Photo Accessory Reviews

Shutterbug, a member of the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA), once again joined forces with 30 other member magazines from around the world to choose the winners of the annual TIPA Awards for the best photo/imaging products in 40 different categories. The award process began in early 2017 with an initial selection of a wide range of products conducted by TIPA’s Technical Committee, on which Shutterbug’s Editor-at-Large George Schaub serves. 

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.

Designed for professionals, enthusiasts, schools, and clubs, the OpticFilm 120 scanner from Plustek ($1999) can handle negative and positive film, including 35mm filmstrips, individual 35mm slides, and medium format film up to 6x12cm format. The scanner contains an eight-element glass lens and can deliver up to 10,600dpi optical resolution, with a claimed 4.01 dynamic range using the supplied SilverFast software’s Multi-Exposure function. The tabletop scanner is about the size of a six-slice restaurant toaster (about 8x14.5x7.5”) and is supplied with a complete set of very well-constructed film holders, an IT8 calibration target, and a full version (not a trial) of SilverFast Ai Studio 8 software.

Need some professional-looking shots of small items for eBay or website use? Here’s another option with a brand name that’s been around for decades.

File this one under “Having fun with photos while temporarily housebound.” reStickity prints your images on durable peel & stick adhesive material that can safely be attached, removed and then reattached to virtually any surface without damaging the wallboard, refrigerator door, corkboard or plaster (etc.) you attach it to. Put an end to crummy tape scum forever.

As new cameras continue to offer higher and higher resolution, and many photographers are shooting and saving memory-intensive Raw files and 4K video, some of us have begun to outgrow the capacity of our storage devices. Seagate has addressed this issue with the introduction of a new 10TB drive that combines enormous storage capacity with high performance and a relatively affordable price.

You’ve no-doubt read about accessories that claim to ”turn your phone into a DSLR,” but let’s face it—nothing can do that. However, we recently tested the well-made ShiftCam ProGrip that does provide a more camera-like experience and offers mobile photographers an array of convenient features for added functionality.