In This eNewsletter:
In Brief - Sigma’s APO 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro HSM
Industry Perspective - Online Photo Printing Services are Booming
What's New This Month - HP, Kingston, PictoColor, DxO and Sharpics
Test Report - A Field Test Of Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FZ8 & DMC-TZ3
Vote! - If you do use digital for black and white photography, how do you prefer to do it?
Workshops & Contests - Learn and Show
Shutterbug Forums - Your Photo & Digital Imaging Source

Sigma’s APO 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro HSM
A Versatile Pro Tele-Zoom
by George Schaub

You know right off from the speed—a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range—that this is going to be a higher value and performance lens. That’s verified by the street price of about $889, more than what you might be used to for what’s considered a standard tele-zoom range. But there’s a lot to this lens that we think makes it worth consideration. First, the constant aperture means you can shoot in lower light with shorter shutter speeds—equivalent to a Vibration Reduction lens with a f/5.6 or so max aperture at the longest focal length. For the diameter of the glass (77mm filter thread) the lens is actually quite lightweight (48 oz) and not excessively long (7.3”); there’s even more advantage in the fact that the focus and zooming does not change the length of the lens. And you can also close focus up to about 39” at all focal lengths, which earns the lens a “Macro” designation but is in actuality a 1:3.5 reproduction ratio.
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Online Photo Printing Services are Booming
By Ron Leach, Publisher

A new report from InfoTrends indicates an increased growth in the use of online photo printing services, resulting in surging revenues for web-based print providers. According to the Weymouth, MA-based market research and consulting firm, online photo service providers generated almost $450 million in revenue from prints and photo merchandise in 2006, and that figure is expected to exceed $1 billion by 2011.
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ISO, Shake, And Noise: Can High-Quality Digicams Deliver The Goods?A Field Test Of Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FZ8 And DMC-TZ3
by Peter K. Burian

Because D-SLRs provide the ultimate in terms of capabilities, speed, and image quality, those are the cameras that we generally test. Even so, the mid-range to prosumer-grade digicams are surprisingly versatile, especially those with a 10x or greater zoom range. You’ll find that many of the best digicams include most of the features that experienced photographers expect. You may also discover some additional high-tech extras that can be valuable for making sharper images.
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  Vote!
More and more digital cameras have a “monochrome” mode for making digital images in black and white, in camera. But you can also “convert” images later easily enough in Raw converter or from JPEGs. If you do use digital for black and white photography, how do you prefer to do it?
Please briefly describe your black and white digital workflow.

ProShow Workshop Seminar Tour Dates Announced
Photodex Corporation has released a new schedule of ProShow Workshop Interactive Training Seminars. Held in various locations across the country, the intensive, all-day workshops cover the most important features in ProShow Gold and ProShow Producer. These events are designed for all ProShow users, from novices to experts. The next Seminar takes place on September 15, 2007 in Chicago. Course attendees receive hands-on instruction, training materials and a Training DVD.

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.

Photographer/Publisher Andrew Hudson teaches “Successful Self-Publishing” at Sundance Photographic Workshop
Awarding-winning photographer and accomplished self-publisher Andrew Hudson will share the secrets of his success at the Sundance Photographic Workshop, November 8-12, 2007. Conducted in the creative, inspirational environment of the Sundance (Utah) Resort, Mr. Hudson’s “Successful Self-Publishing” course will teach students all the elements of creating, printing and selling their own large-format coffee-table book.

The Photography Competition / Art Competition 2007 is an international contest organized by TCB-Cafe Publishing of San Francisco. The contest aims to develop and raise the visibility of photographic and creative graphics talent, in the form of a competition and the resulting book publication. The culmination will be a beautiful book publication, showcasing the competition winners, and gracing the libraries of museums, galleries, individuals and collectors, as well as appearing in stores throughout the world.

Exhibition - Freestyle and the Creative Center for Photography
Freestyle Photographic Supplies is proud to announce a premiere black and white photographic exhibition: “Three Generations of Weston Photography”. This exhibit runs from September 20 until December 3rd, 2007 at the gallery of the Creative Center for Photography in Hollywood, California.

Hawk Mountain Paper 2007 Inkjet Print Contest
Hawk Mountain Papers holds a print contest every year, encouraging inkjet printers from all over the world to submit their best inkjet prints on Hawk Mountain paper.

Tamron Announces Make You Mark Photo Contest For Tamron Lens Users
The company is looking for images from photo enthusiasts that creatively capture a natural or manmade landmark.

Shutterbug Forums