Shutterbug Staff

Kingston has announced the formation of the innovative Icons of Photography
program which features seven world-class photographers--Douglas Kirkland,
Barbara Bordnick, Colin Finlay, Harry Benson, Peter Read Miller, Chris Rainier
and Gerd Ludwig.

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Canon Inc. has reached a new lens milestone as production of the company's
EF lenses passed the 30-million mark. Production of interchangeable EF lenses
for Canon EOS-series AF (autofocus) SLR cameras began in 1987 and the company
produced its 10-millionth EF lens in August 1995 and its 20-millionth in February
2001.

In November of 1987 Canon introduced the industry's first
Ultrasonic Motor (USM)-powered lens: the EF 300mm f/2.8L USM. In September 1989,
the EF 50mm f/1.0L USM, featuring the world's largest aperture of f/1.0,
was launched. And in September 1995 the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, equipped
with the world's first Image Stabilizer to correct for the effect of camera
shake, made its debut.

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Epson America Inc. has introduced a new digital workflow system that is tailor-made
for portrait photographers who are looking for an immediate and simple way to
increase their productivity, image quality and profitability. The Epson Gemini
K3 Portrait Printing System combines the benefits of Epson's UltraChrome
K3 photographic printing technology with new image management and enhancement
programs that are designed to dramatically improve the way portrait photographers
do business.



Epson Gemini K3 is designed to give portrait photographers a simple way to control
and speed up the entire print production process while eliminating their dependence
on printing labs, and lab-related issues such as delays, peak season cut-off
dates and unpredictable results. Whether a photographer captures all of their
images from a digital camera or with the combination of film and a scanner,
the Epson Gemini K3 Portrait System is engineered to help manage all their photographic
files in an organized method that enables them to quickly and easily select
the images they want to print. By having this system on site, photos can be
viewed by clients immediately and selecting images is simply a matter of mouse-clicking
their favorites.



Once images are selected, the photographer can quickly crop and retouch images
prior to creating proofs using either the system's built-in photo enhancement
software or with other programs such as Adobe Photoshop. When clients place
their orders, the photographer simply drags and drops the selected images into
built-in or custom-designed photo templates that enable them to print in a variety
of common or custom sizes, on different types of media and into a wide array
of custom packages. The system can save additional time by applying automatic
color corrections that are pre-determined by the photographer.



Epson UltraChrome K3 ink technology uses eight high-density pigments designed
to increase image quality for both professional color and black and white prints.
In addition to cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan and light magenta, Epson UltraChrome
K3 features a unique three-level black ink system that simultaneously uses black,
light black and light light black inks. These new inks combined with Epson's
proprietary driver and screening technology are designed to create professional
neutral and toned black and white prints without color crossover or color casts.




The Epson Gemini K3 Portrait Printing system incorporates the Epson Stylus Pro
4800 printer (see review in Shutterbug at http://shutterbug.com/equipmentreviews/scanners_printers/1105epson)
which is capable of printing a wide selection of images up to 17 inches wide
with unprecedented image quality. In addition to printing on traditional E-surface
luster papers, Epson



Gemini K3 offers a wider range of media types such as photographic matte, fine
art and canvas. The printer also features a built-in, high-capacity paper tray
that can handle up to 100 cut-sheets of 8.3" x 11" photographic
media or up to 50 cut-sheets of photographic media up to 17" x 22".
As the photographer's business grows, or if they require printing in sizes
beyond 17 inches wide, he/she can print up to 24 inches or 44 inches wide (respectively)
by adding an Epson Stylus Pro 7800 or Stylus Pro 9800 printer to their existing
system.

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Fuji Photo Film USA. is offering a hardware upgrade for the FinePix S3 Pro
professional DSLR camera that improves its continuous shooting capabilities
and delivers other performance enhancements. The upgrade will double the camera's
internal buffer memory capacity (from 128MB to 256MB), increasing its continuous
frame shooting capabilities. When shooting in RAW format at the widest dynamic
range setting, for example, the FinePix S3 Pro's continuous shooting capabilities
jumps from three frames to eight frames.

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