There are many free online gallery options, however paying for any of the following comes with added perks that can revolutionize and automate parts of your business.  In this article, we’ll discuss the most popular options available and give you our verdict on the best one.

Outline:

• How to Choose an Online Gallery for Photographers
• ShootProof
• Pixieset
• Zno
• Pixpa
• SmugMug
• Pixellu Galleries
• Photonesto
• Pass
• Pic-time
• Zenfolio
• Photoshelter
• Conclusion

How to Choose an Online Gallery for Photographers

Sign up for trials whenever available and thoroughly analyze the features and experience.  Switching services is cumbersome, so making a good initial decision is important.

When choosing the right online gallery, consider the following characteristics of the company:

• All levels of their pricing – Your online gallery storage needs will only increase over time.  Image file sizes are getting bigger with each generation of cameras, and you’ll also be adding many more shoots that you’ll be deleting.  This is why it’s critical to think long term.  Compare both the plan that you currently need as well as their highest plan with competitors to make a sound decision.
• Aesthetics – The aesthetics of the gallery is a factor, but perhaps an overrated factor.  Yes, the gallery should look and feel beautiful and high end.  However, a client may or may not notice small design differences between galleries.
• Features for the photographer – What other features and integrations does the gallery offer?  Some of these services offer additional features like a website and hosting, a Lightroom plugin for uploading photos, client and photographer contract templates, slideshows, and integrations.  Check to see if you need any of these additional features and weigh your options.
• Features for the client – Do they offer a good client experience?  Is it easy to access?  For example, some of these gallery options have apps for the clients to download and easily view/share their images.  Is that important to you?
• Longevity and growth – Will the company add features and grow with your studio?  Or is it struggling to stay afloat?  A company getting stagnant, not keeping up with tech, or even worse, going out of business could be a big hassle for you down the line.

With that said, let’s get into the best options.

ShootProof

ShootProof is one of the larger industry leaders for online photo galleries, and their main focus is on client-proofing and providing clients with excellent access to purchasing options for prints and downloads.

From the photographer’s perspective, ShootProof’s user interface is surprisingly fluid and easy to use, and they have plenty of tutorial videos for all of their tools. They also give you a lot of flexibility regarding the format and presentation of your galleries, something missing from most free gallery options.

Some of their security options are great for controlling how you share your work, with password and PIN-protected galleries, print releases, watermarking features, and the option to limit the number of downloads a visitor can make.

And instead of taking a cut from each of your sales, ShootProof operates on either monthly or annual subscription charges instead. You can try their trial 100-photo plan for free or pay $100/year for a 1,500-photo plan, $200/year for a 5,000-photo plan, $300/year for a 25,000-photo plan, or $600/year for a completely unlimited plan. Each plan comes with unlimited galleries, digital contracts, invoicing and brand development tools, and access to the mobile app. The unlimited plan also includes free archiving.

Because of its strong set of features, Shootproof is our recommended online gallery.

Pixieset

Like ShootProof, Pixieset operates on a flat subscription fee rather than charging you commissions for every transaction that you make through them, unless you are using the free account in which case they charge a 15% commission.

All paying subscribers have the option to connect Pixieset with their own domain and replace all of Pixieset’s branding with your own for a more professional client gallery. Clients are able to mark their favorite pictures using the Pixieset Favoriting tool, allowing you to track and download whatever they select.

All of their subscription options will allow your clients to create a mobile app of their photo gallery to preview images fast and easy. You also have the option to build your own professional portfolio site and blog, with tracking, and analytics integrations, and SSL security for an extra $12/month. In 2021, they released Studio Manager – a business app designed to help photographers enhance client onboarding, allowing you to create and send branded contracts, invoices and questionnaires, with booking and scheduling on the roadmap.

Their suite plans, which combine client galleries, online store, studio manager, and website, cost $28/month for 1000GB, and $48/month for unlimited space.

Their suite plans, which combine an online store, website, mobile app, and client gallery, cost $28/month for 1000GB, and $48/month for unlimited space.

Zno

This cloud-based gallery stands tall among the best in the batch of client photo galleries for a number of reasons.

When you register an account on Zno.com, you automatically get access to 1GB of storage on Zno Gallery. With a Basic level account (set at just $5/month), you can share, deliver, and proof your images. As a powerful and client-friendly tool, the Gallery allows your clients to select and download their favorite photos, which you can also track. Of course, you have the option to set the permissions for the gallery to not allow downloads, depending on your arrangements with your clients.

To keep your professional looking gallery on brand, you can customize the colors and add your logo. Furthermore, with a basic plan, you can send the gallery to a client through Zno using an unbranded URL, meaning only your brand will be represented.

Finally, yet another way that Zno Gallery stands out is through its integration with Zno Estore, an online store that you can use to sell prints, albums, and wall art with the images featured in your galleries. The online store allows you to set your own prices, doesn’t take a commission (other companies can charge 15% or more), and offers automatic fulfillment for printing and shipping your products to your customers.

Zno Gallery on its own is fantastic, but it’s worth noting that it is also part of a powerful all-in-one platform for photographers, which recently introduced a new Fulfillment Apps Bundle to make the Zno collection of apps more affordable than ever.

[Related Reading: The Best Online Album Proofing Options for Photographers]

Pixpa

Pixpa stands out from other online gallery options by enabling photographers to manage their online galleries along with a professional portfolio website, blog, and store – all in one place. Pixpa is also the most affordable option, with all-inclusive, flat-fees pricing plans ranging from $5 – $25 per month. Discounted yearly and 2-yearly plans are also available. All plans come with a 15 days free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. All plans offer the ability to connect a custom domain name, generous storage space, unlimited bandwidth, SSL certificates and 24×7 live chat support. You can add more storage space to any plan – $10 for 100Gb to $45 for unlimited storage.

Pixpa’s full-featured Online Galleries platform is included in all plans (except Basic) and enables you to share, proof, deliver and sell your images with style and simplicity. You can create unlimited client albums with multiple galleries in each album, enabling clients to mark favourites, download, and buy images easily. Selling images as prints and downloads is a breeze with custom price lists, discount coupons and an easy, smooth checkout experience. You can also create exclusive, personalised mobile gallery apps for clients to share your images with them.

Pixpa’s portfolio website builder also stands out with 150+ premium templates that can be fully customised. You can easily add an integrated online store, blog, marketing popups, ecommerce-enabled galleries and over 150+ apps and integrations to power up your portfolio website without touching a line of code.

Overall, Pixpa offers a great feature-rich package at a very affordable price, making it a great option for photographers looking for an all-in-one platform to showcase, share and sell their work online.

SmugMug

Unlike most of the online gallery options on this list, SmugMug doesn’t have any free account options, although users can try out their free 14-day trial period to get a feel for their platform. SmugMug has been operating since 2002, meaning they have weathered the age of Canon and Kodak and will most likely be around for many years to come.

Another perk to SmugMug is that every one of their plans comes with an unlimited amount of storage space and galleries, and you can easily import your photos from other platforms like Dropbox and Flickr. The downside is however that you need to purchase their more expensive options in order to have full control of your site’s e-commerce, and they have been criticized for having a cluttered user interface, although this is in part due to the amount of customizable gallery options they give.

Their basic plan starts at $7/month and comes with a fully customizable website, an easy drag-and-drop gallery organization system, password protection, email and social media integrations for quick sharing, and access to their print lab.

Their Portfolio plan, which is billed at $27/month, is where you start to have more control over your e-commerce with a Turnkey storefront, e-commerce gallery optimization, multiple options to fulfill print orders, download sales, and the ability to set your prices store-wide. You can also use your own domain name with this option. For $41.99/month, you can create custom price lists and coupons for individual clients, group multiple galleries under single events so customers can access all of the relevant photos and choose their favorites, brand your shipping orders, and give clients additional gift-wrapping options.

Smugmug offers the best pricing, and it’s a great option for those looking for a great solution at a great price.

Pixellu Galleries

Pixellu was initially known for their slideshow software, SmartSlides, an Animoto alternative and their SmartAlbums, a Fundy alternative for album design.  However, they recently announced their client photo galleries, and they are worth considering.   The Pixellu team’s primary focus is solving three specific problems:

• Usability – They’ve simplified the upload process into a three-step workflow (upload, customization, and delivery).
• Limited Layout Options – They offer multiple text and layout options for the client galleries.
• Slow Loading Times – They’ve optimized their galleries for fast loading for both the photographer and the client.

The rest of their feature set is comparable with the other Online Galleries like Pixieset and Pass, with reasonable pricing starting at $8/month.  This should be your Online Gallery of choice if you already use SmartSlides or SmartAlbums, as you can get ALL three for $40/month.  This can potentially save you significant money if you can eliminate the need to pay for these types of services separately.

Read our more detailed breakdown here.

Photonesto

Photonesto is mostly known for its easily customizable online galleries and user-friendly system for selling photos online. The images in their photo albums are always presented with a clean, beautiful aesthetic.  Their password protected galleries work quickly and reliably and are tailored for every device.  For the end user,  the photo selection is made intuitively by marking the chosen photos with a star, and each selection is signed with the customer’s email address.

In addition, proofing galleries are password-protected and pictures within them are secured with watermarks. Other useful features include,  e-mail templates, currencies support, activity log storing all events, sale of additional products (prints, photo painting, etc.) and 24/7 technical support.

Photonesto is also unique because of their prcing model, where subscription is not required – basically, you pay for what you use. Online photo album prices vary depending on the publication period (3, 6 or 12 months) and the size of the album.  For example, choosing 6 months publication period, one small album (up to 1 GB of data – about 100 photos in full resolution) is $5.50, medium album (up to 3 GB of data- approx. 300 photos in full resolution) – $6.00, large album (no data limit – unlimited number of photos) – $6.50.

For more information, click here.

Pass

Pass has been around for roughly a decade, and they are mostly known for catering to wedding photographers and other professional photographers who deal with large quantities of photos per gallery or event. This means that they have great upload and download speeds to and from their platform, and they feature fluid social media integrations that allow your clients to easily share their favorite picture to their social media feeds with a backlink to your work, spreading your brand through word of mouth. Their gallery setup has a pinterest-esque feel to it, allowing clients to easily move through large volumes of content.

And best of all, they have expanded their free account options to up to 6,000 photos or 20GB of storage. Free accounts are charged a 15% fee on all purchases, and come with unlimited galleries, the use of your own logo in client galleries, an online smart store, mobile app, a portfolio site, and sales & marketing help.

Paid accounts start at $17/month for 30,000 photos or 100GB of storage and include the above without the 15% purchase fee, along with email marketing and additional album design options. Their unlimited account is $34/month and comes with the above as well as a full professional website and blog.

Pic-Time

Pic-Time operates as more of an integrated workspace for photographers rather than just being a stand-alone online gallery space. Their platform has Lightroom integrations and syncing, and also comes with some great marketing tools that help you to make coupons, promo codes, and a range of marketing campaigns for your products.

Their platform is also well known for its easy-to-use and beautiful aesthetics on both the photographer’s end and the client’s. Customers can select their favorite shots and build their own albums, and the range of prints available through Pic-Time, including calendars and greeting cards, allows any photographer to increase their product range.

Pic-Time has a comprehensive range of pricing plans with three client gallery options, three art gallery options, and three bundle plans. Client galleries start at just $17/month for 100GB of storage or $34/month for unlimited storage with the option for you to add multiple brands for $16 each. These options all include an online store, marketing platforms, customizable products, GIF and video integration, shipping rerouting, customizable domain names and more.

The art gallery options have a similar option for expanding your operation to cover multiple brands, and the prices start at just $10/month, although this art gallery package comes with a 15% sales commission. You would need to purchase the $17/month art gallery option for commission-free sales.

Zenfolio

Zenfolio has a similar setup to SmugMug, but what sets them apart is a much easier to use interface, and more features in their cheaper plans.

They also streamline the dialogue between clients and photographers, since clients are able to browse photo galleries and select their favorites, and photographers are then able to access those favorite lists and open them directly in Lightroom using a special plugin.

The Portfolio plan is a cheap $5/month and comes with 15GB of storage space, an Instagram feed, the ability to use your own domain name, social media integrations, and shareable photo galleries. The $10/month Pro account comes with an easy-to-use website builder, unlimited photos and videos, custom watermarks, an online store, client proofing, access to print labs, online payment processing, and a selection of marketing tools such as gift certificates and email reminders.

Their advanced plan is probably one of the most attractive options on this list, at just $15/month. This comes with specialized features for school, sports, and event photographers, a post-shoot green screen, multiple user accounts for larger businesses, the ability to set your own shipping methods, the creation of mini-sites to target specific events, boutique packaging options and much more.

PhotoShelter

Right away, one of the most attractive aspects of PhotoShelter is their image proofing system that gives photographers a wide range of easily customizable options for presenting and delivering photos to clients. Customers also have the option to rate and comment on pictures they like, giving photographers instant feedback on what works and what doesn’t, and the use of FTP and password-protected links makes sharing photos easier than ever.

One of the downsides though is that there is a commission fee between 8% and 10% on all sales regardless of the plan that you purchase. This downside is offset by the fact that every plan comes with free self-fulfillment of orders, and the platform supports 23 global currencies as well as PayPal, so there are almost no geographical limitations to your customer base.

Each of their plans comes with 9 HTML5 site templates, a custom domain name, Vimeo, Instagram, WordPress, and Tumblr integrations, SEO marketing and social media sharing tools, their mobile app, and the ability to sell prints and license photos. The basic plan for $12.99/month only comes with 4GB of cloud storage though, which is comparatively low compared to competitors, and this package does not come with a client proofing tool which their other two options do include. The standard $29.99/month plan gives you the above plus 100GB of online storage, while the $49.99/month gives you unlimited storage.

Conclusion

When it comes to professional online photo galleries, there really is no “right” option.  Each has a set of pros and cons, some are better looking than others, and some offer more features than others.  Switching galleries is a hassle, so signing up for a free trial and doing proper homework is critical.  You will likely be married to your final choice for a long time.   Ask yourself, what is the best option for you now and years down the line.  Will the price creep up and out of control as you add more images?  Do you trust that the company is well managed, and that the company will be around in 5-10 years?  These are all factors to consider.

But we’d love to hear from you.  What is your favorite online gallery? If you enjoyed this article, you might also be interested in our thoughts on the Best Studio Management Software and our thoughts on the Best Website Builders for Photographers.

The good news is, today there are more excellent professional mirrorless cameras than ever before. The bad news is, there are almost too many cameras to choose from, and they all have very similar names. (Often just one letter in a camera’s name can make a thousand-dollar difference!)

Without a doubt, most mirrorless cameras today not only rival the capabilities of their DSLR predecessors, they often surpass them. Now, since we’ve already covered the best mirrorless cameras for beginners, this post will focus on providing an overview of the top 5 mirrorless cameras for professionals. We’ll cover some (relatively) budget-friendly options as well as more flagship pro options, (aka larger price points) to ensure that every photographer finds a camera that fits their specific needs.

What to Look for in a Pro Mirrorless System

Controls

A good mirrorless system for professionals needs to offer complete control of the most-used settings, and yet also be intuitive and easy to use. Being able to customize the controls to your liking is a huge bonus, too. Lastly, touchscreens are incredibly useful, especially when they offer complete functionality: on-screen subject selection, AF point control while using the electronic viewfinder, and menu & playback control.

Build Quality

Durable build quality is an absolute must for all pro photographers, of course. You are going to be paying your bills with these tools, so you need them to last as many years as possible! Thankfully, many pro and even prosumer cameras today are made of metal bodies and have full weather sealing.

Adapters

For some photographers who already own an arsenal of DSLR lenses, making the jump to mirrorless will involve an entire line of new lenses, which is a significant investment for most. While we do highly recommend using native mirrorless lenses almost exclusively, there are indeed some fantastic adapters available to let you use DSLR lenses, too.

Battery Life

One of the big barriers to entry with mirrorless systems for most professionals has been battery life. Traditionally mirrorless systems didn’t last as long on a single battery compared to their DSLR counterparts. With advances in this technology, while the mirrorless still may not last as long on a single charge as the DSLRs out there, they have made leaps and bounds in their longevity and will only continue to do so.

One trick that we highly recommend to pro photographers who do significantly longer events or other types of work is this: Make sure your camera can be powered by a USB battery, or at least charged via USB! USB-PD is preferred, as it is the fastest way charge a camera battery.

Video Capabilities

Some, but not all photographers will require a pro mirrorless camera that provides both high quality photo results as well as excellent video. The modern photographer is likely to get the best of both images and videos. Oppositely, however, if you’re exclusively a photographer then there are limited opportunities to save money, since most cameras prominently focus on both mediums.

Best Mirrorless Cameras For Professionals

Canon EOS R5

Canon set the bar rather high with the launch of the $3,899 EOS R5. They put nearly every feature you could think of into it, including a 45MP full-frame sensor, IBIS, (sensor stabilization) and one of the best autofocus systems on the market at the time. For the working pros, it offers dual card slots, and for those who also do video, the Canon R5 offers 8k video capability!

If you’re a still and video shooter, this camera fills in nearly every gap between video and photography work. Even if you only shoot photos, the R5 is still our top choice from Canon. The Dual Pixel AF system is inherited from the flagship Canon EOS-1DX series, and is capable of shooting at 20fps with continuous autofocus tracking! This makes it a versatile camera, indeed, whether you are photographing portraits & weddings, or action sports & wildlife, or landscapes & travel.

Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Sony A7R IV

The A7R IV is an incredible option from Sony that delivers on pretty much anything you can possibly want in a mirrorless system. Its staggering 60-megapixel sensor, with impressive dynamic range at ISO 100 and respectably low ISO noise at very high ISOs, this camera rivals medim format digital cameras. This is even more impressive considering the price, (the A7R IV is currently an “older generation” camera compared to the A7R V) …and it also also offers the most diverse lineup of full-frame lenses on the market. Last but not least, Sony’s incredibly reliable autofocus is indeed the best in the business, especially for those photographers who wish to detect and track subjects’ eyes.

The $2,998 Sony A7R IV not only stands alone as having the highest resolution of any full-frame camera on the market at present, but it also offers professionals the must-have features: in-body stabilization, dual card slots, best-in-class battery life, and extensive controls & customizability.

For those with a slightly bigger budget, the Sony A7R V is essentially the same camera but with a dedicated AI  processor for subject detection, making its autofocus capabilities even more uncanny.

Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Nikon Z8

The latest pro mirrorless camera from Nikon brings a 45.7MP full-frame sensor inherited from the exotic flagship Nikon Z9. The Nikon Z8 offers 5-axis in-body stabilization, dual memory card slots, 20-30 FPS framerate, 8K 60p video, and an autofocus system also inherited from the flagship Z9. It’s a marvel that the price tag is $3,996!

The Z8 is a semi-flagship pro camera from Nikon, in between the Z9 and the Z7 II, with many incredible improvements and benefits above all its predecessors. Of course, when paired with the FTZ adapter allowing F-mount lenses, or mounting the new S-Mount mirrorless lenses, the image quality is absolutely incredible.

Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Fujifilm X-T5

Expanding on the classic X-T line from Fuji, the X-T5 offers everything you ever wanted in an APS-C system. With a truly incredible savings compared to full-frame professional mirrorless cameras, this is one of the best compact mirrorless cameras on the market!

Its 5-axis IBIS can partner up with lens stabilization. Its new battery type is a sizable leap forward compared to the previous battery. Also, it is one of the only APSC mirrorless cameras with dual memory card slots.

The X-T5 is an absolute pleasure to use, with its classic retro design, and is available in black as well as a silver model. It’s priced at a mere $1,699!

The X-T5 uses a 40-megapixel X-Trans BSI CMOS sensor and offers 425-point hybrid AF with subject detection and tracking, making it a solid choice for most all-around types of photographers. Also, Fuji’s lineup of APSC format lenses offers the most extensive professional choices of any mount, including a full assortment of f/1.4 primes, f/2.8 zooms, and even some f/1.0 and f/1.2 lens options, too!

Amazon | B&H | Adorama

Best Pro Mirrorless Cameras | Conclusion

These mirrorless cameras offer a wide variety of excellent systems for photographers and videographers alike, though our focus here has been primarily on photography. There are many options to choose from, so be sure to remember that these systems will leverage the latest and greatest of what mirrorless technology has to offer, such as impressive subject detection & focusing, extended battery life, and all necessary pro features, controls, and customizations.

There are definitely much more expensive high-end flagship cameras out there, of course. We could recommend a Nikon Z9, or a Canon EOS R3, or a Sony A1, quite easily. Simply put, those are the absolute most-expensive cameras on the market, and for good reason. We are recommending these specific cameras above because they offer by far the best VALUE to working pros. (Every dollar you save on your camera body is one you can save towards lenses!)

The most important thing is, knowing what you need, specifically for your creative style or subject genre. Remember that almost all mirrorless cameras can meet a professional photographer’s needs, however, this list has some of the best options available for the professional photographer looking to make the jump into mirrorless systems.

Our top choice for background removal is the versatile and advanced cornerstone of photo editing, Adobe Photoshop. However, if your needs are to simply remove a background quickly and easily, the feature rich software may be more than you need.  In addition, even with the newest Generative AI features, there is still a learning curve to removing backgrounds in Photoshop.  If Photoshop is not the right option for you, consider the following options.

The Top 3 Background Removers

Adobe Express

Adobe Express, a component of the esteemed Adobe Creative Cloud suite, provides a user-friendly and efficient background removal tool that exemplifies the power and precision synonymous with Adobe products. Built on advanced algorithms, this tool allows users to effortlessly select and remove backgrounds from their images, ensuring accurate and seamless results.

One of the key strengths of Adobe Express is its ability to deliver precise background removal. The advanced algorithms employed by the tool enable users to accurately define the areas they want to keep or remove, even in complex images with intricate details. This level of control ensures that the subject of the image remains intact while removing unwanted backgrounds, allowing users to achieve professional-quality results.

Seamless integration with other Adobe products is another notable advantage of Adobe Express. As part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, Adobe Express integrates with popular applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign. This integration allows users to transfer their edited images between different Adobe tools, enhancing their overall design and editing workflows. It enables professionals to leverage the strengths of each software application and create cohesive, visually stunning designs.

Pricing: The background removal feature for Adobe Express is free.  Additional features are available for $9.99/month.

Canva

Canva is an popular, well funded web-based design platform that has gained widespread recognition for its user-friendly interface and powerful design capabilities. Among its many features, Canva offers an intuitive background removal function, allowing users to seamlessly remove backgrounds from images and replace them with solid colors, gradients, or other backgrounds of their choice.

The background removal feature in Canva is designed to be effortless and efficient, catering to users with varying levels of design expertise. With a few clicks, users can isolate the main subject of their image by removing the background. This functionality is particularly useful when creating graphics for presentations, social media posts, marketing materials, or any other design project that requires a clean, isolated subject.

Once the background is removed, Canva provides users with a wide variety of options to replace it. Users can select from a range of solid colors, choose from pre-designed gradients, or even upload their own custom backgrounds. This flexibility allows users to match the background to the overall design aesthetic or create a visually striking contrast to make their subject stand out.

Canva Pricing:

To use the background remover feature in Canva, you will need a Canva Pro account.   However, the many design features of Canva, make the Pro subscription easily justified for most small businesses, designers, and photogaphers.

Fotor

Fotor is a comprehensive online photo editing tool that includes a powerful background removal function. With Fotor, users have the flexibility to choose between manual and automatic background removal options based on their preferences and the complexity of the image. The manual selection option enables users to meticulously trace and mark the areas they want to keep or remove, ensuring precise and accurate results. This feature is particularly beneficial when dealing with intricate or detailed images where automatic selection may not be as accurate.

Alternatively, Fotor’s automatic background removal option utilizes advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence to intelligently detect and remove the background from an image. This automated process saves time and effort, especially when working with simpler images or when users require quick results.

Apart from its robust background removal function, Fotor boasts an extensive set of editing tools and effects that empower users to enhance their photos creatively. Users can adjust various aspects of their images, including brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness. Additionally, Fotor offers a wide array of filters, overlays, and special effects, allowing users to add artistic touches and transform their photos into visually stunning creations.

Pricing: Plans ranging from $8.99 per month to $19.99 per month.

Other Great Background Removers

Clipping Magic

Clipping Magic is a dedicated online background removal tool trusted by professionals worldwide. It offers advanced features like manual editing, precise edge refinement, and the ability to handle complex images with intricate details. Clipping Magic’s precise results and flexibility make it a valuable asset for creative projects.

Pricing: $0.04 per image to $0.26 per image depending on the subscription plan

PicMonkey

PicMonkey is an all-in-one design and photo editing platform that includes a powerful background removal feature. It offers automatic and manual selection tools, along with additional editing options to refine the results. With its comprehensive set of features and user-friendly interface, PicMonkey is suitable for both professionals and hobbyists.

Pricing:Try free for 7 days. After that, only $7.99 per month (or $72 annually).

PhotoScissors

PhotoScissors is a standalone software designed specifically for background removal. Its intelligent algorithm enables users to separate subjects from their backgrounds with a few simple brush strokes. PhotoScissors’ intuitive interface and quick editing capabilities make it a popular choice for individuals who frequently work with images.

Pricing: Free for standard definition. Then $.03-$.50 per image depending on the number of credits purchased.

PicWish

PicWish is an AI-driven background removal tool that simplifies the process of separating subjects from their backgrounds. Its automated capabilities ensure accurate results, while its integration with popular platforms like Photoshop and Lightroom makes it convenient for seamless editing workflows.

Pricing: Free with PicWish Logo. The Pay as you Go and Subscription Options.

Remove.bg

Remove.bg is an acclaimed online background removal tool known for its speed and accuracy. With its AI-powered algorithms, it can quickly remove backgrounds from images, leaving you with clean and professional-looking results. The tool’s simplicity and impressive performance have earned it a loyal user base.

Pricing: 1 Free then $.20 to $.90 per image

Removal.ai

Removal.ai is a versatile background remover that combines AI technology with intuitive controls. It enables users to easily remove backgrounds from images and replace them with desired elements. Whether you need to edit product photos or create captivating visuals, Removal.ai offers a reliable solution.

Pricing: 1 Free then $.13 to $.90 per image depending on the number of credits purchased.

Cutout.pro

Cutout.pro is a web-based background remover that combines AI technology with user-friendly controls. It offers both automatic and manual background removal options, allowing you to achieve accurate results according to your preferences. The tool’s ability to handle intricate objects and provide real-time previews ensures efficient editing.

Pricing: Free for 5 credits, then you need to contact them for pricing.

Conclusion

When it comes to background removal, having the right tool can significantly streamline your editing workflow. The options mentioned in this article, such as Adobe Express, Canva, Fotor, and more, offer a range of features to suit different needs. Whether you prefer a robust professional software or a user-friendly mobile app, these tools provide reliable solutions for achieving accurate and visually appealing results. Experiment with different options to find the background remover that best fits your requirements and helps you unleash your creativity to the fullest.

Photo editing monitors are usually calibrated to display colors as accurately as possible. They’re customized for video, photo, and graphic work.  Often they feature 4K, 5K, and 8K resolutions.

That said, this guide will provide you with a list of six monitors perfect for photo editing. We hope once you’re done reading it, you’ll be able to select a monitor that meets all your photography needs.

Without further delay, let’s dive in!

Things To Look For In The Best Monitor For Photo Editing

There are a few important attributes that will make a computer monitor good for photo editing. As you might guess, at the very top of the list is the accuracy of color and tone. But, also, there are some more subtle technical details we need to go over, too.

Monitor Color Accuracy

First and foremost, we are photographers, so the absolute most important thing is color accuracy. We are highly concerned with color reproduction as well as brightness. What that means is, are the colors you see on your computer display the same colors you captured, but also, are they accurate to what you will get when you print out a photo?

Also, what about the shadows/highlights? If you can see good detail in the highlights and shadows on your computer monitor, but when you go to make a print they are just white and/or black, that is a problem, and vice versa.

Thus, we are looking for a few things: An IPS display, (In-Plane Switching), as well as a wide color gamut that covers 100% of sRGB, and preferably 100% of Adobe RGB if possible. Also, one critical factor for seeing shadows correctly is the viewing angle; 178 degrees (both vertically and horizontally) is essential.

Display Resolution

Having good resolution is almost as important as color accuracy, but not quite. Thankfully, most of the good photo editing monitors these days offer 4K resolution, which is more than enough for both photographers and videographers.

Another thing to keep in mind is that pixel density can vary from one display to another, too. This can affect how “sharp” your images look on your computer display, and/or how close your eyes have to be to the display in order to actually see a  100% image zoom. Honestly, extremely dense pixels can tend to hurt your eyes and make you squint if you edit photos for long periods of time, so we are happy to say that any pixel density (pixels per inch)  is fine for photo editing; you don’t need a “Retina” type display.

Physical Display Size

The best monitors for photo editing don’t necessarily need to be as enormous as your TV screen, however, it is a good goal to have a 27-inch or up to a 32-inch computer display for photo editing.

Again, keep in mind that color accuracy and display resolution are more important than this spec. In other words, if we were on a budget, we would absolutely choose a slightly smaller display if it offered us better specs in the other regards.

With that being said, let’s dive into our recommendations!

1.   Dell UltraSharp U2723QE 27” 4K IPS Monitor

($559 | B&H | Amazon)

The Dell Ultrasharp U2723 is an incredibly well-priced 27-inch 4K UHD IPS monitor that will offer you a great balance of performance and value. The monitor’s 4K (3840x2160p) resolution and 27” screen size offer photographers lots of on-screen real estate, while its 1000:1 contrast ratio keeps images crisp and beautiful.

Color accuracy on the U2723 is impressive, as well, with 100% sRGB, 100% Rec 709, and 98% DCI-P3. (For the price, this level of color fidelity was impossible just a few years ago!)

It’s also the ideal monitor for photographers who make use of daisy chaining, (using two monitors at once) because it has a dedicated 4K output via its USB type C and “Display Stream Compression”.

The monitor also comes with four downstream UB 3.2 ports that you can use to charge other peripheral USB devices or connect them to your PC. Last but not least, the Dell U2723 even allows 90W USB-C (Power Delivery) type power, for your laptop or similar device.

Aside from connectivity, setting up the monitor based on your physical studio or office needs is seamless, since the stand accommodates all the key ergonomic adjustments, including swivel, height, and tilt, with full 90-degree rotation possible.

Pros

• Good value
• Excellent quality
• Plenty of connections
• Very adjustable base

Cons

• Not truly calibrated “out of the box” (though almost good enough)
• Lacks speakers, relatively slow compared to gaming displays

2. BenQ PD2700U DesignVue Designer 27″ 4K 16:9 IPS Monitor

($499 | Adorama | B&H | Amazon)

The BenQ PD2700U is another one of the best monitors for photo editing in the market today. Especially when value is concerned, the price-to-performance ratio is almost impossible to beat.

Its impressively sized (for the price) 27” 4K IPS panel boasts a full complement of specs and features: 100% sRGB, 100% Rec. 709, and 10-Bit color support. 1300:1 contrast ratio, 350 cd/m² brightness, and a 178°/178° viewing angle.

Additionally, BenQ’s Eye Care Technology is included, and additional features to make your experience healthy for your eyes. Photographers who do a lot of long hours of photo editing, take note!

HDR video editing is also supported, with HDR10 (ST2084) compatibility.

Pros

• Solid and sleek stand/base
• Excellent image quality
• Calibration-friendly
• Impressive value

Cons

• No images adjustments in HDR mode
• Definitely requires calibration before full accuracy for photo editing is achieved

3. Eizo ColorEdge CS2740 4K 26.9” Wide Gamut IPS Monitor

($1,792 | B&H | Amazon)

The Eizo ColorEdge CS2740-4k is among the most powerful 4K monitors today. Photographers and video editors/producers alike will love this monitor because of its impressive visual specs, as well as the CGI and VFX settings.

Simply put, the Eizo matches or beats virtually all other monitors’ specs: 1000:1 contrast ratio, 178°/178° viewing angles, and 350 cd/m²  brightness. Additionally, Eizo displays are known for incredible uniformity of brightness and color. This makes it a must-have for editing subtle gradients.

This monitor features built-in automated calibration adjustment capabilities and an (optional) dedicated calibration sensor. This option helps the Eizo ColorEdge monitor deliver professional results efficiently, saving the user time and money.

The monitor has a ton of advanced, useful features that ensure higher color accuracy, and workflow efficiency for both photographers and video editors.

Pros

• Offers impressive image quality for the discerning eye, especially subtle gradations and evenness
• Fully professional specs for response time etc.
• Supports a wide color range
• Supports automatic calibration with routine updates

Cons

• Lacks HDMI 2.0 port
• Expensive compared to value options

4. ASUS ProArt Display PA279CV 27″ 4K HDR Monitor

($449 | B&H | Amazon)

The ASUS Pro Art Display is a versatile, affordable 27-inch monitor that has been upgraded to 4K resolution compared to its predecessor. It is designed for creative professionals with a small budget. It’s well-built and comes with a sleek design that can fit any creative’s studio or office setting.

The ergonomic design offers physical buttons for adjustments, which we appreciate these days, and a sturdy, adjustable base.

This screen covers 100% sRGB, and has a dedicated sRGB mode that’s pretty accurate right out of the box. It also offers 100% coverage for Rec. 709, which is the same gamut as Adobe RGB.

Pros

• 4K resolution, 100% sRGB, and Rec 709
• Impressive refresh rate of 5ms, 350 nits peak brightness
• 178 x 178° viewing angles, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 60Hz refresh rate

Cons

• Has trouble displaying dark colors
• Mediocre black uniformity

[Related Reading: Guide to Color Management for Photographers – Part One | Finding the Right Monitor]

5. AOC AG324UX 31.5″ 4K UHD 144 Hz Gaming Monitor

($799 | B&H | Amazon)

For those photographers and videographers who might also be interested in gaming, or editing high-FPS video, the speed and responsiveness of a monitor is just as important as color accuracy. For this specialty, one of the best monitors is the AOC AG324UX.

Besides the impressive size (31.5”) its most prominent features are the 1ms response time, 144 Hz refresh rate, and dual 8W speakers. These make it a perfect choice for photographers who are also gamers.

Although exact color accuracy and tone evenness across the panel may not match the most high-end dedicated photo editing monitors, the AOC does boast impressive specs on paper: 125% sRGB, 100% DCI-P3, 107% Adobe RGB, and 109% NTSC color accuracy. Also, with 400 nits, HDR content can be viewed as the monitor is VESA DisplayHDR certified.

Pros

• Excellent out-of-box color accuracy
• Extremely fast response time & refresh rate
• Impressive color reproduction

Cons

• Color gamut/accuracy may not be as advertised
• Calibration may therefore be slightly more difficult
• Evenness of color and brightness is average.

6. LG 34WK95U-W UltraWide 5K 34” Nano IPS LED Monitor

($1,296 | B&H | Amazon)

The final product in our list of the best monitors for photographers is for photographers who need a little more resolution than 4K. The LG 34WK95U-W UltraWide 5K 34” Nano IPS LED Monitor is a 5K display for those who may be editing 4K video and want some room around the edges for an editing panel, for example. This 34-inch IPS screen features a huge 5120×2160 resolution, which means that vertically it is still 4K, but horizontally it offers an extra 1280 pixels beyond 4K.

NOTE: this is NOT a curved monitor; like most 5K displays, and we prefer this for photo and video editing.

The monitor comes with a Nano IPS panel from LG, so it delivers excellent image quality with a 1200:1 contrast ratio, 600 nits of brightness, and excellent color specs. (It offers 10-Bit

The LG 34WK95U-W also offers users comprehensive connectivity, including DisplayPort, USB Type-C, Thunderbolt 3, and HDMI.  Although it contains several amazing features, it doesn’t come cheap.

Pros

• Contains a great Nano IPS panel
• Numerous features
• Excellent 5K resolution

Cons

• Expensive for those who don’t need 5K

[Related Reading: Why Calibrating Your Screen Is Important & How To Do It]

Conclusion

Overall, whether you are on a tight budget, or you need the absolute best, today’s best monitors for photo editing are better and more affordable than ever before. With multiple 4K displays under $500, and more under $1,000, it is clear that even serious photographers shouldn’t have to spend more unless their needs are highly specialized.

What do you think? Do you have any experience with another monitor that meets your needs and has great value? Please leave a comment below!

In many professional photography markets, due to high demand, a lot of pro photographers have added videography to their list of services too, such as wedding photo+video packages.

With the added services, of course, comes the need to learn to use new tools of the trade! One of the most important tools is video editing software. Just like with photo editing software, there are many options available! To help narrow the list, we’ve taken a quick look at six popular go-to options for the best video editing software.  You may also be interested in our list of the Best Photo Editing Software.

Adobe Premiere Pro

Considered to be a common favorite, Adobe Premiere Pro is (as its name implies) a professional-grade video editing software that is packed with features, customizations, and integration with various high-end tools.

You can utilize Adobe Premiere Pro for a variety of purposes, from YouTube videos, corporate and commercial work, to personal memories of events such as weddings, birthdays, and more. Whatever you’re doing, if you’re truly serious about video editing and want as many tools as possible, Adobe Premiere Pro has it all for you.

This video editing software is available for both Mac and Windows. It also supports formats for different social media platforms, as well as 4K, 8K, and VR formats. You can use Adobe Premiere Pro as a standalone app (or with other Adobe suite apps) by paying for a monthly subscription, of course.

Adobe Premiere Pros:

• High-end features
• Trimming and editing tools that provide precision and control
• Industry standard
• Provides Creative Cloud Integration

Adobe Premiere Cons:

• Monthly subscription price instead of one-time purchase
• Subscription price higher than alternatives.

Black Magic DaVinci Resolve

One of the top alternatives to Premiere Pro is also used by big-time movie-making studios, actually: DaVinci Resolve, the software created by Black Magic. Known for bringing affordable raw video cameras to aspiring filmmakers, Black Magic’s DaVinci Resolve software is truly a powerhouse software studio that is on the same level as Premiere Pro, and depending on who you ask, even better.

Unlike the now-common subscription business model, you can buy DaVinci Resolve 17 “outright” for $295. Even better, you can get the “basic” version of their software totally free; its feature set is still extremely capable!

Also, DaVinci makes a wide array of physical editing tools to go with the software, which makes things like “scrubbing” footage almost effortless.

Black Magic DaVinci Resolve Pros:

• Equally high-end features
• Totally free (for consumers) basic software version
• Trimming and editing tools that provide precision and control
• (Also) industry standard
• Seamless integration with abundant physical control panels

Black Magic DaVinci Resolve Cons:

• Steep learning curve

Movavi Video Editor

Movavi Video Editor is a versatile and user-friendly video editing software that caters to both beginners and professionals. It’s a fantastic choice for those who want to create high-quality videos without the steep learning curve of some other software.

Movavi Video Editor is perfect for creating videos for social media, personal memories, and even professional projects. It supports a wide range of video formats, including 4K and Full HD, and offers a variety of editing tools to enhance your videos. From basic cutting and trimming to advanced features like video stabilization and color grading, Movavi has got you covered.

This software is available for both Mac and Windows, and it offers a one-time purchase option, making it a cost-effective choice for those who prefer to avoid monthly subscriptions.

Movavi Video Editor Pros:

• User-friendly interface
• Wide range of editing tools
• Supports a variety of video formats
• One-time purchase option

Movavi Video Editor Cons:

• The demo version adds a watermark to every export

Final Cut Pro X

If you are a Mac user and are looking for video editing software that is optimized for your computer, then this option could satisfy your needs. Apple’s Final Cut Pro X is a powerful and reliable tool for high-level video editing. You can also get your hands on this software for a one-time payment.

Final Cut Pro X integrates with Apple’s ecosystem such as iTunes and Photos. It is packed with features such as HDR, 360⁰ video, and advanced tools for color grading (color correction). Additionally, one feature that stands out is its Magnetic Timeline and grouping tools. This feature makes it a must-have for photographers and videographers who are looking to produce quick and stunning results.

Final Cut Pro X Pros:

• Intuitive and easy-to-use
• Powerful software for high-level video editing
• Fairly-priced and software updates for new features

Final Cut Pro X Cons:

• Not available for Windows

CyberLink PowerDirector 365

CyberLink PowerDirector 365 is a video editing software that is suitable for professionals who need to produce video content frequently. Its intuitive design, a wide array of features, and availability for both Mac and Windows devices make it a great choice.

You can edit your videos with this software by paying a one-time fee instead of paying for a subscription. Aside from the affordable price, professionals admire its video correction tools, stabilization options, lots of professional effects, and simple but accurate trimming.

CyberLink PowerDirector 365 Pros:

• Professional features at a reasonable price
• Numerous payment models
• Access to royalty-free content from Shutterstock
• Latest release provides new tools such as speech enhancement

CyberLink PowerDirector 365 Cons:

• Can be too advanced for beginners

Pinnacle Studio

For professionals and enthusiasts who utilize Windows on their devices, the Pinnacle Studio video editing software makes a great option. It’s not as powerful as the choices mentioned above, however, it can still produce a captivating video (minus the complicated processes). Pinnacle Studio has been said to offer a decent amount of professional tools for a beginner’s price.

This video editing software includes features such as 4K timeline support with 8K importing, various blending modes, a stop-motion feature, time remapping, and more. If the tools of their most basic software version aren’t enough for you, (such as the limited number of tracks you can have) you can always upgrade your Pinnacle Studio to either Pinnacle Studio Plus or Pinnacle Studio Ultimate.

Pinnacle Studio Pros:

• Ideal for both beginners and professionals
• Delivers a variety of features
• Reasonably-priced
• Access to free effects, templates, and titles

Pinnacle Studio Cons:

• Features may not be enough for videos that need complex edits

Adobe Premiere Rush

Are you the type to work while you travel? Or is a travel device (such as a tablet or similar notebook type mobile OS computer) a useful workflow tool? If so, consider making this video editing software your dedicated go-everywhere companion. Adobe Premiere Rush takes the most important tools of Adobe Premiere Pro and makes them available on your iOS or Android devices.

Although it is the portable version of Adobe Premiere Pro, you’ll still get to work with fundamentals such as drag-and-drop, trimming, mixing music, and sound effects. Also, if you intend to post your videos on varied social media platforms, this video editing software allows you to optimize exporting for Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, and Vimeo.

Adobe Premiere Rush Pros:

• Simple and easy-to-use interface
• Ideal for social media videos
• Can be integrated with Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Rush Cons:

• Limited features compared to Premiere Pro

Conclusion

With the best video editing software, you can craft your imagery, both photo and video, into immersive works of art! Before you choose one, consider the devices you use, your skills, and what output or final product you intend to produce.

We hope our selection helps you find the most suitable video editing software for your lifestyle, your work, and even your creative passion!

If we missed anything, or if you have any recommendations on what we should consider for next year, please comment below!

Best Travel / Compact Light Stands

One thing the photographer on the road has to have in their kit is a great travel light stand for those moments you’ll need a little extra light. The key to a great travel light stand is one that is lightweight, folds up into a neat compact package that hopefully can also fit easily in a suitcase, but still is tough and sturdy to make sure your gear can be supported.

Manfrotto 5001B 74-Inch Nano Stand (Our Choice)

Our 2nd place Winner for Best Travel Light Stand.

A compact photo stand that packs a mighty punch. The Nano Black Stand combines clever and compact features with a strong anodized frame. Come rain or shine, you can be sure that this hardwearing stand won’t flake, rust or wobble under pressure, even when supporting equipment weighing up to 3.31 lbs (1.5kg). It’s time to get out there!

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Adorama | B&H |Amazon

Impact Heavy-Duty Air-Cushioned Light Stand

Our  Winner for Best Travel Light Stand.

This Impact Heavy-Duty Air-Cushioned Light Stand is a black anodized aluminum support that rises to a height of 9.5′ and folds down to 42″ for storage and transport. The stand will handle up to 22 lb and is topped with a removable 5/8″ spigot with 1/4″-20 and 3/8″-16 threads. It has a wide footprint of 52″ for greater stability. Air cushioning gently lowers the light when making height adjustments to protect equipment and fingers. At a price of just $54.95 you can’t go wrong here!

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Avenger Baby ALU 25 Stand

Our 3rd Place Winner for Best Travel Light Stand

The Avenger A0025B Baby Alu 25 Stand is a versatile, lightweight aluminum stand. It is quick to set up and very stable. Its locking T-knobs are large and ergonomic — making it easy for you to efficiently lock each section. This stand rises to a maximum height of 8.2′ (2.5 m). The Baby Alu Stand 25 has a black anodized finish and it folds to a size that is short enough for almost any kit case – 34.25″.

The drawback on this stand is even though it’s a compact “travel” light stand, it’s one of the heavier ones weighing in at 6.61lbs so if you make this choice, plan accordingly.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Adorama | B&H | Amazon

The Best Medium Light Stand

When a balance between portability and strength is required then sometimes even those cheap light stands that come bundled with kits can do. I know, to some of you I just blasphemed but bare with me. Most of those stands are better used as paper weights than light stands. I’ve even had one (wasn’t actually that cheap) literally crumble away; The metal began to crumble at the screw but thankfully I was there to catch it. Lots of those cheap stands are made from bad metal and plastic. The type of metal which you can’t clamp anything to as it just bends. Useless

My cheap recommendation here, and one stand that I use all the time, is the Bowens BW-6610. They’re heavy, reliable, and cheap. On B&H you can grab one for the paltry sum of $58.99. Whereas on the second-hand market real bargains can be had.

If you’re looking for something a little more portable (and expensive), take a look at the Manfrotto stackable range of light stands. The 1052BAC ($83.99) only extends to 7.7’ but has a unique stacking system which makes transporting multiple stands that much easier. There’s a whole host of sizes within this range. On the negative side, they tend to weigh a little more, and that’s the compromise other than cost.

You can find the Manfrotto here  and the Bowens here.

Best Full-Sized C-Stands

When nothing else matters but the quality of your image, you’ll make sure the light stand and every other accessory attached to it is as good as it can get! For this, we’ve got the top three full-sized professional light stands of the year for you to bring your work to the next level.

These don’t have the compact space saving designs like the travel light stands, but that’s a fair trade for the weight, stability and security you’ll get out of the heavy-duty c-stand and light stands below.

Matthews 40″ C-Stand with Spring-Loaded Base

Our Winner for the Best Full-Sized Light Stand

This black Matthews 40″ C-Stand Kit is comprised of a 10.5′ stand with a 40″ double riser and spring-loaded base that work to achieve a maximum height of 126″, or collapse down to a minimum height of 53″. A 40″ grip arm with attached 2.5″ grip head; and a 2.5″ removable grip head allow for multiple attachment options. The unique staggered leg design of the C-Stand allows it to be nested and placed extremely close to one another on a set, and the included grip arm and grip heads offer an assured, non-slip hold with both 3/8″ and 5/8″ mounting holes.

Check the prices from our preferred retailer below:

Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Kupo 40″ Riser C-Stand Turtle Base Kit

Our 2nd Place Winner for the Best Full-Sized Light Stand.

The 9.7′, black 40″ Riser C-Stand Turtle Base Kit from Kupo is outfitted with a patented spring ring locking system that removes all tension from the legs so that gravity can do the work for you. A “turtle base” is an industry term where the riser section can be quickly removed from the base for easy transportation and the base can be used with a stand adapter for a low mounting position.

The 40″ Grip Arm with Hex Stud is a 2 1/2″ grip head mounted on the end of a 40″ piece of steel tubing 5/8″ (16 mm) in diameter and finished with a faceted hex stud to keep lighting fixtures in position when they are placed on the end of the arm. The 2-1/2″ grip head consists of a pair of rotating aluminum discs attached to a 5/8″ (16 mm) receiver. The discs have four different sized “V” shaped jaws to accept any accessory with a 5/8″, 1/2″, 3/8″ or 1/4″ mounting stud or tubing. The “V” shaped jaws have “teeth” that grab whatever is mounted between the plates securely. The 2-1/2″ grip head features an oversized ergonomic “T” handle and dedicated roller bearings designed for maximum torque.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Neewer Heavy Duty Light Stand C-Stand

Our 3rd Place Winner for the Best Full-Sized Light Stand.

The Neewer light stand (double kit in this instance) is perfect for supporting most photographic equipment, including softboxes, reflectors, large strobe lights, and more. Suitable to use for indoor photo studio portrait, arts, magazine, video shooting or outdoor events.

The sturdy 3 legs, combined with a solid locking system, ensures the safety of the equipment. Steel material and heavy duty structure make it durable for long time use. Portable lightweight design for easier carrying, making your trip more convenient.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

• Amazon

Unique Stands & Honorable Mentions

While there are lots of Light Stand manufacturers out there, there’s not a lot of variety in design out there…but every now and again, something will come out that’s a bit different, surprising, and oddly useful in special situations. This section is dedicated to those light stands that you may not have heard of before or never knew that you totally needed!

Savage Universal MultiFlex Light Stand (Our Choice)

Our Winner for Best Unique Light Stand

The air-cushioned, 6′ MultiFlex Light Stand from Savage is a space-saving solution to setting up in tight spaces or on uneven terrain. Thanks to a clever design, instead of being fixed, one of the three legs can slide down from its normal position on the stand’s center section until it nearly touches the floor. That means squeezing a leg under a couch or table is no problem, stairs are a snap, and supporting gear on hilly terrain is routine. The stand has an industry-standard 5/8″ top stud, and comes with a touch fastener strap and a padded carry case for storage and transport.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Manfrotto 156BLB Mini Kit Stand

Our 2nd Place Winner for Best Unique Light Stand

The Manfrotto Backlite Mini Kit Stand is a versatile, hardworking, lightweight, aluminum stand. It is quick to set up, and very stable. It features a black anodized finish, plus a removable 1/4″-20 threaded tip that reveals a 3/8″ threaded tip on the top 5/8″ Baby top stud. Designed and kind of awesome for lightweight setups in small work areas. This rig works great for hiding a backdrop light behind your subjects or even using as a base for a reflector setup during your headshot sessions.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Manfrotto 231B Column Stand with Sliding Arm

Our 3rd Place Winner for Best Unique Light Stand.

The Manfrotto 231B Column Stand with Sliding Arm is a black anodized aluminum, wheeled, single column stand that is perfect for studio use. It features a spring-loaded sliding arm that allows quick height adjustment of your light fixture from almost floor level to nearly the top-most of its 8′ chromium steel column.

The 231 has a leveling leg, which extends and locks, making the load more stable on uneven surfaces such as steps. This product is available with a brushed aluminum finish (#231) or with a chrome steel column, (231CS).

This beast is best suited for studio work and clearly gives you a wide variety and flexibility with its setup and usage, especially since you can add accessories to use one stand to mount multiple lights and modifiers. Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Cheetahstand C8 3-Section Aluminum Light Stand

The CheetahStand C8 light stand sets up automatically. Set it down and the stand legs open automatically. Pick it up and it closes automatically. The light weight three-section CheetahStand offers quick setups and repositioning. Whenever you have to move a light, just lift it.

The automatic legs, making it easy to move safely and easily through a crowded room without putting down your camera. The CheetahStand C8 is recommended for supporting portable, shoe-mounted flash units or small monolights.

The CheetahStand C8 extends from 29″ to 96″ in height and collapses to 28.5″ for storage, has a footprint that’s 32″ in diameter, anc can support up to 6 lbs.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers: Adorama | Amazon

Amazon Basics Light Stand

If you’re on a tight budget, you might want to consider the Amazon Basics Light Stand.  While not the most durable light stand, it gets the job done if you’re looking for a serviceable solution.

See the full Amazon Basics Light Stand Review for more info.

Additionally! Don’t Forget Your Sand Bags

Another thing to keep in mind with light stands, no matter what style you have, it’s in your best interest to always carry sand-bags to help safely secure your gear once set up. You can get pre-made/packaged ones or even just container bags that you can put your own weights in on site (to save on travel stress). For instance;

Impact Empty SBE-B-15 Saddle Sandbag

Stabilize your light stands, boom arms, backgrounds, and more with the Impact Black Empty 15 lb Capacity Saddle Sandbag. Easily transport the empty saddlebag to your location where it can be filled with available sand, dirt, or rocks and securely zipped shut. When your shoot is over, simply empty the contents to make your load lighter for the commute back home. Weather- and water-resistant cordura fabric stands up to the elements and use over time, while the double-zipper design provides an extra level of security to prevent the contents from spilling. Upper and lower handles made of durable nylon webbing allow multiple options for transport and hanging as a counterweight. Check the pricing here: Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Key Considerations When Buying a Light Stand or Flash Stand

The purchase of a light stand will be a compromise. There is as of yet (and I doubt will ever be) a light stand that can hold tons of weight, extend extremely high, pack down very small, and weigh very little. As a result, you will always be compromising between portability and strength. Decide which is most important for your work and start your decision-making process there.

There is, of course, the third consideration present in all of our purchases; budget. From my experience, the cheapest light stands are a complete and utter waste of money. That said, there is room to save a little if you’re clever with what you purchase and know exactly what you need. The following consists of my recommendations, based on the stands I have used, which I think represent the best value. They are not the cheapest, but neither are they the most expensive.

Here is a list of all the gear discussed in this article:

• Impact Heavy-Duty Air-Cushioned Light stand
• manfrotto 5001b 74-Inch Nano Stand (Our Choice) (Our Choice)
• Avenger Baby ALU 25 Stand
• Matthews 40″ C-Stand with Spring-Loaded Base
• Kupo 40″ Riser C-Stand Turtle Base Kit
• Neewer Heavy Duty Light stand C-Stand
• Savage Universal MultiFlex Light stand (Our Choice)
• Manfrotto 156BLB Mini Kit Stand
• Manfrotto 231B Column Stand with Sliding Arm
• Impact Empty SBE-B-15 Saddle sandbag

The best way to save yourself some cash when buying a light stand is to firstly know exactly what you need. You always get what you pay for but you might not need everything that the more expensive options bring. Also, my suggestion is to avoid the cheapest stands like the plague.

With so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right 360 camera for your needs. In this article, we will discuss the top 360 cameras on the market, key features to look for, and tips for choosing the best 360 camera for capturing the world around you.

Key Features to Look for in a 360 Camera

Before we dive in, lets go over the key features we are considering, so that you can make your own educated decision.

1. Resolution – A higher resolution can provide better image quality and detail in the final output. This is important for both video and photo, but some users may prioritize one over the other, of course.
2. Stitching quality – Good stitching is essential for producing a seamless and natural-looking 360 image.
3. Image stabilization – This feature helps to minimize camera shake and produce smoother footage.
4. Live streaming capabilities – If you plan on live streaming your 360 content, make sure the camera has this feature.
5. Durability and weather resistance – If you plan on using the camera in challenging environments, consider a camera that is rugged and weather-resistant.
6. User interface and ease of use – A user-friendly interface and intuitive controls can make it easier to capture the content you want.
7. Battery life – A camera with good battery life can ensure that you won’t miss any important shots due to a dead battery.
8. Other features – Other features to consider include storage capacity, customizable settings, and accessories such as mounts and tripods.

Top 360 Cameras on the Market

After thorough research, we have compiled a list of the top 360 cameras on the market. Each of these cameras offers unique strengths and features that cater to different 360 photography needs. The Insta360 ONE X2 and GoPro MAX are popular choices for their high resolution and image quality, as well as their user-friendly interface and advanced features such as hyper-lapse and bullet time. The Ricoh Theta Z1 offers exceptional image quality and stitching, making it a great choice for professional 360 photographers. The Vuze XR is a versatile camera that can capture both 360 and 180-degree content, and the Garmin VIRB 360 is a rugged and waterproof camera that is ideal for outdoor and adventure photography.

Insta360 ONE X3 ($364, B&H | Amazon)

The Insta360 gets one of our top recommendations because it is indeed one of the best all-around options. It offers good image quality for both 360° video and stillls, and a physically durable build quality. The interface is user-friendly, and yet the results are professional! Also consider the Insta360 X2 ($429) for those who want a little bit more.

Specifications:

• 5.7K dual-lens 360° auto-stitched video
• Touchscreen
• FlowState digital stabilization
• Waterproof to 33 ft (no housing required)
• Single-Lens camera mode

GoPro MAX ($499, B&H | Amazon)

The name GoPro is obviously the most well-known in the entire action camera genre. While their main line of cameras aren’t 360° cameras, the company did a great job with this one. The GoPro MAX is a bit like their Hero lineup, with impressive Hypersomooth digital stabilization for very active people, doing activities such as extreme sports etc. With features such as the ability to program different voice commands, the GoPro MAX truly is the best 360 camera for highly active videography.

Specifications:

• 5K (4992 x 2496) dual-lens 360° Video
• Hypersmooth digital stabilization
• Waterproof to 16 ft (without housing)
• Up to 14 voice commands
• Still photos up to 5.7K (5760 x 2880)

Ricoh Theta Z1 ($1,046, B&H | Amazon)

The Ricoh Theta looks similar to the “stick” type of 360° video cameras, however, it is also highly specialized for still photography! It offers DNG raw still images from its relatively large sensors, and the overall image qulaity is impressive. (Hence the price tag!) For those who are maybe looking for a good 360 camera for general use, but also considering doing professional work for real estate photography, the Ricoh Theta Z1 is an excellent choice.

Also consider the Rico Theta X ($796), which includes a touchscreen  and is a bit more user-friendly, though lacking the larger sensor of the Z1.

Specifications:

• 4K, 29.97p, 360° video
• Live streaming 360° in
• 3-axis image stabilization
• 51GB internal storage
• 23-megapixel DNG/JPG still photos

Vuze 4K 3D 360 Spherical VR Camera ($179-258, B&H | Amazon)

The Vuze products are definitely a first-gen way to get into 360, 3D, virtual reality videography. And by “first-gen”, you know that we mean they’re a really cool concept, but the results and experience do leave a bit to be desired. As such, we are recommending this camera simply because it is available at an incredible price compared to its original MSRP.

In other words, if you’re just looking for the best 360 camera and/or action camera, definitely go with the GoPro or the Insta360. However, this camera’s 8-lens, 4-microphone system is capable of delivering a true virtual reality experience, because it doesn’t just record from one camera angle, but two, in every direction. Other 360+VR options can cost many thousands of dollars, so for $179, we can’t not recommend the Vuze 4K 3D 360!

Specifications:

• 4K, 3D (two sets of 360 4K videos; one per eye)
• IP64 weather-resistant
• 4 microphones

Kandao QooCam 8K Enterprise 360 Camera ($1,999, B&H | Amazon)

As its name implies, this is one of the best 360 cameras for those who are looking to capture 8K video. Also, with such high resolution, (and a slightly larger sensor, and DNG raw still photo capture) …the Kandao QooCam is one of the best 360 VR cameras for real estate photographers, too! The QooCam 8K does offer in-camera stitching and HDR capture, making it an excellent choice for working professionals who want to photograph interiors from a tripod.

Specifications:

• 8K 30p, 4K 120p, 360° video
• 2.4″ touchscreen
• 6-axis gyro stabilization
• DNG raw still 20-megapixel images (680 x 3840)

[Related: Watch a Wedding in 3D VR 360° Virtual Reality!]

How to Choose the Best 360 Camera for Your Needs

To choose the best 360 camera for your needs, consider your specific photography and videography needs and preferences. Do you prioritize image quality, for potential professional use? Or are you mostly interested in a device that is effortless to use, so you can simply share short video clips or still images on social media? Are you looking for a camera that can withstand extreme environments, or will you mostly be in decent, controlled conditions? Are you working in low-light, or broad daylight?

Of course, it’s also important to try out different cameras out for yourself, if possible, and read in-depth reviews before making a decision. Ultimately, each of the cameras in this article are some of the best 360 cameras, however, there is definitely an optimal ONE for you.

Conclusion

In conclusion, choosing the right 360 camera is an exciting tool for capturing immersive and interactive photos and videos. When choosing a 360 camera, consider the key features, your specific needs and preferences, plus, try one out before making a decision. With the right 360 camera, you can capture the world around you and share it with others in an entirely new way!

Of course, not all memory cards are created equal. They come in different shapes and formats. They come in different sizes, AKA storage capacity. Also, of course, there are different brand names, as well as different transfer speeds and physical durability. Put all this together, and it can be intimidating to consider how it’s actually the memory card, and not your camera or lens, that is the final “point of (potential) failure” in capturing your photos!

When it comes to choosing which is the best memory card for photographers, it’s worth noting that the answer will change based on each photographer’s needs. Specifically, of course, what camera do you own, but also, what do you photograph?  With that in mind, here’s our guide to help you find the best memory cards for you.

Understanding Different Types of Memory Cards

If you’re new to photography, you should notice early on that your camera does clearly label which type or types of memory cards it can accept. There should be a basic label on the camera itself, plus the user manual will go into greater detail about memory card compatibility.

Some cameras only take one SD card, or two SD cards at once, while others may only take XQD, CFexpress, or other memory cards. Some cameras with dual card slots can use multiple memory card formats at once, such as SD and CFexpress.

What you still must figure out, however, is which version of the card that your camera uses is the best memory card to serve your needs. We intend to help you in both areas. Below, we’ll break down different memory card types and look at the strengths and weaknesses of each before sharing our picks for the best memory cards.

SD Memory Cards

Professional photographers and hobbyists alike use SD (Secure Digital) format memory cards. However, the specific acronym, “SD”, is actually outdated, as you’ll see next. It is important to remember this because you do not simply want to buy any SD card; you need to look for specific types. (Read on!)

SDHC Memory Cards

Again, SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards are an older type in the SD family. They were/are ideal for casual and aspiring photographers; more than good enough for everyday use. However, SDHC only comes in 8-32GB capacities, and we usually recommend 32-64GB as a bare minimum for most photographers who have a camera with 24 megapixels or more. So, once gain, read on!

SDXC Memory Cards

SDXC (Secure Digital Extended Capacity) is the current generation of the SD card format. SDXC comes with 64GB and higher capacity, as well as significantly greater speeds.

So, when a fellow photographer asks you, “Hey, can I borrow an SD card?” …they probably mean SDXC. However, again,  when shopping for memory cards, double check to make sure it says SDXC!

The SDXC memory card format is perfect for photographers and videographers of all types, from beginners to professionals. Even if your camera has 40+ megapixels, or captures 4K video, an SDXC memory card should be fine. Unfortunately, there is one more caveat, so read on…

SD Memory Card Speeds | UHS-I, UHS-II, V30, V90, U1, U3, …and more!

Now, this is where shopping for SD(XC) memory cards can get truly confusing and frustrating. Unfortunately, there are multiple ways in which SD card speed is measured/labeled.

First, there is what is called a “Speed Class” rating. As before, many of the slower, older speed classes are either discontinued and/or irrelevant to modern cameras, so we’ll skip right over the oldest speed ratings, and talk about UHS-I and UHS-II. (UHS stands for Ultra-High Speed)

Start by looking for SD cards with a “U3” rating. By comparison, a “U1” would be practically unusable on modern high-megapixel cameras, because it only guarantees a  transfer speed of 10 MB/s, and cameras these days can capture 50-75+ MB raw files at 10+ frames pre second. Yikes!

So, “U3” SD cards with a UHS-I and UHS-II speed rating are the bare minimum for most photographers. UHS-I should be fast enough for casual photographers, even with high-megapixel cameras. They usually reach up to 200 MB/s read speed, which is very respectable. Professionals or anyone who photographs fast action will likely want UHS-II, which we’ll get to in a minute.

Memory Card Read Speed VS Write Speed

It is important to insert this caveat now: memory cards have two different speed ratings: read speed and write speed! You may see “200 MB/s” displayed prominently on a memory card or packaging, but that could only be its read speed, which is the speed you get when transferring photos to your computer. The write speed, which is how fast your camera can save photos to the memory card, might be a LOT slower, unfortunately! So, always read the fine print when shopping for SD memory cards, and check both the read and write speeds. These days, most all photographers will want an SDXC UHS-I or UHS-II card that reaches 200-300 MB/s transfer speeds.

UHS-II SD Cards

Photographers who do a lot of high-speed or near-constant shutter clicking, (or high-quality 4K video) will want to shop exclusively for UHS-II SD cards. The best ones can offer not just 300 MB/s read speed, but also an impressive 299 MB/s write speed. (Impressive for SD, that is…)

Unfortunately, as if that wasn’t complicated enough, there is one more thing: a video-centric speed rating: “V30” or “V60”. Thankfully, this “V” rating is a bit more straightforward: V30 means a minimum of 30 MB/s write speed. V90, for example, means a minimum write speed of 90 MB/s.

Memory Card “X” Speed Ratings

A few memory card brands, (mostly Lexar) still also use yet another unhelpful speed rating, such as “1667X” or “1800X”. Unfortunately, these numbers don’t mean much, and again they may only denote a read speed, not a write speed. Therefore, we recommend ignoring these numbers completely; just look closely for the read & write speeds.

[Related: Memory Card Backup Tips For Surviving An Apocalypse]

microSDHC and microSDXC

The microSDHC and microSDXC formats are perfect for camera phones and action cameras, but we don’t generally recommend them for professional cameras because you’ll be relying on a (cheap plastic) adapter to write and read every single one of your photos.

Outdated: CompactFlash Memory Cards

Another card format that is becoming rarer because of upgraded versions is the CompactFlash. Before, this memory card format was common for almost all high-end DSLRs. However, the capacities and speed of SDHC and SDXC have made CF an outdated memory card format.

Outdated: CFast Cards Memory Cards

Don’t be fooled! The CFast memory cards are not compatible with the Compact Flash format, despite sporting the same structure and size. The CFast cards are known for being significantly higher speed than CF, however, both are now relatively obsolete. If you own a slightly older camera that uses CFast cards, or are considering buying one, you’ll want to keep this in mind.

XQD Cards

These memory card formats are limited only to some Nikon DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and Sony camcorders. At this point, camera manufacturers are not leaning toward this format, because CFexpress cards supersede it. But, XQD Cards are known for impressive performance for video recording and high-speed photography.

CFexpress Cards

For a high-speed, professional memory card, the current industry standard is CFexpress. Unfortunately, this memory card format is only available for selected high-end cameras such as the Sony A1, Nikon Z9, and Canon R3, plus a few others.

CFexpress cards come in two types: Type A and Type B. These two types are not interchangeable, and a camera that allows only a Type A card cannot operate with a Type B format, or vice versa.

CFexpress type A memory cards are unique in that they are physically similar to SD cards, though not exactly. A few cameras can accept both SDXC and CFexpress type A; mainly Sony, plus some Canon, but not all. CFexpress type B memory cards, on the other hand, share physical dimensions and connection formats with XQD; so, some cameras are compatible with both. (Mainly Nikon)

With these two different versions of the same memory card, (by name at last) it is definitely important to pay very close attention to which type of CFexpress card you are buying, and making sure it is compatible with your camera. Having said that, virtually all CFexpress cards are blindingly fast, with transfer speeds measured (theoretically) in the 1000’s of MB/sec.

NOTE: CFexpress type A cards have a theoretical maximum speed of 1000 MB/sec, while CFexpress type B cards reach up to 2000 MB/sec. Both are adequate for almost all types of photography

Now that we established the differences, strengths, and weaknesses of each memory card format, it’s time to delve into our best selections. You’ll discover the best memory cards for every format in the rest of the article below.

[Related: How To Recover A Damaged or Corrupt Memory Card}

Best SD Memory Cards

First, let’s start with the best SD cards. This format is definitely the most ubiquitous, and unfortunately, has the most options that you’ll probably want to avoid. (Remember what we wrote about read speeds VS write speeds.

SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I & UHS-II

If you need a well-rounded choice that combines performance, fast transfer speeds, and ample storage, at an affordable price, this SanDisk Extreme Pro selection is perfect for your needs.  We recommend it as the minimum investment, (Sandisk also makes “Extreme” and “Ultra”; avoid them!)

The incredibly affordable UHS-I Sandisk Extreme Pro SDXC cards (starting at $15-30 for 64-128GB capacities, respectively) may be tempting, however, we strongly recommend the Sandisk Extreme Pro UHS-II cards, for their significantly increased physical durability. (Click here to see a lot of broken SD cards!)

Although the UHS-II Sandisk card read speeds are similar, the significant increase in write speeds, plus the physical durability, are worth the price tag of $50-80 for 64-128GB cards.

Specifications:

• Card Type: SDXC UHS-II
• Storage capacity: 64GB to 1TB
• Read speeds: 200-300 MB/s
• Write speed: 90-260MB/s
• Ideal for: general & professional photography and video

[Related Reading: SanDisk Releases a 1TB Extreme Pro SDXC Memory Card]

ProGrade Digital 64GB-512GB UHS-II SDXC Memory Cards

ProGrade Digital is an all-professional memory card maker, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally buying an old, outdated, slow, or poor quality memory card. Their most affordable SD cards, the 128GB SDXC UHS-II, offers 250 MB/s read and 130 MB/s write, for $54 or just $98 for a 2-pack!

As a bonus for workflow compatibility, ProGrade Digital also makes high-speed memory card readers for your computer workflow, with 10 Gb/s USB3.2 (type-C) connections, as well as 40 Gb/s Thunderbolt 3. Last but not least, ProGrade has specialized software for both data recovery and checking the overall health of your memory card. Therefore, we recommend them for all professional photographers who might be at risk of reaching the standard 100,000-image read+write cycle lifespan of a memory card.

Specifications:

• Card Type: SDXC UHS-II
• Storage capacity: 64-512 GB
• Read speed: 250-300MB/s
• Write speed: 130-250 MB/s
• Ideal for: professional photographers who often shoot rapid-fire, high-volume, and high-resolution 8K and/or raw video.

Best CFexpress Memory Cards

For maximum speed, and of course professional reliability, we recommend these CFexpress Memory Cards.

SanDisk Extreme Pro CFExpress Card

Professional photographers looking for the best-performing CFExpress Type B memory card will do well with the SanDisk selection. It provides an astounding 1400MB/s to 1700MB/s read/write speeds, which only a few cards can keep up with.

Note that this class of CFexpress cards does have slightly varying speed ratings depending on the exact capacity. All of their speeds are more than enough for high-speed action photography and 8K/raw video, though.

Specifications:

• Card type: CFExpress Type B
• Storage capacity: Available in 64GB-1TB
• Read/Write speeds: Ranges from 800MB/s to 1700MB/s
• Ideal for: Professional photography & videograph

Lexar Professional CFExpress Type B Card

This memory card provides an excellent value option for professional photographers who need impressive performance without encountering any data issues. (Buffer clearing for stills, or video recording “skips”

The Lexar Professional memory card offers a remarkable read speed of 1750MB/s and a respectable (For CFexpress) write speed of 1000MB/s.

Specifications:

• Card type: CFExpress Type B Card
• Storage capacity: Ranges from 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB
• Read/Write speeds: 1000MB/s to 1700MB/s
• Ideal for: Professional photography

Sony Tough CFExpress Type A Memory Card

Since the main camera system using CFexpress Type A cards are Sony cameras, we strongly recommend Sony Tough cards. CFexpress Type A cards may be comparatively slower than Type B memory cards, however, they’re still multiple times faster than the fastest SDXC cards.

The Sony Tough CFexpress Type A memory cards provide an impressive 700-800MB/s speed that will carry you through almost any photography or videography session.

Specifications:

• Card Type: CFExpress Type A
• Storage capacity: 80-640GB
• Read/Write speeds: 700-00MB/s
• Ideal for: Professional photography/videography

Best CF Memory Cards

If you use a DSLR that accepts Compact Flash cards, here is our one and only recommendation; this is the tried-and-true memory card onto which we as a studio have recorded, no exaggeration, literally millions of photos:

SanDisk Extreme PRO CompactFlash

Because some cameras still utilize the CompactFlash format, choosing the best memory card that provides impeccable read/write speeds and storage capacity for your shooting needs is only fitting. The SanDisk Extreme PRO CompactFlash can sustain HD video capture and provide various storage capacities that suit your needs.

Specifications:

• Card Type: CompactFlash
• Storage capacity: Maximum of 256GB
• Read/Write speed: 150MB/s to 160MB/s
• Ideal for: Both photography and videography (4K raw videos)

Best microSD Memory Cards

Although we don’t recommend using them in professional cameras with an adapter, if you have a Gopro, Drone, or similar compact device, you’ll definitely want one of these…

Samsung Pro Endurance

Sticking true to its moniker, “Endurance,” this Samsung microSDXC memory card can store up to 43,000 hours of continuous video footage. It offers read/write speeds from 30MB/s to 100MB/s, which makes it a top-performing card.

Specifications:

• Card type: microSD (comes with an SD card adapter)
• Storage capacity: Up to 128GB
• Read/Write speed: 30MB/s to 100MB/s
• Ideal for: drones, GoPros, dashcams, home security cameras

Samsung EVO Plus microSDHC

Another budget option that provides peace of mind against damage or image loss is the Samsung EVO Plus microSDHC memory card. It comes with a standard SD adapter, so you can use it as storage for devices that only uses the SD card format, in a pinch.

This memory card provides a read/write speed from 30MB/s to 100MB/s, which is adequate for photography and filming on most phones. Additional security features include a 10-year limited warranty and hardening against damages.

Specifications:

• Card type: microSD (comes with an SD card adapter)
• Storage capacity: Available in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB
• Read/Write speeds: 30MB/s to 100MB/s
• Ideal for: everyday photography (cellular/mobile phone storage, etc)

The Best Memory Cards – XQD

A select few cameras such as certain Nikon DSLRs and early mirrorless such as the Nikon Z7 & Nikon Z6 cameras accept XQD cards. For these cameras, here are our recommendations:

Sony Professional XQD G Series

This memory card is suitable for high-quality 4K video recording and high-framerate photo drive modes up to 10 FPS and 45 megapixels. It provides a whopping read/write speed of 400MB/s to 450MB/s.

Specifications:

• Card type: XQD version 2
• Storage capacity: Available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB
• Read/Write speeds: 400MB/s to 450MB/s
• Ideal for: High-speed action, 4K video

The Best Memory Cards – CFast

SanDisk Extreme Pro CFast 2.0

Commonly utilized for professional videography, the CFast memory card has one of the most limited usability because this card is only used for the Canon EOS 1-D X Mark II and Hasselblad H6D-100C. If you own one of these, then you’ll want a SanDisk Extreme Pro CFast memory card.

Specifications:

• Card type: CFast
• Storage Capacity: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
• Read/Write speeds: 430MB/s to 525MB/s
• Ideal for: High-speed action and 4K videography

Conclusion | The Best Memory Card For Your Camera

Despite the overwhelming variety of memory cards available, your camera manufacturer will always be a reference point for which format to choose. You don’t have to get out your user manual every time you shop for a new memory card, though; just go by the guidelines outlined in this article, and the label on your memory card door.

Beyond that, the best memory cards for you as a photographer will depend on the genre of photography you shoot, as well as the frequency. Wedding photographers will potentially capture thousands of photos per week, for example, and will require more storage, faster speeds, and long-term durability. Most photographers, whether doing professional portraits or casual vacations or everyday photography, will get the best value out of owning just two (since everybody needs a backup, pro or not) …of whichever offers enough storage space and physical quality.

Knowing your own specific needs will give you criteria for your budget, storage capacity, and speed.  We hope that this list helps you with your search for the best memory cards. If you have a top pick that didn’t make a list, let us know in the comments below.