Kickstarter Campaigns

Boulder, CO (April 12, 2017) — Alpine Labs, a leader in next generation camera accessories, is pleased to announce the launch of Spark: the most compact, adaptable and affordable camera remote ever designed. Currently available at a pre-­sale discount on Kickstarter, Spark is the easiest way to upgrade your favorite DSLR and Mirrorless cameras for capturing the world around you.

Spark is designed with three distinct shooting modes for unrivaled versatility. The ultracompact unit can be used as a quick infrared trigger from 30’ away, as a wired trigger via a camera’s trigger port, or as a more powerful app based camera controller (iOS & Android). The user decides which mode best fits their creative needs and then deploys Spark to either capture a quick selfie, shoot a long-­exposure in manual bulb mode, or to set a timelapse via their favorite smartphone or tablet. “Spark adapts to whatever situation you are shooting in and the three control modes are what make that possible. Its kind of like the swiss army knife of triggers,” commented Greg Horvath, Alpine Labs CEO.

A Bluetooth Low Energy connection allows for dependability when using Spark’s intuitive mobile app and Spark can last for an incredible 2,000 hours of continuous use on the same replaceable coin cell battery. Also, with the ability to control a wide variety of DSLR and mirrorless bodies, Spark opens the world of wireless camera control for users of Sony, Fujifilm, Hasselblad, Pentax, Olympus, Canon, Nikon and more.

In 2015 Alpine Labs unveiled its first camera remote — Pulse — which resulted in a viral campaign that netted more than 1MM+ crowdfunding. Returning to Kickstarter for the first time since the release of Pulse, Alpine Labs is thrilled to bring their latest innovation and camera remote technology to the Kickstarter community via Spark. Commenting on the relationship with Kickstarter, Horvath continued, “We were born on Kickstarter and love being a part of a community where creative projects can grow. The support of backers has allowed us to keep chasing our own ideas, and after launching four products on Kickstarter we have a history of transparency and execution.”

Even at a MSRP of $59, Spark is by far the most affordable way to upgrade your camera. However, backers on Kickstarter can receive a Spark unit for $44, a discount of 25%, for the remainder of the Kickstarter campaign.

From Aurora Aperture:

Press Release: Aurora Aperture Introduces PowerND Family and an Industry First Rear Mount Glass Filter for Canon EF 11-24mm F4L USM Posted on April 21, 2017 Irvine, California, April 21, 2017 – Aurora Aperture Inc., a Southern California startup, today has introduced the PowerND family of high quality fixed neutral density (ND) filters.

The PowerND family consists of three ratings of light reduction capability: ND64 (6 stops),ND4000 (12 stops), and ND65000 (16 stops). Four different formats are available: circular filters from 37mm to 95mm, 100 x 100mm square filters compatible with popular square filter adapters, 150mm circular filters with an adapter for the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED lens, and the Aurora CR format, an industry first, a rear mount glass filter for the Canon EF 11-24mm F4L USM lens.

The 6 stop filter is typically used in low light conditions such as during sunrise or sunset for sub-second shutter speed. The 12 stop filter can slow down shutter speed to minutes in dusk and dawn conditions. The 16 stop filter can do magic on a bright day, allowing photographers to expose up to several minutes or more.

The ND4000 and ND65000 have distinct advantages in having more stops than the typical ND1000 or ND32000. They allow users to avoid diffraction softening by enabling users to avoid very small aperture settings or alternatively allowing for longer exposures. In the case of the PowerND 4000 that means two more stops than the typical ND1000 and for the Power ND65000 there’s one additional stop.

“We introduced a variable ND family last year and it was embraced by photographers and videographers worldwide,” said Jinfu Chen, founder and CEO of Aurora Aperture Inc. “the fixed ND family we introduce today is much more powerful in terms of light reduction capability and offers even better optical performance, along with more formats for different camera lenses.”

A small rear mount filter using Gorilla Glass for the Canon EF 11-24mm F4L USM is an industry first. Prior to this users would have to use extremely large filters with diameters up to 186mm with a bulky front lens shade adapter. The Aurora CR format filter mounts in the rear of the lens, making it much easier to carry and lower in cost. Other Canon lenses that Aurora CR format filter can be used in* are the EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye, EF 11-24mm F4L USM, EF 14mm f/2.8L US, EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye, EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM, and EF 17-40mm f/4L USM.

Designed in California by Aurora Aperture, the Aurora PowerND filters employ up to 128 layers of double sided nano coating** in order to achieve color accuracy and powerful light reduction capability. Hydrophobic and oleophobic coating is applied to filter surface with PFPE coating. The end result is that water droplet on the filter surface can maintain a static contact angle of 110 degrees, one of the best in the industry.

Availability and Pricing

The Aurora PowerND family will be available through Kickstarter starting in April 2017 and to dealers and direct orders in August 2017. List price starts at US$42 and varies depending on filter format and size.

From Kickstarter:

GearEye is a smart gear management system for on-the-go professionals. It enables you to manage your equipment through thick and thin: organization, tracking, and making sure you always have everything you need whether at home or on the job. GearEye is a game-changer for anything from the smallest messenger bag to the largest camera suitcase.

The bond between professionals and their work equipment is special: anyone who’s experienced this can tell you that there are few things worse than losing your essential gear. We’ve been there too, and that’s why we created a system to put an end to this problem. Simply place the RFID GearTag on your gear, and voilá! Everything in your bag can now be easily accounted for, with a simple tap on your smartphone.

GearEye is more than just a safety net: it enables you to organize your most important equipment into gig specific groups - so that you always have exactly what you need when you need it. This way, you can quickly and easily make sure you have what you need for today’s studio session (not last week’s beach shoot).

Learn more on Kickstarter.

Breakthrough Photography, makers of our favorite 10-stop neutral density filter, have introduced a Kickstarter campaign to jumpstart production of their X3 circular polarizer, billed as the world's sharpest and most color-neutral CPL filter.

Considering the quality of their ND filters we have no reason to doubt the claims regarding their X3 circular polarizing filter. Supporting the Kickstarter campaign will allow you to get an X3 CPL filter at a nice discount vs. retail pricing.

From the Breakthrough Photography:

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – Breakthrough Photography, a San Francisco-based research and manufacturing startup, has announced a new circular polarizer called the X3 CPL. They claim the X3 CPL to be “the world’s sharpest and most color neutral circular polarizer.”

Aimed at professional outdoor photographers, the X3 CPL features SCHOTT B270 optical glass, MRC16, nanotec nano coatings and an all-new internally developed circular polarizing film, called CrystalVision, manufactured in California.

Coming off the success of the X3 Neutral Density filter launched on Kickstarter last year, the X3 CPL adapts the same proven weather-sealed “traction frame” design as the company’s X3 ND, which is CNC machined from brass.

“We took all that we learned from the success of the X3 ND and adapted it to a circular polarizer. At the core of the X3 CPL lies our internally developed, American-made CPL film, and it sets the X3 CPL apart from all other competing circular polarizers. And we’ve even designed a X3 CPL specifically for Leica shooters, and for Canon’s CINE Lens Lineup, too.” said founder and photographer Graham Clark.

The X3 CPL is immediately available for pre-order on Kickstarter in limited quantities with a December 2015 delivery schedule. Pre-ordering and product information can be found by visiting the company’s website at http://www.breakthrough.photography/

“We’re really excited to bring the X3 CPL to the photography community on Kickstarter first. We’ll be offering a one-time launch sale price of up to $50 off, in limited quantities, just in time for the holiday season.”says founder and photographer Graham Clark. “If this Kickstarter campaign proves successful, the X3 CPL will be available for purchase on Amazon Prime, B&H and Adorama directly following the Kickstarter campaign.”

X3 CPL Key Features:

• Critically sharp SCHOTT B270 Optical Glass
• American-made CrystalVision CPL film
• MRC16 reduces flaring and ghosting
• nanotec nano coating layers repels elements
• Rugged Ultra-slim Weather-sealed Traction Frame
• 25 Year Support

X3 CPL Size & Retail Pricing:

• 39mm, 46mm, 49mm, 52mm, 58mm, 62mm for $129
• 67mm and 72mm for $139
• 77mm for $149
• 82mm for $159
• 95mm for $189
• 105mm for $199

From the Lomography Lomography Petzval 58 Bokeh Control Art Lens Kickstarter Campaign:

Swirl to Freedom with the World’s First Petzval Bokeh Control Lens

Bokeh Like a Boss
Using the Bokeh Control Ring on the New Petzval 58, you’re totally free to determine the strength of the swirly bokeh in your photos. You can now get the characteristic swirly bokeh effect in ways it has NEVER been possible before. This revolutionary component is the first of its kind on a Petzval lens!

58mm Focal Length and Maximum f/1.9 Aperture
The New Petzval 58 Bokeh Control Art Lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.9 and is a 58mm lens, which is a fantastic all-round focal length for portraits, landscapes and photos of your cat doing jumping jacks. We promise you will love shooting every scene with your New Petzval 58 in hand.

Premium Russian Glass Optics in a Beautiful Brass Body
The New Petzval 58 Bokeh Control Art Lens features the finest quality Russian glass optics. Available in a brass or black finish, it’s designed to perfectly mirror the look of original 19th century Petzval lenses.

Look Back to the Future
Joseph Petzval invented his revolutionary Petzval optic in 1840 — a hugely popular portrait lens that changed the world of photography. Now, 175 years later and building on our success with the Lomography New Petzval 85mm Lens in 2013, the New Petzval 58 Bokeh Control Lens is here to join the growing Lomography Art Lens Family. The lens has been specially developed to work with modern analogue and digital cameras and is available in Canon EF and Nikon F mounts (it’s also compatible with multitudes of other cameras such as the Sony A7, Fuji X-Pro 1 and Micro 4/3 Cameras using adapter mounts).

For more info, check out the Lomography Petzval 58 Bokeh Control Art Lens Kickstarter Campaign.

From the Defrozo Kickstarter Campaign:

Defrozo is a free, all-in-one platform that helps photographers better display and market their work online.

We’re a team of web developers keen on photography, and we’re building software to help any photographer fulfill a dream - make money doing what they love most.

One login to showcase your photography, organize your workflow, manage your clients, sell prints, and discover growth hacks tailored specifically to photographers? Meet Defrozo.

Why do you need Defrozo?

Time-consuming website management. Troubles with hosting. Custom equals expensive. Multiple subscriptions to stay in control of. Limited time to devote to the business side of things. No affordable tool to manage your client base. Defrozo is born out of many pains.

With Defrozo you get a single login to access all the tools you might need to organize your images, create your portfolio, manage your workflow and client base, and sell your work online. Everything done via a simple, drag-n-drop interface and integrated system, so that you could spend less time clicking the buttons and more time taking photographs.

What makes Defrozo stand out?

Entering the pond with some big fish like PhotoShelter, Zenfolio, ShootQ in it may seem doomed. But we all remember the David vs Goliath story, right?

Defrozo is the first universal platform available for free to include every tool a photographer might need to start their business from scratch or grow their established brand. In other words, Defrozo will have all the features offered by the leading software solutions under one roof, and more. Reinventing the wheel? No. Integrating odd wheels and gears into a sophisticated mechanism to drive your career? Yes.

Free forever

We’re not here to build a startup and sell it to some big dawg in the business. We believe we have an idea that will be a game change in the world of photography services. When we’re talking about our goal we imagine office workers that will be finally able to become full-time photographers, entrepreneurs that will find new ways to drive referrals to their business, as well as end customers that will receive unmatched service at no additional cost.

This is why the free version of Defrozo will always include the full spectrum of features. There will be an opportunity to upgrade for users requiring more customization and storage space in each functional module.

To fit photographers’ needs at any stage of their career, there will be three plans available:

From LensRacks:

About LensRacks
If you love photography as much as we do, then we are sure that you have a collection of lenses and other camera gear. We all know lenses can get very expensive and they are investments that can last a long time under good care. Our patent pending LensRacks system is the perfect way to store and organize your precious investments with style.

Who is LensRacks for?
LensRacks is designed for owners of Nikon or Canon lenses who want to be organized with their camera gear. With LensRacks’ modularity and expandability, the LensRacks caters to amateurs, professionals, and everyone else in between.

Check out the LensRacks Kickstarter Campaign for more information or to back the project.