Photo Accessory Reviews

Whether for your daily photo backpack or emergency bug-out bag, here are seven super-useful photo accessories that deliver high performance with minimal size and weight.

Need a portable drive for those massive files you’re making as a content creator? Or perhaps a reliable backup drive to sidestep disaster when your computer melts like a Marshmallow Peep in a 1500W microwave? Two or three big names dominate the external hard drive offerings at online retailers, and it’s tempting to just pick one with the size and price that appeals the most. Here’s a better plan: the Mercury Elite Pro Mini Portable Drive from OWC, a company that’s been providing computer gear for professionals for 33 years.

Smaller, lighter and more versatile—Peak Design has redesigned the Capture Camera Clip and is featuring it on Kickstarter for a very limited time. 

Looking for a versatile, expandable backpack for photo, video, and drone gear? One that’s comfortable to wear, affordable, and keeps your equipment intelligently organized? Check out the new OneMo 2 camera/drone backpack from PGYTECH.

Using a hard shell case to protect sensitive camera gear has its advantages—until you try to carry it for a few miles over rough terrain. So professional photographer Laurens Parsons, founder of RucPac, invented the Hardcase Strap system that effectively turns your hard-sided case into a backpack. This is just one of the many useful and innovative products in the RucPac photo accessory stable.

The year-end holidays mark a joyous time for picture taking, photo sharing and gift giving. Here’s a list of photo gift ideas that range from $10 to $49.

Slik introduced the first pistol grip over 25 years ago, heralding an innovative adaptation of the ball socket head. Still in production, that head has not changed, but today there are numerous variations on this basic design. Several are fashioned along the lines of a video game joystick. Two other types included here are the collar lock ball head and what I call the “vice grip” head.