A Linkstar and Phottix combo.

We feel that the Liknstar portable flash kit makes a wonderful combo with the Phottix easy fold umbrella softbox. We took a few pictures as we tested this duo at Studio22.

The first image shows JP with the Linkstar battery pack over his shoulder and the Phottix soft box using available light in the Studio22 reception.

This image is photographed at 1/125th of a second at an aperture of f5.6 using 100ASA. By using the low film speed and high shutter speed, it helps to eliminate the ambient light in the reception area and allows only the light from the 400 watt/s Linkstar flash to illuminate our subject.

With JP slightly further from the light, you will notice the change in light intensity as I did not change the exposure. You will also notice a slight image showing between JP and the light, this is one of the PC screens in the background. This can be eliminated by increasing the power level on the Linkstar flash, currently on its lowest power setting.

This view shows the inside of the Phottix umbrella soft box. Here you will also notice the Phottix Varos XS umbrella bracket which is included in the Phottix kit with the umbrella. There are currently two umbrella softboxes, a 70x70cm used in the demo and a 60x90cm.

Here JP is pressing the modeling lamp button on the Linkstar unit to show how even the light is distributed in the silver-lined umbrella. Covering this with the diffuser over the softbox makes for an amazingly soft and professional light.

The last image shows a large area lit with the softbox. Here you can see one of our clients, Bubby of Busy Bee Photography, in our reception area. The unit was set to full power and the reading was f5.6 at 100ASA but covers a much larger area.

Jeff in HD : Presenting the Nikon telephoto zoom kits

This is our first Youtube production to include cameras and lenses as the main product. We chose Jeff, as the Nikon owner at Studio22, to present these four Nikon kits. We use the word ‘present’ as it is not our intention to review the products but rather offer a simple visual overview.

Nikon D3100 twin lens kits, including 18-55mm and 55-200mm and the super soon kit with the 55-300mm lens.

Nikon D5100 twin lens kits, including 18-55mm and 55-200mm and the super soon kit with the 55-300mm lens.

There are already so many reviews, opinions and comparisons online, we are only showing the basic contents of the kits.

All four kits mentioned include a Nikon shoulder bag and memory card (the card size may change so please visit the Studio22 website for the up-to-date offer). Kits may also include additional options like Photoshop or Lightroom packages – these are however limited offers so please visit our website.

We welcome your input and will use this to create future productions.

Thank you

Kurt Sunkel
Studio22
www.studio22.co.za

KZN representative joins Studio22

Studio22 is pleased to announce the addition of a KZN representative, Jarryd Sunkel. Jarryd recently spent a couple of weeks at Studio22 to gain knowledge of our product range and operations.

Armed with a collection of our most popular products, we now have a connection point for photographers and businesses to view some of our products. During his visit, Jarryd was able to shoot the following short Youtube presentation for the Linkstar MT160 flash unit.

Thank you Jarryd.

See it in 360! A quick view of products available at Studio22

Studio22 has added some interesting clips to the retail part of the website. As the heading says, “See it in 360″, we have added short video clips showing a 360 degree view of specific items. As so many of our clients view our products online, we wanted to find a way of showing our products across the net for a shopper to view on their screen, anywhere in South Africa, Cape Town or the world.

Although we have a growing series of Youtube clips, the “See it in 360″ view is intended to be far simpler. In our longer clips, one of our team members introduce the products and even document a shoot or typical environment to suit the products. The idea of the “See it in 360″ is to keep the clip in a 30-60 second range and show only a clearly lit, detailed view of the product, no talking or additional data.

If you see a product on our site and would like a clearer view or closer look, let us know, we will do our best to add a 360 view or Youtube clip. If it is not applicable to other viewers, we will create a clip just for you.

Keep watching our site, more clips will be added as our product range continues to grow.

See it on www.studio22.co.za – see products like Phottix, JYC, Linkstar and DSLR Video. Look out for the “See it in 360″ link, this will divert you directly to the Youtube link.

Thank you

Kurt Sunkel
Studio22

DSLR Movie Rig – now available from Studio22

As DSLR videography becomes more popular, more companies produce rail systems for this format. At Studio22, we currently stock two systems : DSLR Movie Rig Pro and DSLR Movie Rig Flexi. In the sneak preview clip below Jean-Pierre shows off the DSLR Movie Rig Pro (AKA Red Star Movie Rig), available in individual components or kit form.

The rig is constructed mostly from light weight aluminum, for strength, while delivering outstanding stability and comfort during long shoots. The 15mm diameter rail rods are 60mm apart and ship with a shoulder pad and soft rubber handgrips. A remarkably stable support for almost any DSLR, this rig can easily be rearrange into various shooting modes.

If you purchase the basic DSLR Movie Rig Pro, accessories like a follow focus, matte box, eye piece and additional LCD screen can be added at any stage.

For current prices, accessories and more information, please visit our ‘DSLR Video products’ page on the Studio22 website, www.studio22.co.za. You are welcome to visit us at Studio22 to see the rigs for yourself.

Thank you

Kurt Sunkel
Studio22

Phottix Aster radio trigger

On a recent trip to the UK, I visited photographer Ben Tyler in Truro, Cornwall. I joined Ben on a location shoot at his local coffee shop where he used the Phottix Aster on his shoot. I documented the shoot in this Youtube clip:

The versatile Phottix Aster can be used not only to trigger a speedlight but works as a studio flash trigger as well. Further, the receiver has a built in optical slave, this means it an be triggered with any flash (the flash of light triggers a switch inside the receiver which in turn sends a signal to your flash to fire). This means you can shoot in your studio or on location with studio lights (or multiple speedlights) while integrating your speedlight in the mix, possibly as a hair light or for illuminating your backdrop.

For the widest range of Phottix products in South Africa, visit www.studio22.co.za.

Thank you

Kurt Sunkel
Studio22

Phottix HS Speed mount

Phottix recently launched the “HS speed mount”. To put it simply, this nifty bracket attachment allows you to insert your off-camera speedlight (Sigma, Nikon, Metz, Canon etc – with allowance for hotshot and standard screwthread) in a frame with a bayonet mount. The bayonet mount accepts the S-type fitting of a large number of photographic flash accessories, namely: Linkstar, Bowens, Interfit and Jinbei.

Just what the strobist needs. This is one of those products we have had a growing request for, even before it was on the market.

The great news is, you can now replicate the entire range of studio lighting effects and styles with all the accessories on your speedlight. Choose from a vast selection of Softboxes, Octoboxes, giant umbrellas, barn doors, honeycombs, snoots, reflectors, softball sphere diffusor & gel kits.

Phottix HS Speed Mount - From the "Combo Set"

To ensure you get to see an up-close and thorough view of this mount, we have included a short youtube clip below:

For a extensive range of photographic accessories, please visit www.studio22.co.za

Thank you

Kurt Sunkel
Studio22

The London Eye in fading light.

Typical of a family business, even a holiday becomes a work project. On my recent trip to the UK, I decided to take along a JYC timer remote. Naturally, I also took along my Canon 60D camera, 16-35mm wide angle lens and Manfrotto tripod. My idea was to photograph the famous landmark, the London Eye, using a long exposure time. My current interest in DSLR videography lead me to planning a time lapse sequence. I would take photographs every few seconds from the time the sun touches the horizon until the sky is black and stars appear.

I planned to use the camera meter to individually expose every image (using shutter priority – The aperture remains of f22) and adjust as the light changed (the shutter speed increases as it gets darker). My initial estimate was about 300 or so images to give me a 10 second clip, I eventually took over 400 exposures as the sky was not yet dark enough in reality and I wanted the last few exposures to reach at least 30 seconds each.

I chose to shoot this sequence as well as produce a YouTube clip explaining the process. Below is a link to that clip as well as an outline of the functions of the JYC remote timer. The remote timer is available from Studio22 in a wired and wireless option.

I hope you enjoyed this clip.

Thank you

Kurt Sunkel
Studio22

Macro: a budget alternative – close up lenses by Phottix

Macro photography is very popular, ‘getting in closer’ is just so appealing. If a macro lens is too costly right now, or you just want a taste, a cost effective way to get in close is by adding a lens on the front of your existing lens. You still get to keep full auto-focus, Image Stabilizer (or any image stability offered by your lens brand) and exposure operation. Phottix produce a kit with 4 lenses. Each lens offers a greater degree of magnification. They are typically purchased in a set size where all 4 filters will be either 52mm, 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 72mm or 77mm.

In the Youtube production below, I briefly show the use of a +10 filter (the strongest in the kit) vs a 100mm macro lens. I photograph a watch face as close as the filter allows and match the view with the 100mm macro. I must admit, I was impressed with the results.

Although it is recommended you use your longer focal length for ‘correct’ images, you can create some fantastic effects with a few changes. For example, if you are using the common 18-55mm kit lens, using it at 18mm with a filter will bend the light so much, it will create a vignette which can make for some artistic effect.

We are certainly not saying that a close up filter will replace a macro lens but we can certainly say you can have lots of fun and get brilliant images when you work within the parameters available to you.

Have fun!

Kurt

Linkstar South Africa

Studio22 is proud to be the first retailer in South Africa to offer the Linkstar range of studio flash and photographic accessories. The Linkstar range includes flash units for professionals and enthusiasts with a price tag that impresses all the visitors to the Studio22/Linkstar website.

Studio22 has been involved in the product presentation of many of the Linkstar products and will continue to add more productions as more products arrive in South Africa.

Supported by a vast range of accessories many Linkstar products are also versatile and available with adapters to fit other brands of flash heads like Elinchrom or Bowens. Linkstar also produce a wide range of studio accessories, continuous lighting kits, LED lighting and Tripods.

The full range of flash units sold by Studio22 carry a 12 month warrantee here in South Africa. In the case of a flash failing, you even have access to a replacement until your unit is repaired (only the shipping costs need to be paid were applicable).

Thank you

Kurt