The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2 – Gear Guide
Note: The products in this Gear Guide have been updated to replace items that are no longer available or have been
discontinued by the manufacturer.
Yongnuo YN-560 II Flash
The Yongnuo YN-560 II has a large LCD panel and supports multi-flash. It has a high sensitivity wireless triggering sensor
and super speed charging recycle. It can automatically save its current settings and comes with a metal hot shoe
stand.
Nikon SB-700 Speedlight Shoe Mount Flash
This flash was designed for use with Nikon DSLR cameras that use the i-TTL metering system. It’s compatible with DX and FX
sensors, and its power zoom head covers a 24-120mm range when it’s used with an FX camera.
Nikon SB-910 AF Speedlight i-TTL Shoe Mount Flash
Nikon’s flagship flash unit is only compatible with DSLR cameras that support i-TTL operation. The SB-910 can be used as
a stand-alone flash or as part of a wireless group. Its automated zoom head covers 17mm to 200mm lenses (in 35mm/FX
format) in just 1.2 seconds. It can automatically detect if it’s connected to a DX or FX format camera and will adjust
itself accordingly.
Canon Speedlite 320EX
This versatile flash includes an LED light on the front, which can be used a modeling light. It can provide up to 4 hours
of continuous lighting with fully charged AA batteries. It’s E-TTL and ETTL II compatible using Type A EOS cameras,
and has a guide number of 78.7’/24m at 100 ISO and 24mm.
Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT
Canon’s top-of-the-line flash features a new wireless multiple flash system using radio wave communication, providing more
precise control over as many as five groups of flashes. It has a guide number of 197′ (60 m) at ISO 100, and a zoom
flash head that covers a 20-200mm range. It’s compatible with the AF frame of all EOS cameras.
Cactus Wireless Flash Transceiver V5 Duo
The Cactus V5 is compatible with all DSLR and SLR cameras with standard ISO hot shoe or PC sync output, as well as portable
flashes and studio strobes. It has a low battery indicator and a standard 1/4″ screw mount.
PocketWizard PlusX Transceiver
This versatile combination transmitter and receiver offers 10 standard channels and navigation between these channels is
easily controlled by a backlit channel dial. When used in ideal conditions, the transceiver is capable of producing
and receiving a signal up to 1600 feet away.
PocketWizard Plus III Transceiver
This combination transmitter and receiver radio trigger is compatible with most flash and camera systems. It features 32
channels and Quad-Zone Triggering, which allows you to manage up to 4 zones of remote PocketWizard-enabled cameras
or flashes from one position. When used in ideal conditions, the transceiver is capable of producing and receiving
a signal up to 1640 feet away.
Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce
Available for the Canon 600EX-RT, 580EX, 580EX II, and 430EX. It creates a diffused bare-bulb effect, giving even coverage
across the entire frame, with lenses from 15mm to 200mm. Small and easy to use, it mounts in seconds.
Westcott 30″ 5-in-1 Circular Collapsible Reflector
Using this reflector is an ideal way to soften contrast or add warm or cool tones to your subject. The gold/silver side gives
you warm or cool reflected light; the white/black side provides soft, neutral fill light; and the black side provides
“negative reflection” to strengthen shadows and contrast. It comes with a fabric carrying case.
Lastolite 30″ TriGrip 1 Stop Diffuser
This collapsible reflector has a unique triangular design with a built-in handle that allows for easy manipulation of the
reflecting panel with no stand or support needed. It can soften harsh sun or studio light, or act as a white reflector,
and is available in gold/white, silver/white, and sunfire/silver.
Manfrotto 275 Mini Clip Clamp
This versatile steel clamp can be clamped onto tubes 0.2-1.38″ in diameter. It can also be mounted on 16mm extension arms.
Manfrotto 175F Justin Spring Clamp with Flash Shoe
Clamps onto pipes up to 1.6″ in diameter, or stands or arms that have a 5/8″ top or 3/8″ thread. It also features a cold
flash swivel shoe for attaching a shoe-mount flash.
8′ Impact Air-Cushioned Light Stand
This aluminum, air-cushioned 4-section light support has sure-twist section locks. Its compact design will easily fit into
most location cases and eases positioning of heavy lights.
Rosco Strobist 55-Piece Filter Kit with Gel Holder
Working with David Hobby, founder of www.strobist.com, Rosco created a collection of 20 different Cinegel colors (including
different strengths of several color) for a total of 55 gels that cover nearly every situation where you need to
filter your hot shoe flash. A LumiQuest gel holder is included. Rosco also has individual large sheets of gels available
in different colors.
LumiQuest’s Soft Screen
This diffuser is designed to soften the light output of the built-in pop-up flash on many DSLR cameras. It also reduces hot
spots and attaches to the camera in seconds.
ExpoImaging Rogue FlashBender Large Positionable Reflector
This reflector acts like a funnel for light, concentrating it in just one area. It fits right over your flash head and is
secured with a little ring of Velcro.
Savage Economy Background Stand Support System
This system is an economical way to support paper or lightweight cloth backgrounds up to 9′ wide to 8′ high. It’s lightweight
and easy to set up.
AlienBees B400 Studio Flash
This self-contained studio flash unit, produces 160 true watt/seconds and 400 effective watt/seconds of power, with 7,000
lumenseconds of output.
Elinchrom Style BRX 500 Monolight
The BRX 500 has a built-in EL-Skyport Receiver, which gives you not only remote, but wireless triggering regardless of obstructions,
at distances up to 393 feet.
Elinchrom Digital Style RX 1200 1200ws Monolight
The built-in El Skyport radio receiver enables non-line-of-sight flash triggering at distances up to 394 feet and complete
control of the unit including powering up or down and modeling light. Has an extremely fast flash duration of 1/1558
sec and recycling times of 1.45 sec. at full power.
Westcott Spiderlite TD6s
The TD6 accepts fluorescent (300W capacity), tungsten (1200W capacity), and flash bulbs, and it has six ceramic sockets.
Its three separate controls allow multiple combinations of bulbs together with no color shirt. It’s also available
as the heart of several kits that include various combinations of softboxes, tilt brackets, stands, and cases.
Westcott Spiderlite TD6 Medium Daylight Kit Deluxe
This kit contains a TD6 fixture, a tilter bracket, a 24×32″ softbox, a 10′ lightstand, six 50W lamps, and a carrying case.
Photoflex 24×32″ Litedome Softbox
The white interior fabric is designed for use with a strobe. The recessed face helps to control light spill and facilitates
the attachment of an optional fabric grid.
Chimera Pro II 3×4′ Softbox
The flush mounted front face provides a wider spread of light than a box with a recessed front. Its sewn-in front face allows
it to be set up in less than 30 seconds.
Elinchrom 53″ Midi-Octa Light Bank
This 53″ softbox features a rotating speed ring mount for exact angle positioning, spring-loaded, self-locking struts for
fast, easy setup, and durable snap fasteners to quickly attach the inner diffuser.
Gossen Digiflash Light Meter 2
This light meter reads flash and ambient light, has an LCD screen, which reads out in both ISO and EV values, and has an
SBC sensor. It’s ideal for photographers who seek optimal performance in a minimal form factor.
Sekonic Litemaster Pro L-478D Light Meter
This is an incident and flash meter, featuring a color touch screen interface, which allows you to quickly modify exposure
settings and navigate menus.
Sekonic L-758DR DigitalMaster Flash Meter
This light meter can be programmed to match and be calibrated to the sensitivity of your camera’s sensor for perfect exposure
control. It measures light beyond the capabilities of your camera and ensures repeatable, accurate, and consistent
measurements.
Chimera 9×36″ Super Pro Plus Strip
The silver interior fabric is intended for use with a strobe. The recessed, removable front face provides more control of
light than a box with a flush front.
Smith-Victor 600-Watt Portrait Hair Light Kit
This kit is based around the 765UM light with a 12×36″ softbox with mounting bracket, heavy-duty telescopic boom arm, 13′
aluminum light stand, and bulb. The fixture is suitable for extended duration use, and accepts 600- or 250-watt quartz
halogen bulbs. Includes an integral umbrella port and universal 3/8″ to 5/8″ stand mount.
Westcott Spiderlite TD3 Hairlight Kit
Accepts three 50-watt halogen bulbs, three 30-watt fluorescent bulbs, or two screw-in strobes and one modeling light. With
built-in points for direct attachment of the included softbox, no adapter ring is necessary. Kit includes a 12×36″
softbox, 8′ light stand and boom arm with swivel and counterweight, and two cases.
Lasko 3520 20″ Cyclone Pivoting Floor Fan
The Cyclone has three whisper-quiet, powerful speeds and creates a windblown hair effect that can add energy and excitement
to your portraits (besides making the subject’s hair look full and glamorous).
Bowens Jet Stream 350 Wind Machine
This advanced, multi-speed fan is designed to produce a mild breeze to a blustery gust. It’s also great for moving or removing
smoke or haze on location. It comes with a floor stand with a built-in receiver for use on a light stand or other
5/8″ male accessory.
Westcott Masterpiece 2-in-1 Collapsible Illuminator Background
This two-sided, two-colored backdrop quickly folds into a bag, offers two complimenting, yet totally different, looks in
one background. The background can be positioned vertically or horizontally. Other colors are available.
Westcott Background Stand for Illuminator
This upright is designed to support Westcott Illuminator backgrounds to a height of 8′. Its clip, at the top, secures the
expanded background in place.
Mathews 24×36″ Black Flags
These flags are black rectangular reflectors that absorb and block light. Put one between your strobe (softbox) and the background,
and it stops the light from spilling. Use more than one to keep your light directed where you want it.
Impact 6′ Light Stand
This economical light stand that extends to a maximum height of 6 feet is good to use with small light fixtures or reflectors.
2″ Adjustable Clamp Company Pony Spring “A” Clamp with Plastic Tips
This strong, rust-resistant, durable clamp is the perfect size for attaching a reflector to a light stand, gathering cloth
backgrounds or drapes, or securing a roll of seamless paper to its crossbar.
Hoodman HoodLoupe Professional LCD Screen Loupe for 3″ Displays
Used to make a close inspection of the review image displayed on your digital SLR LCD display. It isolates the camera’s LCD
display from ambient light, so you will not be distracted by glare or shadows, making it easy to view image details
quickly to confirm focus and ensure that you have the best image possible. Provides full coverage of a 3″ LCD with
standard aspect ratio.
Conair Travel Smart LadderKart
This lightweight, collapsible aluminum ladder holds up to 300lbs., can be used as a hand truck to help you move your gear,
or you can stand on it to gain a higher vantage point.
Nikon 50mm f/1.4 Lens
This super-fast lens lets you shoot handheld in really low light. It’s also an excellent choice for when shallow depth of
field is desired. This is an ideal prime lens for perfect full-length portraits, travel photography, or any type
of available-light shooting.
Nikon SD-9 High Performance Battery Pack
With the Nikon SD-9 battery pack, total flash capacity per round of batteries is about doubled and flash-recycling time can
be as fast as 1.0 seconds. It holds eight AA alkaline batteries, but can be used with only four. It provides the
quickest recycling time when used with four AA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries.
Canon Compact Battery Pack CP-E4
Improves flash recycle times significantly and increases the number of firings before batteries need to be replaced. Can
be loaded with 8 AA-size batteries to ensure fast and smooth transitions from one battery set to the next.
Quantum Slim & Compact Turbo Battery Packs (around $350 and up)
Provides typical all-day flash shooting capacity, weighs less than 1 lb., and fits easily in a shirt pocket. Uses NiMH batteries
for lightning-fast recycling times and high capacity. Provides up to 225 full-power flashes or 400 shoe-mount flashes
on a single 1.5-hour charge. Features a computerized gauge that clearly displays the amount of power remaining and
monitors charging progress.
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-f/5.6 Lens
This is a great travel lens for cropped sensor DSLRs. Its wide-angle-to-zoom focal range gives you a multipurpose lens to
get nice shots without having to switch lenses.
Canon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens
A compact and lightweight wide zoom range lens that is specifically designed for the range of EOS digital SLR cameras that
use the smaller EF-S lens mount.
Sony 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Lens
This lens is great for nearly any situation, with focal lengths ranging from 18-250mm on cropped APS-C size cameras, with
the 35mm equivalent of a long 27-375mm zoom.
Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens
My “go-to” lens for travel, because it covers it all (from wide-angle to tight zoom). It works on both full-frame and cropped
sensor DSLRs, features a broad zoom range, and it focuses down to 18″ at every focal length.
Canon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens
This is a handy, all-in-one compact zoom lens for versatile and easy subject selection while traveling, etc. This lens offers
the highest optical performance in its class, plus the convenience of focusing as close as 2.3 feet over the entire
zooming range.
Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Lens
This macro focus lens for Canon full-frame cameras is an ideal “all-in-one” lens for travel and can be used both indoors
and outdoors.
Slik Sprint Pro II GM Tripod
This tripod is a moderately priced, simple, portable support that is quick to set up and take down wherever a stable shooting
platform is needed.
