New Gear For 2007: PMA Report; Studio And Mobile Lighting: Strobe, Hot, And Cool Lights Page 3

Micro Studio Lighting devised a system that connects four of these flashlights to a variable-output power pack. Four focusable flashlights, along with power module and acetate filters for modifying the color effects, are included in the package. The color temperature of the flashlights is 3550K. Interestingly, for $799 (MSRP), you'd expect the kit to come in a protective case with support brackets, but you'll have to supply these on your own.

Micro Studio Lighting

The Desk Top Light Studio, from OSN, is not an entirely new concept in tabletop photography aimed at the eBay market, but at $599 (MSRP) it is more economically priced than some others I've seen, and with perhaps greater functionality. Inside this self-contained 17.4x12.8x10.5" aluminum box are eight light bulbs of varying wattage, each lasting 8000 hours (running off household AC). The box will hold objects up to 13x8.6".

OSN Desk Top Light Studio

Sharpics revealed the enhanced, next-generation D-Flector portable background. The D-Flector is available in two sizes: 20x32" ($69) and 30x40" ($119). The enhanced version contains three seamless backgrounds in reflective silver, matte white, and black, to provide more options for photographing a variety of small products. The reflective background material included with the D-Flector activates when photographed with flash or strobe lighting as the main light source. This allows the background of the object being photographed to become a pure white surround. For highly reflective items like jewelry and glassware, the matte white and black backgrounds work best. The D-Flector can also be positioned flat for photographing items like books and stamps. Also newly introduced are the Tabletop Studio Light Kit ($129), which comes with two daylight-balanced fluorescent lights, and the Clamp-on Overhead Light Kit ($89), adding an extra dimension to your tabletop lighting. There is also the PolyBounce Reflective Background with Stand ($149), similar to the D-Flector in its basic concept but designed for much larger subjects, among them portraits.

Sharpics D-Flector

SP Studio Systems division of Brandess-Kalt-Aetna Group (BKA) announced new 1- and 4-channel Wireless Flash Triggers. These wireless flash triggers will fire any photographic flash unit from any camera that has a hot shoe or PC terminal. There are two AC versions, a 1-Channel Infrared and a 4-Channel Infrared, and four DC versions, a 1-Channel Infrared, a 4-Channel Infrared, a 1-Channel Infrared with hot shoe, and a 4-Channel Infrared with hot shoe. Shutter speeds to 1/1000 sec are supported. The transmitter has a hot shoe and an outlet for sync cords, whereas the receiver has a PC terminal and a mono sync jack for studio flash units.

Studio Systems Wireless Flash Triggers

Sunpak division of ToCAD America announced the new eBox Portable Photo Studio. Designed for easy set up and break down in seconds by using hook and loop tabs for attaching the translucent panels, it comes with a reversible blue/gray backdrop and two 50w lamps with retractable legs for easy set up. The three-section tripod comes with a three-way pan head. The eBox folds down to a compact 20x20x3" package, with pouches for the two lights and tripod and an extra pouch for additional accessories of choice. Street price is $129.

Sunpak eBox Portable Photo Studio

Stroboframe POPS division of The Tiffen Company added a new 5 `N 1 Multi-POPS system to its line of Stroboframe POPS reflectors, which pop open with the flick of the wrist. The 5 `N 1 Multi-POPS reflectors come in combinations of silver/white, gold/zebra (gold and silver), and translucent surfaces. To use, simply unzip the two-sided fabric, turn it inside out, and zip it back. Or, it can be used without the reflective surfaces as a translucent reflector. The 5 `N 1 system is available in 32" (medium) and 42" (large) sizes. Stroboframe Multi-POPS reflectors can be handheld or attached to light stands, using common studio clamps. The steel frame and wear-resistant fabric are designed to stand up to frequent use. Suggested retail price for the small size is $68 and $77 for the larger size.

Stroboframe Multi-POPS Reflector

Westcott showed the Bruce Dorn Select Strip Bank ($399), which is an asymmetrical 18x42" strip light. It comes with three removable front diffusion panels to tailor the light to the subject's needs. When the internal baffle is removed, even more variations are possible. The asymmetrical design lets you feather the light as needed for a world of possibilities. Also new is the Bruce Dorn Select Muslin, a collapsible 42" Illuminator reflector that consists of unbleached muslin backed with a soft silver material for a subtle touch of added warmth without any unusual color cast ($89, MSRP).

Westcott Bruce Dorn Select Strip Bank

New Meters With Digital Displays
THK Photo Products has introduced three new handheld digital exposure meters under the Kenko brand name. You may recognize them. They were once known to us as Minolta (Konica Minolta) meters, so that immediately tells you Kenko is serious in bringing these highly reliable exposure tools back on the market. They include two flash/ambi meters and one three-color meter--all driven by microprocessor-governed silicon cell technology.

The top-of-the-line KFM-2100 is a truly professional meter that, in its previous incarnation, was once the industry standard in exposure meters and the one every pro had to own. It features an integrated optical 1Þ spot meter along with incident metering via a rotating dome, memory (stores up to nine measurements), the ability to average readings at the touch of a button, and an analyze function to distinguish the amount of fill flash apart from the ambient exposure. Aside from ambient-light readings it will read flash with and without sync cord connection. The KFM-1100 is smaller and a bit more basic, providing incident-light readings via a rotating dome--for ambient light as well as cord/cordless flash readings, with memory, averaging, and analyze functions.

KCM-3100
KFM-1100
KFM-2100

The three-color meter KCM-3100 is also a welcome sight, even in this day and age of digital photography. While it may not find its way into every camera bag, those of you shooting film will appreciate its ability to provide filter recommendations under virtually any type of light. There is also a dedicated flash Analyzer mode where it reads the color temperature from flash lighting, which, as you well know, is often on the cool side. These Kenko meters are a welcome addition to the world of exposure control.

Manufacturers/Distributors' addresses can be found by visiting the Instant Links section of our website at: www.shutterbug.com/currentissuelinks/.

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