blog.gallerama.com

As DSLR cameras are becoming more popular so is the topic of lens selection. If you are like me and many other photographers and photography enthusiasts you probably started out with a single, versatile lens. Perhaps this lens came along with the camera in a “kit” or maybe you read some reviews and picked a good one separately. But then you realized that this just isn’t cutting it. After all, one of the main reasons for getting a DSLR is its ability to accept different types of lenses. Also, your existing lens may have some shortcomings. For example, the lens distortion is too noticeable; it doesn’t perform well in low light; it suffers from vignetting, etc. These are just some of the problems with many low-cost (and even some more expensive) lenses, but chances are that before you even start thinking about these specific problems you’re just looking for a greater focal range at your disposal.

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My latest (4th or 5th) tripod is certainly a keeper. Read the full report to find out why.

If you’ve ever used a Gitzo tripod - especially one of the modern, carbon fiber ones - you’ll almost certainly agree that its simply in a class of its own. The brilliant design and build quality are sure to please but not all of us can afford (or need) such expensive support gear. I’m guessing this was the thinking of Chinese brand BENRO which has managed to create very high quality near-replicas of the many Gitzo models and make them available at much lower prices. The model that is the topic of this report is the Benro M-028 n6 Carbon Fiber tripod which is a part of Benro’s Mountaineer line, named so after Gitzo’s own Mountaineer series.

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My favorite local photo store - Adorama - recently sent me one of their email newsletters and this particular one happened to highlight an exciting product from the professional photographer and entrepreneur Gary Fong: Lightsphere.

An innovative flash diffuser, the Lightsphere II Inverted Dome System is claimed to produce results rivaling sophisticated studio-lighting setups at a fraction of the cost while being portable enough to carry around anywhere. On Gary’s website you’ll find a number of good videos showing the power of Lightsphere, its variety of applications and performance under different conditions. Gary himself made an appearance at Adorama recently and showcased his product receiving a great response. A member of the staff told me they sold about a hundred of these in a span of 2 hours during and after Gary’s visit!

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I think I know what you’re thinking. The first product review and off all things I pick a ball head? And you’re right. Its an odd choice but it just so happens that I got one of these just this week and am still putting it through the test. Oh, and its not just an ordinary ball head. Its the Markins Q3!

First things first, I bought the ball head directly from Markins although its available elsewhere, including the popular Photo Pro Shop (a part of Nikonians.com). The shipping was inexpensive and the package, which included the ball head and the P200U camera plate (for the Nikon D200 - sold separately) arrived 3 business days later.

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