PhotoPlus Expo 2014 Day 1 Quick Review

It’s late October, and that means the candy store of all candy stores for those who love everything related to photography and video (a.k.a. the PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo) is open for business at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. Before Day 2 begins, I wanted to get a quick post out about my thoughts on the show, and highlight a few things that I highly recommend seeing.

To sum things up in a few words, the show (as usual), is amazing. There are about 220 vendors, representing virtually every photo and video product category imaginable. My favorite thing to do at the show is see the prints on the walls, whether they are from printer manufacturers, paper manufacturers, contest winners in various galleries on the trade show floor, or companies who specialize in fine art printing, and there are many opportunities to do that at this year’s show. Here are just a few specific booths that really impressed me, and I recommend checking out this post from last year with many booth reviews, since most of what I wrote about the companies last year is still valid for this year’s show. You’ll just need to find their booth number for this year’s show. I will also restate one quick tip that I cover in this other article (along with information on the PhotoPlus Mobile App, which is fantastic) and that is to bring a few SD and/or CF cards with you so that you can put them in various cameras and “pixel peep” later on. The miracle of metadata inside the files will give you a lot of information about the images.

A Few Highlights From the Show Floor

1. LED Light Cube (Booth #1073): This was probably the biggest “jaw dropper” that I saw at the show. Imagine a powerful, battery-powered portable light that’s about the size of a square tissue box that can produce both continuous light and flash using LEDs (with no recycle time). You can also dial in the flash duration from 1/8000 to 1 second. Cost is about $600 and there is a show special available from Adorama and possibly other vendors who sell the product. For more information, visit this page.

2. Phottix (Booth #1025): Phottix is known for its wireless triggers and other flash accessories, and this year they announced an impressive 500 watt second portable AC/DC strobe unit with battery pack called the Phottix Indra500 TTL Studio Light. Here’s a good overview of the product, with a video and list of booth presentations for the rest of the show.

A model being photographed by Clay Blackmore during a demo of the new Phottix Indra500 TTL AC/DC flash. photo © Andrew Darlow

3. Epson (Booth #701): Epson’s booth is always filled with incredible photographs made on its printers. This year the company is highlighting a new 13-inch-wide printer, the Epson SureColor P600. The main improvements you’ll see when viewing prints is that the black density has been improved, which allows for better Dmax (maximum black levels). Also, the amount of ink used when switching between the photo and matte black inks has been reduced significantly. The prints on display (especially those made on Epson’s different canvas media) are stunning. There are nine cartridges in total (8 used at any one time), and each holds 25.9 ml of ink. MSRP is US $799. For more information about the new printer, visit this page.

A comparison of prints made with the new Epson SureColor P600 compared with the Epson Stylus Photo R3000. Photo © Andrew Darlow

4. Unique Photo (Booth #937): Unique Photo always has a big booth at the show, and the main reason I mention them is that their booth presentations by working pros are always very informative, and their stage with body-painted models offers a great opportunity to get some great photographs without having to hire an artist and models. For more information, including a schedule of booth talks, visit this page.

5. Panasonic (Booth #837): I mention Panasonic’s booth for a few reasons. First, they, like a number of other camera manufacturers, are offering free clean and checks of their cameras during the show. Also, in the booth this year will be Frederick Van Johnson, host of This Week in Photography (TwiP). The show is one of my favorite photo-related podcasts, and it’s one that I have had the honor of being a guest on a few times over the years. Frederick will be conducting interviews with Pros who use Panasonic gear. The interviews will also be recorded, and you can find a link to them (as well as a contest to win a Lumix GM5 camera) on this page.

There are many other booths I could highlight, but I want to make this post live ASAP, so I’ll be back soon with more of my suggestions.

Enjoy the show if you plan to visit!

Hands-On Review and Kickstarter info: PeakDesign’s Capture Pro, Slide, Clutch and Anchor Links

If you’ve seen me walking around with my gear over the last year or two, you will probably see my camera hanging off the left side of my chest, supported by a small metal object called the PeakDesign Capture Pro Camera Clip. I originally purchased the product, along with a DUALplate that works with both ARCA style and Manfrotto RC2 Quick Release (QR) Plates via the company’s first Kickstarter campaign, and I absolutely love it. It is very strong, easily supporting my Canon 6D and 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS lens (about 3 lb. combined), and I plan to test an 8 lb. lens soon to see how it fares. It is easy to attach my camera to the clip via the DUALplate, and it’s also very easy to release my camera from the Capture Clip using my opposite hand on the red button. That being said, I often keep the camera attached to me and take photos that way, which was a fantastic revelation when I tested it the first time. Turning the camera to a vertical orientation is a bit more difficult while it is attached, but I manage to make it work. The advantage is that I will never drop the camera this way–I can quickly take a photo and not waste a moment, and the stability of the images is definitely improved.

The company launched its third Kickstarter campaign in July of 2014. Until now, I’ve purchased all of their gear via their two other Kickstarter campaigns and at their booth at the PhotoPlus Expo, but I was very interested in testing their newest gear, so when I was asked if I was interested in reviewing each of their newest products: Slide, Clutch and Anchor Links, I said “definitely!.” I plan to do a more in-depth review of these products soon, but I wanted to make sure I posted this before their Kickstarter campaign ends. In general, you can save at least $10 by purchasing via the Kickstarter campaign, and if the campaign has ended when you read this, the estimated availability of the products can be found on Peak Design’s website.

Here I am hanging out on the Boardwalk in Point Pleasant, NJ with a standard backpack and the PeakDesign Capture PRO Camera Clip (it is supporting my Canon EOS 6D and Canon 28-135mm IS lens). I can hardly feel that the camera is there, and I can take photos without even removing the camera from the clip, as I describe in the review (close-up of camera follows).

The small red button you see on the left below my collar is the part you press to release the camera from the PeakDesign Capture PRO Clip.

Slide

Let’s start with the PeakDesign Slide. This is a camera strap that uses the company’s Anchor link system (the anchors look like a coin attached to a small rubber band, and fit into a metal fastening device), which is truly a fantastic way to attach gear via a one-finger release that is almost impossible to mistakingly open (unlike some other “plastic click lock” systems I’ve seen). The strap works almost like a camera sling because the material (similar to seat belt material), slides along most clothing very smoothly. The padded strap is extremely well made, easy to adjust and the wide strap makes it very comfortable, even with relatively heavy DSLR/lens combinations (this is user dependent of course, but I could hardly feel my 3 lb. lens/camera combo when using the strap and walking around a studio and outdoors for an hour or so). You have the option of attaching the anchor links to the traditional metal neck strap rings or to one of PeakDesign’s QR plates. I prefer using the metal neck strap rings so that I can leave the QR plate free for mounting on my Manfrotto RC2-compatible tripod heads or monopod with RC2 adapter.

One minor thing I would have liked to see with the Slide is a choice of PeakDesign QR plates (for the Kickstarter campaign, only their ARCAplate is included). It’s really not a big deal for me for two reasons: First, I am not attaching the Slide to a plate at all, so it is just a bonus item that is included. If I did want to attach the Slide to the bottom of my camera, I already have a DUALplate. For those who don’t have a PeakDesign Capture or Capture PRO, which come with a choice of plates, and if you then want to use the Slide and attach the anchor links to the bottom, you’ll just need to purchase a DUALplate (about $30).

Clutch

Clutch is a new hand strap designed for the side of a camera. It is very nicely designed, and I found it very comfortable to use. It attaches to the right-side metal camera strap ring as well as the bottom of the camera via an anchor link. What I like most about it is that it is easy to tighten by pulling down on the sturdy rubberized part located on the end of the strap. It is also easy to release by just pulling up on the metal ring that has a carabiner on one end.

Anchor Links

Until the announcement of this product. PeakDesign’s Anchor links could only be found integrated into some of their products, including Leash (a lighter-weight camera strap compared with the Slide (but also strong and well-made) and Cuff, a wrist strap (also very well made and a product I like a lot).

Anchor links now allow you to turn any camera strap (or even straps like Guitar Straps (hint, hint!)) into quick-release straps using the very strong, one-hand releasable anchor link system.

New Products Announced: Shell and Capture Bino

PeakDesign also just announced two products, called Shell (a rain and dust cover) and Capture Bino (a binocular holder). See the Kickstarter page for more information.

Summary

I’m very impressed by all of PeakDesign’s products that I’ve used so far including their Capture Pro, ProPad, (which acts as support for their Capture plates), DUALplate, Slide, Clutch, and P.O.V. kit. I expect to post at least one more review  in the near future, including a review with video to show how I use the products. If there is one thing I’d like to see changed, it would be having the option to choose between the company’s ARCAplate and DUALplate (or new plate called the PROplate). Hopefully, that will be an option when the products start being sold. I would also like to see even stronger anchor links (maybe reinforced with steel wire). The current material used is very strong (I’ve been using them for years on different cameras), but they can fray, so you need to keep an eye on them.

To visit the company’s Kickstarter page (campaign ends 8/15/2014), visit this page.

Full Disclosure: I received one PeakDesign Slide, Clutch and set of Anchor Links to do this review and to test the products. I  will be keeping them for further testing, reviews, etc. I have not been compensated in any way other than by the receipt of the products for testing.

The Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning Returns to NJ July 25-27, 2014

Get your cameras ready! An incredible event is taking place in NJ this Friday through Sunday July 25-27, 2014. This year’s QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning is the 32nd annual running of the event, and it’s happening at Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ from Fri. July 25 to Sunday, July 27, 2014. The photo opportunities at the festival are always incredible, and it looks like the weather will be perfect for the Friday balloon ascensions at 6:30am (Open to members with press passes, photographers and photo club members). There are also planned morning and afternoon balloon ascensions on Saturday and a planned morning ascension Sunday. I write “planned” because all ascensions are weather permitting. I plan to be there bright and early on Friday morning (and possibly on other days) taking photos with many other pro and amateur photographers and videographers.

There are also a lot of family-friendly events during the day, including a “Famous Movie Cars Exhibit,” rides for kids, and juggling/magic shows. And there are a LOT of food options, including many food trucks and a “pop-up” QuickChek store. The bands that they have lined up, including America (8pm on Friday), Three Doors Down (8pm on Saturday), and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (3pm on Sunday) look pretty amazing as well. You can either purchase reserved seats, or you can just enjoy the show from a lawn chair or blanket outside the main show area with your entrance to the festival since the concerts are all held outdoors under a covered stage. I was there last year for the REO Speedwagon concert, and the show was absolutely fantastic. The balloons glowing in the night sky during the “Night-time Balloon Glow” made it even more enjoyable.

Below is a gallery with a few of my photographs from the 2013 Festival, as well as a 2.5 minute video from the very end of the REO Speedwagon concert (includes a few seconds showing the “Wicked” Broadway show balloon glowing) to give you a feel for what it’s like to be there:

BE SURE TO ADJUST YOUR SPEAKERS for when the concert video appears (you’ll see a play button in the center of the screen).

For a good overview of the show, here is a link to a very informative interview from CBS News with Executive Producer Howard Freeman.

To get a better idea of exactly what to expect at the show, and to see a listing of all of the bands who are scheduled to play, below are direct links to the full schedule from the Festival website for each of the three days (I recommend printing these out or taking them with you on a mobile device so that you can get the most from the Festival):

Friday Event Schedule (PDF)
Saturday Event Schedule (PDF)
Sunday Event Schedule (PDF) 

Ticket Information and 33% off Tickets Available Until 11:59 pm Thurs. 7/24/2014

General ticket information can be found on this page, including links to information on purchasing balloon ride tickets. General Admission Tickets are $10 for children (age 4-12, children 3 and under are free) and $20 for adults when ordered by 11:59pm on Thurs. 7/24/2014. After that, they are $15 and $30 respectively. Other ticket options can be found under the “Tickets” section of the website.

Just in case this is your first time at the Festival, any general admission tickets purchased are valid for one day only. You can also avoid a $3/ticket online ordering surcharge by purchasing tickets at a QuickCheck store (here is a link to a page where you can search for a QuickChek location).