If you need any further proof that we're emerging from a recession, Nikon's newest professional lens is it: this 200-400mm monster retails for just south of $7,000 (I know, pocket change!). Here's the details: The new AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II lens features a constant maximum aperture of f/4 and the second generation of Nikon's Vibration Reduction image stabilization system - which offers a four stop enhancement for hand-held shooting. The VR system automatically engages when shooting videos with a Nikon d-SLR. The lens also employs the company's Nano Crystal Coat to reduce instances of ...

Digital camera software maker ACDSee has released version 12 of its Photo Manager. Among the new enhancements: An  "Online mode" which lets you drag and drop images from your computer to ACDSeeOnline.com where up to 2GB worth can be stored securely. You can move single images or entire folders and within the Online environment, you can share images via email or even into your Facebook account. The ability to upload images to FTP sites directly within Photo Manager. A new, "refined" user-interface. I've used and liked previous iterations of Photo Manager....

Nero, creator of liquid media technology, announced that Nero Multimedia Suite 10, its new multimedia bundle, is now available to ship to retailers. The three products that make up Nero Multimedia Suite 10 are Nero Vision Xtra, a brand-new program dedicated to media organization, basic and advanced video editing and HD movie creation; Nero Burning ROM for disc burning and copying; and Nero BackItUp & Burn for backing up, synching and restoring data. Each of these three enhanced software programs is also available for purchase as a stand-alone product. “Hobbyists who enjoy creating and editing their home videos will greatly benefit from...

Primera Technology, a manufacturer of automated disc publishers, announced its Bravo Archive disc publishers at the National Association of Broadcaster’s (NAB) show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bravo Archive-Series incorporates new recordable drives and media from Millenniata, Inc., to deliver what the company is calling “the world’s first truly permanent data archival solution.” Usable life of recorded discs is projected at a 1,000 years or more. “We’re excited to offer this breakthrough technology from Millenniata in our new Bravo Archive-Series disc publishers,” said Mark D. Strobel, Primera’s vice president of sales and marketing. “It’s not a typo—the life of this media...

In our feature on how to store your digital photos for the long-term, we stressed the importance of using archival-grade optical media for your digital files. Archival media does cost more, but it will last longer than your run-of-the-mill blank CD or DVD you can pick up in the grocery store. Now Panasonic has announced its first archival-grade Blu-ray disc media. Not many consumers own Blu-ray drives at this point, and for your average digital photographer, Blu-ray discs offer too much capacity to be useful: you should be backing up your photos to blank media on a semi-regular basis and...

Joby, Inc., designer of the Gorillapod flexible camera tripod, added two products to its Gorillapod lineup. Gorilla Magnetic Tripod. Inspired by the positive reception of the Gorillatorch hands-free flashlight, Joby’s Gorillapod Magnetic flexible tripod features magnets in its feet so that it can be anchored to any magnetic surface, in addition to being secured with its fully articulating legs. It can be stuck to a pole, or wrapped around a tree branch, for example. The Gorillapod Magnetic supports compact cameras and mini video cameras weighing up to 11.5 ounces yet it weighs 2.5 ounces and is 6 inches tall. It will be...