|
DSLR Camera Bag
|
|
I love everything about this bag. It looks slightly distressed with the trendy look that is so effective when done in denim canvas and faux-scuffed leather, and this time-worn appearance is very appropriate for what is essentially a working hold-all with the specific task of protecting your precious photographic equipment.
The sample I received to evaluate and review is made of sturdy, heavy-duty canvas, blue/grey almost charcoal, lined with a smoother type of tan canvas with a zippered side pocket. In the middle is a removable padded and reinforced compartment, with two partitions that can be moved and attached at will by means of strong velcro strips. That's the part that holds the camera and extra lens and here the lining is very soft and velvety to protect without scratching. A strong zip closure runs along the top of the bag. There are two large pockets at the front, secured by strong clip-on studs. Along the short sides are two long and narrow pockets, topped by a leather flap and closed by a leather strap. The fold-down flap that covers the whole bag is trimmed in the same pre-softened leather straps which conceal a couple of magnetic studs. The shoulder strap is made of luggage-type webbing, which looks capable of holding a fair bit of weight, with a reinforced section where it sits over the shoulder. |
|
I was surprised to see how big this bag is. I expected something like the one we already have, which is the perfect size to hold our Nikon DSLR and not much else.
This model can house all the bulky accessories that I like to take with me, such as a cleaning kit, spare lenses, filters, flash, spare battery and charger, in the four additional external pockets, as well as easily accommodating a DSLR and a fairly long lens inside. By reconfiguring the internal padded section, you could carry a laptop and all its bits and pieces; or simply remove the whole thing and use the bag as an ordinary carry-all. The manufacturing quality appears to be very good, with strong thread, regular stitches and zip closures that run smoothly. I love the look of this bag, it gives the impression of being able to last through rough use and is large enough to contain a lot of photo accessories. For the money (currently less than £40 or $57), it's a capacious, fully functional camera bag for a very attractive price. |
|
|
Professional Cleaning Kit (CamKix)
|
|
Designed specifically for DSLR cameras, this very comprehensive cleaning kit includes a very useful range of items, neatly contained in a see-through, resealable (press-in) plastic pouch. I received a sample from the vendor for the purposes of this review, and was impressed by the amount of stuff inside the package. As far as I can see, they have thought of everything.
|
|
Here is what you get:
- Four (4) large cleaning micro-fibre cloths (18 x 15 cm) (7 x 6 inches)
- One (1) smaller micro-fibre cloth (13 ½ x 9 cm) (5 ¼ x 3 ¼ inches)
- A book of 50 sheets of lens cleaning tissue (the discardable type, they feel quite smooth)
- A large and quite powerful rubber puffer with a removable plastic tube (no brush at the end)
- A medium-size and very soft synthetic brush (the bristles are 3 cm long or 1 ¼ inch)
- An ingenious double-ended cleaning tool, shaped like a fountain pen, with a clip to attach it to a pocket. A small, flared brush slides out of one end and can be secured via two notches, giving a softer and a firmer action. The cap of the pen pulls out to reveal a small, round cleaning pad.
- A 1 oz (30 ml) bottle of K-branded optical lens cleaner fluid. This formula is non alcohol based and suitable for both lenses and LCD screens. The bottle is refillable.
All these accessories are of very good quality, and I have thrown away my previous kit. The cloths feel silky-soft, the puffer is much more capable than my old one, and since there is no brush attached, its useful life should be longer. The cleaning fluid works well and leaves no streaks. The clip-on tool comes in very handy for a quick dust-off as you can keep it on your person, and not have to fumble inside a bag to retrieve a brush. At the current price of under £15 ($10.00), I don't think you could find better value for money. It also looks like it will last a long, long time and so represents a small investment in the long-term maintenance of your precious DSLR and other cameras.
|
Wide-angle and Macro Lens (Top-Max)
|
|
This is a fun way to try out some wide-angle and macro effects with your compatible DSLR (in my case a Nikon D3200). In the package there is the lens in two pieces to be used singly or together, a front and rear cap, a UV filter and a nice little storage/carrying bag. For wide-angle, you use the two pieces screwed together; for macro, only the one marked Macro. I was pleased to accept a sample to try out and review, as I find myself attempting more macro shots, especially in the garden.
In spring and summer the lavender and honeysuckle attract lots of butterflies, hummingbird moths and honey bees. I love trying to capture these tiny subjects but also find it a bit frustrating because focusing on a moving subject with this lens is challenging at first and very much a question of practice. However, when it does work, it's really quite rewarding. The depth of field is very small but that, in itself, allows some unusual focus pulling and some interesting results. |
|
In wide-angle mode, there is a fair amount of vignetting, but it's always possible to shoot bigger than required and then crop away the corner shading. I expected some distortion and was not surprised to see it.
When judging results, one has to keep in mind the very low cost, however, this is not a flimsy, plastic little gadget. The lenses are made of metal and feel fairly solid. They fit only on a 52 mm thread, which is a fairly common type of mount, and what we have. The glass itself and the optical components are surprising for the price and will allow you to get in some practice and decide if you wish to move up to the next (more expensive) level. I have included a few photos taken with the Top-Max. Please keep in mind that I am a rank amateur and just do this for fun. |
|
