If you’re shooting with 35mm film in this digital age, you likely have a specific artistic application for the medium. To match your vision, it’s important to pick the right kind of film. Shopping for color negative film can be more challenging than for black-and-white film, even though there aren’t that many competitors on the market. Each brand manufactures its own emulsion formula that can produce different colors and tones for the exact same moment, so it’s good to be aware of exactly what you’re loading into your camera. Of course, the results will also depend on the kind of camera you use as well as your processing and developing methods. Still, it’s possible to assess a few general characteristics of color film. Get an introduction to our favorites below, then pick out a few and do your own experiments to find the ones that best suit your needs.

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ARTnews RECOMMENDS
Kodak Professional Portra 400 

We have zero hesitation in crowning Portra 400 the best choice among color films. As its name suggests, the professional-grade film is calibrated specifically for portrait photography, reproducing skin of all tones naturally, with a notable luminescence and pleasingly flat profile. Presenting a fine grain, it’s also a great choice for landscape photography and other genres too. Kodak is famous for bringing out yellow and red tones, and its Portra film is no exception, showcasing a lovely warmth without oversaturation. This also makes it easy to get a beautiful digital scan—and digital print—from your image. While ISO 400 is an excellent, versatile pick, Portra is also available in ISO 160 and 800.

WE ALSO LIKE
Fujifilm Superia X-Tra

Fujifilm’s distinguishing characteristic is right on the box. The Japanese brand’s film is known for bringing out greenish tinges as well as magentas, resulting in an overall cooler effect when compared with Kodak. Superia is our favorite of Fujifilm’s color films, for several reasons. For one thing, it’s available in a broad range of ISOs—100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600—so you can pick a roll for specific lighting conditions. Second, it’s an excellent general-purpose film that presents fine, tightly packed grains with pleasant definition. Superia’s viridescent tones look especially beautiful and punchy in natural light, so this is a film favored by street photographers; portrait shooters will want to look elsewhere, as skin tones—particularly light ones—won’t appear accurate.

ANOTHER GOOD CHOICE
Lomography Color Negative Film

If you want film that supports experimentation with color, light, and shadows, rolls from Lomography perfectly fit the bill. The 800 ISO color negative film produces saturated, otherworldly colors; in their vibrancy, they bring Instagram filters to mind. The grain is also ultrafine and offers excellent sharpness. To be honest, results can be a little unpredictable, but that’s certainly part of the reason why we like the brand. This isn’t film that we would use for every single project, but it’s fun to toss a roll into your camera every now and then to shake things up.

EDUCATORS’ CHOICE
Kodak Ultramax

Kodak’s Ultramax is a consumer-grade film that we love for its low price and fairly true-to-life tones. While we wouldn’t recommend it for professional use or serious students of photography, it is an excellent film for point-and-shoot snapshots. These rolls can be great for creative classroom projects if all you need is simple and straightforward documentation. Colors are nicely saturated (though not as much as with Lomography’s color film) while maintaining even tones, and the grain is visible (more so than Portra) but not prominent. Best used on sunny days, Ultramax can also handle overcast or even indoor settings relatively well.

ALSO CONSIDER
Fujifilm Fujicolor C200 

Fujifilm C200 has an ISO 200 rating, so you should reach for it only if you intend to shoot in well-lit spaces, or ideally the bright outdoors. Like Superia, it has a green cast, but even more notable at times are its magenta tones. Don’t worry: The resulting palette doesn’t look strange but remains natural. Colors are beautifully contrasted and even dreamy at times. The fine grain—noticeable but not distracting—results in photos that are crisp and full of detail.

When choosing film for black-and-white photography, the biggest things to consider are contrast and grain. Depending on your subject, you might be seeking stark differences between your grays, whites, and blacks, and certain film types will help you achieve that. Others will deliver more subtle effects. Certain film types will also show greater grain definition; this is affected by their sensitivity to light, as indicated by the ISO rating. The higher the number, the greater the sensitivity—and the larger the grain, generally speaking. One more factor to consider is processing flexibility. Some films can handle pull or push processing very well, which means developing at shorter or longer times to compensate for over- or underexposure. Ahead, find the five black-and-white 35mm film rolls that we like best.

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ARTNEWS RECOMMENDS
Kodak Professional Tri-X Pan 400

Used by some of the greatest photographers of the 20th century, Kodak’s Tri-X 400 is our favorite film to load for pretty much every situation. With an ISO of 400, it is capable of capturing scenes in environments with less-than optimal light. What makes it stand out from the competition, though, is its fine grain, which produces sharp, high-quality pictures. This film is distinctly high contrast, with deep blacks and clean whites. Tri-X is a forgiving film with amazing latitude, allowing you to play with exposures and still get pleasing results. In the darkroom, it can also be pulled and pushed to a great degree.

WE ALSO LIKE
Ilford HP5 Plus

Ilford’s HP5 is another 400 ISO film we like to keep stocked. Compared with Tri-X, it results in softer images overall, with more gradations of gray and blacks that are less intense. Though it is still fine grained, details don’t appear as defined as with our top pick. This is a fantastic film for capturing atmospheric scenes and flattering portraits. It can also be successfully pulled and pushed while retaining acceptable shadows and tones. All in all, it delivers an excellent tonal range and is nicely cooperative in the darkroom.

ANOTHER GOOD OPTION
Kodak T-Max

A newer film than its Tri-relative, Tmax was introduced in the 1980s as a film that offered a finer grain as well as less contrast. Unlike Tri-X, it’s available in ISO 100 and ISO 3200 in addition to ISO 400, giving you more options to better suit different lighting conditions. ISO 100 is ideal for super-bright light and produces images that look smooth; ISO 3200 produces a grainier look. Tmax images also tend to appear a little flatter than those shot with Tri-X, presenting a more uniform spread of mid-tones. One thing to note about this film is that it can be quite finicky in the darkroom, being sensitive to factors from agitation time to temperature. Be prepared for some experimentation before achieving the precise highlights and shadows you’re looking for.

PROFESSIONALS’ CHOICE
Kentmere 400

If you shoot a lot, consider this option. Kentmere’s continuous, 100-foot roll is the equivalent of more than 18 individual 36-exposure rolls and is a bargain for photographers who don’t mind spending time loading their own spools. You can use a bulk loader to load a desired length of film onto cassette spools; while the process can take some time, you’ll save a ton of money. Busy photographers can click away freely to ensure they get the shot while worrying less about wasting frames. Available in ISO 100 and 400, the film showcases visible but not pronounced grain and medium-high contrast.

ALSO CONSIDER
Lomography Berlin Kino Film

Inspired by the aesthetics of 1960s New German Cinema, the ISO 400 film has a high silver content, producing images with low contrast and highly prominent grain. Ideal for achieving melodrama in monochrome, this film produces moody, cinematic effects in low-light settings. 

On its annual Prime Day, which runs through midnight PST, Amazon is offering thousands of deals across all shopping categories.

To take advantage of most these deals, though, you have to be an Amazon Prime subscriber. Amazon Prime costs $14.99 a month. Its benefits include faster shipping on Amazon orders, discounts at Whole Foods, and access to Amazon’s streaming entertainment. As an alternative, you can pick up a free 30-day trial of Prime here in time to shop the sale.

See below for great deals on some of our favorite drawing and watercolor supplies, and don’t forget to check out discounts on electronics and other equipment for the studio here and here. Many of these deals are lightning deals, lasting only a few hours. These products go fast, so the time to snap them up is surely now.

Kuretake Japanese watercolors
Buy for $38.99 and save 35%

Buy: Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Watercolor 36 Colors Set, Handcrafted, Professional-Quality Pigment Inks for Artists and Crafters, AP-Certified, Blendable, Show up on Dark Paper, Made in Japan $38.99

Kuretake Japanese watercolors (graphite colors)
Buy for $12.99 and save 35%

Buy: Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Graphite Colors 6 color set, Dark Metallic Black, Watercolor Paint Set, Professional-quality for artists and crafters, water colors for adult, AP-Certified, Made in Japan $12.99

Sakura Pigma Micron pens
Buy for $12.59 and save 50% with a Prime membership

Grabie watercolor postcards
Buy for $12.59 and save 58% with a Prime membership

Buy: Grabie Watercolor Postcards, 100% Cotton, 24 Sheets, 4.1×5.9 Inches, 140lb (300gsm), Blank Note Cards for Watercolor Journal, Art Supplies for Thank You Notes, Invitations, and Greeting Cards $20.99

Prismacolor Premier colored pencils
Buy for $46.40 and save 23% with a Prime membership

Buy: Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils | Art Supplies for Drawing, Sketching, Adult Coloring | Soft Core Color Pencils, 72 Pack $53.41

Artograph EZ opaque projector
Buy for $39.99 and save 20% with a Prime membership

Buy: Artograph EZ Tracer® Opaque Art Projector For Wall or Canvas Image Reproduction – Light Bulb Not Included $49.99

Pepy watercolor paint set
Buy for $7.96 and save 33% with a Prime membership

Buy: Pepy Watercolor Paint; Set of 12 Colors; Includes Brush & Closable Mixing Tray, Multicolor $9.95

Winsor & Newton Cotman pocket watercolor set
Buy for $18.30 and save 20% with a Prime membership

Buy: Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set, Field Pocket Set, 12 Half Pans w/ Brush, Sponge, Bottle $20.98

Sakura Cray-Pas oil pastel set
Buy for $9.83 and save 33% with a Prime membership

Buy: SAKURA Cray-Pas Expressionist Oil Pastel Set – Soft Oil Pastels for Artists – 25 Colors $12.29

Mungyo soft pastels
Buy for $6.64 and save 20% with a Prime membership

Buy: MUNGYO Non Toxic Square Chalk, Soft Pastel, 32 Colors $8.30

Cretacolor oil pastel drawing set
Buy for $11.00 and save 38% with a Prime membership

Buy: Cretacolor Oil Pencil Drawing Set of 6, Oil Pencil Tin box Set of 6,Multi $11.72

MozArt watercolor brush set
Buy for $11.03 and save 15% with a Prime membership

Buy: Watercolor Brushes – 10 Paint Brushes of different sizes – Professional Watercolor Brushes Set – For Artists, Kids, Students – Ideal for Acrylic Painting, Tempera, Oil, Watercolor and Gouache Painting $14.99

Derwent Inktense pencil set
Buy for $85.84 and save 60% with a Prime membership

Buy: Derwent Inktense Pencils Tin, Set of 72, Great for Holiday Gifts, 4mm Round Core, Firm Texture, Watersoluble, Ideal for Watercolor, Drawing, Coloring and Painting on Paper and Fabric (2301843) $100.99

.

What’s Amazon Prime Day?

Every year, Amazon’s Prime Day offers thousands of deals on the site’s products, from electronics to books and art supplies. This year, the 48-hour event began at 3 am PDT yesterday, July 11 and will conclude at 11:59 pm PDT tonight, July 12. NOTE THAT ALL TIMES ARE PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME.

What’s the Catch?

To get access to the deals (or most of the deals), however, you have to be an Amazon Prime subscriber.

Amazon Prime costs $14.99 a month or $139 a year. Its benefits include faster shipping on Amazon orders, discounts at Whole Foods, and access to Amazon’s streaming entertainment. You can also pick up a free 30-day trial of Prime here in time to shop the sale.

What Will Be on Sale?

Prime Day has deals across all of Amazon’s categories, including tools and tech for artists. Many of these deals are Lightning Deals, lasting only a few hours. A word of advice: Move fast, as the most desirable products will sell out quickly.

This year, Amazon has created a way to (maybe) get ahead of the line on deals. Its new “Invite-Only Deals” program will allow members to request an invitation to snag products that are expected to sell out. But you’ll have to go to that product’s page and click on the “Request Invite” button. Amazon says it does this for products where quantities are limited, and also that they will not be able to grant all requests. If you are invited, you’ll be able to buy this item (only one per customer!) at the deal price during the Prime Day Event.

What’s On Sale Today?

We’ve found great deals on some of our favorite products for the home and studio. Many, but not all, are only available to Prime members. See our picks below and check back in with us often to find Prime Day deals and discounts. Happy browsing!

***NEW!*** Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Wireless Earbuds
Buy for $199.00 and save 20%.

Buy: Apple AirPods (2nd Gen) Wireless Earbuds $199.00

These Apple earbuds have smart noise-cancelling technology, which allows for a more immersive listening experience. But when you need to hear the world around you, its adaptive transparency feature will adjust for intense noise—like sirens or construction—in real time. You can also control the spatial aspect of the audio as well as play and pause, answer calls, and more. The set includes four pairs of silicone tips (XS, S, M, L) for a comfortable fit.

***NEW!*** Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) Wireless Earbuds with Bluetooth and lightning charging case
Buy for $89.99 and save 30%

Buy: Apple AirPods (2nd Gen) Wireless Earbuds $89.99

If you’re on a budget, this set of AirPods might fit the bill, and they’re now 30%! Each charge will give you more than 24 hours listening time. They are also easy to set up and switch between devices.

***NEW!***SwissGear 17-Inch Laptop Backpack
Buy for $66.57 and save 26% with a Prime membership

Buy: SwissGear 1900 Scansmart TSA 17-Inch Laptop Backpack, Gray/Black $88.70

If you’re like many artists we know, you need a laptop backpack. SwissGear makes a number of high quality, inexpensive models, like this one, which is now even cheaper. It’s roomy enough to safely carry both a 17-inch laptop, (or smaller) and a 10-inch tablet, since it has pockets for both. And it has lots of other compartments to keep all your supplies organized when you’re on the go. Padded shoulder straps make it comfortable for long distances.

***NEW!*** Amazon Smart Plug
Buy for $12.99 and save 48% with a Prime membership

Buy: Amazon Smart Plug | Works with Alexa | control lights with voice | easy to set up and use $24.99

This smart plug allows you to turn on your devices, lights, fans, appliances, and more using Alexa voice-control technology. It’s simple to use and easy to set up and its trim design also doesn’t block the second outlet.

***NEW!*** Samsung Galaxy Android Tablet
Buy for $279.00 and save 15%

Buy: SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A8 10.5” 128GB Android Tablet, LCD Screen, Kids Content, Smart Switch, Expandable Memory, Long Lasting Battery, US Version, 2022, Dark Gray $279.00

This very capable, easy-to-use Android tablet has a 10.5-inch LCD touchscreen, 128GB of storage, and a long-lasting battery, which makes it ideal for travel. And, if you do need to charge it, it has a fast-charging USB-C port. It also comes with Smart Switch, which lets you move your data and files in three simple steps.

***NEW!*** iWalk Small Portable Charger
Buy for $20.99 and save 30% with a Prime membership

Don’t miss that curator’s call because you forgot to charge your iPhone. This compact power pack is compatible with almost all iPhone models as well as AirPod cases and comes with a USB-C cable.

***NEW!*** Logitech Pop Wireless Bluetooth mouse
Buy for $19.99 and save 50% with a Prime membership

Buy: Logitech POP Mouse, Wireless Mouse with Customizable Emojis, SilentTouch Technology, Precision/Speed Scroll, Compact Design, Bluetooth, Multi-Device, OS Compatible – Heartbreaker Rose $39.99

Yes it is coral colored. But this wireless mouse also has a precision/speed scroll and SilentTouch technology, letting you work without disturbing others. And you can connect it to up to 3 devices on Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, or Android and toggle between screens with its Easy-Switch button. (For Windows and macOS only).

***NEW*** Sony Alpha A6600 Mirrorless Camera
Buy for $998.00 and save 29%

Buy: Sony Alpha A6600 Mirrorless Camera $998.00

If you’re looking for a Sony mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera, this model should fit the bill. While it is a few years old and does not have a full-frame sensor, it is a fantastic camera and a great tool for any artist or photographer. Best of all, it is now under $1000. It has a 24.3-megapixel APS-C sensor, can fire off photos at 11 frames per second (in burst mode) and can also capture video resolution at full-HD 1080 res at 60p. For composing your shots, it comes with both an excellent OLED electronic viewfinder and a 3-inch swiveling display. Even with all these features, it is lightweight, making it the perfect travel companion. Note: this deal is for the body only, but you should be able to get a good Sony lens at a reasonable price.

***NEW***SanDisk 512GB Memory Card with Adapter
Buy for $39.99 and save 63% with a Prime membership

Buy: SanDisk 512GB Extreme microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card with Adapter – Up to 190MB/s, C10, U3, V30, 4K, 5K, A2, Micro SD Card – SDSQXAV-512G-GN6MA $48.75

Pick up this SanDisk microSDXC memory card for less than half price! It’s capable of storing scores of photos taken with phones, GoPros, point-and-shoots or mirrorless digital cameras. What’s nice is that it can also capture lots of 4K- and 5K-resolution video (as well as video shot at lower resolutions). And it is speedy when downloading media to your laptop or other devices. It comes with a full SDXC-sized adapter, so you can use your micro card with devices other than those made for microSDXC cards.

***NEW*** Google Pixel 7 Pro 5G Android Phone
Buy for $649.00 and save 28% with a Prime membership

Buy: Google Pixel 7 Pro – 5G Android Phone – Unlocked Smartphone with Telephoto/Wide Angle Lens, and 24-Hour Battery – 128GB – Obsidian $899.00

If you’re not interested in owning an Apple iPhone but you still want a stylish design and powerful camera features, the Google Pixel 7 Pro might be for you. It’s powered by Google’s Tensor G2 sensor, which is faster, more efficient, and more secure, and comes with a 6.7-inch display and a 120Hz refresh rate, for smoother, more responsive performance. It also has a very good photo and video capabilities.

***NEW*** Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Sleep Tracker
Buy for $151.05 and save 46% with a Prime membership

Buy: SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 5 40mm Bluetooth Smartwatch w/Body, Health, Fitness and Sleep Tracker, Improved Battery, Sapphire Crystal Glass, Enhanced GPS Tracking, US Version, Gray $159.00

This Samsung Galaxy watch for helping you get better quality sleep, with its advanced sleep coaching feature. Also includes workout tracking and sensors to read your body mass index. It also comes with stronger, sapphire crystal glass face, which is great for those who work with their hands. Also syncs with Samsung Galaxy mobile devices.

***NEW*** Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (2022 release)
Buy for $54.99 and save 45% with a Prime membership

Buy: Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet, 8” HD Display, 32 GB, 30% faster processor, designed for portable entertainment, (2022 release), Black $99.99

For artists on a budget looking for a tablet for streaming video, this Android tablet is ideal. It offers a battery life of 13 hours for reading, surfing, streaming, or listening. You can download shows and movies from Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, and HBO and also access content from Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, TikTok, and more via Amazon’s Appstore. But you should take note that this version doesn’t have super high resolution, doesn’t support Google Play, and also displays sponsored screensavers on your device’s lockscreen. Nevertheless, it’s a really great buy if you’re looking to save money.

Get 31% off a two-pack of GE Lighting Smart LED Light Bulbs -BUY FOR $17.24

Buy: GE Lighting CYNC Smart LED Light Bulbs, Soft White, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, Works with Alexa and Google Home, A19 Bulbs (2 Pack) $17.24

You can control these bulbs using voice control (like Alexa or Google Assistant) or, if you are out of the house, using the Cync app. You can also use the Cync app to set your bulbs to gradually turn on in the morning for a gentle wake-up.

Save 24% on an Apple iPad (9th Generation)-BUY FOR $249.00

Buy: Apple iPad (9th Generation): with A13 Bionic chip, 10.2-inch Retina Display, 64GB, Wi-Fi, 12MP front/8MP Back Camera, Touch ID, All-Day Battery Life – Space Gray $249.99

If you don’t want to spend a ton of money on an Apple iPad, consider this model with a 10.2-inch Retina display, A13 Bionic chip, Wi-Fi, 64GB of storage, Touch ID, and a wide front camera with Center Stage. It’s now 15% off.

Get 25% off an Apple 2020 MacBook Air Laptop-BUY FOR $749.00

Buy: Apple 2020 MacBook Air Laptop M1 Chip, 13″ Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, FaceTime HD Camera, Touch ID. Works with iPhone/iPad; Space Gray $749.00

Apple MacBook Air laptops are very light and portable but packed with features, and this model is also an excellent performer with great battery life. It boasts 8GBs of memory, making it speedy and responsive, and a sharp display with excellent color accuracy. And, since it’s a Mac, it very easy to use.

Save between 30% and 41% on all Amazon Kindle models. Prices range from $167.97 to $365.97 with a Prime membership

Buy: Kindle Oasis Essentials Bundle including Kindle Oasis (Graphite, Ad-Supported), Amazon Fabric Cover, and Power Adapter $204.97

Looking for an Amazon Kindle that you can take to the beach or on vacation to read the latest art novel? For the next three days only, members can find some great deals on select Amazon Kindles—Scribe, Paperwhite, Oasis—with discounts from 30% to 41%. We especially like this $204.97 deal on the waterproof Kindle Oasis, which will let you both read and listen to Audible without worrying about getting it wet.

Get 21% off a Keurig Single Serve Pod Coffee Maker-BUY FOR $149.78

Buy: Keurig K-Elite Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, Brushed Gold $149.78

Get your day in the studio with a cup of coffee!. This compact Keurig lets you brew one 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, or 12-ounce cup of coffee. Plus, you can increase the strength for a bolder cup of coffee.  It also has a hot water on-demand button, which is great for instant soups or oatmeal.

Save 50% on an Echo Show 5 smart display-BUY NOW for $44.99 with a Prime membership.

Buy: All-new Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen, 2023 release) | Smart display with deeper bass and clearer sound | Cloud Blue $44.99

These types of consumer-targeted IoT devices offer a lot of services these days, all in a rather simple interface. The Echo Show 5 is one of the best, providing you with the ability to set timers, schedules, playlists, etc. Photos are a big part of the fun—the Echo Show allows you to display photos from various albums, and it also has a built-in camera, for you to check in on things at home. You can use it to make video calls, too, and it includes privacy features, to control what others can see.

And don’t forget these deals, which are still available:

Get 43% off a 50-Inch Hisense 4K Smart TV-BUY FOR $299.00 with a Prime membership

Buy: Hisense 50-inch ULED U6HF Series Quantum Dot QLED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (50U6HF) $299.99

Save 75% on a 43-Inch Amazon 4K Smart TV -BUY FOR $99.00 with a Prime Membership (Invite-Only Deal)

Buy: Amazon Fire TV 43″ Omni Series 4K UHD smart TV, hands-free with Alexa $99.99

Get 56% off an Amazon eero Pro Mesh WiFi Router-BUY FOR $69.99 with a Prime Membership

Buy: Amazon eero Pro mesh WiFi router $69.99

Get 55% off JBL Over-Ear Noise-Cancelling Headphones-BUY FOR $89.95 with a Prime membership (Invite-Only Deal)

Buy: JBL Live 660NC – Wireless Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones with Long Lasting Battery and Voice Assistant – Black $89.95

Stay tuned to this page for more up-to-the-minute information on great deals for artists!

Amazon Prime Day started yesterday and runs through midnight tonight, with big discounts on tech devices for the home and studio. But you can also find deals at other retailers like Target, Walmart, and Adorama, where we are seeing some great bargains on cameras, printers, and more.

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ADORAMA DEALS

You’ll find exceptional deals at Adorama, including some on pro-level camera gear:

***NEW!*** Canon Imageclass MF113w Wireless Laser Printer
Buy for $149.00 and save 31%

Gallerists! If you often print out text documents, a black-and-white laser printer like this one, which uses toner rather than ink cartridges, can save you a lot of money. The Canon MF113w produces excellent quality copies very quickly—up to 23 pages per minute. You can use it as a scanner and copier too. It has connections for Ethernet, USB, and Wi-Fi.

***NEW!*** Joby GorillaPod 5K Tripod Kit
Buy for $79.99 and save 60%

Photographers! Joby has been making its inventive GorillaPod tripods for more than 15 years, and they just seem to get better. The GorillaPods have three legs that are super flexible, so you can wrap them around many different things, like a fence or a pole, and they’ll hold your camera securely in place. This model also has two 6-socket GorillaPod arms, plus 2 Cold Shoe mounts and 1 GoPro mount.

***NEW!*** Asus 15.6-Inch Laptop
Buy for $679.99 and save 31%.

This Asus VivoBook laptop is slim and lightweight, and includes a textured finish. But there’s more to it than just good looks: Powered by an 11^th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and with 16 GB memory and Intel Iris Xe graphics, the S15 S533EA can handle a wide array of tasks. This model also comes with a 512 GE PCIe SSD drive, so you can access your documents, content and media quickly. It’s loaded with Windows 10 Home OS, but you can get a free upgrade to Windows 11.

***NEW!*** Nikon Z 6II Mirrorless Camera with 24-70mm Lens
Buy for $2,296.95 and save $300.

This camera, which has gotten rave reviews on many camera sites, has a 24.5MP BSI sensor, excellent autofocus, and a 5-axis image stabilization system. It can also fire off 14 frames per second in continuous mode and can capture 4K-resolution video at 60p. There are two memory-card slots: one that uses CFExpress (Type B) or XQD cards and the other, which accepts standard SD cards. You can even connect it wirelessly to your smartphone and laptop. This kit also ships with a 24-70mm lens, which is just shy of a 3x optical zoom, provides you with both a wide-angle view, useful for landscapes and candids, and the ability to zoom in to 70mm, which is great for portraits and still-life photos. It also comes with Capture One 23 Pro image-editing software, Green Extreme EN-EL15c, ProOptic filter kit, ProOptic glass screen protector and a ProOptic cleaning kit.

Sony a7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera with 28-70mm Lens and External Flash
Buy for $1,698 and save 23%

Although this Sony Alpha camera, which was introduced in 2018, might not have the very latest imaging technology, it’s still an incredibly capable full-frame mirrorless camera. The a7 III has a 24.2-megapixel Exmor R back-illuminated CMOS sensor, a powerful BIONZ X image processing engine, an ISO range of ISO 100-51200 (which is also expandable to ISO 50-2048007 for still photos), an excellent image stabilization system (for 5 steps of compensation), and can capture 4K-resolution videos. Plus, it comes with both a 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS lens and an external flash, to give you flexibility in low-light situations.

Canon PIXMA TS202 Inkjet Printer
Buy for $53.00 and save 32%

Every studio and home office needs a reliable printer, and we like this inkjet printer from Canon for everyday tasks. The TS202 is easy to set up and uses only two ink cartridges. In addition to printing documents, it can produce borderless 4-x-6-inch color photos, and has a quiet mode to avoid disturbing others.

Canon EOS M200 Creator Kit with Tripod Grip & EF-M 15-45mm Lens, Black W/ACC KIT
Buy for $549.00 and save 15%

Smart phones are fine for shooting casual candids and selfies. But if you’re looking to step up the quality of your images and videos, a mirrorless camera is a great choice. This bundle includes a Canon EOS M200 mirrorless digital camera, which sports a 24.1 Megapixel CMOS APS-C sensor and a Canon EF-M 15-45mm lens, plus a boatload of great accessories, including a Slinger shoulder bag, a ProOptic filter kit, a SanDisk Ultra memory card, a ProOptic cleaning kit, and Corel software. 

WALMART DEALS

Walmart is offering impressive discounts, including these deals:

***NEW!*** Chromecast with Google TV
Buy for 39.99 and save 20%

This device provides you with an easy way to quickly stream content—including from all your subscriptions—in 4K resolution and with HDR. It also includes 6 months of Peacock Premium ($29.94 value) for free. And you can use Google Assistant to to search for specific movies and shows. It’s compatible with most HDTVs with an HDMI port, but you will need to connect to a Wi-Fi network and have a Google account set up.

***NEW!*** Samsung 15-Inch Galaxy Book2 Pro Laptop
Buy for $929.00 and save 23%

This lightweight laptop is definitely designed for the artist who needs a pro quality computer that is also easy to carry. The Galaxy Book2 Pro has 512 GBs of solid-state storage, so you’re less apt to suffer an unexpected crash as you would with a hard drive. Its 15.6-inch AMOLED screen delivers crisp images and vibrant colors, and its combined fast SSD, LPDDR5 memory solution, and advanced cooling system allow it to handle almost any workload. It also has a webcam that captures full HD and the audio offers clear sound as well as intelligent noise cancelling for all your Zoom calls. Windows 11 Home OS included.

***NEW!*** TCL 55″ Smart TV
Buy for $298.00 and save 57%.

In terms of size, this 55-inch HDTV falls between gigantic and compact. Its image quality is very good, with vibrant colors and sharp detail. It also has TCL’s Quantum Dot technology and HDR with Dolby Vision for better brightness and contrast. It comes with voice control features as well as a Roku OS, which provides access to streaming channels, your cable box, your Blu-ray player, and your gaming consoles. And it is equipped with 4 HDMI inputs (1 eARC) and a 802.11ac Dual-band WiFi & Ethernet port.

***NEW!*** Roku Streaming Stick 4K
Buy for $34.00 and save 28%

For plug-in-and-play simplicity, this top-notch, inexpensive 4K streaming stick now costs even less. It’s also faster and more powerful than ever with a newly redesigned long-range Wi-Fi receiver.

Lenovo Legion T5 Gaming Tower
Buy for $799.00 and save 47% (early access until noon on July 11 for Walmart+ members)

This Lenovo is a desktop with a lot of power for gaming or content creation. It is expertly engineered, with the latest gaming processors and discrete graphics. It also includes AMD’s Ryzen 7 5700G Octa-core (8 Core) 3.80 GHz, 16 GB RAM DDR4 SDRAM, 1 TB hard drive, and 256GB M.2 PCI Express NVMe 3.0 SSD. It runs on the Windows 11 home operating system.

Acer Nitro 31.5″ 1500R Curved FHD (1920×1080) Monitor
Buy now for $129.00 and save 44% (early access until noon on July 11 for Walmart+ members)

The Acer Nitro ED320QR is a 31.5-inch curved monitor that provides excellent definition whether you’re gaming or working on spreadsheets. And its 75Hz refresh rate and contrast ratio of 100,000,000:1 ensure that image and video quality remain crisp. It also has an adjustable tilt to give you the best possible viewing angle.

Apple Watch Series 8 GPS 41mm Silver Aluminum Case with White Sport Band – S/M
Buy for $329.00 and save 18%

This version of the Apple Watch (Series 8) comes with some intriguing health sensors and apps that let you measure your heart rate and blood oxygen. It even has a crash detection sensor. You can also use it to make calls, send texts or emails, and listen to your favorite music or podcast with just a few taps. Plus, it has excellent battery life.

TARGET DEALS

If you’re a Target circle member, you can access some deep discounts, including deals on these items:

***NEW!*** Bose Portable Speaker
Buy for $105.99 and save 29% off

This lightweight wireless speaker is easy to set up and use. It’s also waterproof and dustproof, so you can take it just about anywhere. It offers up to 12 hours of unplugged listening time on a single charge. It also has a built-in microphone, which lets you make calls or access phone’s smart assistant.

***NEW!*** Lenovo Flex 14″ Convertible Laptop
Buy for$539.99 and save 36%.

This laptop, with a keyboard that can swing out of sight, is designed for people who want the flexibility to use their laptop as a computer and as a tablet. It comes with Windows 11 Home 64, 8GB soldered LPDDR4x-4266 RAM, and 256GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 4.0×4 NVMe of storage. It also has 3 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Alexa voice controls, 3 USB ports, and an HDMI port.

Beats Studio3 Over-Ear Noise Canceling Bluetooth Wireless Headphones
Buy for $199.99 and save 43%

These lightweight wireless over-the-ear headphones are designed for long-term comfort and let you take calls, skip songs, control volume and activate Siri using the convenient multi-function on-ear controls. A 22-hour battery life means you get a full day of use without needing to recharge them.

JBL Xtreme 3 Portable Bluetooth Waterproof Speaker 
Buy now for $279.99 and save 26% off

Take your party anywhere with a wireless speaker! And if it’s waterproof, like this one from JBL, you won’t even need to worry about the weather. With 15 hours of play time.

When Bruce Springsteen sang, “Maybe everything that dies some day comes back,” he wasn’t singing about digital photo frames. But he might as well have been. Several years ago, digital photo frames were nearly impossible to find either in brick-and-mortar stores or online, but they’ve made a remarkable comeback. And the new models are not like the picture frames of the past, which didn’t do a great job of displaying photos, had clunky interfaces, were not very versatile, and could be pricey. Today’s models have improved quite a bit, with more features and the ability to display and play video clips, and some can be connected to a cloud service or a cellular phone plan. In fact, at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, in Las Vegas, LG introduced a wall-mounted air conditioner that included a digital photo frame on its front.

In many ways, the explosion of products for the “smart,” internet-connected home has helped pave the way for a renaissance of digital photo frames. It’s one of the reasons companies are continuing to innovate in the photo frame market, including digital frames with new features that make them easier to use, improve picture quality, and take advantage of in-home wireless networks.

The following are some of the best models currently available, in a range of price points.

Simple Budget Photo Frame: Aluratek 8-Inch LCD Digital

This inexpensive photo frame from Aluratek doesn’t have many features, and its image resolution, at 800 x 600 pixels, is a bit low. It also doesn’t have many physical buttons or switches—just a few controls on the back of the frame—but it’s very easy to use and sets up quickly. You will need a memory card (up to 32 GBs) or thumb drive to store your photos on this 8-inch frame.

Smart-Home Controller With Photo Frame: Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)

Many smart displays go well beyond the intent of the earliest digital photo frames, which was simply to display images. Take the Google Nets Hub, which is easy to hook up to photos stored on Google Photos. It doesn’t have the highest resolution—1,024 x 600 pixels—and the screen is just 7 by 5 inches, but that means this wireless device will fit almost anywhere. Not to mention it can help you do things around the house—like switch on lights, lock doors, and turn up the thermostat.

Frame for Easy Photo Sharing: Aura Carver

To use this attractive frame, you simply send your photos and videos directly to it from your phone. Then you can invite family and friends to add their photos too. Setup is relatively easy (provided you have Wi-FI access) via the free Aura app, which is compatible with both Apple and Android devices. One downside to this frame is that it shows pictures only in landscape orientation; it doesn’t offer a portrait option. However, it does use AI to pair portrait-oriented photos, which is a clever work-around. Like a number of other frames, it can adjust the photo brightness with auto-dimming technology and can shut the frame off at night. It includes a built-in speaker for video clips with audio.

Touchscreen Frame With Wi-Fi: Nixplay 10.1-inch Touchscreen Smart Digital Picture Frame

Although it’s a bit pricey, what’s nice about this frame is that you can interact with it in the same way you might with an Apple iPad or other tablet, since it has a touchscreen. It also has HD resolution (1,280 x 800), so images and video are pretty sharp. Plus, when you download the frame’s mobile app (compatible with both iOS and Android), you can connect to Facebook, Instagram, and Dropbox to access photos and media stored on those services. The frame can also display photos in either landscape or portrait orientation.

Frame With 2K Resolution: Aura Mason Luxe

This Wi-Fi frame is a big jump up in cost, but that’s because it offers 2K image resolution (2,048 x 1,536), which means photos and video clips will look crisp and sharp. To display your photos, you’ll first need to download the company’s mobile app (like the Aura Carver, it’s compatible with both Apple and Android devices.); then you can show an unlimited number of photos or videos from your camera roll. (You can also use Google Photos online.) This frame doesn’t have any onboard storage or allow the use of a memory card or thumb drive with it. However, unlike the Carver, you can orient it in either portrait or landscape mode.

Large Photo Frame: Pix-Star 15-Inch Digital Photo Frame

If size is more important to you than crystal-clear resolution, consider this photo frame from Pix-Star. Its 15-inch IPS LED screen is larger than most, and the colors and tones in its images look quite good. However, it provides just 1,024 x 768 pixel resolution, which means if you’re examining images up close, you won’t see a lot of detail. Like a number of other frames, this Wi-Fi picture frame comes with a free online account, with which you can manage up to 25 frames remotely. It also comes with 8 GB of internal storage.

Jumbo Fine-Art Smart Photo Frame: Netgear Meural Canvas II

If you’re looking for a much larger frame, closer to the size of artwork you might see in a gallery or museum, the Netgear Meural Canvas II may fit the bill. This model, which includes smart technology features, is among the largest available, with a diagonal display of 27 inches. The frame is also available in four finishes—black, dark wood, light wood, or white. You can use the Meural app (compatible with iOS or Android) to do a variety of tasks, such as scheduling display times or adjusting settings. You can also control the frame via voice controls since it supports Amazon Alexa. In terms of resolution, it’s essentially a 1080p full high-definition display, with an antiglare finish and adjustable backlighting. It connects to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies and can be displayed in vertical (portrait) or horizontal (landscape) orientations. Another feature that’s intriguing, although will cost you extra, is that you can subscribe to Meural’s digital library and get access to more than 30,000 works of fine art. Membership is $69.95 annually.

Super-Size 4K-Resolution Smart Digital Photo Frame: Samsung “The Frame” LS03B Series Smart TV

Artists, collectors, and art lovers who want to see more detail in the images or video clips their digital frames display will simply need more pixels. Samsung’s The Frame, with a 43-inch 4K-resolution display, provides just that. It’s expensive, but it’s really a 4K HDTV, and that’s the main reason it offers more resolution. Its display is 3,840 x 2,160, so your images and video look super sharp. The screen also has antireflection technology and a matte finish to minimize glare. Like most 4K smart HDTVs, this model comes with lots of ports, including 4 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, an Ethernet connection, and more. This TV/frame also is available in six other sizes, from 32 inches all the way up to 85.

You’ve likely noticed when shopping for a sewing machine that there are endless options. There isn’t one machine that is perfect for everyone. Artists, quilters, crafters, designers, and students all have different needs, and some have multiple sewing machines that serve different purposes. When deciding what machine to buy, ask yourself what you need the machine for. Will it make your craft easier? Do you have the space for it, and does it make sense financially? To help you decide if you have the best machine for what you want to sew, or whether you should add another machine to your sewing room, this roundup reviews different types of machines and whose needs they serve best.

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The Brother SM1400 is lightweight, sturdy, and great for beginners and crafters. Weighing only 12 pounds, this machine is highly portable, whether you’re moving it in and out of a storage closet or taking it with you when traveling. The SM1400 has 14 built-in stitches including a buttonhole, automatic bobbin winding, and a backstitch lever. It has all the basic features one looks for in a beginner machine—and it’s affordable. (If you are just starting to sew and shopping around for the right machine, check out our article on the best beginner sewing machines here.)

The best machine for students and crafters is the Singer Heavy Duty. It is a workhorse that can sew through thick layers, and it won’t break the bank. And it’s versatile, sewing not only through denim and canvas but thinner fabrics as well, thanks to its adjustable pressure foot. At 15 pounds, the Heavy Duty is light and portable. It has 22 stitch options including a buttonhole and a backstitch lever, and if you need to sew quickly, this is one of the faster domestic sewing machines out there, throwing down 1,000 stitches per minute.

The Brother PE800 is great for artists, crafters, and small businesses. This single-needle embroidery machine does one thing only, embroidery, and is one of the most recommended machines of its type out there. The 17.6-pound PE800 comes with 138 preloaded designs and a USB port to upload your own designs. One of the most important features to think about before purchasing an embroidery machine is the hoop size; make sure your artwork will fit into the 5-by-7-inch hoop workspace. (If you require more space, read our recommendations for a broader selection of embroidery machine here.)

The professional sewing machine category lies somewhere between lightweight domestic models and heavy-duty industrial machines. Professional machines are great for designers, artists, and quilters. There are some great options in this niche category, but the Juki TL2010Q is one that stands out. It sews only a straight stitch but can handle heavy layers, making it great for crafting bags and quilts. The TL2010Q weighs 25 pounds, heavier than our first three recommendations but still portable. It has adjustable feed dogs and adjustable speed control, perfect for all the free-motion stitching of your dreams. It sews fast—1,500 stitches per minute—and has automatic thread trimming, knee-lift presser foot, and automatic needle threading. The TL2010Q comes with a walking foot and extension table.

The Juki DDL-8700-H is a powerful industrial machine that is great for designers and professionals looking to easily sew through anything including leather, canvas, and upholstery-weight fabrics. It is also impressive for garment making, can work around the clock, and sews much faster than the other machines on this list, achieving 5,500 stitches per minute. The DDL-8700-H has an automatic knee-lift lever and a separate automatic bobbin winder on the side. This machine is attached to its own table and weighs 57 pounds; you will not be moving it around easily!

If you are looking for your first overlock machine or you want to keep multiple sergers threaded in different colors, the Janome MOD-8933 is a great choice. It fits the bill for students and designers but can be used by anyone who wants the seams on their sewing projects to last longer and look professionally finished. The Janome MOD-8933 is affordable and easy to thread. It has a metal frame, quick change rolled hem, a retractable upper knife, and 3- and 4-thread stitch options. Wavy, uneven seams on knits will be banished because the Janome MOD-8933 has differential feed. This also means you will be able to create scalloped, lettuce-edge finishes and gathers when desired.

The Baby Lock Regent is a longarm machine for quilters looking to streamline their process. Longarms are very specialized sewing machines that load all layers of your quilt together and topstitch everything efficiently. (Yes, you can do what a longarm does on your home sewing machine, but the larger the quilt, the harder this becomes.) The Baby Lock Regent has an 18-inch throat space, a max sewing speed of 2,200 stitches per minute, external bobbin winder, and customizable speed control. Its LCD touch screen has a low-bobbin warning and a stitch counter and allows you to runs diagnostics. If you don’t have the budget or space for this costly, specialized machine, you can rent time on one at your local quilt shop or send your quilt out to be finished.

If you are serious about printing your photographs or your fine art prints yourself, or if you just want to print professional-looking images of your work for your portfolio, it’s a good idea to invest in an inkjet printer that uses pigment inks. Formulated with solid pigment powder rather than with dye, these inks are more vibrant, more stable, and more archival (albeit also more expensive). Pigment inks must be used with pigment printers, which tend to be much larger and, aptly, pricier than the run-of-the-mill dye-ink machines usually found in home offices. Still, they can be smart investments for artists who often display or sell their works.

How we pick each product:
Our mission is to recommend the most appropriate artists’ tool or supply for your needs. Whether you are looking for top-of-the line equipment or beginners’ basics, we’ll make sure that you get good value for your money by doing the research for you. We scour the Internet for information on how art supplies are used and read customer reviews by real users; we ask experts for their advice; and of course, we rely on our own accumulated expertise as artists, teachers, and craftspeople.

Best Overall: Epson SureColor P700

The Epson SureColor P700 does so many things right, we’ve picked it as the best overall photo printer for artists. While the P700 can churn out gorgeous photo prints up to 13 inches wide, the printer is surprisingly compact and lightweight, easily fitting on a desk or small table in your studio. The P700’s uses Epson’s 10-ink UltraChrome PRO10 pigment ink set, which produces a stunning range of color for both landscapes and portraits. The P700 has professional-level features, but you don’t need to be a print wiz to use them. You access the P700’s functions via an intuitive and customizable 4.3-inch flip-up touch screen on top. There’s also improved support for wireless printing. Another nice feature: The P700 has an interior light so you can watch your photo as it prints out.

Best for Black-and-White Photos: Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300

The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 is another solid 13-inch printer, but where it really shines is in printing black-and-white photos. The PRO-300’s 10-color Lucia Pro pigment ink set includes both photo and matte black inks, producing deeper and more intense blacks that look fantastic on fine art photo paper. And because the Canon PRO-300 has separate nozzles for the two types of black ink, it doesn’t need to switch tanks while printing (a common annoyance), reducing ink waste and saving time. The PRO-300 also has a dedicated Chroma Optimizer channel that layers on a clear coating for a smoother finish, enhancing glossiness and reducing bronzing.

Best 17-inch Printer: Epson SureColor P900

If you want bigger photo prints, we recommend the 17-inch Epson SureColor P900, which is the big brother to our top overall pick. Like the P700, the P900 boasts Epson’s 10-ink UltraChrome PRO 10 ink set, which produces vivid yet true-to-life color. The P900 adds a Carbon Black mode that increases the density of black in prints for greater contrast in both color and monochrome photos, making them really pop. The P900’s 10-channel Micro Piezo AMC printhead can lay down ink droplets as small as 1.5 picoliters to produce precise detail. Along with printing 17-by-19-inch cut sheet photos, you can output on roll paper using the included media adapter, which is great for extra-long panoramas.

Best Large-Format Printer: Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-2100

Printing on a floor-standing, large-format printer is a great way to take your photo prints to the next level, and for that we recommend the 24-inch Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-2100. This 223-pound beast will eat up a chunk of your studio space, and you’ll need a few friends to assemble it, but the resulting large-format photos are worth it. It produces outstanding image quality thanks to its 11-color pigment LUCIA PRO ink set (plus a Chroma Optimizer) and an impressive printhead with nearly 18,500 nozzles that outputs photos at up to 2400 x 1200 dots per inch. It also has a variety of handy, user-friendly features. We like the automatic paper feeding and media reading system, which loads and recognizes paper without human intervention. Just set the roll holder in the printer and walk away; the printer automatically feeds the paper and picks the right media settings.

Best Budget Photo Printer: Epson Expression Photo XP-8700

The Epson Expression Photo XP-8700 does it all for less than one-third the price of our top pick. Along with printing high-quality photos using Epson’s six-color Claria Photo HD ink cartridges, the XP-8700 can scan and copy photos or documents, making this a handy assistant to have around the studio or office. There are a few trade-offs, however. This is not a true pigment printer since only the black ink is pigment based; the rest are dye-based, so photo prints won’t be truly archival. Also, print size maxes out at 8.5 by 11 inches—though my photos still looked great at that size. This compact and lightweight all-in-one is extremely easy to use, with a large 4.3-inch touch screen and intuitive controls along with router-free Wi-Fi direct printing. We also liked the Epson Smart Panel app, which lets you control the XP-8700 from your mobile device. In addition, there’s a voice-activated printing option, so you can output photos and documents hands-free.

Amazon Gaming Week runs from Monday, May 22 through Sunday, May 28, which means Amazon will be offering deals on various gaming gadgets, including computer peripherals, computer hardware, games (of course), and more. Artists, even if they are not gamers, will find some great buys on useful equipment. Here are three discounted tech products as good for the studio as they are for gaming.

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Dell 34-Inch Curved Gaming Monitor

One of the wonderful things about a really wide gaming monitor like this one from Dell is that it affords lots of room on your screen to use and arrange all of your software and computer program screens. For working with multiple programs at once, editing video content, or comfortably viewing layouts, this space-saving, 34-inch curved computer monitor may be just what you need. It has a resolution of 3440 x 1440 (WQHD) and three-sided ultrathin bezel, all of which, Dell says, “envelops you with minimal distractions.” It also has vertical alignment technology for deeper blacks and has excellent contrast. In short, it’s a very well-made, easy-to-set-up computer monitor that’s sure to help any artist or graphic designer be more productive and organized.

Acer Swift X 14-Inch Laptop

The Acer Swift X is a very good 14-inch laptop for any artist on the go, even if he or she is not interested in gaming. It’s small and compact, just a tad over 3 pounds. But what really makes this model stand out is its power: It runs on an AMD Ryzen 7 5825U processor with Zen 3 core architecture, which enables it to complete tasks quickly and easily. It ships with 16GB LPDDR4X memory, an 512GB SSD (for internal computer storage), 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz featuring 2×2 MU-MIMO technology, and has Bluetooth 5.2. It also has a biometric fingerprint reader (to use with Windows Hello) to securely log in. It comes with lots of connectivity, too, including a USB type-C port USB 3.2 (Gen 2), two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, an HDMI 2.1 with HDCP support, a headphone/microphone-in jack, and more. So if you’ve got lots of work to do—from updating your website to working on spreadsheets to using your favorite word-processing program—this Acer laptop is an excellent performer that should allow you to complete all your tasks, with time to spare.

Amazon Basics 128GB microSDXC Memory Card

It’s easy to overlook how important memory cards are . . . until you run out of space on the card you’re using and you don’t have an extra one. That’s why this 128GB microSDXC card is a wise buy. You can use it in many devices, including smartphones, tablets, cameras, and GoPro or other action cameras to make sure you capture all your photos and audio and video clips. What’s nice about this Amazon memory card is that it’s already pretty cheap, before the discount. But this week you can save an extra 15%. So buy one—or two—to make sure you always have enough storage for your multimedia files, from installation views to video clips.

If you want to shoot high-end, pro-level images or video, consider purchasing a full-frame mirrorless camera. These are loaded with large, full-frame sensors, which provides a field of view equivalent to that of a standard 35-millimeter film camera—in other words, they don’t crop the frame. These sensors also offer higher resolution, better performance in low-light or high-contrast settings, and a greater depth of field. Some models even have features powered by artificial intelligence, such as Sony’s Real-Time tracking and subject-recognition algorithm, which follows your subjects and keeps them in focus, even if they disappear behind another object. While you can still buy a full-frame DSLR, we like the mirrorless ones; they tend to be more compact, and they also rely on electronic viewfinders, which allow you to preview your eventual image in real time as you alter your settings. Moreover, camera companies are phasing out their DSLR lines. To find the best mirrorless full-frame camera for you, check out our recommendations below.

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How we pick each product:
Our mission is to recommend the most appropriate artists’ tool or supply for your needs. Whether you are looking for top-of-the line equipment or beginners’ basics, we’ll make sure that you get good value for your money by doing the research for you. We scour the Internet for information on how art supplies and tools are used and read customer reviews by real users; we ask experts for their advice; and of course, we rely on our own accumulated expertise as artists, photographers, teachers, and craftspeople.

ARTnews RECOMMENDS
Sony a7R V

Replacing our former top pick, the Sony Alpha 1 (a.k.a. the a1), Sony’s fifth-generation a7R model has the same 61.0-megapixel image sensor as its predecessor, the Sony a7R IV, making both models Sony’s highest resolution cameras currently on the market. But what really sets the a7R V camera apart is its stellar autofocusing system, which uses a new AI-powered processing unit (the BIONZ XR image processing engine) dedicated to image recognition, a first in any Sony Alpha camera. This processor allows the auto focus to automatically track faces and eyes not only of humans but of animals too. It can even track insects and vehicles. To do this, you choose the AF tracking mode for a person, animal or vehicle. This ensures you’re always getting sharp shots, no matter who or what is in motion. The a7R V includes other upgrades as well, like a better image-stabilization system, which now offers 8 steps of compensation, instead of 6. Moreover, it has a new 4-axis multi-angle LCD monitor, which fold outs and swivels in a more intuitive way, allowing you to more easily capture hard-to-get shots. The electronic viewfinder has also been improved, so it’s sharper—it now has 9.44 million dots. It also has the ability to capture 8K-resolution video. And for sharing your images, the a7R, like the A1, boasts the industry’s fastest Wi-Fi connection. The a7R V does fall short of matching the Sony a1 in a few areas: For example, the a1 can shoot 8K video at 30 fps and the a7R V captures 8K at just 24fps. And although the mechanical shutter burst is the same on both models (10 fps), the electronic burst mode on the a1 (30 fps) is faster than on the a7R (just 8fps). However, the a1 is close to double the price of the a7R V, which is why we think the Sony a7R V is the better buy.

WE ALSO LIKE
Nikon Z9

Although Nikon’s name has for decades been synonymous with professional cameras for photojournalists, the company’s recent full-frame mirrorless cameras have received mixed reviews. That all changed with the Nikon Z9. Designed with a tough, weather-resistant dual-grip body that lets you easily hold the camera horizontally in landscape mode or vertically in portrait mode, the Z9 offers a little bit of everything for the artist who wants the very best in camera gear. With a newly designed, 45.7MP image sensor that’s extremely sensitive to light, the Z9 will help you shoot crisp images even in dim conditions. It’s also extremely fast, with the ability to capture 30 frames per second (fps) for JPEG images and 20 fps for RAW image files with a 1,000+ image buffer. This basically means you can continuously shoot images with copious amounts of detail without the Z9 freezing up. Other premium features include a silent, fully electronic shutter that offers blackout-free shooting in the camera’s electronic viewfinder, so you never lose track of your subject. There’s also Eye AF (autofocus) for locking in on people and animals, and vehicle detection AF, which is great for motorsport photography. Video shooters will like that the Z9 can capture 8K video for up to two hours consecutively—the world’s longest recording time for a mirrorless camera. Another cool feature is a four-axis, 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD on the back of the camera that allows the monitor to tilt both horizontally and vertically, which is great when switching the camera from landscape mode to portrait mode.

ANOTHER GOOD OPTION
Canon EOS R5

The Canon EOS R5 is an outstanding all-around interchangeable-lens camera suitable for a wide range of styles and subject matter. Fitted with an impressive, high-density 45-megapixel sensor, it’s capable of delivering super-crisp images with rich color depth in a variety of environments, even low-light spaces. Since the sensor can capture still photos with so much resolution, it provides you with a lot of flexibility when you need to crop the image in postproduction. But the EOS R5 just doesn’t have a high-resolution image sensor. Its electronic viewfinder is a 5.76-million dot OLED EVF, which is very clear and sharp, crucial when you’re composing your shots. It’s packed with other competitive features, too, but the R5 shines for its exceptional autofocus. The system is equipped with smart tracking that continuously trains itself to follow the bodies and faces of both people and animals; this technology excels because the R5 has close to 6,000 autofocus points that cover 100 percent of the frame. Pair this with an in-body image stabilization system that offers up to eight stops of correction and high-speed shooting of up to 20 frames per second, and catching even the liveliest of action shots (think birding!) is a breeze. The camera also excels in shooting video, capturing 8K video clips, which means it’s capturing a whopping 8129 x 4320 pixels at 30 frames per second! But you’ll need to buy a new type of memory card: One of its two card slots is a CFexpress memory card slot to handle the high data processing of shooting 8K video

ALSO CONSIDER
Panasonic Lumix S5 II

If you’re an artist on a tight budget but you still want an excellent quality hybrid full-frame mirrorless camera that shoots both still photos and very good video, this Panasonic full-frame mirrorless model should fit the bill. This new version of the S5, along with the more expensive Lumix S5 IIX, includes phase-detection technology on its 24-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor. This means both cameras are better at autofocusing and tracking subjects. The S5 II also has a faster burst mode than the previous model: 9 fps with mechanical shutter and 30 fps in electronic shutter mode. And it has 6.5 stops of compensation in its image-stabilization system. If you are looking for pro-level video capabilities, you might consider upgrading to the S5 IIX, which is $200 more than the S5 II. Either, though, are great value for the money.

TOP OF THE LINE
Leica M11

For 60 years, Leica’s M-series rangefinders have been some of the most expensive on the market, and the M11, the latest digital version of this classic camera, is no exception. Those who love “M”s will like that M11 retains much of the series’ classic design and appearance. However, you’ll need to manually focus it, and it can’t capture video. But the company has updated it in other ways to make it competitive as a still-image camera. For instance, it has a new 60-megapixel back-side illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor, which is a lot of resolution, more than previous models. It also lets you choose to shoot in one of three resolutions: 60MP (L), 36MP (M) and 18MP (S) in either RAW or JPEG. And it includes a powerful battery that allows you to shoot a long time with needing to recharge. Plus, it has a USB-C port to transfer images from your SD card (it has a UHS-II SD card slot) and is equipped with 64 GBs of internal storage for storing photos.