In Focus: January/February 2008 - Outdoor Photographer

FIXED APERTURE

Shoot with a pair of newly designed high-end, wide-angle Nikon zooms built for digital photography. The AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm ƒ/2.8G ED lens lets you go for that ultrawide landscape shot, while the AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm ƒ/2.8G ED lens can be used for capturing various types of photographs. Both feature Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor, which delivers fast autofocusing without much noise. Extra-low-dispersion glass elements prevent chromatic aberrations, so you capture sharp, clear images with great contrast. Estimated Street Price: $1,799 (14-24mm); $1,699 (24-70mm). Contact: Nikon, (800) NIKON-UX, www.nikonusa.com.

TRIPLE THREAT
Coinciding with the release of the E-3, Olympus has added three Zuiko Digital ED lenses to the lineup: the 12-60mm ƒ/2.8-4.0 SWD, the 50-200mm ƒ/2.8-3.5 SWD and the 14-35mm ƒ/2.0 SWD. All feature a Supersonic Wave Drive that, when working in tandem with the E-3, provides a 0.17-second autofocusing speed touted as the fastest in the world. Special optical glass elements and coatings are used to correct various types of aberrations while enhancing sharpness, color saturation and contrast. Like all Zuiko lenses, they're designed and optimized for cameras with smaller Four Thirds-format sensors. The 35mm-equivalent focal lengths are 24-120mm for the 12-60mm lens, 100-400mm for the 50-200mm lens and 28-70mm for the 14-35mm lens. Estimated Street Price: $999 (12-60mm); $1,199 (50-200mm); $2,299 (14-35mm). Contact: Olympus, (888) 553-4448, www.olympusamerica.com.

BIG PRINTS
Make big, full-bleed color prints of your landscape and wildlife photography with the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF8100, a 44-inch large-format printer. Using the new 12-color Lucia pigment ink system, issues with graininess and bronzing are minimized because of how the inks are formulated. The iPF8100 is equipped with a built-in calibration system optimizing output consistently across all media types. The L-COA processor helps produce high-quality images at fast speeds. Other advanced features include automatic clogged-nozzle detection, an 80 GB hard drive and a large backlit LCD panel. Media width can be eight to 44 inches for cut sheet and rolls, or 10- to 44-inch rolls. List Price: $5,995. Contact: Canon USA, (800) OK-CANON, www.usa.canon.com.

PHOTO PACK
Carry your gear around safely and comfortably in the Tamrac Aero 80 Photo/Laptop Backpack. The main compartment is foam padded to protect a D-SLR with an attached grip and lens, and also fits two to three additional lenses and accessories. Add to that a separate foam-padded rear compartment for a 17-inch laptop, large top compartment for personal items and adjustable dividers. A padded backpack harness provides extra comfort. Estimated Street Price: $89. Contact: Tamrac, (800) 662-0717, www.tamrac.com.

SKI JACKET
Stay warm, dry and comfortable in the Marmot Corbet’s Jacket. Layers of light MarmaLoft synthetic insulation lie beneath the guaranteed waterproof protection of Gore-Tex®. Full seam-taped construction seals out the smallest droplets of moisture and Pitzips exhaust heat when hiking around has gotten you all sweaty. Comfort-mapped fabrics add to the jacket’s breathability. Estimated Street Price: $350. Contact: Marmot, (888) 357-3262, www.marmot.com.

LONG-DISTANCE OPTICS
The Eterna High Power 15x51 Binoculars from Brunton are lightweight and produce sharp images using BaK-4 prism glass with high-quality phase coating. The binoculars are fog- and waterproof with a 200-foot field of view at 1,000 yards. They’re 6.7x5.2x2.3 inches and weigh just two pounds. You can also use them with a monopod or tripod. Estimated Street Price: $589. Contact: Brunton,
(800) 443-4871, www.brunton.com.

TAKE A SEAT
The Crazy Creek HexaLite Original and LongBack chairs are ideal for camping trips because they’re lightweight and offer sturdy support. Made from hexagonal cored foam and featuring a polyester-mesh seating surface, the material lets you get comfortable in a range of different sitting positions. The chairs roll up compactly and can be toted around anywhere with a convenient carrying handle. Estimated Street Price: $33 (Original); $44 (LongBack). Contact: Crazy Creek, (800) 331-0304, www.crazycreek.com.

PACK THIS
Take to the trail with the Kelty Radii 27 on your back. Designed to fit like a glove, the backpack is hydration compatible with a reservoir sleeve and mesh water-bottle pockets. The ventilated suspension system features a breathable waist belt, back panel and shoulder straps, along with zippered waist-belt pockets. Estimated Street Price: $120. Contact: Kelty, (800) 423-2320, www.kelty.com.

LACE UP
Hike with ease in the Columbia Ocanto Peak Omni-Tech hiking boots. The Contour Comfort 2D dual-density foot bed is a sock liner that interacts with the natural contours of the foot for added support and comfort. The suede and mesh boots also feature Omni-Grip technology, which uses a sticky rubber compound to provide top-notch traction on various surfaces. Estimated Street Price: $110. Contact: Columbia Sportswear, (800) 547-8066, www.columbia.com.

DRINK UP
Keep yourself hydrated while exploring the outdoors by outfitting your backpack with a clean and easy-to-use hydration system. The Reversible Reservoir II from Hydrapak comes in 50-, 70- and 100-ounce sizes. A wide mouth roll top closure makes it easy to add ice cubes and sports mixes. When it’s time to fill up or clean the pack, you simply push a button and remove the drink tube from the reservoir. Estimated Street Price: $25 to $30. Contact: Hydrapak, (510) 595-8318, www.hydrapak.com.