| November 2001 |
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Click here for great digicam gift ideas !!!
 A great gift for any Nikon user! |
 "Better than the manual" Books for Nikon, Olympus and Canon digicams. |
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| 11-30-2001 |
Nikon Appoints Jerry Grossman as Vice President, Marketing For Consumer Digital Products and Compact CamerasMELVILLE, NY, November 28, 2001 - Nikon, the world leader in photography, today announced the appointment of Jerry Grossman to Vice President, Marketing for Consumer Digital Products and Compact Cameras at Nikon Inc. He will assume the lead role in planning and marketing for the popular line of Coolpix® digital cameras and Coolscan® scanners as well as One-Touch and Lite-Touch compact film cameras. “Jerry's capabilities make him the ideal person to spearhead marketing efforts for our consumer digital imaging products and compact film cameras,” said Jack Abrams, CEO and President of Nikon Inc. “Consumers continue to embrace digital photography, and Nikon will answer their needs. With his invaluable leadership experience as Nikon's director of Internet Development, Jerry will further what is already an extremely strong and exciting line of consumer digital imaging products.”
Grossman brings over 10 years of Nikon experience to his new position. He joined the
company in 1993, was promoted to General Manager of Communications in 1995, and VP of
Internet Development in 1999. He has become an industry leader in marketing of digital
photography, online branding and Internet marketing. He has expanded and developed
Nikon's Web initiatives, making the company the leading photography community on the
Internet. Grossman has successfully planned and supervised the launch of four Nikon
websites in the last two years including the product information site NikonUSA (www.nikonusa.com), NikonNet (www.nikonnet.com), a photo sharing and education community
and NikonMall (www.nikonmall.com) Nikon's e-
commerce website. Most recently, he spearheaded NikonPro (www.nikonpro.com) to help professional photographers enhance
their business potential. In his new role, Jerry will continue to supervise Nikon's
Internet Development team.
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| 11-29-2001 |
ColorFix Converts JPEG and TIFF Images from One "Color Space" to AnotherMax Lyons has just released his new ColorFix utility for Windows or DOS that easily and quickly converts the colors in JPEG and TIFF images from one "color space" to another. This utility was written mainly to solve the problem of the Minolta DiMAGE 5 and 7 (and S304) cameras that save their images in a proprietary color space, not standard RGB. Even though Minolta supplies a software program called DIVU (Dimage Image Viewing Utility) to convert from one color space to another, it also applies other image corrections that yield undesirable results. To quote Max's info:
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| 11-28-2001 |
Stair Interpolation - Free Alternative to Genuine FractalsFred Miranda has just released his Stair Interpolation utility for up-sizing digital images with the best possible quality. This is useful for those times when you want to have really large prints made from your digital images. SI is comparable to the well-known Genuine Fractals program and is compatible with Photoshop 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 or higher (PC and MAC). Follow the link above and see some examples of SI versus Genuine Fractals, Qimage Pro, S-Spline and PhotoShop's bicubic interpolation. The best part is that Stair Interpolation is free. New D30 ISOR Pro ActionsFred has also just released his new (and faster) D30 ISOR PRO PhotoShop actions for Canon D30 users. These actions allow you to get the best possible image quality from D30 raw or JPEG images by reducing the apparent noise. There are specific actions for ISO 200, 400, 800 and 1600 as well as a totally new ISO 3200 option. These actions aren't free but they are very reasonably priced as are all of Fred's other terrific image enhancing PS actions. |
| 11-28-2001 |
Kaidan Announces KiWi Panoramic Tripod Head Upgrade Bundle Aimed at iPIX PhotographersWashington D.C. Government Video Technology Expo November 28, 2001: The world's leading provider of immersive imaging solutions, Kaidan Incorporated, today announced a limited-time promotional iPIX upgrade package for their KiWi 880/990/995 Panoramic Tripod Heads. These KiWi tripod heads are designed to work with the Nikon Coolpix 880, 990 and 995 digital cameras respectively and are used to orient, position and increment the camera for panoramic photography. The offer compliments the recently announced 2.0 version of the iPIX 360 Suite and iPIX Suite Pro software, which provides iPIX customers with a new capability of stitching a full spherical scene from three equally spaced hemispherical fisheye images. The aforementioned Kaidan tripod heads feature interchangeable indexing disks and therefore have the flexibility to capture two or three (any number from 2 through 22 are optionally available) equally spaced images that can be used in conjunction with the new iPIX software as well as other stitching applications such as Photovista (MGI Software, Inc.) and Panoweaver. The upgrade package includes either a Kaidan KiWi 880, 990 or 995, a copy (Windows) of Photovista panoramic imaging software from MGI Software, Inc., and a expanded set of indexing detent discs (2, 3, 5, 6, 14 and 18 position). Photovista is a complete panoramic stitching program that provides detailed high-resolution panoramas using as few as 5 shots (when shot with the Nikon Coolpix fisheye lens that is also used for iPIX images). Even more detail, and the ability to zoom in while maintaining a high level of detail, can be obtained with the Nikon standard and wide-angle lenses when used with the 14 and 18 position discs on the KiWi. The package gives the photographer full creative control with all the Nikon Coolpix lenses and with a variety of imaging options and software applications. The package sells for $189.95, which is a savings of approximately $100 off of the suggested retail price and is only available directly from Kaidan. In order to qualify for the discounted price, the old iPIX rotator head must be sent into Kaidan.
According to Sal DiPaolo, Director of Sales and Marketing for Kaidan,
"Whether you're using iPIX software with 2 or now 3 circular fisheye images,
Easypano's Panoweaver for QuickTime VR cubic output with 2 circular fisheye
images, or MGI's Photovista with 5 or 6 full-frame rectangular fisheye
images, you only need one Kaidan tripod head to get the job done. We realize
that photographers have numerous software options for creating immersive
environments and we provide an assortment of discs with our KiWi tripod
heads just for that reason. We want to support the software choice of our
customers for today and tomorrow."
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| 11-27-2001 |
SCM Microsystems Takes Center Stage With Two of PCPhoto's Top 50 Editors' PicksGuilford, CT - November 26, 2001 - SCM Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCMM; Neuer Markt: SMY), a leading provider of solutions that open the Digital World, today announced its Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge and Microtech ZiO! products have been honored as two of PCPhoto's Top 50 Editors' Picks of 2001. The solutions will both receive the PCPhoto Editors' Choice Award, which will be published in the December 2001 issue. The prestigious award is a compilation of the year's best devices that offer the highest degree of value and interest to PCPhoto readers. Among the thousands of products reviewed, SCM's Dazzle and Microtech products captured two of the top spots. "Being honored with two of PCPhoto Editors' Choice awards reflects SCM's commitment to developing a broad range of high quality digital media solutions," said Al Conte, vice president of marketing for SCM Microsystems Retail Brands. "This achievement confirms SCM's place in offering innovative and user-friendly products which meet the industry's top standards and satisfy consumer demand." The company's Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge, bundled with MainActor video-editing software, offers an easy solution for converting old family videos recorded on VHS tapes into high quality DVDs for television viewing. The product was recognized due to its professional quality and ease of use.
The Microtech ZiO! digital media reader/writer provides consumers with an
affordable, compact cordless design that quickly and conveniently transfers
data to and from a digital device and a computer. ZiO! eliminates the need
for special software, cables or fully charged batteries.
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| 11-26-2001 |
Alive and Well (stuffed with turkey)Just in case you were wondering, we are still here, there's just been a lull in news and we've already seen all the new camera releases we're going to see before Christmas. Expected in this week is a production model Coolpix 5000 so we can complete our review and post sample images. We also look forward to getting our hands on a Canon EOS-1D pro SLR soon too. Currently in-house is the Toshiba PDR-M25, a $279 2.2-megapixel camera with 3x zoom.
I hope everyone got their fill of turkey or whatever your family eats for Thanksgiving,
I am now rather tired of eating turkey sandwiches. Speaking of eating, the Sept 11th
funds will no doubt take a large chunk out of the money donated to other charities
this year. Don't forget to give some to your local food drive as there are many
families depending on it. That and be sure to support the Toys for Tots programs
or whatever is done locally in your area, Christmas is very important to our children.
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| 11-20-2001 |
Pixo Media 4 in 1 Multi PC-Card Adapter
The PIXO MEDIA Universal PC-CARD
Adapter has a unique 4 in 1 connector for SmartMedia™, Memory Stick ™, SD Card™ or
MultiMediaCard™ memory cards. The Adapter replaces up to four conventional PC CARD
Adapters in the value of about 300 EURO. The 4 in 1 Multi PC- CARD Adapter is suitable
for comfortable and fast transfer of digital pictures and data to notebooks and
computers with PC-CARD slot. The Adapter is suitable for Windows 95/98/2000/ME/XP. The
Adapter is available in Europe at a price of about 80 EURO (approx. US$ 70.00)
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| 11-18-2001 |
Fuji FinePix 2800 Zoom Review Posted
I just posted our Fujifilm FinePix 2800 Zoom
review. This is a very impressive 2-megapixel camera. Impressive for both its
big 6X optical zoom lens and its excellent image quality. It's small and stylish
as well as robust and possibly the best news is the price, it's just $399!
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| 11-16-2001 |
Qimage Pro 2001 v4.0 ReleasedAuthor Mike Chaney emailed to let me know that he had just posted Qimage Pro 2001 v4.0 for download on his site. Qimage Pro 2001 is a really nice image printing program for Windows users. It is loaded with all sorts of advanced features to make the chore of printing images easier and fun. New in v4.0 is Floating Text which allows you to place text anywhere on your page, on top of existing prints or over blank areas, with or without a user defined shadow, with any amount of rotation, and using any font size or style! Each text label can even be linked to an existing print on the page to ensure that where your prints go, your text will go along for the ride, sticking to the print like glue! Use the text labels as headers, footers, or just to spice up your photos on the page to create your own album pages. Full support for the PSD (PhotoShop) file format, including the ability to read the embedded ICC profile in PSD files! Comparator lock: Ability to lock both windows together when viewing images side by side using the comparator.
Click here for a full
list of Qimage Pro 2001 features - there are lots of them!
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| 11-15-2001 |
Contax Announces The N Digital: Worlds’ First Digital SLR With Full-Frame 6+ Million Pixel Sensor SOMERSET, NJ – Kyocera Optics, Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of the Contax N Digital, the world’s first digital SLR camera to employ a full-frame 35mm, 24 x 36mm, 6+ megapixel CCD. This achievement allows the camera full use of auto focus Carl Zeiss T* lenses while offering the user world-class digital picture quality. The N Digital is based on the Contax N1 and provides the perfect ergonomic platform. The N1 which was introduced in the fall of 2000 has proven itself as a high quality product that can stand up to the every day rigors of the working photographer. The N Digital and N1 cameras share all basic functions as well as the unique features incorporated in the N1. This includes the “Dual Focus Mechanism”, the world’s first “5- point Wide Array Diagonal Auto Focus System”, and “Fine Focus ABC (Auto Bracketing System)”. The N Digital can offer greater control and creativity to meet the photographer's demands by incorporating the Dual Focus Mechanism along with the highly advanced SLR digital image technology. The N Digital offers a high-resolution equivalent to film-based photography, meeting the needs of both professional and serious amateur photographers.
Click here to read the entire N Digital press release.
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| 11-14-2001 |
Lexar Media Extends Professional Series Line with Addition of 16X Speed 640MB CompactFlash Type I Card FREMONT, Calif., November 13, 2001 -- Lexar Media Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a leading developer of flash mass storage systems and an innovator of high-performance, USB-enabled CompactFlash™ digital film, today announced the addition of a 640MB capacity CompactFlash card to its popular 16X speed Professional Series digital film. Designed with fast write speeds and increased storage capacity, Professional Series cards meet the needs of the world’s most demanding photographers using the newest professional digital cameras, like the Nikon D1X and Canon 1D. Lexar Media’s 640MB cards begin shipping to retailers December 1, 2001 and have a suggested retail price of $900. Professional Series CompactFlash cards are available in capacities of 192, 256, 320, 512 and now 640MB. Lexar Media’s 640MB capacity cards enable photographers to store more images to a single card. Offered as the latest Professional Series product, the 16X speed 640MB cards are capable of a minimum sustained write speed of 2.4MB per second, reducing the time it takes for digital cameras to read and write high-resolution image files. Lexar Media pioneered the adoption of the ‘X’ speed rating for solid state storage for digital photography, where 1X equals 150kb per second, as used by other digital storage devices such as CD ROMs. “Photographers shooting the Eco-Challenge know the merits of working with high-speed, high-capacity cards. For the second year in a row, Lexar Media digital film delivered stellar performance,” said Eric Stang, president and CEO, Lexar Media. “Professional through novice digital photographers can rest assured that with Lexar Media digital film, they will not miss that special shot. Other vendors may claim 'write speeds up to,' but Lexar Media is the only company to individually test and speed rate every one if its CompactFlash cards.”
Lexar Media Professional Series CompactFlash is the film of choice for professional photographers
shooting world-renowned events. Lexar Media guarantees speed and reliable image storage with its
solid-state CompactFlash line. Professional Series products come with value-add professional services
including free 24-hour technical support and complimentary data recovery services. Lexar Media
CompactFlash has upgradeable firmware, which allows optimization capabilities for specific camera
models. Lexar Media cards are guaranteed compatible with CompactFlash digital cameras and are
USB-enabled for quick and easy image transfer. The 16X Professional Series and 12X High Speed Series
cards are covered by a lifetime warranty.
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| 11-13-2001 |
Toshiba and SanDisk Introduce a One Gigabit NAND Flash Memory Chip, Doubling Capacity of Future Flash ProductsLAS VEGAS & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 2001-- Toshiba Corporation and SanDisk Corporation jointly introduced today the world's first commercial one gigabit (1Gbit, or 1024Megabit) NAND flash memory chip, a new generation of flash memory that effectively doubles the amount of storage that the two companies can put in their flash memory cards. It is based on the patented multi-level cell (MLC) technology pioneered by SanDisk that allows two bits of data to be stored in one memory cell, doubling memory capacity. This commercialization of NAND MLC flash is viewed by both companies as a crucial step for improving margins, expanding existing markets and enabling new markets for flash memory data storage. Two 1Gbit dies also can be stacked in a single TSOP (Thin Small Outline Package) to produce 2Gbits or 256 Megabytes of memory. Use of the MLC technology, either as embedded chips or in removable cards, is expected to greatly expand the data storage capabilities of cell phones, digital cameras, MP3 audio players, streaming audio and streaming video. Both companies will independently market the chips to their respective customers. It is expected that new CompactFlash, MultiMediaCard and Secure Digital card products based on the 1Gbit flash memory chip will commence production in the first half of 2002. On Nov. 5, 2001, SanDisk introduced a 1 Gigabyte CompactFlash card, the first product using the 1Gbit NAND, MLC technology. The 1Gbit NAND memory chips will be produced for both companies using 0.16 micron process technology in Toshiba's advanced fabrication production facility at Yokkaichi, Japan, and at the Dominion Semiconductor manufacturing plant in Virginia under the FlashVision Joint Venture established by Toshiba and SanDisk. The two companies expect to apply the MLC technology to chip capacities below 1Gbit, as well as to future generations of NAND flash with capacities beyond 1Gbit. The MLC gigabit flash chip employs new advanced concepts and operational algorithms that
greatly increase MLC write speed, thereby enabling the MLC chip to deliver essentially the same
performance as standard NAND chips.
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| 11-13-2001 |
Epson Announces New PRINT Image Matching PartnersLAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 2001-- Epson America Inc. unveiled a new list of PRINT Image Matching software partners today, along with a new digital camera partner. Joining the list of PRINT Image Matching supporters are several software companies including ArcSoft, MGI, NewSoft, Sanity Software and Ulead Systems Inc. Adding to the advancement of PRINT Image Matching is JVC (Victor Co. of Japan Ltd.), as they become the 13th camera manufacturer to license PRINT Image Matching technology. PRINT Image Matching technology, which was introduced earlier this year, ensures that digital cameras and PRINT Image Matching-enabled printers work perfectly together to create the best possible prints. This technology is now available in 24 digital cameras, five EPSON Stylus(R) Photo ink jet printers and two software applications, including a new application from ArcSoft called PhotoPrinter 4.0. "Epson is excited to be working with these companies to support new P.I.M.-enabled products,
further strengthening our commitment to the customer to provide a simple and flexible way to get the
best prints possible," said Lisa Graham, product manager, photo imaging, Epson. "The camera,
printer and the software are all integral to the PRINT Image Matching solution. With the addition of
our new partners, we are anticipating a variety of products and applications that will provide
customers with even more choices to enjoy the benefits of PRINT Image Matching."
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| 11-13-2001 |
ArcSoft Introduces New Digital Imaging Products for Mac OS XLAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 2001--ArcSoft, Inc., a leading digital imaging technology services and software provider to Fortune 500 companies, today announced the addition of three new imaging programs designed for the Mac OS X. Available to consumers in time for Christmas, ArcSoft PhotoPrinter(R), ArcSoft PhotoImpression and ArcSoft Panorama Maker build upon the recent release of ArcSoft PhotoStudio(R) to expand ArcSoft's portfolio of imaging products designed for Apple's next generation operating system. ArcSoft will be announcing further additions to its Mac OS X family of imaging applications throughout 2002. ArcSoft's new imaging applications leverage Mac OS X's power, stability and ease- of-use, to provide enhanced visual access to features, smoother document motion and streamlined performance. ArcSoft PhotoStudio(R) is a complete image-editing program for the home and office. PhotoStudio includes editing tools with easy-to-use manipulation and retouching features to improve and have fun with photos. Features include layering, text, red-eye removal, contrast and hue adjustment, a comprehensive collection of filters and effects, and advanced file format support. ArcSoft PhotoPrinter is an advanced printing program allowing multiple images to be arranged on a single sheet of paper. The program includes a selection of printing templates, or the user can create and save their own. Editing and enhancement tools are also featured, such as tools to crop, add borders, frames, text and special effects. PhotoPrinter also includes projects to create greeting cards, calendars and fliers. ArcSoft Panorama Maker is an upgraded version of the original photo-stitching application. The new product has enhanced stitching capabilities that quickly and seamlessly join multiple photos into a single panoramic picture. Users can easily merge images using four style options: vertical, horizontal, 360 degrees and tiled panoramas, and can view their creations using QuickTime VR and Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML). ArcSoft PhotoImpression is a powerful, full-featured image-manipulation program featuring point-and-click editing to retouch and enhance images as well as a wide range of special effects. Also included is a broad selection of templates for creating cards, calendars and printing images, as well as templates for inserting images into magazine covers, tourist attractions, sports events and other fantasy situations. ArcSoft PhotoImpression includes a step-by-step project interface and on-screen design that makes photo-editing easy for both the beginner and more experienced user.
ArcSoft products for Mac OS X will be available for purchase from the
ArcSoft Online Store,
at the following Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices:
PhotoStudio $99.99, PhotoPrinter $39.99, Panorama Maker $29.99, PhotoImpression $49.99.
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| 11-12-2001 |
New LiveManuals Online Tutorials Allow Nikon Consumers To More Fully Interact With Their Favorite Nikon ProductsMELVILLE, NY, November 12, 2001 - Nikon, the world leader in photography, today introduced LiveManuals to its product information site NikonUSA (www.nikonusa.com), empowering consumers with the ability to learn even more about how to use a Nikon digital camera. Designed to function as an interactive online instruction booklet, each LiveManual offers consumers visual product demonstrations on how to use the camera, complete with multiple product views, clickable camera features and a guided tour of the product and its functions. And because Nikon recognizes that not all consumers learn the functionality of a digital camera or how to use their digital cameras in the same manner, the new addition of LiveManuals serves as a great supplement to the traditional black-and-white instruction book and lets customers experience each camera and its exclusive features in a hands-on, full-color, multimedia environment. The Nikon Coolpix 995 and the Coolpix 775 are the first cameras on Nikonusa.com to feature the LiveManuals interactive product simulation. “LiveManuals are a great addition to the site and truly make mastering our cameras much easier for our consumers,” said Tracy Mack-Jackson, Manager of Internet Programs at Nikon Inc. “LiveManuals make learning to use a digital camera a hands-on experience - it's like having an expert right there in your living room, walking you through everything you need to know about your camera. This is a great tool for consumers to learn about their new camera and for those who want to see a demonstration of a camera's features before they go out to make the purchase.” LiveManuals make learning to use a Nikon digital camera simple for any user. The new feature gives Nikon consumers the ability to receive a personalized, live product demonstration and tutorial as often as necessary, and in the privacy of their own home, without having to rely merely on the instruction book that comes with the camera. LiveManuals serve as a valuable resource whenever a new question arises about a camera or its capabilities. Each LiveManuals product sample is accompanied by a guided tour that provides a complete breakdown of each camera and its capabilities, as well as helpful tips on how to maximize the potential of the camera. The tour content covers simple topics such as camera introductions and digital photography basics for new users and continues through more advanced subjects such as image quality and file size. Consumers control the pace of the tours and can revisit any segment at any time for clarification.
Nikon will continue to implement new LiveManuals on NikonUSA.com for future
products.
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| 11-12-2001 |
Jenoptik Debuts New 2.1-Megapixel Camera
Jenoptik Camera Europe introduced a new 2.1-megapixel camera, the JD-2100AF. The
camera features its Intelligent Image Program with a F/2.8 Biotar autofocus lens system.
Other features include a 2x digital zoom, AF range from 0.2m to infinity plus overrides for
flash and exposure control. The JD-2100AF utilizes the JPEG (EXIF 2.1) DPOF compression
format. The CompactFlash-compatible camera comes with MGI PhotoSuite III software.
Suggested price is £199.99 including VAT.
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| 11-11-2001 |
Ricoh Caplio RR1 First Look Posted
|
| 11-10-2001 |
Ricoh Announces New Ultra-Thin 4.13 Megapixel Multimedia Digital Camera for $699
Capturing crisp resolutions of 2272 x 1704 pixels, the compact Caplio RR1 features Ricoh's famous pivoting LCD viewer and offers a 10.8X zoom capability. The camera also boasts high-end professional features like a 3x optical zoom, 0.4-inch super-macro for extremely close-up shots, continuous shooting capability and time lapse. "Until now, 4 megapixel cameras have appealed more to avid photographers and imaging professionals because of price and complexity," said Jeff Lengyel, marketing manager for Ricoh's Digital Camera Division. "The Caplio RR1 represents a new breed of digital imaging solution by setting a new standard for quality and price. By combining digital still, voice and video with 72MB memory and a complete software bundle, Ricoh's Caplio RR1 brings the world of 4-megapixel photography to a much broader range of potential users." Four million pixels produces photographic quality prints up to 11 x 17-inches. Storage is also flexible, with selectable scales of 2272 x 1704, 1120 X 840 pixels and 640 X 480 pixels plus four compression settings of Fine, Normal, Economy and Non-compressed. Many of the RR1's powerful features, designed for the most discerning photographer, make the camera remarkably easy to use. For example, the lens architecture uses three aspherical lens elements to minimize light dispersion and maximize light refraction to get a remarkable 200 mm/line resolution across the entire zoom range. The result is stunning crispness and color reproduction on every image captured. The unique and powerful RR1 feature set includes text mode, which records printed material or a whiteboard in a black-and-white image that can be made even more readable by adjusting density. Also, an in-camera cropping tool trims images directly on the LCD so initial composition is less critical. The camera has dual shutter releases, one for vertical and another for horizontal pictures. Portrait mode images are automatically rotated during playback. The slimline Caplio RR1 is only 26.6 mm (1 in) thin with a sleek metallic body design that fits it comfortably into a shirt pocket. It is set off by Ricoh's 2-inch color LCD viewer, approximately 200,000 pixels of clear screen that rotates and swivels at various angles and accurately displays the image the user will get, even at the most challenging positions.
The Caplio RR1 camera is available now at Fry's Electronics or direct
from Ricoh Online.
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| 11-08-2001 |
Nikon D1H SLR Review Posted
I have just posted our Nikon D1H SLR review.
This second generation Nikon pro SLR will now satisfy the needs of the sports
shooters with its 5fps motor drive-speed and a 40 frame buffer. As with the higher
resolution D1X, Nikon has improved the D1H's color and dynamic range as well as the
user interface and many other features. If you're a pro or serious amateur with a
"Need for Speed," then this is your camera. Look for a lot of these to be on the
sidelines of upcoming NFL games for sure.
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| 11-06-2001 |
Casio Announces Upgraded Wrist Camera
Casio of Japan said it would launch the WQV-10, a new wrist camera equipped with a color-screen, on November 23, 2001. Since the release of the first version in June 2000, Casio has been marketing the wrist camera series. The WQV-10 is the third-generation model after the version released in July 2001, which was capable of capturing color images but was not equipped with a color display. The new WQV-10 features a 176 x 144 color, reflective STN LCD, a color CMOS sensor and 4,096 colors. The 1/14-inch 28,000-pixel CMOS imager supports an effective pixel count of 25,344. The watch camera can hold up to 100 images in its 1-MByte built-in flash memory chip. The camera supports a 2x digital zoom, although it is not very useful, considering the resolution. The lack of backlighting makes the screen difficult to see at night; however, little lighting is enough for viewing the reflective screen. The battery lasts about six months when watch function alone is used. The image-recording format is JPEG (176 x 144 pixels). The new wrist camera supports Casio's proprietary infrared communication interface (max. 115.2 Kbps). Casio plans to produce 20,000 units a month.
This article is (c) copyright 2001 and courtesy of
Portelligent TechAlert Service
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| 11-05-2001 |
PHOTOPLUS Expo 2001 Attendance About the Same as Last YearThe PHOTOPLUS Expo 2001 came to a close on Sunday in New York City. The show's promoters were happy to report that this year's attendance was about the same as last year's - and that's good news. After the Sept 11 tragedy in NYC the convention attendance for most events held in the "Big Apple" have been way down so the PhotoPlus folks are extremely happy that their event was so well attended. There were about 200 vendors at the show this year all doing their best to "wow" the hordes of pro photographers and photography enthusiasts. Of course digital was the main theme being pushed by most of the major manufacturers. Nikon was showing their professional D1X and D1H digital SLRs as well as the soon to be released Coolpix 5000 prosumer camera. Fujifilm in an attempt to lure studio photographers into the digital realm was offering a free GX680III pro camera and a Power Mac G4 computer to those who bought one of the company's Luma pro digital camera backs. The Luma back works with top pro studio cameras like the Fujifilm and Hasselblad models and costs about $20,000. For that you get a 3.6 x 2.4 cm CCD array with 2048 x 3072 resolution, 14 bits of image data per color and 12 F-stops of dynamic range. If you didn't want the camera and computer you could opt for a Fujifilm Pictography 3500 Digital Printer. Fuji says that the Luma II digital back is going to be available in 2002 with an 11-megapixel CCD. Kodak was showing their Professional DCS Pro Back Plus, a 16-megapixel back that was engineered to fit a wider range of medium-format cameras. Kodak claims it will now fit any medium-format camera with an electronic shutter. The new Pro DCS Back Plus carries a price tag of $22,000. Where most of the pro digital camera backs require you to be tethered to a computer, the Pro DCS Back Plus has two card slots that can hold up to 2GB (using Microdrives) of image data which relates to about 100 pictures. And speaking of computer support, the Kodak pro back only supports the Apple Mac and is lacking OS X support at the moment. Kodak also announced their DCS Custom Looks Profiles for the DCS Pro Back and the newer DCS Pro Back Plus. There are ten new profiles that let the digital backs emulate popular film and lens tonal values such as: Portrait Hi Color Hold, High Contrast, B&W Normal, Wratten #8, Wratten #25, Sepia 1 and Sepia 2. This collection is available now for $249. Olympus was demonstrating its new and tiny 4-megapixel D-40 Zoom - the world's smallest 4-megapixel digital camera. The 3.4 x 2.7 x 1.7 inch camera sports a 2.8x optical zoom, noise reduction, USB and a host of other features for a suggested retail of $799. Olympus was also showing their newly updated prosumer digital SLR, the 5-megapixel E-20N with its 4x optical zoom and the first camera to use a dual mode CCD imager. In Interlaced mode the E-20N captures the maximum amount of image detail, in Progressive mode it lets users capture fast action scenes with shutter speeds up to 1/18,000 second. The new E-20N is equipped with dual card slots for CompactFlash Type II and SmartMedia and is now fully IBM Microdrive compatible. The E-20N is available now for $1999.
Pentax Japan recently announced its plans to discontinue the full-frame
digital SLR it showed at PMA 2001 earlier this year due to cost concerns. This is not
surprising given the fierce competition we've already seen with the Nikon D1X and the
soon to be released Canon EOS-1D digital SLRs. Pentax did show their new and
ultra-small Optio 430 which is billed as
the world's smallest 4-megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom. Not much bigger than
a deck of playing cards, the Optio 430 measures 3.6 x 2.3 x 1.2 inches and weighs a
scant 7.2 ounces. Pentax is offering $100 rebate on the
Optio 330 which is identical to the Optio 430 except it has a 3-megapixel imager.
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| 11-05-2001 |
SanDisk Introduces 1-GigaByte CompactFlash Card - World's Largest Capacity CompactFlash Type I Card
 LAS VEGAS, NV, Nov. 5, 2001 - SanDisk Corporation today introduced a 1-Gigabyte CompactFlash (CF) memory card, the world's highest capacity card in the standard CF Type I card. The new high-capacity card will typically be able to store, for example, more than 1000 digital images, more than 20 hours of digital music or several hours of video. The growing popularity of high-resolution digital cameras, digital music players and other consumer electronics is boosting demand for large-capacity CompactFlash cards. SanDisk will show the removable storage card and other products in Conference Room 10 at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel during the annual COMDEX trade show. Nelson Chan, senior vice president and general manager of SanDisk's retail business unit, said, "Introducing a 1GB CompactFlash card in the Type I format is a technological breakthrough for SanDisk, the company that introduced the CompactFlash card. With a gigabyte of storage capacity, consumers will be able to store extended movie clips in the latest generation of digital cameras that offer this exciting new feature. These cards demonstrate how rapidly flash technology is moving forward and provide the first indication of how SanDisk's technology will begin to displace recording tapes and disks in future consumer audio and video products." The 1GB SanDisk CompactFlash card is expected to be available at retail in Q1 2002. The card is expected to sell for under $800. In October, the company introduced SanDisk Ultra(tm) CompactFlash cards, a new line of high-speed storage cards for the digital photography market.
SanDisk products, which include a complete line of ImageMate memory card
reader/writers and adapters, are available in more than 38,000 retail stores
worldwide. Retailers include Best Buy, Circuit City, Fry's, K-Mart, Micro
Center, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Ritz, Sears, Staples, Target, Wal-Mart,
Wolf and others.
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| 11-02-2001 |
Eric Cheng to Provide Live Coverage for Wetpixel's Kona Aggressor II Trip
When Wetpixel.com
readers log in to view the photos and read the latest updates on the Kona
Aggressor II underwater digital photo shoot coming in the first week
of November, it will be Eric Cheng on the
Iridium
phone providing the live web updates. Steve's
Digicams and wetpixel.com readers
both will recall Eric's colorful, entertaining and informative series of
pages and photos he shot in the waters of Palau
from the Big Blue Explorer.
This time, if the Iridium
constellation cooperates, Eric will be live from the deck of the
Kona
Aggressor II, plying the waters west of Hawaii's Big Island. Recent
sightings in the blue waters include a bull sperm whale, pilot whales with
their escorts of oceanic white tip sharks, mantas, dolphins, plus all those
endemic reef species that make Hawaii a world class diving destination.
Eric's work is featured this week as Wetpixel's
Digital Photo of the Week. The picture he chose was published recently
in the premier issue of Fathoms Magazine in conjunction with an
article (by wetpixel's David Breitigam) on underwater digital photography. Professional Underwater Photographer, Jim Watt, will also be joining the charter. Jim resides in Kona, Hawaii and recently returned from Light & Motion's Digital Shootout where he both shared his expertise and participated in the all-digital event. Incidentally Jim's photography and writing is featured in the current issue of Ocean's Illustrated on the subject of the Kona Coast. The magazine describes Jim as "one of the most successful underwater photographers in the world." Jim has recently begun to include digitally originating photos in his online wildlife stock library. Jim will join the charter writing for Skindiver Magazine. The live
updates are scheduled to begin late in the evening of November 4 (Hawaii
time).
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| 11-02-2001 |
Pixel Envy? I Say Enlargement Envy !Newsweek ran a tech story this week by Jennifer Tanaka entitled Pixel Envy, regarding pixel count and consumer digital cameras. As a digital imaging industry analyst, I think it’s wonderful that consumer digital cameras are getting this much attention in mainstream media, having personally participated in the birth of this industry and seeing it come so far, so fast. I am also concerned that the general public can be misled by reporting that misrepresents the whole story to consumers. In-fact, It’s down right dangerous to consumers when a media powerhouse such as Newsweek occasionally gets it wrong for millions to read. Ms. Tanaka immediately asserts that the average consumer doesn’t need a digital camera over 2.0 mega-pixels and that anything over 2.0 MP represents unneeded, expensive pixels and CCD sensor size in a camera. "The bottom line on these new super high-resolution cameras? You probably don’t need one" Ms. Tanaka declares. The author maintains that consumers need not go out and purchase anything over 2.0 MP to get good 4" x 6" prints because that is the size of prints that are made by the majority of users. Her assertions seem to be based on prints made by film camera users, not current digital camera users as there are no ubiquitous means right now for mass consumers to get 4" x 6" photo prints from digital cameras. "So ask yourself, "When was the last time I ordered prints larger than 4 by 6?" If the answer is never, then consider the megapixel conundrum solved. The only good reason to buy a digital camera with a four-megapixel count is if you want to make 8-by-10-inch prints that you plan to give as gifts or mount on your wall." I say, if all you want is to get 4" x 6" prints from a digital camera, why buy a digital camera at all – stick to film! Ms. Tanaka’s over-simplified, casual observation of digital camera technology advances has the net effect of dumbing-down the general public regarding digital cameras and their real appeal and advantage over conventional film photography – especially cameras over 2.0 MP. Let’s step back in time a bit to prove my point. In the ‘70’s, people began to embrace and purchase a new technology called point and shoot 35mm film cameras. For the first time, the average consumer did not have to depend on professional photographers to get great shots. These cameras had auto focus and automatic metering and shot in a program mode. The user simply pointed and shot. Suddenly average people were able to photograph family and events what normally took a pro. This brought empowerment to average people. Digital cameras provide that same sense of empowerment on a new level to average people. Six years of end user studies and research have taught us that consumers want to do more with digital photography than with film. That’s the advantage of providing a digital process. Even basic digital photo neophytes want to have the empowerment to rotate an image, reduce the red eye and crop a digital image they took with their digital camera. Oops, did I say crop it? Yes I did. According to Ms. Tanaka’s view of the digital camera world, as soon as the average, mainstream consumer crops a 2.0 MP image, it no longer can be printed at a basic size of 4" x 6" because by cropping into the image, I’ve reduced its size and resolving power to be printed at 4" x 6", much less larger sizes. And can anyone ever say that they will never want to crop or get an enlargement? "The industry has figured out that a 2Mp camera can produce a 4-by-6-inch print at 300dpi resolution. A 3 Mp can make 5-by-7s, and a 4 Mp camera will give you beautiful 8-by-10s" says Ms. Tanaka. As an imaging industry expert and an analyst that works with several digital camera vendors I want to tell all consumers that read this article that this is patently false. It’s a generalized, one-size fits-all statement that does not apply to all circumstances. I urge all my consumer friends to buy a digital camera based on brand reputation, service, price and flexibility to their needs. Remember, you may want to crop your newly taken 2.0 MP digital images on your home PC, printer or on a kiosk. By doing so, you may not have enough resolution to print to the size you need. Also, I get wonderful 5" x 7" full resolution prints from the 2.0 MP cameras we test. I personally would never buy a digital camera that would lock me into an image size and prevent me from cropping or enlarging my photos for printing though – no matter the cost. Life’s too short to be harnessed by too few pixels and the precious family moments too few not to capture, crop, share and preserve in prints of all sizes.
Ron Tussy
© Copyrighted 2001 Imerge Consulting Group LLC
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| 11-01-2001 |
Nikon Unveils NikonPro at Photoplus Expo 2001MELVILLE, NY, NOVEMBER 1, 2001- Nikon Inc., the world leader in photography, today launched NikonPro (www.nikonpro.com), a powerful new online service for professional photographers that offers heightened exposure, an instant national presence and unlimited opportunities for new business. By taking advantage of NikonPro's e-commerce component, photographers can create a fully functional online storefront, accessible to a large base of customers who are searching for professional photography services. NikonPro matches professional photographers to potential buyers and then manages the financial transactions, expanding business by allowing photographers to shoot and sell at the same time. Attendees can see a demonstration of NikonPro at Nikon Booth #1415 at PhotoPlus Expo at the Jacob Javits Center, November 1-3, in New York City. "NikonPro is a very exciting program that will help both established and up-and-coming professional photographers to maximize their business potential," said Tracy Mack- Jackson, Manager of Internet Programs for Nikon Inc. "At Nikon, we understand that photography is a passion, but for professional photographers, it is also their business. We created NikonPro as a vehicle for photographers to operate a multi-faceted photography business and provide far-reaching exposure and access to a wide base of customers." With NikonPro, photographers can invite clients to view work, select product packages and purchase their pictures. To ensure the highest level of quality control, members hold onto the original images and fulfill the orders themselves while NikonPro manages the financial details of each sale, including credit card transactions, state-by-state sales tax and logistics. NikonPro members can create a working portfolio showcasing up to 18 customized samples of their work, which are uploaded as watermarked thumbnails for protection of the images. With more than 40 design templates, photographers can customize a storefront to reflect the look and feel of their "bricks" business, enabling them to sell their work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to anyone, anywhere. One of the key benefits for NikonPro members and consumers is the Nikon "Find -a- Photographer" database, where people can search for photographers, listing members by specialty and location. The database will provide photographers with exposure to millions of potential customers and is accessible through NikonUSA, NikonNet and numerous major publications and web sites. NikonPro members can be listed in the database in up to ten different categories in the "Find a Photographer."
Nikon has formed a strategic partnership with Express Digital, a Denver-based digital
software solutions company geared toward professional photographers, to help provide
additional back-end services for NikonPro.
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