David Zhou Photography

26/07/2025

I tested 8 travel tripods and compared 29 data points to crown the BEST one for 2025. The results surprised me—and might surprise you too. Which tripod made it into my bag for Europe? 👀

In just a few days, Annette and I are off to Poland and Switzerland—and I need to decide which travel tripod earns a spot in my bag. So I put 8 tripods head-...

21/07/2025

The Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM I/II has long been the E mount gold standard for dreamy portraits—but what if you could get 95% of that look for a third of the price? Enter the Viltrox 85mm f/1.4 PRO. Over several weeks, I put this lens to the test across sharpness, bokeh, autofocus, build quality, and video performance. I think the results will shock you!

The Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM I/II has long been the E mount gold standard for dreamy portraits—but what if you could get 95% of that look for a third of the price?...

15/07/2025

Hot take: if you’re upset about this launch from Sony, you’re not the target audience. Also, is $5,000 for this camera a lot? Yeah. But, have you seen the prices of the rest of the tech industry skyrocketing because of the hostile trade environment? Also, yeah.

08/07/2025

📦 PRIME DAY DEALS ARE HERE! I just made a video on my favorite finds and I'd love to see what everyone else finds that are must-see deals! Heck, share your affiliate links if you've got them and drop them in the comment section!

Watch the full video here! 👉🏼 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB1tURgROog

01/07/2025

Lighting can make or break a cinematic scene—but what if you only had one light? In today's video, we challenged ourselves to create five cinematic lighting setups using just a single compact 100W RGB video light: the Zhiyun Molus X100 RGB, made in collaboration with Cam Mackey. Moody interiors, dramatic exteriors, car shots, to noir-style interrogation scenes, we’ll see how much is possible with limited gear and some creativity. We also break down what makes this little light special, what’s in the pro kit, and who this light is perfect for. Whether you're just starting your filmmaking journey or looking for a compact tool to add to your arsenal, this is one light you’ll want to see in action.

Lighting can make or break a cinematic scene—but what if you only had one light? In today's video, we challenged ourselves to create five cinematic lighting ...

25/06/2025

After years of relying solely on natural light for portrait photography, I finally decided to challenge myself by trying off-camera flash for the first time—using Neewer’s new Q4 and Q6 wireless strobes during a week-long trip to New York City. From locations like Central Park and East Village to an impromptu shoot at Fire Island. I also visited the B&H BILD Expo to see what Neewer’s working on next, making this video part tutorial, part travel vlog, and part behind-the-scenes look at learning a new skill on the fly!

Watch the full video here! 👇🏼

After years of relying solely on natural light for portrait photography, I finally decided to challenge myself by trying off-camera flash for the first time—...

18/06/2025

Today, we’re taking a look at the Sirui 20mm T1.8 anamorphic autofocus lens—image quality, build quality, and tons of sample footage! I was surprised by the image…

Today, we’re diving into the new Sirui 20mm T1.8 1.33x Anamorphic Autofocus Lens. I tested the Sirui 40mm autofocus anamorphic lens a few months back—with mi...

09/06/2025

This is easily the most unique and interesting camera backpack I’ve ever used 🤯 From its lightweight exoskeleton frame and 30-35L modular storage system to a full-blown 300Wh power station built right in, this backpack is something straight out of a sci-fi movie! And if that’s not enough, it even has a built-in "selfie stick" for mounting 360 cameras (or whatever you can think of with a 1/4 20" mount), turning this backpack into a hands-free content rig & mobile studio.

In today’s video, we’re taking a look at the Coalax Lancer 300 camera backpack, easily the most unique camera backpack I’ve ever used. From its lightweight e...

26/05/2025

🎤 The new Saramonic Ultra might be the most feature-packed wireless mic system yet.

• 32-bit float? ✅
• Timecode sync + jamming? ✅
• Internal recording with 8GB onboard? ✅
• Extended 300m range? ✅

In my latest video, I showcase everything it can do—and compare it head-to-head with my go-to systems: the RODE Wireless Pro, DJI Mic 2, and DJI Mic Mini!

The Saramonic Ultra wireless microphone system is a new competitor in the wireless mic scene, bringing 32-bit float internal audio recording, timecode sync a...

10/05/2025

Check out my new favorite key light for video productions, both for client work and for my YouTube channel—the SmallRig RC220B Pro! This light’s portability and versatile design make it an absolute game changer with the direct v-mount attachment, as well as the budget-friendly price tag. Ended up buying a second one because of how much I like it haha 🔥

Today, we're showcasing my new favorite key light for video productions, both for clients and for my YouTube channel—the SmallRig RC220B Pro. This light’s po...

28/04/2025

The Insta360 X5 is here with a big upgrade! In today’s video, we take a look at everything new with the X5: a much bigger 1/1.28” sensor, triple AI chip processing, better lowlight performance with PureVideo mode, and the new InstaFrame mode for faster edits!

The Insta360 X5 is here with a big upgrade! In today’s video, we take a look at everything new with the X5: a much bigger 1/1.28” sensor, triple AI chip proc...

26/04/2025

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