Pentax PF-80ED Angled & 8-24mm Zoom by Michael Chamberlain      Date Added: Thursday 25 September, 2008

This is a very high quality telescope at a very reasonable price. For a detailed technical appraisal go to "Better View Desired" a website which reviews optical equipment for birdwatchers. The controls on the scope are both very easily operated giving perfect control over focus & zoom. The depth of field is good and the 80 mm objective lens gives a significantly brighter image at distance than my previous 60mm scope. This is a heavy scope and you will need a strong and stable tripod so the whole rig is quite heavy but I don't know of a better seawatching scope for the price.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Cokin Close Up +2 Filter - P102 by Colin Riggs      Date Added: Monday 22 September, 2008

First impressions are that this filter works well to provide additional magnification. It remains to be seen if this has any negative effects on the picture quality. In terms of build quality though the filter appears to be excellent, feeling very sturdy and coming supplied with a good quality case. I believe this product will make an effective and inexpensive alternative to a macro lens for those who can not justify the expense of a new lens!

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Cokin P Series Filter Cap - P252 by Colin Riggs      Date Added: Monday 22 September, 2008

A filter cap that attaches to the Cokin filter holder meaning that this does not have to be removed from the lens between shots. A very useful addition to your Cokin filter set up. The filter cap appears to provide a reasonable seal and will certainly stop the element of the lens being scratched. The only problem I have is that the filter cap is fiddly and slow to remove so you might end up missing the moment!

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Cokin BP400 P Series Filter Holder & 27 Page Catalogue by Colin Riggs      Date Added: Monday 22 September, 2008

Part of the excellent Cokin filter set up. Highly recommended, especially if your lens does not have a rotating final element. The Cokin filter system allows your filters to be used on each of your lenses (assuming you have the correct adapter ring). Bought this time as a present as I have been so impressed with mine.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Tamron 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Lens Nikon Fitting by Paul Davies      Date Added: Sunday 21 September, 2008

First impressions of this lens are that it is excellent value for money and I am very happy with it so far. I have not had the opportunity to use it for long but so far the images are crystal clear at both 18 and 200mm. The lens itself also seems very robust and sturdy, but it is not so heavy as to make it unusable for everyday shots. My only criticism so far is that the AF seems to 'search' for a very long time in lower light (on a Sony A200K) and so in this situation it is better to use MF, which is not a problem for me as I prefer to shoot with MF anyway! On the whole though definately more than adequate as an all-round lens for a wide range of shots!

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Retractable Rubber Lens Hood 49mm by Peter Ferrer      Date Added: Friday 19 September, 2008

Again Bristol Cameras came to the rescue after searching for a suitable hood- the answer was to use this hood with the step up ring also revied here. A simple solution. Well done and delivered promptly Well packed. Peter

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Stepping Ring - 34-49mm by Peter Ferrer      Date Added: Friday 19 September, 2008

Well packed and did not have to wait long.Looked in vain for stepping rings elsewhere but Bristol Cameras came to the rescue- well done. It was to adapt an older Large Foramt camera lens to filters. for b&W photos- and the size 32mm seemed difficult to get until I came acrsoss the the step up fring on the BristolCamera web site Thanks, Peter

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Canon 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM EF-S Lens by Chris Evans      Date Added: Friday 19 September, 2008

I was initially concerned about the bulk of this lens, and the shorter range than my 17-85 mm lens, but the wider aperture and image quality have won me over to using this as my standard lens.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash by David Collomb      Date Added: Tuesday 16 September, 2008

Very nice product! I've tried the 430EX a few months ago and I then decided to buy an external flash. The 430EX II Flash is at least as good as the previous version. I find the quick release system much better than the previous system. Regarding the 20% recycling time improvement I can't tell from my experience so far with the two flashes. The flash is well constructed and not too heavy and the price from Bristol Cameras is the best on the market so don't hesitate! The results of using an external flash have definitely nothing to do with using the built in flash. Images are just beautiful with this flash!

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Manfrotto 234RC Monopod Head by Alan Lomax      Date Added: Monday 15 September, 2008

Excellent product & service!!! It's nice to see a well structured website and a comprehensive range of photography equipment. I will be using this site again in the future. You're now in my Favourites for Camera gear. I look forward to visiting Bristol for a quick visit

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Nikon CF-D200 Leather Zoomster Case by Steve Hagan      Date Added: Sunday 14 September, 2008

Fairly expensive accessory.......but, it fits the camera perfectly, accepts the on camera strap and fittings extremely well. Gives quick access to the camera, offers medium camera protection and looks a million dollars. Would recommend.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Canon 17-85mm f4.0-5.6 IS USM EF-S Lens by Tim Wright      Date Added: Sunday 14 September, 2008

A great value general purpose lens. L series it aint, but image quality is great with only slight vignetting at very wide angles. Sharpness is good in the central part of the image and only slightly soft in the corners. It's not over heavy and sits nicely even on a lightweight body like a EOS350; it's really well balanced on a EOS40D. The lens is a bit slow for low light work, but the image stabilisation goes a long way to make up for the rather small maximum aperture. With a bit of practice it genuinely does give 3 stops latitude. It can be tough to get a nicely out of focus background though, so having a really fast cheap 35mm prime in the bag is not a bad idea.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Kenko AF DG Extension Tube Set Nikon by Tim Wright      Date Added: Sunday 14 September, 2008

Optically of course these things are entirely neutral so really I am reviewing build quality more than anything. On this basis they are not quite up to OEM Canon quality but perfectly serviceable and all the connections work fine. I've achieved some very nice results and can recommend.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Manfrotto 80cm Unpadded Tripod Bag (MB MBAG80N) by John Henderson      Date Added: Tuesday 09 September, 2008

For years I've carried my tripod around on a shoulder strap but decided that not only was it getting knocked about but it was scratching the car's interior. I now wish I'd bought the bag earlier, because it is so much more comfortable to carry and stops the tripod digging you in the back as you walk or banging against your hip.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Pentax 35mm f2.8 SMC DA Macro Limited Lens by David Harris      Date Added: Tuesday 09 September, 2008

This lens has received excellent reviews. My initial experiences are that it is a wonderful lens. Firstly, the lens is all metal, beutifully engineered and a joy to use. Sharpness is first rate, as is the fall off to out of focus areas (bokeh).

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 G AF-S ED VR DX Lens by Mark Kaplan      Date Added: Sunday 07 September, 2008

This lens is very well made and, in the short time I have had it, produces great pictures. The zoom range is perfect for everyday use and if a stronger telephoto is needed a dedicated lens would be a better bet. Not being ambitious allows the lens to be relatively compact and not too heavy, unlike "all in one" lenses such as an 18-200. In summary a very good lens particularly if you favour the wide-angle side of photography.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS EF-S Lens by Tom Wood      Date Added: Sunday 07 September, 2008

This is a great little lens. Don't be fooled that it's a 'kit' lens - the optical quality is superb. At the wide end, this lens suffers from much less chromatic aberration (colour fringing) than the three-times more expensive EF-S 17-85 IS USM - I have just 'upgraded' to this cheaper lens as the optics are so much better! Build quality is good for the price too.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Stofen Omni Bounce For Sony HVL-F56AM by Tina Sheikh      Date Added: Saturday 06 September, 2008

When I first received this, I thought it was the wrong defuser. It is such a tight fit, it took me a while to fit it over my flash gun. But it does fit, it works, it does the job. I shot a gig with the defuser and I still had strong shadows, even with the flash on it's lowest settings. And why do I have to pay ?15 for a piece of plastic?!

Rating: [2 of 5 Stars!]

Nikon HB-29 Lens Hood by William Thorne      Date Added: Saturday 06 September, 2008

A must have product, which I bought as a replacement for the one I lost recently. It's supposed to lock onto the 70-200mm lens but in my opinion it's not that effective. I was in Budapest recently photographing Iron Maiden at the Sziget Festival and on leaving the photo pit, my lens hood was somehow knocked off my lens and ended up trampled underfoot by some of the 40,000 metal fans there! ?30 is a lot of money for a bit of plastic, but if it cuts out flare and helps to protect a ?1000 lens, then it's got to be worth it.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash by Henry Wincewicz      Date Added: Wednesday 03 September, 2008

I have not had much time to assess the flash gun fully, but the times I have used it the pictures have been far superior to the cameras inbuilt flash. The unit itself is compact, neat, and the flash is ready again to use in a instant. A very good flash gun.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Canon Deluxe Gadget Bag 10EG by Henry Wincewicz      Date Added: Wednesday 03 September, 2008

I first saw this bag in my local camera shop at over twice the price. I liked the bag, it was the right size for my camera, lenses and other bits. It has plenty of space in the main compartment for cameras, lenses, flash and more. It also has pockets all round for any other accessories. A very nice looking and practical camera gadget bag.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Olympus E System Backpack by Michael Field      Date Added: Tuesday 02 September, 2008

The backpack has plenty of room for one or two cameras plus two more lenses and a large flashgun. Unfortunately it is necessary to dismantle the flash handle/bar to fit it into the bag - not too big a problem. Overall, a well designed product that has almost everything needed, the one weakness being the number of dividers which could be increased by three or four in number and two more velcro ended retaining straps would also be useful.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Ewa Marine C35 Basic SLR Cape by Janice Roberts      Date Added: Tuesday 02 September, 2008

The cape is well made and cleverly designed. It seems to protect well in conditions with light rain and little wind. For the price it is great, and easy to carry in the camera case just in case of unexpected rain!

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Canon Deluxe Gadget Bag 10EG by Leon Oldbury      Date Added: Tuesday 02 September, 2008

The gadget bag proved to be better than I expected. It is tougher than most with enough pockets to confuse even the Artful Dodger. I easily got into it (safely) my Canon EOS, my JVC camcorder, all the spare batteries and accessories, my pac-a-mac, and still have a compartment spare to take my chargers when I go on holiday. The strap that comes with it is the first one ever not to slip off my shoulder - it is specifically shaped and designed to stay put. And it looks professional, too.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Tamrac 5693 Digital 3 Black by John Godber      Date Added: Monday 01 September, 2008

Bag is perfect fit for the Finepix s1000fd camera we have. It's lightweight but strong, and has a handy zipped pouch which is ideal for spare batteries or memory cards. The position of the strap and the main flap make the camera very easily accessible when being carried over the shoulder.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Manfrotto 234RC Monopod Head by Mark Shaw      Date Added: Thursday 28 August, 2008

Perfect match to any Manfrotto monopod, this head is really sturdy and inspires trust on all levels. It has a regular quick release head (plate is included) and has an additional locking mechanism to prevent the catch opening by accident (a nice touch). There is one simple twist-lock to rotate the camera either from portrait to landscape (primary use) or simply to adjust elevation and there is no slip even with my Nikon 18-200mm VR lens fully extended. A quality item all round and, whilst a bit pricey, does exactly what you need it to do with the minimum of fuss.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Inov8 Battery Charger For Nikon EN-EL3e by David Nicol      Date Added: Tuesday 26 August, 2008

This device is a real winner: The fact is its light and very portable, the biggest single benefit is it works in the car via the 12v phone charger but also the mains socket is adaptable so when touring or holiday the camera is now as easy to charge as the phone. Another real winner from Bristol Cameras.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Stepping Ring - 46-55mm Step Up by Cm Stephenson      Date Added: Tuesday 26 August, 2008

Simple, straightforward and does what it says on the packaging. I don't need to buy replacement filters now for my new digital camera - I can continue to use my Cokin P filters; and having checked out the price of new filters this was easily the best value for money to solve the problem.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Sealife SL1515 DC500 Battery Charger by Christine Goodall      Date Added: Tuesday 26 August, 2008

A neat little charger, just right for traveling. Much easier than charging the battery in the camera and means that a spare battery can be charged while out on a dive so there's no waiting around hoping the battery will be charged enough for the next.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 EX DC Lens + Filter Four Thirds Fitting by Howard Winwood      Date Added: Monday 25 August, 2008

What a super lens, excellent sharpness, good colour and clarity, 10 - 20mm equiv to 20 - 40mm on my four thirds camera, next nearest lenses from Olympus are 7 - 14mm and 11 - 22mm. 11-22 now quite old but still cost ?500+, 7-14mm super lens but at 3 times the cost of the Sigma, way out of my price range. Sigma sometimes not rated too highly due to quality issues in past, but build quality looks superb, sigma also now offering 3 year warranty for registering online. On the basis of this lens I would not hesitate to purchase another Sigma product, fantastic value.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Nikon 55-200mm f4.0-5.6 AF-S VR DX Lens by Karen Coningsby      Date Added: Monday 25 August, 2008

I am enjoying using this lens as it was recommenced by a cousin of my husbands at our nephews wedding. We both have the same camera and were exchanging views on things when he told me about his lens. I have taken pictures of my husband combining the harvest and our new granddaughter and the pictures come out lovely. Well impressed with it. I will be looking at getting a more powerful one around Xmas.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Optech Pro Camera Strap 3/8 Inch Webbing Camouflage by Paul Jones      Date Added: Monday 25 August, 2008

Have used the Optech wrist straps for many years and decided to get the neck strap for my EOS SLR - the strap itself is well made and really comfortable in use even with a heavy camera and lens combination. Downside, for me it has to be said, is that I prefer working with the wrist straps, and although the neck strap features quick disconnects, the parts of the strap left on the camera are way too long and wave about a lot - very distracting and could ruin a photo, so would have preferred the disconnects closer to the body _:*( Otherwise is should have got 5/5

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash by William Jordan      Date Added: Sunday 24 August, 2008

This product was ordered to work with my Canon EOS DSLR cameras and it certainly meets the requirements for my uses. If you want fully automatic flash use or manual then this is probably the entry level Canon flashgun for DSLRs which I would recommend.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Retractable Rubber Lens Hood 72mm by David Mears      Date Added: Sunday 24 August, 2008

This hood, by Kood, is a good quality, well made product, that will enhance my photography by minimising flare and reflection, and - maybe more importantly, protect my lens and camera through absorbing the little knocks that the camera gets in the course of operational use. In summary a very good product at a great price.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS EF-S Lens by Edmund Dewhurst      Date Added: Saturday 23 August, 2008

This is a decent quality lens at a very good price. I bought it because of the image stabalisation. My test shots appear to confirm that it is effective allowing me to use shutter speeds about 3-4 stops slower. I compared test shots against my Tamron 18-250 zoom and there was not much difference except I felt the canon lens was lacking a little in contrast. I also compared it to my 50mm f1.8 standard lens and the standard lens is much sharper has better contrast as you would expect. It is however I believe a very good value for an image stabalised lens and a much better than the previous kit lens I was offered and declined when I bought mt 400D.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Manfrotto 627 Basic Panoramic Adapter by Jim Sullivan      Date Added: Friday 22 August, 2008

A lightweight simple panorama head, I'm using it on my panorama bracket with a Manfrotto 300N. The 300N controls stepped 360' rotation of my camera and I have attached the 627 to control vertical rotation. Nowhere on the internet could I find how the 627 panorama adapter locks in position - this is achieved by a clockwise rotation of the geared knob beneath the top plate. Rotating that knob anti clockwise allows free rotation of the head. Most adverts describing the head refer to a "graduated scale marked in mm" around the head, the scale is actually a 360' scale in 15' steps.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Sigma 77mm UV EX DG Filter by Danny Sugar      Date Added: Friday 22 August, 2008

Not a great deal to say about this product - seems well built, transparent, light, and screws easily onto the lens. The lens cap can be attached after using this filter - it now will sit permanently on my Sigma 10-20 as a protector.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 EX DC Lens + Filter Four Thirds Fitting by Danny Sugar      Date Added: Friday 22 August, 2008

After hearing in various places that some copies of this lens have focus problems on the left edge, I was pleased to find that my copy seems perfectly fine. You get an extraordinary angle of view and I've enjoyed this product very much so far. Note that apparently a HSM version of this lens has been released for the Pentax fit, which despite needing to re-stock mine wasn't one of them... although I don't know if this really effects its functionality in any way, might be worth checking...

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Hama Lens Pen by Danny Sugar      Date Added: Friday 22 August, 2008

Nice little product - convenient, and does what it says on the tin! The brush is soft, and the felt tip a good shape and size to remove sticky dust from the lens. Overall I would recommend this product although I've not tried alternatives.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Tamron 55-200mm f4-5.6 Di II LD Macro Lens Canon Fitting by Bryce Morgan      Date Added: Friday 22 August, 2008

As a beginner who has just purchased my first digital SLR, I wanted a cheapish lens with a decent zoom to go with my kit lens. I've found the Tamron 55-200mm to be perfect for my needs. The photo's I've taken have been of a higher level than I thought possible for such a cheap lens, and for ?60 you can't really go wrong.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Olympus 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD Zuiko Digital ED Lens by Jon Harris      Date Added: Thursday 21 August, 2008

Since buying an E300 in 2005 and the 50-200mm in 2006, I've been deliberating over which wide-angle lens to buy. The 7-14mm was always too much to justify, and the 11-22mm felt like it wanted to come with the 14-54mm. Then along came this one and solved my dilemma with a single, very impressive lens. The optics are excellent, focusing seems pretty quick, even with the E300, and the build quality and feel are up to Olympus's usual high standard. The only minor niggle was that I had to upgrade the Camera for the lens to be properly recognised and focusing to work properly, despite being at a compatible version according to Olympus.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Fuji Soft Case For Finepix A Series Cameras by Michael Eyles      Date Added: Wednesday 20 August, 2008

Very pleased with this soft case for the Fujifilm A920. The case offers very good protection with a good magnetic closing catch, useful slot to for the carrying loop to pass through and an even more useful belt loop on the case. Overall a very good product which I'd recommend to a friend.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Pentax Remote Control E by Patrick Noakes      Date Added: Tuesday 19 August, 2008

Pentax Remote Control E is a "must have" piece of equipment for the serious photographer. You set the camera down, focus it, and then sit back and wait for the bird to come to the feeder, for the cat to be still, or take several pics of yourself and your friends to make sure you have the one you want. Plus it has a zoom facility for getting into the heart of the action. I couldn't be more pleased with mine.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Velbon Sherpa 600R Tripod by Jane Williams      Date Added: Monday 18 August, 2008

Very fast delivery. A good solid tripod for my Olympus E500 at a reasonable price. The head is very smooth and easy to operate with the for and aft tilt tightening just before the panning movement which will fit in with my interest in sports photography. I was surprised there was no operating information only a label with the spec. I did work out the three position leg angles in the end. A very versatile tripod which is not too heavy and its smooth action indicate the high quality.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Nikon 50mm f1.8 D AF Lens by Charles Stephens      Date Added: Sunday 17 August, 2008

Excellent product,compact light and very fast. The only problem I have encounterd is in very bright daylight, the lens tends to be too wide at maximum aperture and burns out the high-lights,it could be down to my inexperience with such a fast prime lens and I,m going to try it with a ND filter in these circumstances. Otherwise its a cracking little lens with pin sharp results and it goes with me everywhere;at the moment its my favourite lens and at the price its got to be a steal!

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Tamrac 5371 Travel Pack 71 Photo Backpack by Sue Hines      Date Added: Friday 15 August, 2008

I have been looking for some time for a small compact backpack which would take my Canon S5 IS, Panasonic TZ3 and most of the accessories, for example spare batteries, memory cards, battery chargers, download leads etc. I wanted a backpack without too many 'bells and whistles' but something that was compact and easy to use. I have found it in the Tamrac 5371. I only have to undo one zip and everything is there, ready to use. I have even found room inside for my purse and my mobile phone will fit neatly into one of the mesh side pockets. Very pleased and would recommend to anyone who is looking for a backpack which is not too heavy and complicated.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Nikon 13-30x / 20-45x / 25-56x MC Zoom Eyepiece (BDB90063) by Paul Cox      Date Added: Thursday 14 August, 2008

Easy to use - zoom function very smooth. From a subjective point of view, the optical performance appears to be very good. The built in eye cup is effective at reducing stray light and keeps the eye at the correct the correct point for comfortable viewing.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Nikon Stay On Case ED82 Angled by Paul Cox      Date Added: Thursday 14 August, 2008

As you would expect from Nikon, this case is very well made and engineered to give the maximum functionality from the scope whilst still giving it a high degree of protection. The Velcro fastenings and magnetic catches are well placed and line up naturally when the cover is put on. There's also a separate case which can be attached to the carrying strap to hold spare eyepieces, lens covers etc when not in use.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Nikon Fieldscope ED82 Angled Scope by Paul Cox      Date Added: Thursday 14 August, 2008

This is an excellent piece of kit - very bright image with no colour fringing. Easy to use and quite portable. I'm glad I decided to go for the 82 mm objective rather than the 60mm of the fieldscope III.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Nikon 50mm f1.8 D AF Lens by Gary Rowe      Date Added: Wednesday 13 August, 2008

Great lens super sharp, fast AF, good colour rendition and really fast for action and low light hand held shooting. The best feature is it is a very light lens making it effortless to carry and it is small enough to fit easily in your pocket.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Canon BG-E5 Battery Grip For EOS 450D / 500D / 1000D by Karl Bowman      Date Added: Wednesday 13 August, 2008

This superb grip has made it easier to get those portrait photos, along with keeping the controls at your fingertips. The product is strong and robust and integrates well with the EOS450d camera. It makes the weight balance much better as well when using heavier telephoto lenses!!

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Olympus Neoprene Camera Case For MJU SW Series by Margaret Marett      Date Added: Wednesday 13 August, 2008

The case fits the camera well and is obviously ideal for water immersion and quick drying! It has extra straps for attaching to belt etc which is useful. It is adequate for gentle water sports but maybe not protective enough if there are lots of rocks around. As it is slightly open at one end, I ended up purchasing another neoprene case in a French hypermarket which was padded and completely surrounded the camera so that it gave more protection to the camera from knocks and jars when I went canoeing!

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars!]

Tamrac 5371 Travel Pack 71 Photo Backpack by Scott Jaycock      Date Added: Tuesday 12 August, 2008

Does exactly what it says on the tin! Plenty of room for SLR camera, medium sized lens, lens hood, charger cables, batteries etc. Well padded comfortable to carry.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Visionary V60 15-45x60mm Angled Spotting Scope by Mark Randle      Date Added: Tuesday 12 August, 2008

The V60 spotting scope appears to be well made, and the limited use I have made of it so far confirms that it is an excellent budget buy, especially as the extras it comes with also have a quality feel. This package which come complete with the tabletop tripod, keep on cover and full size tripod, make it an excellent starter set.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Lenspen Mini Pro 2 Lens Pen by Paul Brooksbank      Date Added: Monday 11 August, 2008

I bought the lenspen and used it straight away on my Fuji F30, Fuji S9500 and on the inside of the glass on my underwater housing, I have looked and looked at these surfaces in all kinds of light and cannot find a trace of contamination, even though one of the lenses had a suncream smear on it!! Don't know how it works, but it is brilliant.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Olympus Neoprene Camera Case For MJU SW Series by Evan Grant      Date Added: Sunday 10 August, 2008

This case is an ideal complement to the Olympus Mju 1030 SW I bought recently. Will protect the screen and not suffer when it gets wet as most camera cases would. The arm strap and secure fastening also look handy, though I am not sure if I'll use all of them in practice.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Canon RS-80N3 Remote Switch by Edward Judge      Date Added: Saturday 09 August, 2008

The RS80N3 remote switch is specified by Canon for the EOS 40D. It clips into a dedicated socket at the side of the camera and is fully keyed to prevent accidental damage to the very fine pins in the socket. When fitted, the top of the plug is pressed in which "locks" it in the socket. It is released by pulling on a collar surrounding the plug. This mechanism prevents accidental dislodging of the plug. The cable leads forward, away from the screen, view-finder and controls. The release is operated by pressing on a button, which provides the same two-stage auto-focus functionality as the camera shutter release. The button can be locked down for delay or bulb exposures.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Canon ET-65/3 Lens Hood (ET65/3) by Edward Judge      Date Added: Saturday 09 August, 2008

The ET65/3 lens hood is specified by Canon for use with the EF 100-300mm lens. It is made of plastic, is light-weight and is fully functional at all zoom/aperture settings on my E40D. It clips easily onto the lens and can be stored by reversing and clipping over the lens barrel. All lens controls, filters and lens cap are accessible with the hood so stored. It has two finger-operated spring-clips, one on each side, which are used to release the hood from the lens (fitted normally or reversed). However, these are bevelled towards the edge of the hood and because the hood material is very smooth, it would be easy to drop the hood when removing it unless care is taken.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Canon EW-73B Lens Hood (EW73B) by Edward Judge      Date Added: Saturday 09 August, 2008

The EW73B lens hood is specified by Canon for the Canon EF-S 17-85mm lens. It is made from plastic and thus is light-weight. It is a smart and functional lens hood, quick to fit and to remove. However, it does not seem to be possible to reverse it for storage on the lens, as is the case with many other lens/lens hood combinations including both Canon and Sigma to my knowledge. This results in the waste of valuable camera case space.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars!]

Hahnel Powerstation Ultima II Battery Charger - Olympus by Mark Brock      Date Added: Saturday 09 August, 2008

Nice compact fast charger with _90% and full-charge indications. Plugs straight into 13A socket so no trailing leads - the 13A plug adaptor is removable to reveal a US-type plug. The 12V car lead is a curly type so again minimising trailing cables. A handy and fast alternative to the standard Olympus charger

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Velbon Sherpa 600R Tripod by Terence Walker      Date Added: Friday 08 August, 2008

A superb piece of kit, purchased at an unbelievable price from Bristol Cameras. I don't know how I managed with my old tripod. The 600R is a fantastic design, excellent for those low down ground shots. Very stable ideal for macro, takes all my macro gear easily, twin flash,lens extender, and heavy lens. Great on the marshes on uneven ground,due to various combinations of leg position, well done Velbon, and well done Bristol Cameras.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Olympus EC20 2.0x Teleconverter by Peter Hoye      Date Added: Wednesday 06 August, 2008

Another Olympus Digital accessory to add to my growing collection. Early days but all indications are that that the performance will match the other e-system equipment. Worth noting that firmware may require updating but that is relatively simple from the Olympus website. ALL QUITE IMPRESSIVE.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Canon 60mm f2.8 USM Macro EF-S Lens by Nicholas Pleasance      Date Added: Wednesday 06 August, 2008

My 60 mm Macro lens was quicky delivered and in perfect condition. All in all an excellent service which I recommend to anyone else who has an interest in cameras. It takes very good quality portraits which I have been complimented on by subjects.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Hama Pro Hand Loop by Michael George      Date Added: Wednesday 06 August, 2008

I previously had a similar product made by Minolta but foolishly discarded it some time ago. The Hama product works in that I am able to carry and hold my DSLR (Sony Alpha 700) one handed and it then can be immediately used by bringing up my arm with camera attached. In that respect it is as good as the Minolta product. However it lets itself down in that the straps slowly become loose and need to be re-tightened. The straps just aren't thick or sturdy enough to do the job properly. Nevertheless in view of the fact that this appears to be the only product on the market I am more than happy. It could just be a bit better.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Hama Lens Pen by Ashley Mitchell      Date Added: Wednesday 06 August, 2008

Great little pen. The brush picks up and removes dust really well and then pad at the other pen removes grime from the lens really well, It has cleaned up my camera brilliantly, it small enough to pop into you camera bag and not cause any problems.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Just Digital SLR Sensor Cleaning Multipack - Type 2 by Ashley Mitchell      Date Added: Wednesday 06 August, 2008

This cleaning pack is brilliant. When it first arrived I thought the swabs looked like they would cause more dust to stick to the sensor but using the solution (only 2 drops) and with 2 passes of the sensor and most of the dust was stuck to the swab. It is so quick and easy to use.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Standard Bulb Blower by Ashley Mitchell      Date Added: Wednesday 06 August, 2008

Great product, the bulb blower fits into the camera very well and is strong enough to blow 90% of the dust out in the first push. The material is strong and even though the build is rather large it still fits into most camera bags. Excellent product, every photographer must have one!

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head by Rod Ballington      Date Added: Tuesday 05 August, 2008

This tripod head is virtually unique. I have used many other good quality types but the framing always moves slightly when you lock the head into position. With this head, that is a thing of the past. Fast positioning is followed by precise adjustment. Perfect for landscapes and indispensable for macro work. I cannot think of one reason why anyone would select a different head. Worth every penny.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Cullmann Quicksetter Quick Release System (40440) by Mark Doble      Date Added: Tuesday 01 July, 2008

The Cullman quick release system is exceptionally versatile and very robust. Not mentioned in the description, is the ability for it to locate two separate support arms capable of mounting any manner of peripheral accessories. It is a shame that Bristol Cameras do not supply these support arms, as this would make an already good system, a very worthwhile package indeed. Full marks, however, to Bristol Cameras for supplying the quick release assembly at the lowest price available.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Optech Pro Camera Strap 3/8 Inch Webbing Camouflage by Keith Taylor      Date Added: Thursday 05 June, 2008

If you use large lenses or a heavy camera then get one! It does exactly what it claims to do. I have a Canon EOS 5D with 24-105 lens and the Canon strap becomes uncomfortable very quickly. Since changing to the Optech I have not experienced any more shoulder problems.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 SP Di LD Macro IF Lens Nikon Fitting by Jeff Cotton      Date Added: Friday 23 May, 2008

This lens is fantastic value for money; a 70-200mm lens with a maximum f2.8 aperture across the zoom range for just over ?500. It comes with a soft case, front and back caps and a dedicated petal lens hood. Image quality is very good and it will focus down to under 1 metre. There is no USM/HSM focusing motor so the AF isn't as quiet and as quick as my Canon L lenses but it certainly isn't bad and for the majority of people this would not be an issue. If your budget allows and you are wanting to photograph fast moving sports then try the Canon 70-200 f2.8 L USM in comparison but for the money this is a superb buy.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Joby Gorillapod Red by Patrick Krause      Date Added: Friday 28 March, 2008

This tripod is truly excellent! You can put it nearly anywhere and get beautiful photos. A really good buy.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Manfrotto 709B Digi Table Tripod by David Allsopp      Date Added: Tuesday 04 March, 2008

This tripod is tiny (18cm long when folded) but very solidly made. The 12cm legs fold out smoothly and positively. The collar of the ballhead rotates so you can angle the camera in any direction. The tripod will firmly support my medium-sized SLR with a chunky zoom lens (Canon 20D, 17-40L) in landscape orientation, but cannot hold it in vertical orientation - the center of gravity is too off-center and the tripod tips over - this is the only downside to this product.

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Sunpak PF30X Flash Canon Fitting by Rainbow Digital      Date Added: Thursday 31 January, 2008

The main issue with this flashgun would be the recycling time which takes forever (8-10 secs as per specs). But try slipping in a couple of 3500mAh NiMh fully recharged and recycling time goes down to an amazing 2secs! YES! 2 SECONDS!

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]

Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod by Andrew Lee      Date Added: Wednesday 31 October, 2007

Have always dreamt of owning a quality tripod and after purchasing this and the 484RC2 head I have to say the quality of build is excellent. Only wish I'd had one of these years ago. One slight niggle though is the fact that the grub screws in the tripod platform do not make contact with the head I purchased. I have contacted Bristol Cameras and mentioned this and perhaps they can let others know in their FAQ. However this is, for me at least, not a requirement and if you looking for a very well built, quality tripod, at this price it is a real bargain. Thanks BC

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]