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ApertureAuthority

Aperture Authority

Gear

Honest camera, lens, and stabilization recommendations. Lead with gear worth owning, not spec sheets.

8 categories2 buying guides4 how-tos

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A videographer operating a handheld camera gimbal outdoors

Editor’s pick

Best Gimbals for Video in 2026

A gimbal turns shaky handheld footage into smooth, professional motion. Here are the two we recommend, the moves they unlock, and how to pick the right payload.

Jun 28, 20262 picks
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Buying guides

2 guides
Three camera tripods of different sizes on a clean studio floor

Best Tripods in 2026: Travel, Value, and Interiors

A tripod is for the shots a gimbal cannot give you: locked, perfectly still frames. Here are three we recommend, who each one is for, and how to pick the right one.

Jun 28, 20263 picks

Guides & how-tos

4 guides
A mirrorless camera on a gimbal handle mid tracking move

Gimbal Moves and Technique: The Core Shots and How to Get Them

The six gimbal moves that do most of the work in real video, when to use each one, and the settings and footwork that make them look intentional.

A row of camera lenses, a compact prime beside a long zoom, on a cool surface

Prime vs Zoom Lenses: Which Should You Buy?

Primes are sharp, fast, and light but fixed. Zooms are flexible but slower and pricier to match. Here is how to choose, and the one cheap prime almost everyone should own.

A mirrorless camera body with the lens removed and the imaging sensor exposed

Sensor Sizes Explained: Full-Frame vs APS-C vs Micro Four Thirds

What sensor size actually changes, how crop factor works, and why more megapixels is not the same as a better camera. A plain-language guide for buyers.

A lineup of compact mirrorless cameras on a cool surface

What Camera Should You Buy? An Honest Starter Guide

Forget the spec sheet wars. Here is how to pick a first camera based on what you shoot, why sensor size matters more than megapixels, and where your money actually goes.