Rode Wireless Filmmaker Kit

https://youtu.be/lYfgXLotXVUA simple and budget friendly wireless solution for videographers.Support my work - Buy the Rode Linke Wireless from B&H Photo

New Canon Flash: Speedlite 430EX III-RT

Canon has announced a new flash, an updated version of their 430EX. The big change? The inclusion of Radio Transmission (RT) for wireless off camera firing.  Previously with flashes other than the expensive 600RT wireless meant optical only which isn't always the most reliable.Shop Canon 430EX III RT from B&H Photo fro $299

More about wireless - Canon and other manufacturers use the term wireless flash to indicate a flash or system that can be triggered or fired without any wires. The Canon T5i, T6i/s and 70D cameras with their built in flash are capable of wirelessly triggering an external flash- this is done by firing the on board flash - an optical trigger, not wireless as we usually think about WiFi and other wireless communication.  I demonstrate how it all works and the setup herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Jrv0ethxFgDownsides to Optical Wireless control? In sunny conditions it can be un reliable and you do need a pre-flash that in some, albeit rare, circumstances will impact your exposure.   You are also limited in your control of the external flash as the communication is only one way - camera to flash. In 2012 Canon announced the 600RT flashes, these pro level flashes include Radio Transmitters that allow for remote triggering without needing that optical flash - this also provides additional control over remote flashes, in fact you have complete control as if the flash was sitting directly on your camera, if you are using a compatible transmitter or another external flash.   The 430EX RT is now a more budget friendly model of the 600RT with many of the same features. See the chart below for more details.

Specs:	Canon 600 RT	Canon 430 EX III RT
Power: Guide No (ISO 100):	196.9' / 60m (at 200mm)	141' / 43m (at 105mm)
Wireless Flash Transmitter (Flash Master)	YES	NO
Zoom Range:	20-200	24-105
Weather Sealing	YES	NO
Head rotation	180° LEFT/RIGHT	180° LEFT / 90° RIGHT
Price	$499 (Buy from B&H Photo)	$299 (Buy from B&H Photo)

A third option I am testing/reviewing right now is the Yongnuo 600 RT, basically a clone of the Canon 600RT but with a price of just $124 - Learn more at B&H Photo. While I have not finished my complete review I am impressed with the feature set of the Yongnuo and really only see slight differences in build quality that does not affect overall performance.  For my money I would buy the Yongnuo - Full review coming. Subscribe to my Youtube channel to be notified.

New Bags from ThinkTank - Trifecta Series 8, 10

Our friends at Think Tank Photo have just released two new backpacks designed to allow you three different ways to get at your three “workhorse” lenses.  The Trifecta 10 is designed for DSLR systems, and the Trifecta 8 is designed for mirrorless systems. These innovative backpacks sling for side access from both the left and right. They are the perfect carrying solution for when you are on the move and don’t want to have to take off your backpack to access your gear. The rear panel opening offers complete access to gear.  And don’t forget that when you use my link you receive free gear with your order as well as free shipping.Shop Trifecta Series and All ThinkTank Bags at ThinkTank or Buy from B&H Photo Video

Feisol Tripod CT-3442 and CB-50 Head

https://youtu.be/O8jp7h36kSYWhat I appreciate about this Tripod-

• Extremely lightweight
• Stable with flexibility in setup
• High quality
  • Leg locks are smooth and require only a slight rotation to lock
  • Foam padding integrated with legs
  • Large well made CF legs
• Smooth rotation in ball head - very fluid

My one complaint is using other Arca-swiss style compatible plates - you must make sure you full press the safety catch to full engage the plate.Tripod Specs: 

• Max Height: 54.33 inch (141cm)
• Min Height: 77.10 inch (18cm)
• Folded Length: 18.9 inch (48cm)
• Weight: 2.49lb (1.13kg) without head
• Max Load 22lb (10kg)

Learn more about the Feisol CT-3442Buy from B&HThe head used in the review

Mobile Storage and Backup

Troy H asks: Other than a laptop, is there a device that lets me upload raw files from my camera's SD card for a straight backup or offload—maybe a hard drive with SD slot? I need something for travel and don't want to rely on having only my original photos on SD cards.

We produce hundreds, sometimes thousands, of photos and while SD cards are nice for temporary storage we need a bit more space to store them if on vacation or working. Compared to a few years ago where your options were bringing more memory cards with you or a laptop to offload photos there are a few new devices. While conceivably you could pick up a 512GB SD card (Amazon) and have plenty of storage for a nice long trip these are backing up your photos as well. Just think what would happen if on day 8 of your trip you lost that one giant  SD card?So why not just use an Apple iPad lightning card reader (B&H) at this point with an iPad? Well, you could, for a few photos but unless you paid for the tablet with more storage you're only going to backup a few choice photos considering the iPad is filled with other things as well. Having a wireless storage solution allows you to access the files with a phone or tablet without filling their storage to capacity.For our uses, the drives can still be edited on a laptop but being wireless you have the ability to access them on a phone or tablet. The drive apps won’t be able to preview the RAW files but once transferred to a program such as Snapseed you can edit freely on a mobile device. Shooting raw+jpeg can also be helpful as it allows previewing files natively in the drive app.Snapseed - Download for Android or iOSEach device can connect to multiple devices so as a bit of a side benefit on vacation this allows movies with kids in the car via tablets or sharing files in an office. Additionally being a small router of sorts they can all connect to a WiFi to share a connection. While the battery life is limited a RAVpower battery can extend the run time of the drives.

Size, Cost, and Convenience

Sandisk Connect Flash Drive and Media DriveIf you've got a smartphone and you just need to back up a SD card worth of photos you could get the Sandisk Connect. Out of the devices in this article, it is the smallest device with a thumb drive sized profile for easy storage. The flash drive, using swappable microSD for storage, the max you can push it to with one card is currently 128GB but Sandisk does have a 200GB microSD card coming soon. The media drive, unfortunately, has internal storage that is fixed. Battery life for the connect flash drive comes in at 4 hours while the media drive can run for 8.

• Good
  • Small design profile
  • MicroSD and Internal storage is a bit more durable than a hard drive
  • Cheapest All-in-One setup available
  • Swappable storage in the Connect flash drive allows for more space on multiple MicroSD cards

• Bad
  • Not IOS 8 friendly, software has issues with unknown file types that don’t have a specific app to send the file as well as DRM issues with video preventing playback
  • Requires smartphone to initiate transfer
  • Slowest transfer of options available due to transferring from SD to MicroSD
  • Highest cost ratio of memory for your money due to MicroSD
  • USB 2.0 connection slow for editing files on drive via laptop
  • Worst software of the drives here

Sandisk Connect Flash Drive:
16GB Amazon | B&H	32GB Amazon | B&H	64GB Amazon | B&H
Sandisk Connect Media Drive:
32GB Amazon | B&H	64GB Amazon | B&H

 Kingston MobileLite Wireless G2A glorified router with a battery and SD card reader. Compared to the All-in-One devices this is bring-your-own-storage which gigabyte per dollar is the lowest cost option and you can use external drives (limit 2TB) or flash drives you have already. It is a bit less portable than the SanDisk Connect in the same respect though due to then having to carry two devices. Being a dedicated router it has an ethernet port for the option to share a hotel connection through wireless. Battery life for the MobileLite is up to 13 hours.

• Good
  • Lowest cost wireless drive option
  • Uses your existing storage if you already have an external drive or flash drive
  • Doubles as card reader for a laptop, albeit USB 2.0
  • Can charge other devices with its battery like a RAVpower battery
  • Built in Ethernet for sharing wifi, handy in hotel situations

• Bad
  • Requires smartphone to initiate transfer
  • Bulky as it requires more than one device

Kingston MobileLite Wireless G2

Amazon | B&H

WD My Passport WirelessThe My Passport could be seen as the most convenient, it’s best of both the options above if you don’t already have external drives for the Kingston. Yes, WD My Passport has a wireless version with an SD card slot and provides transfer while you go with automatic import when you put in a card. Comes with USB 3.0 so if you've got a PC with it you can edit files on the drive. On its own the main complaint is speed, it is painfully slow at transferring photos. The My Passport Wireless battery life is 6 hours of continuous use or up to 20 hours in standby.

• Good
  • Automatic import, does not require smartphone
  • Faster transfer rates for full SD cards, 15 minutes for 16GB
  • USB 3.0 for editing photos on drive
  • Hard drive is replaceable if it dies, swappable with a slight bit of DIY
  • Best software of the drives here

• Bad
  • Expensive in terms of gigabyte per dollar
  • Overall much fatter than a standard external drive and less durable than the Connect above
  • Needs updating out of the box as the initial software release had issues

WD My Passport Wireless
1TB: Amazon | B&H	2TB: Amazon | B&H

Final Thoughts

Even getting the 16gb Sandisk flash drive and upgrading to a 128GB microSD card I would be a bit wary of their software as it's overly complicated. Not to forget that the price of a 128GB microSD card not on sale is higher than picking up a 2TB hard drive. The Kingston MobileLite Wireless G2 is the best combination of price and function. Unfortunately a bit clunky to carry considering you would have to rubberband an external drive to it. If you're starting from scratch and do not have an external drive the My Passport Wireless has the best software and All-in-One design. Its price compared to other WD drives basically puts it at $100 for wireless setup with a standard external drive making it a bit expensive. Overall in function, the My Passport Wireless is the best choice in terms of features but if you already have an external drive then go with the MobileLiteWireless G2 as it is a bargain at its current price.

Eye-Fi Mobi Pro - Wireless RAW transfer

I have reviewed and generally been a fan of Eye-fi cards in the past. These are little SD cards that include WiFI capabilities along with modest storage. Last November I shared my setup of their Pro X2 cards for use in 7D Mark II, a camera sadly lacking in any WiFi capabilities.  My review of the mobi was less positive. With the mobi every photo you took transferred and for anyone taking more than a few photos this was a serious drain on battery life and something I found unnecessary. I continued to use the Pro X2 cards that required a more complicated setup allowed me easy selective transfer.   The newest card in the line up seems to marry the features of the Pro line with the ease of setup of the mobi line.What does the Mobi Pro offer:

• Cloud-connected WiFi SD card - includes 1yr Eyefi Cloud membership with unlimited photo storage
• Transfer photos to smartphone, tablet, PC or Mac as you take them
• Transfer both RAW, JPEG and video wirelessly at home or on-the-go.
• Selective Transfer
• Send RAW files to your desktop for post-processing with tools like Adobe Lightroom.

Why choose the Mobi SD card over your camera's built in Wifi?

• RAW Transfer to desktop - This is something I get asked about frequently and few cameras offer image transfer to desktop computers and RAW transfer is even more rare.

[yop_poll id="2"]Leave a comment if you want to share a thought or different answer on the wifi in our cameras poll. Interested?  Buy from B&H PHoto or Amazon for $99 for 32GB.

Most Popular Videos of 2014 #9 - Nikon's Wifi Dongle

This is a post in my series looking back at 2014, what videos were popular, why?  Hopefully sparking some interesting discussions about changes in technology and the focus of my viewers.#9 in the series is a 7 minute video showing the Wifi Dongle for Nikon's D7100, D5200, D3200, D3300 in action. Based on recent comments, even though Nikon now releases their DSLRs with built in Wifi there is still strong interest in this little $40 device.Do I still have mine? No - sold it for cheap to a viewer.Date Published: Feb 3, 2014Review and How-to with the Nikon Wireless Adapter.Compatible with the following Camera Models Nikon Df, Nikon 1 S2, COOLPIX P530, D3300, COOLPIX P7800, COOLPIX P330, COOLPIX A, D7100, COOLPIX P520, D5200, D3200Buy the Wireless Adapter on B&H Photo | Amazon $49.99 #10 in the series 

$9.99 for Photoshop/Lightroom - Announcements from Adobe.

A handful of big photo announcements came out of Adobe's presentation on Wednesday. - See all my Adobe related announcement updates yesterday

1. Lightroom mobile is now available on iPhones (as well as iPads) and allows editing, star rating and flagging of your Lightroom Catalog. Any changes you make to images on any device- phone, tablet, desktop- are synced to all other devices.  I have previously demoed the Lightroom mobile editing. No word or mention of any Android development for these apps.
2. The $9.99/mo deal is here to stay - You get Photoshop and Lightroom CC - which means as updates happen you get them, along with 2GB of online storage (this is down from the 20GB offered in the more expensive packages) If you are currently paying for the more expensive plan you can downgrade at no penalty.
3. The focus masking features which we talked about in last week's podcast looks nifty and useful.
4. Adobe has released a new app for the iPad - Photoshop Mix. Call it an image manipulation tool, not quite an editor though it does offer some neat compositing and layer like abilities.  It is free and is capable of syncing with Lightroom collections as well as your camera roll.  Get Photoshop Mix from iTunes

Metabones EF to E Mount Adapter

Video review of the Metabones EF to E Mount Adapter used with Sony a7

Metabones EF to E Mount PROS:

• Auto focus, aperture control and full lens to camera communication for complete EXIF info
• Powered by camera body. No external power source required.
• Lenses with image stabilization still work.
• Wide open button (opposite of depth-of-field preview function) makes manual focusing easy.
• Tripod mount
• True electronic integration of aperture diaphragm - let camera automatically choose aperture in P or S exposure modes, or dial in yourself on the camera body in A or M modes.

Metabones EF to E Mount CONS:

• Autofocus is slow and sometimes confused
• Cost is $399

Images taken with Metabones EF to E Mount and various Canon lenses:

 More information at the Metabones website

DSLR Audio Options - Shotgun mic vs Lav mic vs more

You want to look good and SOUND good when making videos. Learn from my experience (and mistakes) and spend money on the type of device that is going to work best for you. Links and mini review of each device below. Audio-Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier Omnidirectional Condenser Microphone | Buy from B&H $2220' of wired cable connects a small lav mic with a standard mono plug. Powered by a small LR44 watch battery. The long wire is great and gives you plenty of flexibility to setup but also gets amazingly tangled often and there is no battery life indicator. I suggest you always carry spare LR44 (buy from Amazon). Quality is decent but you do need to do a little post processing to remove the hiss present.Shure VP83F LensHopper Camera-Mounted Condenser Microphone with Integrated Flash Recording | Buy from B&H $299Lovely sound from this shotgun mic that offers headphone monitoring, audio out(to DSLR) and independent recording to microSD card. Mount in hotshoe or on a tripod. Great battery life and LCD screen display with battery indicator, recording time and more. Don't need the microSD card recording or the LCD display? Go for their cheaper Shure VP83 for $189.  An additional budget shotgun option is the Rode VMGO for $99.Zoom H4N Handy Portable Digital Recorder $270Feature rich with integrated stereo mics and two XLR ports that are powered. Tripod mount on bottom. Records to standard SD cards. When Phantom power is on battery life isn't great - good rechargeables will last just a few hours. With Phantom power off you get a few more hours. You are able to record with internal mics and externally attached mics. Headphone monitoring or record directly into a DSLR with the line out.UPDATE: The Zoom H6 is better for spoken word capture - Buy it from B&H $399Shure SM93 XLR Lavalier Mic | Buy from B&H $135So how does a lav mic that cost $100 more than the Audio-Technica sound AND needs an XLR input which will cost more? Very good. Very, Very good. Sound is full and rich with no hiss or any issues that need to be removed in post. With careful placement the isolating capabilities of this mic are excellent.On camera audio - Can actually be quite useable in some situations(indoors in quiet room. Want to hear how a few Canon cameras sounds? Watch my 70D vs 6D video - I have a short section in there where the audio from each is compared.

MeFoto vs Dolica Ultra Compact Travel Tripods Reviewed

They both weight about 2.5 lbs, fold down to 12.5" and have little ball heads. They also both have hooks under center column for hanging weight to increase stability. Neither tripod is extremely stable at it's very highest setting, something I am willing to sacrifice since the tripods fit in my camera bag so nicely.Tune in to tomorrow's MishMash Podcast for details on how you could win the Dolica Proline

Pros for the Dolica TX570B150SL Ultra Compact Tripod

• Cheaper
• Reversible center column - close to ground macro shots
• Removable/replaceable head
• Three legs spread settings- MeFoto has two settings
• Taller - 57" versus 51" on the MeFoto

Pros for the MeFoto Travel Tripod Kit

• Excellent head - not removable but very well made with smooth panning and locks down tight.
• Comes in different colors?
• Built to last- I have used mine for 18 months now and everything is working like the day I bought it. No wear and tear.

Original Full MeFoto ReviewNote - MeFoto also offers the RoadTrip model for $189 that has a removable center column, also converts into a monopod - Buy from AmazonI am happy with my MeFoto and feel the extra money was well spent for as much as I use it.  If just an occasional user you should consider the Dolica and save.  If you don't need a travel or compact tripod consider the excellent budget tripod. Watch my review of the Dolica Proline Tripod.Support this site and my reviews- Buy the MeFoto Travel Tripod from Amazon | Buy the Dolica Ultra Compact Tripod from Amazon   

Yongnuo Flashes- Making sense of the 468 II, 568 II, 565

If you just want to stick a cheap flash on your camera and have it work well- the YN 468-II is the flash for you.  Currently selling for less than $90. Canon Compatible 468 II | Nikon Compatible 468 II Note - your camera model may not be listed on the page but it will work with your camera if you buy the right brand and you have a DSLR made by that company in the last 10 years. 

YongNuo YN-468 II Speedlite With LCD Display E-TTL(Canon) or i-TTL(nikon)

This is the cheapest Yongnuo flash that does E-TTL/iTTL - this means the camera and the flash can talk to each other and the flash will adjust the output of light to create a proper exposure.  This is the easiest and most painless way to greatly improve your indoor photography.   Additional features include Manual mode with power adjustment from full 1/1 to 1/128 in 1/3 step increments.  Multi strobe mode  fires a series of flashes in one exposure (Example coming), Slave modes in S1 and S2. As far as I can tell the only difference between S1 and S2 - in S2 mode the Yongnuo will not be triggered by the test flash. Slave mode allows you to fire the flash when it is not attached to the camera.  You will need a camera that has wireless flash capabilities.  As I said in the opening this is the best value for generally better flash photos. Rotate the head over one should and point it up about 45 degrees - the room will be filled with pleasing light and your photos will look better.   You can manually zoom this flash from 24-85 or if you believe the camera settings 24-105.  And the flash does allow high-speed sync(I will explain this soon - it is useful for shooting outside in bright light or shooting higher speed action).Buy from Amazon Canon Compatible 468 II | Nikon Compatible 468 II

Yongnuo YN-565 EX TTL Flash Speedlite

What does $20 more get you over the 468 II?  Slightly faster recycle time and the ability to power the flash from an external battery pack and wireless TTL - So the 565-EX is able to communicate with the camera when it is off or on the camera.  It does lack high speed sync.  I see more folks reporting problems with this flash versus the 468 II. It may be that they expect more or use the flash harder?  Still the reviews are generally positive.  The back of the 565 has more buttons and larger LCD screen.  The comparable Canon flash is the Canon 580EX which costs roughly $400.   Pretty significant difference.   Would I walk into a professional shoot using this as my only flash- it is unlikely. I think these flashes are great for personal use, family functions and I would certainly bring along one or two as backup but there are just enough reviews that say they can be quirky that it makes me hesitate to recommend for professional use.  In working with the 468-II idid have it freeze up on me once. In fairness I have used the 600RTs and had issues - no flash or product is 100% fail safe but the level of quirkiness is just high enough that it makes me hesitate.Buy from Amazon Canon Compatible 565 EX | Nikon Compatible 565 EX

Yongnuo YN-568EX II

These flashes cost $180 - The extra $100 over the price of the 468s gets you a flash that is powerful and capable of controlling other flashes along with very high speed sync  - up to 1/8000 of a second.   Reviews are less positive but still generally good, leading me to believe my theory of higher end flashes used by professionals that expect more.  And it comes with a diffuser cap and the head does rotate 180 degrees (this is actually quite beneficial and I mention this in my long video review)Buy from Amazon Canon Compatible 568EX II | Nikon Compatible 568 EX

Yongnuo RF-603C
	These are not flashes! These are wireless triggers that are capable of firing an off camera flash without using the on-board flash of the camera.  Watch my video discussing and showing how to use the RF-603C triggers.  Range is reported to be reliable up to 100 meters. These are manual only- you do not get ETTL or any wireless control of the off camera flash.  They are also capable of remotely triggering your camera. That is what the small cord is for in the photo. Be careful to buy the right set if you want to use it as a remote. For actually flash firing you only need brand to match. Price ~$30.  Watch my video discussing RF-603C and then Buy from Amazon Canon Rebel Series(t4i, t5i) including 60D/70D | Canon XD series and older 50D/40D etc | Nikon D3XXX, D5XXX, D7XXX series
Yongnuo YN-622C
	These offer wireless control - Smart control of external flashes. Throw one on your camera and plug the flash into the receiver and you have the ability to control the flash as if it were sitting on top of your camera. I have these in hand and will be doing a complete review soon. Buy Yongnuo YN-622 from Amazon

 B&H Now carries Yongnuo Products and has a nice page listing ALL Yongnuo flashes, lenses and flash triggers. See Yongnuo on B&H Photo Video

GoPro Hero 3+ First Thoughts

A GoPro has been on my wish list forever and with the recent update to line I used that as an excuse to buy, along with the fact that I am currently reviewing the competitor model from Garmin, the VIRB.  I will have full reviews of both as well as a comparison of the two- quick thoughts. GoPro offers a huge ecosystem and sweet video quality. Virb offers really slick integration with a variety of ANT+ adapters letting you overlay info on the video, wouldn't we all like to see athlete's heart rates as the fly down the mountain side?  You also get a built in screen with the Virb - nice for quick composing of shots/footage.

Early thoughts about the new GoPro Hero3+

• It is small, tiny really!
• It doesn't come with a Micro SD Card? Not sure how I missed that, see list below for recommended Micro SDcards.
• The user interface on the camera is not the best, thankfully the WiFi works well and in seconds I was connected to my GoPro, I renamed its wireless littlehero ;) and was controlling the camera with a nice live stream.
• So many mount options and many of them are affordable.  See my list that I have ordered below.

 

Early Thoughts on the Garmin VIRB

• It is heavy and feels SOLID. Only waterproof to a meter, separate WP housing not included. I worry about the convex lens that sticks out - seems it screams for scratching.
• The user interface is lovely and navigating it is dreamy
• Mounts are hard to find and/or more expensive - to be fair it is a much newer product with smaller ecosystem
• The integration with various Garmin GPS sensors and ANT+ devices is awesome and I have just barely scratched the surface - lots more thoughts soon.

 Recommended microSD Cards for the GoPro Hero3 or 3+ Black Edition

• SanDisk Extreme 32GB microSDHC - This is the one I snagged
• SanDisk Extreme 64GB microSDXC
• Lexar 32GB SDHC 600x
• Lexar 64GB SDXC 300x
• Samsung 64GB SDXC

IMPORTANT- I have hard that when you use the SanDisk cards GoPro firmware limits the bitrate to avoid issues because of the super slow SanDisk Ultra cards.  Basically those cards suck(I haven't tested the Micro SD version of the Ultra cards but I have an SD version and it is the only card I have seen repeatedly fail during video) and as a result GoPro limits the speed for all SanDisk cards. It is difficult to wade through anecdotal evidence but I am forming a consensus that the Samsung 64GB SDXC card is going to give you some of the best results.  Now - all the cards listed above will work fine this really only becomes an issue when you want to use the higher bitrate ProTune mode.Mounts I have bought for the Go Pro

• Minoura Handlebar Camera Mount
• GoPro Tripod Mount - w/ this flash hotshoe adapter I can mount on my DSLR, on a tripod(or small tripod), at the end of a long monopod or on my suction cup mount.
• Go Pro Head strap thing - Honestly I don't know that I will have a ton of use for this but for $9 bucks sure.

What else should I order?  Leave a comment below with your favorite GoPro Accessory.Buy The GoPro | Buy the Virb   

RAVPower RP-WD01 WiFi Disk Review with Video

I love technology that makes me feel like I am living in the future and the future is now.  The RAVPower RP-WD01 WiFi Disk or the [5-in-1] RAVPower® Wireless SD Card Reader,USB External HDD / SDD / USB Flash Disk Reader,3000mAh External Battery Pack & NAS File Server & Wi-Fi Hot Spot Wireless Media Streaming FileHub RP-WD01 as Amazon calls it is one such device. The Amazon name does a pretty good job of telling you what this device is all about but let's break it down in a few simple bullets.

• SD Card Reader & Wireless SD Card Reader (supports SD card sizes up to 128GB)
• Powered by a 3000mAh battery for hours of streaming or use it as a battery backup for your phone or tablet
• File server - Files on the SD Card are accessible via wireless (up to 5 simultaneous connections). Device also supports USB drives and thumb drives
• Wireless Bridge - Device connects to your internet so you can stay online AND access the files on the device  - Again up to 5 devices can be connected.

My Photographer side appreciates another option for getting files from your camera to your smartphone or tablet, especially on the go.  Pop the SD card out of your camera- or if you use Compact flash you can attach a CF reader to the USB port on the device and connect your smartphone or tablet and browse the files on the card.  Copy a few files or all of the files.  You could also insert a thumb drive or small USB drive and make a backup by copying the files over to the thumb drive - all without a computer and running on the battery power of the device.    And if you wanted to be boring you could plug the WiFi disk in with the included micro USB cable - same cable that charges it - and use as a standard, wired SD card reader. RavPower provides free apps for Android and iOS to connect, browse and interact with the files. The apps are simple and easy to use.   On a computer you access the device through your browser - it is a little clunky here but gets the job done. And that is similar to the manual - it is better than I expected but could certainly have some more polish.[gallery columns="2" ids="3864,3865"]So far I have used the device to pull off multiple images, RAW and Jpeg.  I have streamed compressed video which worked very smoothly, no hiccups at all. Streaming a high quality HD video was another story. The wireless speed just wasn't fast enough to keep up with the file and it stopped and buffered at several points.    I have seen reviews of similar devices made by the big names and they have the same issues with the higher quality content.  You can also send files from your tablet or smartphone to the device.An Aside - Working with RAW files on the go. iOS users you have the excellent PhotoRaw app. Android users try Photo Mate or Raw Vision 

Full Video Review of the RAVPower RP-WD01 WiFi Disk

Buy the RAVPower RP-WD01 WiFi Disk or the [5-in-1] RAVPower® Wireless SD Card Reader,USB External HDD / SDD / USB Flash Disk Reader,3000mAh External Battery Pack & NAS File Server & Wi-Fi Hot Spot Wireless Media Streaming FileHub RP-WD01 from Amazon.   

New Nikon Products and 4% Back on Amazon

Nikon recently released a few new products including a new "kit" lens, the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens. I put "kit" in quote because currently this lens is not being sold with any cameras but I expect that it will be offered in place of the 18-105 and as an alternative to the 18-55 with future Nikon cameras. My biggest complaint about that current Nikon kit lenses, especially the 18-55, they just don't do the sensor justice. Nikon is offering great sensors in the D3200, D5200 and D7100 and if you have the 18-55 on there you get soft images. Switch to a better lens and the difference is noticeable. Like "OH WOW" noticeable. This lens looks to improve significantly in sharpness. I wonder if we will have to wait for the next Dxxx models to see this bundled or after release at the end of August We may see this bundled with existing Nikon DSLRS? Pre-order the Nikon 18-140 from Amazon | B&HNikon also announced a tiny little entry level Flash, the Nikon SB-300 AF Speedlight. At $150 it is pretty cheap as flashes go but not being able to rotate - only tilt - knocks down my interest a bit. And a better value would be one of the budget Yongnuo flashes like the Yongnuo YN-468 II i-TTL For 1/2 the price you get a more feature filled flash with more power and can rotate as well as tilt. Watch this video for a brief discussion of external flashesPre-order the Nikon SB-300 AF from B&HSpeaking of Amazon - They have upped their rewards program to 4%, 35 days after purchasing select cameras, DSLRS and lenses you get a promotional code that is good for 6 months. All the small print.  The hassle is non-existent, you buy stuff on the list and you get the credit.Here are the P&S Cameras, DSLRS and Lenses eligible.

DIY - Black Rapid and Dolica Tripod Plate - Making them work together

One of my readers sent me his excellent solution that allows him to use his Black Rapid Fastener and Dolica quick release plate. Dolica AX620B100 and Black Rapid SportFor a Dolica quick release plate to use it with a black rapid sport requires a few modifications if you want to use both without having to switch. Technically this works on any similar designs with a 5mm or more available space under the quick release plate. I didn’t want to spend the money for a Manfrotto tripod for it to be compatible, and even that has issues with tolerances.Suggested fixes were Black Rapid’s recommended M-plate by Custom SLR is $70 and Really Right Stuff has an L plate for $60. For $17.95 you can replace the fastener with Black Rapid’s FR-T1 Manfrotto RC2 version and skip the adapter plate. Unfortunately while looking up the FR-T1 the same issue pops up with the neck of the screw blocking the inset of the quick release. Black Rapid sent me the specifications and compared to the Dolica fastener everything is relatively the same except for the inset.So… Remove the offending material! Really, it’s made out of stainless steel, it’s going to hold either way. No guarantees but if you’re paranoid of the screw coming out or metal breaking you can use an op/tech H uni-loop as a backup to a top connection(more about using the uni-loop as backup). It is the perfect size to connect from behind the Black Rapid carabineer to one of the top points of the Canon Rebels.Get a grinder, dremel, etc. with a bit that can grind stainless steel. Take the lip down to the hole in your quick release so it can inset for the least amount of wiggle. You can use Sugru to rubberize it and fill in gaps as well so things don’t slide around. Connect it all up and secure the carabineer with gaffers tape (does not leave residue) to make sure the slide does not retract.

Thanks to Roy for sharing this excellent DIY.  

Triggertrap Strikes Again - Flash Trigger for High Speed Photography

It is no secret that I love my Triggertrap app/dongle.   We walk around with these little computers in our pocket and I love folks that increase the versatilty of these devices with such a simple idea -use your smartphone or tablet to trigger your camera.  You could do it just once with a clap, or set it up for a time lapse, or use motion detect to capture how many times a day your cats spend eating (I have that video coming soon, it is about as exciting as it sounds but I love the ability to add all these features to my dumb DSLR). Drive lapses too, and that is just a few ideas. Now the app with a flash connector is also capable of firing your flash, this opens up an exciting world of high speed photography, Typically high speed photo rigs cost thousands of dollars, this works with your existing camera and external flash. A review unit is on its way and I am excited to try out some balloon popping, water dropping and whatever else I can manage.Introducing Triggertrap Flash Adapter from Triggertrap on Vimeo.[gallery columns="4" link="file" ids="3687,3686,3685,3681"]

Full Press Release

Triggertrap Mobile Brings High-Speed Photography to the Masses with Latest Update and Accessory

iOS camera triggering app exponentially improves performance speeds in latest update, combines with just-launched Triggertrap Flash Adapter to simplify high-speed photography for all skill levels  

LONDON – June 26, 2013 – Triggertrap, developer of creative camera triggering solutions for photographers of all skill levels, today announced updates to both its iOS mobile app and product line that will provide users with the ability to easily capture jaw-dropping, professional-grade high-speed photography.  With its latest update, the Triggertrap Mobile iOS app enables trigger response times that are up to 12 times faster than previously possible, complementing its launch of the Triggertrap Flash Adapter accessory and putting high-speed capture within reach of any photographer with an iOS device.High-speed photography, those dramatic, split-second moments captured at the very instant an action occurs, previously demanded the sort of skill, precision, and patience typically reserved for experts and professionals. It was impossible for the average consumer-level photographer to capture those special, frozen microseconds, whether it be a bouncing tennis ball caught hovering millimeters from the clay, breaking glass shattering into a million pieces, or a tiny pipistrelle bat darting out of the night.This type of true, stunning high-speed photography is now possible for users of all skill levels with the combination of the new Triggertrap Flash Adapter, a Triggertrap Mobile Dongle, and the free Triggertrap Mobile app installed on an iOS device. Photographers simply attach the Flash Adapter to any hot shoe-ready flash gun and iOS device in a darkened room, set their camera on a long exposure, and use any of Triggertrap Mobile’s many triggers including the sound sensor or vibration modes to simultaneously fire the shutter and flash.For high-speed photographers, the reaction time involved in triggering a DSLR camera from a smartphone is critical, and the delay between a screen-tap or hand-clap and the camera going off has been, unfortunately, detrimental to their efforts.  With the Triggertrap Mobile app’s reaction times now up to 12 times faster (improved from 60 milliseconds to as low as 5 milliseconds depending on the device used), these shutter lag issues are a thing of the past and users can take full advantage of the Flash Adapter’s creative capabilities.“Whether it be timelapse, sound triggering, or our new high-speed capabilities, Triggertrap has always taken pride in simplifying previously complicated photo techniques, once only possible with years of expertise and expensive equipment, and making them available to the masses,” said Triggertrap CEO and Founder Haje Jan Kamps. “Quite frankly, we think that high-speed photography is pretty awesome and presents limitless creative opportunities. The sky is now the limit for anyone with a smartphone and the creative instinct to give it a try.”The Triggertrap Flash Adapter is available for a MSRP of $29.99 and is available for direct purchase through Triggertrap’s online shop at http://shop.triggertrap.com/. To purchase the Triggertrap Mobile app for iOS, click here. About TriggertrapTriggertrap Ltd was founded in 2011, and was brought to life through crowd-funding site Kickstarter. Based in Bristol, UK, the company’s flagship smartphone-based camera triggering solution, Triggertrap Mobile, has been downloaded more than 75,000 times , and their triggers are in use by thousands of photographers in more than a hundred different countries. Triggertrap’s entry-level products are a set of affordable hardware and software, which enables photographers to connect their smartphones to their SLR cameras. In addition to the entry-level products, Triggertrap sells a line of more advanced products, aimed at advanced amateurs and professional photographers, in particular for photographers who do high-speed studio- and experimental photography. For more information, please visit www.triggertrap.com.

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Think Tank Sub Urban Disguise 30 Shoulder Bag

Review   

Win this Bag and other cool prizes

ThinkTank Bags - Try them free for 30 days!

In my latest video "Wedding Day Photography: An in-depth look from morning to midnight" I talk about the importance of having a good bag for all your gear and specifically mention ThinkTank as one of the best options - We know have five different ThinkTank bags in the house and they are all fantastic - construction and design is solid, they stand up to day to day use and abuse just fine.  thoughtful details from top to bottom and really, it is hard to find better bags out there.  They have just launched a sweet program - you can try out any bag from their Retrospective line for FREE for 30 days.  Decide you like it? Keep it and they charge you.I love a company that is so sure of the products they sell that they feel comfortable launching a program that would certainly cost them lots of money if everyone decided to send their bags back after 30 days.   The Retrospective line is huge from small shoulder bags to much more cavernous style bags and include the lens exchange bags that Christina and I use, we wear these bags for 8-10 hours at a time and they feel comfortable at hour two and hour 10 AND they work really well for us- simple and quick access to our gear at all times, could you ask for more?Pick the bag you want to try for the next 30 days - free shipping till the end of this Month if you click through the link below and a free gift.  T4i shooters looking for a bag for your Camera and a spare lens?  I recommend the Retrospective 5 or 7.ThinkTank's Test Drive Program  

Best SD card for the Nikon D7100

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Why is the Eye-Fi Card so expensive? It does much more than store your photos. Automagically send your photos from your camera to your smartphone.

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