p>Tamron has announced the release of a new high-powered lens, the AF28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR DI VC Aspherical (IF) Macro. Designed specifically for SLR cameras with full-size format, the lens comes with a vibration-compensation mechanism and covers everything from wide-angle to telephoto and macro.

The zoom lens offers anti-hand-shake blur reduction on SLR cameras using APS-C size or full-size format imagers. The lens covers a large focal-length range, from 28mm in wide angle to 300mm telephoto. If mounted on a DSLR with an APS-C sized imager, the lens has the capability of covering a 43mm wide angle to 465mm equivalent ultra telephoto - the ratio Tamron uses for conversion...

Sony has introduced the new Cyber-Shot DSC-H3 digital camera. The compact camera has 8-megapixel resolution and includes a high-definition component output for high-resolution slideshow capability. Connecting the camera to any HDTV set with Sony's VMC-MHC1 component cable allows users to see their digital photos in full 1080 HD resolution. The camera's Photo TV HD mode can be accessed when the DSC-H3 is plugged into a Bravia television.

The camera incorporates a Carl Zeiss 10X optical zoom lens, and includes a long-range flash. The camera's face-detection technology identifies up to eight faces...

Canon introduces two new cameras in the PowerShot A-series: the A650 and A720. Both cameras are point-and-shoot and user-friendly, with a design that features a grip for natural fit and stable handling. The cameras each use Canon's Optical Image Stabilization technology for sharp and clear images and Digic III technology for power and speed.

The A650 features 12.1-megapixel resolution and a 6X optical zoom. The 21 shooting modes give the user more control, with the range of settings varying from Manual to Aperture-Priority and Shutter-Priority. The modes can be selected using the intuitive mode...

p>Pentax has introduced two new digital compact cameras, the Optio Z10 and Optio S10. The Optio S10 is the seventh DivX-certified digital camera from Pentax.

The Optio Z10 has a 7X optical zoom refraction lens, so it doesn't protrude from the camera while zooming, and ranges from wide-angle to telephoto zoom. The camera's body design features a sliding lens cover for protection that operates the on/off camera setting. When combined with digital zoom, the optical zoom lens offers high magnification of approximately 35.7X. The Optio Z10 comes standard with 8 megapixels, high-speed face recognition and shake reduction...

Nikon has released two new digital cameras in the Coolpix line, the S700 and the S510. Both digital cameras come equipped with a 3X-zoom Nikkor glass lens and Optical Vibration Reduction image stabilization technology. They also can capture images at a 16:9 aspect ratio.

The S700 captures at 12.1 megapixels and has ISO capabilities up to 3200. Other features include a high-resolution LCD monitor, measuring 2.7 inches; Distortion Control that automatically corrects barrel distortion; and ISO capabilities ranging as high as 2000 for capturing images...

Michael and Patricia Fogden, of North Uist, Scotland, will receive 2008 Lifetime Achievement Awards from NANPA, recognizing their work with natural history subjects. Bates Littlehales, of Circleville, Wis., a retired photographer who specialized in natural history photography and underwater work for the National Geographic Society, will be honored with the second 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Also,  NANPA Fellow Awards will be presented to Kathy Moran, of Washington, D.C.; Danita Delimont, of Bellevue, Wash.; and Tom Vezo, of Green Valley, Ariz. Also to be recognized are...

Samsung has released three new digital cameras to be added to the advanced point-and-shoot NV series. The NV8, NV15 and NV20 all feature the Smart Touch user interface and premium Schneider optics with 3X optical zooms.The NV8 has 8 megapixels, while the NV15 is 10 megapixels and the NV20 is 12 megapixels. All three of the cameras have a 2.5-inch LCD screen that is controlled by sliding a finger across the monitor to select control buttons.

Shooting at ISO 3200, the cameras include Advanced Shake Reduction; Samsung's new Auto Contrast Balance, which automatically adjusts the brightness of subjects; and Image Noise Reduction modes...

This year's winner of the Patron Saint Award is Joan Dooley, a photography teacher at Bell High School Humanitas Academy in Los Angeles. The teaching award recognizes a high school, college or postgraduate-level educator for their passion for teaching photography.

Other notable candidates from the western United States...

Former Corbis executive William Radcliffe has been appointed as the new chief technology officer for the Science Faction company in Bellevue, Wash. He will work closely with the current staff and CEO Roger Ressmeyer to advance the global online accessibility of Science Faction.

Radcliffe has been with Science Faction since January 2005 as a contract photographer and has served as...

Canon has introduced two new compact PowerShot Digital Elph cameras, the SD950 and SD870. The two models feature Canon's box design and are both lightweight and compact. The SD950 has 12.1-megapixel resolution and a 3.7X optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS), while the SD870 has 8-megapixel resolution and a 3.8X wide-angle optical zoom with OIS.

The PowerShot SD950 incorporates Canon's Genuine Face Detection system and uses a Digic III image processor. The camera's other features include red-eye correction, an optical viewfinder, and a scratch-resistant and anti-reflection-coated...