Posts Tagged photography
Black Widow Spider Camera Holster
*Note: A few corrections have been made to address comments from the manufacturer.*
I schlepp a heavy DSLR with a 28-300 lens around with me when I travel. It’s on a classic camera strap. I love the kit, I get great pictures with it, and I like having just one lens. I’m not a paranoid traveler as such but I’m practical, I wrap the strap around my wrist so it can’t be grabbed without getting me, too, and I don’t leave it sitting on café tables. As I’ve mentioned, it’s heavy, and I do get tired of carrying after a while. Pocket cameras have jumped ahead light years and I carry one of those too, but I still like the control and excellent optics I get with a DSLR. I’m attracted to a “Plan B” for carrying around a few pounds of camera.
I was interested in checking out the Spider Holster (Black Widow) because it straps the camera to your waist instead of using a traditional camera strap. The idea is that your hands are free at all times – nice – and your camera is easily accessible from the quick release holster. You can put the holster on your own belt, or use the wide Velcro closed belt that comes with the kit.
The camera locks into the holster using a pin that’s screwed into the tripod mount on the bottom of your camera. The pin sticks out about ¼ of an inch. When the pin is in the holster, your camera is wobbly when you put it down; a minor nuisance, but noticeable all the same.. If you’re just doing hand held photography, this isn’t an issue. You can use a tripod and the holster at the same time if you get the bits but I can’t speak to this issue as I didn’t try it.
My biggest issue with the Black Widow holster wasn’t a technical concern, it was an emotional one. I didn’t trust it. There’s no real reason for my distrust, I just didn’t feel like my camera was particularly secure. The belt had plenty of grip and stayed put, the quick release mechanism seemed sturdy enough, and the pin, which I tightened into the bottom of my camera did not wobble. But I didn’t like have 700 dollars of lens hanging from a metal pin at my waist.
It’s possible that this an item that grows on you with use. I can appreciate the concept, and again, there was no indication that my camera was less that perfectly secure. It was nice not to have the weight on my shoulder or at the end of my arm, but I’m not ready to make the jump just yet.
The Black Widow Holster is available directly from Spider (the folks that make them). Heads up, there are a bunch of little pieces – the pin, the holster itself, a pad that keeps the camera from knocking against your hip, the belt, and a bunch of different adapter plates. The basics, a pin and the holster, start at 49 dollars. Start your shopping here on Amazon.
Posted by Pam in Adventure Gear, General Gear on August 19th, 2011
Mountainsmith Zoom Camera Case
When your camera is an in-between size, you need to hunt a little harder for the right camera case. For super-zoom cameras, like the Nikon Coolpix L120 I reviewed a few weeks ago, a case for a regular point-and-shoot is too small, while one for a DSLR is overkill.
It’s been a while since we reviewed something from Mountainsmith, but they’re a great brand when it comes to hauling things around or keeping gear organized. Our Mountainsmith Borealis camera backpack giveaway was a big hit and Kara loved the company’s modular hauler for road trips.
They make a whole array of camera cases in various sizes, all of them rugged and well-suited for travel. Tiny cases for tiny cameras, up to whole camera backpacks with compartments for zoom lenses.
I’m finding this Zoom Small camera case to be more reliable than the camera I’m putting inside it. I can say for sure I’ll never use the strap that enables you to secure it to your waist, fanny-pack style, but otherwise all the features are useful and appreciated. There’s a shoulder strap to enable you to carry it like a normal case. There’s a flap on the back for attaching it to a belt or backpack strap, and a handle on the top for picking it up or carrying it with your hand. An adjustable bungee cord on the front works for securing other items to the case. “Elastic rigging” on the bottom is hidden away behind a Velcro strap.
Inside the seam-sealed top zipper is a cushioned case with yellow lining on the inside—making it easier to see what’s in there than the usual black. A removable compartment with Velcro enables custom sizing, though for my Nikon it was fine without it. A top compartment can hold memory cards, lens cleaning cloth, or whatever else small you want to take along. Don’t worry, there’s another zippered pocket on the front for spare batteries and two mesh pockets on the sides.
Here’s the cool cherry on top: the bag materials are made from ReDura recycled PET, as in 100% recycled materials. The equivalent of three 16-ounce plastic bottles saved from a landfill with each bag.
Besides that, all the materials on this quality case are above and beyond what you’ll get in a cheapie one, from the pulls on the zippers to the good metal buckles and swivels on the strap.
The Mountainsmith Zoom small case lists for $35. Look around online and you can usually find it for a bit less. Follow these direct product links for eBags, Altrec, and REI.
See more photography gear reviews on Practical Travel Gear.
Posted by Tim L. in General Gear on July 28th, 2011
Nikon L120 Super-zoom Camera not so Super
The popular Nikon L120 comes with some nice features and a great 21X zoom in a reasonably small package, but the lack of manual controls, no viewfinder, AAA batteries, and lackluster picture quality combine for underwhelming results overall.
I’m a big fan of super-zoom digital cameras and recommended this category in my travel writing book for writers and bloggers who want to publish good photos consistently, but don’t want to lug around a big DSLR and various lenses. These cameras let you zoom in far closer than you can with a basic point-and-shoot, they have a better lens, and usually have a faster shutter release time. They offer a good trade-off between convenience and quality.
Usually.
I must say it’s mixed bag with this Nikon Coolpix L120 one I picked up recently, on sale at Best Buy for $238 plus tax. I was under pressure to buy something in a hurry after my beloved Kodak Z1012 wigged out on me recently and started putting itself into Sport mode at random moments and getting finicky about when it was ready to shoot or not. I had very few beefs before with that camera besides so-so resolution in low light on auto mode (much better with manual tweaks) and a battery that required lugging around a too-big separate charger. It took photos great enough for print magazine spreads and I published hundreds of shots on the web I took with it, some in award-winning articles.
A shot too tough for Nikon's auto-focus
I’m ready to ditch this Nikon after two weeks, however. I’m still fiddling with the few manual controls there are to improve image quality, but I’m not optimistic this will meet my needs. I need to go back to the drawing board and do more research this time before buying a better camera. This one seemed the best of what was on offer when my wife called on the phone saying she needed to buy a new camera in an hour to have at the wedding she was attending. “Get the Nikon one,” I said. “The price is right and it should be reliable.”
Wrong. I’ll get to the quirks in a moment, but the main problem is, this camera just plain doesn’t take great photos half the time. If the light is not perfect, the photos comes up short. If you’re in low light conditions and trying to get a shot that’s not full of noise/distortion, you may as well be using an iPhone: forget the 14 megapixels and the high-ISO settings touted in the specs as they won’t do anything except give you big file sizes to store. It’s like this camera’s sensor just throws up its hands and says, “Sorry!” Since there are very few manual overrides (I had plenty on my Kodak), you’re mostly stuck with what the camera gives you automatically unless you drill down to the right situation mode, these mostly being for cases where you’ll use a flash.
Typical results in low light without a flash
It also dials back the shutter speed quite a bit if the light isn’t bright (again, you can’t adjust this), so I’ve been ending up with blurry photos in conditions where I’ve never encountered them with far cheaper cameras. There’s anti-shake technology supposedly, but I now don’t trust it unless it’s sunny where I’m shooting. I feel like I have to hold this camera like it’s a sleeping newborn. Video quality is just okay. It’s higher resolution than my Flip camera and records in stereo—plus there’s a handy wind noise reduction feature—but you have to pan more slowly with this one to keep it from being blurry, especially indoors. It’s better suited for outdoor pursuits.
This Nikon also uses 4 AA batteries instead of a rechargeable lithium ion battery, which makes it heavier than it should be considering all the plastic parts, and requires lugging around a charger that holds 4 AA batteries, plus an adapter if you’ll be in a country with different voltage. The memory card is under the same flap as the batteries, which means all 4 can spill out when you’re just trying to switch out a card. Dumb design.
There’s also no optical viewfinder, which drives me batty. Looking at a screen while trying to shoot in bright sunlight, all while holding the camera steady away from your body, is asking for trouble. It’s like shooting blind sometimes. I know this is a common problem with compact point-and-shoots, but it shouldn’t be with a camera this size.
The Plus Sides of the Nikon L120
We’ll keep this camera for family snapshots and day trips though because it does do some things very well. The 921,000 dpi 3-inch screen on the back is beautiful and it’s easy to tell if you got a keeper shot or not. The buttons are few and the menus are fairly intuitive, though all the non-automatic options are groups under “night landscape” except for “smart portrait” (detects eyes for focusing) and “sport continuous.” The latter function works quite well, at up to 20 frames at 15fps, but the resolution goes down.
In good light, good results
The main reason to get this kind of camera—the 21X optical zoom—is smooth and impressive, allowing you to get up close and personal without getting in anyone’s face. It’s fast too. One nice feature with this Nikon is that you can control that zoom from two places: the usual spot by the shutter release, plus an extra button on the left side of the lens. Keep in mind though that 21X is a pretty shaky shot to hold, especially with no viewfinder besides the screen on the back. It’s hard to get a shot in focus when extended full length without a tripod.
This camera performs better than any other I’ve used when the flash is on, even without the situational overrides. It illuminates without washing out, red-eye reduction works well automatically, and the colors don’t get too distorted. If you take a lot of photos of your friends partying, this will do the job well.
Overall though, since I so seldom use a flash, I’d give this Nikon L120 a C- because to me it feels less than average. Looking at the Amazon reviews I’m in the minority, so maybe if I weren’t comparing it to my past Kodak and Casio cameras it would rate higher, but I guess I’ve been spoiled.
This camera is gifted in some areas, plus it’s hard to complain too loudly when the price is this good (under $250 at some merchants). There’s a lot crammed into that price, which is probably why it is selling so well. But the main reason you buy a camera—especially one you take traveling—is to end up with better than average photos. With the definition of “average” rising higher each year, Nikon fell behind on this model. It’s a good value if your budget is tight and you want a serious zoom. But spend a bit more for something better if you need high-quality results you will publish or frame on a wall.
Get the Nikon L120 at Amazon or search prices online.
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Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Kids and Family on July 7th, 2011
Five Things I Always Pack — Mike Barish
Mike Barish is a freelance travel writer and regular contributor to Gadling. He is a universally respected expert in the SkyMall catalog whose work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Budget Travel, World Hum and Intelligent Travel. He was also the host of Chevrolet’s Travel Cruze-arati web series. You can always see what Mike’s up to on his own site and on Twitter. Mike is based in New York City where he lives with his fiancée and their two dogs.
1. Merino Wool Underwear
Between sitting on planes for hours, going on hikes and layering various types of clothing to keep the elements at bay, my special areas can get a tad warm. My absolute favorite items for travel are Icebreaker’s Beast 150 Boxer Briefs with Fly. They’re breathable, don’t absorb odor and are phenomenally comfortable. I’m able to pack fewer pairs of underwear because I can wear these several times before they need to be washed and, if I do wash them on the road, they dry quickly. Speaking of which…
2. Liquid Soap
I refuse to spend time at laundromats while traveling. That just seems like lost time. Instead, I wash clothing in the sink at my hotel or, more often than not, the apartment that I’ve rented. Most of the clothing that I pack dries quickly, so sink washing and hang drying is my best strategy for keeping fresh and not wasting time. Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild Liquid Soap isn’t too abrasive, can be used on clothing as well as body and, most importantly, is unscented.
3. Extra Batteries
Maybe I’m a jerk, but I always giggle when I hear someone moan, “Oh, crap, my camera battery is dead,” while I’m traveling. Whether you’re on a family vacation or searching for Dr. Livingstone, you know you’re going to be taking plenty of pictures. Don’t let an easily remedied issue keep you from capturing your memories. I shoot with a Canon PowerShot S95 and love my off-brand spare battery that actually lasts longer than Canon’s stock battery.
4. Collapsible Backpack
The quickest way to lose or forget your belongings while traveling is to frequently unpack and repack your bags. That’s why the bag that I use on the plane for my headphones, iPad, passport, etc never goes out with me on day trips. Instead, I bring a second, easy-to-pack backpack with me. My favorite is the Patagonia Lightweight Travel Pack. It’s a tad pricey, but it’s far more durable than other travel packs out there, has a few easy to access pockets and packs down to a fantastically convenient size.
5. Baby Powder
I’ll end the same way I started, by discussing my crotch. Whether I’m going someplace hot and humid or ice cold, I always bring some baby powder with me. If you’ve ever gotten a heat rash or – and let’s all behave ourselves now – crotch rot, you know how uncomfortable and trip-ruining it is. Rather than overpay for expensive talcum powders that often come in large bottles, I opt for a simple travel-sized bottle of Johnson’s baby powder or a store brand if they have one.
Curious about what other travelers have on their “Five Things” list? The entire series is here.
Posted by Pam in General Gear, Travel Light on July 1st, 2011
Share Pictures with Folks Back Home with a CEIVA Digital Picture Frame
Mad bloggers that we are, we forget that not everyone is quite so wired. Thanks to email subscriptions, my mom gets my personal blog updates to her inbox, but your loved ones might be one step removed from the wired world. That means they don’t get to see images of your travels until you’re sitting down with them. CEIVA’a digital picture frame makes it easy for you to send images to your less wired friends and family, to share your travels from far away places via the magic of the web.
Basic set up is quite simple — and you don’t need internet to get started, you can set it up over the phone. It’s easy. That’s just the first step. This gadget requires, at the most basic, a few file management and administrative tasks. Ideally, the administrator is the person that owns the frame, but it doesn’t have to be, you can register the frame and have it sent to your auntie or grandfather. You’ll be responsible for the webby interactions — uploading photos, inviting people to share their pictures — while auntie or grand-dad will need to connect the frame to a phone line, a router, or wifi. Once that’s done, new images will download to the frame automatically, and they’ll be able to delete the things they don’t want to see.
I’d recommend doing the set up yourself, first, then sending it along to the recipient. CEIVA puts some intermediary slides in there that I didn’t want to see over and over again in my slide show. I know they’re meant to be helpful, but I’m pretty sure my mother in law doesn’t need to see the “Congrats, your frame is registered” message more than once. Plus, seeing the pictures appear is confirmation enough. They looked great, by the way, big enough to appreciate and the back-lighting does make them shine.
Once the frame is registered, you can start inviting people to share their pictures — they’ll just sort of magically show up when you update the frame. It’s kind of a cool concept. Imagine, you’re off traveling, and whenever you get a chance, you can send new images to your people back home. I love the idea of this. My old dad doesn’t travel anymore, but he’s genuinely excited by my adventures. I know he’d get great joy in seeing something new from me on a regular basis. Invites are simple email invites, and the upload process is familiar to anyone who’s used photo sharing. CEIVA makes a handful of plug-ins and apps, too — you can share from Picasa or Facebook or directly from your phone. Heads up! This photo sharing isn’t free, it’s a subscription model. Depending on what, exactly, your purchase terms are, you may get the first year free, after that, you’ll need to pay for the service.
I wanted the operation of the frame itself to be a little easier. Navigation of the frame is by a little remote control — easy enough to use but the menu items aren’t entirely intuitive. (Also, heaven forbid you lose the remote, you’ll need to buy a replacement one.) It took me several tries to figure out how to delete the images I didn’t want to see. The frame has to be connected to receive updated images, meaning if you don’t have wifi, it has to be anchored to a phone line or network cable. Not a big deal, but it may add some restrictions to where you can place the frame. There are a lot of customization options — wired types will like that, but less computer literate folks are likely to experience some frustration.
There are a few things that this gadget allows you to do that I really liked. I like the idea of scheduled updates — you can send a “Happy Birthday” photo so it’s in rotation on your favorite uncle’s birthday. I like the support for lots of different sources — “Hey, I want to send my mom a picture of me in Paris right now!” Again, I love the way the images look, and the frame is attractive. I’m not totally sold on the usability, though. CEIVA offers extensive support, both on their website and via phone, so they’re clearly aware that some customers are going to have trouble.
My guess? Your wired family members are going to love this thing. I’m imagining it in the home of a friend who’s got very well traveled kids, or in the home of another friend who doesn’t travel much himself but has many traveler pals. Your less wired people may be a little flustered at first, but once they get it sussed, they’re going to enjoy it.
And, hey, here’s a thing that happened. I was chatting on the phone with my husband; he’d received my photo sharing request. I connected the CEIVA frame to the web, and then, I was looking at the view out his window. I was delighted.
CEIVA has a two different models, both currently include one year of picture sharing. You can get one from CEIVA directly, or check Amazon for prices.
Posted by Pam in General Gear, Kids and Family on May 27th, 2011
