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July/August 2009

This Article Features Photo Zoom

CONSISTENT COLOR
Modify white balance and capture more precise color when shooting in RAW using Datacolor’s SpyderCube. The calibration device is spectrally neutral so it responds accurately to all lighting conditions and allows you to correct highlight and shadow details in RAW images. The white side of the device helps define highlights in relation to the catchlight, the gray side measures color temperature and midtone response, and the black side defines shadows. SpyderCube also can be used to improve JPEG images. List Price: $59. Contact: Datacolor, (800) 554-8688, www.datacolor.com.

EXPANDABLE BAG
Pack up your equipment in M-Rock’s Yellowstone camera bag, which houses a D-SLR with an attached four-inch lens. The scratch-resistant interior is constructed of dense closed-cell foam and plastic panels for protecting gear without adding too much bulk. Two padded, dual adjustable shoulder straps allow you to carry it as a messenger bag, backpack or waist pouch. A small tripod can be attached using the rubber bungee cables on the bag’s exterior. Attaching any of M-Rock’s five modular bags to either side increases capacity. List Price: $55. Contact: M-Rock, (800) 773-7067, www.m-rock.com.

FAST LENS
Shoot with the classic perspective offered by a 50mm lens on a full-frame camera using Nikon’s AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm ƒ/1.8G. This is the fastest DX-format (APS-C) lens as of its debut with an aperture that’s great for low-light shooting. The focal length, which is actually closer to 52mm on a full-frame SLR, delivers an angle of view similar to that of the human eye. The Silent Wave Motor provides quick and quiet autofocusing down to one foot. List Price: $199. Contact: Nikon, (800) NIKON-UX, www.nikonusa.com.

PLUG-IN BOX SET
Enhance your images using Plug-In Suite 4.5, which combines full versions of several popular onOne Software plug-ins into one high-powered application. The latest version supports Photoshop CS4. Inside the box are Genuine Fractals 6 for enlarging photos by up to 1,000 percent, PhotoTools 2 for producing customized effects, PhotoFrame 4 for adding cool edges and frames, FocalPoint 1.1 for adding selective focus and vignettes, Mask Pro 4.1 for creating masks and PhotoTune 2.2 for correcting color. List Price: $499. Contact: onOne Software, (888) 968-1468, www.ononesoftware.com.

LOAD UP
Stash your camera in a backpack designed to fit your equipment and shooting style. The versatile Lowepro Toploader Pro AW has a simple, compact body that can be worn three ways: holster-style with a shoulder strap, with a belt system or with the Topload Chest Harness for hands-free use (sold separately). Shaped to follow the lines of a pro D-SLR for a secure fit, the bag features easy-grip access, meaning the camera sits sideways so you can grab it and shoot quickly. It comes in three sizes and with an All Weather AW Cover. List Price: TBA. Contact: Lowepro, (800) 800-LOWE, www.lowepro.com.

PHOTO EDITOR
Improve your photographs using Digital Light & Color’s Picture Window Pro 5.0, a powerful editing app that’s also very affordable. Typical enhancements are done through “transformations.” Every time you apply a transformation, Picture Window creates a new copy of the image so you can compare it with the original file. This major upgrade includes new transformations for improving color vibrancy, a redesigned RAW converter, batch processing, new masking tools, soft print proofing and a new histogram tool. List Price: $89. Contact: Digital Light & Color, (617) 489-8858, www.dl-c.com.

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