News

Profoto has launched a new battery flash generator, the AcuteB, said to set
new standards for lightweight, portable flash equipment. Compared to their battery
generators, the Pro-B2 and the Pro-7b, the new AcuteB 600 generator measures
only 7.5x 7.5 x5 in., including the handle, and weighs 10.8 pounds. It features
a maximum output of 600 Ws and a power range of 7 f-stops.

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Tenba's Air Case line of lightweight, shippable equipment transport cases
has been enhanced by the introduction of an exclusive Datapanel identification
system that facilitates faster, easier and more reliable shipping, tracking,
tracing and identification. The new feature will be supplied as standard equipment
on those Air Case models and sizes typically used for equipment shipping, rental
houses and similar applications. The Datapanel consists of a durable, rubberized
assembly secured to the case with military-grade, seatbelt-type webbing and
heavily reinforced nylon stitching. Massive #10 YKK zippers on both sides pull
down from beneath a protective Velcro closure flap to open the panel and access
its features. The most prominent of these features is a large, clear vinyl shipping
window that securely holds, protects and clearly presents a standard FedEx or
UPS-type waybill, eliminating the need to tape or otherwise fasten shipping
documents to the case. As a result, preparation time is reduced, the need for
messy and unreliable tape is eliminated, documents are far more secure, and
the overall appearance and presentation of the case is cleaner and more professional.
The shipping window itself is instantly user-replaceable if needed, but--like
the entire Datapanel assembly-- is built to withstand the rigors of regular
shipping, baggage handling and long-term professional use.

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onOne Software, Inc., has announced that Mask Pro 4 -- the upgrade to
the company's digital image masking plug-in Mask Pro 3 -- will begin
shipping on November 18, 2006. Mask Pro 4 provides a complete collection of
Photoshop plug-in tools that allow users flexibility when tackling the most
challenging masking job. And this new version focuses on teaching the user how
to best use each comprehensive toolset for masking a wide range of images.

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This would appear to be a new golden age for rangefinder users. There are now three major systems (Leica, Voigtländer, and Zeiss) and two minor (Epson and Rollei). All use the same cross-compatible lens mount, for which an extensive and excellent range of lenses is available, and all compete with one another, albeit at different price points. Who could have imagined this...

REALVIZ is pleased to announce the availability of Stitcher Unlimited 5.5 DS
("Double Shot"), which offers the ability to automatically stitch
2-shot fisheye photos. Stitcher Unlimited DS delivers a solution for the creation
of panoramas from horizontally and vertically stitched photos, and fisheye shots.
With the new DS ("Double Shot") extension for Stitcher 5.5 Unlimited,
even 2-shot IPIX style fisheyes can now be stitched automatically, providing
a unique one-stop solution for anyone working in immersive imaging.

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If a picture is worth 1,000 words, a how-to video must be as good as a book,
especially if it compresses the knowledge contained in a 45-minute lecture into
a concise, well-focused, viewer-friendly 4-minute format you can download to
your iPod or computer and view again and again. That's the exciting concept
behind the incisive, entertaining, and informative new podcasts posted in the
Tamron Pro Learning Center at www.tamron.com.

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Kingston Technology Company, Inc. announces that leading documentary photographer
Colin Finlay will reveal his latest tip on Kingston's `Icons of
Photography' Website. Finlay, fresh from a three-month educational tour
teaching photo students at 25 top universities in the U.S., hones in on lighting
in this month's profile.

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