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Pinnacle Dazzle Video Converter for Mac

Before this unit appeared, we were searching high and low (and mostly low) for an easy, affordable way to transfer old Hi-8 videotapes to an aging Mac. Pinnacle's practically plug-and-play device turned out to be the solution. You just connect it to the computer's USB port; plug a camcorder, VCR, or other analog video source into its composite (or S-) video inputs; and use the supplied software's wizard to convert your footage to digital form. It's imported specifically as an MPEG-4, hardware-compressed file that goes directly into your iTunes library. From there you can view it onscreen with a click, or, if you're up to date, transfer it to your video iPod. About $50.

Smartparts OptiPix SP3200 Digital Picture Frame

Until now, digital picture frames have struck us largely as a soccer mom's appliance. But this 32-inch, wall-mounted model from Smartparts should appeal to any serious photographer wanting to showcase his or her work, and not just by virtue of its biggest-ever size. The huge LCD has HDTV-style high-def resolution of 1366x768 pixels to complement its 16:9 wide-screen aspect ratio. Made of dark-stained wood with a compatibly beige inset mat, the SP3200 has slots for most types of memory card, but a USB connection also lets you load pictures directly to it from a computer running the supplied software. The frame's internal memory holds up to 1,500 shots.

The software can also automatically locate and prepare images for display, resizing and resampling them, and even upload PDFs, PowerPoint slides, and other graphics file types, making it useful in a photo studio environment as well. Slide show options include a choice of speeds and transitions, but according to the company you can keep a single image displayed for an extended period without any burn-in. And once you're set to go, you can run the frame with its remote control. About $800.

Rodenstock HR Ultra Slim Polarizer

The reputation of Rodenstock lenses precedes this new filter, and as any outdoor color photographer will tell you, a polarizer is the only reliable way to darken clear sky. Of course it can also increase color saturation (differently than what you get from a Photoshop slider) and eliminate unwanted reflections (its main purpose, though often overdone because reflections may be needed to define a scene's surfaces). Polarizing filters tend to have thick rims, however, because of their dual-glass construction, and this increases the chance that the rim may create a vignette (corner darkening) with the wide-angle lenses we all like to use for landscapes. To lessen that possibility this new Rodenstock circular polarizer has an especially thin rim -- a design permitted by thinner optical glass, which in turn makes for sharper results. (You need a circular rather than traditional linear polarizer for proper autofocus function.) The filter's rim is made of brass rather than aluminum, for better glass alignment, and has a water-shedding outer coating. From $100.

Jobo PhotoGPS

The Nikon D3 and a few other new digital SLRs have built-in GPS technology, which relies on satellites to keep track of where you take your pictures. For those that don't, Jobo's long-delayed PhotoGPS is the next best thing. Considerably downsized and streamlined since its announcement and display in early 2007, it slips into your camera's hotshoe just like a flash unit, staying there while you shoot to record GPS data for every picture you take. (It syncs through the hotshoe's center contact.) Back at your computer -- provided you haven't gotten lost in the wilderness, a problem this device can't solve -- you import your pictures and the GPS data using supplied software, which time-syncs the two and links up with an online database to retrieve country, city (if any), street (if any), and nearest point of interest for every photograph. That information is then automatically written into the image file's metadata fields -- which means you can search for pictures by location. About $150.

Moixa USBCell

Going green means using rechargeable batteries rather than one-shot cells that clog landfills and contaminate groundwater. The problem is that if you're on the road for any length of time, you have to take along a dedicated charger -- and find someplace with AC power to plug it in. Moixa Energy's ingenious Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) AA cell eliminates the need for either: Flip open its top to reveal a standard USB plug, and slip it into your laptop's USB port for a quick charge. (At home you can use a standard NiMH charger.) Most laptops have at least a couple of USB ports, so you should be able to charge two cells at once. Talk about power sharing. What's more, a fully-charged USBCell actually outlasts a standard alkaline battery in digital devices. About $20 for two. usbcell.com

Brunton SolarRoll

What if your laptop runs out of power far from an AC source? Roll out this flexible, waterproof solar panel and plug it into your computer with the supplied cord. Though direct sun works quicker, the SolarRoll's photovoltaic cells are able to gather energy even in low light levels. Choose the SolarRoll 14, which measures 12x57 inches and puts out 14 watts, if you want one to charge your laptop. If you just want to charge your digital camera's battery, in-camera or with a charger, you can get away with the SolarRoll 9, which measures 12x40 inches and puts out nine watts. (You can connect up to three SolarRolls of the same wattage for extra juice.) From $200.

Scott eVest with solar panel

Technology enabled clothing is how this company describes its wired outerwear. A "personal area network" of zippered, variable-size adjustable pockets and conduits built into its garments lets you carry lots of electronic devices -- cellphone, PDA, iPod, and of course a compact camera -- without looking like a bloated geek. The original Scott eVest hides and manages cables, headphone wires, and earbuds so you stay connected to your gadgets. The jacket even keeps your stuff running when you can't plug into the grid with an optional, coordinated solar panel that attaches to the back of the jacket and charges a small battery pack in an inside pocket. About $270.

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