Digital Camera World » Accessories

Best photo backpacks: 6 top models tested and rated

jmeyer — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:01:05 +0000

In our latest group test of the top photo accessories we review 6 of the best photo backpacks on the market to find out which one offers the best balance of security and comfort.

Fed up with conventional gadget bags giving you a pain in the neck and sliding off your shoulder at the most inconvenient moments? Load your kit into a photo backpack and the weight is distributed much more evenly.

Both of your shoulders, your upper back and your pelvis all play a part in taking the strain. You get much more freedom of movement, with the pack staying firmly fixed in place.

For added stability, especially on tricky terrain, an adjustable waist strap is usually fitted, as well as a chest strap that helps to stop the shoulder straps from sliding around.

If you’ve got several lenses, a flashgun and other accessories, you’re best off with a ‘full photo’ backpack, where the whole of the main compartment is given over to photography kit.

The other option is a split photo/daypack but, as you’ll see from the likes of the Hama, Think Tank and Vanguard backpacks in our test group, some new designs go all-out for versatility.

Best photo backpacks: Hama Daytour 230

Price: £100, $150
Buy it: www.hama.com
Can’t decide between a full photo and split daypack? The innovative Hama Daytour offers both options in one bag.

It’s split into two sections but both are decked out with adjustable dividers for cosseting plenty of camera kit.

Alternatively, you can remove the dividers from either or both sections to use the bag as a split photo daypack, or even just as a regular backpack.

Full-length zips offer unrestricted access to the compartments, and both also feature quick-access openings for grabbing a camera with attached lens when you’re in a hurry to capture a scene.

Organiser sections are on hand for memory cards and batteries (separated between fresh and wasted) and filters.

Extra external pockets are plentiful but there’s no dedicated laptop compartment.

Our Verdict
Pros… Quick access to cameras, strong build, excellent value
Cons… Not suitable for really long, super-telephoto lenses
WE say… Well thought out, beautifully made, a top bargain

Score: 4/5

Best photo backpacks: Hama Daytour 230
Best photo backpacks: Manfrotto Veloce VII
Best photo backpacks: Lowepro Flipside 400 AW
Best photo backpacks: Tamrac Expedition 6x
Best photo backpacks: Think Tank Photo Glass Limo
Best photo backpacks: Vanguard Quovio 44
Five things to look for in a photo backpack

How to choose the best tripod: 10 things photographers should look for

jmeyer — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:01:17 +0000

If you thought all tripods were essentially the same, then think again! What looks like a small difference in design can have a big impact on usability.

So how do you choose the best tripod? If you want your tripod to be a trusty lifelong companion and not just an overpriced, overweight millstone, you need to read our top 10 tips for choosing the right one!

How to choose the best tripod: 1. Balls of fire

Tripod heads come in two types: ball heads and three-way heads. Ball heads have a single locking screw – when you loosen it you can move the camera in any direction.

Ball heads are (usually) cheaper, lighter and more compact. This makes them perfect for travel and most other types of photography, but they’re less effective for precise framing and small adjustments.

How to choose the best tripod: 2. Three way precision

Three-way heads have separate pan, tilt and swivel movements.

They take a little longer to set up, but they allow you to make small accurate adjustments, and to move the camera along one axis without disturbing the others.

They’re ideal for studio work or more demanding landscape photography.

But they’re bigger and heavier than ball heads, and the handles stick out so they’re less convenient to carry around.

PAGE 1: How to choose the best tripod 1-2
PAGE 2: How to choose the best tripod 3-4
PAGE 3: How to choose the best tripod 5-6
PAGE 4: How to choose the best tripod 7-8
PAGE 5: How to choose the best tripod 9-10

Paramo Halcon Traveller review: why it’s our top-rated photo jacket of all time

jmeyer — Sat, 11 May 2013 00:00:02 +0000

A photo jacket is one of the photo accessories you tend not to think too much about. But choosing a photo jacket that meets your needs is crucial for dedicated to outdoor photography.

Find out in our Paramo Halcon Traveller review why this photo jacket is a sophisticated garment for both photographers and travellers – and one of the best photo jackets we’ve had in for review.

Paramo’s lightweight photography jacket is a stylish but practical olive-green number that packs in lots of pockets without making you look like an insurgent.

It’s breathable, showerproof and quick drying, and includes no less than 12 pockets, with a further two compartments.

The look is quite military, but not so much so that it will deter women photographers, and it’s made to the company’s usual high standards.

The Halcon isn’t warm enough for winter, and it’s not waterproof, but it’s an ideal photography jacket for spring and summer.

The jacket is made from Nikwax Cotton and you can easily hand or machine-wash it, but it’s recommended that you use Nikwax Tech Wash.

The Paramo Halcon Traveller is not particularly cheap at £130, but it’s well made and all those pockets are really helpful for travel and nature photography.

Price: £130
Buy it: www.paramo.co.uk

Score: 5/5

Best memory cards for cameras: 9 top models tested and rated

jmeyer — Wed, 08 May 2013 23:01:25 +0000

Memory cards are often an after-thought for many photographers, but pick the right memory card for your needs and you can vastly improve your workflow. We tested 9 of the best memory cards for cameras currently on the market to see which came out on top.

Best memory cards for cameras: Hama High Speed Gold 22MB/s Class 10 SDHC, 16GB

Street price £11
Buy it www.hama.co.uk
This regular Class 10 card lacks a UHS-1 bus, but proves pretty fast in most DSLRs, with a write speed of 16MB/s in both the 60D and 650D.

Backed up by a 10-year warranty, it’s very good value at less than 70p per GB. 4GB, 8GB and 32GB versions are also available.

Pros… Decent speed for an SDHC card; good value for money

Cons… Lacks UHS-1 future-proofing

Score: 80%

PAGE 1: Best memory cards for cameras – Hama High Speed Gold 22MB/s Class 10 SDHC, 16GB
PAGE 2: Best memory cards for cameras – Lexar Professional 400x CF, 16GB
PAGE 3: Best memory cards for cameras – SanDisk Extreme Pro 300x UHS-1 SDHC, 8GB
PAGE 4: Best memory cards for cameras – Kingston Ultimate 266x CF, 16GB
PAGE 5: Best memory cards for cameras – Lexar Professional 600x UHS-1 SDHC, 16GB
PAGE 6: Best memory cards for cameras – Transcend Ultimate 600x CF, 64GB
PAGE 7: Best memory cards for cameras – Kingston UltimateXX 233X UHS-1 SDHC, 16GB
PAGE 8: Best memory cards for cameras – SanDisk Extreme Pro 600x CF, 16GB
PAGE 9: Best memory cards for cameras – Transcend Ultimate 566x UHS-1 SDHC, 16GB
PAGE 10: What to look for in a memory card for your camera

Lastolite ePhotomaker review: the light tent designed for eBay photos

jmeyer — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:00:39 +0000

The ePhotomaker light tent packs flat and is designed to diffuse simple light sources to create a perfect environment for eBay photos, product or still life photography. But can it deliver on its promises? Find out in our Lastolite ePhotomaker review.

Designed for avid online auction sellers, the ePhotomaker provides an optimal environment to shoot eBay photos or other items for sale, but it’s also useful for macro and still-life photography.

The tent works by diffusing the light from a desk lamp or spotlight through its translucent side panel.

The opposite side has a reflective coating to help fill shadows, while a one-piece white base and backing cloth gives a seamless backdrop.

Lastolite also includes a blue filter gel to help recreate daylight temperature light, plus a double-sided grey/white card for setting white balance and exposure.

Even a mini tripod is thrown in to avoid camera shake. End results really look the part with well-softened shadows and a crisp white background that closely resembles professional e-commerce product shots.

Much like a conventional light cube, the ePhotomaker packs flat for easy transportation, though the backdrop is prone to creasing. You can iron it smooth, but it’s a hassle.

The ePhotomaker is available in two sizes and offers an effortlessly easy means of showing off your products and macro subjects at their best.

Price: £95
Buy it: www.lastolite.com

Score: 4/5

Bessel WP6 400Ws review: can you really take studio-grade lighting anywhere?

jmeyer — Sat, 04 May 2013 13:00:50 +0000

In our Bessel WP6 400Ws review we test whether this new portable flash system can deliver the results you need and give you quality studio lighting anywhere you choose to shoot.

The Bessel WP6 portable lighting system has a 4500mAh Li-ion battery that can churn out up to 400 flashes per charge, while maintaining fast sub-2-second recycle times at full power.

At 3.5kg it’s light enough to sling over your shoulder on its carry strap, and it also comes with a hard case, a full-size flash head stand and a handle for mobile use.

It features a powerful 400Ws flash head complete with 35W modelling lamp and spill kill.

For outdoor use the modelling lamp isn’t really up to the job, but the flash itself has enough poke to overpower all but the brightest direct sunlight.

As it’s a budget kit, you don’t get a second output socket for splitting power over two heads, so if you want to create a key and fill light set-up, you’ll need to fork out for another kit.

Although Bessel’s offering can’t match the polished build quality of some prestige brands, it packs quite a punch for a very reasonable price.

Buy it: www.bessel.co.uk
Price: £399

Score: 5/5

Best flash diffuser: 6 top models tested and rated

jmeyer — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:01:24 +0000

For softer, more natural-looking light, you need to add a diffuser to your flashgun. We test 6 of the top models available to help you find the best flash diffuser worth your money

Flash diffusers are great for ensuring more natural lighting in photos. They remove the harsh white light from direct flash by spreading out and softening light from flashguns.

However, there are dozens of models available, each offering unique features. Which is the best flash diffuser for your needs?

We tested six of the best flash diffusers available using a still-life setup, shot in front of a neutral wall using a tripod-mounted DSLR.

The rigid camera position and single light source didn’t eradicate shadows but was ideal for showing how each product diffused and/or bounced the light.

The flash was operated manually and its output was adjusted for each shot, to measure the degree of light loss each diffuser added.

A series of portraits was also shot to assess the practicality of each model, and to gauge the positives and negatives of different diffuser types.

Best Flash Diffuser: 01 LumiQuest Softbox III

Price: £44, $36
Buy it: www.lumiquest.com
LumiQuest’s Softbox III is up against some stiff competition in the diffusers field, considering that the well-made Lastolite EzyBox is available for a similar price (see opposite).

By comparison, the LumiQuest’s simple four-panel construction forms well, although the method of adhering it to a flashgun with Velcro doesn’t feel sturdy enough. It also means you need to have Velcro on your flash head even when you’re not using the diffuser.

But that’s not to say that the Softbox III doesn’t work. Far from it. It’s a decent enough performer for diffusing directional light, and the collapsible structure makes it portable, too.

Shadows are softened and it’s great for outdoor fill-flash work. It’s just that there are better products out there.

Our verdict
Pros… Delivers softbox-style light diffusion, and is easy to carry around.
Cons… Provides less diffused light than similar competitors, and isn’t sturdy.

Score
2/5

Best Flash Diffuser: 01 LumiQuest Softbox III
Best Flash Diffuser: 02 Honl eight-inch Speed Snoot
 Best Flash Diffuser: 03 Gary Fong Lightsphere
Best Flash Diffuser: 04 Rogue FlashBender Reflector
Best Flash Diffuser: 05 Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce
Best Flash Diffuser: 06 Lastolite EzyBox Speed-Lite
Five things you need to look out for when buying a flash diffuser

Best monitor for photo editing: 4 top models tested and rated

jmeyer — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:01:51 +0000

What is the best monitor for photo editing? Colour-accurate monitors offer true-to-life reproduction of photographic images, but price and performance varies. We’ve tested four of the top models available to see which monitor is best for photographers.

Best monitor for photo editing: 01 Eizo ColorEdge CG243W

Price: £1,200
Buy it: www.eizo.co.uk
This thoughtfully laid-out monitor has a versatile swivelling screen, which makes fitting it into your workspace a doddle, even with the (included) hood in place.

The menus are sensibly laid out, with icons popping up above the buttons so you always know what to press, even in a darkened studio.

The included calibration software enables you to build an ICC profile quickly, and the 1920×1200-pixel display offers high-end reproduction, but this doesn’t come cheap and, at 24 inches, this is the smallest monitor on test.

Pros: A high-end, flexible monitor with rich, consistent colours
Cons: Only 24 inches; functional rather than stylish design; pricey

Score: 88%

PAGE 1: Best monitor for photo editing: 01 Eizo ColorEdge CG243W
PAGE 2: Best monitor for photo editing: 02 Dell U2711
PAGE 3: Best monitor for photo editing: 03 NEC MultiSync EA273WM
PAGE 4: Best monitor for photo editing: 04 Samsung SyncMaster S27B970D
PAGE 5: 5 things to look for in a monitor for photo editing

Sabre Switch TriggerSmart review: is this the ultimate tool for high-speed photos?

jmeyer — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:03:57 +0000

The Sabre Switch TriggerSmart is a motion, light and sound detection system that allows photographers to capture incredible high-speed photos. But is it worth its price tag? Find out in our Sabre Switch TriggerSmart review.

TriggerSmart is a simple, portable and fairly inexpensive introduction to automated high-speed photography. The system consists of a battery-powered control box, a pair of sensors, two mini tripod stands and connecting wires.

At first glance you’d be forgiven for wondering about the rough and ready exterior, but once it’s up and running things are more impressive.

The sensors can be configured to send an infrared beam between each other, with a shot taken if the beam is cut. Alternatively, a sudden sound or pulse of light will trigger the system.

This makes it possible to capture the most precisely-timed mini explosions, water splashes or shattering glass.

The sensitivity of each detection method can be adjusted via the control box, as can the delay between detection and shutter release, and the number of shots fired each time.

However with just dials to play with, you’ll have to resort to trial and error to nail the right settings. Despite this, and a likelihood that you’ll need a separate adaptor to connect the system to your camera, TriggerSmart is an effective photography aid.

Price: £239
Buy it: www.flaghead.co.uk

Score: 4/5

Capture One Pro 7 review: should Phase One’s new software have Adobe worried?

jmeyer — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:50:44 +0000

Image quality, reliability and speed are just three of Capture One Pro 7′s attributes. Is this latest photo editing software from Phase One an Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop killer? Find out in our Capture One Pro 7 review.

Photoshop is not the only player in town. Enthusiasts and pros have other choices too, including Capture One Pro 7, the professional image capture, raw conversion and editing tool from Danish company Phase One.

Capture One Pro leads a dual life. It’s both a tethered capture tool for professional studio photographers and a high-quality raw converter that’s compatible with many professional- and enthusiast-level cameras.

Phase One doesn’t just make software, it also makes medium-format digital cameras, which can be used on their own or connected by cable to a computer running Capture One and controlled remotely.

You can do this with many Canon and Nikon DSLRs, although Live View may not be supported for all models.

Tethered capture isn’t the way most of us work, but it’s very popular in controlled studio environments, and drives the way Capture One looks, feels and works.

Up until version 7, it’s been based primarily around shooting ‘Sessions’. It’s not really designed for opening and editing single images in the way that Photoshop is; instead it’s meant for capturing and enhancing images in bulk, as you work.

Incidentally, there’s a clever Capture Pilot IOS app that enables you, or a client, to browse photos on an iPad, and you can even control the camera from the iPad, via your computer.

You can also use Capture One Pro 7 purely as a raw conversion/editing tool, and this is where it really shines. Phase One says the processing engine offers ‘dramatic’ improvements in detail rendition and colour.

Capture One Pro has always been good at extracting the maximum detail from raw files, but the results from this latest version are spectacular.

Capture One doesn’t just deliver finer, sharper edges at a pixel level, it does it with amazing clarity and contrast.

Small details stand out with a crispness that makes the original look hazy and soft. It does depend on the camera, however.

Capture One Pro 7 seems to unlock more potential in some models than others, and its high-ISO noise reduction can sometimes go a little too far.

More often than not, though, Capture One Pro will reveal a level of quality you never suspected your camera was capable of.

PAGE 1: What’s on offer in Capture One Pro 7
PAGE 2: Capture One Pro 7 Review – Editing highlights
PAGE 3: Capture One Pro 7 Review – A user-friendly system
PAGE 4: Capture One Pro 7 Review – getting to know the interface
PAGE 5: Capture One Pro 7 Review – Final score