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The Goods

New ways to print bigger, soften your focus, eliminate grain, shoot from the
wrist, and more.
- On December 16, 2008
Big Time
A 17-incher is the acme of desktop printers: Who wouldn't want to whip out images so big that you have to stand back to appreciate them?
Canon's new entry, the imagePrograf iPF5000, is a beaut. It has two, count 'em, two heads to transport a whopping 12 inks. According to Canon, that means faster prints with a superwide gamut.
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Which Software Should I Buy?

I'm getting serious about image editing. But do I really need to spend $650
for Adobe Photoshop CS2 -- can't I get by with Photoshop Elements 5.0 ($100)?
- On December 16, 2008
If you're getting serious, but you're not yet sure just how serious you're going to get, the answer is yes, you can get by with Elements. For now.
Photoshop's "junior" version, Elements 5.0, is a great program. And it has a lot of the most commonly used Photoshop tools: the awesome Healing Brush and its cousin the Spot Healing Brush, the Magnetic Lasso, and the Clone Stamp.
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5 Must-Have Flash Units

Illuminate your photos with these cool flash accessories.
- On December 16, 2008
1. Sigma EF-500 DG Super
Sigma's top-of-the-line, TTL-dedicated flash boasts almost all the features and power of a typical flagship unit, but sells for much less ($229, street). It also has some rarer features, such as a dual-mode optical slave. In the digitally encoded "Designated Slave" mode, it fires only when the triggering flash is another EF-500 DG Super -- good for arena sports, where you don't want other lights triggering your flash. (www.sigmaphoto.com)
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Five Memory Card Innovations

How to find an innovative memory card with something extra.
- By Aimee Baldridge on December 16, 2008
1.Lexar Professional LockTight CompactFlash
For photographers in law enforcement-or watch CSI too much-data security is crucial. Lexar's LockTight CompactFlash Type I cards can be accessed only by designated cameras and computer users. They work only with some Nikon models (for now) and let you set up an unlimited number of users. They also come with Image Rescue and Corel PaintShop Pro 9 software. Prices (street): 512MB, $100; 2GB, $300. Info: www.lexar.com; 800-789-9418.
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Which Software Should I Buy?

How to make your photo look like a painting.
- By Pop Photo Staff on December 16, 2008
Question:
Is there any software available that would let me take photos of my sons and give the picture an oil painting effect?
Neil Atkins
Battle, England
There are lots of ways to make your photo look like a painting, some of which you may already have in your toolkit. The simplest method is to use an effect filter that, with a little bit of input from you, creates a painting automatically. Then, if you really want to dive in, try a dedicated program.
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Screen Tester: Pantone Huey Monitor Calibrator

Color Control made simple
- By Pop Photo Staff on December 16, 2008
Calibrating and profiling your computer monitor used to require an advanced degree.
Now, the new Huey from Pantone/GretagMacbeth ($80, street) makes it a no-brainer. This light, compact, and inexpensive colorimeter could pay for itself by helping your printer match the image on your monitor, but it goes further.
The Huey also compensates for changes in the ambient light-great if you edit photos on a mobile computer or in an office with a view.
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Film Now

New Tungsten-balanced print film from Kodak neutralizes hot lights.
- By Russell Hart on December 16, 2008
Medium- and large- format photographers who use color negative film have always had a choice denied to like-minded 35mm shooters: film emulsion balanced either for daylight, to shoot by natural light and strobe, or for tungsten, to shoot by existing incandescent and "hot" studio light. There were no such thing as tungsten-balanced 35mm color negatives. (Slides are another story.)
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High 5: Optical Filters

Five must-have optical filters for every shooter's kit.
- By Pop Photo Staff on December 16, 2008
Haze or UV
Often used to protect lens surfaces, haze filters can remove upt o 75 percent of ultraviolent light, a contributing element to the blush cast that can rob distant landscapes of color and contrast. If you shoot a lot of scenics and you're rough on lenses, get a haze (or UV) filter. We used the HOYA Haze UV (0) ($21, street). for info:www.thkphoto.com; 800-421-1141.
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Cool Gear

Love the latest Lumix, sharpen your scans, flash photos on your rims, and
more.
- By Pop Photo Staff on December 16, 2008
Bright Star
Lenscaps are de rigueur with EVFs, but when was the last time you met a point-and-shoot with a big, bright lens that warranted one? The Panasonic DMC-TZ1's Leica lens does, and with its pronounced finger grip, this camera may remind you of an old-fashioned compact rangefinder (albeit without the optical viewfinder, but the LCD can be adjusted for bright sunlight). We had a lot of fun making stop-motion videos with the "Flip Book" mode. You can read the full test and check out our attempt at stop-motion at www.popphoto.com
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Online Photo Labs Put to the Test

Online photo labs aren't created equal. We test the best, from Shutterfly to
Snapfish, Adorama to Wal-Mart, and find some surprising results.
- By Jon Sienkiewicz on December 16, 2008
When it comes to prints, there's no single way of doing things. Printing at home isn't always an option, particularly for big pictures you'd like to frame for the wall. Add in factors such as convenience, competitive pricing, and image storage, and it's no wonder more and more shooters are turning to online photo labs. But which one is right for you?
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