In Focus: April 2009

By Staff

Labels: Gear, In Focus, New Products, Buyer's Guide

MICRO LENS
Shoot with one of the renowned Leica M lenses on a Micro Four Thirds camera using a new adapter from Novoflex. The lens adapter is designed to ensure exact infinity focus on these camera bodies, which include the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G1 and future models in development. With the G1, automatic exposure metering is possible as is aperture-priority auto exposure. Novoflex also plans to release adapters for Leica R, Contax/Yashica, Minolta MD, Nikon, Olympus OM and Pentax lenses. Estimated Street Price: $192. Contact: HP Marketing Corp., (800) 735-4373, www.hpmarketingcorp.com.

LONG POD
A monopod is easy to maneuver, light to carry and provides a lot more stability than handheld shooting. The latest Monostat RS16SL Carbon ART monopod is extra-long, built with strong carbon-tubing construction and features a Swivel Toe Stabilizer that lets you shoot at up to a 60-degree angle from horizontal, a capability that conventional monopods don’t allow. The RS16SL extends from 23.6 to 71 inches, weighs 1.85 pounds and has a load capacity of 50 pounds. Estimated Street Price: $295. Contact: Monostat of Switzerland (Accurate Sales, Inc.), (718) 302-7063, www.monostat.us.

MULTIPURPOSE CASE
Prevent glare from affecting how you view images on screen using the Seaport Digital i-Visor Pro LS Laptop Case. Along with safely transporting your computer from place to place, the case doubles as a visor hood that allows you to view the screen better, even under bright sunlight. The latest model has an added back compartment, waterproof zippers and extra pouches for hard-drive backups and cables. The case fits laptops with up to 17-inch screens. Estimated Street Price: $149. Contact: Calumet Photographic, (800) CALUMET, www.calumetphoto.com.

HANG ON
Handle your camera firmly using the Action Grip from Kirk Enterprises. The grip works with nearly any D-SLR and is particularly well-suited for the latest Canon and Nikon cameras that have HD video capability. The durable, lightweight handle is made from aluminum and stainless steel. Any camera with an Arca-style camera plate mounts rapidly to the quick-release clamp. The grip also mounts directly to any tripod that has an Arca-style system. The handle is cushioned for added comfort. List Price: $149. Contact: Kirk Enterprises, (800) 626-5074, www.kirkphoto.com.

HD VIDEO MEMORY
With D-SLRs now capable of capturing high-definition video, you need a memory card that can keep up. The Lexar Secure Digital High Capacity Full-HD Video memory card is designed for camcorders, but works in SDHC-compatible video D-SLRs like Nikon’s D90. Available in capacities of 4 GB, 8 GB and 16 GB, the cards can record up to 90, 180 and 360 minutes of content, respectively. The cards also provide high-speed transfer of your video files from card to computer for backup or for sharing on popular sites like YouTube. List Price: TBA. Contact: Lexar, (800) 789-9418, www.lexar.com.

STURDY MOUNT
When a tripod isn’t convenient, ground your camera on BushHawk’s Talon-Grip Clamp Pod. It attaches to nearly anything, and that includes tree branches, signposts, picnic tables and more. Fitted with a professional ballhead, the Talon-Grip Clamp Pod has an overall load capacity of 35 pounds and grabs onto anything up to three inches wide. The ballhead rotates a full 360 degrees and tilts 180 degrees. In addition to your D-SLR, you can use the device with a spotting scope, binoculars or a video camera. List Price: $99. Contact: BushHawk,(800) 325-8542, www.bushhawk.com.

Gear

In Focus: April 2009

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