Digital SLR Reviews Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Digital Cameras’

Precision Design Quick Flip Rotating FB350 Flash Bracket for Digital SLR Cameras and Speedlight Flashes

The Precision Design FB350 flash-rotating bracket is light and compact, constructed entirely of sturdy aluminum and ergonomically designed for comfort, speed and durability. The FB350 Flash Bracket fits all shoe-mount flashes and can be used with both digital and 35mm SLR cameras.

The bracket has a pivoting flash arm that keeps the flash over the lens in both horizontal and vertical positions to eliminate “Red Eye” and drastically reduce side shadows for truly professional-looking results. It has a comfortable foam grip and a tripod mountable base. It allows the user to shoot and advance film as if no bracket were attached.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars hotshoe considerations, but great value flash arm bracket
This is the cheapest and best valued “flash arm bracket” that I could find. I am quite happy with it, however it is my first “flash arm bracket” and I have not yet used it extensively. I find it to be very sturdy and professional looking, the grip is a nice cheap foam but works, and the velcro straps are a plus. The flash arm is held with an allen screw and nut for a firm hold but easily moves under manual pressure and I imagine this may need tightening over time.

Considerations: Only the flash arm rotates while some models have both arms rotate (useful?). Also, the flash shoe mount is all metal (so you may want to use some Hosa 2-inch Gaffers Tape 60 Yards, Black to pad it from the metal hotshoe on your flash). Also the flash shoe did not grip my flash (430exii,540ez) very well… until I added a couple of strips of gaffers tape. I’m also going to try to use this as a cheap “diy steadicam” after some mods and a counter weight.

1 Star Precision Design Quick Flip Rotating FB350 Flash Bracket
The shoe must be removed to add the Flash sync cable, the you must carry a Phillips screw driver (no thumb screw, or room for one). The elbow of the arm is set with a allen screw and is not adjustable, and will flow freely with the flash. As the top horizontal arm is not at 90 degrees to the vertical arm. The arm flops down out of level.

Precision Design Quick Flip Rotating FB350 Flash Bracket for Digital SLR Cameras & Speedlight Flashes

4 Stars Almost 5 stars…
I almost gave this a 5 star review. The only issues I’ve had with it, which were no big deal for me but I could see bothering other buyers are:

1) The nut that goes on the swivel kept coming unscrewed after flipping the bracket a few times. I had a locking nut on hand and replaced it with that and have had no further problems, if you don’t have one on hand and yours has the same issue that could be a bit of an inconvenience.

2) The hotshoe mount would not securely hold the end of my generic ettl cord (don’t know if it would hold the Canon branded one any better). I just unscrewed the mount and used the same screw to directly attach it to the bracket, which would be an inconvenience if I wanted to use the same cord off camera without the bracket.

For me I’m still really happy with it, it serves my purposes well for as often as I need a bracket and I’m glad I didn’t spend the extra money on the more known brand.

5 Stars S-weet!!
I was pretty nervous getting the knock-off version for my flash bracket, but I liked the price, so I decided to go for it. It came the day of one of my scheduled wedding shoots, and I decided to use it cold turkey. It was WELL WORTH THE PURCHASE. It’s incredibly lightweight and moves the flash easily. There are no extra buttons that you have to push to manuever it, just an easy flip with your hand. The padding is perfect for long days of holding your camera. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a bracket.

4 Stars Great product for the price
The only reason this got a 4 star rating is because the mount on the top of the camera does not close far enough to hold my flash… keep that in mind if you are buying this expecting to use the mount. I, however am not using the mount, as I purchased a hot shoe cord that I just screwed on top using the screw that comes with the bracket.

It’s a nice bracket for the price. It is a sturdy, all metal frame with a nice grip.

If you are a beginner or don’t have a ton of money to spend, this is a nice bracket. The only thing I don’t like about it is it does not have a hinge at the bottom, so it is not easy to store. It takes up a lot of room in my camera bag.

Also when you use the bracket as a Left handle mount you must rotate the camera clockwise for vertical shots. I”m used to rotating the camera counter-clockwise, with my hand on top so its a little akward… I think I can get used to it though.

Next time I’ll definitely invest a little more money and get one that has a hinge at the bottom for more movement of the flash and so it will fold down.

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Nikon EN EL9 Rechargeable Li ion Battery for Nikon D40 and D40x Digital SLR Cameras

7.4v / 1000mah / Spare battery ensures uninterrupted power that prevents you from missing rare moments / Free from memory effect

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars As announced
It will let me shoot hundreds, if not thousands of photos before recharge time. I’m not a heavy shooter, but I carry two of these and swap them just so they’ll last longer.

Stick with original.

5 Stars Digital camera battery
What can I say its a battery whose main job is to store power to run my device. I charged it up and it held the charge so it seems to work great.

Thank you

3 Stars MRS
Ok I couldn’t find a way to contact you so…

I think giving a shipping range of July 6 to July 21 is lame. It was be nice if you could get it to me before July 7 cuz thats when I need it. If not I’ll cancel my order.

Thanks

Mary

5 Stars Works as expected.
I bought this as a spare battery for my Nikon D60, as it is always recommended to have a spare. The battery worked well as expected. If yo are an amateur, or a serious photographer, a spare or two is always a must. I would recommend this product.

5 Stars Great battery!
Great battery…charges quickly and lasts for an extremely long time even when used for lengthy playback and editing. Also works for the D60 which is the camera I own.

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Opteka XL Remote Release Cord for Canon EOS 1D 1Ds 5D 10D 20D 30D 40D and 50D Digital Cameras 10 Foot Cord

The new Opteka XL remote releases from Opteka allows the camera to be released from a distance of 10 feet (120″). All electronic, just plug-in and use. Has a momentary release, as well as a locking position for time releases.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Vastly improved product
I bought this item in January of 2009. It looked exactly like the photo at the top of the page. It worked fine for several months. But eventually it started performing erratically. Some times I could get the focus lock, but I couldn’t fire the shutter. Other times it wouldn’t work at all. At first I thought there was a short in the cord near the plug, because moving the cord would occasionally restore proper function.

However, I discovered that the real problem was that the plug was coming apart. I removed it from my camera and part of it stayed in the socket exposing three metal contacts. I was able to put it back together and restore intermittent function. When it stopped working, I would wiggle the plug or push it securely into the socket and eventually it would start working again.

I decided that I needed a reliable replacement, so I considered the Canon brand. But I read reviews complaining about the quality of its construction as well. I concluded that I could afford to buy this cheaper release and treat it more delicately until it started cutting out again.

When the product arrived, I was in for a surprise. It had been completely redesigned. The cord was considerably thicker. And the plug now has a silver-colored hard-plastic component that snaps into the outer rim of the camera socket, holding the plug securely in place. (It looks just like the plug on the Canon brandCanon RS-80N3 Remote Switch for EOS-1V/1VHS, EOS-3, EOS-D2000, D30, D60, 1D, 1Ds, EOS-1D Mark II,III, EOS-1Ds Mark II,III, EOS-10D, 20D, 30D,40D, 50D, 5D.)

This is a vastly superior product than the one pictured. Opteka needs to update its photo.

If you are looking for a simple shutter release, you want to buy this one. I anticipate that it will outlast my camera body.

Bravo, Opteka, for improving the quality of your product.

4 Stars Something I need
A good item, shipping is a bit steep but this is something I use all the time. I already reviewed this and some other things I bought at the same time but I keep getting bugged to review again. Somewhere scattered on the lost review room floor is my review. I hope they find it and post it.

1 Star You get what you pay for
I’ve had the remote for about a week and it worked fine for the first few days, now it’s giving me nothing but trouble. I’ve tried my friends remote in my camera so i know that works. It doesn’t always take pictures, not sure why.

But hey the long cord is nice

Anywho, spend the extra money and get a nicer one. Wish it would have worked for longer

1 Star Save your money
I was looking for an inexpensive shutter release for by Canon 50D. After all why should I spend over $40 for the name brand cord when it’s not much more than a switch and some wire. I came across this remote, and it sounded good. It has a 10′ cord and a switch, what more could I want. The remote came quickly in the mail, and I tested it that same night. Everything was going well. I took some nice pictures of some fireworks. The next night I went to use it again, and it didn’t work right. It would focus the camera, but would not release the shutter. I tried it again today, but I still had the same result. This one is going in the trash, and I’ll spend the money on the real remote.

UPDATE: I found a good quality remote at my local camera shop. It’s only a couple of dollars more, but the build quality is apparent as soon as you open the package. Check out ProMaster RS80/N3 Connector Remote Cable for Canon

4 Stars Opteka remote with 10′ used with a Canon 50D
The quality of the cord and connector seem to be great, but the button doesn’t have the same reassuring feeling as the Canon cords. Still, I’m glad I purchased this one instead of the overpriced Canon version.

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Tamron AF 70 300mm f 4 0 5 6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Tamron offers a lightweight, compact, high-image-quality telephoto zoom lens with macro capability of 1:2 that can be used with digital cameras. This new lens is a Di type lens using an optical system with improved multi-coating designed to function with digital SLR cameras as well as film cameras. With this 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens, flipping a macro switch in the focal length range of 180mm to 300mm obtains a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2 at a minimum focus distance as short as 37.4 inch, enabling close-up shots of flowers, insects, and other objects that normally require the use of a specially designed macro lens. Moreover, this is a zoom lens that casually offers the distant capture and foreshortening effect pleasures of the 300mm ultra-telephoto world. 1 – 2 Macro Magnification Ratio at f=300mm MFD 0.95m Filter Diameter – 62 Weight – 435 gram (15.3 ounces) Diameter x Length – 3.0 x 4.6 inch (76.6mm x 116.5mm) Accessory Lens hood

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars wonderful lens for the price
This camera has pros and cons that other people have listed. however, for all the beginning and just starting DSLR fans out there, realize that the cons are insignificant to the quality of the shots you can get with a little practice.

a few points:

first, autofocus is a luxury, not a necessity, and on this lens, it is painfully slow at times. Turn off the autofocus as soon as you take it out of the box, and never switch it back again – and please, for goodness sake, use the manual mode. Those two things will make you a better photographer. Ansel Adams didn’t have autofocus or a full automatic setting – pray you can be 1/4 as good as him.

second – if you think you are going to zoom to 300mm and hold the camera in your hand and shoot in any condition other than high noon with a cloudless sky, you are mistaken. the images will probably be blurred. buy a travel tripod/monopod and get used to using it – you can get tack sharp poster quality prints with a little know-how.

if you have the slightest inkling of a desire to become a professional photographer – don’t buy this lens. go to the bank and get a small business loan for $5,000 – $10,000 and go for broke and buy all the top of the line Canon stuff. but if you are like me and photography is a hobby, a passion, and a joy and you have bills to pay – this is your lens.

2 Stars Less than O.K.
This is a well built lens with less than ideal performance. From time to time it will surprise you with an acceptible picture (close to very good) but never great. With bright light, a tripod and a frozen bird you may get a great picture. I will continue to use and study this lens but it will not be my primary 300mm telephoto. The Canon IS 300mm will be in my bag. It’s o.k. to use this lens to learn camera and lens technique and develope good photography habits. But if you can afford the Canon 70mm-300mm with IS get that instead.

4 Stars Great Lens for the Price
I have been using this lens for about a month in preparation for a vacation in Australia. The lens worked very well in taking action shots of Surfing, and birds in flight, although image stabilization would make them a bit clearer. I have followed the recommendations about stopping the lens to F/8 and have not had any trouble with blurry images. Great lens for the Price.

4 Stars Excellent lens for the price!
I’ve owned this lens for a few months now, and love it. While the macro setting is not a true 1:1, it still provides excellent macro detail at a very nice price. Not the best lens for high speed, action shots given it’s slow auto focus motor and small aperture. For other applications – still life, portraits, macro, etc. – it’s a good choice for those on a budget (like me).

3 Stars Some nice features, but not a great lens
I purchased this lens because I read a review of it in the approximate Canon equivalent it was mentioned in the review that the Canon had a little fuzziness on the high telescopic end and that was not mentioned for this lens I also liked this lens because it had the macro feature which the Canon did not. It was also a little less expensive. Since putting this lens on my camera I have found that very few of my telephoto or macro pictures have been as crisp as I would like. This may be my fault or the lens, but I did not get the results I hoped for. I also found it rather odd that to get out of macro mode I have to turn the focus to manual and extend to infinity which seems a strange thing to do and was not obvious until I did some more experimenting. I also learned with this lens the 300 mm is not as much magnification as I would really like for wildlife photography. Overall I am not dissatisfied with this purchase but I guess I am considering future purchases of higher-end lenses when I can afford them.

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Sigma AF 18 200mm f 3 5 6 3 DC OS Optical Stabilizer Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

The Sigma 18-200mm high-zoom-ratio lens is designed exclusively for Nikon digital SLR cameras and is capable of covering a wide range of focal lengths, from wide-angle to telephoto. Two Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements and two hybrid aspherical lenses correct for all types of aberrations, letting Sigma house the extended-range super-zoom lens in a compact and lightweight body that measures 70mm in diameter and 78.1mm long and weighs a mere 14.3 ounces. The new lens coating, meanwhile, reduces flare and ghost–a common problem shared by many digital cameras–while also creating an optimum color balance. Other details include a minimum focusing distance of 45cm (17.7) at all focal lengths, a high zoom ratio of 11:1, and a maximum magnification of 1:4.4.

The lens design incorporates an inner focusing system that prevents the front of the lens from rotating, making it particularly suitable for using circular polarizing filters and petal-shaped lens hoods. In addition, the overall length of the lens never changes during focusing, making the lens convenient to handle and easy to use. Finally, the lens’s zoom lock switch eliminates “zoom creep” during transport–a convenient addition when traveling. The lens, which includes a metal mount, is backed by a one-year warranty.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars wonderful lens
I received the len which was packed carfully. The len itself is very beautiful and the picture is beautiful too.

4 Stars Great lens for the money
I bought this lens for my son’s wrestling tournaments and was not disappointed. Even indoors without a flash it was fast enough for great shots when they weren’t moving too fast. Reviews said the Canon and Tamron superzooms have better IQ, but they cost $200 more, and I wasn’t ready to spend that.

I’m keeping the lens on the camera more and more, only changing for my 50mm 1.4 for portraits or when I need the best IQ.

For a single walkaround lens, for the money, I don’t think it can be beat.

Perry

3 Stars Good price and quality. Soft focus.
This is an universal lens. When you put in your camera you don’t feel to change it.

Pros:

1. Tele zoom. You can catch people without being noticed.

2. Wide angle. You can take photo of your large family and firends.

3. Decent quality.

Cons:

1. Soft focus. When you take photo at full zoom the soft focus is mostly unavoidable.

2. There is defocus to the corner of the lens.

3. Heavy.

4 Stars Pretty good lens for the $.
This lens works pretty good with my Nikon D40 and I have made great shots using it.

After about a year of use I got no complaints and would buy it again in a heart beat.

Note: there is some lens creep but not terrible, the the OS makes an audible chirp sound and the auto-focus motor makes a very high pitched sound that’s a audible too (not as much as the OS tho), but it’s not that bad and I can easily live with this.

2 Stars Great lens… for the short time it lasted
Loved this lens when it worked… however now, only one year later, this lens doesn’t work! Short circuits new Nikon D90 camera and won’t AF on D50. I can’t afford to be buying a new $500 lens on a yearly basis – I’m extremely disappointed in Sigma’s longevity.

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