GearFlogger

Digital Photography Outdoors book

In Some Like It Hot Jack Lemmon describes watching Marilyn Monroe walk as "like jell-o on springs!" That type of unpredictable motion also happens to describe my photographs, and that mental association may explain why I want to lick them... but I digress.

Optical image stabilization helps with the jell-o shots - mmm, jell-o shots - but there is a heck of lot else to learn about shooting good pics. Breathe easily, because it's all here: Digital Photography Outdoors (second edition) is a graduate class for all us waffle-stompers. It starts with the basics in a chapter aptly titled "The old rules of photography still apply" that covers composition, light and some other ground rules.

The book marches on through equipment, advanced techniques and getting the most out of your "digital darkroom." It's all extremely well-organized and informative, with plenty of clearly illustrated examples. One example of the detail you get is in the treatment of "workflow," the process of moving an image from capture to output and all the in-between steps that can affect final image quality. Photographs are a vital part of post-adventure enjoyment, and Digital Photography Outdoors will help you make the most of them.

$12.70 at Amazon

Kata DR-467 Digital Rucksack

If you're looking for a camera bag that can hang with your body armor, you must be looking for Kata bags. Their new DR-467 Digital Rucksack will ensure that even as you end your career as an unsightly red smear on some godforsaken rock ledge in Trashcanistan, your relatives will be able to recover your laptop and find all your fetish porn.

Things our photography reviewer liked: yellow high-visibility interior, stealthy exterior that doesn't scream "steal my expensive cameras," tough shell material and zippers, plenty of useful pockets and a ginormous laptop compartment. Things that could be improved: vestigial hip belt = painful under heavy loads, teeny-tiny water bottle holder that for some unknown reason zips into the pack and no tripod holder.

The bottom compartment pops out for easy access, and can take two SLRs and a boatload of accessories. The foam dividers can be removed for more conventional daypack use. Comes with a fitted rain cover and is fully compatible with various carrying systems from Kata. Bottom line: great for a photojournalist or street photographer who wants to keep a low profile.

$79.95 at Amazon.com

Flip Video Ultra camcorder

Usability is perhaps the most-often effed up feature of modern electronics, and backcountry adventures will point out the lack of intelligent design faster than most activities. Swimming against the tide is the Flip Video series of camcorders from Pure Digital, which carry the KISS principle - Keep it Simple for Simpletons like me - to a sublime extreme.

The Flip is an idiot-proof camcorder that is small, reliable and captures good low-resolution video that can be uploaded to YouTube and other video-sharing services with a single click. The Flip stores video on internal flash memory: 1GB and 2GB for 30 and 60 minutes respectively. Here's how it works: (1) turn it on; (2) press record, and (3) flip out the internal USB connector and connect it to your PC (sorry, no Mac compatibility). The software installs automatically from the device. It's so simple even a sport climber can use it.

The Flip Ultra takes two AA batteries, weighs 5oz., has a 1.5 inch transflective TFT LCD viewing screen on the back, a tripod mount, and has a plethora - yes, a plethora I say - of accessories available for various pornographic adventurous activities. The software can automatically add effects and edit footage, or you can bring the Flip to various drug store chains (Rite-Aid, CVS, etc.) and for $13 they'll burn a DVD for you. For day-use low-res video it doesn't get any better than this.

$149.99 at Amazon.com

Kata T-212 camera bag

Who is this dork? Who cares? It's all about the bag, in this case the Kata T-212 torso pack. Kata bags are Israeli-made and combat proven, providing serious protection for your big-ticket electronics.

The T-212 is part of Kata's "ergonomic photo" EPH system; it connects to various waist packs and backpacks for flexibility and optimal weight distribution. The T-212 fits SLRs and small camcorders, although not with a lot of accessories. This bag is more in the minimalist mode.

The top-loading front-carry design with high-visibility yellow interior provides great ergonomics, with a wide and comfortable shoulder strap. The accessory pockets are a bit deep and narrow, and it could use some small pockets in the main compartment for batteries and digital media. Overall it's a pleasant and functional companion, which is more than I can say for my climbing partner.

$62.95 at Amazon.com

Olympus 720sw camera

So I'm cavorting - and yes, at my age that hurts - in the waves on the Riviera Maya, and I get the bright idea to capture the moment by balancing my camera on the edge of a beached boat for a timed picture.

You know what happens next; wave action converts expensive digital camera to waterlogged paperweight. The only upside is I get smart and pick up an Olympus 720sw, a sexy, shiny pint-sized 6oz wonder that is waterproof and shock resistant.

I could go on about features (7 megapixels, 3x optical zoom), picture quality (great), usability (excellent), and cool extras (beach/snow mode, slideshow with music). But other cameras can match those specs. What you won't find is a competitor that's waterproof to ten feet for one hour, and shock resistant to a five foot drop. As an added bonus, the waterproof design is highly dust-resistant as well.

And here's the clincher: the 720sw not only survives underwater, it thrives. You can take pictures while submerged! The quality of these shots is great and opens up an amazing range of possibilities. The only downside is the xD format picture card, which limits capacity to 1GB.

$319.94 at Amazon.com

Spiderbrace Mini-Rig

No s**t, there I was, hanging upside down from a leashless ice tool I held in my mouth and a greasy heel hook. I'm working my latest project, tentatively titled I Love Me, which I rate conservatively at Alaska Grade 7, 5.15e, WI 9X, AI 8, M13XXX OMFG.

Don't believe me? Shame on you, 'cause I caught it all on my camcorder, and the footage is flawlessly stable thanks to my new Spiderbrace Mini-Rig shoulder mount. Sure, you could just quit drinking and bypass the DTs, but where's the fun in that?

The Spiderbrace stows easily on the side of your pack and weighs under 15oz. If it's important enough to capture on tape, it's important enough to do it right and that means stabilization of the camera. As an added bonus you can use it at home and in hotel rooms.

$49.95 at Spiderbrace

Kata S-312 camera bag

Kata is a Japanese word meaning, "how to get your a** kicked on the street." It's also an Israeli company that produces high-tech paramilitary gear including beefy and functional bags.

The Kata S-312 - catchy, I know - is a compact and intelligently designed sling-style carry case that works great for grab-and-go. It has a padded camera compartment plus various other pockets for a cell phone, etc.

While other companies throw around words like ergonomic with no particular care as to its accuracy, Kata bags do it right with a sling design that is comfortable and fully adjustable.

$43.99 at Amazon.com

Joby Gorillapod SLR tripod

The Joby Gorillapod SLR is the big brother of the previously reviewed Gorillapod tripod. It's  identical in every way, just with bigger balls - now stop that juvenile snickering!

It's got the same great slim camera mount that locks into place, big sticky rubber equators around each of its big balls, sticky rubber feet on each of its three legs and its universal 1/4-20 screw holds DSLRs and camcorders up to 2.5lbs.

I really can't sing the praises of these two tripods enough. The flexibility in being able to adjust to uneven surfaces or wrap around branches, poles or whatever just rocks.

$49.95 at Joby

Joby Gorillapod tripod

What this has to do with gorillas - or pods for that matter - I don't know. What I do know is I love this thing. It is a combination tripod and flexible grab-onto-anything clampy thingy.

Works on tree branches, tent poles, uneven surfaces, you name it. Each spherical segment has a little rubber equator that provides great traction. Weighs only 1.6oz and works with cameras up to 12.5oz.

$24.95 at Joby.com