Photography Gadgets

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Sweet little setup by Vimeo member kaydawgy shows a triple flash bracket with Yongnuo Speedlites and Yongnuo RF602 wireless flash triggers. As mentioned in the video, instead of using a single flash at full power, you can use several flashes at low power. This will give you faster recycle times and a broad light source for softer light. This also helps to keep your flashes from overheating too quickly. That large 60" shoot through umbrella also enhances to create the large soft diffused light for portraits. The triple flash bracket can be found (click here).

Triple Flash Bracket
find-price-button Triple Flash Bracket

The Yongnuo RF602 wireless triggers work great for firing flashes off camera, so if you're in a dark venue (i.e. wedding reception), many photographers will spread flashes around the room. Clamp them to the ceiling, throw them in the corners, or use them as backlighting to silouhette subjects on the dance floor (cliche I know). The RF602 triggers also come with a cable to fire off mini plugs and 1/4 plug studio strobes, and an optional cable (purchased seperately) turns them into a remote shutter. These handy little wireless triggers can be found (click here).

Yongnuo RF602
find-price-button Yongnuo RF602 Wireless Flash Triggers

One thing you need to be aware of with this setup, is that these Yongnuo triggers don't communicate ETTL and can't support HSS (high speed sync) with the Flashes. You'll be working with the flashes on full manual mode. The triggers can only sync to about 1/200ths shutter speed. Important Note: So, if you're at 1/200ths and F/4 to blur out your backgrounds on a bright day, you'll be very much overexposed. To shoot with a shallow depth of field, grab yourself an ND filter. If you don't have the ND Filter to cut out the bright sun, you can still use 1/200ths shutter speed and close down your aperture to say F/16 (no more blurry backgrounds). If you happed to be working at an indoor studio type setting, you should be fine at that shutter speed. You can find a variety of different Yongnuo flash models (click here). [Thanks kaydawgy]


Screen shot 2011-07-09 at 11.18.14 PM
find-price-button Yongnuo Flash Speedlite

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You've spent hours traveling to a location, unpack your gear, and build your set. You've got a few hundred to a few thousand dollars of equipment, crew, and talent waiting around, and then a tiny tiny spec of dust on your sensor puts your entire project to a halt. Scary right? There's always that possibility. You should always take great care when cleaning your sensors or trust a certified location to do so. All it takes is to follow directions carefully and start with using the right tools like Delkin's patented sensor cleaning system.

Delkin SensorScope LED Light

This is an old video (above), but Delkin's SensorScope kit has been upgraded with two new components added to the arsenal of cleaning tools. The new 'SensorScope2' kit partnered with respected manufacturer LensPen® resulted in a custom designed polishing and edging tool inspired by DSLR camera technicians. The SensorPen™ features a non-carbon triangular tip for cleaning the edges of the sensor and polishing the sensor surface, as well as a slide out soft DSLR body brush that safely removes dust and debris from the camera body. You can find the kit via B&HPhoto (click here), or find the Delkin and other Sensor Cleaning kits via Amazon (click here).

Delkin Sensor Cleaning Kit
find-price-button Delkin SensorScope Cleaning Kits

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A look at how the latest version CarrySpeed VFinder attaches to a Canon 60D with that swivel out screen. Right off the bat the metal frames might not line up perfectly, but they are easy to bend into position. If you want something super secure, I say permanently glue the sucker to the metal QR frame.

The 3:2 viewfinder fits perfectly on this Canon 60D and it is slightly slotted to fit the Canon T3i as well. The CarrySpeed viewfinders come with a Neoprene pouch, a Lanyard, Metal Frame, and the VFinder loupe. Not a bad deal for an important tool to help you set focus and dial in proper exposure (especially on those bright days). You might want to add some Anti Fog solution too.

carry-speed-lcd
find-price-button Canon 60D / Canon T3i LCD ViewFinder Quick Frame

[Update] Also available via Amazon below
carry-speed-lcd
find-price-button CarrySpeed LCD ViewFinder

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Amazing deals on Sandisk media that's hard to resist. In fact, the price break brings the super high speed, undoubtably reliable Sandisk media smack down in Transcend price territory. We're talking about 400x on CF and Class 10 on SDHC media. Sandisk media is often counterfeited, so watch out for things that look too good to be true. Over at B&H you'll know you've got the real deal and warranty to back it up.

It might not be incredibly obvious but all you need to do is add at least (2) two of these items into your shopping cart to qualify for the discount. Available in select Compact Flash and SDHC media. Your chance to stock up while it lasts. A very rare deal indeed..

Sandisk 16GB 400x Compact Flash
find-price-button 16GB 60MB/s Extreme CF Media $94.95 buy 2 or more pay $59.99

Sandisk 8GB Compact Flash 400x 60MB
find-price-button 8GB 60MB/s Extreme CF Media $54.95 buy 2 or more pay $37.49

Sandisk 16GB SDHC Class 10
find-price-button 16GB Class 10 Extreme SDHC $46.95 buy 2 or more pay $32.49

Sandisk 8GB Class 10 SDHC Speeds
find-price-button 8GB Class 10 Extreme SDHC $24.95 buy 2 or more pay $19.99

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Some people swear by shooting only cards that are 8GB in capacity Max. I shoot with 32GB cards, call me a Danger Seeker. Some people shoot only Sandisk media. I personally shoot with the Transcend Class 10 or 400x Media Cards.

Regardless of anyone's rhyme or reason you can grab a Sandisk 8GB SDHC Class 10 for an awesome price over at B&H much cheaper than elsewhere. As for the Transcend 8GB Class 10 (which isn't as fast, but fast enough for video) you can find those running under $12 dollars. Links below.

Sandisk-8GB-Class10
find-price-button Sandisk 8GB SDHC Media Cards


transcend-8GB-class10 Transcend 8 GB Class 10 SDHC

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Screen shot 2011-06-20 at 1.40.04 AM
find-price-button Amazon 20% Discount Kata Camera Bags

Thanks to a tip from Conrad about Amazon offering an additional 20% off select Kata Camera Bags for a limited time. Aside from the discount, some qualify for additional Mail-in-Rebates. Double the discount. Definitely not as cheap as the LowePro stuff i'm using (which i'm happy with), or the Pelican Carry On Roller, but Kata's known for making some of the lightest and very durable Photo / Video equipment bags. For those who care to opt for the higher value, there are many different styles from slings, to backpacks, to rollers and more.

To take advantage of this offer, simply add the qualifying Kata bag from the list below to your Shopping Cart, enter promotional code KATADISC, and Amazon will automatically apply the discount off the current Amazon.com price at checkout.

There's a few rules like 'one per customer' you can read more about, and the ones that are available for discount can be found following the link below.

Kata Camera BagKata Roller BagKata Lighting Bags
find-price-button Amazon 20% Discount Kata Camera Bags

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Planning on shooting some off camera flash photos? Here's a decent kit to diffuse that lighting for portraits or product photography. If you hate setting up and breaking down softboxes (like I do), then these umbrella/softbox hybrid light modifiers work great. Often referred to as Brolly Boxes, the shoot through diffusers pack up small, set up quick, and provide nice soft even lighting on your subject. Yes, you could do the same shooting through a normal umbrella, but if you don't block the light being reflected backwards, you'll get quite a different look than how softboxes perform. Two Brolly Boxes, two Stands, two Flash Brackets, and a bag completes the kit.

Brolly Box Kits
find-price-button Umbrella Softbox Brolly Box Light Stand Kit

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When it's time to pack for a shoot, i'm a roller bag kinda guy. Easier on the back, and a good way to transport heavy gear. Instead of using one very large roller, I use several FAA approved Airline Carry On sized roller cases. It keeps me from making one case too heavy, easier to fit into smaller cars, and still serves a purpose for airplane travel. Now my current rollers I purchased a while back. I'm definitely due to purchase at least two more rollers, and when I do, here's my direction.

Thinktank SecurityThink Tank Security
find-price-button Think Tank Security Roller Bag Case

First, I'm sure people will point out the Think Tank Security Carry On Rolling Hard Case. Nice case, but upwards of about $400 dollars for a single Roller (not easy on the wallet).

LowePro x100 Roller
find-price-buttonLowePro DSLR Camera Roller Bag Case

Head on over to eBay and do a search for 'Camera Roller'. Yeah you're not going to find any good deals doing it that way either. You'll most likely run into the LowePro x100 Carry On Roller that runs just over $200. Again nice roller, but still not the best deal IMHO. Even the smaller LowePro rollers run quite a bit.

Here's what you should be looking for - The Pelican 1510 Carry On.
red-epic-pelican.
In fact this is the case that's bundled with the Red EPIC camera which starts at $58,000 dollars (shown above). It's a hard case roller that you can grab (empty) for just over $110 dolllars. Waterproof, Dust Proof, and Crush Proof - Can't get that in the LowePro or Think Tank. The Pelican cases have a reputation to be rough and rugged. What's great is that you can build a case to suit your needs, and even replace or repair parts should you ever find a way to do some real damage. New O'Rings? New Locks? New Waterproof Liners? Find a used Pelican and you can bring her back to life. The 1510 is basically future proof.

Pelican 1510 Case
find-price-button Pelican 1510 Carry On Size Roller Hard Case

Choose the one with the Pluck Foam inserts and your looking at about $30 dollars more from the empty case. You can also go with the optional Padded Dividers and tack on that lid organizer for small parts. Not looking to use it for your camera gear? Switch out the inserts and change the carry on roller into your Overnight luggage. There's also Laptop dividers you can add to the lid areas. The Pelican 1510 is a modular hard case roller with features other cases twice it's price can't begin to compare to. Albeit not cheap, the Pelican 1510 Carry On sized Rolling Hard Case is a solid roller I think gives the best bang for the buck.

Pelican 1510 Roller Camera Bag CasePelican 1510Screen shot 2011-06-20 at 12.41.15 AMPelican Padded Dividers
find-price-button Pelican 1510 Carry On Size Roller Hard Case

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Standing Monopod

Here's a clever free standing Monopod that might be useful for more than just camera support. In the image they show a free standing DSLR with a long telephoto lens which is quite a bit of weight. Packs down to about 20 inches, much smaller and lighter than your basic light stand and with a mini ball head attached, it could also serve to hold a microphone, a portable audio recorder, or LED video light in place. Maximum height is approximately 4' 6".

Monopod light StandMonopod Tripod Standing

Should be able to hold a portable Photo Flash when working on portraits or Macro photography, or maybe just throw a small camera off to the side for Time Lapsing an event while you run around shooting. I guess something like this would also work as an extra stabilizer towards the end of your Camera Slider. The Monopod works as a usual monopod, but if you need it in free standing mode, it has three legs that extend to a fairly stable tripod stand (unlike the small feet on the Manfrotto's). If you're in the market for a Monopod, this might be pretty a cool dual, triple, or quadruple purpose stand.

Monopod Stand
find-price-button Free Standing Monopod With Tripod Feet