47 Christmas gifts
Photography News | Issue 61 | photographynews.co.uk
Lee Filters Reverse ND Controlling light with on- camera filters before it hits the sensor can make life much simpler in post- processing and of course lets you achieve results that might not even be otherwise achievable. Taming extreme contrast with ND graduate filters is one commonly used example where a bright sky can be balanced with the usually much darker foreground for better looking results. Leading filter brand Lee’s latest innovation is the Reverse ND grad filter. Here, there remains a clear area across the lower half of the filter so as much light as possible from the foreground is recorded, but the area of maximum density is just above the horizon and not across the top of the filter as in the case of a standard grad filter. The design of this filter makes it possible to make the most of sunrises/sunsets where the area of greatest brightness is in that sky area just above the horizon and where the sky higher up is naturally dark, so what you get with a Reverse ND is a much better balanced sky. The Reverse ND is available in 0.6 (2EV), 0.9 (3EV) and 1.2 (4EV) strengths for Lee’s Seven5, 100mm and SW150mm filter systems, priced at £98, £137 and £150 respectively. leefilters.com
Marumi Magnetic filter system Marumi new 100mm filter uses magnetism to speed up handling andhelps do awaywith filter slots so gives the ability of using several filters stacked together on wide-angle lenses with no vignetting or cut-off issues. The M100 holder, made from aviation grade aluminium costs £125.94 and comes with three adaptor rings, 72mm, 77mm and 82mm. With lenses of smaller filter thread you need step-up rings. Marumi has introduced 100x100mm neutral density, 100x150mm ND graduates including standard and reverse and a circular polariser. The square/rectangular filters come fitted in frames and these simply attach to the filter holder. If you are using extreme NDs, these go on the holder first so the foam gaskets on the holder prevent light seepage during very long exposures. The polariser can be used in conjunction with other filters no problem thanks to a clever design. The polariser in a simple threaded mount attaches to the adapter ring and can be adjusted to get the best effect even when a ND or graduate is in place. We have a full test on this exciting new system in this issue. kenro.co.uk Creativity Backgrounds Translucient CreativityBackgroundshasjustlauncheditsnewTranslucient backdrop, a beautiful flexiglass option used to transform light. Use the Translucient to diffuse light in commercial and portrait photography, or as a backlit background. It can also be used as a tabletop backdrop, it offers a fine 75% light transmittance. It’s a beautiful option for a faux-window light, to provide soft luminescence for newborn photography or commercial models, gentle light for portraits and more. It’s ideal for film studios too. Because the Translucient is seamless and strong, it helps you give your subjects excellent and reliable backlighting for perfect silhouettes or softly lit portraits. You can even add netting in front of it for an instant window even in the darkest location. It really is amust for any studio. The Translucient background is also useable outside, so for the creative photographer it is a brilliant backdrop to have at hand. Itisavailableinrollsize1.5mx5.5mandcomesinat£142.80. creativitybackgrounds.co.uk
Hahnel PROCUBE2 Hahnel PROCUBE2 sells for £69.99 (no batteries supplied) and it is quite possibly the best battery charger you’ll ever buy. It’s versatile, ideal for travel and it works really well. It has a plate to charge four AA cells but the clever bit is that if you take this plate off, you can charge one or two camera batteries andmost majormodels and brands are compatible. Different battery types are catered for by unclipping one plate and replacing with the appropriate one – it’s a simple, quick process and unlike the older Cube, it’s cable-less. The unit has intelligent control and there’s an LCD display that tells you how much capacity has been added during recharging which is great help if you are in a rush – 15 minutes of charging gives about 300mAh, enough for around 150 shots.
It is available for Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Panasonic/Fujifilm and comes with UK, US and Euro plugs, a 12v car charging lead and there is a built-in 2.4AUSB charging socket too. hahnel.ie
Profoto B10 Profoto is a lighting brand on a roll. With its B1X and B2 there are two options for off-camera, battery-powered location flashphotographybutwithdifferent concepts. The B1X is a studio size unit with an on-board battery while the B2 features really compact flashheads linked to the power packwith cables. Nowcomes the B10which has anon-boardbatterybut in a compact bodyform. As Profoto says, this is ‘a big light in a small package’. But its small size does not compromise features and power. It is a 250Ws light unit and that power is controllable in0.1EVsteps throughout its 10EVpower range coupledwith super-fast recycling – just 2secs at full power and a fully charged battery gives up to 400 full power bursts. The B10 has normal mode for general photography where you also get excellent colour temperature stability but there is the option of freeze mode where flash bursts can be as brief as 1/15,000sec. The B10 used with a standard trigger Air Remote trigger gives manual output but add an optional AirTTL wireless radio trigger and you have the option of TTL and high speed sync photography up to 1/8000sec with a potential working range of up to 300m. The point of lighting of course is to deliver beautiful effects; this is no problem for the B10 which is compatiblewith over 120Profoto light shapers so any effect you desire is possible. The B10 is available as a single head for around £1410 and a Duo kit is also available. profoto.com
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