Nikon D90
Nikon's newest mid-range DSLR offering is the D90, which features a 12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS imaging sensor, continuous shooting up to 4.5 f/p/s, which is complimented up by an ultra-speedy 0.15ms power-up time, and an all-but-zip shutter lag time of a scant 65-milisecond.

The new D90 also packs a whole lot of trickle-down technologies formally exclusive to Nikon's pricier D3 and D700 DSLRs including an EXPEED image processor, low-noise imaging from ISO 200 through 3200, a 920,000 dot 3" LCD for true high-definition image viewing, a 4-frequency ultrasonic sensor cleaning system, an 11-point AF system with Face Priority and Nikon's Scene Recognition System, and dead-nuts accurate metering courtesy of Nikon's field-proven 3D Color Matrix Metering II.
Easy Live View can be called into play with the touch of a button, and can be used in three focus modes including Face Priority.

For motion picture fans, the D90 features a D-Movie mode, which captures 24 f/p/s HS video clips at up to 720p (1280 x 720 pixels) in motion JPEG format.

Other features of the Nikon D90 are auto or selective D-Lighting for optimizing shadow and highlight details under the most extreme lighting conditions, Red-Eye Reduction, Image Overlay, in-camera Straightening and Distortion controls, a monochrome mode, and an optional GP-1 GPS unit for identifying the exact locations of all the places you went 'click'.

The Nikon D90 is available as a body-only, or with an AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105/3.5~5.6G ED VR lens, which covers the field of view of a 27-157.5mm lens on a full-frame 35mm DSLR.

The Nikon D90 will be available the second week of September, and we plan on publishing a hands-on road test with the new camera in an upcoming newsletter.

Canon EOS 50D

Canon's newest entry into the fall season Olympics is the EOS 50D, which sports an impressive 15.1-megapixel APS-C format CMOS sensor that takes full advantage of Canon's new DIGIC 4 image processor.

The EOS 50D can knock out up to 90 Large/Fine JPEGS or 16 RAW images at burst-rates of up to 6.3 f/p/s. If you often find yourself shooting under low-light conditions, the new camera can be set for ISO ratings up to 12800, which means you can not only photograph people standing in near darkness, you can also photograph what they're thinking about. (Just joking folks… don't get alarmed)

To keep noise under control and maintain optimum image quality at higher ISO ratings the EOS 50D allows you to choose from four levels of noise reduction – Standard, Weak, Strong, and None. The camera's DIGIC 4 image processor also features in-camera peripheral illumination correction, which can automatically smooth-over uneven blue skies and other large areas within an image that can benefit from smoother tonality. This feature, along with other image enhancing tools such as Auto Lighting Optimizer can also be performed post-exposure using Canon's Digital Photo Professional (DDP) software, which is included with every camera.

Image viewing has also been improved via a greatly enhanced 3" LCD that employs 920,000 pixels for breathtaking clarity.
Canon also tweaked the Live View function by incorporating a 'Quick Mode AF', 'Live Mode AF', and 'Face Detection Live Mode AF' that can detect up to 35 individual faces within the camera's frame.

Other features of the Canon EOS 50D include an Integrated Cleaning System for preventing dust and other forms of airborne schmutz from gathering on the sensor's low-pass filter and a choice of two smaller RAW formats (sRAW1 and sRAW2) in addition to the 50D's standard RAW mode.

The Canon EOS 50D will be available in October as a body only, or in kit form with a Canon EF 28-135/3.5~5.6 IS USM zoom lens, which covers the field of view of a 44.8-216mm lens on a full-frame 35mm camera.

Photographers have learned the only way to show depth in Digital Photography is by lighting ratios. This fools the eye into seeing depth, or at least the perception of depth.

This brings the word "Photographer" full circle, as the word in Greek means "Painter of light"

In the studio all we are really doing is painting with light. Through light intensity, color and design.

In going through life I found that "Light" is "Light".
I used to use a Speedotron Black Line System.
To say it was expensive is an understatement. My four light kit was $3000. After a while my flash tubes started to go out, and each replacement costs $200.
All this got me to thinking "Why is this lighting stuff so expensive?"
It was at this point that I started a new quest. To find affordable lighting for everyone!!
I went to Europe, only to find that they in fact paid more than we did.
I then checked out China.
After much research I found that even the highest rated lighting were either made there, had the inner components made there, and assembled in the US, and all were made to the same specs.
Z As in any product the more bells and whistles, the higher the cost. Some of these extras are nice to have.
Others are complete rubbish.

After months of research, I decided to make my move.
I found a factory that would make the lights I wanted, to my specifications.
Hence the founding of "QUICKSILVER STUDIO LIGHTING"
Just the word "Quicksilver Studio Lighting" might not mean that much to you.
To me it means months of research, endless emails, and the severe stress involved in sending large amounts of money to a country that not so long ago was considered an enemy to the USA.

My primary goal in all this was to be able to provide myself and my customers GOOD and AFFORDABLE products, with consistent quality at BELOW wholesale pricing.
I use all the lighting I sell on a daily basis, and love the reliability, power an,Pd stamina they provide.

Let's do a cost analysis with the Speedotron setup I had.
To make this easy let's just compare my dilemma whith the replacement Flashtube. At $200 a pop I can now buy a whole new QSL-320 W/S light for less than the replacement cost of the flashtube. Or with our new I60B lights the flashtube is user replaceable and costs less than $50.00.
With all kits I have tried to put them together in a way that all you have to do is unpack them and shoot.
Not having to buy horribly expensive add ons because the kits have most everything you need in them already.
With our last order we have added many products due to customer demand.
We have added Monopods, Tripods, Muslin Backdrops, Reflectors, Radio slaves, Camera radio shutter releases, Flash brackets and much more.
All are priced well below what even your local Camera Store buys them for.
A good example is the Flash bracket.
We sell it for $39.95.
The local camera store sells it for $89.
Our Muslins are $99.95, and down the street they run $199-$269.
Our goal is to give the Highest Quality Items for the least amount of money.
Money is tight. The Economy is in near shambles and the Government seems helpless to do anything at all.