Equipment Review: Dyna-Lite Uni400jr Monolight

November 2005

After extensive research into location lighting gear and specifically monolights I could run on lightweight batteries I chose the Dyna-Lite Uni400jr. It wasn’t the lightest option but at 10 pounds total (for a one light set up) there is nothing else out there that can match it’s light quality and robust build. I have since taken this lighting set up on a two week rafting trip down the Grand Canyon and have hiked it 10+ miles into the backcountry. Sure there are more powerful location kits out there. The Profoto 7b is probably the king of location lighting but at 35 plus pounds that is not a kit I want to lug into the backcountry with me.

Please click here for the rest of the review.

Equipment Review: Gitzo 1340 Tripod

July 2003

A good, solid and steady tripod is a key component in the pro photo kit. For years I have used a Bogen 3021 tripod which has worked ok, but was always a little weak in the legs. Recently, I upgraded to a Gitzo 1340 and though it is slightly heavier it is much more stable.

One of the weak points in the Bogen was the center column. Even locked down tight there was a little wobble I had to counteract by putting my hand on the top of the lens. This worked ok for larger lenses at shutter speeds above 1/60th of a second but below that results were less than perfect. I avoided using the Bogen as much as possible except when I had to for landscape images in low light and then I would usually be using lighter wide angle lenses which would minimize the effect on the image. I was also using a Bogen 3055 ballhead that was difficult to lock down with out the cropping moving ever so slightly.

With the Gitzo there is no center column to deal with and the fine craftsmanship of the legs assures a solid platform. There is something to be said for doing things right. When you extend the legs of a Gitzo you realize that it was a well thought out design and perfectly executed. It not only makes your job easier as a photographer, it makes your images look better on the light table and in the end that is what really counts for you and your clients.

Perhaps some of you are wondering why I did not go with the Carbon Fiber version instead of the aluminum? It wasn't a matter of price. At $320 (through Kirk Enterprises) it was only another $180 for the carbon version. Looking at my old Bogen that is pretty beat up, I thought it would be prudent to go with the old school aluminum version for durability. I seem to be especially hard on my tripods.

If you are looking for a solid tripod system I highly recommend Gitzo and the BH-1 (see review of the BH-1 ballhead below). There is no substitute for the best! Go to www.gitzo.com for more information on their fine products.

Equipment Review: Kirk BH-1 Ballhead

July 2003

A ballhead for a tripod may seem like a simple thing. But reality is far from simple. In an effort to get the sharpest images possible for my clients I have tried many different tripods and ballheads and I have found very few of them to be effective at holding my big lenses steady in low light situations.

In long exposure tests, images from the BH-1 were much sharper than with any other system I have tried. The BH-1 uses Arca-Swiss quick release plates which mount onto the camera and lenses. Each plate is specifically made for the camera or lens by Kirk Enterprises so that there is no twisting or movement in the connection between camera and the ballhead. The Quick Release system also allows me to make quick lens or camera changes so I don’t miss any of the action.

The BH-1 has three locking knobs on the body and one on the Quick Release which locks the plates down. It also has a tension adjustment for the ballhead if you need to pan or move the camera and still have some steadiness. In use the ballhead is silky smooth and as close to perfect as any ballhead I have ever used. At $339, these aren’t cheap and for the average photographer this would be overkill. But for the professional looking to impress clients it is just one piece of the equation for razor-sharp images. For more information on the BH-1 go to www.kirkphoto.com.

Equipment Review: Negotiating Stock Photo Prices
by Jim and Cheryl Pickerell

March 2003

It may be strange to call a book a piece of equipment, but Jim Pickerell’s book “Negotiating Stock Photo Prices” is a key piece of “equipment” in my office. It is just as important as my cameras or any other tool I use to produce images because this tool helps me to continue creating those images. Negotiating pricing for photography or anything else for that matter is sometimes an uncomfortable experience. As a professional photographer I need to make a living and this book is an excellent tool that aids me in negotiating prices that will insure my future as a photographer. I am not out to gouge clients and charge incredibly high or ridiculous prices. That is not the point. Establishing a licensing fee that is fair for both parties and reflective of the marketing power of the image is my goal.

Jim’s book (hereafter referred to as NSPP) gives the photographer and client a base price for what an image is worth. It is not set in stone but it is a good point to start negotiating. There are other very good stock pricing guidelines out there (Fotoquote, etc.) but I find the book format the easiest to use. Not only does it give you a base price for negotiating but it also goes into great detail about the art of negotiating, marketing strategies and industry standards. So the next time I am negotiating a photo usage please remember I am not pulling numbers out of the air. I know what it cost to produce the image and I am taking a lot of factors into account to come up with my prices.

You can get more information and purchase Negotiating Stock Photo Prices at www.pickphoto.com. The book costs $40 but that is $260 less than Fotoquote and it contains a lot more information.

Equipment Review: The LensPen

March 2002

You may be wondering why a photographer would rally behind a lens cleaning device. It sounds so simple. You just clean the lens, right? In the outdoor environment my equipment gets worked. Sand, wind, rain, fingerprints - you name it. I meticulously clean my cameras and lenses to help them last longer and so that I can get the sharpest possible images.

I recently bought the LensPen and tried it out. I have seen ads for it for years but I thought it was a gimmick for amateurs to waste their money on. As it turns out, it works great and keeps my glass incredibly clean. It is very compact and unassuming and uses no messy liquids which is a bonus because I can toss it in a pocket for use when I am on the run. In the last few months I have been really happy to have the Lenspen in my camera bag while on assignment. Editors notice that I take my photography seriously when they see me cleaning my lenses frequently.

You can find the LensPen at most local camera shops or you can order it directly through LensPen at www.lenspen.com.

Equipment Review: LowePro Specialist 85 AW

December 2001

Camera bags may not be the most interesting topic to dwell upon, but I have an armada of camera bags and only a few of them really work well. One of those is the LowePro Street and Field Specialist 85 AW. LowePro bags in general are the best I have found in terms of durability and functionality. The Specialist 85 can carry an amazing amount of gear in a fanny pack style bag including five lenses, two bodies and a flash with assorted extras. I have had a lot of trouble finding a bag I can carry my oversized gear and not feel like I have a kitchen sink strapped to me. In particular are my Nikon F5 and a 80-200 f/2.8 lens attached. With this bag I can slide the lens and camera in the bag and have it ready to go. With the bag full it still weighs about 20 pounds but there is no getting over that fact if I want the sharp glass.

Other features that make this bag so dependable are the all-weather storm flap that protects the bag from rain and the fact that it has a very beefy waistbelt and shoulder strap. For shooting climbing the shoulder strap comes in handy as a back up in case the waist buckle breaks or comes undone. I have dropped a LowePro Orion fanny pack while photographing rock climbing once. It took a 100 foot fall and by some miracle (and the quality of the bag) the two lenses in the bag were undamaged! That pretty much sold me on LowePro right there. Not that I want to continue testing my gear in that fashion!

I have been using the Specialist for over 2 years now and I love it. If Nikon could just come out with an F5 that weighed half a pound life would be a lot easier.

Equipment Review: Fuji Provia 100F

May 2001

Ever since its release in the late fall of 2000, I have been shooting a lot of Provia 100F. This updated version of the original Provia is an incredible film. It does not have the saturation of Velvia (though it has good saturation) but it is sharper than Velvia and a full stop faster at ASA 100. It has an RMS Granularity rating of 8 compared to Velvia’s RMS Granularity rating of 9!

Provia 100F also push processes very well with no loss in image quality or color balance. I have been pushing 100F to ASA 200 with consistently great results. With the huge 80-200 f/2.8 lenses these days the ability to push to ASA 200 and maintain sharpness is incredible. Especially in situations where I am shooting fast moving action in the shade such as kayaking and ice climbing. The faithful color rendition also helps out while shooting at dawn or dusk and I don’t want to oversaturate the photo which would make it look unrealistic. I am not abandoning Velvia for the new Provia, but I am shooting at least as much 100F as I am Velvia these days with the result being a larger number of useable and sharper photos! And last but not least Provia 100F has come down in price so that it costs the same as Velvia! To find out more about this film go to www.fujifilm.com.

Specs:
Provia 100F RMS Granularity: 8
ASA/ISO: True 100
Push-Pull Capabilities: ASA 70 to 400 w/out color distortion!
Exposure latitude: 4 stops total

Equipment Review: SLIK Clamp Head (65)

September 2002

Clamp heads may not be the most exotic topic among photographers but they serve a purpose and perform a job that can set your photos apart and inspire never before seen images. I first bought the Slik Clamp head to create a blur shot on a mountain bike. Since then I have found this to be a great tool to mount a remote camera in all sorts of places I never dreamed of before. As a photographer I seek to create images that are new and different. This clamp has allowed me to create a lot of images where the first question asked is “How did you get that shot?”

The Slik clamp head mounts on anything cylindrical up to 2” in diameter. That includes a monopod I sometimes use in conjunction with a remote trigger to stick my camera in places that are too hard to get to or are too dangerous to risk limbs. The other great thing about using the clamp is it makes you think. And that is always a good thing!

Check it out at www.slik.com on the web.