I picked up the Adorama’s 4-way Focusing Rails recently to try out with my wife’s Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro lens.

Adorama lists 2 versions of their 4-way Focusing Rails…one for ~$180 and a budget one for ~$80.  I’m not sure what the difference is between the two but based on recommendations, I picked the $180 version.

What’s my thoughts on this piece of hardware?  It’s OK…but not great.

Using the Focusing Rails

The Focusing Rails are well built and feel sturdy but the mechanism to move the lens/camera forward/backward and side/side are difficult to use and hard to move.

The dials that you’ve got to use to move the rails are hard to turn and, at times, hard to get your fingers on.   I found it difficult to use the dials to move the camera/lens quickly….it too a lot of work to get any significant movement.  In addition, because the dials are so difficult to turn, it made it difficult to perform any fine adjustments.

To me, it felt as if the focusing rails weren’t well manufactured…they feel like they don’t quite fit together well.  The dials are difficult to turn and use and if you have large hands (like I do) they are difficult to get to.

To test out the focusing rails, I placed my Canon 7D and Tracie’s Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro lens on the rails sitting atop my Induro CT314 tripod.  The setup was very sturdy….and I’m glad it was.  Trying to move the camera/lens combo using the focusing rails required an extremely sturdy tripod.

I was able to get very few usable photos while using these rails.  These rails aren’t to blame…my macro technique is terrible.

Conclusion

I’m not really that happy with these focusing rails.  They are difficult to use and, for me, difficult to even reach the knobs required for moving the rails. For someone with smaller hands, this may not be a problem.

That said…these rails are OK.  They do work. They are stable and you can move your macro lens around as needed to focus. Perhaps they are perfect for others but these rails just didn’t work for me.

Related posts:

1. Canon 400mm 5.6 L Lens Review
2. Canon 7D DSLR – Product Review
3. Canon 500mm f/4.0 L IS USM Review – An amazing lens

I’ve had the opportunity to get out into the field with my new pair of Freehands Gloves (see my initial review here).

Do I like these gloves?  Nope.  I love them!

These gloves have made my life so much nicer when out shooting in the cold.  Throw the gloves on, pull the fingers back and go.  No need to have one hand without a glove (which is what I used to do) or pull gloves off/on as needed.

I grabbed a few shots to show you what the gloves look like ‘in use’:

Freehands Glove with fingers on - palm of the hand

Freehands Glove with fingers off - back of the hand

Freehands Glove with fingers off - palm of the hand

The gloves are great. The ends of the opening of the fingers is strengthened with extra thread (notice the green-ish thread at the openings) and the thumb and fore-finger have small magnets in them to keep the thumb/finger covers out of the way.

Here’s a few shots of the gloves on while holding my Canon 7D.

Freehands Gloves holding Canon 7D

Freehands Gloves holding Canon 7D * Canon 400mm f/5.6

I’ve used the gloves three times now while in the field and can’t imagine ever going out again without them when its cold.   If you’re looking for gloves that will allow you to stay warm yet keep your fingers available for buttons and focusing.

Check the Freehands Gloves website out for pricing and availability.

Related posts:

1. Gloves for Photographers – Freehands Gloves Product Review
2. Canon 400mm 5.6 L Lens Review
3. Think Tank Airport Acceleration 2.0 Camera Backpack Review

Been looking for a good pair of gloves to use while out in the cold chasing a good photograph?  I have….and I think I found them!

I’ve been looking for some for a while.  I have a good pair of fleece gloves that work OK but I always ended up taking them off one hand to be able to push the shutter or make some adjustments to the camera/lens.

A few weeks ago, I ran across Freehands Gloves and knew I’d found the answer to be glove problem.  Freehands has solved the problem that most photographers have with gloves…they’ve cut wholes in the forefinger and thumb to allow you to keep the gloves on while keep both digits free to make adjustments on your camera.

As you can see from the image, when covered, the glove looks and feels like a regular glove…but but quickly pulling the tips of the finger and thumb back, you’ve got access to the controls of your camera while keep the rest of your hand warm.

A nice addition is the inclusion of magnetic strips in each flap and on the finger/thumb to hold that flap back…this is a great idea as it keeps the flap from getting in your way while trying to use your camera.

When I was looking for these gloves, I ran across the Aquatech Sensory Glove over on Outdoor Photo Gear and almost purchased that one…till I found Freehands.  While the Aquatech gloves looked to be the ideal setup and were well reviewed by Theodore Stark on Outdoor Photo Gear’s Blog, they are also twice as expensive as the Freehands Gloves.  I paid $18 for the XL Fleece Glove directly from Freehands website and the Aquatech Senroy Glove was $49.95 on Outdoor Photo Gear.

Now….the Aquatech glove looks a bit more protective than the Fleece glove I bought, but Freehands has a similar glove to the Aquatech for $23 (but were sold out of XL when I was shopping).

I think the Freehands Gloves are going to work fine for me.  The are well made and aren’t too expensive.  If you’re looking for a pair of gloves to use while out shooting, these just might be perfect for you.

Related posts:

1. Follow-up review of Freehands Gloves
2. Canon 7D DSLR – Product Review
3. Induro CT314 Carbon Fiber 8X Tripod – Product Review

I picked up the Think Tank Airport Acceleration 2.0 recently to act as my main bag while traveling.

I’ve been looking for a new backpack for a few months to replace my current backpack, a Tamrac Adventure 9.  The Tamrac is a good backpack and is perfect for a quick trip around town without a large lens. I used the Tamrac for about 1.5 years and it worked well with 1 camera body and two lenses: a Canon 24-105  and a Canon 100-400mm.  The trouble with the Tamrac began when I picked up my Canon 400mm 5.6 L lens and the Canon 7D, the Tamrac became much too small for the new equipment.

So…I started looking for a new bag.

I started searching for something that would allow me to fit all my current gear into it today plus have room for my next lens (a Canon 500mm…saving for it now!).

The Search for the best backpack

My search found the Tenba Shootout Large, a Lowepro Pro Trekker 600 AW and a few different Think Tank Backpacks…which I finally whittled down to the Airport Acceleration 2.0 because it was carry-on legal and would carry a Canon 500mm.

I started researching these three bags more in-depth by reading what I could find on the web and asking around on the forums.  All three bags received excellent reviews from the people that had them, but the Think Tank bag seemed to be better received by people.

The Tenba Shootout Large had one negative from just about everyone…it was LARGE.  The name fits.   It weighs 9.3 lbs empty and has external dimensions of 16.5″W x 20″H x 12.5″D.  It’s a large bag.  BTW – The Adorama listing for this bag shows it to be a lot smaller…but all other sites show the above dimensions.  The reports on this bag are that its a great bag but big….it can carry just about anything you want to throw at it.

The Lowepro Pro Trekker 600 AW got nothing but rave reviews but a lot of folks mentioned the size was difficult for any travel on a plane.  The external dimensions of the Trekker 600 AW is 18.1″W x 23.6″H x 15″D and a weight of 6.7 lbs. The Lowepro claims to fit a 600mm lens and I found a few folks who had used the bag for 500mm and 600mm lenses.

The Airport Acceleration 2.0 is quite a bit smaller than the other two bags.  With exterior dimensions of 12.375″ W x 17.75″ H x 6.75″ D with an empty weight of 3lbs and a guarantee of being compliant with all airline carry-on rules today.  In addition to holding a 500mm f/4 lens, this lens will also hold a laptop and has many pockets and for lots of extras (tripod, monopod, water bottle, etc).

The Decision

After looking at the three bags and making a trip to a few local camera stores and saw the three bags, I decided to go with the Airport Acceleration 2.0.  The Tenba and Lowepro were just too big for my needs.

An additional deciding factor for me was the quality of the Think Tank products that I already own (an Urban Disguise 40 and a belt & belt items).  The quality of these items made me lean toward the Think Tank product from the outset and pushed me further toward the Airport Acceleration.

The Bag

After looking at the bag, I’m happy I bought it.  It’s not much bigger in overall size than my Tamrac Adventure 9 but has ~2.5 times more room for gear.    I haven’t had a chance to throw my gear into it yet but it looks much bigger and roomier than the Tamrac.

The bag is well constructed and, as mentioned, roomy.  The compartment for gear is extremely well constructed and seems very protective and provides a an easy way to reconstruct the interior to hold any number of camera bodies, lenses and other gear.

The weight of this bag is ideal…it weighs only 3 pounds, which is relatively small compared to the other bags I looked at.  While light, it is still substantial enough to feel protective of whatever gear I might want to put into it.

The shoulder harness and belt on the bag are extremely comfortable have quite a bit of padding.  One positive of the bag is the ability to tuck the straps and belt in to a compartment to save space when traveling.  While the Tenba had this option, I don’t believe the Lowepro (unless I just missed it).

This bag will never be the long-range hiking bag that the Lowepro or Tenba might be, but the trade-offs in size and ability to get it onto any airplane makes it a winner in my book.   In addition, I really don’t do a lot of long hiking trips…so this bag will do nicely for a day-trip as it’s got plenty of little nooks/crannies to hold a few supplies for a quick hike.

Here’s a few photos of the fully loaded bag with the following gear:

• Canon 7D with Canon 400mm 5.6 L attached
• Canon 5D with Canon 24-105 L attached
• Cotton Carrier
• Wimberley Sidekick
• Canon 1.4x Extender
• Colorspace UDMA Photo Storage and viewing device (between 5D and 7D)
• Cleaning Kit
• Battery Chargers for 7D and 5D
• Rain cover for bag
• Canon 7D Book
• Canon 7D Digital FIeld Guide
• Extra Batteries
• other odds & ends

Airport Acceleration 2.0 Review - fully loaded and ready to go

Airport Acceleration 2.0 Review Sideview - fully loaded and ready to go

Airport Acceleration 2.0 Review Open Top Down - fully loaded and ready to go

Airport Acceleration 2.0 Review Open From Front - fully loaded and ready to go

Airport Acceleration 2.0 Review Open with Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 - fully loaded and ready to go

Check back for a ‘field report’ of my use of the bag in the near future!

Check prices on the Airport Acceleration 2.0 at the following retailers:

• Adorama
• Amazon
• Think Tank Photo

Related posts:

1. Follow-up review of Freehands Gloves
2. Canon 500mm f/4.0 L IS USM Review – An amazing lens
3. Canon 400mm 5.6 L Lens Review

I ran across the following video from Luka on Vimeo showing the Canon 7D shooting video using a Glidetrack Shooter system. Video looks stunning and the Glidetrack looks pretty darn good too!

Glidetrack + Canon 7D Test from Luka on Vimeo.

Related posts:

1. Video capture with Canon 7D – Muscovy Ducks
2. Canon 7D Video Samples
3. Video capture of American White Pelicans

I’ve been using the Wacaom Bamboo Fun for the last few weeks and, while it isn’t the ‘big’ wacom tablet, it is pretty darn close and well worth a look if you’re looking for a tablet.

I’ve got the medium format Bamboo Fun and its a bit bigger than I expected.  Once I got over the initial thought of its size, I installed the Mac drivers and plugged it in.

My Thoughts

After driver install, the tablet was ready to go.  The great thing about this tablet, and a huge upgrade from the previous bamboo, is the fact that the mouse is gone.  The mouse on my old Wacom Bamboo would occasionally stop working for a while..then start back up.

Without the mouse, this table allows you to use your finger just like you would on a laptop track-pad.   Using the tablet as a track-pad takes very little time to get used to.  The Bamboo Fun has buttons on the side that work as normal mouse buttons would.

While the tablet is an awful nice (and big!) track-pad, it really shines when you grab the pen to use it as a tablet for working in Photoshop or other software.  The pen (or your finger) works extremely well and is very responsive when using it as a pen.

Any Negatives?

I only have one negative for this tablet – the pen holder.  You see the red tag on the right side? That’s where the pen is stored.  While it’s an interesting idea, it takes a bit of work to get the pen into the tag and causes the tablet to move around when inserting/removing the pen.

Conclusion

This is a nice tablet if you don’t need the big honkin Wacom tablets.  It works well as a track-pad and replacement for a mouse and does a great job as a pen/tablet combination.

Jump over to Amazon to pick up your Wacom Bamboo Fun today.

Related posts:

1. Gloves for Photographers – Freehands Gloves Product Review
2. Follow-up review of Freehands Gloves
3. Tufted Tit-Mouse from below

My wonderful wife Tracie (a Dallas based photographer) bought me a great tripod for Christmas.  I’ve been looking for a good carbon fiber tripod and had been looking at the Gitzo line but a recent review on Luminous Landscape of an Induro 413 gave me another option to look at.

What I found was the Induro CT314 Carbon Fiber 8X Tripod (Check Prices: Adorama, Amazon, and B&H)….and I’m glad I found it.

Initial Thoughts on The Induro CT 314

This tripod is solid!

The legs are solid. The leg locks are solid. The center Column lock is solid. Everything is solid on this tripod. The tripod is rated to hold 39.6 lbs, which should be enough to hold any tripod head + camera / lens combo.

I found no slipping or wavering on this tripod like I had on my previous Manfrotto tripod. The leg locks are solid and, while not the same design as the well regarded Gitzo leg locks, they feel just as solid as the ones on my Gitzo GM5561T 6X monopod Check Prices: Adorama, Amazon, and B&H).

Height

The tripod will get tall (for you tall folks) and will get low for those of you who are into macro and/or if you are looking to change the perspective of your photographs.

I took a few minutes to run the tripod through all of its configurations so you can see how low and high it can go..take a look at the photographs below:

Induro CT314 8X Tripod at it's lowest point

Induro CT314 8X Tripod at the second lowest point

Induro CT314 8X Tripod after unfolding

Induro CT314 Tripod with one leg extended

Induro CT314 Tripod with all legs extended

Induro CT314 Tripod with all legs and center column extended

Changing Leg Angles

One of the interesting features of this tripod is the locking mechanism for changing the angle of the legs. The locking mechanism is easy to use and provides great support.  Below is a photo of the locking mechanism pulled out in preparation for changing the angle of the leg.  To change the angle of the leg, you pull the leg in a bit and then pull the leg angle lock out and place the leg at the predetermined angle (24 degrees, 55 degrees and 80 degrees) and then push the leg angle lock back into place.    This approach seems much more stable (and easier to use) then the one on my old Manfrotto.

Induro CT314 Tripod leg angle lock

Column Locking Mechanism

While I’ve never been a huge fan of columns on tripods (I’ve always thought they took away from the stability), the column on the CT 314 is solid and the column lock is as solid and easy to untighten/tighten as I’ve seen (a photo is below). The center column is grooved, which keeps it from turning while using the tripod.

I’m told that there is a short column for use with this tripod but I’m pretty happy with this one so far.

Induro CT 314 Center Column Lock

Features

• Wide Stance Cross-braced Magnesium Alloy Spider provides ultimate core system stability
• Extra Long Grooved Center Column extended camera positioning without unwanted column rotation
• Full Width Leg Locks maximum support at any angle
• Dust and Moisture Resistant Ergonomic Rubber Grip Leg Locks ensure an easy positive 1/2 turn all-weather lock
• Interchangeable Rubber Feet and Stainless Steel Spikes in Carbon Fiber mount provide the right contact on any surface or terrain
• Slip Resistant Top Plate with Reversible Tripod Head Mounting Screw assures compatibility with virtually any tripod head
• Spring Loaded Weight Hook allows additional weight mounting stability during windy conditions
• Oversized Center Column Lock adds vibration reducing structural support
• Non-Rotating Carbon Fiber Leg Sections offer quick and easy setup
• Reversible Locking Center Column allows low angle shooting (optional ballhead not included)
• Adjustable Leg Angles with Lock accommodates uneven surfaces and awkward shooting situations
• Integral Bubble Level allows adjustment to prevent uneven pans and tripod head movements
• Triple Closed Cell Comfort Grip provides comfortable handling during cold or hot outdoor conditions
• Double Threaded Accessory Mount fits wide range of accessories (optional PocketWizard and bracket not included)

Specifications

Conclusion

This is a great tripod for anyone looking for a sturdy professional level carbon fiber tripod.  I would easily recommend this tripod (or any other Induro tripod) to any photographer out there…great tripods and great prices.

If you are looking for a great tripod for about half the cost of the Gitzo’s out there, check out the Induro line.

Check prices on the Induro CT314 Carbon Fiber 8X Tripod at the following retailers

• Adorama
• Amazon
• B&H

Related posts:

1. Gitzo GM5561T 6X Carbon Fiber Monopod Product Review
2. Really Right Stuff Monopod Head Product Review
3. Wish List additions – Tripods: Gitzo GT5541LS and Gitzo GT3530LSV

PocketWizard has announced the release of Version 5.0 for the MiniTT1 Transmitter (check prices at B&H) and FlexTT5 Transceiver (check prices at B&H).

Updates include three new features:

• Rear curtain sync allows the photographer to set the shutter speed at which rear curtain sync automatically engages while optimizing the timing of rear curtain sync to fire at the absolute end of the shutter opening.
• Pre-Flash Boost provides enhanced E-TTL performance when using flash diffusers, doing bounce flash, or at ranges just beyond the normal E-TTL capabilities
• Automatic Camera Detection provides the system with the ability to automatically detect exactly what camera is being used to optimize system performance precisely for that camera

Complete Details of the all features in the upgrade can be found in the Pocketwizard Version 5.0 manual addendum.

Read the full press release from PocketWizard for more details on the firmware update for MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 for Canon.

Download the firmware here.

(Thank to Photography Bay for the pointer to the press release)

Related posts:

1. Canon EF 400mm 5.6 L USM – quick review
2. Canon announces EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II

I’ve officially added the Gitzo GT5541LS Series 5 Long 6X Carbon Fiber 4-Section Systematic Tripod with G-Lock to my Wish List. This tripod will easily hold my Camera and big lens(es)…once I get the big lens

In addition, I’ve been looking at the Gitzo GT3530 6X Carbon Fiber 3 Series 3 Section G-Lock Mountaineer Tripod but some folks have said the GT5541 is more resistant to vibration than the GT3530.

The GT5541 is heavier than the GT3530…but I don’t plan to do a lot of long-distance hiking with a big lens and big tripod….so for now, I’m leaning toward the GT5541 as the tripod of choice.

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Related posts:

1. Gitzo GM5561T 6X Carbon Fiber Monopod Product Review
2. Really Right Stuff Monopod Head Product Review
3. Induro CT314 Carbon Fiber 8X Tripod – Product Review

I recently purchased the Really Right Stuff High Capacity Monopod Head for use on my Gitzo GM5561T 6X Carbon Fiber 6 Section Series 5 Traveler Monopod

Want to know something?  I’m absolutely amazed at the workmanship of this product. There’s something beautiful about a well machined product and this monopod head is as beautiful as they come.

Some Specs of this monopod head:

• Weight = 8.8oz/250g
• Capacity = 75lbs/34kg
• Height (without clamp) = 2.75-inches/70mm
• Base Width = 1.5-inches x 2-inches/38mm x 50mm
• Knob Extension Beyond Base = 1.4-inches/35mm
• Features an RRS-compatible dovetail on foot to add versatility.
• Our B2-Pro II and B2 AS II clamps are easily mounted and oriented either parallel or perpendicular to the tilt. The “+” groove on the bottom of these two clamps nests securely with the bosses on the MH-01.
• The following clamps can also be mounted on MH-01, but can be oriented in only one direction, parallel to the tilt: B2-Pro, B2-Pro/L, B2 LR II, and B2 LLR II.
• Large tilt-lock knob is easy to grip and locks solidly, even when wearing gloves.

The monopod head can be purchased as the head alone (buy here),  with the Really Right Stuff Quick Release Clamp or with the Really Right Stuff Pro Clamp.

This high capacity head is an amazing piece of machinery/art.  If you are looking for a head for your monopod, I’d highly recommend this one.

Next up on my wish list?  A Gitzo GT5541LS Series 5 Long 6X Carbon Fiber 4-Section Systematic Tripod and a Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ballhead with Quick Release Clamp.

Related posts:

1. Gitzo GM5561T 6X Carbon Fiber Monopod Product Review
2. Induro CT314 Carbon Fiber 8X Tripod – Product Review
3. Canon EF 400mm 5.6 L USM – quick review