Accessory Reviews

Domke has a long history of making bags that to serve the needs of working photographers. Designed for accessibility, durability and style that intentionally avoids attracting attention, they've enjoyed popularity with generations of pro photographers. A few years ago Domke introduced the Next Generation line, bringing modern updates to its classic bag. Find out what a longtime Domke user thinks of the next-gen Chronicle bag. Read more

Manfrotto's Digital Director, introduced in April, is a departure from its usual array of tripods and tripod heads. It's a device designed to hold an iPad Air tethered to a DSLR, providing a large live view screen, access to camera controls and wireless sharing options. Shooting with a large screen can be a revelation compared to using a 3" LCD, but the Digital Director is pretty pricey. Is it worth the cost? Read more

As capable cameras get smaller, photographers and camera bags have adapted to hold these systems. Camera supports have evolved as well - enter the mini tripod, a class of legs and head that can hold up tiny cameras and flashes, but is also strong enough to support full-sized gear. In this group test we look at five such tripods. Which one should you take on your next hike? Read more

While plenty of DSLRs also have a built-in flash, the feature has been out of favor with mirrorless manufacturers, prioritizing miniaturization. This is where the Metz mecablitz 26 AF-1 digital steps in. Small compared to standard hotshoe flash units, it's still a good deal larger than those that come in the box with most mirrorless cameras. Read review

Western Digital's Wi-Fi enabled My Passport Wireless is a hard drive that features a built-in SD card reader. Alongside the drive, it offers a My Cloud app, allowing photo, video and audio files on the drive to be viewed wirelessly from a phone or tablet. With Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities it could be a very tempting device for roaming photographers who want photo backup without the burden of a laptop. Is it a travel photographer's new best friend? Read review

One of the most important parts of a tripod is the head that connects the camera to the legs. Continuing where our previous ball head roundup left off, we've collected six ball-type heads for review that are in the medium-to-large size class. These heads are suitable for most large cameras and lenses, with only the truly gigantic or heavy devices requiring something larger. Find out which ones earn our recommendation. Read more

ONA is known for high-end camera bags and accessories that go big on style - and price. The Capri leather tote is no exception - it's an attractive bag with padded storage for photo gear that could easily double as a high-end purse. Can it replace a camera bag and a purse, and is it worth the price? Read our review

Earlier this year, storage manufacturer LaCie launched an upgraded version of its Rugged hard drive that features improved damage resistance and a built-in Thunderbolt cable. The new Rugged Thunderbolt drive is available with either a hard disk or an SSD, and also has a USB 3.0 port for universal connectivity. Is it a good storage option for photographers who need something that can handle the bumps in the road? Read more

The Drobo Mini is a portable RAID storage solution with four HD bays, speedy Thunderbolt connectivity, and desktop-based monitoring software. Ideal for photography and videography, the Drobo Mini has many features that might make it attractive to enthusiast and professional photographers and videographers. See how the Drobo Mini fared in our review.

What makes a tripod a good travel companion? We test out five carbon fiber 'travel' tripods that while compact and light, are also comfortably tall and capable of supporting a reasonable amount of gear. This review covers five models, examining their features, functions and ergonomics in use both in the studio and out in the field. Click through to read the roundup.

What makes a compact tripod a good traveling companion? We've collected 5 aluminum 'travel' tripod and head combinations that are compact, but are also comfortably tall and hold up a reasonable amount of gear. In this roundup we cover their features, functions and finish quality, and we put them to work in the studio and in the field. Read more

The simple idea that tripods are inconvenient to carry for extended periods has given birth to a host of attempts to find an easier way to steady a camera during a long exposure. A new device that joins this list is That Steady Thing - a metal boss that sits between a monopod's leg and its head, into which a pair of steadying legs screw. See if it lives up to its name. Read more

Offered in 160W ($70) or 300W ($100) power intensities, Adorama's Budget Studio Monolights are geared toward studio photographers who are just starting out and are constrained by modest budgets. At a fraction of the price of professional heads, can the Flashpoint Budget Studio lights do the job? Find out in our review

The Flashpoint Budget Studio Monolights are Adorama's answer for cash-strapped photographers looking to build their own studio. Is there enough bang to back the budget price tag? Find out in our review.

The Vanguard Heralder is a backpack that's stocked to the brim with features and conveniences. Are you looking for a large do-it-all pack that rolls and fits everything under the sun? Read our full review.

A good photography backpack is capable of stowing essential elements like a full-size camera body, small family of lenses, laptop, tripod, and all necessary accessories. A truly great backpack can carry all of that while being carry-on friendly and providing a high level of comfort and adjustability. The minds at ThinkTank strove to bring that full package with the StreetWalker HardDrive photo backpack. But does it provide enough bang to justify its $229.75 price tag? Find out in our review

The ThinkTank Streetwalker HardDrive combines ample space for a pro DSLR, space for a mid-size laptop, and plenty more. Is this a photo bag you could see yourself with? Find out in our full review.

The Phottix Mitros competes with the Canon 580EX II flash in our review. Will the half-price Phottix prevail?

Adorama's Flashpoint 180 Monolight kit will appeal to photographers on a budget. How does it fare in our review?

The ProAm Orion DVC210 crane/jib targets DSLR filmmakers with its professional design and alluring price point. Is the DVC210 an essential addition to the DSLR filmmaker's tool belt? Read our full review.

The Cinetics Axis360 motor can pan, tilt, and slide your camera for professional time-lapse and video content. Will this Kickstarter product turn heads as well? Read our full review.

The Eye-Fi Mobi targets beginners and mobile device fanatics with its simple setup and easy-to-use design. How does the Mobi stack up against the pricier Eye-Fi Pro X2 card? Read on to find out.

We put the GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition to the test in our hands-on review.

Ten ball heads reviewed and compared: Here are the biggest and best ball heads from a number of major manufacturers spanning the spectrum of price and features.

The Vanguard ABEO Pro is packed full of features. Is this the right tripod for you? Read on to find out.

An almost-in-depth review of a more than just affordable alternative to established brands of underwater housings. Read this multi-page Meikon-42 underwater housing review and find out how it compares to competition.

The Vanguard Up-Rise 33 offers a unique expansion capability, making it a good choice for everyday carry, with the ability to adapt to larger and smaller loads.

Your camera doesn't have to have Wi-Fi built-in to benefit from the advantages of connectivity. Wi-Fi capable SD memory cards have been around for a number of years, and here we're testing the Eye-Fi 16GB Pro X2 SDHC against Transcend's cheaper 32GB Wi-Fi SDHC card.

This article explain the way to do High Speed Sync with YN560 flash.

The Tamrac 5592 Big Wheels SpeedRoller 2X brings oversized wheels and a telescoping handle to the world of photo travel. Let's see how it performs.

The Tamrac Evolution 9 Sling Backpack is do-it-all pro backpack capable of carrying everything but the kitchen sink. Read on for the full review.

If you're a videographer on a budget, you should take a close look at the Cine System. On of our favorite kickstarter-funded projects it allows you to achieve smooth panning and zooming, as well as car or window-mounted shots with minimal fuss.

The Kata Digital Rucksack 467-DL is an everyday photo bag that packs in a lot of features at a reasonable price. If you're in the market for a backpack that will get you through most shoots without breaking the bank, then the 467-DL might be for you.

Kata has designed the first photo backpack to feature a revolving lens chamber for quick access to your glass collection. Will the rest of the Kata Revolver-8 succeed in spinning our gears? Read our full review to find out.

Carbon fiber has made its way into the tripod market, and Manfrotto's 290 Series is aimed at photographers on a budget. Will the Manfrotto 294 CF match competing models? Find out in our review.

The Manfrotto Solo VI DSLR holster bag is designed to house a full-frame DSLR with 100-400mm lens attached. The Solo VI excels in the style department and is well made, but will it suit the needs of the average holster-bearing photographer? Read on to find out.

The Tamrac Zipshot tripod might be the ideal solution for travelers thanks to its light weight, compact size and ability to deploy within seconds. Find out if the Zipshot is worthy of your camera bag in our accesory review.

Wireless TTL flash triggers flood the market, making it more difficult to find the ideal setup. The Phottix Odin (available for Canon and Nikon models) aims to simplify the process of wireless flash setup and maximize performance. Will the Phottix Odin system live up to the hype? Let's find out.

Vertical grips can aid the handling of DSLRs for portrait-format shooting and when working with long, heavy lenses. In this short review, we look at the Vertax Pixel D12 battery grip, designed for the Nikon D800. At $99 it's considerably cheaper than Nikon's MB-D12 but can it do the same job?