PhotoMedia Magazine: Summer 2006: On the Market

In a bid to address the needs of a wide range of photographers, from wedding and portrait specialists to photojournalists and advanced amateurs, Canon has developed the EOS 30D Digital SLR.

The EOS 30D model builds upon the EOS 20D and includes an 8.2-megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor, Digic II Imaging processor, 5-frame-per-second shooting capability and tough construction. Changes made in the new model incorporated input from users.

Among its other improvements, the 30D boasts a rugged shutter fully rated up to 100,000 cycles; a 2.5-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD monitor for a 92 percent increase in viewing area and spot-metering capability that covers approximately 3.5 percent of the viewfinder area at the center while maintaining the 20D model’s 35-zone metering sensor. In addition, the ISO speed now can be set from 100 to 1,600 in 1/3-stop increments rather than full stops, and can be pushed to 3,200 with ISO expansion.

The 30D retains Canon’s 9-point, wide-area autofocus system, originally introduced with the 20D model. The system features a diamond-shaped layout with a dual-precision central AF point that provides full cross-type performance with maximum apertures as small as f/5.6, yet achieves up to three times the standard focusing precision.

For improved file management, the 30D provides for manual folder creation and 9,999 images in each folder. Enhanced camera-controlled, direct-print features and both direct-print and direct-download capabilities streamline the printing process.
The EOS 30D carries a suggested, body-only selling price of $1,399.

LEICA LAUNCHES C-LUX 1

Leica’s C-Lux 1 is the first model in a new line of digital compact cameras that features a compact design, fully retractable optics and 6-megapixel capture. The smallest Leica digital to date, the C-Lux 1 offers a selection of modes to suit different photographic situations, an optical image stabilizer to counteract camera shake and a 2.5-inch display.

The C-Lux 1 also incorporates a DC Vario-Elmarit f/2.8-5.6/4.6-16.8 aspherical zoom lens with a wide focal-length range of 28-102 mm in 35mm format. The 1:2.8-5.6/4.6-16.8 triple zoom lens comprises seven elements, four of which are aspherical, divided into six groups.

The C-Lux 1 also has the capability for photography through a scope, using a digital adapter. The digital camera may be connected to the eyepiece of a Leica Televid scope, functioning as a camera with an extremely large focal-length range for ambitious bird and nature watchers.

The camera measures 2 by 4 inches for easy portability. The C-Lux 1 retails for $495 and is available in a black or silver chrome finish.

FUJIFILM DEBUTS 6.3MP FINEPIX F30

Fuji Photo Film’s 6.3-megapixel FinePix F30 is a point-and-shoot digital camera with full-resolution ISO equivalency speeds as high as 3200. Higher light sensitivities allow the FinePix F30 to shoot with faster shutter speeds, lessening the likelihood of blurry pictures caused by active children, fidgety pets or dim lighting. To aid in producing clearer images, the camera incorporates a Picture Stabilization mode.

Another feature of the F30 is a new flash system, i-Flash, which is designed to detect subtle lighting differences and light subjects accordingly with a wider range of flash intensities. The Natural Light mode allows faster shutter speeds at higher light sensitivities with a suppressed flash, while Natural Light with Flash shoots two images in succession, one with and one without the flash.

The FinePix F30 has a retail cost of $399.

NIKON RELEASES SEVEN NEW COOLPIX MODELS

Nikon’s 2006 Coolpix line includes seven easy-to-use digital cameras. Nikon’s exclusive feature system is available throughout the lineup, which allows users to improve recorded images in-camera, automatically detects and corrects red eye, and finds and focuses on faces.

The cameras also include D-Lighting, which selects and creates copies of images with excessive backlight or insufficient flash illumination, adding light and detail where necessary. The Best Shot Selector automatically identifies and saves the sharpest images from among 10 sequential shots. In addition, every new Coolpix camera features TV-quality movie mode, which records movies at up to 30 fps with sound.

The Coolpix L Series includes the 6-megapixel L2, the 5.1-megapixel L3 and the 4-megapixel L4, which feature 3x optical Zoom-Nikkor lenses, 2-inch LCDs and streamlined designs. The L2 has a suggested price of $199, while the L3 and L5 are priced at $249 and $149, respectively.

The S-series S5 and S6 combine digital photo-sharing technology, with 6 effective megapixels and 3x optical Zoom-Nikkor ED Glass lenses. The incorporation of rotary multiselectors allows for easy scrolling through the redesigned menu system, and picture playback is possible at up to 10 frames per second. Users also can produce slide shows with pace and transition to match the music and style. The S5, which has a 2.5-inch LCD, sells for $349, while the S6, with a 3-inch LCD, carries a $449 price tag.

The Coolpix P3 and P4 digital cameras combine 8.1 effective megapixels with vibration-reduction capabilities in two modes, normal and active. The cameras have an array of exposure control settings, wide-area autofocus and 16 shooting modes. The Coolpix P3 comes with built in WiFi capability and sells for $449. The P4 has a suggested retail price of $399.

CANON LAUNCHES NEW 6MP ELPHS

Canon’s new 6-megapixel PowerShot SD700 IS, SD630 and SD600 digital Elph cameras maintain the compact profile that characterizes the line, while new features have been added for greater ease of use.

Enhancements on all three cameras include a newly designed 6-megapixel image sensor that works with the Digic II image processor to reduce noise and achieve ISO-equivalent speed ratings ranging from 80 to 800. The new models feature 173,000-pixel LCD screens ranging in size from 2.5 to 3 inches.

The SD700 IS also incorporates optical image stabilization that provides up to three stops of camera shake correction in shutter speed equivalent.

The camera’s body is designed to reduce unevenness and fit the hand more comfortably.

Despite a body thickness of less than an inch, the SD630 has a retractable 3x optical zoom with an equivalent 35mm focal length of 35-105mm; a 3-inch, 173,000-pixel LCD screen with adjustments for 15 levels of brightness; and a new touch control dial. In order to accommodate the larger LCD screen, the SD630 does not include the real-image optical viewfinder offered on most other Elph models.

Like the PowerShot SD630, the SD600 has 6-megapixel resolution, ISO-equivalent speed settings from 80 to 800, and a retractable 3x optical zoom with an equivalent 35mm focal length of 35-105mm. Its large 2.5-inch, 173,000-pixel-wide LCD screen offers 15 brightness adjustments.

All the new models offer widescreen 16:9 ratio resolution setting for panoramic-style prints. In addition, they have improved direct printing functions for greater flexibility in print settings, and work with Canon’s Selphy Compact Photo Printers. The SD700 IS has an estimated selling price of $499. The SD630 is priced at $399, and the SD600 sells for an estimated $349.

CANON POWERSHOT S3 IS ACHIEVES HIGH RESOLUTION

The family-oriented Canon PowerShot S3 IS is a 6-megapixel hybrid digital camera that takes VGA-quality videos at 30 frames per second with stereo sound recording, high-resolution still photography, or both at the same time.

The successor to the 5-megapixel S2 IS, the S3 IS incorporates a newly designed 6-megapixel image sensor that, together with the Digic II image processor, reduces noise for better image quality and achieves ISO-equivalent speed ratings ranging
from 80 to 800. The increased sensitivity allows the use of faster shutter speeds, reducing the effects of camera shake and subject blur during handheld photography in low light.

The S3 IS also has a shift-type optical image stabilization system that provides up to three stops of camera shake correction in shutter speed equivalent. The camera has a retractable, 12x optical zoom lens, with an equivalent film focal length of 36-432 mm (f/2.7 at wide-angle and f/3.5 at telephoto). The camera’s macro and super macro mode permit shooting as close as 0 inches from the end of the lens barrel.

In addition to recording in 640- by 480-pixel movie mode at 30 fps, the user can increase frame speed to 60 fps in QVGA (320 by 240) movie mode. The camera also provides a QVGA 320- by 240-pixel setting with a choice of 30 or 15 fps. Continuous movie recording is possible up to a maximum file size of 1GB or 60 minutes, depending on the capacity of the memory card and data write speed.

Like all PowerShots, the S3 IS works with Selphy Compact Photo Printers. Consumers simply connect their S3 IS digital camera to the printer and press the Print/Share button. The PowerShot S3 IS has an estimated selling price of $499.

FUJIFILM FINEPIX F650 PROVIDES COMPACT DIGITAL ABILITY

Fuji Photo Film has expanded its FinePix line with the F650, designed to slide easily into a pocket or purse. In addition to a Fujinon 5x optical zoom lens, the camera has a 6-megapixel CCD image sensor and a 3-inch LCD with 230,000-pixel resolution.

Ten scene modes include shutter and aperture priority AE for more user control, plus 30-frame-per-second movie mode with sound. The FinePix F650 has a retail price of $349.

CANON EXPANDS POWERSHOT LINE

Canon recently launched its newest quartet of PowerShot A-Series digital cameras: the 6-megapixel PowerShot A700 and A540, the 5-megapixel A530 and the 4-megapixel A430.

Among the enhancements on the A540 and A700 is a newly designed 6-megapixel image sensor that works with the Digic II image processor to reduce noise and achieve ISO-equivalent speed ratings ranging from 80 to 800. In addition, the A700 features a retractable 6x 35-210mm optical zoom lens (35mm equivalent) and 22 shooting modes, from fully automatic to fully manual. Except for its retractable 4x optical zoom lens with a focal length of 35-140mm (35 alent), the A540 digital camera is virtually identical to the A700.

The successor to the A510, the new A530 features a 5-megapixel CCD image sensor, an 80-800 ISO-equivalent speed setting range and a 4x retractable optical zoom lens with a focal length of 35-140mm (35mm equivalent). The A430 has a 4-megapixel CCD image sensor and a 4x optical zoom. Its movie mode also includes sound and maintains an ISO-equivalent setting range of 50 to 400. The entry-level 4-megapixel A430, which replaces last year’s 3.2-megapixel A410, also offers higher resolution and a longer optical zoom.

All the new models offer a widescreen 16:9 ratio resolution and have improved direct printing functions that permit greater flexibility in print settings. The new A-series cameras work directly with Selphy Compact Photo Printers.

The PowerShot A700 digital camera is available for an estimated price of $349. The A540’s price tag is $299, while the A530 and A430 are priced at $229 and $179, respectively.

HASSELBLAD LAUNCHES ANNIVERSARY CAMERA

In recognition of the centenary of Victor Hasselblad’s birth, Hasselblad has unveiled the 503CWD Anniversary Kit, a high-end photographic system in a classically designed Hasselblad 503CW body. The kit comprises the 503CWD integrated digital camera with waist-level viewfinder, specially marked focusing screen, chrome winding lever and Zeiss Planar CFE 2.8/80mm lens. The camera features Natural Color Solution, Instant Approval Architecture and a CCD that is 50 percent larger than a full-frame 35mm DSLR.

The Hasselblad 503CWD offers a choice of portable CF card storage, flexible Image Bank or tethered operation with extended controls. For studio photographers, the most accurate colors and highest degree of control can be achieved by using 3F RAW, which also includes lossless image compression. In tethered operation, tools such as live video and overlay masking provide increased productivity.

Hasselblad also is launching a new digital back for Hasselblad V System users. The CFV, which is the successor to the V96C back, has been built to match the design of the V System cameras, allowing photographers to work in exactly the same manner and with their preferred equipment, but with the productivity benefits of digital photography over film.

The Hasselblad 503CWD has a list price of $12,995, and the CFV is available for a list price of $9,995.

PHASE ONE RELEASES P 21 DIGITAL BACK

Phase One has developed the third of its P-series digital camera backs, the P 21. At 1.1 frames per second, the P 21 has an 18-megapixel sensor and can create processed image files of up to 54 MB. It writes to Compact-Flash cards at up to 20MB per second. The back has light-sensitivity settings from ISO 100 to 800.

Like the P 30 and the P 45, the other backs in the series, the P 21 includes secure storage system technology that eliminates the risk of writing to damaged storage media by checking the validity of every CompactFlash storage card inserted in the camera back.

Using Phase One’s Capture One software with the P 21 allows photographers to capture, adjust, prepare for print and archive perfect images in mere minutes. This increased workflow efficiency is intended to decrease the amount of time spent in post-production.

The P 21 back lists for $19,990 and includes a 3-year warranty, which provides for a loaner unit should the back require repair.

LENSES

CANON LAUNCHES TWO SLR LENSES

Canon has expanded its digital SLR lens offerings with new EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM and EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM lenses. The EF-S offers quality on par with Canon’s L-series lenses. It has a large maximum aperture that, combined with higher shutter speeds, can minimize subject motion blur. Shallow depth-of-field separation of a subject from its background is easier to achieve, and the f/2.8 maximum aperture allows more precise focusing with f/2.8-compatible AF sensors. The internal stabilization has a sharpness benefit equivalent to a three-stop faster shutter speed, for better performance in low-light situations. The EF-S has a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 27-88mm and is compatible only with the EOS 30D, EOS 20D, EOS Digital Rebel XT and EOS Digital Rebel SLRs.

The EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM is a revision of Canon’s EF 85mm f/1.2L USM lens, first introduced in 1989. Improvements in AF speed, as well as coatings that minimize ghost and flare, have been incorporated to make the lens more attractive to professional photographers. In addition to its 1.8x faster auto focus, the EF 85mm offers high-speed manual focus, distance encoding for E-TTL II flash and a circular aperture diaphragm that improves the appearance of background areas.

The EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM carries an estimated price tag of $2,099, while the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM has an estimated selling price of $1,149.

TAMRON UPGRADES THREE DIGITALLY INTEGRATED LENSES

Tamron has introduced three lightweight, compact lenses featuring optical systems designed to meet the performance characteristics of digital SLR cameras as well as film cameras. All three lenses contain multi-coating to reduce ghosting and flare.

The AF28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 XR Aspherical [IF] Macro (Model A031), a high-power zoom lens designed for both digital and film cameras. A 7x magnification power is now available when used with digital SLR cameras. The lens has a telephoto zoom range up to a 310mm equivalent on an interchangeable lens-type digital SLR camera, as well as 28mm wide-angle image
capability on a conventional 35mm film SLR camera.

The AF70-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Macro 1:2 (Model A17), is a high-quality telephoto zoom lens with a macro capability of 1:2. With the 70-300mm telephoto zoom, flipping a macro switch in the focal length range of 180mm to 300mm produces a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2, allowing close-up shots that normally require the use of a special macro lens.

The new AF17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical [IF] is designed for exclusive use with digital SLR cameras (APS-C size), featuring true wide angle. The focal length is equivalent to 26-78mm when converted to a 35mm format, and the wide-angle focal length is established at 17mm (26mm equivalent). The fast f/2.8 aperture provides a natural, out-of-focus effect for portraits, and a broader photographic expression is possible through the use of faster shutter speeds as a result of the maximum aperture. The minimum focus distance of 0.27m over the entire zoom range achieves a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4.5 at 50mm.

The AF28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 lens has a minimum advertised price of $299; the AF70-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Macro 1:2 is $189; and the AF17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II is $449.

CAMCORDERS

CANON’S 4.3MP DC40 DVD OFFERS WIDESCREEN VIDEO

Canon’s new DC40 DVD camcorder has a slim design, 10x optical zoom lens, 4.3-megapixel CCD image sensor and high-resolution 16:9 recording for widescreen video.The 2.7-inch display panel makes it easy to compose shots in cinema style. It also doubles as a digital camera, recording photos onto Mini-SD cards.

Canon has incorporated an array of features in the DC40 camcorder, including Smooth Zoom and Level Shot Control features, a built-in lens cover that automatically opens in record mode and closes when switched to playback or off, red-eye reduction, a built-in flash and a built-in Ultra Video Light for low-light conditions, an RGB primary color filter and a Digic DV image processor. Because the DC40 model records directly to 3-inch DVD-R/RW discs, consumers can watch their movies on their DVD players. They can easily locate scenes and create lists of favorite scenes right in the camcorder. Making copies of DVD home movies is easy with the One-Touch Dubbing feature.

The camcorder comes with software for editing video and photos on a PC or making copies to share with family and friends. The same software allows users to create DVD copies of original home movies easily and is compatible with most Windows operating systems. The Canon DC40 DVD camcorder has an estimated selling price of $899.

DIGITAL MEDIA AND SOFTWARE

DIGITAL FOCI RELEASES PORTABLE DIGITAL ALBUM

Digital Foci has introduced the Picture Porter Elite portable digital photo album with 40GB and 80GB hard drives and a memory card reader. The built-in memory card slots let users copy and archive photos directly from any digital camera memory card, without the need for peripheral attachments or cables. Users can instantly save and view digital photos and video on its hard drive, without worrying about limited memory card space.

The large, 3.6-inch LCD screen allows users to rotate, zoom, pan, view EXIF information and play picture slide shows. The device also can be connected to a television set for sharing photos with family and friends.

Picture Porter Elite supports the PictBridge standard, allowing printing directly to any PictBridge-compliant printer without a computer.The device works with all popular media card formats, and can double as a portable MP3 and video player. With built-in microphone and recording capability, Picture Porter Elite can be used as a voice recorder or to record videos straight from TV or any other video source using high-compression MPEG-4 encoding.

Picture Porter Elite weighs 11 ounces, including hard drive and battery, with dimensions of 5.3 by 3.1 by 1.1 inches. It has a suggested price of $499.

SANDISK DOUBLES CARD CAPACITIES

SanDisk Corp. has doubled the capacities of two of its SanDisk Ultra II line of flash memory cards with the addition of the 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo card and the 2GB SD Plus, which also includes a USB connector for rapid transfer of photos or other data without a separate card reader.

Each SanDisk Ultra II card features a minimum write speed of 9MB per second and a minimum read speed of 10MB per second. The fast write speeds are designed to take advantage of advanced digital camera features such as rapid fire, continuous-shooting modes and video clips.

The SanDisk Ultra II Memory Stick PRO Duo is priced at $59-$119 for the 512MB-2GB, and $239 for the 4GB. The SD Plus 512MB card carries a $69 price tag, while the 1- and 2GB are $89 and $134, respectively.

LEXAR INCREASES COMPACT FLASH SPEED

Lexar Media has doubled the speed rating of its Professional 8GB CompactFlash memory card to 90X. The new card is capable of a minimum sustained data write speed of 13.5MB per second.

Like all Lexar professional flash memory cards, the new 8GB CompactFlash includes Image Rescue 2, the company’s image recovery software; Paint Shop Pro 9, Corel’s image editing and management software program; and a trial version of Photo Mechanic image browsing software by Camera Bits.

The retail price for the 8GB card is $475.

MISCELLANEOUS

ARGRAPH INTRODUCES ZIGVIEW

Argraph Corp., a supplier of photographic and imaging products, has developed Zigview, a digital angle viewfinder for digital and film SLR cameras. Two Zigview models are available, Zigview-B, with a rotating LCD monitor for low- and high-angle photography, and Zigview-R, which also includes remote, intervalometer and motion detection shutter release capabilities.
Zigview attaches to the eyepiece of digital or film SLR cameras and displays images on 2-inch, TFT color LCDs for easy viewing at any angle.

The Zigview-R has a street price of $279; the Zigview-B is $229.

UNIBIND ALBUMS PROVIDE STREAMLINED STORAGE

Unibind, which manufactures binding, laminating and presentation systems, has introduced a photo album creation kit, My Books. In addition to providing anyone with a digital camera and a printer with a simple, cost-effective way to create professional-quality photo books, My Books also can bind other materials into traditional hardcover books for quick reports, presentations and proposals.

The hardcover, 8 1/2 by 11-inch photo albums are produced without expensive binding equipment, heat or glue. Pages are inserted between front- and back-cover sheets, stapled and placed within the album’s spine. When the yellow strips are pulled off the front and back of the album, the pages are sealed.

The My Books kit includes a hard-book cover, perforated cover sheets, software and photo paper for $27.99. Refills for books and perforated cover sheets also are available for $17.99.

In addition, the company has released the PhotoStory Binding Center, an all-in-one machine that allows one large-format print to cover two pages with no cutting or gluing. The binder incorporates a heating element, pressure-set, cutting machine, round corner tool and back-shaping element, and is particularly well suited to the production of wedding albums.

LUMIQUEST SECURES FLASH DIFFUSER

LumiQuest recently introduced the Soft Screen, a flash diffuser for use with digital and film SLR pop-up flashes. The Soft Screen was designed to be installed in seconds to the hot shoe on digital or film SLRs, with an open oval on the bottom front that fit over the name plate on the camera. Because several recent digital SLR cameras have smaller name plates, the Soft Screen might not attach as securely to those models. To accommodate these changes and to provide a more secure installation, LumiQuest is now providing optional Velcro strips with all Soft Screen products.

The Soft Screen retails for $12.95. Customers who already own Soft Screens and would like the additional Velcro strips can contact LumiQuest at www.lumiquest.com.

SOFTWARE CINEMA OFFERS WORKSHOPS ON DEMAND

Software Cinema recently launched Workshop on Demand, an online service that provides access to training courses covering a variety of Adobe Photoshop topics. Each session is based on the company’s CS2 Product-on-Disc lines, featuring expert instructors.

The programs guide digital photographers step-by-step through the advanced features found in Photoshop CS2, including Bridge, Camera Raw, 32-bit HDR and Smart Objects. Professional photographers share their expertise, such as Kevin Ames for retouching, Eddie Tapp for weddings and portraits, and Julieanne Kost for workflow automation.

The Workshop on Demand series is available at www.software-cinema.com. Prices for individual lessons range from $29-$99.

MAMIYA TRANSFERS CAMERA DIVISION TO COSMO DIGITAL

Mamiya O/P has transferred its Optical Equipment Division, which manufactures medium-format cameras and lenses, to a new company, Cosmo Digital Imaging, owned by IT firm Cosmos Scientific Systems. The move is intended to combine CDI’s software expertise with Mamiya’s photographic capabilities to further advance digital photographic imaging technology.

Cosmo will retain a substantial number of present staff and facilities. The existing Mamiya distribution network will handle service and repairs of Mamiya cameras, lenses and accessories.

In addition, Mamiya America Corp., and its advertising agency, New Jersey-based ChristopherMax Studio, have merged. The MAC Group’s president, Jan Lederman, said that the merger made sense as his company had been working closely with the agency for more than 10 years. The new advertising group will be named MACmar.

SOFTWARE

APPLE RELEASES APERTURE 1.1

Apple has updated its Aperture postproduction software for photographers. Aperture 1.1 features improved RAW image rendering in areas such as noise reduction, sharpening, and highlight recovery. A new set of advanced RAW controls allows photographers to adjust decode settings, such as boost, sharpening and chroma blur. A new built-in color meter displays pixel values in RGB, Lab or CMYK, and enhanced export controls make it easier to output images at specific resolutions and improve the handling of layered Photoshop files.

Aperture 1.1 is available as a free software update to current Aperture 1.0 customers, or to new customers for a suggested retail price of $299.

ADOBE EXTENDS PHOTOSHOP CAMERA RAW PLUG-IN SUPPORT

Adobe Systems has updated the Camera Raw plug-in for Adobe Photoshop CS2, extending raw file support to eight additional digital camera models. Available as a free download, the Camera Raw 3.4 plug-in builds on Photoshop CS2 raw file support for digital cameras from leading manufacturers and allows for frequent updates whenever new camera models are introduced to the market. Camera Raw 3.4 allows professional photographers to manipulate raw files easily, without sacrificing image quality.

The plug-in requires Photoshop CS2, Photoshop Elements 3.0 or Photoshop Elements 4.0 (Macintosh or Windows) and can be downloaded at www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/cameraraw.html.

BOOKS, CDs, DVDs and VIDEOS

SOFTWARE CINEMA RELEASES DEAN COLLINS’ VIDEO TUTORIALS

Software Cinema has released a Finelight Video DVD set featuring the late Dean Collins, one of the most celebrated educators of lighting and camera techniques in the industry. “The Best of Dean Collins” covers fundamental and advanced lighting techniques that can be applied to standard or digital photography. In the six-hour set, Collins teaches in-studio and on location about setup and reasons for lighting when creating images.

The set is priced at $179, and a portion of all proceeds will be donated to CureSearch, an organization dedicated to funding pediatric cancer research.

PHOTOGRAPHIC TEAM LAUD BIODIVERSITY

“One Planet: A Celebration of Biodiversity,” by Nicolas Hulot, is illustrated with photographs by a team of renowned nature photographers. The book celebrates the variety of species and ecosystems, and explores how various forces affect them positively and negatively. French journalist Hulot describes eight ecosystems (forests, oceans, deserts, poles, mountains, wetlands, grasslands and cities), the species that inhabit them and the role humans play in each.

The 384-page, 11 1/4 by 14 3/8-inch hardcover edition contains 250 full-color photographs. It is published by Abrams and sells for $55.

CARMEL ILLUSTRATES ‘BRILLIANT WATERS’

Landscape photographer Elizabeth Carmel has released a collection of images, “Brilliant Waters: Portraits of Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and the High Sierra.” The book combines Carmel’s fine-art landscapes with a selection of poetry by noted writers. Robert Redford has contributed the book’s foreword.

The 104-page, 12 by 12-inch hardcover volume contains 44 color plates. It was published by Hawks Peak Publishing and is being distributed by Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company with a retail price of $49.95.

SAMMON SHARES NATURE PHOTO TIPS

Rick Sammon, a travel and nature photographer and author, has written a book outlining his advice for travelers who would like
to make the most of their photographic opportunities. In “Travel and Nature Photography,” Sammon guides the reader through dozens of different shooting situations, from aerials to zoos. The book is organized thematically, and the excursions described include Vietnam, Kampuchea, Guatemala, India, Alaska, Singapore, Maine, Texas, New York City, Las Vegas, Botswana, the Caribbean and the American Southwest.

In addition to his writing and photography work, Sammon has appeared as a guest host on ESPN’s “Photo Safari” and has two photography series on the Do It Yourself Network.

The 352-page paperback is published by W.W. Norton & Co., and sells for $29.95.

BOOK CHRONICLES LEICA’S WWII HUMANITARIAN DEEDS

Frank Dabba Smith, a California-born rabbi currently living in England, recently released a history of the Leitz family, the German founders of Leica cameras. “The Greatest Invention of the Leitz Family: The Leica Freedom Train” is an account of the efforts of Ernst Leitz II, the family’s Protestant patriarch, to establish safe emigration routes for Jews to leave Germany
in the guise of Leitz employees being assigned overseas.

Employees, retailers, family members and their friends were assigned to Leitz sales offices in France, Britain, Hong Kong and the United States, where executives found them jobs in the photographic industry. The refugees were paid a stipend until they could find work. Out of this migration came designers, repair technicians, salespeople, marketers and writers for the photographic press.

The book is available from the American Photographic Historical Society, 1150 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036.

WEB SITES

KINGSTON SITE OFFERS ADVICE FROM ‘PHOTOGRAPHIC ICONS’

Kingston Technology, a provider of memory products, has created an online forum — www.kingston.com/digitalmedia/iop — where respected photographers can share some of their tips and techniques with photo enthusiasts and professionals worldwide. Each month, Kingston spotlights a new “photographic icon” who provides interesting advice and anecdotes about taking better pictures.

Kingston will introduce a new photographer, along with a featured photographic tip, a gallery of images, a calendar of events and a biography around the 15th of each month. Past icons include Barbara Bordnick, Harry Benson, Colin Finlay, Douglas Kirkland, Gerd Ludwig, Peter Read Miller and Chris Rainier.

Market Directory

Abrams
212-206-7715
www.abramsbooks.com

Adobe
866-766-2256
www.adobe.com

American Photographic Historical Society
212-575-0483
www.americanphotohistory.org

Apple
800-692-7753
www.apple.com

Argraph
201-939-7722
www.argraph.com

Canon
800-828-4040
www.usa.canon.com

Digital Foci
310-763-9100
www.digitalfoci.com

Fujifilm
800-755-3854
www.fujifilm.com

Hasselblad
973-227-7320
www.hasselblad.se

Hawks Peak Publishing
800-452-3032
www.hawkspeakpublishing.com

Kingston Technology
877-546-4786
www.kingston.com

Leica
800-222-0118
www.leica.com

Lexar Media
510-413-1200
www.lexar.com

LumiQuest
830-438-4646
www.lumiquest.com

Mamiya America
914-347-3300
www.mamiya.com

Nikon
800-626-4566
www.nikonusa.com

Phase One
631-757-0400
www.phaseone.com

SanDisk
408-542-0500
www.sandisk.com

Software Cinema
858-413-4100
www.software-cinema.com

Tamron
631-543-3963
www.tamron.com

Unibind
877-246-3669
www.unibind.com

W.W. Norton & Co.
212-354-5500
www.wwnorton.com