Gear Update
Our round-up of the latest digital photography must-haves
Does your photo kit look old? It’s time to update with these great options
Macphun Luminar 01 New editing software that promises plenty £55/$69 www.macphun.com
The makers of Aurora HDR have come up with a new editing app to rival the likes of Photoshop. Luminar is designed to cater for novice and expert photographers alike, with a customizable interface that lets you view only the tools you need. Transform your shots using photo filters, or delve in and explore over 300 tools and features that include a layered workflow, blending modes, object removal tools and selective editing brushes. A comprehensive Raw file editor rounds off this intriguing package.
Canon W-E1 Wi-fi adapter 02 An SD card in appearance only £40/$40 www.canon.co.uk
The W-E1 functions just like a wireless dongle to add Wi-fi to the EOS 7D Mark II, 5DS and 5DS R, but plugs into an SD slot for better ergonomics. Once inserted, you can wirelessly transfer shots to your IOS or Android smart device, remotely control your Canon with remote Live View, or join your home Wi-fi network.
Paxis Mt Pickett 20 03 A more accessible camera backpack £200/$249 www.paxispax.com
Camera backpacks often have side openings for better accessibility, but Paxis has gone one better. By separating the bottom third of the Mt Pickett into a self-contained ‘Shuttle Pod’ and suspending it from a hinged arm, it can swing around to face you, enabling effortless access. Despite utilising some serious hardware, weight is a reasonable 2.5kg, but the 28x14x13cm Shuttle Pod won’t store much kit.
MEFOTO Roadtrip Air 04 Lightweight legs for your EOS M £139/$175 www.mefoto.com
The Roadtrip Air is a true travel tripod that’s just 29cm long when packed and tips the scales at a mere 1.13kg, including its Arca-compatible ball head. This makes it especially impressive that, at maximum stretch, your Canon will be 155cm off the deck. Set up is a doddle, thanks to five-section legs that each lock with a single twist, while the extendable centre column can double as a selfie stick.
Lomography Daguerreotype 05
Achromat 2.9/64 It’s Lomography’s latest creative lens £399/$499 www.lomography.com
This retro lens revives a 19th century optical design, reworked by Lomography to produce atmospheric soft-focus effects at its maximum f/2.9 aperture through to f/4, while narrower apertures result in sharp shots with deep contrast. The aperture itself is controlled by separate plates dropped into a slot in the lens barrel. These can be substituted for patterned plates to create artistic bokeh effects that’ll really make your images stand out.
Serif Affinity Photo 06 Popular Mac image editor comes to PC £40/$50 https://affinity.serif.com
Despite its bargain price tag, Affinity Photo offers comprehensive Raw file support, customizable filter effects, and advanced editing features like blending modes and adjustment layers. Lens corrections, panorama stitching and portrait enhancement features are also in the mix, but only now can Windows users get in on the action. Currently this is via a free beta version of the software, so don’t expect the stability of the finished product, but you will get to test brand-new features, like focus stacking and tone mapping.
Manfrotto Fluidtech base 07 Superior support for smoother video £75/$100 www.manfrotto.co.uk
manfrotto has complemented its extensive range of XPRO monopods with a new base designed for shooting smooth video. Where Manfrotto’s previous monopod base only supported panning, the new version also allows tilt, enabling a wider variety of video movement. The base’s three feet fold for streamlined transportation, and while they can support your Canon unattended, this isn’t recommended. The Fluidtech base is compatible with XPRO Monopods+ and is available separately or in a monopod kit.