSLRs still available.

Dynamic Range

Dynamic range is the range of light intensities from the largest to smallest values in an image. Camera sensors with a higher dynamic range offer more flexibility during shooting and editing. They are also more expensive.

Full Frame

“Full frame” refers to digital cameras with an image sensor size equivalent to a 35mm film frame. A full-frame sensor typically measures 36mm x 24mm in digital photography. This is the same size as a frame of 35mm film.

Full-frame cameras offer high image quality and resolution. They can handle low-lit scenes with less noise and a shallower depth of field compared to smaller-sensor cameras. This makes them popular among professional photographers.

Large Format

“Large format” refers to cameras that use film formats larger than 35mm. These cameras produce higher-resolution images due to the larger film size.

Large-format cameras shoot on sheet film ranging from 4 x 5 inches (10.16 x 12.7 cm) to 8 x 10 inches (20.32 x 25.4 cm). You can capture greater details with a large format camera. This is because it reaches the biggest possible resolution in film photography.

It is often used in professional and specialized photography. They are great for architectural photography due to the manipulation of film and focus planes. It is also perfect for landscapes, environmental portraits, conceptual artworks, and studio photos.

LCD

A liquid-crystal display (LCD) is on the back and sometimes the top of digital cameras. It’s a screen that shows you an electronic view of the scene or your captured images.

LCDs work by blocking the light. These are made of two polarized glasses, and between them, there is a liquid crystal. These crystals turn due to electricity. Electricity can be changed at every point. This way, the amount of light can be ruled.

Light Meter

A light meter measures the light in a scene, determining the proper exposure. Light meters are built into cameras. They let the user determine which shutter speed, f-stop, and ISO to use.

A light meter performs two functions. “Incident” measures the light falling on a scene by using a lens covered with a white dome. “Reflected” reads light bouncing off the subject.

There are also external light meters. They are essential if you’re shooting with large format systems.

Low-Pass Filter

A low-pass filter (anti-aliasing or blur filter) eliminates the moiré problem. But more delicate details can get lost with this filter type. This is why it’s missing from most professional cameras.

Medium Format

Medium-format analog cameras use 120-roll film. Digital medium format cameras have a digital sensor that mimics that size.

The film ratio for medium format differs for each brand or camera type. They all use the same film, but the amount of frames depends on the camera.

Medium-format cameras are usually modular. You can interchange lenses, backs, viewfinders, grips, and more. Technically, Polaroid cameras are also medium-format.

Micro Four Thirds

Micro Four Thirds (MFT or M4/3) can refer to a camera sensor format or lens mount. The MFT lens mount was released by Olympus and Panasonic in 2008. Other manufacturers, such as DJI or Blackmagic, also use it.

An MFT sensor measures 18 × 13.5 mm, with an aspect ratio of 4:3 and a 2x crop factor.

Mirrorless

Mirrorless camera systems have become the norm in digital photography. The term generally refers to more advanced devices, MILCs. This abbreviation means “mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras.”

Removing the mirror makes cameras faster, lighter, and quieter. This means you can no longer look through the lens optically when composing. Instead, an electronic viewfinder (EVF) and a digital screen are used.

Point-and-Shoot

A point-and-shoot camera is also known as a compact camera. It is small enough to fit in your pocket. Its sensor is small. It starts at 1/2.7 inches (5.37 x 4.04 mm). The lens is not interchangeable, and automatic systems set the exposure and other options.

Rangefinder

This tool measures the distance from the camera to a particular object. A rangefinder camera has a built-in rangefinder feature. This is a focusing mechanism that can result in perfectly sharp images.

A photographer can calculate the subject’s distance from the camera. It also lets us see, in advance, what goes into the frame.

Resolution

Camera resolution is measured in pixels and megapixels (MP). An image that measures 5184 x 3456 pixels is equal to 17.9 MP. A higher resolution helps with cropping and larger printing. In terms of editing, it gives you room to play around.

You can have a great sensor, but image resolution depends on your lens. Sometimes, it’s better to choose a cheaper camera and a more expensive lens than a pricey camera with a cheap lens. Knowing what you get from your sensor is handy, but use the right lenses, too.

Shutter

The shutter lets light pass through the camera and hit the sensor for a determined period. Certain types of shutter mechanisms include a leaf shutter, central shutter, or electronic shutter.

Single Lens Reflex (SLR)

A single-lens reflex (SLR) is a camera with one lens for focusing, viewing, and capturing.

SLRs use a mirror and a prism to reflect the light coming into the camera. This lets photographers look through their viewfinder and see exactly what they capture. The mirror flips up when the shutter opens to let light expose the film. These are analog cameras, and they use color or black-and-white film.

Twin Lens Reflex (TLR)

A twin-lens reflex (TLR) is a vintage camera type. TLR cameras have two separate lenses with the same focal length.

With the top one, you can focus and compose the scene. This is part of the viewfinder system. The viewfinder uses a mirror, a matte focusing screen, and a hood. The bottom lens is solely used to take the photograph.

These two are connected. So, if an image appears sharp in the viewfinder, it is also sharp on the film.

Viewfinder

A viewfinder is that part of the camera that you look in and see the image you capture. It shows the field of view. DSLRs use an optical viewfinder that lets photographers see exactly what the lens sees.

As we removed the mirror from modern camera systems, we also lost a real view through the lens. We did pick up an electronic feed through the lens. You see this via the LCD screen on the back of a camera.

The sensor records what your lens sees. Then, a small electronic display shows the picture in the small viewfinder window. This way, you don’t necessarily have to use the large LCD.

Photography Terms for Lenses

Aperture

An aperture is an iris mechanism. It controls how much light gets through the lens. It also affects the depth of field.

The f-stop number describes the relative size of the aperture. The f-number (or f-stop) is the ratio of the diameter of the hole of the aperture and the focal length. We write it as “f/” followed by a number—for example, f/2.8.

As the number decreases, the aperture physically gets wider. More light passes, and the depth of field gets shallower. Generally, lower f-numbers mean better low-light capacity. This is why lenses with lower f-numbers are more expensive.

Aspherical Lens

An aspherical lens contains an aspherical element. This reduces spherical and other aberrations. They are common in high-end wide-angle and standard lenses.

We recommend paying attention to this photography term if you plan to buy new lenses. These keep your images sharp.

Fish-Eye Lens

A fish-eye lens produces images with strong barrel distortion. This is due to the angle of view being wider than the sensor or film format, squeezing the edges to fit.

They go from 4.5mm to 16mm, depending on the sensor size. They have an angle of view from 100 to 180 degrees.

Focal Length

Focal length is the distance between the principal plane of a lens and the focal point (point of convergence). (Lenses have a point where light rays converge, which we call the focal point.)

This focal length number is expressed in millimeters (mm) and written on the lens’s outside. For instance, a 28mm lens has a distance of 2.8cm between the focal point and the principal plane of the lens.

This determines the lens’s angle of view and magnification in photography. This is one of the main parameters that marks and groups the lenses. The number is magnified when using a cropped sensor (APS-C).

Image Stabilization

Image stabilization is a technology designed to reduce the effects of camera shake. It compensates for small movements or vibrations. The results are sharper photos and smoother videos.

It does this by using various mechanisms within the camera or lens. This includes optical elements or sensor shifting. These counteract the blur when capturing images or recording videos handheld or in low-light conditions.

Image stabilization was introduced to lenses in the late 90s and the in-camera version in the mid-2010s. Such lenses have a built-in gyroscope and moving lens element(s). In stabilized camera bodies, the sensor moves according to a gyroscope in the body.

This cuts down motion blur by compensating for pan and tilt movements. This technology makes it easier to take photos while holding your camera in your hands. It also lets you take photos with a longer shutter speed.

It doesn’t mean you won’t have to use a tripod anymore, but it extends your possibilities. Thanks to the built-in image stabilization, you can be more mobile.

Lens Distortion

Lens distortion is the alteration or deformation of an image caused by a camera lens’s imperfections or characteristics. It produces a warped or skewed appearance of straight lines or objects within a photo. This includes the following:

• Barrel distortion (standard lens close-up photography)
• Pincushion distortion (low-end telephoto lens)
• Mustache distortion (wide end of zoom lens)

These come down to the symmetry of a camera lens. These are more common in zoom lenses but can also occur in some prime lenses.

Lens Hood

A lens hood blocks light from the sides, causing unwanted reflections and flares. It’s a must-have for shooting in bright daylight or towards the sun.

A lens hood can also play a protective role. Smashing a lens hood is always better than smashing your lens’ front element. Also, it can stop dust and camera lens fungus from getting inside your lens.

Macro Lens

This type of lens is designed specifically for close-up images. Are you looking to photograph insects, flowers, or something more abstract? If so, this is one of the most important camera terms.

Macro lenses are telephoto lenses with a very close near point. The near point is the closest point to the lens where the subject is still sharp. That’s why you can get your lens close to that little ant.

A macro lens can produce a magnification ratio of 1:1 or even higher. The magnification ratio refers to the size of the subject appearing on the camera sensor and the size of it in real life.

This lets you take breathtaking photos of really small creatures and objects. Try our Macro Magic course to become an expert in macro photography!

Prime Lens

A prime lens is a fixed lens that cannot zoom in or out, forcing you to zoom with your feet. Basically, it means that you can’t change the focal length of a prime lens. Different fields of photography require different prime lenses.

Prime lenses are often lighter and have better quality than zoom lenses. You can read more about the differences between zoom and prime lenses. Or you can check out our recommendations for the best cheap prime lenses.

Spherical Lens

A spherical lens is the most common type of element in lens making. The curve of a spherical lens is the same across its entire surface. This is what focuses the field of view onto the film plane. It usually creates spherical or optical distortions.

Spherical aberration means your lens won’t draw a sharp image in the whole frame. It is not always a problem. For example, when you take portraits, you won’t even notice that your image is getting soft towards the edges.

Standard Lens

A standard lens has a focal length approximately equal to the diagonal of the image (the negative). It has a field of view similar to our non-peripheral vision. Lenses with a 50mm focal length are also considered “standard lenses.”

Super Telephoto Lens

A super-telephoto lens has an even larger focal length than a standard one. These have a focal length of at least 200mm (full frame equivalent) and a field of view from eight to one degree.

Telephoto Lens

Telephoto lenses have focal lengths longer than the diagonal size of the image they take. This results in a narrow field of view. You can “bring” faraway objects closer with these lenses.

These lenses have a focal length equivalent of 70mm to 200mm. And they have an angle of view between 30 and 10 degrees.

Tilt-Shift Lens

Tilt-shift lenses give you extensive perspective and focal control. The position and angle of some lens elements can be independently changed in such lenses. This lets them be moved and tilted relative to the sensor.

You can correct perspective (useful in architectural photography) and modify the plane of focus. The latter often creates a “miniature effect,” where the scene looks tiny. The effect can be created with Photoshop as well, albeit less precisely.

Tilt-shift lenses are generally expensive.

Wide-Angle Lens

Wide-angle lenses have an angle of view of 64 and 84 degrees. So, they have a wider view than a standard lens and our vision.

The focal length of wide-angle lenses is shorter than the diagonal size of the image they take (or the film format). The diagonal of a 35mm film (or a full-frame sensor) is approximately 45mm.

A wide-angle lens can have, for example, 24mm focal length. So, we can clearly see that the focal length is shorter than the diagonal.

Zoom Lens

A zoom lens is variable length, meaning you can change its focal length. This lets you change perspective easily.

Although these are more versatile, they often have limited sharpness due to needing more mechanisms inside the lens. Also, these are not operating with as fast f-stop values as prime lenses.

Terms for Photography Equipment

Cold Shoe

A cold shoe is a holding area for a flash or other device. It doesn’t allow a connection between the camera and the device.

Extension Tubes

Extension tubes are used to further extend the zoomable area of lenses in macro photography. They sit between the camera body and the lens.

They come in 1x, 2x, and 3x options. A 100mm macro lens with a 3x extension tube turns your lens into the equivalent of a 300mm lens.

Flash

A flash is basically a light source that produces a burst of artificial light. It lights just for a short time (flashes). This is where its name comes from.

It can be built into the camera or sit on top via a hot shoe, or you can use it on a stand. A flash is commonly used in studios and low-light conditions, like at different events.

Graduated Neutral-Density Filter

A graduated neutral-density filter is a neutral-density filter. But it’s an ND filter that’s graduated from the center upwards. This helps to darken specific parts of your scene, primarily the sky.

Gray Card

A gray card is a card with a color of 18% gray. Photographing this before any photographic shoot helps you ascertain a correct white balance from the light found in the scene.

Hot Shoe

A hot shoe is a holding area for a flash or other device that connects the camera and the device.

Neutral Density Filter

A neutral density filter (ND filter) limits the light that hits the film or sensor. We use it on the front lens of a camera. A one-stop ND filter will let only 50% of the light in. So, you can set your camera for one f-stop higher value.

They are perfect for shooting in really bright light conditions. They are also used for long exposures in the daytime.

Polarizing Filter

A polarizing filter is usually placed on the front element of the lens. It can help to eliminate reflections, stop glare, and even darken skies.

Remote Flash Trigger

A remote flash trigger connects the camera and the flash unit when the flash unit is off-camera. This works using infrared signals or a wire.

Remote Trigger

A remote trigger is a device that lets you take a photograph without pressing the shutter release on your camera. They can connect via Bluetooth, an app, infrared, or a wire.

Strobe

A studio strobe is a flash unit that has lightning-fast recycle times. So strobes can flash fast many times in a row. They also provide brighter and stronger light than a simple flash.

Teleconverter

A teleconverter is used to further extend the focal length of a telephoto lens. They sit between the camera body and the lens. And they come in 1x, 2x, and 3x options. A 200mm telephoto lens with the teleconverter x3 turns your lens into the equivalent of a 600mm lens.

Photography Terms for File Formats

DNG

This is an abbreviation for “digital negative.” As a container file, it does not only consist of the image itself. It also holds non-destructive editing information.

Because of this, DNGs can be moved more easily. You don’t have to search for their sidecar XMP files. DNG files also offer more future compatibility than brand-specific RAW files.

EXIF

Exchangeable image file format (EXIF) is a standard. It specifies the formats for digital camera images, sound, and ancillary tags used by digital cameras. This is where an image’s information is found, like aperture, f-stop, and ISO.

JPEG or JPG

JPEG stands for “joint photographic experts group.” It’s a file extension for a lossy graphics file. The JPEG file extension is the same as a JPG.

RAW

RAW image files contain unprocessed pixel data, either uncompressed or minimally compressed. They offer extensive editability and flexibility. But you must edit, tweak, and export them to another format (usually JPEG).

A RAW file can be up to five times bigger than a JPEG image. They are often called “digital negatives.”

TIFF

TIFF stands for “tagged image file format.” It’s a flexible file format. It allows for different compression rates, algorithms, bit depths, and variations. A TIFF file is useful for printing as it doesn’t lose data during post-processing.

It can also contain layers that Photoshop and other editors can read. The size of a TIFF image can range anywhere from a few megabytes to multiple gigabytes.

Photography Terms for Camera Settings

AI Focus (Autofocus)

AI stands for artificial intelligence. This autofocus mode is a hybrid of the two camera focus modes listed below. It starts in the one-shot mode. But if your subject moves, it tracks it, keeping the subject in focus.

AI Servo AF (Autofocus)

In this focus setting, the camera’s artificial intelligence refocuses your lens on a moving subject. It does this as long as your finger is pressed halfway down on the shutter release.

Aperture Priority

Aperture priority (A or Av) is a camera setting mode. You can set the aperture as desired and automatically change the shutter speed (and ISO, if set to auto).

Back Button Focus

Back button focusing is achieved by changing the button controls on your camera. This lets you define a different focus button other than the shutter release. On most cameras, there is a dedicated AF-ON button for this purpose.

This helps eliminate problems that arise from refocusing an already focused subject.

Bulb Mode

Bulb mode lets you keep the camera shutter open for the duration you keep the shutter release button pressed. This is best used with a remote shutter release. It is very handy to know when capturing long exposures.

Burst Mode

Burst mode is also known as continuous shooting mode. Sometimes, you can see the “fps” abbreviation, which means “frames per second.” This continuous shooting mode captures several photos in a fast sequence. It’s especially important if you’re capturing action, wildlife, or sports.

Exposure

Exposure is the quantity of light reaching a photographic film or digital sensor.

Exposure Compensation

Exposure compensation lets you alter the exposure with the value you select. It’s usually a slider, going from -3 to +3, and will make your image darker or lighter.

Exposure Value (EV)

Exposure value, or “EV,” is a standardized exposure measurement. It’s a logarithmic scale, where lower values are darker and higher ones are brighter.

Zero (0) EV is the luminance (brightness) of exposure at ISO 100, one second, and f/1.0. Any exposure setting with the same luminance as this will also be 0 EV. For example, ISO 400, 1/2 s, and f/1.4).

1 EV is twice as bright—for example, ISO 200, 1 second, and f/1.0. Every next value is twice as high as the previous one.

EV is used as a relative measurement, too. One stop (1 EV) higher is double, and one stop lower is half the brightness. So, when we say “3 EV lower,” we mean eight times darker.

ISO

ISO refers to the sensitivity of photographic film. But it has become important in digital photography as most camera brands use this term to describe their DSLRs’ brightness level and sensitivity.

It stands for “International Organization for Standardization.” It is not a true acronym, though. It is not a direct reference to the organization.

The union of the two film standards (American ASA and German DIN) brought this name to a different perspective. The whole operation was under the auspices of the ISO organization.

Later, this phrase became more famous for its photographic aspect as they referred to ISO as film sensitivity after the event. Generally, a higher ISO lets you photograph in low light conditions but with a trade-off in quality.

Some modern cameras can utilize a maximum ISO of up to 3,280,000. But this brings poor image quality with it.

Shutter Priority

Shutter priority ( S or Tv) is a camera setting mode. The user can set the shutter speed as desired, and the aperture changes automatically.

Shutter Speed

The shutter speed or exposure time is the length of time the film plane or digital sensor is exposed to light. When a camera’s shutter is open, it captures the scene and creates a photograph.

Your camera usually displays it as a whole number, like “400.” The numbers here are fractions of a second (1/5 s, in the example below). If shooting for longer than a second, it’s displayed as 1″ (or longer).

Shutter speed directly influences motion blur. At slow speeds, the shutter will stay open longer, resulting in more visible blurring.

TTL (Metering or Flash Metering)

TTL stands for “through the lens.” This flash mode is the same as the automatic mode on your camera. It uses the camera’s built-in metering system and measures the distance from the subject. It’s also called TTL metering or TTL flash metering.

White Balance

White balance is a camera setting that gives you the correct color in your image. Every light source gives off a different temperature, measured in Kelvin (K). 

You can choose from settings suitable for different conditions such as daylight, cloudy, etc. Later on, you can adjust this white balance when editing your pictures.

Photography Terms for Lighting

Ambient Light

Ambient light is also referred to as available light or natural light. This light naturally occurs in a scene without adding a flash or light modifiers.

Fill Light

Fill light is the secondary source used to fill in shadows created by the main light.

Hard Light

This is harsh or undiffused light coming from the sun or flash. It produces hard shadows and well-defined edges, contrast, and texture.

High-Key Light

High-key lighting is achieved by using a lot of light or whites in a photographed scene. This way, you can eliminate dark tones and shadows from your image. High-key photos usually give a clean and positive impression and feeling.

Kelvin (K)

Kelvin is a measurement unit (K) for temperature. In photography, it’s used for measuring color temperature.

Different light sources have different color temperatures. This determines the white balance, as our subjects will reflect the color of the light they were in. Daylight is around 5500K, whereas fluorescent lighting is closer to 4000K.

Lighting Pattern

A lighting pattern is how light falls on the subject, creating a specific pattern.

Low-Key Light

Low-key lighting is achieved by using a lot of darker tones, shadows, and blacks in a photographed scene.

You usually need a dark background and a light source that only highlights specific areas. This way, you can keep your subject in the shadow and highlight some parts. Low-key photos are dramatic and mysterious.

Main Light or Key Light

This is the main source of light for a photograph. It could be natural, like the sun or an off-camera flash unit.

One-Shot AF (Autofocus)

This focuses your camera on one subject once. This is great for subjects and photographers that don’t need to move.

Reflector

A reflector is a piece of equipment that bounces light back into the scene without using extra light. The reflector tends to bring a softer light and is a cheaper option. They can be made from card or foam board, not necessarily studio-grade.

Soft Light

Soft light is diffused light, usually found on an overcast day. It can be strong, filtered light to cut down on its harshness.

Photography Terms for Metering Modes

Center-Weighted Metering

When you don’t want to use the whole scene for correct exposure, center-weighted metering evaluates the light in the middle of the frame.

It measures the light in the middle of the image with an intensity of 75% and less intensity on the sides. It doesn’t look at where you focus, as it assumes you are concentrating on the center of the image.

Matrix Metering or Evaluative Metering

“Matrix metering” (Nikon), the same as “evaluative metering” (Canon), is a light metering mode. It determines the correct exposure with a special algorithm.

It looks at the scene you photograph and separates it into different zones. These zones are then analyzed separately for light and dark tones. It counts the focal point as more important.

Spot Metering

Spot metering reads reflected light in a concentrated area of any given scene. It looks at where your focus is placed and evaluates the light only in that area, ignoring everything else.

Photography Terms for Shooting Techniques

Bokeh

Bokeh is Japanese for “blur.” It is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image.

More bokeh is achieved by using wide apertures, longer focal lengths, or getting closer to the subject. Light appears in circles because of the blade mechanism of the aperture.

Bracketing

Bracketing involves taking several shots of the same scene using different camera settings. This is used for HDR images.

Depth of Field

Depth of field is the area in your image where the objects or subjects are sharply in focus. A large depth of field keeps most of the image in focus, while a small one will show a very small area in focus. The depth of the field is controlled by changing the lens’s aperture.

Flash Sync

This synchronizes the firing of a photographic flash with the opening of the shutter and curtain to expose the film or sensor.

Focus Stacking

Focus stacking is a common technique in macro photography. This technique requires multiple images where different subject parts are in focus. When stitched together, they show the object with a fuller, overall focus.

Forced Perspective

This is a photographic optical illusion. It is generally used to make two or more objects appear closer or farther away. Or it can make the object or subject a different size than reality.

Terms for Photography Rules

Looney 11

This is a photography rule to take breathtaking photos of the moon’s surface. Use an f/11 aperture and a shutter speed setting the same as your ISO. For example

Overcast 8 (And Variants)

This is a photography rule to use on cloud days with various aperture settings. Use f/11 when the sky is variable, f/8 in cloudy weather but not very dark, and f/5.6 for bad weather, like rain.

Sunny 16

This is a photography rule using an aperture of f/16 on sunny days. Your shutter speed should then be the inverse of your ISO value. So, if you are at f/16 and ISO 400, your shutter speed should be 1/400 s.

Snowy 22

This is a camera setting if the sun is shining over a snowy landscape. At an aperture of f/22, a balanced exposure is achieved using an inverse shutter speed inverse to your ISO. So, ISO 400 gives you a shutter speed of 1/400.

This is only for calculation. It’s best not to use f/22 unless you have a specific purpose. Apertures narrower than f/11 degrade image sharpness.

Photography Terms for Shooting Problems

Camera Shake

Camera shake is the blur in images when capturing a scene without a tripod. Hand movement is enough to cause a blur in the image, especially when using a shutter speed below 1/60 s.

Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic aberration is the effect produced by the refraction of different wavelengths of light through slightly different angles. It results in a failure to focus and a colored halo around objects in the frame.

It appears near the highlights, brighter parts of the image, or high-contrast edges.

Digital Noise

Digital noise refers to the grain found on images captured using a higher ISO. This lowers the quality of the images.

Fringing

Fringing is the photography term for a purple “ghost” image on a photograph, apparent near contrasting edges. It is a type of chromatic aberration.

Lens Flare

Lens flare is where light is scattered or flared in a lens due to bright light. This produces a sometimes undesirable effect.

Moiré

Moiré occurs when a scene or an object contains repetitive details, like lines, that exceed the sensor resolution. As a result, the camera produces a strange-looking wavy pattern.

Motion Blur

Motion blur occurs when the object is moving faster than your shutter speed can handle. This results in a blurred effect on the moving subject.

Overexposure

Overexposure is seen in an image or part of an image that receives too much light to be a proper exposure. This often means a loss of detail and contrast, and those image parts are filled with white areas.

Perspective Distortion

Perspective distortion refers to the warping due to the relative scale of nearby and distant features. The top of a building falls away, as it is farthest away from the film plane or sensor. This is also known as a “parallax error.” Wide-angle lenses can also foreshorten and distort the subjects.

Red Eye

We call it a red-eye effect when the eyes of the person you photograph mirror the light back at your camera. They appear bright red or orange. This happens when using a flash at night and in dim lighting. Modern camera technology has improved to reduce this occurrence.

Underexposure

An image or part of an image that doesn’t receive sufficient light for proper exposure. The image is dark and often with a loss of detail and contrast.

Vignetting

Vignetting refers to a “light fall-off.” It means the darkening of image corners compared to the center. Lenses or using external tools like filters and lens hoods cause these.

Photography Terms Used in Printing and Editing

Aspect Ratio

All photographic images have an aspect ratio. A square image used on Instagram has an aspect ratio of 1:1. But we have other standard ones such as 16:9, 5:4, 4:3, and 3:2. They came from film photography and filmmaking.

Crop

Crop or cropping refers to removing unwanted areas of a photograph or changing its aspect ratio.

CMYK

CMYK refers to the four inks used in color printing. They are Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). CMYK is for subtractive color mixing.

Contrast

The difference between dark and light parts of a photo. A contrasty image has deep blacks and bright whites. A flat image has more balanced tones.

Their histograms show this, too. A high-contrast image has its midtones scooped, with peaks on both sides. A flat image has a bell-shaped histogram.

DPI

The photography term “dots per inch” (dpi) is used for measuring the resolution of an image. It means the dot density found within an inch of an image in print and on-screen.

Highlights

Lightest areas within an image that still contain details.

Histogram

A histogram is a graphical representation of an image’s light levels. The shadows (blacks) are represented on the left side. Highlights (whites) are represented on the right side. In between these two are the midtones. These are neither completely black nor white.

Understanding the histogram is important because the LCD on your camera doesn’t accurately show what the image looks like. This can also be true for the displays you use for post-processing.

Histograms give you a mathematical representation of how well-exposed an image is. You don’t only have to rely on what you see because this data representation can help you, too.

Metadata

Metadata is the additional information that describes image files. It tells you the author, the creation date, the camera device, and much more information about a digital photo. EXIF data is also metadata.

Midtones

The midtones refer to the tonal range between the highlights (light areas) and shadows (dark areas).

Pixel

Pixel (px) means picture element, and every digital image comprises them. They are the smallest unit of image information.

RGB

The RGB color model is supplementary. Red, green, and blue lights are, in different ways, mixed to create a wide range of colors.

RGB is used on screens as it operates with the colors of the light. These colors are added together to produce different colors (this is what is called additive color mixing).

Shadows

These are the darkest areas within an image that still has details.

Watermark

A watermark is an identifying image or text that protects photographers’ images from copyright theft.

Photography Slang

Blown Out

Overexposed areas in your image that have received abundant light are “blown out,” as all detail is missing.

Chimping

Chimping is constantly looking at your images on the LCD screen while missing perfect photographic opportunities.

Flag or Gobo

A flag or gobo is a material that stops unwanted light from hitting part or all of your scene. This is especially common with fashion and product photography.

Glass

“Glass” is a common alternate name for a lens. Fast glass is a lens that can stop down to a “fast” aperture, namely f/1.4 to f/2.8.

Nifty-Fifty

A nifty-fifty is a 50mm standard lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8 or larger.

Opening Up

Opening up translates to decreasing the number of f-stops. The lower the number, the larger the aperture. By opening up, more light will enter the lens.

Selfie

When you photograph yourself!

Shutter Lag

Shutter lag is the time difference between setting the shutter off and capturing the image.

SOOC

SOOC is an abbreviation for “straight out of camera.” This means an image without editing or post-production.

Stopping Down

Stopping down translates to increasing the number of f-stops. The higher the number, the smaller the aperture. This reduces the amount of light entering the lens. This way, you can avoid many kinds of light diffraction.

Wide Open

Shooting wide open uses the aperture at its widest and fastest f-stop, usually f/1.4 to f/2.8.

Conclusion: 129 Photography Terms

We have collected many photography terms you need to know about taking photos. This might be a lot, but you can return and study them anytime.

As this list is non-exhaustive, we recommend reading as much as possible if you are interested in photography. Also, if you wish to know more about these terms, we recommend our other articles, eBooks, or courses that dig into them deeper.

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Photography for Beginners

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• Learn to effortlessly set up your camera for any situation.
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The camera backpacks in this list have all been chosen because they have a tripod holder. We’ve reviewed different types of backpacks. But every backpack on this list can hold a photography tripod. Whether you’re a landscape, portrait, or wildlife photographer, there’s a backpack on this list for you.

When it comes to overall quality, you can’t beat the Wandrd Prvke. That’s why it tops our list. The Manfrotto Multiloader has a tripod holder and just about any other feature you can think of. And if you’re looking for something small and flexible, the Lowepro Fastpack could be the one for you.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Camera Backpack With A Tripod Holder

Wandrd Prvke Backpack

Wandrd Prvke Backpack

Manfrotto PRO Light Multiloader Backpack

Manfrotto PRO Light Multiloader Backpack

Lowepro Fastpack PRO BP 250 AW III Backpack

Lowepro Fastpack PRO BP 250 AW III Backpack

What Is the Best Camera Backpack With a Tripod Holder?

Photographers need a backpack they can trust. And that’s especially true if they need it to carry expensive equipment like tripods. Thankfully, we’ve tried and tested all the backpacks in this article. You can see how we scored and ranked all the backpacks in this article.

Here’s a quick rundown of all the best camera backpacks with tripod holders. We’ve listed all the main positives to give you a quick summary. But we also go into more detail on each bag in the following section. And you’ll see links to the full review of each bag in the following sections.

Our Winner

Wandrd Prvke Backpack

Wandrd Prvke Backpack

• Offers a stylish, durable, and versatile solution for photographers
• Exceptional build quality with practical design
• Safely stores gear while providing easy access
• Backed by a comprehensive lifetime warranty
• Comes in various size options—perfect for serious photography equipment

Most Versatile Backpack

Manfrotto PRO Light Multiloader Backpack

Manfrotto PRO Light Multiloader Backpack

• Provides maximum interior space with its thoughtful design
• Known for durability, functionality, and attention to detail
• Offers multiple configuration options for custom setup
• Trusted by National Geographic for their camera bag
• Manufactured by Manfrotto, a brand with over 50 years of experience

Best for Quick Access

Lowepro Fastpack PRO BP 250 AW III Backpack

Lowepro Fastpack PRO BP 250 AW III Backpack

• Ingenious QuickDoor access for speed and convenience
• Trusted and innovative Lowepro brand for quality assurance
• Lightweight nylon material for easy carrying
• Ideal for photojournalists and wedding photographers
• Versatile and practical for everyday use

Best Looking Backpack

Lowepro Freeline 350 AW Backpack

Lowepro Freeline 350 AW Backpack

• Premium camera bag for city explorers or casual photographers
• Trusted brand with over 50 years in the market
• Rugged and durable, ideal for varied shooting environments
• High-grade nylon 66 exterior for superior protection
• Innovative QuickShelf divider system for easy organization

Best Internal Storage

Nomatic McKinnon Backpack

Nomatic McKinnon Backpack

• Designed by renowned manufacturer and famous photographer
• Versatile storage with "ladder" insert and removable cubes
• Lightweight yet durable, ensuring gear safety
• Backed by lifetime warranty, reflecting quality and innovation
• Sleek design offers style and flexibility without sacrificing protection

Best Waterproofing

Tenba Fulton Backpack

Tenba Fulton Backpack

• Ideal for casual photographers with its lightweight, simple design
• Superior weather resistance for all-weather shooting conditions
• Black Camo colorway blends style with functionality
• Affordable upgrade for photographers seeking a robust, minimalist bag
• Perfect for urban photography with its durable, tear-resistant material

Best for Hiking

Think Tank MindShift BackLight 18L Backpack

Think Tank MindShift BackLight 18L Backpack

• Designed by photography enthusiasts for professional use
• Reflects mountain climbing heritage for practical durability
• Impressive carrying capacity in a lightweight design
• Innovative features from a reputable, patent-holding brand
• Lifetime warranty ensures high-quality build and trust

Best Lightweight Backack

Lowepro Trekker Lite BP 250 AW Backpack

Lowepro Trekker Lite BP 250 AW Backpack

• Designed for lightweight adventure photography
• Compact with removable camera compartment
• Produced by Lowepro, a renowned brand
• Made from recycled materials, promoting sustainability
• Includes a separate tripod holder for convenience

Best for Air Travel

Think Tank Airport Essentials Backpack

Think Tank Airport Essentials Backpack

• Compact, lightweight, and airline-friendly design
• Efficient use of space for camera gear
• Includes security lock and lifetime warranty
• Suitable for photographers who travel frequently
• Competitive price for its quality and features

Best Rugged Backpack

Thule Covert 32L Backpack

Thule Covert 32L Backpack

• Offers high-level protection for gear
• Made from durable and reliable materials
• Ample storage with customizable padded dividers
• Excellent weather protection for outdoor enthusiasts
• Versatile design includes a removable padded section

Our Favorite Camera Backpacks

Now we take a closer look at all the backpacks. Remember, all bags listed here have a tripod holder. But they also have tons of other features to meet your photography needs. The top ones are our favorites. But all the backpacks on this list have their positives.

1. Wandrd Prvke Camera Backpack

Our Favorite Roll-Top Bag

Weight	Weight 1300 g
Capacity	Capacity 21 L
Access Points	Access Points Back, side, top
Airflow Back Support	Airflow Back Support Yes, with mesh
Laptop Sleeve Capacity	Laptop Sleeve Capacity 15-inch
Tripod Holder	Tripod Holder
Warranty	Warranty Lifetime
Waterproof Rating	Waterproof Rating Weather-resistant

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Wandrd Prvke Backpack

Wandrd

$310.00

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One of the standout features of the Prvke is its exceptional build quality. From the fabrics used to the zippers and buckles, everything screams quality. This gives you peace of mind knowing your expensive equipment is safe inside.

But what makes it even more appealing is its versatility. You can use the Prvke as a simple roll-top backpack. But when you add the camera cube, it transforms into a camera backpack. The cube can even be used as a small bag on its own.

Of course, the Prvke has a built-in tripod holder. It’s strong enough even for heavy-duty tripods. That makes the Prvke a great option for anyone from landscape photographers to videographers.

The Wandrd Prvke isn’t 100% perfect. For its size, the camera capacity isn’t great. But it makes up for it with larger versions available in 31L and 41L sizes.

Ultimately, the Wandrd Prvke is a well-made, good-looking camera backpack. Its weather-resistant build means you can use it in all weather conditions. And it’ll take something strong and razor-sharp to rip the outer nylon. It’s a tough camera backpack.

In our full review of the Wandrd Prvke Camera Backpack, it scored 85.3 out of 100 points. If you would like to see how this compares to the other camera backpacks we reviewed, read our article on the best camera backpacks.

Use our discount code EXPERTPHOTOGRAPHY at checkout for 15% off your first order!

2. Manfrotto PRO Light Multiloader Camera Backpack

Weight	Weight 2160 g
Capacity	Capacity 26 L
Access Points	Access Points Front, top, side
Airflow Back Support	Airflow Back Support Yes, with mesh
Laptop Sleeve Capacity	Laptop Sleeve Capacity 15-inch
Tripod Holder	Tripod Holder
Warranty	Warranty 5 years
Waterproof Rating	Waterproof Rating Water-repellent

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Manfrotto PRO Light Multiloader Backpack

Manfrotto

$215.00

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The bag’s primary strength lies in its design. It optimizes interior space, allowing for multiple camera bodies, lenses, and other accessories. The quality of materials used is top-tier, assuring durability and longevity.

However, it’s not a lightweight backpack. If you’re a photographer that prefers to travel light, this might not be the best option. But for those who require a robust, roomy, and versatile camera backpack, it’s a top contender.

One standout feature is the tripod holder. It’s a convenient addition that allows photographers to carry tripods of any size. Other features include chest straps, luggage straps, and a hip belt. There’s space for your water bottle and a dedicated laptop pouch. It’s the total package of camera backpacks.

The Multiloader may have a few minor weaknesses. But its strengths far outweigh them. Its versatility, thoughtful design, and robust build put it near the very top of our list.

In our full review of the Manfrotto PRO Light Multiloader, we gave it a score of 84.9 out of 100. If you want to see how this compares to the other camera backpacks we reviewed, read our article on the best camera backpacks.

3. Lowepro Fastpack Pro BP 250 AW III Camera Backpack

Weight	Weight 1450 g
Capacity	Capacity 25 L
Access Points	Access Points Front, side
Airflow Back Support	Airflow Back Support Yes, with mesh
Laptop Sleeve Capacity	Laptop Sleeve Capacity 16-inch
Tripod Holder	Tripod Holder
Warranty	Warranty Lifetime
Waterproof Rating	Waterproof Rating Weather-resistant

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Lowepro Fastpack PRO BP 250 AW III Backpack

Amazon

$149.00 $178.45

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This system combines the advantages of side and full compartment access, making it easy to grab your gear quickly. It’s a game-changer for photojournalists and wedding photographers who need to act fast.

The bag’s main strength lies in its inventive access points. You can quickly retrieve your camera through the side access. Or you can lay your bag down to reveal the entire camera compartment. That’s flexibility all photographers can appreciate.

Another strength is its low weight. Despite its comprehensive features, it’s easy to carry. You can stuff it with gear, and you’ll still be quick on your feet.

The bag’s padding is minimal and may feel like thinly covered cardboard. This is the main issue we found with the Fastpack. But what it lacks in padding, it makes up for in functionality and design.

It has a smart and efficient use of space. From access points and pockets to zippers, every element works as part of the whole. That gives you a fantastic user experience. 

The Lowepro Fastpack Pro BP 250 AW III also has a tripod holder. This is always a big plus in photography backpacks. But that’s just one feature of a bag filled with many great features. 

The size and style mean the Fastpack Pro won’t be for everyone. But street photographers, photojournalists, and wedding photographers will love it.

In our full review of the Lowepro Fastpack Pro BP 250 AW III, we gave it a score of 81.5 out of 100. If you would like to see how this compares to the other camera backpacks we reviewed, read our article on the best camera backpacks.

4. Lowepro FreeLine BP 350 AW Camera Backpack

Weight	Weight 1874 g
Capacity	Capacity 25 L
Access Points	Access Points Top, side
Airflow Back Support	Airflow Back Support Yes, with mesh
Laptop Sleeve Capacity	Laptop Sleeve Capacity 16-inch
Tripod Holder	Tripod Holder
Warranty	Warranty Lifetime
Waterproof Rating	Waterproof Rating Weather-resistant

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Lowepro Freeline 350 AW Backpack

Amazon

$221.34 $269.99

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One of the standout features is its robust build quality. Lowepro has used high-grade materials, ensuring the bag can withstand stressful environments. It handles knocks and bumps with ease, keeping your gear secure. 

Despite its premium price, the Lowepro FreeLine BP 350 AW offers excellent value for money. It’s not just a bag but a long-term investment. You won’t need to replace it in a hurry.

The bag’s interior design is versatile. You can change the padded sections to fit your gear. That means there’s no problem if you change your setup.

The side access can be frustrating as the flaps don’t stay open. You’ll need to use one hand to keep the flap open while grabbing your gear. The hook for the chest strap can also be slightly inconvenient to fasten or unfasten.

In spite of these minor issues, the Lowepro FreeLine BP 350 AW remains a solid choice. It’s ideal for photographers seeking a premium, durable, and versatile camera backpack. It’s a smart, minimalist design coupled with its high-quality build and materials. It’s a triumph from Lowepro.

In our full review of the Lowepro FreeLine BP 350 AW, we gave it a score of 81 out of 100. If you would like to see how this compares to the other camera backpacks we reviewed, read our article on the best camera backpacks.

5. Nomatic McKinnon 25L Camera Backpack

Weight	Weight 1400 g
Capacity	Capacity 25 L
Access Points	Access Points Top, back
Airflow Back Support	Airflow Back Support Yes, without mesh
Laptop Sleeve Capacity	Laptop Sleeve Capacity 16-inch
Tripod Holder	Tripod Holder
Warranty	Warranty Lifetime
Waterproof Rating	Waterproof Rating Weather-resistant

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Nomatic McKinnon Backpack

Nomatic

$370.00

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The faux-leather outer materials give it a premium feel. And the interior, with its plush camel-colored fabric, offers a stylish look while protecting your gear.

This backpack’s versatility is a definite highlight. With its innovative “ladder” insert and removable cubes, you can customize the bag to suit your needs. It’s not just a camera backpack, but it can be an all-purpose backpack too. That makes it a great choice for photographers looking for adaptability in their backpack. 

Durability is another strength of the Nomatic McKinnon. Nomatic believes in its products, and this backpack has a lifetime warranty. That means you know you’re getting a bag that’s going to last.

The lack of a quick-access side opening is one drawback of the McKinnon. While the top access arrangements make up for it to an extent, some photographers might find it limiting. The tripod holder, however, is definitely a positive addition to the list of features.

The Nomatic McKinnon 25L blends style, flexibility, and protection. The thoughtful design and versatile storage options give it a broad appeal. Anyone from street photographers to hikers can enjoy this camera backpack. 

In our full review of the Nomatic McKinnon 25L, we gave it a score of 79.2 out of 100. If you would like to see how this compares to the other camera backpacks we reviewed, read our article on the best camera backpacks.

Use our discount code EXPERT15 at checkout for an extra 15% off!

6. Tenba Fulton V2 Camera Backpack

Weight	Weight 1270 g
Capacity	Capacity 16 L
Access Points	Access Points Back
Airflow Back Support	Airflow Back Support No
Laptop Sleeve Capacity	Laptop Sleeve Capacity 13-inch
Tripod Holder	Tripod Holder
Warranty	Warranty 5 years
Waterproof Rating	Waterproof Rating Water-repellent

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Tenba Fulton Backpack

Tenba

$140.00

Buy Now!

The sleek Black Camo design of the all-weather version is subtle and stylish. It looks good, but it isn’t obviously a camera backpack. That helps street photographers keep a low profile. And it helps keep you out of trouble when traveling in dangerous areas.

The light weight of the Fulton V2 is one of the main strengths. But that’s not to say Tenba has cut corners on materials. It’s still a well-crafted bag made of strong nylon.

The 600D nylon and super-hydrophobic 420D Helix-coated fabrics offer excellent water resistance. And they also prevent tears, making this bag perfect for explorers venturing into the unknown. 

The storage space for personal items is disappointing. You can pack plenty of camera gear, including a tripod. But there isn’t much room for extra personal effects.

The Fulton V2 doesn’t have the biggest tripod holder. So it’s not good for heavy tripods. But it’ll have no problem with your travel tripod. That makes it a good option for travel photographers and vloggers.

The Tenba Fulton V2 offers good value money. It isn’t a groundbreaking camera backpack. But you get a lightweight, rugged, and reliable camera backpack at a reasonable price. It’s hard to argue that you’re not getting a good deal.

In our full review of the Tenba Fulton V2, we gave it a score of 76 out of 100. If you would like to see how this compares to the other camera backpacks we reviewed, read our article on the best camera backpacks.

7. Think Tank MindShift BackLight 18L Camera Backpack

Weight	Weight 1600 g
Capacity	Capacity 18 L
Access Points	Access Points Back
Airflow Back Support	Airflow Back Support Yes, with mesh
Laptop Sleeve Capacity	Laptop Sleeve Capacity 13-inch
Tripod Holder	Tripod Holder
Warranty	Warranty Lifetime
Waterproof Rating	Waterproof Rating Water-repellent

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Think Tank MindShift BackLight 18L Backpack

Think Tank

$220.00

Buy Now!

The MindShift BackLight looks like a standard hiking backpack. But it’s anything but standard. It’s packed with professional-level gear storage and innovative features. And its climbing pedigree ensures durability and practicality.

One of the standout features of the MindShift BackLight 18L is its tripod holder. This hidden, cleverly designed feature allows photographers to carry their tripods without compromising the bag’s space or balance. The bag also offers multiple attachment points for additional gear, making it a versatile choice for outdoor shoots.

The backpack style may not suit everyone’s taste. It’s a bit rugged for urban tastes. The main compartment has only one access point, which could be limiting for some. And while the bag is generally well-padded, the padding between the sides and the interior could be better.

Despite these minor drawbacks, the Think Tank MindShift BackLight 18L remains a solid choice for outdoor photographers. It’s strong and reliable, and there’s plenty of storage space for gear.  

In our full review of the Think Tank MindShift BackLight 18L, we gave it a score of 76.1 out of 100. If you would like to see how this compares to the other camera backpacks we reviewed, read our article on the best camera backpacks.

8. Lowepro Trekker Lite BP 250 AW Camera Backpack

Weight	Weight 1000 g
Capacity	Capacity 25.5 L
Access Points	Access Points Front
Airflow Back Support	Airflow Back Support Yes, with mesh
Laptop Sleeve Capacity	Laptop Sleeve Capacity No laptop sleeve
Tripod Holder	Tripod Holder
Warranty	Warranty Lifetime
Waterproof Rating	Waterproof Rating Weather-resistant

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Lowepro Trekker Lite BP 250 AW Backpack

Lowepro

$170.00

Buy Now!

It’s compact, lightweight, and meets the needs of outdoor enthusiasts. Weighing just 1kg, it’s the lightest camera bag we reviewed. This makes it a perfect companion for those mountain treks and wilderness explorations.

The Trekker Lite has a smart and functional design. The removable camera compartment is a standout feature. It transforms the bag into a regular backpack when the camera compartment isn’t needed. This element of customization is a significant plus for photographers who need versatility in their gear.

The bag also boasts a tripod holder. This is an essential feature for landscape, long-exposure, and time-lapse photographers. It can’t carry the heaviest tripods. But it’s stronger than it should be for a bag of its size. 

There are a couple of downsides to the backpack. The camera compartment is a bit small, only accommodating a mirrorless or compact camera. And that’s with no additional lenses. Also, the lack of a hip belt may be an issue for some users.

But despite these minor drawbacks, the Lowepro Trekker Lite BP 250 AW remains a solid choice for adventure photographers. Its lightweight design, versatility, and thoughtful features give you good value for money.

In our full review of the Lowepro Trekker Lite BP 250 AW, we gave it a score of 74.7 out of 100. If you would like to see how this compares to the other camera backpacks we reviewed, read our article on the best camera backpacks.

9. Think Tank Airport Essentials Camera Backpack

Weight	Weight 1600 g
Capacity	Capacity 15 L
Access Points	Access Points Front
Airflow Back Support	Airflow Back Support Yes, with mesh
Laptop Sleeve Capacity	Laptop Sleeve Capacity 13-inch
Tripod Holder	Tripod Holder
Warranty	Warranty Lifetime
Waterproof Rating	Waterproof Rating Water-repellent

×

Think Tank Airport Essentials Backpack

Think Tank

$240.00

Buy Now!

The Airport Essentials has a durable build. The outer material is a tough nylon that doesn’t rip easily. And it’s also weather-resistant for protection against rain showers. You don’t need to worry if the heavens really open. And it comes with a rain cover for even better weather protection.

One of the main highlights is the efficient use of space. It might not be the most flexible, but it fits an impressive amount of gear in the main compartment. It also includes useful straps and handles. And there’s a built-in lock for added security.

Additionally, the Airport Essentials boasts a handy tripod holder. And despite its compact size, this backpack doesn’t compromise on storage or protection. It’s also backed by a lifetime warranty, adding to its value for money.

However, it’s worth noting that it lacks versatility. While it’s excellent for air travel, it might not be the best choice for inner-city travel or hiking. But if you’re a photographer frequently on the move, this backpack is a solid investment.

In our full review of the Think Tank Airport Essentials, we gave it a score of 75.4 out of 100. If you would like to see how this compares to the other camera backpacks we reviewed, read our article on the best camera backpacks.

10. Thule Covert 32L Camera Backpack

Weight	Weight 2140 g
Capacity	Capacity 32 L
Access Points	Access Points Back, side
Airflow Back Support	Airflow Back Support Yes, without mesh
Laptop Sleeve Capacity	Laptop Sleeve Capacity 15-inch
Tripod Holder	Tripod Holder
Warranty	Warranty 2 Years
Waterproof Rating	Waterproof Rating Water-repellent

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Thule Covert 32L Backpack

Amazon

$377.00

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A standout feature is the customizable padded dividers. You can rearrange the camera compartment to fit your gear however you want. You can also remove the camera compartment completely. This turns it into a sling bag, giving you a smaller alternative.

The backpack also offers excellent weather protection, a crucial aspect for outdoor enthusiasts. The main drawback, however, is its weight. Weighing 4.7 lbs empty, it’s on the heavier end of the camera backpack scale.

Aesthetically, the Thule Covert might not suit everyone’s taste. With limited color options of Black and Dark Slate, you’re not spoiled for choice. But that’s not what Thule is aiming for. This backpack is designed for outdoor adventurers, and Thule has nailed that brief.

Despite being pricier than some alternatives, the Thule Covert offers good value for money. Its high standard, reliability, and excellent features make it a worthy investment. With a rugged design and superior build quality, it’s an ideal backpack for photographers who love the great outdoors.

In our full review of the Thule Covert 32L, we gave it a score of 75.4 out of 100. If you would like to see how this compares to the other camera backpacks we reviewed, read our article on the best camera backpacks.

Conclusion: The Best Camera Backpack With a Tripod Holder

The best camera backpack with a tripod holder is more than a bag that can hold a tripod. The backpack should be able to fit all your gear along with a tripod. It should hold the tripod you want to use. And it should have a functional and efficient design.

Thankfully, all the camera backpacks reviewed here meet those demands. All the backpacks mentioned here have been tested and reviewed by our team here at Expert Photography. And we’ve been honest and fair in our appraisals. Our top three are there on merit.

Even the biggest cynic will struggle to find fault with the Wandrd Prvke. And the Manfrotto PRO Multiloader is the perfect blend of function and form. There’s isn’t much you can’t take with you using that bag. Then there’s the compact and versatile Lowepro Fastpack. It’s ideal for photographers who want to stay light on their feet.

Use our discount code EXPERTPHOTOGRAPHY at checkout for 15% off your first Wandrd order!

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Camera Backpack With A Tripod Holder

Wandrd Prvke Backpack

Wandrd Prvke Backpack

Manfrotto PRO Light Multiloader Backpack

Manfrotto PRO Light Multiloader Backpack

Lowepro Fastpack PRO BP 250 AW III Backpack

Lowepro Fastpack PRO BP 250 AW III Backpack