What's
New And Notable In Photography
And Computers
COOL CAMERA, GREAT
LENS
The 10.3-megapixel
Sony
Cyber-shot DSC-R1 has a 24-120mm
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar
T zoom lens. Live-preview
capability makes
the camera framing
100% accurate and
camera operation
quiet. The LCD
screen swivels
to any position,
so you can get
fun shots at cool
angles. The camera
even has reduced
power consumption
(compared to earlier
Sony models) and
gets up to 500
shots per charge.
List Price: $1,000.
Contact: Sony,
(800) 222-SONY,
www.sonystyle.com.
STACK ‘EM
UP
With Lexar’s
Professional CompactFlash
Reader, you get
a durable, solid
card reader that
can be stacked.
The readers are
designed for linking
multiple units
to a single connection.
Up to four FireWire
CompactFlash readers
can be connected
using FireWire
daisy-chaining,
and up to four
USB 2.0 CompactFlash
readers can be
connected to the
Lexar Professional
4 Port Hub USB
2.0 for simultaneous
CF card downloading.
An LED indicator
makes it easy for
you to tell when
the card reader
is working. List
Price: $89.99.
Contact: Lexar
Media, (800) 789-9418,
www.lexar.com.
A SIGHT TO SEE
Carry a confident
air while presenting
your latest digital
slideshow using
the Microtek
CX6 DLP projector. For less than
$1,000, the device
offers 2,000
ANSI lumens and
a high 2,000:1
contrast ratio,
ensuring your
images appear
crisp. Inputs
for video or
graphics include
DVI for direct
digital connection,
a DVI-to-VGA
adapter for an
auto-sensing
analog PC connection,
and S-video and
composite video
inputs. At 7.8
pounds and 12.9x3.5x9.4
inches, it won’t
weigh you down
when you’re
on the go. List
Price: $999.
Contact: Microtek,
(310) 687-5940,
www.microtek.com.
GONE
FISHIN’
Capture an extreme
wide-angle shot
with a unique look
by using Sigma’s
15mm ƒ/2.8
EX DG Diagonal
Fisheye lens. The
180-degree field
of view and minimum
shooting distance
of 5.9 inches allow
you to get creative
with exaggerated
perspective and
distortion. The
digitally optimized
lens includes a
new multi-layer
coating to reduce
flare and ghosting,
and comes with
a gelatin filter
holder. Estimated
Street Price: $475.
Contact: Sigma,
(800) 896-6858,
www.sigma-photo.com.
BATTERIES
WITH TWO LIVES
Provide your camera
with twice the juice
using Panasonic
Oxyride Extreme Power
Batteries. These batteries last
twice as long as
Panasonic’s
former marathon battery,
Alkaline Plus. Newly
developed materials
and an advanced manufacturing
process deliver more
power, which means
more photos. List
Price: $3 (two-pack
of AA batteries).
Contact: Panasonic,
(800) 211-PANA, www.panasonic.com.
RAW
SPEED
Raise the productivity
bar with ACDSee
Pro Photo Manager, an
advanced version
of the photo management
software. With fast
RAW file viewing
and batch processing,
the program allows
you to view, process,
edit, catalog, publish
and archive photographs
quickly and easily.
Using a variety of
workflow tools, photographers
can also take care
of most post-production
tasks in a single
operation. List Price:
$129; $89 (upgrade).
Contact: ACD Systems,
(866) 244-2237, www.acdsystems.com.
LENGTHEN YOUR LENS
Expand shooting
options without
overexpanding your
budget with the
Nikon
TC-17E II AF-S,
AF-I Teleconverter. Designed exclusively
for use with Nikon
AF-S and AF-I lenses,
this accessory
lens can extend
the focal length
of your lens by
a factor of 1.7
and supports the
Nikon Vibration
Reduction function.
Only 2.6x1.2 inches
and about eight
ounces, it’s
light and compact
for your outdoor
trips. List Price:
$579. Contact: Nikon, (800) NIKON-US,
www.nikonusa.com.
PRINT SCHOOL
Go to school with
an online track
from Epson
Print Academy. Two
separate tracks
provide education
from varying
professionals.
Beginners can
learn a step-by-step
shoot-to-print
tutorial, solutions
for common digital
file problems,
and help with
creating black-and-white
prints. The second,
more advanced
track teaches
about topics
like color management,
custom profiling,
creating and
optimizing a
professional
workflow, expert-level
fine-art printing
techniques, using
a RIP for contract
proofing, and
collaborating
with graphic
designers and
commercial printers.
List Price: $50
(Track One);
$100 (Track Two).
Contact: Epson,
(800) GO-EPSON,
www.epsonprintacademy.com.
Hard
Copy
Magic
Lantern Guides: Canon
EOS Digital Rebel XT/EOS
350D by Michael Guncheon
(Lark Books, 2005; ISBN:
1-57990-761-X). Learn
the ins and outs of this
camera from HelpLine
columnist Michael Guncheon
in a how-to guide that
offers practical information,
tips and techniques.
PCPhoto Best Tips & Techniques
for Digital Photography, edited by Peter K. Burian
(Lark Books, 2006; ISBN:
1-57990-697-4). The editors
of PCPhoto explain the
high-tech components
of digital photography,
along with tips and advice
to help you get the most
out of your camera.
Photoshop LAB Color:
The Canyon Conundrum
and Other Adventures
in the Most Powerful
Colorspace by Dan Margulis
(Peachpit Press, 2005;
ISBN: 0-321-35678-0).
Photoshop users learn
the secrets
of LAB color in this
in-depth guide, which
shows you how LAB can
help improve images with
a few simple tools and
techniques.
Surreal Digital Photography by Barry Huggins and
Ian Probert (The Ilex
Press, 2004; ISBN: 1-59200-389-3).
Experience new realms
of the digital
revolution as experts
and artists share how
they captured some of
their most creative and
unusual images.
Wedding Photography:
Art, Business & Style,
Second Edition by Steve
Sint (Lark Books, 2005;
ISBN: 1-57990-546-3).
This book on wedding
photography covers the
gamut from getting started
and picking the right
poses to opening a studio
and refining your skills.
Photoshop for Right-Brainers:
The Art of Photo Manipulation by Al Ward (John Wiley & Sons,
2005; ISBN: 0-7821-4430-6).
Step outside of your
Photoshop box and learn
how to blend photos,
create mirror effects
and turn a photograph
into a line drawing,
oil painting or retro
image.
TAKE A DIGITAL
DETOUR
Spice up a road trip by
viewing your pictures on
the big screen or watching
other media with the Mustek
PL8A90T. The portable DVD
player has a nine-inch,
wide-screen color display
and a built-in TV Tuner.
Anti-shock protection lets
you enjoy programming even
on the move. The portable
entertainment comes with
slots for MMC and SD cards,
built-in speakers, two
headphone jacks and Dolby
Digital. List Price: $350.
Contact: Mustek, (949)
788-3600, www.mustek.com.
PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES
Ensure the safety of
your important prints
when they’re stored
in the Chinle
Museum Case by Moab Paper. Available
in two sizes, the case
opens flat and closes
tightly to keep out light
and dust. Covered in
black book cloth, the
case is acid- and lignin-free
and moisture-resistant.
List Price: $135 (17x22);
$150 (24x30). Contact: Moab Paper, (435) 259-3161,
www.moabpaper.com.
PHOTO FIX-IT
Add more tools to Photoshop
with Digital
Film Tools 55mm 6.0. This Photoshop
plug-in has special
filters that imitate
the traditional photographic
process. The latest
version of the software
includes 12 new filters
and enhancements to
old filters. One new
filter is Vari-Star,
which generates multi-pointed
star patterns on the
highlights of an image.
Another useful new
filter is Warm Soft
Effects, which diffuses
the image to minimize
facial imperfections
while retaining overall
clarity, in combination
with a warming filter.
List Price: $195. Contact: Digital Film Tools,
(323) 874-2330, www.digitalfilmtools.com.
DIMINUTIVE BUT DOMINANT
Back up your photos while
you’re traveling
by using a Mega
TravelDrive from Memorex. At less
than 2x2 inches in size,
the ultra-compact pocket
hard drive features a
pivoting USB cable that
you can easily plug into
your laptop while in
the field. The 8 GB drive
can fit thousands of
digital images—and
that’s no small
thing. List Price: $119
(4 GB); $149 (6 GB);
$199 (8 GB). Contact: Memorex, (877) 474-8548,
www.memorex.com.
LIGHTWEIGHT
Gitzo has gone lighter
with its 6X
carbon-fiber tripods. The carbon-fiber
technology that’s
used to build these
tripods reduces the
overall weight by up
to 17%. The tubes have
a six-crossed multi-layer
of carbon fiber for
added strength with
lighter weight. The
Anti Leg Rotation and
traditional twist-lock
systems allow for faster
setup and more support.
Other new features
include a built-in,
spring-loaded retractable
hook on the bottom
of the center column
for hanging a stabilizing
counterweight. List
Price: $443 to $1,000.
Contact: Gitzo (Bogen
Imaging), (201) 818-9500,
www.bogenimaging.us.
PACK
IT UP
Finding room for
your DV camcorder,
laptop, tapes, batteries
and other essentials
shouldn’t be
too difficult with
Kata’s R-103
backpack. The backpack
is designed to hold
camcorders, like
the Canon GL-2 and
Sony PD-170, in a
central compartment
for quick access.
The rest of your
equipment, including
space for a 15-inch
laptop, is tucked
away in surrounding
internal and external
pockets. The R-103’s
ergonomic harness
includes a cushioning
and shock-absorbing
system that allows
for ventilation and
weight distribution.
List Price: $275.
Contact: Kata (Bogen
Imaging), (201) 818-9500,
www.bogenimaging.us.
FUN
FRAMES
With Framing
Station software, there are
four simple steps
for a quick, fun
print: choose a digital
photo, pick a frame,
add text if desired
and print. The 3,360
frames are available
in four sizes and
layouts and in six
different sets, including
calendars, holiday
styles, invitations
and sports trading
cards. List Price:
$50 (Framing Station);
$30 (individual Frame
Packs); $140 (Framing
Station and six Frame
Pack combo). Contact: Frame My Photos,
(714) 505-1726, www.framemyphotos.com.
CLICK AND LEARN
Get back to basics
or freshen up
your tripod know-how
with Manfrotto’s
online photography
lessons. Developed
with the Web
Photo School,
the series is
designed to help
you get the most
out of shooting
on a tripod,
whether you’re
in the studio
or on the beach.
Each lesson gives
detailed information
on everything
from setting
up a tripod to
framing and lighting
techniques. Courses
include “How
to Use a Tripod:
The Basics,” “Shooting
Glamour in the
Studio” and “A
Close-Up Look
at Macro Photography.” Contact: Manfrotto, www.manfrotto.com.
THE BEST THING
SINCE POCKET PROTECTORS
Taking pictures
is one thing, but
creating slideshows
is quite another.
Do what you love
and leave the rest
to Ulead
Pocket Slideshow
software. Select a DVD menu
and music, and
the software can
automatically create
the transitions
and insert pan-and-zoom
effects using up
to 800 slides.
To further simplify
things, it has
an interface with
large icons that
guide you through
step-by-step instructions.
List Price: $20.
Contact: Ulead
Systems, (800)
85-ULEAD, www.ulead.com.
SPRING CLEANING
Clean your D-SLR
sensor using
Copper
Hill Images’ SensorSweep. This one-size-fits-all
brush has a 1⁄2-inch-wide,
static-charged
head that will
work on every
D-SLR. It ships
in a durable
storage tube
to protect it
from dust and
makes it easy
to tote anywhere.
List Price: $13.
Contact: Copper
Hill Images,
[email protected],
www.copperhillimages.com.
OFF WITH THEIR
HEADS
Have fun with your
photo collection
using FaceOnBody, a software designed
exclusively to
swap heads and
bodies in six simple
steps. The Image
Library is an integrated
Web browsing and
download tool to
help you select
bodies and scenes.
The software comes
with standard tools
like face resizing,
rotation and mirroring,
allowing for perfect
face positioning.
Plus, advanced
paint tools allow
you to touch up
by painting more
of the face or
more of the scene.
List Price: $24.95.
Contact: FaceOnBody,
[email protected],
www.faceonbody.com.
PHANTASTIC PHOTO
SHARING
Upload, manage,
share and archive
photos with one
simple online service.
You can do all
this with Phanfare minus the annoying
advertisements.
The software automatically
uploads low-resolution
thumbnails that
you can work with
before the high-resolution
files finish uploading.
You’re given
the option to let
those with whom
you share your
album download
the images in high-res
so they can print
the images themselves.
Storing your photo
collection on Phanfare
can keep them safe
from computer viruses
or crashes and
makes the transition
to a new computer
easier with less
data to transfer.
List Price: $7
(month); $55 (year);
$300 (lifetime
membership). Contact: Phanfare, (800)
699-9354, www.phanfare.com.
FAST FLASH
Hoodman’s
line of Professional
Performance Only
CompactFlash cards
have speeds rated
up to 150x and
come in 512 MB,
1 GB, 2 GB and
4 GB. The cards
were developed
with PC Partner
USA and use up
to 20% less battery
life for image
processing. The
line is available
only through the
Professional Photo
Dealer Channel.
List Price: TBA.
Contact: Hoodman,
(800) 818-3946,
www.hoodmanusa.com.
