reviews

uniqball ubh 45

Uniqball is a quite new brand of tripod heads. It was established in Hungary a few years ago and its products were first presented at Photokina show in 2014. Currently two head models are offered under this name — UBH 35 and UBH 45 — each one in combination with two models of quick-release clamps — a usual screw fixation clamp. I own a head of the version UBH 45 XC, and I refer to it. However, most of what I write in this review applies to all current models of Uniqball. Read more...

wacom cintiq companion hybrid

In 2014 WACOM has released a new type of Cintiq devices, called “Companion”, with two models – “Companion” and “Companion Hybrid”. It was company’s response to the growing demand for portable pen displays. Since Cintiq Companion, to fulfill its tasks, has to combine an input device with a computer, Wacom has entered the computer market with this product. Certainly, this is a step that may be regarded with a grain of skepticism, but, for technical reasons, it was unavoidable. So far it also looks promising because Wacom managed to bring to quite unique products to this now highly competed market of portable computers and tablets. Read more...

lenscoat 4xpandable

I am sure there is no nature photographer on the Earth who wouldn't know LensCoat — a US company that makes neoprene protective and camouflage covers for very many DSLR lenses. I the last couple of years LensCoat was constantly extending not only the number of lens models they were making covers for but also the offer of other products, such as — pouches, rain protection covers, etc. Finally, 2014 the company debuted in the photo bag market segment with a new series of large lens bags called Xpandable. Read more...

f-stop gear satori exp

The manufacturers of carrying solutions for photographic equipment seem to copy the mistakes of each other in their products that they present as backpacks for outdoor photographers and stick to the same wrong concepts, overseeing the reality of outdoor life and work. On that background, indeed, it appears to be only F-stop Gear whose bags and backpacks are being made both, for carrying of large quantities of heavy photo equipment and with serious outdoor use in mind. Read more...

novoflex triopod

Triopod is a “mini” base for the Quadropod system that can be used with the same legs. Not four, but only three of them can be attached to it, and it results in a construction that is similar to usual tripod. Such tripod is much lighter, smaller and can be set up somewhat quicker. It was released in November 2013 — just a couple of weeks before I wrote this review which was probably the first review of this product at all. Read more...

sigma 35 mm f1.4 dg hsm

Since its release in November 2012, had been celebrated by many photographers worldwide. Soon after its release, many tried it out and published extremely positive reviews. When I finally had this lens in my hands in spring 2013 and could form my own opinion as a nature photographer I wrote my own review that you find here. Read more...

iphone apps for a nature photographer

Although I have been using only Apple computers for the past 12 years, my smartphone was remaining Blackberry. Finely I gave up and got an iPhone due to its better compatibility with Mac OS and to a very large choice of useful apps. After that I had a hard time researching the offer of applications and trying to find out which could be useful for me. A comprehensive and focused on needs of nature photography overview would have made my research and choice easier, but I found only one very short and old annotated list of iOS apps recommended for outdoor photographers and 2 reviews in blogs — also outdated — for general photographers and videographers. Therefore I decided to fill this gap with my own review. Read more...

acratech gp-s

The Acratech GP Ballhead is a remarkable product. Already its appearance is unparalleled and at once makes you wish to try it out. The construction of this tripod head reminds me of an instrument of a medieval alchemist. I any other ball head the ball is in a metal enclosure, so that only a small part of it shows out at the top of the head. All Acratech ball heads have no enclosure, and the ball rotates between two metal bows that are held together by two screws. When the screws are tightened, this fixates the ball. Since the ball is being squeezed from two sides, it is fixated immediately in place. Read more...

gitzo gt1542t — traveler series 1

Due to some deficits of Novoflex Quadropod I could not realize my plan to get along with it as with only one support. My second goal was to have such a tripod that I would not hesitate to take with me more often. It wasn't possible to achieve with the Quadropod, and I noticed that I still prefer to leave this heavy gear at home whenever possible. This experience resulted in a decision to get a second support that would be an addition to Quadropod offsetting its deficits and inconveniences. After many comparisons of various tripod models and serious considerations I finally chose this Gitzo. Read more...

eckla beach rolly

Eckla Beach Rolly is a lightweight cart that was primarily developed for transportation of water sports gear, such as canoes, cayaks, surfing boards, scuba diving equipment, etc. Quite recently it became popular among outdoor photographers. Now the Eckla Beach Rolly is available in most photo equipment shops worldwide. As a nature photographer, I often have to transport about 20 kg of photo equipment, as well as water, food and — when I am travelling far — also cloths, camping gear, etc. In the field I am either constantly moving the whole day long or often change the location. When the load exceeds my physical capacity, the Eckla Beach Rolly may be just what I need. Read more...

novoflex quadropod

A nature photographer needs different kinds of supports: one with a centre column — for landscapes, one compact and lightweight — for travel, a low one — for macro, a big and sturdy — for a long lens, and a monopod — for mobility... If one like me travels far from home and needs to reduce the size and weight of the luggage, he would leave all but one of them at home. For me it can be only one tripod that would serve me in all situations. Novoflex QuadroPod helped me to solve much of my problems with camera supports — though not entirely. Having used this support system for almost two years, I now feel that I have gathered enough experience to report it in a review. Read more...

maxwell electronic power panner mp-101

In wildlife photography, there are sometimes tasks when a robot can help, but unfortunately no such out-of-box device is currently available on the market. A partial solution can be a remotely controlled DSLR camera mounted on a tripod head that is moved by an electric motor. The motor should allow adjustments of camera's view field if the subject moves or lives it completely. The frame composition should be controlled via a small video camera that is sending a picture from the viewfinder to the receiver that the photographer is holding in his hand. I am experimenting with this kind of setup, and the tripod head that I have reviewed here is its part. Read more...

zeiss distagon t* 3.5/18 ze

Distagon T* 3.5/18 is currently the only ultra wide lens being produced by Carl Zeiss for SLR cameras. The over 100 years old German company is one of the world's most honoured manufacturers of cine and camera lenses. The name Carl Zeiss is associated with expensive and high-quality products. So is the Distagon T* 3.5/18 that features excellent image quality, light weight and superb build quality. For the time I purchased it, among ultra wide primes for Canon, it was the only one that could be used with filters. Read more...

novoflex classic ball 5

A ball head is traditionally the first-choice tripod head for wildlife photography. The main reason why we prefer ball heads is that they can be easier and quicker adjusted. There are at least two other advantages: The ball heads are more compact and are versatile. So when a nature photographer gets his first tripod, he usually also gets a ball head for it... and typically makes a mistake because he is acting with his current equipment in mind. When he finally realizes this he buys another tripod with another head that are more stable, and if he is more clever now, he would choose a tripod system not for the current day but for life. Read more...

yellow moon ym-902

Yellow Moon is a little-known French brand of photo bags. Its YM-902 is a telephoto bag suitable for lenses up to 800 mm (!) but its size can be enlarged or reduced to fit the lens. Although this bag is padded, it weighs only 1.8 kg which is less than any long lens bag of other manufacturers. 2009, I purchased this bag to use it for carrying at longer distances a camera with a large supertele lens and a hood mounted and ready for shooting. Read more...

golite jam 2

With only 820 g of weight and with the volume of 54 l, Golite Jam 2 is one of the lightest backpacks in the world. This was the main reason why I purchased it. Actually, the need to carry some extra kilogrammes only because my equipment should be in a bag for me to be able to carry it had been annoying me long before that. Read more...