-- Top News Stories -- Canon EOS-1D Mark II Firmware v1.0.2 DxO Supports Nikon D2H / Canon 1D Mark II Epson Perfection Photo Scanners Foveon X3 F19 Full-Color Image Sensor Fujifilm F440 and F450 Zoom Kodak Digital GEM Airbrush Pro Plug-In Kodak Professional Inkjet Photo Paper Maha C204W One Hour Worldwide Charger Minolta A2 Firmware Update Minolta DiMAGE X31 Nikkor AF-S VR 200mm f/2G IF-ED Nikon D70 Firmware v1.02 Updates Olympus E-1 Firmware v1.2 Update Olympus Zuiko 150mm F2.0 for E-System Panasonic PV-GS400 3CCD Camcorder Pretec 2GB MMC 4.0 Card & Reader Qimage v2004.300 Released Sony DCR-PC350 3-Megapixel Camcorder May 2004 News Index April 2004 News Index March 2004 News Index Steve's "Best Cameras" List PMA 2004 Special Report Sunday Morning Photographer Check out our camera

06-30-2004

Panasonic PV-GS400 3CCD Camcorder With 4-Megapixel Still Camera SECAUCUS, NJ (June 30, 2004)- Panasonic's newest digital camcorder represents the perfect integration of digital video and still image recording technologies, and adds some of today's most advanced, desirable features to the equation. Model PV-GS400 features three CCDs for exceptional color fidelity and outstanding low-light (12 lux) capability in video recording. In addition, the PV-GS400 integrates a high-quality, 4-megapixel still camera. Advanced features include a high-performance Leica Dicomar lens, 12x optical zoom, optical image stabilization and much more. The PV-GS400, available in August, boasts an MSRP of $1499.95 -- a new breakthrough in pricing for a 3CCD camcorder of this caliber. Read the full Panasonic press release

06-30-2004

Canon Posts EOS-1D Mark II Firmware v1.0.2 Canon Japan has posted the EOS-1D Mark II firmware v1.0.2 update which fixes/improves the following: The screen becoming magenta-colored when shooting bulb exposures The values being cleared when C.Fn-06 is set to “2” and the battery is removed Improves image quality of NTSC video output Read our Canon 1D Mark II review

06-30-2004

Sony DCR-PC350 Camcorder With 3-Megapixel Stills SAN DIEGO, June 29, 2004 — Weighing less than a pound and easily fitting into a pocket or purse, the new Sony® DCR-PC350 MiniDV Handycam® camcorder packs advanced technical features and imaging power into a compact, vertical design. This latest Handycam camcorder's 3.31-megapixel, single CCD gives users the highest quality combination of video and still camera optics. It will be available in September, just in time for the holidays, for about $1,300. Read the full Sony press release

06-29-2004

Nikon Releases D70 SLR Firmware Updates Nikon USA (and other Nikon offices) have today posted two D70 firmware updates which should both be applied to bring your camera up to current 1.02 revision level. The A firmware version 1.01 corrects: Images captured in Continuous mode at high shutter speeds sometimes displayed vignetting in upper portions of the image. This problem has been corrected. When the built-in Speedlight was in its raised position but did not fire, the Automatic Sensitivity Adjustment function (ISO Auto: CSM 5) sometimes failed. This problem has been corrected. The B firmware version 1.02 corrects: The camera now supports CompactFlash™ memory cards with a capacity greater than 4GB. When images were captured in Continuous mode at an Image size setting of M and an Image quality setting of FINE, the memory card access lamp sometimes glowed continuously and the camera could not be turned off with the power switch. This problem has been corrected. Text errors in display of Chinese menus and messages have been corrected

06-29-2004

Epson Announces Three New Perfection Scanners Featuring Photo Restoration Capabilities LONG BEACH, Calif. - June 28, 2004 - The new EPSON Perfection 4180 Photo, Perfection 2580 Photo and Perfection 2480 Photo scanners offer a performance-rich set of features at incredibly affordable prices. These new models offer an impressive combination of image quality, versatility and innovative photo restoration software at prices ranging from $99 up to $199. Each of these scanners includes the second generation of Epson Easy Photo Fix technology, which provides customers with precise one-touch color restoration of faded photos, slides and negatives, and one-touch dust removal from slides and negatives. The EPSON Perfection 4180 Photo is a high-quality consumer scanner combining maximum hardware resolution of 4800 x 9600 dpi and 3.4 Dmax along with an affordable price. This scanner is ideal for advanced amateur photographers or photo enthusiasts with its built-in adapter that allows for scanning multiple 35mm slides, negatives and 2 1/4" transparencies. The Perfection 4180 Photo will be available in August for an estimated street price of $249 ($199 after a $50 rebate). The EPSON Perfection 2580 Photo is perfect for digitizing and restoring stacks of negatives in just a few simple steps with its easy-to-use 35mm Auto Film Loader. This scanner model is especially convenient for producing 8" x 10" enlargements with its maximum hardware resolution of 2400 x 4800 dpi for capturing and reproducing images with incredible detail and accuracy. The EPSON Perfection 2580 Photo will be available in August for an estimated street price of $149. The EPSON Perfection 2480 Photo is the most affordable in the latest Epson line of scanners, yet there is no compromise on the quality. The Perfection 2480 Photo offers all of the same great software and high-quality features that are available with the Perfection 2580 Photo, with the exception of the Auto Film Loader. This scanner includes a built-in transparency adapter for added versatility and can scan 35mm film (up to three frames per strip) or two slides. The Perfection 2480 Photo will be available in July for an estimated street price of $99. All three of these scanners offer Hi-Speed USB 2.0 for fast scanning of important photos, documents, slides and negatives, and are compatible with most Windows and Macintosh systems.

06-28-2004

Fred Miranda Releases Canon 1D Mark II CSPro Plugin Fred Miranda has just released his new Canon 1D Mark II CSpro Plugin, it uses a sharpening technology specific designed to accommodate Canon 1D Mark II SLR files. It's compatible with JPEG files straight from the camera or TIFF/JPEG files converted from RAW files. It provides everything from haloless sharpening, edge-sharpening, luminance sharpening, mode sharpening, and more with just the press of a button. With this plugin you can also choose from low or high ISO settings. It does not increase noise or artifact and sharpens only what needs to be sharpened and can be used with any type of images, from portraits, landscape, still-life and especially with HIGH ISO files. It sharpens your 1D Mark II files without adding noise or artifacts. Canon 1D Mark II CSpro is compatible with Photoshop 6, 7, and CS. Also compatible with Photoshop Elements 1 and 2.0. Both Mac and PC versions are available.

06-27-2004

Monthly "Tech Corner" Column Debuts Good friend and Qimage Pro author Mike Chaney is now authoring a monthly column hosted on our site called Tech Corner. Mike promises to demystify the complicated world of digital imaging in a way that newbies and experienced users alike will appreciate. His July 2004 column entitled "The megapixel race. Where did it start? Where will it end?" is online now so be sure to check it out. And remember to come back every month and read the latest column!

06-24-2004

Sony Cybershot DSC-P73 and DSC-P93 Reviews Posted Just in time for summer fun, we've posted the Sony Cybershot DSC-P73 review of this compact and affordable 4-megapixel, 3x optical zoom camera. Inexpensive but not "stripped down," the P73 is loaded with features and also captures VGA resolution movies at 30fps. And for about $50 more you can step up to 5-megapixels with the Sony Cybershot DSC-P93, it has all the same features and compact body design.

06-24-2004

Olympus Posts E-1 Firmware v1.2 Update Melville, New York, June 24, 2004 – Olympus formally announces the second firmware update for the E-1 digital SLR. With version 1.2, it is now possible to shoot photos by fully pressing the shutter button repeatedly with a “pumping” action, while keeping the shutter release button half-pressed down. This improvement allows you to continually shoot photos in C-AF (Continuous Auto Focus) mode, continuing C-AF with the shutter button halfway depressed. Additionally this update also adds a display of focus points for 3-point AF in the finder's LCD. This update also includes improvements made in version 1.1 such as higher sharpness settings, improved exposure in macro mode with flash and quicker startup time from sleep mode. E-System users can update their camera bodies, lenses and flash units through the Olympus Viewer software included with the E-1 cameras or the Olympus Studio software. The whole process takes less than five minutes.

06-24-2004

Maha/PowerEx Announces New MH-C204W One Hour Worldwide Travel Charger La Verne, CA – June 14, 2004 -- Maha Energy Corp., maker of PowerEx rechargeable batteries and chargers, is pleased to announce one of the market’s lightest and fastest charger: The MHC204W One Hour Worldwide Travel Conditioning Charger. This ultra compact and portable charger is up to 70% lighter than competitive models and charges batteries to their maximum capacity! The MH-C204W can be used internationally without the need of a power brick! This travel charger is globally certified and compliant to nearly every major safety agency in the world. An integrated 100-240V 50/60Hz worldwide switching adapter is built into the charger and comes with an interchangeable AC cord. The MH-C204W’s retail price is US $39.95 including 4 AA 2300mAh batteries and a battery carrying case. Read the full Maha C204W press release

06-23-2004

ImageRecall 2.0 Now Available in Europe Winchester, Hampshire, UK -June 23, 2004- ImageRecall announces the European availability of ImageRecall 2.0, a professional-grade photo recovery program that retrieves lost images, data and sound files from flash memory cards. Not only does ImageRecall 2.0 offer users a simple interface and an easy three-step recovery process, it also includes new advanced features not found in any other single software recovery package. This includes CD Writer that allows users to save recovered photos directly to CD; Card Check that tests memory cards for errors; and Secure Erase that completely deletes all data from memory cards. ImageRecall 2.0 is available now from the ImageRecall Web site in both Mac and PC versions. ImageRecall can be downloaded as either a free trial or a full version for £24.99, and can also be ordered on CD.

06-23-2004

Vicman Releases New Versions Of Red Eye Removal Tools for Windows and Photoshop VicMan Software is proud to announce the release of Red Eye Remover 1.5 and Anti Red Eye 1.5 that utilize significantly improved redeye-correction technology. Red Eye Remover is a Windows program that can remove a common "red-eye" effect from your images almost automatically. The "red-eye" effect seems like one of the most common problems that professional and amateur photographers and graphic designers encounter. Anti Red Eye, a Photoshop plug-in that utilizes the same GUI and technology that Red Eye Remover has been specially developed after numerous demands from our clients who use Adobe Photoshop and other compatible graphics editors. Full version of each product costs $19.95. Owners of Anti Red Eye and Red Eye Remover are entitled to free updates and technical support.

06-22-2004

Kyocera Finecam M410R Review Posted Just posted is the Kyocera Finecam M410R review, a very responsive 4-megapixel, 10x optical Super-Zoom camera. Employing Kyocera's RTUNE processing technology, the M410R captures images at 3.3 frames per second to the capacity of the SD card when using a high-performance memory card. It features an incredibly short shutter lag and a 300,000 pixel EVF viewfinder that doesn't freeze between shots. Additionally it captures VGA resolution motion video at 30fps with sound and has USB 2.0 download connectivity and is PictBridge direct-print enabled.

06-21-2004

DxO Optics Pro Adds Support for Nikon D2H and Canon EOS 1D Mark II Digital Cameras Paris, France, June 21st, 2004 - DxO Optics Pro, the award wining image correction software application from DO Labs now supports the two most recent high-end Digital Single-Lens Reflex (dSLR) cameras from Canon and Nikon, namely the Nikon D2H and the Canon EOS 1D Mark II. Released on May 24, 2004 for both Macintosh and Windows, DxO Optics Pro software automatically eliminates Distortion, Vignetting , Blur and Lateral Chromatic Aberrations to dramatically improve digital image quality. Read the entire DxO press release See our previously published DxO press release

06-21-2004

Foveon Introduces The First Small Format Full-Color 4.5-Megapixel Image Sensor Santa Clara, CA, June 21, 2004 – Foveon Inc., a technology leader of award-winning high-quality digital camera image sensors, announced today the availability of the Foveon F19 sensor (FO18-50-F19), a 1/1.8-inch 4.5 Megapixel CMOS direct image sensor that incorporates Foveon’s breakthrough X3 technology to directly capture color in three layers, just like film. The company also announced that the F19 image sensor has been designed into the HanVision HVDUO-5M digital camera for industrial, scientific, medical, and communications applications. The F19 direct image sensor employs Foveon’s unique X3 stacked-pixel design. Each stack of pixels contains a red, green, and blue pixel, eliminating the need for color interpolation and blur filters which are required for conventional CCD and CMOS image sensors. Color interpolation is used by CCD and CMOS image sensors to estimate the missing color information inherent in these image sensors, which only have a single layer of pixels. Blur filters are also used in CCD and CMOS image sensors to eliminate the color artifacts, which are introduced as part of the color interpolation. The Foveon X3 F19 direct image sensor avoids these image quality compromises by utilizing the X3 stacked pixel design. As a result, the Foveon X3 F19 sensor delivers the highest degree of full color, image sharpness, and artifact-free color detail possible with a 1/1.8-inch image sensor. Read the entire Foveon press release.

06-18-2004

New Camera Reviews Just Posted Just posted are our reviews of the Konica Minolta DiMAGE G600, a compact 6-megapixel camera with a 3x zoom and fast performance in a stylish and durable metal body. And the Pentax Optio 43WR, a compact and extremely weather-resistant 4-megapixel camera with a 2.8x optical zoom. This tough little camera can go to the beach, out on a boat or in any weather conditions without fear -- it will make a great extreme sports or hiking camera to be sure. And we are currently working on the Sony P73 and P93 twins and the Fujifilm A330 and A340 twins.

06-17-2004

ClearHeart Announces Release of PhotoGiá for Photoshop 7.0 and Higher Austin, TX – Many people have found the convenience of digital cameras offset by the complexity of learning to use digital imaging software. Large learning curves and time spent manipulating the images meant more time in front of a computer and less time taking pictures. Today, ClearHeart announced the market release of PhotoGiá, a set of Actions for Adobe Photoshop®. PhotoGiá is a set of pre-defined Actions that can now be executed in Photoshop to quickly and easily complete dozens of commands to enhance photographs to professional levels. With PhotoGia’ you don't have to worry about whether you've done all the steps and completed them in the correct order to improve your digital images. And whether correcting a single photograph or running PhotoGia’ in batch-processing mode, you will appreciate how PhotoGia’ is designed to simplify the image enhancement process. What sets PhotoGiá apart from other current solutions is that its Actions can be run according to the type or genre of the digital image being enhanced. Just select “Portrait” from the PhotoGia’ actions and click run, an appropriate amount of Sharpening, Noise Reduction, Mid-Tone Adjustment, White Point Adjustment, Black Point Adjustment, and finally Color Adjustment is done for a portrait PhotoGiá retails for $199.99. As part of the market introduction, the software can be purchased from now until July 15, 2004 for $99.99 at www.photogia.com. PhotoGiá is compatible with Macintosh and PC.

06-17-2004

Fujifilm Announces New Compact and Slim Finepix F440 and F450 Zoom Digital Cameras VALHALLA, NY - JUNE 17, 2004 - Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., a pioneer in digital imaging technology, today announced the addition of two ultra-compact new models to its award- winning line of consumer digital cameras. The new FinePix F440 and F450 combine Fujifilm's trusted image quality with a new signature slim, square metal body featuring a large, 2-inch LCD screen for easy viewing and sharing. The Fujifilm FinePix F440 offers 4.1 million pixels for capturing clear, life-like images, while the Fujifilm FinePix F450 offers 5.2 million pixels for photographers who want even more imaging power. The cameras run on a rechargeable NP-30 Li-ion battery, come with an AC adapter and a Picture Cradle for easy downloading, battery recharging and for use in PC-cam mode. Read the Fujifilm press release.

06-15-2004

Olympus' New Zuiko 150mm F2.0 Lens for E-System Melville, New York – June 15, 2004 – Olympus today announced that the latest addition to the range of interchangeable lenses for the Olympus E-System, the ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150mm F2.0, would be available late October 2004 with some new specifications. Even before the lens has gone on the market it has received a coveted award from the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) that confers awards to products and technologies of special distinction across a number of areas in the field of photography. The TIPA jury declared the ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150mm F2.0 (35mm camera equivalent: 300mm) the best high-end lens because it gives photographers “… a combination of telephoto power and wide aperture that is not available from 35mm-based systems. With an optical design optimized for the unique demands of digital capture, this lens continues the commitment by Olympus to exploit the advantages of digital capture, rather than working around problems inherited from film cameras.” The new Zuiko Digital 150mm F2.0 (equivalent to 300mm on a 35mm film camera) is the second large-aperture telephoto lens designed for the Olympus E-System, the world’s first 100 percent all-digital interchangeable lens SLR system. Ideal for nature, sports, journalism and fashion photography, the 150mm f2.0 joins the previously introduced Zuiko Digital 300mm (600mm) F2.8.

06-15-2004

DDI Software Announces Qimage v2004.300 DDI Software announces the next major release of Qimage: v2004.300, a fully-featured and professional Windows printing application. This version focuses on being able to switch to full manual control at any time, allowing click/drag moving and sizing of prints even when using an automatic placement method such as "center" or "optimal" placement. In addition to being able to "go freehand" on any individual page, you can even click/drag to move and size images directly on the small preview page on the main window which was previously only possible on the full page editor window. We've also added the ability to manually rotate prints to any multiple of 90 degrees as well as other features. Check out the full list of features on the Qimage release notes page

06-15-2004

Nikon Boosts Monthly D70 Production Almost 30% TOKYO ( Reuters) - Japan's Nikon Corp said on Tuesday that it was boosting production capacity of its hot-selling D70 digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, while eyeing an eventual exit from film compact cameras due to sliding demand. In an interview with Reuters, managing director Makoto Kimura said Nikon would raise monthly capacity for the "D70" model to above 90,000 units by September or October, compared to 70,000 when the camera hit stores in March. Nikon aims to sell one million digital SLRs in the current business year to March 2005, compared to about 300,000 in 2003/04. It expects sales of all digital cameras to reach 7.8 million units, up 44 percent from 5.4 million units last year.

06-15-2004

HP Photosmart R707 Review Posted Just posted is our full Photosmart R707 review of a very affordable ($349) and highly capable 5-megapixel 3x optical zoom camera. This is an excellent choice for beginners or anyone that wants an easy to use camera that delivers above average results. It's got advanced features to help improve your pictures as well as lots of builtin help screens to virtually eliminate the need for the user manual.

06-15-2004

Konica Minolta Introduces Stylish New 3.2-Megapixel X31 Digital Camera Mahwah, NJ – Konica Minolta introduces a new member to the X-series of DiMAGE digital cameras – the new DiMAGE X31. This 3.2 megapixel digital camera combines a fast startup speed, thin and stylish design, and intuitive operation in a very affordable entry-level . digital camera. The DiMAGE X31 is a user-friendly, compact equipped with Konica Minolta's proprietary non-protruding 3x optical zoom that keeps the camera thin, even when the zoom is activated. This camera is one of the slimmest and lightest cameras in its class. Read the Minolta press release.

06-11-2004

Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 Firmware Update Konica Minolta Europe has posted the DiMAGE A2 Firmware Update V112. Please read carefully the DiMAGE A2 firmware update PDF for detailed instructions on how to update the camera firmware! Improvements: Improved the symptom that visibility of LCD decreases depending on the subject brightness while using the Flex Digital Magnifier function. Improved the symptom that LCD turns off or the camera cannot focus on the high brightness subject with the Flex Focus Point at the focal length of 100mm. Improved the flash metering accuracy. Changed the viewfinder operation from the viewfinder turns off immediately after leaving the eye to it remains 10 sec. when the display mode switch is at EVF. This firmware supports Telephoto Converter ACT-100, Wide-angle Converter ACW-100, and DiMAGE Capture DCA-200, and updating to this firmware is recommended for the users of these accessories.

06-11-2004

Czech Digicam Website FotoAparat Becomes the 11th Member of DIWA Organization DIWA (Digital Imaging Websites Association), the fast-growing association of expert Web-based publications specializing in digital imaging product reviews, has signed up its eleventh member publication: www.fotoaparat.cz, the top digital photography editorial site for Czech and Slovak languages. Fotoaparat means "camera" in Czech and Slovak. The site was founded in 1999 by Andrej and Helena Macenauer and is now the leading website of its kind in the region. The mission of FotoAparat is to share their photographic expertise with the readers, helping them to develop and improve their photographic talents. FotoAparat provides all the information photographers need: detailed tests and reviews of cameras, printers, scanners and software, an interactive database of photographic products, as well as over 350 unique articles about photography, techniques and equipment. Users learn from each other to improve their photographic skills in the impressive interactive gallery. Andrej Macenauer said: "We are honored to be invited to join DIWA and we are confident that our technical skills and expertise will contribute in making DIWA renowned for high quality reviews and trustworthy awards. Also, we were impressed to learn about the rigorous testing procedures upon which the DIWA awards concept is founded". For DIWA, FotoAparat is regarded as a highly valuable addition to the world-wide network of contributing members. The FotoAparat team shows excellent photographic competence and technological professionalism, all presented on a well organized website with an attractive design.

06-10-2004

Pentax to Expand Digital SLR Family with New Entry-Level Model June 8, 2004 (GOLDEN, CO) – PENTAX Imaging Company, a division of PENTAX of America, Inc. has announced it is developing cameras for the entry level digital SLR category. The first introduction is slated for Fall of 2004. June 3, 2004 (TOKYO) -- Pentax Corp plans to introduce this fall a SLR (single-lens reflex) digital camera aimed at general consumers that will retail for a little more than 100,000 yen (~$915 USD). Monthly production will be set at about 20,000 units, and the company intends to ship about 100,000 units by March 31, 2005.

06-09-2004

Pixingo Releases PhotoFirst Mac OS X Edition June 8, 2004 - Pixingo releases PhotoFirst Mac OS X Edition version 1.1, a fully integrated application for pro shooters that takes the drudgery out of organizing, annotating, RAW converting, comparing, enhancing, and creating professional quality, client-ready output from digital photographs. It dramatically simplifies and reduces the time you spend on digital post-production and is designed to work with hundreds of digital photos at a time. PhotoFirst enables you to create client-ready deliverables from your digital photos - faster, more efficiently, and with total confidence that you are presenting your best work. PhotoFirst currently supports the following RAW formats: Canon 1D, D30, D60, 1DS, 10D, Fuji FinePix S2 Pro, Minolta DiMAGE 7, Nikon D1, D100, D1H, D1X, Olympus E20 and Sigma SD9 (Kodak 14n, 14nx and Nikon D2H coming soon as well as a Windows XP version.)

06-09-2004

New PocketWizard Upgrade Available for KODAK PROFESSIONAL Digital SLRs ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 9—Eastman Kodak Company today announced a PocketWizard upgrade for several of its digital SLR cameras. The upgrade, available only as a service upgrade in the US and Canada, direct from Kodak, is compatible with the KODAK PROFESSIONAL DCS Pro 14n, DCS 14nx and DCS Pro SLR/n digital cameras. The PocketWizard is a digital radio triggering system that fires the flash and camera simultaneously to capture split second action at every angle. It allows photographers more flexibility to position lighting where necessary without being tethered by a Synch cord. PocketWizard upgrades are US$395, including return shipping, in the U.S. and Canada. The device warranty is coincidental with the camera warranty or 90 days, whichever is longer. Upgrades will be available on a first come, first served basis.

06-09-2004

Ahead Software Announces Launch of Nero Photoshow Elite, the Easy and Complete Photo Experience Glendale, CA - June 8, 2004 - Ahead Software, leaders in digital media technology, are pleased to announce the latest addition to their Nero product family, Nero PhotoShow Elite. This exciting photo management application provides digital camera users with a comprehensive set of photo editing and creation tools combined with unprecedented ease of use. Read the entire Photoshow Elite press release.

06-07-2004

Tampa Bay Lightning Wins The 2004 Stanley Cup Click to see a few more Minolta Z2 Stanley Cup pictures Conratulations to all the members of the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team, you're the 2004 Stanley Cup winners!    GO BOLTS !!!!!!! Sorry if you think this isn't worthy news, but this is the first time in franchise history for the Lightning to be in the finals, and guess where I live?   How many digital camera pictures do you think were taken inside of the St Pete Times Forum Monday night? I'd say Tuesday's sports' section will be full of them ...

06-04-2004

Nikon Coolpix 5200 Review Posted Just posted is our Nikon Coolpix 5200 review, a compact 5-megapixel, 3x optical zoom camera with 15 scene modes and in-camera red-eye removal all wrapped up in a stylish and durable metal body. If you're looking for a great vacation camera then check this one out, it's a winner.

06-03-2004

TIPA 2004 Award Winners Announced The Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) European Photo & Imaging Awards for 2004 were were announced. The TIPA Best Photo Products in Europe 2004 winners are as follows: Breakthrough Award: Canon EOS 300D Best Consumer Digital SLR Camera: Nikon D70 Best Professional Digital SLR Camera: Canon EOS 1D MkII Best Digital Budget Compact Camera: Olympus Camedia C-310 Zoom Best Digital Consumer Compact Camera: Sony Cyber-shot DSC T-1 Best Digital Prosumer Camera: Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 Best Digital Camera Back: Sinarback 54 M Best Imaging Storage Media: SanDisk Ultra II series Best Digital Accessory: Lexar JumpDrive family Best Film Scanner: Nikon Coolscan V ED Best Flatbed Photo Scanner: Epson Perfection 4870 Photo Best Dye-Sublimation Photo Printer: Kodak Photo Printer 6800 Best Inkjet Photo Printer: Epson Stylus Photo R800 Best Large Format Photo Printer: HP Designjet 130 Best Professional Camcorder: Sony DSR-PD170 Best Photo Software: Adobe Photoshop CS Best Consumer Lens: Sigma 17-35mm F2.8-4.0 EX DG Aspherical Best Hi-End Lens: Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 150mm F2.0 Best Innovative Design: Panasonic SV-AV50 D-Snap

06-02-2004

Sony Expands Limited Warranty for DSC-F828, DSC-T1, and Y2004 Cyber-shot Digital Cameras Sony is pleased to announce that the limited warranty for several Cyber-shot Digital Cameras has been expanded from 1 year parts / 90 days labor to 1 year parts / 1 year labor at no charge, pursuant to the limited warranty card noted below. The models to which this 1 year parts /1 year labor warranty applies are DSC-F828, DSC-T1, and Y2004 models DSC- P41, DSC-P73, DSC-P93, DSC-P100, DSC-W1. All other Sony digital cameras retain the limited warranty supplied with the product. For questions, visit Sony’s Support website or call Sony’s Customer Information Services Center at 1-800-222-SONY.

06-02-2004

Kodak Introduces New DIGITAL GEM Airbrush Professional Plug-In ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 2 - Eastman Kodak Company today introduced the new DIGITAL GEM Airbrush Professional Plug-In, which gives users a quick and powerful way of smoothing skin and other surfaces without blurring or affecting the detail of important facial features. This new plug-in enables users to automatically achieve meticulous airbrush and retouching effects without tedious, time-consuming masking and manual softening. The DIGITAL GEM Airbrush Professional Plug-In smoothes and purifies the texture of surfaces in digital images by reducing harsh shadows and highlights. This minimizes the imperfections of skin and other surfaces, while fully preserving significant details like hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows. Several advanced control sliders allow users to customize the smoothing effects and intensity amounts at three levels of detail: fine, medium, and coarse. Users can preview a high contrast mask which depicts the image detail that is affected and unaffected. The plug-in provides three standard setting buttons: Normal; Lighten; and Darken, which allow the correction to be applied to only darker areas, only lighter areas, or both. The DIGITAL GEM Airbrush Professional Plug-In also supports the use of 16 bit color images, as well as the standard 8 bit color images. A FREE trial version is available for download. This fully functional trial version applies digital watermarks to images. To disable the watermark, users may purchase a software key via a secure, e-commerce site for $99.95.

06-02-2004

Pretec Announces Card Reader Supporting New MMC 4.0 Specification and the World's Largest and Fastest MMC Card Taipei, Taiwan, June 1, 2004 – Pretec Electronics Corp., the 2nd company in the world offering CompactFlash memory card (CF) card since 1995, is demonstrating the world’s first USB card reader supporting MMC 4.0 4-bit mode, which can possibly reach the access speed of up to 26MB/s, the highest speed flash memory card reader in the world today, at COMPUTEX TAIPEI Pretec Booth Hall 4, # 101A here at World Trade Center. Supporting most popular flash memory cards in the market such as CF I, CF II (or 1” HDD), Smart Media, MMC, MMC 4.0 (4-bit mode), SD, MS, MS-Pro, etc., Pretec USB card reader is the most versatile card reader today. When MMC 4.0 8-bit mode is supported by Q4/2004, Pretec USB card reader can possibly reach a whopping speed of 52MB/s, close to the maximum speed of USB 2.0 specification. Pretec MMC 4.0 USB card reader is sampling now, with mass production scheduled by next month. Pretec is demonstrating the world’s first MMC 4.0 flash memory card with Read speed about 150X (22.5MB/s) and Write speed greater than 120X (18MB/s), which is the highest speed small form factor flash memory card in the world today. Compatible with most Secure Digital (SD) slots used by mobile phones, digital cameras, and other portable digital devices. Version 4.0 is the most recent release of MMCA, with maximum transfer speed up to 20 times of today’s MMC, and 4 times faster than today’s SD card without any royalties for the high-speed interface. The speed of Pretec MMC 4.0 is about 200% faster than the fastest SD card available in the market and about 800% faster than Pretec MMC (V3.2) 1GB, which is the fastest and highest capacity in the market today.

06-01-2004

Many New Camera Reviews Posted We continue our "series of 3" reviews with three new cameras from Panasonic and three from Olympus. First up is Panasonic's new Lumix LC50, an affordable 3-megapixel, 3x optical zoom compact that's a great choice for family or first-timers that need an easy to use digicam with enough resolution to make 8x10" prints. If you want more resolution and movies with sound then check out the LC50's bigger brother, the Lumix LC70 with a 4-megapixel imager and 3x optical zoom in an identical body design. And, if you want a more stylish camera there's the Lumix FX5 with 4-megapixels, 3x optical zoom and rechargeable battery housed in sleek and durable metal body. From Olympus we have the super-affordable Camedia D-395, an entry-level 3-megapixel digicam with a fixed focal length lens. This is the digital equivalent to a film point-n-shoot camera, it's very easy to use and offers good image quality. If you want an affordable digicam with a zoom lens then see the Camedia D-540 Zoom, a 3-megapixel, 3x optical zoom compact with very good image quality. Or the Camedia D-580 Zoom with a 4-megapixel imager and 3x optical zoom. All of these cameras are very easy to operate and are lightweight compacts.

06-01-2004

New KODAK PROFESSIONAL Inkjet Photo Paper Delivers Exceptional Color, Detail and Quality ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 1 - Eastman Kodak Company today introduced KODAK PROFESSIONAL Inkjet Photo Paper for professional and advanced amateur (AdAm) photographers. The high quality, instant-dry paper, available in glossy and lustre finishes, is compatible with all inkjet printers and represents the first KODAK PROFESSIONAL branded inkjet-media in the market. Featuring a true photographic base with high-quality pulp and state-of-the-art paper chemistry, the new instant-drying cut-sheet inkjet photo paper delivers outstanding image quality, whiter whites, accurate flesh-tone reproduction and a wide color gamut. With a range of recommended and custom color profiles developed for popular inkjet printers, the paper delivers a bright, saturated color and sharp detail. The competitively priced paper will appeal to commercial, portrait/social and AdAm photographers. KODAK PROFESSIONAL Inkjet Photo Paper offers a number of features: Instant dry photo paper, works on ALL inkjet printers - works with both pigmented and dye-based inkjet printers, excellent glossy uniformity, 255 g/m2, 9mil; Resin coated (true photo base) paper, available in gloss (F) and lustre (E) finishes, custom color profiles available for optimal print quality. The new paper comes in 20 (MSRP US$14.99), 50 (MSRP US$34.99) and 100- (MSRP US$59.99) count 8.5 x 11-inch packages, as well as a 20-count 13 x 19-inch package (MSRP US$49.99). KODAK PROFESSIONAL Inkjet Photo Paper in glossy and luster finish will be available at photo specialty retailers in June, in the United States, Western Europe and Australia.

06-01-2004

Nikon Announces AF-S VR Nikkor 200mm f/2G IF-ED Lens, Featuring Newly Developed 'Super-ED' Glass Nikon today announced the AF-S VR Nikkor 200mm f/2G IF-ED lens, developed for use with both Nikon digital and film SLR cameras. An important addition to the acclaimed range of Nikkor ED lenses, the AF-S VR Nikkor 200mm f/2G IF-ED is crafted from Super ED glass - a significant new material that is more resilient than typical fluorite lenses and offers class-above optical qualities with exceptional consistency even at large apertures. With an ideal combination of Vibration Reduction (VR) technology and fast f/2.0 aperture, the AF-S VR Nikkor 200mm f/2G IF-ED is designed to offer photographers razor sharp images in the most demanding situations. With a maximum aperture of f/2, the AF-S VR Nikkor 200mm f/2G IF-ED is a very fast lens that when combined with the advantages of VR technology, offers photographers remarkable shooting capabilities that may not have been previously possible. Nikon's advanced VR technology eliminates image blur caused by camera shake, particularly when shooting in low-light conditions, allowing photographers to use shutter speeds up to three stops slower than they would ordinarily use to get sharp, well exposed images. The AF-S VR Nikkor 200mm f/2G IF-ED is compatible with all Nikon teleconverters, including the newly announced AF-S Teleconverter TC-17E II - the first teleconverter to offer 1.7x performance in a compact, lightweight package. Similar in design to the existing TC-14E II and TC-20E II teleconverters, the TC-17E II can be used exclusively with AF-S and AF-I Nikkor lenses, and completes Nikon's lineup of 1.4x, 1.7x, and 2.0x compact teleconverters. The AF-S VR Nikkor 200mm f/2G IF-ED will be available at Nikon authorized dealers starting Fall of 2004.

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