The Fujifilm Finepix 200 EXR (list: $599; street, under $500) sports a 12 megapixel sensor and a 14.3X optical zoom lens that is equivalent to 30.5-436mm (!) It takes stills and high-quality video and has a built in mic that delivers quality sound without much if any whirring from the camera. Having that much zoom capability means that you never will want on the tele side with this integral lens camera, and even 30mm is not bad on the wide side.

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Camtrol, a stabilizing
platform for video and DSLR cameras, is said to open a new world of balance,
support, and freedom for action shots taken by videographers and photographers.
Camtrol’s action control grip (ACG) with its anatomical articulating ergonomics
provides for natural hand positioning and control. The ACG has a hollow inside,
which accommodates any remote--putting control of the camera always under
the thumb of the shooter. Camtrol with a remote is a one-handed operation
giving the user the liberty to take any shot without restriction, and it works
for right- and left-handed shooters.

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Leica
Camera AG, Solms presents a new, limited special edition -- the LEICA
M7 Edition ‘Hermès’. As the
successor to the ‘LEICA MP Edition Hermès’ launched in 2003, this is now the
second series of cameras created in cooperation with Hermès, the Parisian
company renowned throughout the world for its exclusive products. This
strictly limited LEICA M7 Edition ‘Hermès’ offers a total of 200 silver chrome
LEICA M7 cameras finished in exclusive calfskin leather supplied by Hermès. The
colors of this exclusive ‘Veau Swift’ leather are particularly extravagant.
Connoisseurs of items that are extraordinary in both quality and style may
choose between two eye-catching varieties in ‘Ètoupe’ and ‘Orange’. Only 100
cameras are available in each of the two leather colors.

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Bargain of the Month

Almost every paper and web photo publication has reported on Canon’s newest G-11 model high performance P&S camera. Some have noted that this new model has a lower megapixel count of 10 MPX, compared to the 14.7 megapixel G-10, that is still featured for sale on the Canon web site. One pundit even quoted without naming his source at Canon “They have also changed up the sensor, keeping it the same size, but making the pixels bigger. The result is a lower 10-megapixel resolution, but they claim the trade-off is better image-quality, especially in low-light situations. A Canon rep mentioned that it's because the G-11 is focused on providing the best quality in the form of a still image.”

Zeiss has introduced a new series of lenses for the semi-professional market: the
ZF.2 with F bayonet for digital SLRs. Thanks to its electronic interface (CPU),
these new ZEISS lenses support all-important operations such as the automatic
mechanisms for time, aperture setting and program. The CPU also supports manual
exposure settings, including those for camera casings that are not
AI-compatible. Since the lens now transmits the EXIF data such as manufacturer,
date, metering system and exposure to the camera, photographers no longer need
to set the parameters manually.

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ImageSpan Inc. and Digimarc Corporation (NASDAQ: DMRC) announced that they have partnered to deliver a complete solution to manage, monitor and monetize valuable image assets. ImageSpan’s LicenseStream automated licensing, publishing and royalty processing platform will be combined with Digimarc for Images, which lets photography agencies, media companies, museums and archives add an imperceptible digital watermark to communicate copyright ownership and information on how to contact the owner wherever the image is found online. The LicenseStream   Content Tracker then crawls the Web looking for uniquely watermarked images, providing regular reporting on where a content owner’s images are found so they can take appropriate action.

The solution optimizes content for search engines before it is published to the Web and then provides the means for any buyer to license that content with a mouse click and with flexible pricing based on use. Since watermarks can be unique to various instances of the same image, content owners have the flexibility to set licensing terms depending on the specific usage and buyer.

The Content Tracker continuously monitors billions of images on the Web to locate a customer’s digitally watermarked images. In addition to the standard search, the solution offers a directed search option that lets a content owner specify Web sites to be monitored regularly. Search reports include thumbnails of the images found with the URLs of the websites where they were located. Reports are automatically sent out each month. Alternatively, content owners can generate their own reports at any time. 

www.imagespan.com
www.digimarc.com

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Mamiya introduced two new software packages for the Mamiya DM and DL series digital cameras: Capture One v5.0 and Leaf Capture 11.2.9.  With these new releases, along with existing Raw file support in Adobe Lightroom™, Mamiya DSLR photographers now have unrivaled flexibility in choosing the Raw file processing solution that best fits their needs.

Capture One v5.0 DB builds upon the long-time favorite software of many professionals, expanding it to new dimensions.  In addition to adding support for processing Raw files from the Mamiya DM and DL series digital products, Capture One v5.0 DB offers new features such as Focus Mask, Skin Tone Enhancer, RGB Levels and Curves, Dust Spot Removal, and many more workflow acceleration tools.

Leaf Capture 11.2.9 is the latest in the long line of stable Leaf Capture software solutions, offering RAW file processing, as well as tethered shooting with the Mamiya DM and DL series digital products.  Leaf Capture 11.2.9 supports Apple OS 10.6 - Snow Leopard - and features 64-bit performance, as well as enhanced image processing and speed.  For tethered mode usage, Leaf Capture 11.2.9 also adds the power and flexibility of remote shooting for users of the Mamiya DM and DL series cameras, when utilizing Mamiya 645AFDIII or 645DF camera bodies.

Capture One v5.0 DB and Leaf Capture 11.2.9 are now available for download at www.Mamiya.com.  Technical support for Mamiya digital products and their associated software, as well as repair services, can be contacted at 914-347-3300.

In addition, MAC Group is also pleased to announce continuing technical support and repair of Leaf digital backs sold by Leaf America, both for in-warranty and out-of-warranty products. Technical support and repair services for Leaf Valeo, Aptus, Aptus-S, AFi, AFi-II, and some Aptus-II products can be obtained by simply calling 914-347-3300.

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TAP announces the addition of an Instax Folder to its PF-34 line.  The new Instax White Folders are available in a vertical and horizontal format, making these the perfect delivery vehicle for your Instax images. 

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onOne Software, Inc announced FocalPoint 2, an Adobe Photoshop plug-in for simulating depth-of-field and selective focus.

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