Think back to when you were a kid, heading to school in the snow or rain.
Your mom dressed you up to look like that poor little kid in Christmas Story, including horrendous, floppy black galoshes. You just knew that the other kids would make fun of your big floppy rubber boots.
Things have changed dramatically today. Galoshes, renamed overshoes, have gone hi-tech. Gone are the slippery soles, the big ugly buckles and the floppy rubber. Modern material, grippy soles and a tight fit take their place. New overshoes fit like shoes, are easy to walk in, and most importantly, keep your feet warm and dry.
The best overshoes we’ve seen are made by NEOS, a company that makes both consumer and industrial footwear. Their “uppers” are made from waterproofed Denier nylon (think high-end backpacks) and their soles are lugged just like your favorite hiking boot. They are pretty snazzy-looking too!
NEOS come in insulated and non-insulated styles. The non-insulated overshoes at 20º of warmth to your feet and the insulated styles add 40º. The NEOS Navigator even has a 5” gaiter you can extend out of top of the boot for deep snow.
These new NEOS overshoes are high-tech and dare we say, even fashionable. You won’t have the big kids teasing you anymore with these.
You can check out the NEOS overshoe line in the Store here: NEOS
Good friends Juan Pons, now of DPExperience, Scott Elowitz of LensCoat and I arranged the shoot of this video early in the year, even before we launched Outdoor Photo Gear. We kept it under wraps for a few months while OPG was under construction. We launched our blog with it, and over 24,000 people have viewed it!
A lot has happened since we shot this video. Juan has launched DPExperience with our pal Rick Sammon (and me as the "gear guru") and Scott has introduced many new LensCoat products.
Outdoor Photo Gear has had a banner year, beyond all of our expectations. We're still at work–more products and more website features are on the way!
Thanks to all of you, and we wish you a fabulous 2010!
I recently had to opportunity to test and review the Mongoose M 3.5b Gimbal Tripod Head for super telephoto lenses. The first thing I have to say is that I am very impressed with this compact and lightweight gimbal head. Very lightweight and packs easily.
Craftsmanship is superb, and you can tell the folks at 4th Generation Designs really paid close attention to detail.
Check out this short video review. You can see all of the wonderful 4th Generation Designs line in the OPG Store here.
Make sure and visit the entertaining and informative site and blog by Rick Sammon and Juan Pons, the Digital Photo Experience.
I feel like a gunslinger. Draw, pardner! Only instead of a six-shooter, I have my spanking new Canon 7D by my hip. Up comes the camera, fast and ready to shoot.
For events, parties or photo walks, the Black Rapid camera straps give you instant access to your camera, and keep weight strain off of your neck. Black Rapid straps are worn across your body like a sling, and attach to your camera via the tripod socket.
Sound unique? It is. The Black Rapids are comfortable and adjustable, and will have you saying “why didn’t I think of that!” With the camera at your hip or behind your back, you can maneuver easily through a crowd, carry a tripod or other gear, or simply have both hands free. When you’re ready to take the shot, the camera quickly glides up the strap into shooting position.
The Black Rapids are made of ripstop nylon and have nice mesh cushioned shoulder pads with various pockets. The straps come in two models with different sized pads and pockets. A double model is available for a camera at each hip. You can also get extra camera attachments to change gear quickly. Black Rapid has also come out with new "MODS" such as extra pouches.
The Black Rapids just may become the strap of choice for mobile photographers.
You can get more information and purchase the Black Rapids in the OPG store.
Here is a quick video I shot with Rick recently on the Black Rapid camera straps.
juan Pons is a big fan of the Think Tank Photo brand of camera bags. Take a look at his video review of Think Tank's StreetWalker line of photo backpacks. You'll find it informative.
You can check out the entire Think Tank Photo line of bags in our store.
I’ve been using flash modifiers literally since I was a teenager. I’ve made my own and bought just about every conceivable retail modifier made – but as of this year, I’ve dumped almost everything but my HonL stuff. Here’s why…
The HonL system starts with a brilliant device known as the HonLPhoto Speed Strap. This strap is the base of the HonL system and all their other accessories attach to it. Instead of having to attach rubber bands, tape or adhere sticky velcro tape to your flash, you simply use a Speed Strap. This means you can use the strap on any flash you own. You don’t have to buy additional velcro tape and adhere it to each flash.
The system looks like it was designed by a photographer and it was. David Honl certainly knows that controlling light is important.
One other thought – you’ve read the word system twice already. That’s not by accident. This isn’t just a ramshackle group of accessories you can use on your flash. This is indeed a system. Everything is designed to work within a system format and it makes the gear more valuable.
There are snoots, gobos and grids that can work together to everything from diffuse, direct and pump out the light from any traditional camera-mounted flash. There are even gel kits available.
The products are very well made and look like they will stand up to lots of abuse.
I tested the HonL system recently while leading the Aperture Nature Photography Workshop. I found the system extremely flexible, yet very portable. I opened up the 8″ speed snoot and used it as a giant bounce card on the back of the flash. It worked well on the portrait above, especially when combined with some fill.
Upon working with the system for a while I was really shocked to see you could combine parts (two gobo bounce cards) to create barn door effects and the grid spot look coming from my SB-900 after I added the HonL Speed Grids was amazing. I’ve never seen any other light modifier that can do this.
For less than $175 you can buy just about everything HonL makes and consider yourself covered for 95% of the situations you might encounter using portable flash.
At the end of the day I cannot say enough good things about David Honl’s products. They are portable, light weight, easy to pack, effective, easy to use and affordable. Highly recommended.
For more information, check out HonL products at the OPG Store: link
If you’ve watched my online conversation carefully, you know I am a big fan of Think Tank Photo bags. They are designed by photographers for photographers. I’ve been using a Think Tank Airport Addicted as my main bag for years.
But for situations that don’t quite require such a big bag, there’s now an option. The Think Tank Airport Takeoff is a slightly smaller bag than the Airport Addicted.
Dimensions -
Internal Dimensions: 13″W x 18.4″H x 5.25-6.75″D (33 x 47 x 13 cm)
External Dimensions: 14″W x 21″h x 8″D (35.5 x 53 x 22 cm)
Weight: 8.6 – 10.3 (3.9 – 4.7 kg) depending on accessories used
At $299, it’s not inexpensive, but it’s a very well-made bag that hits a home run for those who need to bring less than their full kit on the next job. I decided to try it out on my trip to Photoshop World.
This bag has a couple of interesting features. It has straps in a hidden compartment that turn it into a backpack. I know this feature will be very important to some photographers. For me, if there’s a way to roll the bag – and in this case there is – I won’t ever put it on my aging back. So, while I am sure this would make some people ill – I simply cut those straps away to make myself another compartment on the back of the bag
Also – the Takeoff features a laptop compartment on the outside of the bag. Think Tank says it is designed to hold their own 15″ laptop sleeve. I was able to put my 17″ MacBookPro (inside an Enduro sleeve) in the compartment with no problem. This is great. Being able to securely transport my laptop PLUS enough gear to shoot multimedia is just what I’ve been looking for.
I have the usual opening praise for this bag. It’s very well designed and built. The zippers are top notch as are the materials. The bag is insanely configurable and for me, it’s the perfect choice when I need to bring my 17-inch MacBookPro along with some basic photo gear. In my case, I am able to take MORE Than basic gear. The photo above shows all the items that I fit into the bag for my trip TO Vegas.
In case you’re wondering – Bag Contents
* iPhone 3GS
* Alarm Clock
* Photoshop World Paperwork
* AC Power Strip
* Network Cord
* USB Hub
* Flashlight
* Two Microfibre Cloths
* USB Flash Drive
* Rain Cover
* 17″ MacBookPro w/sleeve
* MacBookPro Power Adapter
* USB Card Reader
* Four AA Batteries W/charger
* Business Cards
* Audio Technica Shotgun Mic W/cables, Shock Mount, Windscreen
* Sony Noise Canceling Digital Headphones W/Cables
* Gorilla Pod
* Panasonic GH1 W/14-140 Lens
* Panasonic GH1 Battery Charger
* iPhone Charger
* LensCoat Lenshood
* Altoids
* Singh Ray Varigrad ND FIlter
* Sony PCM-D1 Digital Stereo Field Recorder
* Lite Panels Mini
PLUS – Panasonic LX3 – Not Shown (I used it to take the picture)
Now the astonishing thing is – there was more room available. In fact, I am bringing a camera BACK with me that isn’t here yet and there’s room for that camera w/50mm lens. (More on the new camera later.)
Here’s a photo of the bag packed with camera gear:
I can highly recommend the Think Tank Airport Takeoff. Then again, I can highly recommend all the Think Tank products. I’ve never seen them make anything other than very, very high-quality bags. I know from experience that their products stand up to the toughest of travel conditions and their design always favors the photographer.
You can see more information and purchase the Think Tank Airport Takeoff in the store here: link
(NOTE: All photos in this review are Copyright Scott Bourne 2009 – All Rights Reserved. All images made with Ray Flash)
There’s only one thing I can say that described the Ray Flash Ring Flash adapter: Cool.
The Ray flash is not a genuine ring flash. Rather, it’s an adapter that turns your speedlight into a ring flash. I tested the Ray Flash on my Nikon SB-900.
The Ray Flash is an un-tethered device that uses a system of internal prisms, reflectors and light-shapers (the company also calls them light channels) to guide the light from your speedlight down and around the lens in an even matter. Note, it’s not as even as it would be were this an actual flash unit itself, but it’s close enough for government work.
it contains no electronics, no flash tubes and requires no batteries or cables.
The advantage of this unit is that it’s lightweight, (weighs just one pound) more portable and less expensive than an actual ring flash. I own other devices like this that work on my studio lights, including one from Bowens. But the Ray Flash is lighter, easier to mount and cheaper to buy.
The simplest application of this device is to throw your subject next to any wall, put the flash in i-TTL (Nikon) E-TTL (Canon), point and shoot. That’s right, you can still use your flash’s automatic and TTL features when employing the Ray Flash.
The light from the unit will be somewhat flat, but you’ll have a cool circular catchlight in the eyes. You might have to experiment with some flash compensation. I typically took off about a half stop, but then again I am very conservative when it comes to flash. I usually just want a kiss of light when I’m the one making the light, i.e., using flash. Your mileage may vary.
The Ray Flash is also great for use in macro and close-up applications. The only thing I’d note is that it seems to lead to lots more red eye than usual, but that can be easily fixed in post.
The un-retouched image below shows off the effect of the unit pretty well. Note the red eye. Also note the slight halo around the subject. This is normal when you use a ring flash. You need to practice with subject-to-background distance to decide how much or little of this halo effect you want.
The unit is plastic but it’s sturdy and feels well made. The company includes a spacer that allows you to make sure the fit on your camera is snug.
The unit shipped to me in a box marked “Fragile” and I don’t want to break it, so the only negative is that it’s not something that will fit easily in your camera bag. I’m keeping it in the original box which I’ll store in my grip bag. It’s a small price to pay to have a simple, go-to light modifier that will really help me if I get into one of those situations where I have to make a perfect shot with less than two minutes prep.
I’m also looking forward to experimenting with it in the future, trying to gel it or take it off camera to see what sort of impact that will have. This is an unconventional accessory and it’s just begging to be used in an unconventional way.
For the $199, you can’t go wrong. Highly recommended.
For more information and to purchase a Ray Flash head to the OPG Store.
The Kiboko photo backpack was created with the intent of creating the lightest photo backpack in the market in order to satisfy some of the strictest airline carry-on bag regulations, while not compromising on durability, protection, capacity or features.
The Kiboko is the brainchild of Andy Biggs, an accomplished african wildlife photographer who spends an enormous amount of time traveling, sometimes in very small planes, while leading his African Photo Safaris. Truly this is a bag designed by a photographer, for photographers.
Amazingly, this bag weighs only 4 lbs when empty, yet can hold an impressive amount of equipment. The bag is peppered with an assortment of very thoughtful and unique features, from the nice and big zipper pulls, the diagonally placement of one of the carry handles, to the dedicated storage compartment for the rain cover.
By realist, I mean that I like to portray my subjects as they are in real life, with as little embellishment and alteration as possible. I think this changed when I recently received a Lensbaby Composer for testing.
I have to be honest and say that at first I was a little skeptical. Yes I have seen examples of images taken with Lensbabies in the past and I always thought that they were interesting, but not really my thing.
Primitive foot path along the Haw River, NC
As soon as I received the Lensbaby composer this past Friday, I put it on my Canon 5D MarkII and decided to use it exclusively for the entire weekend. No matter how entrenched my thought processes are and how safe I may feel inside my photographic comfort zone, I am always interested in trying new things, experimenting and challenging myself to see things differently. I figured that the best way for me to really get to know this new tool was to immerse myself in it.
I first started shooting some mundane items around the house, like some of my sons stuffed animals, while I got the hang of manipulating the tilt-shift like movements of this lens. I created some interesting images, but nothing that really struck my fancy. In an attempt at creating some more interesting images. I proceeded to chase my son around and make some images of him, and while he is used to having a camera pointed at him, he just did not feel like it this time.
e
So far my experience had been very unrewarding, so I decided to go and shoot what I shoot best, the outdoors, nature, wildlife. I decided to pack light, very light and just took my camera with the Lensbaby Composer, a small tripod, a remote shutter release and a microphone, and headed down to one of my favorite locations just steps from my house; the Haw River.
With it’s seldom travelled foot paths, plenty of rock formations and scores of wildlife, I knew the Haw River would provide plenty of opportunities to put the Composer thru its paces within my specialty.
For someone like me, who enjoys nature in an unadulterated and undistorted fashion, it took a bit to start “envisioning” the world thru the lens of a Lensbaby; pun intended. Undaunted, I kept at it and experimented as much as I could, I tried all the different aperture rings, which essentially, control the size of the “sweet spot.” I also played with shifting the center of this “sweet spot” by “swinging” the lens, which isolates and brings attention and focus to a specific area of the image. The more I experimented the more I started to get it as I slowly began to “see” like the Lensbaby.
Haw River, NC
Very soon I started to get excited and try all sorts of different subjects, from the very primitive path I was walking on, to some of the rock and water features on the river. I quickly then turned my thoughts to video. As the new Canon 5D MarkII takes spectacular HD video alongside stills, it proved to be an excellent way to test the look the Lensbaby offered on some video footage. I have to admit that I really liked the selective focus effect the Lensbaby offers on the video. Not something to be used every day, but very effective when trying to convey a moody or dreamy effect.
A few more technical observations: I am not sure why, but found my camera meter to read a little too hot when shooting stills, so I had to dial down the exposure compensation a bit. This Lensbaby Composer features a 37mm thread, which can be used with the myriad of accessories available or with any other standard filters in this size. I myself may need to try their Super Wide Angle Conversion Lens as well as a few neutral density filters for better exposure control on sunny days.
I have to confess that I am really enjoying this Lensbaby and consider myself a convert, and as difficult as it may be to find the room, it will find a permanent space in my camera bag.
You can check out the entire Lensbaby line in the OPG store.
I hope you found this information useful, and as always, if you have any questions or comments use the comments section below or you can reach me via twitter at http://twitter.com/jpons.
Copyright Scott Bourne 2009 – All Rights Reserved
