Photography News Issue 47

31 Accessories test

Photography News | Issue 47 | photographynews.co.uk

Kenro Karoo Ultimate carbon fibre tripod £199

Hahnel Modus 600RT flash kit £269.99

Sigma 14mmf/1.8DGHSM Art £1679

Nest Diverse 20backpack £99

10 PNYOutdoor Charger £20 Whether it’s to give your phone, tablet or something larger a boost, mobile charging devices are a vital part of modern life. Most of the time though, they’renot particularly hardy in their design. A drop or a splash could be the end of them. That fragility certainly doesn’t apply to PNY’s Outdoor Charger. As its name implies it’s made to take some serious punishment from the elements. Rated at IP65 it’s dust, rain and splash-proof, and its rubberised outer casing makes it resistant to shocks, too. The PNY Outdoor Charger features an LED torch, comes with a carabiner as well as a micro-USB and mini- USB cable, while an easy-to-read LED battery level let you know the charge status. pny.eu

Kenro’s Karoo Ultimate Travel Tripod kit is a great choice for travel work, when you need to minimise size and weight of your gear. Despite packing down to 48cm, it can reach a maximum height of 187cm, including the centre column, and the latter is highly adaptable, swinging out or reversing for low- angle shooting. One of the legs can also be removed to act as a monopod. The tripod’s maximum load is 10kg, thanks to its construction from strong eight-layer carbon fibre, but it weighs only 1.93kg including the BC2 ball head that’s included in the package. The tripod is guaranteed for six years, and the kit contains a short centre column, spiked and rubber feet, and a carry case. kenro.co.uk

If you want a full-featured and affordable flash kit, Hahnel’s Modus 600RTkitiswellworthyourattention. Powered by a Hahnel Extreme Li-Ion battery, the 600RT has a maximum Guide Number of 60 (ISO 100, 200mm), and a recycle time of 1.5sec at full power. It’ll also guarantee over 550 shots at maximum output. The flash has a built in 2.4Ghz wireless receiver, which when triggered by the included Viper TTL transceiver on your hotshoe gives a working range of 100m. Triggering is available in up to three different groups and uses Digital Channel Matching for greater reliability. The flash can be fired manually or using TTL metering via your camera, and it’s available in Canon, Nikon and Sony fits. hahnel.ie

This addition to Sigma’s successful Art stable of high performance lenses, is sure to be of interest to landscape and architectural photographers. The ultra-wide-angle 14mm focal length is perfect for expansive views as well as working in tight interiors, providing a huge 114.2° field of view. The light-gathering potential of its fast f/1.8 maximum aperture makes astrophotography much more easily achievable, and for astro shots it produces very little coma (smearing of points of light), even at the widest settings. The broad, smooth focusing ring also helps with the precise focus required forwide-field astrowork. For such awide, fast lens, weight is kept in check at only 1170g, and it’s available in Canon, Nikon and Sigma fits. sigma-imaging-uk.com

Modular photo backpacks are a popular choice, allowing you to convert your bag from a full kit- carrier, to a regular rucksack, or a combination. The Nest Diverse 20 takes modular to an unprecedented level with a design using two removable inserts, one in the top and one in the bottom. Thismeans youcan carry all photo gear, go half and half in the top or bottom, or nothing at all. What’s more, the inserts are actually shoulder bags in their own right, with straps, so can be used alone. You can even remove the backpack’s waist- belt and attach to one of the inserts to make a waist-pack. Also included is a 3litre hydration section, a 10in tablet slip,internalandexternalpockets,and a raincover and it weighs only 1.85kg. nest-style.com