SetupsReviewsStrategyGear PickerDeals
SearchNewsletter

Author: Adam Talks Tech

  • Impact Double Ball Joint Head: any angle, locked solid

    The verdict

    Baby pins on both ends (one 3/8″, one 1/4″-20) and a ratcheting handle — an easy way to point a camera or light at an awkward angle, then lock it rock-solid.

    What’s good
    ✓  A baby pin on each side (3/8″ and 1/4″-20) mounts almost anything
    ✓  Ratcheting handle loosens and locks the joint
    ✓  Extremely strong once tightened — the pins don’t budge
    ✓  Works in super clamps
    Worth knowing
    ·  B&H sent these to test and review

    Worth keeping a couple in the kit for mounting a camera or light to a stand or clamp at any angle.

    Where to buy

    Impact Double Ball Joint Head

    Check price

    Some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.

  • Impact 6″ extension arm: reach off a super clamp, no rotation

    The verdict

    A 6-inch extension arm that locks solidly into a super clamp and won’t rotate — a versatile way to reach an accessory out from a light stand.

    What’s good
    ✓  Spigot and hex head lock into a super clamp so it won’t rotate
    ✓  Clamp safety means it only pops out when you press the button
    ✓  Takes both hex-head and round accessories
    ✓  6″ of reach
    Worth knowing
    ·  B&H sent this to review

    Mount monitors, lights or cameras out from a stand, a clamp or a desktop surface.

    Where to buy

    Impact 6″ Extension Arm with Spigot

    Check price

    Some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.

  • Tilta BLK-22 4-bay charger: top up Lumix batteries over USB-C

    The verdict

    A handy four-slot charger for Panasonic BLK-22 batteries — OEM or third-party — that runs off a single USB-C port.

    What’s good
    ✓  Charges any BLK-22 cell (OEM or third party); they snap into the top
    ✓  Included lid keeps batteries from falling out in a bag
    ✓  Light (~0.4 lb), single USB-C, up to 45W
    ✓  Status lights (green / orange / red); slots 1–2 charge faster, 3–4 slower
    Worth knowing
    ·  45W shared across four bays — use slots 1–2 when you want the quickest charge

    It’s easier than juggling individual USB-C batteries — just tuck any cell in and it’s charging. Tilta makes versions for other camera brands too.

    Where to buy

    Tilta BLK-22 4-Bay Charger

    Check price

    Some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.

  • Impact Super Clamp with T-Handle: grip for tight spaces

    The verdict

    A super clamp with a T-handle that’s ideal in tight spaces — easy to torque down hard, and every bit as sturdy as the Manfrotto and Matthews clamps I’ve tested.

    What’s good
    ✓  T-handle torques down easily with a good grip
    ✓  Includes a hex brass stud (1/4″-20 one side, baby pin the other) that locks and won’t twist
    ✓  Doesn’t stick out as far as a ratcheting-style clamp
    ✓  Clamps to round pipes and stands, or flat surfaces like a desk with the right-angle adapter
    Worth knowing
    ·  B&H sent this to review

    Great for mounting lights, cameras or any accessory off a pipe, stand or desk edge.

    Where to buy

    Impact Super Clamp with T-Handle

    Check price

    Some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.

  • Leaplumin Arca clamp: an Arca dovetail on both ends

    The verdict

    A clever Arca clamp with an Arca dovetail on the bottom too — so you can re-orient a plate, adapt a gimbal, magic arm or tripod, and still trust it with a real camera.

    What’s good
    ✓  Arca clamp on top and an Arca dovetail on the bottom — redirect a plate’s orientation
    ✓  3/8″ screw, two 1/4″-20s, and a 1/4″-to-3/8″ adapter in the box
    ✓  Anti-drop safety so it won’t slide straight off
    ✓  Knurled knob tightens easily; feels sturdy and high quality
    Worth knowing
    ·  It’s an adapter — one more link in the chain if you don’t need the re-orientation

    I use these to hang cameras from the ceiling as well as on tripods, magic arms and other accessories — anywhere I want to standardize on Arca.

    Where to buy

    Leaplumin Arca-Swiss Clamp

    Check price

    Some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.

  • Smallrig 4092 cage: one cage for every Lumix body

    The verdict

    A do-it-all cage that fits almost any Lumix body — S5 II, S5 IIX, S1 II, S1R II, S1 IIE — so useful I ended up buying three.

    What’s good
    ✓  Works across the whole Lumix lineup — buy the cage once, use it on every body
    ✓  NATO rails on top and side for handles
    ✓  Built-in Arca plate on the bottom, plus 1/4″-20 and 3/8″ threads throughout
    ✓  Integrated tool that stores on the bottom; still reach every knob and the record button
    Worth knowing
    ·  It’s a cage — adds a bit of size and weight, as any cage does

    It attaches with a bottom screw and locking side pieces, stays comfortable in the hand, and integrates cleanly with the Lumix grip.

    Where to buy

    Smallrig 4092 Cage for Lumix

    Check price

    Some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.

  • How to mount a top-down camera from a ceiling

    The short version

    How to hang a top-down camera (or a light) from the ceiling using a B&H wall plate with a swivel pin — the flexible, solid way to get a clean overhead shot. Thanks to B&H for the hardware.

    What you need

    A B&H wall plate with a swivel pin, your own screws (none included), and — strongly recommended — a stud finder (I like the Franklin one). I used spax Torx screws with a nice wide head, and an impact driver makes the whole job easier.

    Mount it into a stud

    Find your stud and drive into it — I used two holes in a line straight into the stud. If you can’t hit a stud, use a high-quality wall anchor. The swivel-pin knob then lets you set the exact angle you need, which is perfect on an angled ceiling.

    Where to buy

    Check price

    Some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.

  • Senal MC 24 ES: a sleeper shotgun mic for creators

    The verdict

    A sleeper shotgun mic for creators who want clean, directional audio without luxury-brand prices — it runs around $160 and is often cheaper.

    What’s good
    ✓  Rich, natural vocal sound
    ✓  Hypercardioid pattern focuses on what’s in front and rejects the sides
    ✓  Selectable 180 Hz high-pass filter to kill low-end rumble and AC hum
    ✓  Compact 7.1″ brass body — mounts on-camera fine
    Worth knowing
    ·  Needs 48V phantom power over XLR — best with a 32-bit float interface
    ·  For the cleanest sound, position it just out of frame
    ·  B&H sent this mic for review

    I ran it straight into the Lumix XLR2, and the whole review is recorded on it so you can hear it for yourself. A great pick for talking head and beyond.

    Where to buy

    Senal MC 24 ES XLR Microphone

    Check price

    Some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.

  • How to install Lumix S1 II / S1R II / S1 IIE firmware

    The short version

    Updating the Lumix S1 II, S1R II or S1 IIE firmware is quick — download the BIN file, copy it to a formatted card, and run the update from the menu.

    Download the firmware

    On Panasonic’s website, find your camera and click to download its firmware. You need the BIN file — accept the user agreement so the download actually starts.

    Copy it to the card

    Drag the BIN file straight onto a freshly formatted SD card — no need to unzip anything. Then eject the card safely.

    Run the update

    Put the card in the camera, then go to Menu → the wrench (Others 1) → Firmware Version → Firmware Update → Yes. Give it a moment; it finishes and restarts on its own. Confirm it worked under Firmware Version.

    Some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.

  • Impact LS-BHA: turn a light stand into a camera stand

    The verdict

    The little adapter that turns a light stand into a camera stand — 3/8″ on top, and baby-pin or junior-pin mounting below.

    What’s good
    ✓  3/8″ thread on top for a tripod head
    ✓  Bottom works as a baby-pin receiver
    ✓  Remove the side knob and it inserts into a junior stand
    ✓  Grub screws lock a tripod head down — even for panning
    Worth knowing
    ·  B&H sent this to review

    If you already own light stands, this is the cheapest way to press them into service as camera stands.

    Where to buy

    Impact LS-BHA Baby Ball Head Adapter

    Check price

    Some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.