Gear Patrol | Spirit of Adventure, Passion for Gear

First but not most

With smooth bokeh and a versatile zooming range, both Nikon and Canon full-frame shooters (e.g. Nikon D700 and Canon 5D Mk II) have continually relied on their respective 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses. The only problem? Canon’s option lands in around $1,300, while Nikon’s is nearly 2-grand, making the glass alone cost nearly as much as a [...]

Peer into the future, without the crystal ball

We kicked off 2012 by visiting not-so-beautiful Las Vegas to attend CES, with the hope of getting a head start on the exciting new products that will launch over the coming year. While we’ll continue to highlight gadgets revealed there on a regular basis, one of the best parts about being on the ground at [...]

Esteemed photo journalist Vincent Laforet is considered a pioneer of DSLR video and his short film Reverie helped significantly boost Canon’s 5D Mark II camera into the forefront of the amateur digital film community. Hoping that lightening could strike twice, Canon gave Laforet early access to the EOS C300 to demonstrate the dynamic capabilities of [...]

The new fixed lens king?

Canon’s PowerShot G-series has always strived to meld the smaller form factor of a point and shoot with the photo quality of a larger-sensor DSLR, and with the new Canon G1 X ($799), Canon continues to aim to do just that. Building on its predecessor’s, the G12, precedents the G1 X boasts a substantial 1.5-inch [...]

Shot to the Heart

Despite widespread adoption, Canon’s approach to video hasn’t been the all out onslaught many of us have hoped for. Particularly when you consider how DSLR’s have taken on increasingly powerful video capabilities, spawning a passionate base of amateur and pro film makers dedicated to pushing the limits of what their trusty Canon gear can do. [...]

X Marks the Shot

On the surface, Canon’s new pro-level shooter may look virtually identical to its 1D predecessor, but don’t be fooled. As the 10th generation of Canon SLRs, the beastly Canon EOS-1DX ($6,800) is the full-frame juggernaut. Built to replace both the EOS-1Ds Mark III and EOS-1D Mark IV models, it boasts an olympian size list of [...]

0.7734 Lives On

Who needs a touch-surface Magic Mouse when you can pack it full of glorious calculator buttons? We’re betting our spreadsheet ninjas can think of a few — and until Apple finally makes a Bluetooth extended keyboard, options are pretty limited. With a built-in ten-digit calculator, the Canon X Mark I Mouse ($60) gives users not [...]

When it comes to traveling you may still rely on tried and true packing lists, but it goes without saying that gadgets and tech, have become both welcome and obnoxious additions — so much for packing light. In this Essential Gear feature we bring you our list of travel-tech endorsements, field tested by the GP [...]

Double duty

Sure, your DSLR can do double-digit megapixel images all day long, but now that it also captures HD video what about that aging external flash or heaven forbid, built-in flash? Canon heeds the call with its new well-priced Speedlite 320EX ($249). The compact flashgun offers a bevy of features including powerful strobe strength (Guide Number [...]

This past Tuesday, TaylorMade unleashed the commanding new R11 Driver to frigid New Yorkers. In celebration TaylorMade and Golfsmith converted the 54th street block into a driving range — in less than 7 hours. Gear Patrol had a pair of intervelometer equipped Canon 7D’s on the ground to capture the build-up in a 4,000 photo [...]

Long Range, Small Package

Canon’s incredibly popular compact, long-range shooter has finally received the L treatment it always deserved with the recent release of the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM Telephoto ($1,570). Canon’s “L-series” (think “L” for Lexus compared to Toyota in terms of build-quality) means the EF 70-300 receives a set of robust features including tack sharp [...]

Smaller and Well-Articulated

The new Canon EOS 60D ($1,099 body) is the long-awaited successor to the Canon EOS 50D and presents a tasty new digital morsel in the Canon DSLR lineup (not to mention a little rain on the Nikons D3100 announcement). Tucked comfortably between the pro APS-C Canon 7D and the beginner Rebel lineup, Canon has revised [...]

Trophy Compact Gets Spit & Polish

The Canon PowerShot S90 has a permanent place in my bag. As a compact point-and-shoot, the S90 has not only been a powerhouse compact, but also a great substitute slash justification for not carrying around a DSLR. The new Canon PowerShot S95 ($399) improves on its sibling by keeping all that works (28-105mm ƒ2.0-4.9 lens, [...]

Landlubbers Will Shiver Their Timbers With Camera Envy

There are few places more worthy of high-definition video than the underwater world. Sure, photos are great. But SCUBA diving is such a dynamic, otherworldly experience that still photography has always seemed a bit two-dimensional as a means to convey the experience to landlubbers or to re-live adventures back home. Coral reefs teem with thousands [...]

Fast. Real Fast.

Making sure not to let Nikon get all the limelight, Canon’s new EOS-1D Mark IV is bound to steel some of the thunder from Nikon’s latest DSLR behemoth, the new D3s. Today, Canon’s announced the new EOS-1D Mark IV, a pro DSLR camera with specific designs catered to those looking for speed (action, sports, news, [...]