subscribe 0330 333 1113 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I 23 November 2019 43
Profoto A1X
● £949
● profoto.com/uk
Profoto bills this
unusual-looking fl ash as
the ‘world’s smallest
studio light’, and it’s
certainly very
different from the
average speedlight.
Its distinctive circular
head is designed to
deliver softer, more
fl attering illumination,
and employs a
twist-zoom mechanism
for controlling the light
angle. It also accepts a range of optional light
modifi ers that attach magnetically. A rechargeable
Li-Ion battery delivers super-fast recycling times,
while an integrated LED modelling light is handy for
visualising lighting effects. The large rear screen
clearly displays settings, and ProFoto’s AirTTL
wireless control system is built-in. Versions are
available for Canon, Nikon and Sony users.LEE Filters LEE 100
Deluxe Kit
● £640 ● http://www.leefi lters.com
While LEE Filters’ Seven5 system is aimed at users of
small mirrorless cameras, its 100mm system is the
gold standard for serious photographers who use
high-end DSLR and mirrorless cameras. This kit
includes the LEE 100 holder along with a selection of
essential fi lters, namely a circular polariser for
manipulating blue skies and refl ections, three ND grads
(0.6 medium, 0.9 hard, and 1.2 medium) for balancing
bright skies with darker foregrounds, and a Big Stopper
for experimenting with ultra-long exposures. You’ll just
need to add adapter rings for your lenses, which are
available in a range of sizes up to 82mm.Gitzo
GK1555T-
82TQD
Series 1
Traveler
Carbon eXact
Tr ipod k it
● £629 ● http://www.
gitzo.com/uk-en
This superb travel tripod
features 5-section,
dual-angle carbon fi bre
legs that reverse fold
around the head,
providing a maximum
height of 148.5cm while
folding to just 35.5cm.
The twist locks include
O-ring seals to stop sand
or grit from getting in,
and the rubber feet can
be replaced with optional
spikes. A short centre
column is included for
low-angle work, and a
useful carry-strap
included in the kit.
Superbly made and
impressively stable, it’s
easily capable of
supporting a full-frame
DSLR with barely a hintPanasonic Lumix TZ200 of vibration.
● £569 ● http://www.panasonic.co.uk
Long-zoom compacts are great for travelling when you
don’t want to carry large, heavy kit or mess around with
changing lenses. The TZ200 marries a 20MP 1in
sensor with a 24-360mm equivalent f/3.3-6.4 zoom,
which means it’s capable of covering a huge range of
photographic opportunities. Unlike most small cameras
it sports a decent electronic viewfi nder along with an
excellent rear LCD, the touch interface of which nicely
complements the physical controls. If you want
a pocket camera that can
shoot almost anything
pretty competently,
and which you can
pass to friends and
family and be
confi dent of
getting good
results, it’s a
great choice.
Epson FastFoto FF-680W
● £550 ● http://www.epson.co.uk
If you have a box full of prints from pre-digital days that
you really ought to digitise, this brilliant little scanner
might well be the answer. It takes up little space on a
desk but can batch scan up to 30 photos of varying
sizes in as little as 30 seconds. It can also crop, rotate
and straighten, boost colour and contrast, remove
redeye and even scan any handwritten notes on the
back of your prints. It’s super-simple to use, and can be
controlled using either a USB or Wi-Fi connection. It’s a
transformative piece of hardware and the more prints
you have to digitise, and the more valuable those prints
are to you, the more of a bargain it becomes.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MPB