Chances are, if you’re a photographer, you probably have dozens of AA batteries lying around. These days it seems like everything photography related uses them (if you’re lucky), from speedlights, to radio triggers, to light meters etc etc. I know I have at least around three dozen batteries, all of which are rechargeable, and it can be a chore to keep them all organized and together.
I have tried every method and product imaginable for storing and keeping my batteries organized but have now found a product I truly love! Chris at Outdoor Photo Gear tipped me off to the PowerPax Battery Caddies. These little guys are a breeze to use and take up little to no space. What I really love about them is that I can keep groups of four batteries together, in a small and compact, secure device.
These caddies are made of a hard, durable plastic and aren’t much bigger than a set of four AA batteries in your hand. The batteries simply pop in through the bottom of the case and snap into place, ensuring a snug fit. They won’t fall out, due to the design of the case, however you can easily pop the batteries out with one hand, which if you shoot weddings or other venues where you need to reload batteries quickly, this feature can save valuable time. When on an assignment, I always carry at least two sets of AA batteries in my pockets and up until now, I felt like I had aliens growing out of my legs due to the size of the battery case. But with these new caddies, you don’t even notice them in your pockets.
Another thing I really like about this system, is that you can get these cases that will hold various quantities and types. I personally prefer the 4-packs because most of the devices I use, either hold four AA’s or two such as my radio triggers. The 4-packs are handy to me because one important thing with batteries is to not mix and match them. In other words, when you get a quantity of rechargeable batteries, you always want to keep them in the original group, otherwise you can have problems keeping them charged. Some chargers will not charge batteries evenly when you have batteries of various charge levels in the charger. So, when I get a set of four batteries, I mark them with a sharpie so that I know which set goes together. The new PowerPax cases now enable me to keep those same four batteries together in a much easier system.
A couple of other cool tidbits about the PowerPax caddies is that they come in multiple colors, which can help you even more in organizing your batteries. You can even get them in a glow-in-the-dark color! …which should come in handy for all you night flashers
This product has been on the market for some time and apparently, pilots, the military and other similar groups have been using these with great success. Now I can see these really taking off in the photography world.
To show how easy these are to use, I included a short video showing how to load and unload the batteries. (please excuse my poor video skills) Again I have to say I REALLY love this product and am planning on getting one of these for every set of batteries I have.
I was skeptical about this one – I have to admit it. I already have a camera strap that I really like. It has great padding and little pockets where I can keep a couple of extra memory cards – so why do I need the Black Rapid RS4? But I’m game. I said I’d try it out, and write up a review if I liked it. If not, I’d just send it back. Well – I was wrong… this thing is great!
First off, it has a pocket. So what? My old one has two pockets. Well – the pockets on my other strap are just the right size for my memory cards. Which is great – if that’s the only thing you plan to put in there. They’re too small to fit anything else. The Black Rapid has one slightly larger pocket with a small zipper – it’ll fit a couple of memory cards– or you can do what I did. I usually use a tripod – so my camera has a quick-release bracket screwed into the bottom. Rather than risk losing the bracket, I put it in the pocket – along with its easy-to-lose screw, and my allen wrench. When I want to switch back to my tripod mount, I know exactly where those small parts are. No fishing around in the bottom of my camera bag trying to find them. That may not seem like a big deal, but if you are primarily a tripod-shooter, it means a lot. The pocket was just large enough to fit a spare memory card in there too. Nice!
The other thing that was pretty important to me was the ease with which I could attach or remove the Black Rapid. When I’m shooting wide-angle landscapes I almost always use a tripod – and I nearly always use it for close-up and detail work as well. But the Black Rapid strap screws into the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera. It is meant specifically for those who hand-hold their cameras. Since the tripod quick-release needs to be securely screwed into the base of my camera, I’m not likely to remove it unless there’s a darn good reason to do so. I guess I just found my reason.
It took me less than 10 seconds to remove my bracket, and attach the Black Rapid strap firmly to my camera. The swiveling clip makes it easy to screw in, and a rubber gasket provides a strong grip while also protecting the base of the camera. It’s secure enough that I felt completely comfortable letting go of the camera to let it hang at my waist.
Now, the idea here is to be able to carry the camera comfortably while leaving your hands free – and to be able to grab the camera at a moment’s notice and pull it up to shooting position. At first, I thought the shoulder pad would slip off my shoulder and I’d end up fiddling with it all the time. That didn’t happen. In fact, the shoulder pad stayed right where I put it. If it did slip, it would take nothing beyond a quick tug to set it right again – but the little clip slides so smoothly that I didn’t have any problems at all.
The strap is also easy to adjust. A couple of locking clips keep the camera from sliding beyond the range you’re comfortable with, and the strap adjusts to fit any body type. The shoulder pad is comfortable, and its position helps balance the weight of a heavy lens.
I didn’t think I’d be interested in keeping the Black Rapid – but I’ll be using it regularly… whenever I’m not using a tripod. It’s perfect for photographing the kids playing soccer, for shooting a wedding, for detail photography when you are using a flash, for bird and wildlife photography with a long lens, or for shooting in-studio. I’m looking forward to having both hands free when I need them!
You can find all the cool Black Rapid products in the OPG store here.
Varina Patel, with her husband Jay, are professional nature photographers and are frequent contributors at Naturephotographers.net. To see more of Varina’s fabulous work, visit her website at photographybyvarina.com.
Good friend and incredible bird photographer Alan Murphy came in last week to shoot a series of videos, both on bird tips and on products. We had a fun time shooting finches and woodpeckers out on my deck, and have some great footage.
Our first video is on the Eagle Car Door Support from Eckla. Alan reviews all the features of this sturdy mount, which makes shooting from your vehicle a breeze.
You can see the Eckla Eagle in the OPG store here.
Alan has an incredibly detailed and useful best-selling ebook “Songbird Setup Photography” in the store. You can also check out Alan’s images and workshops at his website here. Thanks Alan!
Hi, I’m Alan Murphy. I’m a bird photographer. Many times I like to take pictures out of my car window. So I’m going to share with you a great product that allows me to do that. This is the Eckla Eagle Car Door Mount. This is a window mount designed to work with your large lenses, like the 600 or 400.
This is made out of stainless steel and aluminum. It is built in Germany, and this is going to allow you to attach a gimbal head or a ball head, or you can even still use your bean bag. This is very, very strong material, and it’s very lightweight. This is much lighter than using one of those filled in bean bags. It also has an integrated bubble level, and this is great for lining up and getting everything level.
So I’m going to go ahead and show you how to adjust this. I’m going to mount this up, and I’m going to show you all the adjustments and how I go about using this.
All right. Now we have it set up in the car. I’m going to go through what I did to set it up. First of all, we have a couple of adjustable levers right here, and what that does, it allows you to adjust for the thickness of your door, which is a nice feature. We have a couple of levers right here that will allow you to adjust this angle, and you do that so that you can get this plate nice and level. You’ll know that’s level because you used the spirit bubble level that’s built in, which is a great feature.
Down here, we have a couple of adjustable levers that will allow you to extend this plate down so that you can snug it right on top of the car door handle, and every car brand has the handle at a different distance. So that’s a really nice feature as well.
Once that’s all set up, you can see that it’s really, really secure, and that will support any amount of weight.
We have our tripod mount. That is the last thing, right here, that will go back and forth. I really like this because sometimes I’m using a shorter lens and I want to use the mount for the back and closer to my face, or if I’m using a long 600 millimeter lens, I can put my mount further out here.
Now that we have this all set up, I’m going to show how it looks with a gimbal head.
All right. So here you can see that we have it mounted with a gimbal head on and a large 600 millimeter lens. If you look at the smoothness of the action of this, this is as if you were just shooting on a tripod. So it’s very, very sturdy, very secure, and I like that.
Also, depending on the height of your gimbal head, rather if you have a large tall ball head or a higher gimbal head than this, or a large bean bag, these adjustments here will allow you to drop this plate down, so it will give you more room and give you more headway out of here.
One other feature I like about this is when I’m shooting at refuges or out in wildlife preserves and I want to drive another 200 yards, all I have to do is just turn my lens in, lock that down, and go. I don’t have to take anything down. It’s a nice feature.
So one of the really special benefits about this window mount is that you can also mount it on the outside of the car. This is primarily the way that I shoot, and the reason for that is I can attach my gimbal head, but I can also attach my flash bracket. So now I have the use of flash for my photography shooting from the car, which you cannot do with a bean bag.
So you can see the perspective from the inside of the car. I really like this window mount. This makes shooting from inside the car a breeze.
The Mike Moats Macro Light Control Kit includes a 24-inch Wimberly™ Plamp and two 14-inch Westcott™ Illuminator Reflector Panels – one is silver and white, and the other is a translucent white diffuser. It also includes the Finding Character in Nature ebook by Mike. I went out for a leisurely “test drive” on a lovely – and hot and humid – July morning.
At first, I felt like I was carrying around too much equipment. Tripod and camera in one hand, plamp and filters in the other – useful or not, I had to find a way to carry everything more easily. So, I clamped the Plamp onto my tripod, and hung the reflector panels from it. Now, I could carry everything with one hand. Problem solved. I chose a small thistle, and got to work. Lucky for me, I had my trusty side-kick along to document the process – thanks for helping out, Jay!
First, I set up my tripod then put the Plamp to work positioning the chosen thistle just where I wanted it. I’ll go into more detail about that fabulous little tool later – for now, indulge me while I go into some detail about controlling the light.
I deliberately chose a location in the sun because I wanted to put those illuminator panels to work. The backlighting was delicious but the intensity of the light made it difficult to capture the entire dynamic range with a single exposure. I wanted to capture good detail in the shadow areas without blowing out the bright areas, and that’s tough to do with a shot like this unless you happen to have a handy little reflector panel hanging from your tripod! The silver reflector bounced light from the sun onto the front of the thistle, enhancing all those prickly details. The back-lighting outlines the plant, without blowing out the highlights. Perfect.
I took a few comparison shots to show the dramatic difference a reflector or diffuser can make – take a look at the images below.
Here’s a shot taken without any reflector or diffuser. Notice the dark background. The camera can’t handle the entire dynamic range, so the photographer has to choose between capturing detail in the highlights, or capturing detail in the shadows.
For this shot, I used the silver reflector to bounce light onto the flower and the shadowed background. You can see quite a bit more detail back there, and the shadows on the flower aren’t so dark. You still get the backlit effect. This reflector is great for dramatic lighting.
For this last shot, I held the diffused panel just behind and to the right of the flower to filter the strong, directional sunlight. I also increased my shutter speed slightly to get the exposure just right in the camera. Notice how soft and even the light is in this image. The diffuser is perfect when you want a more subtle lighting effect.
The best thing about these little panels is that you can really extend your shooting options and expand your time frame for getting good photos. It’s no longer necessary to confine your photography to times when the light is perfect. And there’s no need to purchase an expensive flash unit for spotlighting your subject. (Of course, if you already have a flash unit, you could use the diffuser panel to soften it and remove harsh glare, or the reflector to bounce the flash for softer, indirect light. The options are endless.)
Now, let’s get back to the Plamp. This deceptively simple little tool is enormously helpful. Any photographer who has tried to capture a plant portrait knows how hard it is to isolate a subject in a weedy field or an overgrown garden. For a clean composition, I needed my pretty yellow flower to stay just the right distance from my lens, at the just the right angle. I also needed to separate it from its brothers so that I could isolate it with a shallow depth of field. I’ve abandoned shots like this in the past because I couldn’t get the plant to stay where I wanted it. This time, it wasn’t a problem. You should have seen me grinning like an idiot out there.
The padded clip did no damage to any flowers I shot that morning, so the birds and the butterflies weren’t offended. The Plamp can be used to hold a reflector or diffuser too – you can even use it to hold other plants out the frame. For those who like a shorter arm, the Plamp snaps apart pretty easily. You can actually remove some of the little ball-jointed sections to shorten it. Personally, I like it as it is.
Mike’s kit is perfect for macro photography. The illuminator panels can be used together or separately, and when I fold them up, they take up very little room in my camera bag. They’re extremely lightweight and easy to carry, too. I store the Plamp in my bag by folding it into a tight little coil. Everything in the kit seems to be very sturdy, and I don’t see any reason why these tools won’t last for many years to come. Reading his ebook is great too–a nice extra.
My only regret? I wish I had another kit. Two Plamps are better than one – one to hold the reflector, and one for the flower. And Jay and I are already fighting over those reflector panels.
The Mike Moats Macro Light Control Kit is available in the OPG Store.
Varina Patel, with her husband Jay, are professional nature photographers and are frequent contributors at Naturephotographers.net. To see more of Varina’s fabulous work, visit her website at photographybyvarina.com.
West by our friend E.J. Peiker is an eBook collection of 70 Landscape and Wildlife photos taken in the Western United States.
The American West is one of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes on Earth. Millions of people from every corner of our planet visit the treasures of our western states including its National Parks, National Monuments, National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges, and State Parks every year. E.J.’s eBook is a celebration of these lands.
Originally published as a limited edition paper book in 2009, it has been updated and is now available in an eBook format that is compatible with PC, Mac, iPad and any device that is capable of displaying PDF files. Check it out in the store here!
Now that many modern DSLRs have calibration ability, we can see just how off-focus some of our lenses are!
There’s a new tool on the market to help you calibrate your lenses correctly: The LensAlignII from Michael Tapes design. You’d be surprised at the results you’ll get just buy spending a few minutes calibrating your gear.
Here’s how it works:
How LensAlign™ Works:
1. Setup LensAlign and the camera to be tested
Mount the camera/lens combination to be tested on a tripod. LensAlign can be table-top or tripod mounted via its 1/4-20 tripod socket. Set the test camera’s aperture to ƒ8. Looking through the test camera’s viewfinder, adjust the camera’s position so that the center Focus “Star” of LensAlign (labeled B) is approximately aligned with the center autofocus point of the camera.
2. Sight the camera to LensAlign
The goal of alignment is to adjust the camera’s position until the hole in the Rear Sighting Plate “Bullseye” is centered in the center Focus Star (labeled B), and both are centered in the frame. When this is achieved, the Focus Target of LensAlign and the camera imaging plane will be perfectly parallel, which is required for accurate focus evaluation. (Note that only the center Sighting Dot will appear centered when perfect alignment is achieved).
3. Capture test images
Mount and adjust the Depth Of Field (DOF) Ruler’s angle to position #3 (or a preferred position). Set the Sight Gate to its DOWN (closed) position. Set the camera to Manual or Aperture Priority exposure mode and open the aperture of the lens to its lowest ƒ stop. Focus and capture test images.
4. Evaluate test images
Using your photo editing software, evaluate your results as displayed on the DOF Ruler in your test captures. In Photoshop, applying the Emboss filter to test images can enhance the visibility of test results. If the test camera has Auto Focus Micro Adjustment capability, use it to correct auto focus errors that you may observe.
If you have a vintage Gitzo or Manfrotto tripod, or you like to do your tripod maintenance yourself, chances are you’d like to have a diagram of all your tripod’s parts and part numbers. Digging around on the net for this information can be frustrating.
We’ve put together some handy pages where you can access diagrams and part numbers for nearly every Gitzo and Manfrotto made. We hope you find this resource handy for all your tripod needs!
Click one of the logos below to find the schematic for your tripod.
Editor’s note: Welcome Maxis Gamez to the blog! Hailing from Sarasota Florida, Maxis is an active bird photographer and workshop leader. Maxis loves great gear, and will be providing us reviews of equipment that he uses in the field. You can learn more about Maxis, view his images and scout his workshops at his website GVisions.org.
It’s no secret. Many nature photographers are curious about the new heavy duty, yet affordable 8X CT tripod series from Induro. During this review, I’ll talk about the largest tripod Induro has ever offered and how it performs in the real world. If you have seen my images or have participated in my workshops, you’ll know that I’m not a casual shooter. I photograph in mud, saltwater, beach sand and everything else you can think of and my tripod comes along with me. Therefore, I need a tripod that meets my needs and can withstand my style of shooting!
The new 8X CT-Series of Induro tripods are the strongest, most stable tripods ever offered. A wide stance cross-braced magnesium alloy spider, ultra-light 8X layer Carbon Fiber legs, oversized center column lock and enhanced leg angle locks, contribute with up to 35% greater stability, rigidity and higher load capacity. The new 8X CT-Series also includes interchangeable rubber feet and stainless steel spikes, a tool kit and deluxe carrying bag and strap.
Let’s look at the new features:
Features:
Wide Stance Cross-braced Magnesium Alloy Spider: This feature alone provides an excellent core system stability and support. While I’m not a big fan of the tripod base, I must say that I adapted to the new magnesium alloy spider style base with ease. After all, if the tripod is more stable with the new magnesium alloy design, I’m happy!
Extra Long Grooved Center Column: The extended and extra long center column allows camera positioning without unwanted column rotation. The column is designed NOT to rotate for that extra stability.
Full Width Leg Locks: This feature allows maximum support at any angle. I welcome the new and rapid locking mechanism as I don’t like to spend a lot of time changing my tripod configurations in the field. Pop the lock open, move the tripod leg to the desired position (3 available), snap it back in place and you are done!
Dust and Moisture Resistant Ergonomic Rubber Grip Leg Locks: Because of my style of shooting, dust and moisture are constantly present. Induro did an excellent job making sure critical tripod parts are well protected from the elements. However, this does not mean your Induro tripod will be dust or dirt free. I strongly recommend rinsing off your tripod legs with freshwater every time saltwater is present.
Interchangeable Rubber Feet and Stainless Steel Spikes in Carbon Fiber mount: There are times when the “stock” rubber feet will not do the job depending on the environment the tripod is being used in. The folks from Induro thought about the little details and that makes a difference. You can easily change the stock rubber feet with a set of steel spikes in the field.
Spring Loaded Weight Hook: Another one of those little details that makes a difference. The additional weight mounting hook allows extra stability under windy conditions. This feature I very much looking forward to using as I hang my Canon Battery Pack from that hook. The built-in spring mechanism makes sure whatever you hang from that hook, stays hooked!
Oversized Center Column Lock: I’ve never been a big fan of center columns and there is no exception here. The main reason is because I’m normally at very low angles. However, Induro also thought about those circumstances and created a short center column for the tripod. The much smaller center column can also be purchased directly from outdoor Photo Gear for a reasonably low price.
Induro claims that the center column lock adds vibration reduction and structural support to your camera and/or ball-head. Because they have done such great job designing the tripod, I’m confident that is the case.
Non-Rotating Carbon Fiber Leg Sections: Yet another feature that will help you set up your tripod at a much faster pace. As a bird photographer, I often look for the best possible perspective, therefore this 1/2 turn locking and unlocking mechanism means a lot to me. Tripod manufacturers are using this feature more and more. However, I’ve used other tripod brands where this non-rotating feature is not as effective as they advertise.
Reversible Locking Center Column: The reversible center column feature is probably useful to those that photograph macro, allowing extra flexibility during low angle shooting situations. This feature I will probably not use very much, but it’s good to have it available.
Adjustable Leg Angles with Lock: The adjustable leg angle locks help accommodate uneven surfaces and awkward shooting situations. In my opinion, a tripod is not a tripod without this feature.
Integral Bubble Level: During my workshops and seminars, I often remind participants to keep an eye on the horizon line and to also make sure your tripod is level at all times. This feature allows adjustments to prevent uneven pans and tripod head movements using Gimbal style heads.
Easy Fold: Induro has even thought of this! To accommodate the traveling photographer, the CT414 folds to approximately to 25.8 inches allowing you to easily carry the tripod inside your check-in bag.
Specifications:
Material
Carbon Fiber
Maximum Load
55 lb (25 kg)
Max Height w/Column Extended
77.6 in (1970 mm)
Max Height w/Column Retracted
66.9 in (1700 mm)
Min Height w/Column Retracted
23.1 in (587 mm)
Min Height w/Short Column
7.4 in (189 mm)
Max Height
in mm)
Height
in mm)
Width Including Handles
in mm)
Length
in mm)
Folded Length
25.8 in (655 mm)
Number of Leg Sections
4
Leg Lock Type
Moisture and dust-resistant locking grips
Independent Leg Spread
Yes, with three position stops
Center Column
Grooved-Rapid
Bubble Level
Included
Spiked Feet
Removable - Included
Head Mount Thread Size
1/4″-20 & 3/8″-16
Weight
6.3 lbs (2.9 kg)
Included Items:
Includes
Deluxe carry case, strap, toolkit
Warranty
2 years (+3 Online = 5 total)
As you can see, the Induro CT414 is FULL of useful yet reliable features that will enhance your shooting experience. Let’s see how the tripod performed in the field!
Field Performance:
Tripod Height:
At 6’ tall, I used to have problems with my old FEISOL CT3472LV tripod because the tripod only extends to a maximum height of 59.01 inches (under 6’). The way I used to deal with this was by narrowing all 3 legs allowing an extra 2 or 3 inches but sacrificing stability.
With the Induro CT414 maximum height of 77.6 inches without extending the center column, I no longer have to sacrifice stability for few extra inches; therefore I’m always comfortable under all circumstances. I’m confident this tripod can easily accommodate taller photographers as well.
Tripod Weight:
I find the Induro CT414 carbon fiber tripod weight well balanced. The tripod weighs only 6.3 lbs. Not necessarily “light” but you don’t want a tripod that is extremely light-weight, as you can sacrifice stability and performance in the field. Completely loaded this tripod can be easily handled.
By the way, if you have a hard time carrying your photography gear in the field, the folks from Outdoor Photo Gear now carry the Eckla Gear Carts designed for photographers. You can learn all about the carts by following this link.
Tripod Weight Support:
The Induro CT414 offers a massive maximum weight load of 55 pounds. Supporting my Canon 800mm f/5.6 L IS lens attached to the Canon 7D or 5D MKII with a grip each, 580EXII flash, brackets and battery pack feels secure and solid. While the 800mm lens only weights 9.8lbs, this set up is no match to even consider limiting the capabilities of the tripod.
Things got a lot easier for the CT414 when I mounted my Canon 500mm f/4.5 L lens using the 7D and 5D MKII. I’m pretty sure the tripod will impress folks using heavier set ups including the Nikon 600mm f/4 and the Canon 600mm f/4 as well.
Tripod Stability:
With the new wide stance cross-braced magnesium alloy spider, this tripod is ROCK SOLID and very stable. The magnesium base feels strong and most importantly, it never rotates unlike other tripods I used in the past. Another important aspect of this magnesium base is the light weight factor. Because we need a strong base, doesn’t mean it has to be heavy. I also find the spider like leg holder lower design critical for more stability.
The tripod legs never let me down under any circumstance even under heavy and uneven terrain or while photographing from the water. As a bird photographer, I often find myself in mud, saltwater and uneven terrains. The tripod legs feel firm and without any unwanted movement.
Tripod Salt Water Performance:
Living in S.W. Florida, saltwater has become part of my normal shooting environment. This tripod offers a very unique seal I find extremely brilliant, which it doesn’t allow water to penetrate the tripod legs. If you really want to expedite your bird photography, you must learn the true power of approaching birds from the water. I have no problems getting this tripod wet at any time!
Rinsing the tripod with freshwater after a long day shooting in saltwater is a good idea. This will also help you keep the tripod clean and will last for many years to come.
Conclusion:
I feel Induro really made an extra effort and stepped-up to the plate. Coming from using FEISOL tripods, the CT414 was an eye-opener. The rock solid feel to it, the little details, the incredible maximum load capability and durability, the Induro CT414 will impress you all the way.
Induro also made sure to keep this tripod 8X series affordable. Prices have unfortunately has gotten out of hand by other manufacturers. Not everyone can afford the current high prices of Gitzo tripods!
Overall, this tripod will serve you well for many years to come. I feel very lucky the folks from Outdoor Photo Gear allowed me to try this tripod and compare it with other brands.
If you have any other question about the tripod, feel free to contact me directly by visiting my website contact page.
Stay tuned, more reviews coming up!
Thanks!
You can learn more about Maxis, view his images and scout his workshops at his website GVisions.org.
The Think Tank Photo Pixel Sunscreen Version 2.0 is a collapsible laptop sunshade that blocks peripheral light, allowing you to see your computer display in bright conditions.
Begin by pulling the shade from the attached mesh enclosure. The shade will automatically spring open.
Place your laptop on the non-skid surface. Cords and cables can be routed through the openings on the back and sides. Small items can be placed in the inner mesh pockets while you are working.
The dark cloth can be simply attached to the corresponding hook and loop when additional darkness is needed.
The top of the Pixel Sunscreen can be temporarily lowered by attaching the strap from the top edge to the hook and loop closure on the underside of the shade, and providing additional protection in wet or dusty conditions.
To fold the pixel sunscreen, begin by removing all objects from the interior. Hold the shade with the opening facing down, placing your thumbs on the corresponding outlines. Slowly twist the sides inward, beginning with the right-hand side. As you fold the left side over the right, the other sides will automatically fold inward. Bring the sides together to form a flat disk. Stretch the mesh enclosure around the edges to keep the Pixel Sunscreen folded.
For more information about any of our Think Tank Photo products, visit Thinktankphoto.com.
ExpoImaging has come out with a cool new modifier for speedlights called the Rogue 3-in-1 Grid. These are the same guys that brought us the Rogue Flash Benders for speedlights which are essentially snoots, gobos, bounce cards and flags all rolled in to one customizable shaped modifier. For photographers who like to pack light, you can't beat the small size and portability of this latest series of flash modifiers.
The Rogue Grid is a really nice system because it has three different grid sizes in one small package. These grids come in 45 degrees, 25 degrees and 16 degrees spreads that have a somewhat soft-ish fall off to the edges, unlike using a snoot. This system comes with the two grids (stacking them makes the third grid), the grid holder and a cool little bag to carry the system in.
These guys are made of a very hard composite plastic that seem very durable and can probably take a good beating …or at least a lot wear and tear. These grids are attached to speedlights with the included grid holder. You simply take the grid holder and strap it around the head of your speedlight. It has a pretty unique system in that it will stretch and can be velcroed in to place which makes a pretty secure connection. You don't need anything like a speed strap or extra velcro to attach these to your speed lights and by design, the grid holder can be adjusted for different size speedlights.
Once you have the grid holder fastened to the flash, simply choose which degree grid you want to use, and fit it into the end of the grid holder. This is the only part of this system that I'm not exactly wild about because the grid takes a little work to slip in to the holder and then its only held by the tension of the holder itself. So far I haven't had any problems with this, but I do use an extra speed strap wrapped around it to make sure it stays secure. This is really just more of an annoyance than an actual ding on the system.
The internal grid pattern is slightly hexagonal but you can see in the photo below that it produces a circular style spread of light. Another cool feature about these grids is the really tight 16 degrees pattern you get. As far as I know, this is the smallest light spread by a grid for speedlights that you can get. To get the 16 degrees grid, you simply stack the 45 degrees and 25 degrees on top of each other and place in the grid holder. These go together quite easily as well because each of the grids are notched so that there is only one way you can stack these together. The 16 degrees grid makes a really small spread of light, especially when used in close.
The photo below shows the various light size spreads of the three different grids. The flash head is approximately three feet away from the wall, and I have an X and Y axis graph diagram in inches taped to the wall so that you can see the approximate sizes. Keep in mind these sizes will vary based on your flash to subject distance.
I have enjoyed using the Rogue Grids thoroughly and can without a doubt recommend them to anyone who uses speedlights. They do the job nicely and are compact. These are definitely worth the money in my book! You can pick up the Rogue Grid at Outdoor Photo Gear along with all the other cool products by ExpoImaging.
A quick word to the wise… when you first buy these and take them out of the box, it would appear that there is only one grid in the box. That is because they come stacked together. I figured this out only a few minutes after a little frustration.
Chances are, if you’re a photographer, you probably have dozens of AA batteries lying around. These days it seems like everything photography related uses them (if you’re lucky), from speedlights, to radio triggers, to light meters etc etc. I know I have at least around three dozen batteries, all of which are rechargeable, and it can be a chore to keep them all organized and together.
Varina Patel, with her husband Jay, are professional nature photographers and are frequent contributors at 
If you have a vintage Gitzo or Manfrotto tripod, or you like to do your tripod maintenance yourself, chances are you’d like to have a diagram of all your tripod’s parts and part numbers. Digging around on the net for this information can be frustrating.
I figured this out only a few minutes after a little frustration.
