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Trilens review

A few weeks ago, I wrote a news story on an innovative piece of photography gear called Trilens. Our readers commented and I promised an in-depth review if possible. Friidesigns is the company that makes the Trilens, and they responded by sending a sample for just such a review.
So, here goes:

What is it?

The Trilens is belt mounted rotating lens holder designed for photographers, to securely carry up to 3 camera lens for quick and easy swapping while on the go.

What’s in the box


1 X Trilens
1 x Set of magnets
1 x Adhesive strips
3 x Trilens caps
1 x Belt clip
1 x Carry pouch

Design and features

The Trilens is very well built, and the fit and finish are second to none. The materials that are used make it lightweight but yet solid, and I definitely feel like I can trust it to effectively secure my valuable lenses. Even the inlaid logo is well done and a nice touch. The mechanism that attaches the Trilens to the belt clip is all metal, as well as the body of the Trilens.


The belt clip feels strong and is possibly made of ABS plastic. It includes belt loops and a spring-loaded pin to add or remove the Trilens.

Each of the three lens receptacles comes with a screw on cap and each receptacle is separated and isolated from the other. My sample is designed to accommodate the Canon EF mount, but it is also available for Nikon F or Sony E/FE lenses.

Each lens receptacle has a spring loaded release that must be disengaged to release the lens. While it can be easily and quickly disengaged, it is also very secure. The center of gravity of the Trilens works well, keeping the biggest and heaviest lens at the perfectly balanced position. Regardless of the size or the weight of the lens, the Trilens rotates easily to reach the lens of choice. It can be used with up to 3 lens and remains in place with any combination of lens.



Also included is a set of magnets and adhesive strips that can be attached to the actual lens caps belonging to each specific lens. Once attached, the actual lens caps can be used instead of the included Trilens caps, making swapping each lens much easier and quicker.
When I wrote the news story, one of our readers was concerned about dust getting into the individual chambers/receptacles. I do believe that there is no additional risk because each one is isolated, and the same care that would be used to protect the lens from dust will work with the Trilens.

What I like

I really like the way the Trilens secures the lenses and manages the center of gravity. I like the materials it is made of, and the thought that was put into the design. The belt clip will accommodate most photography gear belts and everything seems built to last.

What can be improved

I am finding it very hard to come up with something that needs improvement on the Trilens. It is well designed and thought out for its intended purpose. I guess the only change I would suggest is that the belt clip could be made from some lightweight metal, to provide and even better level of sturdiness, and less of a chance of breaking.

Final thoughts

The Trilens is simply a well thought out piece of photography gear that works very well and is built to last. The only possible weakness I can determine would be the possibility of issues with the spring loaded releases for the lenses. However, I did not find any current evidence that would suggest such a failure. Regardless, it is now a permanent attachment on my photography gear belt, and will be with me on every shoot when I use the belt, and need to carry and use multiple lenses.

Price: $122
Where to buy: Friidesigns
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Friidesigns.

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Trilens review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 24, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1.8 Lens for Canon EF is a good contender


Every photographer I know, including yours truly, has spent more money than we care to remember on lenses, all in an effort to get better pictures. When we “follow the crowd” and purchase the brand name lenses, we are usually mostly satisfied, and we just start saving for the next purchase. In many cases, our peers within our industry put a lot of emphasis on buying the “best” brand name lenses which like for example Canon’s L series lenses, are usually of incredible quality, but also incredibly priced. However, when I compare use, and relevant income, and level of photography, and the potential viewer/ customer, I often wonder why I must always shoot for the absolute best lenses when to be quite honest, many amateurs and professionals alike will never be able to tell the difference between a $600 lens and a $1000 lens, and sometimes even a $2000 lens. In my opinion, much of the success of a photo lies in the hands of the photographer’s eye and skills.

Recently, Yongnuo has raised the level of their products, and has been more noticeable with the photography gear they have been producing. Just today I was looking at the Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1.8 Lens for Canon EF, and on paper, the specifications are very comparable to the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens but its cost is considerably less. This prime lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.8, multi-coated glass elements, an AF/MF switch on the lens barrel and a minimal focus distance of 16 inches. It is designed to fit the Canon EF mount and works with both full-frame and APS-C sensors.

While I have not yet tried this lens, I do own the Canon version and I can’t wait for the opportunity to compare the two.

If you would like to try out the Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1.8 Lens for Canon EF you head over to Amazon or B&H Photo Video and pick one up for around $49.

Note: Yongnuo also makes this lens for the Nikon F mount.

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Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1.8 Lens for Canon EF is a good contender originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 23, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Manfrotto XPRO Over 4-Section Aluminum Monopod with 234RC Tilt Head Kit is ready for every opportunity


Filmmakers, videographers and photographers alike always hope to have the right equipment on hand, when an opportunity for a once in a lifetime shot comes along. There are times when we either go to the most difficult terrain, or the tightest places to get our shot. On many occasions, I have found that a monopod can be the ideal gear that is versatile enough to be used in tight and difficult spaces, as well as for normal everyday use. I have decided to write a few news stories that highlight some of the critical gear that we use.

The XPRO Over 4-Section Aluminum Monopod with 234RC Tilt Head is a lightweight, sturdy camera monopod and tilting head combination. This combination is designed to work with DSLR cameras, mirrorless cameras and compact video cameras. The monopod is made up of 4 sections and is all aluminum which keeps the weight down. The sections utilize “Manfrotto’s patented Power-Lock flip locks which snap open and closed to ensure fast operation”. The combination of the monopod and the tilting head weighs in at 2.2 pounds, folds to 24.8 inches, and extends to 73.2 inches. It can support up to 4.4 pounds.

If you would like to purchase the XPRO Over 4-Section Aluminum Monopod with 234RC Tilt Head, you can pick one up at B&H Photo Video for $114.95.

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Manfrotto XPRO Over 4-Section Aluminum Monopod with 234RC Tilt Head Kit is ready for every opportunity originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 20, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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The Genie Motion Control Time-Lapse Device from Syrp has all the right moves


As I continue the conversation on camera sliders and time lapse devices, I do recall someone mentioning the Genie from Syrp as part of the discussion from one of my previous news stories.

The Genie Motion Control Time-Lapse Device from Syrp is a relatively small device as a cube that is 4 inches all around, and its functions include both video recording and time-lapse photography. It weighs only 3.3 pounds, and attaches to just about any rig that is used for photography and/or videography, including tripods, sliders, dollies, etc.

With the Genie, you can perform both panning and linear motion control. It has the ability to be mounted to your gear and includes a 3/8”-16 stud so that you can mount your head directly onto it. What is really great is its weight capacity which is 44 pounds. With that type of weight capacity, you can mount just about any camera setup without any concern about weight. It has built-in presets for specific types of photography or videography, and you can load any additional presets you want to use directly into its memory. It features a built-in illuminated bubble level, a sensor input, and a USB input for firmware upgrades. A 3-hour battery charge will give you about 12 hours of usage, depending on the weight of your rig that is mounted to the Genie. It is compatible with over 130 cameras from the major camera companies, but the cable to link the camera to the Genie is usually a separate purchase. However, on some websites, I have seen one free cable included with the purchase. Since it ships with both panning and sliding bases, you are almost ready to go right out of the box.

If you would like to purchase the Genie Motion Control Time-Lapse Device from Syrp, head over the Amazon or B&H Photo Video and pick one up for $549.

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The Genie Motion Control Time-Lapse Device from Syrp has all the right moves originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 19, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Yongnuo Speedlite YN600EX-RT II for Canon Cameras may just be the right flash for you


Flash photography is frequently used by photographers both indoors and outdoors for many types of photography. Indoors, flashes can be used for portrait photography, some types of product photography, and most other types of indoor events. The cost of on-camera flashes ranges from less than $100 to over $1000, varying by type, and features, and manufacturer. Like most photographers, I have multiple on-camera flashes, and there is always a new and/or better one available. I decided that the key to being able to afford the flashes that I want and need, is to find the right features at right price for my Canon DSLR cameras.

Recently, I have been paying more attention to a company called Yongnuo. They make several different types of photography equipment including on-camera flashes. One model that caught my attention is the Yongnuo Speedlite YN600EX-RT II for Canon Cameras.

The first feature that is really important for a Canon DSLR owner is that this flash is 100% compatible with Canon’s 2.4 GHz flash trigger system, and E-TTL / E-TTL II proprietary metering system. It has a 197’ guide number at ISO 100 and 200mm, and a great range of 20 to 200mm. It can be adjusted for bounce lighting from -7 degrees thru 90 degrees, and it rotates 180 degrees left and right. It has a decent recycle time of 3 seconds, and whatever settings you choose can be saved for the next use. There is a PC sync port for off-camera firing, the usual built-in bounce card, and it runs on 4 AA batteries. Its firmware can be updated via USB.

If you would like to check out this flash or just go ahead and purchase one, you can head over to B&H Photo Video and grab it for just $110.

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Yongnuo Speedlite YN600EX-RT II for Canon Cameras may just be the right flash for you originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 19, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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