Gear and Accessories

Camera gear and accessory reviews – tripods, filters, teleconverters, macro and more.

K&F Concept DSLR Travel Backpack Gear Review
2000 1333 Jeb Inge

Let’s say it from the start; I am the world’s pickiest camera bag buyer. I’m also someone who puts a lot of importance on the support staff of the photographic experience – bags, tripods, filters,…

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The Magic of Slide Projectors and Why You Should Own One
2200 1238 James Tocchio

Gleeful giggling, happy screams, and the thunderous reverberations of a three-year-old girl hopping up and down on hardwood flooring. These were the sounds that rang through my house the first time my daughter saw a…

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We Test K&F Concept’s $170 KF-TC2534 Carbon Fiber Tripod
2200 1238 James Tocchio

The people at K&F Concept contacted us recently to see if we’d like to review one of their newest products; a compact, well-specced carbon tripod. We said yes, and they sent it. Two months later…

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The Metro Case 3D Printed 35mm Viewfinder Could Solve Your Viewfinder Troubles for Under $20
2200 1238 James Tocchio

If you’ve ever wanted to shoot a 35mm lens on a camera that lacks 35mm frame lines, you know how annoying and expensive this problem can be. To shoot a 35mm lens on Leica’s M3,…

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3,000 Miles with the Vinta Co. S-Series Travel Bag
2000 1125 James Tocchio

I’ve spent the past week in what could rightly be described as a forced march through the least forgiving terrain on the globe; a torturously hot environment so harsh and expansive that man has yet…

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Hawkesmill Camera Straps – Possibly the Most Luxurious Straps on the Planet
2000 1125 James Tocchio

What can we possibly say about a camera strap? After all, if it keeps your camera off the ground, it’s doing its job. Where’s the angle? This was my main concern when we were contacted…

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We Go Hands On with FilmLab, a New App for Scanning Film with Your Smartphone
2000 1125 James Tocchio

Abe Fettig is looking to change the way many of us scan our film. “I feel like people really enjoy spending time in the dark room, but really don’t enjoy scanning.” The measured understatement was…

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How to Shoot Easy Macro Photos Using Close-Up Filters
2400 1600 James Tocchio

Are you interested in macro photography but not so interested in shelling the clams to pay for an expensive macro lens? Or maybe you’re not interested in carrying another big honking lens that’ll rarely leave your…

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MeFoto Globetrotter Air Review – a Travel Tripod That Actually Works?
1280 720 James Tocchio

Travel tripods are notoriously bad. Flimsy and cheap, they’re disposable products destined to be discarded and replaced by something better. Or at least, that’s the perception. That’s why when B & H sent me the…

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Five Famous Photographers and the Cameras They Used
1280 720 Josh Solomon

It’s no secret that we love our gear here at Casual Photophile. A quick glance through the archives is enough to illustrate our undying love for classic cameras, but while our addiction to the tools…

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Artisan Origin Leather Camera Straps – Product Spotlight
5866 3300 James Tocchio

A few months ago I was contacted by an enterprising photographer, Myron Hensel of Artisan Origin, regarding the possibility of carrying his line of leather camera straps in our shop. I was initially hesitant owing…

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Jay Tsujimura Soft Release Buttons – Product Spotlight
6000 3375 James Tocchio

Today’s product spotlight is firmly fixed on the exquisitely crafted hot shoe covers and shutter release buttons made by Jay Tsujimura. Based in Japan, Jay meticulously carves, shapes, and polishes tiny camera accessories in a variety of precious…

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