Rosario Tech

PC Mag.com has posted a fairly decent review of Epson’s new scanner, the V750-M Pro (the “Pro” stands for “Expensive”).

The great thing about this scanner is that it has the ability to scan large transparencies using what is called a “fluid-mount kit.” This is something that you find with high-end drum scanners. PC Mag explains:

“You’ve probably noticed that some scratches—on a polyurethaned wood floor, for example—disappear when you wet the floor with a cleaning solution, only to reappear when the floor dries. If you took a photo of the floor when it was wet, however, you wouldn’t see the scratch. The fluid-mount kit works much the same way. Put the mounting solution—available from Aztek—on the mounting kit’s glass plate, place the negative on the fluid to fill in the scratches, and put a few more drops on top of the film, a piece of Mylar (also available from Aztek) on top of that, and scan.”

Go over to PC Mag.com and read the full review.

[By the way, if anyone gets a chance to test out this scanner in person, please email me the results so I can post some samples here. Thanks]

Now when is Nikon going to come out with something like this? (Love the soundtrack - EuroTechno - rad!)

Nikon is releasing a new DSLR which is essentially an update to the D2X. The D2XS sports a few new features like:

• Electronic viewfinder masking when using High Speed Crop
• Colour Matrix Metering II adapted for use in High Speed Crop
• New wide angle TFT monitor
• New longer life battery
• New Black and White mode
• Adobe RGB Colour space available in all three Colour Modes
• Additional Custom Curve options
• Extra 1/3 step ISO boost settings
• Refinements to Auto focus performance
• New in camera Trim function
• Modified Auto ISO control
• Extra options for the Function Button
• Extended continuous shooting
• New Menu GUI color scheme
• Image Comment, number of characters increased.
• Save/Load settings between multiple D2Xs cameras, additional settings in EXIF
• Simplified settings management
• Image Authentication system compatible
• Battery warning during Mirror Up
• Additional GPS information
• Modified USB portwith new USB Cable Clip included

Read the press release after the jump.

I can’t say I’m all that impressed by the new features, especially since many of these will be incorporated into a firmware update for the D2X coming this fall. I mean, it’s not enough for me to dump what I have already and buy this one. On the other hand, when I do get the chance to buy another D2X, maybe it’ll be cheaper since the D2Xs will be replacing it. I don’t know.

But I do love Nikon.

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Joby has released a larger version of their gorillapod that can be used by larger digital cameras and DSLRs.

I own the smaller version of this and have it attached to my Canon SD450 and it is one great little tripod. Easy to carry and pack away, it comes in handy when I need to stabilize by little camera for long exposures or self-inclusive family portraits. This tripod can grip onto almost anything.

I’m going to assume the larger gorrilapod is stronger and bigger in order to hold larger cameras. The price is right, so I’ll probably be getting one. In fact, maybe I’ll get a few because if they are strong enough to hold cameras, they are probably strong enough to hold secure my Nikon Speedlights too.

I’m going to order them now… On your way then.

Nikon has released a demo version of its new NEF RAW processing program, Nikon Capture NX.

It has a radical new interface and a very unusual (and intriguing) method to do localized adjustments to Nikon RAW NEF files. Download the 30 day demo here (60+ meg file, Mac version). Info about the program can be found here and a preview by Ben Long can be read here.

Read on for the press release.
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Nikon is set to release a firmware update to its flagship camera, the D2X. This firmware update will bring the D2X in line with many of the features of the new D2Xs. Here’s what we have to look forward to:

A number of features will be added or updated as described below:

HI-0.3 (ISO 1000 equivalent), HI-0.5 (ISO 1100 equivalent) and HI- 0.7 (ISO 1250 equivalent) options will be added between the ISO 800 and HI-1 sensitivity settings.

So keep your eyes peeled for this update.

Amazon has a great deal on some pretty good recordable DVDs. Click here to get 100 Memorex DVD-R, 16x printable discs for only $28. And, if you can wait a few days, the shipping is free.

I just bought the same thing at Comp USA and it cost me exactly twice as much. These are great disks and they have worked for me in every DVD burner I have.

Looking to do great slide shows? Fed up with iPhoto? Want more transitions? Want to keep your audience from falling asleep?

Well, look no further. FotoMagico from Boinx (where did they come up with those names?) is one fantastic slide show program. Laid out like iMovie, you import your fotos and do magico on them. Very simple to use and also has a lot of depth. Add music and great transitions and you’ll be the next Ken Burns.

Click here to see a sample slide show I made in just ten minutes on my Powerbook (It’ll open a browser window - let it load for a couple of minutes, it’s a big file, about 12 megs).

What a pain in the @$$ it is when, after you print your incredibly cool label onto your just-burned DVD, you touch it and get a fingertip full of wet ink!! Then you go and type on your brand new white Mac keyboard and it suddenly looks like detectives have been dusting your keyboard for fingerprints. How I hate that!

So, it looks like Imation has come up with a solution (I hope). Aquaguard printable DVDs supposedly are quick drying and smudge proof. “An industry first!” Imation boasts:

“Imation’s new inkjet printable CDs and DVDs with AquaGuard™ surface offer a powerful new advantage—the ability to print fast-drying custom graphics that won’t wash away and are smudge and smear-resistant right from CD/DVD inkjet duplicating equipment or desktop disc printers.”

I, for one, will be giving them a try. They can’t be any worse than the discs I’m using already. And maybe then I can have a clean keyboard.

Apple has released a small update to their photo processing program Aperture. Download it here.

Here are the usual sketchy details of what the update addresses:

“This update addresses several issues related to performance, stability, color correction, and display compatibility and is recommended for all Aperture users.

Note: You must first update to Aperture 1.1 and Mac OS X 10.4.6 or later before installing Aperture 1.1.1.”

Remember, you need to update your version of Aperture to 1.1 before you can use this 1.1.1 update. Download the 1.1 update here.

[BTW, I've started to use Aperture (version 1.1) and I like what I see. More in a capsule review later.]