Photo news is usually pretty quiet ahead of the big Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January but third-party lens manufacturer Samyang has announced it will be releasing an 8mm f/3.5 fish-eye lens at the end of March. No word yet on price for this Olympus Four Thirds mount lens. The company has already released Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Pentax versions of the 8mm fisheye. More details in the press announcement below. PRESS RELEASE Samyang 8mm fish-eye and 85mm f/1.4 lenses designed for Olympus 4/3 system. Samyang company has informed that new lenses: Samyang 8mm f3.5 fish-eye and Samyang 85mm f1.4 with a mount for...

When I first wrote about the Polaroid Pogo mobile instant printer for DemystifyingDigital.com I thought it was an interesting device that needed a few more features. Zink, the company which makes the paper for the Pogo, is seeking to expand the options for instant printing with its new 4x6-inch instant paper. Though Zink's 4x6 paper is too large to work with the current Polaroid Pogo, it might be used in larger follow-up mobile printers from Polaroid. In the mean time, there is one printer on the market that can use the paper: the Pandigital Portable Printer with ZINK Technology. The Pandigital...

If you're shopping for a digital SLR for an eager novice photographer, I've put together a holiday camera guide of the best digital SLR cameras of 2009 for beginners. Check out my list of favorite DSLR cameras here and start shopping: there are only a few more days till Christmas!

I never thought of Canon's entry-level Rebel DSLR line as being particularly sturdy but apparently they're tougher than they look. This Canon EOS Rebel XT fell off a skydiver's helmet and plunged 3000 feet to the ground and still worked after impact. There were some minor damages -- a crack in the plastic body and wonky kit lens -- but otherwise the Rebel XT was in fairly decent shape considering it had dropped out of the sky at an estimated velocity of 120 miles per hour. The same can't be said for the Sony camcorder -- shown on the right...

If any of you out there is wondering what I'd like for Christmas if money was no option, I just might say this amazing new lens from NIkon: the AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II super telephoto lens. Yes, this lens is really for pros only since you're not likely to use it on your next family vacation. If you enjoy shooting sports though, I can't think of another piece of glass that I would crave more right now. (Ok, maybe a 400mm lens, buy hey.) The Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 VR II benefits from some interesting new technologies from Nikon which...

This is pure silliness but maybe that's why I like it. Check out what happens when Canon Boy (Romeo) meets Nikon Girl (Juliet) in this remarkably well-produced makeshift rap video.

For me, one of the joys of photography is using a digital SLR to capture gorgeous close-up photos of flowers, plants, insects, and other tiny critters. Unfortunatley, a good close-up "Macro" lens can cost an arm-and-a-leg. If you want a high-quality Macro lens but don't want to break the bank check out the new Tamron SP AF60mm f/2.0 Di II LD 1:1 Macro which is a perfect fit for most digital SLRs.The 60mm lens' f/2.0 aperture means you can shoot in low light and capture a very narrow range of focus, creating a beautiful bouquet of blur behind your close-up...

As a photographer who loves sports, this is something that gets me very excited. At DemystifyingDigital.com this week, we are exclusively hosting a Nikon podcast with legendary Sports Illustrated photographer John Iacono. "Johnny I," as he's known, shares some gem stories about shooting sports on the podcast including how he got beaned during a Mets vs. Diamondbacks playoff game. He also offers tips on how budding sports photographers can take better photos. Check it out by clicking here.

Check it out: DemystifyingDigital.com has posted my review of the new Nikon D3000 digital SLR, a camera that's designed for people who want to learn more about photography. The Nikon D3000 DSLR has a built-in Guide Mode that walks beginning photographers through the basics of photgraphy as they capture beautiful images. Speaking of photos, the review includes over half a dozen samples images I shot with the D3000 including two which have been posted at their full resolution. (Scroll towards the end of the review to find them.) Check out my Nikon D3000 review by clicking here.

It's that time of year again when the nation's families take to the road and visit some of this country's most beautiful National Parks. Heck, even President Obama's family recently spent some time at the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park. If you're only familiar with some of the most popular parks -- yes, we love the Grand Canyon too but want to try something new -- The Chicago Tribune has a nice photo essay on "National parks with punch." In the photo slideshow, the Tribune looks at "the largest, smallest, oldest, newest and least- and most-visited of the system's 58...