Digital SLR Reviews Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Versatility’

Cam Caddie Camera Stabilizer

The Scorpion.. Universal Stabilizing Camera Handle… Now it is possible to capture the action from any angle, with improved stability and versatility. Perfect for sports, crowd shots, and those hard to reach angles allowing the camera operator to make quick and sudden movements in a smooth fashion. Multi-angle positioning plate to achieve perfect balance Additional clearance allows use of microphones and/or lights Constructed from durable ABS plastic, Strong & Light weight Soft polymer grip for Added comfort Secure grip, Will accept controllers Lifetime Guarantee Made in USA Capture the Action!

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Great for skate filming
I’ve always wanted a handle like this for filming skateboarding with my friends, I have a regular consumer 3ccd video camera and all the serious filmers use the prosumer cameras with handles on them, it really does allow you to be a lot more stable than holding the video camera with your hand wrapped around it. I bought this one at a skate shop for like 70 bucks, and I see i got ripped off by that skate shop.

But regardless, it has definitely made it easier for filming. The design is pretty decent, sometimes the screw that hold the camera in place is tough to put on but it is held very well, the camera doesn’t budge, I can film with the little side screen open. Only thing is with my camcorder the battery release is on the underside and the battery pulls down so I can’t switch batteries without unscrewing the camera from the caddie. Overall a great product I think.

5 Stars handy dandy
first off received caddie in record time after placing the order. I just finished filming a golf tournment last weekend. I did several low angle shots of the crowd. I am using a canon camcorder. The caddie is very easy to use, well balanced and sure saves the back as I didnt have to be bending over or stooping down for shots. Gives your films a new prospective. I would recomend the caddie to anyone who likes making , say home movies of the kids, pets, ect.

5 Stars amatuers must have handle
if you like getting a cramp when you hold your handleless camcorder near the ground then look no further. the cam caddie is the solution to your cramps. its perfect for skateboarding and the footage looks smooth and clean. dont hesitate when buying this. but it is a little big so youll just look wierd when you film at a skatepark.

4 Stars Cam Caddie Camera Stabilizer – pricey but ingenious
I’ve long ago given up saying, “I wish I had thought of that”. But I’m tempted this time. Having young grandkids is my main reason for this purchase. No longer do I need to video them from 6 feet off the ground. They don’t see life from that perspective, so it makes sense not to record them that way. There are other good effects made possible by this gizmo, too. Shooting objects, both animate and inanimate, from low angles makes them appear larger, an effect used frequently in films.

The Cam Caddie Stabilizer is made mostly of a tough plastic material with a very nice rubber-like cover on the under-side of the handle. It has plenty of holes in the platform base making balancing the camcorder pretty much a sure thing. The added weight of Cam Caddie is almost negligible, even after adding a LANC controller to the handle to make camera control more convenient.

Every upside seems to have a downside, and in this case, that would be the price. Supply and demand, I suppose. But it’s a great video accessory for the smaller sized camcorders, and could very well be worth the cost to many people. It was to me.CAM CADDIE CAMERA STABILIZEReBenk Universal LANC Zoom Remote Handle for Tripods

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Op Tech SLR Wrist Strap 11 Long Black

OP/TECH USAs SLR Wrist Strap offers a comfortable alternative to carrying an SLR camera or other gear. It attaches to the camera with our unique Uni-Loop System which gives it added versatility. The neoprene wrist strap is adjusted around the wrist with a security slide to keep it firmly in place. Keeping it simple and secure is the secret to the SLR Wrist Strap. It offers good peace of mind when shooting without a neck strap.

Key Features:

Fits most SLR cameras and binoculars

Neoprene strap secures comfortably around the wrist while the unique Uni-Loop system attaches to the camera

Security slide tightens the strap around the wrist

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Solid strap
I have a few different straps for my Nikon D40, the one the camera came with, which hurts my neck, a R-Strap which moves quite a bit and I noticed that I was most comfortable just hand holding my camera instead of leaving it on the strap. After I almost dropped it once, I decided to look into a wrist strap and I had heard a lot of good things about op/tech so I ordered it. I was very happy with the price and I am happy with the performance. It’s soft, keeps my camera safe and and I have zero complaints.

4 Stars So much relief on my neck
I’m the kind of photographer that hates having a camera strap around my neck all day. For the longest time, the routine was to take my neck strap, loop it all around my hand and arm, and simply carry the camera. This works, but I still wound find the strap getting in the way. So I switched to this Op/Tech wrist strap, and it’s like night and day. The neoprene material is very comfortable on my wrist, even for long periods of time. The snap enclosure seems more than sturdy enough to me, considering it will be a very rare occasion that I’m ever letting go of the camera for any reason. All in all, I wish i bought one of these months ago.

PROS:

+ Super-comfy neoprene material

+ Fits snug, without cutting off circulation

+ Snap enclosure is more than adequate for my concern

CONS:

- Possible weakness in terms of durability. It remains to be seen how long it will hold up in the long term

4 Stars Nice but worries me
The strap is nicely made for the price. My only concern is that it’s a bit overwhelmed by my large DSLR. I’m nervous suspending it solely by this strap. But so far after a few weeks I’ve had no real problem, so I recommend it.

5 Stars SLR Wrist Strap
Great product for lighter SLR’s. I probably wouldn’t trust it with a pricey professional workhorse, but it’s a convenient alternative to bulky straps for consumer oriented SLR’s.

5 Stars Replaces Neck Strap
Most of the time I use the wrist strap when following sports or any other type of action. The strap provides more freedom of movement (higher or lower) instead of having a dangling neck strap which can be very restrictive. This particular strap if very flexiable and most comfortable on the wrist. This strap also has a quick release feature. Highly recommended.

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Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Bringing a new level of versatility and capability to flash photography, the Speedlite 430EX II features a powerful flash (guide number of 141 ft./43m at ISO 100) with a fast recycling time in a compact, durable body. A one-touch quick-lock mechanism makes it easy to attach or detach the 430EX II from the camera and a metal foot has been added for strength and durability. Flash controls can now be set through the camera’s LCD screen on compatible EOS Digital SLR cameras. The Speedlite 430EX II is also quieter, recycle time is 20 percent faster (as compared to the 430EX) and since it is compatible with Canon’s wireless E-TTL, it can be used as an affordable “slave unit.”

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars best single improvement for indoor shots
I had high expectations for a $250 flash, and was not disappointed. We primarily bought it because the built-in flash for my XTi wasn’t recycling fast enough; after 5-10 shots it was too slow to be useful. This EX430 is *fast*, tho; faster than the camera in “auto” mode.

My wife is the primary user, and in “full auto” mode it is a fantastic addition to the camera. I recommend the $10 diffuser, but even without the flash does great with the bounce.

5 Stars This changed my life.
Honestly, the quality of this product is amazing. It’s really not so much the seller experience i had as it is the actual product that is so amazing, tho the seller was extremely easy to go thru, they shipped quickly, and I received the product in the mail right on schedule with when they told me it would be here.

5 Stars exactly as expected
the 430 ex II is much better than the previous version. Just what I needed!

5 Stars So easy and fast recycle time
I just put in bateries, connected it to my 50D, turned it on and began shooting. It was great! Also the bateries lasted me through an entire wedding reception and a birthday party. Love this and would recommend it to anyone looking for a great flash!

5 Stars Great flash…
It’s an awesome flash but goes through batteries pretty quick… Then again, a lot of flashes generally go through batteries quickly. Great product nonetheless!

Buy/More Info

DustAid Dust Wand Kit

The DUST-WAND Kit brings versatility and speed to DSLR sensor filter wet cleaning. This wet do-it-yourself wrapping kit is a very cost effective way to clean welded-on dust from your entire collection of DSLR camera bodies. The versatility comes from the three included DUST-WANDs needed to clean any sensor aspect ratio, 1.6 (14mm), 1.3 (16mm) and 1.0 (18mm). When it comes to evaporation speed, there is none faster than ULTRA CLEAN cleaning liquid. This non-flammable and non-alcohol based liquid is one of the fastest evaporating liquids on the planet, which makes it virtually impossible for it to seep under the sensor filter frame. It’s also one of the purest fluids, with a non-volatile residue count of only 1.0 ppm. This greatly reduces the chance of residue being left behind after use. Also included are small cloth clips that are used to hold the cleaning wipe in place. No more having to carry around a roll of tape to hold the wrap… now you can just throw on a clip and the cloth will stay in place. With the kit comes DUST-CLOTHs, which are special non-woven wipes. There are 50 cloths per kit which come in a zip-top bag to keep them clean. To round out the kit you will also receive a travel friendly hard plastic case.

The Dust Aid Dust Wand Kit contains everything you need to do liquid sensor cleaning. It comes with 50 DUST CLOTH wipes for DUST WAND and uses the new and revolutionary ULTRA CLEAN liquid. It also comes with three sizes of DUST WANDs and DUST CLOTH with clips. With the Dust Aid Dust Wand Kit, you are safe to use it because it is non flammable and also gives you the convenience of bringing it with you any country you will go because it is airline approved and travel safe.

If you want to see reviews about digital cameras, you can go to this blog Digital Cameras Reviews

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Excellent product to clean a sensor
The Dust-Wand Kit by Dust-Aid is the perfect product to clean your sensor when it requires a wet cleaning.

Between dry and wet cleaning, wet cleaning is the most feared and usually most complicated to perform, you got to find the wands, the cloths, the liquid, etc. Assembling the required items on your own can be quite expensive… Not to mention it may not be travel friendly due to how much you got to carry or because the liquid is flammable and you wont be able to take it in a plane.

This kit contains everything youre going to need to perform a wet cleaning in a fast way. The kit contains:

Travel box

Cleaning cloths

Cleaning wands (in 3 different sizes for cameras with full frame, 1.6x and 1.3x sensors, dont worry if you got a 1.5x sensor, use the 1.3x wand)

Clips to hold the cloth to the wand

Cleaning liquid (fastest drying liquid in the market with little to no residue once dried and its SAFE to carry on airplanes)

Instructions

If you follow the included instructions, this product will do what it claims: It will remove welded dust, oils and loose dust off your sensor in a FAST way, which is the main problem with wet cleaning, it takes too long, especially if youre new to the procedure, but the kit makes it quicker since it contains all you need in a single box.

One great advantage of this kit is that you can take it with you and perform a wet cleaning without having to go back home to do it, if you can find a clean and vent-free place, you can do the wet cleaning anywhere.

The liquid is safe for practically all sensor filters, [...]

I’ve used this product on my Sony A700 three times and it has done the job splendidly.

Learning to do dry and wet cleanings is important, you spare yourself of the hassle of having to send the camera to a service center and wait for it, and you save the bucks that cleaning will cost you. Not to mention that you wont have dust specks coming up in your shots.

You could remove them in post-processing, but time is better spent taking pictures than in front of a computer, so a clean sensor is better always.

There are very few reviews on the net for this product, but take my word for it, if you follow the instructions properly, you will have a clean sensor when youre done with this product.

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I hightly recommend this product, if you need to do a wet cleaning, this is a GREAT way to go; all the items youll need in one box for a very cheap price.

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Finally, the golden rule or axiom in sensor cleaning is: IF YOU DO NOT TRUST YOURSELF OR DO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO DO A CLEANING PROCEDURE, DO NOT DO IT. TAKE YOUR CAMERA TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER OR LET A QUALIFIED PERSON TO DO IT.

5 Stars Dust-Aid
I used to spend $50.00 to get my Canon 5D sensor cleaned at the camera store. The 5D is a great camera, but it attracts a lot of dust. I wanted to save time and money, so I tried the Sensor Swabs, but they are expensive and sometimes leave lint on the sensor. Then I tried both the Dust-Aid Wand Kit, and the Dust-Aid Cleaning Strips and they both work very well.

If you’re concerned about cleaning your own camera sensors, don’t be. Dust-Aid products are safe to use, and they will not damage your sensor if you use them properly.

4 Stars Worked as advertised
I used the DustAid Dust Wand Kit to clean a lot of dust spots off the the sensor on my Canon 30D. It worked very well. It is a little bit of work to prepare the cloth on the stick, but just follow the clear directions. And, there are many, many cleanings left in the kit.

4 Stars Where is the red box to hold the kit?
Worked well on my 5d mk2 to get some shutter oil off the sensor, although the supplied FF wand is a bit big, the smaller wands work better to get in there and clean up. My only beef is where is the red kit box? I got everything in a zip lock bag? What gives? Is this the new recession packaging? I found an old pouch to put it all in with my other cleaning gear but at least put on the description that the new kits come red kit box less and in a zip lock bag ( and yes I did check in the cardboard box to see if they hid a red box in there ).

So the only reason I’m not returning it is due to the fact it works and works well, sorta like a DIY make your own wand kit with some super solvent that eats shutter oil and leaves nothing behind but a clean sensor plus has available refills etc for cheap but you have to buy your own kit container -1 star for lack of red box for what would otherwise be a perfect cleaning kit, 5 stars for cleaning results.

I wonder if the refills come with the red box? well will find out in a few months.

5 Stars Effective and easy…
The DustAid Dust Wand Kit is nice sensor cleaning kit. Fairly easy to use, although folding the cloth onto the wand is bit awkward. The only issue I had was that it was difficult to limit the number of drops out of the bottle with the cleaning liquid. I think the hole in the tip of the nozzle may be too big. Not a big deal, but wanting my kit to last as long as possible and wanting to follow the directions exactly, it’s a bit disconcerting when several drops quickly come out at a time. That being said, the process was easy and my sensor cleaned and dried super quick. The results were terrific and I highly recommend this product.

Buy/More Info

Compact and powerful, the D5000 is a remarkable blend of simplicity and advanced D-SLR capabilities with breathtaking 12.3-megapixel image quality. Some of its key features are:

1. D-Movie Mode with sound which records 720p HD movie clips enhanced by NIKKOR interchangeable lens quality and versatility.
2. Vari-angle color LCD monitor that positions the 2.7-inch monitor freely for fresh shooting perspectives. Screen also flips inward for safe keeping.
3. 19 Auto-exposure Scene Modes that captures stunning photos in challenging picture-taking situations including Sunsets, Candlelight, Silhouette, Portrait, Landscape, Beach/Snow, and more.
4. One-button Live View which gives you easy Live View access and offers 4 autofocus modes, including Face-priority AF.

Performance wise, the D5000 features several function improvements over the D60 that make the D5000 closer to the mid-level D90. So can Nikon D5000 significantly challenge a “prosumer” camera like the D90? Well, if it’s in the right hands the answer is yes. The D5000 has most of the features seen in the D90, and if you’re willing to use only AF-S lenses and can handle 4 fps burst shooting instead of 4.5 fps then the D5000 is essentially just a cheaper D90, yet performs in the same sense. For a fact, the D5000 may be limited to only 4 fps in continuous/burst mode, but it can capture up to 63 JPEG images or 11 RAW files compare to that of the D90 which is only limited to just 25 JPEGs or 7 RAW files.