myPictureTown.com, a website by Nikon is now available to users in Australia.  myPictureTown.com allows users to store and share photos online (2GB storage free). Heavy users can upgrade to the Gold account for a small fee.

Select COOLPIX cameras—the S50c and S51c and S52c—offer direct connection to Nikon’s my Picturetown photosharing service. With my Picturetown and a COOLPIX camera, you can share photos through email, wirelessly upload images, and easily create a photo archive.

Epson has released a plug-in for Photoshop users to print within photoshop in a three-step procedure; 1) image selection, 2) layout selection/definition, 3) printer settings and previewing. Users can use the printers own colour management profile or specify their own (ICC) profiles.

The new Epson Print Plug-In is available as a free web download from the Epson Europe website at http://www.epson-europe.com and supports Mac OS 10.4.3 – 10.4.10 (Tiger), Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard) and Windows XP SP2 and Vista.

The Southern Hemisphere’s largest photographic show is an event not to be missed by photo dealers, photographers, graphic designers, signmakers, government officials, marketing executives and enthusiast photographers. It will be held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Southbank , Brisbane May 30 - June 1, 2008.

Pre-register now for FREE entry
http://www.pmaaustralia.com.au

Pentax Australia has confirmed that the newly announced Pentax Optio W60 will be available locally in August, 2008.

The Pentax Optio W60 is equipped with a newly developed 28mm wide-angle optical 5x zoom lens, a 10 effective megapixels, and enhanced waterproofing performance more than 30 percent better than previous models allowing the camera to operate underwater at depths of four meters. Not only is the Optio W60 waterproofed to the JIS Class 8 Waterproofing standard, it has been dustproofed to JIS Class 5 against sand and dust and can operate in temperatures as cold as –10°C.

The Pentax Optio W60 can capture movies at resolutions as high as 1280 x 720 pixels, which is comparable to HDTV resolution. It also has several features to make recording easier and more enjoyable, such as the Movie SR (Shake Reduction) function, which automatically corrects camera shake, and the Underwater Movie mode, which optimizes settings for recording underwater.

In summary, the Pentax Optio W60 will feature

Pricing, colours & availability TBA.
If you would like to be kept informed when this camera is available, email us.

Japan’s Press Club has awarded the Nikon D3 as the Camera Grand Prix 2008 Camera of the Year amongst 170 contenders. The Nikon D3 also won the Camera Grand Prix 2008 Readers Award.

More information about the award can be found by clicking here.

Lowepro has released a new range of beltpacks called the “Inverse”. They are available in three colours; black, green, blue; and in two sizes; 100 & 200.

The Inverse series offers photographers exceptional comfort with a breathable back-panel and weight-distributing carrying options. Specialized compartments hold plenty of accessories and, when combined with the adjustable compression pulls on the lumbar belt, enable photographers of any body-type to load up on extras. The sturdy, yet comfortable, design of the beltpack enables photographers to easily work while wearing the pack.

Lowepro has also unleashed the next generation of Nova shoulder bags.

The newly launched models of the Nova AW series offer a large central compartment with movable dividers large enough to accommodate digital SLR kits. The larger models, Nova 180, 190, and 200 AW, can easily secure a pro digital SLR while the smaller models, Nova 140, 160, 170 AW, have been designed for enthusiast kits.

More information on pricing and availability will be posted shortly.
If you would like to be informed when these are available, please email us.

The Manfrotto 314B Background Kit is designed to support rolls or sheets of background paper or any other background material. The kit comprises of: 1 x 3 Section Telescopic Pole, 2 x Baby Stand, 2 x Mini Spring Clamp and Transport Kit Bag.  

For a limited time when you buy the Manfrotto 314B Background Kit you will receive FREE 1 roll of Superior Arctic White background paper (2.75m) and 1 roll of Superior Jet Black background paper (2.75m). Offer valid until 30^th June 2008.

 Olympus have upgraded the firmware on their FE series cameras including the FE-270, FE-290, FE-310, FE-330 and FE-350.

The upgrades address the following fixes and improvements:

• The camera’s stability improves during operation
• Changes have been made to the Korean version

click here to go to the Olympus firmware update page that has the downloads and instructions.

Ricoh have updated the firmware to ver. 2.03 on their GR Digital II so that it will recognise the following recommended Sigma flash units when attached to the camera:

EF-530 DG ST (SA-STTL)
EF-530 DG SUPER (SA-STTL)
EF-500 DG ST (SA-STTL)
EF-500 DG SUPER (SA-STTL)

click this link to be taken to the Ricoh firmware update and instructions

Along with the newly-launched Olympus E-520 Digital SLR is another new Zuiko lens, this time covering the ultra-wide zoom range of 9-18mm, which on the Olympus 2x crop sensor represents a 35mm equivalent range of 18-36mm. It features 13 elements in 9 groups with a Dual Super Aspherical (DSA) front element, is 73mm long, and weighs in at 280 grams.

Please send us an email if you wish to be notified when this lens is in stock