LATEST ADDITIONS

Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 07, 2005  |  0 comments

The latest in a series of tests on the impact of airport security equipment
on imaging devices and media shows that neither DVDs nor DVD players are damaged
by X-ray scanners or metal-detector wands. The recent tests of scanner models
currently in use in the U.S. transportation industry were jointly conducted
by the International Imaging Industry Association (I3A), the leading global
association for the imaging industry, and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration
(TSA).

...

Peter K. Burian  |  Jun 07, 2005  |  0 comments

Until recently, few digital camera owners were able to make true wide angle
images because a 38mm focal length was the shortest available in built-in zooms.
(All focal lengths are discussed in 35mm format equivalent.) Today, an increasing
number of digicams include zooms that start at 28mm or even 24mm. Many of the
high-end cameras also accept 0.7x adapters, ideal for ultra wide angle photography.
And SLR system lens manufacturers have also started making incredibly short
zooms, such as 12-24mm, for a very wide angle of view. All of this is great
news for creative shooters who want to expand their visual horizons.


Most camera owners think of a wide angle lens as something that's
useful for including an entire landscape vista, street scene,
or a large group of people, in a single image. While that is one
valid reason for owning a wide angle lens, or a wide angle adapter
accessory, there are many others as discussed in the text. (28mm
equivalent.) Photo © 2005 Peter K. Burian.

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Howard Millard  |  Jun 07, 2005  |  0 comments


#1. Starting with an original single image photo shot
in the studio, I selected the subject with the Magic Wand
tool. (Model: Tanya Perez.)

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Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 06, 2005  |  0 comments

The
new KODAK EASYSHARE V550 and V530 zoom digital cameras blend video and still photography.
The V550 and V530 cameras are equipped with 5-megapixel (MP) resolution sensors
and the packages include the KODAK EASYSHARE Photo Frame Dock 2 -- which provides
one-touch picture transfer to a connected computer while keeping the cameras'
high-capacity battery charged and ready to go. Users can play video and photo
`slideshows' on the cameras' high-resolution LCD screens. The
V Model V550 has a SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH C-VARIOGON 3X optical zoom lens and nineteen
scene modes such as beach, snow, sunset and party. The EASYSHARE V550 camera will
be available worldwide beginning this June for US$399 (MSRP). The EASYSHARE V530
camera will be available worldwide beginning in July 2005 for US$349 (MSRP).



V-series cameras include KODAK EASYSHARE software for WINDOWS and MACINTOSH systems,
providing effortless digital picture organization, editing, sharing and printing
-- and even CD and DVD burning. The exclusive One Touch to Better Pictures feature
takes advantage of proprietary color technologies developed by Kodak to help users
get prints from inkjet printers. Version 5.0 -- available as a free download from
www.kodak.com beginning this
summer -- will feature new video editing tools that allow users to quickly and
simply trim, splice, rotate and add music to videos.
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Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 03, 2005  |  0 comments

Creo Inc. (NASDAQ: CREO: TSX: CRE) has announced the immediate availability
of the new Leaf Aptus digital camera back system. This digital camera back is
being introduced in two models: the Leaf Aptus 22 and the Leaf Aptus 17, with
resolutions of 22 million and 17 million pixels respectively. The Leaf Aptus
was designed to accommodate the needs of professional photographers. A 6 x 7
cm touch screen display enables photographers to shoot up to 1000 frames without
interruption.


Images are shot at a speed of up to 1.2 seconds per frame, and can be evaluated
and edited on the spot. A unique user button is
customizable and enables the photographer to quickly access vital image information
and perform tasks without removing his or her hands from the camera.

The Leaf Aptus further offers a range of storage methods for
any shooting situation: a standard CompactFlash card; the fast and portable
20 GB and 30 GB Leaf Digital Magazine (holds over 1000 lossless raw files);
a high-volume portable FireWire disk; and the tethered option of shooting straight
to a computer.

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Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 02, 2005  |  0 comments

Microsoft Corp., together with leading companies in the digital imaging industry,
today announced enhancements to the family of Windows operating systems that will
enable consumers to easily work with RAW files in current and future versions
of Windows. Working closely with digital imaging industry leaders including Adobe
Systems Inc., Canon Inc., Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. and Nikon Corp., Microsoft
plans to deliver native support for digital camera RAW images in the next major
version of Windows, code-named "Longhorn."



In addition, Microsoft is enhancing the digital imaging experience for Windows
XP with the upcoming availability of the Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer
for Windows XP, allowing consumers to view thumbnails and preview and print Canon
and Nikon RAW files from Windows Explorer in Windows XP. These features, as well
as the ability to organize and edit Canon and Nikon RAW files, will also be available
in a future version of Digital Image Suite.



Microsoft also announced it is developing a certification program for third-party
RAW image codecs that will ensure their solutions provide a consistent experience
for consumers who are using RAW image files. With this new RAW support across
the Windows platform and products, Microsoft is enabling a seamless experience
for consumers working with RAW digital images and delivering an extensible architecture
for hardware and software industry partners.



Microsoft worked with imaging leaders to develop the digital camera RAW architecture
in "Longhorn" and to provide the best digital photography experience
for Windows consumers. "Longhorn" will deliver dramatic innovation
in RAW support for independent software developers, camera manufacturers and consumers.
Hardware and software partners will benefit from the standardized architecture
for image codecs, which allows them to contribute their own codecs to be certified
and implemented in Windows.



Microsoft's platform approach provides built-in support for RAW files, enabling
Windows-based applications to use all supported image types, including RAW. This
architecture enables software applications to seamlessly support new image types
upon codec certification by Microsoft. In addition, "Longhorn" will
provide an application programming interface (API) that enables software vendors
to exercise a higher degree of control over the RAW conversion in their applications,
while enabling market opportunities for professional-level conversion tools.



In addition to announcing the imaging enhancements planned for the next version
of Windows, Microsoft is helping Windows XP consumers realize the potential of
RAW files. The Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer for Windows XP will
soon be available for free download* at http://www.microsoft.com.
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Joe Farace  |  Jun 01, 2005  |  0 comments

"When sorrows come they come not single spies, but in battalions."--Shakespeare

Like many Microsoft Windows users, I spend far too much time keeping my computer healthy. In the April 2005 issue, I introduced you to browser options other than Internet Explorer and while those programs are less prone to security problems, spyware continues to plague...

Frances E. Schultz  |  Jun 01, 2005  |  1 comments

Tripods are important, but for most people they tend to blur together. The most important news is always that tripods are getting lighter. There are many more companies offering carbon-fiber tripods, increasingly with magnesium-alloy metal work. And while Gitzo's Basalt range gives a more modest savings in weight, it has the same desirable "deadness"...

Text and photography by Mike Stensvold  |  Jun 01, 2005  |  First Published: Jan 01, 2005  |  0 comments

Long lenses are wonderful photographic tools. Their longer-than-"normal" focal lengths magnify everything, allowing you to get "close-ups" of subjects you can't (or don't want to) approach closely. The shorter long lenses (those in the 85--120mm range, for 35mm cameras) are ideal for portraits, because they produce a good head size at a...

Shutterbug Staff  |  Jun 01, 2005  |  0 comments

I often photograph at a nature preserve in Glenview, Illinois, called "The Grove." While testing a newly acquired Voigtländer Bessa-R with a 50mm Nokton lens, I came upon this scene and quickly moved into position. This was the only frame with this composition as the rooster was slowly walking across the scene.

Whenever I acquire these one-chance...

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