Boost Your Photo Fun
Products to aid you, your family, and your friends.
The Pod
Photograph: Rick RiznerWhen you slip a compact point-and-shoot camera into your backpack, you probably don't plan on schlepping a big, heavy tripod to mount it on. But if you want to capture a long exposure or to steady the camera so that you can take a sharp picture in low light, what can you do?
Consider the Pod--it's one of those useful little gadgets that you'll find painless to pack on your next trip. Imagine setting your camera on top of a beanbag, and you pretty much get the picture. The Pod's mushy body provides a stable base for your camera, and it includes a threaded tripod bolt in the top. Just screw your camera onto the bolt, and then position the Pod's grippy bottom on almost any stationary surface to shoot a shake-free photo.
Portability is the Pod's main appeal. Available in two sizes, its 3.75-inch- or 5-inch-diameter body is filled with beans, so you can cram it into a small bag or backpack. And because the Pod is so small, you can use it in places--such as museums and art galleries--that expressly forbid ordinary tripods. The cost varies a bit, depending on your choice of color and size. $14 to $17.
LE-Adapter
Photograph: Rick RiznerThe LE-Adapter lets you attach a telescope, binoculars, a spotting scope, or a microscope to your camera, dramatically magnifying its zoom power.
The LE-Adapter works with a range of digital and film cameras, from small point-and-shoot models to single-lens reflex units. All you need is a set of threads on the front of the camera lens; the adapter comes ready to screw onto cameras equipped with either 37mm- or 52mm-diameter threads. If your camera's lens has a different diameter, you can purchase a step ring online or at most camera stores to act as an intermediary between your camera and the LE-Adapter.
Of course, your photos won't be quite as bright and sharp as you're used to with your ordinary camera lens. A set of binoculars, for instance, may deliver a lot of magnification, but the optics aren't designed to take photos. On the other hand, the LE-Adapter allows you to capture photos that you otherwise couldn't with your digital camera. $126.
Belkin Media Reader for iPod
On a long trip, you probably carry extra memory cards or a laptop to accommodate all the pictures you'll take. But if you're already packing an iPod, why not let it do double duty as a hard drive?
Photograph: Rick RiznerThat's the idea behind Belkin's Media Reader for iPod with Dock Connector. This gadget plugs into the docking port at the bottom of your iPod Photo or other model such as the Nano (not the iPod Mini, however) and transfers your photos via memory card--CompactFlash, SmartMedia, SD Card, or Memory Stick. Using iPod software version 2.1 or later, you can easily transfer your images first onto the iPod and later to your computer.
Belkin's convenient Media Reader device quickly turns your iPod into a handy place to store your photos. $50.
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