James Abbott

James Abbott

James Abbott is a professional photographer and freelance photography journalist. He contributes articles about photography, cameras and drones to a wide range of magazines and websites where he applies a wealth of experience to testing the latest photographic tech. James is also the author of ‘The Digital Darkroom: The Definitive Guide to Photo Editing’.

Articles by: James Abbott

photo book

Best free photo and video editing software for your new mirrorless camera of 2024

By James Abbott last updated

We list the best free photo and video editing software for your new mirrorless camera, to make it simple and easy to better manage the photos you take.

DJI Mini 3

DJI Mini 3 Review

By James Abbott last updated

The DJI Mini 3 delivers the excellent image quality of the Mini 3 Pro, but its relative affordability means certain safety compromises.

Nikon Z f camera on a vintage-style yellow chair

Nikon Zf review – a retro delight

By James Abbott last updated

The mirrorless full-frame Nikon Zf is more than its retro looks; it’s a powerful everyday camera with world-first AI-assisted tools.

HoverAir X1 PRO / PROMAX in flight

HoverAir X1 PRO review: the ultimate selfie drone

By James Abbott published

Recommended

With two options to choose from, the HoverAir X1 PRO and PROMAX deliver 4K and 8K video capabilities alongside solid selfie drone performance.

Sony A7R V on a multi-color background

Best cameras for landscape photography 2024: top picks for the great outdoors

By Timothy Coleman last updated

Looking for the best cameras for landscape photography? Our guide ranks all the best options and reveals how to pick the right one for you.

DJI Mini 4K and DJI Neo drones on plain colorful background

I'm a drone expert and trust me, the DJI Mini 4K is a better first drone than the DJI Neo – here are 5 reasons why

By James Abbott published

The DJI Neo may have taken the drone world by storm, but I think the DJI Mini 4K is the better choice for beginner pilots.

llano 18W Fast Dual USB Charger and llano NP-FZ100 compatible batteries

I'm fed up that cameras don't come with chargers anymore, but there's an ingenious solution for Canon and Sony

By James Abbott published

Camera kits often don't come with a charger, so in steps Llano with its tempting affordable multi-battery charger alternative for Canon and Sony cameras.

Kandao QooCam 3 Ultra in use

Kandao QooCam 3 Ultra review: the best 8K 360-degree camera?

By James Abbott published

Recommended

The Kandao QooCam 3 Ultra is an 8K 360-degree camera offering a range of features and functions that make it Kandao's most versatile consumer camera to date.

Kodak Ektar H35 at an angle on a gray sofa

Kodak Ektar H35 review: style over substance

By James Abbott published

If you're after a cheap and cheerful half-frame camera, then you can't go wrong with the Kodak Ektar H35. Just keep your expectations lo-fi.

DJI Neo in flight in front of trees

DJI Neo review: autonomous simplicity with a few surprises up its sleeve

By James Abbott last updated

Recommended

The versatile DJI Neo can be controlled in multiple ways and allows users to capture simple 4K video and 12MP JPEG photos with ease.

Polaroid Go 2 Polaroid Go 2 on a wooden floor

Polaroid Go 2 review: retro fun

By James Abbott published

The Polaroid Go 2 brings back the enjoyment of instant analog photography in a miniaturized format.

DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone in flight on a intermittent cloudy day

DJI Mavic 4: what we want to see

By James Abbott published

The rumored DJI Mavic 4 could be on the horizon now that the popular Mavic 3 series is three years old.

Olympus OM-1 Mark II

OM System OM-1 II review: the pint-sized powerhouse

By James Abbott published

Recommended

The Olympus OM-1 Mark II isn't a huge upgrade on its predecessor, but it's still a hugely impressive camera.

OM System M.Zuiko Digital 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS controls

OM System M.Zuiko Digital 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS review: double your reach

By James Abbott published

Recommended

An ultra-long OM System telephoto zoom offering incredible image stabilization for enthusiast wildlife photographers.

Holy Stone Sirius HS900 inflight against a cloudy sky

Holy Stone HS900 review: should DJI be looking over its shoulder?

By James Abbott published

Recommended

The Holy Stone HS900 is not only Holy Stone’s best-ever drone, but it also delivers features not commonly seen with similarly priced sub-250g drone models.

Manfrotto Elements MII tripod stood on grass supporting a mirrorless camera

Manfrotto Element MII Aluminium review: superb value

By James Abbott published

Great Value

Manfrotto Element MII Aluminium is a compact and fairly lightweight travel tripod ideal for those on a budget.

Vanguard VEO 3T+ 234CB travel tripod at minimum height

Vanguard VEO 3T+ 234CB travel tripod review: incredible versatility

By James Abbott published

Recommended

The Vanguard VEO 3T+ 234CB travel tripod is a versatile option with a unique feature up its sleeve, although it is heavy.

Gitzo tripod Traveler series 1 tripod folded away on concrete ground

Gitzo tripod Traveler series 1 review

By James Abbott published

Editor\'s Choice

The Gitzo tripod kit Traveler series 1 is a premium travel tripod kit offering excellent build quality and smooth operation.

3 Legged Thing Punks Brian 2.0 folded away and on a wooden table

3 Legged Thing Punks Brian 2.0 review: pro quality, competitive price

By James Abbott published

Editor\'s Choice

3 Legged Thing Punks Brian 2.0 is a travel tripod that offers pro-level build quality and features for an enthusiast price.

Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod at minimum height

Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod review

By James Abbott published

The Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod is a lightweight and compact travel tripod aimed at enthusiasts.

Peak Design Travel Tripod at minimum height

Peak Design Travel Tripod review – triumphant unique design

By James Abbott published

The Peak Design Travel Tripod features a unique design that makes it incredibly compact and lightweight.

SJCAM SJ20 Dual Lens Action Camera on a wooden floor

SJCAM SJ20 Dual Lens Action Camera Review: unfulfilled potential

By James Abbott published

The SJCAM SJ20 is the world’s first action camera to provide two cameras and lenses for daylight and night capture.

The Sony A7R V angled on a table

Sony A7R V review

By James Abbott last updated

Recommended

The Sony A7R V is a 61MP full-frame powerhouse with some powerful new autofocus features. Is it a Canon EOS R5 killer?

Photographer shooting landscape photography

I spent $500 on a geared tripod head, and here’s why you should, too…

By James Abbott published

After years of dithering, I finally treated myself to an expensive geared tripod head. And I don't regret a thing.

ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2024 screengrab to show the features and interface of this photo editing software

ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2024 review: an Adobe alternative, but it's not for pros

By James Abbott published

Recommended

Photo Studio Ultimate 2024 is a Windows-only image management, raw processing, and editing alternative to Adobe's offerings.

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