Photography News 96 - Newsletter

Mac Group

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Ready steady Benro has created some award-winning innovations with the Benro Bat 15A – a tripodwith real strength that can deal with any location

WINNER

ANYONE WHO THINKS that all tripods are created equal needs to take a good, hard look at the Benro Bat 15A. Along with its included VX20 ball head, this kit redefines versatility, allowing photographers to lock off their cameras in all sorts of unusual or awkward places. Clearly it struck a chord with PN ’s learned readers, too, as it’s this year’s best tripod: alloy. At the heart of its appeal are the Bat 15A’s five preset leg angles – something shared by the whole Benro Bat range. Along with an easily inverted centre column, this means the tripod can be set up in small spaces and on uneven surfaces. Each of the legs can be locked in an upwards facing position. It lets you get more creative with landscapes or urban scenes, but also does great things for still life photographers, while getting you into smaller spaces. The Bat 15A is strong, taking a maximum payload of 14kg, but

that doesn’t come at the expense of portability. Its five-section, twist-lock legs reverse over the head to keep the packed length down to 57.5cm. The overall weight is 1.61kg. The VX20 head features a dual-panning design and takes Arca-Swiss-style quick- release plates. The kit comes with a bag, allen key and a set of spiked feet.

GREAT LEGS Five leg angles deliver flexibility, while reverse folding keeps size down when travelling

uk.benroeu.com

Get to the bar Let there be light, with this Nanlite tube

WINNER

PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE ALWAYS looking for exciting ways to control light, and judging by this year’s awards, the Nanlite PavoTube II 6C has won over a host of PN readers. Yes, this is a light that’s not only great when used in a locked position, but one that you can easily run over subjects as a light bar. During a long

exposure, this gives a wonderfully smooth effect that looks great, on everything from products to people. The Nanlite PavoTube II 6C even looks amazing when placed within the frame, adding a neon-inspired edge to fine art compositions. Easily controlled from 0 to 100% power, the PavoTube II 6C gives a maximum output of 520 lumens, equating to 183 lux at 1m. The light is balanced at 5600K for a daylight effect, nicely matching unmodified flash. Temperature can be shifted between 2700-7500K, too. It also has a full-spectrum RGB mode, so you can program it to any one of 360 colours that suit your subject. The lamp runs off an internal lithium-ion battery and will give up to 65 minutes of life. It charges via USB-C, but can also run off power banks for increased shooting time.

All in all, the PavoTube II 6C is a great addition to any lighting kit. It’s a unit that’s capable of creating everything – from simple to striking effects – anytime you need them. No wonder PN readers love it!

COLOUR IT RIGHT Invest in several PavoTubes and you can get all creative

en.nanlite.com

62 Photography News | Issue 96

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