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George Schaub  |  Jul 01, 2008  | 

Nikon keeps cranking out new D-SLRs, most recently with the D3 and D300 (see Shutterbug reviews at www.shutterbug.com), and now, building on the great success with their amateur line-up of the D40 and D40X, the new D60. Sporting 10.2 megapixels (same as the D40X), the D60 has the lightweight and portable feel of the D40 series, with some extra tricks up its sleeve. Foregoing...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Jul 01, 2008  | 

Interfit is pleased to announce the arrival of the Stellar Xtreme, the almost
go anywhere battery pack enabled system. The Stellar Xtreme Flash is a new breed
of flash aimed at all levels of photographers including social, event or wedding
photographers. The Stellar Xtreme will provide excellent flash capabilities
for outdoor scenes or provide ample lighting in indoor shoots.

...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Jul 01, 2008  | 

Interfit has announced the new Super Cool-lite 9, adding to the versatile Cool-lite
range. The new Super Cool-lite 9 will be available as a single head or as twin
headed kits. The major benefits of the Super Cool-lite 9 are the 9 x 28 watt
energy efficient and flicker free daylight balanced lamps. Being cool to touch
lamps makes them ideal when photographing children or for food photography.
Giving the equivalent 1000 watts of tungsten lamps, each head has five switches
enabling combinations of lamps to be turned on or off so you can control your
lighting with ease. Each head is complete with a newly developed Octobox, perfect
for portraits, and a new lightweight high contrast reflector that ensures you
can use the SC9 in virtually any type of studio, small or large.

...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 30, 2008  | 

Nikon Inc. has introduced the latest generation of its image processing and editing
software, Capture NX 2. Capture NX 2 utilizes U Point technology to give photographers
access to Control Points that enhance color, exposure, and other image quality
settings quickly and easily. New technologies abound in Capture NX 2, including
the new Selection Control Point that places a commanding suite of image editing
tools at the user's fingertips.



In addition, Capture NX 2 adds an advanced Auto Retouch Brush for seamless retouching,
an improved yet simple user interface, updated menus. It also offers advanced
RAW (NEF) processing capabilities, simplified image-browsing, selection and labeling
as well as improved batch-processing capabilities, superior color management and
comprehensive system compatibility with Nikon's EXPEED image processing
concept.



Capture NX 2 also enables simplified editing and processing for most JPEG and
TIFF files regardless of camera manufacturer or model. Its broad range of editing
tools makes image retouching, enhancing and editing simple and intuitive, allowing
users to immediately see the effects as they are applied.



New Additions to Capture NX 2

· Selection Control Points: Now users can selectively edit
photographs without the need to manually outline or mask the area for editing.
Simply place a Selection Control Point anywhere on the photograph then choose
from almost any adjustment such as D-Lighting, Unsharp Mask or noise reduction,
while limiting the "reach" of that adjustment to just the selected
area.



· Auto Retouch Brush: Capture NX 2 adds an automatic retouch
tool to its image editing toolbox, allowing users to seamlessly remove blemishes,
dust, and other distracting elements from photographs while maintaining the integrity
of the image.



· Shadow/Highlight Adjustment: With just a simple slider
adjustment, users can easily open up shadows or recover blown out highlights.



· Redesigned GUI with Customizable Workspaces: As part
of an interface redesign, the new Capture NX 2 includes a Workspace feature that
maximizes the tool and palette layout for the task at hand. Users can create unique
custom workspaces ideal for working with single or multiple monitors. All palettes
and windows within can be docked or undocked or hidden as needed. Predefined workspaces
include: Browser, Metadata, Edit, or an optimized combination of each. In addition,
users can access their most used folders with the new "Favorite Folder"
feature.



· Improved Edit List: Nikon's Capture NX 2 also incorporates
an improved edit list that allows users to apply common enhancements to images
with ease. Common tools like tone curves, exposure compensation, contrast, and
highlight and shadow protection are just a click away via the Quick Fix menu.
The improved edit list allows for camera and lens corrections like color moiré
reduction, dust off, auto color aberration, auto red-eye correction, vignette
control and fisheye lens correction.



Simultaneous Use of Tools: Users can now complete image editing faster than ever
before with the use of simultaneous tools. For example, users can adjust the brightness
and contrast of an image while boosting the color of the image at the same time.



· Filters, Ratings and Sorting Toolbar: Capture NX 2 offers
an advanced filtering system in its tool bar, affording users an efficient way
to filter through hundreds of images by user-defined labels, ratings, file types
and file attributes. What's more, these new filters, ratings and sorting
tools are integrated into the metadata palette, allowing users the ability to
easily edit and view XMP/IPTC information.



Capture NX 2 will be available for purchase throughout the United States in late
June 2008 with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $179.95 (full
version) or $109.95 (upgrade). A 60-day free trial version will be available today
for users who wish to experience all that Capture NX 2 offers. For more information,
and to download the 60-day trial version please visit www.nikonusa.com.

Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 27, 2008  | 

Mpix, a division of Miller's Professional Imaging, and Zenfolio, a photo
hosting and fulfillment company empowering photographers to turn their passion
into a business, announced today the expanded strategic partnership to better
serve the growing number of professional and advanced amateur photographers.

Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 25, 2008  | 

Induro, manufacturer of professional quality tripods, monopods and heads,
announced a new line of tripods aimed at budget-conscious photographers. Called
the Induro Adventure Series, each model comes as a complete kit, including tripod,
head and carrying case. Ease of operation, quality and strength are integrated
into a lightweight, compact design. The tripod is made from an advanced combination
of magnesium and aluminum alloy and features quick lock legs, a precisely matched
interchangeable ball head and a quick release plate.

...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 24, 2008  | 

Sony is expanding its alpha system of accessories to include the new HVL-F58AM
flash unit with exceptional features for versatile and flexible external lighting
control. This new flash features a new Quick Shift Bounce system. It offers
more creative ways to achieve lighting, flash and bounce angles. The flash head
can pivot 90 degrees left and right on a horizontal axis in addition to the
conventional up and down vertical adjustment. With this system, the camera and
flash unit can keep the same orientation regardless of portrait or landscape
shooting. This gives a higher degree of flexibility when arranging the direction
of light. For example, you can take full advantage of the flash unit's
built-in bounce card even during portrait shots since the flash head can maintain
the same orientation as it would in the landscape position.

...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 24, 2008  | 

Smith-Victor introduces the new Black Diamond Series of carbon fiber tripods,
monopods and heads that complement the existing line of Smith-Victor aluminum
tripods.

...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 23, 2008  | 

Bogen Imaging, a leading distributor of top quality photographic support products
and accessories in North America, is proud to announce a free webinar titled "Selecting
the Right Tripod and Head." Held from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (EDT) on June
27, 2008, this course will provide photographers with useful tips and tricks when
it comes to identifying which support products fit their needs.



Ideal for those who shoot with a compact camera or DSLR, this course will explore
some common techniques on selecting the right tripod and head combination. The
speakers for the webinar, David Fisher, Bogen Imaging's Gitzo product manager,
and Will Holowka, Bogen Imaging's Manfrotto product manager, will also share
tips on how to setup, transport, and maintain one's rig.



Topics for discussion include:



- How to determine your needs based on your equipment (hint: weighing it won't
help!)

- How to determine the true strength of a tripod

- Exploring Carbon Fiber: Beyond "lighter & stronger"

- Tips for carrying, setting up, and maintaining your rig

- Different styles call for different setups



Participants will have the ability to ask questions and interact one-on-one with
each speaker, and will automatically be entered in a chance to win one of two
prizes which total over $800. Prizes include a Manfrotto tripod and head and a
Gitzo tripod and head. Winners will be announced at the end of the webinar. Participants
must attend the webinar in its entirety in order to be eligible to win. Within
24 hours of the event, participants can also access a free recorded version of
the entire webinar.



To register for the free webinar course and for additional information, please
visit http://www.bogenimaging.us/TripodWebinar/...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 20, 2008  | 

EZPnP announces the addition of direct camera-download capability to its line
of EZDigiMagic portable digital backup products. The EZDigiMagic DM220- U08
has the added convenience of a USB host function. In addition to the traditional
memory card-to-DVD/CD backup, users now have the ability to download pictures
and video directly from their cameras to a DVD or CD. And just like all previous
EZDigiMagic products, no computer is needed.

...

Jason Schneider  |  Jun 20, 2008  | 

With its 12.1-megapixel sensor, Raw and Raw+JPEG Capture modes, 6x (35-210mm equivalent f/2.8-4.8) zoom lens with Optical Image Stabilizer, real image optical zoom finder, 3" LCD, and dedicated hot shoe, the top-of-the-line Canon PowerShot G9 definitely has the street creds of a high-performance, pro-caliber compact, which is why we're reviewing it here in Shutterbug.

Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 19, 2008  | 

Image Trends announces the release of the Fisheye-Hemi Plug-In for Aperture
2.1, Apple's groundbreaking photo editing and management software. The
Fisheye-Hemi Plug-In filter set provides correction for hemispheric fisheye
lens distortion, working seamlessly within Aperture's photo editing and management
environment. Photographers can now easily preserve a normal view of people by
not distorting their faces and bodies, as the plug-in straightens vertical lines.
Fisheye-Hemi Plug-In uses almost all of the pixel data in that view with no
loss of image resolution while displaying the intended composition and framing
better than other un-warping programs.

...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 18, 2008  | 

Photogenic has announced built-in radio triggering for the StudioMax III AC
and AC/DC monolights. The all new four channel RTR radio receiver is built into
the 320 watt second and 160 watt second StudioMax III lights.

...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 17, 2008  | 

The PT-E05 underwater case has been specially customized for the Olympus E-520
and is waterproof up to a water pressure equivalent to a depth of 130 feet. With
its durable, high quality polycarbonate construction, it protects the camera from
water while also cushioning it from knocks and bumps on land. The housing allows
underwater photographers to compose images using the large 2.7" Live View
LCD instead of the viewfinder. The flash connectors allow optional use of up to
two UFL-2 underwater flash units. Five interchangeable lens ports allow the optional
use of 14-42mm, 14-45mm, 11-22mm or 14-54mm, 7-14mm, 8mm Fisheye and the 35mm
as well as the 50mm Macro lens. An external flash is necessary. The PT-E05 will
become available in summer 2008.



UFL-2

The UFL-2 is an incredibly light and compact TTL underwater flash that is waterproof
up to a water pressure equivalent to a depth of 196 feet. It is specially designed
for use with Olympus digital cameras and compatible underwater cases.



www.olympusamerica.com...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 16, 2008  | 

Promark International has introduced new lighting and tripod cases: The Photogenic
OB42 Lighting Accessories Case, the Smith-Victor Soft Case on Wheels and the
Smith-Victor TB990 Pro Tripod Case.

...

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