Images: Westcott, DJI, Datacolor, ThinkTank |
We’re back with another accessory roundup! This weekend, we’re taking a look at some big flashes, new bags, color calibration tools, and more, but first – as always – let’s see what’s on sale.
sale of the week
Photo: Richard Butler |
NIKON Z8 — a powerful camera that essentially stuffs the company’s sports/action flagship Z9 into a smaller body — is currently on sale at a $600 discount. At $3,400 it’s still an investment, but you get a ton of camera for your money.
For anyone who has focused more on video, Panasonic’s GH7 It’s also on sale, $200 off MSRP.
big shine
Image: Westcott |
Lighting company Westcott has introduced two new flagship-tier flashes: the FJ400 II, an update of the existing model, and the FJ800. Both feature OLED touchscreens that display your settings, give you access to guides and let you control the flash.
As its name suggests, the FJ400II has 400W of power, which it can recycle in 0.01 to 0.9 seconds. The FJ800 generates 800W, and can recycle in 0.01 to 1.8 seconds. Both feature a 30W, bi-color modeling light, include a rechargeable battery, and have a Bowens mount for attaching accessories such as a softbox or reflector.
The FJ400 II is priced at $599, while the FJ800 is priced at $999.
FJ400 II
fj800
Thinktank goes strategic
Image: ThinkTank |
ThinkTank has released two new backpacks, the Darklight 14L and the Darklight 20L. The bags, which come in black or green, feature the standard suite of photography-focused features you’ve come to expect from the company: They come with padded dividers, letting you access your camera from the top or back of the bag. Can do, and get more points. To add a tripod.
However, if you want to add other things to your bag, the Darklights give you far more options than the company’s other backpacks. The front panel is covered with MOLLE loops that let you attach standardized pouches and other accessories, and also features a few hook and loop strips for attaching patches. There is additional webbing on the side of the bag for tying things down.
The 20L can hold more gear but weighs 600g (1.32lb) more. Image: ThinkTank |
The company says the 14L model, which has a detachable waistbelt made of webbing, can hold “a standard-sized camera body with lenses attached and a 1-3 standard zoom lens.” The 20L model, which has a removable padded waist belt, can hold a 16″ laptop and “two bodies with lenses attached and 2-3 lenses, or one body with lenses attached plus 3-5 lenses.” These are priced at $169 and $169, respectively. Is $199.
Darklight 14L
Darklight 20L
anniversary colors
Image: Data Color |
25 years ago, Datacolor came out with its first Spider Color Calibrator tool, and now it has created a “Spider Celebration Kit” to celebrate the anniversary. The company says this kit is a celebration of “the essentials of precise color management for photography, from capturing to editing.”
It collects three of the company’s products – the 2024 Spider Calibrator, a Spider Checker 24 Color Chart, and the “Spider Cube” white balancing tool – and houses them in a metal carrying case. And, as a bonus, the kit’s $199 price is about $70 less than you’d pay for the products if you bought them separately.
a cheap lens
Image: 7 artisans |
We don’t usually talk about lenses in accessory roundups, but if any lens counts as an accessory, this is it. 7Artisans has released an 18mm F5.6 pancake lens made for full frame cameras with E, L, or Z mount… and it costs just $89.
Image: 7 artisans |
Of course, you have to cut some corners to make a 146 gram full-frame lens worth less than $100 – the lens is manual focus only, and the aperture is fixed – but that’s about the things that happen when a lens doesn’t work properly. It’s hard to complain. It costs much more than a good SD card. If you’ve never shot with a wide-angle prime before or you’ve always wanted to play with a low-cost, compact lens, it might be worth picking it up.
find your next shot
Photo: Fujifilm |
Fujifilm is adding stabilization to the sensors of its cameras, but it’s not stopping there; This week, the company Two new pairs announced Among stabilized binoculars, the Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L1640 and TS-L2040. Their respective 16 and 20x magnifications give you a lot of reach when you’re surveying the landscape, whether you’re doing so for fun or you’re looking for an interesting subject for your next shot.
Despite packing electronics and motors used to stabilize the optics while you’re looking at them – powered by two AAA batteries – the binoculars are still relatively compact and lightweight. The company says they’re IPX7 certified, so you won’t have to worry about them breaking if you get caught in a sudden storm.
However, the technology and optics are not cheap. The TS-L1640 costs $1,199, and the TS-L2040 costs an extra $100. But if you’re serious about your binoculars and willing to pay the price, they’ll be available starting January 31.
air traffic control
Image: DJI |
DJI may sell its own first-person view, or FPV, drones, but that hasn’t stopped it from making devices for enthusiasts who want to build their own. it recently announced O4 Air and O4 Air Pro, kits that let you add a DJI camera and transmission system to a DIY drone. The company says the regular model is “the smallest and lightest 4K digital video transmission solution available” and the Pro model is for those who want to capture high quality video without the need for a separate camera like the GoPro Bones.
Both units can transmit 1080p 100fps footage back to the pilot and support DJI Goggles 2, Goggles 3, Goggles N3 and Goggles Integra, as well as the second and third generation DJI FPV remote controllers.
The regular O4 Air costs $109 and can record 4K 60 fps video with its Type 1/2 (6.4 x 5.8 mm) sensor. It has a range of 10 km (6.2 mi) and can transmit video with as little as 20 ms latency. Meanwhile, the Pro can record 4K footage at 120fps from its Type 1/1.3 (9.6 x 7.2mm) sensor, supports DJI’s 10-bit D-Log color mode and can be fitted with an ND filter. which DJI makes for its Avata 2 drone. , It has a range of 15 km (9.3 mi), minimum latency of 15 ms, and costs $229.
dji o4 air
DJI O4 Air Pro