Photo Accessory Reviews

When people asked legendary editor Herbert Keppler why he sometimes wrote about cameras costing more than the average photographer could afford, he told me it was because of the Maserati factor. “Most people,” he said, “can’t afford a Maserati but like reading about them.” And I get that. My personal dream car is a 1961 Maserati 3500 GT, which sells for north of $450,000. Fortunately, medium format cameras, while expensive, cost less than that.

There’s more to black-and-white photography than an absence of color. One reason purists refer to black-and-white images as “monochrome” is that it’s a more precise term covering photographs made in sepia and other tones.

If you stumble trying to decipher the abbreviation NAS, don’t feel alone. When cameras went digital, photographers were expected to magically become computer wizards. Who has the time? Among the many advantages of installing a NAS drive is the immediate harnessing of powerful computer tools without a junior degree in IT—all the while keeping your energy focused on what you do best: taking pictures, shooting videos and/or creating web content.

Vanguard, one of our favorite photo accessory manufacturers, has a slug of new stuff you should know about. Why do we favor Vanguard? In addition to their impeccable high quality, Vanguard creates and supervises the concept, design, manufacturing, distribution, marketing and sales of every product they sell—unlike many other camera gear wholesalers. This means the price you pay at your local photo retailer or when you order directly from Vanguard tends to be below market—saving you money and delivering greater value. And we're all in when it comes to getting more for your money.

WotanCraft, maker of handsomely designed camera shoulder bags, photo backpacks and accessory pouches, recently introduced a lineup of finely crafted leather camera neck straps and wrist straps. They’re all available now in a variety of colors and styles, including a series that features Peak Design Anchor Links.

For many photographers, the notebook computer has become nearly as essential as an SLR camera. But that doesn’t mean that photographers are just as savvy about their PCs and MacBooks as they are their cameras and lenses.

Many years ago, along with some fellow writers, I visited an Agfa—remember them?—facility in Brussels. During the tour one of the leaders asked, “What do you think of the idea of adding a phone to a digital camera?” We all laughed and thought it was the dumbest idea we’d ever heard. It turned out that he was asking the wrong question; it should have been, “What do you think of adding a camera to a phone?”