May 2024

SLR REBEL
Shoot sharp-looking stills with precise color and rich tones using the Canon EOS Rebel XSi. The 12.2-megapixel D-SLR comes with many features and technologies first introduced in Canon’s pro models. Some of those include a 14-bit A/D converter for smoother color gradations and Highlight Tone Priority for control of bright highlights and high-ISO noise-reduction technology. A three-inch Live View LCD with two types of autofocus, a powerful DIGIC III processing engine and an improved 3.5 fps continuous shooting rate round out the top features. Estimated Street Price: $800 (body only), $900 (with EF-S 18-55mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 IS zoom). Contact: Canon, (800) OK-CANON, www.usa.canon.com. 



NIKON’S LATEST
Boost your picture-taking ability with the Nikon D60, a 10.2-megapixel D-SLR that fits loads of cool features into a small package. They include an intuitive, simple-to-navigate menu; a dual dust-reduction system; and in-camera editing tools like color-intensifying filters, D-lighting, red-eye correction and Image Trim. The fast 0.18-second start-up time and split-second shutter response lessens the shutter lag. And the D60’s Stop-Motion Movie mode jump-starts your creative skills by making stop-animation movie clips from a series of as many as 100 consecutive JPEG picture files. Estimated Street Price: $749. Contact: Nikon USA, (800) NIKON-US, www.nikonusa.com.

A LEG UP
Take sharper-looking pictures with help from the Giottos Carbon Fiber MM III Monopod. Available in sizes ranging from 60 to 71.6 inches, the monopod features anti-twist leg sections with rubber twist leg locks, keeping the camera and your shot locked. A neoprene leg grip provides better stability, and a large rubber leveling foot prevents the monopod from slipping on unstable surfaces. Estimated Street Price: From $116. Contact: HP Marketing Corp., 800-735-4373, www.hpmarketingcorp.com.

BURN IT
Produce CDs and DVDs of your images quickly using the Pixela DVD Burner. You simply connect the stand-alone device to your camera or camcorder and hit start. The burner analyzes the data on the camera and burns the recorded images to a disc. The DVDs can be played back on most DVD players by selecting titles just as with commercial DVDs. List Price: $299. Contact: Pixela, (800) 406-4966, www.pixela-1.com.



AIR MAC
Go light with Apple’s MacBook Air, the thinnest notebook made to date. Just 0.76 inches at its thickest point, the whole setup weighs three pounds yet still features a 13.3-inch LED screen with 1280 x 800 resolution, full-sized backlit keyboard and extended battery life of five hours. The trackpad uses “multi-touch” gesture-based technology for clicking, dragging, flipping and zooming through images and text. It comes with a 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, an 80 GB hard drive or an optional 64 GB solid-state drive, and the latest 802.11n WiFi technology. An external drive for reading CDs and DVDs is optional; or wirelessly use the optical drive of a nearby Mac. Estimated Street Price: Starts at $1,799. Contact: Apple, (800) MY-APPLE, www.apple.com.

BIG ADVENTURE
Travel large with the Tamrac Adventure 10 photo/laptop backpack. Big enough for a pro D-SLR with most 70-200mm ƒ/2.8 lenses attached, the foam-padded main compartment contains adjustable dividers for cushioning your gear. The Adventure 10 fits numerous lenses, a flash and other accessories. The top section has room for more equipment and personal items, plus there’s a 17-inch laptop compartment. Outside mesh pockets provide easy access to accessories. The waist belt is foam-padded,  and the contoured shoulder harness system has a chest strap for comfort. It’s available in red/black or gray/black. List Price: $229. Contact: Tamrac, (800) 662-0717, www.tamrac.com.