Do You Need a Macro Focusing Rail in the Field
A focusing rail isn't mandatory for most macro work, but it becomes necessary for high-magnification focus stacking where precision is measured in microns.
StingPhotography · free photography reference
Photography, by the numbers.
Calculators and a searchable database of 1,850 cameras, 1,000 lenses, 800 film stocks, golden-hour times for 650 cities and field guides for 608 species — every figure computed from published specs and physics.
Calculators
All tools
Depth of fieldNear/far sharpness & hyperfocal for any lens.Golden hourGolden & blue hour for your GPS position.ExposureEquivalent exposures & EV.ND filterLong exposures with a countdown timer.NPF / 500 ruleSharp stars, every time.Crop factorFull-frame equivalents.Print sizePixels to inches & cm.All 12 toolsField of view, time-lapse, flash…
Explore the database
1,850CamerasSensor sizes, crop factors, lens equivalents and DoF for every model.1,000LensesEquivalents on every format, bokeh index and compatible bodies.87Lens mounts & adaptersFlange distances and 300 adapter combinations.800Film stocksISO, process, formats, exposure and push/pull.650Golden hour cities12-month light tables for cities worldwide.608Wildlife guidesLens, settings and season for birds & mammals.369DoF tablesEvery focal length × aperture × format.323EXIF tagsMetadata reference with ExifTool & Python.
Camera settings cheat sheets
All 55- Milky Way photographyf/1.4–f/2.8 · 10–25 s
- Fireworksf/8–f/11 · 2–8 s
- Outdoor portraitsf/1.8–f/2.8 · 1/250 s+
- Sunset photographyf/8–f/11 · As metered
- Silky waterfallsf/8–f/16 · 1/4–2 s
- Birds in flight1/2500–1/4000 s · f/6.3–f/8
- Northern lights (aurora)f/1.4–f/2.8 · 1–8 s
- Outdoor sports1/1000–1/2000 s · f/2.8–f/5.6
Wildlife field guides
608 species
MallardDucks, Geese, and Swans
Great Blue HeronHerons, Egrets, and Bitterns
American RobinThrushes
Canada GooseDucks, Geese, and Swans
White-tailed DeerDeer
Northern CardinalCardinals and Allies
Eastern Gray SquirrelSquirrels
Red-tailed HawkHawks, Eagles, and Kites
House FinchFinches, Euphonias, and Allies
House SparrowOld World Sparrows Popular references
Latest articles
Do You Need a Heated Lens Wrap for Aurora Photography
Heated lens wraps are essential for aurora photography in sub-zero climates to prevent frost from ruining long exposures. Use one to keep glass clear.
Does an Extended Warranty Cover Accidental Drops
Most standard extended warranties exclude accidental drops, but specific accidental damage protection plans cover them for an added fee of $50 to $200.
Do Padded Camera Straps Actually Stop Neck Pain
Padded straps reduce localized pressure, but they don't solve underlying ergonomic issues. Learn how load distribution affects your long-term comfort.
Using Old Lenses on Mirrorless Cameras Compatibility Rules
Most legacy lenses work on mirrorless bodies with an adapter, but performance varies. Learn how sensor size and electronic mounts affect your results.
Are My Lens and Teleconverter Compatible? A Practical Check
Check compatibility by consulting manufacturer lens charts rather than relying on physical fit. Most teleconverters only work with specific telephoto lenses.
Open data, transparent math
Specifications are merged from 14 public sources — Wikipedia, Wikidata, Lensfun, openMVG, GeoNames, iNaturalist, ExifTool and more — then every derived number (crop factor, depth of field, NPF rule, print size, sun position) is calculated with documented formulas. How we calculate · All sources
7,051pages
1,850cameras
1,000lenses
650cities
14open sources