Accessories
STABILIZERS
MOZA AirCross
This new compact stabilizer is ideal for lightweight mirrorless cameras weighing under 4 pounds. The gimbal has a DC output connector so you can add extra battery packs to deliver extra juice to your power-hungry mirrorless. The AirCross also has a DC input so you can add extra power to prolong the gimbal’s life. It ships with a universal quick-release plate and is compatible with plates ranging in size from 50.5 to 55mm. You can operate the gimbal with one hand or attach the optional two-handed mount (pictured) for greater control.
Price: $420
gudsen.com
DJI Ronin-S
The Ronin-S is a three-axis gimbal and the company’s first single-handed stabilizer for interchangeable lens cameras. It’s available in two frame sizes to support mirrorless and DSLR cameras. The Ronin-S features a Push mode to adjust the pan-and-tilt axis by hand. There’s also a new Sport mode to help you track fast-moving subjects. If you need to choreograph more advanced camera moves, you can connect the Ronin-S to your mobile device and use the app to access modes like Panorama, Hyperlapse, Track and CamAnchor. The stabilizer’s battery can be hot-swapped during use, and there are buttons for camera and gimbal control.
IKAN DS2-A
This gimbal can handle cameras under 4 pounds and supports 360-degree pans. The three-axis gyro stabilizer has an Auto-Sweep mode that lets you program a 60-second camera movement routine. There’s an OLED display to read out operating modes and a Lock mode to keep the camera pointed in a single direction. There are four different Follow modes, and you’ll get up to 8 to 10 hours of battery life.
Price: $750
ikancorp.com
STRAPS
Holdfast Gear MoneyMaker
The MoneyMaker camera harness has been updated with an all-new buckle. The Chestnut and Tan versions feature new leather that’s less absorbent and softer. The MoneyMaker includes a removable shoulder pad and d-rings. It’s designed to hold between one and three cameras, depending on your configuration. There’s also a new “Vegan-friendly” model that’s not made of leather.
Prices: start at $230
holdfastgear.com
Frii Designs TriLens
Tired of fishing for your favorite focal length in your camera bag? The TriLens lets you have three lenses on your hip at all times. The TriLens slips onto your belt and is rated to hold up to 220 pounds, more than enough for any conceivable lens combo you’ll want to be wearing. There are five sets of magnetic covers for the holder so you’re able to cap the one that’s not in use to keep dust or debris out of it. It’s available in Canon, Nikon and Sony mounts.
Price: $169
friidesigns.com
Peak Design Leash
The updated Leash carries over the original’s incredible strength with anchors capable of keeping 200 pounds aloft but with a new, sleeker look. It boasts all new aluminum anodized hardware with a new dual aluminum/Hypalon quick-adjustment system. The anchor connectors are slimmer and designed to slide in and out quicker. The strap’s nylon webbing features a tighter weave, which the company says improves its durability. It’s available in ash or black.
Price: $40
peakdesign.com
BRACKETS + SUPPORT
Manfrotto Camera Cage
For DSLR and mirrorless filmmakers, a camera cage helps you connect vital accessories (mics, lights, monitors) to your camera with ease. Manfrotto’s new cages are available in three sizes and feature multiple ¼-20 and 3/8-inch mounting points, a reversible top handle and a cold-shoe mount. The handle can be folded down when not in use, making it easier tostore. There’s also an HDMI cable clamp to ensure you won’t accidentally disconnect an external monitor or recorder when the camera’s rolling.
Prices: start at $299
manfrotto.us
ProMediaGear Universal Flash Bracket (BX-PBX3)
This flash bracket can rotate and lock your on-camera flash at a 90-degree position to keep the flash upright above the lens. You can adjust the bracket arm to accommodate cameras with or without battery grips. The unit mounts to a camera using either an Arca-Swiss plate or the PBX3 Universal Bracket Plate. It’s forged from aircraft-grade aluminum and weighs about 14 ounces.
Price: $300
promediagear.com
Platypod Max
The Platypod Max can provide sturdy camera support at a fraction of the size and weight of a tripod. You could probably stuff it into your pocket. Simply screw in your ball head, mount your camera and place the Platypod where you need added stability. It has holes for screws so you can fix it to walls or wooden structures, too. Its spiked feet are adjustable so you can angle your camera. It’s built to support heavy weight—up to 300 pounds—though its total carrying capacity depends on the ball head you use.
Price: $99
platypod.com
LIGHT METERS
Lumu Power
The original Lumu light meter was a simple, small iPhone accessory that could serve as a modest light meter in a pinch. The new Lumu Power keeps the tiny plug-and-play dimensions but is now much richer in features, offering ones typically found on larger devices. It’s also more accurate and able to read color temperature, flash exposure, illuminance and perform spot metering.
Illuminati Color Meter
Forget everything you’ve heard about a secretive cabal; this Illuminati lets you join the not-so-secret society of photographers armed with accurate light readings. Unlike your traditional light meter, the Illuminati connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. The device measures color temperature, exposure and chromaticity, sending it in real time to your phone. You can program up to 15 different alarms to, say, warn of brightness changes in ambient lighting. You can also trigger metering using a smartwatch and receive alerts directly to your watch, in the event you don’t want your phone out. Thanks to its small size, you can deploy multiple Illuminatis around a scene to measure foreground and background light, sending all of that info to the Illuminati app on your phone. The device has a range of roughly 80 feet. It has a magnet for mounting on metallic surfaces, plus a tripod socket and a hook for a lanyard. It’s powered by a pair of AAA batteries.
Price: $300
illuminatiinstrumentcorp.com
Sekonic L-858D-U Speedmaster
This is the first light meter to offer wireless compatibility with Elinchrom, Phottix and PocketWizard flash products for remote triggering and power adjustment. It’s also one of the first in its class to measure flash duration and to cope with dimly lit environments. The L-858D has expanded sensitivity (three extra stops for incident light and two stops for reflected light) to keep pace with the soaring ISO capabilities of today’s cameras. Uniquely, this light meter can also measure flash pulses during high-speed sync shooting. A colorful 2.7-inch LCD touchscreen affords easy control over the unit.
Price: $599
sekonic.com
PORTABLE STORAGE
LaCie Rugged Secure
LaCie is well known for building ultra-tough portable drives, but the new Secure takes an even more defensive posture. Using Seagate’s Secure technology, the drive is encrypted and will automatically lock down when it’s disconnected from a computer, requiring a password to open. The 2TB drive is built to withstand freezing temperatures, drops and most bumps and bruises.
WD My Passport Wireless SSD
The Wireless SSD is variant of WD’s Wi-Fi-enabled portable device that uses SSD memory instead of hard disks. The My Passport Wireless SSD drive is shock-resistant up to 1 meter and features an SD card reader, a USB 2.0 host port, a USB 3.0 port and a battery good for up to 10 hours of operation. The drive can stream 4K video and preview RAW still image files on the My Cloud app.
Prices: start at $230
wd.com
G-Technology G-DRIVE Mobile SSD R
The newest rugged SSD drive from G-Technology can take the proverbial licking—and a real one, too, thanks to its water-resistant exterior. It’s also dust- resistant and can survive falls from up to 3 meters high without ruining the files within. The R-series can also withstand up to 1,000 pounds of pressure. The drive features a USB-C connection for speeds up to 560MB/s and is sold in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities.
Prices: start at $200
g-technology.com
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
This splash- and drop-proof portable SSD won’t take up any room inside your bag, since you can use its carabiner-friendly design to fasten it outside your bag. It features transfer speeds of up to 550MB/s via its USB-C (3.1 Gen 2) connection. The drive ships with a USB-C-to-USB-C cable and a USB-C-to-USB-A adapter. It’s available in capacities up to 2TB.
Prices: start at $130
sandisk.com
ODDS + ENDS
ProOptic Complete Optics Care and Cleaning Kit
Clean images start with clean gear. Toss the ProOptic cleaning kit in your bag and you’ll be able to keep your cameras and lenses clean on the big day. It includes a 7 x 7-inch microfiber lens cloth, an air blower to gently blow away dust from glass or from camera image sensors, lens cleaning spray and pre-moistened lens wipes. There’s also a retractable 4-inch brush to whisk away dirt or debris that you can’t reach with the cloth.
Price: $10
adorama.com/proxcpk1.html
Nitecore USN1
The only thing faster than Sony’s mirrorless sales is the battery life on those models. Using Nitecore’s new USN1, Sony shooters can charge two NP-Fw50 batteries at once. It displays real-time status on remaining charge, battery temperature and more.
Price: $20
charger.nitecore.com
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Enhance Your Toolset With Top New Photography Accessories