Functionality Meets Style - Outdoor Photographer

Novoflex offers camera supports that are both reliable and attractively designed

When it comes to most photographic accessories, the emphasis is often on functionality, yet not far behind that is the matter of style. So while we photographers want tools that help us to create great images, we also appreciate having products that make us look good while we’re doing it. Novoflex definitely knows how to put style into common photographic gear.

Tripods and tripod heads are accessories that could have style. They must deliver stability and control, but it's appreciated when their design is achieved with a bit of panache. The Novoflex D IN O is an example of a head that satisfies both requirements. Made of aluminum alloy, this uniquely styled pan/tilt head is a full two-way head, offering horizontal and vertical orientation from a 90-degree position. By adding a Novoflex Panorama accessory to the top of the D IN O, it becomes a true three-way head.

The design offers smooth panning and tilting, and can be secured with a simple turn of the control knob under the camera. Compatible with a variety of compact and SLR digital cameras, the head includes friction control and 360-degree rotation, making it perfect for creating panoramic images.

The D IN O head weighs just 10.6 ounces, but supports weights of up to 6.6 pounds and can be attached to virtually any standard or mini-tripod via 1/4- to 3/8-inch threads. At a cost of just $273, the head becomes a solid platform for your camera, but also an interesting conversation piece.

Another highly designed accessory is the Novoflex BasicBall. This product serves as more than a base for a head like the D IN O; it creates a versatile platform for your camera in the form of a mini-tripod or monopod.

The BasicBall ($94) features nine different screw threads, which can accommodate tripod legs at three different angles. The short legs, plus the articulation of the D IN O head, make it especially useful for close-up photography, particularly when working close to the ground.

Telescoping legs are also available that offer a length between 24 and 51 inches. A single leg used in conjunction with the BasicBall creates a monopod, a second leg, a duopod, and a third leg, a tripod. This flexibility makes it an ideal tool for photographers who are interested in limiting the amount of gear carried in the field.

For photographers looking for an appealing aesthetic to go along with the demand for reliability and control, these Novoflex accessories are a smart addition to your photographic inventory.

Contact: HP Marketing Corp., (800) 735-4373, www.hpmarketingcorp.com.