Akio Torikoshi | Markins VR-Holder

I mainly take nature photos.

It is important to keep your equipment lightweight when working in the natural field.

I learned about Markins equipment while searching the Internet. When I looked into it, I was first attracted by how lightweight it was.

I also heard that it has a very good reputation for its robustness.

I found out that it can be used with the Arca-Swiss standard quick shoe that I have been using, so I immediately purchased a plate and started using it. It is surprisingly lightweight and compact, and has plenty of strength, so I am very satisfied.

This time, I noticed a product called "VR-Holder" as a measure to prevent blurring, and ordered it along with the quick shoe.

When shooting with a telephoto lens, it is very important to "prevent blurring," but this is especially noticeable with telephoto lenses that do not have a tripod mount, because the "mirror shock" of the camera body is transmitted to the tip of the lens when shooting and causes it to vibrate. To prevent this, I decided that the VR-Holder, which supports the lens and camera at two points, would be very effective.

My impression when I first held the equipment in my hands was that it was very lightweight and compact.

For my style of shooting while moving through nature, it is most important that the equipment is lightweight.

It is the size of a single telephoto lens, so it can be stored inside a bag, and I am very grateful that it weighs less than 300g.

It is very easy to operate, and the quick shoe allows you to attach it quickly, and yet the strength is not lost and the equipment is firmly fixed, and I felt that it was made with very high precision.

And the knob is wrapped in rubber, so there is no need to worry about it slipping due to oils from your hands, or when operating it while wearing gloves in cold areas.

The Markins quick shoe attached to the tripod head is also very easy to operate and robust, with a knob that securely tightens it. It also comes with a stopper pin to prevent it from falling off, so you can rest assured.

The bottom of the VR-Holder can be fixed to the quick shoe at all points.

This allows the quick shoe to be loosened and slid back and forth, and it can be fixed at the optimal balance point between the telephoto lens and the camera, further enhancing the vibration suppression effect.

In addition to the VR-Quick Shoe knob, there is also an angle adjustment knob, so the camera and lens can be attached to the holder in the optimal position regardless of the size of the lens.

This knob is also wrapped in rubber, so it can be firmly and securely fixed.

The knob's operation is "very smooth" and "moderately sticky", and as you operate it, you will develop a "sense of trust" in your equipment.

I felt the spirit of craftsmanship in the way they didn't cut corners even in these small details.

Looking at the lineup, there are products that are compatible with lenses under 300mm, and products that are compatible with lenses longer than that, and users can choose the knob shoe and lever shoe according to their preference, and optional parts are available depending on whether the camera has a battery pack or not. I think product management is difficult, but I was very impressed by the detailed product lineup and support that is available from the user's perspective.

I have tried many similar products in the past, but the Markins VR-Holder is truly the "definitive edition."

I think it is a product that can be recommended to many photographers.

Below, I will introduce the effects of the VR-Holder through actual shooting, along with example photos.