Tripod News

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Jack Neubart  |  Jun 19, 2012  |  First Published: May 01, 2012  | 

The trend in tripods is toward more compact and lighter-weight tripods, with an increasing number of entries in carbon fiber. Is carbon fiber the ultimate lightweight tripod? The jury is still out, although everyone seems to want one. And along with tripods, various ball heads grabbed our attention. We even found a portable copy stand.

Jack Neubart, Editor  |  Jun 18, 2012  |  First Published: May 01, 2012  | 

Every year manufacturers and distributors unveil new products at trade show events. They see these shows as the best venues to garner the attention of the gathered members of their industries and to show them their latest wares. In the photo industry this has traditionally been the annual Photo Marketing Association (PMA) Show, which we have always covered. This year that event was subsumed into the larger Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Jay Miller  |  Apr 26, 2012  |  First Published: Mar 01, 2012  | 

It was with considerable dismay that I discovered, after my story on gimbal mounts appeared in a recent issue of Shutterbug, that Really Right Stuff (RRS) manufactures a gimbal mount as well; in fact, some might argue it is one of the best conventional gimbal mounts currently being offered among top-tier gimbal mount manufacturers.

 

Built primarily of CNC-machined black anodized aircraft-grade aluminum stock, RRS’s gimbal is one tough mount. And it’s also beautiful, to boot. Manufacturing quality is as good as it gets—and the postproduction finish and fit are impeccable. The custom knurled pitch lock knob for the articulated arm is solid aluminum. The custom pan knob is solid aluminum as well, but additionally has a rubber grip to facilitate rotation. Importantly, both knobs are located on the same side of the gimbal, thus facilitating access and allowing the user to release or tighten both with just one hand.

Jack Neubart  |  Mar 02, 2012  |  First Published: Jan 01, 2012  | 

Just as interchangeable lenses on an SLR each have a specific purpose or meet a certain need, the same applies to tripod heads. Even if a head comes as part of the tripod kit, you soon realize you may need to replace or supplement it. In this buyer’s guide to tripod heads we’ll look at some of the factors to consider, including budget, load considerations, applications, and matching heads to “sticks.” We’ll also look at the various types of heads available and how each can be used for very specific shooting needs.

Jack Neubart  |  Feb 16, 2012  |  First Published: Jan 01, 2012  | 

My impression of a tabletop tripod was probably like yours—a squat, three-legged support that collapsed down to handily fit inside a camera bag. After unpacking the 17 camera supports that arrived, I had to modify my definition of the genre to include designs that mushroom to roughly 2 feet when fully open—and some with considerable girth and heft. That also meant extending my thinking to models with a center column and multiple leg sections, which might be more correctly termed “mini” tripods. Either way, in contrast to a standard tripod at its full height, the tripods under discussion, when fully open, have a small footprint and should effortlessly fit in tight spaces.

Jay Miller  |  Feb 10, 2012  |  First Published: Jan 01, 2012  | 

I’ve been a dedicated gimbal head user for a long time. If you shoot with seriously long lenses, no other head comes close to offering a gimbal’s stability, articulation, and flexibility. Forget ball heads and anything else designed to attach long telephotos to a tripod. If you’re a big lens user and you photograph things that move, a gimbal is the only way to go.

C.A. Boylan  |  Feb 03, 2012  |  First Published: Dec 01, 2011  | 

Nikon 1 J1 Camera
The new Nikon 1 J1 is a compact system camera that features a 10.1-megapixel CX-format high-speed AF CMOS sensor. It has a dual core image processor and an advanced hybrid autofocus system that provides the user with fast AF with 73 focus points. The J1 can also capture 10 frames per second (fps) with a full resolution continuous shooting speed of 60 fps (AF locked). The camera comes with Short Movie Creator software and My Picturetown and features a Smart Photo Selector mode that allows the camera to select the best photo from a series of images based on a number of factors, including exposure, composition, focus, and facial recognition. The color choices with matching kit lenses include white, pink, red, silver, and black. The suggested retail price for the J1 10-30mm lens kit is $649.95.

C.A. Boylan  |  Sep 30, 2011  |  First Published: Aug 01, 2011  | 

DeluxGear’s Lens Cradle system features a Neo Duet Camera Strap and a Cradle Mount. The strap has thick neoprene lycra for stretch and nonslip shark tooth webbing for comfort on your neck and shoulders. The Cradle Mount is made from durable polycarbonate and an auto-grade ABS blend. It offers an arc-like dual mounting platform for use with any camera and lens with a tripod collar and can safely support the heaviest lenses. The Lens Cradle can be configured into various mounting options. The system package includes the Cradle Mount and four-point Neo Duet Camera Strap for an MSRP of $49.99. The Cradle Mount and Neo Duet Camera Strap may also be purchased separately.

C.A. Boylan  |  Jun 30, 2011  |  First Published: May 01, 2011  | 

Nik Software Silver Efex Pro 2
Nik Software has begun shipping Silver Efex Pro 2, a major upgrade to its Silver Efex Pro software. Silver Efex Pro 2 offers a unique darkroom-inspired workflow and the ability to fine-tune images with precise selective adjustments powered by U Point technology. The software’s new features include the History Browser for endless experimentation, revolutionary algorithms such as Dynamic Brightness, Amplify Blacks and Whites, Soft Contrast, and Fine Structure, plus finishing touches like Image Borders and selective colorization.

 

Jon Sienkiewicz  |  Jun 24, 2011  |  First Published: May 01, 2011  | 

“Can you use a tripod and IS at the same time?”

 

Almost 20 years after the dramatic success of the first autofocus 35mm SLR, the Minolta Maxxum 7000, Minolta introduced “body integral” Image Stabilization (IS) to the world in the DiMAGE A1, and the game changed. Advanced photographers recognized the value of stabilization. That was back in 2003, but it wasn’t the first attempt to quell camera jitters. Previously, IS had been performed optically. Minolta did it in the camera body by physically moving the sensor to counteract camera movement. We called it Anti-Shake, and I was a member of the team that brought it to market.

C.A. Boylan  |  Apr 01, 2011  | 

Calumet Pro Series D-SLR Camera Accessories
The Pro Series 4-Channel Wireless Trigger Kit is a 2.4GHz system that allows you to synchronize your camera and flash for remote operation over 328 feet. Calumet is currently offering two versions of this kit, one for Canon and one for Nikon cameras and flash systems, but it can also be used with studio strobes as well as...

C.A. Boylan  |  Feb 01, 2011  | 

PocketWizard MiniTT1 And FlexTT5 For Nikon
Made for use with Nikon D-SLR cameras, the MiniTT1 transmitter slides into the camera’s hot shoe and measures just 2.8x1.9x1.3”. The FlexTT5 transceiver measures 3.6x2.9x1.4”. This system can be used to control single or multiple off-camera Nikon i-TTL flash units. The firmware is upgradeable and other accessories...

George Schaub  |  Jan 01, 2011  | 

Our show report this year is an amalgam of product news and trend spotting, which pretty much reflects what photokina has stood for in our minds. The sense of a United Nations of photography still prevails at this increasingly European-directed show, but the image and its uses is still the universal tie that binds.

Roger W. Hicks & Frances E. Schultz  |  Jan 01, 2011  | 

There’s a new kid on the block when it comes to tripods, and they’re impressive, both in design and philosophy. Redged was founded in Holland by a nature photographer (Ed Dorrestein) and a sports and reportage photographer (Bart Bel) in order to get the kinds of tripods they personally wanted.

 

We weren’t the only ones who were impressed. This was...

Jack Neubart  |  Jun 01, 2010  | 

While there are no revolutionary designs in tripods, monopods, and heads this year (unlike the introduction of the Novoflex four-legged tripod last year), manufacturers have not sat idly. They continue to address the needs of studio photographers but appear to be placing even greater emphasis on travel photography.

Notably, we’re beginning to see more subcompact tripods...

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