Pop Awards 2008: Our Favorite Gear

Cullman 4305 Universal Tripod "Macro"
Into close-ups? Cullman's 4305 ($165, street) is that rare bird: a tripod designed for macro and low-level work. Its center column quickly splits to let you lower the 'pod almost to ground level. The center-column lock is a spring-activated button for quickly removing and reverse-mounting the column to shoot straight down. Unique, finger-friendly niches on the rubber-clad top leg sections improve grip, especially in cold weather. (www.rtsphoto.com)