Color Efex Pro 3.0 for Capture NX 2 Software Now Available

Award-winning Color Efex Pro 3.0 digital photographic filters adds creative power and innovative control into Capture NX 2

San Diego, CA - July 7, 2008 - Nik Software Inc. today announced the immediate availability of their award-winning Color Efex Pro 3.0 photographic filters for Capture NX 2, the latest version of Nikon’s flagship photo editing software. Color Efex Pro 3.0 is the most comprehensive, powerful, and easy to use set of photographic filters used by photo enthusiasts and professional photographers worldwide. Color Efex Pro 3.0 tightly integrates into the powerful tools and completely non-destructive workflow of Capture NX 2.

Color Efex Pro 3.0 for Capture NX 2 offers digital SLR camera owners a wide range of quick and easy ways to dramatically enhance their photos with just a few clicks of the mouse. Recently awarded the prestigious 2008 Hot One Award from Professional Photographer magazine, Color Efex Pro 3.0 contains the most comprehensive set of creative enhancements, color correction, retouching tools, and traditional photographic filter effects available.
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Nikon Announces D700, SB-900, and 2 New Lenses

Official Nikon D700 Press Release

Late in August of 2007, Nikon’s last big set of announcements sent shockwaves through the industry, bringing out their FX-format (full frame) flagship model, the D3, and their high end DX body, the D300, plus five new professional lenses. These announcements single handedly stemmed and even reversed the flow of photographers who had been moving from Nikon to Canon. The new bodies have been a huge hit, driving up demand for Nikon lenses and accessories.

Between the time Nikon started shipping these new high end cameras in late November-early December and the present, the Japanese photography giant has been hard at work on the next high end releases: The D700 Digital SLR, SB-900 Speedlight, and the 45mm and 85mm PC-E Nikkors.

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NEW NIKON SB-900 SPEEDLIGHT ADVANCES FLASH TECHNOLOGY AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT WITH EXPANSIVE ZOOM AND INTELLIGENT FEATURES
Nikon’s Newest Flagship Speedlight Offers a Powerful Addition to the Versatile
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)

MELVILLE, N.Y. (July 1, 2008) – Nikon, Inc. today introduced the SB-900 Speedlight to provide Nikon digital SLR photographers with a flash capable of a wide zoom range, increased versatility, faster recycling time, and a wealth of intelligent features to enhance the already vast functionality of the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS). Building on the success of the popular SB-800 Speedlight, the SB-900 provides users with extensive creative lighting possibilities with a simplified interface and the ability to stay up to date with future technologies through user-applied firmware updates.*

The SB-900 offers unprecedented zoom range coverage from 17 to 200mm, to increase flexibility in a variety of shooting conditions, while automatically adapting itself to Nikon’s FX or DX-format cameras. Additionally, light output has been increased to a maximum guide number of 48/157.5 (ISO 200, meters/feet at 35mm FX-format and Standard). Photographers can now also select from three light patterns; “Center-weighted” provides the highest guide number and is suitable for images such as portraits, where light falloff at the image edges is of less importance. “Standard” provides a familiar pattern, similar to the SB-800, and is ideal for general photography and “Even” which delivers the most consistent edge-to-edge coverage, making it ideal for situations such as group photography. Additionally, Nikon’s newest flagship Speedlight provides photographers with advanced wireless i-TTL capabilities allowing the utilization of multiple Speedlights with ease and confidence on location or in the studio.

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NIKON FURTHER EXTENDS THE NIKKOR PERSPECTIVE CONTROL LENS SELECTION WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF TWO NEW PC-E MICRO LENSES
The New PC-E Micro NIKKOR 45mm f/2.8D ED and PC-E Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/2.8D Lenses Continue Nikon’s Legacy of High-Quality Optics and Design

MELVILLE, N.Y. (July 1, 2008) – Nikon, Inc. today introduced the new PC-E Micro NIKKOR 45mm f/2.8D ED and PC-E Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/2.8D lenses, expanding a series of lenses that allow photographers to effectively correct perspective and/or depth-of-field to push creative boundaries. These new Perspective Control (PC) lenses correct linear distortion in order to better replicate images as seen by the human eye, including straightening the converging lines of rectilinear objects such as buildings, while also introducing welcome command over depth-of-field. Their versatility makes these the perfect lens complement for a myriad of applications, including photographing architecture, nature, interiors and still-life—especially product photography.

“The introduction of the wide-angle 24mm Perspective Control lens answered a demand from photographers. Specific shooting disciplines demand precise image control that only a specialized lens of this design can provide,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for marketing, SLR System Products at Nikon, Inc. “We are pleased to now add the 45mm and 85mm Micro PC-E lenses, offering photographers an expanded number of PC focal lengths from which to choose and resolve complex photographic challenges.”

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The quest for the Ghrrrail continues!

Ricoh GX200 Press Release
This week, Ricoh announced their newest high-end compact digital camera, the 12-megapixel GX200.

We in the States probably don’t give Ricoh the attention they deserve, but they are to be commended for doing their best to create the grail that so many of us seek. Apparently, they’ve got a lot of things going for them in the camera usability department. The GR and GX-series cameras get solid reviews on the web, and they seem to have a strong following of satisfied customers.

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Carl Zeiss announces new 18mm super wide angle lens for SLR cameras
Distagon T* 3,5/18: the super wide angle lens for dramatic perspectives

Thornwood, New York – June 2008. Carl Zeiss expands its range of SLR lenses with the addition of the Distagon T* 3.5/18 super wide angle lens. With an impressive field of view of 99°, this new, rectilinear lens provides dramatic perspectives for architectural, landscape and close-range photography for photographers utilizing full-frame DSLRs or film-based cameras. The Distagon T* 3.5/18 is a derivative of the ZEISS designs for the Contax RTS series of cameras, but utilizing all modern materials and eco-friendly glass materials.

The Distagon T* 3.5/18 is designed with a floating lens element in the rear lens assembly, which results in impressive image quality from infinity to the closest focus range. Utilizing the superior ZEISS T* anti-reflective coating and critically designed interior elements, the lens is remarkably free from stray light artifacts and internal reflections. Images are brilliantly rendered, with extremely crisp resolution right to the edges – even at wide-open apertures under the most difficult lighting conditions. Like all Carl Zeiss SLR lenses, the Distagon T* 3.5/18 uses the ZEISS ‘color matching technology’, which provides homogeneous color rendition across all focal lengths in the product range. The front filter diameter of 82 mm allows for use of standard screw-in filters when combined with the included lens shade.

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EPSON’S NEW ALL-IN-ONE DELIVERS VALUE, PRODUCTIVITY AND CREATIVITY TO BUSY HOUSEHOLDS
Epson Stylus NX400 Provides Complete Printing, Scanning and Copying Solution at an Affordable Price

LONG BEACH, Calif. – June 3, 2008 – Epson America Inc. today launches the flagship model of a new generation of all-in-one printers designed to meet any household’s printing, scanning and copying needs – the Epson Stylus NX400. The full-featured, well-priced all-in-one offers a combination of performance and ease-of-use delivering value, convenience and superior results on plain, photo or specialty papers.

“With intuitive features and outstanding image quality, the Epson Stylus NX400 is ideal for any household juggling day-to-day projects that require one central printer to print, scan or copy just about anything,” said Kristi Lanzit Fox, product manager, Consumer Ink Jet Printers, Epson. “Whether printing book reports, driving directions, presentations or party invitations, the Epson Stylus NX400 turns ordinary projects into amazing output. Its versatility, highperformance, durability, and affordable price make it the best solution for everyday home printing needs.”

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onOne Software Announces Availability of Plug-in Suite 4 for Adobe Photoshop
Updated award-winning software suite features the most complete collection of Photoshop plug-ins, solving the most common, time consuming Photoshop tasks in one integrated high value suite

Portland, OR - June 23, 2008 – onOne Software, Inc., announces today the availability of its new Plug-in Suite 4 software for Adobe Photoshop. onOne Software’s Plug-In Suite 4 combines full versions of six essential software tools – Genuine Fractals 5 Print Pro, PhotoTools 1.0 Professional Edition, PhotoFrame 3.1 Professional Edition, Mask Pro 4.1, PhotoTune 2.2 and FocalPoint 1.0 – an affordable combination that includes everything a photographer needs to make their images look their best.

The onOne Software Plug-In Suite 4 for Photoshop CS2 and CS3 is the latest upgrade to the award winning Plug-In Suite product line that combines several of onOne Software’s individual Photoshop plug-ins into a highly affordable package.

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