Photography News

Word today from Sigma that they have updated their 17-70mm lens to include internal optical stabilization. The lens will retail for $680 and features a f2.8-4.0. The 17-70 also gives Pentax and Sony the option of using in-lens OS vs. body-only. [MORE]

Fan's of David Hobby's "strobist" website know about the orbis ring flash, which takes you're existing hot-shoe flash and converts it to a ring flash. Now to make your life easier, their mounting bracket is now available directly from orbis and other retailers for suggested $59.95. [MORE]

Use the coupon code MESSENGER09 at the http://www.tenba.com to save $20 (off the $149.95 price) on the Tenba Messenger Camera bag. Offer good until December 31, 2009. Available in Black, Olive, and Burnt Orange. Full details at: http://www.tenba.com/products/Messenger--Camera-Bag.aspx

Want an essentially free Eye-Fi Wireless SD Card? Buy 200GB of storage with Google's Picasa service (about $50) and received a free Eye-Fi Home video card. The Eye-Fi Card allows you to send photos to the internet directly from your camera with it's built-in WIFI connection. [MORE]

This is not a joke, but a real auction on ebay for a Canon 5200mm (LONG) f14 prime lens.

This is a very rare Canon 5200mm photographic lens. THE largest & most powerful prime lens ever created for dedicated SLR photographic use. Made in Japan. It is my understanding that a customized SLR/DSLR/EF mount can be created/included by the team of optical engineers who presently look after the lens. Due to its large size, it may be better suited to astronomy applications & others... It takes two strong people to lift the lens. It could also be mounted on a customized truck or SUV. A large geared or motorized support head would be needed to get the most out it. The magnification of this lens is truly staggering. If mounted to a Canon HD XL series video camera for example, a reach of 1000x optical (at least) would be possible (approx 37,500mm). The lens could also be mounted to HD & cine cameras. Manual focus & drop-in filters can be used. With so few ever built Canon spent a tonne on the R&D, not to mention the manufacturer of this lens. The Canon factory picture shows the lens mounted to an SLR camera (circled in red) – this will further give you an idea of its size. As the lens is so rare & so unique, it's fair to say that it's a collectors item & attraction in itself. For Canon collectors & owners of the Canon EF 1200mm F5.6 lens - quite simply your Canon collection is incomplete with out it.

Starting bid is $45,000. See photos and details at: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180438980987

Rocky Nook sends word of their latest title "The Portrait: Understanding Portrait Photography" covering portrait photography from a whole new angle. Called "a thorough and balanced textbook on the modern techniques and practice of portrait photography." [MORE]

The fourth edition of very popular and very useful "Business and Legal Forms for Photographers" has been released by Allsworth Press. At $29.95 retail, the book includes a CD with the forms that can be customized as needed. Written by Tad Crawford, it includes 34 forms, step-by-step instructions, advice, and negotiation checklists. Among the forms are contracts for weddings and portraits, delivery memos, stock photography invoices, and more. This book is "essential for anyone working in the photography business."

Do your part to help feed the hungry by entering the "Let's Do Lunch" contest sponsored by photoinduced.com. You can win "a selection of prizes from HP, ThinkTank Photo, Adobe, NAPP, Nikon, Blurb.com. and more. Additionally, there will be a special Student Prize and a Peoples Choice winner."

Entries accepted until January 2010 and more details are below. [MORE]

On Wednesday afternoon, Pentax announced the newest member in its "WR" designated weather resistance lens line. The 100mm f2.8 Macro will be released in Janaury 2010 and will allow an up close working distance as little as 5 inches. It will retail for $849.95. [MORE]

Those who are visiting the Falkland Islands for business or pleasure are being asked by the Falkland Islands Tourist Board to submit their best shots of the islands until March 2010. Any photos taken in the last two years are eligible, so dig through your archives if you have them.

Prizes include "cameras, photography vouchers, travel photography guides and photography magazine subscriptions". [MORE]

New from Amherst Media is the title "Jerry D's Extreme Makeover Techniques for Digital Glamour Photography" by Bill Hurter. Retail is $34.95, 128 pgs, 270 color photos.

Spotlighting a unique service that provides a competitive edge to any professional photographer, this thorough handbook teaches all of the essential skills for creating glamorous portraits. Stressing the importance of facilitating a stronger, healthier sense of self-admiration, tips are provided for emphasizing the subject’s desirable features and downplaying perceived flaws. Offering breakthrough techniques for applying highlight and shadow, corrective posing, camera tricks, and digital enhancements, this superbly illustrated guide also provides 17 makeover sample sessions. Each case documents an untouched starting photo and analyzes desired goals, followed by detailed discussions and step-by-step demonstrations of the varied techniques used for addressing problem areas and creating a masterful image, including an array of Photoshop® time-saving tips and shortcuts. Each final portrait is coupled with a statement from the subject—a touching testimony on the positive personal effects of their session.

Also new from Amherst is Lou Jacobs Jr.'s title "Professional Commercial Photography: Techniques and Images from Master Digital Photographers". It retails for $34.95, is 128 pgs. and sports 160 color photos.

Presenting ideas and commentary as well as photographs, this collection offers new photographers revelations and wisdom from professionals and informs them how to achieve commercial success. Commercial photographers create images that are designed to sell products, services, political candidates, organizations, corporations, and any other marketable commodity or idea, and their clients range from advertising agencies, manufacturers, retail stores, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. With a section focusing on each of these types of services, this reference provides a quick workshop on an area of expertise, furnishing those new to the business with a wide variety of information about each specialty. Tips for selecting the most effective equipment for each subgenre as well as technical information about each camera combine with business-savvy know-how—from marketing, bidding, budgeting, building referrals, managing the office, and more—making this a comprehensive reference for being both behind and in front of the lens.

The 2010 "Leica Oskar Barnack Award" season is now upon us as Leica recognizes "photographers whose unerring powers of observation capture and express the relationship between man and the environment".

Submit 10-12 photos in a "self-contained series of images in which the photographer perceives and documents the interaction between man and the environment with acute vision and contemporary visual style – creative, groundbreaking and unintrusive."

Entries are accepted between January 15-March 15, 2010. The "Oskar" winner receives $5,000 euros or equivalent valued Leica gear. The "Newcomer Award" winner (for those under 25) receives $2,500 euros. [MORE]

New from Rocky Nook "Mastering the Nikon D5000" by Darrell Young is a

comprehensive guide for of the owners of this newest, budget-friendly generation of Nikon digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. The smaller, more lightweight Nikon D5000 mixes generous portions of user-controlled manual photography features with the latest technological innovations, allowing fully automatic point and shoot simplicity.

"Darrell's approach in teaching the reader to master this camera avoids the purely instructional technique, favoring a more friendly and advisory tone. He blends his decades of Nikon camera experience with an intuitive understanding of the readers' most likely questions regarding specific camera functions and features. Rather than just list all options for the myriad of camera settings and adjustments, he explains the background behind each setting and shares his personal recommendations.

Available now for $34.95 retail, the book is 320 pages.

From Leica comes word of their latest firmware updated for the D-LUX 4. If you own this camera, read on. [MORE]

Through December 31, 2009 if you buy a Wacom Intuos4 Tablet from Wacom you get your choice of a NAPP produced training DVD. This is good in the United States only on the medium size or larger.

You can choose from the following:

• Mastering Layers in Adobe Photoshop CS4 with Matt Kloskowski
  
• Adobe Photoshop CS4 Design Effects with Corey Barker
  
• Photoshop CS4 Beauty & Portrait Retouching Kit with David Cuerdon
  

Full details at: http://direct.wacom.com/NappOffer/?contactID=122688778&gwkey=D3WUQJIH9D

Olympus sends word that they've updated the Olympus Master software to v 2.3 to allow for "the development of E-P2 RAW files using the Diorama and Cross Process Art Filters and iEnhance picture mode using the Windows 7 and Mac OS X v 10.16 (Snow Leopard) Operating Systems."

The update can be downloaded at: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/oima_softwaremaster.asp

Phototech sends along camera maintenance tips for the Christmas season. Not a bad refresher and especially important reminders for those that might be receiving cameras for Christmas. [MORE]