Jon Sienkiewicz

Fellow photographers, we were blessed with a bumper crop of cool new stuff in 2024. I'm including lenses and software in this roundup, but not cameras. Here are 13 of the absolutely best products I had a chance to play with last year. I snuck in a mildly controversial number 14 at the end because I couldn't resist.

Whether the holidays bring out your “Humbug!” or your “Ho, ho, ho!” there’s one thing you must admit: it’s the most colorful season of the year. Except maybe for spring. And autumn. Anyway, all seasonal colors are just begging to be zoomed, blurred and pleasantly smeared. Smartphone users: you can play too.

This isn't an ad. It's a how-to that gives you the ins and outs of using lens mount adapters to inexpensively engage some of the best glass ever made—easily and cheaply.

We're amazed that not everyone knows this. Nikon Z owners can adapt legacy Nikon F-mount optics—made by Nikon, and state-of-the-art when they were originally introduced—that work in Manual Focus Mode and Aperture Priority or Manual Exposure Mode—and they're a genuine steal compared to the price of modern optics. It's very easy and very affordable. A huge plus: while many don't realize it, the image quality is exceptional, even when compared to current lenses. Wait—there's more…

Imagine seeing a photo you created displayed in an online gallery for all to admire. It could even end up being selected as the Shutterbug Photo of the Day and posted on our homepage.

Here's the quick and easy procedure, along with some tips to help you navigate to the upload page with just one click in the future. It's free, it's fun and it's a great way to share your creativity with the world.

Today the spotlight is on Jeff Van Scoyk, an amazing photographer and frequent Photo of the Day contributor. Tomorrow — the spotlight could be on you.