What's New And Notable In Photography
And Computers
New EOS Digital Rebel
Get higher resolution and performance to match with the 8-megapixel
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT. The D-SLR's enhancements
include a fast 0.2-second startup, 100-millisecond lag time
(as good as the Canon EOS 10D) and the ability to shoot a burst
of 14 JPEG images at up to three frames per second. The new
camera, 10% lighter than the original EOS Digital Rebel, boasts
advanced E-TTL II flash metering with exposure compensation,
user-selectable AF and metering modes, mirror lockup and more.
Estimated Street Price: $999 (with EF-S 18-55mm ƒ/3.5-5.6
II USM); $899 (body only). Contact: Canon, (800) OK-CANON, www.usa.canon.com.
Software Photo Filters
Simulate traditional photo filters and darkroom techniques with
Digital Film Lab 2.0. The software plug-in
includes graduated filters and soft-focus diffusion filters,
plus "cross-processed" film effects, film grain and more. List
Price: $50. Contact: Digital Film Tools, (323) 874-2330, www.digitalfilmtools.com.
Fast, Large-Output Printer
Make vibrant, long-lasting prints up to 13x19 inches fast with
Epson's R-1800 color printer. The pigment-based
inkjet printer's eight-color inkjet system includes red and
blue inks to deliver more colorful images while providing print
life in excess of 100 years. The speediest printer in the Epson
line, the R-1800 can produce a full-color 11x14-inch print in
less than two minutes. Estimated Street Price: $549. Contact:
Epson, (800) GO-EPSON, www.epson.com.
Compact 7.2 MP Camera Casio's full-featured, 7.2-megapixel EX-P700 offers
a host of refinements, including a 33-132mm (35mm equivalent)
ƒ/2.8-4 zoom lens. The camera's seven-point AF system will
bring you all the way in to 3.9 inches, switching automatically
between normal- and macro-focus modes. The Flash Assist function
lightens darker areas when you shoot with flash. List Price:
$549. Contact: Casio, (800) 435-7732, www.casio.com.
Wide-Angle Digital Camera
Capture more field of view with the 4x optical zoom, wide-angle
lens (equivalent to 27-110mm) on the new Olympus C-7070
digital camera. Along with 7.1 megapixels, the camera
features a 180-degree swivel LCD, making it easy to shoot at
any angle. The C-7070 also features Predictive and Target Focusing
systems and a histogram display. Conversion lenses and flash
systems add to the capabilities of the camera. Estimated Street
Price: $699. Contact: Olympus, (888) 553-4448, www.olympusamerica.com.
Lcd
Monitor Meets Pen Tablet
Work on your images directly on your LCD monitor with Wacom's
Cintiq 21UX interactive pen display. Combining Wacom's
respected pen tablet technology with a large, 21.3-inch LCD
screen, the device features 1600 x 1200 screen resolution, a
wide 170-degree viewing angle and accurate colors. The included
pen tool can detect 1,024 levels of pressure and offers 5,080
lines-per-inch resolution. List Price: $2,499. Contact: Wacom,
(800) 922-9348, www.wacom.com.
Scratch-Resistant Cds And Dvds
Stop worrying about scratches and lost data with Imation's
ForceField scratch-resistant CDs and DVDs. A proprietary
coating guards against scratches, smudges and dust—just
give them a quick wipe and they're good to go. The disks are
fully compatible with standard CD and DVD burners and players,
and come in 52x CDs, 8x DVD+Rs and 8x DVD-Rs. List Price: From
$5.99. Contact: Imation, (888) 466-3456, www.imation.com.
Hard
Copy
Wedding and Portrait Photographers'
Legal Handbook by Norman Phillips and Christopher
S. Nudo, Esq. (Amherst Media, Inc., 2005; ISBN: 1-58428-148-0).
This practical handbook includes sample forms and contracts as well
as concise, jargon-free explanations of legal concepts for the working
photographer.
Into Your Digital Darkroom Step by Step
by Peter Cope (Amherst Media, Inc., 2005; ISBN:1-58428-146-4). Quick
methods and well-guided illustrations will assist any photographer
in achieving maximum-quality images through various software techniques.
Pro Digital Photographer's Handbook by
Michael Freeman (Lark Books, 2004; ISBN 1-57990-632-X). Learn everything
you ever wanted to know, plus things you didn't realize you needed
to know about digital photography. This comprehensive guide covers
digital equipment, shooting methods and creative Photoshop techniques,
plus a range of expert advice on editing, backing up files and copyright
information.
Photoshop Elements 3 Solutions: The Art of Digital Photography
by Mikkel Aaland (Sybex, Inc., 2005; ISBN: 0-7821-4363-6). This
reader-friendly guide explores new tools and controls in the latest
version of Photoshop Elements to help you expand your skills working
with this feature-rich imaging software.
5MP Compact With
Anti-Shake
With a large two-inch LCD screen for easy viewing, the new DiMAGE
Z5 from Konica Minolta features 5-megapixel resolution,
Anti-Shake CCD technology and a zoom range of 35-420mm (35mm
equivalent). The camera boasts a fast startup time and has a
rapid autofocus of 0.2 seconds at wide angle and 0.3 seconds
in telephoto. Price: TBA. Contact: Konica Minolta, (800) 285-6422,
www.konicaminolta.us.
Push-Button
Card Reader
Insert your memory card into MediaGear's 10 in 4 Push-Button
Reader/Writer, push its copy button and relax while
the device transfers your images to your computer's hard drive.
The reader even creates a new file folder for your images so
you won't need to use a mouse. The unit accepts popular media
card formats and interfaces with your computer via a fast USB
2.0 connection. Estimated Street Price: $35. Contact: MediaGear,
(714) 564-7719, www.mymediagear.com.
Back Up Your Files!
Backing up your data is essential to make sure you don't lose
your precious images—and everything else on your computer.
EMC Dantz Retrospect 7 Professional makes backing
up easy with simple, wizard-based operation. Back up to hard
drives, tape, CDs and DVDs, including 8 GB double-layer discs.
A task bar icon or hot key lets you start a backup with the
push of a button. List Price: $129. Contact: EMC Dantz, (925)
948-9000, www.dantz.com.
Usb Adapter For Second Monitor
Adding a second monitor is a great way to make imaging more
fun and productive, but it usually has required adding a second
video card to your computer, too. Tritton Technologies'
SEE2 USB 2.0 to SVGA adapter provides a simple solution—just
plug the adapter into your USB port and your extra monitor into
the adapter. Estimated Street Price: $89. Contact: Tritton Technologies,
(800) 431-1176, www.trittontechnologies.com.
Fast, High-Capacity Media
Clear your camera's memory quickly with new CompactFlash
and SecureDigital cards from PNY. With their 12 MB/sec.
read speeds and 10 MB/sec. write speeds, the CF cards store
even large RAW files in a hurry. The SD cards aren't far behind.
Both cards come in capacities from 128 MB to 1 GB, and a 4 GB
CF card is available, too. List Price: $99 (1 GB SD); $499 (4
GB CF). Contact: PNY Technologies, (973) 560-5512, www.pny.com.
Tiny
Pocket Hard Drive
Slip 5 GB of your important image files and other data into
your pocket or camera bag with Seagate's convenient
Pocket Hard Drive. Measuring only two inches across,
the rounded device features a retractable USB 2.0 cable and
shockproof design. Rubberized feet keep the hard drive steady
on your desk when you're ready to work. Estimated Street Price:
$169. Contact: Seagate Technology, (800) SEAGATE, www.seagate.com.
Connect Conveniently
Eliminating the need for a card reader, SanDisk has created
an innovative SD flash memory card, the Ultra II SD
PLUS, which features built-in USB connectivity. Simply
remove the SD card from your camera and insert it directly into
your computer's USB port to download your images. Price: $149
(1 GB). Contact: SanDisk, (800) 977-5427, www.sandisk.com.
Big-Zoom Camera With Optical Image
Stabilizer
Shoot with the powerful 12x, 36-432mm (35mm equivalent) zoom
on Panasonic's Lumix DMC-FZ5 to capture everything
from wide-angle to extreme telephoto shots. A built-in MEGA
Optical Image Stabilizer combats camera shake so that you can
get the most out of the camera's optics. Panasonic's LSI Venus
Engine II processor shortens shutter lag and speeds image processing.
List Price: $499. Contact: Panasonic, (800) 211-PANA, www.panasonic.com.
Inkjet Papers
InkjetMall now offers a line of inkjet photo papers compatible
with both pigment- and dye-based inksets. Bradford papers are
available in three surfaces, each of which is lignin- and acid-free
to ensure archival quality. Two of the papers are made of 100
percent cotton rag: Bradford Rag Bright White
is a bright white paper that uses minimal brighteners; Bradford
Rag Natural White is made without brighteners and displays
a warmer tone. Bradford Bright Cool Matte is
a lighter-weight, 200 gsm sulphite paper with a brightness of
95. Price: From $10. Contact: InkjetMall, (888) 426-6323, www.inkjetmall.com.
Unleash Elements' Potential
Hone your digital darkroom skills with Adobe Photoshop
Elements 3 Unleashed. This DVD-based series of tutorials
from pro Deke McClelland guides you through 10 advanced lessons
and includes project work files and professional stock photography
in the package. Estimated Street Price: $59. Contact: Total
Training, (800) 546-9620, www.totaltraining.com.
Warm Balance Filter
Get warmer images with balanced skin tones. Fit the ExpoDisc
Digital Warm Balance filter on your lens and set a
custom white balance. The attachment forces your digital camera
to add precise quantities of red and green color to remove blue
casts, warming your images and saving you time with color correction.
Estimated Street Price: From $99. Contact: ExpoDisc, (800) 446-5086,
www.expodisc.com.
Lcd
Monitor Meets Pen Tablet
Push-Button
Card Reader
