The Ray Flash Rotator claims to be the first rotating flash bracket to support TTL metering as standard. The unit accepts a standard flashgun and fixes itself into the tripod thread of a DSLR, before it enables the flash to be positioned and fixed at any point around the lens.

So, whether you want the flash to be fired from the top, side or even underneath the camera body, the Rotator enables you to do it.

The unit comes in three parts, with three separate middle sections provided to tailor the construction to the camera in use. Everything is joined together by supplied screws, while the cable attached to the main ring attaches itself to the camera's hotshoe, thereby enabling full communication from the camera to the flash.

The metal used throughout the accessory's construction gives the unit a solid build quality, although some plastic is used for the outer sections of the ring.

The flash moves freely once the locking ring is loosened, and once tightened it stays in position, although it's a shame this ring doesn't sport grooves around its edges, which would provide greater traction.

Another small grievance is that the coiled cable between the unit and the camera's hotshoe can easily swing in front of the lens, although this is only an issue with particularly short optics.

Verdict

Currently available for Canon and Nikon bodies, the Ray Flash Rotator may be considered a little pricey for some, and you're also limited by how far you can position the flash away from the camera.

Still, it's perhaps the best solution of its kind, and is far more compact than similar solutions we've seen in the past.

Sony's DR-GA500 gaming headset is quite unlike anything we've seen before, with a sci-fi look possibly inspired by the high-tech orbital menus found in computer games.

It's a credit to Sony that they feel light and comfortable, too - if you don't mind looking like you've got some sort of brain scanner perched on your head.

Included with the headset is a Dolby Pro Logic IIx decoder, which can be connected to either a USB port or the 3.5mm analogue outputs on your soundcard. Although connecting a decoder to your soundcard may seem counterintuitive, its purpose is to transfer its surround output to those futuristic cans.

We had our doubts about Sony's ability to deliver 7.1 sound when we realised that the headphones connect via a stereo 3.5mm jack, which is - naturally - only capable of delivering two channels of sound. But somewhere between the decoder and the headphones, Sony has just about got it to work.

It's not quite the same effect you'd get from a proper 7.1 channel speaker system, but it's probably as close as you'll get from a stereo headset. Those all-important bad guys' footsteps seemed to come from behind us, and even ambient sound seemed richer.

One nice thing about the jack is that it can be connected to other sources, and the headphones proved perfectly adept for listening to music on a mobile or watching films on a laptop.

There does seem to be a discrepancy when it comes to Sony's pricing though. The headphones alone can be picked up for around £40, which means the box of tricks - which isn't available separately - is nearly £70.

While the 7.1 sound is impressive, we'd recommend picking up the headphones on their own and using your soundcard's built-in software to emulate the surround sound effects.