More New Stuff...

Hail, Your Tininess!

Lots of digicams call themselves "card size" these days, but the Konica Revio C2, at 13.5mm thick (an eyelash over a half-inch) is, by our reckoning, the thickness of about 10 credit cards. More amazing is the weight-under 2 1/2 ounces. This 1.2MP camera achieves its svelteness by being rather basic-it has no removable media, just a not-so-big internal memory of 14Mb, and downloads only via USB cable-but it has a fast f/2.8 lens (37mm equivalent), and can take a half-res movie clip up to a blistering 10 sec. Price to be announced.

Teensy multifeatured meter

There have been many exposure meters small enough to tote on a key chain. But Gossen's matchbox-sized mini Digisix ($109), weighing only 1.5 ounces, is far more than a simple tiny meter. Within this tiny black plastic casing you'll find reflective and incident light meters offering digital EV readouts (that you transfer to analog dials), a timer, an alarm clock, even a digital thermometer! Shutter speeds range from 1/2000 sec to 4 min for film speeds between ISO 6 and 3200 in light from EV 0-18. Want more? The Digisix, which is sold with case and strap, has accessories! Check out the hot-shoe adapter, for one, at www.bogenphoto.com.

Shleppable studio

Location shooters who photograph itty-bitty objects, meet Novoflex's inexpensive Magic Studio. Unlike most portable backgrounds, this Lilliputian sweep of flexible, off-white plastic requires no stands or poles, and no cloth or paper backdrops. You simply bend it into the shape of a seamless sweep, and lock it in place with cords of beaded plastic (see photo). When photography is finished, release the cords, and the Magic Studio resumes its flat, transportable shape. Small enough to fit inside the average light case, it comes in two sizes (19 ½ or 11 ¾ inches wide) and is either translucent or opaque ($44-$72). Novoflex's mini sweep can also be suspended for bottom lighting using an optional fold-up frame. Availability? Check www.hpmarketingcorp.com or call 973-808-9010.

Paper to the people!

If you've owned an inkjet printer for very long, you know why its special inks and papers are called consumables: They consume your cash! Finally, one of the major players is addressing the inkjet consumables problem. Kodak's new Anytime Picture Paper, specially designed for printing photos, is said to be quick drying, has a surface described as soft gloss, and is available in 20 8 1/2 x 11 sheet packets for-drum roll please-$5.99.