May-June 2006

Mobile Studio Flash
Broncolor's new Verso A2 studio-flash power pack provides great flexibility. For one thing, its "dock-on" rechargeable battery allows you to use it on location even if no AC power is available. Brief recycling times (0.2 to 0.9 seconds) and flash duration (1/1500 seconds) keep you ready to capture moments and movements. Three lamp outlets and two individual channels provide asymmetrical power over seven stops, settable in 1/10-stop increments. An optional RFS version offers wireless flash triggering. Estimated Street Price: Up to $5,959. Contact: Sinar Bron Imaging, (800) 456-0203, www.sinarbron.com.









Enhance CS2
Logitech's NuLOOQ Professional Series consists of two products that enhance Mac versions of Adobe Creative Suite 2 programs, including Photoshop CS2. NuLOOQ navigator makes it easy to manipulate images and documents via mouse, keyboard and a provided hemispherical device, while the NuLOOQ tooldial is a customizable interface that puts frequently used tools right where you want them. Estimated Street Price: $144 (NuLOOQ navigator, including tooldial); $49 (NuLOOQ tooldial). Contact: Logitech, (800) 231-7717, www.logitech.com/nulooq.





Quick Back
Phase One has announced the third and top member of its digital back line, the P 21. Featuring both tethered and untethered operation, the 18-megapixel back provides 1.1 fps shooting and processed file sizes up to 54 MB. Operating untethered doesn't slow performance, and images are written securely to CompactFlash cards at up to 20 MBps. Phase One's S3 secure storage system technology checks that each storage card is functional when inserted in the back. Phase One's Capture One software allows P 21 users to quickly capture, adjust, archive and prepare images for printing. Estimated Street Price: $16,990 ($19,990 with three-year warranty). Contact: Phase One, (888) PHASE-ONE, www.phaseone.com.




Capture The Image
Partnering with Nik Multimedia, Nikon's newest version of Capture software is loaded with new functionality to "release the latest powers of Nikon's Electronic Format (NEF) files." More than most manufacturers, Nikon has touted the inherent capabilities of its proprietary RAW format, the NEF file, and Capture NX is designed to further exploit and control the NEF file. In the imaging chain—capture, in-camera processing, in-computer processing, output—the in-computer processing is the stage where all of the technology of lens design, sensor capability and in-camera processing come together. Capture NX promises to be the most powerful software yet designed for Nikon users to take full advantage of the digital information in their images. List Price: TBD. Contact: Nikon, (800) NIKON-US, www.nikonusa.com.






Consolidation
Micron Technology and Lexar Media, makers of popular flash memory products and ATA controller technology for digital photography, have entered into an agreement for Micron to acquire Lexar in a stock-for-stock merger. The acquisition is designed to combine Micron's expertise in flash memory with Lexar's expertise in flash memory controller and system design technology, brand recognition and retail channel strength. Contact: Micron, (208) 368-3900, www.micron.com; Lexar Media, (800) 789-9418, www.lexar.com.





Remembering Victor
Hasselblad is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of founder Victor Hasselblad by introducing the 500-copy Limited Edition Hasselblad 503CWD Digital Camera Anniversary Kit. Included are the black-and-chrome 503CWD V-system body (with a specially marked focusing screen and a chrome winding lever) engraved with Victor Hasselblad's signature; the new 16-megapixel CFV digital back (which replaces the V96C back and is also available separately); a Zeiss Planar CFE 80mm Ä/2.8 lens; and a beautiful anniversary book. Estimated Street Price: $12,995 (503CWD), $9,995 (CFV back). Contact: Hasselblad, (973) 227-7320; www.hasselbladusa.com.








Let's Make This Quick And Easy
ExpressDigital Darkroom software has been upgraded with new built-in retouching tools, advanced RAW workflow, handy setup wizards and proactive online marketing campaigns. For the digital pro, this means you can do more, including editing images, working with RAW images as easily as with JPEGs, quickly setting up print packages and online storefronts, and—via the new PhotoReflect.com—marketing by e-mail. Estimated Street Price: $1,295. Contact: ExpressDigital, (888) 584-0089, www.expressdigital.com.





Built-In Transceiver
All Norman battery portable flash kits are now available with built-in PocketWizard radio transceivers on each lamp head. The PocketWizards fire the lamp heads via radio signal, so you don't need cords or line-of-sight. You can set different heads to different channels and fire them independently (or prevent other remote signals from firing them in multi-photographer shoots). Existing Norman 200B, 200C and 400B Battery Portable Systems can be upgraded by adding a new lamp head with a built-in receiver; no additional modifications to existing systems are needed. Estimated Street Price: $1,162 to $1,426 for single-head kits. Contact: Photo Control Corporation, (800) 787-8078, www.photo-control.com.







Pro Scanners
Epson has introduced a pair of flatbed scanners designed for photographers. Both models can scan reflective material up to letter size, as well as 35mm through 8x10-inch negatives and transparencies, at resolutions up to 4800 dpi or 6400 dpi via Epson's Dual Lens system (interpolated resolutions up to 12,800 x 12,800 dpi are possible), with 48-bit color and 16-bit grayscale bit-depth. Maximum optical density is 4.0. Digital ICE technologies remove dust and scratches from films and many surface defects from prints. The Perfection V750-M Pro adds High-Pass Optics with anti-reflection coatings on the CCD lens, a unique fluid mount that's very effective at removing scratches (even with black-and-white films that don't take well to other scratch-removing technologies), and higher-end software, including MonacoEZColor and LaserSoft Imaging SilverFast Ai 6. Estimated Street Price: $743 (V750-M); $512 (V700). Contact: Epson, (800) GO-EPSON, www.epson.com.




Armored CDs And DVDs
It can be tragic to accidentally scratch a CD or DVD full of archived photos. Delkin has a solution: the Archival Gold line recordable CDs and DVDs with Scratch Armor. The Archival Gold line already had excellent light, humidity and temperature resistance, and now it has scratch resistance, too. Delkin's tests indicate the media can safely store images for more than 300 years—a great thing for archiving images. Estimated Street Price: $22 (CD-R 10-pack); $34 (DVD-R 10-pack); other pack quantities available. Contact: Delkin Devices, (800) 637-8087, www.delkin.com.




Soft-Serve Lighting
Built-in flash units are handy but produce less-than-optimal lighting. LumiQuest's Soft Screens do something about that. The 4x4-inch flash diffusers install quickly on the hot-shoes of digital or film SLRs, softening shadows and reducing hot spots. Estimated Street Price: $12. Contact: LumiQuest, (830) 438-4646, www.lumiquest.com.














Spot-On Color
Dubbed "Digital Darkroom in a Box," ColorVision's Spyder2Suite provides the advanced user with the means to precisely calibrate both monitors and printers. The package includes the award-winning Spyder2 Colorimeter, Spyder2 Advanced Monitor Calibration software, and new ColorVision PrintFIX PLUS Printer Profiling software. Software wizards guide you through the processes, and unique before-and-after viewing lets you compare your display with and without calibration. Estimated Street Price: $133 to $160. Contact: ColorVision, (800) 554-8688, www.colorvision.com.







No-Buffer Shooting
Thirty-three megapixels is rapidly becoming the standard for the medium-format digital market. Sinar's new eMotion 75 is the latest offering from the Swiss company and it features continuous capture up to 160 exposures and a capture rate of a frame every 1.5 seconds. Like its sibling, the eMotion 22, the eMotion 75 has Sinar's "no buffer" shooting feature—you don't get slowed down waiting for a full buffer to dump to your drive. The photosites on the 48x36mm image sensor measure 7.2x7.2 microns, which is smaller than the eMotion 22, and should help to reduce moiré characteristics and also help with wide-angle photography. All adapters for the eMotion 22 will work with the eMotion 75. List Price: TBD. Contact: Sinar Bron Imaging, (800) 456-0203, www.sinarbron.com.




End-To-End Workflow Software
Collages.net's newest tool for professionals is its Collages.net Desktop, which is designed to allow photographers who shoot large numbers of images at an event, such as a wedding or sporting event, to quickly and easily post the images online. At that point, reprint orders are easy to process and fulfill efficiently. List Price: Free for a limited time; $129 thereafter. Contact: Collages.net, (877) 638-7468, www.collages.net.










Better Albums
Albums Unlimited has introduced the new Kingston Flush Mount Album. Available in a range of sizes, you can choose four styles of leatherette that can be customized with more than 30 colors, genuine cowhide in any color, a variety of metal covers that can be customized and other options. You can also submit your own fabric for a completely unique look. List Price: Varies. Contact: Albums Unlimited, (800) 6-ALBUMS, www.albumsunlimited.com.






Eddie Adams Online
The late Eddie Adams lives on as one of the greatest photojournalists of all time. The workshops that bear his name stand as a testament to Adams' desire to educate and maintain high standards within the profession to which he devoted his life. Now the workshop's new Website, www.eddieadamsworkshop.com, uses technology developed with PhotoShelter to enable applicants to submit their materials online. Known as Barnstorm, the workshop brings together top photojournalism professionals and 100 carefully selected students in an intense four-day program. The new site was designed to bring the community of editors, photojournalists and workshop alumnae together. Contact: Eddie Adams Workshop, www.eddieadamsworkshop.com.








Silver Ragtime
Museo Silver Rag digital fine-art paper is a fiber-based photo paper with the semi-gloss look of a traditional air-dried fiber print, the feel of a fine cotton paper, and image quality rivaling leading photo inkjet papers. Designed for pigmented inkjet inks and manufactured to archival standards, Silver Rag yields great results in black-and-white and color. Other features include a tough surface, quick dry time and excellent water resistance. With a weight of 300 gsm, Silver Rag is available in sheets from 8.5x11 to 35x47 inches, and roll widths of 17, 24, 44 and 50 inches. Printer profiles are available on the Website. Estimated Street Price: 8.5x11 inches, 25 sheets ($52/box); 13x19 inches, 25 sheets ($132/box); 17 inches x 50 feet ($180/roll); 24 inches x 50 feet ($240/roll); 44 inches x 50 feet ($420/roll). Contact: Crane & Co., (877) 306-8736, www.crane.com/museo.




Filter Simulators
55mm 6.0 is the latest version of a software program offering a set of digital optical filters that simulate the effects of popular glass camera filters, specialized lenses, optical lab processes, film grain and other traditional photographic effects. You can apply them all with great control at your computer, with 8 or 16 bits per channel. Version 6.0 adds 12 new filters, including Depth of Field, Rack Focus, Vari-Star, Strip-Grad and a new Light! Filter that can add light to a scene wherever you want it. The program runs as a plug-in for Photoshop-compatible software. Estimated Street Price: $195. Contact: Digital Film Tools, (323) 874-2330, www.digitalfilmtools.com.




Get Smart
Here's a digital image display device with a difference: the U3 Smart Drive. This portable hard drive lets you access and edit your photos on any PC running Windows XP or 2000. Just plug the unit into the computer's USB port, and you're ready to go. Software installed on the U3 lets you organize, edit and swap photos. Photo recipients don't need special software to view what you send them either. A number of manufacturers offer products using U3 Smart Drive technology, including SanDisk, Memorex and Kingston. List Price: Varies. Contact: U3, (650) 632-4592, www.u3.com.








Fix Color
Color Mechanic PRO from Digital Light & Color is a Photoshop-compatible plug-in that provides users with a means for selectively and precisely controlling colors within an image. You can change one or more colors in an image without affecting any of the other colors and without having to manually select the parts of the image you want to change. Estimated Street Price: $49. Contact: Digital Light & Color, (617) 489-8858, www.colormechanic.com.





Slim Light Source
Ultra-thin and compact, the Litepanels 1x1 LED is available as a 5600K daylight flood or spot, or a 3200K tungsten flood. Designed primarily for the video industry, the Litepanels system is worth a look for still shooters who prefer continuous light versus strobes. An integrated control knob enables instant dimming from 1% to 100% without color shifts. Because the panels use LED technology, they're heat-free, which makes them a good choice for placing close to a model's face or for shooting food and other subjects that are heat-sensitive. Estimated Street Price: TBD. Contact: Litepanels, (818) 752-7009, www.litepanels.com.





Bulk-Feed Inks
Ink and media provider Lyson has introduced a bulk-feed ink system and inks for the popular Epson Stylus Photo R2400 inkjet printer. Featuring a new version of Lyson's Cave Paint pigmented inks with good color gamut and rich blacks with no gloss differential, the system includes space-saving modular ink reservoirs that can be topped off while printing and sealed after to prolong ink life. Proprietary bulk-feed ink cartridges have built-in dampers to control ink flow automatically, and there's no foam rubber to deteriorate and lead to clogging. Estimated Street Price: $379. Contact: Lyson, (847) 690-1060, www.lyson.com.