Skip to main content

Photography News: Startup redesigns tripod heads ‘inside out’ for more flexibility

COTC KS What The Pros Say

Afraid of missing out on the latest photo industry news while you’re out, well, actually taking pictures? Photography News of the Week is all the news you might have missed this week, published on the weekends. Alongside the biggest stories of the week, like the new Luminar with libraries, find briefs on the latest in accessories and photography news from this week.

Colorado Tripod startup cuts the weight of ball heads in half, pushes the range of motion past 90 degrees

Think there’s nothing new in tripod tech? A startup called Colorado Tripod Company just introduced two unique ball heads. The first is constructed from titanium — an industry first, the company says. The result is a ball head that’s 52 percent lighter with 54 pounds of locking force. The head also has an increased range of motion, going beyond the typical 90-degree tilt to a vertical orientation. A similar head will also be designed from aluminum.

The second design is the Aspen Ballhead; instead of leaving a cutout for the head to tilt to a vertical orientation, the ball is largely open. The head, which almost looks like it’s inside out, allows for a much wider range of motion than a traditional ball head, the company says.

The new ball heads can also be paired with the company’s centennial tripod, available in titanium and aluminum options, both with a 50-pound capacity. The startup is taking to Kickstarter to launch the new gear, already exceeding the original $50,000 goal. If the project is successful, early backers can pick up a ball head starting at $79 and complete tripod sets starting at $298.

The new Leica CL Street Kit is made for street photography

Street photographers typically look for something discrete and compact, and Leica thinks it may just have the right kit. On Friday, December 7, Leica unveiled the Leica CL Street Kit, which combines the CL camera body with the Leica Summicron-TL 23mm f/2 ASPH lens.

Leica says the pair is ideal for street because of the lightweight design and ergonomic handling with that “Leica look.” The kit mixes the 24-megapixel, 4K CL camera with a wide-angle 35mm. The new kit is available beginning Saturday, December 8, from Leica dealers for $4,195 for the pair.

DB Equipment’s latest bag is simply called The Backpack

DB Equipment

DB Equipment’s latest backpack keeps things simple — all the way down to the name. The Backpack by DB Equipment is a minimalist backpack designed for photography enthusiasts. A camera insert allows the bag to easily swap between gear bag and a regular backpack. A laptop sleeve accommodates laptops up to 15 inches.

Originally launched as a limited-edition option in the Jay Alvarrez collection, The Backpack is now part of the company’s regular product line. Pre-orders are available now for $179, with the camera insert listing at $79.

Editors' Recommendations

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
How to hide photos on an Android phone or tablet
Google Photos

While today's best Android phones are quite secure as long as they remain locked with a passcode or biometrics like a fingerprint, by default those features only protect the front door. If someone picks up your phone while it's unlocked, there aren't typically any barriers that will keep them out of exploring everything from your contacts and emails to your photos.

This can be particularly challenging when it comes to photos, since those are the things we like to show off the most from our phones. We've likely all had those moments when we want to show a friend or co-worker a funny cat meme, so we hand over our phone and trust that they won't swipe right and see the photo of the hairy mole that we sent to our doctor that morning.

Read more
Best Sony A7 III deals: Save $300 on the full frame mirrorless camera
Sony A7 III

Sony A7 III Daven Mathies/Digital Trends / .

Even if you have one of the best camera phones at the moment, if you're a photography fanatic, you're probably feeling the burn for something new and exciting. For example, the Sony A7 III line is like none other in the world of handheld cameras and you can find several cameras in that line on sale right now at Best Buy. Here, we round up the best deals in the sale, then analyze how buying a Sony Alpha A7 III looks at the moment.
Today's best Sony A7 III deals

Read more
How to use (almost) any camera as a webcam for Zoom and more
how to use any camera as a web cam v2 00 58 01 still007

Cameras, even those in phones, brag about megapixels and lens specifications -- but laptops? Not so much. There’s a reason computer companies don’t say much about the webcams that come built into the bezels of their screens. Most of these cameras are low-quality, with tiny sensors and cheap lenses. Sure, they work for basic videoconferencing, but they aren’t very impressive and certainly leave us wanting something more.

While you could just buy a stand-alone webcam that connects over USB, to really take production value up a notch, you can opt for a DSLR or mirrorless camera. You’ll need a few workarounds to get this type of camera to be recognized as a webcam by your computer, but the trouble is worth it for the higher resolution, much better low-light performance, and cinematic background blur.

Read more