Review - Combine Collective Apple Keyboard and Magic Trackpad Tray

A couple of months ago I decided to purchase a Mac Mini to use as a media center / living room computer (connected to the TV).  The one problem I had, was that it's cumbersome to use the wireless keyboard and magic trackpad on the lap without some type of support.  I needed some sort of tray to hold both units.  Short of some DIY projects, I really couldn't find anything online, until I came across a blog post about the Combine Collective wooden Walnut tray.


The design is very simple and elegant.  Three variations are available:  1.  Holds keyboard, magic trackpad, and remote.  2.  Holds keyboard and magic trackpad.  3.  Holds only keyboard.  I opted for the second version since I didn't see myself using the remote within the tray.  The unit set me back $74 for the tray and $23 for shipping to the US (from Canada).


Combine Collective seem to be the only company currently creating a tray for the Apple keyboard and trackpad.  As soon as their product hit the blogs, they were swamped with orders.  The website describes the company as " group of like minded artists working together to achieve a common goal".  Not sure what that goal is since it doesn't describe that part.  


My tray took about three weeks to arrive.  Surprisingly, there was no packing material whatsoever.  Not even some type of plastic wrap to avoid moisture or water damage.  The tray was simply wrapped in cardboard and shipped off.

I was surprised the tray did not get damaged (cracked or dinged up) in shipping.  Even the corners and edges were fine. 

The wireless keyboard and magic trackpad fit almost perfectly in their respective areas.  There is about a 1/16"+ (2mm) gap between the keyboard and trackpad's edges and the tray.  Possibly for some breathing room (i.e. expanding and contracting of the wood).

The functionality of the tray is everything I expected and more.  It's heavy wood (about 3/4" thick) and it feels good on the lap or on my ottoman.  I was worried about being able to click the trackpad (pushing down) but it works flawlessly.  Removing the devices is also very easy, as is hitting the power buttons.

One thing I did notice is that my tray is made of two pieces of walnut glued together.  I looked at all the photos online (blogs) and on the Combine Collective website and noticed that all of those were made with a single piece of wood.  This kind of bothered me.  From inspecting the image on the website very carefully, I was under the impression the tray was a single piece of wood.  The website does however state:  "We use whole and solid-joined hardwoods, water based glue, and a food safe oil finish to make them".  In hindsight, I probably should have emailed them and asked about it before ordering since I definitely wanted a solid one (as shown in the photos).  I can actually feel the seam where the two pieces are glued together every time I pick it up.

I did email the company after receiving the tray and was told I could send it back and have it exchanged.  However, shipping (both ways) would be on me.  Having paid shipping already once at $23, this would bring the total up to (roughly) $143, for which I could buy another keyboard and trackpad.  It's basically not feasible for me to ship it back.  I can understand the company's position, but wish it would have been a bit clearer on the website.

I also asked about the packing (or lack thereof) and received two responses from two different individuals:  

  Response 1:  "We are a company that is trying very hard to keep our footprint as small as possible.  We are trying to keep packaging to a minimum and not compromise the product at all.  Was there any damage to your tray?"

 Response 2:  "We tried to time things just right with ordering boxes for the trays. We had trays ready to be shipped but the custom boxes were delayed. We decided to ship with cardboard that was available to us at the time rather than delay shipping to people."

Having said all of this, I do love the tray and its functionality.  However, I would have not ordered it had I known it was going to be two glued pieces of wood.  It is my mistake for not reading the site (completely) and relying mostly on the images of the product instead of the description.  However, I also feel that the images were somewhat misleading since they only showed the single piece designed units.

Novoflex Minipod

I just bought a Novoflex Minipod today after some long searching for a perfect mini tripod that will hold my D700 w/ grip and 24-70mm f2.8 steady enough for long exposures.  The Gorillapod Focus didn't work out for me due to some serious vibration issues (see my review).  I really like the stability that the Novoflex Minipod provides.  This is obviously not a full size tripod replacement, but it's something I can throw in my bag and pull out when I need a tripod of sorts.  The only shortfall, really is it's low height (it's a tabletop tripod after all).  However, with the type of shooting I would use this for, it'll work out fine.  At roughly $200, it's much more than what I wanted to spend.  Is it worth it?  I'll let you know once I get some good shots with it.  :)  But on a serious side, I think it should be fairly priced around $100.

I initially starting looking at a Gitzo GT1541T with Markins Q3T combo, but I think in the end, I still wouldn't always carry that tripod with me due to it's size.  I still would like to get this combo one day, but for now I needed something that would permanently be in my bag.  And after owning the Manfrotto/Bogen tabletop tripod and the Gorillapod Focus, I believe this one is much more solid and sturdy.

I'll post a longer, more in depth review down the road after some field use (if anyone is interested). 

Thanks for reading.

Review - Essential TPE Ultra Protection Sleeve (Slim 15)

After more than six months of waiting for the Essential TPE Ultra Protection Sleeve, I finally received it today.  I initially emailed Essential TPE about the slim sleeve in June of 2009, but for some reason their reply went straight to my spam folder.  I finally touched base with them again in September of 2009, but the slim sleeve was being re-worked and they currently had none in stock.  Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when I received an email stating they had the 'new' and 'reworked' version in stock now.  I received mine in the mail today and couldn't be happier with it.

When I bought my macbook pro, I looked all over the Internet (for weeks) searching for a sleeve that would suit my needs.  I was looking for a sleeve that was not too thick but provided protection from not just bumping and short drops, but mainly against hits against the screen (or display lid).  I noticed with my neoprene sleeve that I often had indentation marks from either cable connectors or pens that were loose in my bag.  I think with enough pressure they could have dented the laptop or even worse....cracked the glass screen.  Anyway, for these reasons I wanted a semi-hard sleeve.  I opted for the slim 15, because I like the zipper-less design.  I also like how the seam around the sides and bottom adds to the overall protection of the laptop.  At $44.95 for the sleeve plus $5 shipping (from Taipei), it's very well priced.

The slim 15 sleeve is made from ballistic nylon on the outside and some type of super thin foam on the inside.  It seems like the two are fused (glued) together.  The final outcome is a thin, but soft (inside) sleeve, that's also semi-hard (kind of like cardboard but stronger of course).  The seams and velcro tab are made of leather.  The sleeve is definitely hard enough to protect the laptop but it's also very light.  The quality of materials and construction is top notch.  The fit is a bit tight but not so much that it's a pain.  I'm sure it will loosen up a bit over time anyway, since the foam may give a bit.  I'm a fan of the vertical sleeve because I like to use it in backpacks.  Only time will tell how much I will really like this sleeve, but I'm already liking it much more than my previous neoprene one.

Review - Nexto DI Extreme ND-2700 Portable Storage (long term)

There are plenty of reviews available online for this little device, but I wanted to do a quick write-up after having owned one for well over a year.  If you don't know what you're looking at, this is basically a Portable Storage Device, digital backup, CF or SD card reader, etc.  It allows you to backup your Compact Flash (CF) or Secure Digital (SD) cards to a hard drive or SSD in the unit.  It's meant to be used as a backup device in case you destroy/lose your CF/SD cards or somehow the data becomes corrupt.


I bought the Nexto ND-2700 back in October 2008.  I initially installed a 320GB drive, but once I began using it for other than backing up my CF cards, I ended up replacing the drive with a 500GB.  I use the device as an external drive for sharing files as well as my photo backup device in the field.


I mainly use the USB 2.0 interface, although it also has a eSata connection available.  The device only has one button, which is used in different ways (short, long, double) to communicate functions to the device.  The tiny LCD screen is just enough to see what you are doing.  You can also browse your files (file structure) using the screen, but it's a royal pain when using the one button.  I've never really had to do this though.  Once you insert a card, the device will prompt you if you'd like to 'move' or copy the files.  I always 'copy', since I'd hate to have a disaster happen during a 'move' and lose some or all of my data.  Once all files are copied, you're prompted to remove the card and the device turns itself off.  If you insert the same card again, but with additional photos/files, it will prompt you to just move the additional data, or all of it again.  This is a nice feature, since you can backup a card midway during usage.  There have been plenty of times where I had some time between shooting and I removed the card from my camera, backed up all the data to the Nexto and then used the same card to shoot more images.  Also, one key thing is to keep your photos on both, the CF/SD cards as well as on the Nexto until you get home and back them up to your home system.  That way if anything goes wrong with either the cards or the Nexto/Harddrive, you're covered.


I've yet to have a problem with this device after owning it for well over a year.  The battery still runs strong.  I just ran a test with a full 8GB card (raw NEF files) and was able to copy it a full 6 times (each running about 8min 10sec).  On the 7th time it failed after about 3min 35sec.  That's well over 48GB on a full battery charge (of a 1 year old device).  Not too bad in my opinion.


I originally went with Nexto, because it was one of the most reasonable devices available and without the frills and thrills that raise the price of a device, drain batteries, or usually end up breaking anyway.  I'm glad I ended up with this device.  The only thing I don't understand is the color.  Metallic gold?  Oh well, can't have it all I guess.  :)

Review - Visible Dust Camera Sensor Cleaning

I bought my Nikon D700 about a year ago and although I'd use the internal cleaning mechanism on a regular basis, I never had it professionally cleaned or tried to clean it myself.  Well, needless to say, my sensor had accumulated quite a bit of dust and debris over course of the year.  I've also had the camera in all types of different environments including the desert, which didn't help.

I did a bit of research and reading (namely Thom Hogan's site) and realized that I'd be better off cleaning the camera myself than sending it to a professional cleaning center.  I didn't want to get the camera back looking worse than when I sent it off.  I've read that some folks have had this problem.  Plus, I figured it would save me time and money over the long run.

I ended up ordering the Visible Dust Set, which included the Arctic Butterfly, loupe, sensor and anti-aliasing filter screen swabs, and two types of cleaning solutions:  VDust and Sensor Clean.  I bought all of these as a set for about $260 from B&H Photo Video.  Yes, it's not cheap.  But I think in the long run, it will save me both money and hassle.  Not to mention, I won't have to be without my camera for a while.  You'll have to make sure to get the right size brush, swabs, or set for your sensor.  Check the Visible Dust site for more on that.

I was initially a little paranoid to do this work myself, but overcame that after cleaning the camera a couple of times.  I would highly suggest reading Thom Hogan's cleaning guide first (http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm).  He really breaks down the process and explains it in a clear and concise manner.

When I pulled out the Arctic Butterfly sensor brush, I noticed (like others) that it seems quite cheap and fragile.  But what's important is that it performs the job very well.  You turn the Arctic Butterfly on and the brush starts to spin, which basically charges the bristles statically so they will easily pick up the dust.  After 5 to 10 seconds you shut the switch off and move it to the opposite position to turn the LED light on.  You then proceed to (follow the directions and) clean the dust off the sensor (well actually off the filter screen covering the sensor).  The brush works quite well in picking up small (loose) dust particles, but you have to remember to spin the brush after every swipe to keep charging the bristles and also get rid of the dust that has been picked up.  Also, be careful not to push the bristles too hard onto the sensor/filter or they can spread too far out and drag dust or grease (from inside the chamber) onto the sensor.  Trust me,  I did it, but it wasn't anything that couldn't be cleaned off with a swab and some VDust solution.

I used the loupe to do my initial check for dust.  It works well, although it also seems like it's built of cheap materials.  Nevertheless the led lights built into the loupe and the loupe itself both work very well when checking the sensor for dust and/or stains and I found myself using it every time in between cleaning the filter screen.  When I performed my very first cleaning (1 year), the brush did not remove everything.  I still had some sticky dust particles that didn't budge and also some strange smudgey looking stuff on the filter screen.  So on to the next level of cleaning:  Using some Visible Dust solution and swabs.

The swabs seem to be very expensive at $40 for 12 (for full frame cameras).  But if you want something that is completely dust free, you have to pay the price.  You can build your own sensor swabs, but I'll stick to buying them, since I'm too paranoid.  The Visible Dust swabs come individually sealed in plastic, which will keep them dust free.  I decided to use the VDust Plus solution, since I wasn't sure what exactly was on my filter screen covering the sensor.  This is the recommended solution when you're not really sure what it is that you are cleaning.  I recommend reading the product descriptions on the Visible Dust site (www.visibledust.com) thoroughly before buying and using the products.  I put a couple of drops on one side of the swab and ran that same side slowly, with even pressure, across the filter screen (sensor).  I then checked the results with the loupe.  There was still some dust, so I used the other side of the swab with a couple of drops again and repeated the process but this time swiping in the opposite direction as last time.  If you're sensor is extremely dirty, you could find yourself using two or even three swabs to clean it.  I also recommend doing this in an environment that is less dusty (i.e. rooms without carpet).  I used the bathroom, which worked out pretty well.

It seems like I notice dust on my sensor much more these days.  I think I have a heightened sense to it now in images and when looking at the sensor itself with the loupe.  One thing I should recommend, which I personally need to do myself, is to clean the camera chamber before you clean the sensor (or filter screen).  If you have a lot of dust in the chamber and clean the sensor, it's just a matter of time before some of the dust in the chamber attaches itself to your sensor.  I realized this well after doing my cleaning and then ended up ordering the chamber cleaning set from Visible Dust as well.  I'm sure they love me by now.

I do have to say that although the Visible Dust products can seem cheap (fragile) initially, they work just as advertised and perform their job very well.  As a final thought, I'd like to say that don't be afraid to do the cleaning yourself.  It's not as difficult as it may initially seem.  I also don't see how one could actually damage the sensor or filter screen in any way.  Of course, if you do, I take no responsibility.  ;)

Note:  I highly recommend B&H Photo Video for all your camera gear.  I've been purchasing from them since 1994 and have never had any problems.  Their customer service is one of the best, and I think in the past few years has even gotten better. 

Review - Think Tank StreetWalker HardDrive

I bought this bag as a travel backpack and for times when I'm going to be walking quite a bit with my gear.  I wanted it to carry all my gear, including the laptop, and also be able to carry it on flights.

This bag really fits the bill.  The laptop compartment is large enough for a 17" macbook pro, and it fits my 15" macbook pro with a neoprene sleeve perfectly (double protection).  I like the easy access to the laptop as well. The zipper runs the length of the backpack's side.  The laptop sits against my back when I'm carrying the bag using the shoulder straps, which keeps it well protected.  The back padding on the bag also helps to protect it when it's not on my shoulders.

The main compartment of the bag holds my Nikon D700 with Grip, 14-24mm f2.8, 24-70mm f2.8, 70-200mm f2.8, SB800 flash, TC-14E Converter, 2.5" external harddrive, extra batteries, memory cards, and also some small cleaning supplies.  It holds all that and there's room to spare and could hold another DSLR body easily.  When I'm travelling, I actually am able to put my macbook power supply and iPod in there as well.  There are plenty of external/internal pockets that will hold even more 'stuff'.

The neatest feature of the bag is that you can leave a large lens such as a 70-200mm f2.8 on the camera body and it will still fit in the bag.   I've got the bag configured in such a way that I can leave any lens on the body and it will fit in the bag with all the remaining lenses in the other compartments.   You also have the option of tying a tripod to the outside of the bag.  There's a nylon sleeve on the bottom of the bag that pulls out and is used like a stirrup for the tripod.   The top of the tripod is tied to the bag using supplied straps. I haven't used this feature yet, but I'm sure it'll work just fine.   I also folded up the waist belt and hid it behind the lumbar support padding.   I usually have no need for a waist belt unless I'm hiking quite a bit.   Otherwise it jut gets in the way.   There's also a way to attach some of the nicer waist belts that Think Tank makes (for carrying gear) using a flap at the bottom of the bag.  The bag is very comfortable, even on longer walks or hikes, considering all the heavy glass I have in it, not to mention the laptop.

Although I usually shy away from 'Made In China' stuff, this bag is made with quality ballistic nylon and large size zippers that have seen plenty of sand and dirt and still function perfectly.   The fit and finish is superb, and I have yet to have any stitching come loose or any rips/tears.   I've travelled extensively with this bag and have been able to fit it in every overhead compartment. Although, on some of the shorter flights on regional jets, it's been a tight squeeze.  If Think Tank just shaved an inch and a half off the depth of the bag, it would be perfect. My lenses would still have plenty of room to breathe.

I'm really very happy with this bag and I think it's priced very reasonable for what you get.   Not much room for improvement, except that I wish it was a tad bit shallower.  There aren't many products that I actually grow to love over time but this bag is one of them.

Pros:
  -  Quality materials and workmanship
  -  Fits plenty of gear and laptop (with ease)
  -  External tripod carrier
  -  Sized for carry-on
  -  Shoulder straps are comfortable even on long hauls
  -  Priced reasonable

Cons:
  -  Could be about an inch to two shallower.  Lenses will still fit easily.



UPDATE:   I just purchased an SB-900 Flash and now am carrying both the SB-800 and SB-900 flashes in this bag.  Where I previously had the SB-800 in it's own bag, I was able to fit both flashes in the 'L' positions without their respective bags (no need for double protection).  I've also managed to fit the Novoflex minipod and legs into the bag. 

Review - Joby Gorillapod Focus

I own two full size tripods, but was really looking for something simple and small to stabilize the camera on. I've been on travel a lot lately, and usually don't like taking the large tripods.  I therefore would end up using the ground, rocks, or other places to lay the camera down, and shoot long exposures.  This actually worked out quite well, but it became cumbersome and a pain to set up.


Initially I thought the Gorillapod was more gimmick and marketing than anything else, but I figured for the type of shooting I've been doing lately and for the price it would fit my needs well.  I opted for the largest of the bunch (Focus) since I really didn't want any sagging as users have described with the next model down (SLR Zoom).  The heaviest equipment I would use on the Gorillapod is a Nikon D700 with grip and a 70-200mm f2.8 (less than 3Kg) . The Gorillapod Focus shouldn't have any issues with this setup according to its specs (up to 5Kg).


The Focus is built with slightly better materials than the other Gorillapod models. It uses anodized aluminum cups instead of plastic ones, but still uses the same Japanese ABS plastic for the balls. I've so far used it with my D700 (w/Grip) and a 24-70mm f2.8 as well as with a 14-24mm f2.8.  Setting the Gorillapod up takes a bit getting used to. I've noticed that bending the legs inward, instead of outward, gives it a little more stability (see photos). The feet also grip a little better this way since they are perpendicular to the ground.


My biggest gripe with the Gorillapod is mounting it on the camera when not using a ball head. Initially, I would turn the Gorillpod, and thread it into the camera. Although the bolt moves freely, it still had enough tension to tighten itself down onto the camera. I also noticed that you can remove the bolt by just pushing it through the tripod head. You could easily lose it if you're not careful.   When I removed the Gorillpod from the camera, however, I noticed it almost ripped apart the rubber bottom of the D700 grip (MB-D10). At first I thought, this was a mistake by myself, but when I held the Gorillapod in place and screwed just the bolt in, I encountered the same problem. This time it was so bad, that I have stopped using the Gorillapod for now.  I think what happened is that the Gorillapod still moved a bit and turned the rubber on the bottom of the camera grip.  I'm sure if I'm extremely careful it won't happen, but that would defeat the purpose of getting things set up in a rush (almost always).  Also, the philips head slot on the bolt is so shallow that it's a royal pain to screw the bolt in using a coin or even a screwdriver.  I actually ended up damaging the edges of a quarter trying to screw it in.  A ball head with adapter plate will probably fix all these problems, but I wanted to avoid getting too heavy and complicated with this setup.  Plus it would introduce more points that could create instability.


Once the camera is tightly on the Gorillapod there's none to very little sagging as others have complained with the smaller Gorillpods.  The only time I did notice it sag is when the legs were at angled far out.  Straightening the legs more perpendicular to the ground (45+ degrees) would fix this issue.  I also noticed that the camera was quite shaky.  Enough so that a little wind could easily shake the camera. I'm even wondering if the shutter opening and closing could cause the tripod to slightly shake.   I'm guessing that this comes from having so many joints.  Each joint slightly adds to the instability of the overall tripod.  I took a video showing how easy it is to shake the camera while mounted tightly on the Gorillapod:





Overall I would not recommend the Gorillapod for anything larger than a Point and Shoot or small DSLR camera.  I think for lighter cameras the Gorillapods will work just fine.  I'm not sure if tightening the tolerances on the joints would fix the camera shake.  I think it's just a matter of it always being less stable than a traditional tripod due to the many joints.  Personally I would be ok with just having one or two joints on each leg section, since I don't ever see myself mounting it to a railing or pole.  The Gorillapod is a neat idea, but in practice it doesn't work for larger size cameras.


Here are some more images: