2009 Editor's Picks

Looking for a perfect holiday gift for the “To Me, From Me” under the tree?

By The Editors

Looking for a perfect holiday gift for the “To Me, From Me” under the tree? We’ve compiled our annual list of a few of our favorite gear and accessories about which you’ll want to start dropping hints. From updated versions of essential tools to totally new ideas to make your photography more successful and enjoyable, this year’s list includes... Read more

Buyer's Guide 2009: Lenses

By William Sawalich

Cameras get all the attention. When a new camera is expected from one of the big players, the rumor mill starts up and bloggers frantically conjecture at what new features and technologies it might have. Photographers and tech junkies get excited, and soon the buzz is a juggernaut. Lenses, on the other hand, aren’t the stuff of rumors and anticipation—but... Read more

Buyer's Guide 2009: Must-Have Accessories

Camera bags are especially important as they perform two vital functions, protecting your gear from damage and keeping it all organized.

By The Editors

Bags Camera bags are especially important as they perform two vital functions, protecting your gear from damage and keeping it all organized. Available in a range of sizes, shapes and styles, there’s no perfect bag for everyone, but there’s a perfect bag for you, your equipment and the types of photography you do. $189 Lowepro’s... Read more

Buyer's Guide 2009: Photo Workstations

With so many factors to weigh, deciding which computer best fits your photographic needs is a challenge. Consider power and expandability first.

By Kim Castleberry

With so many factors to weigh, deciding which computer best fits your photographic needs is a challenge. Consider power and expandability first. PROCESSORS Dual-core processors now are the standard in today’s high-performance notebooks and desktops. With this technology, each chip serves as two processors in one, so the computer performs faster... Read more

Buyer's Guide 2009: Monitors

Buying a monitor for digital photography is one of the most important decisions to make on the computer side of imaging.

By Jon Canfield

Buying a monitor for digital photography is one of the most important decisions to make on the computer side of imaging. While a smaller, basic monitor may be fine for web browsing and e-mail, when it comes to digital photography, a large, high-resolution display makes the process a lot easier and more enjoyable. With the monitors we’ll suggest... Read more

Buyer's Guide 2009: Color Management

Without a solid color-management system in place, what you see on screen isn’t necessarily what you’ll get in the final print.

By Kim Castleberry

Without a solid color-management system in place, what you see on screen isn’t necessarily what you’ll get in the final print. Dry? Technical? Yes, but worth paying attention to if you’re looking for vibrant, knockout color every time you print. Whether calibrating your monitor or a whole system of devices that includes your camera,... Read more

Buyer's Guide 2009: Storage

Every photographer needs a backup strategy.

By Brannack McLain

Every photographer needs a backup strategy. Trust us when we tell you that hard drives fail, and when they do, you’ll be really glad you had copies of your photos and other irreplaceable files on multiple drives. External storage solutions like those included here offer an affordable, convenient way to safely archive your photo library. Desktop... Read more

Buyer's Guide 2009: Specialty Papers & Inks

Conventional wisdom says that for the best-looking prints, you should stick with your printer manufacturer’s papers and inks.

By Kim Castleberry

Conventional wisdom says that for the best-looking prints, you should stick with your printer manufacturer’s papers and inks. It’s not bad advice because their printer-software drivers are fine-tuned for those inks and papers to ensure excellent results and print longevity. But if you only print with the standard photo stock, you’re... Read more

Buyer's Guide 2009: Portable Printers

Making 4×6-inch, photo-quality prints at home and on the go has never been easier.

By Jon Sienkiewicz

Making 4×6-inch, photo-quality prints at home and on the go has never been easier. There are several excellent snapshot printers on the market. Most are reasonably priced and easy to use. Many print directly from your camera or memory card, allowing you to make prints without booting up your computer. Some even run on battery power. And all of... Read more

Buyer's Guide 2009: Fine-Art Printers

Inkjet printers have been outstanding for years now, but the latest generation really advances the state of the art. As camera resolution has increased to easily support it, the trend is toward making larger, 13×19-inch printers the best printers possible for photographers.

By Rob Sheppard

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