Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras are not spared from rumors. After the speculated Samsung DSLR with full-frame sensor, there are whispers that a possible 24.4 megapixel Nikon D3X is on the way. More details over at the full article.

What happens when you let go of a balloon? Why, it flies away, of course, as any child who's had their hearts broken from seeing their brightly-colored, gravity-defying friend of soft and squeaky rubber shrink into a barely-visible dot in the horizon after losing grip of the string for just one moment. What happens, then, when you let go of a balloon AFTER attaching a camera that's set to take a snapshot every minute? Some of the most gorgeous atmospheric pictures ever to grace anyone's eyeballs, that's what.

This is what four ordinary guys from South Alberta - Brian, Barry, Tony, and James - did with their white bulbous wonder of a heavy-duty balloon they fondly named SABLE-3 (South Albertan Balloon Launch Experiment # 3). With a payload of a Nikon Coolix P2 digital camera and a Byonics MicroTrak 300 APRS Tracker, SABLE-3 was let go to explore the big blue beyond, and hopefully capture on digital film what only astronauts get to see.

Was it a success? Was the third time the charm? You bet your last red balloon it is, with SABLE-3 netting more than 150 images of our planet from high up. The image we've used as a banner for this article is what the SABLE-3 team considers to be the best out of the bunch, taken at the dizzying height of 117,597 feet and we can't help but agree - that view is truly breathtaking.

You can see more of SABLE-3's photos at the balloon's official project website by clicking on the read link we've supplied below. There's also some photos of the team assembling SABLE-3 before sending it skyward, as well as one that shows just how big it is. We can only wonder, then, if there's going to be a SABLE-4, with a video camera this time? It'd certainly be a blast to see the world from a balloon's point of view.

Nikon Europe has announced the arrival of its latest addition to its COOLPIX S Series, the COOLPIX S9. Branded as the most affordable of the S-Series digital cameras at a suggested price of $250, this camera does not, in any way, compromise the quality that is the trademark of Nikon products.

At 3.6 x 2.3 x 0.8", this pocket-friendly compact camera features a prism-folded Nikkor ED-branded 3x optical zoom lens with a six megapixel image sensor, a 2.5" LCD display with 153,000 pixels, and 15 beginner-friendly modes. An added innovation is the "right-angled" design of the lens that allows it to operate throughout its entire focal range without ever protruding from the camera's slim body.

For that best possible portrait image, the S9 has packaged a One-Touch Portrait button, which combines "D-Lighting" exposure connection technology from Apical Ltd., face-priority autofocus from Identix, and an in-camera red-eye fix function. Its Stop-motion movie function also makes it easier for users to create their very own stop-motion animated films by taking a shot of the models they wish to animate, move the models, then shoot again. The Best Shot Selector Mode, which automatically chooses the sharpest from a series of images is also in this cool package, as well as an AE-Best Shot Selector mode that chooses the best-exposed image from a series.

Images are stored on Secure Digital cards, or in 24MB of internal memory. It also comes with a USB and video output technology. Completing the line-up is Nikon's unique PictureProject software, which offers a broad range of powerful features for image editing, organising and sharing and compatibility with a range of plug-ins.

Weighing 115g without its rechargeable Li-ion battery (EN-EL8), the COOLPIX S9 comes in silver, blue, and magenta, this September.

The D80 is the latest high-performance interchangeable-lens digital SLR camera from Nikon. It has a handsome black casing that boasts of sleek, ergonomical design and a large new 2.5-inch 230,000-dot high-resolution LCD. It also has an RGB display, which helps in assessing exposures with greater precision. The layout of all buttons and controls ensures efficiency both in handling and operations.

And we're just getting started.

Its i-TTL flash control is incorporated in the system for greater precision in flash exposure evaluation to better attain automatic flash balance. This flash control also has a Repeating flash function, which greatly aids in the assessment of overall lighting and shadow conditions even before the shot is taken.

The versatility of the D80 is made even more captivating by the superb technology nestled within its sophisticated design. One of the primary highlights is the new Multiple Exposure shooting option that creates a single image within the camera from up to three (3) consecutive exposures, producing an effect automatically that resembles multiple exposure techniques used with film.

The camera also guarantees immediate response and fast performance. Its power-up is in a near-instant 0.18 seconds, which allows photographers to not miss any shutter opportunities. And with shutter speeds ranging from 1/4,000 to 30 seconds or bulb setting, full creative control is accorded to the artist behind the lens.

For image editing and effects, the new Retouch menu makes it possible to enhance the picture even without having to connect to a computer. Under this menu, features such as D-Lighting, Red-Eye Correction, Monochrome and Filter Effects can be found to aid the photographer in enhancing details, treating those red-eye effects caused by flash and color modes and balance.

With all these features, the Nikon D80 is bound to hold captive the attention of photographers who are set on capturing those moments.

Nikon WT-3 just got an approval from FCC; thus, hopefully ending the long wait for Nikon's much anticipated accessory for digital cameras. WT-3 provides a fast Ethernet port at 100 Mbps in addition to its wireless support. The Ethernet is a very cool feature, so we would prefer the Ethernet cabling from the USB port since it can make much longer runs and its unshielded cables are easier to work with.

WT-3 also allows users to remotely control the camera from a computer and transfer photos to an FTP server or printer. It supports a Transfer mode, which allows you to upload new or existing photos to the host; a PC mode. which allows you to control the camera from a computer; a computer Print mode, which allows you to print JPEG photos on a printer connected to the network; and a Print mode on a PD-10 wireless printer adapter, which allows you to print JPEG photos on PictBridge printer connected to PD-10 wireless printer adapter.

The FCC approved the WT-3 last August 4 so it looks like they're getting close to releasing it. Based from recent rumblings, WT3 won't be available until at least the fall...so until then, we still have to patiently wait some more.

Ever since George de Mestral invented Velcro in 1948, the hook-and-loop fastening system has been in constant use. It's easy to use, it doesn't pose any danger to the user, it's relatively maintenance free, and best of all, it has a long lifespan. (I have some clothes and what-not that have Velcro patches which date back from the early 90s and they still have a lot of hooking power; I'm sure many of you folks do, too.) But such a very useful invention is easy to take for granted. Perhaps looking at Velcro in different light would make you appreciate it even more.

Trazy Anderson's amazing photo (taken with a Nikon SMZ1500 Stereomicroscope) of a Velcro patch at 94x magnification might just do the trick. If you remember in 'Men In Black', Velcro was supposedly alien technology confiscated by the MIB and adapted for use on Earth. Now I know where that idea came from.

Just so you know, this awesome photo placed in the top 30 at the Nikon Small World 2005.

We do know that most of the time, you really shouldn't scrimp if you want to get the best accessories for your camera. But in this case, you won't need loads of it.

There are many makers of camera lenses out there but the ones being sold are just too expensive to experiment with. (A Nikon shift lens goes for over $1000.) In DigiHack, dennison provides us with an inexpensive way to create your own shift lens. You'll need a lens, a medium-sized flexible rubber plunger, a cardboard and a plastic body cap.

Using a knife, you hollow out the inside part and smoothen any burrs or rough spots.

Take your plunger and cut a hole in the top where you're going to stick in your lens (in this case, he used an 80mm Carl Zeiss lens). Make sure that the hole is tight enough so the lens is supported.

You then cut out a ring from the cardboard for your backing. The inner circle should be the same as the diameter and circumference of the lens cap and the outer part is the same as the plunger's bottom. You should hotglue this together. You can then attach it to the camera.

Here's an example of a picture he took. Notice that the eyelashes of the model are far clearer than most other parts of the picture, giving the photographer control over the viewer's gaze.

Getting the perfect shot requires a lot of meticulous calculations on the depth, angle and creative properties of a picture. But sometimes (or most of the times) all you need is the perfect lighting condition. If you want to achieve that soft glow in your photographs then this DIY tutorial for a flash diffuser is perfect for you. Follow the simple instructions and you're on your way to a beautiful photo.

Instructions:

• Cut a piece of your mat board half an inch wide and wrap it around flash head and hold it together by stapling the ends. This will hold the diffuser on to the flash.

• Download the template and stick it in your black/white mat board. Tape the template to the white side of the mat board. Cut on the solid lines and fold on the dotted ones.

The rest of the steps await after the jump!

The struggling artist's worst nightmare - with talent,no equipment. Photographers on a tight budget will rejoice with this DIY Off-Camera Light Kit dubbed us SSO-CLK. All you need are the following:

A collapsible light (Bogen 3373) stand that is in the neighborhood of $55. Add more portability, by drilling a hole in it to hold a strap.

The full instructions for the DIY off-camera light kit after the jump.