AAB are official distributors for Nikon and Canon Products, Agents for Sigma Lenses, Orkio Bags, Integral Memory Cards, Phottix photo accessories, Praktica Camera, Rollei Cameras. They also sell all types of accessories including battery Grips, Filters, Bags, Tripods, Batteries, Lens caps, Flashes, Flash Triggers, Memory Cards, etc. In addition the Services department, that has all kinds of photo finishing services, digital prints, enlargements, mounting, Converting VHS to DVD their Photo gifts department assist you to print picture on Mugs, Tshirts, plate, pillow, puzzle, calendars. These whole streamline of products make AAB an official Photographic store.

AAB is planning for a real market capture, offering the best deals on all SIGMA product as well on other camera brands and accessories. Their latest 1 day (15th March, 2012 ) deal on Sigma products shall offer almost competitive price to the Amazon store. Mr. Ahmed Burghul, Business Development Manager at AAB is quite positive and feels the initiative taken by the company shall offer photographers the value for their money and in a way assist to continue their hobby. He further goes on to inform that AAB will soon release the Nikon D800 in Kuwait which was recently announced by Nikon.

I’m quite excited about the whole deal and the positive approach taken by leading photo dealers like AAB. These initiatives will overall broaden the camera market and also offer local photographers competitive prices in Kuwait rather than buying from Amazon, B&H and Adorama, as well as waiting for the products to be shipped and paying customs. I sincerely wish AAB all success and hope they continue to bring in attractive deals to lure photographers here.

Check their Facebook page for more information [Here]

Image Credit: Yabila & AAB

Normal Prices for comparison:

SIGMA APO TELE CONVERTER 2.0X EX DG (NIKON)
Amazon Price: KD83.72
AAB Price: KD79.95

SIGMA FLASH EF-610 DG SUPER EO-ETTL II(CANON)
Amazon Price: KD71.4
AAB Price: KD79.95

SIGMA FLASH EF-610 DG SUPER NA-iTTL (NIKON)
Amazon Price: KD71.4
AAB Price: KD79.95

SIGMA FLASH MACRO EM-140 DG NA-iTTL (NIKON)
Amazon Price: KD98
AAB Price: KD129.95

SIGMA LENS 10-20MM F4-5.6 EX DC HSM (CANON)77
Amazon Price: KD134.12
AAB Price: KD159.95

SIGMA LENS 10-20MM F4-5.6 EX DC HSM (NIKON)77
Amazon Price: KD134.12
AAB Price: KD159.95

SIGMA LENS 120-400MM F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM (CANON)77
Amazon Price: KD279.72
AAB Price: KD299.95

SIGMA LENS 150-500MM F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM (CANON)86
Amazon Price: KD299.32
AAB Price: KD319.95

SIGMA LENS 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC (CANON)62
Amazon Price: KD95.2
AAB Price: KD99.95

SIGMA LENS 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC (NIKON)62
Amazon Price: KD95.2
AAB Price: KD99.95

SIGMA LENS 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS (CANON)72 HSM
Amazon Price: KD111.72
AAB Price: KD109.95

SIGMA LENS 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS (NIKON)72 HSM
Amazon Price: KD111.72
AAB Price: KD109.95

SIGMA LENS 30MM F1.4 EX DC HSM (CANON)62
Amazon Price: KD132.72
AAB Price: KD144.95

SIGMA LENS 4.5MM F2.8 EX DC CIR FISHEYE HSM (CANON)
Amazon Price: KD251.72
AAB Price: KD249.95

SIGMA LENS 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM(CANON)95
Amazon Price: KD464.52
AAB Price: KD499.95

SIGMA LENS 50MM F1.4 EX DG HSM (CANON)77
Amazon Price: KD139.72
AAB Price: KD149.95

SIGMA LENS 50MM F2.8 EX DG MACRO (CANON)55
Amazon Price: KD103.32
AAB Price: KD109.95

SIGMA LENS 70-300MM F4-5.6 APO DG MACRO (CANON)58
Amazon Price: KD66.92
AAB Price: KD69.95

SIGMA LENS 70-300MM F4-5.6 APO DG MACRO (NIKON)58
Amazon Price: KD66.92
AAB Price: KD69.95

SIGMA LENS 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG MACRO (CANON)58
Amazon Price: KD47.32
AAB Price: KD49.95

SIGMA LENS 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG MACRO (NIKON)58
Amazon Price: KD47.32
AAB Price: KD49.95

SIGMA LENS 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS (CANON)62
Amazon Price: KD100.52
AAB Price: KD129.95

SIGMA LENS 8-16MM F4.5-5.6 DC HSM (CANON)
Amazon Price: KD195.72
AAB Price: KD209.95

SIGMA LENS 8MM F3.5 EX-DG FISHEYE(CANON)
Amazon Price: KD251.72
AAB Price: KD249.95

SIGMA LENS EX AF 105MM F2.8 DG MACRO (NIKON)58
Amazon Price: KD167.72
AAB Price: KD139.95

SIGMA LENS 70-200MM F2.8 DG OS HSM(CANON)77
Amazon Price: KD391.72
AAB Price: KD389.95

SIGMA LENS EX AF 105MM F2.8 DG MACRO (CANON)62
Amazon Price: KD215.32
AAB Price: KD269.95

SIGMA LENS EX AF 17-50MM F2.8 DC OS HSM(CANON)77
Amazon Price: KD166.32
AAB Price: KD209.95

SIGMA LENS EX AF 24-70MM F2.8 IF DG HSM(CANON)82
Amazon Price: KD251.72
AAB Price: KD264.95

Here’s a quick peep on the new features of Lightroom 4 (LR 4) compared to the LR 3, and why you should consider upgrading to LR 4.

1. If you own LR 3, then you pay only $79 for an upgrade, this itself is a teaser to upgrade.

2. LR 4’s new image processing engine, Process Version (PV) 2012 gives more flexible improvement in the Develop module’s panel which enhances the editing work-flow.

3. Module (on top left) has 2 new entries – Map and Book. This means better GPS integration with maps and the ability to create Photo Books/Albums respectively.

4. The Basic panel is almost re-designed with better highlight and shadow recovery.

5. Smart and Improved White Balance capability, addition of White Balance brush to change selective area on image. Introduction of new brush for noise reduction and moiré removal.

6.  Integrated Soft Proofing capability, giving an onscreen preview of  the image before its printed in terms of brightness, contrast and saturation.

7. LR 4 offers a Create Proof Copy which creates a Virtual Copy so that any editing made in Soft Proofing mode will not alter your Original image

8. Can convert LR 3 and earlier catalogs.

9. Ability to share photographs directly from Lightroom via email, as well more integrated online sharing options.

10. Slideshow to Export to PDF/ Export Video options.

11. Improved Lens correction and one click Chromatic Aberration removal.

12. Introducing Video support, Now Playback and Edit video in Library module. Image enhancement edit is possible in the Library module’s Quick Develop panel.

13. Support for several new and upcoming cameras such as Canon 1Dx, Nikon 800 and Nikon D4.

Finally, one Purchase License  for MAC and PC, support for both 32/64 bit environment. Unfortunately, LR 4 doesn’t support Windows XP.

SB-400:

• Outdated.
• Entry level speedlight. Compact, simple and affordable.
• Designed to be on the camera and inability to bounce light sideways.
• i-TTL (intelligent through-the-lens) only with cameras compatible with Nikon CLS (creative lighting system).
• Not compatible on film cameras.
• Not compatible with Advanced wireless lighting.

SB-600:

• Quite a decent capable compact unit with plenty of features.
• Can be used as a slave when activated by the camera pop-up flash as a commander.
• Compatible with i-TTL, D-TTL and TTL (film based).
• Decent flash coverage, including Wide area AF Assist Illuminator.
• i-TTL (intelligent through-the-lens) only with cameras compatible with Nikon CLS.
• Advanced wireless lighting only when used as a remote unit.

SB-800:  I wouldn’t discuss this model, simply since these are no more in production and discontinued from Nikon. Nevertheless you may find cheaper in ebay and if you want to buy it’s quite a upgrade from the SB-600 and a great power horse.

SB-900:

• High end top of the line unit with advanced speedlight range, a replacement to the SB-800.
• Large illuminated LCD panel.
• Distance and Aperture priority mode helps shooting wedding and product shots by giving maximum power output.
• Compatible and auto-detects the Nikon FX and DX format and select suitable light distribution angles and pattern (standard, centre & even)
• AF-assist illuminator for multi-point AF with wide 20-105mm focal range.
• Auto Zoom range of 17-200mm.
• Multiple flash exposure modes (i-TTL, AA, A, M).
• Repeating flash for creating stroboscopic multi-exposure effect.
• Compatible with i-TTL optimized for use with Nikon CLS and Advanced wireless lighting upto 3 remote flash group.
• Dedicated color gel filters to correct white balance.
• Heavy and expensive (price to drop with the release of SB-700 and SB-910).
• Allows firmware updates with select Nikon DSLR.

SB-700:

• Recently introduced unit with plenty of features and designed for ease and intutive operation.
• Major improvement over the SB-600 and almost challenging the SB-900 (tackling the issue of automatic shut-off on over-heating).
• Compatible and auto-detects the Nikon FX and DX format and select suitable light distribution angles and pattern (standard, centre & even).
• Automatic temperature regulation via slow recycling time.
• AF-assist illuminator for multi-point AF with wide 24-135mm focal range.
• Compatible with i-TTL optimized for use with Nikon CLS and Advanced wireless lighting upto 2 remote flash group.
• Assortment of accessories (more than the SB-900) right out of the box.
• Dedicated hard color filters, these are actually better than color gel filters which fades with time.
• Automatically identifies hard type color filters (tungsten and fluorescent) and corrects white balance.
• Light and affordable.

SB-910:

• High end unit with a slight improvement over the SB-900 on tackling the issue of automatic shut-off on over-heating and out of box accessories.
• Slight technical improvement over the SB-700.
• Major improvement over the SB-600 and almost challenging the SB-900 (tackling the issue of automatic shut-off on over-heating).
• Compatible and auto-detects the Nikon FX and DX format and select suitable light distribution angles and pattern (standard, centre & even).
• Automatic temperature regulation via slow recycling time.
• AF-assist illuminator for multi-point AF with wide 24-135mm focal range.
• Auto Zoom range of 17-200mm.
• Multiple flash exposure modes (i-TTL, AA, A, M).
• Compatible with i-TTL optimized for use with Nikon CLS and Advanced wireless lighting upto 3 remote flash group.
• Assortment of accessories (more than the SB-900) right out of the box.
• Dedicated color gel filters to correct white balance.
• Lighter than SB-900.
• Allows firmware updates with select Nikon DSLR.
• Expensive then the SB-900 and SB-700, price in Amazon is $585.
• Available on pre-order (expected to ship in the 3rd week of December 2011).

The Samsung ES30 is a compact entry level digital camera.  I guess the popularity is because of the low price and with its weight (approx.140 gms).  It can easily slip into a shirt pocket.  The camera boosts a CCD sensor with 12.21 megapixels and 5x optical (35mm film equivalent: 27 – 135mm) wide angel zoom lens. The Minimum aperture wide is f3.5 and Minimum aperture telephoto is f5.9. The camera has a surprising 3 inch TFT LCD screen; the screen can be viewed clearly even on bright sunlight. The camera support includes built in Program AE selection, Smile and Blink detection for portrait photography, macro support up to 5cm away from the subject, JPEG file format, 640×480 pixel VGA movie resolutions @ 30 fps and ISO rating from Auto to 1600 for low light photography. It supports Video out, Mono Internal speaker and Microphone, USB 2.0 Hi-speed and SD/SDHC memory card. Memory card supports 4GB on SD and 8GB on SDHC.

Available: Black and Silver in kuwait. (It is available in Pink elsewhere)
Includes: 2xAA Battery; Samsung camera pouch
Pros:
Light weight
Large LCD viewfinder
Controls for Metering, Exposure compensation and White balance
Control modes for Fill-in-flash, slow sync and Auto & Red-eye reduction
Cons:
No Manual viewfinder
No Built-in memory
No Image Stabilization
No Aperture and Shutter Speed control
Photo taken at ISO 1600 is with noticeable noise

Verdict:
The camera is good with limited functionality. Ideal as a present for first time camera users. The buttons are slightly fiddly for people with large hands. Don’t expect too much (you get what you buy in this price range), delivers good shots in bright light.