PMA Report: New Lighting Gear For 2007

Shutterbug provides some insight into a recent PMA report regarding upcoming studio and mobile lighting products. Many new units are being released that don’t sacrifice performance for economics. Read the entire article from Jack Neubart on shutterbug.com.
Image of Dot Line RPS Studio Plus 300 provided by shutterbug.com

Canon Releases EOS Utility Updates

Canon has released updates to both its EOS Utility and Digital Photo Professional software. EOS Utility downloads images from EOS cameras and controls remote shooting from them. Digital Photo Pro is Canon's image editing software for EOS Raw and JPEG images. Downloads are available at no charge from the Drivers/Software tab of any EOS camera product page at the Canon website.

Canon Digital Rebel XTi v1.1.0 Firmware Update Now Available

Canon has released a firmware update for the Digital Rebel XTi DSLR, known as the EOS 400D in foreign markets. Firmware v.1.1.0 can be downloaded from Canon’s website, or users may bring their camera into a Canon Service Center.

Two New 8MP L-Series Digicams From Samsung

Samsung has announced two new L-Series point-and-shoots digital cameras , the 8.1MP L830 and the 8.2MP L83T. Both cameras possess Samsung’s Intelligent Face Recognition Technology and maximum sensitivity up to ISO 1600. The Samsung L83T has a suggested retail price of $279 and due in September, while the L830 is priced at $229 when it becomes available in August.

The Samsung L830 and L83T are each fitted with a 2.5-inch, 230,000 pixel LCD screen. The updated L-series cameras come equipped with Samsung’s Intelligent Face Recognition Technology for automatic focus and exposure for portrait photography for up to nine faces in a given scene. In addition, the cameras feature Samsung’s proprietary ASR (Advanced Shake Reduction) system for low-light shooting.

Among other functions, the new L-series cameras include a Wise Shot mode that takes two consecutive photos, one with ASR image stabilization and the other with flash. The L83T and L830 have a special effects “E” button for built-in editing functions such as resizing, brightness control, and color filter. In addition, the Samsung cameras possess a “Fun” mode, a function that creates a single composite image out of four different photos.

With Samsung’s i-movie mode, the L830 and L83T can capture video at a maximum SVGA resolution of 800x592 at 30fps in MPEG-4 format. The new L-cameras are capable of 14 preset scene modes. The L83T stores 19MB of internal memory, while the L830 holds 16MB of built-in memory. Both Samsung cameras accept SD and SDHC media.

Samsung Announces New S85 8MP Digicam

Samsung has announced the entry-level S85 point-and-shoot digital camera. Much like the L830 and L83T, the new S-series camera carries an 8MP sensor and face detection, while adding a midrange 5x optical zoom lens. The Samsung S85 will retail for $229 when the camera becomes available in September.

The new S85 includes Samsung’s Advanced Shake Reduction image stabilization system and Wise Shot mode. The Wise Shot function automatically shoots two photos in succession - one with the ASR mode and another with the flash. The camera possesses face detection technology that recognizes up to nine faces and adjusts auto focus and exposure accordingly.

The camera includes built-in editing functions including an “E” button that controls rotation, contrast, color filter, and red-eye correction, among other internal controls. The S85 also possesses a “Fun” feature that saves four images as one photo.

The S85 camera has a movie mode VGA resolution of 640x480 at 30fps and 14 scene modes. The Samsung S85 has a 20MB internal memory, is compatible with AA batteries, and accepts SD and SDHC media.

New 8MP Optio Digicams From Pentax

Pentax has announced two new Optio point-and-shoot cameras featuring 8MP sensors.

The Optio M40 sports a slim metallic body, 8MP resolution, a 3× optical zoom, and a 2.5-inch LCD display. The camera is designed to appeal to both entry-level and experienced digital camera users, offering digital shake reduction, and auto-macro feature, and face recognition technology designed to keep your friends (and even your enemies) recognizable in candid photos. The camera has decent low-light capability—sensitivity down to ISO 1600 (3200 with shake reduction) and can capture QuickTime video. The Optio M40 offers USB 2.0 output, NTSC/PAL video out, and PictBridge compatibility; the camera packs over 20 MB of internal memory, and stores images to SD and SDHC media.

Meanwhile, the Optio E40 is aimed at those new to digital cameras, offering an 8.1MP resolution, a 2.4-inch LCD display, and a 3× optical zoom along with digital shake reduction and face recognition. The E40 runs off AA batteries, offers 10 MB of internal memory and stores images to SD and SDHC media.

The Optio M40 should by available in August at a suggested price of $199.95; expect to see the Optio E40 in September at a suggested price of $149.99.

New Shoe-Mount Strobe Modifiers From David Honl

Rob Galbraith has posted some information regarding new shoe-mount strobe light modifiers available from Photojournalist David Honl. This line of affordable modifiers includes snoots and gobos that can be used as bounce cards or barndoors.

Attached to the flash using a Velcro Speed Strap, these modifiers don’t damage the strobe unit at all. These look like great additions to any photographer’s arsenal and can be purchased directly from David Honl’s website. Read more about them on Rob’s Digital Photography Insights blog which features direct links to these great products.
image by David Honl

It's Been A Hard Road For Arizona Highways

Dennis Wagner in a recent Arizona Republic article writes about the ongoing trouble over at local photo favorite ‘Arizona Highways.’ Here is an excerpt.

…The state-owned magazine's circulation has dropped an average of 10 percent annually during the past four years. It operates at a deficit. Arizona lawmakers have raided reserve funds to a point where almost nothing is left.

A financial outlook prepared earlier this year shows a million-dollar debt by 2010. And Publisher Win Holden says he already has cut everywhere possible, reducing the staff by 45 percent.

What remains unclear is whether Arizona Highways, arguably the most famous publication of its kind, faces a withering death, a sale to private enterprise or some sort of rescue…

Read the entire article on azcentral.com.