The question always becomes: how much gear can I get away with when I carry my camera and laptop on-board an aircraft? The answer depends upon the carryon rules, the size of the overhead compartment or under-seat space, and, I’m afraid, sometimes on the whims of the gate agent. The best way to make sure there are no hassles and no suspense on your part—flying is stressful...
While we don’t normally review camera phones and similar devices, when offered a test period with the Nokia N86 and its 8-megapixel capture we wanted to see just how far one could take the image. Because the device captures in JPEG only there is of course a good deal of compression on every file, but still, 8 megapixels in this device reaches into the realm of point-and-shoot digicams from...
Two things have changed in determining the best bag for lugging around gear while traveling by plane--the type of gear a photographer travels with and the airline restrictions on carryon gear. These days there seems to be a need for more space for accessories required than actual camera and lens, what with more and more photographers traveling with laptops, card readers...
Every avid outdoor photographer has discovered some key accessories which help to solve problems in the field. Whether through trial and error, from reading about photography, or with the guidance of a workshop instructor, these soon become an...
As part of our coverage of a large trade show we send a reporter out to explore the aisles to discover what others might pass by. We look to reveal how clever minds come up with gadgets and gizmos that often have more utility than you might imagine. This year at CES our intrepid reporter Robert E. Mayer took on the task.—Editor
Now that megapixel counts in digicams and digital SLRs are growing monthly, the need for a solid back-up setup is obvious. Various portable devices, including laptops, have filled the gap, but how do you back up the original downloaded files? If your laptop has a CD or DVD burner you might think the battle is over, but anyone who has burned DVDs, or heaven help you CDs into the...
Photographers are going to like JTL's new multifunctional meter, the LM-8. It's a compact unit that can take ambient light measurements, flash light measurements, and cine measurements, for moviemakers. With its built-in memory, it's possible to take multiple and cumulative measurements. It's a little smaller than most multifunctional units, making it easy...
The digital camera in your hands provides you with loads of technology. It allows you to bracket automatically in a series of three or even five exposures, depending on model and user settings. But given the limited space on a memory card (notably when shooting raw at high pixel counts), the time spent to shoot all those frames, the limited buffer memory that you might fill up in...
You might think that the sophisticated metering system in your camera is the be all and end all when it comes to exposure. The truth is, it does deliver remarkable results, but it can only take you so far. Want to tackle high-contrast scenes or tricky lighting or tonal situations without wasting a lot of time bracketing? Then you'll need a handheld meter. Shooting studio...
At PMA 2004 I handled a prototype of Leica's DIGITAL-MODUL-R and was immediately impressed by the concept of being able to convert a film camera into digital by merely switching backs. At PhotoPlus Expo later that year I had the chance to see a preproduction model and hoped that someday this wonderful product would see the light of day. Recently, I've been shooting...
There are three main elements in depth of field—focal length, aperture, and distance to subject—and depth of field is a very important part of a 2D photograph. It’s how we judge scale (or are fooled by it), how we note the importance of certain subjects within the frame, and how we define content and context in the scene. With these three controls, and using various points of view, it seems we have infinite variations to choose from, and that’s part of the creative play of photography. Now you can add a fourth element to the mix—tilts that range from mild to extreme and that create “slices” of sharpness within the frame. The tool that helps us create that effect is the latest optic from Lensbaby, which they dub the Edge 80.
Having shot with numerous Lensbaby products over the past years I’ve almost grown accustomed to their ingenious approach to image-making tools and the equally ingenious way in which they approach product design. I do have to admit that one area in which I took less advantage than I might have was in aperture control and how that affected depth of field in my Lensbaby shots, more from laziness or simply forgetting about changing the aperture inserts as I got involved in the shoot. (For those who have not shot with Lensbaby optics you lift in and drop out, via supplied magnetic wand, the various aperture rings corresponding to the diameter of the desired aperture for the optic in use.) Now, this impediment to getting the most from the optics (admittedly, again, my own) is removed with their latest product, the Sweet 35 Optic.
The most popular type of camera bag among serious outdoor photographers, the photo backpack, has two major advantages. Models with a sophisticated harness system offer the most comfortable method for carrying a lot of weight. Because...
On a recent trip to Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, I had a choice of several of Lowepro's photo backpacks. I would load one up, try it on, and do the same with each in turn. Even though I received the DryZone Rover for the express purpose of testing it, I wasn't about to sacrifice my trip and take a bag ill-suited to the task. Among the bags at my disposal were the...
.jpg)
.jpg)
Accessories
Site Map / Direct Links
