What's New And Notable In Photography
And Computers
DIGITAL
CAMERA RECORDS BEFORE AND AFTER Capture high-quality video and 5-megapixel still images
together with the Cyber-shot M1 from Sony. Its hybrid
still/video system can record up to 27 minutes of TV-quality
video on an optional 512 MB card. Unlike many digital cameras
with video, the M1's 38-114mm (35mm equivalent) lens can zoom
during video recording. Estimated Street Price: $599. Contact:
Sony, (800) 222-SONY, www.sony.com.
CARBON-FIBER,
MAGNESIUM TRIPOD Carbon-fiber tripods offer greater rigidity than comparable
aluminum ones, and they're noticeably lighter in weight, too.
Manfrotto's MagFiber 055MF3 brings you these advantages, plus
further weight savings from light, but strong magnesium fittings.
Weighing in at just 4.5 pounds, the MagFiber will firmly support
your D-SLR with a big lens. List Price: $424. Contact: Bogen
Imaging, (201) 818-9500, www.bogenimaging.us.
EDIT
VIDEO LIKE A PRO Get the power of Adobe's professional video-editing
software, made simpler for home users. Adobe Premiere
Elements is an advanced, but easy-to-use video-editing application
with real-time editing and previews. User-friendly features
include multiple undos so you can experiment freely, and context-sensitive,
how-to instruction. Other touches include automatic scene indexing
and wide-screen format support. List Price: $99. Contact: Adobe,
(800) 833-6687, www.adobe.com.
TWO
ZOOMS FOR OLYMPUS D-SLRS Olympus has introduced two versatile zooms that together
bring you an equivalent focal length range of 28-300mm. The
Zuiko Digital 14-45mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 now is standard on the EVOLT
E-300 and works as well on the E-1. It provides a 28-90mm 35mm-equivalent
focal range. The second lens is a 40-150mm ƒ/3.5-4.5, with an
equivalent focal length range of 80-300mm, making it great for
sports-action. List Price: $299 (14-45mm); $349 (40-150mm).
Contact: Olympus, (888) 553-4448, www.olympusamerica.com.
FAST
SD CARDS Record your digital images at up to 16 MB per second
with the C-Guys Ultra High Speed SD memory cards. Available
in 512 MB and 1 GB capacities, the cards can store hundreds
of high-resolution JPEG images. For a fast download, the optional
matching high-speed SD-USBean card reader transfers your images
to a computer at up to 20 MB per second. List Price: $100 (512
MB); $200 (1 GB). Contact: C-Guys, (408) 252-8800, www.c-guysusa.com.
RECHARGEABLE
LI-ION BATTERIES Keep your digital camera and camcorder powered up with
a rechargeable Li-ion battery from Hahnel. Now available
in the United States, the batteries feature built-in safety
circuits to help prevent deep discharge, short circuits and
overloading. Hahnel Li-ion lineup includes 13 new advanced
polymer models with improved energy capacity and durability.
Estimated Street Price: $49. Contact: RTS, (631) 242-6801, www.rtsphoto.com.
ARCHIVAL
INKJET PAPER
Traditionally, glossy inkjet paper isn't as long-lived as matte
surfaces because it exposes inkjet dyes to ozone and other atmospheric
pollutants. Ferrania's OptiJet PermaPix paper with PerDura
technology beats these woes and delivers longer-lasting glossy
prints. It also offers an instant-drying, smudge-proof
and water-resistant surface. List Price: $12.99. Contact: Ferrania,
(888) 846-2846, www.ferraniait.com.
Hard
Copy
Total Digital Photography: The Shoot
To Print Workflow Handbook by Serge Timacheff and
David Karlins (Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2005; ISBN: 0-7645-6952-X).
This comprehensive work explains everything a serious shooter will
need to know for an efficient workflow, from setting up the shoot
for digital to archiving, backing up and keeping track of your files.
Digital Infrared Photography: Professional Techniques
and Images by Patrick Rice (Amherst Media, 2005; ISBN:
1-58428-144-8). Learn how to shoot beautiful, glowing infrared images
with your digital camera. This guide explains the considerations
involved in using IR, including focus, filtration and exposure.
The Kids’ Guide to Digital Photography
by Jenni Bidner (Lark Books, 2004; ISBN: 1-57990-604-4). Written
for kids, this book offers tons of useful tips for capturing the
world as they see it, including how to handle a camera, improve
composition, work with imaging software and make great prints.
Lighting for Glamour Photography by Duncan
Evans and David Kimber (Amphoto Books, 2004; ISBN: 0-8174-4232-4).
A complete guide to professional lighting techniques for glamour
shots, this book’s tips for controlling light indoors and
out are useful for general portrait photography, too.
WIRELESS
DIGITAL PHOTO SYSTEM Shoot high-quality, 4-megapixel images and e-mail them
wirelessly from the camera with Kodak's EasyShare-One. The
camera uses Wi-Fi networks in your home or at public hot spots
to send and receive images, including your online albums at
Kodak's EasyShare Gallery (Ofoto). The EasyShare-One also boasts
a huge three-inch swiveling LCD with touch-screen controls and
256 MB of built-in memory. List Price: $599. Contact: Kodak,
(800) 235-6325, www.kodak.com.
FILTERS
FOR DIGITAL CAMERAS Improve the look of your images and gain greater creative
control with a B+W Digital-Pro filter from Schneider Optics.
Renowned for its optical quality, the B+W Digital-Pro line includes
polarizers for reducing glare and reflections, filters for infrared
photography, color enhancement and more in sizes from 25mm to
82mm. List Price: From $36. Contact: Schneider Optics, (631)
761-5000, www.schneideroptics.com.
MEMORY
CARD RECOVERY ImageRecall 3 recovers your images and other files from
accidentally erased or corrupted memory cards, as well as from
CDs, Zip disks and other storage media. The program
saves the rescued images to folders on your computer, or you
can burn them directly onto CDs. Windows only. List Price: $39.
Contact: FlashFixers, (888) 8-FIXERS, www.flashfixers.com.
DIGITAL
PHOTO BOOK Showcase your work in a Chinle Digital Photo Book from
Moab Paper Company. Print your images on the book's
30 sheets of double-sided, archival-quality Entrada Fine Art
Paper and easily bind the pages in the included 8x9-inch, black
split-leather cover. The result is a coffee-table book that's
easy for you to update. Illustrated instructions walk you through
the process. List Price: $77. Contact: Moab Paper, (435) 259-3161,
www.moabpaper.com.
VIEW
DIGITAL ALBUMS ON YOUR TV Share your digital photos with friends and family on
your TV's big screen with the SanDisk Photo Album. Just
connect the Photo Album to your TV and show images and MPEG-1
video directly from your media cards or USB flash drive. The
device also can make TV-resolution copies of your images and
store them on a separate CF card so they'll always be ready
to share. List Price: $49. Contact: SanDisk, (408) 542-0500,
www.sandisk.com.
DIGITAL
BLAST FROM THE PAST Remember the classic Rolleiflex camera, with its twin
lenses stacked one over the other? Rollei has created
the MiniDigi, a nostalgic digital version of this old favorite,
sporting the original's pop-up, waist-level viewfinder. The
2-megapixel camera shoots square images like its famous predecessor,
recording them on SD cards. Estimated Street Price: $350. Contact:
Rollei Logistics, (925) 825-4795, www.rollei.jp/e/.
PORTABLE
HARD DRIVE Store thousands of high-resolution images on SmartDisk's
portable FireLite hard drive. Small enough to fit in
the palm of your hand, the six-ounce drives are available in
capacities from 40 to 100 GB. They draw power through their
FireWire or USB 2.0 connections, eliminating the need for a
separate AC adapter, and feature a lightweight, but tough magnesium
housing. List Price: From $149. Contact: SmartDisk, (239) 425-4000,
www.smartdisk.com.
POWERFUL
SHOE-MOUNT FLASH Get better flash range or more power for bounce-flash
shots with the Metz 54AF-1 Digital. The flash provides
dedicated TTL flash metering for Canon, Konica Minolta and Nikon
cameras, including wireless remote TTL operation with compatible
models. The 54AF-1 also boasts a modeling light so you can see
where you're aiming. List Price: $380. Contact: Bogen Imaging,
(201) 818-9500, www.bogenimaging.us.
FINE-ART
INKJET PAPER Give your images the look and feel of real watercolor
paper with Bergger Fine Art Inkjet Paper. The archival
material is made by renowned watercolor paper maker Arches and
is optimized for inkjet printing by Bergger. The paper is available
in textured and smooth surfaces, and accepts both dye- and pigment-based
inks. List Price: From $9.99. Contact: Bergger Products, (815)
282-9876, www.bergger.com.
MOBILE
HARD DRIVE Western Digital's WD Passport Portable USB Drive features
a rugged case and a highly shock-tolerant drive to safeguard
your image files. Its USB 2.0 connection makes it fast
and easy to move data to and from your computer. The drive draws
power through the USB cable. List Price: $199 (40 GB); $249
(80 GB). Contact: Western Digital, (949) 672-7000, www.westerndigital.com.
TWO
ZOOMS FOR OLYMPUS D-SLRS
RECHARGEABLE
LI-ION BATTERIES
WIRELESS
DIGITAL PHOTO SYSTEM
