Photography News Issue 41

Photography News | Issue 41 | absolutephoto.com

42 Accessories test

Buyers’ guide

Lens accessories You’ve got your lenses, but how do you get the best out of them? Check out our selection of high-quality accessories to protect, store, carry and improve the performance of your cherished glass...

Hoya HD UV filter (from£30)

and wildlife subjects, it’s well worth considering a teleconverter. Sitting between the lens and camera body, a teleconverter will extend the focal length, giving a smaller field of view and more magnification. Kenko’s Teleplus MC4 AF 2x DGX multiplies focal length by 2x, so for example your 70-200mm will become a 140- 400mm. With integrated circuitry connecting lens to camera you get full autofocus (but only with f/2.8 or brighter lenses; on lenses with smaller maximum apertures you’ll just need to focus manually). With a four element design, and high quality multi-coated Hoya glass, optical quality is high, and DGX converters are available in Canon, Nikon and Sony mounts. Intro2020.co.uk/kenko Fancy turning a regular lens into one that shoots extreme close-ups? Then how about investing in a set of extension tubes. These accessories sit between your lens and camera, and enable a lens to focus closer than it otherwise could, so fit them to something like a 50mm lens and you’ll soon have a handy macro option for a fraction of the price of a dedicated optic. At around £55, this set via SRB comes with 12mm, 20mm and 36mm tubes, so seven different extensions are possible, and they also allow full use of auto focus and TTL exposure metering. Front and rear caps are supplied for protection when not in use, and the set is available in Canon EOS, Canon EOS-M, Nikon, Nikon 1, Sony, Sony NEX, Micro Four Thirds and Fuji X mounts. srb-photographic.co.uk If you’ve invested in good-quality glass, the last thing you want is to be left (literally) picking up the pieces without proper insurance. Specialist photographic cover is provided by Aaduki, and with premiums from £65, it’s well worth looking into, and all packages include up to £2million in Public Liability Cover, perfect for the next time you drop a 300mm f/2.8 on the bride’s head. aaduki.com 4 Kooka Auto Extension Tube Set (from£50) 5 Aaduki camera insurance (from£65)

When you’ve splashed the cash on a high-quality lens, it makes sense to match it with high-quality filters. Adding a UV filter not only prevents UV light from entering the lens providing greater clarity, but also offers a measure of protection for your lens. Hoya’s range of HD UV filters, available from 52mm to 82mm in size, features an eight layer multi-coating giving great light transmittance, and also has hardened optical glass that gives plenty of protection against impacts and scratches that would otherwise damage your front element. What’s more, the glass is resistant to oil and water, making it much easier to clean than standard filters, and Hoya’s HD UV filters feature a very low-profile frame, so they can be used with wide-angle lenses with less chance of vignetting. intro2020.co.uk/hoya If your lenses (or your filters) are dirty, you’ll soon notice it, especially when shooting into the light, or at small apertures which make dust, dirt and smudges more obvious. Regular cleaning is vital for optimum image quality, so make sure you invest in cleaning products that not only perform well, but care for your precious glass. Green Clean’s disposable Lens Cleaners come in packs of 10 and have been specifically developed for coated lenses. In each sachet you get one wet and one dry fleece cloth measuring 10x10cm each, so first using the wet wipe, dust, dirt and oil is removed from the surface of the lens, before the dry cloth removes excess solution leaving a streak free finish, ready for shooting. The wipes also have an anti-static quality that repels dust, helping the front element to stay cleaner for longer and as they won’t dry out in their sachets you can keep them in your bag for whenever they’re needed. snapperstuff.com 2 Green Clean Lens Cleaner Wet & Dry sachets (£6)

Panzer Centurion 25L hard case (£125)

6 Just Ltd easyCover Lens Rims and cases (from £12) Making sure lenses are clean, dry and free from knocks is paramount if you want them to function at their best. easyCover’s Lens Rim packs have silicone rings which sit around the lens to withstand bumps. For around £12 you get a Lens Ring that stretches over the zoom or focusing ring, and a Lens Bumper that attaches to the filter thread. The latter is available in sizes from 52-77mm and has a front filter thread for attaching filters. For added protection in transit or storage, easyCover also makes lens storage bags in six sizes for lenses up to 230mm tall and 110mm in diameter. These have a hard-wearing nylon exterior and a padded inner, zipping at the top. Attachment tabs let you mount the bag to a belt or a backpack. cameraclean.co.uk

Vanguard Alta Sky 49 Backpack (£150)

If you’re after some real protection when travelling, or storing lenses for extended periods, consider a traditional hard case. The Panzer Centurion 25L is a great example with a rock-hard construction and lots of room. Compare the external (557x348x199mm) and internal (526x275x169mm), and you’ll see there’s a minimum of 30mm of high impact ABS resin between your kit and the outside world; add the modular foam lining and there’s plenty of protection. It also has airtight and waterproof seals, and is shockproof, shatter proof, crush proof, anti-corrosive, chemical resistant and fire retardant. It even floats, up to a weight of 15.8kg (the case itself is 4.98kg, but it’s not like you’ll be scaling a skyscraper with it). panzercases.co.uk

As your collection of lenses grows, you need to pick the right bag, letting you carry all you need in safety and comfort. A traditional photo backpack is the answer, and Vanguard’s Alta Sky 49 is a superb example, mixing lots of space with some clever features. The large main compartment is fully customisable with enough space to swallow one or two large DSLRs with long lenses attached (up to 300mm f/4), as well as up to six more optics and other accessories. All this can be carried without strain thanks to the bag’s ergonomic Air System back, while its harness takes weight off your shoulders and the waist belt adds stability on the move. Access can be from the top or rear, with high- quality zips and double security buckles. vanguardworld.co.uk

Kenko Teleplus DGX 2x MC4 teleconverter (£99)

If you find that your lens doesn’t have quite enough reach and isn’t getting you close enough to sports