Buckingham Fountain

You know that autumn is here when the calendar hits September... But for me, summer is officially ended when the fountains are closed for the winter season. Alas, the Buckingham Fountain was closed on October 20.

So, as a final wave of goodbye to this summer, I give you my photos of the great Buckingham Fountain.

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Gear used to make this post:

-- Canon Powershot G15 (Reviews Part 1 and Part 2)

-- Think Tank Photo Retrospective7 (review)

-- Benro Travel Angel A2691T (review)

Joby UltraFit Hand Strap with UltraPlate

I love DSLR hand straps. I love it as much as I hate neck straps. The only reason why I don't use one is because I couldn't find one that I really liked and one that is of good enough quality for me. And another reason: if you use a hand strap, you basically eliminate the use of a tripod.

Until now.

When Joby released the UltraPlate, I immediately jumped on the bandwagon knowing what a great little accessory it is. It essentially doubles the quarter-inch screw mount at the bottom of cameras giving you to the ability to use a messenger-type strap and still be able to mount your camera on a tripod.

Joby extended the idea by adding a hand strap to the UltraPlate: the UltraFit Hand Strap with UltraPlate was born.

The idea is simple: just screw the plate to the bottom of your camera and thread the other end of the strap to the camera's strap mount. Tuck the excess strap to the UltraFit's layered pad and that's basically it. Enjoy shooting!

What's more, since this hand strap uses an UltraPlate, you can still attach a messenger-type strap and mount your camera to a tripod: the Joby UltraFit Hand Strap is essentially three accessories in one!

One thing I'd like changed? Well, nothing really. The hand strap is perfect as it is. I just wish Joby would sell the strap independently of the UltraPlate so that the pioneers who bought the UltraPlate before would just need to add the strap to their arsenal and prevent duplication of the plates...

The Joby UltraFit Hand Strap with UltraPlate is Highly Recommended!

Check out the video the wife and I produced for this review:

Special thanks to the wife for helping me with the review. And I'd also like to give a very, very special thanks to Emily Voigtlander and Joby for providing the strap.

Get yours here:

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Gear used to make this post:

-- Canon 5D Mark II (article)

-- Canon 7D

-- Canon 24-105 f/4L IS USM Lens (Long term review)

-- Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM (review)

-- Think Tank Photo Urban Disguise 35 V2.0 (review)

-- Joby UltraFit Sling (review)

-- Joby GorillaPod Focus (review)

The Beautiful Chicago Skyline

I read somewhere, I can't remember where, that there are only 3 easily-distinguishable skyline in the US (or was it North America...): San Francisco, New York, and Chicago.

I am so happy to say that I visited two and I now live in one. And, I might be biased here, but I think Chicago has the best one... :)

These photos were taken while the wife and I were aboard the Sea Dog Extreme Thrill ride. (I reviewed the Think Tank Photo Urban Disguise 35 V2.0 during the ride also.) Catch that ride while you still can this year. And if you can't make it and if you'll be in Chicago next summer, I suggest you take that ride. Just be prepared to get soaking wet!

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Gear used to make this post:

-- Canon 5D Mark II (article)

-- Canon 24-105 f/4L IS USM Lens (Long term review)

-- Think Tank Photo Urban Disguise 35 V2.0 (review)

Chicago in the Rain

Got caught in the rain one Saturday and, instead of running for cover, naturally, I took some photos... I had an umbrella to protect my camera but the rest of me, my bag included, got soaked!

Well, I don't mind. And here are some of the photos I made from that event.

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Gear used to make this post:

-- Canon Powershot G15 (Reviews Part 1 and Part 2)

-- Lowepro Urban Photo Sling 150 (My reviews here and here)

-- Post-processed using Pixelmator for the Mac.

The Joby Ultraplate

I don't like neck straps. Yeah, yeah I've already said that here and here. But I cannot stress enough the fact that I don't want to use one.

An alternative to neck straps is the messenger-type strap that can be mounted to the tripod screw mount at the bottom of cameras, like the Joby UltraFit Sling Strap which I reviewed here. This is a great strap since you wear it diagonally across the chest and your neck won't be the one carrying your heavy load.

However, the one problem with this configuration becomes apparent when you want to mount your camera on a tripod. Say you want to photograph fireworks near a body of water with the wind blowing really hard. You wouldn't want to have your camera strapless right, lest your camera takes a dive in the lake? This kind of situation usually happens with me when I photograph fireworks here in Chicago...

So, in the past, when I am gonna mount my camera to a tripod, I would remove the sling strap and attach the original neck strap so that I will still have something to hold on to whenever I take long-exposure shots. You see, you can only attach one thing to the camera screw mount: either the tripod or the alternative strap. That's it. (Note, though, that I only loosely hold the straps so that I won't cause any unnecessary movement to the set up.)

This dilemma is solved by the Joby Ultraplate.

You attach the Ultraplate to the tripod screw mount. Simple, right? However, the Ultraplate itself has two quarter-inch tripod screw mount! Two! What this means is, you can attach an alternative strap and still be able to mount your camera to a tripod. Genius! I've always wondered why no camera accessory makers had produced a solution for this dilemma and it took the folks at Joby to come up with the answer.

Oh, it's also compatible with the Joby GorillaPod Focus, which I reviewed here.

And the best thing about this plate? (As if being able to use an alternative strap and still be able to mount your camera to a tripod is not enough...) The plate is Arca-Swiss compatible. This means that if your tripod already has that kind of mounting plate, then you're good to go. And if your tripod does not use an Arca-Swiss plate, then you can just screw your tripod straight to the plate.

Win - Win!!!

So, wait no more! Get one for each of your cameras and you will not regret it. You can buy it straight from Joby.

This Joby Ultraplate is Highly Recommended!

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Gear used to make this post:

-- Canon 7D

-- Joby GorillaPod Focus (review)

-- Joby UltraFit Sling (review)

-- Benro Travel Angel A2691T (review)

The Joby DSLR Wrist Strap for DSLRs and ILCs - A Video Review

Tired of using the neck strap that came with your camera? Don't have the patience to carry bulky messenger-type straps? Then check out my video review/demo of the new Joby DSLR Wrist Strap. It's very minimalist strap, weighs almost nothing, yet gives you an assurance that your DSLR with a standard zoom or short prime, or an ILC, will not tumble to the ground if ever your camera slips from your fingers.

It comes in two colors. I think the neon green is sexier... ;)

Check out my video below:

This minimalist strap is Highly Recommended!

So get yours here!


 


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Gear used to make this post:

-- Canon 5D Mark II (article)

-- Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM (review)

-- Canon Powershot G15 (Reviews Part 1 and Part 2)

-- Canon Powershot SX230HS (review)

-- Benro Travel Angel A2691T (review)

-- Lowepro Versapack 200AW (My reviews here and here)

Navy Pier at Night

Navy Pier is the top go-to destination in Chicago. You can eat, catch a movie, enjoy a cruise during the warm months, and even jog on the pier. Or, you can just sit back and enjoy the view...

The place becomes prettier during the blue hour and at night... These are some of my photos.

  

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Gear used to make this post:

-- Canon 5D Mark II (article)

-- Canon 24-105 f/4L IS USM Lens (Long term review)

-- Benro Travel Angel A2691T (review)

-- Think Tank Photo Suburban Disguise 30 (review)