Posts Tagged ‘Reviews’
Think Tank Photo Airport TakeOff Review
Thursday, March 18th, 2010
I have an old Samsonite roll-aboard suitcase that I put a padded divider set in to hold camera gear. The wheels are terrible, the handle is rickety and it tips over when it’s loaded. I was preparing to lead a workshop in Costa Rica recently and I figured it was time for a new rolling [...]
Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO & The Fourth Musketeer
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
We hear a great deal about shutter speed, aperture and ISO, but there’s another control we need to remember and often don’t. That’s the white balance. For those of you shooting video on a DSLR it’s particularly important. Video folks spend much more time worrying about color balance than still photographers. One of the reasons is that changing color in post is more complicated in video than in still photography.
In my opinion, everyone should pay attention to white balance no matter what they shoot. It saves time in post and therefore is a good thing.
The best way to set your white balance is to use an ExpoDisc.
The difference between using an ExpoDisc and a traditional gray card is simple, as is the WHY or reason I use one.
1. The ExpoDisc doesn’t introduce any color cast
2. The ExpoDisc has the ability to give you white balance info via incident rather than reflective meter readings and is more accurate and easier to handle
3. If you go to ten camera stores and buy 10 different gray cards – even of the same brand – and you put them to the TRUE test to see if they are indeed 18% gray – using a spectrometer – you will see that each of them gives a different reading – thus no gray card is truly accurate
4. It works better in mixed lighting than a gray card
5. It’s a time saver
To take advantage of the ExpoDisc’s features, you just put it on the camera lens and point directly at you light source rather than pointing it at your scene as you would do with a traditional camera metering off a gray card. You make an exposure and use that exposure to set your white balance. As long as the light doesn’t change, you’re good to go.
For more information or to purchase an ExpoDisc, check them out in the OPG store: ExpoDiscBodyGuard Pro CB Mini Review
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009by scottbourne
You spent big money on your new DSLR. Now consider spending just a little more to protect it.
A few months back, Scott Elowitz of LensCoat was kind enough to show me the BodyGuard Pro CB. It’s a neoprene cover that fits over your camera while attached to a lens. There is a clear back that lets you see the LCD, even while the cover is on.
The BodyGuard Pro CB offers strategically placed slits on the sides for additional access to buttons and switches. The shutter button can easily be depressed through the neoprene or by sliding you finger under the cover.
When I first saw this cover, I thought – why would you ever take it off? When you decide to sell your cameras at upgrade time, buyers prefer cameras in pristine condition. This cover will help protect against the inevitable scratches, dents, and dings you get during daily use of your gear.
There are other benefits. Dust and dirt are your camera’s main enemies. Not only can dust and dirt cause you to spend time cleaning your sensor, they can gum up the works in your camera in general. Keeping the BodyGuard Pro CB on your camera reduces the amount of dust and dirt that get to your camera.
In certain situations you want to keep shutter noise to a minimum and the BodyGuard Pro CB helps reduce shutter noise. Also while not water tight the neoprene material keeps most wet weather off the camera body.
While I try to keep the BodyGuard Pro CB on my camera bodies most of the time, they are very easy to take on and off. There’s even access points for flash and camera straps.
The BodyGuard Pro CB is available in black and in camo, and fits most Nikon and Canon pro bodies or prosumer bodies with grips attached. You can check them out in the OPG store here: BodyGuard Pro CB
Think Tank Airport Takeoff Mini Review
Saturday, October 3rd, 2009
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.)
