Accessory Reviews

It’s funny how sometimes a widget turns up just after you felt the need for it. Over Christmas I was staking out our bird table and bemoaning the need to shoot from a ‘hide’ and thinking to myself – wouldn’t it be easier to place the camera out there and shoot from the comfort of my sofa? And Voila! I’ve been lucky enough to have Hahnel’s new Inspire remote knock at my door

Bowens have just released a new version of the very popular Bowens Pulsar Radio Trigger, a system that allows you to shoot cordless without a sync lead. Designed to work with the Bowens Gemini Classic, the Gemini R and the Gemini Pro range, it replaces the older style transmitter with a brand new mini version.

Lowepro have recently extended their hugely popular range of bags by introducing a new line of backpacks designed specifically for DSLR videographers and based on their award winning Fastpack series.

When I heard that Lowepro were adding a range of optics bags that included a backpack specifically designed to give wildlife watchers a “hands-free, protective and supportive way to carry a large spotting scope and tripod in the field”, I was immediately interested.

Choosing a tripod can be a tricky process, especially if you need it to tick a number of boxes. I was asked to test the Velbon Ultrek UT-43D Tripod, described as a “new breed of travel tripod” according to the manufacturer, so I was looking forward to giving it a go and secretly hoping that it might just be the perfect tripod.

For me, it’s all about size and convenience, which is where the Lowepro Pro Runner 200 AW fits in perfectly. Whilst appearing small from the outside, unzip the Pro Runner 200AW and you have your very own personalised Tardis.

The first thing I noticed was how light the Kata Bumblebee DL-210 is – just over 1kg (2lbs for those who still measure everything in bags of sugar).That does leave it feeling a little less robust, but Kata are a company founded by two ex-members of Israel’s elite special forces so the emphasis is on hi-tech materials.

Photographers probably already know about Lowepro, who produce a large range of quality camera bags. Well, they have now also added an optics range of bags designed for those who mostly use binoculars or spotting scopes and I recently got the chance to test their Field Station, a belt-pack designed to give you a hands-free and comfortable way to carry your binoculars and other birding gear.

That bottom line for this new player is that here is a full size tripod that can cope with a pro weight camera but packs right down so you can take it out without being exhausted – of course I’m only reflecting my own modest fitness not the super human stamina of all WEX’s customers…

The E-PL2 gets underwater armour in the cobby, polycarbonate shape of the PT-EP03. I went for a nominal dunk before I could head off for my spring diving but a quick pool plunge can only tell you so much, real findings only emerge once the sea is playing ball.