B&H Photo is offering some great deals on a variety of SanDisk memory cards for digital cameras. For details and online ordering click here.

Canon has announced the new 60D digital SLR camera and PDN has a hands-on review here.

The Nikon D3000 SLR Digital Camera offers the latest in creative imaging technology while maximizing ease-of-use. An advanced, 10.2 megapixel image sensor coupled with Nikon’s exclusive EXPEED processor captures all of your photos with brilliant, life-like color and stunning detail. A fast 11-point autofocus system tracks subjects in motion and captures action up to 3 frames per second. The newly-developed Guide Mode helps demystify menu options and camera settings while Scene Modes are easily selectable using the easy-to-read icons on the camera mode dial. From landscapes to portraits, the D3000 delivers professional quality photographs with ease. Reviewing photos and settings is a snap on the 170-degree, wide-view, 3″ LCD. Low-noise ISO Sensitivity, an Advanced Dust Reduction System, and In-camera Photo Editing Tools keep all of your subjects looking their very best. With all of these features and more, the D3000 represents Nikon’s most compact and easy-to-use Digital SLR.
CLICK FOR MORE DETAILS AND PRICING

Users of Canon’s 5D Mark II DSLR can download the firmware update here.

A question from a reader of my Lightroom 2 book:

“Dear Mr. Coalson,
I just recently purchased your book, Lightroom2. I notice that many of your beautifully printed images are done with small aperture settings.

For years, I have shot many landscapes at f22. This seem to go against the grain of conventional wisdom. Many serious photographers refer to a sweet spot in the lens, about f8 or f11.

I shoot with Minolta professional glass; all of my lenses are 2.8s. now I’m using them digitally with a Sony A700 body.

What is your opinion?

As I develop a work flow, I find myself unsure of how much to stop down my exposures on landscapes. I want to keep as much as possible in any given scene in sharp focus.”

My reply:

“Thank you very much for your email, and for purchasing my Lightroom book.

I will be happy to answer your questions re: apertures.

What we’re dealing with here is depth-of-field (DOF). DOF refers to the range of “acceptable” sharpness (or maybe better said “perceptible” sharpness) within the photo. The lens settings for focal length and aperture determine the DOF, based on the distance at which the lens is focused. Read more…

A question from a client: where is the best place to buy a canon macro lens?  Best deal for good quality?

My reply: Here are a couple of good options for Macro lenses for Canon:

1. The Canon 100 mm Macro is very popular for its sharpness and quality at a good price
http://bit.ly/epXMq

2. My buddy just bought a Sigma macro (for Canon cameras) and he likes it a lot
Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX APO Macro EX DG HSM Autofocus
http://bit.ly/gJzYp

I almost always buy all my camera gear from BHphoto.com, however, the following web site is quite a bit cheaper on the Sigma lens:
http://bit.ly/twPri