The AP testing team have picked out their favourite and most highly rated best-buy photography accessories from our archives, all for under £100
Novo Mantis T3 Mini Travel Tripod
l £70 l www.ukdigital.co.uk
This neat 27cm-tall mini tripod has two-section carbon-fibre legs that can be set to three different angles, and chunky rubber feet that unscrew to reveal ground spikes. The matched MBH-25 ball head (£60) provides impressive strength, and an optional centre column is available for £30.
Cullmann Rondo 460M RB8.5
l £71 l www.transcontinenta.co.uk/cullmann
If you want a fully featured tripod kit on a budget, this is a great choice. Four-section aluminium legs provide a maximum height of 160cm, while packing down to 43.5cm. It’s rated to support a 4kg load, weighs 1.46kg, and one leg can be combined with the centre column to form a monopod.
Vanguard VEO 2S AM-264TR
l £90 l www.vanguardworld.co.uk
This unusual monopod boasts an extended height of 1630mm, a folded height of 565mm and a maximum load capacity of 6kg. Three foldable legs at the base provide a tri-stand platform, and are linked to the four-section carbon fibre leg via a ball joint that allows smooth panning and tilting motions.
Essential Film Holder Kit
l £90 l www.clifforth.co.uk
Many photographers either still enjoy shooting film, or have old negatives and slides that they’d like to digitise. Probably the best way to do this is to copy them using a DSLR or mirrorless camera. This easy-to-use device holds film flat over a lightbox for copying. It gives excellent results and is much quicker than using a scanner.
RØDE VideoMicro
l £55 l en.rode.com
RØDE has a strong reputation for its high-end microphones. Its VideoMicro is a directional unit that primarily picks up sounds from in front of the camera, and is designed to match small mirrorless cameras. It uses ‘plug-in power’ that’s supplied by many cameras, and as there’s no battery it’s short and light. It comes complete with a Rycote shock mount and a large furry windshield.
Hahnel ProCube2
l £70 l www.hahnel.ie
This dual battery charger boasts a sturdy metal shell and interchangeable plates that each accept a pair of batteries. An LCD display shows progress, and a 2.4A USB output allows phones or tablets to be charged once the camera batteries are full. Versions are available for all the main camera brands.
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