Turn almost any pole into a selfie stick

NEWS – It’s called the Selfskie, and it’s an all-in-one mount that you can attach to the stick you’re already using such as a ski pole, hiking stick, marshmallow roasting stick, golf club, etc. to give your smartphone or action cam a farther reach for a perfect selfie.

Why carry around a dedicated selfie stick when you can use the Selfskie to lighten your load and turn any stick or pole into a selfie stick? It even comes with a Bluetooth remote capture button for easy image capture. Want your own Selfskie? Make sure that you have $28.12 ready and head over to Selfskie.com to place your order. Bonus: Use the code: CHRISTMAS40 at checkout and you’ll get a 40% discount on your order until Christmas.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Camera gear, Photography

Turn almost any pole into a selfie stick originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 17, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Cotton Carrier Skout camera sling style harness review

REVIEW – As a photographer, I am always looking for easy ways to carry a camera and have it at the ready, while reducing the stress of carrying it and while keeping my hands as free as possible, The Skout Sling Style Harness seems as if it can be a good fit for moving around while having access to my camera.

What is it?

The Cotton Carrier Skout Sling Style Harness is a camera harness that straps around your shoulder and upper chest and allows you to clip your camera to it in a secure but easily accessible way.

What’s in the box

1 x Skout Sling Style harness
1 x Camera Weather Cover
1 x Aluminum Hub, Spacer, Attachment Screw, and Allen Key
1 x Informational Leaflet

Design and features

The sling harness is made up of a padded cotton pad that includes the aluminum hub receptacle to hold the camera and web straps that go over your shoulder and around your chest.

On the back of the padded section, there is a zippered pouch where you can store small and flat accessories.

The buckles and clasps are made of ABS plastic so they are very strong and should hold the expected weight of a camera and lens without issue.

There is a camera weather cover that is included to cover your camera and lens. The size of my camera and lens seems to put both the cover and my camera and lens under some stress, so below I show the manufacturer’s picture of how it is supposed to work.

Performance

The Cotton Carrier Sling Harness is very easy to put on and very easy to adjust. Once the aluminum hub is attached to the bottom of the camera, it is ready to be clipped onto the harness.

After adjusting the harness as much as it allowed, it was still too slack for the body frame of my model. The pictures below show that most comfortable position that she was able to find. It also shows how awkward a fit it is with a large professional DSLR camera and especially so if the camera includes the extended grip. Since this is her usual camera setup, it was important to try it this way.

As you can see in the pictures above, attaching the larger professional DSLR made the fit a bit cumbersome. Even at the maximum adjustment of the over-the shoulder-section, it was still too long for my model’s comfort. While she did indicate that the position shown above proved to be the most comfortable for carrying that size of camera and lens, it did not feel comfortable enough for her to walk around with for an extended period of time. I do suspect that it would prove to be much more comfortable with a smaller DSLR or a mirrorless camera. It is very easy to remove the camera from the harness with a simple 45-degree turn and then pulling upwards.

What I like

The construction of the carrier
The concept and design of the carrier

What can be improved

Design improvements that would accommodate larger professional cameras
Multiple sizes or more adjustment to allow for a better fit for more body types

Final thoughts

I actually like the construction of this camera sling harness, and for a person with a larger frame than my model, it would fit much better. I did try it on myself, and while it fits ok, it did feel awkward once I added my large DSLR. The pictures on the company’s website show that the carrier should be worn with the mounting pad closer to the middle of the chest, but neither the model nor I found it to be more comfortable in that position especially with the large camera and lens. Since I do not own a smaller DSLR, I have not been able to try it with the smaller camera body, but I do intend to do so when I can get my hands on one. For many people with regular consumer DSLR or mirrorless cameras, this harness will work well and will allow them to move around freely while having instant access to their camera.

Price: $79.00
Where to buy: Cotton Carrier and Amazon.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Cotton Carrier

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Camera gear

Cotton Carrier Skout camera sling style harness review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 11, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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2018 Gift Guide – Gift ideas for photographers

ARTICLE – It’s Christmastime again, and time to make that shopping list. Here is a collection of great gift ideas for the photographer in your life, or maybe you are the photographer and you want to treat yourself this holiday season.

Spider SpiderPro Single Camera System V2 camera holster

This holiday season, give the photographer in your life a gift that will keep on giving. Photography gear is expensive, and many photographers spend a lot of money on their equipment and sometimes neglect to invest in the important accessories needed to safeguard that equipment. This camera holster will ensure that they can walk around with their camera and lens with ease and not worry about dropping and damaging their precious gear. Securing and removing the camera and lens is quick but safe, and the entire holster is built to last.

Price: $150.00
Read our review: Spider SpiderPro Single Camera System V2 camera holster review
Where to buy: Spider or Amazon

Canon’s new 470EX-AI flash

Getting your camera Speedlite to give you the right lighting is always a challenge, especially when you need to bounce light off of a wall or ceiling to get the perfectly lit shot. This holiday season, give the gift of Artificial Intelligence and help your photographer to take the guessing out of their hands. This flash does it for you and intelligently moves into the right place at the right time.
Price: $349
Read our news story: Canon’s new 470EX-AI flash may be just the right solution
Where to buy: B&H Photo Video

The Yongnuo YN-14EX-C Macro Ring Flash

Macro photography is a great way to enjoy photography and to take really close up detailed and interesting pictures. Maybe you know a photographer who has never tried macro photography, or maybe they are interested in this type of photography but they simply do not have the right tools. For the perfect macro shot, you need the perfect lighting. This macro flash will help to make sure that your photographer is a happy camper and that their macro shots hit the right spot every time.

Price: $99
Read our news story: The Yongnuo YN-14EX-C Macro Ring Flash is a winner
Where to buy: Amazon

The Canon SELPHY CP1300 Compact Photo Printer

While technology has taken us all the way to digital photos on our phones and tablets, there are still many people that like to have an actual photograph in their hands. Whether your favorite photographer is an amateur, enthusiast or professional it does not matter. Give them the ability to instantly show off their skills by producing real photograph prints right on the spot. The Canon SELPHY CP1300 can do just that and more and is truly portable.

Price: $99.95
Read our news story: The Canon SELPHY CP1300 Compact Photo Printer prints your selfies in a flash
Where to buy: Amazon

Ruggard Electronic Dry Cabinet

After spending a whole lot of $$cash on expensive photography gear, where can you keep all of it safe from dust and spills and moisture, and from all of the other mishaps that can ruin your gear and your Christmas? You can put them all in a well built and attractive Dry Cabinet. Ruggard makes great and affordable dry cabinets and has a good selection of sizes to choose from to accommodate all necessary photography equipment storage needs. And, if you are not a photographer, it will work for any other gadgets you want to keep safe and dry.

Price: Starting at $149.95 (30L)
Read our news story: Protect your expensive camera gear with the Ruggard Electronic Dry Cabinet
Where to buy: B&H Photo Video

Manfrotto Compact Action Aluminum Tripod

Photographers are always on the run, looking for the next best shot or just traveling with their gear. Usually, it takes a steady camera to get the best shot and a lightweight and compact tripod is the right gear for the job.

Price: $57.40
Read our news story: The Manfrotto Compact Action Aluminum Tripod is ready to go with you everywhere
Where to buy: B&H Photo Video

Ruggard Lens Cases

Whether you have an entry level lens or an expensive lens or many lenses that you have collected over time, keeping them safe from accidental mishaps and minor bumps and spills is very important. When on the go, nothing can protect your lens better than a lens case. Ruggard makes great lens cases in a variety of sizes to fit any and every lens, and the cases are easily secured and well padded. They are also designed to work with your gear belt or your gear bag.

Price: Starting at $14.99
Read our news story: Ruggard Lens Cases are built for the job!
Where to buy: B&H Photo Video

PortraitPro Photo Editing Software

No matter what level of photographer you are whether you are an enthusiast, an aspiring amateur or a professional, you are always looking to tweak your photos to take them from great to awesome. This is especially true when you take all of those family photos at those important family gatherings, and you want to capture the memories and send copies to everyone and share them on social media. PortraitPro Software makes every face and feature look just right.

Price: Starting at $44.95 for the Standard Edition
Read our review: PortraitPro 17 Studio Max photo editing software review
Where to buy: PortraitPro

Filed in categories: Articles

Tagged: 2018 Gift Guides, Camera gear, Photography

2018 Gift Guide – Gift ideas for photographers originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 21, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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MK Controls Lightning Bug review

REVIEW – As a photographer, I like to shoot all types of photos. Recently, I have been shooting waterdrop photography, with a device that functions in many modes including being triggered by sound and light to be able to photograph other events. Another type of event I would like to shoot is lightning strikes, and while the device that I have incorporates that ability, I was very intrigued when I came across a device that is designed specifically for lightning strike photography. MK Controls immediately and willingly granted our request to review and test their Lightning Bug. Here is the summary of the review.

What is it?

The Lightning Bug is a device that is designed to connect to your compatible camera and trigger it to take photos when lighting strikes. As per the manufacturer: “The Lightning Bug is based upon the science of lightning. There are two components of lightning; the bright white flash everyone wants to capture and the unseen infrared light that always precedes it. The Lightning Bug uses a high-speed photodiode sensor optimized to the infrared burst that occurs just before a lightning strike. This infrared light comes from the vaporization of air and particles in the air. The Lightning Bug acts as a lookout for your camera, watching for a change in infrared light. When a significant change of infra-red light over a very short period of time is detected, it directs the camera shutter to trip and capture the lightning in action”. It will also work for fireworks.

What’s in the box

1 x Lightning Bug
1 x CD instruction manual
1 x Compatible camera cable

Design and features

Manufacturer Specifications:

Power-On Self-Test
Sensitivity set-point indicator (LED Bargraph)
MOSFET isolation between the camera and the Lightning Bug circuitry
26 levels of sensitivity
Easily adjust frames per second (from 1 to 10)
Water Resistant Soft-touch panel buttons
Front Overhang (from the center of camera shoe): 3.51″
Rear Overhang (from the center of camera shoe): 0.74″
Overall Height (not including the shoe mount): 1.13″
Overall Height (including the shoe mount): 2.10″
Overall Length: 4.25″
Overall Width: 2.60″
Weight (not including Battery): 2.96 oz
Weight (including Battery): 4.48 oz
Battery: Standard 9V Cell

On the top surface of the Lightning Bug, there is the company name and device name, the sensitivity meter, and the 3 surface-mounted control buttons.

At the bottom of the Lightning Bug, there is a camera shoe mount that also has a 1/4-20″ threaded mount so that it can be mounted off camera on a light stand or tripod, etc, and a sticker with a summary of the controls and other industry required information.

One one of the short sides at the back of the Lightning Bug is a cover and a battery compartment for the required 9-Volt battery. On the opposite side at the front is the IR cover, and on one of the long sides is the 1/8″ jack for the camera cable.

Connectivity and function

The Lightning Bug attaches to the camera shoe mount or any mount with a 1/4″-20 stud, and the cable is attached to the 1/8″ jack on the device and the appropriate jack on the camera. (See the MK Controls website for the compatible camera list).

When you power on the camera and the device, the sensitivity indicator lights up. You can use the left or right buttons to increase or decrease the sensitivity.

Operation and Performance

The Lightning Bug has 2 operational modes which are Standard Mode and Fireworks Mode. When you power on the device starts up in Standard Mode which is used for Lightning photography) or in Fireworks Mode depending on which buttons are held down during startup. Fireworks Mode allows for delayed shutter release.
To start the unit in Standard Mode, you have to press and hold down the power button for approximately 2 seconds. To start the unit in Fireworks Mode you have to press and hold down the power button and the Increase Sensitivity button at the same time for approximately 2 seconds, and then release both buttons.
When you first turn on the device, it displays the current firmware version by lighting up the LEDs, and the display stays that way until the power button is released. The settings that you choose are saved in the device’s memory for the next time you power on. An additional nice feature is that the device will automatically turn your meter off after approximately 15 minutes of inactivity.
There are a total of 26 levels of available sensitivity. The factory default setting is level 12. The yellow LED that looks like a lightning bolt, lights up whenever the unit has detected an event and has triggered the shutter.
With fireworks photography, the yellow activity light flashes to let you know that you are in the Fireworks Mode. In this mode, you must be relatively close to the fireworks to be successful. To exit, you have to turn the device off, then back on again.
There are numerous settings to customize. The complete manual is available on the MK Controls Website.

This section will be updated once I get an opportunity to photograph fireworks and/or storms.

What I like

That it is lightweight
The size
The functionality

What can be improved

Although I like how lightweight it is, I would prefer it to have a rechargeable battery that can be charged internally or externally
(Nothing else so far until I get to take pics)

Final thoughts

As a photographer that likes many types of photography, I like the Lightning Bug device. Apart from the fact that it is compact and lightweight, it provides a dedicated function that should produce amazing results. There are fantastic examples of photos taken with the use of this device on the MK Controls website. You can take a look at them here. While I have not yet been able to shoot with it, I will give a thumbs up to its simple construction and its intended functionality. Winter is on its way in NYC, so I will be on the lookout for photography opportunities. To be continued…

Price: $179.00 (Includes the required cable for your compatible camera)
Where to buy: MK Controls website
Source: The sample for this review was provided by MK Controls.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Camera gear, Photography

MK Controls Lightning Bug review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 22, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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The Lightning Bug will give you the bug to capture amazing lightning shots!

NEWS – Some time ago, I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to review the MIOPS Smart device, which allows me to photograph water drops, and other events triggered by sound, or movement or lightning. While I have used the MIOPS Smart exclusively for water drop photography, I have been thinking about trying it with lightning which is not an easy task. As I continue my planning for the lightning test, I started to wonder if there is a similar device that is designed specifically for lightning as opposed to multiple types of events. My hope was that such a device would make the setup and process easier.

Just recently I came across just such a dedicated lightning capture device call the Lightning Bug. This device claims to provide specific functions and features to allow you the required and desired customization aimed at capturing the best lightning photos. Its features include 26 levels of sensitivity for control in any type of lightning situation (LED Bar Graph built-in), the ability to adjust frames per second from 1 to 10, and a simple 3-button control of all functions via a water-resistant soft-touch panel.

This device is compatible with a large number of various brands and models of cameras. You can see the compatibility list here.

If you would like more information on the Lightning Bug, or you would like to purchase one, you can head over to the MK Controls website or Amazon to pick one up for $179. This price includes the compatible cable for your camera.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Camera gear, Photography

The Lightning Bug will give you the bug to capture amazing lightning shots! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 10, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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