Accessories and Gadgets

Article: Backyard Bird Photography Gear Guide.Good stuff, and good how-to advice, for bird photographers

These accessories can help you capture your feathered friends—photographically, of course—whether you’re far afield or in your own backyard.

Article: Top photo accessories...for the iPhone!.Stuff that will help you take killer pictures with your (gulp!) smart phone

Everyone’s taking pictures with their iPhone, including you. Here’s what you need to make those pictures better.

Article: FAQ: What kind of memory card do I need for my point-and-shoot camera?.Money-saving advice for snapshooters and family memory keepers

The number and variety of memory cards available today can be bewildering, especially to someone who just wants to take family snapshots with a point-and-shoot camera. Here's some buying advice.

Article: What’s New In Camera Bags?.Carry your gear in style

A delectable selection of ingenious solutions for carrying and protecting your precious photographic equipment.

Article: 12 Camera Bag Essentials.A dozen items you should always have with you (besides camera, lens and flash) UPDATED FOR HOLIDAYS 2011

Every photographer has different needs, and so every camera bag will have different stuff to suit those needs. Here are twelve useful and innovative items that you will probably be taking out of your bag and using. Prices are accurate as of Nov. 15, 2011

Article: Product Review: SpiderHolster Black Widow.Forget the strap, user your hip

Whenever an innovative solution to camera carrying that does not involve neck straps is introduced, I like to ponder the history of camera-carrying solutions. With the SpiderHolster Black Widow belt camera carrying system, it's time to look back, then see how well this new innovation does the job.

Article: How to Use and Choose a Tripod.Solid advice for supporting your still and video cameras

Whether you're a pro who needs a rock-solid support to eliminate shake, or a family memory-keeper looking to get better results in low light and more consistent framing, choosing the right tripod for your needs is key. Here are some tips.

Article: Product Review: Micro Gaffer.Reinventing Gaffer Tape? Not quite, but...

Gaffer tape has gotten many a photographer out of a jam, providing Macgyver-like solutions to photographic, video and theatrical problems both common and otherwise. It's strong but not permanent, and unlike duct tape, doesn't leave a mess. Who wouldn't love this stuff?

Article: Buying Guide: Five Tripods for Travelers.These camera supports fit in carry-on luggage

If you are traveling by plane and plan to bring a tripod with you, weight—and especially size—count. Which models fit in your carry-on bag? Here are five of our favorites.

Article: Memory Myth Buster.The truth about SD and CF memory cards

There is a lot of misinformation about memory cards out there. Let’s debunk four myths about memory cards.

Article: Product Review: Gary Fong Filp-Cage.An elegantly simple, multipurpose compact camera accessory

Gary Fong addresses several point-and-shoot camera design flaws at once in a low-cost gadget called the Flip-Cage.

Article: Product Review: Rogue FlashBenders.Bend it, shape it, any way you want it

We’re in an age where new, inventive flash modifiers are being introduced on a regular basis. What makes The Expoimaging Rogue FlashBender series of modifiers stand out in the crowd?

Article: Product Profile: Photokey 4.It’s easy being Green Screen!

Television broadcasts—especially TV news shows—have been using Chromakey Greenscreen backgrounds with images superimposed behind the anchor or reporter for years. For still digital photographers, shooting a subject in front of a green screen gives you a chance to replace the green with the background of your choice.

Article: Buying Guide: Gloves for Photographers.Operate touchscreen devices and cameras without taking your gloves off

In the cold of winter, photographers may not want to take their gloves off to operate their cameras’ external controls or touch-operated LCDs. Let’s elminate that excuse.

Article: Product Profile: Spider Camera Holster.A Clip-On Belt for Photographers

For decades, the standard way to carry a camera has been via the camera strap. But is it the best way? What about a clip-on belt approach?

Article: Product Profile: PhotoBert CheatSheets.Who needs manuals?

They are indestructible, fold up small enough to fit in most gadget bags, and give you all the basics for you to operate your new camera or flash. Meet PhotoBert CheatSheets.

Article: BUYING GUIDE: Memory Cards.Think you have enough memory for your digital camera?

If you've just bought a digital camera, you need a memory card. Or, memory cards, because you can never have enough memory.

Article: Dust Busters!.How to clean dust off of your DSLR's sensor without ruining it (hopefully!)

Do you see mysterious dark spots on your DSLR images?

Article: Buying Guide: Wedding photography essentials.Eight useful gadgets designed to make shooting weddings go smoothly

Here are some popular essential gadgets and tools to help you when you're shooting weddings and other event photography.

Article: Product Review: The Apple iPad.The possibilities are infinite

Is the iPad going to revolutionize displaying and editing photographs, or self-publishing electronic photo books? Here’s a look at the first generation.

Article: Buying Guide: Time-Lapse Video Gear.HD Video has made it easy to make time-lapse videos. Here's the gear you need to make them spectacular.

Time-lapse photography is great bridge between still photography and videography. Both disciplines co-mingle in this easy-to-learn, yet endlessly challenging, creative technique.

Article: Assembling A Small Location Lighting Kit .Wireless flash makes it easy to set up a studio on the go

Let's put together a complete location/studio lighting kit that will fit in a carry-on bag

Article: Upload your images anywhere with an Eye-Fi card and a portable hot spot!.A simple setup that won’t break any sports shooter’s or photojournalist’s budget

If you’re a news or sports photographer, you know deadlines are getting tighter as media outlets want to post still and video images to web sites within minutes of events happening.

Article: Photojournalist's gear guide.An aspiring photojournalist's starter kit

Breaking into photojournalism isn't easy. In fact, it's arguably more challenging now than ever. But having the right basic equipment will help you get started.

Article: Location Lighting For HD Video.An illuminating overview of on-camera and off-camera options

One of the hottest, most sought-after features in today’s remarkably versatile digital SLRs is HD video capability.

Article: What’s your favorite iPhone photo app?.Serious photography apps that photographers use

Last week, Greg Scoblette shared his favorite iPhone photo apps, but which ones are the most popular and useful? Here’s our top ten list.

Article: The iPhone Photographer.How the World's Coolest Smartphone Takes Photography to a New Dimension

There's an old cliche in photography: The best camera is the one you have with you. The $1,400 digital SLR sitting in your camera bag may have taken a superior photo, but it does you no good when the kids do something adorable at the supermarket.

Article: Buying Guide: Top Digital Photo Frames.Show off your photos with one of these stellar devices

Digital Photo Frames have been the hot holiday gift for a few years now. But with so many on the market finding the ones with the best image quality, coolest features, and best price can be daunting. Here are the ten best from all the major manufactures.

Article: The Best Portable Storage Right Now!.A place to keep your valuable images and videos

With high-end DSLRs producing 15-25MP images and HD videos, those 16GB memory cards that seemed like overkill are filling up fast. What to do? Get portable storage! (Updated for 2009 Holiday Buying Season)

Article: Product Review: Honl Photo Light Modifiers.Professional Lighting With Portable Strobes

A few inexpensive strobes from any manufacturer, along with Honl Photo's light modifiers, can unlock creativity and take your photography to a new level. First, take the flash off your camera.

Article: Product Profile: Flipbac angle viewfinder.A digital hip shot helper

Shoot on the sly with this sneaky 180-degree mirror finder; all you need is a camera with a 3-inch LCD

Article: Product Profile: Delkin Pop-Up Shade.Protect your camera’s rear flank

Protect your high-end DSLR’s LCD screen with a pop-up shade and clear cover.

Article: Product Profile: Kaiser digiShield.Glare prevention

This shield saves you from eyestrain and lets you see the picture more clearly when trying to view live or preview images on your digital camera LCD monitor in bright sunlight.

Article: Product Profile: Hoodman Screen Loupe.Better previews of images on your LCD: 100 in 100

Check your focus and composition without eyestrain—direct sunlight be damned!

Article: Product review: Datacolor SpyderCube .Color balance without the guesswork

Today, we transform a drab oudoor still life with a slight color shift into a bright, neutral, tasty treat. Let's compare apples to apples...

Article: Protect your lens with Skylight or UV filters.Things to put in front of your lens

The advertised purpose of a Skylight or UV filter is to cut atmospheric haze by absorbing ultraviolet light.

Article: PRODUCT PROFILE: You’re NOT going to lose your lens cap!.What should you do with your lens cap when you’re taking pictures?

There is a raging debate about the above question in the photography community. The two sides are Cap Keepers, and Cap Tossers.

Article: Product Spotlight: Lens Hoods.Cut the flare in your photos

They’re not especially glamorous, but lens hoods can make the difference between a successful photo and a flare-filled, blown-out mess.

Article: A Better Angle for Down-To-Earth Shots.Find the right angle with this finder

Using a macro lens lets you get close but achieving a pleasing composition requires a good look through the viewfinder. But sometimes you need help getting down.

Article: Product Profile: Gary Fong Lightsphere-2 Pro System.A popular light modifying system among pro shooters.

One of the classic ways to produce more natural lighting from a single flash is to use a bare bulb. That means there’s no reflector behind the flash tube.

Article: Product Profile: Flashpoint Flash Diffuser.Simple but effective flash modifier

Simplicity is often the best way to go. The Flashpoint Flash Diffuser, which is virtually the same as the Sto-Fen Omni Boucne (but costs a bit less), is a simple plastic box that fits over specific flash units.

Article: Tripods: The ultimate image stabilization.No shaky shots. Guaranteed.

In this time of high-tech image stabilized and vibration reduction lenses as well as anti-shake capabilities built into cameras from Sony, Olympus, and Pentax, you might wonder if you even need a tripod? I think so. Let me tell you why.

Article: Practical bags.Adorama makes bags! Here are some of 'em.

Pity the typical photojournalist today. Not only must he or she schlep heavy pro cameras and lenses, but now you have to add a laptop computer to the mix so he can edit and upload shots in time to make deadlines.

Article: Flood Insurance.Keep your camera dry when it's pouring out.

Raining again? There’s no reason to ever leave your camera exposed to the elements. There are plenty of protective coverings available and they’re surprisingly affordable.

Article: Protect Your PC.Prevent power surges

Lightning, power surges, and voltage spikes can permanently damage anything that is plugged into the wall--including your PC and monitor--and can ruin any image files stored on the hard drive.

Article: Large or Small Memory Cards?.Depends on how many photos you want to risk losing at once

But if your memory card fails you, there are ways to rescue lost images!

Article: Soften Direct Flash.Get rid of the Coal Miner look

On-camera flash accessory flash light needs to be softened if you are shooting portraits indoors. Unaltered flash creates harsh, unflattering light and deep shadows which will make even the most beautiful subject look awful.

Article: Bare-tube flash revival.Let's take a new look at an updated, classic lighting tool

A bare-tube flash is just like any other flash--except that it has no reflector behind the flash tube. It sends light relatively evenly in all directions (except directly down).

Article: BUYING GUIDE: Filter FAQ.Frequently-asked questions about choosing and handling filters

We answer seven important questions about filters.

Article: BUYING GUIDE: Optical Filters.You could do some of these effects in Photoshop--but why wait when you can get it done in your camera?

Perhaps the single greatest thing about optical filters--those transparent, usually round, usually glass light modifiers that screw onto your lens--is that they allow you to add creative effects easily at the moment of exposure.

Article: Be prepared: The night before a location shoot.A digital shooting checklist, Part I

As any professional location photographer (or any Boy Scout, for that matter) will tell you, being prepared is everything when it comes to having a successful photo outing.

Article: Buying Guide: Tripod Heads.There's more than one way to attach your camera to your tripod!

It all comes down to aligning your camera into the exact position you want, repeatedly, with ease, accuracy, and precision. Not a small task. We're talking about Tripod Heads here. Some are designed to hold a camera rock-steady; others allow fluid movement through a smooth arc. There's at least one that will satisfy your specific needs.

Article: BUYING GUIDE Tripods for Photographers.Which tripod will improve your pictures?

You need a tripod. Whether you shoot digital, film or video, you need a tripod.

Article: Tripod Specifications Reference Chart.A summary of tripod characteristics

Use this chart to determine the kind of tripod that's best for your needs.

Article: Why You Need a Graphics Tablet. Tired of mousing around? Take this tablet, and see me in the morning

It’s time to give your mouse a rest and switch to a graphics tablet and stylus. Long considered the sole province of artist or designer, graphics tablets are also useful tools for the digital photographer. Why did I choose a stylus over a mouse? Keep reading.

Article: In praise of flash brackets.It's the wedding photographer's best friend!

No matter how you look at it, wedding photographers are dependent on electronic flash.

Article: The care and feeding of batteries.Here's how to get the most out of your camera's batteries

Batteries keep your camera going, so doesn't it make sense to keep your batteries happy? Here are some quick tips that will keep your batteries running longer:

Article: Be my (radio-controlled) slave.A very effective way to control off-camera flash

Here’s why pros prefer radio slaves, and how you can choose between the top two systems on the market.

Article: The Wedding Photographer's Notebook: Background Flash Units.Want to banish the coal-miner’s-helmet-light look? Add background flash!

While a flash on your camera is the easiest, most compact way to insure getting sharp, properly exposed, photographs when shooting moving subjects in dark rooms (sounds like a wedding!), it is also true that the quality of the lighting this type of setup creates leaves much to be desired.