Camera
Accessory Roundup – a cutting edge SSD, camera bags, and a new kind of filter
| Images: llano, OWC, ProMaster |
Things have been a bit calmer around the DPReview offices this week, but we’ve still found a range of new accessories that have hit the market. Before we get to those, though, let’s check out the deal of the week:
Old but Gold
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If you were hoping that the arrival of the Canon EOS R5 Mark II would make it easier to get the original EOS R5, you’re in luck. The camera, which received a Gold award when we reviewed it in 2020, is currently $500 off the list price. You won’t be getting the latest and greatest features the Mark II has, such as a stacked sensor for faster shooting, 8K/60 video, or Eye Control AF, but you’ll also be saving $1,400.
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Another Gold winner from Canon, the EOS R6 Mark II, is also $500 off its MSRP. It’s an all-around solid enthusiast-tier full frame camera, and a great deal at $2,000 body-only.
Super fast storage
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The Envoy Ultra is for people who need to move a lot of data in a little time.
Image: OWC |
OWC has announced the Envoy Ultra, which it says is the ‘first and fastest Thunderbolt 5’ external SSD. According to the company, the drive, which comes in 2TB and 4TB versions, can operate at a blistering 6000MB per second.
Of course, finding a computer that can take advantage of that speed may be difficult – you could count the laptops equipped with Thunderbolt 5 on one hand – but if you plug it into a Thunderbolt 4 computer, you can be sure you’re maxing out the port.
The one quirk is that the drive uses a built-in cable rather than a detachable one. On one hand, that means you’ll have the frustrating experience of showing up with your SSD but realizing you left the cable to connect it at home. But on the other, it is a bit of a weak point on a drive advertised as ‘waterproof, dustproof, and crushproof.’ If the cable breaks, you won’t be able to simply replace it.
The Envoy Ultra is available for pre-order on OWC’s website, and the company says it’ll ship in ‘late October.’ The 2TB model is $399.99, and the 4TB one is $599.99.
On-the-go power
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Put your batteries in this battery.
Image: llano |
This week, FStoppers wrote about an accessory that’s not exactly new but could be useful: a battery bank with two slots for Canon LP-E6NH batteries.
The company that makes the gadget, llano, says it can recharge two batteries in two hours. It also includes two USB-C ports that can either be used to charge the bank itself or to charge other devices, such as your phone.
At $109, it’s certainly not the cheapest battery bank out there, and it is worth noting that many cameras these days can directly charge from a regular battery bank via USB-C. There are also third-party LP-E6NH batteries from brands like K&F Concept that have USB-C ports built into them, so you don’t need a special charger to recharge them.
However, if you’re not looking to buy more batteries and your camera can’t charge via USB-C, this could be a good way to keep your camera going while away from a plug. The brand also makes power banks for Canon LP-E17 batteries, Fujifilm NP-W126S and NP-W235 batteries, and Sony NP-FZ100 batteries. One thing to note if you’re shopping around on llano’s Amazon site is that it also makes regular battery chargers that don’t have power banks built-in and thus need to be plugged into the wall to charge your batteries.
Redesigned Satchels
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| Image: ProMaster |
ProMaster has updated its lineup of Jasper camera bags, adding a new size of satchel and a rolltop pack. The company says it’s redesigned the main compartment, adding sewn-on accessory pouches to the removable insert. The bags also include straps fitted with quick-release buckles to hold a tripod. The bags all have a water-resistant treatment and include a rain cover.
The lineup now includes a $99 ‘small’ 4L satchel, a $119 ‘medium’ 6.8L satchel, and a $139 ‘large’ 10L satchel, which ProMaster says can carry a 16” Macbook Pro along with a camera, lens, and other accessories.
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| Image: ProMaster |
The new rolltop pack costs $159 and has 7.5L of space in its main compartment, with up to 9 additional liters in the rolltop section. Like many camera-focused backpacks, your actual camera gear is stored and accessed on the side of the pack that’s facing your back, which adds an extra layer of security.
A new version of ACDSee
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| Image: ACDSee |
ACD Systems has announced a new version of its photo editing and organization software, ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2025. As with many products this year, the main selling point is AI – the software now includes an AI-powered upscaling and noise reduction tool, which can be GPU accelerated alongside the rest of Photo Studio’s AI features.
The company also says it’s improved its AI selection mask and sky replacement tools. Outside of AI, the company has also added tabs to Photo Studio’s management mode, the ability to easily copy a file’s path, and an activity manager.
A lifetime license for the software, which is set to be released later this month, currently costs $149.99 from the company’s website.
Keep an eye out
This week, Petapixel covered a company that’s making an electronic variable diffusion filter. While this type of tech has been around for ND filters for a while, but this is reportedly the first time it’s being used to give footage a dream-like glow rather than to darken it.
The tech is made by LC-Tec, and likely won’t be commercially available until next year. When it does hit shelves, though, it could be a way to get a very cool effect when shooting videos.
Shooting for the New York Times
Finally, let’s round out this roundup with an educational opportunity – because what is improving your camera setup if you’re not also improving your photography skills? This week’s piece of photography content comes from YouTuber Justin Mott, who recently released a video detailing how he approached a portrait assignment from the New York Times (via Fstoppers). The video mainly focuses on process, going into detail on planning the shoot, working with the subjects and organizing the photos for delivery afterwards.
Mott provides a link to the final story that has one of his images, as well as a gallery of the photos he took on the assignment. If you’re interested in the gear side of photojournalism, Mott also made a video detailing what cameras and lenses he brought to the shoot.
For those who are more into cinematography, YouTuber Luc Forsyth recently made a video going over how he packed and prepped his gear before heading out to work as a director of photography on a relatively high-budget shoot. It also has a fair number of tips that could be useful for working photographers as well.