Shiny new stuff!
Here’s what’s caught our eye this month…
A tempting slew of new Nikon-compatible kit to worry your wallet or purse
Profoto A1 £850/$TBA www.profoto.com
When is a flashgun not a flashgun? When it’s a Profoto A1. Keen not to be compared to conventional flashguns, Profoto is marketing the A1 as an on-camera studio strobe that’s also an introduction to the company’s acclaimed off-camera flashes. The emphasis here is on light quality over raw power. Consequently, no guide number is quoted – rather, light output is rated at 76 watts. Although it utilizes a conventional straight flash tube, the round flash head has been designed to shape the raw burst into more attractive illumination than a regular flashgun emits. This can then be further softened using the included dome-shaped diffuser.
The studio light comparisons also extend to speed. Profoto is claiming a sustained 20 flashes per second, albeit not at full power. This feat is made possible by a carefully considered internal construction that prevents overheating, along with the A1’s potent power source. Like the recent Hähnel Modus flashgun, the A1 is powered by a bespoke Lithium power pack. Not only is this able to power extreme flash bursts without breaking a sweat, but it has the staying power to fuel 350 full-power flashes. Should that not be enough, an additional power pack can be had for £109, with a convenient front-mounting design making battery swaps a breeze.
As you’d expect for such a premium product, you get a fair few features and frills. The huge control panel display is refreshingly clear, with an unusually streamlined interface. There’s also a built-in modelling light for an authentic studio-light experience, and the A1 can be wirelessly incorporated into a larger Profoto lighting setup.
First impressions_
Profoto’s focus on light quality and speed, rather than outright power, is a refreshing change for an on-camera flash. Let’s just hope the results can justify the A1 costing 70% more than a Nikon SB5000.
Cokin Gradual ND Kit with Holder £47/$83 www.cokin-filters.com
This filter kit consists of a holder and a trio of filters in the popular P size (83x99mm). That’s large enough to cover an 82mm-diameter lens, though expect vignetting on wide-angle optics. There are 1-stop and 2-stop hard grads, plus a 3-stopper with a soft transition. You can also stack the two lighter filters to create a 3-stop hard grad. Despite the low price, exposure consistency between the filters in our kit only varied by 1/3 of a stop. Neutrality was also impressive, with a near-perfect result from the 1-stop filter, and just a negligible blue cast from the two darker options.
First impressions_
For times when even Nikon’s Active D-Lighting can’t give enough dynamic range, this trio of filters is ideal for balancing a bright sky with a darker foreground.
Country Innovation Linnet Jacket £295/$380 (conversion) www.countryinnovation.co.uk
With autumn upon us, now’s a great time to upgrade your outdoor photography wardrobe. Developed in conjunction with wildlife cameraman Simon King, this jacket offers excellent protection from wind and rain. It uses soft, lightweight and low-rustle outer fabric, combined with a waterproof and breathable lining. You get a whopping 11 pockets – six outer and five inner. Sizes range from S to XXXL, each with a generous cut for ease of movement. There’s also a female version – the Lady Linnet – in sizes 10-20. First impressions_ The weatherproofing, versatility and extensive stowage options make this jacket a photographer’s friend and justify the price.
Manfrotto 360° Virtual Reality Range £30-£635/$35-$760 www.manfrotto.com
Manfrotto’s Virtual Reality tripod bases are ideal for shooting 360x180° VR stitched panoramas. Available in various sizes and in carbon or aluminium, they maintain a slimline footprint to minimize visibility in the final stitched image. The range also includes extension booms in three lengths, which can attach to a base to raise your Nikon even higher. To top things off, there’s the highly adjustable VR Panoramic Head that lets you precisely position your Nikon to ensure perfect image alignment and accurate stitching. You even can sit your setup on a dolly for easier movement. First impressions_ Shooting VR panoramas can be tricky, so it’s great that you can now streamline the process.
Nikon ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter Set £139/$150 www.nikon.com
With all the hype surrounding the D850, it was easy to miss this gizmo being launched alongside it. The ES-2 adapter enables you to digitize 35mm slides and negatives, with the D850’s huge resolution able to capture tremendous detail. You’ll need a compatible macro lens – Nikon recommends its AF-S Micro 60mm f/2.8G ED – but the adapter does come bundled with slide and film holders, plus 52mm and 62mm adapter rings. Of course, you also need some backlighting to illuminate the film or slides, but the D850’s digitizing function automatically converts negatives to positives and saves them as JPEGs. First impressions_ This may be a niche product, but it’s nice to see Nikon catering to analogue shooters.
Rotolight Neo 2 £299/$399 www.rotolight.com
Rotolight has updated its popular Neo with this extrapotent version, now featuring a high-speed sync flash mode. Max power is up 85%, from the original Neo’s already impressive 1077 lux at three feet, to an incredible 2000 lux. Despite the power boost, six AA batteries can still fuel 85,000 full-power flashes or 1.5 hours of continuous lighting, and power is seamlessly dimmable with no flickering. Wireless off-camera triggering is possible thanks to a built-in receiver compatible with the Elinchrom Skyport system. In the box are three diffusion filters, while extra colour filters, barn doors and a bespoke softbox are available separately.
First impressions_
We love products that offer maximum versatility and convenience with no performance drawback, and the Neo 2 seems to be such an uncompromising device.