36 23 November 2019 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113Testbench CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE
£50–£100
Sirui K-10X ball head
●£89 ●en.sirui.com
With a ball diameter of 33mm, a height of 96mm and
weight of 390g, the K-10X is a natural companion for
relatively portable tripods like the Manfrotto 190 series,
or Sirui’s own T-2204X. It’s beautifully engineered and
impeccably fi nished. The quick-release platform has
three bubble levels, and a safety interlock post to stop
your camera inadvertently sliding off the head. With an
impressive 20kg maximum load, it can easily support a
full-frame DSLR with 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom.Hähnel ProCube2
●£70 ●www.hahnel.ie
The Hähnel ProCube2 is a dual battery charger
based around the same concept as the original
ProCube, with a sturdy metal body shell and
interchangeable plates that each accept a pair of
batteries. The battery holders clip into place
without the need to plug in a fi ddly connector wire
and the LCD display helpfully shows how much
charge has been fed into each battery. An in-car
charger is also supplied and it’s an accessory well
worth considering if you’d like to quickly charge two
batteries simultaneously. It even has a high-power
2.4A USB output that can be used to charge phones
or tablets once the camera batteries are full.Walkstool Comfort 45L
●£75-£100 ●www.walkstool.com
Outdoor photography can involve a lot of patience
and remaining in one place, so some sort of
portable chair can be handy. The Swedish-made
Walkstool
Comfort is not
the cheapest
option, but stands
out due to its
two-section telescopic
legs that make it taller
and more comfortable than
most, while still being
lightweight and portable.
The mesh seat material
means it won’t pool
water in wet
conditions. It’s
available in four
sizes of various
heights.Benro
3XS Lite
smartphone
stabiliser
●£90 ● http://www.
benroeu.com
If you use your
smartphone to capture
video but feel the quality
of your handheld footage
is let down by your shaky
hands, a smartphone
gimbal stabiliser could be
the answer. Benro’s X
series 3XS Lite is a
seriously impressive
piece of kit. It folds down
to a nice compact size
and has a nifty feature
whereby you can rotate
your phone’s fi lming
orientation from
horizontal to vertical or
vice versa from the press
of a button. If shooting
movies or vlogging on
your smartphone is
something you regularly
do, this gimbal makes a
great value-for-money
purchase.Lastolite HaloCompact
Diffuser 82cm
● £68 ● http://www.manfrotto.com/uk-en/lastolite
Unlike your average refl ector-style diffuser that
collapses and folds down to around a third of its original
size, this diffuser, which features a frame that slots
together with tent-pole-like sections, is considerably
more compact. It makes a great accessory for portrait
and wedding photographers who’d like a portable,
quick to assemble and easy-to-use diffuser. Better still,
it packs down into a conveniently sized carry case,
ALL PRICES ARE APPROXIMATE STREET PRICES which can be clipped to your belt.