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I was recently sent the Llano 3-in-1 three-slot GoPro battery charger, a device designed to charge batteries for the Hero 9, 10, 11, and 12. It's a combination charger, power bank, and storage case for Micro SD cards all in one. Llano did send me this device to try out and make a video on based on my collaboration terms .  First Impressions and Design The Llano charger seems designed to match the look of a GoPro, shown here next to my Hero 9. The first thing you'll notice is its design and build. It's a relatively hefty device, weighing in at 365 grams. It has a grippy, soft-touch material that feels secure in the hand. Included in the box are a wrist strap and a carrying bag. On the front, pressing the single button will start the charging process. The Core Features: Power Bank and Storage Opening the lid reveals three slots for GoPro 9 to 12 batteries and two holding slots for microSD cards. Inside, you'll find three slots for GoPro batteries (compatible with models 9...

I was recently sent a Llano Aurora camera battery, specifically the EN-EL15c model for many Nikon cameras. Keep in mind that Llano sent this battery to me at no cost, but they had to agree to my terms .  Check out the llano Aurora USB-C EN-EL15C Battery for Nikon cameras:  Amazon:  https://amzn.to/3ZLMbtY   ebay:  https://ebay.us/L7Lom6 As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases! It's more about time from the click rather than what you buy. Usually anything within 24 hours of the visit.  The most interesting thing about this battery is that it has a built-in display to show its power level. It also has a slightly increased capacity rating compared to its predecessor and the official Nikon battery. Let's take a look at what it offers. Though, I don't test capacity here so take any mention of capacity with a some level of skepticism. My OEM batteries are a few years old, so I don't think it would be a fair test. Maybe at some point I can do this if t...

More camera releases and announcements as of quarter 2 in 2025. Obviously, I haven't used these cameras myself, so this is just a bunch of my opinions based on the specs and what I've seen online.  Leica SL3-S The new Leica SL3-S full-frame mirrorless camera. First up, we've got the Leica SL3-S. If you're into expensive cameras and you specifically want a Leica, this is for you. It looks pretty nice and has that classic Leica control scheme. Spec-wise, it's a 24-megapixel camera that is very similar to something like the Panasonic Lumix S5ii. I wouldn't be shocked if they share some components or the two companies collaborated on it.  I don't really have a strong opinion on their cameras because they're just out of my ballpark. One nice thing is that it does shoot DNG RAW, and it has a ton of movie modes, so it seems like Leica's example of what they can do with video. DNG, or Digital Negative , is an open, lossless raw image format developed by Adob...

I recently swapped my larger Godox 32x32 inch softbox for the smaller 24x24 inch model to better fit my workspace. The smaller size should be more manageable in this small space.  The Weeylite Ninja 400 light I'm using is very bright even at 1 percent power. This led me to a DIY project to create an additional diffusion layer for better light control. This article covers my review of the Godox 24x24 softbox, its assembly, and a basic guide on how I created a custom diffusion panel. The main piece of the Godox Softbox (my face realizing this didn't come with the mount) Reviewing the Godox 24x24 Softbox The softbox arrived in a compact carry bag. The product label lists the model as SFUV with a size of 60x60cm, which is approximately 24x24 inches. The kit includes the main foldable softbox, an inner diffusion panel, an outer diffusion panel, and the small carry bag. What the inside of the softbox looks like. This particular kit does not include the metal Bowens mount adapter. Thi...

Today I want to talk about a piece of hardware that became a bit of a keystone for my new computer build back in December: the StarTech USB 3.0 Multi-Card Memory Reader. The big deal with this one, and the main reason I picked it up, is that it was the only UHS-II SD card reader I could find that fits in a PC expansion bay. The StarTech USB 3.0 Multi-Card Memory Reader box. Why This Reader? The UHS-II Advantage For those who might not be familiar, UHS-II (Ultra High Speed II) is a faster standard for SD cards. It features an additional row of pins  on the card, allowing for significantly higher read and write speeds compared to older UHS-I cards.  A comparison showing the extra row of pins on a UHS-II SD card (right) versus a UHS-I card (left). I've been wanting to build a new computer for a long time, and having a built-in UHS-II SD card slot in the computer was kind of a keystone idea for the build. This is the only one I could find.  Installation: Adapters and Connections This p...