Gear up with
the latest and greatest in accessories for digital photography
By Maura C. Lanahan And Dikla Kadosh
So you’ve created
more space in your pack by replacing the dozens of film canisters
for a few memory cards. What to do with that extra space? You can’t
just leave it empty, awaiting deposits of dust and used gum wrappers.
No! Use that space wisely. Attach it, clamp it, screw it on. Accessorize!
You don’t have to spend a ton of cash for something extremely
useful. Here are some handy tools that will help boost your creativity
and add a little technical ease to your digital shooting.
Light manipulation
Like traffic in Los Angeles, your photographic light source can't
always be predicted or controlled. With Adorama's 5-in-1 Disc Reflector,
however, it can be manipulated to give you the effect you want
in your photo. The collapsible disc has a reversible cover that
gives you five useful surfaces: black to block and absorb light;
translucent to diffuse light; gold to warm things up; silver for
a strong fill; and white for a normal fill. Now, if only someone
would come up with a collapsible solution to manipulate traffic!
In sizes from 22 to 42 inches, at street prices of $21.95 to $52.95.
Contact: Adorama, (800) 223-2500, www.adorama.com.
Pan It
Really Right Stuff’s PCL-1 panning clamp is a handy quick release
that can replace the clamp on the top of your ballhead. For precise
panning, the base locks at 2.5-degree increments and a built-in level
helps line up images for easy panoramic stitching in editing software.
In addition, the MPR-CL integrated rail will position the nodal point
over the lens. Together, the clamp and rail are an effective panorama
system. List Price: $235 (PCL-1 panning clamp); $110 (MPR-CL rail).
Contact: Really Right Stuff, (888) 777-5557, www.reallyrightstuff.com.
Just Say No
Say goodbye to harsh, direct flash with Sto-Fen’s Omni-Bounce.
The Omni fits directly over your shoe or side-mounted flash head
to create softer diffused light and help eliminate those unsympathetic
highlights. Made for almost every model of flash, the Omni is a useful
tool for a small investment. List Price: $19.95. Contact: Sto-Fen,
(800) 538-0730, www.stofen.com.
It’s
A Snap
The Novoflex Q-Base quick-release system makes mounting a camera
to a tripod quick and easy. It conveniently snaps closed automatically
and securely, eliminating the possibility of equipment falling.
With a built-in sliding focusing rail, the camera or lens can slide
with ease for precision focusing. A full range of plates are available
at a variety of lengths. List Price: $210 (Q-Base); $54 to $143
(plates). Contact: HP Marketing Corp., (800) 735-4373, www.hpmarketingcorp.com.
Small And Big
Sunpak’s PZ40X digital camera flash is a compact yet powerful
unit. At 40 percent the size of previous models, the flash is only
3.7x2.5x3.6 inches and weighs 7.1 ounces. Having a guide number of
102 feet (ISO 100) at a 50mm zoom setting, the PZ40X is strong and
works in TTL (depending on the camera) or manual control. The flash
also is compatible with film cameras. List Price: $199.95. Contact:
Sunpak (ToCAD America), (973) 428-9800, www.sunpak.com.
Under The Sea
Whether you’re taking pictures of coral reefs underwater or
your little girl Coral splashing around in the pool, Ewa-Marine’s
compact camera housings can protect your digital camera from getting
all wet. Made of thick, two-ply PVC, the flexible housing can withstand
water pressure up to 30 feet below the surface and is a handy all-weather
accessory to keep around. List Price: Varies by style and size. Contact:
RTS, (631) 242-6801, www.rtsphoto.com.
The
Sky Is Crying…
…
for this filter set! Lee Filters’ Sky 2 set includes three
filters to enhance any sky that needs some love. The set includes
an ND graduated soft, a sky blue graduated hard and a coral graduated
hard to deepen, saturate, warm and boost the world above. A storage
pouch is included. List Price: $160. Contact: Lee Filters, (800)
576-5055, www.leefiltersusa.com.
An Extra Hand
Block the sun with this convenient arm attachment that connects to
your camera’s tripod thread. The Flare Buster kit helps reduce
and eliminate hazy sun shapes from flare on your image. You’ll
have clean and clear shots without needing to hold out your hand
or have someone block the glare. The arm has a clamp for fastening
the Flare Buster shade or any other useful tool. List Price: $29.95.
Contact: Flare Buster, (888) 99-FLARE, www.flarebuster.com.
Weapon Of Mass Saturation
Add a touch of gold or blue to your scene when the light isn’t
cooperating. By rotating Singh-Ray’s Gold-N-Blue Polarizer,
you can see shifts in yellow and blue hues through the lens and be
able to stop on a setting you’re happy with. This unique polarizer
is a great tool to enhance and saturate colors in your images before
taking them to the computer. List Price: $180 to $210 (depending
on size). Contact: Singh-Ray, (800) 486-5501, www.singh-ray.com.
Get A Little Closer
Macro lenses can be a big expense. For a cost-efficient alternative,
B+W close-up lenses screw into your filter ring and extend the
range of your normal lenses. With a variety of strengths, you’ll
be able to achieve a similar look as you would with a traditional
macro lens. List Price: $34 to $94 (depending on strength). Contact:
Schneider Optics, (631) 761-5000, www.schneideroptics.com.
Shoulder The Load
When you see a great shot, shoot it! BushHawk’s BH-220 and
BH220D (for digital cameras) shoulder mounts eliminate the need to
carry around and constantly set up a tripod. Weighing only 12 ounces,
the mounts are perfect for travel while allowing you to quickly and
steadily frame your images, especially with long zoom lenses. An
optional cord, specific to your camera’s manufacturer, connects
the unit’s two-position trigger system for autofocus and shutter
release functions. List Price: $99.95. Contact: BushHawk, (800) 325-8542,
www.bushhawk.com.
Clean It Up
We know you don’t have to be told (or maybe you do), but keeping
your camera clean is almost as important as flossing your teeth.
Both should be done regularly, so consider carrying the Kinetronics
Digital Camera Cleaning Kit (CC-020), which gives you all the tools
to whisk away dust, lint, fingerprints and other debris from your
delicate digital camera parts. The lens brush and cleaning cloth
come in a little box or soft pouch. List Price: $10.95. Contact:
Kinetronics, (800) 624-3204, www.kinetronics.com.
In The Hood
Whether you’re out strolling the streets or hitting the hiking
trails, you’ll need proper protection for your camera’s
LCD. Hoodman’s SLR Pro Shooter Kit is a cap, hood and magnifier
all in one and can fit in the smallest pocket of your bag when it’s
not snapped onto the back of your camera. This useful accessory protects
the LCD from scratches and dirt, blocks the sun’s glare so
you can see the LCD better and magnifies small menus. List Price:
$34.99. Contact: Hoodman, (800) 818-3946, www.hoodmanusa.com.
Strapped And Ready To Roll
Don’t let that expensive camera slip off your shoulder ever
again! Make sure it stays put with an UPstrap SLR shoulder strap.
The all-surface tread design, or little grippy things in layman’s
terms, translates into comfort and stability so you don’t have
to contort your body and hurt your neck and shoulders trying to keep
your expensive gear from crashing to the floor. List Price: $29.95.
Contact: UPstrap, (877) 755-1491, www.upstrap.com.
Why Carry A Heavy Tripod?
Save your back from your equipment. Having a tripod that travels
well is a good first step. Slik’s DV Travel Pro tripod is
26.6 inches when folded down, making it compact for packing. Weighing
only 4.3 pounds, the tripod can fit in your suitcase without exceeding
the luggage weight limit at the airport. With features like a heavier
tripod, the Travel Pro can handle up to eight pounds, and its speed-release
leg locks allow for easy setup. List Price: $299. Contact: Slik
(THK Photo Products),
(800) 421-1141, www.thkphoto.com.
Not Just
Another Strap
You barely have to make any room for the Kirk Strap Pod in your camera
bag and it works well as a steadying support when you don’t
have a tripod around. The thin, light nylon strap has a looped end
that you step on and a quick-release mount end to attach your camera.
Stick your foot in the loop, adjust the length of the strap and pull
up slightly to create tension to steady your shot. List Price: $29.95.
Contact: Kirk Enterprises, (800) 626-5074, www.kirkphoto.com.
Mood Lighting
When you’re in the mood to take photos of still objects, portraits
or even things you want to sell on eBay, use the Lowel Ego tabletop
softlight to get soft, flattering light. It’s quick and easy
to set up and works perfectly with modern digital cameras. The fluorescent
light uses two 27-watt lamps and comes with a bounce reflector card
for smooth and even lighting that can be useful for a million and
one things. List Price: $125. Contact: Lowel-Light, (800) 334-3426,
www.lowel.com.
Give Them The Boot
You protect your feet from wear and tear by wearing shoes. Why not
slip your lenses into the snug-fitting Snoot Boots by Op/Tech and
protect them from dust, moisture and impact? The cylindrical pouches
come in different sizes, just like shoes do, for an ideal fit.
You can fasten the pouches to your belt or backpack, or you can
just toss them, carefully, into your bag. List Price: Starts at
$13.95. Contact: Op/Tech USA, (800) 251-7815, www.optechusa.com.
Three’s
A Crowd
When a three-legged tripod is just too much to carry, opt for its
one-legged cousin instead. The Giottos MV 825 all-metal Monopod
is petite yet stable, affordable and comes with a built-in head.
That’s more than you can say about most cousins! List Price:
$44. Contact: HP Marketing Corp., (800) 735-4373, www.hpmarketingcorp.com.
The Secret Is In The Tip
No one knows what the secret compound is in the LensPen tip, but
it works remarkably well in removing fingerprints and smudges from
camera lenses. On one end of this tiny and inexpensive accessory
is a soft-hair brush for sweeping away dust and dirt, and on the
other end is the flexible, rubbery magic tip. List Price: $14.95.
Contact: LensPen, (877) 608-0868, www.lenspen.com.
