Accessory Roundup: Metal SD cards, a pocket flash, and a tripod that comes in clutch
a month ago
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| Images: SmallRig, Godox, Lexar |
It's been a busy week here at DPReview – we've shot several videos for the YouTube channel (so stay tuned for those) and published our review of the Canon EOS R5 II. We're not the only ones, though; accessory makers have been putting out a lot of gear over the past few days, including some stainless steel SD cards, a new flash unit, and a YouTuber-inspired tripod.
Before we get to that, though, let's look at what deals are out there.
Deal of the Week: High-end, smaller sensors, low prices
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Canon's EOS R7 is currently $200 off its list price, selling for $1,299. When we reviewed it last year, we called it "one of the most well-rounded, versatile, and capable APS-C mirrorless cameras for the money" but only gave it a Silver award because of the lack of great lens options for APS-C Canons. Since then, though, Sigma has announced two great, fast zooms for RF-S, along with a series of primes, which could all serve as excellent companions to the EOS R7.
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The Silver award-winning Panasonic G9 II is also on sale at $250 off retail for fans of the Micro Four Thirds system who want to shoot some video.
Now let's check out some accessories.
This SD card is metal
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Don't let the 'Gold' branding fool you; it's actually just stainless steel. Image: Lexar |
This week, Lexar announced that it'll make SD cards with a stainless steel casing instead of a plastic one. Dubbed the 'Armor' series, the cards are IP68-certified as water and dustproof (though that's far from unique among SD cards) and bend-resistant.
The company says its Armor cards are 'ideal for outdoor filming,' though you'll want to make sure any camera you put them in can stand up to the same rigors. According to Petapixel, the cards will be available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities, but so far, there's no word on how much they'll cost or when they'll be available.
The fastest tripod in the West
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| Image: SmallRig |
Camera accessory maker SmallRig has teamed up with YouTuber Gene Nagata, AKA Potato Jet, to create the Tribex Hydraulic Carbon Fiber Tripod, which may just be one of the quickest-deploying camera supports out there.
The tripod's biggest selling point is its clutch system; squeeze a single pistol-grip-shaped handle, and the legs extend down to the ground. This not only allows for rapid deployment but quick leveling as well; if you're in too much of a hurry to use the ball head, you can squeeze the clutch and move the tripod so the varying heights of the legs are keeping it level. The company says it's tested for 20,000 leg extensions.
The Tribex isn't just a one-trick pony, though. Its list of features also includes an adjustable counterbalance, fluid head, the ability to mount the camera upside down for super low shots and 1/4-20 accessory mounting points.
However, none of that comes in an especially light or cheap package. The tripod retails at $799 and weighs 3.8kg (8.4lb). Its counterbalance system can support a payload of up to 6kg (13.2lb), and it has a maximum height of 168cm (66").
New phone, new case
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| Image: SmallRig |
Speaking of SmallRig, the company also announced a new product that's meant for people who plan to shoot a lot with a new iPhone 16. The FilMov Lightweight Photography Case Kit acts as both a case for your phone, as well as a mounting point for accessories and filters. The kit, which will retail for $35, also comes with a detachable handle for better ergonomics while shooting landscape video.
The case includes a cutout for the new 'Camera Control' button (Apple's first-party cases have what is essentially a passthrough button, which may be better for the swiping controls), and is available for the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max.
A double flash
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| Image: Godox |
Godox has announced the AD200Pro II, an update to one of its pocket flashes. It now features a color display for when you're navigating menus and also has a colored group indicator light that can let you know at a glance which group the flash is in.
The AD200Pro II comes with two heads: a bare bulb (capable of guide number 60) and a standard speedlight Fresnel (capable of guide number 52). The company says the new heads have improved heat dissipation and thus shouldn't overheat, even during a long shoot. Both heads also include a bi-color modeling light.
The flash has recycle times ranging from 0.01 seconds to 1.8 seconds and can be used in first-curtain sync, second-curtain sync, and high-speed sync modes. Its battery will last for up to 500 full-power flashes, according to Godox.
The AD200Pro II will retail for $349.
Mic'd up
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| Image: Sony |
Finally, Sony has announced a new premium lavalier microphone, the ECM-L1. It's made out of machined brass and can connect to a wide range of devices - including many cameras - using a 3.5mm jack. It also includes a locking ring for connecting it to a traditional mic pack.
The ECM-L1 comes with a metal windscreen as well as a fur-styled one and will retail for $279.
Atomos in the Cloud
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| Image: Atomos |
Atomos has announced that its Ninja and Shogun video monitors/recorders will soon be able to automatically upload footage to Dropbox or Frame.io. The added functionality will come via a free software update, and should make it more convenient to get footage off the devices.
The company says that, for a limited time, its Ninja Ultra and Shogun Ultra will be $150 and $200 off, respectively.