4February2010
Battery Grip For Canon EOS 350d / 400d Digital Rebel XT / XTI – The Opteka BGRXT
Posted by Rob_Nunn under: reviews.
I had a chance to go out shooting with the Opteka BGRXT Battery grip on my Canon EOS 350d / Digital Rebel XT on Monday, and I have to say it was brilliant.
The grip gives you extra stability when shooting hand held – you’ve got much more to hang on to, and the extra shutter release and exposure controls make taking photographs in portrait orientation a breeze.
It is however noticeably heavier, and will take some time to get used to. My camera is now a little too big for my bag, so a new one could be on the cards. I know I won’t have the grip on full-time, but it’s so easy to take on and off this won’t be a problem.
So if you haven’t considered a grip for your dSLR, I strongly recommend that you think about trying one, it’s like having a different camera!
Buy an Opteka BGRXT grip from Amazon.co.uk
Buy an Opteka BGRXT grip from Amazon.com
Cheers, Rob.
17January2010
Joby Gorillapod Video – Original vs SLR
Posted by Rob_Nunn under: accessories; reviews.
Grab a Gorillapod SLR from Amazon.co.uk
Grab a Gorillapod SLR from Amazon.com (USA)
Cheers, Rob.
7October2009
Canon RC5 Infrared Remote Shutter Release Review Video
Posted by Rob_Nunn under: accessories; reviews.
When I got my Canon EOS 350d / Digital Rebel XT a few months ago, it came with this little beauty in the box – but I didn’t realise just how useful it would be, and how essential to my Photography it would become. Checking that I’ve got my RC5 Remote Shutter Release in my camera bag is one of the first things I do before going out on a shoot, along with spare batteries, CF cards and lens cloths.
Photography, using a tripod and a remote shutter release, is such a different experience than hand-held shooting. I’m not saying that it’s better, but it’s more contemplative, relaxing and even fulfilling. You set up your tripod, mount the camera, compose the shot, check your viewfinder, pop the cover on your viewfinder (if it’s a long exposure), then step away from the camera. You wait for the right moment, and click, you trigger your camera without touching it. Magical.
So my advice would be to invest in a remote shutter release. They’re cheap, reliable, and are as essential as a Polarising Filter, Tripod or spare memory.
Cheers, Rob.
22September2009
Lensbaby Composer Video Review – Optic Swap System & Wide Angle / Macro Converter
Posted by Rob_Nunn under: lensbaby; reviews.
What a cool system! One lens, five different “optic options” – Double Glass, Single Glass, Plastic Optic, Pinhole and Zone Plate.
When you first get hold of a Lensbaby Composer it’s hard to decide where to start, there’s so many creative possibilities, it’s like having a band new camera and a set of lenses all rolled into one!
Check out the shots of some Lensbaby Experts, at Lensbaby.com.
Cheers, Rob.
14July2009
My Car Boot Sale Bargain Tripod – The Cullmann 2921
Posted by Rob_Nunn under: accessories; reviews.
I’ve been searching the local car-boot sale for months for a decent tripod. There’s always plenty of cheap ones on offer, but I’ve already got one of those, and I wanted something sturdy and versatile. Then, last week-end, for £20, I got one.
I was wandering around with my Wife, Suzanne, when I came across one of those stalls that gets me all excited. An old camera bag to hunt through, some lenses on display, and what looked like a huge tripod bag at the back.
I actually forgot about the tripod after looking through the lenses, and ran back to the stall when I realised my mistake a few minutes later. I unzipped the bag to find this gorgeous Cullmann 2921 Tripod, I guess over 20 years old because it says “Made In West Germany”. I checked it still had the quick release plate, it all operated smoothly and seemed to be in good condition. I knew right away that it was a good one – the pan and tilt head was silky smooth, the centre column came completely out, and it was heavy. Real heavy.
The lady asked for thirty pounds, I offered twenty and we had a deal. A bit rich for me, but it looked like this Cullmann was just the tripod I have been looking for.
At home I had time to play, and discovered how versatile this beast is.
As I’ve already said, the centre column can be removed, then installed upside down to get really low perspectives or for interesting angles and macro work.
The centre column also splits into two – allowing the tripod to get very low – but also the two halves are joined by a bolt that is the same size as a tripod mount, so you can use the center column as a mono-pod too!
The next feature that marks this Cullmann Tripod as special is that the legs can work independently of each other. This means that you can “swing” the centre column around to all sorts of great angles, both upside down or the right way up:
You can also make the tripod “do the splits”!
I guess you’re thinking, “Well this is all very nice, but what difference will it make to your photography?”
First up, I’ve now got a tripod that can safely take the weight of my Canon Eos 350D / Digital Rebel XT, without having to worry about it collapsing, especially when I’m using the heavier lenses.
The Cullmann 2921 is also very solid – much more so than my old Asda Tripod, so long exposures shouldn’t be a problem, even in windy conditions. It’s also very smooth to pan and tilt the head, making composition a breeze.
I’ve also now got a piece of kit that can put my camera in all sorts of weird angles. This is important, especially for macro work, because I’m using manual focus M42 lenses, often at tight apertures, so the shutter speed will be too slow for hand-held photographs.
One thing I’m determined to try soon are very long exposures (over a minute), and maybe even longer for some pinhole or zone-plate work – so a good, solid tripod will be a definite help.
The downside to all this is the sheer weight of the thing – it’s going to take a lot of getting used to lugging this monster around!
Cheers, Rob.
ps As a bonus (unknown to the seller at the car-boot sale), I also found a mini-tripod, and a monopod in the tripod’s bag, more on them in a later post… 
