George Schaub

If you've ever been walking down the street and a picture caught your
eye, but had no camera to capture the moment, then the small, shirt-pocket size
digicams might just be item you're seeking. A number of companies, including
Pentax, Casio and Minolta have already introduced such models, each with their
own unique feature sets. Now, Contax, a name renowned for exquisite cameras
and excellent lenses, has jumped into the fray with their own version, the U4R,
a 4-megapixel camera sporting a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* lens. Those familiar
with the amazing image clarity of this line of lenses will immediately recognize
the name; those unfamiliar with it can be assured that it is a legendary name
in optics. The camera has just under a 3x optical zoom lens, delivering the
equivalent of 38-115mm in 35mm format. There's also a digital zoom if
you need it, delivering over 400mm, but as with many digital zooms it's
really a crop into the frame, and will not deliver the quality of the prime
optics.

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The
Sprint PCS Samsung Multimedia Phone MM-A800


Much ado has been made of late of how camera phones will gut the lower-end digicam
market and how everyone will dump their 1-3MP digicams for these amazing multimedia
products. Having shot with a sub 1-megapixel phone a year back I shrugged and
moved on, deciding it was a fun toy that some might find useful but that image
quality was poor, even when compared with the lowliest of blister-pack dedicated
cameras. Word has gotten around that new, higher-megapixel phonecams are coming,
with 7 MP being the figure touted on one model available now overseas. In addition,
we just got word that Kodak is finally going to release their EasyShare One,
subject of a press conference last January, which is said to be a camera first
and then a web or phone connecting pictuire sender second. With all that in
mind I was intrigued by the new Samsung 2MP camphone sent to us by the folks
at Sprint, one that links up with Sprint's PCS Picture mail service.

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Shutterbug Forums create an online community for information, questions and
debate on topics of interest to photographers today. A wide range of topics
are covered, including various camera User Groups, 35mm and Digital SLR photography,
camera collecting, Help desks and more. The Forums are also a great way to get
in touch with Shutterbug writers and editors as well as professional photographers
from around the world. Many of these experts will be moderating focused discussions,
as well as participating in all the Forums at the Shutterbug site.

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Elinchrom has introduced the Style 400 BX portable compact flash units. Two new
inexpensive kits, street priced at $995 and $1098, incorporate the latest innovations
in Multivoltage technology with all the accessories necessary to plug-in anywhere.



Featured in both kits, the EL 400 BXECON and EL 400 BX KIT, is the new Style BX
400 Multivoltage with automatic voltage detection from 90 V--260 V, a rapid
recycle time of 1 sec. in a lightweight monobloc weighing only 4.3 lbs.. Additionally,
both kits offer the new digitally stabilized 400BX monoblocs along with all the
lighting equipment and accessories necessary for capturing the most demanding
images while at the same time giving the photographer the ability to travel quick
and light. The EL 400BXKIT adds two Manfrotto light stands and a convenient Stand
Bag.



The new Style 400 BX Multivoltage compact flash unit features power ranges of
25 - 400 Ws and has the ability to work with 5 f-stops, ranging from 1/16 to 1/1.
The 400 BX is lightweight, weighing only 4.3 pounds (1.95 kg) and is compact for
in or out of studio use, with dimensions of 21 x 14cm (length x diameter). The
new head kit includes a plug-in omega flashtube precisely positioned 20 mm from
the internal reflector. The positioning helps avoid uneven illumination that often
results from non-concentric or U-shaped flashtubes.



Web: www.bogenimaging.us


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