Digital Dilemmas

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Editing......Part 7
2007-09-01 19:31:00
Continuing from the 'Editing ......Part 6' post on August 5Th:14) Before you hit the Go Button on your Batch Processing Command, make sure you have created a Destination Folder on your Desktop to receive the newly converted files. This could have been done earlier when you were preparing to edit the files, but if you haven't yet, now is the time.I'm not exactly sure why, but there is something very satisfying about Batch Commands, both in my Raw Conversion Software and in Photoshop. I think you have to have the experience of doing things the hard way, to really appreciate the magic of pushing a button and watching the computer do it all for you. When given the choice..........Automate!The time it takes to convert a Raw file to a usable Tiff varies with the particular Raw Conversion Software, your system's available RAM and most importantly the power of your computers Processor. The Bit Depth of your final file is also a factor in the processing time. As I have mentioned earli...
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DP Review Posts 'Beta' 40 D images...
2007-08-28 05:47:00
Phil Askey and the good folks over at dpreview.com have posted some sample pics from their Pre-Production Eos 40D provided to them by the Engineers at Canon. The link above will jump you to page seven of the full Camera Review .* If you're reading this article, I would love to hear from you! Please take a second to respond by clicking the POST A COMMENT Link below.
More About: Images , Beta , Posts , Ages

RED ONE! The Future of Digital Cinema Production...
2007-08-28 02:57:00
I have been hearing a lot of rumors lately from the Video Production Geeks that I know. Something about the Color Red, Digital Cinema and the end of Video Tape. And that's not all, they're telling me that you cinema guys can throw the motion picture film you've got stored in the freezer straight into the toilet. The be all, end all of Digital Cinema Production has arrived!The Red One Digital Cine Camera is purportedly the Quantum Leap in straight to Digital, Motion Picture Cameras. Weighing in at under ten pounds and costing just under $20,000 US, the Red One is described as obsolescence proof; the modular design allowing for any future updates to mechanics and electronics. Follow the link above to their site and be prepared to be blown away!* If you're reading this article, I would love to hear from you! Please take a second to respond by clicking the POST A COMMENT Link below.
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Canon 40 D High ISO Test Images...
2007-08-27 21:24:00
The Japanese Photo Website 'Photo Cafe' has examples of High ISO Captures with the Canon EOS 40 D. The still life images of a flower arrangement are taken at 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 ISO, with and without the Noise Reduction setting. The quality of the files is remarkable by comparison to the High ISO images produced from Professional DSLR's just a few years ago.Check it out!* If you're reading this article, I would love to hear from you! Please take a second to respond by clicking the POST A COMMENT Link below.
More About: Images , Test , Anon

Nikon Announces D-3 12.1 Megapixel...
2007-08-24 20:41:00
Nikon broke the news on Wednesday about 2 of its newest Pro DSLRs, the 12.1 Megapixel , Full Frame D3 and the 12.3 Megapixel D300. At an expected retail cost of $5000.00 ( US ) the flagship D3 comes with all the bells and whistles that you might expect from a camera that costs as much as a good used car, with the D300 expected to be more affordable at approx $1,800 ( US ). Sadly, neither of the two cameras are manufactured by Canon, so you might have to buy some electrical tape to cover the Nikon logo on top of the camera!Here are a few of the Standout Features on the D3:12.05 Million Pixel CMOS Sensor, measuring 23.9mm X 36mm.16mm X 24 mm shooting mode for smaller files ( 5.14 Million Pixels )Proprietary Nikon Designed Full Frame Sensor ( Manufactured by? )Capable of 9 Frames Per Second burst rate with the full resolution.14 Bit Analog to Digital Capture / Conversion with several choices of Compression Strength.Normal ISO Range of 200-6400 in third stop increments or an Extended Ran...
More About: Nikon , Niko , Anno

Canon 40 D and Picture Style Editor
2007-08-22 17:03:00
According to Canon USA, the CD shipping with the new Eos 40D will contain a new Software Tool called Picture Style Editor , which allows you to further fine tune your images ( RAW files ) to create the Tone, Saturation and specific Color / Hue response that you want from each file.The interface in PSE lets you choose specific colors in an image and with the help of a Color Wheel, extend or limit the Saturation, Hue, Luminance for an individual color.Your preferences can then be saved as a PF2 file and used by the RAW Conversion Software or by the camera itself to further fine tune the picture style already set on your 40D. This is basically a license to design your own Digital Film, customized for your tastes!Here is a Picture Style Editor Screenshot from a Japanese Website :
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Canon EOS 40D Available In September!
2007-08-20 06:15:00
Press Release Courtesy Canon USA / August 20, 2007: Press Release:The Wait is Over: CANON U.S.A.'S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED EOS 40D DIGITAL SLR DELIVERS HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGE QUALITY, HIGH-SPEED SHOOTING AND HIGH-END FUNCTIONALITYFastest in Class 6.5 FPS Shooting Speed, New Autofocus Sensor and Newly Enhanced 10.1 Megapixel CMOS Imaging Sensor Combine to Boost the EOS 40D's Appeal While Maintaining its Accessible Mid-Market PricingLAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., August 20, 2007 ? Following months of intense anticipation by Digital SLR enthusiasts worldwide, the EOS 40D DIGITAL SLR Camera from Canon U.S.A., Inc. is scheduled to begin sailing into stores in early Sept ember . Building on the success of Canon's perennially popular "prosumer" EOS 20D and 30D models, the EOS 40D advan...
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Duncan Babbage's Ghetto Trigger Test!
2007-08-18 18:15:00
For those of you who can't afford or refuse to part with the big bucks for Pocket Wizards Wireless Flash Triggers, there is always the less expensive, Chinese made 'Ghetto Triggers'. Notoriously cheap, poorly made and somewhat unreliable, they are nevertheless very popular items on E-bay that have made their way into most retail photography shops and a lot of Pro Shooter's camera bags. Some Remote Trigger Units being more dependable than others, you have to ask around on the photographers net forums to find a batch from a manufacturer / seller that has proven itself in daily use. The remotes currently offered on E-bay are hands down, more powerful and reliable than the units being produced just a few years ago. I own one myself and use it frequently with very few problems. Best 70 bucks I ever spent!A few quick tips:Test the unit in different locations / situations that best reflect the type of photography work that you do on a daily basis. Small rooms, large studios, factory...
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Measuring The Voltage On A Vivitar 285 Flash
2007-08-17 05:21:00
A friend of mine is selling his older Vivi tar 285 Flash , 'Good Condition', slightly used, dropped only a few times, I swear ! He only wants $50.00 Dollars ( US ) to part with it forever, so I may have to help him out and add it to my camera bag. The 285 is a highly regarded portable flash, considered a dependable workhorse that has earned its place in photo equipment history. Cheap, tough and easy to use, with accuracy from its non E-TTL sensor that still outperforms some of those fancy newer $400.00 units. And all that for a fitty! That got me thinking about my Canon and the voltage sync compatibility problems with some of the newer Digital Cameras.I believe it's safe to use the 285 HV unit on any Canon Digital Camera, but the older 285 ( Non HV ) may fry your DSLR. Checking the voltage sync will be the safest and easiest way to guarantee that I don't cook any of my camera's electronics. Head on over to the Kenrick Parish website for a tutorial on testing your flashes volt...
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High Dynamic Range ... Sort of !
2007-08-15 16:09:00
The Dynamic Range visible in your images is directly related to the various factors of Exposure, Lens Contrast, Film sensitivity and latitude, Color Bit Depth and most importantly the quality of the final Printed Output. Any of these choices can profoundly affect the way an image is perceived by the viewer. Master Photographer and Printer Ansel Adams used combinations of these factors to produce the richest and most luminous prints from each Photographic Situation. His work is widely known for the incredible Dynamic Range present in the Black and White Fiber Prints he made of Yosemite, Grand Tetons and other National Park Scenics. The beauty and luminosity of each Master Print dependent on all the factors of Lens Choice, Film Processing and Printing technique.Those of us shooting Digital Cameras can benefit from his wisdom and technique by using our tools with the same care and forethought as Adams would on his treks to the wilderness with an 8X10 large format Camera. It only t...
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Ketchup Head Monster Terrorizes Teens!
2007-08-11 21:15:00
The only way to make this a Digital related Post is to include the Meta-Data from the camera that took these pics! Here it is: Sony DSC p100 / f2.8 /100 ISO/ 7.9 mm focal length.Last day of vacation :(Click Pic for Larger Image!
More About: Teens , Ketchup , Vacation , Monster , Head

Canon Responds to Mark III Autofocus Concerns
2007-08-10 18:47:00
This will be the worlds shortest Vacation Post!Head on over to Rob Galbraith's site to read the updated ( now infamous ) article on the Canon EOS 1D Mark III and it's AF problems. With the newly updated firmware ( Ver. 1.1.0 ) installed, the guys at DPI look for improvements / fixes for the problems experienced in their last round of tests. Also, the Engineers at Canon Inc. have responded to and promised an investigation into the problematic autofocus issues experienced by the testing team at Rob Galbraith DPI.Check it out.
More About: Mark I , Concerns , Anon

Eliminating Chromatic Aberration... The Easy Way
2007-08-08 17:11:00
Definition : From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia"In optics, chromatic aberration is caused by a lens having a different refractive index for different wavelengths of light (the dispersion of the lens). The term "purple fringing" is commonly used in photography, although not all purple fringing can be attributed to chromatic aberration. Longitudinal and lateral chromatic aberration of a lens is seen as "fringes" of color around the image, because each color in the optical spectrum cannot be focused at a single common point on the optical axis."Now a definition for the rest of us: "Chromatic Aberration - The Red Green and Purple Fringies in your images that let every one know you shot the picture with a Digital Camera! "OK! The majority of you have probably paid for some fancy expensive software to help you wrangle all those Red, Green and Purple Fringies out of your pics; And that is just fine. But I personally have found that using one of these ' wonder - programs ' ...
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Yummy Coffee!
2007-08-08 06:42:00
For those of you who don't already know, I am presently enjoying a blissful week of well deserved vacation down on the NC Coast. There are 7 of us, which also includes 5 teenage girls, in a 2 bedroom cottage with one bathroom and the world's smallest kitchen. This of course means that we will be eating out a lot this week and I have decided to eliminate shaving, showering and trips to the bathroom from my daily schedule. And could someone please explain to me why it is that a woman can leave every personal article of clothing hanging from every 3 dimensional surface in the bathroom, but if I leave the toilet seat up, they'll be hell to pay!So that brings me to Yummy Coffee , my favorite daily beverage. It's not as good at the beach as it is back at my home in Cary. It might be the pre-purchased jug water from the local supermarket or maybe the generic paper towels that I have been using in place of real Coffee Filters! I kept forgetting that one item when I went to get groceries...
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Canon Zoom or Sigma ?
2007-08-08 04:18:00
After a careful examination of my Google Analytics Data, it comes to my attention that there is a strong correlation between high page views and the word Canon , Canon Camera, Canon lens etc... used in the Blog Post Title. This leaves me with no other choice but to include those three words in various ways in every Blog Title. How about these ideas as Blog Post Banners.Happy Birthday to me... and Canon Camera10 things every Photographer should know... about Canon LensesSoftware to improve workflow...with your Canon Camera15 Photographers killed in tragic tour bus accident...all Canon shootersTokina's latest super zoom... it's not a Canon!or how about the Ultimate Blog Post Title :Canon Releases New Canon Camera with Canon Lens...it's a Canon!Take that you evil Googlebots!Now to the real subject of this post as described in the title " Canon Zoom Or Sigma ?"I really and truly intended to discuss my dilemma over picking a zoom lens for my new 12 mega pixel Canon 40D ( That one alone...
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Boy I Wish I Looked That Good!
2007-08-06 18:44:00
Well...maybe you do.Here are a few quick links to some Super Bogus, heavily retouched and manipulated Glamour Photos appearing at a newsstand near you. It should really make you doubt whether there is any reality at all in those oh - so - perfect Celebrity Portraits that grace the covers of the Supermarket Tabloids. I lump the Glamour, Vogues and Men's magazines in the same pile.Swedish site : Ministry of Health and Social affairsDigital Pablo: www.digitalpablo.com/portfolioI guess it shouldn't come as such a shock to see so much unreality in the publishing world. Truthfully, I do the same thing every day to my assignment photos before delivery of any job. Yellowing teeth and tired red eyes never make it back to the client on the final disk. I wouldn't even think of sending out an image without a few wrinkles carefully erased or blemishes wiped away like Magic Zit Creme. And I generally don't make it a policy to enhance cleavage, but I've done it before and I'm sure I will be ...
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Editing......Part 6
2007-08-06 05:18:00
Continued from the 'Editing ......Part 5' post on July 2nd:12A) So you have your images tweaked, organized and ready to process with your chosen Raw Processing Software. It's time to send them on a trip down Conversion Lane to their final destination... Tiff Town! With so many choices available for processing each image, it's best to test your process settings on an average file with a good histogram and plenty of shadow and highlight. You won't be sorry that you took the extra time to choose a file to test process. Tweaking the software settings on one image to fine tune the final output will save you a lot of Photoshop time on the bulk of your files. It's also a great way to catch your mistakes ( over sharpening, Blown out highlights, too much color noise reduction, shadow noise etc... ) before the settings are applied globally to hundreds of files.Because the Conversion Process is Non Destructive, you don't have to worry about permanently altering the Raw files when conve...

Cable Down For 5 Days!
2007-08-05 01:40:00
After an entire week of non- stop Grip and Grin PR photography, I have come home to a house without cable TV or Internet. Some joker cut my cable line in three neat pieces? Who knows why or how. Maybe the secret police employed by Canon Camera Inc are sending me a message. No more jokes about the Mark III! or Else! More likely one of the landscapers got a little careless with the sidewalk edger.At this very moment I am stealing Bandwidth from some unsuspecting neighbor. I know it sounds bad but my time on his network will be brief and my desire to post on the blog is overwhelming.Short re-cap of the week.1000 + pictures taken9+ gigs of CF storage used. (1/2 the job)Steve ( it was his client ) shot 9-11 Gigs on his end.15 free gourmet meals10-15 cups of Java ( actually less than usual)4.5 hours of actual sleep a night ( an average for the week )750 embarrassing and cheesy things said to complete strangers to illicit a freakin smile!etc...Tomorrow starts my vacation. I will be posting...
More About: Pictures , Days , Cable

More Rumors About The 40D?
2007-07-30 11:43:00
More rumors abound about the upcoming release of the New Canon 40D. I can't really tell if the Camera Enthusiast's are spreading the same rehashed news ( myself included ) or if there is any real new info to be had. But, as they say, where there is smoke there's usually fire and there is a whole lot of smoke. Most of it is probably being blown up our behinds!Rumor List: 10.1 -12 Mega Pixel, Digic II ( 80% ) or Digic III ( Just a few people have said this! ), 2.5 inch LCD, 5 -7 Frame per sec ( who cares ) etc...I can't imagine spending any more on a camera with those specs than I would for a new rebel XTI!Give me a full frame 12 Mega Pixel with a 3 inch LCD and I'll be happy for a few more years.
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5 Days Of PR Shooting
2007-07-30 05:35:00
I'll be hitting the sack earlier than usual tonight. Tomorrow begins a five day PR shoot for a Consulting Company at Convention locations in Raleigh and Durham. Run-and-Gun will be the order of the day, with most of the photography being photo-journalistic in nature. Our lighting weapon of choice will be the Canon Speedlite 580 Ex and more Canon 580's if needed. I spent a couple of hours making a killer accessory reflector for the strobe out of some old White cardboard.I think the Strobist would be proud!After Friday.............Vacation ! But I'll be taking my Desktop and 20 inch Dell Monitor just in case!
More About: Shooting , Days , Shoot

Kiva.org...... Loans To Entrepreneurs In Developing Countries
2007-07-27 04:55:00
The next time some S.O.B. from the Democrat or Republican Party calls to solicit a Campaign Donation, tell them where to go ( you know where ) and do something useful with your extra cash. Kiva .org makes it easy for you to make micro- loans to the working poor in Developing Countries .From their site:By choosing a business on Kiva.org, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence.Twenty Five Dollars might buy you a new pair of sunglasses or a used light stand, but the same amount could help some man or woman in a developing country start a life-changing business. Each Kiva Sponsor is pre-screened and counseled on good business practices and the stats on the repayment of loans make American Borrowers look like swindlers. The micro - loans are disbursed by local Kiva Field Partners who must have an established history of accountability and credibility with Kiva.org. Each sponsored business repays their debt th...
More About: Loans , Entrepreneurs , Ping

Response to The Abe Vigoda Edition CF Cards is Amazing!
2007-07-26 20:29:00
Who could have guessed that the Abe Vigoda Edition CF Cards would be such a hot property! I might even have to cut Abe in on the deal.Keep those orders coming!
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Fastest CF Card Ever?
2007-07-25 16:32:00
After posting about the new SanDisk CF / SD cards, I got to thinking. Does it really matter what Corporate Sponsorship brands any new Digital Product, especially when they are both in different fields? Could SanDisk have released the new Extreme Yugo edition. Would you really care?While you're thinking about that. I present to you the latest and greatest offering in Portable Digital Media..........The Abe Vigoda Extreme 1X !On Sale Now:Get them while you can!
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Sandisk Extreme Ducati
2007-07-25 14:08:00
SanDisk has just released the specs on its new Extreme Duca ti CF and SD Cards. The line-up consists of 4- and 8- gigabyte (GB) capacities for the SanDisk Extreme Ducati Edition Compact Flash card and 4GB for the SanDisk Extreme Ducati Edition SD Plus card. The SD Plus card features a snap-open connector that enables the card to be plugged directly into the USB port of a personal computer without the need for a cable or reader. Read / Write speeds are quoted at 45 megabytes per second for the Compact Flash cards and 20MB/sec for the SD Plus card. Those specs put the CF Card at twice the speed of the SanDisk Extreme III and 5MB faster than the new SanDisk Extreme IV card.Because the new CF cards move data faster than the transfer rate supported by most card readers, SanDisk offers the optional SanDisk Extreme FireWire Reader, which supports Fire Wire 400 and 800 connectivity.Suggested retail prices are $164.99 for the 4GB Compact Flash card, $314.99 for the 8GB Compact Flash card a...
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Canon Issues Press Release on Mark III
2007-07-22 20:47:00
Canon USA has issued a press release partially addressing some of the concerns over Auto Focus reliability and other glitches in the new EOS 1Ds Mark III. They will release a firmware update ( Version 1.0.9 ) at the end of July to resolve some of the known problems with Auto Focus, LCD viewing and other minor software issues.Press Release from Canon USA July 20 2007:Canon EOS-1D Mark III Firmware Update, Version 1.0.9 In the interests of better customer support, Canon has developed new Version 1.0.9 firmware for the EOS-1D Mark III Digital SLR camera. This firmware update incorporates the following improvements and fixes: Improves the look of images when enlarged on the LCD monitorApplies a slightly stronger sharpness setting to the LCD monitor when images are enlarged. Improves the consistency of AI Servo AF under certain conditionsReduces the tendency of the camera to autofocus on high-contrast backgrounds when shooting in conditio...
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Frank Lloyd Wright
2007-07-21 06:14:00
Once while testifying in court, Frank Lloyd Wright referred to himself as the world's greatest architect. Asked later how he could make such an excessive claim, he replied, ?Well, I was under oath, wasn't I?? (Secrest, 1998, p. 376).Maybe like me, you sometimes fantasize about greatness, recognition, the respect of your peers, maybe even fame and fortune. I wonder sometimes if I will ever have the success in my career and life that I hope for. I get caught up in the daily struggle to move forward, personally and professionally. Depending on the day of the week or who knows what, my assessment of my progress is unsure and very fickle. Today I am the greatest photographer that ever lived, tomorrow I can't find a good photo to save my life. If there was a pill I could take when I wake up in the morning to push me in the direction of the former as opposed to the latter. Oh well!Could it be that the truly great photographers, architects, artists etc... are cursed / blessed with a grea...

Alien Skin Software Review
2007-07-16 18:43:00
Click image for Large Preview.I've been trying to schedule enough time to put together my review of 3 Software Plug-ins from Alien Skin Software: Exposure, Snap art and Blowup. Work and other commitments have kept me from my blogging duties, not to mention all the time I have spent playing with the Filters. The image above this post is some Album Cover art that I have been working on. There isn't one element in the image that hasn't been run through at least one of the film- look filters in Exposure or the Faux- art filters in Snap art. I haven't had the time to test the upressing software Blow-up, but I'll probably get the opportunity soon enough to use it on the Album Cover image. I am very particular about upressed output, so I am interested to see how well the Alien Skin software holds up to Genuine Fractals, which is my standard choice for resizing images.EXPOSURE:The idea behind the Exposure Plug - in, is to render images captured digitally more like what you would ...
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David Honl Light Mods For Portable Strobes
2007-07-11 21:07:00
Photojournalist and Entrepreneur Davi d Honl has created some really cool Light Modifiers for your portable on camera strobe system. At the core of these simple lightweight tools is a Speed Strap with rubberized coating that can be left on your Canon or Nikon flash at all times. There are no messy adhesives required, just a Velcro outer edge to secure the strap to itself and for mounting various gobos, reflectors and snoots. Each light modifier will attach quickly to the Universal Speed Strap directly to the outer Velcro edge. Ballistic Nylon is used for all the strap accessories maintaining a stylish and indestructible professional look. Trust me, these things are brilliant and affordable. The Speed Strap sells for $9.95 US and the other accessories are under 20 dollars each.I will be buying a set of these!
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Time For A New Watermark System
2007-07-10 04:55:00
Recently I have given more thought to the importance of metadata and watermarking for images published on the web. I have always been a little slack in marking my images with the proper metadata. I create so many different versions of each image and save them in so many sizes and formats that I more often than not forget to check that I have included keywording and metadata. Even when I remember to mark an image as a copyrighted piece of original art, complete with keywords and warnings; they somehow end up naked and metadata free when they finally show up on a clients web page. No copyright, no keywords, a completely untraceable image. 20 years from now an image could still be circulating in cyber space and I might not even remember that I created it! It's not that I'm that concerned about unauthorized use or suing somebody for damages when they have inadvertently used an image beyond our agreement. I just think it would be great if every image had a simple reasonably small wat...
More About: System , Bill Gates , Time , Term , Watermark

Nikonians.org Website for Nikon Lovers
2007-07-06 16:49:00
A reader has turned me on to a really great website www.nikonians.org/ for Niko n Shooters. It's quite a comprehensive website, featuring articles on Nikon Cameras, lenses, flash and related gear. Nikonians offers it's members varying levels of service including inexpensive ( niksecure ) camera / gear insurance, forums and the option of displaying personal gallery images in forum posts. Classifieds, photo tours and seminars open to Silver level ( $25 yr) members round out the extensive package. Basic membership is free, with Silver, Gold or Platinum level memberships costing $25, $75, and $200.00 respectively.From the Nikon site:Full membership levels have access to:- Receive rebates from selected companies- Show your support with special icon in the community- Sign up for our attractive Photo Insurance NikSecure- Get your own image gallery- Access local Nikonians events and workshops- Upload images and link to images in the forums- Access to classifieds (sell & buy area)- Free...
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