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The Smoke NINJA is a budget-friendly, portable smoke machine

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Smoke machines are a great way to add a cinematic atmosphere to your set. On the other hand, smoke machines are typically big and cumbersome and require on-set handling. And this is precisely the issue that the Smoke NINJA (on Kickstarter soon) from PMI is trying to solve.

If you’ve been around, you are probably familiar with the Smoke Genie (also from PMI). This is a phone-sized portable smoke machine packed with features, and it costs accordingly – $595. Now, PMI is creating an entry-level model with a similar set of features, with a price to match.

The Quick Precision Tripod Head offers a completely new take on tripod heads

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There are a lot of different tripod heads out there. You’ve got ball heads, 3-way heads, Wimberley gimbal heads, geared heads, fluid video heads, and on and on. Lots of different designs that have been around now for decades.

Well, the Quick Precision Tripod Head (back here) is a new take on the tripod head that’s come to Kickstarter. It combines the best of ball heads and three-way heads for a very unique result.

DaptKey is a new desktop console to streamline your creative workflow

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Desktop consoles have become very popular over the last few years. We’ve seen a number of them from companies like Loupedeck, Elgato and TourBox. Well, now there’s a new player in town. DaptKey.

Currently running on Kickstarer, DaptKey takes some of the best features from each and incorporates them into a new unit that features genuine Cherry MX keys – with OLED displays, and several large OLED dials.

The ONDU Eikan large format Camera comes in 4×5 and 4×10 panoramic options

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Large format cameras seem to be popping up all over the place at the moment, particularly on crowdfunding sites. The ONDU Eikan (buy here) seems to be a little bit different, though. As well as being available in the standard 4×5 large format sheet film, it also comes in a 4×10 panoramic variety. It’s currently running on Kickstarter, where it’s already more than doubled its goal.

The Eikan’s creator, Elvis Halilović – shown above with the 4×10 panoramic version of the camera – says that it’s been in the making for ten years. But he says he wasn’t ready to bring this particular one to market until he felt he had something new to offer. Now, he feels that he does with the ONDU Eikan’s modular design.

Sharge is a tiny, fast and durable portable SSD for shooting on location

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M.2 NVMe SSDs have been out for long enough now that they’re starting to be replaced. Smaller 512GB and 1TB SSDs are being replaced by 2TB and 4TB SSDs, and then your old SSDs often end up sitting in a drawer for the rest of their lives. What else can we do with them? Well, we can turn them into portable SSDs using some form of enclosure.

There are plenty of SSD enclosures on the market, but Sharge (back here) seems to be targeted squarely at location shooting and those who need to access data on the go. Sharge is launching on Kickstarter, where it’s currently available with pledges starting at only $39. There are optional extras to add M.2 SSD storage up to 2TB, but you can just roll your own with a bare enclosure.

Compact cameras meet comfort with Peak Design’s Micro Clutch

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Camera companies are in a race for smaller, more compact cameras. Just compare the good old Nikon D4 to the recently launched ZV-E1 II – it’s mini! But there’s always a trade-off, isn’t it? You start with a smaller sensor, a tinier battery, and fewer buttons – all to make the camera smaller. One of the features that is left behind for the small form factor is the hand grip. Some companies like Fuji and Leica have ditched the hand grip altogether for some models. Just take a look at the Leica M11. Zero hand-grip! For some, this is okay, but for me, I’m torn between needing a comfy grip and wanting a more compact camera. Now, Peak Design’s new Micro Clutch might just be the solution.

The Micro Clutch is a small strap that goes from the bottom of your camera and connects to the top corner, creating a “loop” around your shooting hand. This creates a better holding experience and less chance of your camera falling off your hands.

The Micro Clutch is currently on Kickstarter, and is sold at an early bird price of $50. But if you are coveting some other Peak Design, there are heavy discounts on a lot of other Peak Design gear bundles.

Zipble is a modular “DIY” camera backpack coming to Kickstarter

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Camera bags come in all shapes and sizes. The big problem with most of them, though, is that they’re only ever that one shape or size. There are a few hybrid bags out there that can act in multiple ways, like the Manfrotto Advanced² Hybrid Backpack (buy here), and others like the Cosyspeed PhotoHiker 44 (buy here), which have modular inserts, but you can’t really change the overall form and size of the bag.

Launching on Kickstarter, Zipble aims to change this with its truly modular camera bag. It’s built up of multiple sections that zip together, allowing you to create exactly the type of backpack you need to carry your gear. Or, quick-change it as needed for different tasks and jobs instead of needing to own fifteen different camera bags.

Jollylook Pinhole SQUARE DIY pinhole camera kit shoots Instax square film

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Jollylook’s journey has been quite interesting. From its initial cardboard origins in 2017, we’ve now arrived at its latest release. This time, it’s a square format pinhole camera DIY kit. It appears to be based on the previous Jollylook Pinhole released last year but utilising the Instax square format instant film.

The company says that the Jollylook Pinhole SQUARE is an innovative, eco-friendly DIY kit that lets photography enthusiasts create their own instant film camera from scratch. As with their past releases, Jollylook has taken to Kickstarter to launch the new Jollylook Pinhole SQUARE.

Cameraframe is a piece of wall art made from real camera parts

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As much as we like to see cameras working and shooting images, they sometimes just die beyond repair. And when cameras become useless, what can you do? Well, for one Italian company, you can turn them into attractive wall art. Cameraframe is a company that’s turning digital and film cameras into interesting and unique wall art pieces by dismantling them and arranging them inside a frame.

Each piece is a one-of-a-kind piece of art which the company says “combines function and form in a truly unique way”. Unique, yes. Function? I’m not so sure it has much of that in its dismantled state. They do look pretty cool, though. The company has taken to Kickstarter to launch the digital Cameraframe V1 and the analogue Cameraframe V2.

Peak Design Micro Clutch is a low-profile hand strap for your mirrorless camera

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Peak Design has announced its new Micro Clutch hand strap for mirrorless cameras (back here). It’s an update to the company’s popular Clutch for DSLRs (buy here). While many of the company’s products go straight to retail these days, Peak Design is taking to Kickstarter for this one. It’s been a good platform for them, and the Micro Clutch is Peak Design’s 11th Kickstarter campaign.

The new Micro Clutch is designed specifically for the smaller form factor of modern mirrorless cameras, which are much smaller than the DSLRs of the past. It features a recycled aluminium baseplate with a sliding screw slot to fit many different models of mirrorless cameras and a stitchless hypalon hand pad with rotating pivot points for comfortable fit and easy transition between holding and shooting.

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