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Dan (Dano) Steinhardt, Marketing Manager, Epson Professional Imaging joins host Scott Sheppard for an update on their latest announcements including the new Epson Ultrachrome HDR ink set, the Epson Stylus Pro 7990-9900 and The Epson Print Academy. Dano explains some features and details, including the revolutionary color gamut, available in their new 24-inch Epson Stylus® Pro 7900 and the 44-inch Epson Stylus Pro 9900. Developed to serve the needs of commercial, flexo, and package proofing requirements, the enhanced printers offer high-density pigment chemistry, Epson UltraChrome HDR ink technology with all-new Orange and Green inks, and AccuPhoto™ HDR screening technology. The Epson Stylus Pro series also features an optional high performance, in-line spectrophotometer for commercial proofing applications. Developed by Epson in partnership with X-Rite®, the SpectroProofer™ incorporates a high performance X-Rite ILS20 spectrophotometer for extreme measurement and color output accuracy.

For more information on Epson’s Pro Imaging line visit: http://proimaging.epson.com

Dano also explains some details on their new Epson Print Academy, starting November 8, 2008 in Atlanta, GA. This 15 city tour features all new content in two main tracks; Track One, for advanced amateurs and photo enthusiasts and Track Two for working photography professionals. With topics covering all aspects of your workflow from capture to final prints, taught by the industry’s leading pro photographers and printmakers, the Epson Print Academy offers a great value on a day seminar full of hands-on how-to workflow tutorials.

For more information on Epson Print Academy visit: http://www.epsonprintacademy.com

The McNamara Report on Inside Digital Photo with Michael J. McNamara
This week’s topic: Are Medium Format digital cameras on the way out?

At the Photokina trade show in Cologne, Germany this September, Hasselblad introduced two new medium format digital cameras, the H3DII-39 and the H3DII50. The Hasselblad H3DII-50 will be the first camera in the market equipped with Kodak’s larger-than-35mm 50 megapixel CCD sensor. In 2009, Hasselblad claims the bar will be raised again with the Hasselblad H3DII-60, a 60 megapixel version.The 39.5MP H3DII-39 is available from $ 21.995, and the H3DII-50 from $27.995. The Hasselblad H3DII-60, expected in April 2009, will have a price-tag of about $35,500.

At a press conference during Photokina, Hasselblad CEO Christian Poulsen contended that digital SLR companies won’t be able to compete with medium format because their lenses can’t handle the resolution. "In my opinion, for those cameras, the pixel game should’ve been over a few years ago," Poulsen told the packed crowd. "I don’t think you can tell the difference between a 16-megapixel camera and a 21 or 24-megapixel camera and that has nothing to do with the sensor, it has to do with the resolution of the lenses."

Is he kidding? Facts don’t support his statement about lens resolution and MP wars. And the real question is whether or not the higher price for these medium format bodies and lenses is worth it when compared to existing 21 and 25MP full frame DSLRs from Canon and Sony.

Read more insights and analysis from Mike McNamara on: http://www.mcnamarareport.com

Inside Digital Photo - Special Report
Photokina 2008

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Join Scott Sheppard and Mike McNamara as they review this year’s highlights announced at Photokina 2008 held in Cologne, Germany September 23-28, 2000. Many of the product that were introduced were previewed in the U.S. prior to the event and Scott and Mike share their personal experiences with them and discuss some products that should stay on your radar screen as the fall show season unfolds.

• Adobe CS4 - many features added to this version provide enhanced productivity which at first seem tuned for graphic/print design but will offer great benefits for professional photographers once they become more familiar with the new tools.
• Casio - announced the Casio HIGH SPEED EXILIM Pro EX-F1 and the EX-FH20 Camera superzoom with 9.1 megapixels, and high speed burst shooting up to 40 fps at 7 megapixels and high definition movie recording at up to 1,000 fps. At a price point around $600.
• Canon - launched the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, which could easily become the camera of the year but they also showed their new top range compact digital, the PowerShot G10. Both cameras offer the key functionality and performance near their professional cameras but are marketed to the prosumer/entry-level DSLR users.
• Leica - introduced the Leica S2, with its premium collection of lenses that include everything from ultra wide to super telephoto. The S2 features a smaller metal body that is easier to carry, and a special new sensor with 30 x 45 mm and 37.5 megapixels designed for professionals.
• Sigma - delivered upgrades to their camera bodies with Sigma SD15 powered by the 14 megapixel Foveon X3 direct-image-sensor which captures all primary RGB colors. They also announced the Sigma DP2, also 14 megapixel high definition digital camera, which packs the full spec of a DSLR into the body of a compact camera.
• Pentax - took the lead in the entry-level category with their lightweight, easy to maneuver, PENTAX K-m digital SLR camera and lenses. The lenses include two DA L-series interchangeable zoom lenses: the smc PENTAX-DA L 18-55mmF3.5-5.6AL and the smc PENTAX-DA L 50-200mmF4-5.6ED. The system is perfect for first-time DSLR users.
• Ricoh -adds another "cult" point-and-shoot with the GX200 featuring 24 mm wide-angle optical 3x zoom and an effective 12 mega-pixel CCD. Not readily available in the U.S. these cameras add another option to those wishing for their unique status and capabilities.
• Epson - introduced the Epson Perfection V300 entry level scanner, at a price of $99 which includes 4800 x 9600 dpi optical resolution and a built in transparency unit to scan 35mm film.

Scott & Mike also shared their insights to new products announced by Fuji, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, and Kodak with their predictions on the impact of these new technologies and their effect on the "megapixel" and "camera wars" which are sure to drive performance to new heights in the next 6 months.

Stay tuned for more in-depth coverage on these products or visit Mike’s site "The McNamara Report" at http://www.mcnamarareport.com.