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March 31, 2007

Nikonians News Flash #43

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Tune in for the latest from the HP printer contest, what's hot in the Nikonians Cafe', and find out who's released new camera bags!

Download Nikonians News Flash #43 (NPC-NF-2007-03-31.mp3; 6:52; 6.4MB; MP3 format)

March 31, 2007

In The News:

LowePro has announced the release of 2 new lines of bags, the Vertex series and the Napoli series. As well, they have their new Primus All-Weather Backpack in honor of their 40th anniversary.

ThinkTank has released 23 new bags! Find out more here.

The days of Life Magazine are coming to an end on April 20th.

From The Forums:

From the Cafe':
2007 Travel Kit

How do you store your camera?

Photographs without stories.

Nikonians Travel&Meet:

Nikonian trend is looking for fellow members in the NE Tennessee area!

CONTEST!!
Congratulations to Art Jones, Nikonian onkelart! Here's his winning entry:

Cowboys Ridin

I Love To Photograph Cowboys
Horses And Cowboys Workin As One
Working For The Lowest Score

I Love To See In Their Face
As They See Their Grace
Printing A Picture For Them To Take

Listen in to find out how to enter to win the final HP Photosmart printer!

Questions, Comments, Announcements?
Email Jessica or drop us a line in the Podcast Feedback forum!

Posted by odle2 at 2:40 PM

March 29, 2007

Ansmann D40/D40X and D80 Vertical Grips

Battery and lighting product-maker Ansmann has announced two new vertical grips for popular Nikon Digital SLRs.

The battery grip N-80 Pro promises up to 5000 shots on a single charge using a 3600 mAh battery source. The grip is comparable to the Nikon MB-D80, with both command dials, a vertical shutter button and as a bonus, the grip can power the camera on the go using an included DC 12V plug.

For D40 owners, the N-40 Pro will deliver up to 2000 shots with a 2200 mAh battery. No vertical shutter is provided and the DC cable option is not available with this model.

Both models also feature an AC supply that can power the camera via the grip, so this is good news for travelers looking to cut down on the number of rechargers to take on the road.

Posted by covey22 at 7:06 PM

R.I.P. Life Magazine

A title synonymous with the words "photo magazine" finally ends. Time-Life Publishing announced the end of Life Magazine, with the last print edition being available 20-April. Despite three other "near deaths" starting in 1972, this retirement appears to be permanent as another printed publication succumbs to the onslaught and popularity of online journals and news sources. The accumulated ten million images over the history of Life's print run will be made available, ironically, online.

Posted by covey22 at 6:34 PM

ID#37: The Image Doctors

In this week's show, Rick and Jason preview the HP Photosmart Pro B9180, discuss the concept of adding motion to your shots, and give their Top Ten Photo Tips. Of course, their "Top Ten" goes to eleven! Congratulations to our contest winner, Bob Geohegan, whose correct response to our trivia question won him a copy of "The Photographer's Guide to Capture NX" on CD-ROM.

Download The Image Doctors #37 (NPC-ID-2007-03-29.mp3; 45:55; 16.1MB mp3 format)

Show Notes

1:31 HP Photosmart B9180 Preview
12:43 Adding Motion to Your Shots
25:36 Rick and Jason'ts Top 10 (ok, eleven) Photo Tips
41:40 Weekly Prescription: Overcast Skies

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Image Doctors directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add the Image Doctors feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically to you.
[Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley!

Posted by drjay32 at 3:24 PM

March 28, 2007

Think Tank Photo rotation360 Wins DIMA Award

Congratulations go out to our Corporate Partner, Think Tank Photo, for winning a 2007 DIMA Award for Innovative Digital Products with their rotation360 Backpack! This innovative rucksack with it's rotating beltpack has become very popular among photographers. Be sure to check out Nikonians member Steven Kennard's review of this fabulous product.

Posted by covey22 at 5:30 AM

Think Tank Photo Releases 23 New Bags

Our corporate partner Think Tank Photo has announced no less than 23 new bags in several series to meet the ever-changing needs of today's photographers.

Of particular note is the new Urban Disguise series that allows photographers to conceal their valuable equipment in bags that don't scream "Steal Me!" The new Digital Holsters actually expand downwards to accomodate lenses with hoods mounted forward - perfect for the quick-draw shooter. The Change Up belt bag system is a great addition for any photojournalists working in the field, and the new Airport International meets all major travel requirements including security features. There's even more innovative and stylish products, so be sure to check out the entire product line.

Posted by covey22 at 4:50 AM

Lowepro Announces New Bag Product Lines

Lowepro has been busy cooking up a variety of new camera bag product lines, including the Vertex series of professional backpacks, the Napoli family of pouches for compact digital cameras, and to celebrate their 40th Anniversary, an innovative Primus All-Weather backpack that claims to be composed of 51% recycled materials.

Posted by covey22 at 4:33 AM

Kodak Takes a Double-Whammy

Things have been headed downhill for the former Imaging giant. First Kodak gets de-listed from the well known S&P 100 Stock Index in favor of Kraft Foods, then the company voluntary removes itself from the National Council of the Better Business Bureau rather than run the indignity of being expelled. Details in the 29-March-2007 Newsline International page.

Posted by covey22 at 4:09 AM

March 27, 2007

LetsGoDigital D40X Test Images

Our colleagues at LetsGoDigital took the new D40X and the 55-200mm VR lens for a spin at the Artis Zoo in Amsterdam. Be sure to check out the images here.

Posted by covey22 at 8:08 PM

Nikonians Helgoland last-minute opportunity

The Nikonians Helgoland Nature Workshop (April 23 to 27, 2007) has just been notified of an unfortunate last-minute cancellation which has has made it possible for you to attend. This is your opportunity to join Nikonian Claus Brandt and a small group of fellow Nikonians in one of the best bird photography areas in Northern Europe.

Posted by flashdeadline at 2:22 PM

Nikonians in France this summer

The Nikonians Community is thinking about participating in Arles, France this year. Would you be interested in coming? Please let us know here

More about Rencontres International here

Posted by bgs at 2:07 PM

March 26, 2007

Pixinfo Dust Removal Shootout

Nikonians who feel a bit of tech-envy at digital cameras with built-in sensor cleaning should wander over to the Hungarian website Pixinfo and read their shootout results.

Posted by covey22 at 11:02 PM

March 24, 2007

Nikonians News Flash #42

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Contest Winner, Part Deux! Find out if you won the second HP printer, and how to enter to win the third. Also, information about the Photographers of the Year 2007 contest, and the latest from the Nikonians Community.

Download Nikonians News Flash #42 (NPC-NF-2007-03-24.mp3; 7:25; 6.9MB; MP3 format)

Nikonians News Flash #42: March 24, 2007

In The News:
MS Windows users can get Nikonians RSS feed with the KilpFolio program.

FujiFilm has announced a firmware update for their S5 DSLR.

New contest from underwatercompetition.com is totally Under The Blue!

Nikon has announced an increased work-force in Thailand, and the D40 has won the DIWA Gold Award!

CONTEST WINNER
Congratulations to Hugh Breidenbach!

winner week 2.jpg

Listen in to find out how to enter the 3rd week of the contest.

From The Forums:
The Photographers of the Year 2007 Contest is now open!! Categories are "OPEN", "STUDIO", and "PETS". Click here for more information!

Questions, Comments, Announcements?
Email Jessica or drop us a line in the Podcast Feedback forum!

Posted by odle2 at 4:46 PM

March 22, 2007

Nikon D40 wins DIWA Gold Award

DIWA-awards-125.jpg Nikon's lightweight entry-level digital single-lens-reflex (DSLR) camera has earned the DIWA (Digital Imaging Websites Association) Gold Award for its high overall performance at a very competitive price. The DIWA press release announcing the selection of the Nikon D40 as winner of the award noted its "many internal technologies are inherited from its far more expensive siblings, the Nikon D80 and D200."


nikon_d40_72-DPI--DIWA.jpg

With its combination of 3D Colour Matrix II metering, high quality image-processing algorithms and fast performance, the D40 delivered an excellent quality to price ratio according to the announcement made today.

The D40 win adds to an impressive list of DIWA awards already earned by the rest of the Nikon DSLR line up.
The Nikon D50 was named the "Best Digital System Camera" when it earned the 2005 DIWA Platinum Award.

The Nikon D200 was honored with a Gold Award announced in May 2006, and the Nikon D70 earned the 2004 Gold Award.

------

The full press release on the D40 Gold Award follows:

Amsterdam, March 22, 2007 : DIWA (Digital Imaging Websites Association), a world-wide organization of collaborating websites, today announces a DIWA Gold Award to the Nikon D40 digital single-lens-reflex (DSLR) camera for its high overall performance at a very competitive price.

Many people believe that high image resolution is synonymous with high image quality, but this is not always the case. High quality optics, first class image processing and ample image resolution is usually the best combination for optimum image quality and camera performance. When introducing the D40, Nikon claimed that 6 Megapixels is the ideal image resolution for the targeted consumers. After testing numerous samples of the D40, the international DIWA group of experts unanimously confirms Nikon's statement. The Nikon D40 is a quality built camera with good ergonomic design, user-friendly operation, fast and precise functions, excellent image quality and last but not least, at a very attractive price.

Nikon-D40_250-L.jpg

Kai Thon, DIWA's test manager says: "The DSLR camera market is booming and new models are introduced at rapid pace. DIWA members are pleased to confirm that the Nikon D40 is far more than just another DSLR. Built on Nikon’s long experience and indisputable reputation for quality, filled with the most important goodies from more advanced Nikon models, with priority on performance rather than marketing tricks and gimmicks, the D40 is currently as close to the perfect DSLR you can get for a reasonable sum of money".

Over several decades, Nikon has built their remarkable reputation primarily as makers of top quality 35 mm system cameras and lenses. This legacy is forwarded into the digital age by maintaining the classic Nikon quality camera bodies and high performance Nikkor lenses, supplemented by state-of-the-art digital imaging technologies. This and a most competitive price tag make the Nikon D40 an obvious winner of a DIWA Gold Award.

About DIWA

A fast growing independent, authoritative, industry organization
The Digital Imaging Websites Association (DIWA) is a fast growing group of independent Web-based specialist publications dedicated to digital imaging. DIWA harnesses the collective talent and expertise of its members, resulting in industry awards that command unparalleled confidence and value, both for consumers and the industry, alike. DIWA awards come in the form of bronze, silver and gold medals for various product categories.

Unique bullet-proof test scoring procedure
DIWA product test awards are exclusively decided through the analysis of multiple test scores from different DIWA testers, testing different samples of the same product. A very detailed and comprehensive standardized scoring procedure is employed, tailored carefully for each category of product. Multiple testing eliminates the chance of an isolated, unrepresentative product sample or test error, or even hidden bias, from affecting the trustworthiness of the overall result.

Awards throughout the year
DIWA is also unique in its policy in issuing awards for deserving products throughout the year, culminating in an annual best of the year Platinum medal awards in all product categories.

DIWA Awards members:
- Canada: www.photoxels.com
- Czech Republic: www.fotoaparat.cz
- Germany: www.digitalkamera.de
- Hungary: www.fotovilag.hu
- Netherlands: www.letsgodigital.org
- Norway: www.digit.no
- Poland: www.fotopolis.pl
- Slovenia: www.e-fotografija.com
- Spain: www.nuevafotografia.com
- Turkey: www.diginorm.com.tr
- United Kingdom: www.photographyblog.com

The DIWA multi-lingual Web site
At the heart of the DIWA organisation is its multi-lingual Web site, www.diwa-awards.com, where you can find links to the latest reviews published by DIWA member publications. The site also archives DIWA awards and is designed to aid consumers in their choice of imaging products.

For further information about DIWA please visit our Web site - https://www.diwa-awards.com - or email us at info@diwa-awards.com.

For a recent news article regarding a VIP visit from Panasonic representatives to DIWA member DigIT and the test lab, click here. DIWA Labs is is headquartered in Norway and managed by Kai Thon.

---------------------

Want to share your experiences or get tips on the full line of Nikon DSLR's?

Visit our Nikonians forums:

The latest news and information regarding the D40, D40X and D50 is included in one of our fastest growing forums.

Our Nikonians who have chose to focus on the D70 have their own active community.

Our D80 forum is often a meeting site for those who are seeking high end performance features at an affordable price.

The D200 and D100 users includes photographers with a variety of semi-pro and professional backgrounds.


The D1 and D2 Users Group covers the upper end of the Nikon DSLR line up.

Posted by flashdeadline at 7:34 AM

March 21, 2007

Nikon Boosts Labor in Thailand Factory

A recent CNET blog cites a Merrill Lynch analyst stating Nikon has added 6,000 more workers at a factory in Thailand that produces Digital SLRs and lenses. Of significant interest were the type and quantity of photographic equipment that the plant generates in a month: 100,000 D80, 80,000 D40, 90,000 D40X and 230,000 lenses!

Posted by covey22 at 3:02 AM

March 20, 2007

Nikonians US warehouse moves

Our U.S.A. warehouse has moved to the "Big Easy."
The PhotoProShop.com's US warehouse has relocated from Philadelphia to New Orleans, and with the move, we have further increased our availability in the shop.

Nikonian Amy Enyart will help you with all your questions and needs Monday thru Friday during business hours. We are shipping daily throughout North America and carry a large number of items in stock.

And, in case you are wondering about the safety of our inventory, the new warehouse is located in a section of the city that survived the damage of Hurricane Katrina. It is our pleasure in the Nikonians community to help support the revival of this area.

In the coming week we will run a special campaign in the shop to celebrate our new warehouse. Do not miss out. Make sure you check out the Nikonians news blog!

For our U.S. customers, you can visit the PhotoProShop here.

Posted by flashdeadline at 5:41 PM

UNDER THE BLUE Photography Competition

Underwatercompetition.com announces their newest photography and videography contest, UNDER THE BLUE, with over USD20000 in prizes, travel and equipment.

The sponsors of last year's popular DEEP Indonesia and Our World Underwater competitions have teamed up with the 2007 SCUBA Show in San Diego. Winners of UNDER THE BLUE will be displayed online and during the show June 2nd to the 3rd in Long Beach, California. Categories include:

1. Majesty of the Oceans
2. The Macro World
3. Man & the Sea
4. California Underwater
5. Video

The deadline for image submission is 12-May-2007.

Posted by covey22 at 2:34 PM

Fujifilm Updates S5 Pro DSLR Firmware to v1.04

Fujifilm has released an updated firmware for the new S5 Pro Digital SLR.

Notable changes of v1.04 include:

1. Better white balance when setting FLASH-mode for the WHITE BLANCE.

2. Better white balance when setting AUTO-mode for the WHITE BLANCE and using Nikon non-CPU lenses.
*It requires to set the maximum aperture according to the FinePix S5 Pro Owener's Manual(p.121-p.124).

Posted by covey22 at 2:29 PM

Easier to get news on your desktop

By using the small, free RSS reader klipfolio on your MS Windows desktop, you get the latest photography news, local weather forecasts and more directly on your desktop. It is a nifty, small application and very easy to configure. By using it, you are staying up-to-date without the need to start any separate applications or browsers.

You can download and install the Nikonians Clip for KlipFolio together with the KlipFolio program from their site.

Posted by bgs at 11:57 AM

March 18, 2007

Tokina Announces 35mm f2 Macro ATX Pro DX

M35_1_300-web.jpg

More of our eagle-eyed Nikonians have spotted a product announcement by Tokina for 35mm f2 ATX Pro Macro specifically for APS-C Digital SLRs. The new lens will be displayed at Tokyo's PIE2007 Imaging Show later this month.

Posted by covey22 at 5:41 AM

PMA 2007 Interview with Nikon

Thanks to Nikonians Jeff Zhang, we are able to read a translation of a DCWatch interview with Nikon held at PMA 2007. The camera maker executive comments on the new D40, Anti-Dust, in-body VR and the future of the Coolpix line.

Posted by covey22 at 5:32 AM

March 17, 2007

Nikonians News Flash #41

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Contest Winner!!! Tune in for the latest news about Nikonians Workshops, as well as to see if you've won the first HP printer...and how to enter to win the second!

Download Nikonians News Flash #41 (NPC-NF-2007-03-17.mp3; 8:50; 8.2MB; MP3 format)

Nikonians News Flash #41: March 17, 2007

In The News:
The newest Nikon DSLR, the D40x, gets an underwater housing from Fantasea!

Check out our blog and the latest episode of The Image Doctors for PMA reports!

From The Forums:
A fellow Nikonian is looking for information on photography in Maine.

Nikonians Workshops!
Look here for the upcoming North American workshops.

Take our poll! Are you interested in a Nikonians event in Aires, France in early July? Vote now!

CONTEST!
Listen in to find out how to enter this week's contest.

Here is a sample of the photographic work of this week's winner, 10-year-old Luke Birtles!
Bourgogne_Charalais.jpg
Congrats, Luke!

Email Jessica or drop us a line in the Podcast Feedback Forum!

Posted by odle2 at 3:47 PM

Monte Zucker dies

Monte Zucker, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year, passed away last night. The well known Portrait and Wedding Photographer, Educator, Teacher, Instructor, Mentor & Author, with over 50 years of experience, was an extraordinary asset for photographers looking to take their skills to the next level. The United Nations honored him as Portrait Photographer of the Year 2002. Revered by many Nikonians, he will be missed. May he rest in peace.

Update 01 - There will be a memorial service for Monte in Washington DC on Sunday, April 22nd from 1-4 PM. Details are still tentative; those wishing to attend should follow the thread on the Monte Zucker forum for further information.

Posted by jrp at 8:56 AM

March 16, 2007

News Flash podcast includes free printer

A716-HP.jpg Nikonians News Flash fans will have a chance to receive one of four new HP A716 SnapShot printers by paying attention to Jessica's podcast directions as she gives you the correct email address, subject line and content of a free email entry.

A716-HP-printer.jpg
Jessica announced the offer in her latest podcast and the deadline for week one is Friday night U.S. Eastern Daylight Savings Time at 9 p.m. - March 16. Don't worry if you missed that deadline-- she has three more to share!
All you have to do is listen to the podcast and follow her instructions on sending an email to her News Flash address (with the correct subject line and message content) and you may find yourself among the lucky four winners of this printer.
For a listing of all Nikonians podcasts, click here.

Posted by flashdeadline at 5:24 PM

March 15, 2007

#36: The Image Doctors

PMA 2007 Show Report
Jason went to Las Vegas to attend PMA 2007. Hear his first-hand report of the show, and then take a trip down memory lane as we recall the classic Nikon FM and FE bodies. Be sure to check the show notes page for details about this week's trivia contest!

Download The Image Doctors #36 (NPC-ID-2007-03-15.mp3; 42:50; 15.1MB; MP3 format)

Show Notes

01:34 Jason's PMA 2007 Report
19:10 Memory Lane: The Nikon FM and FE
33:10 Weekly Prescription: when to use fill flash

Enter the Image Doctors Trivia Contest and Win!

Be the first person to correctly answer the following question in the Podcasts Feedback Forum, and you will win a copy of Jason's eBook, The Photographer's Guide to Capture NX, on CD-ROM!

Question: What was the maximum frame advance speed of the Nikon MD-12 motor drive when it was used on a Nikon FE2 body?

We'll give the answer and announce the winner next week!

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Image Doctors directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add the Image Doctors feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically to you.
[Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley!

Posted by drjay32 at 3:41 AM

March 14, 2007

CompactFlash Tech in Hard Drives

SanDisk is bringing the reliability of solid-state technology used in digital media cards to laptop hard drives.

Solid-state memory has been widely used in Compactflash, Secure Digital and other memory cards, and has proven it's reliability under a variety of environmental conditions. Unlike hard drive platters, Solid State Devices (SSD) have less moving parts promising six times more reliability than current drive technology. The new drive will be available in 2.5" format, and will be displayed at the CEBIT show in Hanover this month.

Posted by covey22 at 11:41 PM

March 12, 2007

Doctor Jay Meets Sigzilla

The buzz around Sigma's monstrous lens unveiled at PMA 2007 is growing daily. Jason Odell, co-host of the popular Image Doctors 'podcasts, gets up close and personal with the "Sigzilla" and gets the scoop on some details which many have been curious about.

"Weight is currently 28 lbs for the lens, 7lbs for the hood. I suggested they use a Carbon Fiber hood..."

Posted by covey22 at 4:59 PM

PMA Booth Reports

Unable to attend PMA this year? No problem - see what the floor looked like thanks to Imaging Resource's Booth Reports. Ogle at the hardware and behold the glitz and glamour at Nikon, Fujifilm, SanDisk and of course, Sigma with their monstrous 200-500 f2.8!

Posted by covey22 at 5:53 AM

D40X Goes Under with Fantasea Housing

Our colleagues from LetsGoDigital got a sneak peek at the new D40X underwater case from Fantasea. Product details were not available at press time, but it's sure to be just as popular as the camera it's intended to house.

Posted by covey22 at 5:27 AM

March 10, 2007

Nikonians News Flash #40

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Nikon, Sigma, and Tamron all have new lenses! Tune in to find out more, and hear about the latest News Flash Contest!

Download Nikonians News Flash #40 (NPC-NF-2007-03-10.mp3; 7:02; 6.5MB; MP3 format)

Nikonians News Flash #40. March 10, 2007

In The News:
Nikon has announced the new D40x, as well as its 55-200mm DX AFS VR lens! Read more here.

Sigma has unveiled its biggest lens yet! Find out more about the 200-500mm f2.8 lens.

Tamron has joined the image-stabilization revolution with its newest lens, the 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR DI VC Aspherical zoom lens! Check it out!

From The Forums:
Wedding photographer wanted! For wedding/reception photography this September in the Phoenix/Mesa area. See the thread in our Photographers Wanted forum!

CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST!
Be sure to listen in to find out more!

Flower ID needed! Please check out these photos in our A Picture I Took forum, and help us out!

Posted by odle2 at 6:10 PM

March 9, 2007

SanDisk Rolls Out 8 GB SDHC Media Card

SanDisk introduced an 8GB SDHC media card at PMA. The Ultra II rated memory card can hold an approximate 4,000 images or 15 hours of MPEG-4 video, while reading and writing at approximately 9Mbps. Bundled with the package is a matching USB2.0 card reader.

Posted by covey22 at 4:09 AM

Adobe Offers Dual Versions of CS3

Adobe has widened the role of CS3, offering an Expanded Version suitable for digital imaging, but integrates 3D and motion graphics, as well as image measurement and analysis. Both CS3 versions are expected to be released on 27-March, during the program's formal launch.

Posted by covey22 at 4:04 AM

March 8, 2007

Tamron Joins The Image-Stabilization Club

tamron_a20_28_300_prototype_overall_rgb_070305-WEB.jpg

tamron_a20_28-300_prototype_switch_rgb_070305 -WEB.jpg

tamron_a001_70_200_prototype_overall_rgb_070305_rgb-WEB.jpg

Tamron has joined Canon, Nikon and Sigma in the image-stabilization club with the release of the 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR DI VC Aspherical zoom lens.

The new full-frame superzoom incorporates VC, or Vibration Compensation mechanism, enabling the photographer to handhold at lower shutter speeds without the benefit of tripods or monopods. The macro function allows a close-focusing 19.3 inches with a 1:3 reproduction ratio; all housed within a very compact 4 inch, 19 ounce package.

Also announced was a new SP AF70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD Macro zoom made of engineering plastics materials which makes the zoom very light at under 40 ounces. With a removable tripod ring mount, a one-touch AF/MF button (for Nikon and Canon only) and three LD elements, this new telephoto is sure to be a popular addition to the Tamron lens family.

Posted by covey22 at 5:43 PM

Sigma Unveils a Monstrous Lens

200-500_28_s-web.jpeg

Sigma unveils at PMA one of the largest zooms in recent history - a gigantic 200-500mm f2.8 that easily displaces the so-called "Bigma" or the 50-500mm f4-6.3 for the bulkiest lens in their line-up.

Posted by covey22 at 4:45 PM

March 6, 2007

Nikon View Pro Cancelled

In a simple press release, Nikon announced the death of the the View Pro software; the successor to the free Nikon View/Editor that came bundled with many Coolpix and Digital SLR cameras.

The promised software never had the chance to come to fruition. First announced on 16-February of 2006, Nikon View Pro drew mixed reactions, many shutterbugs were unconvinced of the quality of a pay-for-play image browser, especially given the manufacturer's rocky track record with Capture 4.x at the time. As taken directly from the release:

We decided to suspend the release based on our judgment that the new software's performance would not be optimal for the new environment. We are currently developing a new generation of image management and browsing software for download from our website, and plan to begin offering this before the end of 2007.

Join the discussion on this issue at Nikonians.

Posted by covey22 at 6:53 PM

Win a Nikon D40X

Our members in the UK have a chance to win their very own copy of the new 10MP D40X that was announced this morning at PMA.

Posted by covey22 at 6:38 PM

Nikon D40X and Nikkor 55-200 DX AFS VR

Nikon surprised the community by rolling out an update to the popular D40 entry-level digital SLR at PMA 2007. Updated with a 10MP sensor and a few other features, the D40X appears to be a refresh move to bring the hot-selling camera into parity with it's larger resolution competitors. Accompanying the new camera was yet another hardware refresh - the much anticipated 55-200mm DX AFS lens with Vibration Reduction.

While D3 fans may be disappointed by the development, the move by Nikon to update the easy-to-use D40 to an X model makes a lot of marketing and engineering sense. The original D40, while immensely popular, was seen by many consumers on the fence as a bit outdated due to it's 6MP CCD sensor. While the D40's performance was a showcase of how to maximize image quality, it was clearly not enough to overcome consumer perceptions. Enter the D40X, sharing the same 10MP CCD that is found in the D200 and the D80. Other improvements include a higher frame rate and a longer life battery.

The 55-200 VR was not as much of a suprise. Eagle-eyed Nikonians were quick to pick up on the existence of the lens when it was accidentally revealed in Nikon's own marketing videos touting the features of the original D40. The new lens is not signficantly different in size or heft from the original telephoto zoom. But with VR Generation II, shutterbugs will appreciate the potential four-stop difference in performance.

Be sure to get more details from our colleagues at LetsGoDigital and the insider perspective from Nikonians Chief Editor Tom Bone.

Posted by covey22 at 5:15 AM

PMA Pre-Show Announcements: 05-March-2007

The pre-show announcements continue to roll in - we're seeing Olympus refreshing their DSLR line including a much long-awaited successor to the E-1, and Vituri rolls out a wide variety of colorfully designed camera bags for the fashion-conscious shutterbug.

Posted by covey22 at 1:10 AM

March 3, 2007

Nikonians News Flash #39

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This week's new is all about the web! NikoScope plug-ins, Photoshop in a browser, and a Nikon website about VR!

Download Nikonians News Flash #39 (NPC-NF-2007-03-03.mp3; 7:25; 10.4MB; MP3 format)

Nikonians News Flash #39: March 3, 2007

In The News:

NikoScope gets new browser plug ins!

Check out Nikon's site all about VR.

Our friends at Imaging Resource have news about Adobe integrating Photoshop into browsers!

Check out our blog for PMA pre-show announcements!

From The Forums:

The March Online Photo Assignment is Black & White.

The March Challenge from the Micro, Macro, & Close-Up Photography Forum is Electronics.

Interested in visiting Avery Island, Louisiana? Let TJCajun know here.

A very precarious situation.

Tune in next week for more information on our latest News Flash contest!!

Email Jessica!

Posted by odle2 at 4:33 PM

Photoshop: Coming to a Web Browser Near You

Our colleagues at Imaging-Resource report that Adobe is planning to integrate Photoshop-brand editing software into popular online photo communities.

Posted by covey22 at 2:44 AM

March 1, 2007

PMA Pre-Show Announcements: 01-March-2007

PMA updates are starting to pour in; the pre-show frenzy is underway. For today's roundup - Corel and Lexar continue their bundling of PSP 10 Pro and Snapfire, Quantum announces a very portable softbox and XRite's latest i1 calibration device features an ambient light sensor.

Corel and Lexar are extending their offer of bundling a full version Paint Shop Pro 10 with select Professional media cards, and select Professional II cards will come with a full version of Snapfire Plus Standard Edition.

QF69-Press-Release-web.jpg

Looking for a very portable Softbox for your Quantum flash? The QF69 will fit your Quantum Q4d, 5d and 5d-R flashguns and thanks to it's near 180-degree coverage, it's a perfect diffuser match for wide-angle lenses.

i1display2_device_l-web.jpg

X-Rite announces a new line of calibration devices called i1Display. The i1Display LT features a removable ambient light sensor and the i1Display2 has all the features of the LT plus the ability to color-match across groups of monitors.

Posted by covey22 at 7:52 PM

New Nikon Site on Vibration Reduction

Thanks to some of our eagle-eyed members, Nikon has posted a new website showing the benefits of their Vibration Reduction capability.

Posted by covey22 at 3:53 PM

#35: The Image Doctors

Rick and Jason team up again to answer listener questions about Nikon remote cords, and offer suggestions for a good camera strap. Rick has a Lightroom preview, and then the "doctors" have a philosophical discussion on digital workflow.

Download The Image Doctors #35 (NPC-ID-2007-03-01.mp3; 55:26; 19.4Mb; MP3 format)

Show Notes:

02:17 Choosing a remote cord
09:27 Camera strap suggestions
14:53 Adobe Lightroom preview
22:36 Approaches to digital workflow

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Posted by drjay32 at 4:34 AM