Category Archive: Gear

Magnus REX VT-6000 2-Stage Video Tripod – First Look

I looked into tripods and heads from all the big names like Miller, O’Connor, Sachtler and Acebill. Talk about sticker shock… there are dozens of models to choose from in the $5000 to $19000 price range! That’s more than I want to spend. So I looked at the next tier. Manfrotto and Benro are big players in the under $5000 video tripod segment. They make nice stuff.

But since video is not my main thing, that’s still more than I wanted to spend. Then I found out about the Magnus REX VT-6000 2-Stage Video Tripod with Fluid Head. 

Topaz Sharpen AI On Sale!

I have been using a new sharpening tool called Topaz Labs Sharpen AI. This tool works as either a plugin or a standalone program and in my opinion, offers the best sharpening I have ever seen.

It is now on sale – $59.99 (regularly $79.99)

Two Camera Bags From Arco

I love camera and gadget bags. My closet is my proof. When people ask me how many camera and gadget bags I own, I always say, “More than I need, but fewer than I want.”

It must be like my old girlfriend and her shoes. But I digress…

The Platyball – First Look

The Platyball is available in two versions — the Ergo and Elite. The difference? The Elite comes with an electronic leveling indicator — the first of its kind. Both models support up to 22 pounds, meaning it’ll work with just about any interchangeable lens camera on the market.

Aputure Amaran Tri-8c Bicolor LED Light – Mini Review

Whether you do macro work, shoot portraits, weddings, families, pets, product shots or do video, if you’re in a studio, you might have noticed many photographers are switching to LEDs. They are affordable, and they give you a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) advantage. No guesswork involved. You see what the light is doing. With constant light, when you turn on a light you see your light as you move it and you see how it falls on your subject. That’s why people gravitate towards using it because it’s a lot easier to pick up and to use. If you’re new at bringing the light instead of finding it, there is a shorter learning curve.

Topaz Labs Gigapixel AI

If you have seen my posts about Topaz and their new AI suite of post-production software for photographers, you have also probably seen how much I love Gigapixel AI. For bird and wildlife photographers, it’s a must-have. No matter how much lens you have (and I have 1200mm EFL) there are times when you just cannot get as close as you would like. Sometimes it’s because there are physical barriers to getting closer and sometimes it’s just a safety issue, either yours or the subject’s safety.