Photo Accessory News

Nature photographer Steve Perry of Backcountry Gallery gets lots of questions from fellow photographers but one comes up more often than any other. So often, in fact, that he decided to make a whole video about it.

Some trends just won’t go away: Billboard magazine notes that U.S. vinyl album sales are up 53 percent, generating $416 million in sales. Stereophile, our sister publication, reviews new analog audio equipment and you can purchase new Nikon F6 or Leica M-A film cameras from Shutterbug advertisers. Ferrania is back making film and the Japan Camera Hunter website is making their own film, a discontinued Agfa emulsion they’re calling JCH StreetPan 400. Amazon’s top-selling photo item is Fuji’s Instax Mini Instant Film. There’s even a new twin-lens instant camera, Mint’s InstantFlex TL70, and yes, I gotta get me one of those.

Over the years I’ve photographed hundreds if not thousands of models and subjects on muslin, canvas, and other background materials, and in many unique settings. I’ve had the privilege to shoot many magazine covers, dozens of catalogs, and ads for magazines.

While photokina could be considered a distant memory, we have a number of reports yet to run that deal with products that were new to market and caught our reporter’s eye, and that in many cases are just becoming available now. Here’s a report on useful items filed by Roger Hicks that covers interesting accessories and other products he found at the show.—Editor

WaterWeight is a nifty solution for when you need to stabilize your lightstand or tripod while on location (or even in the studio). This lightweight, compact, sack-based system doesn’t add much weight or take up too much space in your camera gear bag.

Got Questions About Photography? Professional Photographer and Photoshop Expert Scott Kelby Has Got Answers.

Aurga is the newest “smart digital assistant” to hit the streets, enabling photographers to wirelessly control a DSLR with their smartphone from up to 100 feet away.