August 12, 2009
August 8, 2009
Hands-on reviews and product tours coming soon
If you're at all like me you try to find out as much about new products as possible before dropping a lump of cash down. However, many of these new products, especially the less mechanical releases, have few, if any, reviews or real-life tours. Don't get me wrong, most manufacturers do a solid job of posting photos and, on occasion, video tours. But most companies have such a broad spectrum of products that it's nearly impossible to do an extensive job in all areas.
So, in order to better help our fellow photographers out there, I've decided to try and put together some short videos that give you either a first look at a product from a true perspective or a personal review of its easy of use and practicality. I don't plan on doing a lot of camera and lens evaluations because there are much more qualified professionals out there that run tests that, honestly, I don't even always understand. Besides, we all know that sooner or later a host of these sites will likely have a review of almost everything that hits the street from the major manufactures.
Look for our videos to focus more on the equipment that is so often seemingly left out of the loop. Items such as light stands, brackets, reflectors, carrying cases, light modifiers and accessories. Remember, these wont necessarily be exclusive looks at these products, but rather and opportunity for you to see them outside of the manufacture's propaganda, which is really only aimed at the pros of the item, as well as some of our likes and dislikes and potentially alternate uses. The following is a list of items I hope to take a look at soon. Note, the hyperlink will take you to the product page on the B&H website:
*The Kata MC-61 DSLR/ProHD camera bag (it's tough to even find photos of this bag outside of the Kata site and video tours/reviews are practically nonexistent. Even B&H has only 3 reviews of the item. I usually try to add my two cents there too.)
*Manfrotto 1051BAC mini stackable light stand (this will focus on the design and functionality of this new stand and compare it with the previous version, the 305B mini stacker)
*Manfrotto 1005BAC Alu Ranker Light Stand (this will focus on the design and functionality as well, with a comparison between it and the 307B Stacker)
*Lastolite TriGrip Bracket (let's face it, Lastolite is one of the manufacturers that does an outstanding job of producing product demos for potential clients. This video will focus more on the construction and limitations of the device as well as it's ease of use and practicality for photographers)
*Lastolite TriGrip Diffuser 48" and TriGrip Sunlite/Soft Silver 30" (these will likely be reviewed both independently and with the above mentioned TriGrip bracket)
*Photoflex LiteDome Q39 XL Softbox (this video will give you a real world look at the size and functionality of Photoflex's largest rectangular softbox for strobes)
*Photoflex LiteDome Q39 Large and Medium Softboxes (this video will also give you a real world look at the two most common softbox sizes. Because they are exactly the same only different sizes, they will be combined into a single video. We will also take a look at the softbox grid as well)
*Photoflex LiteDome Q39 XS along with the Basic Speed Ring Adapter and Adjustable Shoe Mount Connector (the XS LiteDome can be used with both a studio strobe and a shoe-mount speedlight with the help of the mentioned adaptors. We will take a look at the softbox and how it works with both of theses lighting systems)
Hopefully some of these reviews will help both budding and professional photographers get a look at some new, and or different, equipment before they spend loads of money on stuff that may or may not work for them. In all of this, it really my hope that at least one person finds the information useful.
I'm slammed right now at work preparing all of the athletic graphics for the first four fall sports at the university and I'm trying to wrap up some wedding work, but I assure you, I will try to begin work on some of these videos soon.
Take care and happy shooting.
-R
So, in order to better help our fellow photographers out there, I've decided to try and put together some short videos that give you either a first look at a product from a true perspective or a personal review of its easy of use and practicality. I don't plan on doing a lot of camera and lens evaluations because there are much more qualified professionals out there that run tests that, honestly, I don't even always understand. Besides, we all know that sooner or later a host of these sites will likely have a review of almost everything that hits the street from the major manufactures.
Look for our videos to focus more on the equipment that is so often seemingly left out of the loop. Items such as light stands, brackets, reflectors, carrying cases, light modifiers and accessories. Remember, these wont necessarily be exclusive looks at these products, but rather and opportunity for you to see them outside of the manufacture's propaganda, which is really only aimed at the pros of the item, as well as some of our likes and dislikes and potentially alternate uses. The following is a list of items I hope to take a look at soon. Note, the hyperlink will take you to the product page on the B&H website:
*The Kata MC-61 DSLR/ProHD camera bag (it's tough to even find photos of this bag outside of the Kata site and video tours/reviews are practically nonexistent. Even B&H has only 3 reviews of the item. I usually try to add my two cents there too.)
*Manfrotto 1051BAC mini stackable light stand (this will focus on the design and functionality of this new stand and compare it with the previous version, the 305B mini stacker)
*Manfrotto 1005BAC Alu Ranker Light Stand (this will focus on the design and functionality as well, with a comparison between it and the 307B Stacker)
*Lastolite TriGrip Bracket (let's face it, Lastolite is one of the manufacturers that does an outstanding job of producing product demos for potential clients. This video will focus more on the construction and limitations of the device as well as it's ease of use and practicality for photographers)
*Lastolite TriGrip Diffuser 48" and TriGrip Sunlite/Soft Silver 30" (these will likely be reviewed both independently and with the above mentioned TriGrip bracket)
*Photoflex LiteDome Q39 XL Softbox (this video will give you a real world look at the size and functionality of Photoflex's largest rectangular softbox for strobes)
*Photoflex LiteDome Q39 Large and Medium Softboxes (this video will also give you a real world look at the two most common softbox sizes. Because they are exactly the same only different sizes, they will be combined into a single video. We will also take a look at the softbox grid as well)
*Photoflex LiteDome Q39 XS along with the Basic Speed Ring Adapter and Adjustable Shoe Mount Connector (the XS LiteDome can be used with both a studio strobe and a shoe-mount speedlight with the help of the mentioned adaptors. We will take a look at the softbox and how it works with both of theses lighting systems)
Hopefully some of these reviews will help both budding and professional photographers get a look at some new, and or different, equipment before they spend loads of money on stuff that may or may not work for them. In all of this, it really my hope that at least one person finds the information useful.
I'm slammed right now at work preparing all of the athletic graphics for the first four fall sports at the university and I'm trying to wrap up some wedding work, but I assure you, I will try to begin work on some of these videos soon.
Take care and happy shooting.
-R
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