Beyond Megapixels » gift ideas

Product Review – Black Rapid RS-7 Camera Strap

Steve Russell — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:54 +0000

Sometimes I’m convinced that the worst piece of equipment in photography is the camera strap that comes with your camera. Not only is it a marginally functional piece of equipment, you get the same strap no matter how expensive your camera might be. If you purchase a brand new DSLR for $600 you get a $5 strap. If you purchase a brand new DSLR for $2,500 you get a $5 strap.

So what’s wrong with them? The strap is designed to hang around the photographer’s neck. When you walk, unless you hold onto your camera with your hand, the camera bangs against your chest or abdomen, depending on how you have the strap adjusted. When you bend forward the camera swings forward, away from your body, threatening to impact against the closest immovable object. The biggest complaint, though, is that it’s flat uncomfortable. Especially if you’re carrying something like a Nikon D7000 with a 70-200mm lens mounted to the camera body.

I refuse to “wear” the strap that comes with a camera but I do wrap it around my wrist while holding the camera in my hand. That way the strap at least provides a small amount of security. The only problem is that either the strap becomes too tight to be comfortable or too loose to provide that tiny bit of security. You would think that somebody could design a comfortable camera strap that held the camera securely, kept it from banging against your body as you walked, was easy to keep the camera close to your body especially when bending forward and kept the camera within easy reach. Well, somebody did.

Enter the Black Rapid RS-7 Camera Strap . I know a couple of photographers that have this strap, love it and swear by it. I know at least one photographer who doesn’t have it and isn’t willing to try it because he thinks it would be too easy for the camera to come loose from the strap and fall on the ground. (I’ll get to that point a little later in the review.) Okay, there were two people raving about it and one thinking something bad might happen. I decided to give it a try.

Let’s first tackle the issue that one person didn’t like. Instead of attaching to the built-in “rings” on the sides of the camera body like most straps, the RS-7 attaches with a screw type FastenR-3 that screws into the tripod socket on the bottom of your camera, battery grip or lens.

The photographer I know who doesn’t like it is concerned that the fastener will work loose. I’ve used the strap numerous times and the fastener hasn’t loosened any at all. Yes, to be honest, I do double check it from time to time, but there haven’t been any issues.

The strap connects to the fastener using a locking swivel hook to connect it securely to the strap. When using the strap for the first time, once it’s connected to the camera it’s time to adjust the strap. Instead of me trying to explain the steps to complete the adjustments, watch this short video on the Black Rapid web site.

When adjusted to fit, the camera hangs at the photographer’s hip within easy reach. To use the camera think of a Wild West gunfighter reaching for his pistol. It’s that easy and that quick.

I have used the strap in the studio, at indoor events using an on camera flash, at crowded outdoor events like art festivals and while shooting wildlife outdoors. In each case the Black Rapid strap performed better than any strap I’ve ever used.

What I liked about it:

It’s unbelievably comfortable. I can’t imagine any other strap being as comfortable as the Black Rapid. I spent over four hours one day carrying a Canon 5D Mark II with battery grip and using a 70-200 f/2.8 lens and carrying the camera was as easy and comfortable at the end of the event as it was at the beginning.

It’s cool looking. Okay, it’s just a camera strap but it looks different and I get a lot of questions about it.

It’s simple to adjust. I once read a “review” post on Amazon.com saying that it was very difficult to get adjusted to where it fit properly and no one told them about the video I mentioned above. My experience – I purposely adjusted and used it without watching the video just to see how difficult it was to adjust. Trying to be nice here, I had it adjusted, attached to the camera and was using it in less than five minutes from the time I opened the package. Oh, and there was a reference to the video in the package.

What I didn’t like about it:

Actually, nothing. I’ve tried to find something negative to say about it and I keep coming up empty. I don’t think this is a negative at all, but because the camera hangs at your side about hip level when you’re not using it, I advise that you keep your hand on your camera if you’re in a crowd or someone will bang into it for sure.

I did see where one person complained that it didn’t work very well for left-handed people if you wanted to wear the camera on your left hip instead of your right hip. Maybe so, but the last time I checked, my camera didn’t work left-handed either. The shutter release button is on the right side of the camera as is the grip for holding the camera.

The strap was provided by Black Rapid for me to try and review. When a product is given to me to use and review, I always try to use it as much as I can and in a number of different situations so I can give a fair review.

I also got a Black Rapid bumper or back window sticker for my car. I wonder how many people have looked at the sticker and wondered what new rock band was named Black Rapid.

Tiffany has the model of the strap that is made for women that she will review in the future. I’ll let her explain why there’s a special model for women.

I give this strap my highest recommendation, so if you’re looking for something to buy for the photographer in your life during the holidays or if you want a hint to give to someone buying for you, this is an excellent product from my perspective.

Photo Credits:
All photos provided by Black Rapid

*The Author received complimentary products in exchange for mentioning the Provider’s products and/or services on this website. Such compensation received did not and will never influence the content, topics or posts made on this website. We will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement.

Review: Lensbaby Composer Pro

Tiffany Joyce — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:00:22 +0000

Oh, oh, oh, how I LOVE the new Lensbaby Composer Pro.

Lensbaby has revised their original Composer with heavier construction, a Double Glass 50mm selective focus optic with drop-in aperture discs, and upgraded swivel ball and focus mechanisms. Where the swivel and focus on the original Composer felt a little “gritty”, the swivel and focus on the Composer Pro are smooth as silk.

As I described in my original review, the Lensbaby Composer Pro possesses a very specific “sweet spot” focus point surrounded by graduated blurring, that can be manipulated in fascinating ways to provide very interesting perspectives. The apertures are physical discs that are placed on the lens itself, from f/2.0 to f/22. They are contained in an applicator tool, and at the end of the applicator tool is a magnetic wand that is used to insert and remove the apertures. The lens can be tilted to move the “sweet spot” of focus around while composing the photograph.

The Lensbaby must be used in either aperture priority or manual mode, and it is manually focused. Once you play around with it for a few minutes, you’ll easily get the hang of how the lens operates. I found that it was unnecessary to “lock” the focus in place once it was manipulated to my satisfaction – there was enough tension to hold it in place just fine. However, you can utilize the locking ring to lock the focus in place if needed.

Once I trained my eyes to recognize the sweet spot and determine focus, I found no end to the fascinating ways I could photograph the ordinary.

I was in Santa Fe last month. While there I spent a lovely hour early one morning with the Lensbaby Composer Pro in hand, wandering around the area of the historic Plaza. Here are some of my shots (click to see larger versions):

Lensbaby makes versions for Canon EF, Nikon, Sony Alpha, Minolta Maxxum, Pentax K, Samsung GX, Sigma and Olympus 4/3. Both the Lensbaby Composer Pro with Double Glass Optic for Canon Digital SLR (here’s the Nikon version) and the Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic for Canon Digital SLR (here’s the Nikon version) would make excellent and unique gifts for the photographer in your life (or yourself!).

Once you get your hands on one, you’ll quickly discover how addictive they are!

Photos copyright Tiffany Joyce

An Inexpensive Speedlight Studio

Tiffany Joyce — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:00:45 +0000

One of the most often-asked questions we get is, “What do I buy to get my Speedlight off of my camera and start taking great pictures in a small home studio?” I have a Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash (which I LOVE, by the way), and recently picked up a few things to make its off-camera use a lot more creative, flexible, and useful. I spent just over $200 and got two light stands, a softbox, an umbrella and umbrella adapter, a person-sized reflector with a mounting arm, and a small hand-held reflector (all of which work with any brand of Speedlight, like the Nikon SB-900, not just Canon).

Keep in mind that these prices are from Amazon as of 11/13/11, prices might be slightly different for you. (Also, I would have been able to do a better job giving you photos of these things had my husband and son not commandeered the living room to play Medal of Honor. But then you would have missed my trademark pool table, right?)

Fotodiox 40×60″ 5-in-1 Collapsible Reflector Disc Pro Kit, with Stand and Holder Arm, Soft Silver/Gold/Black/White/Diffuser(right), currently $54.95. This thing is HUGE and could easily be used for a head shot backdrop on the black or white sides. It throws an amazing amount of light when paired with a Speedlight.

CowboyStudio Photo / Video 24in Large Speedlite Flash Softbox with L-Bracket, Shoe Mount & Carry Case(left), currently $45.42. While a wee bit flimsy, this is a great little collapsible softbox for the money. The hotshoe mount is pretty iffy to me, so I would definitely screw on the little plastic foot that comes with the flash and mount it that way.

Impact Air-Cushioned Heavy Duty Light Stand – Black, 9.5′ (2.9m), currently $38.95. This is an extremely sturdy stand, and air-cushioned so if you forget to hold on when you loosen the fittings, the whole thing won’t slam down. The only gripe I have with it is that it’s hard to collapse for storage.

Manfrotto 026 Swivel Lite-Tite Umbrella Adapter – Replaces 2905, currently $28.26. You need an umbrella adapter when you mount an umbrella to a light stand. This one is flexible and does the trick.

CowboyStudio 40in White Satin Umbrella with Reflective Silver Backing and Removable Black Cover, currently $30.05. Your standard reflector umbrella, but the backing can be removed so that it becomes a shoot-through umbrella as well.

Flashpoint 22″ 5-in-1 Collapsible Disc Reflector, Translucent, White, Black, Silver & Soft Gold.(not pictured), currently $16.95. Everybody needs one or two of these to toss in there or have the model hold for that added bit of extra light.

Add another Speedlight (such as the much less expensive Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash or Nikon SB-700) and another light stand and you’ve got a REALLY flexible and well-equipped home studio, just using Speedlights. Add a Pocket Wizard Flex Transceiver TT5/Mini TT1 Transmitter Bundle (here’s one for Nikon) and you’ll really be rocking.

*The Author did NOT receive any products or compensation in exchange for mentioning the Provider’s products and/or services on this website. The Author purchased this product for personal use with personal funds. We will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. This is not an advertisement.

Photo of Nikon SB-700 Speedlight by Yoppy on Flickr Creative Commons.

Christmas Wish List 2011 – Prepare for Black Friday!

Tiffany Joyce — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 07:00:14 +0000

With Christmas a little under seven weeks(!) away, and Black Friday only TWO WEEKS away, now is the time to get your shopping game plan together! Here are my recommended gift items for the photographers in your life. Grab a cup of coffee and get comfortable, because I have a LOT of gift ideas!

For the Beginner DSLR Photographer:

The Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera is a fantastic beginner’s DSLR, and at around $550 is one of the more decently-priced entry level cameras. The learn as you grow guide mode is a great teaching tool, and will guide as little or as much as the photographer needs. As the photographer grows in skill, the D3100 has full manual controls ensuring years of usability.

Scott Kelby’s Scott Kelby’s Digital Photography Boxed Set is one of the first items I think of to buy a beginner DSLR photographer. I know I’ve mentioned this set quite a few times on this site, but as of this writing Amazon is offering all three volumes for just $40 bucks. I don’t know how long that deal will last, so you might want to check it out!

Every new DSLR owner needs a camera bag! Case Logic has a bunch of great, low-cost items, including this TBC-307 SLR Camera Backpack.

A 50mm lens like this Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II (or the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF) makes a great first lens purchase when the photographer is ready to move past the kit lens. The f/1.8 sells for a touch over $100 bucks but is a highly regarded and well-reviewed lens. You get a LOT of bang for your buck with this one!

Stuff Every Photographer Can Use (or use more of)

You can never go wrong with Compact Flash Cards and other memory cards specific to your photographer’s camera brand. Trust me, we ALWAYS need more of these.

Memory is getting cheaper and cheaper these days. You can get a 1TB external hard drive (like the Hewlett Packard HP Portable 1 TB USB 3.0/2.0 External Hard Drive shown here) for under $200 bucks. The Western Digital Elements USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive that I use at home – THREE TB, mind you – is currently $220. Keep an eye out for sales, because I bought the one I have for quite a bit less.

Buy microfiber lens cloths in bulk and be the hero of the day. I’m CONSTANTLY losing mine.

You know what else I lose all the time? My Lens Cap (here’s one for Canon). Pick up a couple of extras for the photographer in your life, because I doubt I’m the ONLY one that loses these things.

For the Photography Gear Head:

Any photographer that wants to get their flash off of their camera, but finds themselves limited to the range that the IR wireless system presents, needs Pocket Wizard. The PocketWizard MiniTT1 Radio Transmitter/Flex TT5 bundle for Nikon (here’s the one for Canon) is a must for doing some fantastic and creative things with a speed light. Then when the photographer is ready to go to studio strobes, he or she will find the Pocket Wizard lineup to be invaluable there as well.

The Westcott Apollo Strip Speedlite Kit doesn’t require a speed ring and fits almost any style of studio light. You just pop it open, mount it onto an umbrella stand, and you’re good to go. There’s an orb kit too, if you like your light modifiers round.

Lensbaby has done it again! Their new pro line of lenses, including the Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic for Canon cameras (here’s the Nikon) is solidly constructed and offers a wider field of view than the original Composer lineup. Pair it with a Creative Aperture Kit 2 and the photographer in your life will soon discover just how addictive a Lensbaby can be!

Software and DVD’s:

Photomatix Pro is an essential piece of software for the HDR addict in your life. It automates and simplifies the process of developing an HDR image, with flexibility in results that produce an image that is as realistic or as surreal as the photographer wishes. At only $100 bucks this is a great buy.

I highly recommend Studio Lighting Essentials for Portrait Photography. I own a copy myself and will be providing a review on this site in the coming weeks. The DVD is full of information on lighting basics, lighting setups, equipment essentials, color theory and more. If the photographer in your life is planning to journey into studio lighting, this is definitely a valuable resource to get them started.

Recommended Point and Shoots:

The Panasonic DMC-FH25K 16.1MP Digital Camera has 8x Wide Angle Image Stabilized Zoom and a 2.7 inch LCD. It’s tiny and can fit into a pocket or purse, for those occasions when you want to be able to capture the memories in photos but don’t want to lug around your big ol’ DLSR.

Canon’s wildly popular PowerShot series now includes the ELPH 100 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera. This one’s got full 1080p HD video capabilities (including Super Slow Motion, which sounds like fun), performs well in low light, and comes in pretty colors! Personally, I like the blue.

Ashton Kutcher has the world hooked on Nikon Coolpix. The L24 14 MP Digital Camera features a 3.6x NIKKOR Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch LCD. This one is somewhat less expensive than other models, but still delivers the level of quality that we’ve come to expect from Nikon. The Easy Auto mode takes every bit of thought out of the picture taking process, other than pointing, composing, and shooting. A great stocking stuffer!

The Sony NEX-5N 16.1 MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Touchscreen Camera boasts “DSLR quality in your pocket”. While I can’t see myself fitting this in my pocket unless I’m wearing REALLY baggy pants, this camera is still compact enough to take the hassle out of lugging around a camera. It can shoot up to 10 frames per second, has full HD video capability, a tiltable touchscreen, a bunch of picture effect modes including panorama, and is compatible with Sony E-mount lenses. As far as gadgets go, this thing will satisfy even the pickiest gearhead!

Gift Ideas that are Just Plan NEAT:

The Celestron 44340 LCD Digital LDM Biological Microscope. This is SO COOL. If you have a budding scientist in your household, or a teacher, this would be a PERFECT gift. This microscope/digital camera combo has the ability to capture 5MP images and video, a quadruple nosepiece with 4x/10x/20x/40x objective lenses, dual focus, and a SD card slot. The microscope is controlled by a touch screen with a stylus, has 1GB of internal memory card and USB slot, 4x optical zoom, LED’s to illuminate the slides, and is powered by 4 AA batteries or an AC adapter.

The MyStudio MS20J Complete Tabletop Photo Studio – 12-Piece Jewelry Photography Toolkit, Bonus Tripod for Product Photography. If you or someone you know is selling jewelry or other small products on Etsy or Ebay, this small product photography studio might be just the thing to add that extra level of professionalism to your product images.

If you feel like spoiling the photographer in your life, you can’t go wrong with the Olympus PEN E-P3 12.3 MP Live MOS Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera. This thing is just plain cool, with impressive low light performance, fast auto-focus, a touch screen and in-camera editing capabilities. It shoots 1080 60i HD video and is expandable with interchangeable lenses and accessories. I would LOVE to get my hands on one of these babies, but it’s a bit pricey at around $875 bucks.

Do you have great ideas for Christmas gifts, or an item from your own wish list that you wish someone would give you? Please share in the comments or on our Facebook Page!

*The Author did NOT receive any products or compensation in exchange for mentioning the Provider’s products and/or services on this website. We will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. This is not an advertisement.

Review: ThinkTank Retrospective 20

Tiffany Joyce — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 07:00:19 +0000

The Short Review: I really like it. It’s cool. It’s functional. It’s stylish. You should get one.

The Somewhat Longer Review:

The Think Tank Retrospective 20 is designed with the professional photographer in mind, who doesn’t want to lug around baggage that screams, “I have a fantastic Nikon and thousands of dollars of gear! Come steal me!” However, its very reasonable price range puts it within easy reach of beginners, amateurs, enthusiasts, hobbiests, and the like. The bag is very ruggedly built and has so many features that I was still discovering new ones weeks into getting my hands on one. And now I pass this information on to you, gentle readers. After reading this post, you will be armed with all you need to know to make an informed purchasing decision.

So. Here we go again with another one of my Pool Table Product Reviews. You know you love them! Also, since I seem to review a lot of camera bags and backpacks, may I just mention now that it’s darned hard to take photos of the interiors of camera bags? There’s nobody to play assistant for me and hold it in various positions so I can get good angles. Still, I believe my unique techniques and home-grown “studio” lend a certain authenticity to my reviews, don’t you? A bit of appeal? Right? Well, that’s what I tell myself anyway.

Onward!

(As usual, click on any picture to view a larger image.)

I thought a little perspective was in order, so I stuck in a soda can. This bag is certainly bigger than a breadbox, but not to the point that it’s unwieldy. And as you can see, it’s very unprepossessing while still managing to be quite posh. The material is quite thick without being inflexible, and feels almost like a combination of canvas and corduroy.

This is the back view. As you can see there are two straps – one over-the-shoulder type (which is extremely well-padded and quite comfortable), and one handle-type. The zippered back pocket is the narrow sort that’s excellent for thin file folders or documents (or a stack of model releases!).

This is the front view with the top flap opened up. The pocket in the front expands forward quite a bit and you can stuff a LOT of things in there. Books, PDA’s, the included rain cover, 2x converters, an external flash, a water bottle, lunch, your toy poodle, etc. etc.

Here’s the underside of the top flap, which sports a slot for business cards, and these unique silencing patches. The hook and loop found under the front flap can be adhered to one another, so the hook side doesn’t engage with the loop side on the camera bag itself when the flap is closed. This, in effect, removes the “latch” when the front flap is closed, so you can flip it open and closed soundlessly. Which is great when you’re switching out lenses in the middle of a church wedding. It’s just one of those ingenious, SIMPLE little features that make Thinktank products so awesome.

Here’s a somewhat awkward interior shot. Two of the provided divider panels are installed, forming three separate compartments. There is a long built-in sleeve on the left-hand and right-hand side of the interior, for various accouterments (don’t squint, you can’t really see them that well in this shot, but they’re there!). Another zippered compartment at the back runs the length and width of the bag.

The bag comes with a rain cover and additional divider panels for added customization.

This is what it looks like with the rain cover attached. There are no instructions provided, and I spent quite a few minutes trying to figure out how to put the darn thing on before I gave up and turned to the Internet. Fortunately, ThinkTank has provided a video that demonstrates the technique. It’s not intuitive, that’s for sure, but it’s not hard once you learn the trick of it.

Finally, here’s a shot with my typical day trip gear packed inside. My Canon 7D with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM Telephoto attached and pointed downward into the bag (lens hood reversed), my EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens, and my Speedlite 580EX II. I’d removed one of the dividing panels, and as you can see there’s still plenty of room for a few more things in the main compartment (I didn’t have anything in the front pocket in this shot).

To conclude, I must say that the ThinkTank Retrospective 20 would be an excellent solution for carrying gear for daily use or short trips. I’ve used it for both; I’ve taken it on client shoots, and I’ve walked city streets for hours with it strapped over my shoulder. Buy one for yourself, and buy one as a gift for the photographer in your life. Because it’s a ThinkTank, you really can’t go wrong.

All Photos (and poor attempts at humor): Copyright Tiffany Joyce

Accessories for the New DSLR Owner

Tiffany Joyce — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 07:00:04 +0000

A friend of mine recently got an early Christmas present – a Nikon D90. She was in the process of updating her Wish List and pinged me for suggested accessories for a first-time DSLR owner.

1. First thing’s first. I promptly went out and bought her Scott Kelby’s Digital Photography Boxed Set, Volumes 1, 2, and 3. These books were utterly invaluable to me when I was coming up to speed on DSLR photography. I’m completely confident that she’ll find them as helpful as I did. I would have loaned her my copies but, well, I still use them all the time. That’s the mark of a truly great reference book or guide – that it remains useful months, and even years, after its initial purchase.

Here’s the review I wrote a while back about Volume 3.

2. Next I recommend buying a battery grip. this is the one she’d need for her Nikon D90, and this is the one that I still need to get, myself, for my Canon 7D. Keep in mind that if you want to be able to charge both batteries at once, you’ll need to pick up an extra charger. They’re cheap, though.

3. My next suggestion is to add a wireless remote shutter release to your gear. This one comes highly recommended for most Nikon models, while this is the one that I used for my Canon Digital Rebel. Come to think of it, I haven’t tried it out to see if it’s compatible with my 7D, yet.

4. The next recommendation would be to pick up a quality tripod. In my humble opinion, you really can’t go wrong with any kind of Manfrotto, and their line of joystick ball heads are really cool.

5. Then of course, there’s the extra memory cards. Both SanDisk and Lexar are very reliable suppliers – get 16GB or 32GB and you can shoot for hours – days, even. Check your camera’s specifications for the specific type of memory card required.

6. Get a LensPEN Lens Cleaning System (here’s the review I wrote a while back), a Rocket Air Blaster , and a few extra Microfiber Lens Cloths. Clean gear is EVERYTHING.

So! There are my top recommendations for the new DSLR owner’s wish list. What would you add to it? Feel free to leave recommendations in the comments!

Photo credits (all): Tiffany Joyce.

Christmas Wish List 2010

Tiffany Joyce — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 07:00:52 +0000

I recently saw a jarring headline on CNN’s website – there are about five paychecks left between us and Christmas. Good lord, that deadline sneaked up awfully suddenly, didn’t it? So, it’s time for our annual Photo Gear Christmas Wish List! Give this list to your loved ones to give them ideas for your gift, or use this list yourself for gift ideas for the photography enthusiast in your life.

Frugal:

- The Digital Concepts Ps-101 Portable Lighting Studio is only around $30.00, and is a great tool for photographers venturing into lighting and macro photography.

- A handy Five In One Reflector Kit is around $17.00 and is always on a photographer’s list of “must-have” equipment.

- Every photographer can benefit from a Reference Color & White Balance Grey Card Set for white balance correction. It even comes with a handy quick-release neck lanyard. A great gift for around $13.00.

- Budding photographers will get the shot right every time with these Cheatsheet Photography Guides. They’re laminated cards on a keychain that provide “…numerous how-to tips, tricks, techniques, and charts” for metering, exposure, lighting, and how to shoot popular subjects. All for around $20.00.

Mid-range:

- The Nikon Coolpix L22 12.0 MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD, at just around $100.00, is a sweet little point-and-shoot that will be sure to delight.

- For the video enthusiast, the Flip UltraHD Video Camera – 8 GB, 2 Hours Recording Time is a great deal for around $199.00.

- Does your photographer friend globe trot, climb around on mountains, and hike long distances to get “the” shot? Gift them with the Tamrac 3385 Aero Speed Pack 85 Dual Access Photo/Laptop Backpack for about $130.00.

- Digital photo frames certainly have come a long way since their inception. The Sony DPF-V1000 10-Inch Digital Photo Frame comes with a remote control, is bluetooth-ready, displays up to 2,000 photos, and has auto image correction/rotation. A fantastic addition to home decor for around $180.00.

Extravagant:

- The Canon PowerShot S95 10 MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch inch LCD (whew) is already a very popular wish-list item. If someone on your list is looking for a very capable, option-packed point-and-shoot camera, this one sells for around $399.00.

- Want to make their eyes REALLY pop out of their head when they unwrap their present? Get them the latest in D-SLR cameras. The Canon EOS 60D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS UD Standard Zoom Lens is around $1,400.00. The Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 3.0 Inch LCD (Body Only) is around $1,200.00. The Olympus PEN E-P1 12.3 MP Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens (Silver Body/Black Lens) is about $550.00. The Pentax K-5 16.3 MP Digital SLR with 18-55mm Lens and 3-Inch LCD, due to be released any day now, is available for pre-order at around $1,750.00.

- A high-balance gift card, say around $500.00, will always be met with enthusiasm. The great thing about giving a gift like this is that the photographer in your life can get exactly what they need. Get gift cards from Amazon or B&H Photo Video – they have the greatest selection and best prices for photography gear.

What is on your photography wish list for this Christmas? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

Photography Gadgets

Tiffany Joyce — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:10:27 +0000

If you’re like me, you LOVE gadgetry. I adore miscellaneous little inventions and attachments and whatnots that are fun and easy to use. Many of them, while being novel and cool, may also increase productivity, provide added convenience, or improve photographic outcomes.

Here are a handful of gadgets that I’ve come across (many from the last handful of pages of my Popular Photography magazines, where they list the advertisements) that I’d love to try out.

The JOBO GPS001 photoGPS Geo Tagging Flash Shoe captures geo data on site as you take your photograph (it attaches to your camera’s hot shoe). It combines the GPS data and location with the picture, which would come in exceedingly handy if you take, oh, a thousand or so pictures during the course of a vacation (which I’ve been known to do). I’ll sometimes look at a photo and think to myself, “Okay, now, where was this taken, again?” So. Cool gadget!

If you like the Gorillapod, you’ll also like the Joby Gorillatorch Adjustable and Flexible Tripod Flashlight! Operating on the same flexible mount principles, the Gorillatorch will provide you with a lighting solution that’s applicable to just about any photography circumstance you can think of! Personally, I would use this as a handy task light when setting up my camera for nighttime shots. It’s hard to adjust the aperture and shutter speed when you can’t see the buttons.

Do you have a bunch of old VHS videos, or Mini 8′s, or other types of video formats that you’d love to be able to convert to digital? The iConvert Video Converter can record any kind of video as a digital file – you can even hook it up to your TV and digitally record television shows. This would come in exceedingly handy for all of those VHS tapes I have of my kids’ childhoods. Not to mention my wedding videos!

A 3-Axis Bubble Level attaches to your camera’s hotshoe and provides a physical, visual indicator of your camera’s alignment. I don’t know about you, but I occasionally find myself having to straighten my photos in Photoshop in post processing, because I didn’t notice that my camera was a bubble off when I shot the picture. “Eyeballing” how straight a camera is lined up is a hit and miss process, at best. So, this is a handy gadget to have around!

The Photojojo Store is like crack to me, but when I saw this White Balance Lens Cap I thought, “OH MAN, what a great idea!” With your camera set to custom White Balance mode, you actually take a picture with the White Balance Lens Cap affixed to your lens, and the camera creates the correct white balance profile of the actual lighting conditions you’re photographing.

How about you guys? Have you come across, or do you own, some cool photography gadgetry that you’d like to tell us about? Comment away!

Photo credit – “Memories of Summer” by Emzee on Flickr Creative Commons.

Black Friday Deals on Digital Photography Gifts

Tiffany Joyce — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:00:08 +0000

Hello friends! As promised I’m back with some specific Black Friday deals for digital photography gear.

First of all, be sure to check back daily at Amazon.com’s Black Friday Deals in Camera, Photo, and Video. Deals are being offered all week long and, of course, on Black Friday.

Best Buy:
- Insignia Digital Cameras – $49.99
- Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements – $74.99
- Western Digital 500GB external hard drive – $79.99
- HP Photosmart Wireless Printer – $64.99
- Canon EOS Digial Rebel T1i – with 18-55mm lens $699; with 55-250mm lens $899
- Kodak Easy-Share C140 digital camera (with digital photo frame) – $109.99
- Sony Cyber-Shot – 10.1 mpx, various colors – $99.99 to $149.99
- FujiFilm FinePix 10.0 mpx – $119.99
- Nikon CoolPix 12.1 mpx – $299.99
- Nikon CoolPix 10.0 mpx – $179.99
- SanDisk Flash Drive Memory Cards (4-8GB) – $14.99-$19.99
- **See the entire ad (scanned) here.

Costco:
- Panasonic ZS1 digital camera (10.1 mpx) – $199.99
- Seagate 500GB portable hard drive – $79.99
- SanDisk memory cards – up to 50% off with coupon
- **Downloadable ad is here.

K-Mart:
- Samsung SL40 Digital Camera – $79.99
- Kodak CD80 Digital Camera Bundle (with case and 2GB memory card) – $79.99
- Sony CyberShot 10.1 mpx – $99.99
- SanDisk memory card – 4GB – $8.99
- **See entire scanned ad starting here.

Sears:
- GE A1250 Digital Camera – $69.99
- Fuji J29 10.1mpx Digital Camera – $89.99
- Nikon CoolPix 10.0 mpx Digital Camera – $99.99
- HiPro Camera Kits – 50% off
- SanDisk 4GB memory cards – $8.99
- **See full scanned ad here

Target:
- Nikon CoolPix S203 Digital Camera – $88.00
- Western Digital 500GB portable hard drive – $59.98
- Kodak ZD15 Digital Camera 10mpx – $129.00
- **See full scanned ad here.

WalMart:
- Western Digital 320GB portable hard drive – $49.00
- Kodak CD82 Digital Camera 12mpx – $69.00
- Nikon CoolPix S230 10mpx Digital Camera – $139.00
- Sony CyberShot DSCS930 – $79.00
- SanDisk 4GB memory card – $8.00
- Kodak Wireless Photo Printer ESP5250LE – $99.00
- **See full scanned ad starting here.

Also be sure to check out Holiday Gift Specials from B&H Photo Video.

Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Shopping, and good luck!!!

Photo Credits (all): FotoGraphix on Flickr Creative Commons.

Prepare for Black Friday!

Tiffany Joyce — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:45 +0000

There are twenty days until Black Friday, my friends! Time to get your gameplan together!

Black Friday, that traditional chaotic Christmas shopping day that qualifies as a quasi-holiday all on its own, is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the U.S. every year. This year, I want to help you to plan your gift-buying for the photographer in your life!

On-line, Amazon.com always holds a one-day, Black Friday sales event for the majority of their in-stock items. This event usually kicks off the Christmas season sales, though specifically on Black Friday there are deals that are not offered at any other time. Be sure to visit Amazon on 11/27 and take advantage of the discounts!

Find your local Ritz Camera, or visit them on-line. Take advantage of no sales tax and free shipping if ordering on-line, and find deep discounts if you visit your local store in person.

The big retailers, such as K-Mart (link is to specific Black Friday ad), Sears (also linked to specific Black Friday ad), Target, Costco, and Wal-Mart, often have a surprising amount of camera gear in-stock and on sale during Black Friday, whether you shop on-line or in person.

Visit B&H on Black Friday and take advantage of one-day-only on-line deals on cameras, lenses, and accessories. Best Buy will also be offering major Black Friday discounts, on-line and in stores.

This list represents a good place to start when looking for Black Friday deals. In order to help you with your gift-buying, once retailers release their “official” Black Friday ads (probably within the next week or two), I will post an updated entry to point you all in the direction of great deals on specific cameras, lenses, and other photography equipment. So be sure to check back in with us!

Photo Credit – “Equipment for US Trip” by Geisha Boy on Flickr Creative Commons.