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ThinkTank Announces Two New Hydrophobias

Hydrophobia 70-200

So, we got this in our mailbox dated for yesterday:

Santa Rosa, Calif. – Following up on the acclaimed Hydrophobia™ 300-600 rain cover for larger lenses, Think Tank Photo announces the release of two water-resistant, seam-sealed rain covers for 70-200 and smaller lenses: the Hydrophobia™ 70-200 and the Hydrophobia™ Flash 70-200 with built-in flash protector. Featuring side arm holes for focusing and accessing switches, they allow DSLRs to be turned vertically. And now, without exposing their expensive bodies and lenses to the elements, photographers can change memory cards and batteries without taking off the rain covers.

The key feature is that the camera strap attached to the camera does not have to be removed. There is a camera strap attached to the Hydrophobia 70-200 that, combined with a strap that buckles under the lens, allows the camera to be carried by the rain cover.

Hydrophobia 70-200 Flash

“The problem with other covers is that holes have to be cut into the top of the cover, and then using a special camera strap, the user has to unclip the camera strap from the camera, feeding it through the top of the cover,” said Doug Murdoch, Think Tank Photo’s CEO and lead designer. “With the Hydrophobia 70-200, we eliminated this problem by creating a system that automatically transfers the weight to the rain cover itself, while still keeping it water resistant.”

The fabric used on the Hydrophobia is ten times as water resistant as normal fabric. Instead of a “spray” coating, a “film” is applied to the underside of the fabric, as well as a

tricot mesh to protect it, making it a far more impenetrable three-layer fabric. In addition a waterproof tape is applied to all seams, providing an even more water resistant barrier.

The rain covers have the following key features:

  • A clear window for viewing LCD and controls
  • A fabric cover for the end of the lens.
  • An eyepiece storage pocket (eyepieces sold separately)
  • A detachable camera strap
  • A breathable mesh bag for transportation and storage

For professionals and amateur SLR shooters with smaller lenses who can’t afford to lose a shot or to have their gear damaged, the Hydrophobia™ 70-200 and the Hydrophobia™ Flash 70-200 are powerful new tools for getting the shot in even the harshest conditions.

The 70-200 will debut with a recommended price of $139.00, the 70-200 Flash with a price of $145. Roberts reminds you that to use any Hydrophobia properly you’ll need a special eyepiece also from ThinkTank for your camera.




Tamron introduces 1-Minute “DSLR Know-How With Tamron” weekly videos

I bought the special edition 2-disc edition of Robert Rodriguez’ cinematic adaption of Frank Miller’s Sin City when it was released in 2005. Among my favorite features (before even watching it all in Green Screen or Bruce Willis and the Accelerators performing “Gypsy Woman”) is Robert Rodriguez’ 10-minute cooking school, a brilliant tutorial in making Sin City Breakfast Burritos complete with his grandmother’s tortilla recipe. Rodriguez does another cooking school on the Once Upon a Time In Mexico DVD, where he shows you how to make the puerco Johnny Depp enjoys with homicidal intensity.

Now Tamron will broadcast 1-minute tips, tricks, and tutorials each week starting on the 18th of January and running for 12 weeks not on a special edition dvd, but on YouTube.

“In just one minute per week you can learn the basics of successful photography at no cost,” ~John VanSteenberg, Tamron’s Senior Education Manager.

Tamron has indicated the “101″ series will be followed by more advanced courses as the project continues. You can find them at http://www.youtube.com/user/TamronVids
or embedded here:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD7ZAzgYDqY



Canon Announces Three New Wireless File Transmitters (WFTs)

From the press release, because it’s so dry and to the point as to not be worth rephrasing:

Lake Success, N.Y., January 7, 2010 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, is announcing a step forward in the digital integration of professional photography workflows with the introduction of three new Wireless File Transmitter units to accompany each of the Company’s three professional Digital SLR Camera models. The new WFT-E2 II A Wireless File Transmitter, WFT-E4 II A Wireless File Transmitter and WFT-E5A Wireless File Transmitter for the EOS-1D Mark IV, EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 7D, respectively, provide professional photographers with a range of innovative wireless connectivity options for all photographic disciplines.

For example, by coupling each compatible camera with one of the new WFT units, professionals can fire up to 10 cameras simultaneously with Canon’s new Camera Linking function, which is perfect for getting that split-second shot from multiple angles. The new WFT units also enable the roaming photojournalist or back-country nature photographer to geotag images easily through hard-wired or Bluetooth-connected GPS devices and append coordinates to the image’s EXIF data. Additionally, reliable file transfer options such as FTP Mode provide wedding and event photographers with the ability to send images in real-time to a computer for instant prints or projection onto event screens while allowing the photographer to operate wirelessly.

Hit the link below to read the full thing.



Clearing out Sandisk Ultra II 2gb SD cards

2gb ult ii
So we’re sitting on a moderate quantity of Sandisk’s Ultra II (Class 4) 2 gb SD cards. They’re going for the stupendously low clearance price of $5.97 each right now. Once they’re gone well, baby they’re gone. It’s a last-chance opportunity here because there aren’t any rain-checks, sleet-checks, body-checks, or IOUs -just cheap 15mbps SD cards.

Linked here: Sandisk Ult II 2gb SD clearance cards.



Digital Foci’s Photo Book Gets Third PMA “Hot Pic”

difi-albumDigital Foci’s Photo Book recently picked up it’s third PMA “Hot Pic” award, having now claimed it in America, Australia, and Canada. Apparently it’s expected to be one of the hottest items this season. We’ve got them downstairs, so it wouldn’t hurt our feelings at all if that turned out to be true.

We played with a while back on here, and they’re really quite nice devices. Friendly, large screen and photo album graphics make this a bit more than your usual photo frame, and the leather(ette?) cover makes it even more oriented towards group sharing and viewing. Looking to move to a digital portfolio? It’s a good direction to go, and cheap.



If Bruce Willis Was a Computer Peripheral, He’d Be DroboPro

drobopro

Bruce Willis is the perennial tough-guy, the one you can trust to save the day when everything else has gone pear-shaped. He’s resourceful, dedicated, single-minded, and down-to-earth no-nonsense functional.

And so is DroboPro, except for it protects data not citizens and from drive failure not terrorists. Otherwise, exactly the same. OK, plus some nice blinking LEDs. Other than that. And the 8 SATA drive bays. OK, other than all that and the rack-mountability, it’s totally the same as Bruce Willis.

Buy DroboPro Online.



Black Rapid Straps

Ok, so the next great thing in camera straps are here!  At least, that’s what I’ve been told.  Seriously, they look pretty cool.  If you carry more than one digital camera at once, the new Black Rapid DR-1 Double Strap is THE ticket for you.  It allows you to carry the bodies handsfree.  If you have long lenses, you can connect them by the tripod collars and hang them by your sides.  For just one camera body, the RS-4 will still keep your hands and neck free, holds two extra flash memory cards, and allows you to carry all the extra digital camera accessories your hands and shoulders can carry!  Come in and check them out today!

blackrapid.com/




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