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LOWEPRO
ROLLING COMPUTREKKER PLUS AW
On a big trip, the last thing you want is to be leaving key elements
of your gear behind because you ran out of space. The Lowepro Rolling
CompuTrekker Plus AW frees you from that potential problem, thanks
to its massive capacity. The 13x5.5x16.3-inch interior dimensions
are ample for a complete high-end D-SLR outfit, and it fits within
airline carry-on requirements. A padded compartment holds a laptop
computer (with up to a 15.4-inch screen) that can be easily accessed
during check-in or as you’re shooting in the field. A built-in
memory card pouch keeps your storage media protected and organized,
and the AW cover protects all of your gear in the event of rain.
List Price: $349.
MAGELLAN EXPLORIST 600 GPS
The rugged impact- and water-resistant armor of the Magellan eXplorist
600 GPS is ideal for travel. Featuring a large, 2.3-inch, full-color
LCD screen, the 600 tracks your location and enables you to easily
find your destination with the use of geopositioning satellites.
A USB port and a built-in SD card reader/writer provide unlimited
storage of old trekking routes, and the unit’s PC-style file
management allows you to create folders and directories. The 600
has a built-in barometer, altimeter and thermometer to further assist
with travel plans. Weighing less than four ounces, the unit can
fit in your pocket. Estimated Street Price: $450.
ADVENTURE MEDICAL KITS
Be prepared for small mishaps with the Ultralight Series first-aid
kits from Adventure Medical Kits. The outer bag is constructed of
ripstop nylon with silicon coating, and there are U.S. Navy-certified
waterproof bags inside to protect the first-aid items. The kits
are available in different sizes, depending on the length of your
trip and how many people will be traveling. List Price: $10 to $32.
IOMEGA SUPER DVD WRITER 16x16
Back up your once-in-a-lifetime images to recordable CDs and DVDs
with the Iomega Super DVD Writer 16x16. The external burner provides
a 16x burn speed and supports recording to double-capacity DVDs
for up to 8.5 GB of storage. Connection to your laptop computer
is provided by a speedy USB 2.0 connection. List Price: $170.
LEKI ULTRALITE TI AIR ERGO TREKKING
POLE
Make it easier to negotiate rough trails with the Ultralite Ti Air
Ergo PA AS Trekking Pole from Leki. Weighing just nine ounces, the
aluminum/titanium pole adjusts from 30 to 53 inches. Additionally,
it features a positive-angle grip and a unique ELS locking system.
List Price: $150.
PORTER CASE ELITE DELUXE DIVIDER
CASE
Protect and transport your computer, camera, lenses and more with
Porter Case’s Elite Deluxe Divider Case. A briefcase-style
accordion pocket in the lid of the case is perfect for your laptop,
and the padded dividers organize your photo equipment. The Elite
Deluxe can fit under an airplane seat and has wheels that transform
the case into a cart, allowing you to haul up to 200 pounds of other
baggage. The hard exterior protects your gear from damage, and the
case weighs only 13 pounds. List Price: $279.
MOONSTONE TECH TEES
Made of a tri-blend jersey fabric, the Moonstone Tech Tees fight
odor-causing bacteria, limit moisture and help keep you dry and
comfortable for days on the road. The combination of fibers in the
shirts are stretchable while still maintaining form-fitting shape.
Styles and sizes are available for both men and women. List Price:
$42 to $52.
EZ PNP EZDIGIMAGIC DM220-D08 DVD/CD
BURNER
Burn images straight from a digital camera or memory card to a DVD
or CD without a computer using EZDigiMagic’s DM220-D08 DVD/CD
Burner by EZ PnP. The unit is capable of backing up 4 GB of information
on to a DVD and features a slim, lightweight design that’s
convenient for travel. List Price: $399.
MOTOROLA TALKABOUT T6500
With a rugged rubber exterior in a compact size, the Motorola Talkabout
T6500 is a convenient way to keep in touch with your travel companions.
The T6500 has a five-mile range with 22 frequencies and a priority
scan feature that allows you to quickly find the most private channel
in crowded environments. The Talkabout also allows you to tune in
to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a continuous
weather broadcasting channel. List Price: $50 (alkaline model);
$60 (rechargeable battery model).
ANSMANN 1212 POWER SUPPLY
Charge your camera and radio, even your shaver, with the Ansmann
1212. Featuring an adjustable DC output from three to 12 volts,
it automatically senses and switches to the proper current when
plugged in and is fully stabilized, even when the AC power is not.
The 1212 comes with plugs for U.S., U.K., EU and AUS voltage systems.
Estimated Street Price: $36.
KATADYN EXSTREAM XR BOTTLE PURIFIER
Ensure that the water you drink is clean using the Exstream XR Bottle
Purifier from Katadyn. Holding up to 34 ounces, the large-capacity
bottle is EPA-registered and removes all types of organisms, including
viruses, through Virustat Technology as well as micro-filtration
and carbon. List Price: $50.
EPSON P-2000 MULTIMEDIA STORAGE VIEWER
Download your digital photographs and share them on a large, bright
screen with the Epson P-2000 Multimedia Storage Viewer. Sporting
a sharp, 3.8-inch LCD screen, it features a 40 GB hard drive and
media slots to download directly from your camera’s memory
card. List Price: $499.
VASQUE RANGER 2 GTX BOOTS
Keep your feet comfortable and dry as you venture into the outdoors
wearing the Vasque Ranger 2 GTX boots. Designed with a waterproof
Gore-Tex® membrane, the boots are made using waterproof split
leather and cross-weave nylon. A high-cushioned EVA midsole and
Texon board with a steel shank insole provide reliable support.
List Price: $100.
GITZO TRAVELER TRIPOD
Having compact, lightweight gear makes traveling easy. The Traveler
from Gitzo is a lightweight, carbon-fiber tripod that folds in on
itself, 180 degrees over the head, making it 25% shorter. The tripod
is 14.2 inches when completely folded down, and weighs only 2.2
pounds, making it capable of fitting in a camera bag or carry-on
luggage. List Price: $850.
TAMRAC EXPEDITION 7 PHOTO BACKPACK
The ergonomically designed Expedition 7 Photo Backpack from Tamrac
has a highly adjustable shoulder and hip harness to help you carry
your load correctly. Deep pockets allow you to stack your lenses
horizontally and the plastic accessory pockets have water-resistant
zippers to protect your electrical gadgets from the elements. A
center attachment secures your tripod in the middle of the bag,
preventing it from swaying and hitting things, and airflow channels
keep you cool. List Price: $250.
MOUNTAIN SAFETY RESEARCH MIOX PURIFIER
Purify your water without using a pump or iodine. Mountain Safety
Research’s MIOX Purifier weighs only 3.5 ounces and requires
that you only add water, shake and press a button. It protects from
bacteria, viruses and cryptosporidium without leaving an unpleasant
iodine taste. The kit includes batteries, safety-indicator strips
and a storage sack. List Price: $130.
TENBA PHOTO VEST
Photo vests offer a convenient way to access your gadgets, lenses,
film and other necessary items while you’re shooting. Tenba’s
Photo Vest has 18 sturdy pockets designed for specific items. Additional
features include waterproof material, mesh for keeping you cool,
Velcro for easy access, large bellows for lenses, padded shoulders
to ease the tension of bag straps and pockets for warming your hands.
List Price: $132.
GIOTTOS ROCKET BLASTER
Dust particles on your digital SLR sensor cause black dots and imperfections
to appear on your image. You can blow them away with the Giottos
Rocket Blaster. The gadget is more powerful than a typical blower
brush and because it blasts out clean air, your sensor is safe from
harsh chemicals typically used by pressurized air products. The
blowers are available in two sizes. Estimated Street Price: $10
(small version); $12 (large version).
Don’t Leave Home Without Them
Not much bigger than the credit card that coined the phrase,
today’s mini-cameras are perfect travel companions for
impromptu shots
While they’re no match for your D-SLR in speed and overall
performance, you can’t beat mini-digital cameras in convenience.
They’re perfect for evenings out on the town, for photo
opportunities found on your morning run or anytime when your
bulkier camera gear would be cumbersome or distracting. They
help you keep a low profile, too.
The new Kodak EasyShare-One (www.kodak.com)
has a massive three-inch LCD screen—the biggest screen
on any digital camera. Although not the most compact of the
newest minis, it’s loaded with cool specs like Wi-Fi connectivity
for wireless printing and image downloads, and 256 MB of built-in
storage, which you can expand as needed with SD flash memory.
Another new mini with a big LCD is the Nikon Coolpix S1 (www.nikonusa.com).
At 2.5 inches, it’s a big view for a tiny camera. This
is one of the sleekest mini-cameras we’ve seen, with a
3x zoom lens and 5-megapixel resolution. The Coolpix S1 also
features Nikon’s innovative Face-Priority Autofocus mode,
which automatically detects your subject’s face to ensure
sharp focus.
Canon (www.usa.canon.com)
has a long history of exciting compact cameras, starting with
the ELPH film cameras in the 1990s, and the PowerShot SD models
continue the lineage with ultra-compact designs. The SD400 is
Canon’s best blend of size and performance to date, with
5-megapixel resolution and a 3x zoom lens. Overall, it’s
the smallest of the mini-cameras here.
Minolta made a huge impact on digital mini-cameras with its
DiMAGE X in 2002. Konica Minolta (www.konicaminolta.us)
has carried on that line with improvements along the way, increasing
resolution to 5 megapixels. The unique design is built around
a 2.8x zoom lens that doesn’t extrude from the body when
zooming.
For the thinnest 5-megapixel compact camera, check out Sony’s
Cyber-shot DSC-T7 (www.sonystyle.com).
It’ just over one-half-inch thick. The DSC-T7 features
a 3x Carl Zeiss lens, 10 Scene modes and a large, 2.5-inch LCD.
| Mini-Cameras |
| Camera |
Resolution |
Lens (35mm Equiva-lent) |
LCD |
Dimensions |
Weight |
Price* |
| Canon PowerShot SD400 |
5 m-pixels |
3x (35-105mm) |
2 in. |
3.4x2.1x0.8 in. |
4.6 oz. |
$399 |
| Kodak EasyShare-One |
4 m-pixels |
3x (38-114mm) |
3 in. |
4.1x2.5x1 in. |
7.9 oz. |
$599
|
| Konica Minolta DiMAGE X50 |
5 m-pixels |
2.8x (37-105mm) |
2 in. |
3.3x2.4x0.9 in. |
4.4 oz. |
$349 |
| Nikon Coolpix S1 |
5 m-pixels |
3x (35-105mm) |
2.5 in. |
3.5x2.3x0.8 in. |
4.2 oz. |
$389
|
| Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T7 |
5 m-pixels |
3x (38-114mm) |
2.5 in. |
3.6x2.4x0.6 in. |
4.1 oz. |
$499 |
| *Estimated Street
Price |
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