Photo&Cameras

After months of rumors, Canon’s big announcement day has finally arrived, with a raft of new PowerShot and EOS models and a handful of new accessories, We start with a couple of additions to the popular ‘A’ range of affordable digital compacts, the PowerShot A650 IS and PowerShot A720 IS, replacing the A640 and A710 IS respectively. The A650 IS boasts 12MP resolution, 6x optical zoom, vari-angle 2.5" screen and – in a welcome upgrade to the A640 IS – image stabilization. The A720 IS is a less dramatic upgrade, increasing resolution to 8.0MP, adding face detection and an optional underwater housing, and (like the A650 IS) upping the top sensitivity setting to ISO 1600.

Press Release (European):

Advanced photography for all: the PowerShot A650 IS and PowerShot A720 IS

Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 20 August, 2007 – Canon today strengthens its PowerShot A-Series range with two feature-packed new models. The elegant PowerShot A650 IS offers a range-leading 12.1 Megapixel CCD, 6x optical zoom lens and a 2.5” vari-angle LCD, while the compact PowerShot A720 IS combines an 8.0 Megapixel CCD with a 6x optical zoom lens. Equipped with optical Image Stabilizer technology1 and advanced high ISO capabilities, both cameras offer a comprehensive solution to image blur.

Replacing the PowerShot A640 and PowerShot A710 IS respectively, the PowerShot A650 IS and A720 IS also benefit from Canon’s DIGIC III processor, which powers Face Detection AF/AE/FE and Red-Eye Correction* for improved people shots.

“The PowerShot A650 IS and PowerShot A720 IS incorporate several features usually associated with high-end cameras in two affordable, compact packages,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “This makes both models an attractive proposition for novices and experienced camera users alike.”
*See Technologies Explained
**Available in playback mode

Features at a glance:

PowerShot A650 IS

• 12.1 Megapixels and 6x optical zoom
• Total anti-blur solution with optical Image Stabilizer, High ISO Auto and Auto ISO Shift
• 2.5” vari-angle LCD with real-image zoom optical viewfinder
• DIGIC III with Face Detection AF/AE/FE and Red-Eye Correction in playback
• 21 shooting modes including full manual control and Long Play VGA movies
• Optional accessories including lenses and waterproof case

PowerShot A720 IS

• 8.0 Megapixels and 6x optical zoom
• Optical Image Stabilizer and High ISO Auto to combat image blur
• DIGIC III with Face Detection AF/AE/FE and Red-Eye Correction in playback
• 2.5” LCD with real-image zoom optical viewfinder
• 19 shooting modes including full manual control and Long Play VGA movies
• Optional accessories including lenses and waterproof case

Go further with PowerShot

With resolutions of 8.0 and 12.1 Megapixels respectively, the PowerShot A720 IS and A650 IS give users the power to create poster-size prints or crop sections of photos without loss of detail. The 6x optical zoom lenses on both cameras benefit from Canon’s 70-year heritage in optics with a range of leading technologies. Aspherical lens elements ensure maximum sharpness and clarity throughout the zoom range, while the lens-shift type optical Image Stabilizer (IS) combats blur without affecting image quality.

Users can take zooming further with the incorporated Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom – offering all the benefits of digital zoom without the danger of interpolation. Both models can be supplemented with Canon’s range of converter lenses, including Close-up (A720 IS only), Tele Converter and Wide Converter lenses (both models). The PowerShot A650 IS also features Canon’s improved Image Inspection Tool, which allows users to quickly check key parts of an image at extra-high magnification on the integrated 2.5’’ LCD.

DIGIC III: the power behind great photos

As well as assuring fast performance, superior colour reproduction and accurate white balance in both models, Canon’s DIGIC III processor powers a range of features designed to assist photographers of all levels. Advanced Noise Reduction Technology safeguards images against graininess, even at high ISO speeds. Face Detection AF/AE/FE locates up to 9 faces in any scene before optimising focus, exposure and flash for perfect people shots. And for flash shots affected by red-eye, improved Red-Eye Correction during playback is included. This innovative system uses Face Detection Technology to identify faces and correct red-eye in captured images – while ensuring that no other part of the image is affected in the process. Red-eye correction can also be performed manually if needed.

Anti-blur features

A combination of technologies allows the PowerShot A650 IS and A720 IS to produce great shots with minimal risk of image blur.
Both cameras feature Canon’s optical Image Stabilizer, first developed for Canon’s professional EF lenses for the world-leading EOS SLR photography system. The optical Image Stabilizer uses lens-shift technology to counteract the effects of camera shake. As a second line of defence against camera shake, the PowerShot A650 IS also incorporates Auto ISO Shift, a manually selected feature that boosts ISO just enough to avoid blur. A range of high ISO features avoid the blur caused by subject movement, as well as camera shake when low light would normally require a longer exposure. Both cameras feature user-selected settings up to ISO 1600 and High ISO Auto, which prioritises high ISO settings for better low light snapshots. For particularly dark conditions, the PowerShot A650 IS incorporates a special ISO 3200 scene mode, which captures images at 1600×1200 resolution – perfect for postcard size prints.

Total versatility

With 19 and 21 different shooting modes respectively, the PowerShot A720 IS and A650 IS ensure that novice users can get great results with minimal effort – even in situations with tricky lighting. For more experienced photographers, full manual control offers wide scope for experimentation. Both models also incorporate Canon’s My Colors, which can be used to apply effects and enhancements during shooting. A new Image Resize function users can downsize full-resolution images to 1600×1200, 640×480 and 320×240 sizes. This is equally useful for conserving storage space or preparing images for email or the Web.

Movie moments

With both the PowerShot A650 IS and A720 IS, users can capture their memories in smooth 30fps VGA movies with sound – either in standard mode or a new LP (Long Play) mode, which offers movies of half the file size without compromising on resolution or frame rate.

Additional Information

Printing

Both the PowerShot A650 IS and A720 IS feature a dedicated Print menu for quick access to direct print options. Full PictBridge support means users can print directly to any PictBridge compatible printer without the need for a PC. A Print/Share button allows one-touch printing and easy uploads to Windows or Mac systems.

Language

The PowerShot A650 IS and A720 IS user interface supports 25 languages: English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Thai, Arabic, Romanian and Ukrainian.

Memory Card Support

In addition to SD, SDHC and MMC memory cards, the PowerShot A650 IS and A720 IS support the new MMCplus and HC MMCplus card formats for storage of up to 32GB. The A650 IS and A720 IS are supplied with 32MB and 16MB memory cards respectively.

Software and CANON iMAGE GATEWAY

The PowerShot A650 IS and A720 IS come bundled with the following Canon Software:

• ZoomBrowser EX 6.0 (Windows), ImageBrowser 6.0 (Macintosh): For organising and editing images, movies and slideshows, or creating and printing digital photo albums.
• PhotoStitch 3.1 (Windows), PhotoStitch 3.2 (Macintosh): For creating panoramic photos from multiple images.

The bundled software supports Windows 2000 (SP4), XP (SP2) and Vista and Macintosh OS X v10.3-v10.4. The camera supports PTP for driverless transfer to Windows XP and Macintosh OS X, along with MTP for image and movie transfers to Windows Vista.

Purchasers of the camera are eligible for membership of CANON iMAGE GATEWAY*, 100MB of online ‘personal gallery’ space for sharing stills and video with family and friends.
*CANON iMAGE GATEWAY is not available in all European countries. Please see www.cig.canon-europe.com for available countries. Movie upload requires users to download and install the movie upload task, available after registration from the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY site.

Optional Accessories

Optional waterproof cases (the WP-DC18 and WP-DC16) allow users to bring the PowerShot A650 IS and A720 IS to depths of up to 40 metres for compelling underwater shots. Specially designed Weights (WW-DC1) are available to control camera buoyancy. Accessories are:

• Waterproof Case (WP-DC18) – A650 IS
• Waterproof Case (WP-DC16) – A720 IS
• High Power Flash (HF-DC1) – A650 IS, A720 IS
• Soft Case (DCC-700) – A650 IS
• Soft Case (DCC-80) – A720 IS
• 2.0x Tele Converter (TC-DC58C) – A650 IS
• 1.75x Tele Converter (TC-DC58N) – A720 IS
• 0.75x Wide Converter (WC-DC58B) – A650 IS
• 0.7x Wide Converter (WC-DC58N) – A720 IS
• Close-up lens 250D (58mm) – A720 IS
• Battery Charger Kit CBK4-300 – A650 IS, A720 IS
• Ni-MH Batteries NB4-300 – A650 IS, A720 IS
• AC Adaptor Kit ACK600 – A650 IS
• AC Adaptor Kit ACK800 – A720 IS

Canon PowerShot A650 IS & A720 IS specifications

Technologies Explained

DIGIC III

Canon’s DIGIC III (DIGital Imaging Core) image processor manages all of the camera’s primary functions to optimize operating efficiency. Advanced image processing algorithms deliver superb image detail and colour reproduction with accurate white balance. High-speed processing results in outstanding responsiveness, rapid auto focus and extended continuous shooting ability. DIGIC III also powers advanced Noise Reduction Technology and Face Detection AF/AE/FE.

Face Detection AF/AE/FE

Canon’s Face Detection AF/AE/FE system automatically detects up to nine faces within a frame before adjusting the focus, exposure and flash to ensure optimal results. It is able to determine which faces are intended to be the subject, instantly reverting to the partnering 9-point AiAF system if no face is the primary subject.

iSAPS

iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) automatically optimises key camera settings before every shot. Each scene is analysed and cross-referenced against Photographic Space – a vast in-camera library of photographic data. This enables the camera to make optimal adjustments to auto exposure, auto focus and auto white balance before image capture occurs.

Optical Image Stabilizer

Both the PowerShot A650 IS and A720 IS use a lens shift-type Image Stabilizer (IS) system to detect and correct slight camera shakes that can cause image blur. Minute vibration gyros detect lens tilting caused by hand shake. These signals – 4,000 per second – are processed by a single-chip IS controller, which discriminates between hand shake and intentional camera movements. Shake signals are sent to the IS unit, which moves one of the lens elements accordingly to deflect the light rays and cancel out the effects of shake. For improved accuracy and responsiveness, the moving lens element is supported on tiny ceramic spheres. In addition to minimising friction, ceramic spheres avoid some of the problems that can affect metal systems, such as thermal expansion and magnetism. The optical IS of both models allows photographers to shoot at shutter speeds up to 3 stops slower with no perceptible increase in image blur due to camera shake.

Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom

Similar to placing an accessory lens on the front of the camera, Canon’s Digital Tele-Converter adds a constant digital zoom to every shot (A720 IS: 1.6x / 2.0x, A650 IS: 1.5x/2.0x). While optical converter lenses cause a reduction in aperture and consequently require a slower shutter speed, the Digital Tele-Converter maintains aperture size, reducing the risk of image blur.

Safety Zoom protects the image from interpolation at high levels of digital zoom, allowing users to extend zoom magnification without sacrificing image quality.

Level of Safety Zoom possible at each image size setting without loss of image quality:

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DigitalCameraInfo has a review of the Canon PowerShot SD750 and writes, “The 3-inch LCD is awesome because of its huge previews, readable menu fonts, and beautiful picture playback. … There is more to the camera than the LCD screen, of course. It takes great pictures, and this can’t be said of all compact digital cameras. The Canon SD750 had nearly perfect color production that held up even in very dim lighting. The image quality only suffered when the ISO was hiked up, which caused a notable amount of noise. The 7.1-megapixel SD750 has a great compact body, a huge LCD, and a feature set that is included on lots of other digital cameras. I wouldn’t pay $349 for it, but it’s a great little digital camera.”

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Nikon has updated its Capture NX software to version 1.2. Including a great number of fixes and improvements, the update is available via the Nikontech support website. The software may also be installed as a standalone 30 day trial for evaluation purposes. Links and a list of changes after the click.

Fixes and improvements (Mac OS)

• Speed improvements when opening images.
• When any of the operations listed below are performed, "Updating image" is now displayed in the image window title bar. Enhancements and other operations can still be performed while "Updating image" is displayed. (Mac OS X version 10.4 or later)
  • An image is opened
  • A different version is selected from the "Version" menu.
  • "Revert" is selected from the "File" menu.
• When "Open With…" is selected from the "File" menu for an image saved to a CD-R or non-recordable medium, the image is first copied to a separate location and then opened in the other application.
• When "Show Lost Shadows" was selected from the "View" menu, and the display ratio of the image was changed, the range of the "Lost Shadows" was changed as well. This issue has been resolved.When the size or resolution for an image was specified with selection of "Size / Resolution…" from the "Edit" menu and then the setting file saved with "Save Settings…" in the "Batch" menu, the aspect ratio of processed images was incorrect when the saved settings file was used with batch processing of images captured in different orientations. This issue has been resolved.
• An issue that caused RAW NEF images captured with the D1X at an ISO sensitivity setting of ISO 570 to appear completely black has been resolved.
• An issue that caused images to be affected when saved with a high "Radius" value in the "Gaussian Blur" palette ("Adjust " menu > "Focus" > "Gaussian Blur"…) has been resolved.
• When the "Site Map" panel was opened from "Help > Contents…" images were sometimes not displayed, or incorrect dialogs were displayed. These issues has been resolved.
• An issue that prevented the display of the "Color Lightness, Chroma, and Hue" width sliders in the "LCH" palette has been resolved.
• When "Hue" and other settings in the "LCH" palette were saved with "Batch > Save Settings…" and these settings then applied to a different image, settings values were sometimes incorrect and points would not move. These issues have been resolved.
• An issue that sometimes prevented proper "Set Gray Point" operation from "Base Adjustments > Camera Adjustments > White Balance" has been resolved.
• When the name of a printer profile contained 2-byte characters, text displayed in the "Printer profile" pulldown menu, in the "Color Management" panel of the "Preferences" was garbled. This issue has been resolved.
• An issue that prevented accurate reflection of the monitor profile for the secondary display, when multiple displays were used, has been resolved.
• Text copied using the command + C keyboard shortcut could not be pasted into the file name field when "File > Save As…" was selected, using the Command + V keyboard shortcut. This issue has been resolved.

Fixes and improvements (Windows)

• Speed improvement when opening images.
• When any of the operations listed below are performed, "Updating image" is now displayed in the image window title bar. Enhancements and other operations can still be performed while "Updating image" is displayed.
  • An image is opened.
  • A different version is selected from the "Version" menu.
  • "Revert" is selected from the "File" menu.
• When "Open With…" is selected from the "File" menu for an image saved to CD-R or non-recordable medium, the image is first copied to a separate location and then opened in the other application.
• An issue when "Show Lost Shadows" was selected from the "View" menu, and the image display ratio was reduced, the range of lost shadows was also reduced. This issue has been resolved.
• An issue where the "Size / Resolution…" was edited and saved with the "Save Settings…" , and that settings file was used to batch process images in different orientations, the resulting aspect ratio was incorrect, has been resolved.
• A issue that prevented the saving of images when the size or resolution was set particularly high using the "Size / Resolution.." option in the Edit menu has been resolved.
• An issue that caused RAW NEF images captured with the D1X at an ISO of 570 to appear completely black has been resolved.
• An issue that caused images to be affected when saved with a high "Radius" value in the "Gaussian Blur" has been resolved.
• An issue where after an image was enhanced with the selection of "D-Lighting…" from the "Light" submenu in the "Adjust" menu, and then another image was opened and displayed, a black band through the middle of the image, has been resolved.
• An issue that prevented the saving of images edited with the "Adjust > Color Profile…" and "Adjust > Color > LCH…" options has been resolved.
• An issue with incorrect displays or missing windows in the "Help > Contents" section was resolved.
• When "Color Lightness, Chrome, and Hue" settings in the LCH palette were saved with "Batch > Save Settings…" and these settings then applied to a different image, the "Width" sliders did not display correctly. This issue has been resolved.
• An issue that caused differences in values displayed in the "Levels and Curves" palette and those displayed in the "Photo Info" palette’s "Watch Points" has been resolved.
• When "All" was selected in the "Advanced" portion of the "Color Control Point" dialog and a new "Color Control Point" was added, the setting for the new "Color Control Point" reverted to the default setting (BCS). This issue has been resolved.
• When any of the Control Point "settings" palettes were minimized and any of the Control Point sliders moved, they reverted to their original position. This issue has been resolved.
• When an internal and external hard disk contain folders with the same name, the folders in each disk were displayed in different order in the "File Directory". They are now displayed in the same order.
• An issue that caused an error message to be displayed when the "Rotate" tool was clicked for a folder selected in the "Browser" has been resolved.
• An issue that caused an error message to be displayed and prevented printing when printing was initiated while thumbnails were loading in the "Browser" has been resolved.
• An issue that caused an error message to be displayed and prevented printing when attempting to print from a 6×9 in. compatible printer with "6×9 inch" selected in the "Page Layout" panel of the "Print layout" dialog has been resolved.
• When the font size used for printing photo information (meta data) was modified using the "Change…" button in the "Meta Data" dialog (‘Print layout’ dialog > ‘Meta Data…’ button), ‘Detail Information’ was not properly printed. This issue has been resolved.
• When images were printed using the printer profile specified in the "Color Management" panel of the "Preferences", the specified profile was only reflected in portions of the printed images. This issue has been resolved.
• An issue that prevented the opening of 2-byte characters from the "File > Open Image…" has been resolved.
• When attempting to open images saved to folders with long names, or images with long file names, an error message was displayed and the image(s) could not be opened. This issue has been resolved.
• When the file names of images for which "00" was included in the shooting time, were changed with the ‘File Naming’ options specified below, the new file names were not applied correctly. This issue has been resolved.
  • "None" was selected for both Prefix and Suffix.
  • "Sequential Number" was changed to "Date/Time Shot" and the "yymmdd" and "hhmmss" options were selected.
• When multiple images were enhanced and then saved one at a time as separate files with "File > Save As…", an error message was displayed while the images were being saved. This issue has been resolved.
• When the "Turn of DEP for all programs and services except those I select:" option in the "Data Execution Prevention" panel, opened by clicking the "Settings" button in the "Advanced" panel of the "System Properties" dialog was selected, images could not be saved. This issue has been resolved. (Windows XP)
• When images processed with batch processing were displayed in the "Browser", black squares were displayed in the corners of the thumbnails. This issue has been resolved. (Windows 2000)
• When the "Automatically move pointer to the default button in a dialog box" option was selected in the "Pointer Options" panel of the "Mouse Properties" dialog, clicking on a Control Point would cause the mouse to move unexpectedly. This issue has been resolved.
• An issue that caused a pen tablet being used to suddenly stop responding has been resolved.

System requirements (Mac OS)

• Mac OS X version 10.3.9 or later
• Model: PowerPC G4 or G5, Intel-based Macintosh

System requirements (Windows)

• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic (32-bit version)
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit version)
• Microsoft Windows Vista Business (32-bit version)
• Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise (32-bit version)
• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit version)
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T200

Click photo for more images of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T200 and DSC-T70.

Sony has introduced two new ultracompact 8.1-megapixel cameras. The DSC-T70 offers an f/3.5-4.3, 38mm-114mm (35mm equivalent) 3x Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar zoom lens, while the DSC-T200 provides an f/3.5-4.4, 35mm-175mm 5x Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar zoom lens. The internally zooming lenses are optically stabilized and are protected by built-in covers that power the cameras on when opened. Both models have 230,000-pixel widescreen LCDs, although the T70’s is a 3-inch screen and the T200’s measures 3.5 inches. The cameras depart from their predecessors — the T20 and T100 — by endowing their LCDs with touchscreen functionality and dispensing with buttons. In addition to providing an interface for changing settings, the touchscreens allow users to select autofocus points and jot messages on photographs with a stylus.

The new T-series cameras are designed for automatic photography, and provide ten scene modes, along with automatic and programmed automatic modes. They also offer a good selection of exposure-control tools, including automatic exposure bracketing, spot and center-weighted metering modes, a live histogram, and selectable flash output levels. The cameras have a top light-sensitivity setting of ISO 3200 and a somewhat low top shutter speed of 1/1000 second. Exposure problems can be addressed through image processing by Sony’s Dynamic Range Optimizer, which opens up dark shadow areas. For capturing action, the new T models offer continuous-shooting modes that snap photos at about 2 frames per second.

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As I have said before, when you get beyond the second edition of a book, there is a reason and it usually centers on the quality of the information presented. The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book is no exception. This is the fourth edition of a book that has helped keep Scott Kelby the number one best-selling author of all computer and technology books. No, I didn't say Photoshop books, nor did I say digital imaging books — I said computer and technology; that means all categories.

Being a member of NAPP, I have known of Scott Kelby for years and am familiar with his teaching style and the entertaining way he presents information. If you are not familiar with NAPP, please read my review on Photoshop User magazine to gain more insight on what NAPP is all about and why you might want to join.

The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book breaks out into 13 chapters but before you get to chapter one you must first pass through the "An Unexpected Q & A Session." As he did in his book The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book, the Kelby wit is performing to get you to read an introduction to the book once again. Here he explains what the book is and how you should read it, kind like if Abbott and Costello wrote the intro!

Chapter 1, "London Bridge" shows the basics of the new Adobe Bridge 2. Here, the author shows how, after a photo shoot, you can get your images into Bridge, generate a contact sheet, view, organize, move or delete photos. You can add metadata, rename, rotate and sort your files. Chapter 2, "The Bridge" introduces you to more advanced techniques such as creating full-screen slideshows, searching for files via keywords, using stacks, and how to view and edit your metadata. You will also learn how to create metadata templates as well as how to strip the metadata from your photos. You will also learn how to use two monitors to enhance your work style.

Chapter 3, "Raw Deal" explains the changes with regard to the new Camera Raw changes in Photoshop CS3. Now you can not only process Raw files, but JPEGs and TIFFs as well. You will also work with the essential adjustments such as white balance and exposure and with the Clarity Slider, a new tool to Camera Raw that enhances the midtone contrasts to give your image more punch. Chapter 4, "Resized" focuses on getting your sizes right for your photos. Getting your photos to an appropriate size for the use that is required is more than just lopping off some from here or there, it is about what to leave in and what to take out. You will learn the rule of thirds, about custom sizes for photographers and making posters that remain sharp. You will also learn about making your images smaller.

Chapter 5, "Fit to Print" is a step-by-step guide to color management. You will begin by configuring your camera to match Photoshop's color space. Then you will configure Photoshop for Adobe RGB (1998). You will finish up with calibrating your monitor and your printer. Chapter 6, "Local Color" works with you to get the color right in your photos. This is done by using a couple of techniques to change how the Eyedropper tool measures color and also to get a neutral grey background behind your photos. Simple, but important, methods that dramatically impact your photos and take you to the next level as a photographer. The author also explains Drag-And-Drop Instant Color Correction, studio portrait correction, adjusting RGB Flesh Tones as well as a trick to make your grey skies blue again.

Chapter 7, "Black and White World" will show you how to create stunning Black and White images from your color photos. Here you will work with the Lightness Channel Method as well as CS3's new Black and White Converter. The author also lets you in on a little method that he learned while he was working on another technique. It is a quick and easy way to create high-contrast B&W images. You will also learn about doing B&W in Camera Raw. Chapter 8, "99 Problems" will work with you on diagnosing and fixing common digital image problems. These include fixing color in indoor shots, what to do when your subject is in the shadows, dealing with over- or under-exposed photos, dodging and burning, red-eye, reflections on glasses, as well as fixing spots and sensor dust on one or many photos at a time.

Chapter 9 "Faces" is all about retouching portraits. Pretty much anytime you are creating a portrait, you are not trying to recreate every blemish, pimple and mole that the person has. What you are trying to do is to capture the essence of who the person is. While that pimple may exist, it doesn't mean that it has always or will always exist. So what you are trying to accomplish is to maintain the skin's appearance and not make any retouching look obvious. Some of the things you will learn include how to reduce a double chin, remove dark circles under the eyes, reduce wrinkles, add highlights, enhance lips, brighten eyes, and whiten teeth.

Chapter 10, "Special Delivery" will explore special effects for photographers. Some of the effects include Quadtoning, the process of using four different grays and/or brown tones to add depth to a Black and White photo, taming light to get it to fall where you want it to, and punching up drab colors. You will also work with portrait effects such as High-Contrast, creating fake Duotones, creating collages, infrared, drawing the viewer's eye with color and creating panoramas. You will also learn about "Scott's Three-Step Portrait Finishing Techinque."

Chapter 11, "Look Sharp" gives you techniques for sharpening your photos. No, this won't make a blurry picture clear; rather it adjusts for areas within a photo that need more definition and crispness. You will use manual techniques as well as the Smart Sharpen filter. You will even learn how to make photos look sharper than they really are. Chapter 12, "Best in Show" will explore methods for you to show your work. You will add copyright info, watermarks, and signatures. You will create an online photo gallery and learn how to email photos, create a fine art poster layout, and create a simple three-photo balanced layout. Finally, chapter 13 "Working for a Livin'" is a mini-chapter that the author explains his work flow by taking an image from import to done in 23 easy steps.

In my opinion, The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book is one of those books that contains so much information that it really is a must have. If you are a beginner to Photoshop, you will have everything you need to create better photos. You will be able to learn things in a step-by-step approach that will fine tune your learning. If you are experienced, The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book will fill in many of the holes that you may have because of the depth and breath of Photoshop itself.

Now Scott Kelby admits that not everyone appreciates his humor; in fact he anticipates the emails that continue to tell him to stop. I guess I understand it, because I have the same kind of humor (and people around me tell me to stop; it doesn't work here either.) So my advice is to get over it, there is too much information here to let slip by just because you can't take his humor.

One other note, if you find yourself entertained by Scott Kelby, you can keep up with him and all things Photoshop on his blog Photoshop Insider. Also a must read!

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Think Tank Photo has introduced a camera bag that can be configured for use as a belt pack or a shoulder bag. A combination of straps and a waist belt allow the bag to be worn at varying heights on the body, and to be carried either in front of the chest or on the hip. It can also be carried as a shoulder bag with a single strap or held by a top-mounted handle. Photos of the various strap configurations are available on Think Tank’s Web site.

Compatible with Think Tank’s Modulus attachable bag components, the 25-ounce Change Up comes with an integrated rain cover and a removable padded interior. With external dimensions of 11×4x9 inches, it’s designed to hold a midsize SLR with a lens attached and an additional lens. Two exterior stretch pockets are sized to hold flash units, and other pockets are incorporated into the design to hold small items.

The Change Up is available now for a retail price of $130. For more information about the bag and a list of retailers that carry it, go to Think Tank Photo’s Web site.

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Bogen Café is a new imaging workshop environment offered to college students in the USA. Steven Katzman, a self-taught photographer, author, and professor of photography at Ringling College of Art and Design, will give an evening lecture at each workshop. Highlighting a special selection of products from Bogen Imaging and the program’s sponsors, Bogen Café will visit 20 colleges and 20 dealerships per year for the next four years, beginning August 2007.

Bogen Imaging Press Release

Bogen CafГ© Educates College Communities

Stimulate – Educate – Participate

Ramsey, NJ (August 16, 2007) – Bogen Imaging, a leading distributor of top quality photographic support products and accessories in North America, is proud to announce a new education program entitled Bogen Café, http://www.bogencafe.com. The Café is a workshop environment offered to college students that explores imaging topics in actual situations that are rarely discovered within the confines of a classroom.

To kick-off each workshop there will be an evening lecture that showcases the work of Steven Katzman, a self-taught photographer, author, and professor of photography at Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD), Sarasota, FL, one of the top four-year accredited art schools in the country. This highly motivational lecture will be open to the entire student body and the local photographic community.  The next day will be comprised of two workshop courses that have been selected by the college and is open only to the student body. The workshop will be followed up the next day with a program at a participating photographic dealer.

The Bogen CafГ© is a program that will highlight a special selection of products from Bogen and the program’s sponsors through a menu of scheduled workshop presentations. The daylong workshops emphasize the importance of developing alliances with companies that are defined by their products and customer relationships.  The co-sponsors include Hewlett-Packard Company, Hahnemuhle USA, Datacolor, Lensbabies, Adobe, Wacom Technology, and Rangefinder.

Katzman is a living example that corporate sponsorships can enable someone to remain at the forefront of digital technology. His workshops at RCAD have had fruitful results for the faculty, students and the photo department’s digital imaging workflow. Katzman’s first hand knowledge, expertise, and examples are valuable assets for this new program. Never losing sight that the journey is more important than the destination, Bogen Imaging and its co-sponsors are there to provide the photographer with the tools that enable them to concentrate on their creative vision, while Katzman provides first hand experience and examples of his personal photographic journey.

Institutions and their students are at a point where they need to develop an alliance with companies that are defined by their products and customer relationships.  Katzman believes that the relationship can continue to be developed, creating new markets in the educational environments, perpetuated by associated resellers and their customer base. With educational workshops at the site of the institutions/resellers, such a relationship will be further strengthened and solidified, enabling students to become users of the Café’s sponsors’ products throughout their professional careers.

The Bogen CafГ© intends to target 20 colleges and 20 dealerships per year for the next four years, beginning August 2007. Anticipating a reach of hundreds of photographers at each location, participating schools will be able to select from the Bogen Imaging Workshop CafГ© Course Menu, regarding which specific programs they would like presented. Workshop topics include advanced lighting, location lighting, fine art digital printing, large scale pigment printing, fine printing, Adobe Lightroom, and more.

In recognition for achievement, each institution will select an individual scholarship recipient. The scholarship recipient will have a selection of their work profiled on the CafГ© website, http://www.bogencafe.com. Each scholarship winner will also receive a stable of equipment donated by the event sponsors, including a $1,000 Bogen Bux Gift Certificate good towards the purchase of Bogen Imaging distributed products; a copy of Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop CS3; a Datacolor Spyder 2 Pro colorimeter; sample packs of Hahnemuhle photo paper; a Lensbabies 3G selective focus SLR lens; and a Wacom Intuos3 tablet (4X6). 

The Bogen Imaging CafГ© Course Menu is as follows:
Bogen Imaging Workshop CafГ© Course Menu
Schools will be able to select from the following course menu:
Steven Katzman; Developing a Personal Vision, While Negotiating the Interpretive Portrait, Thursday night’s lecture, and Workshop
Advanced Lighting; Creative Solutions and Possibilities (Studio)
Less is More; Location Lighting with Portable Flash Units
Bend it Baby; Free your Mind and Your Body Will Follow, using the Lens Baby in the studio and on location.
Defining the Social Landscape; On location at points of interest (relevant to the area’s social and historic community) using available and portable lighting and edited in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.
The Digital Darkroom; Up to speed with Adobe Photoshop CS3, and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.
The Large-Scale Pigment Print; Creative Solutions using Multiple Captures, Stitching, and Sharpening for Inkjet and Prepress Environment. This workshop will include creating ICC profiles for monitor and printer.
Portfolio Review; Shooting Strategies for the Personal Voice, Pre-visualization and Interpretation for creating the Fine Art Portfolio.

The Bogen Imaging CafГ© confirmed schedule is:
Bogen CafГ© Fall Schedule of Confirmed Schools and participating Photo Dealers
Art Institute of Florida August 23-25 Dale Laboratories
Daytona Beach Community College September 27-28 Kingston Photo and Studio
Foothill Community College, Palo Alto October 4-6 Keeble and Shuchat Photography
Heron School of Art October 11-13 Robert’s Distributors
Community College of So. Nevada October 18-20 Casey’s Camera
Art Institute of Chicago October 25-27 Calumet Photographic
Santa Monica Community College November 1-4 Samy’s Camera
Austin Community College November 15-17 Precision Camera & Video
Ohio University November 8-10 Midwest Photo Exchange

For more information, visit http://www.bogencafe.com

About Bogen Imaging
Bogen Imaging Inc is a leading distributor of key accessories brands for the photographic, video, cine and lighting production markets. Bogen is an international company within the Imaging Division of the Vitec Group, which owns the following leading international brands: Manfrotto, Gitzo, Kata, National Geographic Bags and Tripods, Avenger, and I.F.F. As the exclusive US distributor of Metz, Gossen, Elinchrom, Lastolite, Reflecmedia, Formatt Filters, Rotatrim and THE pod, Bogen offers the most complete range of exceptional camera and lighting accessories in the business. The Bogen Imaging international network covers the USA, Germany, France, Italy, UK and Japan.

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Epson Stylus CX9400Fax

Click photo for more images of the Epson Stylus C-series printers.

Epson has added a new printer and three all-in-ones to its line of inkjet devices that use Durabrite Ultra pigment-based inks. The printers use three individual color ink cartridges in addition to black ink, and are designed to produce high-quality images on both photo and plain paper. The all-in-one devices also offer functions such as copying, scanning, and faxing.

The 8.6-pound C120 printer uses dual black ink cartridges to achieve fast printing speeds, and offers a Quiet Print Mode to keep printer noise to a minimum. The C120 outputs photos at sizes up to 8×10.

Epson’s new all-in-one lineup starts with the 12.8-pound CX7400, which scans and copies in addition to printing. The device includes memory card slots for transferring photos, as well as automatic photo enhancement tools that adjust exposure, sharpen images, and use face-detection technology to distinguish faces from scenery and enhance skin tones and scenery separately. The CX7400 prints color photos at sizes up to 8×10. It also provides software for restoring vibrancy to scanned color prints.

The slightly pricier CX8400 is very similar to the CX7400, but includes a 2.5-inch tilt-up LCD and offers faster print speeds. It outputs 5760×1440 prints and scans at up to 1200×2400 dpi.

At the top of the new all-in-one lineup, the 16.8-pound Stylus CX9400Fax builds on the CX8400’s feature set with fax capabilities, including color photo faxing, as well as an automatic document feeder and support for legal-size copying and faxing. It features a USB port for printing directly from PictBridge-compatible cameras, and offers an index sheet feature that lets users select images to print, paper size, and paper type by marking and scanning a paper index sheet.

The $89.99 C120, $69.99 CX7400, and $99.99 CX8400 will be available in August 2007. The $149.99 CX9400Fax will be available in September.

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PhotographyBLOG has a review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1 and writes, “The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1’s image quality is slightly above average. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1’s main drawback in terms of image quality is noise, with ISO 400 showing obvious noise and blurring of detail. The noise gets progressively worse as you go from ISO 400 to ISO 800 and finally the completely unusable 1000 setting. The noise at ISO 400 is also clearly evident in a 15×10 inch print. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1 handled chromatic aberrations very well indeed, with limited purple fringing effects appearing only in high contrast situations.”

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This week the Inside Digital Photo radio show interviews Amadou Diallo, photographer and author of “Mastering Digital Black and White Photography”. Diallo share tips and techniques on getting the best results for black and white output in your digital workflow. Also on the show are Erik Sowder and John Baker from ExpoImaging, talking about how to achieve the best white balance for your camera using their ExpoDisc product.

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