Awards
Accessories BEST TRIPOD: ALLOY
BEST TRIPOD FOR VIDEO
BEST FILTER/FILTER SYSTEM
BEST TRIPOD: CARBON FIBRE
WINNER Kase Filters Wolverine Armour 100mm System
The Armour 100mm system merges the benefit of magnetic circular filters with the versatility of 100mm filters. The 100mm alloy holder takes a rear-mounted polariser, which can be rotated in position with a gear wheel. Kase filters are made from toughened Pro HD optical glass that is scratch-resistant and can survive being dropped onto hard ground. Metallic nano coatings make filters easy to clean and give colour-neutral results.
WINNER Manfrotto Befree GT XPro Carbon
WINNER Vanguard VEO 3T+ 234AB
WINNER Benro Rhino FRHN34C + VX30
The Befree GT XPro Carbon’s four-section legs lock securely with lever locks and extend to 135cm with the centre column down. This increases to 160cm when fully extended. On the other extreme, the camera position can be set as low as 8cm. While this tripod is a strong performer in normal use, its innovative design allows the centre column to be set at 90°. The tripod can therefore be applied to shooting macro, flatlays and artwork. Its quality, design and skills make the Manfrotto Befree GT XPro Carbon a very deserving winner of this category, where there are a plethora of fabulous tripods vying for your vote.
ALSO NOMINATED: Breakthrough X3100 Filter System Cokin P-series system Formatt-Hitech Firecrest Magnetic 100mm holder H&Y Revoring Variable ND+CPL Kase Filters Double Grad 100x150mm Lee Filters Lee85 system Marumi M100 100mm system NiSi True Color ND-Vario 1-5 stops PolarPro Summit system
The VEO 3T+ 234AB is an incredibly versatile aluminium pod with a 10kg load capacity that can extend up to 146cm, but folds down to just 48cm for travel. It has four-section legs, one of which detaches to form a monopod that can extend to 150cm. The highlight is Vanguard’s Multi-Angle Central Column (MACC), which lets you set the camera up in almost any direction. That’s perfect for macro and nature work, without compromising stability. It’s a great tripod to use, performs superbly and is affordably priced. Benro Bat 15A + VX20 Benro MeFoto Globetrotter Aluminium Kenro Karoo Ultimate Travel Tripod Kit – aluminium Peak Design Travel Tripod – aluminium Slik Pro 400DX 3 Legged Thing Charles 2.0 Magnesium Alloy Tripod System ALSO NOMINATED:
This thoughtfully designed and feature-rich tripod shows Benro’s designers at their best, combining stability with portability and usability. The carbon legs and supplied head weigh just over 2kg, while its four-section, twist-lock legs give a working height of 144cm, increasing to 174cm if the centre column is also deployed. An added bonus is that one leg unscrews and converts to a monopod, ideal when stability is needed together with freedom of movement – such as when in a crowd.
ALSO NOMINATED: Benro KH26P Benro Rhino FRHN05C + VX20 Libec TH-Z Manfrotto 645 Fast Twin Carbon Sirui BCT-2203
ALSO NOMINATED:
Benro Tortoise 24CLV K&F Explorer Carbon Fibre TC-2834L Kingjoy Solidrock C83 Leofoto Poseidon LP-324C Novo Helix T200 Carbon Fibre Tripod Kit Peak Design Travel Tripod – carbon fibre Slik Pro CF-933 Vanguard VEO 3+ 303CT
BEST SHOULDER/SLING BAG
BEST STUDIO ACCESSORY
WINNER Billingham Mini Eventer
Billingham originally started life just over 50 years ago as a manufacturer of fishing and shooting bags, before switching its attention to photography. The Mini Eventer is made from three-layer waterproof fabric and top-grain leather, perfect for ferrying a small- to medium-sized DSLR or mirrorless camera with a dedicated pocket for an 11in tablet. Colours available include the classic Billingham khaki canvas and tan leather with an olive interior. Billingham is a homegrown success story – and thanks to PN readers for voting its latest bag as this year’s winner. ALSO NOMINATED: Crumpler Frontrow camera half backpack Groundtruth Rikr camera bag Langly Weekender flight bag Lowepro Slingshot SL 250 AW III Tenba Axis V2 6L sling bag Think Tank Retrospective 10 V2.0 Think Tank TR889 Freeway Longhaul 75 Vanguard VEO Range 38
Editor’s Choice: Manfrotto 190XPro Aluminium 4-Section
Editor’s Choice: Sachtler Flowtech75 Aktiv MS
The 190XPro is one of Manfrotto’s standout tripods, offering excellent stability and versatility at a great price. This versatility is provided by the pod’s 90° column system, ideal for shooting macro or flatlays. Closed, it measures 49cm, while the four legs fully extended results in a useful 135cm, growing to 160cm when the centre column is used. Minimum working height is 8cm if you need a worm’s-eye view of the scene. And legs are locked rigidly in position with Quick Power Locks, which are designed to be opened single-handedly in one fluid movement. Roger Payne – Editor
WINNER Dupli Savage background paper
Designed for advanced and professional videomakers, the Flowtech75 is optimised for fast set-up. The Flowtech design allows users to set up and level a shot quickly in any terrain, with its mid-level spreader enabling each leg to be independently adjusted and locked near the 75mm bowl. Weighing 3.5kg (2.9kg without the spreader), the working height range with the mid spreader is 63- 157cm, folding down to 68cm for transport. Roger Payne – Editor
Dupli is a leading supplier of photo equipment and consumables, stocking a wide variey of equipment from cameras, film and processing chemistry to printers, inks and papers. ALSO NOMINATED: Click Props pro photography backdrops Creativity Backgrounds seamless backdrops LuxS 4m Wide background pole set Sekonic L-858D Speedmaster light meter Spudz 6x6in microfibre cloth
18 Photography News | Issue 113
photographynews.co.uk
Powered by FlippingBook