Shutterbug Staff

Sigma
has announced a large aperture, standard prime lens with claimed superior peripheral
brightness and corrected sagittal coma flare, ideal for all digital SLR cameras.
The lens is perfectly suited for a wide range of subjects enabling outstanding,
sharply defined images against a nicely blurred background. The fast, F1.4 aperture
makes this lens desirable for use with Digital SLR cameras; it effectively becomes
an 80mm medium telephoto lens on digital cameras with APS-C size image sensors.
The optimum optical design and molded glass aspherical lens elements provide
excellent correction for all types of aberrations. The super multi-layer lens
coating reduces flare and ghosting. Superior optical performance is also ensured
throughout the focusing range. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of
45cm (17.7") and has maximum magnification of 1:7.4. It creates a very
attractive blur, even when a small aperture is used. It incorporates HSM (Hyper
Sonic Motor), which ensures a quiet and high-speed AF as well as full-time manual
focus override.



www.sigmaphoto.com

...

Nik Software, Inc. and Vertus announced a new software bundle which offers photographers
and creative professionals superior solutions for image extractions and creative
enhancements. By combining the features and capabilities of Color Efex Pro 3.0
Complete Edition from Nik Software and Vertus' Fluid Mask 3, the leading
tools in their respective categories, photographers, graphic designers, and image
editors receive increased creative flexibility at a significant cost savings.



Available on both companies' websites as electronic download files, the
products are being offered together at $429.95, representing a savings of $110,
or 20%. The bundle offer is good through June 1, 2008. In addition, current Color
Efex Pro 3.0 owners can get Fluid Mask 3 directly from Nik Software at a 15% discount.
For download and discount information please visit www.niksoftware.com/vertus
or www.vertustech.com/bundles/nik.htm



About Color Efex Pro 3.0

Color Efex Pro 3.0 from Nik Software are the leading photographic filters for
digital photography, widely used by many of today's professional photographers
around the world to save time and get professional level results. The Complete
Edition contains fifty-two filters and over 250 effects enabling photographers
to quickly perform high quality retouching, color correction, traditional filtering,
and endless creative enhancements to their photographs.



Using Nik Software's patented U Point® technology found within Color
Efex Pro 3.0, users are provided the ultimate control to selectively apply enhancements
without the need for any complicated selections or layer masks. Using Control
Points, users can determine where to apply any filter within Color Efex Pro selectively
to their image, further enhancing their creativity.



About Fluid Mask 3

Fluid Mask 3 offers the most powerful and accurate image extraction on the market.
The product offers a "Smart Blending" capability unique to the software,
an effective edge detection system, and intuitive workflow resources. The award
winning Fluid Mask 3 is currently available for both Windows and Mac based operating
systems, and will continue to function as a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop CS2, CS3
& Elements, while also working in stand alone mode. The program has been deployed
by image editors at the National Magazine Company, producers of such titles as
Elle, Men's Health, Glamour and Bazaar, and recently became the first image
editing program added to the Getty Images Preferred Supplier Program. The newest
version of Fluid Mask is available for download through the Vertus website at:
http://www.vertustech.com.

Freestyle Photographic Supplies and The Creative Center for Photography are
proud to announce the opening of an exclusive group show: emerging (I) 3.



The diverse images in this show represent the keen eye and emerging vision of
a talented new generation of photographers. emerging (I) 3 opens with an artist
reception Thursday, April 24th from 6:00 to 8:00pm. The exhibition runs through
June 25, 2008.

...

Olympus, a global leader in endoscopy solutions and a precision technology leader
in award-winning consumer products, will donate 10 percent of the proceeds from
its consumer products sold through the eBay Giving Works auction to C3: Colorectal
Cancer Coalition and the Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Colorectal
Cancer Research Alliance (EIF's NCCRA), to benefit advocacy and research.
By demonstrating its commitment to the fight against colorectal cancer, Olympus
hopes to raise funds to benefit these leading nonprofit organizations over the
next 12 months. To visit this site, log on to http://stores.ebay.com/Olympus-Auctions.




Through this unique endeavor, Olympus is utilizing its expertise in both endoscopy
and consumer electronic products to support research and awareness efforts in
the fight against colorectal cancer. The proceeds from sales of Olympus products
via the eBay Giving Works auction will be divided between C3: Colorectal Cancer
Coalition and the EIF's NCCRA, with the goal to directly support the eradication
of this disease.



As the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both men
and women, colorectal cancer is not only one of the most preventable cancers,
but also one of the most curable when detected at an early stage. According to
the American Cancer Society, nearly 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal
cancer annually and an estimated 50,000 die.



The donated profits received by C3 will be used to further its legislative and
advocacy mission, whereas the profits received by EIF's NCCRA will be used
for to advance promising research.



"C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition is grateful to Olympus
for supporting our efforts to fight colorectal cancer through research, empowerment
and access," said Carlea Bauman, president of C3. "We hope to one
day make colorectal cancer no more deadly than the common cold -- and we
will only accomplish that through an increased commitment to ending this terrible
disease. We applaud Olympus' efforts to raise awareness, and raise the bar."



"On behalf of the Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Colorectal
Cancer Research Alliance and co-founder Katie Couric, we are so grateful for Olympus'
steadfast commitment to our colon cancer initiative," said Lisa Paulsen,
President and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. "Olympus'
ongoing support helps us with our efforts to generate greater awareness of this
cancer, as well as accelerate important science that will hopefully lead us to
better tests, treatments and, ultimately, a cure."



In addition to the proceeds raised, all Olympus cameras bought on eBay will be
shipped with information about colorectal cancer screening. "At Olympus,
we believe it is our responsibility to help educate, inform and create awareness
about colorectal cancer," said F. Mark Gumz, president and COO of Olympus
America. "Our hope is that through our many Olympus initiatives, we will
increase awareness and facilitate discussions about the disease."



Building on Olympus' five-year history of selling products via eBay, the
company believes it can create a positive philanthropic impact through the online
program. Of note are the more than 3,000 unique visitors per day to the Olympus
store on eBay. For more information regarding Olympus' colorectal cancer
efforts, please visit www.crcawareness.com.



The eBay Giving Works program (http://givingworks.ebay.com)
is a dedicated charitable listing initiative, providing organizations with a creative
way to support causes important to them. Since 2000, more than $94.5 million has
been raised for charity from listings sold on eBay worldwide. eBay Giving Works
combines the market of active buyers and sellers on eBay with the nonprofit certification
and donations processing power of MissionFish. Its many features and functions
are designed to make fundraising and cause marketing on eBay both simple and successful.




About Olympus:

Olympus is a precision technology leader, creating innovative opto-digital solutions
in healthcare, life science and consumer electronics products. Olympus works collaboratively
with its customers and its affiliates worldwide to leverage R&D investment
in precision technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines.



These include:

· Gastrointestinal endoscopes, accessories, and minimally invasive surgical
products;

· Advanced clinical and research microscopes;

· Lab automation systems, chemistry-immuno and blood bank analyzers and
reagents;

· Digital cameras and voice recorders.



Olympus serves healthcare and commercial laboratory markets with integrated product
solutions and financial, educational and consulting services that help customers
to efficiently, reliably and more easily achieve exceptional results. Olympus
develops breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality
for the consumer and professional photography markets, and also is the leader
in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes. For more
information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.



About C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition

C3 pushes for research to improve screening, diagnosis, and treatment of colorectal
cancer; for policy decisions that make the most effective colorectal cancer prevention
and treatment available to all; and for increased awareness that colorectal cancer
is preventable, treatable, and beatable. Visit www.FightColorectalCancer.org
for more information.



About the Entertainment Industry Foundation

The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), as a leading charitable organization
of the entertainment industry, has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars
to support charitable initiatives addressing critical health, education and social
issues.



National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance

EIF's NCCRA is dedicated to the eradication of colon cancer by promoting
education about the importance of medical screening and funding cutting-edge research
to develop better tests, treatments and, ultimately, a cure. The NCCRA was co-founded
by journalist Katie Couric, cancer activist Lilly Tartikoff, and the Entertainment
Industry Foundation in 2000. As a result of the attention focused on colorectal
cancer since the NCCRA was established, the number of colonoscopy screenings has
increased almost 20 percent, a phenomenon dubbed the "Couric Effect"
by the University of Michigan researchers who documented it.



About eBay Inc.:

Founded in 1995, eBay Inc. connects hundreds of millions of people around the
world every day, empowering them to explore new opportunities and innovate together.
eBay Inc. does this by providing the Internet platforms of choice for global commerce,
payments and communications. Since its inception, eBay Inc. has expanded to include
some of the strongest brands in the world, including eBay, PayPal, Skype, Shopping.com
and others. eBay Inc. is headquartered in San Jose, California.



About MissionFish:

MissionFish provides service and support activities including nonprofit verification,
donation collection and disbursement, tax receipting, and online contribution
tracking. By combining the power and reach of the eBay marketplace with the nonprofit
expertise of MissionFish, eBay Giving Works makes it easy for buyers, sellers,
nonprofits, and cause-marketers to come together, Building a Marketplace for Change.



Please note: No part of the purchase price can be considered
deductible by the purchaser as a charitable contribution.