Lastolite’s VH Flip Bracket enables a camera to be quickly alternated between portrait and landscape orientations, all the while maintaining the same distance from a flashgun. This makes it ideal for those photographing social functions, where off-camera flash will be required for group shots and single/couple images. The bracket has a movable platform on which [...]
Archive for Cameras and Camcorder Reviews
Review: Nikon V1
Overview Like the Nikon 1 J1, launched at the same time, the Nikon 1 V1 is a compact system camera (CSC). This means that it lacks the reflex mirror and optical viewfinder found in DSLR cameras, but it can accept interchangeable lenses. Not surprisingly, the Nikon V1 has much in common with the J1, not [...]
Review: Canon Selphy CP800
The Canon Selphy CP800 is a compact dye-sub 6×4 printer, offering the basic functionality we’d expect for its £80 price tag. This includes a 2.5-inch LCD screen and a range of card slots, as well as a USB port for flash drives and another for connecting a computer. It’s possible to process images with Canon’s [...]
Review: Sony NEX-5N
Overview The second generation Sony NEX-5N sits in the middle of a revamped NEX compact system camera (CSC) range, just above the NEX-C3, with which it shares a 16.1MP effective resolution, and some way below the 24.3MP effective NEX-7. It follows on from the entry level NEX-3 and mid range NEX-5, introduced in summer 2010 [...]
Review: Olympus PEN Mini E-PM1
Overview and features Designed for the casual snapper who doesn’t want to compromise on image quality, the Olympus PEN Mini E-PM1 is similarly specified to contemporary Olympus PEN models, but with an emphasis on ease of use and simplicity of design. Compact system cameras (CSC) like this have exploded in popularity in the last year [...]
Review: Nikon J1
Overview Ever since Panasonic launched the first mirrorless compact system camera in September 2008, there has been rumour and speculation about whether Canon and Nikon would follow suit. Now, a little over three years later, Nikon has revealed its hand and unveiled two cameras, the Nikon J1 and V1. Collectively these make up the Nikon [...]
Review: Manfrotto 055XPROB and 496RC2 head
Overview and features One of the biggest names in tripod manufacture, Manfrotto offers a huge range of tripods, monopods and heads to suit almost any requirement and budget, from tiny tabletop supports to fully professional carbon fibre kit. This reasonably priced combination, available for sale separately, comprises the 055XPROB aluminium tripod and new-generation 496RC2 ball [...]
Review: Jessops Major Carbon Fibre
Overview and features Carbon fibre tripods are notoriously pricey, often costing upwards of £300 once you include a head. That makes the Jessops Major Carbon Fibre look an absolute steal at £99 RRP or as low as £80 if you shop around, especially as it comes complete with its own three-way head. It’s not only [...]
Review: Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
Nikon caters particularly well for macro photographers, with 40mm, 60mm, 85mm and 200mm options in addition to this 105mm lens. An update to the popular Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D AF Micro optic, the Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED adds a host of improvements, chief of which being Nikon’s second generation Vibration Reduction (VR) system. [...]
Review: Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50mm 1:2.0 Macro
One of a handful of macro lens options for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) users, the Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50mm 1:2.0 Macro provides an effective focal length of 100mm when used with Four Thirds cameras, but with an actual focal length of 50mm it’s much smaller and lighter than other 100mm macro options. It contains [...]