In This eNewsletter:
Test Report Preview - Sigma 4.5mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM (Motor-in) Lenses
Industry Perspective - Printing and Camera Trends
What's New This Month - Olympus. Mamiya, onOne, HP, and more
Commentary - Tomorrow’s Tools and What They Mean To Today’s Photographer
Vote! - Does the addition of image stabilization add value to a lens for your work?
Workshops & Contests - Learn and Show
Shutterbug Forums - Your Photo & Digital Imaging Source

Sigma 4.5mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM (Motor-in) Lenses
by George Schaub

If you ever want a unique point of view try a “fisheye” lens. Like looking through a door peephole (which in fact is a “fisheye” type) this order of lens sacrifices linear correction in favor of a very wide angle of view. Originally made for creating “full sky” images when pointed straight up, they had long ago been adopted by photographers for creation of decidedly different points of view, and, today, even doing QuickTime movies to display the interior of a condo or vacation home.
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Printing and Camera Trends
By Ron Leach, Publisher

Once or twice a year we like to take a look at what types of cameras are being purchased and how photographers are printing their images. The latest report from the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) provides an interesting overview of these trends through the end of 2007, so let’s take a look.
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Tomorrow’s Tools and What They Mean To Today’s Photographer
by George Schaub

There may come a time when the machines don’t need us anymore, when they might become self-generative and self-sustaining, when inventors become vestigial to inventions. This will not, I imagine, happen overnight, but could be a slow progression—or degeneration on the part of our species—to the point where the data on someone becomes more important than the person themselves, or even when the actions we take are redundant to what the machine can accomplish, with considerably less consternation.

I am not suggesting that we are at this precipice, yet, some things I’ve seen recently in our little corner of the world make me wonder where this digital thing might be heading, why we might or might not want to go there and where it might all end up.
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  Vote!
Now that independent lens makers like Tamron and Sigma have announced “shake-free” lenses it seems that vibration reduction lenses are becoming more common and available for all. Does the addition of image stabilization add value to a lens for your work?
Please briefly comment on the addition of image stabilization.

2007 NATIONAL PHOTO AWARDS
Monthly Photo Contests. $500 top prize. Online & mail-in entry available. Contact: www.NationalPhotoAwards.com, $500 top prize. Online & mail-in entry available.

Fujifilm Sponsors Rainforest Alliance Photo Contest
Fujifilm announced its sponsorship of the Rainforest Alliance’s first annual ‘Picture Sustainability Photo Contest’ to raise awareness around issues of sustainability and conservation. US residents are invited to submit photos illustrating sustainable agriculture, forestry and tourism. The Rainforest Alliance is an international nonprofit conservation organization.

Olympus "Photographers Of Tomorrow" Contest For Top Photography Students
Olympus has announced its inaugural “Photographers of Tomorrow” photo contest.

Kubota Image Tools Announces Spring 2008 Digital Photography Bootcamp Workshop
Kubota Image Tools is pleased to announce its 15th Digital Photography Bootcamp workshop April 20-25, 2008. Bootcamp, taught by renowned photographer Kevin Kubota, is a 5-day workshop for professional photographers designed to supply all of the technical know-how to run a successful digital portrait/wedding studio; at the same time, it encourages continued development of a photographer’s unique style and creativity.

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