Tuesday, June 22, 2010
July/August 2010
|
SUPER TELEPut Nikon’s AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm ƒ/4G ED VR II lens on a DX-format camera body and it becomes a 300-600mm zoom with a constant, fairly wide aperture. The professional-grade lens body is made from die-cast magnesium for increased durability and is sealed to resist moisture and dust. A special meniscus glass at the front helps protect the front element. Additional features include Extra-low Dispersion glass for reducing internal reflection and Vibration Reduction II, which gives up to four extra stops when shooting handheld. The lens focuses down to 6.6 feet throughout its zoom range. Estimated Street Price: $6,999. Contact: Nikon, (800) NIKON-US, www.nikonusa.com.
ZOOM WIDEGet wide—really wide—with the Sigma 8-16mm ƒ/4.5-5.6 DC HSM, a lens designed for DSLRs with APS-C-sized image sensors. The lens is equivalent to 12-24mm in 35mm format and incorporates Sigma’s new FLD glass, which is comparable to fluorite glass and compensates for color aberration. Fluorite is also less dense, making for lighter lenses. An inner focusing system produces high-definition images throughout the entire zoom range, and the Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting. The Hyper-Sonic Motor delivers quiet, high-speed autofocus alongside full-time manual focus. Estimated Street Price: $699. Contact: Sigma, (800) 896-6858, www.sigmaphoto.com.
FAST-ACCESS PACKAccess your gear quickly when out on a photo trip with the versatile Tamrac Evolution 6 and 8 packs. Capable of use as a backpack or sling pack on either shoulder, the pack’s Triple Access System allows you to get to equipment quickly through the central front door or using two side doors. When wearing it as a backpack, slip off the shoulder strap, swing the pack around to the front, and open the side door to access your DSLR. To get to additional equipment, swing the pack around to the opposite shoulder and open the side door on the other side of the pack. To convert the backpack to a sling, simply cross-connect a single shoulder strap. The other shoulder strap tucks away. Internal dividers are foam-padded and adjustable. Estimated Street Price: $149 (Evolution 6); $199 (Evolution 8). Contact: Tamrac, (800) 662-0717, www.tamrac.com.
PERFECT PORTRAITSTouch up your people shots with Imagenomic Portraiture 2. If you’re an Aperture 3 user, the plug-in is now compatible with the latest version of the workflow application. Portraiture 2 provides native 64-bit operation within Apple’s Snow Leopard operating system and is one of the first third-party image-processing plug-ins to be optimized for Apple’s latest 64-bit systems and software apps. Portraiture 2 features a powerful masking tool that selectively smoothes and removes skin flaws while preserving texture and other details. The upgrade is free for previous users. Estimated Street Price: $199. Contact: Imagenomic, (800) 554-8688, www.imagenomic.com.
A FIRM HOLDGet your DSLR into position quickly with the Giottos MH 5000 and MH 5001 three-way pan/tilt heads. Both feature oversized, foam-covered handles, 360° panning, solid metal construction and support for up to 13 pounds. The MH 5001 has a built-in quick-release platform and two bubble levels and weighs 1.8 pounds. The MH 5000 has a single bubble level and a standard camera platform and weighs 1.7 pounds. The camera-mounting screw on the MH 5000 is lever-activated for a tight grip and also to make it easier to loosen the camera screw when desired. Estimated Street Price: $66 (MH 5000); $73 (MH 5001). Contact: HP Marketing Corp., (800) 735-4373, www.hpmarketingcorp.com.
Page 1 of 4
1 Comment