May 2018 – Page 2

The Westcott Strobelite Plus Monolight might just be the right light to complete your kit

For many years, I have relied on my Canon and Yongnuo Speedlites for almost all of my flash needs. Most recently, I purchased the latest Canon Speedlite which is the 470 EX-AI Speedlite. It is an amazing flash, with great features, and the artificial intelligence ability goes a long way to achieving the perfect lighting for portrait, and in some cases even product photography. For macro photography and product photography, I sometimes use my photography Lightbox that works really well, and at other times, I use acrylic backgrounds which obviously are affected by ambient light. I have been looking at adding flexibility to my photography when using backgrounds, or when I am working with clients shooting food photography, and after much research, I have decided to try a good entry level strobe flash with a modeling light.

The Westcott Strobelite Plus Monolight seems like a great strobe to start with. It has a decent flash recycle time of 2 to 2.5 seconds, which will work fine for my in-studio work. Its flash power can be adjusted from 25% to 100%, and it has a built-in 150-watt modeling light that gives you the great ability to preview the light in your shot. It is well constructed, has a Bowens S-Type front accessory mount that supports umbrellas, light modifiers, and softboxes, and a 15-foot removable power cord.

If you would like to purchase the Westcott Strobelite Plus Monolight, you can pick one up at Amazon or B&H Photo Video for approximately $230.

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Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Camera gear, Photography

The Westcott Strobelite Plus Monolight might just be the right light to complete your kit originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 31, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Come up to the lab for some cold-brewed coffee

I have a B.S. in chemistry, so you can imagine I have a fondness for laboratory glassware. That’s why the Ovalware RJ3 Airtight Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker caught my eye. But you don’t need a degree in chemistry to make coffee in this maker. You simply add ground coffee and cold water and come back in a few hours. You may wonder why anyone would bother with cold-brewing when there are so many coffee makers on the market that can produce a cup in seconds or a whole pot in a few minutes. Well, cold brewed coffee has a richer taste and is 70% less acidic than hot brewed. It’s a concentrated solution sitting in your fridge until you decide to dilute it to make iced coffee or heat it for a hot cup. It also works great for brewing tea from loose tea or tea bags.

The brewer is available in a one- or 1.5-liter size. The carafe is extra-thick, lab-tested borosilicate glass that can even stand up to hot brewing. The rust-free superfine dual-mesh filter and the cap are made of 18/8 medical-grade stainless steel. The cap has a BPA-free silicone airtight seal. The whole kit is dishwasher safe.

Put ground coffee in the mesh filter, add water, and put the carafe in the fridge for 12-24 hours, depending on how strong you like your coffee. When brewing is done, remove the filter. You can store the concentrated coffee in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

The Ovalware RJ3 Airtight Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker is $29.99 for the one-liter size or $35.99 for the 1.5 liter size at Amazon.

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Tagged: Coffee Brewer

Come up to the lab for some cold-brewed coffee originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 31, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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Ouh Snap Folding Photography Lightbox review

When in the studio, a good photography Lightbox that produces bright and evenly placed white light, works well for macro or product photography and allows the photographer to take very detailed photos. However, not all Lightboxes are created equal. Will this product from Ouh Snap get a passing grade, or will it end up in the unsuccessful pile? Let’s find out!!

What is it?

The Ouh Snap Folding Photography Lightbox is a portable, foldable Lightbox that can be quickly assembled and used to take detailed photographs of relatively small objects.

What’s in the pouch

The Lightbox comes in a compact carrying pouch. In the pouch, you will find the Lightbox, a micro USB cable, and one black and one white background insert.

Design and features

The Lightbox comes folded flat and measures 9″ x 9″ x .5″. Once carefully unfolded, each of the three sections has magnetic tabs on the edges of their triangular sides that clamp to each other to form the Lightbox.

When the Lightbox is properly oriented, there is a LED light strip across the top, with an “exposed” micro USB port on the top-left side.
The LED strip can be powered via a USB power pack or a cell phone type USB wall adapter. The USB power pack that I used to test this Lightbox has one 1A port and one 2.4A port. The Lightbox only works properly on the 2.4A port. The 1A port does not provide enough current and produces a very, very dim light.

For the photography tests, I used a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a Canon 24-105mm F4L lens. The first two photos were taken using the white insert, and as you can see, the pictures are crisp and clear but there is some bluing in the background. For the purpose of showing the effects of light and shadows and reflection in the box, I set the camera to Auto White Balance, and I did not correct in post.

The second two photographs were taken with the black insert, and were also quite clear, with a bit of reflection. What I really like about the black insert is the nice texture that it provides for the background.

What I like

I really like that the Lightbox is light and portable and that the setup is quick and easy. I also like the bright built-in LED light strip, and that it can be powered by a USB power pack. The two included background inserts fit well and work well for specific desired looks.

What can be improved

• The addition of an enclosure to protect the USB port
• The inclusion of flexible PVC background inserts along with a way to secure them when installed would be a great addition
• A longer micro USB cable with a wall adapter

Final thoughts

When I need to photograph small objects or products, and the need is not for photographs that will undergo critical scrutiny, the Ouh Snap Photography Lightbox is a nice alternative to setting up my much larger Lightbox. It is quick and easy to setup, and very portable. Only time will tell whether or not it will endure the constant folding and unfolding, and whether or not the exposed micro USB port will succumb to regular use.

Price: $22.95
Where to buy: OuhSnap
Source: The sample for this review was provided by OuhSnap

The post Ouh Snap Folding Photography Lightbox review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Photography

Ouh Snap Folding Photography Lightbox review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 30, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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It’s never too early to prepare for Shark Week!

Is Shark Week like the World Series for you? Do you settle in with some snacks to watch the programming, or do you even have Shark Week viewing parties? If so, you need some gear to set the mood. ThinkGeek has three products that will outfit you perfectly for your favorite summertime viewing.

First off, you’ll need snacks. The ceramic Shark Attack Bowl (top image) holds 20 ounces of Gold Fish crackers, Gummies, peanuts, or some (blood red) salsa. It’s on sale right now for $6.99 (46% off).

And you’ll need a beverage, of course. The ceramic Shark Attack Mug holds 12 fluid ounces of your favorite potable – potent or not. The mug is dishwasher and microwave safe. It’s $12.99 and a ThinkGeek exclusive.

And of course, you want to be comfy, so you’ll need these Shark Plush Slippers to keep your feet warm. The slippers are made with polyester fibers and polyurethane foam. The elasticized opening keeps them on your feet, and the bottom fabric is coated with no-slip dots to keep you on your feet. ThinkGeek says these are “one size that fits lots of adult humans”. The slippers are $24.99 and available exclusively at ThinkGeek.

For under $50, you could outfit the shark- or Shark Week-loving Dad for Father’s Day.

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It’s never too early to prepare for Shark Week! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 30, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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Let Dad show off his team pride at the grill this summer

There are two things that most guys love, sports and barbecuing. The folks over at Sportula have combined the two with their Classic 3-piece Sports Team BBQ set.

Grill team grill!!!

The set includes a spatula, grill fork (both with built-in bottle openers) and tongs. Made from stainless steel and hard maple wood, each bears the name of your favorite team laser-etched onto the handle.

The heavy-duty spatula even has the team’s logo laser-cut right into the spatula itself.

There’s a grill set for every Major League sports team from the MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL.

College sports fans you can choose from 140 college teams and if you’re a veteran or know someone who is you can even choose from any branch of the military.

With Father’s Day coming up it’s the perfect gift for a sports-loving Dad.

And trust me no man will ever turn down a new set of grilling tools.

The Sportula Classic 3-piece Sports Team BBQ set sells for $49.95 at The Grommet.

The post Let Dad show off his team pride at the grill this summer appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Grilling

Let Dad show off his team pride at the grill this summer originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 30, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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