Totally Tamrac Turkey Time

It's getting colder out and the leaves are falling. Anyone know what that means at Stuyvesant Photo? It means that Turkey Time Tamrac Days are back!

Until the end of November, we are discounting any Tamrac camera bag 10%! Good for the entire month!

IN OTHER NEWS, we've just received some amazing new cameras!

Canon Powershot SX30is: This camera has an amazing 35X optical zoom! With a zoom range from an equivalent 24mm wide up to 840 mm telephoto, all in a package smaller than most entry DSLRs. With 14 megapixels and HD video capabilities, it makes a great gift for someone who wants a lot of features without further investment. The SX30 makes an excellent solution for capturing subjects at long distances, like sports or nature photographers. Stop in any time to see this terrific little piece in action!

Canon Powershot SX130is: This little gem has 12 megapixels and 12X optical zoom. With a large 3" LCD screen for easier viewing and new for this model, HD video. As a camera that fits into most larger pockets, it makes a handy camera for capturing the holidays, and has been adopted by many customers as an excellent traveling camera. The full manual modes allow unstifled creativity with a flexible zoom and image quality that sings.

Canon Rebel T2i: We gave into reason and have added to our collection the handsome, hardcore T2i. With an 18 megapixel sensor, full 1024 HD video, and a slick design with easy navigability, this is the most robust entry-level DSLR on the market. Swing in to take a peek, or check the Cameras page for a few more details.

As always, there's more in stock that we can't yet list on the site here, so if there's something you're looking for in the world of photography, check with your friendly local photography store! And if you're in, welcome Erin to the family. You'll see her updating our Facebook page in the near future.

New Tools and Toys

Every now and again we have the opportunity to bring new products into the store, but when it happens, we want it to count. This time we're happy to announce some very nice additions from Manfrotto Distribution, which historically includes Bogen and Manfrotto, Lastolite diffusers and reflectors, and last but not least, Kata.

Kata has been producing bags for nearly 20 years, and tends to create products that are intelligently designed, feature-rich, and generally comfortable, no matter what kind of kit you're carrying. We carry a number of Kata bags in the shop, and find them to be a welcome addition to our lineup because of the features as well as being light-weight and durable.

One of the newest bags to the Kata line is the Bumblebee. This is an ultra-light back-pack with plenty of room for camera equipment, spare parts/accessories/sundries/water balloons, and storage space for a 15.4" laptop. The bag includes a rain-coat to protect it in the elements, has support straps for the stomach and chest to distribute weight, and honeycomb internal supports to protect your gear but maintain lightness.

The DL-210 entry level bag, unladen, weighs about 3 lbs. This means you've greatly reduced the overall burden you'll place on your back and body when carrying even your largest gear, like a 70-200 IS lens or a pro-series body. The interior of the bag will even adapt to act as an excellent every-day pack with tons of room and excellent support.

There are larger models available, and we stock the PL-220 model for more gear or greater support. The DL-222 model can be special ordered if desired.

In other news, we've recently restocked our Manfrotto tripods, which include the affordable-yet-sturdy M-Y series, or the assemble-to-suit 190 or 055 series leg-sets and an assortment of ball or pan-tilt heads. These systems were popularized by Bogen over 20 years ago, and continue to support photographers and their equipment today on the same tenets. Stability and versatile expansion options are a foundation on which Bogen gained popularity, and the Manfrotto division carries on the tradition. Stop in the shop to see the selection, and always feel free to bring your equipment with you to trial-test anything in the store! See you soon! Pete

Instant Photography

A common question we get here at Stuyvesant Photo is about Polaroid film. Here's the gist:

Polaroid is no longer really Polaroid but instead a licensed name. Polaroid no longer produces instant film for its cameras, which spanned nearly 60 years of instant photography.

Common types or styles of film included:

• Roll film (defunct)
• Pack film (still available)
• Integral film (see note)

Roll film came and went about 40 years ago, so we can skip that one.

Pack film was a type of film that got pulled through two rollers and developed in a sealed envelope, which you then peeled apart after 1-2 minutes. You could get pack film in color or black and white, and it's still manufactured, not by Polaroid but by Fuji. You can purchase this film at Stuyvesant Photo, called Fuji FP-100C.

Integral film is much more common to recognize than the older types. When we usually think of Polaroid, we think of those black cameras with the flip-up flash. When you take the picture, the film pushes out the front and we wait for it to develop right before our eyes. The most common type of film for these cameras was 600 type, which you can confirm by opening the front of your camera (if it's not loaded) -- there should be a small sticker under the front lid that tells which type of film to use.

The bad news is that this film type was discontinued last year by Polaroid, which means all the millions of cameras were rendered unusable. However, some pioneering people over in Europe bought the old factory and started producing their own variations of the film. You can purchase this film, as well as an SX-70 variation, from The Impossible Project.

(*One side note about Polaroid Integral cameras, including 600's, One-Step, Pronto, SX-70s and others: The battery for the camera is actually installed in the film pack. This means if you have a camera that has NO FILM PACK in it, then the camera will not turn on. This does mean, however, that the camera is probably still functional -- you just won't find out until you put fresh film in it.)

Another type of integral film that is currently available is called Instax, by Fuji. This is a new, current type of instant film that is very similar to Polaroid 600, but the print size is slightly wider and shorter, and requires a special camera. Both the camera and film are available through Stuyvesant Photo. This is essentially the only instant-print type of product out there, so if you have need for instant shots for events or fun, this is the way to go. See the shop for details.

If you ever have questions about a crazy camera you found in the closet, or something you think might work but don't know how, always feel free to call or stop in the shop. We love a good mystery!