Features Pets & Jewels Promotion Materials That Really Work Planning: The Root of all Succes Abandoned America Columns Insight/On the Cover Digital Photography Departments Industry News Problems and Solutions New Products Archives

Rangefinder Magazine
March 2003

New Products

Specifications in these listings are condensed from information provided by manufacturers and suppliers. For more information about these new products or processes, use the Quick Response Form provided on page 74 in this issue. When contacting the companies direct, please mention Rangefinder.

Green Arrow Productions has developed and perfected an instructional video that teaches you how to create your own proof magazines with a built-in sales initiative, while drastically reducing your proofing costs! This 30-minute instructional video, hosted by award-winning photographer David DeJonge, takes a step-by-step approach through the process of developing and marketing a product that virtually sells itself. This proofing system lowers your proof magazine costs from $2 per page to less than 50 cents per page, while maintaining a 90% sell rate to clients. This system will instruct you on how to create, package and sell your own proof magazines and will give you a jump on your competition. Information: www.green-arrow.org.


Photoflex, the well known lighting company, has just introduced some new lighting kits using their WhiteDome nxt softboxes and their Starlite 3200 hot lights. The kits come in small and medium sizes. The small WhiteDome measures 16 x 22 x 13 inches and comes with a 500-watt lamp. The medium-size WhiteDome measures 24 x 32 x 17 inches and comes with a 1000-watt lamp. Each kit also comes with a three-section LS Boom, which allows extending the light up to five feet from the LS-2322 heavy-duty light stand, which is also included in the kit. The LS-2322 stand can be extended up to 121⁄2 feet in height. Two Weightbags are also included to counterbalance the boom and stabilize the light stand. For more information check out the Photoflex web site at www.photoflex.com.

Designed from the ground up as a flash system for the demands of digital photography, the Profoto D4 offers consistency and repeatability under all shooting conditions, even when power output varies greatly form one lamp head to another. The D4 provides precise control in 1/10 f-stop increments, all with digitally controlled output, ensuring that flash and color temperature remain consistent. Four independent outlets provide true asymmetric operation with the turn of a dial. Over an 8 f-stop range, the Profoto D4 gives photographers the ability to adjust the light from the control panel, without the need for unplugging and replugging lamp heads. All of this control is at your fingertips and is enhanced by total compatibility with the complete line of Profoto heads and accessories. Auxiliary functions such as sequence, delay and intervalometer, make difficult shooting situations simple. With these features, photographers can select the number of flashes, and the amount of time between each flash as well as an initial delay—all from the generator in a simple, easy way. The D4 also has a PocketWizard receiver built-in that enables wireless digital radio triggering and can be operated on 32 different channels with individual Quad Zones. Information: www.mamiya.com.

Primera Technology has announced its Bravo Disc Publisher. Bravo is the world’s first automated CD duplicating and printing system that is priced at less than $2000 (MSRP). Instead of copying and labeling discs one at a time, Bravo is designed for hands-free, automated production of up to 25 CDs or DVDs per job. An advanced robotic mechanism is used to transport discs into the built-in 40X CD-R recorder or optional Pioneer combo DVD-R/CD-R recorder. After recording, discs are transported to the integrated printer, where they’re printed in full color at up to 2400 dpi resolution. Bravo attaches to any PC running Windows Me/2000/XP through its built-in FireWire (IEEE 1394) and USB interfaces. Professional recording software from Veritas is included along with an easy-to-use labeling software program called SureThing CD Labeler First Edition. Information: (800) 797-2772 (USA and Canada); e-mail: sales@primeratechnology.com, web: www.primeratechnology.com.

JOBO Fototechnic, the distributor for Durst in the U.S., has announced the Durst Variolux, an exposure and contrast meter for enlarging. The Variolux is the newest member of Durst’s broad range of high-quality lab metering equipment. Its rapid response will help to speed up the time spent printing in the darkroom. In addition to speeding up the exposure readings, the Variolux also guides you to the selection of the proper contrast grade for black-and-white papers. It can be used for spot or integrated readings, and since it is battery operated, there are no power cords to get in the way. The Durst Variolux will retail for $139. Information: (800) 664-0344, (734) 677-6963; www.jobo-usa.com.

Tamron Co., Ltd. has announced the release of their new 28–300mm zoom lens in the new compact and lightweight XR design. The new Tamron 28–300mm XR is significantly smaller than the previous model. It is 11% shorter, 9% smaller in maximum diameter, and 28% lighter according to Tamron. The first thing you will notice is that that the front filter diameter is dra-matically smaller than the previous model. The new filter size of only (62mm is made possible by a large-scale reduction of lens diameter. Compared with the current 28–300mm lens, the filter size is two steps smaller in diameter, at 62mm versus 72mm. The lens focuses down to 19.3 inches at all focal lengths, for a maximum magnification of 1:2.9. The lens is available in mounts for Canon AF, Nikon AF, Minolta AF and Pentax AF. For more information, call: (631) 858-8400, fax (631) 543-3963; web site: www.
tamron.com.

One of the biggest problems with scanning for digital output is dust and dirt on scanner platens. Kinetronics has just introduced their solution to this problem, the Kinetronics Digital Scanner Glass Cleaning Kit. The kit contains two Kinetronics products, their anti-static Tiger Cloth and their Precision Cleaning Solution. A reusable plastic case protects both products when not in use. Precision Cleaning Solution will remove fingerprints, smudges, masking tape residue, etc. After cleaning a quick wipe with the Tiger Cloth will leave the glass clean without any static charge to attract dust. Information: (800) 624-3204 or (941) 951-2432, fax (951) 955-5992.

The new Big Book from Exaclair, Inc. is that company’s largest photo album, accepting 9 X 12 inch prints. The album can hold up to 128 prints in 5 x 7-inch size, with space under each print for notes, and is specially designed so that the pages will lie flat when the album is opened, no matter how many pages are used. The cover of this elegant album is marbled, and comes in blue or burgundy with matching cloth binding. As with all of Exaclair’s PhotoClair line, the paper used in the Big Book is non reactive, neutral pH, and chlorine-free, for maximum print life. Suggested retail price for the Big Book is $ 34. Information: (800) 933-8595 or www.exaclair.com.

To compliment Hasselblad’s new H1 camera system, Phase One has introduced the Phase One H101 digital back. According to the company, Phase One’s H 101 integrates completely seamlessly with the new Hasselblad camera to produce the appearance of a single, integrated unit in Scandinavian design. Fea-tures such as ISO and histogram can be displayed directly on the LCD display on the top of the Hasselblad H1 handgrip. A flash indicator and the orientation of the Phase One back can also be displayed. The H 101 back offers ISO equivalent speeds up to 400, 11 megapixel sen-sor, and can be mounted on large format cameras via adapters. Also new from Phase One is DSLR soft-ware for use with Canon digital SLR cameras, including the new EOS-1Ds. Similar software is in develop-ment for Nikon, Fuji and Kodak digital SLR cameras. Information: www.phaseone.com.

RedWing has added a new light boom to their line of studio accessories. The parallelogram design of the RedWing boom allows raising and lowering of lights without changing their angle. The head extension at the end of the boom rotates through 360 degrees, for maximum versatility in light positioning. All movements are controlled from a handle located at the boom’s pivot point, for maximum ease of use in the working studio. The boom is available in two versions, Compact and Standard. Information: R.T.S. www.rtsphoto.com, (631) 242-6801, fax (631) 242-6808.

At photokina 2002 Leica surprised the photographic world with a new SLR camera, the Leica R9. Thanks to the use of new materials, the R9 actually weighs 3 1/2 ounces less than the R8, Leica’s previous SLR model. According to Leica, this loss in weight was made without an any way compromising build quality, ri-gidity or durability. The new camera has a redesigned frame counter on top and a new LCD display panel on the back which provides all essential operating information about the camera. The metering system has been improved to adjust in 1/10 stop increments for very precise exposure control. The mode selector now locks in place so it can’t be changed by accident. Along with the new camera, Leica introduced three new R-Series lenses, the 15mm f/2.8 Leica Elmarit-R Asph., the 21-35mm f/3.4-4 Leica Vario-Elmar-R Asph., and the 90mm f/2 Leica Apo-Summicron Asph. Information: www.leica-camera.com.

The Kodak Professional division of Eastman Kodak Company has introduced two new Ektachrome films for professional photographers. Both Ektachrome E100G and Ektachrome 100GX use Kodak’s color amplifying technology and T-Grain emulsion technology to produce smooth neutral tones, cleaner highlights and shadows, whiter and brighter whites, improved shadow detail, and the finest grain of any Kodak film. These new films will replace Kodak Ektachrome E100S and E100SW during the first quarter of 2003. For more information call Kodak Pro-fessional at 800-235-6325 or visit the Kodak Professional web site at www.kodak.com/go/professional.

Promaster has moved into the inkjet paper business with Promaster heavyweight inkjet papers in satin and glossy surfaces. The new papers are offered in 4 X 6 and 8 1/2 X 11 inch sizes, and are said to be ideal for printing images made with digital cameras. The papers feature photographic quality finish, instant dry-ing, and are highly water resistant. They are said to produce excellent color reproduction and are suitable for most inkjet printers. For more information on Promaster products, visit their web site at www.promaster.com.

The new Studio by Ilford system promises to simplify life for photographers who want to do their own printing in-house. Ilford provides a full range of media in premounts, sheets and rolls, Epson UltraChrome 7-color pigment inks, and a 24- or 44-inch Epson Stylus Pro Printer along with Ripstar 5.6 RIP. By utilizing the well known Epson Stylus Pro 7600 and 9600 print-ers and UltraChrome inks, the sys-tem is capable of producing the highest quality images, on regular media or on pre-mounted boards ready for framing. Media surfaces from Ilford currently are glossy and pearl, available in rolls and standard sheet sizes as well as premounts. For more information, visit Ilford’s web site at www.ilford.com.

Lacquer-Mat Sytems now has new water-based coatings for digital and traditional prints. Formulated to provide photographs and digital images with a durable, water and scratch resistance surface, plus add-ing UV protection. They are available in three finishes: Diamond (gloss); Pearl Luster (luster, semi-gloss); and Satina (satin finish). Water-Mat 2000 is designed for roller applica-tion in low volume settings. Water-Mat 3000 is for roller coating in larger volume, and Water-Mat 4000 is designed for spray gun applica-tion. All provide UV protection and are environmentally safe. For more information, contact Lacquer-Mat Systems, 6816 Ellicott Dr., East Syracuse, NY 13057, call them at 800-942-2223, fax them at 315-431-1023, or visit them at their web site: www.lacquer-mat.com.

The TecnoLab Division of JOBO Fototechnic, Inc. announced a new chemical mixer for replenisher-based processing. The compact unit can precisely mix up to 2000 liters per day, and can be matched to virtually any brand of replenishing processor. It can be programmed to work with overflow chemicals to help reduce effluent, or with fresh chemical concentrates. In addition to greater accuracy and consistency produced by computer controlled mixing techniques, the unit can significantly save time and money due to the reduced labor needed to mix chemicals with the Eco Mix. Information: sales@jobo-usa.com, 800.664.0344, www.jobo-usa.com.

The well-known lighting company Photoflex has introduced some new kits to make studio and location use of their MultiDics 5’n1 and Lite-Panel easier. The MultiDisc Kit fea-tures a 42-inch MultiDisc 5’n1 reflector, LiteDisc Holder, and LiteS-tand, along with a zippered carry bag which holds all the items. The unique MultiDisc 5’n1 reflector has five different surfaces, gold, soft gold, white, silver and translucent. The LiteDisc holder holds and positions the MultiDics, and can be rotated and swiveled for precise aiming of the reflected light. The four-section LiteStand included in the kit can be extended up to 10 feet 8 inches, with good stability. It also features a wider footprint and thicker tubing than most competing light stands. The MultiDisc Kit ( order info DL-42 Multikit) has a retail price of $315.95, a saving of almost $19 over the components purchased individually. The LitePanel Kit includes one 39 x 72 inch soft gold and white translucent fabric LitePanels, aluminum support frame, crossbar, LiteStand, main and T-clamp, and a LitePanel Carry Bag. The whole kit fits easily into the carry bag for location work or storage. The retail price of this kit (LP-PANELKIT) is $324.95, for a saving of more than $60 over the individual prices of the components. Information www.photoflex.com.