Great shot: cool photography gear for summer

Posted by Melanie van Zyl on 23 November 2015

From canine-perspective snapshots to quick-draw camera brackets, we’ve found some of the coolest summer photography gadgets to add to your travel kit.

1. Hands-free photography with Capture Pro

R1199, photogadgets.co.za

Tested by Getaway’s photo editor Teagan Cunniffe, the Peak Design Camera Capture Pro is a practical piece of gear that prevents photography becoming a pain in the neck. The nifty clip fastens to a backpack strap or belt and easily carries heavy DSLR gear, taking the weight off your neck. It’s handy when you have to focus on other things like cycling or hiking, and stops your precious camera swinging and knocking into rocks or trees.

The Camera Capture Pro on the Otter Trail.

This piece has been sorely missed on assignments since testing and Teagan recommends it to all photographers who need to multitask.

2. GoPro Dog Mount

R290, xtreme-xccessories.co.za

I’m not sure that the surfer who invented the GoPro envisioned his revolutionary camera being strapped to pets, but the Dog Fetch Harness is sure to capture some interesting footage. If you’re one to bring the hounds on holiday, the padded harness can be positioned to capture events from its back or chest as you play ‘fetch’ on the beach.

3. Thule Covert Camera Bag

R2999, thule.com

Versatile and stylish this black Thule Covert DSLR rolltop backpack is a slick camera bag that’ll fit plenty of photographic gear, but doesn’t advertise it thanks to the typical daypack look. The last thing you want to look like in a foreign country is an affluent tourist. Weighing a lightweight 2,3kgs it fits one lens-loaded camera plus two extra lenses and a speedlight flash. The camera pod is easily removable if you want to use it as an ordinary rucksack and it’s adventure-ready with a water-resistant exterior and multiple tripod-carrying options. In keeping with its techie looks, there’s enough space for a MacBook Pro laptop and an iPad.

Also read: Camera bags that won’t make you look like a tourist

4. Pint-sized pics with the Cansonic UltraDVAction Camera

R3999, planetworld.co.za

Cansonic UltraDVAction Camera - Getaway Magazine

What sets the Cansonic UltraDVAction Camera apart from its competitors is the number of features for its price. The tiny, six centimeter-long package that’s no bigger than the palm of your hand comes with a variety of mounts including a handlebar cycling option plus a 32GB memory card, which would usually set you back a couple hundred bucks. Features include automatic timelapse, motion detection, geotagging using Google Maps, waterproof recording to 30 metres, WiFi connectivity and full HD video recording.

5. Snap, drop and roll with the Canon D30

R3189, fotodiscountworld.co.za

If using a GoPro feels intimidating, the handsome Canon PowerShot D30 is a straightforward point and shoot with excellent action camera features. A tough little snapper, it’s waterproof to 25 metres, shockproof up to two-metre drops and dustproof to boot. The 12,1-megapixel system is great in low-light conditions and it’ll shoot tagged HD holiday videos thanks to the nifty GPS logging system. Other awesome details include slow motion ability, panoramic shooting and 32 scene options.

6. The Powertraveller MiniGorilla

R1299, duesouth.co.za

Compact, lightweight, tough and easy enough for granddad to use, the Powertraveller Minigorilla is one souped-up power pack. Initially designed to fuel a netbook (the tech-term for a tiny laptop) the powerful 9000mAh battery is the perfect for charging digital cameras on the go, as well as other gadgets like smartphones, tablets, rechargeable headlamps and GPS devices. The voltage outputs are adjustable depending on the device being charged (tablets require a higher voltage to smartphones) and one charge is enough to fill an iPhone roughly three times. Pack this if you’re going off the grid but still want to plug in vital coordinates or keep the camera alive.

Great shot: cool photography gear for summer