Nikon has upped the DSLR ante again. The new Nikon D3S has a 12.1-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor just like its predecessor the D3. But the maximum sensitivity on the D3S has been increased to a mind-boggling ISO 102,400 and noise levels have been lowered at all sensitivity settings. If being able to shoot in the dark isn’t enough for you, the D3S also adds 720p video capture with the ability to auto focus while filming. And the D3S now has sensor cleaning - a very important feature that didn’t make it into the original D3 spec.
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Sandisk announced the new line of SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash memory cards, ranging from capacities of 16GB to 64GB. The new memory cards feature SanDisk Power Core Controller. This is an advanced memory controller that delivers lightning-fast read and write speeds of up to 90MB/s, doubling the performance from previous SanDisk high-end camera memory cards. Read the rest of this entry »

 
Leica recently announced that their new S2 professional digital SLR will be available this October. I got to take a look at a pre-production Leica S2 at the annual PMA tradeshow this spring, and let me tell you - it’s no regular digital SLR. The Leica S2 makes even the Nikon D3x and Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III look like amateur cameras. It’s a 37.5-megapixel monster of a camera, designed for studio and commercial photographers who can afford to shell out about $30,000 for a camera system. Sound ridiculous? I understand. Read on to find out more.
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Canon announced two new printers for professional and advanced photographers, the Canon Pixma PRO9500 Mark II and Pixma PRO9000 Mark II.

The ten-color Canon Pixma PRO9500 Mark II printer features the Canon Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering (FINE) technology and a 7,680 nozzle print-head structure. It uses Canon’s double-encoder system to produce high-quality portfolio pieces or gallery-quality prints.

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Kodak now offers its Professional Ektar 100 Film in 120, medium format, which before was only available in 35mm format. Ektar 100 Film offers the finest, smoothest grain of any color negative film.

The 120-size roll film is perfect where the emphasis is often on color and for high-resolution photography in nature, travel, fashion and product photography. Read the rest of this entry »

Canon will be introducing two new Tilt-Shift lenses at PMA this year - the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L.Tilt-shift lenses are ideal for photographers who need absolute control over depth-of-field and perspective. Architecture photographers use them to ensure straight, parallel lines in photos of buildings, and product photographers use them to get maximum depth-of-field and accuracy in commercial product photos. The new Canon TS-E17mm f/4L lens is especially exciting since has the widest tilt-shift angle-of-view ever offered in a 35mm / full-frame SLR lens (that I’m aware of, anyway).
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New CompactFlash Cards with an Increased Speed of 233x

Today, Lexar announced its new Professional 233x CompactFlash Memory Cards which have an increased speed of 233x over the line’s previous speed-rating of 133x.

The new cards are UDMA (Ultra Direct Memory Access) enabled and capable of minimum-sustained read and write speeds of 35MB per second. They will greatly improve digital imaging workflow and are available in 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB, giving professional-level performance for a wider range of digital SLR users.

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Kodak Introduces New Professional Print Film

Did you forget about film? Kodak didn’t. In spite of professional-level digital cameras like the 24-megapixel Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 announced today, Kodak has shown a continued commitment to film and the photographers who choose to use it. Today they announced a new 35mm color negative film, Kodak Professional Ektar 100. The ISO 100 film “offers the finest, smoothest grain of any color negative film available today.” Kodak says the film is ideal for nature, travel, fashion and product photography - or any other subject where smooth, rich color is desired.
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Capacity and Performance of New Lexar Professional UDMA 300x 16GB CompactFlash Card Improves Digital Photography Experience

Lexar announced a new memory card that provides an ideal combination of increased capacity, professional-level performance and reliability, the Lexar Professional UDMA 300x 16GB CompactFlash (CF) card. It is UDMA-enabled (Ultra Direct Memory Access), resulting in exceedingly fast performance and has a speed-rated at 300x, which represents a minimum sustained write speed of 45MB per second. The high capacity of the card allows photographers to store more images and shoot for longer periods without interruption. Lexar will be displaying the Professional UDMA 16GB cards at Photokina 2008 at stand F022 E023 in hall 04.1.

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In a clear answer to Nikon’s recent high ISO digital SLRs, today Canon announced the 15.1-megapixel EOS 50D, with a maximum sensitivity of ISO 12,800 and a new DIGIC 4 processor. The EOS 50D is not the expected full-frame 5D replacement. Rather, it’s an APS-C sensor step up from the 10-megapixel EOS 40D digital SLR. A surprisingly significant upgrade, actually.
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Major Software Upgrade Further Simplifies Photography Workflows

SAN JOSE, Calif. — July 29, 2008 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the immediate availability of Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 2 software, the photographer’s essential toolbox for managing, adjusting and presenting large volumes of digital photographs. With new enhancements such as dual-monitor support, radical advances in non-destructive localized image correction, and streamlined search capabilities, Lightroom 2 is a compelling upgrade that simplifies photography from shoot to finish. As Adobe’s first application to support 64-bit for Mac OS X 10.5 Macintosh computers with Intel® processors and Microsoft® Windows® Vista® 64-bit operating systems, Lightroom 2 also provides improved memory performance for dealing with large scale images.

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The Nikon D300 is a 12.3 megapixel high-end digital SLR designed to meet the needs of the advanced amateur and professional photographer. Nikon has positioned the D300 as both the class-leading DX body and a smaller companion body to the new D3 full-frame digital SLR. In the tradition of the F-series film camera bodies that made Nikon a household name, the D300 offers all of the features of a professional body at a fantastic price.

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Nikon D300 Studio Test Images
	ISO 100 Sample >> ISO 200 Sample >> ISO 400 Sample >> ISO 800 Sample >> ISO 1600 Sample >> ISO 3200 Sample >> ISO 6400 Sample >>

Pros Class leading image quality Highly innovative and advanced 51-point auto focus system Six frames-per-second continuous shooting; up to eight with MB-D10 battery grip 14-bit RAW modes Best-yet Auto ISO implementation 3D Color Matrix Metering II Renowned Nikon ergonomics, build quality and feel Weather-sealing Crisp 3.0-inch 922,000-dot VGA LCD Live View with two auto focus modes Compatibility with nearly every Nikon lens made in the last 30 years; full metering with manual-focus lenses

Cons 14-bit RAW slows shooting speed to 2.5 fps Grip must be removed to replace camera battery Live view does not display histogram or aperture changes Top status LCD shows only the dynamic mode, not the active focus point Multi-selector does not have dedicated center button Rubber covers on the 10-pin remote and PC sync ports are on the thin side MB-D10 joystick has a different method of operation than multi-selector No locking USB cable attachment for tethered shooting

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