Just Out 11/04

Charge everything!

Rechargeable batteries really do make you feel better about all that gas your SUV burns. But isn't it a pain to sort out all of your different battery chargers? Not anymore. Lenmar's new Mach 1 Fusion USB SpeedCharger ($139.95 list) aims to replace your gaggle of chargers, and can even recharge a set of batteries and a cell phone, PDA, or MP3 player at the same time. Switchable adapter plates let you change from AA/AAA NiMHs to proprietary Li-ions at a moment's notice. A power-only (no data) USB port and a handful of connector tips let you plug in your phone/PDA/MP3 player. The unit charges up to four AA/AAAs in one hour or one Li-ion in 30 minutes. The charger comes with adapter plates for Canon and Sony digital cameras and camcorders, connector tips for most brands of cell phones, two Lenmar NoMEMPro 2300 mAh AA NiMH batteries, and a car adapter for charging on the go. (Lenmar Enterprises Inc.; 805-384-9600; www.lenmar.com)

Weigh to go

Slik's latest carbon-fiber tripod, the Pro 883 CF-D ($400 street), almost begs to be carried. It weighs just 4.1 pounds, and the padded upper leg sections are easy on your shoulders even without the carrying case. Its three D-shaped leg sections open for a maximum height of 57.5 inches and close down to 25.5 inches without spinning-so the lever locks are always in the same position on the legs. It holds up to 11 pounds, including the weight bag that attaches to the lower portion of the legs for extra stability. The tripod is sold without a head, so if you don't already own a Slik head, get one from the company's line. (THK Products Inc.; 800-421-1141; www.thkphoto.com)

Pint-sized popper

A hot-shoe flash unit can be a great way to have better lighting in your photos. But they can be bulky, and might not work with your camera's metering system. At just 3.6x2.4x3.5-inches, and 9 oz (two AAs included) Sunpak's PZ40X ($150 street) aims to save room in your bag. It comes in three versions: for Canon's E-TTL, Nikon's D-TTL, and Minolta's ADI metering systems. The automatic motorized zoom head ranges from 24-80mm to match the focal length of the lens in use, or can be set manually. The infrared AF-assist lamp helps your camera focus in low light. The unit's LCD shows the focal length, mode, power ratio (1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, or 1/16), and flash-range scale. The flash head tilts, with stops at 45, 60, 75, and 90 degrees, but doesn't swivel. It also won't work with Nikon's D70 or D2h, won't do second-curtain sync on a Canon, and can only fire up to 15 continuous flashes without resting. Of course, with this flash's light weight, your arms will thank you at the end of the day. (ToCAD America; 973-428-9800; www.tocad.com)