Nikon Coolpix 880 3.2MP Digital Camera w/ 2.5x Optical Zoom
Average Customer Review:
Electronics

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Editorial Review

With the Coolpix 880, Nikon has taken the 3.3-megapixel CCD and many ofthe advanced features from its semiprofessional 990 model and put them into atraditional compact point-and-shoot design simple enough for anyone touse.

The Nikkor all-glass lens features a 2.5x optical zoom (equivalent to 38- 95mm on a 35mm camera) with a macro mode that focuses down to 1.6 inches. A 4xdigital zoom further increases magnification at lower resolutions. Images arestored on a Type I CompactFlash card (8 MB card included). Maximum imageresolution is 2,048 x 1,536 pixels, and an uncompressed TIFF mode is available(remember, however, that uncompressed images are so large that you'll need abigger memory card to store even one full-resolution uncompressedimage).

Though the camera defaults to full-auto point-and-shoot mode, it has ahost of manual features for advanced photographers. In addition, Nikon hasincluded 11 special modes in which the camera is automatically programmed withthe appropriate settings for specific situations like sunsets, beaches, nightportraits, and extreme close-ups. For example, switch the camera to itsparty/indoor setting, and it will slow down the shutter and use a slow-synchflash with red-eye reduction.

The 880 is Nikon's smallest digital camera, withoverall dimensions of only 3.9 by 3 by 2.1 inches, and weighs only 9.7 ounceswithout a battery.

Power is provided by either a disposable 2CR5 lithiumbattery (included) or an optional rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Forenvironmental and economic reasons, we strongly recommend getting therechargeable battery kit for anything more than occasional use.

Image transferis quick and easy with the included USB cable. If you have an older computerwith only a serial port, the Coolpix 880 also supports serial image transfer(though you'll need to purchase the serial cable separately). The camera shipswith an impressive software suite that includes Genuine Fractals 2.0 LE for filecompression and scaling, Cumulus 5.0 demo for image management, and Great Photo!for image manipulation and correction. ... Read more

Features

• 3.3-megapixel CCD
• Nikkor lens with 2.5x optical zoom
• Uses 2CR5 lithium batteries or optional rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• CompactFlash storage (8 MB card included)
• USB and serial connectivity

Reviews (42)

Digital photography is fascinating
Having used this CP880 for about 2+ yrs, I've still on the learning curve and have only scratched the surface . Although most shots are quite good with the Auto sequence, it's nice to have flexibility with manual settings. Be prepared to buy the extras to make your digicam experience practical: 2 re-chargeable Li-ion batteries and the charger; upgrade to a 64 or better yet a 128 MB CF card with card reader (supplied with my Lexar 64 MB CF card. USB connectivity reader greatly expedites transfer of files to PC); optional digital wallet (Minds@work 3 GB portable HD for travel and downloading on the road); belt case (to keep the CP close by for those "once in a lifetime shots"). I'm familiar with many controls but the manual is a bit cumbersome. I'm now reviewing "Nikon Coolpix 880 Photography by Dan Curtin...to pick up more nuances. The CP4300 may be a more current version and deserves consideration. All in all, a great camera. My 1200 shots taken in Oregon,Washington,Vancouver, and Victoria were burned to CD's with relative ease thanks to my CP880 and peripherals. Some of my Butchart Gardens shots were spectacularly polarized courtesy of a hand-held 52 mm polarizing lense from my old 35 mm Nikorrmat!!

manual lens cap removal very annoying
After 2 hears of removing the lens shade manually on my Nikon 880
I will never buy another Nikon product again. Up to now, I have not found any reference to this irritating procedure in the Nikon manuals, specifications, or camera sale's blurbs. The battery charger & rechargeable battery's extra cost & time to recharge the battery negates owning a digital camera that should provide fast & easy use. The ready light does not go off when the battery is charged. Time between captures is more like 3 seconds,not 1 second as stated

Great Camera
I have used my Nikon for one year and have had no problems nor issues. The 885 does add audio to it's movie mode which would be nice. This is a great point and shoot and is good if you are familiar with manual controls also. I have owned three Olympus, two Sony, and have used many other Canon and Minolta units- for the money this camera is great. ... Read more

Asin: B00004YV85
Subjects:  1. Digital Camera (Cameras)    2. Photograph (Photography)   

Nikon Coolpix 990 3.34MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
Average Customer Review:
Electronics (01 May, 2000)

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Editorial Review

The Nikon Coolpix 990 takes all the features of its popular predecessor, the Coolpix 950, and improves upon them. This 3.34-megapixel CCD offers true (noninterpolated) image resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 for easy cropping and high print quality. The built-in 3x zoom Nikkor lens provides 38-115mm coverage (35mm equivalent) for clear, sharp images with 4x stepless digital zoom. It also features a 1.8-inch low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD screen for easy composition and playback. Nikon's own 256-element matrix metering and white balance promise outstanding exposure and color balance in every image.

Fully automatic with manual capabilities, the Nikon Coolpix 990 provides 4,896-step multi-area autofocus for quick composition without interruption. It provides a built-in five-mode flash and seven capture modes, including 1.5 fps (frames per second) full-resolution image capture, 30 fps QVGA, and 15 fps QVGA movies for 40 seconds in motion-JPEG mode.The 50-step manual focus gives complete creative control, while the macro focus mode allows you to shoot pictures from as close as 0.8 inches. You may choose between shutter priority and aperture priority exposure modes for greater artistic flexibility without added hassle. This camera also accepts all optional Coolpix lenses and accessories, including fisheye, wide angle, and telephoto lenses and up to five Nikon speedlights (with optional bracket) to light up any scene.

Convenience features of the Nikon Coolpix 990 include its easy-to-use and easy-to-upgrade CompactFlash memory (16 MB card provided). This camera is capable of both NTSC and PAL video playback, and it works with both Macintosh and IBM platforms. Although the Nikon Coolpix 990 can connect to your PC via serial connection, it also offers high-speed USB connectivity for plug-and-play simplicity and faster picture downloads. ... Read more

Features

• 3.34 megapixel sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality prints at 8 x 10 inches and beyond
• 3x optical plus 4x digital zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 16 MB CompactFlash memory card holds 20 images at default resolution
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
• Uses 4 AA batteries alkalines, included; special features include movie mode, slide-show playback, and 9-image review

Reviews (95)

Awesome
I've had mine for 3 years and it's just what I wanted for what I use it for. If anyone wants a great camera to use for just about any task or just fun? Buy it. Buy it now!

Old and tired
This product, if still available, isn't a great camera. Look up the canon G2 or G3 or a newer Olympus model.

Better than average, but not stellar.
I picked up this camera used to do some assignment work for an online publication.I specifically wanted full manual control and the ability to use an external flash (the internal flash is almost useless).

The large handgrip is a welcomed change from most other digicams out there.It feels nice and solid in your hand while the no-slip surface does its job admirably. The shutter release button is solid and the mode jog dial is placed perfectly.The user interface could benefit from minor usability improvements, but for the most part is easy to use and learn in seconds without consulting the manual.And to echo what everyone else mentions, battery life lasts me about 40 shots with the monitor and flash turned off.I take along a spare set of AA batteries for short outings.For longer outings, I mount a DigiPower DPS9000 external battery pack into the tripod mount

Overall picture quality is good, but not to the level of my 35mm film cameras under moderate scrutiny.For web content, picture quality is awesome, though.Resolution and sharpness are perfectly acceptable for 4x6 prints.Nice to have the 3:2 ratio to let you print uncropped 4x6 images.Macro capabilities are great.

Since I prefer to print my personal images, I feel the Coolpix's weakness is in its color reproduction.Photos printed on a Fuji Frontier 370 system seem to lack a certain saturation or 'punch' in various colors - things seem to be on the dull or compressed side and not very vibrant, even if the original scene was. This is especially noticeable when you hold a digital print next to a film print when both have used the same exposure and focal length and have been printed on the same machine.

Sure, I can spend time in PhotoShop adjusting curves and levels, but that's more time consuming than it's worth if you ask me. For a few photos, no big deal.But if I just shot 50+ images that are keepers, I'm not going to spend countless hours tweaking each one.

I found that a semi-decent shortcut is to get the ICC profile for my target printer and batch up all the images in PhotoShop to have the profile applied automatically.I then spend $0.29/print at my local camera shop getting them printed.Inexpensive, fast, sharp, and durable -there's no way I can print at home at that price or time savings, and I doubt anyone else can.

PROS:
Sharp images (provided you keep the sharpness setting on Auto)
Easy user interface
Inexpensive on the used market
Decent build quality

CONS:
Condensed color range
Slow to focus and fire shutter (2-3 sec.)
Supplied software is almost useless
Viewfinder shows too little of actual image (85%?) ... Read more

Asin: B00004RDMR
Subjects:  1. Cameras    2. Cool pix    3. Digital Camera (Cameras)    4. Photograph (Photography)   

Sony DSC-S50 2MP Cyber-shot Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $699.99
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Editorial Review

The DSC-S50 CyberShot is a feature-packed, compact 2.1 megapixel camera with a 3x optical and 2x digital zoom. Like most Sony cameras, the S50 also comes with a long-life InfoLithium rechargeable battery. One unusual feature of this camera is its 2-inch color LCD screen, which swings up from the back of the camera and swivels more than 180 degrees. This lets you adjust the position of the display, compose self-portraits, and even swivel the LCD toward the inside of the camera for safe transportation. The display is clearer and brighter than those on most cameras--you can even use it in direct sunlight. Like many camcorders, this one lacks a traditional optical viewfinder--you compose your shots by using the color display.

Maximum image size is 1,600 x 1,200 pixels, which produces good-quality prints even at sizes up to 8 by 10 inches. Pictures are stored on Sony's proprietary Memory Stick media (the camera ships with a 4 MB stick).

Hobbyists will appreciate the wide range of manual controls, including shutter priority, aperture priority, manual focus, exposure compensation, and a number of special effects. The macro is particularly impressive, focusing on items less than 1.2 inches from the lens.

This multimedia marvel also lets you make low-resolution (320 x 240 or 160 x 112) MPEG movies up to 60 seconds in length, and a built-in microphone can be used both for movie mode and to add sounds to your still photos.

Pros:

• Long-life InfoLithium battery
• Audio recording
• MPEG movie mode
• Excellent macro

Cons:

• No optical viewfinder

... Read more

Features

• Included 4 MB Memory Stick holds 10 images at default resolution
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
• Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery and AC adapter included
• 2.1 megapixel sensor captures images with enough detail to create photo-quality 8 x 10 prints
• 3x optical plus 2x digital zoom lens with autofocus

Reviews (34)

Big & Old, but Great
I bought this camera used and have been pleased in every regard.It takes crisp, clear pictures.The flash is strong.The battery life is excellent.Unless you plan to enlarge your photos to 8" x 10" (and would need more pixels), I recommend this camera whole-heartedly.

Last week, I used a friend's adorable, new Olympus Stylus Verve and I couldn't believe the difference in photo quality.This old Sony takes pictures 100 times better.It's also very easy to use, has a large LCD display that rotates--so you can turn it inward when not in use (protecting the screen) and you can take pictures of yourself without any guesswork.

It's a great camera.Grab one while you can.

Just Right...
My dad was the one who first bought this Sony Cybershot. At the time he used it a lot but now he's letting me have a go at it. The zoom is phenomenal and the 2.1 MP resolution is perfect, and allows the photos to be crisp and clinical. It can take reasnable MPEG movies and is very simple to use. Downloading the pictures onto computer proves to be quick and simple. The LCD screen is flexible allowing you better photos from awkward positions. The only small draw-back is that the shutter takes a bit too long too catch a fast moving object such as a bird. This camera was a really pleasent experience for me!

Better than SONY DSC-S70 Cybershot
Bought this camera for my brother and DSC-S70 for myself, I just loved this one more than mine(DSC-S70)for which I evantually paid almost $250.00 more. It has all simple and great features and even my 9yr old son operates it like a pro. I like the LCD on DSC-50 cause it's more protected from scratches and picture quality is not different than DSC-70 on even 8 X 10 size prints.I strongly recommand DSC-50 over DSC-S70(or on anyother 2 or more megapixel digital camera), for the pic quality, ease of use & price. ... Read more

Asin: B00004U3AW
Subjects:  1. DS 50 S    2. Digital Camera (Cameras)    3. Photograph (Photography)   

Hakuba FP-L1 Flat Pod Photographic/Video Tripod
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $49.99
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Editorial Review

Original in design, Hakuba's award-winning traditional tabletop FP-L1Flat Pod is convenient, compact, and exceptionally easy to use. It has die-castmetal construction and fits in most camera bags when folded. The FP-L1 workswell with all types of cameras, including SLR, Advanced Photo System (APS), anddigital cameras, and full-size, digital, and compact camcorders. ... Read more

Features

• Height when in use is 6.5 inches
• Award-winning design
• Folds flat, ideal for travel
• Die-cast metal construction
• Weighs approximately 12 ounces

Reviews (3)

perfect mini tripod.
This is just a fine piece of industrial design. It is solid, precise, compact. It's instantly familiar and usable, with no fiddliness. A key-turn mechanism makes it quick and easy to lock your camera on, unlike some low-end pods. Grippy feet and a vertically swiveling head let you set it securely on uneven or curved surfaces, not just tabletops. Own it!

doesn't work with digital camera
This tripod was listed as an accessory for the Kodak DC3200 digital camera but there is no linkage available on that camera to interface with the tripod (ie. no little hole to screw that attachment screw into). OK, I'm certainly not a photographer myself so I took the whole she-bang into work for the real photographers to explain to me. Shaking their heads, they told me "hey, this tripod won't work with this camera". So, I guess I'm not as dumb as I look (weak grin). Anyway, make sure the camera you have has what it takes to hook up with a tripod cuz the recommendations page doesn't necessarily take this into consideration. I can use the tripod with a couple rubber bands around the camera but this certainly wan't my intention.

Neat design
THe Hakuba FP-L1 is a nifty, small, mini tripod!The all metalconstruction seems very sturdy and well-put-together.It also has akey-turn nut for the camera screw which is very easy to use.Also, theadjustable camera platform "clicks" into several pre-setpositions which is handy as well! It folds into a very small footprintwhich will fit into the smallest of camera bags. Note, however, that thetripod does not have a horizontal swivel head on it like I had hoped.Itjust has a vertical adjustment. This tripod would be great for macro workor simple travel setups. ... Read more

Asin: B00004TYJS

The Negative (Ansel Adams Photography, Book 2)
by Ansel Adams Robert Baker
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 June, 1995)
list price: $21.00 -- our price: $14.28
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (24)

A good solution to give out the best from your camera
We're actually not too far from the end of digital/analog war. Adams' book bought something back from the golden age of home labs and help us to realise our own dreams and ideas without the help (and destruction) of consumer labs. This book is much more than just a guide how to measure light for the best exposure, how to navigate through zones or how get out of the best from your papers and chemicals, but an ode to black and white photography.
May be also useful to digital-negative enthusiasts.

A Phenomenal Book that is meant to be both Read and Studied
There are a number of good reviews here, and I recommend to you especially the one by S. White.This is a great book, a classic that is important both historically, because it defines the zone system as no other work can, and practically, because it gives you the best combination of practice and theory available in print (at least that I have found).For the uninitiated, in the "zone system" you stop thinking about "the" one correct exposure for a photograph (which is usually the correct exposure for a single subject in the photograph) and instead think about the range of exposures needed across a scene with a variety of subjects with different colors, textures, and light characteristics.This approach is made possible by the observation that a one-stop shifts in exposure, in black and white photography, ultimately create 10 "zones" for aesthetic purposes - that is, the full range of grays between black and white can be associated with 10 stops of exposure.

I don't want to make this review just an echo of the praise offered by others, so let me point out several things about this book that may be helpful if you haven't yet decided to purchase it:

First, the zone system advocated by Ansel Adams is the most influential approach to taking black and white photographs out there.There are advocates and detractors, and this book is inspired in part by Adam's advocacy of this technical and painstaking technique.Because he is an advocate, he works very hard to make the system comprehendable, while retaining fidelity to its technical and intellectual side.He also does not give you the full story on the criticism of his method.

Second,even if you are not going to "follow" the system, this book will give you an understanding of the process by which light becomes a photograph, and insight into how meters (whether built into the camera or not) and film interact with objects that are colorful and textured.This insight is indispensible, and better explained that anywhere else I have read.Whatever you think of the zone system as a method for taking photographs, it is a fantastic educational method.

Third, some have commented that the information is most useful to those using view cameras and not working with 35 mm roll film.I disagree.While view cameras can give you the ability to deal with each negative separately in a darkroom, today's automatic and, yes, digital cameras can give remarkable flexibility once you understand the ins and outs of the zone system and how exposures work.With today's camera's capable of giving you a honeycomb display of exposures over the entire photograph, taking multiple exposures on one roll can get you much the same impact as manipulating exposures in the darkroom.Today's cameras also allow you to re-roll and switch films mid-roll, so it is now possible to do astonishing things in the darkroom using Adams methods and a 35 mm camera.

Digital SLR cameras can be even more readily adapted to these methods than View cameras, since they give instantaneous displays as well as the ability to make a detailed analysis of an exposure.Because Ansel Adams fully explains his method and its technical underpinnings, it is possible to really apply his teachnings to modern technology.At some point, we need to revisit Adams' contributions in the modern world, but I suspect we will discover when we do so that he was well ahead of his time.

Great
After read this book,my B&W photograph expose have imporve dramatically,before that,I just using average meter to optain exposure.good book ... Read more

Isbn: 0821221868
Sales Rank: 12080
Subjects:  1. Negatives    2. Photo Techniques    3. Photography    4. Reference    5. Techniques - General    6. Zone system (Photography)    7. Photography / Techniques   

The Art of Outdoor Photography: Techniques for the Advanced Amateur and Professional
by Boyd Norton
Average Customer Review:
Rag Book (01 February, 1997)
list price: $21.95
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Reviews (31)

For beginners, not advanced amateurs and professionals
The sub-title of the book says "Techniques for the Advanced Amateur and Professional."Hardly.This is simply one of many generalist photography books geared to beginners and "non-advanced" amateurs.Don't expect to find anything that isn't in dozens of similar books.The photos are average, and aren't helped by the lacklustre quality of the printing.

Great book
Great book that teaches a lot about "outdoor photography". Equipment, interesting technigues, locations, and many other topics are explained with many examples. I am mostly interested in landscape photography and found many advices very usefull. Highly recomended.

Great book - very helpful
This is the most helpful photo book I have ever seen! The illustrations are superb, with helpful captions. Moreover, it's good for beginning levels despite what the subtitle says. I highly recommend it. Worth every penny. Also a great gift for other photographer friends. ... Read more

Isbn: 0896583465
Sales Rank: 404795
Subjects:  1. Outdoor photography    2. Photo Techniques    3. Photography    4. Techniques    5. Techniques - General   

The Art Of Seeing: A Creative Approach To Photography
by Derek Doeffinger
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 March, 1998)
list price: $21.95 -- our price: $21.95
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (4)

Discovering your true potential thru hightened seeing
This is one of the best books that highten your photographic abilities. It makes you aware of preconceptions you may have about photography, and encourages you to explore your seeing and observation skills. Included are chapters on what elements make up a scene, the importance of composition and lighting, and varying your ways of looking and treating the subject. I've reread it several times, learning new things everytime. It's remarkably well written and is non-technical.

Training for the Most Important Tool of Photography
The Art of Seeing is the latest, and most unique, book in my small but growing library on photography. I bought it because I was taking the same photographs over and over again and getting bored and frustrated with a hobby that I used to really enjoy. This book helped me work on the most important tool of photography: my eyes.
This book does what it says: teaches the art of seeing. I have been stuck in a rut of trying to take the pictures that I am "supposed" to take according to what my preconceptions tell me make a good photograph. This book encourages you to see everything differently and to photograph whatever you want.
Doeffinger breaks the book down into different aspects of what makes a picture, including color, depth, and form. He teaches you how to gain a new respect for every part of what makes a picture great while encouraging you figure out on your own what would make a picture great for you. While being a more abstract book, it does not fail to mention what techniques will help you bring out what you see with your eyes and put in on film. It does assume that you already know the basics of photography such as arpeture and film grain, but is careful not to go over the heads of beginners. Being an out of print book, the pictures are a little outdated but overall I would recommend this book to any photographer trying to put new life into their pictures.

Breaking out of the rut
This is a very good book for breaking out of the rut when you find yourself totally stuck for things to photograph. While some of the images remind one of those you might take in an introduction to photography class, that's not all bad. It gets your creative juices flowing again. Book helps you break repetitive image making and promotes creative thought processes, and it's not as dull as this sounds. ... Read more

Isbn: 0879857471
Sales Rank: 430127
Subjects:  1. Photo Techniques    2. Photography    3. Photography, Artistic    4. Techniques - Equipment    5. Techniques - General    6. Visual perception   

Adobe Photoshop 6.0 Upgrade
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (15 October, 2000)
list price: $149.99
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Editorial Review

With each new release of Photoshop, Adobe manages both to satisfy theexpectations of existing users and to pull a few magic features out of its hat.Version 6 is no exception. Powerful vector editing and masking, improved layercontrols, layer styles, incredible typographic control, new Web publishingtools, and a cleaner, more accessible interface are already making version 5.5,itself a groundbreaker, look like ancient history.

Photoshop's new vector features provide even more control when compositingphotographic images. You can use the vector drawing tools simply to createpolygons and custom shapes, but they can also act as layer clippingpaths--vector masks that hide or reveal image areas in underlying layers.

Editable layer effects such as drop shadow and glow were introduced in version 5.5; in version 6, they have been renamed layer styles. New options includesatin, stroke and color, gradient, and pattern overlay. The layer stylesdialogue box provides much more control--bevel and emboss has five styleoptions, as well as adjusters for technique, depth, direction, size, soften,angle, attitude, gloss, contour, highlight mode, opacity--and that's not all ofthem. As the name suggests, layer styles can easily be saved and applied toother layers.

You can enter and edit text directly onto the layer and set style attributesfrom the new tool options bar. Photoshop 6 seems to have benefited from some ofInDesign's superb typographic tools, with character and paragraph palettesproviding precise control. Web imaging tools have been revamped, withlayer-based slicing now available from within Photoshop itself, and a major overhaulof ImageReady introducing weighted optimization, rollover styles, and tweenedanimation.

If you want the best image editing software that money can buy, look no further.For users of 5.5, there never was a more compelling reason to upgrade. --KenMcMahon ... Read more

Reviews (29)

A web designers must have!
I have been using Photoshop 6.0 for about a year now and I cannot imagine using any other graphics design program.If you own a digital camera, or design webpages with graphics, you need this industry standard program.

I am not a progessional graphics designer, but using photoshop 6.0 makes me look like I am. Every graphic and photo that goes on my companies webpage was created or touched up in photoshop.The "Save for Webpage" option is great.I can see how many seconds my graphic or photo is going to take to download on someones home computer.I try to keep every graphic under 5 seconds on a 28.8 modem.Photoshop lets me do this quickly and easily!

When I first opened up the program I didnt have a clue on how to do anything, but I got the Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book, and now I can do almost anything.

The most powerful raster graphics program around...
Most of you reading this have heard of, or are using a version of Photoshop. That alone attests to its popularity. And you know the basics. The single most powerful raster graphics program around, made more powerful and flexible by the number of plug-ins available.

What's new:
"Vector shapes" - a little misleading in its meaning. Indeed they are vector shapes, but when saved, they are rasterized. Maybe future versions will integrate the fundamentals of Illustrator (or Freehand - both the best vector graphics programs available) a little better. But the shapes feature is quite useful for logos, and small icons.

Editable text effects - Not quite "text on a path," but a very welcome feature. After skewing the text with this feature, you are still able to alter font styles/sizes/colors with no problem.

Dockable Palettes - a great feature, if you have a large enough monitor (17" w/high-resolution setting, 19" w/mid-res setting), in order to see the dock. Allows you to place heavily used palettes in the upper right hand section, without having to move them around.

It has quite a few more feature, but those I've mentioned are my favorites. Coming from 5.0 to 5.5 was fairly unimpressive, but the jump to 6.0 has made it a worthwhile upgrade.

Best image editing software that money can buy.
Powerful vector editing and masking, improved layer controls, layer styles, incredible typographic control, new Web publishing tools, and a cleaner, more accessible interface. Photoshop's new vector features provide even more control when dealing with photographic images something that is lacking in 5.5. You can also use the vector drawing tools simply to create polygons and custom shapes, but they can also act as layer clipping paths using vector masks that hide or reveal image areas in underlying layers. The editable layer effects such as drop shadow and glow that were introduced in version 5.5; have been renamed layer styles in version 6. New options include satin, stroke and color, gradient, and pattern overlay. The layer styles dialogue box provides much more control. Bevel and emboss has five style options, as well as adjusters for technique, depth, direction, size, soften, angle, attitude, gloss, contour, highlight mode and opacity. You can enter and edit text directly onto the layer and set style attributes from the new tool options bar. Web imaging tools have also been revamped, with layer-based slicing now available from within Photoshop itself. If you are looking for the best image editing software that money can buy, look no further this is the real deal.

FinancialNeeds.com ... Read more

Asin: B00004YNJL
Subjects:  1. Computer software (programs)    2. Graphics    3. Multimedia    4. Edit (Editing)   

Looney Tunes Photofun
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM

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Reviews (2)

A little disappointed
We were so excited to get this running but turns out it doesn't work with XP/NT. I realise that it does say Win 95/98 but I usually don't find a problem. I searched for a workaround, please post a note if you know one.

Looney Tunes Photofun
This software is so much fun--my granddaughter and I spend hours making pictures of her with the characters.The software is amazingly as easy to use as many other photo software products I have bought.The music is fun,a flying 2" bug interacts with the person logged in--says the name andgives help when needed.This is such a clever photo software--entertainingand produces great pictures and projects. ... Read more

Asin: B00004HYQO
Sales Rank: 5155
Subjects:  1. Computer software (programs)    2. Kids (Children)    3. Graphics    4. Multimedia    5. Edit (Editing)   

Lowepro Mini Trekker Camera Backpack (Black)
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $165.99
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Editorial Review

The most popular of Lowepro bags, the Mini Trekker carries a variety of cameras and accessories and keeps you completely organized. ... Read more

Features

• Adjustable, padded harness
• Integrated tripod holder
• "Hidden" front pocket
• SlipLock loops
• Internal Dimensions: 11 by 5 by 14.5 inches

Reviews (6)

The Perfect Bag...
This is a great carrying solution for all of your camera stuff.
Here's what i was able to cram into this bag:

a Canon GL2 (with lense hood on)
a Sony DCR-PC9
a Sony DSC-S85
a Century Optics .3x ultra fishey lense for the GL2
a Century Optics .55x wide angle lense for the GL2
a Century Optics .3x ultra fishey lense for the PC9
a Titanium .45x wide angle lense for the PC9
a Sony 2x telecoverter for the PC9
a Titanium 2x teleconverter for the S85
a Titanium .48x wide angle for the S85
the extended lense hood for the GL2 eyepiece
the remote control for both the GL2 and the PC9
2 extra batteries (room for more...they're little...)
all the cables and cords and stuff for all the cameras.
a lense pen
a little screwdriver (for adjusting the .3x fish)
2 52mm filter for the S85
a filter kit for the PC9
a filter kit for the GL2
2 52mm stepping rings
a Canon CA-920 charger block
a Glock 19 9mm parabellum to protect my investment :)
-AND- i can still strap a small tripod to it.

No joke.
That's what this bag will hold, and safely too...it's nice and padded and suprisingly sturdy for a soft-shelled backpack.
Of course, that's ALL this bag will hold.
There's no room for any more toys in there.
But I guess that's a good thing since i can't afford any more. :)

-Brandon.

Great Pack!
When I found this pack I was looking for something that would conveniently store my SLR camera and its associated lenses, filters, film, etc.I am so glad that I spent the extra dough for something more than just a storage system.This is a very solid pack.I love to take my camera skiing and I have tested this pack with some pretty brutal falls.Of course, I don't recomend taking your camera through extreme conditions because I think eventually your gear will hate you! But, this pack has done a great job of protecting my camera and has allowed me to take it new places.Helping it exeed expectations is the overall "fit" of the pack---it fits close to the body and is very secure.I highly recomend it--------

great fit, organization, capacity and looks
This is a nice, snazzy bag, which I use on a bicycle in my city photography excursions. It is very easy to open, snatch out the camera and take your killing shot. I usually carry 2 Nikon bodies, one with 500mm telephoto lens (fits nicely in the cross section of the bag), a whole bunch of filters, 10-15 rolls of film, a flashlight :-), a small tripod with a mount, and a small book (to read if I am bored). Straps are extremely comfortable for extended wear on both a bike and hiking.

Additionally, it does not really look like a big pro-photobag, so it will not attract much unwanted attention by a criminal element, if you considering taking it to the 3rd World. ... Read more

Asin: B00004TX7E
Subjects:  1. Photograph Photography   

The Pharaoh frame showcases your favorite photos with minimalist elegance. Two pewter stems support a glass frame. ... Read more

Features

• Floating display "suspends" your pictures in thin air
• Durable cast-metal base
• 5 by 5 inches
• Minimalist designer styling

Asin: B00004YBA1
Subjects:  1. Picture Frames    2. (5 x 5 5x5) (5by5 5 by 5) (square frame frames)   

Epson Stylus Photo 1270 Inkjet Printer
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $499.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Using the Epson Stylus Photo 1270 ink-jet printer, both the promising artist and the professional photographer will find a user-friendly desktop photo lab that produces photo-quality, light-stable, water-resistant prints. Why wait for prints from your neighborhood developer (if you are lucky enough to have one) when the Epson 1270 printer can fulfill most of your needs? It prints everything from proofs to portfolios using Epson's Micro Piezo ink-jet technology with 4-picoliter variable-size ink droplets and six-color, 1,400 x 720 dpi photo reproduction.

Compatible with both Windows and Macintosh, the Epson 1270 ink-jet printer can crank out 8-by-10-inch prints in under two minutes, 11-by-14-inch prints in under four minutes, and even 13-by-44-inch panoramics at a decent clip. It comes with standard features like a feeder tray capacity of 100 sheets and Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE. And you can even upgrade to share the printer on an Ethernet network using the Axis 1440 print server. The Epson 1270 connects to a Windows-based PC using the standard parallel port or through the serial port on a Mac.

Epson provides the full assurance of a one-year limited warranty with an exchange program, and a toll-free support hot line to answer any questions. ... Read more

Features

• 1-year warranty with Epson's Exchange Program
• 6-color Micro Piezo technology, perfect for digital photo printing
• 1,440 x 720 dpi resolution, 4-picoliter drops
• Parallel or USB interface for PC or Macintosh
• Feeder tray for 100 sheets or 10 envelopes

Reviews (30)

Beware of upgrading to Windows XP !
BEWARE!DO NOT UPGRADE FROM WINDOWS 98 TO WINDOWS XP IF YOU WANT YOUR 1270 TO WORK PROPERLY EVER AGAIN!I have had my 1270 since Aug. 2001 and it has worked exceptionally well and produced award winning prints.I would have rated it 5 stars until I made the mistake of upgrading my system from Windows 98 to Windows XP.I had visted the Epson site to make sure they had a download for Windows XP, 1270 drivers.Sure enough, they did.What they didn't say, is that the printer really won't work at all satisfactorily after the conversion to XP and after downloading and installing the two programs from the Epson site.After three support emails, and, in their favor,receiving three quick answers with instructions on how to overcome the problems my printer was having, it still does not work.And, trust me, I followed the instructions to the "T".Why would Epson put the download on their site without making sure it would work?Entirely unsatisfactory experience.BEWARE!DO NOT UPGRADE FROM WINDOWS 98 TO WINDOWS XP IF YOU WANT YOUR 1270 TO WORK PROPERLY EVER AGAIN!

Overrated
This printer is over rated! I have owned my Epson 1270 for 3 years. I am lucky if I printed 200 - 8 x 10's since then. It uses up way too much ink and then you have to replace the color cartridge at $35.00 because you ran out of ink on 1 color. The inks do not dry and the surface of the print is always sticky. You cannot stack the photo's on top of each other, as they will bleed the color to the backs of the other pictures or stick together. The heads are constantly getting clogged up and you waste more ink trying to clean them using the utilities that came with the printer. It printed great for the first few months that I owned it(still had problems with the ink drying). You cannot use Hewlett Packard photo paper in this printer as the wheels that push the paper thru the printer, form little cut dots into the photo and they appear as white dots. The inks smell and the quality is not as good as newer printers on the market. I was very disappointed in this printer as it was over-rated by photographers. Maybe the 1280 is better but you will still have the issues with the ink not drying. The inks are horrible as they splatter all over the inside of the printer. The cleaning pads get soaked up with ink and get on the rollers and then you have marking on your prints. Plus I had issues with using it with my new computer that had Windows XP, such as communication errors and very poor print quality overall. I ended up replacing it with the Canon i860 for $150.00. See my review under the Canon i860. Canon knows how to make a printer. Their inks come out dry and clean. As far as the Epson's, never again will I buy another Epson product.

My eyes are amazed!
I am a professional artist.I have had this printer for about a year now.And the images that it prints out are outstanding. I print images ranging from digital photos off my Olympus C4040, to scans from artbooks,to simple B&W text pages.But I should be using my cheapo HP for simple BW text and conserve the heads and ink. I recommend a second cheap printer for simple prints.

If I wanted a larger print from an artbook.I would scan a favorite artist's drawing from the book (8"x11") and scale it big in Photoshop and then print it large (13"x18") to put in my frame to hang over my chimney.Drawings hold up better then photos when scaling.

Being a digital artist, my printouts from this printer are so professional looking.The results from this printer accents the work that I produce instead of degrading it.I get better print outs at home then in the art dept at my company.Just recently, the company purchased the 1280 model.Thank You!

I have recieved many compliments about the photos and artwork on my walls.And the people are shocked when I tell them its from an inkjet printer.They always ask which printer and how do they get one.

Only negative thing is the amount of ink it consumes and the cost of replacement.Plus the need to run some utilities to clean the heads because of lines and gaps in the print.But it's not a big deal.This is the best printer for the money. ... Read more

Asin: B00004SBM4
Subjects:  1. Ink Jet    2. Inkjet Printer (Ink Jet Printers, Printing)    3. Photo Printer (Photo Printing)