News – Page 229

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.

The post The Westcott Strobelite Plus Monolight might just be the right light to complete your kit appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

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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.

The post Come up to the lab for some cold-brewed coffee appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

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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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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.

The post It’s never too early to prepare for Shark Week! appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

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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.

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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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The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens is the new beast in their lineup!

As the excitement and curiosity continue to build around Sigma’s release of its new Art series lenses, there is another lens in their lineup that catches my attention.

At first glance, the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens looks like a beast of a lens.
It is a fast f 1.4 Lens that should perform amazingly well in low light, and according to Sigma’s specifications, should allow for great control over the depth of field. Dubbed the “Bokeh Master” by Sigma, this short telephoto prime lens is designed for high-resolution rendering, and along with its Hyper Sonic Motor should produce quick, smooth, and quiet autofocus, while still allowing full-time manual focus override. According to Sigma, “the large 105mm-diameter front contributes to improved peripheral illumination, in order to reduce vignetting.” The lens comes with a removable rotating Arca-Type tripod collar and foot and it is compatible with Sigma USB dock.

If you are interested in the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens, you can head over the B&H Photo Video and sign up to be notified when it becomes available. The lens will be initially offered in Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts. The price is yet to be announced.

The post The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens is the new beast in their lineup! appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

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Tagged: Camera gear, Photography

The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens is the new beast in their lineup! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 30, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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