This year we’ve seen many fine lenses come onto the scene, many with new optical elements designed to enhance performance while making the lens lighter and more affordable.
Nikon announced two new lenses aimed primarily at FX-format shooters (but usable with DX format). The AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.4G ED ($2199) is a fast lens well suited to low-light landscapes or expansive...
This year saw few major product launches in studio lighting, although we did manage to uncover some interesting lights and accessories nonetheless.
Dot Line Corp./RPS Studio introduced the Complete 7-in-1 Reflector. This folding reflector comes with a translucent panel, white, silver, sunlight (a mix of gold and silver), and gold reflectors, plus an 18 percent gray target for...
Just when I thought I’d seen it all, along come camera bags that capture my attention. Photo backpacks are sporting new looks that are designed to reduce back strain. Messenger bags are seeing a resurgence, doing double duty as laptop and camera bag, while maintaining their svelte lines. The more conventional shoulder bag, however, is still on the scene for those who prefer tradition while...
While there are no revolutionary designs in tripods, monopods, and heads this year (unlike the introduction of the Novoflex four-legged tripod last year), manufacturers have not sat idly. They continue to address the needs of studio photographers but appear to be placing even greater emphasis on travel photography.
Notably, we’re beginning to see more subcompact tripods...
While I’ve found Nikon’s wireless TTL system to be a great asset, I also understand that it has inherent weaknesses when used around obstacles that block the signal, as well as outdoors beyond a few feet or under sunlight. Enter PocketWizard’s ControlTL (Control The Light) TTL-auto radios for Nikon (originally introduced for Canon). These radios are designed to respond in every respect as a dedicated extension of the Nikon CLS/i-TTL system. And they have the potential to do that, provided you keep on top of firmware updates (www.pocketwizard.com/support). I conducted my tests using my Nikon D300 together with the Nikon SB-900 speedlight (verified by PocketWizard as compatible) and briefly an SB-700 (not confirmed at time of testing).
Just when you thought you'd seen it all, along come some revolutionary changes and surprising introductions in point-and-shoot digital cameras--enough so as to make me want to go out and buy several of the new digicams shown at this year's PMA. While some may view the prosumer...
For the studio photographer on location or shooting environmental portraits, connecting a studio strobe to a battery pack, battery-driven power pack, or pure sine wave inverter frees one of the constraints of plugging into an AC outlet and worrying about tripping circuit breakers or blowing a fuse, and it removes wires that could prove hazardous (combined with wireless syncing of the flash, I might add). And wedding and event photographers who rely on portable strobes that run entirely on external battery power are well familiar with the benefits—power that lasts and keeps pace with the event. There are countless choices, whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade or expand your lighting system.
Today's high-resolution digital cameras eat up lots of memory. High-capacity memory cards cost as much as a portable hard drive, so why not use a portable storage device and transfer card memory to that drive? Portable hard drives are battery-driven and most employ a 2.5" disk drive, while a few use the more expensive 1.8" drive. As an alternative there are...
On the road, it's not always about transferring picture files to a portable
device. Many of us take our laptop computers with us, transferring pictures
directly to the computer, often for immediate previews while shooting on assignment.
And what folly that is without some means of backing up those pictures from...
When you need the power and versatility of a studio strobe for location shooting and environmental portraiture but don’t want to schlep around a large, heavy studio system, you can turn to a portable lighting kit.