TrueGrain v1.1 — Black & White Film Emulation Review

Reviewed by: Mario Georgiou, February 2008
Published by: Grubba Software
Requires: Source Files in 8 or 16 bit RGB TIF Format, 2GB RAM, Windows XP SP2 or later; Mac OS X 10.4.9 or later
MSRP: US$300.00

Grubba Software was formed to create a solution that could answer the problem of creating digitally originated images that are accurately modelled after real world black & white films. TrueGrain v1.1.7 is a standalone application which uses a combination of real-world samples of grain types, film-specific spectral response curves and dynamic range settings that further refine the greyscale conversion process. There are a number of software solutions which do parts of what TrueGrain does, but none which do it all with such ease and effectiveness.
TrueGrain has sample grains and conversion profiles for a number of film types which I've listed below by film pack.

Film Pack 0
Ilford Delta 3200 Professional
Ilford FP4 Plus
Kodak Professional T-MAX 400

Film Pack 1
Bergger BRF-200
Ilford HP5 Plus
Kodak Professional T-MAX P3200
Konica Infrared 750nm

Film Pack 2
Kodak Panatomic-X
Kodak Professional TRI-X 400
Kodak TRI-X Pan 400

Grubba Software have made a commitment to add more stocks as and when demand requires. The beauty of this model is that your library can grow independent of program updates. Each film stock type comes with settings that also include a number of traditional glass filter profiles and grain samples for a variety of film sizes. For instance, Ilford Delta 3200 Pro comes with the following profiles and grain sizes:
Ilford Delta 3200 Professional 120 (Exp: 6/2007)Exposure: 3200 ISOProcess Date: 1 September 2007Ilford Ilfotec DD-X 1:4 20C 7:30 - Drum Processor

Included filter profiles
Wratten 8 Yellow
Wratten 11 Yellow Green
Wratten 21 Orange
Wratten 25 Red
Wratten 58 Green
Wratten 80B Blue

Included grain sizes
110 17mm x 13mm
135 36mm x 24mm
120 56mm x 45mm (6x4.5)
120 56mm x 56mm (6x6)
120 56mm x 70mm (6x7)
120 56mm x 75mm (6x8)

This film type was modelled on samples processed with Ilford Ilfotec DD-X in a drum processor. Not all film types in TrueGrain have this range of media types but they are very comprehensive where possible.

Using TrueGrain is a breeze and really couldn't be any simpler. Open your image, pick your film type, select your filter if needed, then pick a grain sample and process. The whole workflow is really simple and allows a great deal of modification from the base effect. The interface features three control panes which allow you to refine the simulation by modifying the spectral response, dynamic range and film grain attributes and settings.

Spectral Response basically maps how a particular film type responds to different wavelengths of light. The Spectral Response panel controls, via a mapping curve, how color ranges are mapped to black & white values. The curves are again really simple to use, and can be used by anyone with some knowledge of color to create more interesting effects with your images. This panel is also where you pick the wratten filter you wish to emulate.

The Dynamic Range panel is where you affect the tonality of your image via a tonal response curve. According to Grubba software this feature basically affects "the overall nonlinear response of a given film stock to brightness." The attenuation slider affects the overall intensity of application of the dynamic range.

The last panel, is the Film Grain application control curve, where you define how the film grain is applied. In this panel, you can select the scale of the grain, for the film type you have selected. The scale is reliant on the film size you select and bearing this in mind, I would make an effort to size your source image appropriately, for your intended print size. The curve in this panel isn't editable, but it's intensity of application and appearance can be increased by the grain intensity slider.

Film grain is one of the hardest attributes to effectively emulate, and it is often something which many imageers are asked to remove from scans and images. In TrueGrain this attribute is required as the user is actually trying to emulate this realistic quality, which has its own aesthetic value. Grain modelling is nicely implemented with controls for affecting the inclusion of grain in shadows, midtones and highlights via the predefined curve, as well as controlling the grain size.

One of the attributes which would greatly improve the handling here, is the inclusion of features like clumping and grain shape, to allow for special effects and more customizable grain effects. It might be possible to create application curves and profiles for different types of grain and effects.

I found the best results were created when using fairly neutral, low ISO images with no overt color casts. I also found that using higher resolution images was a necessity, as with lower resolution images the grain effects proved unrealistic—a 6 megapixel image being a recommended baseline or minimum size.

TrueGrain is impressively simple and it is my feeling that the only real way to improve the application, is to add color film types to it, and some facility for custom effects as outlined above. However, as Grubba indicate in their FAQ, they want to focus on handling B&W first, before tackling the additional complications involved in modelling color film types.

Cons: Would like to see more B&W film types. No support for color film types.

Pros: Fast and really easy to use. Highly configurable. TrueGrain is aimed at professional users who can appreciate the work that's been put into this excellent product. The interface makes it easy to achieved the desired result and the available presets further simplify the process. All things considered, TrueGrain is a must have for any photographer and imageer who wants a digital equivalent of black & white film. Highly Recommended.

Corel Bargains At Focus On Imaging 2008

For those of you heading to Focus On Imaging 2008 (24-27 February), pop by the Corel stand, where they are providing some great show deals. Corel are offering attendees 20% off Paint Shop Pro Photo X2, Corel VideoStudio 11.5 Plus and Corel Painter X. They are also providing a free Pantone huey stick to anyone who orders a copy of Corel Painter X for as long as stocks last. Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 is avaialble for £63, VideoStudio 11.5 Plus £47 and Painter X for £214. Corel are at stand S4.

Leica Sacks CEO Steven K. Lee

The CEO of Leica was 'removed' from his post by the company's supervisory board and replaced by their owner and board chairman Andreas Kaufman. His removal is hinted to be linked to a controversial interview he gave to Amateur Photographer at this year's PMA show, in which he hinted that the M8 digital rangefinder was to upgraded with a full frame sensor. I'm guessing that if this was the case, then it was information the board wanted kept under wraps. For more information read the source article at Amateur Photographer.

The Adobe Photoshop Layers Book, by Richard Lynch, ISBN: 978-0-240-52076-6, Review

Reviewed by: Mario Georgiou, February 2008
Published by: Focal Press & Elsevier
Requires: N/A
MSRP: US$39.95, UK£24.95
(CD-ROM included)

As the title suggests, this book is centered entirely on the use and capabilities of the immensely powerful and much-emulated Layers feature in Photoshop. Richard Lynch is an expert Photoshop user and a very capable artist, designer and photographer in his own right. His knowledge of all versions of the Photoshop series of software shines through in this highly detailed book. Taking a task-based approach, Lynch uses techniques which translate well through pretty much every version of Photoshop since CS.

Focal Press offers dozens of Photoshop titles covering digital photo editing techniques, creative imaging with Photoshop and creative design with Photoshop. The subject coverage in The Adobe Photoshop Layers Book is far more narrowly focused than other Focal Press titles however, and deals strictly with the powerful layers functions and creative possibilities with layers.

The Table of Contents is clear cut:

• Introduction: The World of Image Layers
• The Basics of Layers: Layer Functions and Creation
• Layer Management: Concepts of a Layer-Based Workflow
• Basic Object and Image Area Isolation
• Masking: Enhanced Area Isolation
• Applying Layer Effects
• Exploring Layer Modes
• Advanced Blending Modes
• Breaking Out Components
• Taking an Image Through the Process
• Making Layered Collage and Composite Images
• Epilogue: Using RAW in Your Layer Workflow
• Considering Color Management: Testing Your Workflow

Lynch covers everything from layer types, work flows, blending methods and channels. Each tutorial goes into great detail on how to achieve your given task and also explains why particular tools are used and how. The only real problem is that all this detail tends to leave the expert user wanting to skip through the book.

Beginners (and even a few intermediate) Photoshop users, as well as people new to pixel-level creativity software, general image editing and photo editing deserve an explanation of layers. For the uninitiated then, here's an explanation of layers from Virtual Training Help Center "Layers are like transparencies stacked one on top of one another." Each layer can contain a different image, effect or modification which can stand out from, enhance or blend in with the contents of all the layers above and below it. When the layers are stacked, they appear as a single image.

Individual layers in a Photoshop image can be turned on or off, allowing images to be saved in various different states. Parts of one layer can be used to hide or reveal parts of another layer. The list of functional and creative possibilities for layers goes on and on, and remains one of several important reasons that Photoshop, relatively early in its existence, garnered such widespread use by graphic artists and photographers around the world.

Beginners still not clear? Here's another explanation, this one from photoshopcafe.com: "A layer is simply one image stacked on top of another. Imagine I have a piece of paper and I paint it red. Then I take a piece of clear cellophane and paint a yellow circle, and lay it over the paper. Now I take another peice of cellophane and paint some blue type and lay that on top of the yellow circle. I now have a background (red) and 2 layers (yellow and blue)."

The Photoshop Roadmap and FreeTimeFoto explain layers this way: "Photoshop Layers are like stacks of images printed on acetate. An area that contains no color can be revealed to see the layer underneath it. That's called a transparency area. One Photoshop image can contain one or more layers. A Background Layer is a special layer with no transparency area and is common to other file formats that don't support layers (JPEG, BMP, etc.). When you open those file formats in Photoshop you will have only a Background Layer. One image file can contain only one Background Layer. In Photoshop, Background Layer can not be edited. A Type Layer is a special layer that can contain only text. It can be created automatically when you use the Photoshop Type Tool to type in any texts."

This description is from Jack Arraich's Photoshop Elements Tips: "Aside from the minor attraction of being able to keep your image organized by putting each element on its own separate labeled layer, the overwhelming advantage of layers is that they allow you to segregate your edits."

The Adobe Photoshop Layers Book uses a series of creative examples to expand the basic definitions of layers in ways that clearly demonstrate the depth and power of this important and versatile tool set in Photoshop.

Even though The Adobe Photoshop Layers Book mainly confirms much of what I already know and use in my daily professional work with Photoshop, I still found some useful new nuggets of information in chapter 7 - Advance Blending with Blend If, which focuses on the use of the advanced capabilities provided in the Layer Styles dialog.

As a long time user of Photoshop I found myself often smiling at several of the example projects in The Adobe Photoshop Layers Book because they echoed things I have encountered on past projects. I was however left feeling that the examples used in the book needed a little fleshing out. I would like to have seen an example matrix-type approach with several different types of images featured to show a range of results, especially in the Exploring Layer Modes chapter.

Cons: Too general in some sections for experienced users. Although most parts of the layers coverage is comprehensive, deeper examples could improve an already fine book.

Pros: Excellent hints and tips. Comprehensive coverage of Photoshop layers for beginner and intermediate users. Lynch seems to do a good job of avoiding computer platform bias, so Windows and Mac OS X users alike will derive equal value from the book. Relevant for most recent versions of Photoshop including Photoshop CS, Photoshop CS2, Photoshop CS3, Photoshop Elements 5 and Photoshop Elements 6. This excellent, focused book and its companion CD will no doubt open the eyes of many beginners and intermediate users about the functional and creative capabilities of layers in Photoshop. Highly recommended.

Apple Releases Aperture 2

Apple have released Aperture 2 with over 100 new features ... these features include the following new features; User Interface, RAW Image Quality, Compare and Select Tools, Workflow improvements, new Image Processing Tools, Photo Management tools, Print and Web Publishing and AppleScript improvements. The full list and details of improvements can be found at the new features page at Apples' Aperture section on their site. There have been some notable improvements with support for tethered shooting, enhanced imports and image tuning capabilites and a few features taken out of the pages of Lightroom, Apple have even reduced the price to £110 plus VAT. Owners of previous versions can upgrade to Aperture 2 for £55 plus VAT.

Nikon D300 Digital SLR Camera Review

The Nikon D300 Digital SLR is a 12.3 megapixel, CMOS APS-C size (DX) sensor, 14-bit color camera. It features a high resolution (922,000 pixel) 3" LCD rear monitor suitable for spot proofing, switchable Live View through the rear LCD, weatherproofing, a 150,000 actuation synthetic shutter, UDMA high speed CompactFlash card support, a new CPU (the EXPEED processor), a switchable 51(!) point auto focus system, automatic face recognition and focus tracking by color, customizable focus calibration to accommodate focus variations in up to twenty different lenses, scene recognition, HDMI high definition video output to high definition televisions and display devices, Active D-Lighting for automated in-camera shadow & highlight control of high dynamic range (HDR) scenes, and extremely fast operation. There's lots more, but you get the idea. The Nikon D300 is an awful lot of camera. Read the full review at Kickstartnews

I've been shooting with the Nikon D300 Digital SLR camera for several weeks, so it's time to stop having so much fun for a short while and start writing. The problem is, I just don't want to put away the camera. It has its quirks and could use a bit of minor improvement in a couple of areas, but to date is the most complete digital SLR I've ever seen. My perspective is based on analysis of image quality, feature sets, hardware quality, ergonomics and general usability compared with the top-of-the-line digital SLRs from Canon (EOS 40D), Fuji (Finepix S5), Leica (Digilux 3), Olympus (E3), Pentax (K10D, K20D) and Sony (a700). If the goal of photography is to make photographs, then the Nikon D300 does the best job of any camera, except for the much more expensive Nikon D3, Canon 1D Mk III and Canon 5D, at just getting out of your way and letting you do that. Even in a direct comparison with the wonderful Canon 5D full frame sensor powerhouse, the D300 is its equal in low noise, low-medium ISO shooting, and is obviously better at image proofing and review using the glorious, bright, high resolution 3" LCD which remains almost reason enough by itself to purchase a D300. The days of using the camera LCD to review a shot you just took and never being sure if it's color balanced or properly focused are gone. The D300 LCD screen is a true monitor with the resolution, clarity and color depth that photographers have been demanding for many years.

The Nikon D300 Digital SLR, coupled with a selection of Nikon lenses, is everything you'll ever need as a snapshooter, amateur photographer, serious photography hobbyist or general photography professional. The D300 is weatherproofed which means the camera can function just as easily and at just as high quality as you'll get from it indoors. Ergonomically, the camera fits most hands well. Unusually, we found that even people with small-to-medium size hands found the camera comfortable to use, while a couple of testers with very large hands also reported the same great comfort levels over hours of continuous use. Only younger kids and people with very small hands will experience any problems with the D300 control layout, grip or body weight. We shot a huge and varied selection of subjects: wildlife at a local conservation area, sports at a local arena - hockey and volleyball, portraits of family members, urban locations, night shots, street scenes, textures, products being prepared for eBay listings, and in miserable weather, great weather, indoors, mixed lighting and you name it. We did the vast majority of our shooting with four lenses: Nikkor 12-24mm f4 DX wide angle zoom, Nikkor 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 DX VR zoom, Nikkor 17-55mm f2.8 DX professional zoom, and the Nikkor 105mm f2.8 VR professional prime lens.

The Nikon D300 digital SLR is ready to shoot instantly. No matter what mode you select or leave the camera in, turn it on and it's ready to go. Controls are responsive and provide positive feedback. Novice or pro, you can feel exactly how the camera is reacting to your handling and input. Novices may leave the notification beeps on for the first few days or weeks of use, but then the D300's smart design and easy handling will likely allow even still slightly nervous beginners to shut off the beeps and rely instead on the camera's mechanical sounds and natural feedback. In a lighter weight body, Nikon has actually enhanced the tradition of superb tactile feedback pioneered and revered in the FE, F4, F5 and F100 and continued through the D100/200 and the D1/2/3 bodies. I look forward to picking up the D300 and using it in any environment because it feels great and secure in-hand and because it offers controls which are smartly placed, easy to activate and well configured. All in all it's a pleasure to use.

Cons: Auto ISO is not automatically turned off when camera is set to manual (M) mode. Low noise at all normal ISO settings, but performance should be better still above ISO800.

Pros: Superb handling, ergonomics and image quality. The gorgeous high resolution LCD is a wonder to behold. Live view works well. Sensor cleaning function is very useful. Color accuracy is remarkable. A professional camera which can easily be used by amateurs and photography hobbyists. Read the full review at Kickstartnews

Nikon Coolpix P50 Digital Camera Review

The Nikon Coolpix P50 is an 8.1 megapixel, 3.6x zoom, f2.8-5.6 camera featuring a 4.7-17.0mm zoom lens. The lens actually amounts to a 28-102mm standard-to-medium zoom when you take into account the crop factor introduced by the small image sensor. The P50 contains an electronic version of Nikon's patented Vibration Reduction (VR) lens stabilization system, and a large 2.4", 115,000 pixel LCD. The top of the camera sports an optical viewfinder, mode selector dial, shutter button and on/off button. The Nikon P50 is almost identical in size to and somewhat lighter than its P5100 top-of-the-line sibling. The back of the camera keeps all other external controls clustered vertically on the right side: a zoom rocker control, playback button, command wheel (for timer, macro, flash control, EV exposure compensation), menu button and delete button. The bottom of the camera offers a plastic-thread tripod mount, and a trap door behind which you'll find the battery compartment and the SD memory card slot. Nikon has positioned a dock connector at the back of the bottom plate. The mini-USB connector is located behind a rubber snap-in door on the upper right end of the body. The flash indicator and auto-focus lock indicator LEDs are located in a column next to the viewfinder bulge. The Nikon P50 has a prominent grip bulge on the right side which is covered with a good quality piece of textured, molded rubber providing excellent feel and control. The upper right end also has a protruding metal tab for use with a neck or wrist strap.

If the Nikon P5000 and P5100 are prosumer cameras (aimed necessarily at serious point & shoot photographers and also at amateurs and semi-pros who need a point & shoot backup camera), then the P50 is an enthusiast's camera. The differences between the entry level P50 and the masterful P5100 are obvious. The P5100 has a hot shoe for Nikon external flashguns, the P50 does not. The P5100 has selectable Auto, Aperture, Shutter, Program, Manual, Scene and VR modes and controls, while the P50 offers Auto, Program, Manual and Scene modes and controls. The P5100 has a finely stepped rotary zoom control; the P50 has a more coarsely stepped rocker switch zoom control. The P5100 is built around a cast magnesium body shell; the P50 is built around a sturdy polycarbonate shell. The P5100 offers a slightly better lens and a 12.1 megapixel image sensor; the P50 lens provides a more useful zoom range and an 8.1 megapixel image sensor. The P50 costs $150 less than the P5100. Hmmm. Tough decision.

Let it be stated above all else that more megapixels don't automatically mean better photographs. I'll take the clean, relatively noise-free 8.1 megapixels of the Nikon Coolpix P50 over the slightly noisier, but greater number of megapixels often found in more expensive cameras. The reason is simply that a large number of megapixels doesn't necessarily mean greater resolution. It just means physically larger images and somewhat better detail when you zoom in or crop. But since I rarely print larger than 8"x10" who cares? I do serious shooting with my digital SLR cameras, not a point & shoot, and it's on such SLRs that you'll find extremely high resolution lenses capable of capturing clean, noise free detail at really large image sizes suitable for printing many times larger than 8"x10". Forget about megapixels. It's sufficient to state here—and please believe me—that the 8.1 megapixel P50 will capture photos suitable for beautiful printing at all normal sizes including 8"x10" (and even 13"x19" depending on subject matter).

The real test is in the shooting. Winter days with fresh white snow sitting on dark wood, the sad looking, snow-capped, black metal BBQ sitting on my backyard deck and many other similar subjects provide high-contrast, wide dynamic range challenges for all digital cameras, and represent a particularly distressing challenge for little point & shoot models with their smaller image sensors and comparatively limited processing power. The P50 does quite well outdoors in winter, so color me surprised. The exposure compensation (EV) adjustments come in handy for dialing things back slightly to help get blown out snow highlights back under control, but the basic dynamic range of the sensor and the way in which Nikon's wonderful new EXPEED processor handle the high contrast data is exemplary for a camera in this class. Here's a sample photo. Read the full review at Kickstartnews.

Cons: Minor assembly issue leaves a small dirt collecting gap where the rubber grip fits into the the body. Some focus adjustment settings aren't retained in shooting mode. ISO2000 is useful only as a marketing pitch.

Pros: Lightweight, versatile, good image quality. Nikon has, as usual, emphasized very accurate, vibrant color. Clean images for any purposes up to ISO200. Printable images up to ISO400.

Read the full Nikon Coolpix P50 review

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom v1.3 Review

Reviewed by: Mario Georgiou, February 2008
Published by: Adobe
Requires: Mac OS X or Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/Microsoft, Windows XP SP2; Pentium 4 or PowerPC G4 CPU or faster, 768MB RAM, 1GB available hard drive space
MSRP: US$299.oo, UK£179.00

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is designed to be an essential part of the professional photographer's toolbox, Lightroom contains comprehensive features and functions specifically for managing, cataloging, editing and presenting large volumes of digital photographs. Adobe Lightroom is meant to be a program which helps you spend less time in front of the computer and more time with your camera.

Having spent a short time under contract at Adobe prior to the release of Lightroom and Apple's Aperture, I was exposed to a lot of the development projects in which Adobe was engaged. As anyone who knows a little about the origins of Adobe Lightroom will tell you, it began life as a project which was designed to provide a solution aimed squarely at the workflow and imaging requirements of photographers without necessarily obviating the need for Photoshop. The 'wow' of Aperture with its innovative user interface (UI) and cool grey look was lost on me because I had already seen what amounted to about four years work in workflow, intense case studies and focus groups as well as several other user interface concepts at Adobe which echoed many of the same concepts. The UI and workflow concepts which made a lot of people stop and listen when Apple released Aperture, were also present in products such as Express Photo Darkroom and several niche products that had been on the market for photographers and professional labs for quite some time.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom has been in my possession for some time now and has become as much a part of my workflow as Photoshop, Corel Painter and my other primary creative tools. What Lightroom does is enable photographers to simplify the process of working with their digital images. Acquiring photos, managing them and correcting or editing them non-destructively as well as then providing an elegant interface for creating prints, slideshows and web-based photo galleries.

Adobe Lightroom consists of five rooms: Library, Develop, Slideshow, Print, Web, each of which simply does what it infers. The program interface, layout and color scheme is easy on the eyes and doesn't detract from the viewing of your images. When you launch Lightroom for the first time, it asks you to point it to your current image folders so that it can build a database. Once built, which happens fairly quickly, you can start to browse them in Library. Lightroom also remembers the last time you added files to the library and incrementally updates the archive.

Library offers you several options and quite a bit of feedback on any photos selected. Photos can be displayed either on their own or as part of a library grid. You can even compare photos side by side (a rare and useful feature in this type of software) or view photos as part of a collection. Photos can also be displayed alongside their metadata (all of the information contained in the JPEG, EXIF, IPTC and Catalog headers). The options for sorting and grouping your photos are many and varied, so much so in fact that you'll be spoilt for choice. Using any of these features and functions in Lightroom is very easy making it a joy to work with.

The film strip approach is really effective and makes it easy to view your images either as a sequence or as part of a set. You can also begin working with images fairly intuitively using an interface which has been designed with ease of use in mind. It's important to note here that the Lightroom interface was also designed with extensive feedback from and consultation with professional photographers and imageers.

Out of the box Adobe Photoshop Lightroom comes with pretty much everything you will need to carry out basic image processing and enhancement. In Develop you can apply non-destructive changes to your images so that your images are not irrevocably affected. For working with RAW files, this is an absolute necessity, however this process can also be applied to JPEGs and other file types. Changes that can be applied in Develop include toning, color, white balance, exposure, recovery, fill light, blacks, brightness, contrast, clarity and vibrancy. Each adjustment can be made in a range of increments which provide customizable and extremely fine control. Develop is very easy to work, and the Quick Develop mode simplifies the process for even faster edits. All told Develop is quite powerful and allows you a great deal of control over your images.

Slideshow allows you to define collections of images for presentation to clients and for review. It is not designed to produce flashy slideshows or travelogues for home users, although that would no doubt be a useful feature for some photographers, especially those working in event and wedding photography.

The Web capabilities in Lightroom were initially quite simple in earlier versions. Web allows you to create web galleries using either HTML or Flash. Web have been significantly upgraded to allow more enhanced control and to provide files that can be edited and customized with greater ease. The output features are very similar to those found in Photoshop, but could do with some improvement to make it more user friendly.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom has had a lot of time to mature and I can't wait for the next full iteration. There have been three updates since its introduction and all these have helped make Lightroom a joy to use. What I'd like to see in the next iteration is a more robust output engine, better slideshow and enhanced web capabilities.

Cons: Output options need improvement.

Pros: Cool UI. Create galleries from folders or on the fly. Excellent sorting features. Compare and select image, quick editing and control in Develop module. All things considered, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is a beautifully designed program, which has been put together with the photographer in mind. Bear in mind that this program was produced with input from some of the leading photographers and imageers in the industry. The attention lavished on this tool is evident in everything you touch in the software. Anyone working with professional and prosumer digital cameras needs this tool. Highly recommended.

Robert Capa - The Mexican Suitcase

In what has turned out to be one of the most interesting stories in recent years. A Hoard of negatives which belonged to Robert Capa have surfaced. The New York Times has written an article which tells the story of their rediscovery.

The "suitcase" which actually consists of three aged cardboard valises, contains thousands of negatives of pictures that Robert Capa took during the Spanish Civil War. The were thought lost when fled Europe for America in 1939, leaving behind the contents of his Paris darkroom.

Pop on over to the Article and have a read, I for one want to hear more and see more of this amazing find ... Thanks to the Online Photographer for this lead.

Leica Offering Shutter Upgrade For M8

Leica have announced that they plan to offer a major upgrade to their M8 digital rangefinder camera. The upgrade consists of a new shutter which offers lower noise and vibration during exposure and a new protective sapphire glass LCD cover. The service will be offered from August onwards but may booked from March onwards. For more info click here to visit the Leica M8 homepage.

New Products Announced at PMA 2008

A slew of products have been announced to coincide with the 2008 PMA Show. I've listed them below by brand.

Adobe
Adobe showed Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac which will cost £55 in the UK and be available in early Q2 2008.

AgfaPhoto
Agfaphoto announced the AgfaPhoto DV-5000G which captures high-res photos and videos, view recorded movies or TV shows on the move or play back your favorite MP3 files. There are also 20 video games to choose from.

Canon
The Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi is a new 12 megapixel compact DSLR camera.

The Canon Digital IXUS 80 IS (Europe) / PowerShot SD1100 IS ELPH (US) is a new 8 megapixel compact digital camera. C

Canon PowerShot A590 IS, A580, A470 - Canon have added 3 new models to their A-series Powershot range of digital cameras.

Canon EF200mm f/2L IS USM and EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM. - Two new professional EF lenses.

The Canon PIXMA iP2600 - An entry-level photo printer for great value, high quality photo printing.

Casio
The Casio EX-F1 - A camera which features the world's fastest burst shooting performance of 60fps.

The Casio EX-S10 - The world's smallest and thinnest 10.1 megapixel digital camera.

The Casio EX-Z80 - An 8 megapixel digital camera that's designed to be easy and fun to use.

The Casio EX-Z200 - A 10.1 megapixel digital camera with a wide 28 mm lens and 4x optical zoom.

The Casio EX-Z100 is a new 10.1 megapixel digital camera with a wide 28 mm lens and 4x optical zoom.

Corel and Smilebox™
Corel® MediaOne ™ Integration with Smilebox™ Will provide Scrapbookers with the ability to more easily create and share their projects digitally.

Delkin
Delkin Devices had their new Image Router four-card Compact Flash reader that comes with Backup and Burn software for managing and backing-up large numbers of images. They also showed their Dual Universal charger that allows two different batteries to be charged simultaneuously. the charger can be run from the car-charger or with one of the supplied power adaptors.

DNP Photo Imaging America
DNP announced their new self-service Photo Station, a digital kiosk using the company's leading dye-sublimation photo printing technologies.

Fujifilm
The Fujifilm FinePix S100FS - Their "most advanced DSLR-styled camera to date".

The Fujifilm FinePix S8100fd - Offers 10 megapixels and an 18x wide angle lens (27-486mm).

The Fujifilm FinePix S1000fd - The world's smallest 12x optical zoom digital camera.

The Fujifilm FinePix F100fd - the ultimate 'F Series' digital camera.

The Fujifilm FinePix Z20fd - A new 10 megapixel compact camera with MPEG-4 video technology.

The Fujifilm FinePix J50 and J10 - Two new entry-level models in the brand new J Series of digital cameras.

General Electric
GE E1050 - HDMI connectivity and 3 inch touch-screen LCD technology.

GE E1235 - High technology and performance.

GE A840s - Slim and perfectly designed.

GE G2 - One of the slimmest and lightest cameras on the market.

GE E1035 - High performance with great design.

GE A835 and the GE A735 - Entry level point and shoot digital cameras.

HP
The HP Photosmart Pro B8850 is a new photo printer aimed at advanced amateur photographers.

jill-e designs
jill-e designs displayed a broad range of its camera bags in new sizes, designs, colors and combinations at PMA 2008

Kata
Kata introduced the Gecko Shoulder Strap which is a comfortable, lightweight and ergonomic carrying solution which ensures secure positioning.

Kingston
The new Kingston 16GB Class 4 SDHC card is the largest capacity in Kingston's line of SDHC cards.

Kodak
The new Kodak Easyshare Z1012 IS – A digital camera which features a robust suite of exclusive features that capture detailed pictures in the most challenging settings.

Leica
Leica has unveiled the M8 Upgrade Programme, a series of chargeable upgrades for the M8 camera, at PMA 2008.

Mustek
Mustek announced the new PF-A950PS, a 9.5-inch digital photo frame which uses NXT flat-panel speaker technology.

Nik Software
Viveza™ - U Point® Technology Powered Plug-in Software for Adobe® Photoshop® which provides the most powerful, precise, and easy way for photographers to selectively control and adjust the color and light in their digital images.

Nikon
The Nikon D60 is a new 10 megapixel entry-level DSLR camera.

The new AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens is a wideangle 5.3x zoom with built-in vibration-reduction.

The new AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED lens offers 1:1 reproduction of objects at just 0.185 meters away.

The PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED is a new Tilt/Shift Lens ideal for studio, architecture and landscape photography.

The Nikon Coolpix P60 - A new 8 megapixel compact digital camera with 5x zoom (36mm-180mm).

The Nikon Coolpix S600 - A new 10 megapixel compact digicam with a 4x wide-angle zoom lens.

The Nikon Coolpix S550 - A new 10 megapixel compact camera with 5x zoom lens.

The new Nikon Coolpix S520 - A slim, ergonomic camera with a streamlined profile.

The new Nikon Coolpix S210 - A super-thin entry-level camera with 8 megapixels, 2.5 inch LCD screen and 3x zoom lens.

The 8 megapixel Nikon Coolpix L18 and the 7 megapixel Coolpix L16 are new compact and affordable digital cameras.

Norcent
The 10-megapixel DCS-1050 with Face Detection and Anti-Shake technology. Norcent also introduced their new and expanded line of flash memory cards including CF, SD, card adapters and retail value packs.

Olympus
The new Olympus SP-570 UZ features a 20x zoom equivalent to 26-520mm, the world's longest zoom lens on a compact digital camera.

The new Olympus mju 1020 digital camera will be released in Europe and the USA (but not in the UK).

The new Olympus mju 1010 and mju 840 digital cameras offer a 7x and 5x optical zoom lens respectively.

The Olympus mju 1030 SW and mju 850 SW digital cameras are new additions to the successful Olympus range of shock and waterproof cameras.

The Olympus FE-350, FE-340 and FE-310 are new entry-level digital compact cameras.

Panasonic
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 and DMC-TZ4 are 9 and 8 megapixel updates of Panasonic's best-selling camera ever, the TZ3.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35 is a new 25mm ultra wide-angle compact camera.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ10 and DMC-LZ8 are new 10 megapixel, 5x zoom digital cameras.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS20 and DMC-FS5 are the first models in a new range of stylish, easy to use cameras.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS3 camera is an entry-level addition to the brand new FS range.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS80 is a new entry-level 8 megapixel digital camera.

Pentax
Pentax exhibited three DSLR lenses currently under development. The Pentax 55mm, 17-70mm and 60-250mm Lenses

The new Pentax K20D DSLR camera offers 14.6 megapixels, making it the leading semi-professional model in terms of image resolution.

The Pentax K200D is a new 10 megapixel entry-level, compact digital SLR camera.

Pentax have introduced 5 new lenses for their DSLR cameras, including 300mm and 200mm Supersonic Motor lenses.

The Pentax Optio S12 is a new ultra-compact 12 megapixel digital camera.

The Pentax Optio M50 is a new 8 megapixel compact digital camera with 5x optical zoom (36-180mm).

The Pentax Optio E50 is a new 8 megapixel entry-level digital camera with numerous automatic functions.

Quik Pod
Quik Pod® DSLR for professional photographers, the world’s first handheld extendable monopod that multitasks as a self-image device, monopod and a boom for extended reach.

Samsung
Samsung GX-20 - The Samsung GX-20 is a new 14.6 megapixel digital SLR camera.

Samsung has launched two new DSLR lenses, the D-XENON 18-250mm F3.5-F6.3 and 18-55mm II F3.5-F5.6.

The Samsung i100 is a new 10.2 megapixel compact digital camera with 3 inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom.

The Samsung i80 is a new 8.1 megapixel compact digital camera with 3 inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom.

The Samsung S1060 is a new 10.2 megapixel, entry-level compact digital camera.

SanDisk
The SanDisk 32Gb Ultra II SDHC Card offers faster read and write speeds of 15 megabytes per second.

The SanDisk 16Gb Ultra II SDHC Card offers faster read and write speeds of 15 megabytes per second.

The SanDisk Ultra II SDHC Plus card offers faster read and write speeds of 15 megabytes per second.

Sandisk also showed their Ducati branded usb memory stick, the stick looks very much like a miniature petrol tank...

Sigma
The new Sigma DP1 packs the full specification of a DSLR into the body of a compact camera.

Sigma APO 200-500mm F2.8 EX DG - The world’s first Ultra-Telephoto Zoom Lens that offers a fast aperture of F2.8 at 500mm focal length.

Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM - A new ultra telephoto zoom lens covering a telephoto range up to 500mm.

Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM - A new telephoto zoom lens incorporating Sigma’s original Optical Stabiliser.

Sigma 18-125mm F3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM - A high ratio zoom lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras.

Smartparts, Inc.
Smartparts, Inc., announced the world's largest digital picture frame, the 32 inch SP3200.

Sony
Sony 24 Megapixel 35mm CMOS Sensor - Sony have thrown their hat into the full-frame ring by announcing the development of a 35mm 24.81 megapixel, ultra-high speed, CMOS image sensor.

Sony 24 Megapixel Full-frame DSLR - Sony have unveiled an advanced prototype version of their 24 megapixel full-frame professional DSLR camera. Due for release by the end of 2008. the as yet un-named camera will feature the new 24.8 CMOS sensor that was announced this week.

The Sony A350 has a 14.2 megapixel sensor, a variable angle 2.7 inch LCD screen, new Quick AF Live View mode for fast and responsive TTL phase-detection auto-focusing, high ISO of 3200 and Sony’s D-Range Optimizer.

The Sony A300 has a 10.2 megapixel sensor, a variable angle 2.7 inch LCD screen, new Quick AF Live View mode for fast and responsive TTL phase-detection auto-focusing, high ISO of 3200 and Sony’s D-Range Optimizer.

Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 Lens - Co-developed with Carl Zeiss, the Vario Sonnar T 24-70mm f/2.8 ZA is a wide angle 24-70mm zoom lens with a large f/2.8 aperture.

The Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G - Incorporates the optical performance of Sony’s G series in a compact and flexible telephoto zoom lens.

The Sony GPS-CS1KASP GPS receiver is able to trace video footage with GPS coordinates.

Sony DPF-V700 and DPF-D70 Photo Frames - They all offer WVGA resolution (800 x 480 pixels) along with 15:9 aspect-ratio screens and can display images up to 48 megapixels in size. The 7-inch DPF-V700 and 9-inch DPF-V900 digital photo frames have 512MB of internal storage, while the 7--inch DPF-D70 model has 256MB of internal flash memory.

The Sony PictureStation DPP-FP95 and DPP-FP75 are new transportable, 4 x 6-inch photo printers.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10 is a new 8 megapixel compact digicam with a 10x optical zoom lens.

The new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T300 digital camera features a 3.5 inch touch-screen LCD and 5x optical zoom lens.

Sony has unveiled 4 new additions to its W-range of Cyber-shot compact digital cameras. The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W170, DSC-W150, DSC-W130 and the DSC-W120.

The new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S780 and DSC-S750 entry-level cameras, now with Lithium Ion batteries instead of AA batteries.

Sunex
Sunex launches their new full spherical panoramic tripod head and the first circular fisheye lens for 1.6x crop DSLRs with 185° field of view. They also announced their panoramic dewarper software, which is capable of producing high quality panoramic pictures while minimizing and controlling distortion.

Sunpak
The Sunpak PZ42X flash - A full featured, professional digital SLR flash but without the price of an OEM unit for digital and film cameras.

Sunpak also announced the Tripod Center Column, which converts to a full featured monopod for situations where a tripod is just not suitable.

Tamron
The new Tamron SP AF10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) is a ultra wide-angle zoom lens for digital SLRs with APS-C size sensors.

The new Tamron SP AF70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD (IF) MACRO is a fast tele-zoom lens for digital SLRs with with 35mm full-size image sensors.

The Tamron SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical [IF] is now available in the Pentax mount.

Three Tamron Lenses for Nikon - Tamron have developed three zoom lenses with built-in motors for Nikon DSLRs, two for the APS-C size format and one for full-size format cameras.

Vermont PhotoInkjet
Vermont PhotoInkjet introduces an eco-friendly ink alternative for EPSON® Ultrachrome™ K3 printers.

XIAS
Xias announced 8-inch digital photo frames and introduced new dynamic 10-inch digital photo frames. They also introduced two new models with WiFi capability and user-friendly Touch Screen technology.

They also introduced their new Colorful XIAS™ 4 GB and 8 GB Pen Drives, the DCS-1260 12-Megapixel Digital Camera, the Colorful DCS-860 8-Megapixel Digital Cameras and the DCS-760 7-Megapixel Digital Camera.

Sony Announce New A300 and A350

Sony's Alpha A300 and A350 have officially been unveiled. The 10.2 megapixel A300 and 14.2 megapixel A350 feature flip-out 2.7-inch swivel screens with a live preview facility that retains autofocus. Both DSLRs are capable of shooting up to ISO3200, and feature burst modes of 3fps for the A300 and 2.5fps for the A350. The DSLRs will be available from April, with the A300 being bundled with an 18-70mm kit lens for $800. The A350 will come in a $900 kit or $800 for the body-only.