SpiderPro Camera Holster
-----For years I have been looking for a simple camera holster system that I could use in the field. I always had in mind a camera bag that would hold one camera and lens and that I could strap to my waist and leg like they used to do in the old west with Colt 45s. Never found one of these, but I did come across something that is not a bag, but it is exactly what I needed and it is even simpler than what I had in mind. The SpiderPro Holster is made of stainless steel and hardened cast aluminum and slips right over you pants belt and can be positioned anywhere you need it. In the front is a slot that holds a pin that is a part of the second piece of this system, the camera plate. (image #2) The two holes on the right of this image are additional positions that you can put a second pin to, or just move the one pin to the hole position that works best for you. This difference allows you to hang your camera from either side of your body to accommodate how you need to work at any particular time. The camera plate screws right onto the bottom of your camera just like a tripod plates do, and the holster has a locking lever on the side so that the camera can not come off should you bend over or stumble and fall.
-----The majority of the time that I am shooting in the field I use two cameras, one for normal color work, and a second converted camera to shoot infrared images. I put a plate on each camera and I can switch from one camera to the other one in seconds, and when I am walking to the next shooting position I carry the one camera that I am about to use, and the second one stays hanging from the holster at my side out of the way, and with its locking device, very secured, but still ready to use. Just flip the locking lever and off it will come. The best part is that there is no more endlessly unzipping a bag every time I want to use a second camera. This system now goes with me each and EVERY time I go out to shoot, and once you see how much time it saves it will be with you also, as the more time you have the more images you can take.
-----The SpiderPro is made by Shai Gear LLC, and the holster sells for $99.99, and the camera plate sells for $25.00, or you can buy the whole Spider Holster System for just $109.99-US. They also make a second type of padded holster that sells for $30.00 and extra pins are $7 each.
-----Check it out at www.spiderholster.com You will be glad that you did!!! It is one of the best photo products I have used in years.
Photomatix Pro 4
The very popular (HDR) High Dynamic Range process has made controlling the exposure of almost any image as easy as 1-2-3, and a program called Photomatix has added even more control to that work. The illustration you see here is about as easy as it gets to explain this process. Three poorly exposed images are combined into one great looking image by blending all of the “best” parts of the three into the one. Photomatix is a stand-alone program so you do not need a graphics program like Photoshop to use it. It also allows you to do basic editing like cropping, can do batch processing, and color management to name a few.
Photomatix comes in versions, Pro 4 for $99, and Light 1.0 for just $39. I should say “Just” for both prices because no matter what version you get it is worth 10 times that amount. In fact you will pay for this program with just the first image you save from the trash and the time you would loose trying to light a scene, and the outdoor scenes that you could not light, Photomatix can turn a lost cause into a finished image. But then you could see that right from the beginning image of this review. ----------- Check it out at, www.hdrsoft.com/
Software Cinema training CDs
It does not matter if you spend a fortune on the fastest computer loaded with the most powerful software on earth if you don’t know how to use it. Software Cinema has produced sets of training CDs and I will cover 6 of the ones created for Adobe Photoshop.
The first one is probably the one you will want to get first as it covers, “Photoshop CS4 Basics & Beyond.” This CVD contains 40 sessions from how to start thinking digitally, through set up, workflow, and on to image editing, and is presented by Jonathan Kingston. A perfect CD to start your Photoshop future with.
The next set I would recommend is, “Create IT, Fix IT, Mask IT & Finish IT in Photoshop” presented by well-known photographer Eddie Tapp. This CD contains 25 sessions covering subjects from creating an image in Photoshop, on to fixing it with all of the editing tools, on to how to mask your image and then finishing it for output. There are also 10 sessions on all of the new features in Photoshop 4.
The 3rd disk I would get next is, “Enhanced Features & Lifesavers” presented by Jack Davis. This CD contains 24 sessions beginning with 7 sessions that totally covers Adobe Bridge, which is a great tool to use with Photoshop when handling your image files. The rest of the sessions cover tools like dodging and burning, masking, and photomerge.
Set #4 is “Effective Workflow In Adobe Bridge” presented by Julieanne Kost. This whole CD of 10 sessions covers nothing but Adobe Bridge and how to use it to its best. Bridge is a huge time-saver when working in Photoshop and I would not work without it. Just for the simple job of giving file numbers to your images, Bridge will save you days of work time. It is a must have for me and this disk made the work I do with it even easier and faster.
Disk #5 is “The Perfect Print Calibration” presented by Randy Hufford. The Perfect Print is really a set of 5 disk lessons, but I am only going to cover the first two here. Print calibration is one, if not thee most important thing you can do to get the very best output results. If you do not calibrate then there is no telling what all you will get when you try to make a print, and the worse part is that each time you print you could get different results. Here is the best way you can find to take care of that problem. Do it and have piece of mind from then on.
The other disk is “The Perfect Print Ink & Media” also presented by Hufford. This disk shows you how to use drivers, profiles, optical brighteners, canvas media, fine art media, and specialty medias. In short, used with a correct calibration you will be able to produce gallery quality images to frame and sell.
Software Cinema has all sorts of training CD sets, so check them out at, www.software-cinema.com The CDs sell for $60-$99, but some you can get by download for less, and multiple disks are also less. For what you will learn and the time you will save they are ALL well worth it.
DOMKE RuggedWare Camera Bag
If you are still looking for a sturdy camera bag that is even more rugged than it looks, the DOMKE F-6 may be for you, it was for me. This bag is not so big that it drags your shoulders down, but its nine compartments and pockets are big enough to carry several camera bodies, 4 lenses and a flash unit, plus many more smaller items like filter cases. The bag is 11 x 5.5 x 7 inside, with 6 divider pockets. The best feature is that the fabric is weather treated like you find on military items in surplus stores. It is a wax/oil treatment to protect it from bad weather and gives it the “rugged” look that gives these bags their name. There is both a shoulder and hand strap made of heavy canvas, which also happens to be what the bag itself is made of, only not as heavy a material as the straps. You even get a can of wax to keep the rugged look and weatherproofing fresh. DOMKE bags are sold by Tiffen and this model sells for $149-US.
ExpoDisc
Here is one super “must-have” item that every digital photographer should have on hand everywhere they are going to shoot. With the ExpoDisc over your lens it will accurately give your camera the correct reading from all light sources, which gives you an exact custom White Balance (WB) for that lighting, with your camera. You just aim it directly at the light source, (except at the sun), make the custom reading, and from then on all of your images with that lighting will have the needed neutral color required for a perfect white balance. You don’t even have to screw it on and off of the lens, as there are no lens threads, you just hold it over the end of the lens and take the reading. It comes with a neck strap and carrying case and can even be hung from your belt. The disks are priced according to the lens filter size you would want, and are in the $100-US price range. A small price to pay for accurate color exposures every time! (A price that you will more than get back in the time that you will save using this tool.)
Check them out at www.expodisc.com
Hoodman HoodLoupe Pro
The ad says that “this is what the Pros use for optimum glare free viewing,” and you can take that to the bank! The biggest drawback to shooting digital is in being able to see what you got when (trying) to look at the LCD screen, which is next to impossible to do outdoors, but NOT any longer. A two-minute test with my Nikon D-200 made this little tool a PERMENANT part of my camera bag from now on. It fits LCD screen up to 3 inches, so you can use it on just about any camera. Even with the clear plastic protector over the LCD screen I still got a good image to view, but that cover does allow a small bit of glare through the edges, but when it was removed the image is like looking at a small monitor. You can even see into shadow detail in the image, and judging correct exposure will never be a problem again. The loope is made of soft rubber, and has a +3 diopter you can adjust for your sight, and you can also adjust the focus. It comes with a soft neck strap and carrying bag. This must-have accessory retails for US-$69.99 – (and is worth every penny!)
For more details on this product go to; www.hoodmanusa.com/