News

Nikon, Inc. has introduced the new PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED lens, the latest
in a series of lenses that are equipped with a tilt/shift mechanism that enables
photographers the flexibility to effectively manipulate perspective, distortion
and focus. Whether photographing architecture, landscapes, interiors or panoramas,
this Perspective Control (PC) lens easily corrects linear distortion and aberration
to deliver images that more accurately reproduce the view as the human eye sees
it.



Typically, tilting the axis of a camera can result in a misrepresentation of
perspective. A Perspective Control lens' ability to fine-tune perspective
and focus elements virtually eliminates these issues, an essential function
for architectural and interior photographers.



The same features that make this lens excellent for architectural photography
also provide nature and landscape photographers with an essential means to better
control perspective, allowing them to capture nature's beauty more accurately
and naturally. Additionally, the 24mm PC lens enables professional product photographers
to sight just the right shooting angles on reflective objects without capturing
their own reflection in the process.



A special tilt/shift mechanism gives users up to +/- 11.5 mm shift and +/- 8.5-degree
tilt for perspective control. When shooting with a conventional lens, some objects,
such as tall trees and buildings, can be challenging to photograph due to rectilinear
distortion and converging lines that warp perspective. The 24mm Perspective
Control lens corrects this issue with convenient side-mounted controls at 1mm
/ 1-degree intervals that will adjust the focal plane with shift and tilt adjustments.
The lens optics can also be rotated up to 90 degrees right or left for perspective
control adjustment, while a click-stop is provided every 30 degrees. Importantly,
photographers can see the effect of every adjustment accurately through their
Nikon SLR viewfinder.



In addition to providing linear perspective correction, the new 24mm PC lens
has unique characteristics that make it well suited for a variety of tasks and
offers a wide angle-of-view combined with dramatic depth-of-field control potential,
perfect for capturing stunning landscapes. To further control the image, users
can quickly adjust aperture with a stop-down button, or with the aperture ring.
These same characteristics also make the 24mm PC lens a great choice for close-up
macro work, with a minimum focusing distance of 0.7 feet and the ability to
fine tune focus with perspective control.



The PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED lens continues NIKKOR's legacy of high-quality
optics and durable design. It features the new "E" designation,
which denotes an electromagnetic diaphragm that automatically controls aperture
with the latest Nikon D-SLR cameras. Three Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements
provide superior sharpness and color correction by effectively minimizing chromatic
aberration, while three aspherical lens elements minimize various types of lens
aberration. In addition to the Nikon Super Integrated coating that delivers
superior color reproduction, Nikon's exclusive Nano Crystal Coat helps
to virtually eliminate any remaining instances of ghosting and flare.



The PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED lens is the first in a new series of PC lenses
being designed to meet the needs of photo professionals and enthusiasts. Two
more PC lenses are currently in development and are scheduled to become available
through Nikon authorized dealers during the summer of 2008.



The new PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED lens as well as prototypes of the upcoming
PC-E NIKKOR 45mm f/2.8D ED and PC-E Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/2.8D ED lenses will
be exhibited along with Nikon's entire line of photographic, optical and
digital imaging solutions at the PMA 2008 International Convention and Trade
Show in Las Vegas, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 at exhibitor booth # G220.



The NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED lens is scheduled to become available through Nikon
authorized dealers in the U.S. in spring 2008 for an estimated selling price
of $1929.



www.nikonusa.com

...

Kingston Technology Company, Inc.has posted the latest series of images submitted
by aspiring photographers worldwide seeking advice for taking better pictures
from its world-class `Icons of Photography' members.



"The quantity of images to be critiqued by our Icons seems to increase
with each series and the Icons are really enjoying the quality of the work submitted,"
said Jaja Lin, Flash product marketing manager, Kingston. "The continued
positive response demonstrates the benefits of the Icons program educating consumers
on Kingston Flash memory. The Icons have said sharing so much of their knowledge
and experience with digital photographers of all levels is tremendously rewarding."



Critique My Image, a feature offered through Kingston's `Icons of
Photography' microsite, provides professional and aspiring photographers
with an opportunity to have their images reviewed by some of the best photographers
in the world. In this installment, each photographer selected several images
from the scores of photographs submitted and provided constructive advice for
improving or enhancing each photograph. From lighting and exposure to composition
and styling, each critique is constructed as a lesson that can be applied by
all viewers to their respective photography. Visitors are encouraged to upload
images for critique by logging onto http://www.kingston.com/iop.



"It is a wonderful feeling to be consulted by fellow photographers for
our opinions about their work," said Harry Benson. "Good photography
comes from the heart and often represents a very personal side of that photographer.
Kingston's Icons program gives us an opportunity to view beautiful work
and offer our humbled opinions about how it might be improved next time. That's
what is special about this program to me."



Kingston's `Icons of Photography' includes Benson, acclaimed
documentary photographer and photojournalist, Colin Finlay, National Geographic
photographer Gerd Ludwig and Sports Illustrated photographer Peter Read Miller.



Consisting of three elements -- 20 Questions, Ask the Icon and Critique
My Image -- the site provides visitors with personal insight in an interactive
forum where questions can be asked and images can be shared with the Icons.
The microsite will continue to showcase the latest work produced by each photographer,
along with a listing of upcoming projects, lectures and workshops from each.
In February, Kingston will publish 20 Questions with Gerd Ludwig, an up-close-and-personal
interview.


For more detailed information visit the Kingston IOP Web site at www.kingston.com/iop.

...

Lexar Media announced its line of Crucial solid state drives (SSD). Crucial
SSDs are said to be more durable, require less power, and offer greater overall
system performance than traditional hard disk drives. The SSDs will be available
in capacities of 32GB and 64GB in an industry standard 2.5-inch drive enclosure
with an industry-leading native SATA 3.0Gb/s interface. Additionally, Lexar
Media will offer the Crucial SK01 external drive kit and various online customer
tools--including the Crucial SSD Advisor tool, the only tool of its kind
on the market today--available at www.crucial.com/ssd
or www.crucial.com/uk/ssd.
Product availability is expected in Q1 2008.

...

Epson has announced the release of the Epson Stylus Photo R1900, a 13-inch
printer designed for advanced photographers and graphic designers. The Epson
R1900 provides an unprecedented standard in glossy color photographic prints
with its Epson UltraChrome Hi-Gloss 2 ink featuring an improved Gloss Optimizer
and new red and orange ink cartridges. The Epson R1900 is also raising the creative
standard for print quality with the introduction of Radiance Technology, an
innovation dramatically improving color transitions, resulting in brilliant,
true-to-life photos.



"Innovation is an integral part of Epson's design philosophy,"
said Patrick Chen, product manager, Epson America Inc. "After a decade
of leadership, our engineers continue to develop printers that significantly
raise the creative standard. The Epson Stylus Photo R1900 is no exception with
its UltraChrome Hi-Gloss 2 inks and Radiance Technology, innovations designed
to help deliver optimum results for photographers and graphic designers."



The Epson R1900 is the ideal productivity solution for customers looking for
the best combination of image quality, speed and archivability on glossy and
matte media up to 13-inches wide. The Epson R1900 will replace the Epson Stylus
Photo R1800, the award-winning and No. 1-selling Epson 13-inch photo printer,
and offers a vast array of improvements over its predecessor in ink technology,
print quality and speed.



More about the EPSON Stylus Photo R1900

· New Epson UltraChrome Hi-Gloss 2 Ink - Achieves an
optimal level of gloss and color vibrancy in a pigment ink system using eight
colors -- including new red and orange inks -- plus an enhanced Gloss
Optimizer. The red and orange inks have replaced the red and blue inks found
in the Epson R1800, resulting in improved color gamut and facial tones. This
next generation pigment ink set produces quick-drying, archival results that
can last up to 200 years under glass.1 Auto-switching photo and matte black
cartridges ensure the deepest blacks on any media type.



· New Radiance Technology -- The breakthrough mathematical
architecture on the Epson R1900 was co-developed by color scientists at Epson
and the Rochester Institute of Technology (R.I.T.) to take advantage of the
wider color gamuts possible with today's advanced ink sets. The technology
is built into the printer software and optimizes how the individual UltraChrome
Hi-Gloss 2 inks are mixed while simultaneously providing a high level of print
quality. This technology reduces grain and dramatically improves color transitions.



· Faster Print Speeds -- Creates prints up to 35
percent faster than the Epson R1800, particularly at higher resolutions, boosting
productivity for final layouts and sellable photographic images. Produces breathtaking
11" x 14" prints as fast as 1 minute, 46 seconds.2



· Superior Media Flexibility -- Offers the same
media versatility as the Epson R1800 with the ability to print on glossy, luster
and matte medias as well as thicker fine art media, roll papers, canvas and
directly onto inkjet printable CD/DVDs.



· Enhanced Connectivity -- Allows two computers
to simultaneously connect to the R1900 via two hi-speed USB 2.0 ports for seamless
printing from either computer.



· Epson PreciseColor Manufacturing -- Applies colorimetric
calibration to the permanent MicroPiezo print head at the factory through an
enhanced manufacturing process, eliminating the need for internal calibration
devices or constant calibration.



· Exceptional Reliability -- Features a new ink-repelling
coating on the print head that prolongs the life of the Epson R1900 and decreases
maintenance time. A built-in sensor also allows for automatic print head alignment
and nozzle checking.


For more information on the Epson R1900, please visit www.epson.com/SPR1900.
For information on Epson products and services, visit Epson.com.



Pricing, Support and Availability

The Epson R1900 will be available in the first quarter of 2008 for an estimated
street price of $549.99 through direct market resellers, specialty photo stores,
computer superstores, online retailers and Epson's retail Web site at
www.epsonstore.com.

...

SanDisk Corporation, (NASDAQ: SNDK) has announced it has begun to sample 12-gigabyte
(GB) microSDHC flash memory cards to major phone manufacturers for testing and
evaluation. The 12GB card represents a 50 percent boost in card capacity from
SanDisk's industry-leading 8GB microSDHC cards, which are currently available
worldwide, and highlights the growing popularity of mobile phones with storageintensive
features that include music players, digital cameras, video recording and playback
and GPS capabilities.



SanDisk has embarked on a `slot education' program to raise awareness
of both the card slot included in the majority of new mobile phones available
today and the benefits to the consumers who use it. More information is available
at: www.WakeUpYourPhone.com.



A 12GB microSDHC is ideal for storing large quantities of music, photos and
video. For example, it will be able to store a combination of 1,500 songs, 3,600
photos and 24.5 hours of video.



SDHC is the designation for any SD or SD-based card that is larger than 2GB
and adheres to the new SD 2.00 specification required for cards and hosts to
support 4GB to 32GB capacities. The specification was developed by the SD Association,
an industry standards board, which has also created three classes to define
minimum sustained data transfer speed. These cards adhere to the SD Speed Class
4 Rating.



www.sandisk.com

...

Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) has announced improved versions of its Kodak Professional
Portra 400NC and 400VC films.



The new films offer:

· Finer Grain: Extended use of antenna dye technology
enables PORTRA 400NC and 400VC films to deliver finer grain than ever before.




· Outstanding Scanning Results: With finer grain and an
emulsion overcoat specially designed for scanners, PORTRA 400 films reproduce
beautifully, with either optical or digital output.



· Spectacular Skin Tones: The new PORTRA 400 films continue
to deliver smooth, natural reproduction of skin tones.



Kodak introduced the new Kodak Professional Portra film family in 2006. The new
Kodak Professional Portra films will be available worldwide on a stock-turnover
basis beginning Q1 2008.



www.kodak.com...