LATEST ADDITIONS

Shutterbug Staff  |  Feb 28, 2008  |  0 comments

The League of Creative Infrared Photographers (www.irleague.com)
was officially formed in January 2008. It was established to promote the joy,
excitement, and creativity of infrared photography from in-camera capture to
enhancing images in the digital darkroom.

...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Feb 27, 2008  |  0 comments

Mamiya has introduced the new Mamiya Sekor Macro MF 120mm f/4 D Lens -- successor
to the popular Mamiya Macro MF 120mm f/4 Lens.



"The Mamiya 120mm f/4 macro lens is one of the sharpest lenses available
today," said Jeff Karp, Mamiya Product Marketing Manager, "and it
has already been critically corrected for digital imaging. But it needed an upgrade
to be fully compatible with the latest cameras, software and digital backs."



The primary upgrade of the new lens is related to digital communication with the
camera. Data transfer is now controlled by a 16-bit CPU instead of the previous
4-bit CPU.



The advantages of the new CPU are:

Rewritability: The new 16-bit CPU is rewritable and can be overwritten
with firmware upgrades that would be required for compatibility with future cameras
and digital backs.


Finer Lens Correction: Thanks to the bigger capacity of the CPU,
the new lens has more lens data. It is possible to apply finer lens-characteristic
corrections when using Mamiya's Digital Photostudio¨ software.



Fast, Reliable Communication: The new CPU enables faster and more reliable communication
with the camera body.



As its name suggests, the new D-series lens shows its true capabilities when shooting
with the Mamiya ZD Digital back and other high-end digital backs. However, it
is designed to be equally at home with film backs.



The new Mamiya Sekor Macro MF 120mm f/4 D Lens is compatible with the Mamiya 645AFD
ll camera and is available for immediate delivery.



www.macgroup.com...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Feb 26, 2008  |  0 comments

Sony's new Cyber-shot DSC-W300 digital camera integrates an ultra-high
13.6-megapixel CCD imager along with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3x optical zoom
lens, a 2.7-inch LCD screen and an eye-level viewfinder in a compact size. With
its ultra-hard titanium coating, the W300 camera newly features an "extra
high-speed" burst mode that can shoot three-megapixel photos at five frames
per second, ideal for fast-action shooting of sports, pets or children.



In addition to the blur-reducing effects of Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization,
the camera also has a new "extra high sensitivity" mode (up to ISO
6400 in this mode only) to help minimize blurry photos when shooting in challenging
lighting conditions, such as indoors or at twilight, even without a flash.



Noise reduction is now a user-selectable option, with high, low and standard
settings, for greater control over the final look of images. For example, a
low setting can help reduce noise without sacrificing resolution, making it
ideal for landscapes and detailed subjects.



As the top-of-the-line model in the series, the W300 camera integrates the latest
"intelligent" features. Sony's Smile Shutter technology prioritizes
the faces of children or adults so that the camera takes the photo at the moment
the intended subject smiles. Improved face detection technology can also prioritize
child or adult faces as the basis for the camera to apply focus, exposure, white
balance and flash color controls for up to eight faces in the camera's
frame.



The model's intelligent scene recognition technology automatically can
detect five different types of scenes and optimize the camera settings for those
conditions for a better photo. And advanced mode can take two shots almost immediately
-- one with standard automatic settings and the other with optimized settings.



The W300 model has a number of features to maximize picture quality. Among them
are five color modes, including "real" for less in-camera processing
and more faithful color reproduction; 12 scene selection modes with a new "underwater"
mode that adjusts white balance for more natural-looking photos; Sony's
new D-Range Optimizer Plus that process picture to improve detail in photos
with harsh highlights or dark shadows; and an improved auto focus system that
includes macro ranges.



Viewing and image management has also been enhanced with helpful date and calendar
views, in-camera search by face or date, slide show with longer music files,
and high-definition component output for viewing photos on a compatible HDTV
set.



The DSC-W300 camera and optional accessories will be available in May for about
$350. All can be purchased online at sonystyle.com, at Sony Style retail stores
(www.sonystyle.com/retail),
at military base exchanges and at authorized dealers nationwide.



www.sony.com

...

 |  Feb 26, 2008  |  0 comments

Digital Black and White

By George Schaub



When digital arrived it hardly seemed a scheme that would be any good for my
black and white photography. I now see it as an essential part of the way I
work. This required some translation and transition from film and chemical photography,
but it also required aredefinitio...

 |  Feb 26, 2008  |  0 comments

Industry Perspective

The Changing Face of Photography

By Ron Leach

As the photo industry continues to evolve, driven by ongoing developments in
digital imaging products and services, we've seen some venerable camera
companies fall by the wayside while new firms from the consumer electronics...

 |  Feb 26, 2008  |  0 comments

Directional Light: Reveal & Obscure

By George Schaub

Think of how stage lighting adds to the drama of the scene or how a painting
by Rembrandt or Vermeer uses light in ways that draw the eye into and through
the frame. In every visual and many performing arts the use of bright and dark
values play an important role.In...

 |  Feb 26, 2008  |  0 comments

March 2008

On
the Cover

This month our focus is on black and white photography--from capture
and conversion to processing and printing. We show you how to use film and digital
technologiestoge...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Feb 25, 2008  |  0 comments

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 4.5mm F2.8
EX DC Circular Fisheye HSM lens. Features include:

· The first 180 degree circular fisheye lens designed specifically for
APS-C size digital SLR cameras

· Fast F2.8 maximum aperture making it ideal for low light photography


· Minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm and a maximum magnification of 1:6


· SLD glass minimizes color aberration

· Equipped with HSM with full-time manual focus override

· Equisolid angle projection method is possible for art and scientific
use



This autofocus circular fisheye lens has an angle of view of 180 degrees in
all directions. It is exclusively designed for digital SLR cameras with the
APS-C size image sensor. When used in conjunction with digital SLRs with APS-C
size image sensors, it produces a circular image within the frame. The F2.8
large aperture value produces a bright image in the viewfinder and allows photographers
to take pictures in low light conditions, making it an ideal lens for Astrophotography
and Aurora photography. Due to the quantifiable angle/area relationship it produces,
this lens can be used for scientific and arts applications such as solid angle
measurements of cloud distribution over the sky or vegetation distribution of
the forest. The minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm/5.3inch and maximum magnification
of 1:6 make it particularly useful for close-up photography. SLD(Special Low
Dispersion)glass provides effective compensation of chromatic aberration. Sigma's
Super Multi-Layer Coating minimizes flare and ghosting. It is equipped with
an inner focusing system that creates high definition and good image quality
over the whole frame. The HSM(Hyper Sonic Motor)ensures fast and quiet autofocusing
and allows full-time manual focus override by rotation of the focus ring.

...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Feb 22, 2008  |  0 comments

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.



To qualify, photos must be submitted to www.raphotocontest.org/
by March 15, 2008. The winners will be announced on the Rainforest Alliance's
Web site (www.rainforest-alliance.org)
on April 18, 2008.



Winners will be chosen from the following categories:



Wildlife on farms, forests or other natural habitats

Landscapes (forests, waterways, flowers and plants, beaches,
wetlands)

Eco-tourism in Latin America (bird watching, hiking, surfing,
scuba diving, kayaking and other nature activities)

Macro (insects, flowers and plants, leafy vegetation, birds,
reptiles and amphibians, mammals, textures)

Conservation in action (people working to protect natural resources,
including water, flora and fauna)



"Images connect the general public to conservation," said Tensie Whelan,
executive director of the Rainforest Alliance. "We hope this contest will
engage people in sustainability, take them out of their back yards and foster
emotional connections with some of the world's most sensitive ecosystems."



"Fujifilm believes that sustainable development is the most important issue
for our planet, the human race, and all business entities in the 21st century,"
said Bert Aerts, president of Fujifilm Hunt Chemicals USA, and a member of the
Rainforest Alliance's board of directors. "Fujifilm's global
Green Policy aims to stay at the forefront of efforts to attain this goal in terms
of our company's impact on the environment -- and we are proud to partner
with the Rainforest Alliance in this unique effort."



One grand-prize winner and a guest will receive a seven-day trip to the Galapagos
Islands, including airfare, four nights on a cruise ship and two nights in Guayaquil.
Additionally, in May 2008 they will be flown to New York City to attend the Rainforest
Alliance annual gala as a guest of Fujifilm, to sit at their table and receive
a Fujifilm FinePix SLR-style digital camera. This professional model digital camera
is worth approximately $800 and is set to be announced by Fujifilm at the 2008
Photo Marketer's Association Show in February 2008. Round-trip airfare will
be provided for two from any major city in the US to New York City. A tour of
the city, lodging at an eco-friendly hotel for three nights and dinner for two
nights will also be included.



Five first prize winners, one from each category, will receive the same Fujifilm
FinePix digital camera as well as a book of photographs by award-winning wildlife
and nature photographer, Art Wolfe. In addition, up to seven exceptional photos
will be awarded honorable mentions and will receive a book of photographs by Art
Wolfe. The grand prize and first prize winners' photos will be framed and
auctioned off at the Rainforest Alliance's annual gala in May 2008 with
proceeds directly benefiting the organization. All winners will also receive an
honorary one-year membership to the Rainforest Alliance.



Rainforest Alliance staff members will select up to six finalists in each category.
Art Wolfe will select the winning photos based on overall composition, creativity,
artistic merit and relevance to the Rainforest Alliance mission.



Other sponsors of the photo contest include Ecuador-based tour operator Via Natura,
Green Spot travel agency, Guayaquil-based Hotel Oro Verde, Ecuadorian airline
AeroGal, Vermont-based energy company Native Energy and Art Wolfe.



www.fujifilmusa.com ...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Feb 21, 2008  |  0 comments

Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) has announced the highly anticipated
Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 software for Macintosh is now available for pre-order
at www.adobe.com/go/buyphotoshop_elements_mac.
Photoshop Elements 6 software for Mac combines power and simplicity so consumers
at all experience levels can easily achieve outstanding results with their digital
photos.



Photoshop Elements 6 software helps photo enthusiasts achieve desired results
quickly and easily. New features based on proprietary Photomerge technology let
users easily combine the best facial expressions and body language from a series
of shots to create a single, perfect group shot. The new Quick Selection Tool
reduces a once time-consuming select-and-adjust task to a single click. Photographers
-- beginner to expert -- can choose from one of three edit modes, each
geared toward a different experience level. A new Guided Edit mode helps walk
users through the steps of improving a photo. Photoshop Elements 6 software streamlines
editing with clean, uncluttered screens that draw focus to the photos, with new
tabs providing simple access to the many capabilities of the program. Additional
enhancements include an improved conversion tool that dramatically converts color
images into elegant, nuanced black-and-whites.

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