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Every review

Every write-up, filed under the job it actually does

149 products compared, gathered by the part they play rather than by badge or by price.

Mirrorless cameras

4

  • Canon EOS R50 double zoom kit, RF-S 18-45 mm and RF 75-300 mm, 24.2 MP APS-C

    24.2 MP APS-C · two lenses supplied, RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-7.1 IS STM and RF 75-300mm · 4K 30p oversampled from 6K · deep-learning subject detection · viewfinder, card slots and sealing not published

    The only body here that arrives with two lenses, covering 18 to 300 mm between them, and states its sensor format outright while leaving its viewfinder and card provision unwritten.

    Best for: A first interchangeable-lens purchase where the two-lens span from wide to 300 mm matters more than the finder or the card count.

    ≈ 985 €

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  • Panasonic Lumix FZ82D, fixed 20-1200 mm f/2.8-5.9, 18.1 MP

    Fixed lens, no interchangeable mount · 20-1200 mm stated · f/2.8-5.9 · 18.1 MP MOS · 4K 30p · 2.36 MP OLED viewfinder · 1.84 MP touch screen · USB-C charging · sensor format, card slots and sealing not published

    The one body on this shelf whose lens does not come off: a 20-1200 mm f/2.8-5.9 built in, quoted as a sixty-times range, with an OLED viewfinder that publishes its resolution when dearer cameras here do not.

    Best for: One-camera travel where the reach from 20 mm to 1200 mm matters more than the ability to change glass later.

    ≈ £379 / 419 €

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  • Fujifilm X-M5 with XC15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ kit lens, 26.1 MP

    26.1 MP X-Trans · X-Processor 5 · 355 g body stated · kit XC15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ · 6.2K video · 9:16 mode · 20 film simulations · flip screen, no viewfinder named · sensor format, mount name and card slots not published

    A 355 g body sold on its twenty film simulations and a 6.2K video figure, with a flip screen in place of any viewfinder and a kit zoom whose stabilisation is named only by the letters OIS.

    Best for: Someone buying into film simulations and short vertical video, who composes on a screen and counts every gram.

    ≈ $1021 / £849 / 899 €

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  • Sony Alpha 6700 body, 26 MP APS-C Exmor R, five-axis stabilisation

    26 MP Exmor R APS-C · BIONZ XR · five-axis in-body stabilisation stated · 4K up to 120p · 4K 30p 10-bit 4:2:2 from 6K · 11 fps burst · S-Cinetone and S-Log3 · dust and moisture resistant magnesium alloy · card slots not published

    The only body on this shelf that claims stabilisation in the camera rather than in the lens, and the only one that makes a sealing claim at all — sold as a body alone at the top of this family’s price range.

    Best for: Video work that needs log profiles and in-body stabilisation, on a body expected to go out in weather with lenses already owned.

    ≈ £1329 / 1471 €

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DSLR cameras

1

  • Canon EOS 2000D with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II and two LP-E10 batteries

    24.1 MP APS-C CMOS · DIGIC 4+ · EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II supplied · 7.5 cm LCD · Full HD · WLAN and NFC · two LP-E10 batteries · viewfinder figures, focus points and card slots not published

    A reflex sold as a kit with two batteries and a stabilised standard zoom, whose listing names its sensor, its processor and its wireless features while leaving every figure about the optical finder unwritten.

    Best for: A first reflex where an optical finder and a stock of cheap lenses matter more than video specification.

    ≈ 495 €

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Compact cameras

9

  • Canon IXUS 285 HS, 20.2 MP, 12× optical zoom, metal body

    20.2 MP stated · 12× OPTICAL zoom · no aperture published · Full HD video · WLAN and NFC · metal body · no sensor size, screen movement or dimensions published

    A slim metal point-and-shoot with a 12× optical zoom and wireless sharing, listed at 369 € to 400 € across euro stores — the same money as cameras on this shelf that offer 4K and a one-inch sensor.

    Best for: Someone who specifically wants a slim metal Canon in a pocket and will use the 12× reach and the phone transfer.

    ≈ £390 / 369 €

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  • FAYIBUY F5 XMXJ, 56 MP stated, 20× digital zoom, 32 GB card

    No sensor type published · 20× zoom stated as digital, not optical · no aperture published · 2.7 inch LCD · 4K video claimed · 56 MP stated image size · autofocus · tripod thread · 32 GB card included

    A thirty-euro compact whose second bullet states in the maker’s own words that its 20× zoom is not optical, and which publishes a tripod thread and a webcam mode where dearer cameras here publish neither.

    Best for: A cheap second camera for a desk, where the tripod thread and the webcam mode matter more than any figure on the page.

    ≈ £36 / 30 €

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  • KODAK Pixpro FZ45, 16 MP, 4× optical zoom, AA batteries

    16 MP sensor stated · 4× OPTICAL zoom · no aperture published · 2.7 inch tilting LCD · 720p video · optical stabilisation mode · runs on AA batteries · no sensor size published

    No compact here costs less and still offers a genuinely optical zoom with an optical stabilisation mode, running on AA batteries rather than a proprietary cell — and stopping at 720p video.

    Best for: Travel somewhere batteries are easier to find than sockets, or a camera for someone who should not have to manage charging.

    ≈ $100 / £92 / 110 €

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  • Panasonic Lumix TZ99, 24-720 mm, 20.3 MP MOS, five-axis hybrid OIS

    20.3 MP MOS sensor · 24-720 mm stated, 30× optical · Leica DC lens · five-axis hybrid OIS · 4K 30p and 4K photo · 7.6 cm flip touch monitor, 1.84 million dots · WLAN and Bluetooth · manual ring, manual focus, focus peaking, RAW · aperture not published

    A travel zoom that publishes its focal range in millimetres, 24 to 720, with five-axis stabilisation and a manual control ring — and never states the aperture at either end of it.

    Best for: Travel where one camera must cover a landscape and a distant roofline, by someone who will use the manual ring and shoot RAW.

    ≈ $619 / £519 / 549 €

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  • Sony RX100 VII, one-inch type 20.1 MP, 24-200 mm f/2.8-4.5 Zeiss

    One-inch type sensor, 20.1 MP back-illuminated · 24-200 mm f/2.8-4.5 Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T · both apertures published · 4K video · real-time tracking and eye AF for people and animals · 0.02 s AF claimed · tilting display · external charger only, no USB charging

    The only camera on this shelf that publishes a sensor type, a focal range and an aperture at both ends together — and the only one whose first bullet warns that the battery cannot be charged over USB.

    Best for: A pocket camera expected to do the work of a system on a trip, by someone who will carry the charger and the spare battery.

    ≈ 1099 €

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  • QIUOIO A9, 64 MP stated, 16× digital zoom, 180° flip screen

    No sensor type published · 16× zoom stated as digital · no aperture published · 180° flip screen · 4K video claimed · 64 MP stated image size · 1500 mAh battery · quarter-inch tripod thread · webcam mode

    A vlogging compact built around a screen that turns to face the front and a 1500 mAh battery, publishing both of those figures and nothing whatever about the sensor or the lens.

    Best for: A first vlogging camera for a teenager, where the front-facing screen and the tripod thread are the specification that matters.

    ≈ £60 / 50 €

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  • Weinsamkeit HZL-FGXJ, 40 MP stated, 8× digital zoom, 100 g

    No sensor type published · zoom given as 8× digital, not optical · no aperture published · 2.4 inch LCD · 1080p video · 40 MP stated image size · 100 g · 64 GB card included · USB-C charging

    The cheapest of the nine compacts here at under thirty euros, weighing 100 g, whose listing publishes a pixel count and a digital zoom factor and never once names a sensor, a focal length or an aperture.

    Best for: A first camera for a child, or a pocket spare where losing it would cost less than replacing a phone screen.

    ≈ £36 / 29 €

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  • Zostuic 8K claimed, 96 MP stated, F1.8, six-axis stabilisation

    No sensor type published · 16× zoom stated as digital · F1.8 stated without a focal length · dual screens, 1.54 inch front and 2.8 inch rear · 8K video claimed · 96 MP stated image size · six-axis electronic stabilisation · WiFi · 32 GB card and two batteries

    The most ambitious claims on this shelf — 8K, 96 MP, F1.8, six-axis stabilisation — on a listing that names no sensor, publishes no reference number, and describes its zoom as digital.

    Best for: A beginner who wants two batteries, a card and a front screen in one box and will not be matching the claims against a specification sheet.

    ≈ 93 €

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  • ZMOQNG DC060, 64 MP stated, three focus modes, 3 inch flip screen

    No sensor type published · no zoom factor in the title · no aperture published · 3 inch IPS screen, 180° switchable · 4K video claimed · 64 MP stated image size · three focus modes named · 16 creative filters

    The only camera on this shelf that publishes its focus modes by name — autofocus, semi-autofocus and fixed focus — on a listing that says nothing at all about the sensor or the lens.

    Best for: Someone who wants the retro filters and a screen that flips, and who will not be comparing specifications.

    ≈ £78 / 65 €

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Action cameras

9

  • AKASO EK7000 Pro, 4K 30 fps, 40 m, four view angles, floating grip

    40 m waterproof housing · 4K 30, 2.7K 30, 1080p 60 · 20 MP stills · EIS stated · four selectable view angles: super wide, wide, medium, narrow · 2 inch IPS touchscreen · floating hand grip and bag supplied · no field of view in degrees

    An established name at ninety-three euros, selling a touchscreen, three video modes and four selectable view angles — described by name rather than in degrees — with a floating grip in the box.

    Best for: Water use where the floating grip and the touchscreen earn their keep, by someone who will buy a spare battery blind.

    ≈ £83 / 93 €

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  • DJI Osmo Action 4, 1/1.3 inch sensor, 4K 120 fps, 155 degrees

    1/1.3 inch sensor, the only one published on this shelf · 4K at 120 fps · 155 degree ultra wide · 10-bit and D-Log M · 360 degree HorizonSteady, three stabilisation modes · cold resistance to -20 °C · magnetic quick release · one battery supplied · no waterproof depth published

    The only action camera here to publish a sensor size, and the only one with a magnetic mount and a stated cold rating — while never printing the waterproof depth that eight of its nine rivals lead with.

    Best for: Footage that will be graded afterwards, in cold or poor light, by someone who already owns mounts or will buy the magnetic ones.

    ≈ $209 / £189 / 189 €

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  • Frelisty DM100 body camera, 26 g, 1080p, magnetic mount

    No waterproof claim · 1080p · 1 inch display · magnetic mount with 180 degree adjustment · 26 g · 350 mAh built-in battery, 120 to 180 minutes stated · 16 GB card supplied · loop recording · no app or WiFi needed

    A 26 g body camera rather than a sports camera: magnetic, screenless in all but name, with a built-in battery the maker rates at 120 to 180 minutes and no waterproof claim at all.

    Best for: Wearing on a jacket or a helmet for a commute or a shift, where the magnet and the weight matter more than depth ratings.

    ≈ 40 €

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  • GoPro HERO, 86 g, 4K Ultra HD, waterproof to 5 m without a case

    86 g · waterproof to 5 m with NO housing · 4K Ultra HD · 12 MP stills · touchscreen LCD · built-in mounting fingers · 35 per cent smaller and 44 per cent lighter than HERO12 Black · curved adhesive mount, buckle and thumb screw supplied · no frame rate published

    The dearest camera on this shelf and the lightest at 86 g, waterproof to 5 m with no case at all — a figure that reads worse than its rivals and measures something entirely different.

    Best for: Everyday carrying and rough weather, where a sealed 86 g body on a huge mount ecosystem beats a deeper case.

    ≈ £170 / 197 €

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  • icefox i8, 4K 60 fps with EIS off, 30 m IP68, two 1350 mAh cells

    30 m IP68 waterproof, 98 ft stated · 4K at 60 fps, 2.7K at 60 · 20 MP stills at up to 30 fps burst · EIS, and 60 fps requires it OFF · 5× zoom · 2.4 GHz WiFi with Snap-Pro app · remote · two 1350 mAh batteries

    The only camera on this shelf whose maker publishes the cost of its own stabilisation: 4K at 60 fps is available, and the listing states in the same bullet that EIS must be switched off to reach it.

    Best for: Cycling and motor sport at 60 fps, by someone content to trade stabilisation for the frame rate and to mount the camera firmly instead.

    ≈ $60 / £72 / 70 €

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  • Jadfezy J-03, 1080p 30 fps, 30 m housing, two 900 mAh cells

    30 m waterproof housing, IP68 · 1080p at 30 fps · 5 MP stills · 140 degree wide angle · two 900 mAh batteries supplied · 2 inch LCD · accessory kit included · no stabilisation claim

    The cheapest of the nine action cameras here at 26 €, sold on a 30 m housing and a bag of mounts, with two batteries in the box and no stabilisation claim anywhere on the page.

    Best for: A first waterproof camera for a child or a holiday, where losing it would cost less than a phone case.

    ≈ $22 / £22 / 26 €

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  • Surfola SF230, 4K 30 fps, 40 m housing, two 1050 mAh cells

    40 m waterproof housing · 4K at 30 fps · 20 MP stills · EIS stated · 170 degree wide angle · two 1050 mAh batteries, 90 minutes each stated · 2.4 GHz remote · wired microphone · WiFi app control

    The only camera on this shelf that states its runtime per battery rather than as a total, and one of the few to supply both a radio remote and a wired microphone.

    Best for: Swimming and diving, where the 40 m case, the remote and a known 90 minutes a battery are the specification that counts.

    ≈ £38 / 42 €

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  • WOLFANG GA100, native 4K 30 fps, five video modes, 40 m housing

    40 m waterproof housing · native 4K 30 fps, 2.7K 30, 1080p 60, 1080p 30, 720p 120 · 20 MP stills · EIS stated · 170 degree wide angle · external noise-cancelling microphone · two 1050 mAh batteries · remote supplied

    The most complete list of video modes on this shelf — five combinations published rather than one — with an external noise-cancelling microphone and a 40 m housing at fifty euros.

    Best for: Someone who wants choice of frame rate and a usable microphone for fifty euros, and will work out the runtime by testing.

    ≈ £42 / 50 €

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  • Yonvim SPDmz, 5K 30 fps, 40 m, six-gyro EIS, two 1350 mAh cells

    40 m waterproof · 5K and 4K, 30 fps at 5K · 30 MP stills · EIS with six-gyro sensor · 170 degree ultra wide · two 1350 mAh batteries, up to 4.5 hours TOTAL · wireless remote · WiFi app

    A 5K camera with the largest batteries on this shelf, whose headline 4.5 hours is the two cells added together rather than the life of either one.

    Best for: Long days out where two big batteries matter, by someone who will read 4.5 hours as two sessions rather than one.

    ≈ 64 €

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Instant cameras

2

  • Polaroid Now Generation 3 bundle with a double film pack, 16 photos

    Polaroid i-Type and 600 film compatible · full-format prints · bundle with double film pack, 16 photos · two-lens autofocus · self-timer and double exposure · tripod thread · USB-C rechargeable · 40 per cent recycled materials · print size in millimetres not published

    A bundle that arrives with sixteen photos and a two-lens autofocus system, sold on the largest print in this family and on a tripod thread that no other instant camera here provides.

    Best for: Someone who wants the large square print and will use the self-timer, the double exposure and the tripod thread rather than only pointing and shooting.

    ≈ $160 / £140 / 133 €

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  • Fujifilm instax mini 12 in Pastel Blue, instax mini film, automatic exposure

    instax mini film · credit-card print format stated · automatic exposure and flash · close-up mode with parallax correction · selfie mirror · up to 100 prints per set of batteries · no digital printing path · print size in millimetres not published

    An instant camera that removes every setting on purpose: exposure and flash are automatic, a mirror handles framing for selfies, and the only figure published anywhere is one hundred prints per set of batteries.

    Best for: Parties, trips and gifts, where handing someone a physical print immediately is the whole point and nothing needs adjusting.

    ≈ $93 / £68 / 72 €

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Camcorders

6

  • Aroeally HDV03, 4K 30 fps, infrared night vision, two 1500 mAh cells

    No sensor size published · no optical zoom: 18× digital · 4K at 30 fps · 80 MP stills · infrared night vision · no recording limit published · 3 inch IPS screen turning 270 degrees · remote supplied · two 1500 mAh batteries · webcam mode

    A 4K camcorder with infrared night vision and two batteries at 89 €, whose 80 megapixel figure has no sensor published behind it and whose recording limit, like the whole shelf, never appears.

    Best for: Filming indoors and after dark on a tripod, where the infrared mode and the remote do work the cheaper camera cannot.

    ≈ 89 €

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  • CAMWORLD AC25, 2.7K, 18× digital zoom, 32 GB card supplied

    No sensor size published · no optical zoom: 18× digital, stated by the maker as NO optical zoom · 2.7K video · 48 MP stills · no recording limit published · stabilisation named without a type · 3 inch screen turning 270 degrees · LED fill light · 32 GB card and battery included

    The cheapest camcorder here at 66 €, whose own second bullet writes that its 18× zoom is not optical — and which, like all six on this shelf, never states how long it will record.

    Best for: A first camcorder for family events, plugged into a power bank, where the 270 degree screen and the card in the box are the specification that counts.

    ≈ 61 €

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  • PITIKI V112, 4K, 80 MP, night vision, external microphone supported

    No sensor size published · no optical zoom: 18× digital · 4K · 80 MP stills · infrared night vision · external microphone supported · no recording limit published · 32 GB card supplied, expandable to 128 GB · two 1500 mAh cells · German store only

    The only camcorder under 140 € here that supports an external microphone — the audio input this whole shelf is compared on — and the only one no store outside Germany was offering.

    Best for: Interviews and talking heads on a budget, where a real microphone socket matters more than a screen that turns.

    ≈ 104 €

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  • Canon LEGRIA HF G70, 4K sensor, 20× optical, 4K UHD at 150 Mbit/s

    4K sensor stated, size not published · 20× OPTICAL zoom · DIGIC DV6 processor · eight-blade iris · five-axis stabilisation · 4K UHD at 150 Mbit/s and 25p · 0.5× Full HD slow motion · time lapse to 1200× · MP4 · lens hood with integrated cap supplied · no recording limit published

    The dearest camcorder here at 992 €, and the only one to publish a bit rate — 150 Mbit/s at 4K — an eight-blade iris and a genuine 20× optical zoom.

    Best for: Long-form recording where the bit rate and the iris matter, by someone who will check the audio arrangement in the maker’s own documentation.

    ≈ £1040 / 922 €

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  • FIREFOTO AC12C, 5K at 25 fps, 56 MP, HDMI out, two 2400 mAh cells

    No sensor size published · no optical zoom published · 5K at 25 fps · 56 MP stills · infrared night vision · external microphone and HDMI output · handheld stabiliser supplied · no recording limit published · 3 inch touchscreen turning 270 degrees · two 2400 mAh cells, about 150 minutes each

    The only camcorder here to publish a runtime per battery — about 150 minutes — and the only one with an HDMI output, a folding handheld stabiliser and a microphone in the box.

    Best for: Vlogging and interviews where the supplied microphone, the grip and two long batteries do the work of three separate purchases.

    ≈ 133 €

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  • Panasonic HC-V900, 1/2.5 inch sensor, 25-600 mm, 24× optical, f/1.8

    1/2.5 inch sensor, the only one published here · 24× OPTICAL zoom, 25 to 600 mm · f/1.8 wide end · Full HD · five-axis Hybrid OIS+ · HDR movie · Full HD slow motion at 240 fps · zoom microphone with wind shield · 7.6 cm touchscreen, 1.56 million dots · no recording limit published

    The only camcorder of the six here to publish a sensor size, a real optical range in millimetres and an aperture — and it stops at Full HD while cameras a fifth of the price claim 5K.

    Best for: Events where a real 600 mm reach and stabilisation that works at it matter more than a resolution badge.

    ≈ £529 / 492 €

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Webcams

7

  • Acer WBC-0H01, 1080p at 30 fps, 83 degrees, dual microphones

    1080p at 30 fps · CMOS sensor named · 83 degree wide angle · 360 degree rotation · dual noise-cancelling microphones · automatic low-light correction · privacy cover that folds down · named as compatible with Switch 2, Zoom, Skype, Twitch and Google Meet · no focus type published

    The only webcam here whose listing names a sensor type at all, with two microphones, a folding cover and 83 degrees — and a euro price that runs from 30 € to 60 € depending on the country.

    Best for: A desk that doubles as a streaming and console setup, where two microphones and a folding cover earn their place.

    ≈ $27 / £24 / 30 €

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  • Anker PowerConf C200, 2K, three selectable angles, stereo microphones

    2K resolution · THREE selectable fields of view: 65, 78 or 95 degrees, switched in software · larger aperture stated for low light · AI stereo microphones · built-in privacy cover · no frame rate published · two different references across markets

    The only camera on this shelf whose field of view can be changed — 65, 78 or 95 degrees in software — and the only one sold under two different references depending on the country.

    Best for: A desk that is sometimes a meeting room, where switching between a tight and a wide frame in software is worth more than a frame rate on the box.

    ≈ 54 €

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  • AOC AC310, 4K at 30 fps, 99 degrees, tilt and rotate

    4K UHD at 30 fps · 99 degree wide angle, the widest fixed angle here · 180 degree tilt and 360 degree rotation · built-in noise-reducing microphone · automatic light adjustment · integrated sliding lens cover · plug and play with USB-A to USB-C cable supplied · German store only

    A 4K camera at 30 € with the widest fixed angle on this shelf and a body that tilts and turns — listed in Germany and nowhere else the day this page was checked.

    Best for: A meeting room where everyone has to fit in frame, in Germany, at the lowest price 4K is available here.

    ≈ 30 €

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  • EMEET C960, 1080p, two microphones, 90 degrees, fixed focus

    1080p · 90 degree field of view · fixed focus, stated as needing no adjustment · two digital microphones with noise reduction · automatic light correction · plug and play, no driver · named for Linux, Windows 10 and macOS · no frame rate published · no privacy shutter published

    A 30 € camera built for a table rather than a desk: 90 degrees wide, two noise-reducing microphones, and a fixed focus its own listing presents as a feature.

    Best for: A small meeting table in a dim room, where the wide angle and two microphones matter more than a rate on the box.

    ≈ 30 €

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  • Logitech C270, 720p at 30 fps, fixed focus, universal clip

    HD video calling at 30 fps · noise-reducing built-in microphone · automatic light adjustment · universal mount for a screen or a shelf · no field of view published · no privacy shutter · no resolution figure published on the page

    The cheapest of the seven webcams here at 16 €, whose listing publishes a frame rate, a microphone and a mount — and never once states a resolution or a field of view.

    Best for: A spare camera for an occasional call, or a first webcam where sixteen euros is the specification.

    ≈ £17 / 16 €

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  • N newline NewEye62, 4K 30 fps and 1080p 60 fps, PDAF autofocus, 79 degrees

    4K at 30 fps and 1080p at 60 fps, two combinations published · 12 MP · PDAF and CDAF dual autofocus, focus in one second claimed · 79 degree field of view · two stereo microphones with 3 m pickup stated · automatic light correction · privacy cover included · named for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android

    The only webcam here to publish two resolution-and-rate combinations and a named autofocus system, with a stated microphone pickup distance of three metres.

    Best for: Streaming or recording where 1080p at 60 fps matters more than 4K, and where a subject moves close to the lens.

    ≈ £40 / 40 €

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  • Trust Oran, 1080p at 30 fps, fixed focus, 75 degrees

    1080p at 30 fps, stated as 1980x1080 on the page · 75 degree field of view · fixed focus · built-in microphone · physical privacy shutter · universal stand · plug and play over USB · no low-light provision published

    A 21 € camera that publishes its angle, its rate, its focus type and a physical shutter — and prints its own resolution as 1980x1080, which is not a resolution that exists.

    Best for: One person at a desk in a lit room, where a shutter and a narrow angle are worth more than a wide frame.

    ≈ £18 / 21 €

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Camera drones

4

  • DJI Neo Fly More Combo, 135 g, class C0, 4K, three batteries

    135 g published · class C0 stated, flyable in A1/A3 without examination · 4K UHD · palm launch, voice control, app or RC-N3 controller · eight QuickShot modes, Smart Follow · wind resistance level 4 · integrated propeller guards · three batteries in the combo · no gimbal axis count published

    The only aircraft of the four here to publish both halves of the regulatory claim — 135 g and class C0 — and the only one that launches from the palm with no controller at all.

    Best for: Flying without paperwork and without a controller — a barbecue, a walk, a family picnic — where 135 g and class C0 are the specification that matters.

    ≈ $239 / £245 / 217 €

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  • Bfhdbdt P8, 4K on a motorised 90 degree mount, dual cameras, two batteries

    No take-off weight published · no class stated · 4K claimed · motorised 90 degree camera mount · two cameras, front and downward, switchable · brushless motors · two batteries, flight time not stated per charge · obstacle avoidance claimed without directions · carry case · German market only

    A folding 4K aircraft with a motorised camera mount and a second downward camera, whose obstacle avoidance is claimed in a feature list and never described, and which no store outside Germany was offering.

    Best for: Someone in Germany who wants a motorised tilt and a downward camera for fifty euros and will discover the flight time by flying it.

    ≈ 50 €

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  • YIKKEON C20, three-axis gimbal, 4K, under 249 g, 3000 m range

    Under 249 g stated as a registration threshold, not a measurement · no class marking published · 4K · three-axis gimbal · 3000 m transmission stated · 4.5 inch screen on the controller · 90 minutes TOTAL across three batteries · GPS, auto return, follow me · brushless motors · folding

    The only aircraft under two hundred euros here with a three-axis gimbal and a screen built into its controller, whose 90 minutes is three batteries added together rather than one flight.

    Best for: A first serious aerial camera, where a real gimbal and a controller screen matter more than obstacle sensors.

    ≈ 204 €

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  • GQBVPN mini drone, 1080p on a 90 degree tilt, brushless motors

    No take-off weight published · no class stated · 1080p · 120 degree wide angle · camera tilts through 90 degrees · brushless motors · optical flow positioning · altitude hold, headless mode, one-key launch · folding arms · no flight time published

    The cheapest of the four aircraft here at 31 €, sold on brushless motors and a camera that tilts, with no take-off weight and no flight time published anywhere.

    Best for: A first flight indoors or in a garden, for a child or a beginner, where the brushless motors are the part that lasts.

    ≈ 31 €

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Gimbal stabilisers

3

  • DJI Osmo Pocket 4, a one-inch camera on its own three-axis gimbal

    Carries no external camera: the gimbal IS the camera · 1 inch CMOS · 4K at 240 fps · three-axis mechanical gimbal · ActiveTrack with 4× zoom · 14 stops of dynamic range stated · 10-bit D-Log · 107 GB built in · 240 minutes at 1080p 24 fps · quarter-inch thread on the handle · charger sold separately

    Not a stabiliser you mount a camera on but a one-inch camera already mounted on one, publishing a dynamic range figure and a recording time no other product on this shelf comes near.

    Best for: Walking-and-talking video where one object in a pocket has to do everything, and the footage will be graded afterwards.

    ≈ $619 / £422 / 453 €

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  • GoPro Fluid Pro AI, three axes, AI tracking module, fill light

    No payload published · three axes · interchangeable mounts for phones, this maker’s cameras and some compacts · AI subject-tracking module, forward or rear facing · built-in fill light · wireless camera control · device charging · 360 degree rotation · Bluetooth only with Hero 9 to 13 Black

    A stabiliser that ships with a separate AI tracking module and a fill light, and never publishes the one figure that decides whether a camera fits it.

    Best for: Filming yourself with this maker’s recent cameras or a phone, where the tracking module and the fill light do work no rival here does.

    ≈ £180 / 165 €

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  • hohem iSteady Pro 4, 150 g payload, three axes, 3600 mAh

    Payload published: up to 150 g, 51 mm tall, 30 mm deep · three axes · iSteady 5.0 algorithm · IPX4 splash resistant · quick-release clip · 3600 mAh, 14 hours stated · works as a power bank · named for GoPro Hero 5 to 13, Osmo Action and Insta360 One R

    The only stabiliser here to publish what it can actually carry — 150 g, 51 mm, 30 mm — and the only one with a splash rating and a battery that will charge the camera on it.

    Best for: An action camera that runs out of battery before the day does, where the gimbal carrying a charge is worth as much as the stabilisation.

    ≈ $84 / £84 / 101 €

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Standard zoom lenses

3

  • Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary for Sony E

    Sony E mount · APS-C, from the DC designation and stated twice in the bullets · 18-50mm · F2.8 held across the range · no stabilisation named · no filter thread published · no minimum focus published · no sealing claimed · no weight published · multi-layer coating claimed

    The widest constant aperture on this shelf, F2.8 across 18-50mm, and the dearest lens here at 503 € — sold on five phrases of marketing copy that answer none of the nine things this shelf is compared on.

    Best for: An APS-C E-mount body indoors, where F2.8 at every focal length is worth giving up both range and published specification for.

    ≈ $569 / £459 / 503 €

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  • Canon RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM, 4.5 stops claimed

    RF-S mount · APS-C · 18-150mm · F3.5 at the short end, F6.3 at the long one · 4.5 stops of stabilisation claimed · STM focus · no filter thread published · no minimum focus published · no sealing claimed · no weight published

    The variable-aperture side of this three-lens shelf at 430 €, with eight and a half times the range of its own short end and a 4.5-stop stabiliser in the title, and six of the nine lines this shelf is compared on left blank.

    Best for: One lens on an EOS R APS-C body for travel, where the range matters more than the aperture and the stabiliser carries the long end.

    ≈ $454 / £549 / 430 €

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  • Sony SELP18105G, 18-105mm F4 G OSS power zoom

    E-mount · APS-C · 18-105mm · F4 held across the range · Optical SteadyShot in the lens, no stop figure · powered stepless zoom · length constant while zooming and focusing · 7-blade circular aperture · two ED and three aspherical elements · no filter thread published · no minimum focus published · no sealing claimed · no weight published

    A constant F4 across 18-105mm with a powered stepless zoom and a barrel that never changes length, at 450 € — the video lens of this shelf, and it publishes five optical details while leaving every practical measurement out.

    Best for: Video on an APS-C E-mount body, where the constant aperture, the powered zoom and the fixed barrel length matter more than the last stop of light.

    ≈ $748 / £419 / 450 €

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Telephoto lenses

5

  • Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM, 635 g

    RF mount · 100-400mm · F5.6 at the short end, F8 at the long one · 5.5 stops of stabilisation claimed · UD glass · 635 g · 164.7mm long · no tripod collar published · no minimum focus published · no filter thread published · no sealing claimed

    The only lens on this shelf that publishes its weight and its length — 635 g and 164.7mm for 400mm of reach — with 5.5 stops of stabilisation claimed, and a page that names two different autofocus motors in two different places.

    Best for: Daylight sport and wildlife on an EOS R body, carried rather than mounted, where 635 g and 5.5 stops matter more than the last stop of aperture.

    ≈ $699 / £669 / 659 €

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  • Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

    55-300mm · f/4.5 at the short end, f/5.6 at the long one · VR stabilisation, four stops claimed · 17 elements in 11 groups, two of them ED · no tripod collar published · no minimum focus published · no filter thread published · no sealing claimed · no weight published · hood, pouch and both caps supplied

    The most conventionally documented lens on this shelf at 342 €, publishing its optical construction element by element and four stops of VR, and leaving the tripod collar, the filter thread and the weight unstated.

    Best for: A DX body reaching to 300mm handheld, where four stops of VR do the work a tripod would otherwise have to.

    ≈ $410 / £300 / 342 €

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  • Sony SEL70350G, 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G OSS

    70-350mm · F4.5 at the short end, F6.3 at the long one · Optical SteadyShot, no stop figure · dust and moisture resistant design claimed · XD linear motor · focus mode switch and a customisable focus hold button · one aspherical and three ED elements · 7-blade circular aperture · no tripod collar published · no minimum focus published · no filter thread published · no weight published

    The dearest lens of the five here at 932 €, and the only one anywhere on this shelf that claims a dust and moisture resistant design — with a linear focus motor, a focus hold button and no published weight, thread or close-focus distance.

    Best for: Outdoor work in unreliable weather on an E-mount body, where the sealing claim and the focus controls are what the extra money is actually buying.

    ≈ £749 / 810 €

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  • TTARTISAN 500mm F/6.3 super telephoto prime for Canon EF, manual focus

    Fixed 500mm · F6.3, closing to F32 · manual focus, no stabilisation named · tripod ring fitted · no minimum focus published · 82mm filter thread · no sealing claimed · no weight published · two ED elements

    A fixed 500mm at F6.3 for 419 €, and the only lens on this shelf that publishes both a tripod ring and a filter thread — 82mm, named so that neutral density and polarising filters can be found for it.

    Best for: Wildlife, the moon or deep-sky work from a tripod, where a ring, a standard filter size and a single long focal length are worth more than autofocus.

    ≈ 419 €

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  • Walimex pro 650-1300mm 1:8-16 CSC for Canon EF, manual focus

    650-1300mm · f/8 at the short end, f/16 at the long one · manual focus, no stabilisation named · no tripod collar published · no minimum focus published · no filter thread published · no sealing claimed · no weight published · all-metal barrel with a pull-out hood · bag, caps and a T2 adapter in the box

    The longest reach in the whole catalogue at 1300mm for 250 €, bought at the price of manual focus, f/8 at its widest and a page that publishes neither a weight nor a tripod collar for a lens of that length.

    Best for: Daylight wildlife or the moon from a solid tripod, for someone who already focuses by hand and wants reach that costs four figures elsewhere.

    ≈ £226 / 250 €

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Wide-angle lenses

5

  • Canon EF-S 24mm F2.8 STM pancake, 52mm thread

    EF-S mount · APS-C · 24mm · F2.8 · 52mm filter thread · angles of view 59°10 by 50°35 by 34°55 · minimum focus about 0.16 m · STM focusing, not compatible with an extender · no distortion type stated · no sealing claimed · no weight published

    A 149 € pancake that publishes the two things this shelf most often leaves out — a 52mm filter thread and a minimum focus of about 0.16 m — and carries two catalogue fields that belong to a video camera.

    Best for: An EF-S body that needs to become pocketable, where 24mm on APS-C frames much as the eye does and the thread stays cheap.

    ≈ $192 / £159 / 149 €

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  • Samyang AF 12mm F2.0 E, 213 g, 62mm thread

    Sony E mount · APS-C · 12mm · F2.0, closing to F22 · 99.1 degree angle of view · 62mm filter thread · minimum focus 19 cm · 12 elements in 10 groups · UMC coating · weather protection claimed · 213 g · 59mm long · detachable hood supplied

    The best-documented page of the five here: 213 g, 62mm of thread, 19 cm of close focus, 99.1 degrees, twelve elements in ten groups and a weather-protection claim, for 283 €.

    Best for: Astrophotography and interiors on a Sony APS-C body, for someone who wants an ultra wide that autofocuses and whose filters cost what filters normally cost.

    ≈ $430 / £256 / 283 €

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  • Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary for Sony E

    Sony E mount · APS-C · 16mm · F1.4 · dust and splash protection at the mount, stated for the mount alone · quiet autofocus · no filter provision published · no distortion type stated · no minimum focus published · no weight published

    The widest aperture on this shelf at F1.4 for 385 €, with a dust and splash-proof mount stated precisely as the mount — and five phrases of copy that answer none of the other seven lines this shelf compares.

    Best for: Available light on a Sony APS-C body, where F1.4 at 16mm is the whole reason and the rest will be discovered after purchase.

    ≈ $411 / £389 / 385 €

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  • Sony SEL11F18, 11mm F1.8 APS-C prime

    E mount · APS-C · 11mm · F1.8 held as a constant maximum · three ED and three aspherical elements · 7-blade circular aperture · two linear motors · hood supplied · no filter provision published · no distortion type stated · no minimum focus published · no sealing claimed · no weight published

    The widest engraving on this shelf at 11mm with an F1.8 maximum, for 460 €, sold on six named elements and two focus motors — and publishing neither a thread, a close-focus distance, a weight nor a sealing claim.

    Best for: Handheld vlogging and interiors on a Sony APS-C body, where 11mm at F1.8 covers the room and the arm holding the camera.

    ≈ £477 / 460 €

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  • TTARTISAN 10mm F2, 105 degrees, manual focus for M4/3

    10mm · the title names APS-C and the M4/3 mount together · F2.0 · 105 degree angle of view · near-zero distortion claimed · 8 aperture blades · minimum focus 0.25 m · manual focus · no filter provision published · no sealing claimed · no weight published

    A 105 degree ultra wide at F2 for 199 €, manual focus, publishing an angle of view, a close-focus distance and a blade count — and naming two different formats in one title.

    Best for: Night skies and interiors on a Micro Four Thirds body, where focusing by hand is no obstacle and 105 degrees is the point.

    ≈ 199 €

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Prime lenses

8

  • Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G, 58mm thread

    Nikon F mount · FX format, framing as 75mm on a DX body · 50mm · f/1.8 · Silent Wave Motor · two focus modes, autofocus and manual · aspherical element · 58mm filter thread · no blade count published · no minimum focus published · no sealing claimed · no weight published

    The classic normal prime on the F mount at 219 €, publishing a 58mm thread, a Silent Wave Motor and its DX framing — on a page that prints the same five bullets twice over.

    Best for: A normal prime on an FX body, or a short portrait lens on a DX one, where a motor in the lens and a cheap thread matter as much as the glass.

    ≈ $252 / 194 €

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  • Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM, under 400 g

    RF mount · 45mm · F1.2 · STM motor · configurable control ring · stated as weighing less than 400 g, which is a ceiling rather than a measurement · no blade count published · no minimum focus published · no filter thread published · no sealing claimed

    The widest aperture in this entire lot at F1.2 for 439 €, in a barrel the page says weighs less than 400 g — a ceiling rather than a figure — with no blade count, no thread and no close-focus distance published.

    Best for: Street portraits on an EOS R body where F1.2 is the entire point, and the control ring replaces the settings a spare hand would otherwise reach for.

    ≈ £405 / 439 €

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  • Samyang AF 75mm F1.8 FE, 230 g, 9 blades

    Sony E mount · full frame, and APS-C · 75mm · F1.8, closing to F22 · 9 aperture blades · LSTM autofocus, under 0.2 seconds and 23 dB · minimum focus 69 cm · 58mm filter thread · 230 g · 69mm long · 10 elements in 9 groups, 3 ED and 2 HR · angles of view 32.9 degrees on full frame and 21.9 on APS-C · no sealing claimed

    Eight of the nine lines this shelf compares, answered with figures: 230 g, nine blades, 58mm of thread, 69 cm of close focus, and an autofocus timed at under 0.2 seconds and measured at 23 decibels.

    Best for: Portraits on a Sony full-frame body where the lens has to stay light, and video where 23 decibels of focusing noise is the specification that matters.

    ≈ $430 / £237 / 262 €

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  • Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art for Sony E

    Sony E mount · full frame, from the DG designation · 35mm · F1.4 · Super Multi-Layer coating against flare and ghosting · autofocus described as fast and quiet, motor not named · no blade count published · no minimum focus published · no filter thread published · no sealing claimed · no weight published

    The dearest lens of the eight here at 879 €, a full-frame 35mm at F1.4 from Sigma’s Art line — sold on five phrases that publish the aperture and nothing else measurable.

    Best for: Full-frame reportage where F1.4 at 35mm is the requirement and the specification sheet will be found somewhere other than the listing.

    ≈ $959 / £699 / 879 €

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  • Panasonic Lumix G 25mm F1.7, 125 g, 46mm thread

    Micro Four Thirds mount · 25mm, equivalent to 50mm in 35mm terms · F1.7, closing to F22 · 47 degree diagonal angle of view · minimum focus 0.25 m · 46mm filter thread · about 125 g · no blade count published · no autofocus motor named · no sealing claimed

    A 125 g normal prime for Micro Four Thirds at 159 €, publishing its equivalence, its angle of view, its aperture range, its close focus, its thread and its weight — six figures, on a page of five short bullets.

    Best for: A Micro Four Thirds body that should stay small, where a normal field of view, F1.7 and 125 g cover most of what a single lens is asked to do.

    ≈ $198 / £149 / 159 €

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  • Lightdow 85mm F1.8 manual-focus portrait lens for Canon EF

    Canon EF and EF-S · full frame and APS-C · 85mm · F1.8 · manual focus, no autofocus motor · metal housing with a hood · no blade count published · no minimum focus published · no filter thread published · no sealing claimed · no weight published

    An 85mm portrait prime at F1.8 for 141 €, focusing entirely by hand, with a metal body and a hood — and a page that publishes the focal length, the aperture and no other measurement.

    Best for: Portraits and video on a Canon EF body for someone who focuses by hand deliberately, where 85mm at F1.8 is worth more than convenience.

    ≈ $97 / £97 / 134 €

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  • TTARTISAN AF 50mm F1.8 Neo E, 156 g, no focus ring

    Sony E mount · full frame · 50mm · F1.8 · STM drive with eye and subject autofocus · no focus ring fitted · minimum focus 0.48 m · 156 g · glass-fibre reinforced body · 45 degree angle of view · no blade count published · no filter thread published · no sealing claimed

    The cheapest lens of the eight here at 99 €, weighing 156 g, focusing by motor only — the fourth bullet states there is no focus ring at all, which is a design decision rather than an omission.

    Best for: A first prime on a full-frame E-mount body, for someone who wants the camera to do the focusing and the lens to weigh nothing.

    ≈ £89 / 99 €

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  • Sony SEL35F18F, FE 35mm F1.8, 9 blades

    E mount · full frame, and APS-C · 35mm · F1.8 · 9-blade circular aperture · the page names a linear motor drive in one bullet and a Direct Drive SSM in another · dust and moisture resistant design claimed · focus mode switch and customisable focus hold button · no minimum focus published · no filter thread published · no weight published

    A sealed full-frame 35mm at F1.8 for 499 €, with nine rounded blades and a focus hold button — and a page that names two different focus drive systems for the same lens.

    Best for: Reportage and everyday full-frame work outdoors, where the sealing claim and the focus hold button are the things the money is buying.

    ≈ $798 / £539 / 499 €

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Macro lenses

7

  • Canon EF 100mm F2.8L IS USM Macro, 67mm thread

    Canon EF mount · 100mm · F2.8 · Hybrid IS, no stop figure published · focus limiter · 9-blade aperture · UD element · L-series sealing against dust and splashes · 67mm filter thread · hood ET-73 and pouch LP1219 supplied · no magnification ratio published · no working distance published · no internal focus stated · no weight published

    A sealed L-series macro with a focus limiter, Hybrid stabilisation and a 67mm thread for 762 € — and a listing that never once states the magnification ratio this shelf is built around.

    Best for: Field macro work in unreliable weather on an EF body, where the limiter, the sealing and the hybrid stabilisation are what separate it from cheaper glass.

    ≈ £745 / 762 €

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  • Panasonic Lumix S-E100 100mm F2.8 Macro, 298 g, 1:1

    L mount · full frame · 100mm · F2.8 · 1:1 magnification · minimum focus 20.4 cm · 298 g · 3 aspherical elements · dual-phase linear motor, focus breathing suppressed · protection against dust, splashes and cold claimed · no working distance published · no stabilisation named · no internal focus stated · no filter thread published

    A full-frame 1:1 macro weighing 298 g at 949 €, publishing its ratio, its minimum focus and its mass — and carrying a smallest-and-lightest claim the listing itself dates to 8 January 2024.

    Best for: Full-frame macro work carried on foot, and video where a lens that does not change framing as it focuses is worth the price on its own.

    ≈ $1120 / £911 / 949 €

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  • Pentax smc PENTAX-D FA MACRO 100mm F2.8 WR, 1:1 at 13 cm

    Pentax K mount · full frame · 100mm · F2.8 · 1:1, given as 1.00x · 13 cm from the front of the lens to the subject · stabilisation in the camera body, not in the lens · rear-element extension focusing · rounded iris from wide open to F5.6 · weather-resistant construction with dedicated seals · fluorine SP coating on the front element · Quick-Shift focus · aluminium outer body · hood PH-RBE49 and case S80-120 supplied · no filter thread published · no weight published

    The only lens of the seven here that publishes a true working distance — 1:1 at 13 cm from the lens to the subject — across ten bullets, which is precisely the figure its own shelf says to buy on.

    Best for: Macro work on a Pentax K-series body, where the body provides the stabilisation and 13 cm of working distance is the reason to choose this over anything else on the shelf.

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  • Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX Macro DG OS HSM for Canon EF

    Canon EF mount · full frame, from the DG designation · 105mm · F2.8 · 1:1 magnification · Hyper Sonic Motor · optical stabilisation in the product name only, no figure published · no working distance published · no internal focus stated · no filter thread published · no weight published

    A 1:1 macro at 105mm whose page states the ratio and then four adjectives — with an optical stabiliser announced in the product name and described in none of the five bullets.

    Best for: Life-size work on a Canon EF body at the longest focal length on this shelf, for a buyer who will find the specification somewhere other than the listing.

    ≈ 430 €

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  • Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS, SEL90M28G

    E mount · full frame, and APS-C · 90mm · F2.8 · floating focus mechanism · 9-blade circular aperture · Optical SteadyShot, no stop figure · Direct Drive SSM focus · dust and moisture resistant design · no magnification ratio published · no working distance published · no filter thread published · no weight published

    A sealed 90mm macro at 773 € with a floating focus mechanism and nine rounded blades, whose page never states the magnification ratio or the distance at which it would be reached.

    Best for: Full-frame close-up and portrait work outdoors on an E-mount body, where the sealing and the floating design matter more than a published ratio.

    ≈ $948 / £819 / 773 €

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  • TAMRON SP 90mm F/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD for Nikon FX

    Nikon F mount, FX · full frame and APS-C · 90mm · F2.8 · 1:1 magnification, stated in the product name · VC stabilisation described as optimised for the macro range · sealed construction against moisture and dust · USD focus drive · no working distance published · no internal focus stated · no filter thread published · no weight published

    A sealed 1:1 macro whose stabiliser is the only one on this shelf described as tuned for the close range — on a page that prints half its bullets twice, once with the accented characters broken.

    Best for: Handheld close-up work on a Nikon FX body, where a stabiliser tuned for the macro range and a sealed barrel are the two things being bought.

    ≈ 457 €

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  • TTARTISAN 100mm F2.8 Macro 2X for GFX, manual focus

    Fujifilm GFX mount · 100mm · F2.8 · 2:1, twice life size · a 9.8 inch focusing distance published · 12 aperture blades · manual focus · 6 high-refractive elements · all-metal body with four cold-shoe mounting points · no stabilisation named · no internal focus stated · no filter thread published · no weight published

    The only lens of the seven here that reaches twice life size, at 389 €, with twelve blades and four accessory mounting points on the barrel — and a distance published as a focusing distance rather than a working one.

    Best for: Studio work on a GFX body at magnifications no other lens here reaches, on a rail, with the light mounted to the lens itself.

    ≈ 389 €

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Studio flash units

3

  • Godox SK400III-V, 400Ws, GN65 at ISO 100

    400Ws · guide number 65 at ISO 100 · 1/32 to 1/1 in 50 steps, five stops · recycle 0.1 to 1.5 s · 10 W LED modelling lamp dimmable from 5 to 100 per cent · standard Bowens bayonet · Godox 2.4G X system built in · colour temperature 5600K plus or minus 200K

    The one head on this shelf that publishes everything the shelf is compared on: 400 watt-seconds, a guide number with its sensitivity, a recycle time of 0.1 to 1.5 seconds and fifty steps of adjustment, for 199 €.

    Best for: A studio head bought to be built on, where the X system and the Bowens mount decide every purchase that follows and the published figures make it comparable.

    ≈ $179 / £169 / 199 €

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  • NEEWER Q6, 600Ws, nine stops of adjustment

    600Ws · 1/1 to 1/512 in 0.1-stop increments, nine stops · no recycle time published · 30 W bi-colour LED modelling lamp, 2700K to 6500K, CRI 95+ · colour temperature 5700K plus or minus 100K across the whole power range · TTL, manual and multi modes · HSS to 1/8000 s · NEEWER 2.4G Q system, 5 groups, 32 channels, 99 IDs, 100 m · Bluetooth app control · two TFT displays · quartz tube rated about 300,000 flashes

    Nine stops of adjustment in tenth-stop increments, a 30 W bi-colour modelling lamp with a published colour index, and a tube rated for 300,000 flashes — at 449 €, with no recycle time anywhere on the page.

    Best for: Portrait work away from a studio where nine stops and stable colour matter, for someone already inside the NEEWER Q system or willing to enter it.

    ≈ 449 €

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  • Walimex pro Newcomer 100 II, 100 W, Bowens mount

    100 W published — watts, not watt-seconds · stepless from 1/1 to 1/32, five stops · no recycle time published · 5 W LED modelling lamp · Bowens and Walimex pro bayonet · built-in receiver, 16 channels and 4 groups, plus photocell and sync cable · under 1 kg, stated as a ceiling · passive cooling with overheat protection

    The cheapest studio head here at 132 €, with a receiver already inside it and a Bowens mount that opens the whole modifier catalogue — and an output figure published in watts, which is not the unit this shelf compares.

    Best for: A first studio light in a small room, where the Bowens mount matters more than the headline figure and the receiver being built in saves a purchase.

    ≈ 132 €

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On-camera flashes

5

  • Canon Speedlite EL-5, guide number 60, weather-sealed

    Canon system flash · guide number 60, no sensitivity or coverage stated · recycle 0.1 to 1.2 s · about 85 flashes at full power in a burst · manual levels from 1/1 to 1/1024, eleven stops · LP-EL lithium pack, up to 350 shots at full power · FP high-speed sync named in the title · improved passive cooling · weather-resistant seals · a compatibility list that excludes several current bodies

    The dearest flash of the five here at 325 €, with weather seals, eleven stops of manual control and 350 full-power shots from its own lithium pack — and a compatibility list that rules out every reflex and several mirrorless bodies.

    Best for: A recent EOS R body used in weather, where fast recycling, deep manual control and sealed construction justify the price.

    ≈ £357 / 325 €

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  • Godox iT32 TTL with X5-S trigger for Sony, HSS 1/8000 s

    Sony fit · TTL, manual and stroboscopic modes · high-speed sync to 1/8000 s · first and second curtain sync · flash exposure compensation · Godox 2.4G X system, X5S detachable and controlling the flash from up to 20 m · touchscreen · 7.2 V 900 mAh cell, about 70 minutes at full power, recharged in about 70 minutes over USB-C · 10-step LED modelling light · magnetic diffuser, colour filters and a mini stand supplied · no guide number published

    A TTL flash sold with its own radio trigger for 107 €, with high-speed sync to 1/8000 and a touchscreen — and no guide number anywhere on the page, which is the one figure this shelf is ranked by.

    Best for: A Sony body that needs one small flash working both on and off the camera, inside a system that can grow to studio heads later.

    ≈ $104 / £93 / 107 €

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  • NEEWER TT560, GN38 at ISO 100, head tilts 90 and swivels 270

    Universal single-contact hot shoe · GN38 at ISO 100 · 8 manual levels from 1/128 to 1/1, seven stops · 5600K plus or minus 200K · recycle 0.1 to 5 s · flash duration 1/300 to 1/20,000 s · head tilts 0 to 90 degrees and swivels 0 to 270 · S1 and S2 optical slave modes and PC sync · 4 AA cells, not supplied, with a socket for a CP-E4 external pack · no TTL, no high-speed sync, no camera-menu control

    The only flash here that publishes its guide number with the sensitivity behind it — GN38 at ISO 100 — and a head that tilts through 90 degrees and swivels through 270, for 51 €, with a first bullet that is four warnings.

    Best for: Bounced flash on a budget, on almost any camera with a centre-contact shoe, for someone who sets the power by hand and owns rechargeable AA cells.

    ≈ $47 / £42 / 51 €

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  • ULANZI SL01 mini flash, GN8, four power levels

    Single-contact hot shoe · GN8, no sensitivity or coverage stated · 6500K · four manual levels from 1/8 to 1/1 · about 375 flashes at full power · no head movement published · no zoom · no metering support, manual only · 250 mAh internal cell, charged in about an hour over USB-C · no radio

    The cheapest flash of the five here at 23 €, with four power levels and a cell that charges over USB-C — and a guide number of 8 published without either of the two conditions that would make it comparable.

    Best for: A little fill light on a mirrorless body where the flash has to be pocketable, and the photographer sets the power by hand.

    ≈ £23 / 21 €

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  • Rollei Flashy ONE, GN16 and 16.8 Ws, recycle 0.01 to 2.5 s

    Single-pin hot shoe · GN16, no sensitivity or coverage stated · 16.8 Ws published · 1/128 to 1/1 in third-stop steps, seven stops · recycle 0.01 to 2.5 s · flash duration to 1/50,000 s · up to 500 flashes at full power · 1250 mAh cell · LCD display · no head movement published · no zoom · no metering support · no radio

    The only flash of the five here to publish watt-seconds as well as a guide number — 16.8 Ws and GN16 — with seven stops in third-stop steps and a recycle time from 0.01 to 2.5 seconds, for 43 €.

    Best for: Manual flash on any camera with a standard shoe, where third-stop control and a published flash duration matter more than automation.

    ≈ $69 / £57 / 43 €

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LED video lights

4

  • Rollei LUX Compact RGB, 8 W, CRI and TLCI 98

    8 W · no output in lux and no distance published · 2500K to 9000K · 360 RGB colours and 13 effects · CRI and TLCI both 98 · stepless dimming from 0 to 100 per cent · internal cell, no runtime published · OLED screen and app control · 125 g · no mount published

    A phone-sized panel at 24 € whose colour accuracy is published twice over — CRI and TLCI both 98, the highest figures of the four here — with no output in lux and no runtime.

    Best for: A pocket light for faces and small objects where faithful colour matters more than power, and the light lives within arm’s reach of the subject.

    ≈ £27 / 24 €

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  • NEEWER 660 bi-colour pair, 3300 lux at 1 m, CRI 96+

    Two panels of 660 LEDs, 330 warm and 330 cool · 40 W each · 3300 lux at 1 m · 3200K to 5600K · CRI 96 or better · brightness 0 to 100 per cent · mains adapter supplied or NP-F550 and NP-F970 cells, not supplied · barn doors and U-brackets with 360 degree tilt · two stands from 66 to 190 cm · panels 232 by 200 by 48 mm · LCD screen · two carry bags

    The only light of the four here that publishes an illuminance with its distance — 3300 lux at 1 m — as a pair of 660-LED panels with stands, barn doors and bags for 194 €.

    Best for: A two-light setup for portraits, product work or streaming where the panels go on stands, the barn doors control spill, and a socket is available.

    ≈ 194 €

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  • RaLeno PLV-S116, 12 W, 600 lux, CRI 95 or better

    12 W · 600 lux published without a distance · 2500K to 6500K · 116 LEDs · CRI 95 or better · brightness 0 to 100 per cent · 4000 mAh cell, up to 90 minutes at full brightness · pass-through charging over USB-C and USB · 388 g · extendable mini tripod supplied · four-layer diffuser

    A panel with a published runtime — 90 minutes at full brightness from 4000 mAh — pass-through charging and a mini tripod in the box for 37 €, with 600 lux quoted at no distance at all.

    Best for: Video calls, streaming and desk work where the light has to run for an hour and a half without a mains lead and the tripod is already included.

    ≈ 37 €

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  • ULANZI K20 key light, 10 W, 600 lumens, 192 LEDs

    10 W · 600 lumens — a luminous flux, not an illuminance · 2500K to 9000K · 192 LEDs behind an 11 inch panel · 120 degree beam · CRI above 90 · 0 to 100 per cent brightness · edge-lit · magnetic remote with 7 channels and 30 m range · metal C-clamp for desks up to 50 mm, height 30 to 80 cm, 360 degree ball head

    An 11 inch key light that clamps to a desk and comes with a magnetic remote reaching 30 metres, for 48 € — publishing 600 lumens, which measures total light output rather than what lands on a face.

    Best for: A desk for streaming or calls, where the clamp, the remote and an 11 inch soft source matter and a mains socket is always within reach.

    ≈ £47 / 46 €

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Ring lights

6

  • AIXPI 10 inch ring, 120 LEDs, stand to 156 cm

    10 inch ring · 120 LEDs · three lighting modes, white, natural and warm, with no kelvin figures · 10 brightness levels per mode · no colour accuracy index · stand from 46.5 to 156 cm, 182 cm overall with the light · 360 degree phone holder, clamp 5.5 to 11 cm · internal gear structure holding the head angle · box includes a hex key, a Bluetooth remote and the manual · no power source published

    A 10 inch ring whose stand reaches 182 cm overall — the tallest on this shelf — with a geared head that holds its angle, for 32 €, and no power source stated anywhere.

    Best for: Standing or seated full-length video where the light has to reach head height, and the head must stay at the angle it was set to.

    ≈ £20 / 32 €

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  • GerTong 11.5 inch ring, 40 RGB colours, over 150 settings

    11.5 inch ring, 29.2 cm outer diameter, 30.48 cm including the part below the ring · three daylight modes named as white, warm white and warm yellow, with no kelvin figures · 7 RGB colours and 37 dynamic modes, 40 in total · 13 brightness levels per mode, 1 to 100 per cent · no colour accuracy index · folding stand with a weighted base plus a mini desktop tripod · phone clip 2.2 to 3.4 inches on a flexible gooseneck · USB powered · remote release, paired through AB Shutter3

    An 11.5 inch ring that publishes its diameter twice over in centimetres, with 40 colours, 37 dynamic modes and over 150 settings for 30 € — and not one figure in kelvin.

    Best for: Streaming and short video where colour effects are part of the look, on a desk or a stand, with a phone as the camera.

    ≈ £23 / 30 €

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  • NEEWER 18 inch, 45 cm, 55 W at a fixed 5600K

    18 inch, 45 cm outer diameter · 55 W · fixed 5600K · 240 LEDs · dimmable 0 to 100 per cent · no colour accuracy index · 155 cm aluminium-alloy light stand · colour filter set supplied instead of bi-colour mixing · soft tube, ball head and hot shoe adapter for cameras · phone holder · universal mains adapter · carry bag · no UV or IR emission claimed

    The largest and dearest ring here — 18 inches, 45 cm, 55 W of daylight from 240 LEDs — with a camera shoe adapter, colour filters and a 155 cm stand, at 107 €.

    Best for: Portrait, beauty and salon work at a proper distance, where 45 cm of daylight-balanced source and a camera mount are the reasons to buy.

    ≈ $96 / 107 €

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  • Railee 6 inch ring with a desk stand and a monitor clip

    6 inch ring · three lighting modes, cold, natural and warm, with no kelvin figures · 10 brightness levels · no colour accuracy index · weighted metal base with foam padding · telescopic tube from 17.7 to 24 inches · 360 degree swivel head · phone holder for 2.36 to 3.54 inch devices · universal clip up to 15 mm for laptops and monitors · storage bag · no power source published

    The smallest and cheapest ring here at 15 €, with a weighted desk base and a clip that grips a monitor up to 15 mm — three colour modes named in words, and no kelvin figure anywhere.

    Best for: A desk or a laptop for calls and close work, where the clip and the weighted base matter more than the size of the source.

    ≈ 15 €

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  • VEVICE 11.5 inch ring, 184 beads, 3200K to 6000K

    11.5 inch ring · 184 LED beads · 3200K to 6000K · three colour modes · 10 brightness levels · no colour accuracy index · four-leg aluminium stand from 65 to 142 cm, 177 cm overall with the ring · two widened phone holders, 6 to 9 cm · USB 5 V, a 5 V 2 A supply recommended · Bluetooth remote shutter to 10 m for Android and iOS · aluminium backing plate, rated over 10,000 hours

    An 11.5 inch ring on a four-legged stand reaching 177 cm overall, with 184 beads, a published 3200K to 6000K range and a remote shutter, for 29 €.

    Best for: Filming a person at full or half length on a stand, where 11.5 inches of source and a published colour range matter and the phone is the camera.

    ≈ £27 / 29 €

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  • MICCYE 10 inch ring, 3000K to 6500K, stand to 180 cm

    10 inch ring, 20 cm inner and 26 cm outer diameter · 3000K to 6500K · three white modes, 13 monochromatic RGB modes and 13 dynamic modes · 8 brightness levels per mode · no colour accuracy index · stand from 45 to 155 cm, 180 cm overall, convertible to a selfie stick · head rotates through 180 degrees · two phone holders, one on a gooseneck · USB powered with a 2 m cable · remote release to 10 m

    A 10 inch ring that publishes both its diameters and a 3000K to 6500K range, on a stand that converts into a selfie stick, for 35 €.

    Best for: Make-up, portraits and streaming where the light must work on a table, on a stand and in the hand, and the colour has to be set by number.

    ≈ £25 / 35 €

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Softboxes

7

  • AMBITFUL Honeycomb grid, 60 by 60 cm, Godox S-type

    A GRID, not a softbox · sized for 60 by 60 cm square boxes · fitted by velcro sewn inside the box · nylon fabric · named for Godox S-type boxes · custom sizes offered on request · no depth published · no diffusion layer of its own · no packed size published

    Thirteen euros for a honeycomb grid, not a softbox: the black lattice that stops a 60 by 60 cm box spilling light across a room, fitted by the velcro already sewn inside it.

    Best for: A 60 by 60 cm square softbox already in use, where light is spilling onto walls and the beam needs narrowing.

    ≈ £16 / 13 €

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  • FGen YX-RGX02 kit, two 50 by 70 cm boxes, 135 W CFL

    A COMPLETE KIT: two 50 by 70 cm boxes, two 135 W CFL bulbs at 5500K, two stands, a 2.5 m mains lead · colour rendering index above 90 · bulbs rated about 10,000 hours · stands adjust from 68 to 200 cm · silver stone-grain inner fabric with a nylon outer · E27 fitting · bulbs monochromatic and not adjustable, stated by the maker · no mount type published · no depth published · no grid

    Two 50 by 70 cm boxes with 135 W daylight bulbs and a published colour index above 90, for 62 € — and a first bullet that tells you how to ask for the missing parts.

    Best for: A home studio that needs two large daylight sources cheaply, where colour fidelity matters more than adjustable output.

    ≈ £62 / 62 €

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  • Godox EazyFlow 60 by 90 cm, Bowens mount

    Bowens mount, named in the title · rectangular, 60 by 90 cm · named for fashion portraits, group photographs and studio work · the bullet list is a single slash character · no depth published · no diffusion layers described · no grid mentioned · no assembly method described · no packed size published

    A 60 by 90 cm Bowens-mount softbox at 60 €, whose entire specification is its title: the bullet list is one slash character.

    Best for: A Bowens-mount studio head that needs a rectangular source, for a buyer who already knows what the maker builds.

    ≈ $59 / £70 / 60 €

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  • NEEWER Two 60 by 60 cm boxes, 35 W LED at 5700K, 210 cm stands

    A COMPLETE KIT: two 60 by 60 cm boxes, two 35 W LED bulbs at 5700K, two 210 cm stands, a carry bag · 3450 lumens claimed per bulb · described as equivalent to 350 W incandescent each, 700 W in total · E27 fitting taking bulbs, fluorescent tubes or slave flashes · aluminium-alloy stands with single quick locks · no mount type published · no depth published · no dimming described · no grid

    Two 60 by 60 cm boxes, 35 W LED bulbs at 5700K, 210 cm stands and a bag for 122 € — with an E27 socket that also takes a slave flash, which nothing else here mentions.

    Best for: A home or small studio setup that may later be fired with flash rather than continuous light, where the E27 socket keeps that option open.

    ≈ 118 €

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  • Pixetool Two 70 by 50 cm boxes, 48 W LED, 3000 to 6000K

    A COMPLETE KIT: two 70 by 50 cm boxes with diffusers, two 48 W LED lamps, two stands from 68 to 200 cm, two remotes, a nylon bag · 4800 lumens claimed · 112 emitters per lamp · dimmable from 10 to 100 per cent · colour temperature 3000 to 6000K · colour index above 90 · boxes rotate through 210 degrees · E27 fitting · about 20,000 hours · no mount type published · no depth published · no grid

    The only kit on this shelf that dims and changes colour temperature — 10 to 100 per cent, 3000 to 6000K, by remote — with two boxes, two lamps and two stands for 70 €.

    Best for: A two-light setup where the output and the colour have to be matched to a room, and set without walking to each lamp.

    ≈ 70 €

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  • TARION SQ-6090F strip box, 60 by 90 cm, 905 g

    Bowens mount, standard · rectangular strip box, 60 by 90 cm · TWO diffusion layers, inner and outer · removable black honeycomb grid INCLUDED · side-buckle frame claimed to open and close in one second · 905 g · packed 80 by 21.5 by 5 cm · bag, grid and manual in the box · no depth published

    The only box on this shelf that publishes its weight, its packed size, two diffusion layers and an included grid — 905 g, 80 by 21.5 by 5 cm folded, for 70 €.

    Best for: A Bowens head used for portraits and video where the light has to be shaped rather than merely softened, and where the box is folded away after every session.

    ≈ £65 / 68 €

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  • RaLeno PS30 kit, two 50 by 50 cm boxes, 50 W LED each

    A COMPLETE KIT, not a modifier: two 50 by 50 cm boxes, two 50 W LED lamps, two stands, two white diffusers, a bag · E27-style lamp housings · boxes rotate through 210 degrees · stands fold to 68 cm and extend to 200 cm · silver stone-grain inner coating, silk front, 0.2 cm Oxford outer shell · LEDs rated about 30,000 hours · not dimmable · no mount type published · no depth published · no grid

    Two 50 by 50 cm boxes with 50 W LED lamps, two stands and a bag for 66 € — a complete two-light kit, and the page says plainly that it does not dim.

    Best for: A first two-light setup for product or portrait work at home, where a fixed daylight output is enough and nothing will be swapped later.

    ≈ 66 €

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Light tents

6

  • DUCLUS 40 by 40 cm, 160 LEDs, index 97, eight backgrounds

    40 by 40 cm · 160 high-brightness LED beads · 5500K daylight, fixed · colour accuracy 97 claimed · EIGHT backgrounds: six PVC in white, black, grey, light orange, blue and green PLUS two matte anti-reflective paper sheets in black and white · a diffuser cloth for lighting from above · front small window plus a top hole · highly reflective interior fabric, closed design to shut out ambient light · assembly claimed under one minute · USB power · no folded size published

    Eight backgrounds — six PVC and two matte papers — with 160 LEDs at an index of 97 in a 40 cm box, for 60 €.

    Best for: Glossy subjects — watches, cosmetics, models — where a matte background matters more than another twenty lumens.

    ≈ 60 €

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  • EMART 40 cm cube, 144 LEDs, 2800 to 5800K

    40 by 40 by 40 cm · 144 LED beads built in · colour temperature ADJUSTABLE, 2800 to 5800K — the only tent here that moves · colour accuracy above 95 · ten-step dimming · six waterproof PVC backgrounds in white, black, green, red, orange and blue · front horizontal window plus a vertical one · a light diffuser and a reflection board included · USB power lead · sturdy carry handle · no folded size published

    A 40 cm cube whose colour temperature runs from 2800 to 5800K in ten dimming steps — the only tent on this shelf that changes the colour of its own light, at 40 €.

    Best for: Photographing in a room lit by something other than daylight, where the tent has to match the colour of the light around it.

    ≈ 40 €

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  • PULUZ 25 by 25 cm, 104 LEDs, CRI above 95

    25 by 25 cm internally · 104 LED beads built in · colour temperature NOT published — the third bullet writes "a light ring with a colour temperature of CRI95", which confuses two different things · colour accuracy above 95 claimed · 6 double-sided colour backgrounds · front horizontal window plus a vertical one · claimed to set up in three seconds · no folded size published · no dimming described · no power source named

    Twenty-five centimetres square with 104 LEDs and six double-sided backgrounds for 34 € — and a bullet that gives a colour rendering index where a colour temperature should be.

    Best for: Jewellery, watches and small objects photographed one after another, where the tent lives on a desk and is put away between sessions.

    ≈ $24 / £25 / 34 €

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  • RaLeno 40 by 30 by 30 cm, 24 W, dimmable 0 to 100 per cent

    40 by 30 by 30 cm · 24 W of large-area LEDs, 2100 lumens claimed · 5500K, described as pure white · colour accuracy above 97 · six reinforced PVC backgrounds in black, white, grey, orange, green and blue · front, top and side panels removable in seconds, with DOUBLE front openings and a lid aperture · flicker-free dimming from 0 to 100 per cent on stable direct current · velcro assembly claimed under 10 seconds · carry bag supplied · no folded size published

    Forty by thirty by thirty centimetres, 2100 lumens at 5500K, an accuracy index above 97 and flicker-free dimming from zero — the only tent on this shelf that publishes a lumen figure.

    Best for: Small product work where the light has to be brought down for a reflective subject, and where the camera needs to come in from the front, the side and above.

    ≈ $28 / 36 €

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  • PYXEL 90 by 90 cm diffusion tent, NO lighting

    90 by 90 cm — 35 inches · NO LIGHTING: this tent contains no LEDs and is lit from outside · no colour temperature, because there is no light source · no colour accuracy index, for the same reason · translucent light-diffusing white nylon walls · four backgrounds: red, dark blue, black, white · a removable front panel with a SLOT FOR THE CAMERA LENS, plus a large removable front opening · carry case with shoulder and hand straps · no folded size published

    Ninety centimetres square of translucent nylon with a lens slot in its front panel and four backgrounds — and no lighting at all, because it is meant to be lit from outside.

    Best for: A photographer who already owns lights and needs a large diffusing box around a big object, rather than a lit box for small ones.

    ≈ £39 / 62 €

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  • Yorbay 80 cm cube, 270 LEDs on two rotatable strips

    80 by 80 by 80 cm · 270 LED beads on TWO strips, buckled to the inner frame and ROTATABLE · 5500K, fixed · colour accuracy 95 or better · stepless dimming from 0 to 100 per cent on a supplied dimmer · four PVC backgrounds in black, white, warm white and grey, plus a white diffusion cloth · 600D Oxford outer shell shielding the interior from sunlight · silver aluminium foil interior · front, top, side and diagonal shooting angles · carry bag supplied · no folded size published

    An 80 cm cube with 270 LEDs on two strips that turn where they are needed, stepless dimming and a 600D Oxford shell, for 100 €.

    Best for: Objects a 40 cm box cannot hold — shoes, bags, boxed products — photographed repeatedly, where the light has to be aimed rather than simply switched on.

    ≈ 100 €

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Photo backdrops

7

  • EMART 2.6 by 3 m system, three cloths, 8 kg load

    A COMPLETE SYSTEM, not a cloth: a 2.6 by 3 m aluminium-alloy support PLUS three 1.8 by 2.8 m backdrops in white, green and black · the cloth material is NOT NAMED — only "very thick and firm" · LOAD CAPACITY 8 kg, the only load figure on this shelf · height and width both adjustable · four clamps and a nylon carry bag · black finish said not to rust or rub off · the cloths fold, wash and iron · no ironing temperature published · no weight per square metre published

    A 2.6 by 3 m aluminium stand rated at 8 kg with three 1.8 by 2.8 m cloths, four clamps and a bag, for 80 € — the only load figure published on this shelf.

    Best for: A first complete backdrop setup — three colours, a stand and the clamps to hold them — where the stand has to be rated for what is hung on it.

    ≈ $85 / £70 / 80 €

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  • FGen Backdrop system plus four lamps, two softboxes, two umbrellas

    100 PER CENT COTTON, compared on the page with muslin, paper and plastic and said to crease less and not be transparent · THREE cloths of 1.8 by 2.8 m in green, black and white · the support system spans 2.6 by 3 m and the FIRST BULLET EXISTS TO SAY SO: 2.6 by 3 m is the stand, 1.8 by 2.8 m is the cloth · THE ONLY BACKDROP PAGE HERE THAT SELLS LIGHT: two 50 by 70 cm softboxes, two 84 cm umbrellas, four 200 cm stands adjustable 64 to 200 cm, two 135 W CFL bulbs, two 85 W 5500K LED bulbs, two E27 holders, a 5-in-1 reflector · two sandbags and four spring clamps · a 2.5 m mains lead · the bulbs are monochromatic and cannot be adjusted, stated by the maker in its own first bullet · washable and steam-ironable, with no temperature given · no load capacity published

    A hundred and sixty-six euros for three cotton cloths, a 2.6 by 3 m stand, four lamps, two softboxes, two umbrellas, a reflector and two sandbags — the only backdrop page here that also lights the subject.

    Best for: A first complete studio — background, stands, lights and modifiers at once — where nothing is already owned and the whole thing has to arrive in one box.

    ≈ £130 / 166 €

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  • Exzycke Card tabletop set, 40.6 by 29 cm

    RIGID CARD, not cloth: crease-free, non-reflective, waterproof and dustproof, 3D HD printing · 40.6 by 29.2 cm in the title, 40.6 by 29.5 cm in the second bullet — the page contradicts itself by 3 mm · the title claims 12 pieces and 24 patterns; the contents list gives ONE double-sided reflective black and white board with two brakes and two clips PLUS SEVEN double-sided background papers, which is eight pieces and sixteen surfaces · no support needed: it lies on a table · no mounting method beyond the two clips and two brakes · opacity irrelevant on card · no cleaning instruction — a wipe is implied by "waterproof"

    A tabletop set of rigid double-sided card at 36 € — crease-free by construction — whose title promises twelve pieces and twenty-four patterns where its own contents list gives eight and sixteen.

    Best for: Flat-lay and tabletop work — food, jewellery, cosmetics — where the background has to be flat immediately and wiped clean afterwards.

    ≈ £42 / 36 €

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  • Htper 6 by 3 m white, four panels of 1.5 m

    100 per cent polyester with a softener, described as very soft and crease-free · FOUR SEPARATE PANELS of 1.5 m wide by 3 m high, 6 by 3 m in total — the only multi-panel backdrop on this shelf · crossbar hole design, so it drapes or hangs without clamps · SUPPORT NOT INCLUDED, stated in the third bullet · machine washable many times without fading, ironable, better with a steam iron · no ironing temperature published · no weight per square metre published · no opacity claim

    Six metres of white polyester in four separate 1.5 m panels for 60 € — a curtain wall rather than a single sheet, and the widest surface on this shelf.

    Best for: A wide backdrop for a wedding, a party or a group, where six metres of white has to cover a wall and the panels can overlap.

    ≈ 57 €

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  • NEEWER 1.8 by 2.8 m black, 100 per cent polyester

    100 per cent pure polyester, described as especially thick with good elasticity and resistant to light · 1.8 by 2.8 m — 5.9 by 9.3 ft, sold as 6 by 9 ft · creases admitted as normal after shipping, with TWO remedies: hang for 12 to 24 hours, or steam-iron the BACK ONLY below 40 °C — a dry iron is forbidden · SUPPORT NOT INCLUDED: no stand, frame or poles · pole pocket on EACH top edge, so it drapes or hangs either way up · edges finished against tearing · foldable and easy to clean · no weight per square metre published

    One metre eighty by two metre eighty of thick black polyester for 26 €, with a pole pocket on each top edge and the only instruction on this shelf to iron the back only, below 40 °C.

    Best for: A seated portrait or a head-and-shoulders setup on an existing frame, where a black cloth has to stay black under repeated flash.

    ≈ $29 / £23 / 26 €

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  • Vevelux 3 by 3 m black, 120 g per square metre, eight clamps

    100 per cent polyester, and the ONLY page on this shelf to publish a weight: 120 g per square metre, density 75D by 200D · 3 by 3 m · non-reflective, said not to shrink, fade or pill, and to crease less than others · creases admitted after long transport, with ironing up to 150 °C permitted · SUPPORT NOT INCLUDED, stated in the second bullet · a 7 cm pole pocket for a crossbar, said to suit most backdrop stands · EIGHT clamps supplied: four spring clips and four backdrop clamps · machine washable, hand washing advised for stains · edges finished against tearing

    Nine square metres of black polyester at 120 g per square metre — the only fabric weight published on this shelf — with eight clamps, for 27 €.

    Best for: A full-length black background on an existing crossbar, where the cloth has to hang flat and the clamps have to come with it.

    ≈ 27 €

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  • Wusboo 3 by 2 m green screen, polyester-cotton, four clips

    Polyester-cotton blend fibre, said to reduce creases and recover quickly · 3 by 2 m — 9.8 by 6.6 ft, room for three to four people · creases admitted: the listing says they appear after folding and are removed with an iron, and recommends ironing before use · SUPPORT NOT INCLUDED, stated twice · two mounting methods: a pole pocket along the top edge, said to fit all backdrop frames, or the four supplied clips alone · thicker fabric credited with preventing reflections and light passing through · machine washable, colour-fast, easy to iron · edges reinforced against tearing · no weight per square metre published

    Three metres by two of polyester-cotton green screen for 15 €, with four clips, a pole pocket, and a listing that tells you it will arrive creased.

    Best for: Keying out a background for video or streaming with three or four people in frame, where a frame is already owned or the clips will do.

    ≈ £20 / 15 €

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Camera tripods

5

  • K&F CONCEPT KF09.126, 190 cm, 4 kg head, 1.35 kg

    48 to 190 cm · folded 46 cm · pentagonal aluminium tubes · 3-way head rated at 4 kg · 360 degrees of pan, tilt from minus 70 to plus 100 degrees · raisable centre column with a hook beneath · horseshoe rubber feet · 1.35 kg · two quick-release plates, a phone and tablet holder and a Bluetooth remote supplied

    A 4 kg head rating, pentagonal tubes and two quick-release plates for 35 € — the only tripod here whose load figure is attached to the part that actually holds the camera.

    Best for: A mirrorless body or a light reflex at full height, where the hook, the feet and the second plate are worth more than another 10 cm.

    ≈ $29 / £35 / 35 €

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  • Amazon Basics WT3130T, 127 cm, 560 g, 2 kg ceiling

    40.9 to 127 cm · folded 42.8 cm · 3 sections · lever locks · equipment ceiling of 2 kg, stated as a limit rather than a load · aluminium, 560 g · 3-way head with a bubble level and a quick-release plate · zipped bag

    The cheapest support here at 13 €, weighing 560 g, with a 3-way head and a bag — and a page that names what must not go on it: nothing over 2 kg, no heavy reflex, no long lens.

    Best for: A compact camera, a phone or a small mirrorless body on a budget, where 560 g in the bag matters more than reaching eye level.

    ≈ $20 / £15 / 12 €

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  • Nineigh CT190, 190 cm, detachable column, 1 kg

    47 to 190 cm · folded 47 cm · four quick-release catches · detachable centre column that rotates through 360 degrees and inverts for macro · 3-way panoramic head, 360 degrees of pan and 270 of tilt · aluminium and ABS, 1 kg · universal 1/4 inch screw · phone holder for 56 to 95 mm devices · remote shutter to 10 m · no declared load published

    A 190 cm reach for 25 € from a tripod weighing 1 kg, with a column that detaches for overhead work and inverts for macro — and no load figure anywhere on the page.

    Best for: A phone or a light camera at full standing height, and overhead or macro work using the column detached.

    ≈ £24 / 25 €

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  • Rollei Compact Traveler No.2, 180 cm, 5 kg, 1.46 kg

    44 to 180 cm · folded 44 cm · folding leg locks · ball head with 360 degrees of rotation, invertible through 180 degrees · declared load 5 kg · aluminium, 1.46 kg · converts to a monopod · mountable spikes · 1/4-20 and 3/8 threads, plus a 1/4 inch socket in each leg · phone holder supplied

    A ball head rather than a 3-way, 5 kg declared, spikes for soft ground and a 1/4 inch socket in every leg — the most versatile support here at 56 €, and the only one that becomes a monopod.

    Best for: Travel and outdoor work where one support has to be a tripod, a monopod and a macro rig, and the ground is not always flat.

    ≈ 56 €

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  • Victiv NT70, 160 cm then 185 cm by crank, 6.35 kg

    52 to 160 cm, rising to 185 cm on the crank · folded 45 cm · 5 leg sections · detachable 3D head · declared load 6.35 kg · aluminium, 1.4 kg · foam padding on three legs · replaceable non-slip feet

    The strongest load figure here at 6.35 kg, and the only tripod on the shelf that publishes two heights — 160 cm on its legs, 185 cm once the crank is wound.

    Best for: A reflex with a substantial lens at 160 cm, where the load figure and the two published heights matter more than the last 25 cm of crank.

    ≈ £31 / 38 €

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Monopods

8

  • Amazon Basics WT1003, 54 to 170 cm, 3 kg, four sections

    54 to 170 cm · four leg sections · declared load 6.6 lbs, about 3 kg · 1/4 inch universal thread · rubber foot with retractable spikes · padded grip and adjustable wrist strap · carry bag · aluminium · no folded length published · no head included

    Eighteen euros, level with the PATONA on this shelf, with a rubber foot that hides retractable spikes and a wrist strap — and no folded length anywhere on the page.

    Best for: A first monopod for a long lens at a match or in a hide, where the spikes and the strap matter more than a published packed length.

    ≈ $18 / £12 / 18 €

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  • K&F CONCEPT MS16, 160 cm, five sections, folded 43 cm

    160 cm maximum · folded 43 cm · five sections · flip-lock quick catches · 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch dual interface · two-in-one metal and rubber foot · non-slip cotton grip with a hand strap · aluminium alloy · no declared load published · no head included

    Five sections folding to 43 cm for 22 €, with a foot that unscrews to reveal a metal spike and both thread sizes — and no load figure on the page.

    Best for: A pole that has to disappear into a small bag, for a camera used at or below 160 cm on mixed ground.

    ≈ 22 €

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  • Hama Star 78 Mono 176-3D, 176 cm, 665 g, 3-way head

    61 to 176 cm · aluminium · rubber foot · quick clamps · 3-way head for landscape, horizontal and portrait framing · non-slip rubber grip · bubble level · 665 g · 1/4 inch thread, maximum profile 26.7 mm · quick-release plate, bag with a carry strap · no section count published · no declared load published

    The only monopod here that arrives with a 3-way head and a bubble level, at 28 € and 665 g — and the only one whose tube diameter is published.

    Best for: Someone who wants one purchase that works out of the box, where a head, a plate, a level and a bag matter more than a spike.

    ≈ £25 / 25 €

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  • koolehaoda K-266, 46 to 177 cm, six sections, 28 mm tube

    46 to 177 cm · six sections · maximum tube diameter 28 mm · declared load 6 kg · rubber feet with a metal spike · base allowing 360 degree panning and 20 degrees of tilt · universal mounting plate with a switchable 1/4 to 3/8 inch screw · usable as a desktop mini tripod and as a walking pole · aluminium alloy · no folded length published

    Six sections and a published 28 mm tube diameter for 63 €, with a switchable thread, a spike, and a base that doubles as a desk tripod.

    Best for: A photographer who wants reach and rigidity from the same pole, and who will use the base as a table tripod between shots.

    ≈ $59 / £60 / 63 €

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  • Manbily A-222, 48 to 170 cm, 7 kg, folding base

    48 to 170 cm · five sections · quarter-turn twist locks · declared load 15.5 lbs, 7 kg · two interchangeable feet, a metal spike and a rubber pad · folding three-foot base with 20 degrees of tilt for 360 degree panning · anodised CNC aluminium · removable hand strap · no folded length published · no thread size published

    Seven kilograms declared, two interchangeable feet and a folding three-foot base for 37 € — and a maker who writes, in his own bullet, that the base is not a tripod.

    Best for: A long lens on mixed ground, where the spike, the rubber foot and the folding base cover every surface and the 7 kg rating is the reason to buy.

    ≈ £42 / 37 €

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  • SIRUI AM-404FL, 190 cm, 12 kg, 3-in-1 base

    190 cm maximum · four sections · declared load 12 kg · three-in-one base usable as a monopod with adjustable feet, a free-standing extension pole or a low tripod · extended feet of 15 cm with a reinforced base structure · patented quick-release thread in 1/4 and 3/8 inch · textured collar giving 360 degree panning without a head · aluminium · no folded length published

    Twelve kilograms declared and 190 cm of reach for 129 €, with a base that turns the pole into a low tripod and a collar that pans through 360 degrees without any head at all.

    Best for: A long telephoto at a match or in a hide, where 12 kg, 190 cm and panning without a head are worth the price and the weight.

    ≈ $109 / £93 / 110 €

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  • Manfrotto MPMXPROA4, four sections, D-profile tubes

    Four sections · D-profile tubes claimed for rigidity and stability · redesigned cold-resistant grip · named for professional work with telephoto lenses · no maximum height published · no folded length published · no lock type named · no declared load published · no foot described · no material named · no thread size published

    Eighty euros for a page with five bullets, one number and three adjectives: four sections, D-profile tubes, and no height, load, foot or thread anywhere.

    Best for: Someone who already knows this maker’s range and is buying the build rather than the specification.

    ≈ $121 / £75 / 80 €

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  • PATONA Premium teleskop monopod, 44 to 155 cm

    44 to 155 cm · telescopic · 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch threads · non-slip grip with an adjustable hand strap · aluminium · no section count published · no folded length published · no declared load published · no foot design published · no head included

    A 44 to 155 cm aluminium pole at 18 €, with both thread sizes and a hand strap — and a page whose six bullets publish two figures and four claims about the brand.

    Best for: Steadying a camera at a barrier or in a crowd where 155 cm is enough, for someone who already owns the head.

    ≈ $20 / 18 €

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Camera sliders

4

  • Accsoon TOPRIG-S40, 4 kg horizontal and 2.5 kg vertical

    A motorised rail slider · stepless speed from 0.1 to 5 cm per second · declared load 4 kg horizontally and 2.5 kg vertically — the only page here to publish both · brushless motor described as near-silent · full button control without an app · custom motion paths set by Dot AB, manually or through the app · no rail length published in the bullets · no travel published · no weight published · no mounting points published

    The only support here that publishes a horizontal AND a vertical load — 4 kg and 2.5 kg — with stepless speed from 0.1 to 5 cm per second, at 319 €.

    Best for: Interview and product work where the move has to be repeatable, silent and usable on an incline with a camera worth protecting.

    ≈ £259 / 319 €

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  • Andoer L4 PRO motorised dolly, three speeds, 3 kg

    A motorised wheeled dolly rather than a rail · three speeds, 2.4, 2.6 and 2.8 cm per second · reversible direction · wheel angle adjustable through 180 degrees for straight or circular paths · declared load 3 kg · wireless remote effective to 6 m · 1/4 to 3/8 inch convertible screw with a ball head supplied · 1800 mAh cell giving up to 6 hours · plastic body · no weight published

    Three published speeds in centimetres per second, a 3 kg load and six hours of battery for 108 € — a motorised dolly whose every figure is stated except its own weight.

    Best for: Time-lapse and slow product moves on a smooth floor or table, where a hands-off motorised drift matters more than a guided rail.

    ≈ £84 / 106 €

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  • NEEWER SD001 dolly, 200 g, wheels set from -45 to +45 degrees

    A wheeled dolly rather than a rail · straight-line or circular movement with wheels set between minus 45 and plus 45 degrees · rubber-padded wheels for quiet running · ball head with 360 degrees of pan and 90 of tilt on a 1/4 inch screw · phone holder and a cold shoe · 100 by 84 by 20 mm · 200 g · aluminium · not for telephoto lenses · no declared load published

    A 200 g pocket dolly at 37 €, running on rubber wheels that turn through 90 degrees to trace a circle — with a ball head in the box and a warning against telephoto lenses.

    Best for: Table-top product and food video where a small camera or a phone has to drift or circle, and the surface is already smooth.

    ≈ $42 / £35 / 29 €

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  • Wakects Dual-axis 4-way macro focusing rail

    A focusing rail rather than a travelling slider · movement in four directions, left, right, forward and back · rack-and-pinion drive with a precision scale · 1/4 inch mounting screw · aluminium alloy · no rail length published · no travel published · no declared load published · no motorisation · no weight published

    A 28 € two-axis macro focusing rail, not a travelling slider: rack and pinion, a precision scale, four directions of movement — and not one dimension published.

    Best for: Macro work on a tripod, where focus is set by moving the camera rather than the lens and the position has to be repeatable.

    ≈ 28 €

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Field monitors

7

  • Atomos Shinobi II, 5.2 inches, 1500 nits, HDR

    5.2 inches, IPS · 1920 by 1080 Full HD, HDR · 1500 nits · 4K HDMI input · waveform, histogram, RGB parade, vectorscope, false colour, zebra, focus peaking, zoom and frame guides · LUT SUPPORT stated · CAMERA CONTROL over USB-C for Canon, Sony, Panasonic and Z CAM, including record start and stop and selected parameters · NP-F L-series battery or USB-C Power Delivery · slim body named for gimbals and rigs · no loop-out mentioned · no weight or dimensions published

    Fifteen hundred nits of HDR on 5.2 inches, with camera control for four named systems and power over USB-C Power Delivery — the dearest monitor on this shelf at 395 €.

    Best for: A gimbal or travel rig where HDR monitoring and a power bank matter more than feeding a second screen.

    ≈ $375 / £329 / 395 €

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  • Desview R5II, 5.5 inches, 800 nits, 3D LUT by USB stick

    5.5 inches, touchscreen · 1920 by 1080, 401 PPI, 1000:1, 16:9, 178° viewing, Rec.709 · 800 nits · 4K HDMI IN AND OUT at 30 Hz, 3.5 mm headphone socket · full-screen waveform, histogram, vectorscope, false colour, peaking focus assist and zoom · 3D LUT files imported over USB with a SUPPLIED U-DISK · NP-F550/750/970 or E6 batteries, 7-24 V DC in, 8 V DC OUT to power the camera through a dummy battery · sun hood included · one-year warranty stated

    A 5.5-inch 800-nit touchscreen at 401 PPI that imports lookup tables from a supplied USB stick and can feed 8 volts back into the camera.

    Best for: Log footage that has to be judged through a lookup table on a small, light monitor, on a rig where one battery should run both camera and screen.

    ≈ £139 / 149 €

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  • FEELWORLD F5 Pro V4, 5.2 inches, 500 nits, F970 power kit

    5.2 inches — 15.2 cm — touchscreen with pinch-to-zoom · 1920 by 1080 native · 500 nits · 4K HDMI IN AND LOOP-OUT · histogram, false colour, focus assist, embedded audio, pixel-to-pixel, frame guides and a nine-field grid · 3D LUT support with REC-709 calibration · Type-C input, an F970 battery plate, an external POWER KIT for wireless transmitters and LED lights, and an 8.4 V DC output · supplied with micro-HDMI cable, sun hood, tilt arm and removal key · battery and 12 V 1.5 A adapter NOT included

    A 5.2-inch monitor whose back carries a Sony F970 power kit for a wireless transmitter or an LED light — one battery for the whole accessory stack, for 170 €.

    Best for: A rig that already carries a wireless transmitter or a small LED, where one Sony battery should power the lot.

    ≈ $140 / £140 / 159 €

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  • LILLIPUT A7S, 7 inches, 1920 by 1200, 3G-SDI

    7 inches · 1920 by 1200 native — the only monitor here above 1080 — on an 8-BIT panel, 1000:1, 170° wide viewing angle, full lamination · 500 cd/m² · 4K HDMI in and LOOP-OUT plus 3G-SDI, named in the title · full waveform, oscillogram in RGB/YUV/Y, vectorscope, luminance histogram, peaking focus in ten steps and five colours, audio bars, zebra, single colour, false colour, nine fields, de-squeeze, magnification, auto flip, point-to-point, centre marker, safety marker and crop marker · firmware updates from a SUPPLIED U-DISK · F1 and F2 assignable buttons with a dial · silicone rubber case and integrated sun hood · one-year warranty · batteries NOT included

    The only 1920 by 1200 panel on this shelf, with 3G-SDI alongside 4K HDMI and the longest list of monitoring tools here — in a silicone rubber case, for 181 €.

    Best for: A set where an SDI cable runs from the camera to the monitor, and where the extra 120 lines and a published bit depth matter more than brightness.

    ≈ 181 €

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  • NEEWER F700, 7 inches, 2000 nits, 175 by 107 by 25 mm, 445 g

    7 inches, IPS touchscreen, buttons AND touch (touch disableable) · 1920 by 1080, 1000:1, 16:9, 160° · 2000 NITS, with manual and AUTOMATIC backlight adjustment from 1 to 100 · 4K HDMI loop in and out, with the full format list published, plus a 3.5 mm headphone socket · false colour, zebras, histogram, oscillogram, full waveform, vectorscope, HDR, single colour, peak focus, audio bar, with F1, F2 and F3 shortcut keys · FIFTEEN preinstalled 3D LUTs and up to SIXTY custom ones by SD card · NP-F550/750/970, DC input, Type-C charging, and an 8 V 1.5 A DC OUTPUT as a dummy battery; two NP-F750 cells give 2.4 h each, 4.8 h together · quarter-inch threads on the base AND the side, a cold shoe, 180° adjustment, BUILT-IN FANS · 175 by 107 by 25 mm · 445 g bare, 857 g with two batteries

    Two thousand nits with automatic backlight, fifteen lookup tables preinstalled, built-in cooling fans — and the only monitor here that publishes its dimensions and two weights.

    Best for: Long days in changing light on a camera or a rig that can carry 857 g, where log footage has to look right without any setup.

    ≈ $270 / £255 / 297 €

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  • Portkeys HD7H, 7 inches, 1000 nits, 278 g

    7 inches · 1000:1 contrast, resolution not stated as pixels · 1000 nits, on a matte anti-reflective surface · 4K HDMI in at 30p, a NATIVE AV/RCA input, 3.5 mm headphone out and a built-in speaker · focus peaking, false colour, luma histogram, check field and anamorphic de-squeeze to 4.0× · lookup tables NOT mentioned · a single Sony NP-F battery (F970/F750/F550) or 7-24 V DC, 10 W draw · THREE quarter-inch threads and a swivel bracket · 278 g · sun hood included · battery not included

    Seventy-eight euros buys a 1000-nit matte 7-inch monitor with focus peaking, false colour and — alone on this shelf — a native AV input for a Hi8 or MiniDV camcorder.

    Best for: A handheld or gimbal rig where the screen has to survive direct sun, and for anyone still feeding a tape camcorder into a modern setup.

    ≈ $79 / £75 / 88 €

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  • VILTROX DC-550 Pro II, 5.5 inches, 1400 nits, camera control

    5.5 inches, touchscreen · 1920 by 1080, 1000:1, Rec.709 · 1400 nits · 4K HDMI in with loop-through, low latency · parade waveform, vectorscope, luminance histogram, focus assist, audio meter, image flip and false colour · CUSTOM 3D LUTs imported by SD CARD, with a note that export through the colour ring is not supported · CAMERA CONTROL over USB-C for shooting modes, plus an ONION-SKIN function for stop-motion · supplied WITH a VILTROX NP-F550 battery, a carrying case, a hot-shoe adapter, a detachable hood and three cables · diagonal markers and a centre point

    Fourteen hundred nits, camera control over USB-C and an onion-skin mode for stop-motion — and the only monitor here that arrives with a battery in the box.

    Best for: Stop-motion and animation work, and any shoot where the camera should be driven from the monitor rather than from its own buttons.

    ≈ $238 / 278 €

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Teleprompters

4

  • Desview T5, devices to 11 inches, rings 49 to 82 mm

    HD-COATED anti-glare glass, described as anti-reflective, with NO split ratio published · smartphones, tablets to 11 INCHES and DSLR cameras · ADAPTER RINGS SUPPLIED for lens threads from 49 to 82 mm · hood not described · tool-free adjustable mount, switching between landscape and portrait · BLUETOOTH REMOTE for play, pause, speed, page turn and power · free Desview app for iOS and Android · one-year warranty with lifetime technical support

    Adapter rings for every lens thread from 49 to 82 mm, an 11-inch tablet capacity and a Bluetooth remote — the prompter that fits whatever is already in the bag.

    Best for: A bag with several lenses and a full-size tablet, shooting both landscape and vertical.

    ≈ $99 / £99 / 109 €

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  • NEEWER Basics X12B, 12 inches, 75 per cent transmission

    A BEAM SPLITTER with a special coating and a PUBLISHED 75 PER CENT LIGHT TRANSMISSION — the only ratio figure on this shelf · 12 inches, for tablets and cameras, text readable to 10 ft / 3 m · an ADJUSTABLE APERTURE that reduces glare · a flip-up platform keeping the lens centred · aluminium alloy, folds flat into a rigid carry case · the RT113 remote plus the NEEWER Teleprompter app for iOS 11 and Android 6 or later, controlling play, pause, scroll speed, page turns and font size · AAA battery NOT included · THE PAGE STATES TWICE THAT IT IS NOT SUITABLE FOR SHOOTING WITH A SMARTPHONE, and not for use as a monitor or for self-view

    The only prompter on this shelf that publishes its mirror — 75 per cent transmission on a 12-inch beam splitter — and the only one that twice states what it cannot do.

    Best for: A tablet and a camera on a tripod, for courses and tutorials, where the mirror’s light loss has to be known in advance.

    ≈ $100 / £110 / 109 €

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  • Elgato Prompter, with its own built-in screen

    A BUILT-IN DISPLAY: no tablet or smartphone required, alone on this shelf · glass type not named and NO split ratio published · device sizes not applicable — the screen is part of the unit · lens opening described only as supporting more cameras than any other, "even the widest lenses" · hood not described · mounting arrangement not described · setup by plugging the camera in, driven from a PC or Mac desktop with no third-party mobile app · the Camera Hub app customises text and chat appearance, works with Stream Deck · DisplayLink software required on Mac, DisplayLink Presenter on Android, both free downloads

    Two hundred and forty-eight euros for the only prompter here with its own screen — driven from a desktop, showing a script or a live Twitch chat while you look down the lens.

    Best for: A desk-based streamer or presenter on a PC or Mac who wants eye contact on calls and a chat window under the lens.

    ≈ $250 / £247 / 248 €

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  • Leeventi Version 5.0, 28 by 19 cm glass, 600 g

    A REFLECTION SCREEN of 28 by 19 cm, called a TV-studio size · no split ratio published · takes smartphones, tablets, still cameras and video cameras · lens opening not dimensioned · hood not described · fits all tripods, per the third bullet · aluminium, 600 g · text readable at 2 to 3 m · a FOOT PEDAL remote plus the Leeventi "voice-teleprompter" software with a ONE-YEAR LICENCE

    Thirty-five euros for a 28 by 19 cm aluminium prompter at 600 g, with a foot pedal and a one-year software licence — and no split ratio anywhere on the page.

    Best for: A tripod-mounted phone or camera where a foot pedal matters more than a published mirror specification.

    ≈ 35 €

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Photo printers

4

  • Canon SELPHY CP1500, postcard to 22 by 17.3 mm, card slot

    DYE-SUBLIMATION · ribbon-and-paper cassette, a POSTCARD-FORMAT cassette supplied · dye ribbon · MAXIMUM PAPER SIZE PUBLISHED: postcard 100 by 148 mm down to mini-stickers of 22 by 17.3 mm — the widest published range on this shelf · borderless support not stated · FOUR MEDIA PATHS: wireless from a phone, USB-C from a computer, camera or USB stick, and an SD, SDHC or SDXC CARD SLOT · an 8.9 cm LCD screen on the body · no colour profile availability mentioned · a hundred-year permanence claim in the title · supplied with a postcard cassette, a CA-CP300 B compact mains adapter and a power cable

    Four ways in — phone, computer, USB stick and memory card — with a screen on the body and sizes from postcard to mini-sticker, for 119 €.

    Best for: Printing at home from a camera card at postcard size, without a phone in the chain.

    ≈ 119 €

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  • KODAK Mini 2 Retro, 4PASS sublimation, 55 seconds

    DYE-SUBLIMATION, the original 4PASS process: three colour layers plus a transparent protective LAMINATION · ribbon-and-paper consumable, 38 sheets supplied · dye ribbon rather than ink · print size 5 by 7.6 cm, published in the title · borderless support not stated · one media path, Bluetooth from the KODAK Photo Printer app · iOS and Android · no colour profile availability mentioned · print time PUBLISHED at about 55 SECONDS · prints claimed resistant to fingerprints, water and fading

    Four-pass sublimation sealing every print under a laminate in about 55 seconds — the fastest published time on this shelf, at 80 € with 38 sheets.

    Best for: Small prints handled, posted and stuck into things — where the laminate matters more than the size.

    ≈ $80 / £80 / 80 €

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  • Liene Pearl N200 Pro, 300 dpi, 67 seconds, 340 g

    DYE-SUBLIMATION, 4PASS, with automatic sealing · FIVE RIBBONS and 50 self-adhesive sheets supplied · dye ribbon · print size 5 by 7.6 cm · borderless support not stated · one media path, Bluetooth 5.2 from the Liene app, with MULTIPLE DEVICES PAIRED AT ONCE · iOS and Android · no colour profile availability mentioned · RESOLUTION PUBLISHED AT 300 DPI — the only resolution figure on this shelf · print time 67 seconds · 340 g with an 880 mAh BATTERY giving up to 30 prints

    Three hundred dpi published, a battery good for thirty prints and several phones paired at once — the only printer here that says how sharp it is.

    Best for: A festival, a hike or a party where prints are made away from a socket and more than one phone is sending them.

    ≈ $120 / £104 / 100 €

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  • Nelko PP01, inkjet, 272 g, 100 sheets

    COLOUR INKJET — the only inkjet on this shelf, the three others are dye-sublimation · ONE ink cartridge, fitted in step three of the setup · ink type not further specified · maximum paper size NOT published; the paper is self-adhesive and described as dirt-proof, waterproof and tear-resistant · borderless support not stated · one media path, from the app over Bluetooth · Bluetooth to iOS and Android through the Nelko app · no colour profile availability mentioned · 272 g · 100 sheets supplied

    The only inkjet on this shelf — 272 g, one cartridge, a hundred sheets of self-adhesive paper, driven from a phone app for 80 €.

    Best for: Stickers for a journal, a planner or a scrapbook, printed from a phone on the spot.

    ≈ 76 €

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Film scanners

6

  • DIGITNOW M125, 1800 dpi, 5/10 MP, standalone

    OPTICAL RESOLUTION 1800 dpi, published · 35 mm and 135 negatives and slides ONLY · an adjustable quick slide feeder supplied, no other holder described · bit depth NOT published · NO dust removal of any kind · JPEG to an SD card up to 8 GB SDHC, card not included, or to a computer over USB 2.0 · scan speed NOT published · no computer required · a video output switchable NTSC or PAL, for a television · Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and Mac OS listed

    Fifty-two euros for a standalone 1800 dpi scanner that writes JPEGs to its own SD card — and can show them on a television through an NTSC or PAL output.

    Best for: A box of mounted 35 mm slides to be got through quickly and viewed on a television, where a print larger than A4 is not the goal.

    ≈ 52 €

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  • HP FilmScan, 22 MP, 135, 110 and 126, touchscreen

    RESOLUTION AS A SENSOR: 22 MP JPEG output, no dpi figure published · 135 — 35 mm — plus 110 AND 126 film, colour and black-and-white negatives and positive slides, all INCLUDED rather than optional · SLIDE FRAMES AND FILM ADAPTERS SUPPLIED, plus a CLEANING BRUSH · bit depth NOT published · dust removal by the SUPPLIED BRUSH — mechanical, not infrared · JPEG · scan speed NOT published · a 5-inch LCD TOUCHSCREEN with gallery view, usable as a digital picture frame · a quick-loading tray for continuous import · automatic cropping with manual correction · slides must be in standard 50 mm mounts

    Twenty-two megapixels, a 5-inch touchscreen, three film formats included and a cleaning brush in the box — the most completely equipped scanner here at 195 €.

    Best for: A household box holding several film formats at once, digitised by someone who wants the whole kit — adapters, brush and screen — in one purchase.

    ≈ $220 / £175 / 195 €

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  • Plustek OpticFilm 8300i Ai, 7200 dpi, infrared dust removal

    OPTICAL RESOLUTION 7200 dpi — four times the next figure on this shelf · 35 mm film and slides · holders not itemised · bit depth not published as a number, but SilverFast 9 is credited with a 16-BIT HISTOGRAM · DUST REMOVAL BY INFRARED: iSRD, the only true infrared channel on this shelf · output formats not listed; SilverFast 9 Ai Studio and Plustek QuickScan Plus supplied · scan speed described as 38 PER CENT FASTER than the previous model, with no absolute figure · REQUIRES A COMPUTER: Windows 7 to 11, Mac OS 10.13 to 12.x · an ADVANCED IT8 COLOUR TARGET on 3 slides, ISO 12641-2 compliant, valued at 99 dollars on the page · multi-exposure, HDRi and NegaFix named

    Seven thousand two hundred dpi with a true infrared dust channel, SilverFast 9 Ai Studio and an ISO-compliant IT8 calibration target — the only scanner here built for archival work.

    Best for: An archive of 35 mm negatives that has to be digitised once, properly, with colour that can be trusted and dust that does not have to be painted out.

    ≈ $539 / 559 €

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  • Reflecta x33-Scan, 15.3 MP CMOS, under 2 seconds, 365 g

    RESOLUTION AS A SENSOR: 15.3 MP CMOS, no dpi figure published · 135 film, slides and black-and-white, with 110 and 126 OPTIONAL · holders not itemised, the optional formats implying extra ones · bit depth NOT published · dust removal NOT described; IET technology is named for automatic COLOUR and CONTRAST correction, which is a different job · JPEG to SD or SDHC up to 128 GB · SCAN SPEED PUBLISHED: under two seconds a frame, the only figure on this shelf · a 5-inch IPS screen · standalone, no PC required · 365 g

    Under two seconds a frame — the only scan speed published here — from a 15.3 MP standalone scanner with a 5-inch screen, at 365 g.

    Best for: A large box of 35 mm slides and negatives that has to be got through in one sitting, on the table, with no computer.

    ≈ 130 €

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  • Rollei PDF-S 240 SE, 1800 dpi to 2400 interpolated

    OPTICAL RESOLUTION 1800 dpi, INTERPOLATED to 2400 — and the page distinguishes the two · photos, negatives, slides AND business cards · holders not itemised · bit depth NOT published · NO dust removal described · JPEG to SD, SDHC or MMC, or over USB to a PC or Mac · scan speed described as "seconds" without a figure · a 2.4-inch TFT colour screen on the body · automatic exposure with manual adjustment, plus automatic colour correction

    The only scanner here that separates its optical resolution from its interpolated one — 1800 dpi against 2400 — with a screen on the body and card slots for three formats.

    Best for: A mixed box — loose prints, slides and negative strips — digitised on the kitchen table without a computer.

    ≈ 103 €

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  • Somikon SD-1700, 3200 dpi film, 700 dpi photo, 1.1 kg

    TWO OPTICAL FIGURES PUBLISHED: 3200 dpi for film, 700 dpi for prints · 135 negatives, slides mounted and unmounted at 5 by 5 cm, AND loose photographs at 9 by 13 and 10 by 15 cm; 110 and 126 need holders SOLD SEPARATELY · THREE HOLDERS SUPPLIED — slide, negative, and a base plate with a photo holder · 14 MP CMOS sensor, INTERPOLATED to 22 MP, with the distinction stated · bit depth NOT published · NO dust removal; a cleaning brush is supplied · JPEG to an SD or SDHC card up to 32 GB, card not included · SCAN SPEED PUBLISHED: about 15 frames a minute, with a 0.5-second preview · 3 white LEDs for negatives, 24 for prints · a 5-inch IPS screen, an HDMI OUTPUT to a television, a battery · 20.9 by 18.2 by 16.2 cm, 1.1 kg with battery

    The only scanner here that publishes a dpi figure for film and another for prints — 3200 and 700 — with three holders, an HDMI output and a battery.

    Best for: A mixed archive — negatives, loose prints, album pages and cuttings — where the album cannot be taken apart.

    ≈ 242 €

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Each amount in a write-up is what the listing showed when that page was written. The figure next to the product is pulled in as you read, and it is the one that counts.