When you think of the most gorgeous landscapes on earth, what do you think of?
Is it a mountain scene or the beach? A desert or a rainforest?
As a lover of nature and a landscape photography enthusiast, it's tough for me to decide what would be at the top of my list.
In fact, one of my favorite pastimes is watching nature documentaries on TV. It's not just the gorgeous scenes they portray, but I appreciate how those documentaries are filmed.
I have to say, the time-lapse film below reminds me of those nature shows I love so much.
The video, entitled 'Exposure,' is the first time-lapse film by photographer Keith Liew. I find it impressive that such a gorgeous result was created by a first-timer!
But beyond that, what else is truly staggering is that it took Keith two years to get the footage for the film. He traveled from Indonesia to New Zealand, Santorini to Norway, to capture the scenes shown in the video above.
Talk about patience!
Photography certainly isn't for the faint of heart, but Keith's dedication to the project is certainly worth a virtual high-five.
I think you'll agree, all that time and effort has really paid off.
And it wasn't just time and effort in the field or traveling from one location to the next. Keith had to study the time-lapse process, learn how to locate the Milky Way, and become adept at editing his photos and videos into the masterpiece seen above.
Keith got into time-lapse videos because he was inspired by fellow photographer Dustin Farrell some five years ago.
In the intervening years, Keith hasn't looked back, heading out to distant locations, braving all kinds of weather, to pursue his passions and create epic time-lapse videos to inspire the rest of us to get out there and shoot!
Create Videos Like Keith
If you're inspired by Keith's work to take up time-lapse videos, you'll need to show the same dedication and perseverance he has.
But something that can make the process a whole lot easier is to invest in gear that streamlines the process of creating a time-lapse video - even automates it - so you can get professional looking results without being a pro.
One of the tools Keith used to create 'Exposure' is the Syrp Genie Mini.
If you've never heard of this little gadget, get ready to be impressed!
The little hockey puck-looking device shown above is the Genie Mini, and it gives you seamless motion control over your camera.
Simply attach it to your camera, and in turn to your tripod, then use the Genie smartphone app to set the controls. Get smooth panning motion like what you saw in Keith's video, or use it to get nice, smooth movement in real-time videos as well.
You can even get two Genie Minis and use them in tandem to get both pan and tilt control, right from the Genie smartphone app.
Genie Mini even comes pre-loaded with time-lapse presets so you can start creating videos right out of the box. It also works with all kinds of cameras - from smartphones to DSLRs - so no matter what you shoot with, Genie Mini can help you get better results.
Light and dark. Warm and cold. Fire and ice...you name it, and Iceland has it.
These types of contrasts provide all kinds of fodder for photographers and videographers that flock to the island to get epic photos and videos.
Finding new angles to document this wonderland is becoming ever harder, given that so many people travel to Iceland to see its beauty and share it with the world.
But that didn't stop filmmakers Monica Civitenga and Carlo Sarzi from discovering a unique way to present Iceland in a new light.
Where others might seek to exclude the throng of visitors from view, Monica and Carlo embrace it.
Much of the footage in their video above, Iceland - Land of Contrasts, shows the interaction between people and the beautiful scenes found all over the tiny island nation.
In that regard, the video isn't just about the contrasts that naturally occur here; it's about the contrast of unspoiled beauty and humanity's role in documenting it, preserving it, and celebrating it. Have a look, and be ready to be impressed with up-close views of waterfalls and geysers, ice-covered beaches, wildlife, and, of course, people.
Gear Used:
Camera: Sony Alpha 7SII, Nikon D5300, Nikon D800, GoPro 4 Black
Tripod: Gitzo GT 3541LS, Manfrotto 504HD Fluid Head
Lenses: Sony FE 70-200 G f/4.0, Sony Zeiss FE 24-70 f/4.0, Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 G
After watching that video, you're no doubt left wondering, how hard is it to create something so beautiful?
Just like creating a gorgeous photo requires time, patience, and practice, so too does creating compelling video footage.
In fact, I'd argue that videography is even more difficult because rather than having to get things right for just a split second, with video, you have extended periods of time that need to be spot on in the video capture.
That's not to mention all the time it takes to edit and splice scenes together, add music and voiceovers, and add titles to the movie.
However, Syrp is making creating videos like the one above a more simplified and streamlined process with their motion control device called Genie, pictured below.
This little device quickly and easily attaches to your tripod, rail, slider, or other video gear, giving you robust motion control action in a small package.
Genie is versatile in that it allows you to create time-lapse video and real-time video for both panning and tracking shots, depending on the gear you've got setup.
On top of that, Genie is small enough to add to your camera bag, so you get all the motion control you need without adding bulky gear that you have to carry around as you set up your shots time and time again.
Genie can be programmed such that you get perfectly smooth motion, just like you saw in Monica and Carlo's video earlier, and with built-in presets for time-lapse videos, you can blend smooth real-time video with time-lapses of stars, people, or clouds without having to spend tons of time programming Genie to do so. You can even use Genie to take bracketed HDR time-lapse video for those days when the dynamic range is just too much for your camera to handle.
As if that isn't enough, Genie has an autostart function, so if you want footage of the sunrise but don't want to get up early, you can tell Genie when to start, and it'll take care of the rest.
If you're interested in creating breathtaking videos and time-lapses like Monica and Carlo, check out Syrp Genie. It is bound to become an invaluable part of your kit that gives you the ability to produce some truly epic videos that are sure to impress!
I don't know about you, but sometimes I get a little tired of doing the same old thing with my photos.
I mean, there's a lot of beautiful scenery nearby that gives me all sorts of chances to take some pretty good landscape photos.
But occasionally, even the most beautiful sunset or gorgeous beach doesn't trip my trigger, so to speak.
As in life, in photography, spicing things up now and again and trying new things is a great way to expand your horizons and reinvigorate your creativity.
The question is, what approaches can you take to explore different ways of creating a photo?
I've put together a list of five tried-and-true strategies that will allow you to give something new and different a try, and help you learn new photography skills at the same time.
Let's take a look...
Selective Color
I know what you're thinking...
Selective color is a total photography cliche, something that had its heyday ten years ago and then took its place among things to never do with your photos.
BUT, you have to admit that selective coloring is a unique way of creating an image, and one that takes a heck of a lot of time in post-processing.
Thinking about color and honing your post-processing skills aren't bad things, either.
In fact, even if your selective color images never see the light of day, you can at least use the process as a way to develop your creative eye. See how you can use selective coloring to your advantage in the video below from Wacom:
By using this process, when you survey a scene, you'll end up taking the time to notice elements that might benefit from selective coloring. Taking your time is a good thing!
For example, in the image at the beginning of this section, the photographer hand-picked which rubber bands got the selective coloring. That means they had to determine which ones (and how many) would generate the most pleasing final image.
Note how in this case, the level of coloring is just right - it's not so much that it's overwhelming, but there's also enough that gives the ball of rubber bands that extra bit of pop that draws in the eye.
Black and White
It's classic photography at its best...
Black and white photography is the oldest type, yet it still makes a significant impact when done well.
The difficulty in creating a compelling black and white image like the one above is in "seeing in black and white."
That means that for most of us who have color vision, we have to learn how to look for the things that make a black and white photo better.
That includes areas of highlight and shadow, textures, patterns, and shapes.
Note how the flower in the image above embodies all of these elements: some of its petals are beautifully illuminated while others are cast in shadow, giving the image the dynamic range it needs to capture the interest of the eye. What's more, the texture and shape of the petals give the eye something compelling to inspect in the absence of color. The pattern the petals create is yet another layer of visual interest to delight the eye.
The same concepts hold true for landscapes, cityscapes, and portraits - use light, shadow, texture, patterns, and shapes to help you create a more compelling photo
In the portrait above, notice how the sidelighting gives the image the areas of highlight and shadow that are needed to indicate depth.
What's more, think about this: if this image were in color, it wouldn't be nearly as interesting to view. The plain background would present as a solid wall of color, and with a relatively non-descript look on his face, the model wouldn't exactly be all that eye-catching either.
However, by manipulating the light, you get interesting shadows and highlights, which in turn create eye-catching shapes for our eyes to inspect.
HDR
Not all that long ago, creating an HDR (high dynamic range) image required post-processing magic.
Nowadays, all you need is a smartphone, and you've probably got an HDR setting right there at your fingertips.
The nice thing about HDR is that it allows you to overcome a range of shadows to highlights that's too much for your camera to handle.
That is, if your camera encounters a scene with a lot of highlights and shadows, a typical image might be exposed for the highlights, making the shadow areas underexposed, or exposed for the shadows, making the highlighted areas overexposed.
HDR addresses that issue because it combines several images into one, each of which is exposed for a different part of the scene's dynamic range.
In the image above, the HDR process took one image that was exposed for the dark areas, like the face of the bridge, one for the midtones, and one for the highlights of the sky, and combined them into one shot in which we get the best exposure for all three areas.
So, essentially, HDR tries to replicate what our eyes do automatically and create an image that has shadows, midtones, and highlights, all of which are well-exposed.
If you use your phone, all that is done for you automatically - you don't have to combine or process the images.
However, if you shoot with a DSLR or mirrorless camera, you'll have to combine the photos in post-processing.
Check out the video above by PHLEARN to get an in-depth look at how to create an HDR photo in Lightroom.
Time-Lapse Photography
Something that the first three types of photos have in common is that they are all relatively straightforward.
When it comes to time-lapse photography, though, many people think that it's simply too hard or requires too much expensive gear to get good results.
That's just not the case!
What makes time-lapse photography such an interesting type of photography to undertake is that you can compress hours and hours of time into just a handful of seconds, giving you the ability to show the movement of clouds, water, or other movement.
That's a unique way to approach photography that's sure to grab the attention of viewers, like the video above by Keith Liew.
One of the best ways to capture stunning time-lapse videos (and real-time videos and panoramas too!) is the Syrp Genie Mini.
This little hockey-puck shaped device gives you smooth panning motion control that you can adjust right from your smartphone.
You literally just mount the Genie Mini to your tripod, mount your camera to the Genie Mini, connect the Mini and your camera, and you're ready to go.
The accompanying smartphone app allows you to determine everything you need to get gorgeous time-lapses.
What's more, the app comes loaded with time-lapse presets, so even if you've never taken a time-lapse in your life, you can make one easily with the Syrp Genie Mini.
You can also create HDR time-lapse videos, so you won't have to worry about your camera struggling with the dynamic range as it takes the frames for your video. Talk about a great way to enhance your photos!
Plotagraph
If we're talking about innovative ways to change your photos, I have to say, Plotagraph Pro is my favorite.
Here's why...
First of all, Plotagraph Pro is a web-based platform that lets you take a single still image and add dynamic looping content to it.
As you can see in the image above, that little bit of motion goes a long way in terms of creating something that's jaw-droppingly beautiful.
That means that you can create a stunning motion graphic that not only grabs the attention of viewers more so than a regular static image but is a unique way of portraying your creative vision as well.
See that image above? Now look at it below with the Plotagraph treatment...
Talk about a transformation!
Essentially, Plotagraphs capitalize on the way we interact with content these days, and the way we do that is with dynamic - not static - content.
But the other great thing about Plotagraph Pro is that it's an online environment in which creativity is shared and inspiration gained.
If you join Plotagraph Pro, you have access to training from some of the world's best artists and photographers, a platform for sharing your Plotagraphs, and more.
What's more, Plotagraph Pro gives you tutorials, cloud storage for your Plotagraphs, and even portfolio space for sharing your creations.
It's not an understatement to say that Plotagraphs are the new photographs. Just take a look at the video below to see Plotagraph in action, and I think you'll agree - it's the most innovative and interesting way to spice up your images!
Credit: Rick Fienberg / TravelQuest International / Wilderness Travel
As most of you in the photography and filmmaking community know, on the 21st of August, North America (and some parts of South America, Africa, and Europe) will get to experience a moment that reminds us just how small we are on this tiny planet rocketing around the universe – a solar eclipse.
We’ve put together a handy guide on everything you need to know about being prepared to capture it, so read on, get your gear together and remember to show us what you’ve managed to shoot after it all goes down!
One thing to say before we get started - eclipses are bright. Well, the eclipse itself isn't bright, however, whenever you can see the sun throughout the eclipse, it's going to be damn bright with UV and IR rays flying all over the place. A little common sense is required to not look at it, even when you think it's covered up enough by the moon, because that's specifically when it'll get ya. Wear some fancy eclipse glasses if you can't resist (but not the ones that Amazon recalled...) and don't look through your view finder, even with your ND on at its darkest - use the live view function instead.
A little different from a lunar eclipse where the earth passes between the sun and the moon, blocking the light that usually makes the moon shine, a solar eclipse is when the moon orbits between the earth and the sun, casting a shadow on earth.
It’s an incredibly rare sight, which is why photographers haven’t stopped talking about it for weeks.
Eclipses aren’t straight forward things either – there are several phases:
Partial eclipse – when the moon begins to slide in front of the sun, partially covering it.
Start of total eclipse – just before the moon fully covers the sun phenomena such as Baily’s Beads and the Diamond Ring effect occur.
Totality – when the sun is fully covered by the moon. The sun’s corona is visible in a ring around the moon.
The steps above reverse, and the sun is revealed.
The constant transition of an eclipse means that photography can only capture one element at a time – which is where time-lapse comes in.
So When and Where Is It All Going Down?
The two most important things you need to know when hoping to capture a solar eclipse are pretty simple – where you need to be and when you need to be there.
The upcoming eclipse will pass from the West to East Coast of the US. The path of totality – a fancy way of saying the area where you can see a total eclipse from – is a narrow 70 mile (110km) strip running from coast to coast. This strip is the ideal place to get the complete eclipse experience, although you’ll still be able to capture some pretty cool time-lapses if you’re outside of the range.
The best time to view the eclipse changes depending on where you are. To find out where and when you can check it out, there’s plenty of great online resources like this one provided by NASA (so you know it’s legit).
Getting Your Gear Together
So you know where you’re going and what time you need to get there, but what do you actually need to bring with you? To do the eclipse justice, you need to have the right camera and lens combination.
Wide angle lenses will not work well because the sun will appear too small. You’ll need to use something that’s more than 200mm (on a full frame camera), although 600mm-800mm is more ideal. The below diagram shows you how the different focal lengths affect your final image.
Long lenses can be pretty expensive, but because you’re taking pictures of the sun, you’re not going to have an issue with low light, so using cheaper lenses with higher f-stops won’t be a problem.
Having a crop factor camera can also be of advantage as their smaller sensor sizes increase your focal length, allowing you to get more out of your current lenses.
On to Exposure
One of the most difficult elements of capturing the eclipse is the massive change in exposure throughout the event. In the earlier stages, you’ll need to expose for the sun using an ND filter (it’s pretty bright, ya know). During totality, the only light you’re going to see is from the corona (edges of the sun around the moon’s outline) which is pretty dim. It’s standard practice to remove your ND filter for this part of the eclipse.
For time-lapse, you’re going to need to manually bulb ramp from bright sunlight, to when the moon is in front of the sun and back again. There are a few ways to go about this, the easiest being manually adjusting the dials on your camera – although this can cause your camera to move. Due to the nature of the scene, this can also be very hard to fix in post because there isn’t much information for post stabilization systems to grab on to. A better option would be to use an app such as Canon Connect to control the exposure of the camera wirelessly.
Something else you’ll want to avoid is the shaking that comes when removing your ND Filter. A way around is to use a variable ND Filter such the Syrp Super Dark. It’s 5-10 stops, which provides enough range to cover all phases of the eclipse.
When bulb ramping, it’s best to change one setting at a time rather than all at once – this way it’s easier to keep track of everything. For example, start by changing the ISO, ND, aperture, and finally shutter speed.
Below is a diagram showing example exposures at different parts of the eclipse.
Get Your Interval Right
One of the core components in creating the time-lapse is your intervalometer. This will trigger your camera at regular intervals. To do this you can use a Genie Mini. Not only does it act as an intervalometer but it also has motion control features which you can use for tracking the sun.
Setting the Interval significantly affects the feel of the compiled time-lapse. A too long interval will cause the phases of the eclipse to go by too quick. However, a too fast interval can cause your camera to miss shots. This is due to the previous image still being processed. Using a fast camera and card will help mitigate this issue. It is best to test out what your camera is capable of before the shoot.
Below is an animation of the solar eclipse at different intervals. An interval of 1 second will mean the duration of totality during play back will last around 6.6 seconds, while at an interval of 4 seconds it will last 1.7 seconds (this is at 24 fps).
Aligning the Sun
Fun fact: the sun and moon move across the sky at 0.25° a minute, so you’ll need to ensure that you set up your camera so they don’t drift out of frame. There’s two ways to do this:
Use the drift method, where the sun and moon drift into frame.
Track the movement using a motion control device like the Genie Mini.
Drift Method
This is the simplest of the three methods as it doesn’t require motion control. First, you will need to set the focal length of your camera. This has a significant effect on the duration of your time-lapse. The wider the lens, the longer it takes for the sun to move from one side of the frame to the other. Below is a diagram showing how different focal lengths capture a different amount of the eclipse. Around 600 to 800mm is ideal as it will allow you to capture all the eclipse as well as providing enough room for error in aligning your camera.
Once you have set your focal length, you can then derive your record time. This is done by calculating the time it takes for the sun to move across the frame. To do this, use the table below. If you want to calculate this for yourself, use this equation (Horizontal FOV + 0.53)/0.25, where 0.53 is the degrees the sun takes up in the sky, and 0.25 is the degrees per minute the sun moves. (As your Record Time and Interval are set, your Play Time will be determined automatically from this).
The next step is to align the center of the frame with where totality will occur. To do this, you can use the NASA website we previously mentioned to figure out when totality will occur. Then in the app PhotoPills, set the time to that of totality. Using the Augmented View, roughly align your camera to where the eclipse will occur. Adjust your ball head and make sure the camera is parallel horizontally with the path of the sun so that it will sweep across the frame from left to right.
When pressing record, you want to do this so that it ensures that totality is halfway through your time-lapse. If you had a record time of 20min, you would press record 10min before totality. Before pressing record, make a small adjustment to your ball head positioning the sun on the left just out of frame. Now everything is lined up you can press go and bulb-ramp (see Exposure section above) through until it is finished. Once complete, the sun will be just out of the right side of the frame.
Genie Mini - Polar Alignment Track Method
Tracking the sun has the advantage of not having to worry about it drifting out of frame. This lets you capture a time-lapse of any desired duration, enabling you to capture every phase.
To set this up, you need to align your Genie Mini’s axis of rotation to the rotational axis of the earth. The most accurate way to do this is using an equatorial mount, which is designed for telescopes. Although less accurate, you can also achieve this using a sturdy tripod and head. First, connect the Genie Mini to the tripod head. Using an app like PhotoPills, open Augmented Reality View and lie the phone flat on top of the Genie Mini. Adjust the tripod until the phone is perfectly facing the south pole. You can also align your Genie Mini at night by aligning it to the North Star, Polaris.
Once aligned, fix your camera to the Genie Mini using the tilting arm of the Pan Tilt Bracket. This will alleviate the weight of your camera and long lens, making it easier for the Genie Mini. Shift the camera backwards and forwards on the mount until it’s balanced.
Next, you’ll need to set your record time. At its longest, the eclipse will last 2hrs 55min. Depending on your location, your total duration will differ.
Once set, you’ll need to configure how far the Genie Mini rotates over this time period. Make sure it is rotating counterclockwise from east to west. As the sun moves at 0.25° per minute, you’ll want to multiply the length of your record time in minutes by 0.25. In this case, it's 43.75°.
All you need to do now is align the start point so the camera is facing the sun and press go when the start of the partial eclipse begins.
Genie Mini and Timelapse +
Timelapse+ and the Genie Mini - the method above is brand new and in beta testing. It’s been sent to us by Timelapse+ and while we haven’t tested it ourselves, we hear it’s pretty reliable.
It's pretty straightforward -- install the latest beta (enable Settings->Developer Mode to access beta versions), then make sure you either have a GPS fix or disable the GPS (Settings->GPS Module) and manually enter the Latitude, Longitude and the current time (in UTC) in settings. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled in Settings->Wireless Setup and up to two Minis should automatically connect.
Then when you're setting up the time-lapse, you'll have the option to enable tracking = 'sun', and assign each Mini to an axis (#1 was the first connected). Or, better still, use the app (you need to enable the Built-in AP and use the local 10.0.0.1 option with the beta) and then you can configure each axis and enable sun tracking. You'll also have a joystick mode with live view for setup.
Also, here's how to test the eclipse program mode:
Disable GPS (Settings->GPS Module) so you can enter manual coordinates
Find the coordinates on Google Maps of where you plan to be, and enter them in Settings->Set GPS Latitude/Longitude
Change the date to 21 Aug 2017 in Settings->Set UTC Date
Set the time to a little before first contact: 16:00:00 in Settings->Set UTC Time (then check Information->Eclipse Info to verify)
Go to Time-lapse and set Timelapse Mode to 'eclipse'
Configure your settings for each part of the eclipse in Eclipse Circumstances
Check Review Program to see the planned events and settings
START the time-lapse and see how it goes!
Something To Note
Camera Sensor Size – All calculations are done with a full frame camera in mind. If you’re using a crop sensor, multiply your focal length by your crop factor and use the resulting focal length for your calculations. For example, if you have a 200mm lens on a Canon 80D with an APS-C sensor that has a crop factor of 1.6, the resulting focal length would be 320mm.
So there you have it, everything we have in our brains regarding the upcoming solar eclipse. Let us know how you get on, and have fun on Monday!
Question: How do you give a dying tree species a voice?
Answer: You make it sing!
Several of New Zealand’s greatest creative minds joined forces recently to create a public awareness campaign and video to promote preventative measures to stop the spread of dieback, a disease ravaging New Zealand’s native Kauri tree population.
Dieback is a brutal and untreatable disease. Microscopic spores in the soil infect tissue and cause the tree to bleed sap, effectively starving the kauri of nutrients.
The spores can be spread in soil as small as a pinhead, making the recommendations for cleaning feet and gear and sticking to the track, currently ignored by 83% of forest visitors, all the more important.
The campaign’s creation was a complicated process – film vertical tracking shots of a tree with dieback, take the footage and create a musical score, which will then be played by members of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
Syrp’s motion control expertise was called upon for the initial stage – the tracking shot of the tree.
Using five vertical Magic Carpet Long Tracks and Genies, Nikon cameras were tracked up and down the kauri, recording footage of the dieback.
The placement of each setup was carefully selected to avoid the roots of the kauri tree and prevent further damage. You can watch the behind the scenes video to see how we did it here:
This imagery would then be processed and turned into a musical score. This task of unfathomable difficulty fell on the lap of New Zealand-based electronic musician and production specialist Tom Cosm.
Tom used the motion tracking shots of the dieback to create pitch and volume, which eventually were converted into notes using pattern-finding algorithms and code.
Once converted, the score was then given to five members of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. The resulting musical piece and performance personifies the slow and preventable demise of one of New Zealand’s forest giants – a literal kauri swan song. Watch the video of the performance here:
During the shoot, the crew were briefed on both safety for themselves and the kauri, all gear that touched the forest floor was rigorously disinfected, and a Ranger was present to oversee the shoot at all times. Every precaution possible was taken to ensure that no harm came to any kauri on this or future shoots.
Produced for Auckland Council and Keep Kauri Standing by Tom Cosm, Thick As Thieves, Syrp, Liquid Music + Sound, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Nikon.
If you’re a landscape photographer, there are plenty of different filters you should have in your bag.
A polarizer is a must, and a graduated neutral density filter is a good asset as well.
Many landscape photographers also carry a kit of neutral density filters. I used to be one such photographer, but now I’ve started using a variable ND filter instead.
The convenience of having multiple ND filters in one is simply too good to pass up. Of course, like any other lens filters, there are good and bad options when choosing a variable ND.
If you’re ready to upgrade your kit with a quality variable ND filter, consider one of the following options.
Kenko Professional Variable NDX Filter
This Kenko Variable NDX is the ND filter I have in my kit, and it has impressed from day one.
It offers a range of light-stopping power from 1.3-8.5 stops, so it truly offers a wide range of possibilities for creating long exposures.
Editor's Tip: Get Kenko’s latest updates and access to promos for discounted gear. Click here to sign up.
What’s more, the practical use factor range is ND2.5-450 and is extendable to ND1000. Just imagine the gorgeously smooth motion you can get at ND1000!
Kenko offers these filters in 77mm and 82mm sizes. The filter is made by mounting two pieces of high-quality polarizing glass opposite one another, that way when you turn the filter ring, it provides smooth operating motion and lightens or darkens as you see fit.
When using ND filters of any kind, getting a neutral color result is key. Kenko ensures that your images have hyper-neutral color balance thanks to a depolarizing plate inside the filter.
That means there’s no color shifting, no vignetting, and no flare. Instead, you just get a wide range of stopping power thanks to high-quality materials and top-quality construction.
Why carry around a big ND filter kit when something like this will do the job and do it well?!
I’ve used Marumi filters many times over the years, and they have performed well (and are typically priced affordably, too).
Their DHG Variable ND Filter offers continuous adjustment from ND2 to ND400. Though that isn’t quite the range of the Kenko filter outlined above, it’s still a good variation of light-stopping power for most shooters.
Marumi uses prime Japanese optics to craft these filters, so they provide crisp, clean, and sharp results.
The ultra-thin screw thread on the filter frame is both easy to attach and detach from your lens, and because it’s so thin, vignetting isn’t a problem.
The aluminum filter frame is lightweight and durable, so it can stand up to a little punishment as you strive to get those gorgeous long exposures you seek.
Like Kenko, Marumi has ensured that the filter produces hyper-neutral colors, so you don’t have to worry about color casting when using this filter. As you can see in the before and after images above, there is no difference in the color tones, yet in the second image, the shutter speed has been extended to blur the movement of the water.
There’s a reason why Digital Camera Magazine awarded Marumi Variable ND Filters with their Gold Award - they are simply built right to give you top performance!
Though Syrp might be better known for their motion control devices, they actually make a really good variable ND filter.
I tested this rig a couple of years ago, and I found it to be every bit as good as some of the heavy-hitters in the filter industry.
What’s nice about the Syrp option is that it comes with two step-up rings so you can fit an 82mm filter to a 72mm or 77mm lens. They even throw in a genuine leather carrying case and a lens cloth too!
The filter itself is made of high-quality Japanese glass so you get those sharp results you’re looking for whether you’re using the filter for still photos or videos.
This particular model offers 1-8 tops of filtering power, so you can smooth out motion for long exposures or open up the aperture nice and wide to get gorgeous bokeh.
If you’ve never used a variable ND filter before, this is a good one to start with!
Though this filter is $300 for a 77mm version, it’s still a good buy considering a complete ND filter kit would likely cost twice that much.
And for that price, you get B&W’s solid reputation for building some of the best filters in the business.
This model offers 1-5 stops and has an extra wide mount that aids in avoiding vignetting when using wide-angle and ultra wide-angle lenses.
The filter has a Multi-Resistant Coating with Nano Technology that ensures the filter repels contaminants like water and oils from your skin.
The filter ring is made of brass, so it’s a little heavier than other filters on this list. But brass is also highly durable, so this rig can stand up to a ton of use for years and years to come.
That’s just what you want in a variable ND filter - excellent results and long-lasting durability.
If you’re a more budget-conscious buyer, Tiffen makes a quality variable ND filter that won’t bust your budget.
Just like the other filters discussed above, the Tiffen Variable ND Filter has a built-in rotating ring that allows you to quickly and easily adjust its filtering power. The ring offers smooth rotating action for precise control that discerning photographers demand.
With exposure control from ND 0.6-2.4, this filter will give you 2-8 stops of filtering power. Again, that’s not as wide a range as other filters on this list, but is still more than adequate for most photographers.
What makes this filter an especially good buy is Tiffen’s ColorCore technology. ColorCore ensures that you get color-neutral results, which is not something that many budget-friendly variable ND filters can claim.
On top of that, ColorCore helps control the precise density of the filtration. This means that you have more control over the exact degree of filtration in your photos.
I don't know about you, but I'm incredibly excited about the direction that photography is headed.
We're seeing more innovation than ever in cameras, lenses, and other photography gear, which gives us more power to create epic photos.
Post-processing programs are evolving into highly powerful editing suites that allow us to take our photography to the next level more quickly and efficiently.
We're even seeing changes in how we buy and sell photography equipment, share our photos, and market our businesses.
It's exciting times, for sure!
Here's some of the top businesses in the photography industry that are leading the charge in innovating the artform we love so much.
Sew Trendy Fashion & Accessories
Legacy Photography
Sew Trendy started humbly in a basement just a few years ago.
Today, it's one of the premier wardrobe manufacturers for maternity photography, girls' photography, and newborn photography.
Their success in growing their business is attributable to many different factors, not the least of which that they constantly develop new designs for their line of maternity gowns, girls dresses, and newborn clothing, so photographers have fresh looks to offer their clients.
And in an age in which customer service is often lacking, Sew Trendy certainly bucks the trend. They're with you every step of the way, ready, willing, and able to help you with any questions or concerns you might have.
Valerie Best, the company's Founder and CEO has a lot to do with the success of her company as well.
She's committed to quality, and that shows in every handmade garment that leaves her company's warehouse.
Over the years, Sirui has built a reputation for manufacturing some of the best photography tripods on the market.
I can attest to the quality of their tripods, as I own one!
But Sirui is much more than a tripod company...
They supply photographers the world over with high-quality gear that ranges from monopods to tripod heads, camera bags to lens filters, and even photography accessories for your mobile phone.
As if that's not enough, Sirui also offers a complete line of humidity cabinets, broadcast tripods, and various quick release plates, too.
In other words, Sirui is a one-stop shop for just about all your photography needs, and is definitely a company to keep your eye on in 2018.
When talking about innovative photography companies that are sure to turn the photography world on its head in 2018, CaptureLife should immediately come to mind.
If you're not familiar with CaptureLife, check this out...
This app allows you to share photos with your clients right on their smartphone.
That means you can streamline how you get photos to clients as well as make it a more personalized process - the images are delivered via a branded text message that's personalized to the client.
On top of that, CaptureLife is a sales platform that allows your clients to order prints right from their phone. They can also share their photos with friends and family, which increases your sales footprint.
Mobile is the future, and if you're in the photography business, you need to capitalize on that by teaming up with CaptureLife!
One of the challenges of staying relevant in the photography industry is keeping your ear to the pulse of what photographers need.
Click Props does just that.
With a huge collection of gorgeous portrait backgrounds, Click Props gives photographers the ability to create more impactful portraits no matter who the subject might be.
Aside from their commitment to crafting the best backgrounds in the business, Click Props understands the practical needs of photographers as well.
They offer backgrounds in various sizes, each of which is easy to setup and takedown. They're even easy to clean and easy to store, too.
That means you spend less time messing around getting things setup and stored away, and more time actually taking photos.
Another company that's sure to make waves in 2018 is Vanguard.
I've been a fan of Vanguard for years now, and I can tell you firsthand that in the last couple of years, they've really stepped up their game with their product line.
In particular, their tripods and camera bags are among the best in the business, not just because they have innovative features that make photography easier and more efficient, but because their products are budget-friendly as well.
That means that Vanguard has figured out a way to offer photographers the best of both worlds - high-value, well-made products that won't break the bank.
Vanguard is at the tip of the spear of innovation in photography. If you aren't excited to see what they come up with in 2018, you should be!
Photography isn't just about the gear you use, nor is it just about your skills in composition, framing, post-processing and the like.
Instead, the process of creating an image isn't truly complete until you have a gorgeous print. That's where Artbeat Studios comes in.
I came across Artbeat Studios last year, and after touring their facility, I was blown away by their process and the products they make.
Among their best sellers are their acrylic and metal HD prints, the latter of which you can see in the photo above.
To say that Artbeat's prints are gorgeous is an understatement. What they produce is truly fine art.
That's because they're committed to using archival materials, paying close attention to color fidelity, and providing custom services so you get the exact print you want.
If you're looking to revolutionize the way your photos look, give Artbeat Studios a try!
One of the best things about the photography industry is that there are so many companies doing so many awesome things for photographers.
In 2018, I strongly suggest that you change the way you market your photography business by partnering with Uniregistry.
These guys have two domains - .pics and .photo - that will help you get more eyes on your photos and more clients knocking on your door.
Why?
It's simple - Uniregistry's domains are photography specific, so you can promote your work on your website with a professional and credible domain name.
Not only do .pics and .photo domains tell the world exactly what you do right there in the URL, but they're fresh and new, so the chances of you getting the exact name you want are much greater.
It's just a better way to market yourself on today's crowded internet!
Photography gear can be expensive, and all that expense is cost-prohibitive if you're on a budget.
But MPB has changed the way that photographers buy gear because they've created an extensive marketplace where you can find high-quality pre-owned gear for excellent prices.
Not only that, you can sell your old gear to MPB and either pocket the money or get a credit toward the purchase of something on their site.
That means you can refresh your kit from time to time by getting rid of what you no longer want or need and replace it with well-priced, pre-owned gear for less.
Stretch your budget. Get more gear for less. Get better gear for less, too. Not bad, right?
Not that long ago, there was a lack of photography gear specially designed for female photographers.
But in 2010, that all changed when SHUTTERbag was founded.
SHUTTERbag specializes in crafting leather camera bags for women that are beautiful and functional, too.
This commitment to quality is evident in every SHUTTERbag model.
For mom photographers on the go, SHUTTERbag offers the Girls Day Out bag (shown top left, above).
This ingenious camera bag has three separate compartments - one for your camera gear and two zippered compartments for things like a tablet for business tasks and books, toys, diapers and other items for your kids.
Like all SHUTTERbag models, the Girls Day Out is the height of form and function.
It’s an ideal size for daily use, and with its built-in organizational aids, you can keep your photography stuff separate from your personal items with ease.
That means you can grab your camera, your phone or a diaper at a moment’s notice.
Now that’s how you get more production out of your day!
SHUTTERbag’s Trailblazer bag (shown top right, above) is another example of commitment to innovation.
This bag has a unique style and flair that make a strong fashion statement, but don’t think that this bag is just about looking good…
Inside, you’ll find room for a camera body and up to four lenses. Alternatively, you can carry two camera bodies and three lenses. There’s even a spot for your tablet or laptop!
With padded dividers that are removable and adjustable, you can truly customize this bag to suit your specific needs.
For mid-range carrying capacity, SHUTTERbag designed the Heirloom 5-in-1 bag (shown bottom left, above).
Not only can this bag accommodate a camera, three lenses, and up to a 15-inch laptop, but it can also be carried in a variety of ways - as a tote bag, a messenger bag, a shoulder bag or even as a backpack.
Talk about innovation!
Their Journey bag (shown bottom right, above) is a tote bag that’s made of genuine leather and features a breathable cotton lining that provides a soft surface for your gear inside the bag.
The Journey has a detachable strap that has a slip-resistant shoulder pad that gives you confidence when carrying your bag either over the shoulder or across your body.
The bag can easily accommodate a camera with a 70-200mm lens attached, as well as a laptop, a tablet, camera accessories, and personal items like your checkbook and smartphone as well.
And as if their bags aren’t enough to impress, consider this - SHUTTERbag is a small business, so they treat their customers like family.
That means that you not only get to choose from a wide array of incredible camera bags, but you know that you’ll get the service you deserve before, during, and after the sale, too.
When you think of photo albums, you might think that they're all the same or that there's not much room for improvement.
But you'd be wrong.
nPhoto has proven that by becoming one of the top producers of photo albums and other products in the world.
Their handcrafted albums, triplexes, photo boxes, and other products are second-to-none in the industry.
nPhoto uses the best materials to construct their products, from fine textiles and leatherettes for their album covers to silk and metallic papers that give each page of their albums a hefty, crisp, and expensive feel.
What's more, nPhoto gives you plentiful options for customizing their albums, so you can get something that's truly your own or tailored to your clients' specific tastes.
Taking great photos is only half the battle - how you present them matters, too. If you work with nPhoto, you'll certainly have the presentation aspect of it down pat.
The MS20PRO 20”x20”x12” tabletop photo studio by MyStudio is an ideal accessory to help you take your product photography to the next level.
Unlike many other tabletop studios, this one offers a seamless cyclorama infinity background with 90-degree corners that gives you many more shooting angles to highlight the products that you’re photographing.
The studio comes with dual 5000k color-corrected daylight fluorescent lamps, which offer tons of light for your images while providing excellent color as well.
MyStudio also includes 9”x12” white and black bounce/fill cards with easel stands to create nice, even lighting, and a pair of 9.5”x11.5” white and black reflective acrylic panels to create beautiful reflections beneath the products you photograph.
The folks at MyStudio have even produced a series of instructional videos that are available on their YouTube page to get you going with your new photo studio!
I only became familiar with MrStarGuy in the latter half of last year, but they quickly became one of my favorite photography companies.
For starters, MrStarGuy is an authority on astrophotography gear - no matter what you need, whether it's a scope, a mount, a tripod, or something in between, MrStarGuy has what you need.
Secondly, these guys offer their high-quality products for prices that you can actually afford. You get tons of bang for your buck, which isn't always the case in photography.
But maybe most importantly, this family-owned business is committed to service before, during, and after the sale.
They're genuine folks that want their customers to feel like old friends.
If you're excited to expand your photography horizons this year and tackle some night sky photography, be sure to visit MrStarGuy to get all the gear you need.
When I think about where photography is headed in the future, I can't help but think of drone photography.
And when I think of drones, DJI comes to mind.
DJI has some of the very best drones in the business. That's true whether you're a beginner drone photographer or an experienced veteran.
What makes DJI's drones so great is that they're packed with features - like collision avoidance systems and gesture-based flight controls.
Additionally, there are a plethora of options, upgrades, and add-ons that you can use to customize your drone to get the ideal flying and photographic experience.
As drones become more and more popular for photography, you can bet that DJI will be leading the charge in innovating how drones are built and how they perform.
Macphun has been around awhile, and they've developed a reputation as one of the best in the software business.
As they rebrand and become Skylum, it's important to note that this small team of software experts continues to make waves in the photography industry.
In fact, they've won tons of awards over the years for their products, most recently for their impeccable Aurora HDR 2018, which was named by Apple as the app of the year for 2017.
Considering how many apps there are these days, that's quite the achievement!
Speaking of achievements, with Macphun's software, like the aforementioned Aurora HDR, as well as their Luminar 2018, you can achieve great things with your images.
Not only that, but you can create better-looking photos in less time and with less effort, all within platforms that are smartly designed and give you an effortless workflow.
My goal this year is to do a better job of processing my images, and with Macphun by my side, I have no doubt that I will achieve that goal.
Have you ever wanted a new lens but just couldn't bring yourself to shell out the kind of money needed to get truly high-quality glass?
Well, that worry is over now that Lensfinder is on the scene.
Lensfinder is a marketplace where - you guessed it - you can find lenses for great prices.
If you're looking for a rare or high-end lens (or everyday lenses, for that matter), you can use Lensfinder's easy search tools to locate what you need.
Then, you can communicate with the seller, ask questions, and even pay for your new-to-you lens via PayPal, right there within Lensfinder.
You can also sell the lenses you no longer want, too, so it's the best of both worlds.
Lensfinder has built-in fraud protections, seller feedback ratings, and other smart tools that help make your transaction as smooth as possible.
If you want to upgrade your kit this year, check out Lensfinder!
My biggest complaint about cameras is the terrible strap that comes with them at purchase.
The OEM straps are thin, uncomfortable, and just plain get in the way when you're trying to take photos.
That's why Spider Holster is such a game-changer, because they're responsible for getting your camera off your shoulders and onto your hips where you can carry your cameras with greater ease and security.
Just looking at the photo above, you can imagine how much more streamlined your workflow would be if you're using a Spider Holster.
You can carry one camera or two using the Spider Pro (for big DSLRs) or the SpiderLight (for compact, mirrorless, or small DSLR cameras).
They even make hand straps that put your camera right in your hand in the ideal shooting position, all without a long strap always getting in your way.
Spider Holster has revolutionized how to carry cameras. In 2018, I strongly recommend that you let Spider Holster revolutionize the way you work.
When many people hear the word "insurance," they cringe.
But who can blame them? Buying insurance has historically been a process that's time-consuming and frustrating.
Not now.
Next Insurance has changed how photographers purchase insurance because they've cut out the middleman.
Instead of dealing with a broker, you can visit Next Insurance's website, get a free quote, and get the coverage you need faster and for less money.
By cutting costs, Next Insurance is able to pass those savings on to their customers, so you can get the best coverage without breaking the bank.
From equipment protection to liability for damages to advertising claims, Next Insurance has policies and coverages that will ensure your business will prosper for years to come.
If filmmaking is your passion, then you need to see what Syrp has to offer in 2018.
As one of the most innovative companies in the photography industry, Syrp is always at the leading edge of what's new for filmmakers.
Their line of products helps videographers of all skill levels and experience to create breathtaking films.
Their Genie Mini motion control device (shown above) - which gives you control over your camera to create time-lapse videos using your cell phone - is just one of their incredible products.
They also have sliders, filters, ball heads, motion control bundles, and much more, so you can get outfitted for filmmaking quickly and without spending a ton of money, either.
Never before has making time-lapses and real-time videos been so easy!
I fully admit that I've been an Apple enthusiast for quite some time.
However, my love affair with Apple has waned in the last few years, and that's thanks to Microsoft.
Even though it's a household name and one of the largest companies in the world, Microsoft still approaches the process of creating products the same way - with the end-user in mind.
In particular, their Surface line of products is especially impressive for photographers because they have technologies that make the daily grind of business easier and make things like post-processing a more efficient process as well.
With touch-enabled screens, innovative tools like the Surface Pen and Surface Dial, and machines that are stocked with technology that makes them faster, more efficient, and with more battery life, there's a lot to love about what Microsoft is doing with the Surface product line.
If you want to maximize your workflow, consider seeing what Microsoft can do for you.
Sometimes, being innovative means helping bring the past into the present.
That’s precisely what Wolverine Data does.
Their new Wolverine 8mm & Super8 Reels to Digital MovieMaker is a fully automated gadget that digitizes all those old 3, 5, 7 and 9-inch film reels into high-quality movies at 1080p.
It’s a standalone machine that handles the frame-by-frame conversion without the need for software or drivers, or even a computer. The film scans directly to the machine where it’s saved to a SD/SDHC card (not included). The entire process requires just a few steps to complete.
The resulting movies are compatible with all Windows, Mac, and Linux systems, and you can playback the digitized movies directly to a TV with the included TV cable.
If you don’t have tons of old film reels collecting dust on a shelf in your house, I’m willing to bet you know someone that does...
Instead of letting those films degrade and take family memories along with them, this year, use Wolverine Data’s innovative new movie maker to convert your films to digital before those memories are lost forever!
This company is so impressive, I decided to put them on this list twice!
If you photograph products that are bigger than what the MyStudio MS20PRO can accommodate, the MyStudio US31 tabletop photo studio is the perfect choice.
Measuring 31”x19”x16”, it gives you plenty of room to maneuver your products, and true to form, MyStudio has ensured that from every angle, your images benefit from a gorgeous infinity background.
This tabletop studio features two color corrected, 5000K ultra bright LED lights that bathe the studio (and your products) in bright, clean, even light. These lamps are so bright, in fact, that you don’t need any additional lighting whatsoever. Just set up the studio, place your products inside, and you’re ready to go!
You can see just how clean and even the lighting is in the sample photo I took of my camera gear and bag.
I took that image when I was at Photo Plus 2017. I had the pleasure of seeing the folks from MyStudio while I was there, and managed to closely inspect the craftsmanship and materials used in their US31 studio.
They clearly took no shortcuts in the quality of materials used or in the build quality. The design allows for even distribution of light, and quick set up. In short, I was more than impressed with the US31 Studio!
One of the downers about taking photos is that eventually you run out of room to display them.
But the Joy Smart Photo Album takes care of that issue...
It's not your everyday digital photo album, either. Instead, Joy is a storytelling device that allows you to connect with your friends, family, and loved ones because it has voice notes that allow you to narrate each photo memory. You can even conduct voice calls between two Joy devices and share a screen so you can share memories together with loved ones that are far away.
The great thing about Joy is that it doesn't have to remain on the shelf or table - you can take it with you to the couch to enjoy up-close.
And when you aren't enjoying the photo album in your lap, it has a wireless charging stand that charges its batteries and displays your photos in slideshow mode.
Joy has a companion mobile and web app that allows you to load new albums and even invite friends and family to add their photos for display. You can easily pull photos from social media as well.
And with a 13.3-inch full HD display, your photos will look beautiful, too!
One of the hallmarks of a great photo is attention to detail - ensuring that each aspect of the image is perfect.
Well, that sentiment holds true for photography gear, and there's no one better at the details than Holdfast.
These guys make some of the most incredible camera bags I've ever seen. And that's saying a lot because I've owned plenty of great bags over the years.
But what sets Holdfast apart is that attention to detail I mentioned, as well as the amazing materials they use to craft their bags and other products.
We're talking about bridle leather, water buffalo leather, American bison leather, and even python skin.
On top of that, Holdfast's products are smartly designed so you can carry more gear, more efficiently, all while keeping each piece of kit safe and secure.
If you're looking to upgrade your camera bag in 2018, look no further than Holdfast.
When you talk about companies that have revolutionized how you take photos, Alpine Labs has to be in the conversation...
Their Pulse camera remote - and now their new Spark camera remote - have made taking great still photos, time lapse videos, long exposures, and real-time videos much easier and more accessible to even novice photographers.
These gadgets are packed full of powerful software and hardware that literally make it possible for you to create a time lapse video with just a few presses and swipes on your mobile phone.
Creating long exposures is equally as easy.
But don't think that because Alpine Labs has made things easy that their products are somehow cut-rate.
These are the best camera remotes on the market, and Alpine Labs is constantly making them better. That just makes me wonder what they have in store for us in 2018!
Looking for a top-quality slider to enhance your filmmaking abilities, but aren't sure what to get?
This guide is for you...
There are all kinds of considerations to make when investing in a slider, from the type of slider you purchase to the features the slider offers to, of course, the price.
In this guide, learn the fundamentals of camera sliders so you can make an informed decision about which camera slider is best for you.
Let's get started!
Camera Sliders 101: Types of Sliders
As explained in the video above by ZY Productions, there are two types of sliders: friction sliders and bearing sliders.
Friction sliders have a metal carriage that slides along a track. The carriage is basically a metal chunk with two holes drilled through it lengthwise to accommodate the slider track (shown below). Typically, there are plastic bushings to help "grease the wheels," so to speak, and allows the metal carriage to glide along the track with greater ease.
YouTube Screenshot/ZY Productions
The issue that friction sliders have is that as you add weight to them (i.e., a pan head, a camera, and a lens), that weight adds friction between the carriage and the track, and the smooth action of the carriage is greatly diminished.
For that reason, a bearing slider is preferable.
YouTube Screenshot/ZY Productions
Though a bearing also has a rail and a carriage just like a friction slider, instead of relying on friction, bearing sliders have bearings, or wheels.
Not only does this improve the ease with which you can move the carriage along the rail, but it also improves the smoothness of that motion, especially when you're trying to make very small or slow movements.
As you can see above, the plastic bearings wrap around the rail for a sleek, gliding motion, even when loaded up with camera gear.
YouTube Screenshot/ZY Productions
Higher-end bearing sliders have additional features that enable you to create ultra-smooth video.
For example, the slider shown above has metal bearings - which are more reliable and offer smoother motion than plastic bearings - and a built-in drive system with a crank handle for moving the carriage along the track.
Better still, sliders like this are often compatible with motion-control devices for a truly professional videography setup.
The advantage of the Magic Carpet aluminum version is that it is less expensive than its carbon fiber counterpart. If you need a slider but don't have a huge budget, this is the way to go.
This particular version comes with a carriage and end caps (shown above), so it's a complete setup - you just need to add your camera.
You can use the Magic Carpet for manual sliding shots, or, if you prefer, you can add a motion control unit as well.
I particularly like the fact that the Magic Carpet has quick-release legs and a counterweight for vertical shots.
The ball bearing rollers are ultra-smooth and precise as well, so you get a high-quality rig on a budget.
On the other hand, I also have Syrp's Magic Carpet Carbon Fiber, and to say that it's an amazing piece of equipment is an understatement.
It has the same impeccable construction and design as its aluminum counterpart, but given that it's carbon fiber, it weighs much less. Naturally, that's a prime feature if you're a filmmaker that is on the move a lot.
This thing is also infinitely extendable so you can create epically long sliding shots. And since it's also compatible with motion control devices, you can create some awesome cinematic footage with it.
The Magic Carpet Carbon fiber is tripod mountable, easily breaks down for carrying in a bag, and can operate in vertical orientation as well.
This combination of features, portability, and light weight are the reasons why this is my slider of choice.
How to Use a Camera Slider
Using a camera slider is straightforward, yet the results you get are beautifully cinematic.
In the video above, Austin Newman shares how he uses a slider to create more dynamic footage.
You can see how the setup is simple - a slider and a camera with a lens attached. Just set up the slider where you want, fire up your camera, and you're ready to capture footage.
YouTube Screenshot/Austin Newman
As Austin explains, there are numerous advantages of using a slider:
You can reveal a scene by sliding the camera out from behind an object.
You can create movement by sliding along a path, like following the footsteps of a subject in the shot
You can mount some sliders to a tripod to create elevated movement that gives your footage a different look.
As noted earlier, some sliders, like the Syrp Magic Carpet Short Slider that Austin uses, can be used with motion control devices for delightfully smooth motion.
The point here is that a camera slider is a must-have if you want to create truly cinematic footage.
Based on my personal experience with sliders, I can attest to the fact that bearing sliders, and in particular, the Syrp Magic Carpet, are the best choice you can make when investing in this type of gear.
Like photography, videography requires a huge investment of time, patience, a good bit of money, and maybe a little bit of luck, too.
You need the right tools for the job as well.
A great film is never just about the gear you use, but it doesn’t hurt to have some high-powered tools to back you up, either.
Syrp understands this, and has built a reputation of creating some of the most innovative, easy-to-use filmmaking products in the industry.
And they’ve done it again, only this time it isn’t the gear itself we need to discuss. Instead, it’s a bevy of new features that make filmmaking much easier.
Follow Subjects With Ease With “Live Drive”
I have a Syrp Genie Mini II, and it’s one of the best motion control devices I’ve ever gotten my hands on.
Now, it’s even more capable because Syrp has unveiled Live Drive, a feature that allows you to control the device by using the joystick in the Genie II App.
Using Line Drive couldn’t be easier - just access the Live Drive feature in the app and use the on-screen joystick to control motion on up to three axes.
You get independent control over each axis as well, so you can turn them on and off as you see fit. There are also controls for the speed, smoothing, and direction.
You can adjust the speed from 0-100 percent, the smoothing can be set at 0-10 to give you a fine level of control over easing into movement, and the directional controls can be adjusted to the circumstances, like inverting controls if the motion control unit is upside down.
There are tons of different applications for Live Drive - virtually any situation in which you want to follow the subject by using these manual controls.
Whether you’re filming a concert, creating a feature film, capturing footage of a sporting event, or something in between, Live Drive will help you capture unique and beautiful footage with much greater ease.
Create Stop Motion Videos in a Fraction of the Time
Another interesting feature that Syrp recently unveiled is the Stop Motion capability in the Genie II app.
If you’re an animator, you understand the amount of time it takes to create stop motion videos. It is a laborious and detailed process in which you might work for hours and hours to create a few seconds of footage.
But with Syrp’s new Stop Motion feature, you can create videos faster and more precisely. That’s due in large part to the ability to set up movement using the keyframe editor in the app.
Furthermore, you can use the app to control the frame rate, move the camera, and fire the camera.
Better still, you can use the app to navigate to any keyframe in the sequence to re-shoot, if needed. This is done without having to start the entire sequence over again. Talk about a time-saver!
You can see this incredible feature in action in the video at the beginning of this section. It truly is impressive how fast and accurate it makes creating stop motion videos!
Photographers Get a New Feature Too - Multi-Row Panoramas
Not wanting to leave us photographers out in the cold, Syrp has a new goodie for us too…
Their new multi-row panorama feature enables you to use the Genie II app with the Genie II Pan Tilt or the Genie Mini II (or both) to shoot up to five rows of images. These separate photos can then be turned into a high-resolution gigapixel image or up to a 360-degree panorama.
As you can see above, you can also create a more traditional single-row panorama.
Again, this feature is all about making complex tasks easier and less time-consuming.
In the video above, you can see how quickly you can configure the panorama. Likewise, configuring camera variables like its orientation, the focal length being used, the sensor size, and aspect ratio takes but a few moments. Get some insights on how to edit these beastly panoramas in the tutorial below:
With the intuitive design of the Genie Mini II interface and the ease of use of these new features, Syrp has made it possible to create gorgeous photos and videos in a fraction of the time and with far less stress, I might add.
It’s tools like these that make all the difference in content creation these days. Give Syrp’s website a visit to learn more about how these and other features will enable you to fulfill your creative vision.
I don't know about you, but I can't wait for the holidays.
It's been a tough year - I think we can all agree on that - so some holiday cheer will be a nice change of pace.
While it seems like the holidays are a long ways off, they tend to sneak up on us (at least they do me). But this year I've resolved to be ready ahead of time and get my holiday shopping done well in advance.
If you've got the same goal and have a photographer on your holiday shopping list, consult this list of the best gifts for photographers under $2,500 to get some gift idea inspiration!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: CanvasHQ Print
One of my favorite gifts to give (and to get, while we're at it) is a big, beautiful print.
Personally, I like canvas because of the texture the canvas gives to the print. Besides, a canvas print is something that will continue to give joy to the person that receives it for years and years to come!
Now, I know what you're thinking...canvas is so old-school.
But if you order your canvases from the right printers, you can get something that is beautiful, well-made and looks modern, even if the substrate is perhaps a bit old-school.
I have tons of canvases in my home, the vast majority of which are fromCanvasHQ.
These are some of the best canvas prints I've ever purchased. The sharpness of detail, the color accuracy, and the overall build quality of these prints is next-level good.
Part of the reason for this is the materials CanvasHQ uses. We’re talking archival-grade canvas, commercial-grade inks that are water and UV resistant, and kiln-dried pine frames to keep everything straight and true.
But CanvasHQ isn't just tops in the quality department...
They have excellent customer service that makes you feel heard and as though you're the only customer they have to worry about at that moment.
These guys are committed to getting it right, so if something doesn’t go as planned, you won’t be hung out to dry.
If you have questions, they’ll answer them. If you have a problem, they’ll fix it. If you need assistance with uploading your photo or even picking the best finishes for your canvas, they’ve got your back.
In the video above, you can see how one of my CanvasHQ prints stacks up against similar prints from other printing companies. I think you'll see why I'm so loyal to CanvasHQ!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: DJI Mavic 2 Pro
I've been a fan of DJI drones for years and years. In fact, when I've had my fill with one of their drones, I go right back to DJI and get a newer one.
I have two DJI drones at the moment, and one of them is the Mavic 2 Pro. To say that it's been a fantastic addition to my kit is a massive understatement.
While I use the DJI Mavic Mini for quick outings, the Mavic 2 Pro is my go-to rig for heavy-duty tasks. This is the case because of features like this:
20-megapixel 1-inch CMOS sensor (it’s a Hasselblad too!!)
But don't think that because it's loaded with features that this is a big, bulky drone. Quite the contrary...
When it’s unfolded, the Mavic 2 Pro is 12.7 (L) x 9.5 (W) x 3.3 (H). But when it’s folded, it’s small form factor becomes much more apparent: it’s just 8.4 (L) x 3.6 (W) x 3.3 (H).
But perhaps best of all is the price!
The Mavic 2 Pro's price has steadily dropped, and right now it's the lowest it's ever been at $1,599.00. With a $2,500 budget, that gives you leeway to add in another gift for your favorite photographer this holiday season!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Haida M10 Master Filter Kit
One of the most critical components of a good photography kit is a set of high-quality filters.
Sure, there are less expensive filters out there, but why put a cheaply-made filter in front of your expensive lens?!
If you want to give the photographer on your list the ultimate holiday gift, you might consider a professional filter kit, like the Haida M10 Master Filter Kit.
This kit has everything that's needed to be prepared for taking breathtaking photos.
It comes with the Haida M10 filter holder and 67mm/72mm/77mm and 82mm adapter rings. It also comes with a host of must-have filters:
Drop-in circular polarizer
100x100mm Red-Diamond ND3.0
100x100mm Red-Diamond ND1.8
100x100mm Red-Diamond ND0.9
100x150 Red-Diamond Medium ND0.9
100x150 Red-Diamond Reverse Graduated ND0.9
100x150mm Red-Diamond Hard Graduated
No matter if the photographer in your life is taking photos morning, noon or night, in the mountains or at the beach, or taking a normal photo or a long exposure, this kit has what they need to find success.
I've used the Haida M10 system for a while now, and it has proven to be worthy of the price tag over and over again.
This system is intuitive to use, highly durable, and the quality of the filters is simply second-to-none!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Pre-Owned Canon EOS R
The EOS R is Canon's very first mirrorless camera, and if the photographer on your holiday list is a Canon shooter, there are few better gifts to give this holiday season!
The EOS R offers a bevy of features that starts with an ultra-resolute 30.3-megapixel full frame CMOS sensor.
Paired with a DIGIC 8 image processor, this camera is capable of shooting at 8fps and up to a native ISO range of 40000.
What's more, Canon gave the EOS R excellent video capabilities with UHD 4K video recording at 30fps.
One of this camera's best features, though, is the Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus system.
All told, it has 5,655 selectable autofocus points that allow photographers to quickly and accurately select where the focus of the image will be.
With a small, lightweight body, excellent build quality, great handling, and an increasingly large selection of lenses, the EOS R is definitely a fantastic gift idea this Christmas!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Aputure Light Storm LC 120d II Daylight LED 2-Light Kit With Case
I have an Aputure 120d II in my home studio, and as I explain in my review of this light, it is absolutely fantastic.
Each light has pretty incredible specs:
1000-watt Tungsten equivalent
Integrated power and control box
CRI & TLCI 97+
Dimmable from 100 percent to just 1 percent
Built-in lighting effects, including fireworks, fire, lightning, paparazzi, and TV flicker
18 dB quiet fan
DMX Capability
Wireless remote (328-foot range)
Not bad right?
This kit gives you two of these lights, each of which has a set of four-way barn doors to customize how the light interacts with the subject.
Each light also has a controller with 100-240 VAC power, a wireless remote, and a 7.5-foot light stand. Aputure even throws in a padded SKB case with a custom Think Tank interior so the photographer on your list can easily and safely transport their new lighting kit from Point A to Point B.
Photography is all about good lighting, and Aputure certainly delivers on that front!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Pre-Owned Nikon Z6
Like the EOS R I mentioned earlier, the Nikon Z6 is a fantastic mirrorless camera.
If your loved one is a Nikon shooter or if they just want to switch to Nikon, this is a great camera to entice them to do so.
The Z6 has a 24.5-megapixel full frame back-illuminated sensor that offers superb image quality with excellent detail, clarity, and sharpness.
The 12fps burst shooting speed is ideal for action photography while the 273-point autofocus system helps you keep track of moving targets.
On the back is a large 3.2-inch variable-angle touchscreen LCD with 2.1 million dots of resolution, so you can easily see the camera's menu system and take a peek at images you've shot.
The Z6 has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, shoots 4K video, and has a battery life of 310 shots.
This camera is an excellent option for photographers that want a solid rig that can tackle still photos and videos all in one package!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Syrp Genie II Pan Tilt
If the photographer on your list is a video enthusiast as well, the Syrp Genie II Pan Tilt is an ideal gift for them.
Not only is this rig ultra-portable, but it gives you complete pan and tilt motion control that adds smooth, cinematic motion to your videos with 180-degree tilting motion and 360-degree panning motion.
The Genie II Pan Tilt offers options for real-time and timelapse videos, key-framing, panoramas, and much more. And since it has removable batteries, you can easily head off the beaten path with spare batteries in hand to shoot long and beautiful cinematic sequences.
The unit has a built-in screen for checking settings and starting quick motion sequences, but it also has a companion app that allows you to control the unit from your smartphone.
Whether the photographer on your list wants a motion control device for documentary work, interviews, timelapses, panoramas, or something in between, the Genie II Pan Tilt is the device to get.
Plus, it’s easily combined with Syrp’s Genie II Linear to get three-axis motion control in a super small and portable device. Nice, right?!
Holdfast Roamographer Duffle Bag, Camera Bag, and MoneyMaker
This might just be the ultimate photography setup...
If you want to impress a photographer, go ahead and give them a bundle of products from Holdfast.
Holdfast's venerable Roamographer bags not only look incredible, but they're also incredibly functional, too.
Give them the Roamographer Duffle Bag for those long weekends out taking photos.
The duffle is handcrafted out of American Bison hide and has a shearling-lined shoulder strap for easy carrying. It's the perfect bag for a quick trip, and with a metal frame that keeps the bag open during packing and unpacking, two boot bags to keep your shoes away from your clothes, and tons of pockets for small items, it'll become their favorite getaway bag.
To carry their gear, you can include a Holdfast Roamographer Camera Bag as well.
Like the duffle, the camera bag has a vintage aesthetic but with modern features.
The camera insert cradles each camera item, ensuring their safety during transit.
The carrier straps accommodate a tripod for easy carrying, and the shearling-lined shoulder strap makes it easy on your favorite photographer's shoulder to carry the bag, too.
While you're at it, you can throw in a Holdfast MoneyMaker dual camera system.
The dual straps mean that a photographer can carry up to three cameras in ultimate comfort, and with their gear right at their fingertips for safe carrying.
What's more, for quick shots, their cameras are easy to reach, making the MoneyMaker just about the most functional gear you could give a photographer this holiday season.
And, like all other Holdfast products, the MoneyMaker looks like a million bucks.
You can pick up all three of these products and still have money to spare with a $2,500 budget!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: ProMediaGear Pro-Stix TR424L Carbon Fiber Tripod
ProMediaGear tripods are among the best on the market. And that’s not just lip-service, either.
I’ve used ProMediaGear tripods, including the TR424L, for quite some time, and I can assure you that they are well-made, durable, and extremely functional.
These are professional-grade tripods, without a doubt. It can hold up to 125 pounds of gear thanks to its 42mm-thick carbon tripod legs.
Even when I’m out shooting video and I have a ton of accessories, it still doesn’t come close to that 125-pound mark!
From a functionality standpoint, the legs have three-position angle locks so you can adjust the tripod to be perfectly level, no matter how uneven the terrain. The built-in bubble level helps in that regard as well.
Deploying the legs is simple, too - just a quarter-turn locks them in place.
This tripod also has huge rubber feet, which as a landscape photographer is a favorite feature. The tripod doesn’t sink into soft soil and it doesn’t slip when things are wet or frozen. The metal spikes in the bottoms of each leg offer even more stability for truly rough shooting conditions.
You get all this in a tripod that folds down to just 26.3-inches tall, which can easily fit into a camera bag.
This isn’t a lightweight tripod by any means, but if the photographer on your list needs a go-anywhere, do-anything tripod, this is definitely it!
Though a gift card isn't exactly the sexiest gift, when the photographer in your family sees that you have given them carte blanche to get what they want, they'll be stoked!
With an Amazon gift card, they can put the card amount towards whatever they want - a new lens, a second camera body, lighting gear, a laptop - you name it!
As far as flexibility goes, there's nothing better to give a photographer than a gift card.
Time-lapse photography is one of those things that many people think is overly difficult to do, but when you get right down to it, it really just takes a bit of time and the right equipment to get incredible results.
In the past, time-lapse gurus relied on old-standard equipment like DSLRs and intervalometers to create breathtaking time-lapses. But today’s photographers have a greater array of equipment at their disposal than ever before that makes time-lapse photography something any photographer can easily achieve.
In this article, I explore the basics of getting started in time-lapse photography.
To maximize ease-of-use, I recommend using the Genie Mini by Syrp for your time-lapse photography. I'll get to the details of the Genie Mini later, but for now, let’s explore the basic gear you’ll need to get started.
Get the Right Gear
Of course, the “right” gear can be open to interpretation, but the essentials for time-lapse success include:
A camera - a DSLR, GoPro, compact camera, or your smartphone will do!
While the camera and filter components of a time-lapse gear setup are pretty self-explanatory, there are some additional things to be said about the tripod and intervalometer components.
Tripod Tricks
In time-lapse photography, your tripod needs to be absolutely rock solid and bulletproof. This usually means a big, heavy metal tripod that can give you a good foundation, even in less-than-ideal conditions.
Of course, lugging a giant metal tripod around isn’t always an option, so it might be worth looking at lightweight, yet highly stable carbon fiber tripods that are much, much easier of a load to carry around. Unfortunately, they are also much more expensive.
Regardless of the materials used to make the tripod, there are several things you can do to improve its stability to give you a better platform for time-lapse photography.
Use velcro to secure wires to the tripod so they aren’t blowing around in the wind. Also remove the shoulder strap from your camera, again, to minimize the number of things that might catch the wind and cause vibrations.
Adding weight will also help stabilize your tripod - hang your backpack from the center column hook, for example.
And, if you can avoid it, try not to extend the center column or use all the leg extensions. Instead, lock the center column in the down position and only use the biggest leg extensions. Doing so will ensure your tripod is as stable as possible.
Get a Next-Gen Intervalometer
The heart of time-lapse photography is the intervalometer, which is a programmable device that controls how often, how long, and how many photos are taken.
Traditionally, these devices look like the one above and really have no other features to speak of other than their ability to take timed shots at intervals that you specify. For some photographers, the intervalometer is a bit intimidating as you have to manually input the settings to get the type of shots you want.
But why opt for something that has just this one use when there are modern products that make time-lapse photography not just beautiful, but also accessible to photographers of all skill levels?
As I mentioned above, the Genie Mini is my go-to product for time-lapse photography.
The Genie Mini is portable, simple to use, and packed with features. Simply attach the Genie Mini to your ultra-stable tripod, and, in turn, attach your DSLR, compact camera, GoPro, or smartphone to the Genie Mini.
Then, it’s a simple matter of connecting your camera’s shutter release port to the Genie Mini using the Syrp link cable, which gives the Genie Mini the capability of triggering your camera’s shutter, just like a regular intervalometer does.
But unlike a traditional intervalometer, the Genie Mini is controlled wirelessly via Bluetooth. Just download the Syrp Genie app on your iOS or Android phone to have full control over the device.
The video above shows how to set up the Syrp Genie Mini.
Creating a Time-Lapse With Ease
Once your camera, phone, and Genie Mini are working together, you can set about creating incredible time-lapse videos with ease.
If you’ve never taken time-lapse photos before, the Genie Mini comes loaded with presets for time-lapses of popular subjects like people, clouds, and stars.
Just pick the type of subject matter you’re photographing and hit record, and the Genie Mini will handle everything else!
For photographers that want more control, simply create a new time-lapse in the Syrp Genie app, and, just like with an intervalometer, set the interval between photos and the timeframe in which the photos are to be taken.
But, where photographers that use a traditional intervalometer must also utilize a camera motion device to get panning movement, photographers that use the Genie Mini have that feature built right in. All you have to do is use the Syrp Genie app to set the start and finishing points of the pan and then press record.
In the video above, get a quick tutorial on how to set up the Genie Mini for a custom time-lapse.
Final Thoughts
The beauty of time-lapse photography is that while it really slows the world down for photographers, for people who view the final results, the world passes by at lightning speed.
It also gives photographers an opportunity to change the way they think about composing their shots; to think in terms of both space and time.
And now, doing so is easier than ever before with products like the Genie Mini. Just plug it in, set your parameters, and click record. Getting started in time-lapse photography has never been so easy!
**Update for 2019**
Since the original article above published back in 2016, Syrp has been hard at work updating their products and developing new ones so that photographers like you and I have even better tools at our disposal for creating breathtaking time-lapse videos.
And it's not just having better tools that mean better videos - Syrp has come up with some wild stuff that makes video-making a super simple process, even if you've never done it before.
Let's take a look at a few things they've pulled out of their hat in the last couple of years...
The Genie II Linear is Here
Late in 2018, Syrp introduced the Genie II Linear*, an incredibly portable motion control device that takes everything good about the original Genie and makes it better.
This rig can be attached to any slider on the market - even cable cam systems up to 328 feet in length.
That means you can upgrade your ability to capture breathtaking timelapses (and real-time video as well) both quickly and easily.
Better still, the Genie II Linear offers functionalities for key-framing, shooting B-roll and interviews, and, of course, shooting timelapses.
Coming in the near future will be additional features, including live view and camera control for ramping exposures.
And, like it's predecessor, the Genie II Linear is fully wirelessly controllable via the outstanding Syrp Genie 2 App for iOS or Android Devices (more on that in a moment...).
*Editor's Note: I am currently field testing the Genie II Linear, so stay tuned for an exclusive review coming up soon!
Add Pan and Tilt Action With the New Genie II Pan Tilt
If you want ultra-smooth pan and tilt motion control, Syrp's new Genie II Pan Tilt is for you...
Like the Genie II Linear, this little guy is super portable, so it packs a huge punch without weighing you down or taking up a ton of room in your camera bag.
You can use the Pan Tilt with a tripod for precise pan and tilt motion, or if you want movement on three axes, you can use the Pan Tilt with the Genie II Linear for the most powerful three-axis motion control device you can find on the market today.
As is typical for Syrp's products, the Genie II Pan Tilt is dripping with functionalities.
That includes both real-time and timelapse video capabilities as well as key-framing. The built-in screen is a handy feature as well, and allows you to see your settings without the need to use the app if you don't wish to do so.
There's even a joystick built right in so you can quickly set up and reposition the device.
Coming soon is multi-row panorama which will enable you to capture high-resolution "gigapixel" images. You'll also be able to shoot panoramas completely from the Genie App itself.
Not bad, right?
If one word comes to mind to describe these new products from Syrp, it has to be innovative (though badass would be a close second).
Getting Started in Timelapse Photography Has Never Been Easier
As I noted earlier, the Genie II Linear and Genie II Pan Tilt are both fully operational via the impeccable Genie II App (available on iOS and Android).
What makes this app so powerful is that it is loaded for bear with features that automate the process of timelapse photography. That means if you've never made a timelapse before in your life, doing so will be simple and straightforward with this app.
All you have to do is set up the shot, and the app will take care of the rest!
The app comes loaded with presets for quick setup and also has tutorials and help screens to help keep on you the straight and narrow.
You can program record times, intervals, and movement parameters in a matter of moments thanks to Syrp's ingenious app UI that's user-friendly for newbies and pros alike.
You have full key-frame motion setup, control over panning, tilting, and tracking camera motions for both timelapse and real-time video, and you can set timelapse movement to move-shoot-move or continuous movement.
Furthermore, you can use the app to save your own presets, set start and end points using the in-app Joystick, and set ease-in/ease-out movements for smooth ramping movement.
Leave it to Syrp to future-proof the app with a host of upcoming features that will take it even a step further into the realm of awesome.
You'll be able to bounce back and repeat modes for video, shoot multi-row panoramas, take HDR timelapses, and see what's going on in Live View Mode.
In addition, the app will soon be able to create 360-degree timelapses, give you live axis control, and will have the ability to perform auto exposure ramping on its own, among other things.
Truly, as awesome as the Genie II Linear is, I think I might be more impressed with the Genie II app!
If you're itching to start creating timelapse videos, there's no easier way to do it than with the Genie II Linear, the Genie II Pan Tilt, and the Genie II app for iOS or Android.
If you’ve dabbled in long exposure photography or time-lapses, you understand the value of a good ND filter. And, if you haven’t yet forayed into these adventurous worlds, trust me when I say a good ND filter is every bit as important as the lens to which it attaches.
Now there’s a new player in the ND filter market that can help you step up your game. It’s called the Super Dark and it’s made by Syrp.
Here’s a little bit about this amazing new filter:
It’s a variable ND filter, so you can adjust its filtering power with a simple turn of the filter glass. You get between 5 and 10 stops of adjustable exposure, meaning, you can take gorgeous time-lapse photos in widely varying lighting conditions.
The Super Dark is made of high-quality Japanese glass, and with an HD coating, offers a highly precise and clear result when you take your photographs and make your videos.
Offered in 67mm and 82mm variants, and packaged with step up rings, the Super Dark is compatible with many sizes of lenses, so you can pursue gorgeous long-exposure images in locations from your backyard to the beaches of Hawaii and everywhere in between.
To give the new Super Dark ND filter a run for its money, a group of photographers - Shawn Ogulu, Dean Cothill, and Craig Howes along with Videographer Jacques Crafford - went to Iceland to document its gorgeous landscapes. Armed with the Super Dark, they got some pretty astonishing images, I think you’ll agree!
The Super Dark is on pre-order now. Shipping is slated to begin on December 15, 2016, just in time for the holidays. Remember, a good ND filter will do wonders for your photography and videography. Equip yourself with the best by making the Super Dark your newest piece of kit!
When you watch time-lapse videos on YouTube, it's hard not to be impressed.
I mean, when done well, they're quite the sight to behold.
But they have to be hard to pull off, though, right?
Wrong...
With the right approach and the right gear, time-lapses - even panning time-lapses - can be done without a lot of fuss.
In the video above, Morten Rustad offers a quick tutorial on how to create panning time-lapse videos that will get your feet wet in the art of time-lapse photography.
Check it out, and for a detailed step-by-step breakdown of the video, read on below.
Step 1: Scout Locations
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
The first order of business when creating an epic time-lapse video is to scout for a suitable location.
In the video, Morten chooses a beautiful landscape scene that includes a lake to capture interesting reflections on the water's still surface.
You don't have to use a landscape for your time-lapse, though.
You can do a time-lapse on just about any subject, but cityscapes, cars passing by on the highway, and passing storms are popular ideas.
Step 2: Set Up Your Gear
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
There are a few critical components for a time-lapse setup that you'll need to procure to get the best results.
Naturally, you'll need a camera and a lens, though the type doesn't necessarily matter. A DSLR or mirrorless camera is great, but you can even make time-lapse videos using a smartphone. You'll get the best results if you use a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a good lens attached. In the film, Morten uses a Sony A7RII mirrorless camera and a Canon 17-40mm f/4L lens.
Another component you'll need if you're shooting during the daytime is a neutral density filter.
A neutral density filter blocks out some of the light which allows you to use longer shutter speeds during daytime shooting. Longer shutter speeds are desirable because they allow you to create a video that has much smoother motion.
Since we're creating a panning time-lapse video, a motion control device is needed as well.
In the video, Morten uses a Syrp Genie Mini, a device that's so small that it can fit in your pocket.
The Genie Mini is the easiest motion control device there is because you can control it via the Genie Mini App on your smartphone.
In fact, the app has built-in presets so you can take time-lapse videos right out of the box. It's a simple matter of attaching the Genie Mini to your tripod, mounting your camera to the Genie Mini, connecting the Genie Mini cable to your camera, and taking control of the device using the app on your phone.
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
You can do all sorts of things with the Genie Mini to make your time-lapse more eye-catching.
You can ease-in and ease-out, which gives you the ability to ramp the movement at the beginning and the end of the time-lapse. In other words, the Genie Mini will slowly accelerate to your desired speed a the start of the shot and then dampen down its speed at the end.
You can also shoot HDR time-lapses, which allows you to have greater control over the dynamic range in your video.
Genie Mini is compatible with a variety of camera systems as well, including GoPro, smartphones, and of course, DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
The first camera setting you need to worry about is the shutter speed.
Remember, you want longer shutter speeds so that the final video has nice, smooth motion.
Of course, the ideal shutter speed will depend on the subject matter, so this will require a little bit of experimentation.
For example, in Morten's video, he uses a shutter speed of one second or longer to help smooth out any ripples that appear on the surface of the lake.
Once you have the shutter speed figured out, you can adjust the aperture and the ISO accordingly to get a well-exposed image.
Then, set the focus to manual, and using live view on your camera, adjust the focus ring until the scene is perfectly sharp. Zoom in on the LCD screen to double-check the focus.
Once that's done, take a few test shots to ensure the exposure and focus are spot-on.
The next step is to use the Genie Mini App to dial in the settings for the time-lapse video.
You'll set the interval, which is the time between each shot, and the duration, which is the length of each individual shot.
When setting the interval, you need to bear in mind what shutter speed you chose as the interval needs to be longer. So, if your shutter speed is two seconds, make the interval four or five seconds, that way the Genie Mini doesn't move the camera before the two-second shot is completed.
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
You'll need to do some testing to see if the interval and duration times you've set get you the results you want. Just keep in mind that slower-moving objects require a longer shutter speed and longer intervals, and fast-moving objects require shorter shutter speeds and shorter intervals.
The Genie Mini also allows you to change the degree of rotation and the speed with which it rotates. Again, this is accomplished in the Genie Mini App, as shown above.
From there, you just click record, and the Genie Mini will do its thing!
Depending on the record time of your time-lapse session, you'll have dozens, if not hundreds of images to process into the video.
Lightroom is the best choice for this task because you can choose a single image to edit and then apply those edits to all the other photos in the batch in one action.
To do so, select the edited image and then press CMD/CTRL-A to select all the images in the batch. Then select "Synchronize Settings."
Keep all the images selected, then select Export, being sure you keep the image quality at the highest possible JPEG setting.
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
Then, using a program like Adobe Premiere Pro, you can create the time-lapse video.
Morten offers an overview of how to do this in his video starting at the 4-minute mark.
So, in just five steps you can go from not having any idea how to create a time-lapse video to understanding the steps involved and the gear you need to make your time-lapse dreams a reality!
Working professionally as a photographer can be pretty tough.
Adding skills like time-lapse to your wheelhouse can separate you from the pack and make you stand out to potential clients – especially if you’ve got some interesting moves up your sleeve like a vertical tracking shot.
What’s a Vertical Tracking Shot?
A vertical tracking shot means just that – you’re making your camera slowly move vertically up or down throughout your time-lapse.
This is really useful when you’re trying to add something a little different to your time-lapses. Think about how cool it would look to track up a building or down through some branches on a tree!
So What Do I Need?
To create a vertical tracking time-lapse, you’re going to need two things:
Something to move your camera up and down automatically in time with its shutter – a motion control device.
Something for your camera to move along – a track or slider.
In the video below, the guys from Syrp use their Genie and Magic Carpet with its inbuilt counterbalance wheel to create their vertical shot:
It’s a pretty simple set up once you get the hang of it, and if you’re using a DSLR, you won’t need to worry about using a counterweight
The Syrp Genie used in the Quick Tip is a great, simple way to introduce motion control to your time-lapses.
It can work with any slider (so if you already own one, there’s no need to go buy anything new!) and is super compact and portable, making walking to those beautiful time-lapse spots so much easier.
There’s also an option to add on more motion control units like Syrp’s Genie Mini to create 2 or 3 axis time-lapses.
Whatever shoot you’re on, whether it’s personal or professional, having the ability to pull out a vertical tracking time-lapse move opens up so many more exciting options, and we definitely recommend giving it a try!
If you're looking for a new and exciting way to take photos, shooting in 360-format should do the trick.
And though it sounds like something that should be incredibly complicated, if you have the right tools, it's actually a lot easier than you might think.
In the video above, the folks at Syrp give a step-by-step tutorial on creating breathtaking 360-degree photos.
For a written tutorial, check out the article below!
Step 1: Find a Great Shoot Location
Vimeo Screenshot/Syrp
Just like with any other photo, you need a good location to take it.
But the location matters even more in this case since the final image will show everything.
As you can see in the video, the guys find a spot on top of a mountain that offers a virtually 360-degree view of the surroundings.
Step 2: The Gear
Vimeo Screenshot/Syrp
Gear-wise, you don't need anything spectacular.
The usual bits - camera, lens, and tripod - are things you most likely already have.
The kind of lens that's ideal, though, is an ultra-wide. In the video, the Syrp guys use an 8-15mm lens opened up to 8mm.
The thing you might not yet have is a Syrp Genie Mini, shown above.
The Genie Mini is a motion control device that enables you to take the 360-degree photo.
It attaches to your tripod, and your camera attaches to the Genie Mini in turn.
Using the companion app, you can direct the Genie Mini to turn 360-degrees to take the needed images for the final 360-degree shot (more on that in a bit).
But the Genie Mini is much more than a fancy way to turn your camera around for a 360-degree photo.
You can use it and its companion smartphone app to create time-lapse videos and real-time videos, as well as panoramic photos.
Its smooth panning motion helps you create professional-looking results with options to ramp the movement of your time-lapses for ease-in and ease-out effects, shoot in HDR, and with a second Genie Mini, you can get both pan and tilt control for even more dramatic movements in your videos.
And if you aren't much of a videographer, don't worry! The Genie Mini app is loaded with factory presets for time-lapse videos, so you can create a gorgeous time-lapse with just a few presses on your phone's screen.
In other words, there's really no easier way to create time-lapse videos, real-time videos, and 360-degree photos than with a Syrp Genie Mini!
Shoot in RAW, that way you have the most data with which to work when it comes time to process the images.
Switch your lens to manual focus, that way you can select the desired focal point and maintain that same focal point throughout the process.
Then, on your Genie Mini, use the Genie Mini App to set up a 360-degree panning time-lapse video.
Vimeo Screenshot/Syrp
Next, select "Panorama" from the Genie Mini app and enter your camera settings, as the guys have done in the screenshot above.
Remember, your camera settings might be slightly different depending on the camera and the lens you use.
After that, you simply choose the width of the panorama, which is 360-degrees, and set the overlap to 50-degrees.
The number of photos required for the 360-photo will be determined by the app, which, in this case, is five images.
Vimeo Screenshot/Syrp
The app will suggest an exposure time as well, but as you can see in the video, the guys reduced the exposure time to one second, or just a tick faster than the shutter speed.
Step 4: Let the Genie Mini Do Its Thing & Process the Image
Vimeo Screenshot/Syrp
Now all that's left of the shooting process is to let the Genie Mini work its magic!
Find a place that's out of the way to hunker down while the camera is shooting (don't forget to take your gear, too!), otherwise you and your gear will make an appearance in the shot.
Then, pack up, head home, and process the images into one glorious 360-degree shot.
For details on how to post-process a 360-degree image, check out the video above by Syrp.
And there you have it! A quick guide for making 360-degree photos, and all you really need that you might not already have is a Syrp Genie Mini.
Astrophotography is one of the most spectacular forms of photography there is, and when you add motion to it by shooting time-lapse, you can capture these amazing visuals of the rotating night sky above dreamy landscapes. I use the Syrp Genie for adding camera motion to my astro time-lapses which really adds production value to your timelapse by adding smooth motion. Here’s 10 points to consider when shooting a motion controlled astro time-lapse. - Mark Gee, The Art of Night.
1. When scouting for a location, head out in the daytime first, and use one of the smartphone astro apps which has an augmented reality function like PhotoPills or Starwalk to plan your composition with the stars.
2. When planning to do a motion controlled camera move in your time-lapse, it’s always good to find a composition which has foreground interest like rocks or trees, for example. This way you will get some interesting parallax against the night sky as the camera moves through your shot.
3. You will need to shoot your astro time-lapse with all your settings on manual, this includes white balance and your focus. I tend to use tungsten or incandescent mode for my white balance, which can be changed to your liking once you get it in post.
4. Make sure that the long exposure noise reduction is turned off on your camera – with this setting on, it will take twice as long as your exposure time before writing the image to your card, and that is something you don't want for a time-lapse. Instead, we will be using noise reduction in post processing.
5. Getting sharp focus is probably one of the hardest things to do in an astro time-lapse. You could autofocus on a distant object in the daytime, then set your focus to manual and tape your lens ring to keep it locked off. But personally, I find the live view method is a lot more accurate. It’s where you find the brightest star or object in the sky, and use live view on your camera to line it up close to the center of frame. Then zoom in 10x on your live view and manually adjust your focus ring on your lens until the star looks sharp.
6. You will need to shoot with a long exposure and high ISO settings to capture a starry night sky time-lapse. Settings will vary depending on environmental lighting conditions and the camera you are using, but in a dark sky environment on my full frame sensor Canon 6d and a 14mm lens, I typically shoot with a 30-second shutter and an aperture of f/2.8 with a ISO of 3200.
7. Make sure you set your interval on your motion control unit so it allows enough time to write the image to the card before firing the next shot. I tend to use the 5-second rule, so if I’m shooting a 30-second exposure, my interval will be 35 seconds between shots.
8. Once you have your camera and motion control setup, preview your time-lapse movie to make sure you’re happy with the movement and composition. You can shine a torch on your landscape in frame and preview the move with live view on your camera. I also tend to take a photo at the start and end position of the time-lapse, so I can see what I will end up with as far as the composition and exposure is concerned.
9. Before setting your time-lapse off, make sure you do a final check of everything. Make sure everything is set manually on your camera and your focus and exposure is correct. Check that your interval and general settings like direction of travel are correct on your motion control unit. And double check you don’t have your lock engaged on your slider...I’ve been bitten by this a few times in the past! Once everything is in order, set your time-lapse off and sit back to enjoy the stars!
10. After you have all your images downloaded and ready for processing, as tempting as it is, make sure you don’t overcook your processing - it might look great to you on a single image, but once saved out as a movie, you will end up with a lot of noise and artifacts in your time-lapse.
I hope you’ve found these 10 points on shooting an astro time-lapse helpful - make sure you also check out the video tutorial below to see how I use the Syrp Genie for my astro time-lapses - I cover everything from setting up the Genie, to processing a time-lapse from start to finish.
Mark Gee is an award winning photographer, time-lapse filmmaker & digital visual effects supervisor based in Wellington, New Zealand. He has worked on many high profile and Oscar award winning feature films. His love of the New Zealand landscape is a big part of the inspiration for his photography. Visit his website at www.theartofnight.com.
When done well, time-lapse videos can be a breathtaking testament to the beauty of our natural surroundings.
Heck, even if the terrain isn't spectacularly beautiful, putting it into motion can still offer a sense of wonderment about the world in which we live.
To master the art of time-lapse videos, there are a number of critical steps involved.
Step 1: Scout the Location
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
When looking for a landscape to feature in a day-to-night time-lapse, you want something that will allow you to capture the gorgeous transition of light as the sun falls below the horizon and shadows creep across the landscape.
To do this, you need a location that affords you an unobstructed view of the western sky.
But remember, you aren't just banking on a single moment in time to capture images for the video. Instead, you need to be assured that wherever you set up your gear, that you'll have a view of the entire sunset.
You can use Google Earth to pinpoint a location and see an augmented reality version of the sun's path from that spot at any point in the day. Then, once you're in the field, you can use apps like PhotoPills to determine how the sun will track at your location and get pinpoint times for the sunset as well.
Step 2: Pack the Essential Gear
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
Though there are plenty of excellent locations for sunset time-lapse photography that are easily accessible, not all locations are as easy as hopping out of the car and setting up shop.
If you want to head to locations off the beaten path, it's wise to pack light and only take the essentials.
In this case, that's your camera and lens, a tripod with a Syrp ballhead, a Syrp Super Dark Variable ND Filter, and a Syrp Genie Mini, which gives you motion control over your camera and works as an intervalometer as well.
With the accompanying smartphone app, you can direct the Genie Mini to shoot smooth, panning time-lapse video. In fact, it comes pre-loaded with time-lapse video pre-sets to help even the most novice of time-lapse photographers create epic videos.
And since it's compatible with a variety of DSLR and mirrorless cameras (and smartphones, too!), you can make gorgeous time-lapses with just about any camera.
Step 3: Compose the Shot
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
Using the ballhead on your tripod, the next step is to compose the starting frame of the time-lapse.
Simply adjust the head as needed, remembering that your camera will likely shoot in 3:2 format, whereas the time-lapse will be in 16:9 format.
That means that the top and bottom of your image won't be visible in the time-lapse, so be sure to compose the shot such that nothing of great importance is in these areas.
Additionally, when composing the shot, it's a good idea to have something of interest to draw the viewer into the time-lapse, like the building and the grasses in the screenshot above.
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
But composing the shot also requires that you arrange the elements within it to be pleasing to the eye.
Using the rule of thirds can help you do that, by placing the sunset in the upper one-third of the frame.
Of course, that means that the bottom two-thirds of the image needs to have elements that are visually engaging, which has been done in the screenshot above.
Step 4: Set the Exposure Settings
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
The difficulty of creating a time-lapse at sunset is that the lighting starts out quite consistent, and then when sunset commences, the lighting changes rapidly.
One way you can overcome this difficulty is to manually adjust the ISO over the course of the shoot, which allows you to maintain a constant shutter speed from start to finish.
If you want to blur the movement of clouds and other objects in the shot, you'll need to extend the shutter speed by using a variable ND filter like the Syrp Super Dark shown below.
Another tip is that you don't have to shoot your time-lapse in full manual. In fact, if you don't need a long shutter speed, aperture priority mode should work well.
However, regardless of what mode you use, err on the side of underexposure, that way you're sure not to blow out the highlights in the sky as the sun moves across the camera's field of view.
And don't worry if the images you take look really dark - you can recover the details in shadowed areas in post-processing much easier than you can recover details in blown out highlights.
Step 5: Set the Time-Lapse Settings
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
The settings you use to record the time-lapse images will depend on how long it takes the sun to set at your location. Thus, PhotoPills comes in handy for getting a specific time frame for your time-lapse.
A good starting point is to set the duration for about 2-2.5 hours, and since the earth rotates around the sun at a rate of about 15-degrees per hour, a rotation of 30-degrees is advisable, as shown above. Learn more about DSLR settings for landscape photography on our website PhotographyTalk.com.
With the Syrp Genie App, it's incredibly easy to set these parameters.
Once you have the first frame set, you can use the Genie App to drag the camera and lock in the endpoint. From there, you can fine-tune the settings, press "Return Home" in the Genie App, and the camera will rotate back to their starting position.
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
Another thing to keep in mind is that when you set the interval, that is, the time between each individual photo, you need to account not only for the movement that the Genie Mini needs to make, but also the time your camera's buffer needs to work.
An interval of 15 seconds should give your camera plenty of time to do its thing in between each shot.
Now you can press start on your phone, and Genie Mini will take care of the shooting!
Step 6: Processing the Images
The final step in the process is to process the images in post-processing.
In the video above, Morten Rustad offers up a workflow for doing just that (and for setting up the time-lapse as outlined in this article).
And with that, you have a complete how-to guide for creating stunning ramping sunset time-lapse videos!
If you've ever tried to tackle time-lapse photography and failed, there's certainly a lot of culprits for why the results weren't what you wanted.
I'd say that more often than not, though, poor results are the result of challenging light conditions.
More specifically, harsh lighting can make it nearly impossible to get a quality time-lapse of certain scenes.
It makes sense, too.
When you try to take a regular still photograph of a subject in challenging lighting, it's easy to get an image that's underexposed, overexposed, or has too much contrast.
It stands to reason, then, that when you try to create a time-lapse in the same harsh lighting conditions that the results might not be that great.
Add a filter to your lens, and suddenly your camera has a much easier time adjusting to the harsh light. That's because a variable ND filter limits the amount of light entering the lens.
By limiting that light, you have a greater capacity to use longer shutter speeds, even in harsh, daylight conditions.
With longer shutter speeds, you can avoid another problem that's common with time-lapse videos - a flickery look.
If your time-lapse flickers, it's due to the shutter speed being too fast.
Again, that's where a variable ND filter comes in. Because you can extend your shutter speed, you can get a more flowing, natural look in your time-lapses.
Check out the difference in results between a time-lapse with shorter shutter speeds and no ND filter, and time-lapses with longer shutter speeds and an ND filter in the video above by Syrp.
Get Creative With a Variable ND Filter
The beauty of a variable ND filter is that it isn't just for time-lapse photography.
You can add one to your lens for long exposures that indicate movement.
Waves, rivers, waterfalls, passing traffic - as long as it's moving, a variable ND filter allows you to blur that movement.
Really, a variable ND filter is the ideal add-on if you want to tackle long exposures and time-lapse photography.
That's because you can adjust the exposure level with a simple turn of the filter.
For example, if find that five stops of power isn't enough, simply turn the filter to six, seven, eight, and so on.
Better still, some variable ND filters have front and rear threads, so if you need even more light-stopping power, you can easily stack the filters.
Not All Filters are Made Alike...
Just like you won't get the same sharpness and detail using a cheap lens as you would if you use a higher-end lens, the same applies to filters.
After all, you don't want to get a spendy lens and then cover it with a sub-par filter, right?
The Super Dark Variable ND filter used in the video above (and pictured above) is made of high-quality Japanese glass. That means your image quality will be right on par with what you expect.
Plus, the Super Dark allows you to extend your shutter speed to up to 15 seconds in broad daylight.
With that amount of time on your hands, you can easily create gorgeous long exposures and time-lapse videos with smooth movement, just like you saw in the video above.
As far as I'm concerned, if you have desires to get into time-lapse photography or long exposures, a variable ND filter like the Super Dark from Syrp is the way to go.
It's beautifully made, easy to use, and comes in large and small sizes for various lenses.
Heck, you even get lens adapters for different sized lenses, a cleaning cloth, and an awesome leather carrying case.
But as good as the Genie Mini was, it was time for a refresh, and boy, did Syrp knock it out of the park with the Genie Mini II!
If you've never had the pleasure of working with a Genie Mini before, one of its best features is its portability. This thing literally fits in the palm of your hand, so it doesn't bog you down on long treks from the car to that perfect spot for your time-lapse.
Thankfully, the Genie Mini II continues that tradition of extreme portability.
The changes to the Genie Mini II are mostly under the hood.
Syrp added a new app to the fold that allows you to use two Genie Minis simultaneously to create gorgeous pan-tilt motion for high-res images.
All you have to do is specify the focal length of the lens and the overlap of the images, and it'll direct the Genie Minis to shoot up to five rows and an unlimited number of columns for creating high-resolution shots and 360-degree content.
The Genie Mini II also comes with keyframing functionalities (shown below).
For example, you can set up to 10 keyframes while also programming complex motion sequences, like panning at different speeds and in different directions.
And like its predecessor, the Genie Mini II has a super easy user interface, so you can setup your motion time-lapses in a matter of moments. Nice!
There's more to come as well...
Syrp is working on functionalities that include:
Time-lapse compiler - Process a time-lapse video directly on your device and share directly to Facebook and Instagram.
Autoexposure ramping - Create day-to-night time-lapses with ease using the forthcoming exposure ramping tool.
Camera control - Control your camera using your smartphone to adjust things like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
Seriously...whether you're a beginner, an enthusiast, or a seasoned pro with time-lapses, the Genie Mini II is a must-have.
It makes creating time-lapses a simple, straightforward process for newbies, yet has TONS of features that pros demand.
It'll be 2018 soon, and that means we'll have a whole new year to improve our photography.
If you're like me, you look at the new year as an opportunity to further develop the skills you already have while also expanding your horizons.
That's what this post is all about...
If you want to step up your game in 2018, here's a few ideas for New Year's resolutions for photographers.
Shoot More
No one has ever said, "Gee, I spend too much time taking photos."
The more photos you take, the better the photographer you'll be.
That's because you'll have a chance to work with more subjects, in a greater variety of conditions, and potentially with more varied gear as well.
In 2018, stretch your boundaries. If you usually shoot landscapes, try portraiture. If you like wildlife photography, try macro.
You can even set a goal to take at least a photo a day for the entire year, or if that's a little too much commitment, try doing a weekly challenge in which you take photos every day that fits into a theme.
Whatever you do, just commit yourself to getting behind the lens more often.
They don't say "practice makes perfect" for nothing!
Shoot More Comfortably, Too
If you're still clinging to the camera strap that came with your camera, you're doing it all wrong.
Those cheap, flimsy straps offer nothing in the way of comfort, nor do they help with your workflow, either.
When I first started in photography, I don't know how many times I got that damn strap caught on something as I was walking around.
The SpiderLight puts my Sony a6300 right on my hip, where it's both out of the way, yet easily accessible.
I shoot a lot of landscapes, so it's nice to be able to walk around with my hands free in case a rock or a tree root jumps up and tries to trip me.
I also like the fact that the SpiderLight keeps my camera safe and secure. Even if I do stumble on a trail, my camera won't go anywhere.
But don't think that the SpiderLight is just for landscape photographers...
I use it when I'm taking portraits of my family, when I'm in the city for some fun street shoots, and even when I'm traveling.
I use my holster with the SpiderLight Hand Strap, too, that way when I'm taking shots, I have a good, solid grip on my camera and a strap to act as a failsafe.
Just like the SpiderLight Holster, the Hand Strap is designed to stay out of your way.
The unique shape makes it easy to slide your hand in and out, and it puts your hand in the ideal shooting position so you can reach all the needed buttons and dials on your camera.
Together, the SpiderLight Holster and Hand Strap have helped me transform my workflow, and be way more comfortable as I work, too.
When I say "get more feedback," I don't mean ask your Instagram followers to tell you what they think...
Instead, I mean to get more critical feedback from other photographers.
That might require you to join a photography site and upload your images to galleries or joining a photography club in your local area.
It might also mean asking photographers you respect for some feedback or finding a mentor to help you develop your skills.
However you go about it, getting constructive feedback on your work will only help you grow as a photographer, and by the end of the new year, you'll see much-improved results.
Get a New Lens
A great way to challenge yourself in the new year is to learn how to shoot with a different lens.
The things you can do with your kit lens, for example, are vastly different than the things you can do with a 50mm f/1.8 or a 200mm f/4-5.6.
By outfitting yourself with a new lens, you can develop more improved compositional skills, develop your creative eye even further, shoot in more varied lighting conditions, and take photos of more varied subjects.
And don't think that you have to spend a lot of money to get a great lens, either.
If you buy a pre-owned lens from Lensfinder, you'll not only get a great lens but you'll save some money as well.
Since Lensfinder uses advanced fraud filtering for both buyers and sellers in their marketplace, you can trust that the lens you buy is exactly as its described.
You can communicate with the seller right within the Lensfinder platform, read seller feedback (and leave feedback once your transaction is complete), and even pay via PayPal in the platform as well.
It's easy, convenient, safe, and you save money. What's not to like?
Commit Yourself to Honing Your Post-Processing Skills
I remember a time when some people thumbed their nose at the idea of processing their images. Somehow, it was viewed as cheating.
Well, if you ask me, processing isn't an option these days, as there are so many incredibly powerful tools available to improve the quality of your photos.
Whether you go with Photoshop or Lightroom, a newer player like Luminar or Pixlr, or do all your processing with smartphone apps like VSCO or Snapseed, dedicate yourself to developing a solid post-processing workflow so you can get every last ounce of awesome out of your photos.
Get a Better Computer for Post-Processing
Speaking of post-processing...
I've been an Apple fan for years, but they've fallen behind in terms of offering tools and features on their machines that make photo processing easy.
But you know who hasn't slouched in that department?
Microsoft.
I still have my MacBook Pro, and I still use it for some tasks. But when it comes to editing my photos, that job falls to my Microsoft Surface Book 2.
On the inside, the Surface Book 2 now has Intel i7 quad-core processors available for the first time, which translates into lighting-fast speed, even when you're doing power-hungry tasks like editing photos.
You can get 8GB or 16GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage, and it comes loaded with the surprisingly good Windows 10 as well.
On top of all that, the Surface Book 2 is the perfect companion to the awesome Surface Pen, which makes photo editing a total breeze. If you pick up a Surface Dial, it's compatible with the Surface Book 2 as well.
That means that this thing is an innovative, power-packed, feature-rich workhorse that is incredibly versatile.
If you're still using your old MacBook Pro for photo editing, I suggest that in the new year you give the Surface Book 2 a good, long look.
I fully admit that my image files can be a hot mess. My guess is that yours probably are too.
In 2018, I'm definitely setting out to be more organized, to get all my images labeled and into folders so I can actually find the things I'm looking for when the time comes.
I'm also going to endeavor to dump my photos more quickly. I have a tendency to go shoot, and then by the time I get home, I just want to veg on the couch, which leaves my images on the memory card for a few days after the fact.
That's a dangerous game to play, and though I've not lost any images yet, I'm certainly not doing everything I can to protect against image loss in the future.
If this sounds like you too, join me next year in getting more organized!
Give Time-Lapse a Try
When I need a break from the grind, I often go to YouTube or Vimeo and check out time-lapse videos.
I find that time-lapses of gorgeous landscapes helps me pause, take a breath, and get my batteries revved up to get back to work.
In short, I love time-lapses, but never really considered trying to make them myself, that is, until now.
Syrp, a New Zealand-based company, makes a little gadget called the Genie Mini that makes time-lapse photography loads easier.
The Genie Mini is a pint-sized motion control device that allows you to create smooth panning time-lapse videos (and real-time videos for that matter).
It connects wirelessly to your phone via a companion app, which gives you tons of control over what the Genie does and when.
And since you control this little guy from your phone, that means you can sit back, relax, and dial in your desired settings while you hang out and enjoy the view.
In addition to being small, lightweight, and packed with features, Genie Mini makes time-lapse videos a breeze.
That's because the Genie Mini app comes with factory presets so you can shoot time-lapses right out of the box. You literally don't need to know a thing about time-lapse video in order to make one!
Just mount Genie Mini to your tripod, connect your camera, fire up the app, and shoot away.
We're all busy and short on time, so when you can try something new without having to invest every waking moment of your free time to do it, I say go for it!
It might sound a little sappy, but photography really can change the world.
In the new year, you can be part of that by helping other photographers realize their potential.
Maybe that's getting your kid their first camera. Perhaps that's offering to teach your kid's class a little bit about photography.
However you go about it, getting other people involved in photography and helping them improve their skills is a great way to spend your free time in the coming year.
Additionally, see what you can do to use your photography skills for good.
Whether that's volunteering to take photos of the animals up for adoption at the local animal shelter, offering to take some candid photos at your neighbor's family reunion or something in between, see if you can pay it forward a little in 2018 in order to make the world around you just a little bit better.
Or did you get a little money from Santa to spend on new photography gear?
Either way, there's no lack of awesome photography gifts to buy yourself in the new year.
Here's a few of my favorite photography accessories that I've enjoyed using over the course of the last year.
Holdfast MoneyMaker Solo
One of the best photography accessories I bought this year was hands-down the Holdfast MoneyMaker Solo.
I've been a Holdfast customer for a long, long time, and I have their original MoneyMaker dual camera strap.
The "problem" - if you can call it that - with the original MoneyMaker is that it was purpose-built for two-camera shooters. I'm not always a two-camera shooter, though.
So imagine my excitement when Holdfast unveiled the MoneyMaker Solo, which is specifically designed for single-camera shooters.
It's made of the same impeccable materials as the original MoneyMaker, with gorgeous full-grain leathers and high-quality metal components.
That makes it a durable (and beautiful!) addition to any photography kit.
It's also functional, too, with an innovative Belt Anchor that keeps your camera right next to your body. When you're ready to shoot, you can release the Belt Anchor with one hand for taking a quick shot. You can reattach it one-handed as well!
The comfort level of the MoneyMaker solo is next-level, too.
The shoulder strap is nice and large, which helps distribute the weight of your gear evenly across your shoulder.
The stabilizer strap helps keep the shoulder pad in place as well, so you don't have to worry about constantly adjusting it as you work.
This camera strap really is the pinnacle of form, function, and comfort. I highly recommend spoiling yourself a little bit by giving one a try!
As with Holdfast, I've been a customer of CanvasHQ for years now, and I keep coming back over and over again because the quality of their canvas prints is simply outstanding.
What I like about canvas is that it gives my photos a little more depth and character thanks to the texture of the canvas.
And since CanvasHQ is at the top of their game and uses only the finest canvas, inks, and wood for the frames, I know that when I order a print, it'll look spectacular.
Heck, even if there's something wrong with the print, I don't have to worry...
That's because CanvasHQ has a 30-day money-back guarantee. I've never had to utilize that guarantee, but if I did, it would be as simple as returning the print and getting my money back (or getting a new print sent to me).
On top of that, CanvasHQ has a lifetime guarantee against cracking, bubbling, or fading. Talk about peace of mind!
The process of getting a print is easy, too.
Just upload your image and CanvasHQ will give you tips for sizing, color adjustments, and so forth. You even get free proofs emailed to you before your image is printed.
Once it's printed, you'll get your artwork in a jiff - current turnaround time is just two days!
In other words, you can really treat yourself to something nice in the new year by getting a gorgeous, handcrafted print made of your favorite photo. And since it'll have a prominent place on the wall in your home, it's a gift that will keep on giving!
What I like about the Wolverine Data F2D Titan is that it's an 8-in-1 rig that converts my slides, 8mm movies, and Super 8 movies, as well as 35mm, 110, 126, 127, and APS film to digital.
And the digital copies are beautiful thanks to the Titan's 20-megapixel high-resolution sensor.
You can use the F2D Titan to scan, too - it takes a mere three seconds to complete the process thanks to the Titan's innovative speed-load adapters that are sized just right for each format of slide or negative you're scanning.
Not only is this thing easy to use, but you can also see the digitized images on the 4.3-inch color LCD. You can also connect the unit to a computer or TV to view the results on a larger screen.
There's internal memory for storing images or you can use your own SD/SDHC memory card for more storage capacity.
Best of all, the F2D Titan is fully self-contained. You don't need a computer or monitor or software of any kind.
Just plug it into a power source and you'll be ready to preserve your memories!
Instead, you just enter what you're looking for, and Lensfinder will present you with lenses that match your criteria.
Better still, it's an all-in-one platform, so once you sign up for a free account, you can buy all the lenses you want, pay for them via PayPal, communicate with the seller, and leave feedback without having to leave the site.
Not bad, right?!
If you're in the market for a new lens, pop over to Lensfinder and see what you can find. You might be surprised at just how much you can save versus buying new!
Make Editing Videos Simpler and Faster in the New Year
It's become apparent over the last couple of years that photography and videography are merging more and more.
That being the case, many photographers aren't just creating beautiful photos, but they're also creating compelling video content.
Given that video production is taking a much more important role in the lives of photographers, in the new year, I'd suggest investing in one of the best video platforms available - Kizoa.
What I appreciate about Kizoa most is how easy it is to use.
Whether I'm using their cloud-based platform online or using their free iOS app, I can edit my videos and turn them into professional-looking creations in short order.
Kizoa has a huge suite of tools that make the process of editing so much easier. That includes the ability to add transitions and special effects as well as music and text overlays.
There's even a collection of pre-made video templates to help you get started. Naturally, basic tools for straightening, cropping, and rotating, among others, are also available.
Once I'm done editing my videos, sharing them couldn't be more streamlined.
I can share the video via the built-in YouTube or Facebook integrations, download it in various file formats, burn it to a DVD, or even email it.
And since Kizoa starts at just $29.99 for a lifetime premium membership, it's a gift you can get yourself without breaking the bank!
Its optical-grade class is polished and coated to aid in resisting water and oil from your skin.
On top of that, these filters have a SLIM mounting ring, which minimizes vignetting when you're shooting with a wide-angle lens.
Kenko offers these filters in various sizes from 37mm to 82mm, and also offers models that fit Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fuji, and many other brands of lenses.
If you invest in one filter in 2021, make it a circular polarizer. It simply offers too many benefits not to have one in your bag!
Editor's Tip: Get Kenko’s latest updates and access to promos for discounted gear. Click here to sign up.
One of my New Year's resolutions for 2021 is to shoot more timelapse videos. To do that, I'll be using the Syrp Genie II Linear.
I haven't used this rig yet, but I've used its predecessor many times and to say that I've been impressed with it is an understatement.
Syrp really has made making timelapse videos so much easier thanks to the innovative features they've packed into their little motion control device.
And when I say little, I mean it - the Genie II Linear is every bit as small as the original Genie, so you can pop it in your camera bag and you'd never know it was there.
This little guy can attach to any slider on the market and can even work with cable cam systems up to 328' in length.
That means you can quickly and easily upgrade your timelapse setup to get beautiful timelapse videos and real-time videos as well.
On top of that, you can control the Genie II with your smartphone and tackle tasks like key-framing, shooting interviews, creating timelapses, and shooting B-roll as well. Syrp is working on future features that include live view and camera control for ramping exposure, among others.
It really doesn't get much easier than that to create a timelapse video!
Even though I've only had my Colorado Vest from The Vest Guy for a couple of weeks, I'm already at the point of being so happy with it that I had to include it on this list.
Seriously - if you don't have a photography vest, you need one!
I never thought I would ditch my camera bag in favor of a photography vest, but now that I've experienced how much easier it is to carry gear on me instead of in a bag, I'll never go back.
For starters, these vests are designed and made in the U.S., which as a veteran of the armed forces, I really appreciate.
The design of the vest makes shooting photos so much easier with large cargo pockets on the front where you can carry a couple of lenses up to 400mm in length.
The integrated camera strap is highly adjustable for a custom carrying experience, and keeps your camera right at your fingertips for quick shots.
There's even a scratch-proof pocket for filters as well as optional accessories like padded shoulders, an additional camera strap, a hydration pack, and custom name tags, just to name a few.
Why not make 2021 the year you step up your game, streamline your workflow, and shoot in greater comfort?! You can do that with a photography vest from The Vest Guy!
As someone that's used Photoshop and Lightroom for years and years, I understand how difficult it is to switch to a new editor.
Recently, though, I made the move to Luminar 2018, and once the new Luminar 3 was released, I jumped on board with it. Talk about a great decision!
What sets Luminar apart from programs like Lightroom is that it's much, much easier to use.
There are a host of presets (called Looks) that you can apply to your images with just one click for quick editing, but you still have the option of making fine adjustments with a variety of slider controls.
Luminar 3 also has artificial intelligence-powered editing tools that make dozens of adjustments simultaneously to further speed up the editing process.
That includes AI tools for enhancing the sky as well as the Accent AI filter (shown above) that applies about a dozen changes to your image that improve the colors, detail, and tone of your image, among others.
With non-destructive editing, a new library for organizing and sorting your photos, customizable workspaces, precise adjustments without having to make selections, and a host of other innovative tools, Luminar isn't just powerful, but it's also easy to use and affordable!
I know not everyone is a portrait photographer, but if you are, you can step up your game in 2021 with a high-quality backdrop from Click Props.
I've known the Click Props team for years, and I've even spent time with them at their Las Vegas studio. I've seen these backdrops up close and personal, and they're gorgeous!
These backdrops are made of 550gsm vinyl, so not only are they super strong, but they're also easy to clean when your shoot is wrapped up.
You can use and abuse these things without worry that they'll be trashed - they're that durable!
The backdrops come with reinforced grommets along the top, which makes it easier to hang them and swap them out between shoots. You can even order your backdrop without grommets and set it up on a roller system if you prefer.
Either way, the backdrop will hang straight and clean, so you don't have to worry about folds or creases causing a distraction in the background.
There's a huge selection of backdrops (and floors) to choose from as well - more than 200 unique designs that will help you fulfill your creative vision.
When you create portraits, the background might not be the star of the shot, but the background certainly matters when it comes to the quality of the photo.
Boost the appeal of your portraits in the new year with a gorgeous backdrop!
I got my hands on SIRUI's new SR-3004 tripod a couple of months back, and this thing is an absolute beast.
I've used SIRUI tripods for the better part of a decade, and the quality of craftsmanship of these things is what has kept me a loyal customer over the years.
My old tripod - the SIRUI W-2204 - is a great tripod. But I got the SR-3004 because it's a bigger, beefier tripod that can extend to 80 inches in height with the optional two-stage center column and can hold up to 55 pounds of gear.
And even though it's not advertised as being waterproof, as you can see in the image above, my trip to the beach involved a lot of water. So long as I rinse the tripod off and dry it before I head home, I've experienced no problems whatsoever from sea water or sand.
SIRUI has loaded this thing for bear with features as well.
That includes a flat top plate with 3/8" mounting screw for maximum stability, a removable top plate for quickly converting the tripod into a video tripod, a multi-function hook with built-in adjustment tool, and a 1/4" socket built into the spider for quick and easy attachment of accessories.
Add to that simple 1/2 twist leg lock mechanisms and three-position leg angles, and you have the makings of a tripod that's the ultimate in functionality and ease of use.
1. A square of sponge cake dipped in melted chocolate and grated coconut often eaten by the Syrp team on film trips, causing them to be dubbed ‘Production Lamingtons.’
Syrp's started to sneak onto other people's productions, telling everyone about how it all goes down in their new filmmaking series, Production Lamingtons.
The Production Lamingtons series aims to show creatives in their natural habitat. It covers everything from equipment, planning, and creative direction, to alternative processes and gives insight into the workflow of filmmakers, photographers, and other creatives who are pretty bloody great at what they do.
Have a geez at the first episode on local kiwi artist, photographer, and filmmaker Joseph Michael, and get inspired to create your own!
Joseph Michael is a kiwi artist, filmmaker, and photographer with lofty dreams, plenty of patience, and boundless energy for combining technology and art for the public to enjoy.
In 2015, Joe, a team of filmmakers, a sound recordist, and various other intrepid folk headed down to Antarctica with the mildly complex goal of 3D mapping icebergs for their new project Antarctica –while you were sleeping. Four years of sweat, a myriad of technical challenges, and probably some tears later, the project finally came to life on the wall of the Auckland War Museum in New Zealand.
Photo by Joe Michael
The idea was to bring the imposing brilliance of seeing an iceberg back to the people of his current hometown in 1:1 scale. Understandably, it was a difficult task, and Joe may have been overheard saying it might have been easier to tow an iceberg all the way back to Auckland Harbour, but we won't confirm anything. While various icebergs were recorded, it was one lovingly nicknamed Ernest that made the cut for the final projection, shown for three days during the Auckland Arts Festival earlier this year.
Check out the video and see how it all went down, Joe's thoughts behind the creative process, and the challenges they faced leading up to execution.
Time-lapses of light changes such as those at sunset or sunrise are the pinnacle of time-lapse photography.
That’s because they’re notoriously tricky to get right but are spectacular to watch when done well.
As the light changes, your camera settings need to too so you don’t have a flickering under-exposed mess. It can all be a bit of a balancing act and takes a fair amount of practice – and a little study.
If it’s all sounding a little bit above your skill level, don’t worry – professional time-lapse photographer Morten Rustad has just completed a second filmmaking guide with motion control company Syrp, this time showing you how to create the perfect sunset panning time-lapse. You can watch it in the video above.
You may have heard of Morten before – he’s first hit our screens in 2014 with his viral success “Norway – a Time-lapse Adventure” and followed it up with ‘Seasons of Norway’ earlier this year.
Anyway, moving on to the important stuff – this filmmaking guide uses the Genie Mini, a pocket-sized motion control panning device from Syrp that makes setting up and running time-lapses easy.
Controlled wirelessly from your phone or tablet, the Genie Mini takes care of triggering the shutter at specific intervals, how long your time-lapse will run for, how far your camera will pan and how fast.
It’s a nifty bit of kit, and while it makes the whole process a lot easier, you can still learn something from Morten’s tutorial without a motion control time-lapse device.
Morten covers everything from setting up your composition, interval, manually ramping your ISO to maintain exposure and editing your time-lapse into a stunning film.
The gear Morten used in this tutorial is as follows:
In this Syrp Genie II review, I offer my take on the Syrp Genie II Linear and Syrp Genie II Pan Tilt motion control devices. I utilized this rig on my recent trip to Norway and have based my review primarily on that experience.
As I've mentioned in recent articles on PhotographyTalk, I'm really getting into video creation.
For the most part, I'm focusing on gear reviews and photography tip videos, but timelapse work is in the mix as well.
I've created a few timelapses over the years, but have never really gotten into it because I have so much else going on.
But now that I have the Syrp Genie II Linear and Genie II Pan Tilt as part of my setup, I can envision timelapse photography becoming a much larger part of my repertoire.
Syrp Genie II Review: Ease of Use
The first thing you need to know about the Syrp Genie II devices is that they are incredibly easy to use.
I mean, even if you have zero timelapse photography experience, you can set these things up and create some pretty epic stuff.
On the hardware side, the Genie II Linear can attach to any slider on the market. It'll attach to cable cam systems as well - up to 328 feet in length, in fact.
Meanwhile, the Genie II Pan Tilt can attach to a tripod or a slider. Using the two devices together gives you three-axis motion control.
That's a huge bonus because you can quickly upgrade your ability to create timelapse videos (and real-time videos too) and do so without having to lug around a bunch of heavy gear.
On the software side, Syrp has created devices that give you tons of control with easy-to-use features.
The Genie II Linear, for example, has key-framing, B-roll, and timelapse features at present, with future features to include live view shooting and camera control for ramping exposures.
The Genie II Linear is wirelessly controllable from any Android or iOS device as well.
Just like the Genie II Linear, the Genie II Pan Tilt comes pre-loaded with software that enables you to create key-frames, real-time videos, and timelapse videos.
The built-in screen is handy if you need to make quick adjustments and can't reach your phone, and the built-in joystick allows for fast setup and repositioning of the device.
You can also create multi-row panoramas with the Pan Tilt. That means that high-resolution gigapixel images are easily within your reach! You'll can control panoramic shooting from the Genie II App as well.
Future firmware updates will add the functionality of full live view camera control and motion control via the app, as well as automated bulb ramping and timelapse compiling. That means that as good as this thing is now, it'll only get better in the future!
See the Genie II App in action in the video above.
As noted earlier, the Genie II Linear and Genie II Pan Tilt are both small little things, so you can get motion control in the field without being weighed down with a ton of heavy gear.
The Genie II Linear is scarcely more than 4.5-inches wide and 2.75-inches tall and weighs only two pounds. The Pan Tilt is 5.5-inches wide, about 8.5-inches tall, tips the scales at three pounds.
In other words, these two devices can easily fit in your backpack or camera bag without taking up too much room.
Aside from being small and lightweight, both of these Genie II devices are built like a tank.
As I noted in the introduction, I took these rigs to Norway in the dead of winter, and they performed beautifully.
The weather was great (albeit cold), so I didn't test them out in snowy conditions, though I suspect a few flakes wouldn't hamper these devices in any way, shape, or form.
When looking at the Genie II Linear and Genie II Pan Tilt, you can tell that the folks at Syrp spent a lot of time considering the build quality and design of these devices.
They feel solid in the hand, and as I can attest, they can stand up to lengthy intercontinental travel without issue. There were some bumps and bruises along the way, but as any photographer does, I had these things secured safely in my padded camera bag so they came through unscathed.
Best of all, these units are heavy enough to not be wobbly as they move through the motion sequence, yet they're light enough to add in your camera bag without feeling bogged down with a ton of weight. That's a great combination!
Add pan and tilt capabilities to your kit with the Syrp Genie II Pan Tilt Head. Get yours now.
Syrp Genie II Review: Performance
In field testing in Norway, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the Genie II components performed.
Though they can be used independently of one another, I used the Genie II Linear and Genie II Pan Tilt together for three-axis motion control.
The units are super easy to put together and setup.
The Pan Tilt shows its position in degrees for both axes on the built-in screen, and is accurate to 0.01mm. If you use the Genie II App, you can easily connect via WiFi or Bluetooth to change and review settings quickly and easily.
The Genie II Linear, meanwhile, has a quick-release plate with varying thread sizes so it can be mounted to a camera, a ball head, or as I did, to the Pan Tilt.
It has a built-in joystick (shown above), just like the Pan Tilt, so you can make quick adjustments to the device. It's also controllable via the Genie II app.
Regarding the Genie II App, it's also very easy to use and performs well in the field.
The app is user-friendly and intuitive to use, and comes preloaded with various shot settings to get you started with timelapses. You can also set up new settings of your own making.
I had the Genie II devices set up on a slider, but you can add the Genie II Linear to a cable cam or a dolly. The Syrp team has even produced videos in which the Genie II Linear is sitting on a skateboard!
In my setup, the Genie II components moved smoothly, even in the frigid temperatures.
In fact, the only issue I had was that the Pan Tilt's battery showed a "low charge" error. However, I removed the battery, reseated it, and the error went away.
Had the battery been dead, it would have been easy to swap in another battery (both devices take the same battery). Alternatively, the Pan Tilt has three USB-C ports and the Genie II Linear has two USB-C ports, so charging the devices that way would have been an option (both devices will also work while they're charging, which is convenient).
Other than that, this setup was quick and easy to use and performed beautifully.
Syrp Genie II Review: Final Thoughts
I had the opportunity to use the previous versions of the Genie and Pan Tilt, and they were fantastic.
But the second iteration of these devices is even better, with smoother, quieter operation and an upgraded app experience that truly makes creating videos a breeze.
Like I said earlier, I'm not a terribly experienced timelapse videographer, but these Genie II devices made me feel much more confident and capable while I was in Norway shooting timelapse videos of the Northern Lights.
As far as the advantages of these devices go, there are many:
Small, lightweight, and easily portable
Intuitive and simple to use
Fantastic companion app for wireless control (with more features on the way)
Loaded for bear with features
Quick and easy setup
Swappable batteries between units
As for the downside, honestly the only issue is the price. The Pan Tilt starts at $1,599.00 and the Genie II Linear is $899.00, so they aren't exactly cheap devices.
That being said, you can easily spend much more than that on less capable motion-control setups. Besides, you really do get what you pay for and it shows. These things are worth every single penny if you ask me!
As we near the end of 2019 (and the decade!), it's a prime time to look back on the year in photography.
It's been a crazy year with so many incredible innovations happening. I say that every year, but every year it's the truth!
When I think about the best photography gear, gadgets, products, and services, I think about things that are functional, easy to use, and innovative.
The list I've compiled below is full of products that tick these boxes...
Each item I've included on my Best of 2019 list is something that I have at the very least thoroughly tested or that I own.
With that said, here's a few items that blew me away in 2019.
Argraph Marumi M100 Filter System
One of the hallmarks of the companies featured on this list is that they have all innovated the photography industry in some way.
For Marumi, their claim to fame isn’t just crafting some of the best filter systems available today, but creating filter systems that streamline your workflow in the field.
Marumi’s Magnetic M100 Filter Holder and their line of magnetic filters are just what the doctor ordered for photographers that are sick of sliding filters in and out of their holders.
The M100 filter holder sports a slim 10mm design with strong magnetic attachments that hold the filter in place. The foam gaskets on the filter holder ensure that there are no light leaks to ruin your photos.
If using a circular polarizer, it rotates independently in the filter holder and features water and oil-repellent coatings on both sides that minimizes clean up.
The filter also has anti-static-anti-scratch, and anti-reflection properties that ensure you have the ideal shooting experience.
The other magnetic filters in Marumi’s lineup have the same features, including their graduated ND filters and solid ND Filters.
The graduated ND filters include hard-edge, soft-edge (as shown above), and reverse grads for photographing landscapes with a definite horizon, a variable horizon, and at sunrise and sunset, respectively.
Of course, there are also many different solid ND filters available from 2-stops all the way up to 15-stops.
Like the other Marumi filters mentioned above, these ND filters are made of durable Schott 5270 glass that offers high-definition results.
When photographing landscapes, the quality of light can change from one second to the next. That’s why this magnetic system is so compelling - by reducing the time spent swapping out filters, you can spend more time photographing the beauty before you!
I use this rig with my Nikon Z7, and it absolutely rocks it in terms of helping me get ultra-smooth, cinematic-looking video.
This gimbal is extremely well built and feels solid and supremely sturdy in your hand.
Granted, my setup doesn't come close to meeting this gimbal's eight-pound load capacity, but I'm sure it could perform just as well if I used a heavier camera and lens package.
The Horizon One has brushless motors that give you ultra-precise stabilization, and with the 12-hour runtime, you can shoot all day long without stopping to recharge the gimbal.
Built into the unit are five operational modes, including my personal favorite, "Dream Follow," which gives you 360-degree spin on the roll axis.
I can't even tell you how many gimbals I've tested and owned over the years - maybe more than a dozen!
And this rig is by far one of the very best.
It's impeccably built, full of features, and easy to use. If that doesn't say "Best of 2019," I don't know what does.
Ikan Onyx Digital Color LED Panel Light
I know what you're thinking...
How can a light be part of the Best of 2019?
Well, as you know, photography is all about great light, and the Ikan Onyx Digital Color Light definitely delivers on that front.
What I've found so impressive with this light is that it has RGB, white, and amber LEDs. And with five color modes, you can use this thing for just about any kind of photo shoot or video shoot.
In fact, in RGB mode, this light gives you independent control over the red, green, and blue LEDs, which means you can literally create millions of different colors to suit your needs and tastes.
Meanwhile, the amber and white LEDs give photographers the option of recreating daylight or tungsten light with incredible accuracy.
This light even has a CCT mode that offers an adjustable color temperature from 2800K up to 10,000K. You simply don't find that kind of range in most lights!
On top of that, the Onyx has a Hue Shift feature of green and magenta lights, giving you yet another option for exerting pinpoint control over the kind of light you have available to you.
Ikan also stuffed the Onyx with eight special effects - like police lights and candle flames - as well as 33 different gels to give you even further light customization possibilities.
Heck, there's even a built-in 1/2-stop diffuser!
This is one of the best lights I've used this year, and the data backs it up - it has a CRI-TLCI rating of 95, so you know that the light it emits is clean and beautiful.
In my opinion, you just won't find a better light, which is why I've included it in my Best of 2019 list.
Exposure Software
I've been a fan of Exposure Software for a long time, and it just keeps getting better and better with more and more tools available that make editing photos a simpler, more streamlined process.
The latest version of Exposure - Exposure X5 - is brimming with innovative and easy-to-use features.
There's a huge collection of "Looks," which give you the power to change the appearance of the image with a simple click.
You can make selective presets too, that way the edits you want to apply only apply to specific areas of the image.
Exposure has all the basic editing tools you could want as well, including nondestructive layers, linear and radial gradients, a brush tool, overlays, creative focus, and more.
In addition to all that, Exposure is also a complete photo manager.
You can apply camera profiles and presets, migrate collections over from Lightroom, use keywords to manage and organize your images, and review images side-by-side for easy comparison.
Exposure also enables you to create smart collections of photos - just add specific criteria you want for the collection (i.e., rating, color label, flag, camera data, f-stop, and so forth) and Exposure will populate the collection for you.
Nice, right?!
One of my favorite features, though, is the 3D color masking tool in Exposure.
Basically, this tool gives you precise control over where an adjustment is applied in the shot. This is thanks to the range of definitions that Exposure uses to define adjustment areas, such as saturation, hue, and luminance.
Because you can target colors of a specific hue, for example, you can apply adjustments to specific areas of the shot, like the sky or to skin tones. You can do all this with just a few clicks, too!
From the intuitive user interface to the powerful editing tools to the suite of support features that help make your workflow smoother, Exposure has everything you need to create your best images. They even offer a free trial to give it a test drive!
If you're unfamiliar with this thing, the Genie Mini II Linear is incredibly portable and gives you the option to add motion control to your timelapse and films without lugging around a big, heavy piece of kit.
It can attach to any slider on the market and even cable cam systems up to 328’ in length, so you can quickly and easily upgrade your ability to capture gorgeous timelapses and real-time video.
Additionally, the Genie II Linear is loaded up with features for key-framing, shooting interviews, b-roll and timelapse with future available features including live view, and camera control for ramping exposure, just to name a few. It’s wirelessly controllable as well, via an iOS or Android device.
At the same time, Syrp introduced the Genie II Pan Tilt, which gives you an ultra-portable camera motion control that you can carry in your backpack.
You can use it with a tripod for ultra-precise pan and tilt motion control, or if you want three-axis, use it in conjunction with the Genie II Linear for the most powerful 3-axis device on the market.
Like the Genie II Linear, the Pan Tilt offers tons of functionality, including timelapse and real-time video capabilities, key-framing, and much more. With multi-row Panoramas, you can capture high resolution ‘gigapixel’ images and shoot Panoramas all controlled from the app itself.
It also has a built-in screen so you don’t have to use the app if you don’t need it and you want to pack light, not to mention a built-in joystick for quick setup and re-positioning from the device itself. Not bad, right?!
After that, Syrp brought us the Tilt Platform, which allows you to get perfectly level, vertical footage.
It couldn't be easier to use, either...
It requires no tools, has angle markings to help you dial in accurate adjustments, and it has a 3/8-16" - 1/4-20" UNC thread adapter in the base to expand its mounting options.
Just use the easy-adjustable knob to change the lever tension to secure your camera, and away you go!
You can position the Tilt Platform up to 180-degrees, it can be used with motion control or manual sliders, and it'll hold up to 13.2 pounds of gear.
And as if all that isn't enough, Syrp just released a new app feature available through the Syrp Genie II app - stop motion.
This mode allows you to create stop motion videos more precisely (and faster) than ever.
You can set up any desired movement using the app's keyframe editor, and you have complete control over the video's frame rate.
Once you have the motion set up, all you have to do is move the motion controller to each frame and trigger the camera's shutter.
Stop motion videos have never been so easy to make!
Excire
Excire is an innovative product that I became familiar with last year, and I just have to continue singing its praises.
For me, there isn’t much that I hate doing more than manually tagging my photos in Lightroom. That’s why there are thousands and thousands of images in my Lightroom catalogs that aren’t tagged at all.
Until now…
What’s so great about Excire’s products - Excire Search and Excire Search Pro - is that they utilize artificial intelligence to tag your Lightroom photos for you.
Yeah...we’re living in the future, my friends!
Excire Search has 125 common keywords that can be used for tagging your images, so every shot you have of a mountain or a bike or a dog will be organized and easily identified.
Excire Search can obviously be used to search your images as well. Just use the plugin to find the images in your catalog that meet your criteria!
Even better, Excire Search Pro offers over 500 keywords for tagging, so you have even more capability to organize and search your photos.
It includes a keyword transfer function, too, which means you can use Excire Search Pro on your existing catalogs. That means no more hunting around for the images you need, even if you have an enormous Lightroom catalog of tens of thousands of images.
In other words, Excire transfers the keywords it extracts to your Lightroom catalog, and then those keywords can be used in Lightroom as if you had manually entered them.
Needless to say, Excire Search is a fantastic tool for beginner and hobbyist photographers, and Excire Search Pro is a great option for serious photographers and professionals.
It's this kind of innovation I looked for when considering my Best of 2019 list!
PolarPro Summit Filters
PolarPro has built a reputation over the years of developing well-built, high-performance products, and their newest filters are no exception.
The Summit filter system was specifically developed for the rough-and-tumble world of landscape photography.
These filters are built to withstand the rigors of shooting outdoors in harsh conditions while at the same time having a design that makes them incredibly easy to use.
On the one hand, the ND and graduated ND filters have aluminum frames that both protect the filter and help minimize fingerprints getting on the filter glass.
So, not only do you get filters that are more durable, but you also won't spend as much time cleaning the filters to get rid of fingerprints. It's a win-win!
On the other hand, the filters and filter housing feature materials that ratchet up the build quality.
For example, the filters are made of fused Quartz glass with 16 layers of coatings that improve color fidelity and clarity while reducing glare.
As another example, the filter frames are made of lightweight aluminum that helps cut weight in your pack while providing you strong durability for years to come.
Add in a user-friendly design, light-sealed slots, filter locks to lock down the filter position, and the ability to rotate the filter system 360 degrees, and you have the makings of the ideal landscape photography filter kit - one of the best of 2019, in fact!!
In addition to working with slides, 8mm movies, and Super 8 movies, the F2D Titan also works with 35mm, 110, 126, 127, and APS film.
It has a 20-megapixel sensor that turns your analog memories into high-definition digital files at up to 5472 x 3648 pixels.
The F2D Titan makes quick work of scanning, too. In just three seconds, the scan is complete thanks to its speed-load adapters that are perfectly sized to each format of slide or negative that you’re scanning.
You can view the results of the scan on the onboard 4.3-inch color LCD. You can even fine-tune the brightness and color balance settings. If you prefer to see your newly digitized photos on a larger screen, simply connect the F2D Titan to a computer or a TV.
Saving the digitized images is a breeze, too. Just use its internal memory or add your own SD/SDHC memory card.
Better still, you don’t need a computer or external monitor or software of any kind, so this unit is totally self-contained. Just have a power source (via an AC outlet or USB) and you can digitize slides, film, and old movies anywhere you like.
If you’ve got a lot of old memories to digitize, there’s isn’t a better or faster way to do so than with this bad boy! It's simply the easiest, most functional film to digital scanner I've ever tested.
RODE Video Mics
I have several RODE mics, including the tiny shotgun microphone shown above.
The RODE VideoMicro is compact and lightweight, which makes it a perfect pairing for my GoPro.
But don't think that because it's a tiny mic that audio quality is sacrificed. In fact, it has a high-quality cardioid condenser mic capsule so you can get clear, crisp audio.
It's shocking just how good this little guy performs!
Since it's a directional mic, it minimizes sounds from the periphery so your video has focused audio from the subject.
Add to that a thermoplastic suspension structure for minimizing vibrations as you adventure around with your GoPro, and you have the ideal audio companion for the best adventure camera on the market!
This shotgun-style mic has a 1/2-inch condenser capsule, which results in ultra-clean audio that's broadcast quality. We're talking about a self-noise level of just 14db!
It has a super-cardioid polar pattern that reduces background noise while ensuring that it captures crisp audio of the source you want to record.
And, unlike lesser microphones, the RODE VideoMic Pro has a Rycote Lyre shock system that creates a buffer between the microphone capsule and electronics and the microphone mount. This, in turn, minimizes the vibrations of the mic and improves the quality of the audio even more.
Add in fantastic sound, easy-to-reach controls, and intuitive operation, and you have the makings of the ideal microphone for filmmaking!
Camera Canopy
I first learned about Camera Canopy last year, and I have to say that over the course of 2019 I've grown to appreciate this unique camera accessory more and more.
Photographers that spend any time outdoors understand that when it rains, it can really put a damper on their ability to get the photos they want. That’s because even weather-sealed gear isn’t completely water-tight.
And trying to manipulate camera controls with a traditional bag-like rain cover for a camera is a huge pain in the rear. That’s why Camera Canopy is a much better alternative.
Camera canopy attaches to a camera via its hot-shoe mount, and then acts like a roof to protect the camera and lens from rain. It even protects the from glass of the lens so there’s no water droplets messing up the shot.
Better still, it’s adjustable for lenses up to 500mm in length.
Camera Canopy also has a mirrorless camera version, so now that I've gone totally mirrorless, I can still enjoy the benefits of having my camera and lens protected by a Camera Canopy.
Just like its big brother, this mirrorless version is extremely easy to mount to your camera, simple to adjust for different lens lengths, and still provides you unfettered access to your camera's controls.
It's simply the best wet-weather camera accessory money can buy!
Hex Brand Ranger Sling Bag
I had an opportunity to head up to Los Angeles a while back and meet the masterminds behind HEX.
It was a fun time looking behind the curtain at their operation, plus I got to bring one of their Ranger Sling bags home to test out.
First impressions are good, to say the least! And that's coming from an admitted bag snob.
For instance, I check the stitching inside and out to see how well put together it is, and with this bag, it’s very well put together.
It’s part of thoughtful construction and design processes that make this bag one of the very best I've used this year.
One of the things I like most about the bag is the collapsible interior dividers - including the bottom divider. This gives you a bag that can not only be customized to your gear for each photoshoot, but you can also fold up or remove the dividers to allow the bag to be packed totally flat for travel inside another bag.
Speaking of customizations, this bag has side adjustable load straps and adjustable bottom carry straps so you can carry even more gear when needed.
This bag is also packed full of pockets to help you keep track of your stuff. There’s a front access organizer for small items, a faux fur lined pocket on the front for your phone or a pair of shades, a faux fur lined pocket for your table, and multiple hidden velcro stash pockets. And the bag sits very well when worn. It’s comfortable and easy to access your gear and really hugs your body.
With genuine Cordura material and YKK zippers with metal pulls, this bag will stand up to use and abuse, too. And since it’s so compact (just 1.3 pounds and 14.5"L x 7.25"W x 4.75"H), you can rock it in the urban jungle without worrying that it’ll be knocking into people as you move from shot to shot.
Something that really stood out to me was that, although the bag is listed at 8 liters, there is no wasted or negative space. In fact, I easily transferred all the gear I would normally carry in my Peak Design 10L Sling into the HEX Ranger Sling. I have to say that I am a big fan of the efficient use of space in this bag and the collapsible potential of the HEX bag certainly gives it a leg up.
With eight liters of storage space, a streamlined design, and looks that don’t quit, this is definitely one of the best products I tested this year!
This entry on my Best of 2019 list is a little different from the rest...
Rather than a camera accessory or some kind of service you use to take better photos, TravelSchool.Info makes it on this list because of its innovative approach to education and furthering your ability to make money.
TravelSchool.Info enables you to learn how to harness the power of affiliate marketing all the while traveling the world. Sounds nice, right?
By teaching you how to create multiple revenue streams from affiliate marketing, TravelSchool enables you to earn active and passive income that frees up your time to pursue things that are more fun than working!
Travel School is a comprehensive training program for starting an independent affiliate marketing business. It will take you step-by-step through the process of building a business that is not only wildly successful in the short-term, but can sustain steady growth for the long-term too.
Travel School founder Emilian travels the world with his furry friend, Divak, and is eager to share his knowledge and experience with you and help you build a successful affiliate marketing business that will allow you to quit your traditional job and travel the world like you want!
But Travel School isn’t just a step-by-step training program. Instead, it will change your outlook on what it means to work, and at the same time will be a transformational experience that will change their entire life for the better.
With specific, actionable steps, you will learn how to connect with established brands, develop core marketing skills, and activate multiple income streams to realize their dream of living a life full of travel and freedom.
Not only does Travel School aid in leveraging the credibility of amazing companies, but they will also offer weekly private webinars to keep your loved one motivated and on track toward accomplishing their goals.
Additionally, all training sessions are recorded and available at any time, that way if questions come up down the road or a little extra motivation is needed, the lessons can be easily accessed. There are opportunities to learn and collaborate with other students too!
It’s not often that you have the opportunity to learn how to live a life with more freedom, but in this case, Travel School is does just that!
Octopus.Camera OctoPad
I’m a gear head and I buy and test all kinds of stuff - cameras, lenses, tripods, lights...you name it!
I know what you’re thinking...how can a little weighted support system be all that innovative? Trust me when I say that OctoPad certainly is!
For starters, OctoPad is a much better alternative than suction cup mounts or even mini tripods because it actually stays put.
The weighted anti-slip mat keeps the OctoPad right where you want it, even if it’s on a smooth or uneven surface.
Additionally, OctoPad has a built-in 1/4-20 threaded male bolt for attaching any number of accessories like a microphone or a light. The included ball head also has a 1/4-20 threaded male bolt for accessory attachment.
That means that this little guy is a great option for supporting a compact camera or a smartphone, a GoPro, a microphone, or a light. Plus, it can be used for photo or video work, giving you even more versatility.
It’s easy to use and transport too - there’s a built-in grommet for attaching a lanyard and a cable strap to tuck cables out of the way of your shots.
This is just a well designed product that offers a ton of benefits for photographers and videographers alike. And the best part? It’s priced at just $26.95!
Snaptiles
One of the most innovative products I encountered this year is Snaptiles.
These ingenious patented magnetic photo tile system takes all the fuss and muss out of displaying your photos.
If you want to create a mixed tile array, you can do so in a matter of seconds thanks to the easy mounting system that Snaptiles employs.
All you do is attach the mounting bracket to the wall using four adhesive strips. Make sure to press down firmly for 10 seconds so that it holds tight to the wall. You can snap up to 12 photo tiles onto the first anchor tile. If you really want to have some fun push in the 4 included thumbtacks for additional support. You can then snap up to 30 Snaptiles to the anchor! Not a bad tradeoff for 4 small pin holes if you ask me.
Next, you mount the anchor tile to the wall mount by snapping it into place.
Then, you can add any number of additional photo tiles, which connect together using rare earth magnets. And that’s it!
Now instead of having to put nails in the wall to hang additional photos, you can simply order 4 photo tiles from Snaptiles, add them to your array of mixed tiles, and enjoy your favorite photo (along with all your other favorites in the display).
These tiles are super lightweight so if they fall they won’t break. They are printed onto a premium SBS Acid-Free paperboard using the same printing technology as high-quality photo books. Likewise, the UV protective lamination ensures that the images don’t lose their color over time.
Snaptiles has a unique ability to let you display your photos in a creative and ever-changing way. When it comes to hanging art and your favorite images, being able to swap them out quickly and easily is a huge bonus.
Best of all, four tiles are just $59 with Free Shipping, so you can enjoy four of your favorite images without breaking the bank.
What’s not to like about that?!
Westcott Rapid Box Octa
As photographers, we all know the value of good light for creating compelling photos. And when it comes to modifying light to get the precise look you want, Westcott should be your source.
After all, Westcott has been in this business since 1899, so they know exactly what they’re doing.
In fact, Wescott holds 12 patents and has a product line of more than 600 products, so they’re much more than umbrellas and lights - they’re the go-to for all manner of durable, high-end lighting gear.
It would be impossible to expound upon Westcott’s vast array of products, so I’ll illustrate why they’re included on my list of the Best of 2019 by using their Rapid Box Octas as examples.
I know you’re probably thinking, “Aren’t all softboxes the same?” Well, no, my friend, they aren’t!
For starters, these things are supremely easy to set up - you can have them ready to go in a matter of seconds, so there’s no long, drawn-out procedure for getting your gear ready for the shoot.
They’re easy to transport as well, given that they are completely collapsible and super lightweight.
But don’t think that because they’re collapsible and easy to set up that they’re somehow not durable. Far from it.
The solid metal framework ensures that these softboxes retain their shape over the course of years and years of repeated use, and the built-in mounting hardware means there’s a snug fit with your speedlite whether it’s a Yonguo, Nikon, or something in between.
In other words, Westcott makes this list of the Best of 2019 not just because they create superb lighting gear, but because they also have a proven track record of innovation when it comes to lighting gear.
Their products are durable and easy to use and show a demonstrated effort by Westcott to think purposefully about design and functionality so you and I have a better user experience.
But don’t take my word for it...see the Rapid Box Octa in action in the video above!
At the time of writing, it's just barely September, so what am I doing outlining gifts for the holiday season?
Hey, someone has to get the ball rolling, so it might as well be me!
Besides, photographers can be a fickle bunch, so you might need a little extra time to decide exactly what it is you'll be gifting come December.
Here's a few top ideas for photographers that are priced under $250...
Vanguard Alta Sky 66 Backpack
Photographers typically have a lot of gear to carry, so a great gift idea is the gift of an awesome camera backpack!
The Vanguard Alta Sky 66 is full of features that photographers will appreciate.
Not only can it hold a ton of gear - a super telephoto lens, a pro DSLR body, a tripod, and a tablet - but it also has tons of dedicated pockets, organizers, and connectors for carrying all the essentials.
The ergonomic Air System back, harness, and waist belt helps keep all that weight evenly distributed for a "never tire" carrying experience that will allow your favorite photographer to shoot all day long.
And when they're out shooting, they'll enjoy the safety of double security buckles, the full rear opening and top access for easily finding gear, and the bright yellow interior that makes it easy to find what you need.
Add to that an integrated tripod carrying system, a rain cover, and water bottle pockets, and you have the makings of the ultimate camera backpack for the adventurous photographer in your life!
No matter if you’re looking for a gift for your favorite photographer or you have a special lady in your life that’s expecting, the Angela gown by Sew Trendy is a wonderful gift idea.
The gown is extra long, with a chiffon fabric skirt that cascades from the knee, giving it an elegant look. The sweetheart top and slim fit construction means that the volume on the bottom of the dress is paired beautifully with a form-fitting upper design.
The off-the-shoulder droop sleeves add a bit of sexiness, though other sleeve options are available to suit different tastes. As you can see in the image above, it’s a gorgeous gown for expecting moms (and it’s available as a non-maternity dress, too!). It’s also an ideal gift idea for the photographer in your life that needs to build a wardrobe for portrait shoots!
If you have a friend or family member that enjoys photography, a great holiday gift is a top-notch tripod that offers their camera a lot of support, but doesn’t take up a bunch of room in their camera bag, either.
The Sirui T-025X is a great example of an ultra-compact tripod - it’s just 12.2 inches long when folded - that has a ton of features that photographers demand.
The removable center column allows the tripod to be used on a tabletop, and also enables photographers to get in close for low-angle shots and macro photography. What’s more, it’s got automatic leg angle locking mechanisms and three leg angle positions for fast and easy setup, even on uneven terrain.
This tripod is made of ultra lightweight 8-layer carbon fiber, so it’s strong but isn’t bulky. The tripod comes with a C-10S ball head, a quick release plate, a bottom hook for adding a weight bag for improved balance, and more!
And at just $199.99, this tripod represents excellent value!
Made with pride in Oklahoma, the Holdfast MoneyMaker is the ultimate gift for photographers that live their life on the go.
The MoneyMaker is crafted from fine materials like Bridle Leather, which is durable, supple, and looks great.
The MoneyMaker system keeps your favorite photographer's cameras right at his or her sides where they can be reached easily and are out of the way.
The anchored stainless steel D-rings and safety straps mean that the MoneyMaker keeps expensive gear safe as well.
It's comfortable to wear, too - the leather materials, in particular, "learn" the contours of your body over time, resulting in a supreme fit that takes the pain out of carrying two or even three cameras.
And aside from all its practical and functional features, the MoneyMaker simply looks like a million bucks!
If you've got someone to shop for that's into photography and cutting-edge gadgetry, the Arsenal AI Photography Assistant is the perfect gift.
Essentially, Arsenal uses artificial intelligence to figure out what camera settings are ideal for any situation.
It does so by searching thousands and thousands of images in the Arsenal database and developing suggested settings based on 18 crucial factors that have a role in how an image looks.
That means that Arsenal can help you determine everything from exposure settings to dealing with diffraction to focus stacking and so much more.
You can even take on long exposure photography and time-lapse videos, too.
In other words, this is the dream photography gadget for just about any photographer!
GoPro is synonymous with capturing breathtaking photos and videos of extreme adventures. That makes it the perfect gift idea for the adrenaline junkies on your holiday list.
The HERO4 Silver was made with action and adventure in mind. Not only is it incredibly lightweight - making it highly portable - but it’s also especially designed to record sharp, detailed HD video.
You can attach the HERO4 Silver to just about anything, too, making it one of the most versatile action cameras out there. Better still, you can get incredible deals on pre-owned HERO 4 Silvers and stretch your holiday budget further in the process!
What better way to say Happy Holidays than by offering your special someone a gorgeous, custom-made photo book?
The nPhoto DreamBook features ultra high-resolution 4K images, high-quality binding, and gorgeously vivid colors printed on genuine Canon paper using Canon’s DreamLab 5000 printer. You even get to choose among glossy, lustre, and satin papers to customize the look of the album even further.
With a handmade canvas wrap hardcover, up to 40 layflat spreads to show off your images, availability in four sizes that range from 8x8 to 18x12, and a price tag that starts at less than $250, the nPhoto DreamBook is a highly customizable gift that any fan of photography is sure to love!
The photos that your loved ones hold dear deserve to be showcased in an album that suits their specific tastes and preferences. As a result, a highly customizable photo album is a prime gift idea for the upcoming holiday season.
The nPhoto Exclusive Collection Photo Album gives you all sorts of customization options. You can choose amongst a number of beautiful covers that give the album a custom look. Opt for a cut-out window to reveal a favorite photo and select a laminate or acrylic finish to show off that image. With 10-80 pages, these albums can accommodate a wide-ranging number of images as well.
The Exclusive Collection Photo Album with layflat panoramic spreads further offers details like laser-etched designs, metal corners, and different options for the cover window cutout, too.
With both Fujicolor Crystal Archive Digital Paper and Fujicolor Crystal Archive Digital Pearl papers available, you can rest assured that the photos in the album will be sharp, crisp and full of color, and that those features will last a very, very long time.
Help your loved ones enjoy their photos this holiday by giving the gift of a high-quality photo album. With more than 50 combinations of features and pricing that starts at $175, it’s the perfect holiday gift idea!
Looking for a gift with a ton of visual appeal without it having a huge impact on your bank account? Look no further than an HD Metal Print from Artbeat Studios!
The great thing about an HD metal print is that it can be put just about anywhere in a home or office and immediately draw the attention of anyone that sees it. That’s due to the high-quality materials that Artbeat Studios uses to craft their prints.
For example, you can choose between a glossy or matte finish, where a glossy treatment adds depth to the image and creates a lot of drama and a matte finish eliminates glare and offers a more subtle viewing experience.
What’s more, you can choose from natural or black wood wall mounts, or if you prefer, silver or black aluminum wall mounts to further customize how the print looks. The mounts can be recessed from the edge of the print to give it the appearance that it’s floating on the wall, or you can opt to have the mount flush with the edges of the print to give it a little more depth and heft.
No matter how you choose to customize the print, it’ll be well worth the money!
As far as variable neutral density filters go, this holiday season, Syrp’s Super Dark Variable ND is the best buy around.
That’s because it has a range of 5-10 stops of exposure so that you can adapt it to your particular shooting needs. Adaptability is further seen in its range of sizes - the small size suits 52, 58, and 67mm lenses and the large suits 72, 77, and 82mm - and the fact that the filter has threads on it for stacking purposes.
The Super Dark is made of high-quality Japanese glass, meaning you get precise, clear, color-neutral results that make your long exposures and time-lapse videos look exceptionally good.
Add in a lens cloth and a genuine leather carrying case, and you’ve got one heck of a filter setup!
For those of you who are looking at getting into product photography or looking at trimming the fat from your current workflow, we have big news!
Known for some our favorite time-lapse motion control gear, New Zealand-based company Syrp has released yet another accessory for the Genie Mini that’s going to drastically reduce all that back and forth you get with product photography and helps keep all your shots consistent.
Introducing the Product Turntable, a simple, tool-less device that attaches to the Genie Mini, turning it into a quick and easy solution for automating your product photography process.
They’ve also added a nifty update to the Syrp Genie App that means you can control everything from your phone or tablet!
Now that’s pretty cool...
Here's a complete list of the Product Turntable specs:
360° product photography and video
4kg/8.8lbs weight capacity
8” aluminum Turntable Platform with cheese-plate style mounting holes
To be used in conjunction with the Syrp Genie Mini
Black and white cardboard Background Disks included
Downloadable template available for DIY mounting setups
Shutter Cable Extension included -¼-20 UNC mounting points for versatility
Can be used upside down or wall mounted for creative shots
Thanks to the precise nature of the setup, you can also create interactive 360° product images which is awesome for giving your online audience a complete overview of any products you might be selling. See the Product Turntable in action in the video above.
If you think the 8” turntable platform isn’t quite big enough for what you’re doing, you can download a template for making your own for DIY mounting setups over on Syrp’s website. Click here to check it out.
I'm continually amazed at the things that photographers can accomplish given the drive, dedication, creative vision, and the appropriate gear.
Morten Rustad knows all about drive and dedication.
His latest film, Seasons of Norway, took one year to plan, a second year to shoot, and four months to edit.
Add to that 20,000 kilometers of travel, 200,000 photos, and 20 terabytes worth of data, and you have the makings of a passion project that obviously took a lot of time and effort to bring to fruition.
If you've never been to Norway, my guess is that after watching this film, you'll be finding a way to get there.
As Morten documents, Norway is filled with imposing mountains, endless plateaus, and echoing valleys.
It's a land where nature takes the lead and the rest of us merely follow.
But while the seasons change, the small things go unnoticed. That's where time-lapse comes in.
Using motion-control components by Syrp (pictured below), Morten was able to capture two-axis motion of snow melting, water flowing, clouds passing, and other features of the landscape that we usually pay little attention to.
The devices used - the Syrp Genie, Genie Mini, and Magic Carpet - allowed Morten to get buttery smooth motion.The Genie is an all-in-one, portable solution for time-lapse video, while the Genie Mini offers ease of use with a smartphone-enabled app. Combined with the Magic Carpet, you have a recipe for a professional-grade time-lapse without a professional-grade investment in gear.
The Genie is an all-in-one, portable solution for time-lapse video while the Genie Mini offers ease of use with a smartphone-enabled app. Combined with the Magic Carpet, you have a recipe for a professional-grade time-lapse without a professional-grade investment in gear.
In Seasons of Change, Morten was able to bring subtle moments to life in a vivid manner that make you feel like you're right there with him as he travels around the country.
But you need to see it for yourself, not read what I think about it!
Check out the video below, and brace yourself for an incredible world of beauty.
About Morten
Morten Rustad is a professional time-lapse photographer based in Oslo, Norway.
He graduated from University of Essex with top grades in BSc Business Management in 2015 and took a big step into the world of time-lapse photography in 2014 with his viral success Norway - A Time-Lapse Adventure.
During 2016, Morten traveled through Norway yet again to create by far his biggest film yet, Seasons of Norway - A Time-Lapse Adventure in 8K.
Created by (directed, photographed, edited): Morten Rustad Produced by: Anders Graham Soundtrack composed by: Jogeir Daae Mæland Vocals by: Katrine Stenbekk Mixed by: Sivert Hagtvet Sound design by: Viljar Losnegård Creative advising by: Jørn Nyset Ranum Thanks to Syrp (www.syrp.co.nz) for providing motion control systems. Production company: Turbin Film AS (www.turbinfilm.no)
I've spent some time in Seattle over the years, and I always come away thinking, "Man, what a pretty place."
It's the best of so many worlds...you've got the charm of being on the coast, the interesting architecture of downtown, lots trees and vegetation, all set in front of a backdrop of Mount Rainier.
That's hard to beat.
Naturally, Seattle draws a lot of photographers for the reasons I listed above.
But it also has the attention of time-lapse enthusiasts that seek to document the motions this vibrant city undertakes from day to day.
Kevin from Rank Productions is one such time-lapse enthusiast that spent over two years getting the footage for the video above, with a little motivation and help during shooting from Rob Habon.
Two years is a long time to collect footage, so saying that this film was a labor of love would be an understatement!
And though Seattle is the subject of his this time-lapse, Kevin now lives on the road and is currently exploring Australia and New Zealand.
When asked why he's on the road now, Kevin simply stated, "Videography and photography has really motivated me to go out and document the amazing places on earth."
That sounds like a great way to live your life if you ask me...
Check out the video above to see how Kevin depicts his hometown, complete with a soundtrack supplied by Seattle natives Odezsa.
Gear Used:
Canon 7D
Magic Lantern
LRTimelapse
Syrp Genie
Time-Lapse Videos Simplified
If you look at the list of gear that Kevin used, you see just four things.
Talk about a simplified kit!
But that just goes to show that you don't need a ton of specialized gear to create awesome time-lapse videos.
One of my favorite time-lapse video essentials is the Syrp Genie, which is pictured above.
This little gadget is super small and super portable, and it has no external wires or batteries that make adding motion to your videos a hassle.
Genie gives you complete control over motion whether you're creating a time-lapse like Kevin's or working with real-time video too. That's the case whether you're using a rail system, a slider, or your own DIY setup for motion - Genie is adaptable to all kinds of gear and will give you ultra-smooth motion each and every time.
Genie also makes smooth in and out motion easy with customizable in and out points, and with several built-in time-lapse presets and HDR controls, you can start making incredible videos right out of the box.
It just doesn't get much simpler than that!
If you want awesome time-lapse footage but don't want to spend hours and hours setting up your gear and programming your motion control device, get a Genie. With just a few clicks of a button, you can start a simple time-lapse of the stars, clouds, or even people. Better still, with Genie's autostart function, you can tell it when to start filming so you don't have to stay up late or get up early to get things rolling.
You've seen the results in Kevin's video, so what are you waiting for? Create your own time-lapse magic with a Syrp Genie or one of their other incredible time-lapse products.
Let’s face it: time lapse photography can be confusing. With rigs that require a Ph.D. to set up properly and gear that you can only afford if you put a second mortgage on the house, it has historically been something reserved for only a small percentage of photographers.
But not now.
I’m extremely excited about the future of time lapse photography thanks to the affordable and innovative products being put out by New Zealand-based company Syrp. Their latest product, the Pan Tilt Bracket, is just another in a long line of must-have gear if you’ve got an interest in time lapse photography.
One of the hallmarks of high-quality time lapse photography is the ability to record images with two-axis movement. In the past, this was a difficult endeavor, but Syrp has made it a process that literally takes only minutes to set up, but with a smooth result that looks like something only a seasoned pro could possibly create! See for yourself:
Syrp’s Pan Tilt bracket is designed to work with two Syrp Genie Mini motion control devices. One Genie Mini is attached to a tripod, with the pan part of the Pan Tilt Bracket attached to the Mini. Then, the tilt component of the Pan Tilt Bracket is attached to a second Genie Mini, which, in turn, is attached to the pan component of the bracket. Then it’s a simple matter of attaching your camera to the bracket, attaching the link cable to your camera and Genie Mini, and syncing your Genie Minis via Bluetooth.
From there, you control the motion of the devices from the handy Genie Mini App. The app will register that you’ve got two Minis, one in pan mode and another in tilt mode. The app comes with pan and tilt presets built right in, so you can begin taking time lapses right out of the box. Of course, you can also set up your own custom time lapses by using the Genie Mini App to make adjustments to the record time, play time, and the interval at which the photos are taken. Use your phone’s touchscreen to easily establish the start and end points of the pan and tilt. You even get to preview the movement of the device so you’re sure that when you record your time lapse, it’s perfect.
As if the ease of use wasn’t good enough, Syrp has gone even further by making their products highly affordable. In fact, the Pan Tilt Bracket is only $89, so you won’t break the bank outfitting yourself with the gear you need to make breathtaking time lapses. Even better, you can get the complete kit that includes two Genie Minis, the new Pan Tilt Bracket, and a few other accessories, all for the price you’d pay for a single inexpensive lens for your camera. You’ll be ready to rock, and for a price that’s really quite hard to believe!
Have a look at the Pan Tilt Bracket to learn more and to pre-order yours today, or visit Syrp to discover what other high-quality, affordable products they have to offer. You can also see for yourself how easy it is to set up the Pan Tilt Bracket by watching the video below:
For the uninitiated, time-lapse photography might look and feel like something that's far beyond your ability to master.
But that's just not the case...
Creating time-lapse videos in the past was admittedly a much more difficult task than it is today.
However, with all kinds of technological advancements, particularly in motion control devices and app-based control for time-lapses, they're now easier than ever to make and make well.
If you're ready to dive into time-lapse photography, you have to get the right gear. This list identifies some of the critical items you'll need.
Time-Lapse Photography Gear Tip #1: Weight and Size
There are many, many time-lapse rigs on the market. But only a few brands are leading the pack with innovation and the best pedigree of quality.
Many time-lapse rigs will cost you less, but there's always a compromise somewhere. Usually, that's in its weight and traveling size.
Think about this: What's in your camera bag now? If your bag is anything like mine, even without the time-lapse gear, it's a full house!
Can you imagine trying to travel with a heavy metal track, let alone a track that doesn't break down easily and QUICKLY?
I've been following Syrp and using their time-lapse gear for a number of years.
Their Magic Carpet Slider (pictured above) is a must-have from a number of points of view, but especially in the weight and size department.
It weighs a fraction of other similar sliders at just 2.75 pounds. You can add optional two-foot extensions for just 2.2 pounds more.
Of course, this huge increase in mobility and weight reduction comes at a price...
For roughly four feet of slider (the Magic Carpet plus a two-foot extension), you'll be spending about $468.00. That's a healthy chunk of change, but this article isn't titled "Cheap Time-Lapse Tips!"
Instead, investing in top-quality gear will help you get out there and get better time-lapses.
Usually when creating a motion time-lapse, you want two very sturdy tripods on each end of the track. In some cases, you might even need three tripods.
There are plenty of good tripods out there, from inexpensive budget models to those that will cost you hundreds of dollars or more.
But just like a camera or a lens is an investment into your photography future, so too is a tripod.
Where inexpensive tripods can start failing in short order and put your camera, lenses, and other gear at risk, high-end tripods that have a proven track record of success and performance will give you more durability and functionality in the long-run.
I use the ProMediaGear 424L Tripod, and I have to say that it's about as rock-solid as you can get.
It has a load capacity of 125 pounds, so there's more than enough room for you to attach time-lapse gear to it.
What's more, the carbon fiber legs are super strong and lightweight, and with 1/4-twist leg locks, this thing is a breeze to set up quickly.
I've had this tripod in all sorts of shooting conditions with all sorts of gear, and it has proven to be a rock-star!
Time-Lapse Photography Gear Tip #3: Ball Head
A ball head is a must for any photographer if you ask me.
Not only do they help improve stability for your camera, but they also make rotating the camera faster and more accurate.
I've used the Acratech GP Ball Head for years, and not that long ago, I picked up a special edition red version.
This thing looks amazing, but more importantly, it's built like a tank and offers smooth and precise adjustments, even when it's loaded for bear with gear.
You can get a regular GP Ball Head or if you want the limited-edition red version, contact Acratech directly.
Time-Lapse Photography Gear Tip #4: Filters
One of the best things you can do for your daytime time-lapse adventures is add a variable ND filter to your lens.
Often, you'll find that when you're shooting, certain scenes have rather harsh light. A variable ND filter solves this problem by limiting the light that enters the lens. Think of it like sunglasses for your camera.
By limiting the light, you can use longer shutter speeds and exert more creative control over how the shots look.
You can see what I mean in the video above by Syrp, whose variable ND filter is made of high-quality Japanese glass with anti-reflective coating, so you get the best possible results.
Time-Lapse Photography Gear Tip #5: Alternative Stability
In some cases, you might be out with just one tripod when you really need two to set up your time-lapse rig.
In normal situations this would just be a nightmare ready to happen...
With the tripod in the center, as the time-lapse motion control device shuffles your camera and lens from one side to the other, the weight shifts and a dip will occur (as shown above) even when using the sturdiest of tripods.
That being the case, an alternative stabilizer is a handy tool to have.
The added stability the give your slider is well worth the money, and though they add a little bit of bulk to your time-lapse rig, they cut movement down drastically by screwing onto each end of the rig and clamping down on your tripod's leg, as you can see in the photos above.
It's a great alternative for time-lapsers that need extra stability but don't have a second tripod!
Time-Lapse Photography Gear Tip #6: Mongo-Sized Memory Card!
Truthfully, if you have a decent time-lapse rig, there will likely be some sort of an adapter that makes whatever camera you have compatible with the rig.
Before you splurge on a camera just for time-lapse photography, be sure to see what rigs work with which cameras. You might get lucky and not need a new camera at all!
Time-Lapse Photography Gear Tip #8: Motion Control
Earlier, when I was discussing size and weight, I spoke specifically about time-lapse sliders.
But there's another component to the mix that can also get big, bulky, and heavy if you aren't careful.
The motion control unit is what moves the camera to give time-lapses their motion.
There are plenty of good motion control devices, to be sure. However, for the purpose of this article, I think it's best to again recommend a product that's small and lightweight, yet powerful and user-friendly.
There are several products from Syrp that fit the bill.
The first is the Genie II Linear, an incredibly portable device that is packed to the gills with incredible features.
For starters, it can attach to any slider on the market (even cable cam systems) up to 328 feet in length. That means that you can quickly upgrade your ability to capture breathtaking time-lapses.
Furthermore, the Genie II Linear is loaded up with features for key-framing, B-roll, time-lapses, and shooting interviews. Soon, it'll be able to shoot in live view and offer camera control for ramping exposures as well.
All that in a tiny device you can hold in your hand! And it's controllable via iOS or Android devices.
The other Syrp product I have to rave about is the Genie II Pan Tilt.
This thing gives you ultra-precise pan and tilt motion control. If you're after three-axis movement, you can use it with a Genie II linear to create a hugely powerful - yet small and lightweight 3-axis device.
And like the Genie II Linear, the Pan Tilt gives you the ability to shoot both time-lapse and real-time video.
Soon, the functionality to do multi-row panoramas will be part of the package as well. You'll even be able to capture gigapixel images and shoot panoramas right from the Genie II app.
Not bad, right?
Time-Lapse Photography Gear Tip #9: Camera Bag
Clearly, with all this gear, you need something to tote it around in.
If you're like me and want it all in a single bag and don't have a sherpa to help you carry everything, opt for the f-stop Sukha Expedition Bag.
This beast holds 70 liters of gear. That's basically the size of a VW Bug! LOL.
Ok, so it's not that big, but still...when you pair it with an XL ICU (Internal Camera Unit, shown above), you can fit so much gear into it that you'll maybe even have room left over - even with your time-lapse gear inside! It'll all be nice and organized as well.
What's nice about this back for time-lapsers is that you can strap the time-lapse sliders to the back of the bag and your tripod(s) to the sides.
That leaves tons of interior storage for your camera, lenses, motion control device, and whatever else you might need.
With that, you've got the inside scoop on some of the best time-lapse photography gear you can get your hands on!
Thanks to the folks over at Syrp, timelapse photography just got easier.
If you've been a PhotographyTalk follower for any length of time, you probably already know that Syrp is one of my favorite companies. I've been using their gear for the last six years.
But one of the things that was lacking in their lineup was a rig that made getting vertical shots an easier task. Syrp's new Tilt Platform does just that.
As you can see above, I have my Nikon Z7 attached to the Tilt Platform, which is in turn attached to the Genie II Linear and my Syrp Magic Carpet.
Clearly, the slider is not on a horizontal plane, so the Tilt Platform enabled me to get perfectly level, vertical footage.
Image courtesy of Syrp
The Tilt Platform couldn't be easier to use, either. It requires no tools, has angle markings to help you dial in accurate adjustments, and it has a 3/8-16" - 1/4-20" UNC thread adapter in the base to expand its mounting options.
Just use the easy-adjustable knob to change the lever tension to secure your camera, and away you go.
Image courtesy of Syrp
Better still, you can position it at up to 180-degrees to get all sorts of unique film sequences.
And let's face it - being able to move your camera in a unique way is one of the easiest ways to improve the production value of your videos. With a vertical shot sequence with the Tilt Platform, you can reveal interesting elements in the scene, like objects in the midground that are revealed as the camera moves upward away from the foreground elements.
With a maximum payload of 13.2 pounds, you can load this thing up with gear and still have peace of mind too!
Image courtesy of Syrp
While I use the Tilt Platform with my Syrp Magic Carpet, it's compatible with other sliders, so you don't have to buy a Syrp slider to reap the benefits of this little rig.
It can also be used with either manually operated sliders or with motion control, so there's tons of options for incorporating the Tilt Platform into your workflow.
Image courtesy of Syrp
It's been a great addition to my gear set up the last few weeks and has enabled me to create much more unique videos. I have full confidence it'll have the same effect on your videos as well.
Stay tuned for additional reviews of other Syrp products!
Before we all know it, the Christmas trees will be up and we'll be opening gifts with our friends and families.
That means now is the time to start thinking about what you'll be getting your loved ones this holiday season.
If you've got a photographer on your list (or if you're looking for yourself), consider these amazing photography gifts you can buy with a budget of $1,000.
Holdfast Roamographer
If you're looking for the ultimate photography gift, it's hard to find anything more impressive than the Holdfast Roamographer Camera Bag.
Hands down, this is one of the best camera bags I've ever gotten my hands on, and it's not just because it's made impeccably well and looks like a million bucks, either.
It also offers tons of space and organizes gear in a way that will make your favorite photographer's job a lot easier.
The bag has padded cubbies for each piece of kit you have, ensuring that your cameras, lenses, flashes, and other accessories are snug as a bug.
The padded camera insert is also removable, so when photography isn't on the day's agenda, it can be used as an awesome weekend bag for clothes and other essentials.
This thing has a shearling lined shoulder strap for comfortable carrying, or the Roamographer can be carried with the Holdfast MoneyMaker dual strap camera system as well.
Carry a tripod lashed to the outside with the safe and secure carrying straps, slide up to a 15-inch laptop into the interior compartment, add in a camera and accessories, and the photographer on your list will be ready to tackle a day full of taking awesome photos!
Photography lovers on your holiday list will surely enjoy the gift of a small, lightweight, and capable camera like the Fuji X100T.
The X100T has an APS-C 16.3-megapixel CMOS II sensor that offers incredible image clarity and resolution. Without a low-pass optical filter, the camera produces images that are ultimately sharp.
Though it looks old school, the X100T most assuredly is not. It’s got an advanced viewfinder that sports both electronic and optical viewing and a fixed 35mm-equivalent f/2 lens, making it ideal for taking photos of everyday situations from portraits to landscapes to travel photography. It’s got 1080p video recording, too, so your loved one can create stunning videos to go with their photos.
Add to that an ISO sensitivity that ranges to 51200, continuous shooting at 6fps, and an electronic shutter mechanism that allows for shutter speeds of up to 1/32,000 seconds, and you’ve got a power-packed, yet compact camera that’s ideal for photographers of all skill levels.
This bad boy even comes in two versions - black and silver - and if you buy pre-owned, you can save quite a bit of money on your holiday shopping. What’s not to like about that?!
When you have a loved one that loves photography, one of the first things you should consider as a holiday gift is a gorgeous print. But don’t just give them any print…
Printing on substrates like acrylic gives images a luminous appearance that stops people dead in their tracks. And with the right type of materials, you can get an acrylic print that really makes your loved one’s images stand out and become the focal point of their home.
Artbeat Studios offers a 40x60 high definition acrylic print that will knock your socks off. Not only are their acrylic prints printed on archival Epson Metallic Photo Paper that’s face mounted onto the acrylic surface, but they’re also printed using Epson archival inks and come with a ⅛” black or white sintra backing. That means the photos are vibrant and eye-catching, highly durable, and constructed using materials that enhance the photo to make them look even better on the wall.
At well under $1,000, it’s a great gift idea for that special someone this holiday season!
The Syrp Genie Mini is a great product in and of itself because it allows you to achieve smooth panning motion control for time-lapse, video or panorama with a gadget that you can carry in your pocket.
But having two Genie Minis at work together is even better because you can add in smooth tilting motion, too!
For that special someone on your holiday list, why not give the gift of panning and tilting with the Syrp Genie Mini Pan Tilt Kit? Help them take their time-lapse and real-time videos to another level with dual-axis motion.
Just pair two Genies together via Bluetooth, mount them to the Pan Tilt Bracket, and control both right from your smartphone with the Syrp Genie App.
Creating gorgeous two-axis motion controlled videos has never been simpler!
Full frame sensor cameras aren’t the cheapest things out there, but you can find excellent deals on pre-owned camera bodies if you look in the right places.
For example, you can snag a well-care-for used Canon EOS 5D Mark II - a full frame camera with a 21.1-megapixel sensor - for less than $1,000!
The 5D Mark II has great low-light shooting capabilities that allow you to keep shooting in less-than-ideal lighting without pushing the ISO too high. But if a high ISO is needed, the 5D Mark II can accommodate up to ISO 25600.
And though there are newer versions of the 5D, the Mark II certainly still has more than enough features for today’s photographer. It’s got a 3-inch Clear View LCD with 920,000 dots for sharp, resolute viewing, 3.9fps continuous shooting, and 1080p video capabilities.
In other words, this is a more than capable full frame, professional-grade camera that you can pick up for a bargain price this holiday season!
MrStarGuy Vixen ED80Sf Refractor Telescope with Porta II Mount
For the stargazers in the family, give them the gift of scoping out the night sky with the Vixen ED80Sf Telescope from MrStarGuy.
This scope features high-grade glass and a f/7.5 focal ratio that allows your loved one to see the stars and other celestial bodies in sharp, high-contrast, color-free images.
At just over 22 inches long, this telescope is ideal for stargazers that are on the go. It's easy to transport and easy to set up, too!
This particular package comes with an aluminum case, flip mirror, a finder scope, easy-to-use slow motion controls, and rings.
Also included is the Porta II mount that gives the telescope a rock-solid platform for viewing distant objects.
No matter how much experience your loved one has in astronomy, the Vixen ED80Sf is an ideal choice for them this holiday season!
This set of filters by NiSi is the ultimate kit for photographers that specialize in landscape or seascape photography.
It’s a complete kit, so it’s ready to go right out of the box with a NiSi V5 Pro 100mm Filter Holder, a NiSi 0.9 Soft Graduated Neutral Density Filter, and three different neutral density filters (a 3-stop, 6-stop, and 1--stop) for creating gorgeous long exposures.
The kit also comes with a NiSi Reverse Neutral Density Filter (0.9) to combat dynamic range challenges of shooting at sunrise or sunset.
You also get adapter rings for 67mm, 72mm, 77mm, and 82mm lens threads, a circular polarizing filter, a cleaning cloth, an air blower, a cleaning eraser, and a case to carry the filters.
Like I said, this is an all-in-one kit! If you or someone you love has an affinity for landscapes, this would make a perfect holiday gift.
Best of all, you can get the complete kit from Ikan - one of the top photography gear distributors in the world - for less than $1,000!
For the Nikon shooters on your list, an upgraded lens that has a reputation for producing clear, sharp images with minimal distortion and vignetting would make a great holiday gift.
Sigma has really stepped up their game in recent years, and their ART line of lenses have quickly become among the most coveted lenses available.
This 35mm f/1.4 ART DG HSM lens for Nikon crop sensor and full frame cameras has a huge maximum aperture that will allow for low-light shooting with less noise.
It's got a ring-type ultrasonic-type AF motor and full-time manual focusing that gives photographers the control they need to get the shots they want.
And since it's an HSM lens, it's fast, quiet, and accurate.
Add in a floating focusing system that helps generate superior optical performance, and you have a recipe for one heck of a lens!
If the large acrylic print I outlined earlier doesn't seem like the right fit for the photographer on your holiday list, then an HD metal print surely will be.
Not only does Artbeat Studios give you the choice between a white surface that creates bright, vivid details and a silver surface that turns whites into silver for high-contrast black and white images, but they also give you the option of a glossy or matte finish.
What's more, you can further customize the look of your gift by choosing to have the print created with a flush mount to give the print added body or a recessed mount to give it the appearance of floating on the wall.
Additionally, because the image is heat-infused into a special aluminum sheet, the print is scratch-resistant, water-resistant, and UV-resistant as well.
Judging from the image above, I think you'll agree it's an awesome gift idea for the photography enthusiast in your life.
Even better, it's WAY under $1,000, so you'll have plenty of cash left over to get even more gifts!
For the filmmakers on your holiday list, a great gift idea is the Ikan Beholder DS2-A Angled 3-Axis Gimbal shown above.
This rig is ideal for videographers that need a single, handheld stabilizer for a smaller camera. It works with DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, GoPros, smartphones - you name it!
The gimbal can support a load of up to four pounds, and features a unique angled arm which offers the videographer a much-improved view of the camera’s screen during filming.
It’s lightweight, too, so it won’t add to arm fatigue as your loved one shoots video. It’s also small, so it can easily be added to a camera bag for transport.
Shooters enjoy 360-degree movements on the pan axis, and with 3-axis gyro stabilized brushless motors, videographers can enjoy seamless balance as they shoot.
Add to that a 32-bit controller, an illuminated on-off switch, a 12-bit encoder, and an OLED display to show the gimbal’s operating modes, and you have the makings of the ideal Christmas present for video shooters. Get one from Ikan and make your loved one’s holiday that much more special!
The holidays are getting ever closer. That means we all need to get on our game and start making shopping lists for our loved ones.
But if you ask me, photographers are one of the toughest groups of people to satisfy. Many of us are picky and if you aren’t a photographer yourself, you might not know what the best gifts for photographers might be.
So before all the Black Friday sales begin to crop up, consult our list of the top gifts for photographers so you know what to keep your eye out for when holiday shopping really begins to get underway.
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: CanvasHQ Prints
If you’re like me, sometimes finding the perfect gift for certain loved ones is a long, drawn-out process that causes tons of stress, and often you still don’t get something that totally blows them away.
I think a lot of photographers fall into this category. We have specific likes, and many of us already have most of what we want or need gear-wise, and what we don’t have is usually too expensive to put on a Christmas wish-list anyway.
But for all those hard-to-shop-for photographers on your 2019 holiday shopping list, I have the perfect solution - a canvas print.
Think about it…
A canvas print is a gift that keeps on giving.
Not only can you immortalize one of your favorite images from your favorite photographer, but you also give them a means to showcase their work in a format that’s drop-dead gorgeous.
I have tons of canvases in my home, the vast majority of which are from CanvasHQ.
Now, I know what you’re thinking - canvas is old school.
Sure, maybe it is, but I’m telling you that these canvas prints from CanvasHQ are mind-bogglingly beautiful. In fact, they go head-to-head with any metal or acrylic print I have in my home.
The attention to detail is just amazing, and the materials they use are top-of-the-line. We’re talking archival-grade canvas, commercial-grade inks that are water and UV resistant, and kiln-dried pine frames to keep everything straight and true.
I love the personality that the canvas texture gives my images. That’s true whether it’s a portrait of my son or a landscape photo.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the customer service you get with CanvasHQ.
These guys are committed to getting it right, so if something doesn’t go as planned, you won’t be hung out to dry.
If you have questions, they’ll answer them. If you have a problem, they’ll fix it. If you need assistance with uploading your photo or even picking the best finishes for your canvas, they’ve got your back.
In the video above, I explain why I highly recommend a CanvasHQ canvas print as the ideal gift for the photographer on your holiday shopping list.
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Holdfast Roamographer
With a $1,000 holiday budget, you can give the photographer on your list a gift that is impeccably designed, highly functional, and way under budget, too.
The Holdfast Roamographer bag is one of the finest leather camera bags on the market. It offers gorgeous aesthetics with an American Bison leather exterior that’s beautiful and rugged at the same time.
Not only will this leather stand up to the elements and age with grace, but it’s also weather resistant so you can be sure the contents of the bag remain safe and dry.
It’s a big bag and can carry lots of gear, but carrying it is a breeze with an adjustable shoulder strap with a shearling-lined shoulder pad for comfort.
Or, if you prefer, you can carry the Roamographer using the Holdfast MoneyMaker for even more functionality and comfort, as seen above.
The inside of the bag must be mentioned as well.
The removable camera insert means that no matter how much or how little gear your favorite photographer needs to carry, the Roamographer will help them keep it organized.
The padded insert has cubbies specifically for cameras, lenses, flashes, and other accessories, while there’s interior and exterior pockets for other goodies like a phone, car keys, and a tablet.
The insert is removable, too, so on weekends when they’re not on the job, the photographer on your list can use this as a weekend bag, too.
That makes the Holdfast Roamographer a beautiful, functional, and multi-purpose bag!
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: iMovR Lander Lite Desk
One of the worst parts of the job as a photographer are the long hours spent sitting at your desk, culling and editing images.
But the photographer on your holiday shopping list needn’t sit in discomfort all day long!
The iMovR Lander Lite Desk is the ideal solution, offering both sit and stand options for workers.
I have the Lander Desk in my office, and I can tell you first-hand that it is one of the best investments I’ve ever made for my work life - it’s that good!
The Lander Lite Desk has all the same crazy-good technology as the Lander Desk, but with “lighter” features and a smaller price tag.
For example, this little beauty has a height control paddle with built-in health coach, just like it’s big brother, the Lander Desk. The paddle syncs with your smartphone so you can even move the desk up and down remotely.
Likewise, you can choose from hundreds of size and color combinations so the photographer in your life gets the precise desk they need.
The Lander Lite incorporates whisper-quiet motors, too, with 225 pounds of lifting capacity.
And if you think that standing desks aren’t stable, you’re wrong! The Lander Lite offers the ultimate stable work surface. And since it’s 3-D laminated, the desktop is virtually indestructible.
Best of all, the Lander Lite Desk arrives nearly pre-assembled, so you won’t have to spend your afternoon putting the darn thing together.
Plus, it’s made in the USA, so you know the quality is top-notch!
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Pre-Owned Sony Alpha a6300 and Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens
A great holiday gift idea for the photographer on your list is a Sony camera/lens setup.
By opting for a pre-owned camera and lens, you can save a ton of money while still giving an awesome gift this holiday season.
The Sony a6300 offers tons of features, including a 24.2-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor, a BIONZ X image processor, 4K video at 30p, HD video at 1080p/120, and continuous shooting at 11fps.
Add to that a spectacular 425-point autofocus system with tracking AF, excellent image quality, and a small, lightweight body, and the a6300 is a perfect gift for a photographer that needs a capable yet highly portable camera.
Pair that with the Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS lens, and you've got quite the package!
This lens has an effective focal length of 27-202.5mm to give photographers incredible versatility from wide-angle to telephoto.
It also sports Optical SteadyShot technology, which minimizes camera shake so you can get sharper images when holding the camera in your hand.
With quick and accurate autofocus performance and quiet operation that's ideal for shooting video, this lens is a great choice for still photographers and videographers alike.
All told, this camera and lens combination is under $1,000, so you can give two gifts for the price of one!
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Ikan Onyx Digital Color LED Panel Light
Photography requires great light, and while there are many different lighting options out there, few match the creative possibilities that the Ikan Onyx Digital Color Light provides.
It has a RGBWA LED panel that offers five color modes to suit just about any kind of photo shoot.
When in RGBWA mode, the light gives photographers complete control over red, green, and blue LEDs independently. That being the case, the photographer on your list can literally create millions of different colors!
Meanwhile, the amber and white LEDs give photographers the option of recreating daylight or tungsten light with incredible accuracy.
There’s also a CCT Mode that is adjustable from 2800K up to 10,000K. Again, this gives the photographer on your list infinite possibilities for customizing the light for their photos.
Add to that a Hue Shift feature of magenta and green lights, and you’ve got a lighting option that offers supreme matching control when using this light with other LEDs.
On top of all that, the Onyx Digital Color light has eight built-in special effects (a candle flame and police car lights among them), 33 different gels to choose from, and a built-in ½-stop diffuser.
With a CRI/TLCI rating of 95, this light produces gorgeous, clean light that is sure to knock the socks off the photographer on your holiday shopping list.
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Synology DiskStation DS 1019+
It's crucial for all photographers to have a solid backup system, that way if catastrophe strikes - a flood or fire, a break-in, a hard drive failure, and so forth - their precious photos and other files will be safe and sound.
For that task, it's tough to beat the Synology DiskStation DS1019+...
I have this exact model on my desk, and it has proven to be the reliable backup I need to ensure my files are duplicated and safe.
It's small enough that it doesn't take up a ton of room on my desk while also being packed with features that make it an easy-to-use and powerful storage option. Read my complete Synology DiskStation DS1019+ review to learn more.
There are five hot-swappable bays, each of which can accommodate a 2.5-inch or a 3.5-inch drive. If the photographer on your list has TONS of files, they can easily expand that capacity to 10 bays with the Synology DX517.
Aside from the expansion capabilities, the DS1019+ is easy to operate thanks to the intuitive Synology operating system. Even if you've never setup or used a network attached storage device before, this one will be a breeze to use.
In fact, I set it up in just a few minutes with no problems or issues at all.
This unit is power-packed with an Intel Celeron J3455 1.5GHz quad-core processor that’s capable of burst speed of 2.3Ghz.
Add to that 8GB of RAM, built-in applications for video transcoding, read/write speeds up to 225MB per second, tool-free installation for 3.5-inch drives, and the Synology reputation for reliability, and you have the makings of a perfect - and practical - holiday gift idea for the photographer in your life!
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Syrp Genie II Linear
If the photographer you’re shopping for is into shooting time-lapse videos (or real-time videos, for that matter), then a perfect gift idea is the Syrp Genie II Linear.
What’s so great about this product is its size and weight - at little more than 5.5 x 5.5 x 6.33 inches and two pounds, this little guy can be easily added to any photography bag for on-the-go motion control.
What’s more, the Genie II Linear can attach to any slider on the market, giving your favorite photographer incredible versatility in how they craft their time-lapse setup. It can also attach to cable cam systems up to 328-feet in length.
This thing is also loaded for bear with features that will enable the photographer on your list to create professional-looking videos.
From key-framing to time-lapse video, shooting B-roll to recording interviews, the Genie II Linear can get the job done!
Throw in live view, camera control for ramping exposures, wireless control via a smartphone, and many other intelligent features, this is simply one of the best motion control devices you can get this holiday season!
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Aputure 120d II
Over the years, Aputure has established itself as one of the top lighting choices of photographers worldwide. That’s because of the incredible features and build quality of products like the 120d II.
I use this light in my home studio (you can read my review of it here), and it is far and away one of the best lights I’ve ever owned.
The light it produces is beautifully clean and bright (25 percent brighter than the 120d). Additionally, it has a pleasing color temperature of 5500K.
You can control the 120d II using a wireless remote from up to 328 feet away, giving photographers the ultimate in flexibility regarding the positioning related to the subject.
Speaking of flexibility, this light is dimmable from 100 percent down to just 1 percent, so the photographer on your list can dial in the precise level of lighting they need to get the shot.
Aputure has built in all kinds of lighting effects for further creative lighting. What’s more, the redesigned handbrake offers a super secure lock to prevent the light from moving.
That means that when the light is dialed in and positioned, you don’t have to worry about whether or not it will stay in place. That’s the kind of peace of mind photographers want from their gear!
The integrated power and control box make for easy transport while the 18 dB quiet fan won’t distract photographers while on-location. Add in a CRI and TLCI of 97+, and you have a recipe for one heck of a light for the photographer on your list!
For me, the best feature of this lens is that it is incredibly sharp. A close second would be its extremely fast and accurate focusing.
As you can see in the sample image below, this lens also produces nice bokeh that’s great for portraits.
Additionally, this lens is super lightweight, so you don’t feel like you’re lugging around a huge kit while you take photos. The photographer on your shopping list will surely appreciate that!
The look of the lens is something else, too - it’s sleek design reminds me of the Zeiss Otus lenses from back in the day.
And while some would argue that the streamlined design means it’s not comfortable to use, I disagree.
The big rubber ring offers tons of grip, and the lens feels great in the hand, due in large part to the lightweight design I mentioned above.
The angle of view of 29 degrees is perfect for portraits, and the maximum f/1.8 aperture allows for flexibility in low-light shooting situations.
The floating element design of the lens minimizes aberrations, and since it’s dust and weather-sealed, it can be taken out for shoots in adverse weather without worry that it will be damaged.
In other words, if the photographer on your holiday list is after a fantastic portrait lens, this is it!
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: f-stop Sukha Backpack Master Bundle
A top-of-the-line camera backpack is sure to score you some brownie points with the photographer on your holiday shopping list…
I have an f-stop Sukha, and to say that this thing can hold a lot of gear is a huge understatement…
In fact, it can accommodate 70 liters of gear, so if your favorite photographer has a ton of stuff or they’ll be hitting the road for a while, this is the bag that they need.
And I know what you’re thinking...big bags like this make a mess of organizing gear. With all that space, everything gets jumbled up and is hard to find, right?
Wrong!
The Master Bundle comes with a wide range of ICUs (Internal Camera Units) that maximize the space in the bag while keeping the gear inside safe, secure, and organized.
From the ultra-small Micro Nano ICU to the big, beefy Pro X-Large ICU, there are six ICU options for a highly customizable interior space.
The f-stop Sukha Master Bundle also features goodies like a hydration sleeve, a large rain cover, and a packing cell kit that will keep your clothing nice and organized.
There are three accessory pouches, a Mano pouch, and an ICU gate as well.
And even with all that gear inside the bag, it’s still ultimately comfortable to carry. That’s thanks to the large, cushy should straps that help distribute the weight of the bag over a larger area. The padded waistbelt is a nice touch as well.
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: Pre-Owned Canon EOS 7D Mark II
If the photographer you’re shopping for is ready to upgrade their APS-C camera to a higher-end model, the Canon EOS 7D Mark II is a great option.
This professional-grade camera is not only budget-friendly, but it offers some great specs, too:
20.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
Dual DIGIC 6 Image Processors
10 fps burst shooting
ISO to 16,000 (expandable to 51,200)
1080/60p video
Weather-sealed body
On top of that, Canon implemented its Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus system into this camera, which is a big deal because the Dual Pixel system is usually reserved for Canon’s more expensive cameras.
The autofocus system offers 65 AF points, all of which are cross-type. The camera has six customizable modes for focusing as well, which gives you tracking sensitivity options that improve its performance.
This thing feels like a top-shelf camera too. There's no body flex, the buttons, dials, and switches feel beefy and crisp, and the weather sealing means you can shoot in less-than-ideal conditions without worrying that your camera will be soaked to the core.
In other words, if you want to help your photography loved one step up their game, this camera is an excellent option!
Gifts for Photographers Under $1,000: ProMediaGear Pro-Stix 34 Series Tripod
When it comes to the very best tripods money can buy, one has to look to ProMediaGear.
The Pro-Stix 34 Series tripod is my everyday rig, and has been for about the last year or so. To say that it’s the best tripod I’ve ever owned is a massive understatement.
It’s really no contest, either.
Granted, when I first started in photography, I “bargain-basemented” my way through various cheap tripods that didn’t last more than a few months.
But as I got more experienced and had more money to devote to gear, I began utilizing more well-known brands and highly reviewed tripods.
It wasn’t until I started using ProMediaGear tripods that I reached the pinnacle of what a tripod can do, though.
For starters, this tripod can accommodate up to 60 pounds of gear. That might seem like overkill for a photographer, but as I move more and more into videography and have more and more gear to put on the tripod, having an abundance of support is definitely a good thing (and since the apex has a 1/4-20 threaded adapter port, I can easily add more gear when I need to).
Despite having a huge load capacity, this tripod is still easily transportable - it’s just over four pounds and folds down to less than 23 inches.
The beefy 34mm legs are made of 10-layer carbon fiber, so they are about as rock-solid as you can get.
The legs have three locking leg angle positions, tension-adjustable leg mechanisms, large molded rubber feet, and integrated stainless steel spikes to boot. In other words, this sucker is rugged and will give you durability for years and years to come.
But beyond the awesome specs and incredible reliability, I appreciate that ProMediaGear makes this and their other tripods right here in the U.S. (in Tinley Park, Illinois, to be exact). Not only that, the folks at ProMediaGear are experienced photographers, and their expertise was crucial in designing this tripod.
From a functionality standpoint, a versatility standpoint, a build-quality standpoint, and so forth, the ProMedia Gear Pro-Stix 34 series is simply the cream of the crop when it comes to the best tripods of 2019.
The great thing about shopping for a photographer is that there is no lack of awesome gear from which to choose.
From camera bags to tripods, camera remotes to photo prints, you can find just about anything for any photographer.
Better still, there's a wide selection of gifts for photographers that come in with a price under $100.
Here's a list of ten of the best photography gifts you can find with a budget of $100.
Vanguard ALTA Rise 43 Sling Bag
For the photographer on your holiday shopping list that wants a versatile bag that can carry a ton of gear, the ALTA Rise 43 Sling Bag should be on your radar.
Built to hold a professional DSLR body, 4-5 lenses, a flash and other photography accessories as well as a tablet or small laptop, this bag has plenty of space for all of your favorite photographer’s necessities.
Carrying the bag is a breeze with its Air System back, padded sling strap, and securing strap to keep the load evenly distributed on the body. The bag is protected with padding all the way around, too, so gear will be safe from bumps and bruises along the way.
When it’s time to take a photo, this bag has quick access with side zippers that make reaching gear incredibly easy. The brightly colored interior further makes for ease of use, as your favorite photographer won’t have to dig around in a dark bag to find what they need. And since it’s a sling bag, it’s quick and easy to take on and off, too.
In short, this bag is feature-rich, comfortable to carry, and priced right at under $100!
If you’ve got someone on your holiday list this year that’s got a thing for product photography, there’s no better gift to give them than Syrp’s Product Turntable.
The Product Turntable allows you to automate the process of product photography. Paired with the Syrp Genie Mini, the Product Turntable gives you the ability to rotate products to create incredibly smooth rotating video and even interactive 360-degree images of products, too.
And since you use the Product Turntable with the Genie Mini, that means you can use your smartphone to control the turntable via the Genie Mini app.
The Product Turntable comes with all sorts of goodies, too, including an 8-inch turntable platform, black and white cardboard background disks, and a downloadable template so you can make your own DIY mounting setup.
If that doesn’t make your loved one a product photography genius, I don’t know what will!
Available in sleek red, shown above, and black, the Sirui 3T-35 Tabletop Tripod is a perfect gift for photographers in your life that need an ultra-compact, flexible, and portable tripod.
It’s got a center column that can raise the tripod’s height to 13.5 inches tall. And even when extended to that height, the tripod is stable with its large legs providing excellent stability. When it’s time to pack up, the legs fold up for easy storage. For low-angle shots, you can remove the center column and attach the included ball head right to the base.
In other words, this little guy packs a punch, offering you all sorts of options for working with your camera. And at a price under $65, it’s a great buy, too!
This holiday season, you can give the gift of a stunning HD Metal Print to the photography fans on your list, and do so without spending a huge sum of money, either.
Artbeat Studios offers a wide range of HD Metal Prints for well under $100, but they look like a million bucks.
That's because Artbeat Studios gives you tons of options for customizing the look of the print, from the surface and finish to the type of wall mount and wall hanger.
Their HD Metal Prints have incredible colors that are color checked to color calibrated monitors before printing commences to ensure the best look.
What's more, these prints are heat infused into a specially coated aluminum sheet. The result is a scratch-resistant, UV-resistant, and water-resistant metal print.
That means that for less than $100, you can give the gift of a vibrant, durable, gorgeous metal print that your loved one will cherish for decades to come!
If you have a person to buy for this holiday and they love photography and gadgets, the Alpine Labs Pulse is the gift for them.
Pulse might be a little thing, but it packs a mighty punch as a camera remote on steroids...
Not only does Pulse allow photographers to control their cameras via a smartphone app, but it enables them to take traditional still photos, long exposures, real-time videos, and time-lapse videos.
And Pulse does all that by sitting on the camera's hot-shoe mount and plugging into the camera's USB port!
Using Bluetooth, Pulse talks to smartphones and delivers the ability to change exposure settings, start and stop video, review thumbnails and histograms, and so much more.
But the best part is that once Pulse has its commands, your phone doesn't have to stay connected - Pulse will take it from there.
Ask any experienced photographer, and they'll likely tell you that the first lens new photographers should buy is a "Nifty Fifty."
If you're shopping for a Canon shooter this year, give them a great little lens in the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II.
With a large maximum aperture of f/1.8, this lens offers excellent low-light performance. It's sharp lens as well, producing clear, bright, detailed images.
At 50mm, this is an ideal normal lens on a full frame camera and a short telephoto lens on a crop sensor camera, so no matter which system your loved one uses, they'll find all sorts of uses for this lens.
It's also super lightweight - coming in at just 4.6 ounces - so it won't make your favorite photographer feel like they're carrying around a tank!
And if you by pre-owned, you can get a great deal, too!
For landscape photographers, the number one filter to use is a polarizer.
That's because it's so versatile and offers photographers so many benefits.
That includes reducing glare off of shiny surfaces like water and helping to reduce atmospheric haze for landscape photos that are clear and crisp.
Polarizers also boost the contrast in the sky, deepening the color of the sky and making clouds appear whiter for more visual impact.
One of the best polarizers around is the Formatt-Hitech Circular Polarizing Filter shown above.
It has a Formatt-Hitech's superb Firecrest anti-reflective multi-coating, so the images your loved one takes will have gorgeous color fidelity and contrast.
The filter glass is housed in a precision-milled SuperSlim or UltraSlim mount, too, meaning they stay out of the way of the lens to do its job.
If you have a loved one that loves landscape photography, this is the filter to get them!
If you have a photographer on your holiday list that likes to shoot lean and mean, a wrist strap for carrying their camera is an ideal gift.
But not all wrist straps are made alike...
Give them the gift of a highly functional and durable strap that also looks incredible by giving them the 4V Design Ergo Wrist strap.
It's got a unique curved design with inner padding that helps distribute the weight and pressure of the camera more evenly around the wrist. The special way that the strap is cut also helps prevent the strap from sliding off, too.
It's length adjustable to accommodate various sized wrists and has a reinforced, stitched, and folded attachment end for additional safety.
This thing even has hand-painted edges for a custom look that's sure to knock the socks off of your loved one when they open it.
Sirui has built a reputation for making some of the best tripods in the world, and now they've expanded their product line into the mobile phone market.
That means that for this holiday season, you can surprise that photography lover on your list with one of Sirui's mobile phone lenses.
With three different lenses to choose from - a portrait lens, a wide-angle/macro combo lens, or a fisheye lens - you can help your loved one create their artistic vision with their mobile phone.
Each lens has a multi-layer anti-reflection coating that allows for high light transmission. What's more, they produce images that have precise color rendition, reduced vignetting, and minimal distortion for a 4K professional image quality.
They're easy to mount, too, as they attach to a mobile phone case or lens mount adapter (sold separately).
If you have a photographer on your list that works with young ladies (or if you have a young lady to buy for), you might consider the Sew Trendy Elsa Crown as a top choice this holiday season.
This stunning, free-flowing crown is adorned with acrylic crystals that give it all sorts of sparkle.
It can be worn for various occasions, from holiday-themed photo shoots to princess parties.
At approximately 6-inches in diameter, it's large enough to command attention but not so large that it's weighty or overwhelming for a young lady to wear.
Looking at the image above, you can see just how gorgeous this crown is!
Believe it or not, the Holdays are almost upon us! Since it's never too early to start shopping for your favorite photographer-type people, we're helping get you off to an early start. As always, we've listend to our members and followed the buying trends to bring you our lists of gifts sure to please any photography or cinematography buffs on your list. Here's the first for this year, with ten great gift ideas under $150.00. Happy shopping!
1. Syrp Variable ND Filter
A Neutral Density (ND) filter is one of the most creative tools you can give a photographer or cinematographer. It enables creative effects by allowing wider apertures and/or slower shutter speeds in bright lighting conditions. The most well-known examples are probably those dreamy, foggy effects created by moving water in stills and elimination of “roll” in videos. This rugged, variable version eliminates the need to carry several ND filters by allowing from 1 to 8.5 stops of exposure reduction with one filter!
SpyderLENSCAL provides a fast, reliable method of measuring the focus performance on your camera and lens combinations. It allows photographers to obtain razor-sharp focusing or check to see that their lenses are working at their peak performance.
Imagine your favorite photographer's work printed directly on wood! Give him or her a vibrant, 16” x 20” wood print, complete with mounting slots and ready to grace his, her (or your) wall! Each genuine wood print is completely unique. Upload a photo from Facebook, Instagram or your computer, or email it in to get started.
Conventional camera straps are clumsy, hard on your neck and shoulders and not the fastest way to access your DSLR. The Single Camera System from Spider Pro transfers the weight to your hips and allows an incredibly quick draw of a full-size DSLR with lens when that killer shot comes up. It's revolutionary, rugged and perfect for active photographers.
Perfectly Clear Complete for Photoshop and Lightroom offers incredibly effective, one-click enhancement of images. You can use the 40 built-in presets or easily create your own with precise control. With this bundle, you'll get complete control over exposure, contrast, noise reduction, and color. Portrait photographers can also quickly enhance the eyes, skin, face, teeth and much more in one easy-to-use package.
Most photograhers have stacks of negatives and slides just begging to be converted to digital images, and who doesn't have a bunch of old home movies to digitize? The Wolverine Digital Converter makes it easy to create high-resoultion (up to 20MP) digital files from film and positive transparencies. Give the gift of preserved memories.
7. Promaster Multi-Function IR Timer Remote/Intervalometer
Time-lapse sequences are among the most fun and rewarding things you can do with your DSLR. With this intervalometer, you can control your sequences remotely on most brand-name DSLRs and for those that don't have IR sensors, you can add an optional cable to use it wired. Of course, it also works as a standard remote shutter release with a little extra control, like controlling the number of exposures in continuous mode, all from up to 30 feet away.
8. Sirui T-004X Aluminum Tripod with C-10S Ball Head
This aluminum travel tripod from Sirui is compact and weighs in at just 2 pounds. Its legs reverse fold, so its closed size is just 15.7 inches. The adjustable center column can be replaced with the short center column for low angle shooting and three leg angle settings let you keep shooting on uneven terrain. Despite its small size, it can support up to 13.2 pounds and has a maximum height of 58 inches. The tripod even comes with a ball head with safety-lock Arca-type compatible clamp with quick release plate.
How awesome would it be to shoot underwater with your DSLR? The Aquapac can make that happen! Not only is it guaranteed to let you shoot under up to 15 feet of water, it will float if you drop your camera overboard, and doubles as a protective “rain suit” to keep out moisture, sand and other contaminants. It also comes with an adjustable neck cord and moisture-detecting desiccant packets. Open up a whole world of new possibilities with this gift.
One of the coolest things you can do with videos and time-lapse sequences is to add smooth, controlled camera motion. This simple slider enables that without a lot of expense, but without sacrificing quality. It mounts to a tripod or can be set up on almost any surface with the adjustable legs and rubber ball feet. It accepts almost any digital camera, camcorder or video camera, so there's no need to worry about what your favorite photographer shoots with!
I think we can all agree that photography gear is expensive, but with a $2,500 budget, you can get some pretty incredible stuff for the photographer on your holiday shopping list.
Whether your favorite photographer needs a new desk, an awesome large-format photo print, a new portrait lighting setup or something in between, we’ve got all kinds of suggestions that will satisfy their needs!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: CanvasHQ Print
If you’re like me, sometimes finding the perfect gift for certain loved ones is a long, drawn-out process that causes tons of stress, and often you still don’t get something that totally blows them away.
I think a lot of photographers fall into this category. We have specific likes, and many of us already have most of what we want or need gear-wise, and what we don’t have is usually too expensive to put on a Christmas wish-list anyway.
But for all those hard-to-shop-for photographers on your 2019 holiday shopping list, I have the perfect solution - a canvas print. Or, with a $2,500 budget, you could get them a ton of prints!
Think about it…
A canvas print is a gift that keeps on giving.
Not only can you immortalize one of your favorite images from your favorite photographer, but you also give them a means to showcase their work in a format that’s drop-dead gorgeous.
I have tons of canvases in my home, the vast majority of which are from CanvasHQ.
Now, I know what you’re thinking - canvas is old school.
Sure, maybe it is, but I’m telling you that these canvas prints from CanvasHQ are mind-bogglingly beautiful. In fact, they go head-to-head with any metal or acrylic print I have in my home.
The attention to detail is just amazing, and the materials they use are top-of-the-line. We’re talking archival-grade canvas, commercial-grade inks that are water and UV resistant, and kiln-dried pine frames to keep everything straight and true.
I love the personality that the canvas texture gives my images. That’s true whether it’s a portrait of my son or a landscape photo.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the customer service you get with CanvasHQ.
These guys are committed to getting it right, so if something doesn’t go as planned, you won’t be hung out to dry.
If you have questions, they’ll answer them. If you have a problem, they’ll fix it. If you need assistance with uploading your photo or even picking the best finishes for your canvas, they’ve got your back.
In the video above, I explain why I highly recommend a CanvasHQ canvas print as the ideal gift for the photographer on your holiday shopping list.
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: iMovR Lander Desk
I can personally attest to the awesomeness of the iMovR Lander Desk as I have one in my home office. In short, it completely changed how I work.
You can read all about it in my iMovR Lander Desk review, but the short version is that this a desk of the highest quality that’s durable, made in the USA, highly customizable, and easy to assemble to boot!
The photographer on your list will appreciate all of these features, but if you’re going to help them assemble their new desk, you’ll both appreciate the fact that it will only take a few minutes. I set mine up by myself in less than 20 minutes, which is a far cry from the entire afternoon I spent years ago putting together my first sit-stand desk.
This sucker is super well made, too. There’s not cheap parts, no corners cut. This is truly a desk that is an investment for the long term.
It’s also worth noting how customizable the Lander desk is. There are literally hundreds of different combinations of sizes, shapes, and finishes, so your favorite photographer can pick and choose precisely what they want for a desk that not only maximizes their workflow but also looks like a million bucks.
Having a desk that transitions from a sitting to a standing desk will change any photographer’s life - sitting for hours hunched over a desk while editing photos is certainly no way to work in comfort.
And with the iMovR Lander desk, making the move from sitting to standing takes just seconds - the Bluetooth-enabled height-control paddle with high-resolution LCD requires a single double-tap to raise or lower the desk. You can even raise it or lower it by using an app on your phone!
This is truly the nicest desk I’ve ever owned, and I cannot recommend it highly enough for other professionals in the photography industry!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Pre-Owned Canon EOS R
The EOS R is Canon's very first mirrorless camera, and if the photographer on your holiday list is a Canon shooter, there are few better gifts to give this holiday season!
The EOS R offers a bevy of features that starts with an ultra-resolute 30.3-megapixel full frame CMOS sensor.
Paired with a DIGIC 8 image processor, this camera is capable of shooting at 8fps and up to a native ISO range of 40000.
What's more, Canon gave the EOS R excellent video capabilities with UHD 4K video recording at 30fps.
One of this camera's best features, though, is the Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus system.
All told, it has 5,655 selectable autofocus points that allow photographers to quickly and accurately select where the focus of the image will be.
With a small, lightweight body, excellent build quality, great handling, and an increasingly large selection of lenses, the EOS R is definitely a fantastic gift idea this Christmas!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Aputure Light Storm LC 120d II Daylight LED 2-Light Kit With Case
I have an Aputure 120d II in my home studio, and as I explain in my review of this light, it is absolutely fantastic.
Each light has pretty incredible specs:
1000-watt Tungsten equivalent
Integrated power and control box
CRI & TLCI 97+
Dimmable from 100 percent to just 1 percent
Built-in lighting effects, including fireworks, fire, lightning, paparazzi, and TV flicker
18 dB quiet fan
DMX Capability
Wireless remote (328-foot range)
Not bad right?
This kit gives you two of these lights, each of which has a set of four-way barn doors to customize how the light interacts with the subject.
Each light also has a controller with 100-240 VAC power, a wireless remote, and a 7.5-foot light stand. Aputure even throws in a padded SKB case with a custom Think Tank interior so the photographer on your list can easily and safely transport their new lighting kit from Point A to Point B.
Photography is all about good lighting, and Aputure certainly delivers on that front!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Nevada Art Printers Acrylic Print
I was never a huge fan of acrylic prints until I decided to give Nevada Art Printers a try a few months ago.
I had gone to Norway and captured a pretty good shot (shown above) and wanted a print that would really elevate the quality of the shot.
So, I ordered an acrylic print from these guys, and it is honestly one of the most beautiful prints I have ever laid hands on. Truly - they perform magic!
Now, I have to say that the photo above of this print simply does not do it justice. My home studio has tons of lights everywhere and I just couldn't find an angle to take a photo that didn't have a glare.
The big draw of these acrylic prints is the Lumachrome finish (you see people talking about it all the time on Facebook).
In a nutshell, Lumachrome prints are ultra-high resolution with incredible vibrancy and clarity. It honestly gives the photo a 3-dimensional feel. That’s because Nevada Art Printers created custom ICC profiles that use a tweaked tone curve to maximize that 3-dimensional effect.
Honestly, it’s hard to describe, and even more difficult to believe if you can’t see it with your own eyes - like I said, photos online just do not do the quality of these prints justice!
What’s more, the folks at Nevada Art Printers are extremely helpful and work hard to help you get the best possible print. Their customer service is truly A+!
This combination of super-high-quality products and top-notch service before, during, and after the sale makes an acrylic print from Nevada Art Printers an ideal gift for the photographer on your list this holiday season.
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Syrp Genie II Pan Tilt
If the photographer on your list is a video enthusiast as well, the Syrp Genie II Pan Tilt is an ideal gift for them.
Not only is this rig ultra-portable, but it gives you complete pan and tilt motion control that adds smooth, cinematic motion to your videos with 180-degree tilting motion and 360-degree panning motion.
The Genie II Pan Tilt offers options for real-time and timelapse videos, key-framing, panoramas, and much more. And since it has removable batteries, you can easily head off the beaten path with spare batteries in hand to shoot long and beautiful cinematic sequences.
The unit has a built-in screen for checking settings and starting quick motion sequences, but it also has a companion app that allows you to control the unit from your smartphone.
Whether the photographer on your list wants a motion control device for documentary work, interviews, timelapses, panoramas, or something in between, the Genie II Pan Tilt is the device to get.
Plus, it’s easily combined with Syrp’s Genie II Linear to get three-axis motion control in a super small and portable device. Nice, right?!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: ProMediaGear Pro-Stix TR424L Carbon Fiber Tripod
ProMediaGear tripods are among the best on the market. And that’s not just lip-service, either.
I’ve used ProMediaGear tripods, including the TR424L, for quite some time, and I can assure you that they are well-made, durable, and extremely functional.
These are professional-grade tripods, without a doubt. It can hold up to 125 pounds of gear thanks to its 42mm-thick carbon tripod legs.
Even when I’m out shooting video and I have a ton of accessories, it still doesn’t come close to that 125-pound mark!
From a functionality standpoint, the legs have three-position angle locks so you can adjust the tripod to be perfectly level, no matter how uneven the terrain. The built-in bubble level helps in that regard as well.
Deploying the legs is simple, too - just a quarter-turn locks them in place.
This tripod also has huge rubber feet, which as a landscape photographer is a favorite feature. The tripod doesn’t sink into soft soil and it doesn’t slip when things are wet or frozen. The metal spikes in the bottoms of each leg offer even more stability for truly rough shooting conditions.
You get all this in a tripod that folds down to just 26.3-inches tall, which can easily fit into a camera bag.
This isn’t a lightweight tripod by any means, but if the photographer on your list needs a go-anywhere, do-anything tripod, this is definitely it!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: Pre-Owned Nikon Z6
Like the EOS R I mentioned earlier, the Nikon Z6 is a fantastic mirrorless camera.
If your loved one is a Nikon shooter or if they just want to switch to Nikon, this is a great camera to entice them to do so.
The Z6 has a 24.5-megapixel full frame back-illuminated sensor that offers superb image quality with excellent detail, clarity, and sharpness.
The 12fps burst shooting speed is ideal for action photography while the 273-point autofocus system helps you keep track of moving targets.
On the back is a large 3.2-inch variable-angle touchscreen LCD with 2.1 million dots of resolution, so you can easily see the camera's menu system and take a peek at images you've shot.
The Z6 has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, shoots 4K video, and has a battery life of 310 shots.
This camera is an excellent option for photographers that want a solid rig that can tackle still photos and videos all in one package!
Gifts for Photographers Under $2,500: iMovR Lander L-Desk
Like their traditional sit-stand desk I mentioned earlier, iMovR’s Lander L-Desk is a well-built, feature-rich desk that has the capability of completely changing how the photographer on your list goes about their workday.
With the same array of options regarding colors and materials, your loved one can fully customize how their desk looks to suit their specific tastes.
In fact, it’s not just the looks of these desks that are a great selling point - it’s their durability.
iMovR uses 3D laminated desktops that are just about bulletproof. They’re hermetically sealed to protect against damage and they resist moisture, so those pesky sweat rings from your water bottle won’t bother the desktop a bit.
There’s no exposed glue seams, either, so dust, dirt, and bacteria have nowhere to hide!
You can choose to have the side table on the left or right side of the main desk and you can choose between a 24-inch or 30-inch depth side table as well.
There’s even different options for the shapes of the side table, from peninsula-shaped to half-circle.
These desks offer tons of space, the health benefits of being convertible from sitting to standing, and they are 100 percent custom made to your specifications. Talk about a fantastic gift!
Designed specifically for Sony E-mount cameras, the Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 is a killer portrait lens for Sony shooters. If your favorite photographer has a Sony E-mount camera (i.e., the a6400), this is a must-have lens!
This lens is supremely sharp, super lightweight, and easy to handle.
I personally like how the lens feels in the hand - it has a nice, big rubber ring that aids in gripping the camera as you move around your subject.
If the photographer on your list is in a situation in which they need to be quiet, like a recital, they'll appreciate the fact that this lens has an ultra-quiet autofocus system that's also incredibly fast and accurate.
The 29-degree angle of view is ideal for portraits, and with a maximum aperture of f/1.8, it can collect tons of light while also minimizing the depth of field. The result is a nice, blurry background for portraits.
As I mentioned above, this lens is lightweight at just over one pound, and it also has a small form factor - just 3.19 x 3.62 inches.
This lens is also dust and weather-resistant for the adventurous photographer on your holiday shopping list.
Best of all, the price on this lens has dropped - it was once over $1,100, but is now a shade under $900. That's not bad if you have a $2,500 budget!
When it comes to buying holiday gifts for people, I always try to start early. Like way early, which is why I’m already thinking about gift ideas even though it’s still August as I’m writing this.
Part of the reason why I like to start early is because often you can find deals way ahead of time - like the upcoming Labor Day holiday.
Besides, no one wants to be nervously watching the mail in the days leading up to Christmas, hoping that the last-minute gift you got for a loved one arrives on time.
With all that said, here’s some of my favorite gift ideas for photographers that’ll set you back less than $250.
Gifts for Photographers Under $250: CanvasHQ Print
If you’re like me, sometimes finding the perfect gift for certain loved ones is a long, drawn-out process that causes tons of stress, and often you still don’t get something that totally blows them away.
I think a lot of photographers fall into this category. We have specific likes, and many of us already have most of what we want or need gear-wise, and what we don’t have is usually too expensive to put on a Christmas wish-list anyway.
But for all those hard-to-shop-for photographers on your 2019 holiday shopping list, I have the perfect solution - a large-format canvas print.
Think about it…
A canvas print is the gift that keeps on giving.
Not only can you immortalize one of your favorite images from your favorite photographer, but you also give them a means to showcase their work in a format that’s drop-dead gorgeous.
I have tons of canvases in my home, the vast majority of which are from CanvasHQ.
Now, I know what you’re thinking - canvas is old school.
Sure, maybe it is, but I’m telling you that these canvas prints from CanvasHQ are mind-bogglingly beautiful. In fact, they go head-to-head with any metal or acrylic print I have in my home.
The attention to detail is just amazing, and the materials they use are top-of-the-line. We’re talking archival-grade canvas, commercial-grade inks that are water and UV resistant, and kiln-dried pine frames to keep everything straight and true.
I love the personality that the canvas texture gives my images. That’s true whether it’s a portrait of my son or a landscape photo.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the customer service you get with CanvasHQ.
These guys are committed to getting it right, so if something doesn’t go as planned, you won’t be hung out to dry.
If you have questions, they’ll answer them. If you have a problem, they’ll fix it. If you need assistance with uploading your photo or even picking the best finishes for your canvas, they’ve got your back.
In the video above, I explain why I highly recommend a CanvasHQ canvas print as the ideal gift for the photographer on your holiday shopping list.
Gifts for Photographers Under $250: Marumi 100x150mm Magnetic Graduated ND Filter
The benefit a graduated ND filter gives your favorite photographer is that it allows them to control the dynamic range in a scene.
That is, with the darkened area on top of the filter, it tones down the brightness of the sky while leaving the foreground untouched, the result of which is a better-exposed image without any blown-out highlights or deep shadows.
The hard edge on the filter above is perfect for landscapes in which there is a definite horizon, like taking a photo looking out at the ocean.
But you can also give a soft-edge filter, which has a much more gradual transition from dark to light. This is a better option for landscapes in which the horizon line isn’t very clear.
There’s even a reverse graduated ND, which is darkest in the middle - an ideal option for taking breathtaking sunrise or sunset photos.
What makes these Marumi 100x150MM Graduated ND filters so special is that they attach to the Marumi M100 filter holder with magnets.
This quick and easy on and off helps streamline the process of using these filters in the field, that way the photographer on your holiday shopping list spends more time actually taking photos and less time messing with their gear.
These filters are made with high-definition Schott B270 glass and have a double-sided coating to ensure minimal reflections. These filters also have anti-static, anti-scratch, water repellant, and oil repellent features.
Available in 2-stop, 3-stop, and 4-stop versions, as well as hard and soft-edge versions, you can give the gift of improved photos this year by giving a Marumi Magnetic Graduated ND!
Gifts for Photographers Under $250: Holdfast Camera Swagg Camera Harness
I’ve been a Holdfast customer for years and years, and I have one of their impeccable MoneyMaker leather dual camera straps.
But not everyone wants a leather camera strap, and for those folks, the Camera Swagg is the ideal solution.
Offering the same functionality as the leather version, the Camera Swagg dual camera harness enables photographers to carry two cameras right at their fingertips.
Made of 100 percent high-grade cotton canvas, this harness is both durable and comfortable. The wide straps sit nicely on your shoulder without digging in, and the harness feels quite light as well.
You’ll find the same reliable stainless steel hardware on the Camera Swagg as you do on leather MoneyMakers. That includes anchored D-rings and safety straps that connect to the camera’s side lug mount, which together ensure you have a rock-solid system for carrying your gear safely.
Add in supreme functionality and a price well below the $250 mark, and you have the makings of the ideal gift for photographers this holiday season!
Gifts for Photographers Under $250: LitraTorch LitraPro
Great photos need great light, and fortunately you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to give the photographer on your list an excellent light source for their photo and video work.
Sure, the LitraTorch LitraPro is a tiny light that weighs just 6 ounces and is 2.75 x 2 x 1.2 inches in size, but that doesn’t mean it can’t put out a great deal of light.
In fact, this little guy has 60 ultra-bright LEDs that put out up to 1200 lumens of light. That’s a lot!
And it isn’t just the sheer brightness of the light it produces that impresses.
Instead, this light puts out crisp, clear, flicker-free light that any photographer would appreciate. Users can also adjust the color temperature from 3000K to 6000K to customize the light output to the specific needs of each photoshoot.
Add in a 70-degree beam angle, a maximum of 10 hours of operating time, and MIL-SPEC 810 construction that makes it virtually indestructible, and you have a photography gift that will keep on giving for years and years!
Gifts for Photographers Under $250: Luminar 3, Luminar 4, and Aurora HDR Bundle
If you’re looking for a gift that will really impress the photographer in your life, look no further than this bundle of awesomeness from the folks at Skylum.
Not only can you give the gift of Luminar 3 - an incredible, multi-award-winning editor that makes processing images a veritable breeze - but you can also give the gift of the upcoming Luminar 4, which is poised to take photo editing to another level later this year. And on top of that, Skylum throws in their award-winning Aurora HDR software for making quick, beautiful, precise edits to HDR images.
Let’s unpack all that in a little more detail…
Luminar 3 offers cutting-edge tools that speed up the process of editing photos whether the photographer on your shopping list uses a Mac or a PC.
You get tools like the AI Sky Enhancer, which uses artificial intelligence to detect the sky in the photo and automatically enhance it based on its colors and texture.
What’s more, the Sky Enhancer does this whether the area of sky is bright, dark, big, or small, and the adjustments made can be easily manipulated by a single slider.
Luminar 3 also sports the supercharged Accent AI 2.0 filter, which makes about a dozen adjustments to the image instantly.
Again, this filter is manipulated by a single slider, so changing things like the exposure, color, tone, and other basic elements is done quickly and easily.
As you can see above, the Accent AI 2.0 filter can automatically detect people in the shot and apply its changes in a way that renders beautifully realistic results.
Add in dozens of Looks to give your photos artistic flair, many different filters that can do everything from sharpen the image to add sun rays, and an easy-to-use Library where you can view, sort, and rate your photos, and you begin to see why Luminar 3 is so widely regarded.
But if you think those tools sound amazing, Luminar 4 kicks it up a notch with some exciting new features that will expand post-processing abilities even further.
In the video above, you can see two new tools in action - the AI Skin Enhancer and the Portrait Enhancer.
When you think about what makes editing portraits such a long, drawn out process, it’s all the small manipulations you have to make, like removing blemishes and dark circles, enhancing eyebrows and lips, and whitening teeth.
But in Luminar 4, those detail-oriented processes are handled by AI, and you can fine-tune the results with individual sliders for incredible results.
Luminar 4 also introduces AI Structure and AI Sky Replacement.
As shown above, AI Structure boosts details only where needed using content-aware tools, that way people in the photos aren’t overprocessed but objects like clouds and buildings are beautifully detailed. See what I mean in the video above.
Likewise, AI Sky Replacement gives photographers the power to change the sky in one click. So, if you shot a beautiful landscape, but the sky isn’t all that great, you can easily pick a new sky to give the shot the look and mood you want. Not only that, but Luminar 4 will relight the entire photo to the original image and the new sky match.
The AI Sky Replacement tool also uses intelligent selection algorithms to remove artifacts, hard edges, and halos. And with the ability to fine-tune foreground contrast and brightness, you can create epic landscape shots in short order.
As if all that isn’t enough, this bundle also includes Aurora HDR.
There’s a reason why the top HDR photographers in the world use Aurora HDR…
Its AI-powered Quantum HDR Engine gives you the highest-quality bracket merging with no artifacts, no halos, and no chromatic aberration.
With more than 20 HDR tools, including color toning, dodge and burn, creative LUT mapping, and more, photographers can create flawless HDR images in seconds.
Like Luminar 3 and 4, Aurora HDR has a vast selection of Looks that with one click will take your photos from blah to beautiful. With more than 80 professionally-crafted Looks, you have the power to create top-notch images in a matter of seconds.
Aurora HDR also works magic with single photos, enabling you to bring out beautiful details and dynamic range, even when you don’t have bracketed exposures to work with.
Truly, this is the ultimate holiday gift for any photographer - the power to make fast, beautiful, and precise edits whether the images are portraits, landscapes, architecture or something in between!
Gifts for Photographers Under $250: PilotFly AtomCube RX1 RGBCW LED Video Light
Having a high-quality light for photography and videography is a must, and the PilotFly AtomCube certainly delivers on multiple fronts.
For starters, this light is small enough to fit in your pocket, yet offers 1800 lux luminance at 0.5 meters. It’s completely dimmable from 0-100 percent, offers 360-degree full color, and has an adjustable color temperature from 2500-8500K so you can tune the light to your specific needs.
Add in cold white and warm white light, and you have the makings of a light that offers you precise colors and high CRI as well.
You can even mount multiple lights together using a Magic Cube to expand the effect. Nice!
The AtomCube comes with Bluetooth mesh technology that allows you to control up to 255 lights all at once. Whether you’re a portrait photographer, a videographer, or something in between, that kind of flexibility is an enormous asset to have.
Speaking of assets, the color tone and brightness between units is highly consistent, especially when mounting multiple units together. Because the lights are calibrated, you don’t have to worry about inconsistent lighting when you use more than one light at a time.
No matter if you’re using one AtomCube light or dozens, you can control them with the accompanying app. It’s an incredibly convenient way to control your lighting right at your fingertips, especially when you’re multitasking.
The intuitive interface of the app makes it easy to make precise adjustments. Likewise, you can connect lights, create groups of lights, and control brightness and color temperature, all with a few taps of your phone’s screen.
This light is durable, functional, has available accessories to advance the experience even further, and offers a variety of features that make lighting for photos and videos a breeze. It’s a key light in your pocket! That makes it a great gift for the photographer on your holiday shopping list!
Gifts for Photographers Under $250: HEX Ranger Clamshell DSLR Backpack
I met the guys behind HEX just last week, and I have to say that not only was I impressed by their operation in downtown Los Angeles, but I was also impressed with them.
They have a passion for what they do, and it shows in the products they design and create.
I actually brought a HEX Ranger DSLR Sling Bag home after seeing it firsthand. Talk about a camera bag!
But if the photographer on your list needs to carry more gear than I do, the Ranger Clamshell DSLR backpack is a prime choice.
With a capacity of 21 liters, this bag can hold a ton of gear - a DSLR with lens attached, a couple more lenses, a laptop, a drone, and accessories, in fact!
The clamshell design makes it easy to see your gear, retrieve it, and put it away. And with fully customizable inserts, you can make the bag work for you no matter what arrangement of gear you need.
The all-important comfort factor is off the charts, too. It has ergonomic shoulder straps that hug your shoulders and fit perfectly. The air mesh construction will keep your shoulders and back cool as well.
Additionally, HEX included a custom molded and foam padded back panel, that way even when you’re carrying a heavy load, you’ll still be comfortable.
With tripod straps on the bottom, side straps for attaching more gear, a hidden rain cover, a water bottle pocket, and tons of other handy features, this is a bag that the photographer on your list will love, without a doubt
Gifts for Photographers Under $250: A Pre-Owned Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 Lens
Ask just about any photographer what their first lens purchase was, and they'll say a Nifty Fifty. That makes it the ideal gift idea for photographers this holiday season!
There's a lot to love about 50mm lenses, too...
For starters, it's a great focal length for learning all kinds of photography, from landscapes to portraits and everything in between.
That also makes it an incredibly versatile lens.
In fact, put a 50mm lens on your camera, and you can shoot all day long without ever needing a different focal length. They're even great for shooting video!
You can find 50mm lenses with large apertures, too, like the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM shown above.
At f/1.4, photographers can more readily shoot in low-light conditions without having to push the ISO too high, which helps reduce digital noise.
Having a large aperture like that is also beneficial for gathering tons of light, that way a faster shutter speed can be used. It's also helpful for blurring the background in portraits to get a more professional-looking shot.
Another benefit of a 50mm lens is that they force you to think more creatively about how you frame up your shots.
That is, since 50mm lenses have a constant focal length of 50mm, there's no zoom to rely on for getting close-up or wider shots.
By using a 50mm lens and "zooming with your feet," becoming a master of composition can be an easier task because you're forced to physically move further away or closer to the subject.
Of course, the biggest benefit of 50mm lenses is the price. These lenses are well-priced so you can bestow a great little lens with tons of functionality and versatility upon your favorite photographer without busting your budget.
Best Gifts for Photographers Under $250: Wandrd DUO Daypack
Not every photography adventure requires a gigantic bag…
Instead, a daypack works for most of us most of the time, and one of the best upcoming daypacks you can get your hands on is the Wandrd DUO Daypack.
This bag is packed with innovative features that will make the photographer on your holiday shopping list smile from ear to ear.
There’s dual side access panels for quickly and easily grabbing gear and a radical “infinite zip” system allows for access to items in the top or side of the bag, or you can simply unfurl the front panel completely for unfettered access.
Speaking of in the bag, this thing is an organizational dream with pockets, pouches, and cubbies for days.
Photographers can keep their camera body in the Pop Camera Cube, slide a flash into one of the many pockets on the inside back of the bag, and have tons of room left for everything from lenses to flash cards to car keys. There’s even a tablet sleeve and a laptop sleeve that can accommodate most 15-inch laptops.
On the outside of the bag, you’ll find a water bottle pocket, quick-access pockets, and four attachment points for Wandrd Accessory Straps, which enables you to carry a tripod on the outside of the bag.
Started on Kickstarter where it raised over $650,000, the DUO daypack is the ideal gift for on-the-go photographers that need a single bag that takes them from work to play and points in between.
Wandrd really has thought of everything with this bag, which is why it would make the perfect holiday gift for the photographer in your life!
Gifts for Photographers Under $250: EF to E-Mount Lens Adapter
If the photographer you're shopping for used to be a Canon shooter and now has a Sony camera, you can give them this handy adapter that allows them to use their old EF and EF-S lenses on a Sony E-mount camera, like the a6300, a6400, a6500, a9 or a7, among many others.
This adapter has both autofocus function and aperture control, as well as a handy USB port for firmware updates.
You can switch between phase and contrast autofocus modes, and there's EXIF signal transmitting and IS functionality too.
There's simply no easier and more functional way to pair Canon lenses with a Sony E-mount camera!
Gifts for Photographers Under $250: Syrp Genie Mini II
I’ve used Syrp’s time-lapse gear for years now, and when they released the Genie Mini II, I was skeptical that it could be much better than the original Genie that I’d been using. I was wrong.
The updates to the Genie Mini II are mostly under the hood, but they are significant.
For example, Syrp added the functionality to control two Genie Minis at the same time from a new companion app. That enables photographers to create beautiful pan-tilt motion in their videos at the touch of a button.
Syrp also incorporated keyframing functionalities, so you can set up to 10 keyframes all the while panning at different speeds and in different directions. Nice!
There are other goodies too: a time-lapse compiler that allows you to process video directly on your device and share to social networks; autoexposure ramping to create day-to-night time-lapses; and camera control that allows you to control your camera from your phone.
If you’re shopping for someone that’s at all interested in creating epic videos, this is the gift for them!
Gifts for Photographers Under $250: Aputure AL-MW Mini LED
The beauty of the Aputure AL-MW is that it offers you superb light in a tiny package.
In fact, that tiny package is about as bulletproof as you can get, too. It’s rugged, well-constructed, and waterproof, so it can go just about anywhere the photographer on your holiday shopping list needs it to go!
But don’t let its small size fool you - this thing puts out some serious light…
With 6000 lux output, this is about all the light you need, and yet it can fit in your pocket. If the photographer you’re shopping for is like me, having highly portable gear is a must.
Beyond that, the Aputure AL-MW has excellent color fidelity and has a rating of 95+ for CRI and TLCI.
Add in a gel holder with CTO and CTB filters, a battery that’ll give you up to 24 hours of runtime, and pre-programmed lighting effects, and you can see why this little light is worth its weight in gold!
Gifts for Photographers Under $250: Syrp Super Dark Variable ND Filter
If the photographer on your list loves to shoot long exposures, then a variable ND filter is a perfect gift idea.
Variable ND filters are like having a complete ND filter kit, but in an all-in-one unit.
The Syrp Super Dark Variable ND filter gives photographers between 5 and 10 stops of filtering power so they can get just the right amount of light for their long exposure creations.
This filter is available in tons of popular sizes, too, from 52mm to 82mm, so you can find the precise size your favorite photographer needs.
And since it’s made of high-quality Japanese glass, the results you get are exceptionally good - clear, precise, and color-neutral, just like it should be when using an ND filter!
As expensive as photography can be, you might think that a $500 budget for your gift buying this Christmas won't get you much.
However, nothing could be further from the truth...
Whether you're buying for a novice photographer or a professional, there are plenty of excellent photography products and gadgets for less than $500 that will have them smiling from ear to ear.
Vanguard ALTA Fly 62T Trolley Bag
For enthusiast and professional photographers on your holiday list that need a rock-solid travel camera bag, the Vanguard ALTA Fly 62T is a top choice.
This thing can hold 2-3 DSLRs, 7-11 lenses, camera accessories or a drone, a 17-inch laptop, a tablet, and a tripod. So, in a word, this bag is big!
But just because it’s a big bag doesn’t mean it’s hard to handle. With two integrated wheels and an optimal balance tripod carrying system, your favorite photographer can easily maneuver this bag without feeling bogged down. And when they reach their destination, they’ll appreciate the 3 Security Point System that keeps their gear safe from prying hands, as well as the organized layout that keeps all their gear tidy and easy to find.
The ALTA Fly 62T even has a removable interior divider compartment so it can be used as a traditional piece of luggage, too. And since it’s priced at $329.99, you’ll have a big chunk of change left over from your $500 budget!
If you’re looking for a gift that will wow your photography-loving friend or family member this holiday, the LUCA Messenger Bag is definitely worth a look.
This bag is handmade in Florence, Italy from the best Tuscany leather. The combination of traditional Italian craftsmanship with modern functionality isn’t just impressive from an ease-of-use standpoint, but it also impressive from a visual point of view as well as this bag is quite eye-catching!
The bag is lightweight, yet features tons of space for all manner of photography gear, accommodating a complete large DSLR kit with four lenses or two DSLR kits and two lenses. Heck, it can even accommodate one DSLR kit and one mirrorless kit. That’s excellent versatility for the modern photographer that might have multiple camera systems and want to carry them at the same time.
The large organizer in the front is convenient for storing personal items or additional camera accessories. There’s a padded inner pocket dedicated to storing up to a 12-inch laptop or tablet as well. The camera insert is removable so that you can further customize the space inside the bag for larger items should it be needed for use as a personal travel bag.
With details like anti-scratch spiral zippers to prevent scratching lenses, a rear trolley attachment for easy transport, and a large carry strap with Ultra Grip padding for a comfortable carrying experience, the LUCA bag is a premier choice that’s well made, highly functional, and a dream to carry!
A great tripod can become a photographer’s best friend. In fact, it’s probably one of the most underrated pieces of gear that photographers use.
That’s why a solid, well-built tripod and ball head combination is an ideal holiday gift for the photographer on your list. There are few that are on the level of the Sirui W-2204 Tripod and K-30X Ball Head combination.
With waterproof legs, ergonomic leg angle logs that allow for quick adjustment, and a split center column that makes swapping between the standard and short columns nice and easy, this tripod is purpose-built for photographers that need to set up and tear down quickly.
The W-2204 is made of lightweight, 10-layer carbon fiber, meaning it’s got incredible strength with reduced vibration sensitivity. It can also support nearly 40 pounds of gear!
Add to that the K-30X ball head, which has separate control knobs for panning and locking, triple bubble levels to aid in getting level shots, and Sirui’s locking mechanism to keep the head in place, and you’ve got the recipe for one heck of a holiday gift for your favorite photographer.
If you've got a photographer on your list that's into fast-paced, close-quarters photography like street photography or travel photography, the Holdfast Fundy Streetwise Bag is a rock-solid gift idea.
This bag allows photographers to keep their gear close by, but does so in a way that's discreet without sacrificing the ability to get into the bag, grab gear, and take a quick shot.
It can be used as a standalone shoulder bag, or it can be paired with Holdfast's MoneyMaker for an even more flexible carrying experience.
The Fundy Streetwise bag has a gorgeous sheepskin interior that keeps gear safe while its waxed canvas exterior offers excellent weather resistance in case the weather turns south.
It has smart features like a removable false bottom for keeping valuables out of sight and a removable insert so it can accommodate various types of gear.
If you’re looking for a beautiful gift for the photography enthusiast in your life, an HD Metal Print by Artbeat Studios is tough to beat.
These large-format metal prints have incredible colors that make the image pop, giving it life and vitality that’s eye-catching in a way that’s hard for more traditional prints to pull off. Not only that, by heat infusing the photo into a ChomaluxeTM aluminum sheet, you get a scratch-resistant, water-resistant, and UV-resistant print that will retain its gorgeous look for generations.
With a wide variety of metal surfaces and finishes, as well as different wall mount and wall hanger options to tailor the print to your needs and tastes, an HD Metal Print is the custom holiday gift you’ve been looking for, all for a price of $499!
If you want to give your loved one a gorgeous metal print for the holidays, but want something that’s not too small or not too big, a 30x40 HD Metal Print from Artbeat Studios is a fantastic option.
Printing on metal is ideal for just about any kind of photo, but landscapes in particular. As seen above, the specialized printing process that Artbeat Studios uses to print on metal results in spectacular colors and contrast. That’s thanks in part to the different surfaces on which you can have the image printed - white and silver.
A white surface gives the image a vividness that enhances the detail of the shot, making every nook and cranny beautifully visible. That makes it a great choice for portraits and landscapes. But if you prefer, you can opt for a silver surface instead, which makes any whites in the image appear silver. That makes it a perfect choice for black and white photos or images that have a lot of contrast.
You can choose between a glossy or matte finish, wood or metal wall mounts, a wire hanger or a cleat hanger, and so much more. It’s a totally custom gift that your loved ones are sure to love, and it won’t break the bank at just $345!
Today's cameras certainly have excellent photographic capabilities, but more and more of them have excellent video capabilities as well, including 4K video.
But there's not much point in being able to take incredibly sharp and detailed video if you catch match it with sharp, detailed sound, right?
That's why Sound Shark should be on your holiday gift list.
Sound Shark picks up voices in crystal clear beauty, making speakers sound as though they've got a lapel mic on, even when they don't.
In fact, the videographer on your holiday list will be blown away by how much less noise from the sides and the background they get with Sound Shark as compared to a traditional shotgun mic.
That's because Klover Products, which makes sound shark, is the leading supplier of long-range microphones used to televise sporting events.
If their parabolic mic is good enough for the World Series, the Super Bowl, and the NBA Playoffs, it'll be good enough for your favorite videographer, too!
Wolverine Data 8mm and Super 8 Movie Reels to Digital MovieMaker
The 8mm and Super 8 film formats that were so popular decades ago means a lot of us have precious family movies that are just sitting in boxes, rotting away and degrading with every passing day. Rather than letting those memories fade away, get your loved one the gift of saving those old family videos with the Wolverine Data 8mm and Super 8 Movie Reels to Digital MovieMaker.
This device converts your old movies into digital files (without sound) so that you can preserve your family’s heritage for generations to come. It only takes a few simple steps, too!
Just mount the 3 or 5-inch movie reel to the machine, insert a memory card, press a few buttons, and the MovieMaker will scan the film frame-by-frame as it plays. The result is a digital MP4 movie that you can burn to a DVD, upload to YouTube, watch on your laptop, or even edit in a movie editing program or connect it to your TV to immediately watch the digitized videos.
The Digital MovieMaker is a standalone device, too - you don’t need a computer or any software at all. And considering that photo labs charge a hefty price to convert film to digital, this gadget will more than pay for itself!
If you have a loved one that’s a burgeoning photographer, a great camera to get them started is the Nikon D5300.
This camera is small, lightweight, yet packed with powerful features that make it a great learner’s camera, but one that they won’t outgrow quickly, either.
It’s got a sizable 24-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor for high-resolution images, an ISO range to 12800 for low-light shooting, a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 seconds to capture fast action, and a sophisticated 39-point autofocus system that will help your loved one capture their subjects in sharp focus.
Add in 1080p video recording, 5fps burst shooting capabilities, and a price tag on pre-owned rigs under $500, and you have the makings for one great gift this holiday season that won’t break your budget, either!
Time-lapse photography and filmmaking is a tough gig, but having high-quality gear that’s easy to transport will certainly be on your favorite photographer’s wish list this holiday season.
The Magic Carpet Carbon Fibre by Syrp doesn’t just look cool - it’s incredibly functional, too. It’s extendable to virtually any length you can imagine but packs away in two-foot sections for easy storage and transport. For gorgeous long tracking shots, just attach additional interlocking extension sections for a seamless, smooth shot no matter how long the track is.
Perhaps the best part is that since it’s made of carbon fiber, the Magic Carpet is featherlight. In fact, the center track weighs a mere 1.48 pounds and each extension section adds just .84 pounds. It’s even tripod mountable for additional stability!
That makes this rig a perfect choice for photographers and filmmakers that need a lot of bang for the buck, but without sacrificing on weight and ease of use.
With Black Friday shopping just a couple of days away, I thought a list of awesome Black Friday photography deals was in order.
Whether you're looking for gifts for a photographer on your list or you just want some cool gear for yourself, the deals I've found below are sure to tantalize!
Have a quick look and see what fun gear you can pick up while saving some money, too.
Syrp Genie Mini
When it comes to creating time-lapse videos, there isn't a better motion control device than the Syrp Genie Mini.
This rig is compact, portable, and easy to use, so even if you or your loved one isn't an expert videographer, you can still create professional-looking smooth panning time-lapses (and real-time video, too!).
It's designed to mount to a tripod and then your camera mounts to the Genie.
With its internal motor, Genie can rotate 360-degrees with cameras that weigh up to 8.8 pounds.
You can wirelessly connect to the Genie Mini using the Syrp Genie App for a quick and easy set up of smooth panning or tilting time-lapse and video.
Get some beautiful maternity photography accessories on Black Friday at huge discounts from Sew Trendy.
In fact, it's not just their maternity wear and accessories that are on sale. You can enjoy 30-40% off girls dresses, floral crowns, newborn props, and more all weekend long!
Not only that, but Sew Trendy is also offering a huge giveaway for Black Friday.
Each day between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, one lucky customer will get their order FREE.
Add to that Doorbuster sales running all weekend and exclusive deals on made-to-order maternity gowns like the Jessica Gown, and you have a recipe for big savings!
Holdfast
Holdfast makes all sorts of awesome photography gear, from top-of-the-line camera straps to gorgeous and functional camera bags.
Made right here in the USA to the highest of quality, Holdfast products are among the best you can buy on the market today.
And to celebrate Black Friday, Holdfast is offering 10% off everything on their site from November 24-27, 2017.
That means you can snag a MoneyMaker dual camera strap, a Roamographer camera bag, a Sightseer Backpack, or other goodies and save some money at the same time.
The DJI Spark is a palm-sized mini drone that has a 12-megapixel camera and 2-axis gimbal for taking awesome aerial photos and videos.
Not only that, this little guy is packed with awesome technology that makes takeoff and landing a breeze. It has intelligent flight modes, too, including TapFly, which lets you tap anywhere on your phone to fly the Spark.
It even tracks moving subjects from the front, back, or side for awesome cinematic videography.
You can also get a $1 freebie bag and 25% off Drone World brand accessories, too!
Sew Trendy
Sew Trendy has so many deals this weekend that we had to separate them into two different slots on our list!
Black Friday through Cyber Monday, customers will enjoy 20% off their orders with the order code BFCM1720.
And if you're a photographer, you get an even sweeter deal - 30% off your orders with the code BFCM17PH (terms apply).
Additionally, all ready-to-ship women's gowns will be marked down 10% and you can enjoy 10% off on certain products, like the floral print collection and the winter gown collection.
If you're looking for a larger drone than the DJI Spark, perhaps the DJI Mavic Pro is up your alley.
The Mavic Pro comes packed with features that ever drone lover will appreciate, including the ability to transmit full HD video up to 4.3 miles away and a top speed of 40 mph!
Its FlightAutonomy system can detect obstacles up to 49 feet away, giving you peace of mind while flying.
The 4K camera with 3-axis mechanical gimbal isn't bad either, snapping gorgeously sharp photos and smooth 4K video up to 30fps.
The Mavic Pro boasts phenomenal endurance too, allowing you to fly up to 27 minutes at a time.
It's on sale, too! Save $100 on the Mavic ProThanksgiving Day until the end of Cyber Monday, and then again from December 10th until the end of the year.
You can also get a $1 freebie bag, $150 off Fly More and Higher End Kits, and a free mini drone with a drone kit order.
On top of all that, Drone World is offering 25% off Drone World brand accessories, too!
MrStarGuy
MrStarGuy has some great deals going on for telescopes binoculars, mounts, and jewelry - something for everyone on your list!
That includes $100 off the Vixen R130Sf and Porta II Mount shown above.
The Vixen Nature Eye Telescope is on sale for $19.95 (a savings of $20) and the Space Eye 70 Complete Telescope is $70 off!
For an even bigger deal, you can save $600 on the Vixen R200SS Reflector Telescope or save $700 on the Vixen NA14OSS Telescope. You can save $700 on the Vixen Sphinx SX2 mount as well.
That's not to mention great deals on binoculars (up to $149 off!) and even deals on jewelry that features constellations, stars, and images of the universe.
Another year is almost in the books, so it's time to take a look back on what you accomplished this year as a photographer.
One of my goals for 2018 was to shoot more - a lot more - and I managed to do so despite having a very, very busy year at PhotographyTalk.
I'm already planning my goals for next year, and one of my top priorities is to take more time for timelapse work.
I love a good timelapse (who doesn't?!), and I'm determined to use beauty that surrounds me in the Los Angeles area as fodder for some awesome timelapses.
If you're ready to venture into the world of timelapse photography, you'll need the rigs to do it. This list offers an overview of some of the best timelapse rigs and accessories of the year.
MOVO Pro 49" Motorized Slider System
The great thing (well, one of the great things…) about the Movo Pro 49” Motorized Slider is that you can use it to create epic timelapses as well as shoot live video. Stop-motion video is also an option!
The wireless, adjustable slider offers precision adjustments that give you pinpoint control over everything from the motor speed and focus time to the exposure and timer interval, just to name a few.
Adding to the versatility of this rig are the easy-to-adjust legs so you can get the precise positioning you need whether shooting indoors or out. On top of all that, the Movo Pro is universal and has compatibility with most DSLRs and camcorders.
This slider is made of lightweight, yet strong aluminum alloy. With a total length of 49-inches (31.5-inches of operational length), you have tons of leeway for getting beautifully long sliding shots.
And with a motor that has an adjustable speed from 0.7mm/s to 94mm/s, you can perfect the look of your videos by dialing in just the right speed for the shot.
As if all that isn’t awesome enough, consider this - the Movo Pro 49 is under $500. Compared to other rigs of this quality and versatility, that’s a significant bargain!
Whether you’re just starting out in timelapse video or you’re a seasoned pro, this slider will help you get the job done right without breaking the bank.
What seems to keep some people away from venturing into the world of timelapse photography is the misconception that it involves too much gear and too much big, bulky gear at that.
But Syrp has completely changed that with the new Syrp Genie II Linear and Genie II Pan Tilt.
The Genie II Linear is incredibly portable and gives you the option to add motion control to your timelapse and films without lugging around a big, heavy piece of kit.
It can attach to any slider on the market and even cable cam systems up to 328’ in length, so you can quickly and easily upgrade your ability to capture gorgeous timelapses and real-time video.
Additionally, the Genie II Linear is loaded up with features for key-framing, shooting interviews, b-roll and timelapse with future available features including live view, and camera control for ramping exposure, just to name a few. It’s wirelessly controllable as well, via an iOS or Android device.
Meanwhile, the Genie II Pan Tilt gives you ultra portable camera motion control that you can carry in your backpack.
You can use it with a tripod for ultra-precise pan and tilt motion control, or if you want three-axis, use it in conjunction with the Genie II Linear for the most powerful 3-axis device on the market.
Like the Genie II Linear, the Pan Tilt offers tons of functionality, including timelapse and real-time video capabilities, key-framing, and much more. With mutli-row Panorama coming soon via a software update you’ll be able to capture high resolution ‘gigapixel’ images and shoot Panoramas all controlled from the app itself. It also has a built-in screen so you don’t have to use the app if you don’t need it and you want to pack light, not to mention a built in joystick for quick setup and re-positioning from the device itself.
In other words, these motion control devices are small, lightweight, packed with features, and will give you the ability to step your timelapse video game up a notch (well, several notches, actually…). They truly are unparalleled when it comes to motion control!
Dynamic Perception Stage Zero Motion Control Timelapse Dolly
This six-foot-long timelapse dolly has everything you need to start creating motion-controlled timelapse videos.
The kit includes an NMX Digital Motion Controller that is operable via a free iOS or Android app. A lightweight camera trigger and motion control device are also included.
The rail system is constructed of black anodized metal for long-term durability. Custom rail lengths are available as well.
The biggest claim to fame for this Dynamic Perception rig is its ability to stand up to use and abuse. You can run it through mud, dirt, and grime, and it'll keep on going!
The ease of use of this thing sets it apart as well - just open the box, attach the dolly to the rail, and you're ready to rock!
This timelapse bundle by Rhino has all the accessories you ned to start creating dynamic timelapse and real-time videos today.
Included is a 42-inch Rhino EVO carbon slider that supports up to seven pounds of gear. Also included is the Rhino Motion and Rhino Arc Motion Control Systems, which gives you the power to add motorized sliding motion to your timelapses.
The Rhino Motion Control Unit has a wheel that gives you the power to react to live performances, or you can program a slide with specific in and out points, travel time, looping, and ramping.
The Rhino Arc Motion Control Unit mounts directly onto the slider carriage and allows you to incorporate motorized panning motion to linear slides.
The rail system has an interchangeable design, which allows you to change out the included 42-inch rails for optional 24-inch rails when compactness is of the essence.
In other words, Rhino has thought of everything to get you started in timelapse photography!
Since timelapse videos take a while to create, having the ability to control your camera via your smartphone is a handy solution. With the MIOPS Mobile Remote Programmable Trigger, you can do jus tthat.
The device connects to the shutter release port on your camera and communicates with your phone using Bluetooth.
The refined user interface of the MIOPS Mobile App makes it incredibly easy to use, even for beginners that have little or no timelapse experience.
What's so great about this remote is that it allows you to combine multiple features - create timelapses, long exposures, or HDR timelapses. You can do bulb ramping as well.
The remote gives you the power to trigger the shutter when it senses movement, vibration, or even sound, too, making it ultra easy to use.
If you need a camera remote and want one that offers tons of functionality, this is it!
Legacy Photography
YouTube Screenshot/ZY Productions
YouTube Screenshot/ZY Productions 
YouTube Screenshot/ZY Productions
YouTube Screenshot/Austin Newman
Vimeo Screenshot/Syrp
Vimeo Screenshot/Syrp 
Vimeo Screenshot/Syrp 
Vimeo Screenshot/Syrp 
Vimeo Screenshot/Syrp
Vimeo Screenshot/Syrp
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
YouTube Screenshot/Morten Rustad
Photo by 
Photo by 
Photo by 
Photo by Joe Michael
Photo by Joe Michael
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Photo by 
Belly Beautiful by Karen Marie
Photo by 
Image courtesy of Syrp
Image courtesy of Syrp
Image courtesy of Syrp
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