 KODAK GOES HIGH DEFINITION
Kodak's MAX and Royal Gold consumer print films have a new sibling: High Definition. A 400-speed C-41 film, it's said to offer sharper print detail, thanks to finer grain and tweaked red sensitivity. Kodak claims its grain is the finest of any ISO 400 speed film. Available in three-roll packs (24-exposure cartridges) costing $8.95 (street price), High Definition is slightly more expensive than Kodak's MAX siblings, but on a par with the Royal Gold films. Is High Definition significantly sharper than Royal Gold? You'll have to wait for POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY & IMAGING's upcoming test for the answer to that one! (www.kodak.com)
SHARPENING UP WITH NIKON
 Nikon has taken its popular 80-200mm f/2.8 bread-and-butter zoom for pros, stretched its focal-length range, and added vibration reduction to arrive at the new 70-200mm f/2.8G VR Zoom-Nikkor. Scheduled to touch down in stores in April, the lens' new VR technology is said to offer a new dimension in shake-free shooting. In addition to suppressing the image-blurring effects of hand-induced camera shake, new stabilizers simultaneously compensate for the type of lateral movement that you encounter when shooting from a moving vehicle. Another plus? Nikon has added vibration reduction and focal-length range, yet trimmed overall weight by six ounces! Sorry, no further tech or pricing info available at press time. (www.nikonusa.com)
 IT SEALS AND CONCEALS
Hey nature photographer! Do you cobble together blinds to hide yourself from the birds and wildlife you photograph? This could help with the cobbling: camouflage-patterned gaffer tape. Vinyl-impregnated for durability, these tapes are matte-finished to suppress light reflection and are sold in three color schemes: desert brown, blaze orange, and forest green. Claimed to have high tack, the tapes are said to leave no sticky residue and are available in 60-foot rolls either two- or three-inches wide ($6-$9). Not ample enough? You can also order custom widths up to six inches across. (Pro Tapes and Specialties, P.O. Box 6630, Edison, NJ 08818; 800-345-0234; www.protapes.com)
KOOL KLOTHES FOR KIDS
 Are you a portrait photographer faced with youngsters bouncing into your studio wearing SpongeBob T-shirts? Sounds like you need prop clothing. Backdrop Outlet now offers a broad selection, with a twist: Many of the dresses, shirts, pants, and even angel wings they sell are color-coordinated to match their painted muslin backdrops. Check out the company's new color catalog for contemporary and Victorian styles, including an extensive line of hats and accessories. You'll even find matching dresses for mom and daughter. Prices range from $19-$24 for hats, and $49-119 for dresses. (Backdrop Outlet, 2215 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60616; 800-466-1755; www.classic-clothing.com)
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