Photo Accessory News

Nikon SB-300 Speedlight
Small enough to fit into a shirt pocket, the SB-300 Speedlight provides more power and coverage than a built-in flash. Compatible with both Nikon D-SLR and Advanced Performance Coolpix cameras, it covers a wide-angle 18mm in DX format and operates via simple on-camera controls. The SB-300 tilts up to 120 degrees, allowing for more flattering portraits and even exposures. Powered by two AAA batteries, the SB-300 features thermal cut-out protection to prevent overheating when capturing rapid flash images in succession. The suggested price is $149.95.

Shortly after I moved into my former home, there was a knock at the door. Standing in front of me was an 8-year-old girl who lived down the street. “I’m selling note cards,” she told me, “I made the pictures.” A second look showed subjects a kid might shoot but others demonstrated that she was thinking about the photographs before making them. I bought several note cards and asked about her camera, which turned out to be borrowed. With her grandmother’s permission I gave her an old, unused digital point-and-shoot. The girl loved the camera and was inspired to keep making photographs and we talked from time to time about her aspirations. Today she’s a young woman with professional ambitions.

The Vanguard ABEO Pro Kit starts out as a solid carbon-fiber tripod but then adds features and functions like a removable and rotatable (vertical or horizontal) center column, a pistol grip with built-in trigger release with cable attachments for many cameras, bubble levels, 80-degree leg spread, three “feet” supports (pads, spikes, and rubber), a quick-release base plate and mechanism, and etched degree settings on the center column for those who want to do precise panoramas.

As billions of images are produced by millions of devices, the demand for bigger capacity storage, faster memory cards, and speedier methods of transferring huge files has become apparent. Cloud storage has become a standard offering among many camera makers; so independent cloud services have grown. Essentially branded server farms, the competition for your data is increasing, as are capacities of desktop backups.

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.

The Photogenic ION Lithium-ion Pure Sine Wave Inverter is a compact, lightweight, and affordable AC power supply unit for use in the studio or on location. Weighing only 3.5 lbs and measuring 7.5x4.4x3.3”, it features two AC outlets for two monolights and gives you over 3500 flashes at 320 watt seconds. The built-in USB port allows you to power-up your phone or other electronic devices. The ION comes complete with the inverter, lithium-ion battery, charger, carry strap, and adjustable multi-clamp.

Every year member magazines from the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) gather to consider and vote on the top products of the year in 40 categories, ranging from cameras to tripods to software and printers. This year’s selections represent technological sophistication along with features and functionality that make them leaders in their respective categories.