I recently picked up a Sony QX10 lens camera. The price had dropped $50 and, now that I am using a Sony Xperia Z2 I figured it made sense. I also went in search of a good way to protect the camera. The Op/Tech USA Fold-Over Pouch 301 seemed like a good option. Let’s take a look.
It’s been said for a very long time that the digital camera as a standalone gadget is a dying business. Smartphones are getting better as cameras, and as apps improve shooting and sharing photos, it has become less and less important to have a standalone camera. This past week I had two experiences that really sealed that message for me.
Shoot, edit, share – the mantra of modern photography in our instant world and the mission statement of nearly every hardware and software developer in this genre. Incipio, a southern California-based designer and manufacturer of mobile device accessories, recently provided GearDiary with the new Incipio Focal Camera Case for iPhone5/5s, a device promising to make you photograph like a pro.
When the Narrative Clip arrived I was excited. Sure, having a small 5MP wearable camera that takes a new picture every 30 seconds would have been great during my recent trip to Israel but it sadly arrived the day after I left. Still, I could see many ways this unobtrusive gadget might make a great photographic diary going forward.
When Judie and I were at CES 2014, I kept my camera handy at all times thanks to the Capture Clip from Peak Design. (Read the review.) The Capture Clip started as a Kickstarter Project and quickly became a favorite way for me to carry my camera. Now the company is back with their new Slide, Clutch and Anchor Links.
The Think Tank Photo Airport Roller Derby is designed for use by professional photographers who need to carry and protect a significant collection of gear. Thing is, the excellent AND flexible design of this bag makes it a good option for pretty much anyone who travels a lot. At just under $390 it is pricey, but it is equally impressive.
It has been a while since we covered anything from Think Tank Photo here on the site. We’ve review many of the products and I’ve always been impressed. The company just rolled out a few new products and new promotions for June 2014. If you are into photography both the products and the special deals are worth checking out!
It seems that today we all take tons of digital photos but very few ever become physical media. If there is a photo worthy of being on a wall, it is usually something special. Posterjack, Canada’s Photo Art Experts, now provides services in the United States. They offer quality printing on a variety of media. Read on for my experience.
If you are looking to grab action videos without having to spend a fortune on gear, you are in luck. The Pyle eXpo Hi-Speed HD Action Camera is packed with features and has a price under $250. With a 20MP camera, 1080p video resolution, a 2″ touchscreen, and 4X zoom, the camera is ready to capture your active lifestyle.
If you carry an extra lens with your DSLR or mirror less camera you want to make sure it stays safe. Large camera bags are great but a small case like the Torkia TL-7010S Professional Lens Case may be just the thing. T works great with my Panasonic camcorder too! Best of all this quality case is also inexpensive.
When I went to using a Sony NEX-6 mirrorless camera, I found that many of the camera bags I had been using with my DLSR were simply too big. They work just fine but, at times, they are overkill. The Torkia TC-4500 Professional Camera Case I received for review is, to quote Goldilocks, “just right”.
I’ve long known Eyefi to be a great way to wirelessly send images from my camera to my computer or mobile device. My Sony RX100 doesn’t have the WiFi of my NEX-6 so an EyeFi card is a must for me when I use it on the go. Now the company is upping the anti with their Eyefi Cloud service.
If you want to bring your pictures and videos to life, but you don’t want to got to school to learn how to create a presentation that doesn’t look like a five year old did it, then you’ll want to check out FotoMagico 4. At $99 the application is pricey, but the ease-of-use and output results are amazing.
General Electric is not known for its photographic equipment they have actually been producing some decent inexpensive options. No, these cameras aren’t as compact as your smartphone, and they aren’t as powerful as the offerings from Sony, Canon, or Nikon, but the GE cameras do get the job. Their most recent entry is the GE X450 camera. Let’s take a look.
Camera straps have a significant purpose – they are designed to protect your investment in case of accidents, clumsiness, etc. while also freeing up your hands while not shooting. For many, however, the traditional neck/shoulder strap is not their thing, and for these individuals Joby introduces UltraFit Hand Strap with UltraPlate designed for comfort, convenience and security.
The Lowepro Video Fastpack line of camera backpacks is the workhorse of camera backpacks. I was impressed by the 150 AW and use my 250AW constantly. The Lowepro DSLR Video Fastpack 350 AW is the largest backpack in the line. Not much to look at, it has great features and holds a ton. Best of all it is under $150.
Google’s ubiquitous social network Google+ gets a picture editing update which allows for adding high dynamic range (HDR) effects to a single image, with a single click. HDR Scape is currently available in the Snapseed apps for Android and iOS and today you can use it in Google+ by editing a photo and clicking HDR SCAPE in the right corner.
For years, professional photographers and filmmakers have been using light meters to tell them just how bright or dim the scene being recorded is but these handheld meters are rather pricey. The Luxi system from Extrasensory Devices is a diffusion dome attachment that clips on your iPhone and provides a very good, very affordable alternative to those expensive professional meters.
When the Custom SLR ProDot arrived, I wasn’t sure what sure what to think. A small white dot with adhesive on one side and a soft, brushlike material on the other? I initially thought it was a solution in search of a problem. I was wrong. This dot designed to go on top of a camera’s shutter button actually works.
Lots of us have traded our big, bulky DSLRs for small but powerful mirrorless camera like my NEX-6. When we do we often find that big camera bags become overkill. Enter booq’s new Python mirrorless camera bag. Just $80, this small bag for mirrorless gear looks great, has booq’s signature style, and will keep your gear safe and organized.
Kerry Woo, past Gear Diary writer and current street photographer extraordinaire, has just launched his first Kickstarter project — the aptly named “Take the Long Way Home”. His goal is to “document a rich pictorial history of America’s back roads, [and] upload the images online with professional printing and direct mailing to you” while driving cross-country from Seattle to Nashville. And now, in my words: Kerry is someone who I have never met in person, but over the ten or…
