Rangefinder Magazine
May 2006

Focus  
 

Industry News

• In Memorium: Leonard Sandler

A pioneer in the professional color-processing industry, Leonard Sandler, 78, died on March 23 at his home in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, of prostate cancer. Sandler was the president and founder of LustreColor Corporation of Canton, MA, which was the first professional color lab in New England. Sandler was friends with professional photographers and other lab owners across the U.S. and was instrumental in the formation of the Association of Professional Color Laboratories. He served as president of that organization in 1972 and 1973. He is survived by his wife Linda, three children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

• Micron Acquires Lexar Media

Micron Technology, Inc. (Boise, Idaho, www.micron.com), a leading manufacturer of advanced semiconductors, recently announced that it would acquire Lexar (Fremont, CA, www. lexar.com) in a stock-for-stock merger. The acquisition strengthens Micron’s position in the NAND flash memory business by combining its expertise in NAND flash memory with Lexar’s brand recognition and leadership in NAND controller and system- design technology. Lexar’s NAND flash memory products include memory cards, USB flash drives, card readers and ATA controllers.

• dotPhoto Launches Website for Professional

Photographers dotPhoto (West Trenton, NJ, 609/434- 0340, www.dotphoto. com), a leading provider of photo, video, and multimedia applications, recently launched dotPhotoPro, an enhanced website that helps all professional photographers quickly create an online presence. It’s really easy. Simply register at www.dotphotopro.com to launch a customizable online store and then upload, organize, exhibit and offer your work for sale. Once the store is up and running, dotPhotoPro takes care of all the online ordering, order tracking, payment processing, customer service and financial reporting.

• World Class Photography Exhibition in San Diego

The Art of Photography Show 2006 (San Diego, CA, 858/793- 0900, www. artofphotographyshow.com), an international exhibition of photographic art, runs from April 20 to June 4, 2006 at the historic Lyceum Theatre in downtown San Diego. The eight-week show, which is expected to draw 10,000 or more people, is curated by Arthur Ollman, the Director of the Museum Of Photographic Arts. Ollman has overseen more than 150 exhibitions worldwide and authored 20 books on photography. Admission is free.

• Apple Improves Aperture

Apple Computer’s (Cupertino, CA, www.apple.com) latest version of Aperture, an advanced RAW workflow program, includes important upgrades that allow photographers to run the application on PowerPC and the new Intel- based Macintosh computers, including the MacBook Pro. The new Version 1.1 also incorporates improved RAW decode algorithms, a new color meter, a new set of RAW Fine Tuning controls and Auto Noise Compensation, which takes into account the unique noise characteristics of specific digital cameras. It also features a new Export Versions command that lets users specify the resolution in dots-per-inch, and it handles metadata, onscreen proofing, histograms, cropping, printing and web output better than the previous version.

• Gordon Parks Dies at 93

Gordon Parks, the well known Life Magazine photographer who chronicled poverty and the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, died March 7, 2006 in New York City. He was 93. A respected photojournalist and filmmaker, he covered everything from fashion to politics to sports. His better known films include The Learning Tree and the 1971 hit, Shaft. An accomplished musician, poet and novelist, Parks also authored Camera Portraits: Techniques and Principles of Documentary Portraiture, which is still highly regarded almost 60 years after its initial publication.

• Hasselblad Celebrates Founder’s Birth with New Camera

Hasselblad U.S.A., Inc. (Redmond, WA, 425/861-6434, www. hasselblad.com) is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founder’s birth, March 8, 1906, with the Hasselblad 503CWD Anniversary Kit, a high-end photographic system that integrates the latest digital technology into the classically designed Hasselblad 503CW body. Combining the reliability of the black and chrome V System body with the company’s new CFV digital back, the new Anniversary Kit is limited to 500 cameras only, each numbered and engraved with Victor Hasselblad’s signature.

Anniversary kits include a 503CWD body with waist-level finder, a specially marked focusing screen and chrome winding lever, a Zeiss Planar CFE f/2.8 80mm lens, a CFV digital back and a beautifully produced book marking Victor Hasselblad’s anniversary. The 503CWD Anniversary Kit has a list price of $12,995. Existing Hasselblad V System users can purchase the CFV digital back separately for $9995.

New Products

• Epson Uses ProfileMaker to Generate ICC Profiles

GretagMacbeth’s (Regensdorf, Switzerland, www.gretagmacbeth.com) Profile Maker 5 color-management software has been chosen by Epson to develop premium ICC profiles for the popular Epson Stylus Photo R800 printer. Epson chose the application because its colorful gamut mapping enhances shadow detail, improves overall tone reproduction and provides stronger, more vivid colors. ProfileMaker also has a new profile interpolation algorithm, which provides smoother color transitions and faster calculations. The Epson Stylus Photo R800 printer uses eight individual Ultra- Chrome ink cartridges to create archivalquality glossy and matte photo prints, with resolutions up to 5760 x 1440 dpi. It supports ink droplets as small as 1.5-picoliters and is capable of generating frame-ready prints in 4 x 6, 5 x 7 and 8 x 10-in. sizes.

• New Lenses from Tamron

Tamron USA, Inc. (Commack, NY, 800/827-8880, www.tamron.com) is marketing three new lenses. Of the three, the SP AF17–50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical is a compact, lightweight standard zoom lens that’s designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras with smaller size image sensors. It has 16 elements in 13 groups and a minimum-focus distance of 10.6 inches over the entire zoom range. It features enhanced peripheral illumination and outstanding resolution and is an ideal choice for portraiture. The Tamron AF28–200mm f/3.8–5.6 XR Di Aspherical [IF] Macro Zoom and the AF70–300mm f/4–5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2 are designed for both digital and film cameras. With 15 elements in 14 groups, the 28–200mm zoom features reduced ghosting and flare, made possible by a new multiple-layer coating technology. The 70–300mm Macro Zoom has a minimum-focus distance of 37.4 inches, which enables close-up shots of flowers, insects, and other objects that normally require the use of a specially designed macro lens. It has 13 elements in 9 groups and minimized ghosting and flare.

Besides introducing new lenses, Tamron is also sponsoring a photo contest for Tamron lens users that only has two rules: an animal or animals must be prominently featured, and pictures must be in good taste. The grand prize winner will receive a Tamron AF18–200mm f/3.5–6.3 Di-II Aspherical (IF) Macro zoom lens, and the winning entry will be displayed in Tamron’s Viewfinder newsletter and on the Gallery section of the Tamron website. Entries for the “It’s a Wild World” contest must be received by October 31, 2006 and only U.S. residents may enter. Additional information is available on the Tamron site.

• Improved PictoBooks Website

PictoBooks (Rockville, MD, 888/697-4286, www. pictobooks.com) has updated its website to include an improved user interface that lets photographers design, order, and track their unique and timeless albums online. The revised website also includes a downloadable version of PictoTools, the company’s design and production software. Additional information about PictoBooks digital albums and web services is available by e-mail at info@pictolab.com.

• Slinger Camera Bags from Adorama

Adorama (New York, NY, www.adorama.com), one of the country’s largest photo retail and mail-order suppliers, is offering two new ergonomically friendly, multipurpose photo bags that can be used as single-strap backpacks, over-theshoulder bags, or conventional top-grip carry gear. The Pro Slinger and Left-side Slinger feature water-resistant exteriors, quick-snap buckles and extra-wide shoulder straps with oversize “D” rings. The Pro Slinger, at 10 x 10 x 6.5-in., has a MSRP of $44.95. The Left-sided Slinger, at 10 x 10 x 4-in., lists for $29.95.

• Kodak Papers Pass Tests

Eastman Kodak (Rochester, NY, www. kodak.com) has completed the testing and ICC output profile development for several inkjet papers designed for the photographic market. They included the popular Premium Rapid-Dry Photographic Paper/260g, Rapid-Dry Photographic Paper/190g and Universal Backlit/8mil. All three products are now covered by Kodak’s unique Performance Guarantee when used with Epson’s new Stylus Pro 4800, 7800 and 9800 printers and Ultrachrome K3 inks, and Canon’s imagePROGRAF W6400Pg and W8400Pg printers and pigment inks.

• Compatible RIPs for Large-Format

Canon Printers Canon U.S.A., Inc. (Lake Success, NY, www.usa.canon.com) recently announced that five leading digital imaging and printing software developers have joined the Canon Alliance Program and now offer compatible RIP software for Canon’s line of imagePROGRAF large-format printers. They include EFI, Onyx Graphics, Scanvec Amiable, SCP, and Wasatch. As part of the Alliance, each company has completed compatibility testing of their RIP software solutions. Canon will, in turn, promote the Alliance partners’ RIP solutions through co-marketing. Currently compatible Canon RIPs include EFI Designer Edition 4.2 and EFI Colorproof, Onyx PosterShop and RIPCenter Photo Edition, Scanvec Amiable PhotoPRINT, SCP Daylight RIP Client Server XL and Colorado XL, and Wasatch SoftRIP.

• High-End Flatbed Scanners from

Epson Epson America (Long Beach, CA, www. epson.com) is marketing two Perfection scanners that deliver the high-end capabilities of commercial lab scanners without the high-end pricetag. Designed for professional and amateur photographers, the Epson Perfection V700 Photo and Epson Perfection V750-M Pro Scanners feature a Dual Lens System, which enables 6400 dpi optical resolution scans of 35mm, 21/4, and 4x5 film, as well as 4800 dpi scans of transparency and reflective material.

The Pro version also has a new fluidmount accessory that supports wet scans of black-and-white film, which is especially valuable for scratch removal, grain reduction and the elimination of artifacts such as Newton Rings. It also features new High Pass Optics that optimize image quality by using anti-reflective coatings on the CCD lens and a new high-reflection mirror. Both scanners have a Dmax of 4.0, USB 2.0 and FireWire connectivity, and Digital ICE, a powerful tool that automatically removes scratches and dust from film, and surface defects from prints.

Both scanners ship with Photoshop Elements, ABBYY FineReader Sprint Plus OCR software, Epson’s Scan with Easy Photo Fix technology and the Epson Copy Utility. The Pro version, at $799, includes LaserSoft’s Imaging SilverFast Ai 6 and MonacoEZcolor; the $549 V700 Photo ships with LaserSoft’s Imaging SilverFast SE6.

• Pelican Cases Pass Inspection

Pelican Products (Torrance, CA, 800/ 473-5422, www.pelican.com) Protector Cases have been certified with the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Stanag 4280 and Def-Stan 81-41 quality- testing standards. Both standards subjected the company’s cases to an extensive battery of standardized endurance and quality tests that simulate extreme situations. During the tests, Pelican cases provided protection from vibration and high impact, as well as high and low temperatures for extended periods of time.

Pelican Protector Cases feature a fully stackable design, throw latches that have been tested to a failure threshold of nearly 400 pounds and stainless-steel reinforced padlock-protector holes. Their cell-core construction protects sensitive equipment while a polymer O-ring in the lid acts as a dust and waterproof seal. Pelican cases include a moisture-fighting, pressure-balancing, automatic Gore-Tex purge valve, as well as optional features such as TSA-approved security padlocks and multi-pocketed lid organizers.

• Corel Updates Painter

Corel Corporation (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 800/772-6735, www.corel.com) has updated the popular Painter imaging application to give professional photographers and artists new tools that make it easier to transform photographs into paintings. Painter, Version IX.5 also supports Rosetta, which lets users run the application on the new Intel-based Apple computers.

Additional improvements include Photo Painting Palettes, which automate the process of turning photographs into works of art. Painter also has a new Eraser tool that removes any medium on the canvas, a Rubber Stamp Tool that supports pointto- point cloning, and a Cloner Tool, which gives quick access to the last-used Cloner brush. Painter IX.5 has a MSRP of $429 for the full version, $229 for the upgrade version and $99 for the education edition. The updated version is available for free to registered owners of Corel Painter IX.

• Color Calibration for Everyone

Datacolor (Lawrenceville, NJ, www.col orvision.com) is marketing the next generation of ColorVision color calibration products. They are the Spyder2express, Spyder2Suite, Spyder2PRO and Print- FIX PRO. Spyder2express, an entry-level device, gives users studio-quality images for both Mac and Windows systems. It calibrates CRT, LCD, or laptop monitors using algorithms that accurately set the gray balance and tonal responses. Spyder2 Suite provides sophisticated controls for skilled users, including the ability to create, compare and contrast extremely fine levels of RGB-based calibration. PrintFIX PLUS is the industry’s first software-only printer profiling tool, while Spyder2PRO is geared for professional photographers and designers. It uses the company’s exclusive Ambient PreciseLight function to insure smooth gradient steps and neutral grays on digital projectors, CRTs, LCDs and laptop monitors.

• Pantone Supports Additional

Epson Printers Pantone, Inc. (Carlstadt, NJ, www.pan tone.com), the global authority on color standards, is marketing economical, Color- VANTAGE pigment-based inks for several additional Epson printers, including the Stylus Photo 2400, Stylus Pro 4800, Stylus Pro 7800 and Stylus Pro 9800. ColorVANTAGE inks eliminate colorcasts and reduce printhead clogging, while significantly improving a print’s gray balance. Primarily used for color photography, fine art and prepress proofing, they include profiles for Arches Infinity, Epson, Hawk Mountain, Kodak, Mitsubishi, Moab, Premier Art and Red River papers.

In other Pantone news, the huey monitor calibration tool was given the Digital Imaging Marketing Association’s (DIMA) Innovative Digital Product Award at the PMA 2006 convention. The $89 huey guarantees monitor color and clarity by continually making adjustments as room light changes. It works on LCD, laptop and CRT displays without requiring users to have any knowledge of color management. Typical monitor calibration times are less than five minutes.

• Broncolor Verso Power Pack

Broncolor’s (Allschwil, Switzerland, www.bron.ch) latest studio power pack, the Verso A2, delivers flexibility for both studio and location settings by letting photographers work with asymmetric power distribution, even without any AC power nearby. Its “dock-on” rechargeable battery and three lamphead outlets are complimented by short recycle times and flash durations, which allow the capture of images never before thought possible.

The A2’s asymmetry of seven f-stops eliminates the need for a second power pack as does its capacity of about 50,000 flashes per charge. Additional features include constant color temperature over four f-stops, recycling times of 0.2–0.9 seconds, a built-in IR-trigger and a fourhour charging time. Sinar Bron (www. sinarbron.com) distributes Broncolor products in the United States.

• New Logitech Device Powers

Adobe Creative Suite 2 Logitech Inc. (Fremont, CA, 510/795- 8500, www.logitech.com) and Adobe Systems (San Jose, CA, www.adobe.com) joined forces to develop the NuLOOQ navigator, an auxiliary device that gives professional photographers greater control when utilizing the Adobe Creative Suite 2 (CS2).

Complimenting a computer’s mouse and keyboard, the navigator and accompanying NuLOOQ tooldial software put Creative Suite frequently used tools and options right at the user’s fingertips. The navigator is about the size and shape of half a tennis ball and sits under the non-mousing hand. It has a circular touch-sensitive surface for adjusting option values in supported applications and a moveable rubber-like ring at the base, which lets users easily navigate images and documents. Embedded buttons call up frequently used tools. The navigator provides touch-sensitive controls and is fully customizable. It supports Mac systems and has a MSRP of $149.99.