Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Tamrac Zipshot Tripod

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Tamrac recently introduced the Zipshot tripod, which is a light and ultra-portable alternative to the run-of-the-mill tripods out there. The Zipshot weighs 11 ounces and can carry a maximum load of 3 lbs (e.g., a prosumer DSLR with a kit lens).  It also includes a built-in ball head.

As you can see in the video, the whole thing pops open in just a few seconds thanks to the bungee cords inside the tripod legs.  It’s not exactly the sturdiest tripod, but can still get the job done, particularly if you use a remote or timer. [Read more…]

 

Panasonic FH20 Quick Hands-On Review

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Panasonic FH20

One of the many point and shoot cameras announced at CES 2010 was the Panasonic FH20.  I spent a little while at CES checking out the new camera and its siblings.

The FH20 is at the top end of the new cameras in the FH lineup.  The other new cameras, the FH3 and FH1, are essentially just lower-spec versions of the FH20.  Since all the models were preproduction and I couldn’t evaluate image quality at CES, the handling and performance comments on the FH20 pretty much match up with my impressions of the FH3 and FH1 as well. [Read more…]

Olympus E-P1 Firmware Update ver. 1.2

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Olympus E-P1

Olympus has released a firmware update for the E-P1.  Firmware version 1.2 adds the following functionality:

  • Reduced time of the MF ASSIST enlarged display to improve operability.
  • REC VIEW enabled when the monitor’s backlight is set to off.

The firmware can be updated through the Olympus Master or Studio software.

[via Olympus.co.jp]

Canon 5D Mark II Battery Grips: BG-E6 vs. Third-Party Grips

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Canon 5D Mark II Battery Grip

The Canon BG-E6 battery grip serves a couple of different purposes for the 5D Mark II.  As the name implies, it holds batteries – either two LP-E6 lithium-ion batteries or 6 AA batteries in the included battery holder.  Likewise, the BG-E6 serves as a grip for handling the camera in portrait orientation, featuring controls for the shutter release, scroll wheel, and focus point adjustments, among others.

Canon 5D Mark II Battery Grips

The BG-E6 is a nice accessory to have; however, it runs $250.  For some, that’s a little steep for a battery grip.  Third party grips are much more affordable at less than $100, but are they worth the compromise? This question comes up on forums quite a bit and finds its way in my inbox now and then.

In this little exercise, we are going to take a look at the Canon BG-E6 grip and see how a couple of third party grips from Vivitar and Zeikos stack up against it.

[UPDATE:  I’ve supplemented this review with a review of the Vello BG-C2 and BG-C4 grips for the Canon 5D Mark II and 7D.]

[Read more…]

Pointless Example of Canon 1D Mark IV Shutter Speed at 10 fps

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This video of the Canon 1D Mark IV firing at 10 frames per second is mostly pointless; however, I still find myself watching it over and over thanks to the gadget nut in me.

Looks a little grainy, doesn’t it?  That’s because it was shot at ISO 25600 on a Nikon D3S.  A single overhead tungsten bulb supplied the light.

Stay tuned for more serious content on both of these new work horses.  In the mean time, watch the video again. ;-)

Polaroid PIC 1000

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Polaroid PIC 1000

Polaroid film died a while back, but then was reborn with plans to re-release the old instant film cameras and the famous Color 600 instant film.  We got our first sneak peek at what the new Polaroid film cameras will look like when they hit the storefronts later this year.  It looks like Polaroid will be offering some unique finishes for the new instant shooter, including a wood-grain finish as shown in the mockup above.  The new camera will be called the PIC 1000 and should cost less than $100. [Read more…]