Covering The Photo Beat
Camera Raincoat, Print Tacking Iron, Online Photo Lessons, And More
Small Camera Case Plus
An interesting new idea in multipurpose cases comes from Norazza, called the
Ape Case Tri-Fold Traveler. At first glance, it looks like a case suitable for
a small compact 35mm or digital camera, but when a hook-and-loop fastener is
opened it expands to a 15.5" length having a protector organizer function
with no less than 20 different pockets in three sections. Each section has various
size pockets to safely hold your camera plus cash, map, digital media cards,
and other small, flat accessories typically carried. This day wallet can be
hung from the neck with the included strap, or clipped onto a belt, strap, or
bicycle. It's heavy-duty and padded for protection with a black exterior
and yellow interior for easier locating of the contents. The MSRP is $30. Contact:
OmegaSatter, 1041 S. Carroll St., Hampstead, MD 21074; (410) 374-3250; fax:
(410) 374-3184; www.omegasatter.com.
Simple Underwater Compact Camera
The Polaroid Splash II 2-in-1 camera from Concord Camera Corporation is a fully
automatic 35mm camera housed in a waterproof housing suitable for use in depths
down to 65 ft. The clear waterproof housing can be easily removed for land use
as a normal simple point-and-shoot 35mm camera. The housing has a large external
viewfinder for easier use when wearing a snorkeling mask or other underwater
gear. It features auto flash, auto film loading, auto advance and rewind, and
auto power off to conserve battery life. It has a 27mm fixed-focus optical lens
and carries an MSRP of $25. Contact: Concord Camera Corp., 4000 Hollywood Blvd.,
Suite 650N, Hollywood, FL 33021; (954) 331-4200; fax; (954) 981-3055; www.concordcamera.com.
Easy To Use Photo Print Organizer
The Power Sort Organization System appears to be a simple box, but it's
said to make organizing prints both easy and approachable, the first step toward
creating a meaningful photo album. Constructed entirely from photo-safe materials,
it will keep up to 2400 photo prints safe from becoming accidentally bent, creased,
or folded and free from harmful dust, dirt, and light. It's said to make
it simple to set up and maintain a personalized method for organizing and retrieving
your personal photos. There is a storage pocket in the box cover large enough
for holding panoramic prints and related memorabilia related to the photos inside.
You can easily sort by theme, year, friends, or family members and it helps
you organize the photos for eventual placing into a Creative Memories album
for easy sharing with others. The MSRP is $35 and a smaller Power Sort Mini
Organizing System has a MSRP of just $11. You can learn more about these products
by logging onto their website (www.creativememories.com)
where they have a "Consultant Locator," which will give the address
of somebody in your area that works with these products. You can also write
or call them at: Creative Memories, 3001 Clearwater Rd., PO Box 1839, St. Cloud,
MN 56302; (800) 341-5275.
New Panoramic Tripod Head
Kaidan first introduced a VR/OTVR panoramic photography tripod head eight years
ago. They are offering a new and improved KiWi model with a built-in click-stop
mechanism (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 stops are standard), a detent disk storage
pouch, number-of-shots chart, built-in bubble level, and improved adjustable
camera bracket. It can be upgraded with optional brackets for use with fisheye
lenses. The MSRP starts at $200. Contact: Kaidan Inc., 703 East Pennsylvania
Blvd.,Feasterville, PA 19035; (215) 364-1778; www.kaidan.com.
Photoflex:
Small Product Lighting Kit & On line Photography Lessons
Photoflex now offers a Small Product Photography Lighting Kit that includes
assembly instructions and lessons on an included CD-ROM for taking properly
lighted photographs of many types of small products. Typical subjects might
include ceramics, crystal, arts and crafts items, coins, stamps, models, paintings,
gems and jewelry. Although intended primarily for digital applications, it can
of course be used with film cameras as well. The kit includes two Starlite 3200
tungsten 500w lights, SilverDome nxt softbox, and four-section LiteStand. The
extra-small softbox produces soft, diffused light for creating soft highlights
and even, natural lighting without hot spots. A removable diffusion face converts
the lighting output from soft to high contrast. Although designed for use with
hot lights, it can be used with electronic flash when optional connectors are
purchased. Carry bags for transporting and storage are included. The MSRP is
$775. Contact: Photoflex Products Inc., 97 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076;
(800) 486-2674, (831) 786-1370; fax: (831) 786-1371; www.photoflex.com.
In addition, Photoflex has relaunched their Web Photo School website with new
free and paid photography lessons. The lessons are slanted toward digital photography
but include useful information on many aspects of photography. Their current
library includes more than 200 lessons in nine general categories including:
basic camera, basic lighting, portraits, products/still life, business, outdoor
photography/travel, Internet/auction photos, and digital manipulation/Photoshop.
There are also subcategories. First-time visitors can take a tour to help decide
the level of lessons they want to review. Fifteen free lessons range from shooting
portraits to photographing jewelry for print and website, to using electronic
flash and soft lights. Pay-per-view lessons on simple techniques cost just 99
cents each, more extensive lessons cost $1.99 each, and advanced lessons taught
by known pros cost $2.99 each. You can take as many of the 200 different lessons
you want in one month for $8 a month or $60 for a full year. Visitors can preview
lessons, which include thumbnail images, plus obtain a summary explaining the
contents. Check this out at: www.webphotoschool.com.
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