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Bootsy submitted a project to Critical Mass where she has found a way to go back in time and participate in her family photographs by photographing herself in similar era clothing and pose, making room for herself in photographs from decades past. The series, Visitor, is a fantasy we would all wish to experience, to pay a visit to those we loved, or wanted to know.

I am the keeper of all my family’s photos, old and new. I grew up in a close-knit family, which was lost to divorce and I knew that the family I yearned for would never happen again until I had my own. As a photographer, I notice that the feeling of loss and disconnect reoccurs in my work and I’ve found that often my images reveal something about family and/or loneliness. And as I grow older, now married with a child, I cherish these family photographs more and more. I’ve often wondered what it might be like to experience the frozen moments in my family photographs and be connected once again to those I love. My project, “Visitor”, has allowed me to step back in time when my perception of the world was innocent and filled with possibility.

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Take a highly magnified gander at Kenko Tokina’s 400mm f/8 mirror lens, which now comes with both E- and T-mounts to complement the manufacturer’s existing SLR-compatible range. So long as you don’t mind the light-sapping aperture and manual focus, you’ll be able pick one up in Japan tomorrow for a price that should soon become apparent. Just bear in mind that other new MFT options from Tamron and Astrodesign are likely on their way too.

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Nikon posted its Q3 earnings report this morning, and there isn’t a whole lot to smile about. The cameramaker had to swallow a one-off loss of ¥10.9 billion last quarter (approximately $143.1 million), due to widespread flooding that devastated its Thailand manufacturing plant, in October. Today’s report comes just a day after Sony issued similarly dire figures, which it largely attributed to last year’s flooding, as well. For the third quarter ended December 31st, Nikon posted a ¥3.7 billion loss (about $48.6 million), compared with the ¥9.7 billion ($127.3 million) it saw in net profits over the same period in 2010. Operating profits also fell to ¥8.2 billion from ¥18.6 billion in 2010, while total revenue dropped from ¥253.8 billion in Q3 2010 to ¥215.4 billion, last quarter. The company remains optimistic about the future, though, forecasting net gains of ¥55 billion this year, coupled with an expected revenue of ¥925 billion. For the full report, check out the source links below.

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This harness derives its style from that indelibly cool detective in our collective memories with that boss leather shoulder harness holding his peacemaker. HoldFast modified the “bossness” to hold the modern shooters tools. Drawing from those classic themes, HoldFast designed a highly fashionable, highly durable, as well as highly comfortable harness for two or three cameras. It’s adaptable in that the MoneyMaker can be converted into a video rig which makes shooting in the field with a shoulder mount video camera and DSLR in tow an easy and fast experience. The Speed Clutch is an ingenious product that allows the camera to easily slide up and down the harness, and will also be used in conjunction with the upcoming bag line. The design of this harness keeps the cameras from hanging too low making them easily manageable, keeping them close to the body thus more comfortable. This setup truly shines on long shoots such as weddings. The cameras are kept inline with the body and the weight centered over the upper back and shoulders taking strain off the lower back. The MoneyMaker looks classy when dressed up in a suit and tie or just as classy with jeans and a t-shirt. Pair this with 2 Camera Leashes to gain the ability to carry a third camera from the front D rings. If you plan on doing a lot of active movement before you stop to shoot you can secure the cameras from swing around by using the Camera Leash attached to your belt/belt loop and then anchored to the camera.

Made out of top grain leather with anchored D-rings, this is the only multi-camera harness that actually gets better with age. The brown harness is oil tanned, making it very soft and malleable. The natural harness actually darkens with use and exposure to the sun.

If you are taller than 6’2″ or wear Extra large sized clothes then order the Large for optimum fit.

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If you’ll recall, it was April of last year when we reported on pictures from Apple.pro, which claimed to show a seventh-generation iPod Nano chassis with room for a camera. Not long after, the site posted a second leak of the device, hinting at the omission of the Nano’s famous clip in favor of optics. Fast forward to the present, and we’re now looking another supposed shot of the unit, however, this time the clip is back and it’s made room for the shooter. Like prior Nano-camera efforts, this prototype’s loaded with a less-than-whopping 1.3-megapixels of resolution, which M.I.C Gadget claims in its non-final form, took overexposed photos. Apple’s apparently also been toying with 2-megapixel prototypes, but those too were apparently deemed unsatisfactory. M.I.C. Gadget also muses the two month old prototype is nearing release, and that it could be released before the traditional fall schedule. Seeing as the Nano’s long overdue for a hardware refresh, we’d file that under definitively maybe, but before believing, take copious amounts of salt as you hit the source link below for a bevy of pics.

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Above is a purported leak of Pentax’s upcoming K-01 — a retro-inspired mirrorless camera which is apparently set for reveal soon. Divulged in a bevy of official-looking shots on Pentax Forums, the diminutive shooter will apparently be available in several colors alongside its incredibly-thin 40mm f/2.8 pancake lens. Also shown are closeups of a dedicated HDR mode up-top, alongside dedicated red and green buttons, and a curious signature by designer Marc Newson adjacent to its battery cover. Perplexed by the sum of its parts like we are? Well, until Pentax reveals all, get a acquainted with it in the source links below.

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Announced back in November, it is the first zoom module for the system to offer APS-C image quality. If our suspicions are correct and it uses the excellent Sony 16MP sensor, this promises a lot both in terms of image quality and focus speed (the faster readout of the sensor helps contrast-detection systems to more quickly ascertain correct focus).

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Via DPReview

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Nikon has updated several of its simpler compacts with the launches of the Coolpix L810, L26 and S30. The L810 is a mid level 26x superzoom with a 920k dot LCD and 23-585mm equiv zoom. A 16MP CCD helps keep the cost down to around $279.95 but also means the L810 can only capture 720p video. Meanwhile the S60 is a shock- and water-proof 10MP camera with 3x, 29-87mm equiv lens. Finally, the L26 is a pretty standard AA-powered entry-level camera with a 16MP CCD and 26-130mm equiv stabilized lens.

At around $119.95, the S30 is extremely inexpensive for a waterproof camera but its very small 1/3″ 10MP sensor gives us cause for concern. This, combined with a 230k dot screen and lens only going as wide as 29mm equivalent, suggests that its rounded edges aren’t the only corners to have been cut.

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Nikon has refreshed its line of S series style compact cameras, which ranges from $140 6x zoom models through to bells-and-whistles-including 18x compact superzoom. The range is topped by the S9300 which offers that 18x, 25mm-450mm equiv. stabilized lens, 16MP back-lit CMOS sensor, 1080p30 with stereo sound recording and built-in GPS. The S6300 is a slim, 10x 25-250mm equiv camera built around the same sensor. The S4300 and S3300 are more modest, CCD-based affairs with 6x, 26-156mm equivalent zooms.

It’s the S6300 that looks interesting to us. The S8300 is a continuation of a likeable enough family of models but the S6300 is able to offer the same sensor with a still useful zoom range for a lot less money. The inexpensive compact superzoom has been something of a trend in the past few months, as camera makers try to offer capabilities that smartphones can’t match. At a list price of around $199.95 the S6300 loses the S8300′s high-res screen (making do with 230k dots rather than 920k) and stereo recording, as well as some zoom range. But it’s also a lot less expensive than the S8300, which will sell for around $349.95.

The S4300 and S3300 will sell for around $169.95 and $139.95 respectively, with the extra money buying you a 460k dot touch-sensitive screen. Their 16MP CCD chips limit them to 720p video.

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