With Canon unveiling the world's smallest, lightest and cheapest full-frame DSLR ever, the gauntlet has been thrown down at Nikon's feet. Now, "cheap" is a relative term, the EOS 6D will still set you back over two grand, but if you're in the market, the new Canon should be the go-to. It's got built in WiFi (so ... continue reading
Don't you hate it when you're trying to discreetly take a picture of some bombshell in a bikini only to have her turn and see you pointing a camera right at her? All of a sudden you're the creepy one, right?? This lens from Polaroid will keep your dignity intact (questionable) and your perv levels at a minimum (also ... continue reading
For a no-frills flask that's perfect to toss in your bag when you're out camping or exploring, turn to Stanley. The classic brand has been crafting solid, well-made food and drink gear since 1913. Their latest flask is the first in the Adventure Series which is aimed at being both essential and rugged. With more grip ... continue reading
Wasting precious words describing how cool vintage cameras are is pointless. You already know they're great. You might even have one or two sitting around the house on shelves, but they're probably nothing more than paperweights at this point in time because film (and processing) are so hard to find these days. Tinker ... continue reading
So you had some amazing kale and quinoa burritos and now you want to share those photos with everyone. Clearly, this is when you turn to Instagram, but what about sharing those photos with party guests? Instead of scrolling through them on your iPhone screen, hook up an Instacube. This awesomely designed device will ... continue reading
As photography enthusiasts (that's the one in between amateur and professional, right?), we're constantly looking for cool new photo gear. Bags, lenses, straps, caps, flashes, lights, you name it. This time, that search ended up with this Fotodiox Canon 7D Crystal 2/3 Replica. 100% hand-crafted, premium grade crystal ... continue reading
The occasion to use a pencil doesn't happen all that often for us anymore, but we still keep a few around for sketches, plans and back of an envelope math. Sharpening them can be a bit of a pain without a sharpener. We've tried knives and razors and other bladed instruments, but the sharpener is the only way to get ... continue reading
There comes a point in every wedding when we're a few Old-Fashioneds in and we decide to undo our tie and proceed to tear it up on the dance floor (and by "tear it up on the dance floor," we mean pass out in the corner). Okay, while we watch ourselves so we don't hit that point, we do like the feeling of taking our ... continue reading
If you could see into our closet right now you would probably agree that we have too many bags. Camera bags for days when we're shooting. Book bags (also rucksacks, backpacks, etc.) for those days when we need double the support. Then there's the duffels and the messengers and the totes and you get the idea. We need ... continue reading
You'll have to resist the urge to spend your day consuming black coffee and busting perps when you're wearing around the MoneyMaker Harness. Though you'll look like a crotchety old police chief, you'll actually be equipped for your next shoot not shootout. The MoneyMaker Harness lets you stylishly carry around two ... continue reading
Until 1992, there was an archaic law in New York that prevented women, but not men, from being topless in public. Frankly, we find that offensive. In 1992, New York State struck that law down and with it, tops everywhere. Confetti fell from the heavens, champagne bottles exploded and men everywhere rejoiced for the ... continue reading
Instagram. fStop. Hipstamatic. IknowISO. Camera+. FakeDepthofField. Those applications (the ones that are real, anyway) have mostly replaced your need to lug around a huge DSLR and multiple lenses. They might be convenient, but they're also no where near as satisfying as the vintage cameras that all their filters were ... continue reading
Sometimes we wish we lived in a hexagonal house just so we had more walls to put up prints from The Impossible Cool collection Sonic Editions offers. If you've been a loyal Cool Material reader, the name should sound familiar (we've mentioned them more than once before). For those of you who haven't caught glimpse ... continue reading
We know we took some shots at Instagram in this previous post, but to quote the well-known philosopher, Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog, "We kid, we kid." The truth is, we enjoy using Instagram. Now that the popular app is available on Android devices, everyone at the Cool Material offices uses it frequently to document their ... continue reading
In the first 24 hours of Instagram's Android-based life, the app was downloaded a million times. A freakin' million. If you needed proof that the photo network wasn't just for retro filter loving hipsters, there you have it. (Or there's a lot more hipsters out there than we thought.) In our quest for finding new ... continue reading
Do you frequently find yourself watching the videos you've recorded on your iPhone and wishing you had better, higher quality sound to suck you back into the moment? Do you mind a mildly-obtrusive boom mic sticking out from your iPhone when you record your "home movies?" The iPhone Boom Mic is probably as close as ... continue reading