The inside joke at Minolta was that the “CL” in Leica CL stood for “Cheap Leica.” Surely owners of Leica M4s and M5s felt the same way—even though it wasn’t true.

“Some OEM lens makers sell exactly the same item in the same configuration to more than one camera manufacturer.”...

Tripods have been around for so many years that you can find some on sale for less than the cost of a medium pizza. All have three adjustable legs, a screw that attaches to the bottom of a camera, and some sort of mechanism that allows the user to point the lens steadily in the right direction without moving the whole contraption. That being said, is it smart to save a few bucks when shopping for...

Do you have an answering machine in your home—the kind that uses tape or digital media? Like millions of other Americans you’ve probably discovered that virtual, online services are more reliable than mechanical ones—especially when you travel for extended periods. You can access an online voicemail inbox from any telephone at any time of the day or night. And you never have to...