direncanakan mendadak. 3 atau 4 hari sebelumnya. karena beberapa kali appointment hunting tidak kunjung terlaksana, akhirnya kita sepakat untuk pergi lebih jauh lagi, bromo! Sabtu pagi berangkat dari padang tawang, canggu, dengan mobil charteran.

istirahat makan siang di warung ayam betutu men tempeh, gilimanuk. awal perjalanan yang seru sekali. Harapan bisa juga hunting sunset di bromo, gak kesampaian. karena ternyata target waktu tempuh rada meleset banyak. akhirnya nemu sunset scene menarik juga di bantaran sungai sepanjang perjalanan menuju bromo dari jalur jember.

tiba di hotel di puncak jalan raya bromo, sekitar jam 9 malam waktu setempat, aku coba cari hotel tempat aku dulu menginap, hotel grand bromo. sayangnya hotelnya sekarang tutup. sayang sekali. hotel yang bagus di tempat yang bagus, harus tutup karena (mungkin) kurangnya tingkat okupansi kamar. akhirnya kita cari hotel seadanya. toh tema hunting kali ini adalah backpack adventure. sewa kamar Rp. 125,000 semalam dengan air hangat dan breakfast nasi goreng. lumayan murah…. kamar emang gak luxury, tapi juga gak jelek-jelek banget. pantes lah untuk harga segitu.

dig, 77, dieyoung meneruskan begadang nggak tahu sampai jam berapa. sementara aku, adi, wisna dan pak sopir tidur lebih awal, demi melepas lelah agar ada cukup power untuk naik-turun gunung besok paginya.

jam 3 pagi, morning call… mata masih berat… tapi karena niat udah bulet… bangun juga. hal yang sangat jarang terjadi. biasa bangun jam 9 kini harus bangun jam 3. tapi tidak jadi masalah saat itu. Cukup cuci muka saja, 2 toyota land cruiser 4WD sudah menunggu di loby hotel. setelah semua siap dan tidak ada peralatan motret yang tertinggal, kita pun berangkat. jalanan masih gelap. kita tidak bisa melihat apa-apa sepanjang perjalanan menuju penanjakan. hanya beberapa meter jarak lampu mobil saja. saat pulangnya, kita baru menyadari kalau tadi pagi kita melintas di dinding bukit terjal dengan jurang yang curam. perjalanan kali ini tidak se’excite’ kedatanganku dulu pertama kali di tempat ini. gak tahu dengan teman-teman yang lainnya. pasti seru sekali bagi mereka.

Jalan menuju bukit penajakan dapat dilalui dengan sangat mudah oleh mobil 4WD, akhirnya jam 4.30 kita sudah di puncak. ngopi-ngopi dulu… jam 5 telunjuk sudah siap di tombol shutter button. dengan kamera mengarah ke tempat munculnya matahari. Sempat kecewa juga, ternyata pengunjung kali ini bejibun banget. nyaris tidak ada tempat untuk menjulurkan lensa kamera. sepanjang sisi-sisi terbaik sudah ditempati orang. bergaya orang wartawan… akhirnya aku dapat tempat juga di sisi yang lumayan bagus. tapi ya tetep aja gak nyaman untuk main long exposure. terlalu rentan kena senggol-senggol dari pengunjung yang berjubel.

puas motret terbitnya matahari dan lingkungan di sekitar gunung bromo dari penanjakan, kita turun menuju lokasi lautan pasir di lereng gunung bromo. beberapa kali sopirnya aku suruh berhenti, guna mendapatkan beberapa shot yang unit dan berbeda dengan “foto di bromo” orang kebanyakan.

dekat pura di lereng gunung bromo, 4WD parkir, kita teruskan dengan menunggang kuda. beberapa shot juga sempat aku buat langsung dari atas punggung kuda yang berjalan. untungnya lensaku lensa VR, jadi dengan menset mode VR ke aktif, aku dapatkan lumanyan banyak steady shot dari moving shaking horseback.

… koq kayaknya ceritanya lebih seru kalau sambil menyimak foto-fotonya di flickr ya. bookmark this: http://flickr.com/photos/impworks

we will be here (again) on sunday morning, originally uploaded by 21win.

The most popular and well known of East Java’s tourist attractions is undoubtedly Mt Bromo. The pre-dawn departure and trek across the mountain’s famous ’sand sea’, to watch the sunrise at the crater rim, has become something of a ritual, enacted daily by people of every nationality.

Bromo is actually just one crater in the vast, 800 km2 Tengger massif, which forms the largest of East Java’s five main volcanic ranges. Although by no means the highest mountain in the region (2392m), it has gained its reputation partly because of its unique location and partly through the reverence shown to it by the local inhabitants. A legend connected with Mt Bromo tells of the origin of the Tenggerese people. According to the story, it was during the closing years of the 15th century, when the East Javanese empire of Majapahit was in decline, that a princess of the kingdom, named Roro Anteng, and her husband Joko Seger, retreated to the Bromo region and established a separate principality, which they named Tengger, a combination of the last syllables of each of their names. The region, it is said, de veloped and prospered, yet no descendants were born to the ruling couple.

Have your nice weekend

Conversely, a relatively inexpensive camera can produce world-class results. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a novice who is never shot any other subject, before, you goal as a photographer is to achieve the best results for the most reasonable investment. Your choices are broadened these days with the technical explosion known as digital photography.

Whatever equipment you decide to use, your success will also depend on two assets: money can’t buy your creative idea and your business sense.

The AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR is a compact lens that offers an array of versatile Nikon technologies, including VR II (Vibration Reduction II image stabilization), which allows photographers to shoot at shutter speeds up to four stops* slower than would otherwise be possible, while dramatically reducing the image blur caused by camera shake in handheld photography. The lens also features Nikon’s compact Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology for quiet, fast and accurate autofocus performance that ensures every moment is captured crisply.

This digitally optimized lens also features two ED glass elements and three aspherical elements that provide higher resolution and superior contrast, while minimizing chromatic aberration. Additionally, Nikon’s Super Integrated Coating reduces instances of lens flare and ghosting for sharp, faithful images.

Configured for optimum performance on Nikon DX-format digital SLR systems and compatible with Nikon’s newest flagship model, the FX-format D3, the new 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 lens offers a 5.3x zoom range, and a perspective equivalent to that created by a 24-127.5mm lens on a 35mm film camera.

The AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens is scheduled to be available at Nikon authorized dealers beginning in March 2008 at an estimated selling price of $649.** For more information, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; COOLSCAN® digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. Nikon D Series digital SLR cameras are recognized as “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Digital SLR cameras,” according to the latest J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Digital Camera Satisfaction Study. Nikon Corporation, the parent company of Nikon Inc., recently celebrated its 90th anniversary and announced the production of over 40 million NIKKOR SLR interchangeable lenses. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit http://www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the Web’s most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.

*Under Nikon measurement conditions.

** Estimated selling price listed is only an estimate. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

For J.D. Power and Associates award information go to jdpower.com

“Nikon optical engineers successfully overcame a number of design challenges while developing a new 24mm Perspective Control wide-angle lens that delivers in a variety of applications and fulfills the needs of photographers whose work demands the type of image control that only a lens of this design can provide” said Edward Fasano, general manager for Marketing, SLR System Products at Nikon, Inc. “This lens represents a significant addition to the field-proven NIKKOR lens lineup and allows photographers to create images that would, in many instances, not be possible otherwise. Additionally, many photographers will appreciate the ability to more effectively correct images while shooting, significantly reducing the time required to correct images afterwards with image editing software.”

Typically, tilting the axis of a camera can result in a misrepresentation of perspective. A Perspective Control lens’ ability to fine-tune perspective and focus elements virtually eliminates these issues, an essential function for architectural and interior photographers.

The same features that make this lens excellent for architectural photography also provide nature and landscape photographers with an essential means to better control perspective, allowing them to capture nature’s beauty more accurately and naturally. Additionally, the 24mm PC lens enables professional product photographers to sight just the right shooting angles on reflective objects without capturing their own reflection in the process.

A special tilt/shift mechanism gives users up to +/- 11.5 mm shift and +/- 8.5-degree tilt for perspective control. When shooting with a conventional lens, some objects, such as tall trees and buildings, can be challenging to photograph due to rectilinear distortion and converging lines that warp perspective. The 24mm Perspective Control lens corrects this issue with convenient side-mounted controls at 1mm / 1-degree intervals that will adjust the focal plane with shift and tilt adjustments. The lens optics can also be rotated up to 90 degrees right or left for perspective control adjustment, while a click-stop is provided every 30 degrees. Importantly, photographers can see the effect of every adjustment accurately through their Nikon SLR viewfinder.

In addition to providing linear perspective correction, the new 24mm PC lens has unique characteristics that make it well suited for a variety of tasks and offers a wide angle-of-view combined with dramatic depth-of-field control potential, perfect for capturing stunning landscapes. To further control the image, users can quickly adjust aperture with a stop-down button, or with the aperture ring. These same characteristics also make the 24mm PC lens a great choice for close-up macro work, with a minimum focusing distance of 0.7 feet and the ability to fine tune focus with perspective control.

The PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED lens continues NIKKOR’s legacy of high-quality optics and durable design. It features the new “E” designation, which denotes an electromagnetic diaphragm that automatically controls aperture with the latest Nikon D-SLR cameras. Three Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements provide superior sharpness and color correction by effectively minimizing chromatic aberration, while three aspherical lens elements minimize various types of lens aberration. In addition to the Nikon Super Integrated coating that delivers superior color reproduction, Nikon’s exclusive Nano Crystal Coat helps to virtually eliminate any remaining instances of ghosting and flare.

The PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED lens is the first in a new series of PC lenses being designed to meet the needs of photo professionals and enthusiasts. Two more PC lenses are currently in development and are scheduled to become available through Nikon authorized dealers during the summer of 2008.

The NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED lens is scheduled to become available through Nikon authorized dealers in the U.S. in spring 2008 for an estimated selling price of $1929.* For more information, please visit www.nikonusa.com.
About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; COOLSCAN® digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. Nikon D Series digital SLR cameras are recognized as “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Digital SLR cameras,” according to the latest J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Digital Camera Satisfaction Study. Nikon Corporation, the parent company of Nikon Inc., recently celebrated its 90th anniversary and announced the production of over 40 million NIKKOR SLR interchangeable lenses. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit http://www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the Web’s most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.

* Estimated selling price listed is only an estimate. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.
For J.D. Power and Associates award information, go to http://www.jdpower.com

“Nikon is proud of its strong reputation for designing and producing some of the world’s finest close-up lenses, delivering faithful and consistent color reproduction, stunning sharpness and beautifully balanced contrast,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for marketing, SLR Systems Products at Nikon, Inc. “Serious close-up photographers are naturally demanding and we are confident that these discerning customers will be excited about the performance of the new 60mm f/2.8G ED Micro NIKKOR.”

Engineered for use with Nikon’s digital and 35mm SLR systems, the new AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED lens incorporates a myriad of innovative features and technologies, including Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor technology (SWM), Nano Crystal Coat, Extra Low Dispersion (ED) glass and Internal Focusing (IF) design.

Combined with the Silent Wave Motor technology and Internal Focusing system, the
AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED-IF provides handling characteristics that better enable superior close-up photography. The SWM provides fast, quiet and accurate autofocus performance and Nikon’s Internal Focusing (IF) design further enhances AF performance, while also allowing photographers to manually focus quickly and smoothly. Internal Focusing (IF) also eliminates rotation of the front lens element, making it more convenient to use rotating polarizing filters as well as the Nikon Wireless Close-up Speedlight System. A rounded nine-blade diaphragm opening allows out-of-focus background or foreground scene information to appear more natural.

Nikon’s exclusive Nano Crystal Coat and Super Integrated Coating produce superior color, while dramatically reducing ghosting and flare for superior image quality. An additional (Extra-low Dispersion) ED glass element minimizes chromatic aberration, allowing the lens to deliver stunning, high-contrast images while the use of two aspherical lenses help correct spherical aberration and coma, producing accurate image reproduction even at the widest aperture.

The AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED lens is scheduled to become available from Nikon authorized dealers beginning in March 2008 at an estimated selling price of $549.95.* For more information, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; COOLSCAN® digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. Nikon D Series digital SLR cameras are recognized as “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Digital SLR cameras,” according to the latest J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Digital Camera Satisfaction Study. Nikon Corporation, the parent company of Nikon Inc., recently celebrated its 90th anniversary and announced the production of over 40 million NIKKOR SLR interchangeable lenses. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit http://www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the Web’s most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.

* Estimated selling price listed is only an estimate. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

“The Canon PowerShot SD890 IS, SD790 IS and SD770 IS Digital ELPH cameras carry on the trend-setting traditions and extend the boundaries of technological ease and the individual sense of style that has always been at the heart of the ELPH line-up,” states Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “Canon continues to draw upon its 70 years of imaging excellence and photographic expertise to develop new technological advancements, as well as create stylish form factors as seen in the iconic box and circle design of ELPH cameras.”

Inspired Elegance and Excellence:

PowerShot SD890 IS Digital ELPH Camera
This PowerShot SD890 IS Digital ELPH camera is a prime example of Canon quality, from the tip of its 5x optically image stabilized, zoom lens to the big and brilliant 2.5 inch PureColor II LCD display embedded in the camera’s contoured back. Indeed, it is that very 5x zoom lens that expands the user flexibility by expanding the focusing range from a maximum wide-angle equivalent of a 37mm lens to its maximum optical telephoto equivalent of a 185mm lens. Ideal for capturing everything from broad sweeping vistas to intimate close-ups, the PowerShot SD890 IS Digital ELPH model is also capable of securing macro images from less than an inch away from the subject, making extraordinary, high-resolution nature shots as elementary as point and shoot.

From the moment it appears in a user’s hand, it is clear that this Digital ELPH camera is like none that have come before. From the body’s clean lines and smooth, matte silver finish to the topside metallic robe that highlights and accentuates the camera’s curves, the 10-megapixel PowerShot SD890 IS Digital ELPH camera’s alluring proposition is one of beauty, versatility and ability.

This camera’s multi-control dial enables the user to simply switch between shooting modes, settings and even images during playback, with easily understandable mode icons displayed on the camera’s 2.5-inch PureColor II LCD display. There’s even a traditional optical viewfinder for the purists who prefer it.

PowerShot SD790 IS Digital ELPH Camera
The 10-megapixel PowerShot SD790 IS Digital ELPH camera’s optically image stabilized 3x zoom has a focusing range from a wide-angle equivalent of 35mm to a maximum telephoto equivalent of 105mm. Like the PowerShot SD890 IS Digital ELPH camera, the SD790 IS Digital ELPH camera features the quick and easy-to-use multi-control dial.

Though smaller than a deck of playing cards, the PowerShot SD790 IS Digital ELPH camera conveys a cool, substantial look and feel, thanks to its solid, yet streamlined, chiseled design. Adding to its appeal is the camera’s large and highly visible, three-inch PureColor LCD II display, with an adjacent multi-control dial and new button configuration that combine to form a flat control panel.

PowerShot SD770 IS Digital ELPH Camera
The PowerShot SD770 IS Digital ELPH camera’s classic box and circle design has characterized the Digital ELPH look for more than a decade. This 10-megapixel model boasts the thinnest body of any optically image stabilized ELPH model ever produced, featuring a slimmer yet higher capacity battery pack, that with the camera’s power-saving improvements, actually increases the number of photos that can be taken on a single charge to approximately 300 images.

Among the key features of the PowerShot SD770 IS Digital ELPH camera are a 2.5-inch PureColor LCD II screen and an optical viewfinder as well as the same optically image stabilized 3x zoom as its more senior sibling, the PowerShot SD790 IS Digital ELPH camera. The PowerShot SD770 IS Digital ELPH camera is offered in the classic matte silver finish with high gloss highlights around the lens barrel and topside edge, and the reprise of Canon’s sleek and striking two-tone finish that incorporates matte black highlights around the lens barrel and circle along the camera edge.

Inspired Innovation: Shared Advancements:

Beating The Blur
Among the significant technological advances shared on the new PowerShot SD890 IS, SD790 IS and SD770 IS Digital ELPH cameras is Canon’s intelligent anti-blur system. Developed by linking four of Canon’s most cutting-edge achievements: Optical Image Stabilization, Motion Detection technology, Hi-ISO Auto and Noise Reduction technology, the result is consistently sharp and clear pictures, even when the shooting conditions and circumstances may not be ideal.

The most common cause of blurry pictures is actual camera shake. This can be caused by anything from a photographer’s unsteady hands to movement in a car along a bumpy road to shots where the zoom lens is extended to a maximum telephoto length or even dimly lit conditions without benefit of flash that causes the shutter to stay open longer in order to admit enough light to make a proper exposure. Canon’s proprietary Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) physically compensates for camera movement and shake by actually shifting the lens (unlike other Image Stabilization systems that merely mask the undesirable movement electronically).

Adding to these ELPH cameras’ anti-blur effectiveness, Canon’s Motion Detection Technology is linked to the camera’s High ISO Auto mode. This improves image clarity by raising ISO speeds (and shutter speeds) for fast-moving subjects (such as a child hitting a baseball from home plate and then running towards first base) or lowering ISO speeds to reduce noise when the subject is stationary. In short, when this impressively intuitive technology detects movement it automatically raises the ISO just enough to reduce image blur. When no movement is detected, it optimally lowers the ISO to reduce noise.

Genuine Canon Face Detection Technology
All three PowerShot Digital ELPH cameras feature the latest and most advanced generation of Genuine Canon Face Detection Technology, thus ensuring that up - to nine forward-looking faces in the frame - whether posed for a family portrait, candidly capturing friends and fun, or spontaneously snapping a toddler’s expression of triumphant glee as two halting steps - are in focus and properly exposed, with or without flash. In addition to focus and exposure control, the camera’s Face Detection feature captures truer, more accurately lit skin tones (and hence more beautifully rendered pictures) thanks to Canon’s improved Face Detection White Balance. There’s also a new optional “AF Point Zoom” feature that digitally enlarges the face of the main subject on the camera’s LCD screen to make it easy to determine the optimum timing for clicking the shutter to capture the moment.

In-Camera Image Enhancement
Canon Digital ELPH cameras offer an array of in-camera processing features that once required tweaking with computer-based photo software. Now, newly developed Automatic Red-Eye Correction can be engaged while shooting, minimizing the need for correction before printing or sharing images.

With Canon’s Image Inspection Tool, users can review pictures recently taken on the camera’s bright, brilliant and easy-to-read 230,000-pixel PureColor LCD II display by zooming in to ensure that the subjects are in focus and to check for such picture-damning details as closed eyes or inappropriate expressions. What’s more, with the digital ELPH camera line’s Trimming Function, users can easily crop images, centering and creating memorable close-ups whether they are smiling faces or iconic cityscapes.

DIGIC III Imaging Processor
The “brain” in every new Canon digital camera is Canon’s proprietary DIGIC III imaging processor. This exclusive chip is responsible for the camera’s higher performance levels including faster start up, faster autofocus and quicker shutter response times that leave long lag competitors far behind. What’s more, the DIGIC III processor improves both the image quality and the cameras’ power consumption, extending the battery life under typical shooting conditions.

In the Boxes
The PowerShot SD890 IS, SD790 IS and SD770 IS Digital ELPH cameras are scheduled to be in stores early April, end of March and mid-April respectively. Each of these new, camera kits include a battery pack and charger, a 32MB SD memory card, a USB interface cable, an AV cable, a wrist strap, and Canon’s software suite. Each kit carries an estimated retail price of $399.99,* $349.99* and $299.99* respectively.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranking third overall in the U.S. in 2007**, with global revenues of $39.3 billion, is listed as one of Fortune’s Most Admired Companies in America and is on the 2007 BusinessWeek list of “Top 100 Brands.” To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/pressroom.

New Style Series Cameras Boast Stunning Design and Innovative Sharing Technologies

MELVILLE, NY (April 10, 2008) – Nikon Inc. is pleased to introduce the new COOLPIX S52 and S52c to its Style Series of digital cameras. These cameras combine Nikon’s stunning wave-surface camera body with advanced features designed to produce incredible pictures with ease. With 9.0 effective megapixels, a 3x, 38-114mm Zoom-NIKKOR lens, Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Image Stabilization and manual sensitivity settings as high as ISO 3200, the COOLPIX S52 and S52c are for consumers looking for a stunning camera that takes equally stunning photos.

“We are pleased to introduce the COOLPIX S52 and the S52c to our Style Series line of compact cameras, as they combine an elegant camera design with advanced imaging capabilities,” says Bill Giordano, General Manager, Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc. “With the versatile COOLPIX S52 and its Wi-Fi enabled counterpart, the S52c, users will have the opportunity to take incredible pictures with exceptional detail and sharpness.”

The COOLPIX S52 and S52c feature Optical VR Image Stabilization technology, which compensates for camera shake as well as ISO capabilities up to 3200, which provide more opportunities to capture fast moving subjects and greater flexibility and clarity when shooting in low-light settings. These cameras also boast an AUTO ISO control, which automatically selects the optimal sensitivity across a range between ISO 100 and ISO 800, and up to ISO 2000 in High-Sensitivity mode.

Providing even more control and freedom in photo taking, the S52 and S52c come with a 3x Zoom-NIKKOR lens designed to capture brilliant detail and vivid colors in every photo and a huge 3.0-inch high-resolution LCD screen allowing easy sharing and viewing of images. Also, these new cameras are built on Nikon’s innovative EXPEED™ digital image processing system designed to enhance noise reduction and improve the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio.

Like all cameras in the COOLPIX line, the S52 and S52c include Nikon’s unique image innovations including enhanced Face-Priority AF, which automatically finds and focuses on up to five faces within the frame; In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, which can automatically detect and correct red eye in a photo; and D-Lighting, which compensates for excessive backlight or insufficient flash in images.

The Wi-Fi enabled S52c can send images directly via email through its Wi-Fi connection, as well as support my Picturetown, Nikon’s photo sharing and storage service. Through my Picturetown, users can email pictures directly to friends and family, publish pictures to the photo community sharing Website Flickr®, and link their photos to blogs and social networking sites. Pictures can also be sent to the email addresses of a BlackBerry® device for viewing.

The S52 and S52c both feature the Pictmotion function which will allow users to combine their favorite movies and photos and create in-camera slide shows with music including songs uploaded from iTunes®.

The COOLPIX S52 and S52c come packaged with Nikon’s exclusive COOLPIX Software Suite for organizing, editing and sharing photos. The S52 and S52c are SDHC compatible and utilize Nikon’s ultra-compact EN-EL8 rechargeable Li-ion battery. The S52 will be available in Crimson Red and Midnight Black. The S52c will be available in Vibrant Black.

The COOLPIX S52 and S52c will be available nationwide in May 2008. The S52 has an MSRP** of $249.95, and the S52c has an MSRP** of $299.95. For more information about these and other COOLPIX cameras, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

** Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price. Actual prices are determined by Nikon Authorized dealers and are subject to change at any time.

About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; COOLSCAN® digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. Nikon D Series digital SLR cameras are recognized as “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Digital SLR cameras,” according to the latest J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Digital Camera Satisfaction Study. Nikon Corporation, the parent company of Nikon Inc., recently celebrated its 90th anniversary and announced the production of over 40 million NIKKOR SLR interchangeable lenses. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the Web’s most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.

For J.D. Power and Associates award information go to jdpower.com

Flickr® and the Flickr® logo are trade marks of Yahoo! Inc.
iTunes® is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.
Blackberry® is a registered trademark of Research in Motion, Limited

Jika anda hendak bepergian travelling atau hunting photo, simpanlah semua perlengkapan fotografi anda di dalam tas khusus kamera. Di tas khusus ini ada ruang-ruang tertentu untuk masing-masing peralatan. bilik-bilik ini juga bisa dirubah-rubah ukurannya, disesuaikan dengan ruang yang diperlukan oleh peralatan anda. Benefit lain dari model tas seperti ini adalah, anda bisa langsung melihat apakah semua perlengkapan yang anda butuhkan sudah ada. Merek tas semacam ini yang disukai banyak orang dan saya rekomendasikan adalah lowepro. cek jenisnya di www.lowepro.com

Jika di depan lensa anda ada drat untuk menempatkan filter, sebaiknya setiap kamera anda ditambahkan filter UV. di samping untuk mereduksi sinar ultra violet yang tertangkap kamera, filter ini juga bagus untuk proteksi permukaan depan dari lensa. bayangkan kalau kaca depannya tergores, berapa biaya yang harus dikeluarkan. kalau filter tergores, anda cuma perlu ganti filter baru yang harganya relatif murah.

Saya juga mau menggarisbawahi pentingnya penggunaan hood di setiap lensa anda (kalau memungkinkan. artinya ada drat untuk hood). Di samping untuk reduksi blare atau pantulan sinar lain yang mungkin masuk ke lensa, hood ini juga melindungi permukaan lensa dari percikan air (entah gerimis atau air lainnya), bahkan hentakan atau persinggungan lainnya.

Jika lensa atau filter kotor oleh debu, hal pertama yang perlu dilakukan adalah dengan meniup (blow away) debu-debu itu. Ini bisa dilakukan dengan photographic blower brush (lihat gambar di samping) yang bisa didapatkan di banyak toko fotografi. beberapa ahli tidak menyarankan penggunaan blower bertekanan tingi (bentuknya seperti kaleng obat nyamuk spray dengan pipa tiup perpanjangan).

Untuk menghapus grease atau bekas sidik jari (finger marks), gunakan disposable lens tissue. jika susah sekali hilangnya, bisa ditambahkan cleaning fluid (biasanya dijual satu paket dengan tissue dan blower brush).

Jangan pernah gunakan kain biasa apalagi kain yang sudah usang untuk membersihkan permukaan lensa. karena dia dapat menyebabkan/menambahkan terjadinya efek abbrasive di permukaan lensa, bahkan meninggalkan bekas goresan.

Jika sedang tidak menggunakan semua peralatan photography anda untuk saat yang agak lama, selalu lepaskan semua batteries dari body camera dan flashes. Ini pencegahan terhadap kebocoran (leakage), yang jika terjadi, dapat menyebabkan karat ekstensif di dalam sirkuit listrik kamera. hal yang sama juga bisa terjadi di flash, dan exposure meter.

Jangan pernah menyimpan kamera di lemari pakain untuk waktu lama. lagi-lagi pengalaman sendiri: sudah menelan satu korban lensa kit, disimpan selama dua bulan tidak pernah dipakai, lensa langsung jamuran. sayang sekali memang.

Simpanlah semua peralatan anda di dry box atau dry cabinet. kedua alat ini dapat menjaga tingkat kelembaban (humiditas) di level yang sangat aman. Jika peralatan anda sudah mulai berkembang biak (baca: tambah banyak), penggunaan dry cabinet sangat dianjurkan. penjagaan terhadap tingkat humiditasnya dilakukan secara elektronis. sementara dry box, punya peluang besar untuk kebocoran - pengalaman saya. ada 2 pilihan favorit: 40 liter atau 80 liter.

Bujubuneh. baru aja berangan-angan… kapan ya ada produsen yang memproduksi lensa 12-300mm f/2.8 ?
mungkin ini terdengar agak imposible. tapi bukannya sama sekali tidak mungkin kalau suatu saat semua produsen lensa akan produksi lensa sejenis.

ini buktinya. olympus sudah mengeluarkan jurus mautnya superzoom wide lens 12-60mm dengan diafragma muali f/2.8 lagi. ciamik gak cing? tapi sayang… body gua gak kompatibel sama doi. berbahagialah mereka yg punya body olym atau panasonic dslr. you can use this great spec lens first.

ini kisahnya:

direview secara bagus oleh Andy Westlake, dari dpreview.com sbb:

The Digital Zuiko ED 12-60mm 1:2.8-4.0 SWD is Olympus’s latest upmarket standard zoom, announced to accompany its E-3 flagship DSLR in October 2007. Firmly placed in what Olympus refers to as its ‘Pro’ lens lineup, this lens offers a near-ideal focal length range for a standard zoom (24mm to 120mm in 35mm-equivalent terms), combining a useful wideangle for landscapes and architecture with a telephoto extending nicely into the classic ‘portrait’ range. Hopefully this 5x zoom range isn’t so ambitious as to introduce unacceptable optical compromises. The optical configuration is sufficiently exotic to offer great hopes in this regard; the lens boasts no fewer than three extra-low dispersion (ED) glass elements, one of which is aspherical, coupled with two further aspherical elements, and as the icing on the cake one Super ED glass element. Clearly Olympus has adopted a “no holds barred” approach to lens design here, which can only be applauded.

This lens also sees Olympus finally adopting the now near-ubiquitous ultrasonic motor for focusing, here dubbed the ‘Supersonic Wave Drive’, and (according to their press material at least) offering the world’s fastest autofocus when used with the E-3. This in turn allows the use of a mechanically-coupled manual focus ring, in a welcome contrast to the somewhat-unloved ‘focus-by-wire’ mechanisms on its previous lenses. Further headline features include dust and splashproofing for protection against the elements, a 25cm close focusing distance, and a circular aperture diaphragm promising pleasing background blur. On paper at least, this makes for a hugely compelling overall package.

Of course the 12-60mm has a hard act to follow, as the spiritual successor to the highly regarded 14-54mm F2.8-3.5, which was the standard kit lens for the E-1. In comparison, the newcomer offers extended range at both wideangle and telephoto, improved focusing, and even better macro performance, but at the expense of a slightly dimmer maximum aperture throughout the range. Of course this all comes at a price, and the 12-60mm is by no means cheap; so do the optics justify the price tag?

Use of the Panasonic L10 as Four Thirds test body

We have chosen to use the Panasonic L10 as our standard test body for Four Thirds lenses purely because it gives the highest numbers in our resolution tests (which we believe is most likely due to it having a relatively weak anti-aliasing filter); this is intended simply to provide the fairest comparison to other manufacturers’ systems. The samples gallery contains images taken using various camera bodies (Olympus E-3, Olympus E-510, and Panasonic L-10). …..READ MORE on its dpreview.com

Ada minat pindah agama ke olympus atau panasonic?