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Eddycam Fashion Strap
When a Camera Strap Isn’t Just a Camera Strap
Review by Michael Corsentino
There are those who would argue that a car is just a car. As long
as it gets you from point A to point B, what’s the difference?
While this is basically true, there’s a clear difference between a
Porsche and a minivan, not just in price but also capability. The
same can be said of camera straps; but considering that they’re all
that stands between your much-loved camera and Newton’s law
of gravity, having a strap that’s up to the task is critical. If you can
also find one that’s sexy, even better!
German-based Eddycam is the Porsche of camera straps, producing
handcrafted elk skin camera straps in a variety of colors
and styles. Their marketing materials say their straps were developed
with the individualist in mind, coming with small scratches
and imperfections inherent in the rugged frontier environment
where they’re sourced.
Eddycam prides itself on using high-quality components, craftsmanship,
and paying attention to detail, such as quintuple-stitched
webbing and special 4700-N tensile-strength thread; non-breakable
stainless-steel adjustment clips; and sturdy polypro pylene
connecting elements. Made from elk skins up to 2.4 mm thick,
Eddycam straps provide stability, elasticity, and comfort using the
proprietary treatment process at Eddycam’s Finnish tannery.
I’ve been using my Eddycam strap for several weeks now with
my Fuji X-T1, and I can tell you firsthand that these straps live up to
their hype. They’re well built, very comfortable, and great looking
too. Keep in mind the strap I tested, as well as a large part of the
Eddycam line, is best suited for lighter cameras, such as mirrorless,
rather than larger DSLR bodies.
With more than 100 versions in 8 colors and 17 different color
combinations, each available in three widths, lengths, and configurations,
Eddycam Fashion straps have a lot to offer. ■
Company: Eddycam Price: From $135
Web: www.digitalback.com
Rating: ◆◆◆◆
Hot: Five-year warranty; beautiful design; high-quality components
Not: Best suited for lighter cameras
HP Z25n Monitor
Narrow Bezel, 25" IPS Display
Review by Daniel M. East
As the displays for design and photo professionals improve their
technologies and overall quality, one might imagine that a new,
slim-profile, energy-efficient model from HP would be just what
the doctor ordered for your latest upgrade. Unfortunately, in a
market that now boasts 4K displays from brands such as Dell and
Acer for around the same price, the HP Z25n has a bit of catching
up to do.
On the plus side, the screen has a 2560x1440 resolution with
a 16:9 aspect ratio that is clear from all angles of viewing, but it
stops short of the 3840x2160 4K resolution that’s quickly becoming
the standard—for now. While the screen quality is good—
the images are very sharp, clean, and clear—there is variation in
the appearance edge-to-edge. Contrast and saturation are neutral
but they’re not consistent. With a 1000:1 static contrast ratio,
there is less “true black” where one might want it. The deepest
black tones seem slightly artificial relative to the very good white
balance. The picture-in-picture capability is nice in theory but, in
this size, a second display might offer better options.
The Z25n has a full complement of ports for HDMI, DVI-D,
DisplayPort 1.2, mini-DisplayPort 1.2, and four USB 3.0 connec-
tions in its roughly 16 lb. structure. It also has a very stable feel
to its pivot positions for both horizontal and vertical viewing. In
spite of its nice design, the Z25n is pricey compared to similar
products from its competitors, and it lacks the control over color
that is so critical to this industry. Overall, this is a good monitor
that simply needs to step ahead of the competition instead of
running behind. ■
Company: HP Price: $429
Web: www8.hp.com
Rating: ◆◆◆
Hot: Sharp image; lots of connectivity options; slim design
Not: Lacks color control; contrast varies edge-to-edge
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