Digital cameras

For those seeking a less expensive and easier-to-use alternative to Adobe Photoshop, Nevercenter this week released CameraBag 2, an innovative photo touch-up software application for Macs and Windows PCs which is currently priced at $25 or less.

Are High Dynamic Range photos appropriate for illustrating news? That's the debate that's been started by the Washington Post's use of an HDR image on its front page in January. Sean Elliot, president of the National Press Photographers Association came down firmly against it, saying, 'HDR is not appropriate for documentary photojournalism.' John Omvik, Marketing VP with HDR software maker Unified Color understandably disagrees.

Kenko-Tokina has added the mirrors back into mirrorless with the launch of an ultra-compact Reflex 300mm F6.3 for Micro Four Thirds. This fixed-aperture, manual focus lens revives the catadioptric lens design that was especially popular in the 1970s and '80s for producing small high-magnification telephoto lenses. With a 55mm filter diameter and weight less than 300g, this is possibly the smallest lens of this type that's ever been made for stills cameras.

Kenko-Tokina will exhibit a mockup of a 70-200mm F4 telephoto zoom that features both a ring-type ultrasonic autofocus motor and optical image stabilization at the CP+ trade show in Japan. The AT-X Pro SD 70-200 F4 (IF) FX will be the company's first stabilized lens, and will likely be especially interesting to Nikon SLR users who currently have no option that's directly comparable to Canon's popular and highly-regarded 70-200mm F4 designs.

Lensbaby, maker of specialty lenses, optics and accessories for single lens reflex cameras, has announced the addition of new macro photography converters for its lens bodies and optics.

Fujifilm USA has announced its recommended pricing for the X-Pro1 high-end mirrorless camera. The MSRP will be $1699 for the body and $599-$649 for the lenses, meaning you can expect it to create around a $2300 dent in your pocket if you want to be able to take pictures with it. Canadian prices will be dollar-for-dollar equivalents.

Fujifilm reps confirm pricing for the new X-Pro1 camera body and three new XF lenses.

Alongside the announcement of the K-01 mirrorless camera, Pentax has updated its K-mount lens roadmap to include planned releases for 2012 and 2013. In a PDF document published on the company's website, it indicates that three lenses will be introduced during the course of this year - a 50mm 'standard' lens, a superzoom in the 18-200mm class, and a super telephoto in the 500-600mm range.

Pentax introduces today the K-01, a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with a bold new look by industrial designer Marc Newson. The K-01 accepts Pentax's K-mount lenses and offers a 16 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor coupled to a new PRIME M processing engine.

Pentax has formally announced the K-01 K-mount mirrorless interchangable lens camera and a revised 40mm F2.8 pancake lens to match. Built around a 16MP APS-C sensor, the camera can mount most of the lenses the company has ever made. It features sensor-shift image stabilization, a 920k dot rear LCD and can shoot at up to 6 frames per second. The rather interesting design is the work of respected product designer Marc Newson and features a logo of his signature on the base of the camera.