CNETAnalysis: Lastolite’s VH Flip Bracket enables a camera to be quickly alternated between portrait and landscape orientations, all the while maintaining the same distance from a flashgun. This makes it ideal for those photographing social functions, where off-camera flash will be required for group shots and single/couple images. The bracket has a movable platform on which a camera is... 

CNETAnalysis: The Lastolite TriGrip 1-stop Diffuser is a smart solution to an obvious problem. As any photographer’s assistant will attest, holding reflectors and diffusers for prolonged periods of time isn’t exactly comfortable, and many aren’t rigid enough to be held with just one hand. The Lastolite TriGrip 1-stop Diffuser claims to solve both issues, with a handle on one... 

CNETAnalysis: Although flashguns are eminently useful for all kinds of photography, their light can often be too harsh when they’re pointed directly at your subject. Built-in reflector cards and diffuser panels enable light to be bounced and softened respectively, and adjusting the position of the head can be used to further extend possibilities. Lastolite Ezybox Hotshoe, however, takes... 

CNETAnalysis: The Ray Flash Rotator claims to be the first rotating flash bracket to support TTL metering as standard. The unit accepts a standard flashgun and fixes itself into the tripod thread of a DSLR, before it enables the flash to be positioned and fixed at any point around the lens. So, whether you want the flash to be fired from the top, side or even underneath the camera body, the... 

CNETAnalysis: The Kenro Flash Meter is about as basic as battery-powered flash meters come. The removable dome at the top of the unit means that it’s suitable for both incident and reflected light readings, while the lack of an LCD and all-plastic construction helps keeps costs down. The central ring that dominates the front of the unit has apertures running from f/1.4-f/32, and ISO settings... 

CNETAnalysis: The Kenro Flash Meter is about as basic as battery-powered flash meters come. The removable dome at the top of the unit means that it’s suitable for both incident and reflected light readings, while the lack of an LCD and all-plastic construction helps keeps costs down. The central ring that dominates the front of the unit has apertures running from f/1.4-f/32, and ISO settings... 

CNETAnalysis: The Velbon QHD-61Q is one of two top-end ball and socket heads from Velbon, the other being the larger QHD-71Q. Like that model, it separates itself from its cheaper siblings with its magnesium-alloy construction. But at just 310g it doesn’t add much to the weight of the tripod on which it’s mounted. The head can support a maximum weight of 4kg, which is sufficient... 

CNETAnalysis: There’s no shortage of good tripods on the market, and it can be difficult for any new models to stand out from the multitude of alternatives. So, in lieu of any novelty features, most simply compete on their basic requirements, namely sturdiness, portability and ease of use. The Velbon Ultra Rexi L gets off to a good start on all three. Aside from its aluminium legs, it... 

CNETAnalysis: Some of the priciest lenses are the longest ones, and they tend to be fairly large and weighty piece of equipment, too. Teleconverters appear to solve all three problems, being far cheaper, smaller and lighter than telephoto optics, and having an effect from as little 1.4x to around 3x. The Kenko 2X Teleplus Pro 300 DGX 2x sits between the two, with a 2x conversion factor for compatible... 

CNETAnalysis: Some of the priciest lenses are the longest ones, and they tend to be fairly large and weighty piece of equipment, too. Teleconverters appear to solve all three problems, being far cheaper, smaller and lighter than telephoto optics, and having an effect from as little 1.4x to around 3x. The Kenko 2X Teleplus Pro 300 DGX 2x sits between the two, with a 2x conversion factor for compatible... 

CNETAnalysis: Overview and features The new Canon PowerShot G1 X – commonly shortened to Canon G1 X, or even Canon G1X – occupies the top spot in Canon’s prestigious G-series compact camera range, offering a truly impressive array of high-end features. Launched at CES earlier this year, the new digital camera is aimed at advanced photographers in search of a high-quality, take-anywhere... 

CNETAnalysis: Overview Always liked the idea of an all-in-one camera with a massive zoom capability, but hated the often all too-plastic feel? Fuji’s X-S1 may, nay will, cause you to re-evaluate the humble bridge camera . Whereas Fuji has previously applied an ‘X’ – its signifier of a premium camera – to the Leica-like FinePix X10 , for the first time it gives a... 

CNETAnalysis: The SMDV Flash Wave III is a wireless system for triggering flashguns and studio lights, as well as for tripping a camera’s shutter. The system comprises a transmitter and receiver: for flash use the former sits on the camera’s hotshoe, while the latter either connects to studio lights or accepts a flashgun inside its built-in hotshoe. For remote shooting, the receiver... 

CNETAnalysis: The fisheye camera lens was originally developed so that the whole sky could be captured in one single image to help meteorologists study cloud formations. However, the extravagant 180-degree angle of view soon found favour with photographers. One thing that sets fisheye lenses apart from regular ultra-wide lenses is their curvilinear rather than rectilinear optics. This means... 

CNETAnalysis: Overview Looking for one compact ‘travel zoom’ camera that does it all? If you haven’t had your head turned by the workmanlike reliability of Panasonic’s TZ series, such as the Panasonic Lumix TZ20 , nor sports car exterior and gimmicky triple-action sensor of the Fuji FinePix F600 EXR , then the chunkier Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX9V,at 34mm ‘thick’,...