-- Top News Stories -- Agfa ePhoto CL20 and CL34 ASFI Announces Dry Film Process Canon PowerShot G1 Canon PowerShot G1 First Look posted Coolpix Firmware Update via CF Card Delkin USB Pocket Readers Delkin 256MB CF & 448MB CF2 cards Epson 870/875DC/1270 Problems Mailing list for Epson 1270/870 Epson's New 4-color Inkjets Foveon 16-Megapixel Imager Fujifilm FinePix 1300 Fujifilm FinePix 2400 Zoom Fujifilm Ships FinePix 40i Fujifilm FinePix 4500 Exclusive FinePix 4900 Zoom review Hasselblad's Dfinity Pro Iomega FotoShow Storage Device Kodak DCS Pro Back 16-Megapixel Kodak RFS 3600 Pro Film Scanner Leica DigiLux 4.3 HP PhotoSmart 1215 and 1218 MacBibble 1.0 Released Minolta Dimâge 2330 Zoom Nikon Coolpix 700 v1.1 Firmware Nikon Coolpix 990 v1.1 Firmware Paint Shop Pro 7 Panasonic PV-DC3000 Pentax EI-2000 w/Digita OS PhotoBrush Image Editor Polaroid P-500 Portable Digi-Printer Qimage Pro 9 Released Ricoh RDC-i700 Rob Galbraith's Photokina 2000 Report SanDisk Silver Halide Photo Kiosk Sony DSC-P1 CyberShot Toshiba Announces 128MB SmartMedia Toshiba's Bluetooth Solution Ships

09-30-2000

Canon PowerShot G1 First Look Posted A lot of us have been waiting for Canon to update the highly successful Pro 70 and I am happy to report that they have certainly done that with the new PowerShot G1.   It's smaller, lighter and faster with twice the resolution and a longer focal length zoom lens. The Pro 70's image quality is as good as it gets for 1.6-megapixels and the new G1 now raises that to over 3-megapixels and adds total camera control. It's got it all from full auto to full manual with shutter priority, aperture priority and a handful of pre-programmed AE modes to boot.   Icing on the cake is CF Type II storage with full Microdrive support, rechargeable lithium battery, swiveling color LCD display and a wireless remote control. The Canon G1 first look is posted along with a starter set of sample pics that will be growing over the next week or so. Tonight I took a series of time exposures from 3.2 to 8 seconds and was thoroughly amazed at how noise-free they were. Not only that but the manual white balance setting adjusted itself to my parking lot's sodium-vapor light like a champ. The noise reduction works great at ISO 50 but doesn't do much at 200 or 400, they're still noisey.

09-30-2000

September POTD Winners Posted The judges have given me their score cards and the winners have been selected from our September 2000 contest entries. As usual the judges had a difficult time picking only three winners as the entire group of photos was outstanding, congratulations to all the photographers and their fine pictures. September DPOTD Winners

09-30-2000

Phil Posts Olympus E-10 First Look From Phil: "At Photokina last week we got our first real hands on with the E-10, and I have to say it's an impressive piece of kit in your hand. We have since then received both E-10 and E-100RS pre-production cameras (the same ones which appeared at Photokina) to post this E-10 first look.

09-28-2000

Perspective Correction with Photoshop Uwe Steinmueller the Editor of Digital Outback Photo an online outdoor nature digi-photo e'zine tells me that our readers should be interested in his new Step-by-Step introduction to "Perspective Correction with Photoshop" which was just published. You'll also find a growing collection of digi-photo portfolios on his site and new photo submissions are always welcomed. Nikon D1 users will be interested in the recently posted Bibble 2.0 review -- if you don't already know about this program, you should!

09-28-2000

Mike Chaney Posts a D1 vs S1 Review Mike Chaney, the author of Qimage Pro, recently acquired a Fuji S1 Pro and already owns a D1 so it was only natural that he would set about comparing these two prosumer cameras. He has posted his "1 on 1: S1 vs D1" review on his web site, give it a read if you're in the market for either one of these two fine digicams.

09-28-2000

Coolpix 950 & 990 Firmware Update Info This is what I call news!   We recently became aware of an alternative method for upgrading the camera firmware in the Nikon Coolpix 950 and 990. Previously a secret(?) known only to the programming wizards can now be shared with everyone. Many of us have never installed the NikonView software because we use a card reader to transfer our image files to the computer. If you are doing it this way you can now follow the simple instructions found at the end of my Coolpix 990 review to upgrade your firmware. You just copy the firmware.bin file to a special folder on your CF card, turn the camera to Play mode and a few minutes later your firmware will be updated. Please read the entire procedure before doing this but believe me, it's simple and easy! 09/30/00 update: This firmware update procedure has now been verified on a Coolpix 800 and 700 as well as the 990 and 950 cameras.

09-28-2000

Imaging-Resource Posts New Reviews Dave Etchells emailed to let me know that he had just posted two new user reviews, the Kodak DC5000 a super-rugged weather-proofed version of the popular DC280 Zoom. And the Olympus C-211 Zoom a 2-megapixel digicam with a builtin Polaroid printer.

09-27-2000

Photokina 2000 Report Posted at Robgalbraith.com Pro photojournalist Rob Galbraith has posted the first two installments of his four-part Photokina 2000 report on his web site. The first two reports are "cameras and lenses" and "cards and readers" with two more reports on software and film scanners to come.  To quote Rob: "With few all-new products to chase down, I spent the bulk of my time on the show floor speaking to vendors, listening in on product demonstrations, and sleuthing out hitherto-unknown digital hardware and software. The remainder of the Photokina report details some of what I learned, and is a compilation of the daily reports posted last week, as well as extensive new material. It's broken down into 4 sections, two of which are posted today, with two more coming later in the week."

09-27-2000

Rebate Program on Nikon's Coolpix 950 and 800 Digital Cameras Extended Through the Holidays MELVILLE, N.Y., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- With the holiday season right around the corner, Nikon is providing an additional opportunity to save with rebate extensions on two of its award-winning Coolpix digital cameras. Beginning October 1, 2000 Nikon is extending the $75 rebate on the Coolpix 800 2.11 megapixel, 2X Zoom-Nikkor digital camera, currently priced at $599 MSRP. Nikon is also extending the $100 rebate on its Coolpix 950 2.11 megapixel, 3X Zoom-Nikkor digital camera, currently priced at $899 MSRP. Due to expire on September 30, the popular rebate program has been extended through December 31, 2000. "The gift-giving season is fast approaching and consumers are beginning to look for the perfect present," said Bill Giordano, National Marketing Manager, consumer digital products at Nikon. "Digital cameras are one of the hottest products on the market this season, and with the rebate extension a Nikon digital camera makes for the perfect gift." To qualify for Nikon's holiday rebate, buyers simply obtain an application provided by authorized Nikon dealers nationwide or download the rebate form from Nikon's website. Once completed, customers can mail in the application with proof of purchase. Customers will then receive a rebate check from Nikon Inc. All rebate applications must be postmarked to Nikon no later than January 15, 2001.

09-26-2000

Toshiba Japan Announces 128MB SmartMedia Cards Toshiba Japan today announced that 128MB SmartMedia would go on sale by the end of September but so far there are no cameras we know of that will be able to use these higher capacity cards. Watch for a flood of "upgrade" announcements to come. According to Jeff Lengyel, Marketing Manager for Ricoh, "the RDC-7 can use 64MB SmartMedia cards and the soon to be announced 128MB cards."

09-26-2000

Fujifilm FinePix 40i User Review Posted I just posted the Fuji FinePix 40i user review and samples pictures. This is a very small camera that makes very big pictures and it can also be used as an MP3 audio player too.

09-26-2000

A Fix for Epson Cartridges with the Chip I've received several emails over the last week about an outfit in the U.K. that is offering a refill system for the new Epson printers that use the ink cartridges with the smart chip. Seems they have a way to remove and reuse the chip as well as program it to think that it is on a brand new cartridge. For more info go to www.alogic.co.uk/ILRS.htm

09-26-2000

Polaroid P-500 Prints Instant Digital Photos COLOGNE, Germany, -- Polaroid Corporation launched an innovative portable digital photo printer at Photokina 2000. The new Polaroid P-500 is a compact, handheld printer that, at the touch of a button, produces high-resolution, pocket-sized Polaroid 500 instant color prints from Compact Flash data storage cards and Smart Media memory cards used in digital cameras. This first mobile photo printer from Polaroid eliminates the need for connecting a digital camera to a PC; creates color instant photos in 20 seconds or less; is totally self-powered (by a unique battery in the Polaroid 500 film pack); and provides digital prints with remarkable visual impact, color and clarity. The lightweight (less than 0.5Kg), ergonomically configured P-500 with its slim body and compact size (50 x 95 x 190 mm), looks equally "@home" on coffee tables, desks or hanging from the neckstrap (included). Beneath its PDA-like appearance lies a complex digital-to-analog schematic consisting of a print engine, a print head to convert digital data to light on film, and an image enhancement program called IQA (Image Quality Assured). The P-500 also incorporates much of the architecture required in a Polaroid camera -- a series of electromechanical devices (gears, motor and developing-reagent-spreading rollers) to create the pocket-sized Polaroid 500 instant color continuous-tone print. To print from a CompactFlash card or from a SmartMedia memory card (an adapter is required for SmartMedia), the user simply inserts the card in the Polaroid P-500; selects the photo to be printed (the P-500 employs the new Digital Print Order Format or DPOF algorithm); activates the print control; and, in seconds, receives a finished print of the digital image. "Batch" printing of multiple copies or "series" printing of selected prints may be easily programmed into the P-500, which automatically re-formats images up to three megapixels for optimal printing. The new Polaroid P-500 also incorporates an easily viewed LCD "status" display to indicate print mode, image number, remaining film frames, printer operating status, and readily accessible controls for "on/off," "select" (function and mode) and "print." Suggested retail price is US$249.99.

09-26-2000

Agfa Introduces Two ePhoto Digital Cameras -- the CL20 and CL34 RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 26, 2000--Agfa Corporation's Consumer Digital Imaging Group (USA-CDI), a leading provider of award-winning digital cameras and desktop scanners, last week introduced two print-ready, dual-mode ePhoto digital cameras - the CL20 and the CL34 -at photokina 2000 in Cologne, Germany. In addition to taking digital still or video images, the new ePhotos come equipped with a PhotoPrint button. Pressing the button immediately uploads the images to AGFAnet Print Service software from which they can be transmitted to a photo lab for professional photofinishing. In video mode, the cameras also can be used for live video conferencing. Agfa designed the dual-mode cameras to satisfy user needs for fast, high quality, electronically ready images as well as traditional photographs. The ePhoto CL34 features an optical viewfinder and 1.8" color LCD screen - perfect for framing shots or playing them back. Maximum resolution is a true 1.3 MP (megapixels). The camera provides 2MB of internal memory. It also has a CompactFlash slot for expanded storage. The CL34 offers a "videoclip" capability for recording live action on location. Users also can choose a USB connection to their computers for online video conferencing. Maximum video resolution is 320x240 ppi at 30 frames per second (fps). Priced lower than the ePhoto CL34, the CL20 offers the same rich features as its sister camera but without an LCD display. It has a convenient optical viewfinder and a CompactFlash slot for additional capacity. The internal memory can hold up to 4 images at the highest resolution (1.3 MP with PhotoGenie) and 24 images at VGA resolution. The CL20 offers live video only with the USB interface at a maximum resolution of 640x480 at 20 fps or 320x240 at a higher 30fps. Both ePhoto cameras offer USB (universal serial bus) connectivity for easy installation. The USB interface is 10 times faster than serial communication, so image data transfers quickly. The new cameras come with Agfa's exclusive PhotoGenie image-enhancement software. PhotoGenie removes image artifacts, such as those from JPEG compression, pixelation, jagged edges, and posterisation, which are common in digitally captured images. Agfa also includes Corel Print Office 2000 and Corel Photo House 5. Corel Photo House is an image-editing application to touch up, enhance or alter an image before adding it to a document. With Corel Print Office 2000 users can create photo greeting cards, invitations, illustrated documents and Web pages. Both cameras operate on AA-sized alkaline batteries; the CL20 uses two and the CL34 four. Manufacturer's suggested retail price for the ePhoto CL34, which will be available mid-December, is $229. The ePhoto CL20 will be available in November at the manufacturer's suggested retail price of $149.

09-26-2000

Sony Posts Windows 2000 Drivers for UP-DP10 Printer Sony today (09/26/00) posted drivers for the UP-DP10 dye sub printer running under Windows 95, 98, NT4 and 2000 -- they are now available on the Sony web site

09-25-2000

Toshiba Brings First Bluetooth PC Card Solution to Market IRVINE, Calif.--Sept. 25, 2000-- Toshiba's wireless solution empowers portable computer users to unplug from the restraints of conventional wired computing with a fully integrated Bluetooth PC Card, complete with SPANworks Productivity Software. Delivering tomorrow's technology today, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS), Computer Systems Group (CSG) brings the first fully integrated Bluetooth(TM) PC Card solution to the U.S. market. Delivering wireless connectivity with the speed and security of a networked environment, Toshiba's PC Card and SPANworks productivity software enable team computing, so users can increase productivity no matter where their work takes them. Toshiba, one of nine Promoter companies of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) established in 1998, is a driving force behind the development of wireless products and services. Leveraging its industry-leading strengths in mobility, Toshiba is the first company to bring a Bluetooth solution to market. With Toshiba's Bluetooth PC Card and SPANworks software, users up to 100 feet apart can share presentations, send instant messages, transfer documents instantly and exchange business cards automatically. Files can be transferred to one, a few or the entire group with a simple drag and drop, and users can also trade messages with a friend using the chat messaging application. Using short-range wireless radio communication, Bluetooth technology facilitates fast and secure transmission of both voice and data at speeds of up to 1 Mbit/s, which is up to 20 times faster than a standard V.90 modem connection. Utilizing this revolutionary wireless technology, Toshiba's Bluetooth PC Card can be used to connect portable computers, printers, digital cellular phones, PDAs, digital cameras, network access points and other mobile devices to one another and connect to the Internet or a LAN without the need for wires or cables. Many of these products will be available by Q1 2001. Toshiba's Bluetooth PC Card is an extended Type II PC Card with an integrated antenna, which extends from the portable computer's PC Card slot when the card is inserted. The solution is completely software upgradeable and Toshiba will be supporting new features in future software revisions. The radio's transmit power is 20dBm, for a range of up to 100 feet (usage may vary). The PC Card includes a Bluetooth software suite and SPANworks, a wireless team computing software application. The Bluetooth PC Card can be used with Toshiba and other brands of notebook PCs that have a Type II PC Card slot and the following minimum configurations: Pentium(R) 133MHz, 64MB RAM, and either Windows(R) 98SE or Windows 98ME. Toshiba's Bluetooth PC Card, including SPANworks software, is currently available for purchase directly from Toshiba's Web site at www.shoptoshiba.com. The current price is $199 and it comes with a one-year warranty.

09-25-2000

Applied Science Fiction Announces Revolutionary Digital Dry Film Process Technology COLOGNE, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Applied Science Fiction, Inc., the leader in digital image enhancement and correction technology, introduced at Photokina today their unique Digital Dry Film Process (DFP) technology. Using a dry, environmentally friendly process, DFP allows for the real-time digitization of exposed but undeveloped 35mm and Advanced Photo System (APS) black-and-white or color film directly into an RGB digital format. This provides for consistent image quality that can be used for photographic prints or multimedia and broadband/Internet distribution -- without the need for plumbing. Responding to the increasing demand for digitization of photographic images, this "film in, bits out" technology takes advantage of the high quality images produced by traditional photographic film, allowing traditional and one-time-use cameras to function as digital cameras. Once images have been developed using DFP technology, they can be saved in any standard image file format (e.g., TIFF, JPEG, BMP). DFP output can be directed to different media, such as printers, electronic archives and other storage and distribution channels including storage disks (CD, DVD, floppy, Zip(TM)), Flash Memory, and palmtop devices. In the Digital Dry Film Process, micro-amounts of a proprietary developing agent are applied to a roll of exposed but undeveloped film as it is fed through the image-capture engine. The environmentally friendly DFP process requires no water, generates no hazardous effluents, and makes complete silver recovery possible. Next, the DFP system makes a digital record of each image. Once the image data is captured, color data and exposure settings are established on a pixel-by-pixel basis for each element of the images. Complete roll-image development is accomplished within approximately seven minutes of the film being fed to the image-capture engine. The data for the final digitized images can then be routed to multiple destinations, including the Internet, a file server, printers, and disk media, where the digital images can be stored or printed. Because the Digital Dry Film Process develops the film directly to a digital format, film negatives are not generated as a result of the process, although it is possible to produce traditional negatives by outputting the digital record to a film recorder. Consumers can choose to receive their images as prints, on CDs, in e-mails and through Web sites. ASF's Digital Dry Film Process technology will be made available in photo kiosks and minilabs worldwide through Original Equipment Manufacturers. Initial implementations are targeted for the fourth quarter of 2001.

09-24-2000

We've Posted An Exclusive First Look of the New Fujifilm FinePix 4900 Zoom I've just posted the first review on the Internet of Fujifilm's FinePix 4900 Zoom. This first look report includes all the usual detailed camera photos, 360-degree QTVR virtual tour, controls, menus and sample photos. The FinePix 4900 Zoom we reviewed is a pre-production unit but was still most impressive in both features and image quality.

09-22-2000

Pentax EI-200 First Look Posted I just posted our Pentax EI-200 first look report with a starter set of sample pictures. So far I am most impressed with this camera, especially its color rendition. The sample pictures I took today were shot mostly under overcast skies and look almost as if they had been shot on a sunny day. I can't wait to give it a good workout on one of our typically sunny days. The statement "when it rains it pours" also has to do with cameras received for review as we now have the new Fujifilm FinePix 4900 Zoom and the FinePix 40i, the Ricoh RDC-6000 and the Pentax EI-200 in-house. So far the big, or should that read the "small" surpise is just how small the Fuji FinePix 4900 Zoom with the 6x optical zoom really is. Here's it is in Dannee's hand to give you an idea of its compact size.

09-22-2000

Visit Red River Paper For A Chance To Win Come to Red River Paper for your chance to win a Home Digital Photo Lab! Come by and sign up today. We are giving away a Nikon 990, an Epson 875DC, a 48 meg Compact Flash card and lots of paper. Or you can choose the revolutionary Epson 2000P and a Nikon 990! Just in time for the holiday printing season. We have a huge variety of papers for almost any inkjet printer. Paper for the Epson 2000P and 4" snapshot width rolls for the 1270/870 in 4 different papers!

09-22-2000

SanDisk and PMI Demonstrate World's First Silver Halide Processing Digital Photo Kiosk COLOGNE, Germany--Sept. 20, 2000--SanDisk Corporation and Photo-Me International today unveiled the world's first silver halide processing digital photo kiosk at a news conference here, demonstrating capabilities that are expected to allow millions of digital camera owners to easily and economically obtain top quality digital prints from kiosks. During the session, officials photographed audience members with a digital camera, they then inserted flash data storage cards into the kiosk, edited the photos on the kiosk's display screen then quickly printed them on high quality photographic paper via the kiosk. The demonstration at a hotel here was in conjunction with Photokina, the world's largest imaging industry exposition where SanDisk is demonstrating its products in Hall 5, A-ll during the event. PMI is demonstrating its products in Hall 5.1, F12G11. SanDisk and PMI, a British company, expect the kiosks, bearing the name of SanDisk, will start to be deployed for consumer use in North America by the end of this year. SanDisk and PMI, which have formed a joint venture called Digital Portal Inc. (DPI) to operate the kiosks throughout North America, expect they will provide consumers with low cost, high quality photo prints of digitally captured images that will enhance the instant gratification that digital photography offers. Besides printing photos, the DPI kiosks will allow consumers to upload their personal files of digital pictures either from the kiosk or from their home PC to the DPI photographic portal partners where the photos can be accessed by friends and relatives. The feature will allow an individual in New York City, for example, to upload pictures of a family celebration to the DPI web site. A relative in San Francisco could then visit his local kiosk, download the file under a unique user pass key and select what pictures to print immediately from the kiosk. The kiosk's acceptability of most storage media used in digital cameras is expected to make the kiosks widely popular. Each kiosk will have the capability of accepting digital film flash memory cards used in digital cameras today including CompactFlash(TM), SmartMedia cards, MultiMediaCards and Secure Digital cards. Besides accepting a variety of digital storage media the DPI kiosk will provide consumers with five highly efficient and innovative services: first, superior photo quality by the PMI patented LCD Booster technology, which provides a picture resolution of 15 million pixels, far in excess of the resolution of any digital camera; second, high quality Silvertronix(TM) technology (Silvertronix(TM) is the name given to combining silver halide processing and LCD booster technology) which is the same process used in 1-hour photo print services; third, a simple, interactive and user friendly interface; fourth, a price per print matching today's cost of 1 hour prints while developing the first 4 x 6 print in approximately two minutes and an additional 20 seconds for each subsequent print; and fifth, web connectivity to allow the user to share the digital photo experience. It is expected that the new venture will accelerate the sale of digital cameras and the widespread adoption of digital photography.

09-22-2000

Delkin Intros 256MB CF & 448MB CF2 Cards, USB Pocket Readers and New Line of MultiMediaCards KOLN, Germany--Sept. 22, 2000--Delkin Devices, the leading innovator of eFilm(TM) flash memory upgrades and memory related products, today increased the capacity of its CompactFlash memory cards up to 256MB, and CompactFlash Type II cards to an all time high of 448MB. These new eFilm CompactFlash cards will be unveiled at the Photokina imaging show in Delkin's booth -- Hall 5.1 Aisle A, Booth 001 during September 20-25, 2000. Delkin's larger capacity eFilm CF cards are designed to store the maximum number of high- resolution images taken with today's larger megapixel digital cameras. In addition, they can be used as a removable media for handheld PC's. The eFilm CompactFlash Type II is a slightly thicker card at 5.0mm, therefore capable of storing more flash memory chips than Type I (3.3mm) CF cards. Utilizing superior memory chip advancements, the ceiling has been risen past 128MB to 256MB for Delkin's CompactFlash Type I and 448MB for Type II. The latest CF/II compliant digital cameras like Nikon's D-1, FujiFilm S-1 Pro, and Canon S-20 produce extremely high megapixel images which take up an enormous amount of memory capacity. Delkin's new 256MB CF & 448MB CF/II cards are the perfect solution for shooting more images without having to switch to a lower resolution setting to conserve memory space. These CF cards come equipped with a new high-speed controller for transferring larger image files faster, while still being 100% compatible with every CF compliant device. Delkin's eFilm Pocket Readers Delkin Devices today released a series of USB enabled, cable free, reader/writers called eFilm Pocket Readers. About the size of a key chain ornament, these external Pocket Readers are equipped with a USB connector built directly into the back of each unit. With its portable design, the eFilm Pocket Reader can be directly plugged into the USB port on a laptop or directly into a desktop's front access USB port. The combination of a small, lightweight design, and no messy cables makes the eFilm Pocket Reader the perfect travel solution for downloading digital images, and data while on vacation, photo shoots, or business trips. Three different eFilm Pocket Readers are currently available from Delkin Devices: 1. Pocket Reader for CompactFlash Type I & II, including the IBM Microdrive (DDREADER-10) 2. Pocket Reader for MultiMediaCards & Secure Digital memory cards (DDREADER-11) 3. Pocket Reader for SmartMedia (DDREADER-12) Delkin Intros Line of MultiMediaCards Delkin Devices today launched its new line of eFilm MultiMediaCards, MMC readers, and adapters. About half the size of a SmartMedia card, the eFilm MultiMediaCard is the ideal portable solution for storing & transferring data to smaller digital cameras/camcorders. MMC also provides portable data for palm-sized smart phones (a combination of a cellular phone & handheld PC). Delkin's MultiMediaCard family includes flash MMC cards with capacities of 16MB, and 32MB, (with plans to include a 64MB card by Q1 of 2001), the new eFilm Reader-8 (MMC to USB), and Delkin's FlashPath(TM) adapter which allows users to access a MultiMediaCard through their 3 1/2 inch floppy disk drive.

09-22-2000

New Kodak Professional RFS 3600 35mm Film Scanner COLOGNE, GERMANY, September 19-- The Kodak Professional RFS 3600 Film Scanner is said to deliver high-quality scans from both negative and positive 35mm film, including black and white, which gives film users a worry-free, manageable bridge into the realm of digital imaging. Kodak Professional's newest film scanner merges a rich film heritage with industry-leading digital imaging capabilities to deliver superior color accuracy, clarity and critical image detail. Packed with features including 3,600-dpi optical resolution, a dynamic range of 3.6 and batch-scanning capabilities the RFS 3600 scanner enables photographers to capture every detail of their image and subsequently re-purpose the images for multiple applications and output devices. Designed especially for imaging professionals who require high-quality digital output the compact RFS 3600 scanner combines 3,600-dpi resolution, 3.6 dynamic range and 12-bit data conversion to deliver accurate first-time scans. Its auto-focus feature ensures that mounted slides produce the sharpest scans. ICC profiles and Kodak color imaging science manage color throughout the imaging process, so the output image matches the source image. A proprietary Kodak image path and film-specific look-up tables (LUTs) ensure excellent first-time scans, while an easy-to-use tabbed user interface provides quick access to imaging tools. All these features contribute to improved productivity. For a limited time, the newest Kodak Professional film scanner comes with 10 rolls of Kodak's award-winning color negative film. Purchasers of the RFS 3600 scanner will find two ProPacks of Kodak Professional Supra 400 Film inside the packing box. Supra 400 film, offering the finest grain of any film in its class, features an emulsion overcoat for durability giving it superior scanning capability. Kodak's newest film scanner ships with an AC adapter and adapter plug kit, USB and SCSI II cables, applicable software and instructions. It also comes bundled with Adobe Photoshop LE 5.0

09-21-2000

Jasc Releases Paint Shop Pro 7 Eden Prairie, MN (9/21/00) - Jasc Software, Inc. today announced the release of new Jasc® Paint Shop Pro 7.0, the complete graphics and photo editor that offers the easiest, most affordable way to achieve professional results. Version 7's new automatic tools and productivity features make it a value-packed program perfect for digital photographers, home and business users, and Web designers. "By incorporating tools for the novice user, as well as more experienced users, Jasc is demonstrating its commitment to the digital imaging market," said Janet Kauffman, research analyst at InfoTrends Research Group. "The release is well-timed to meet the explosive growth of digital cameras and the World Wide Web. Users are seeking ways to produce high-quality photographs and graphics, and Paint Shop Pro 7 provides the tools to achieve this." Paint Shop Pro 7.0 combines easy-to-use photographic enhancement and graphic design tools with a simple, intuitive interface to meet the image-editing demands of professionals and novices alike. New features offer users the ability to: Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7.0 is available at a suggested list price of $109.00 from Jasc Software, or through popular retail, Internet and mail-order sales channels. An ESD version is available for $99 from Jasc Software. Upgrades for registered users of previous versions are available for $39.00 through Jasc Software. In addition, certain users are eligible for corporate site licenses and educational discounts. An evaluation copy of Paint Shop Pro 7.0 may be downloaded from Jasc Software's Web site at www.jasc.com. Free, unlimited technical support is available to registered users directly from Jasc Software.

09-21-2000

New Mailing List for Epson Stylus Photo 1270/870/875DC Users A new mailing list devoted the the EPSON 1270/870/875DC printers has been established at EGroups.com. By subscribing to this mailing list, you can choose to receive a daily digest, read posts at the eGroups website at your leisure, or receive each and every post individually. You may join by going to: http://www.egroups.com/subscribe/EPSONx7x_Printers This list is intended as a resource for owners, users, consumers, or potential buyers of EPSON's 870, 1270, or 875DC inkjet printers. This list is not moderated and will cover any topics related to these printers, including (but not limited to): the orange-shift, protection of prints, profiling, print display, third party media, third party inkset alternatives, EPSON Corporate policies regarding these printers, use of these printers for proofing, artwork, graphic and photo reproduction, testing of prints, inksets, and media, software and hardware issues, drivers, etc. I Invite you to join! Keith Krebs http://www.p-o-v-image.com

09-21-2000

Hasselblad and Foveon Partner in Professional Digital Camera - The Hasselblad DFinity Swedish camera manufacturer Victor Hasselblad AB has combined efforts with Silicon Valley-based Foveon, Inc. to create the Hasselblad DFinity, a digital camera developed through the cooperation of two companies who are leaders in their fields. The new camera will be the embodiment of Hasselblad's tradition of developing highest image quality camera solutions for the professionals with the ability of Foveon to develop unique image capture technology. In the creation of this innovative digital camera, the two companies concentrate on their core competencies to develop a solution that combines the mechanical and optical expertise of Hasselblad with the CMOS-based imaging engine of Foveon. Until now, professional photographers have had to make a choice between the undesirable image artifacts created by single-shot, single-chip cameras using mosaic filter sensors and three-shot backs that are essentially free from artifacts but can't be used to capture moving subjects. The Hasselblad DFinity changes this situation by integrating Foveon prism technology with three of its CMOS image sensors to improve color reproduction while providing protecting against moiré and other unwanted imaging artifacts found in the singlesensor cameras and backs. There's no doubt that the Foveon imaging engine, which consists, in part, of three 2Kx2K sensors mounted on a prism, results in superior images. Creating leading-edge CMOS-based sensor technology and reducing color artifacts are two of the pillars that Foveon is based on. We are extremely pleased that Hasselblad, a leader in professional image quality for over 50 years, recognizes the power and purity of this approach," said Carver Mead, Foveon's founder and Chairman of the Board. Hasselblad DFinity is housed in a compact camera body, which connects to a desktop or a laptop computer by an IEEE 1394 interface (FireWire), allowing trouble free connection and disconnection of the camera at any time. The camera is controlled from the keyboard and screen, which functions as viewfinder, and captures up to 1 image every 1.5 seconds. Each image is 12 MB of true color information, i.e. 100% RGB information in every pixel as opposed to the common 33% in mosaic sensor cameras. The screen delivers a live, color video preview, and a unique video focusing loupe, which can be moved freely to inspect any part of the image in 1:1 enlargement, meaning the photographer can see every pixel within the targeted area before he shoots. This ability is made possible by the direct access to each individual pixel inherent to the Foveon CMOS technology. This also provides Hasselblad DFinity with the unique ability to selectively apply auto focus to any point in the image simply by pointing the magnifier loupe at the point and tapping a key. Hasselblad DFinity also incorporates an auxiliary shutter for automatic dark calibration as well as a sophisticated gamma correction, which gives a film-like response curve, thus providing an end result resembling that of conventional film. Hasselblad will develop lenses specially optimized for the prism-imaging engine. The camera will however also work well with select Canon EOS lenses by means of an adapter, thereby extending the range of available lenses. Read the complete and very detailed press release from Hasselblad -- you'll also find quite a few sample photos to download -- they are amazingly clear. (Thanks to the Imaging-Resource for this hot news.)

09-21-2000

PC Watch Photokina Coverage - Day 2 PC Watch has posted Kumio Yamada's Photokina day two report with photos and coverage of the Minolta Dimage 2330 we covered a couple of days ago, the one-megapixel Kodak DC3200 and the low-cost EZ200 webcam, JVC's GC-QX5HD, Canon's new 400mm lens using the compact DO optical elements, Sanyo's VPC-SX560 and their as yet unnamed camera that uses the 720MB optical discs that we reported on well over a year ago. Over on Kumio Yamada's own site, digitalcamera.gr.jp he has posted some pictures of the new Contax N Digital pro SLR and more pictures of the new Canon 400mm lens.

09-20-2000

PC Watch Photokina Coverage Over at the Japanese PC Watch web site they have posted a page full of new products from Photokina 2000. There are the only pictures I have seen so far of the new Pentax pro SLR with the 6-megapixel imager, photos of Konica's new digicams, photos of the recently announced Canon G1 which we will have in here next week for review. And speaking of reviews, we just got the Pentax EI-200 in today so those of you that have requested a review of it -- it's coming very soon.

09-20-2000

Minolta's New 2.31-Megapixel Dimâge 2330 Zoom RAMSEY, NJ - September 20, 2000 - Minolta Corporation's newest addition to its digital cameras, the Dimâge 2330 ZOOM, is an autofocus digital camera that combines high quality images and automatic features, allowing users to obtain the best results with simple operation. Incorporating a high-resolution, 2.31-megapixel CCD, 3X zoom quality optics, and easy USB connection, the Dimâge 2330 ZOOM is the ideal choice for a variety of applications and users, personal or business. The MSRP is expected to be $499. The Dimâge 2330 ZOOM's 2.31-megapixel CCD and quality zoom lens provide high-resolution, clear and crisp images. With an optical zoom of 3X and a 2.5X digital zoom function it allows for a versatile range from wide angle shots to telephoto views. The close-up capability even allows shooting miniature objects from as close as 4cm away. This new digital camera provides fully automatic features for focusing, exposure metering, flash, and white balance and has a USB connection for quick and easy downloading of image files. The 1.8-inch color LCD monitor on the back makes picture taking easier and more enjoyable. The optical viewfinder allows framing pictures as comfortably as that of a 35mm camera. The builtin flash has settings for: Autoflash, Red-eye Reduction, Fill-flash, Fill-flash w/red-eye reduction, and Cancel. The Adobe PhotoDeluxe® bundled software provides everything needed for making creative greeting cards, home pages, and business reports. The software allows photos to be modified with colors, sharpness and brightness, transformed or enhanced. Dimâge 2330 ZOOM uses the popular Exif 2.1(JPEG) file format. Images are compressed and saved in FINE, STD. (standard), or ECON. (economy) image quality modes. In addition, the Dimâge 2330 ZOOM is DCF*-compatible. The Dimâge 2330 ZOOM has a video-out terminal for connection to a television set and offers user-selectable options for NTSC and PAL. It uses four AA size, alkaline batteries, or long-life, rechargeable Quest® Ni-MH batteries for extended use or can be powered by an optional AC adapter.

09-19-2000

Fujifilm's New FinePix 4500 Fujifilm Japan today announced the super-compact (86x71x31mm) FinePix 4500 with a 2.4-megapixel SuperCCD imager that delivers up to an 2400 x 1800-pixel image. It uses SmartMedia cards and has both an optical viewfinder and a 1.8-inch color TFT LCD. A fixed focal length lens equivalent to a 36mm lens on a 35mm camera. It may be tiny but it's packed with features; macro focus down to 6cm, 320 x 240 AVI movie clips, auto white balance and seven presets, 4-mode intelligent builtin flash, ISO sensitivity of 200, three sizes of JPEG images with three different quality levels. Comes with an 8MB SM card, two AA size NiMH batteries and charger.

09-19-2000

Panasonic's PV-DC3000 3-Megapixel ipalm Uses SD Memory Cards SECAUCUS, N.J. (September 19, 2000) - First in the line of many products to use the new SD technology, the world's first SD Memory Card-compatible digital camera - the new Panasonic ipalm digital camera PV-DC3000- is scheduled to hit the market next month. This revolutionary new product uses the highly innovative SD recording medium -about the size of a postage stamp- and will drastically change the way that consumers capture and share digital images. The SD Memory Card was developed by Matsushita Electric in collaboration with Sunnyvale, California-based SanDisk Corporation and Toshiba Corporation. This portable postage stamp- sized flash memory card features built-in copy protection, a capability that will be indispensable in the coming digital networking era. The new ipalm digital camera uses a 0.55-inch charged coupled device (CCD) that contains over 3.3 million pixels to capture sharp, crisp images in high resolution. A built-in, 1.5-inch color LCD allows the photographer to see the image before and after the picture is taken. The PV-DC3000 is equipped with a 2x optical zoom for close up shots, equivalent to a 32-64mm lens on a standard 35mm camera, while an added 3x digital zoom can be used for picking up additional details of far away images. Unlike many other digital cameras, the ipalm digital camera makes it so easy to network to your PC. Simply hook up your camera via the included USB cable to your PC, touch a few buttons on the camera and your precious memories will be transferred for editing, storage or e-mailing. Other features include a self-timer and automatic white balance. The aperture can automatically be adjusted from F2.9 to F8, and shutter speed is automatically adjusted from 1/30th to 1/1,000th of a second (1/4th to 1/1,000th of a second in slow shutter mode). The new Panasonic ipalm digital camera features an SD card slot that is compatible with either SD Memory Cards or MultiMediaCard Cards. Image resolution and the number of images in the different modes are: But the new ipalm digital camera does much more than capture impressive still images. Some higher-end features include: Easy Networking to a PC - Using One Button Image Transfer, you can easily connect your ipalm digital camera to your PC+ via the included USB cable, push one button on the camera, and images will transfer to the PC. In the case of Easy Mail™, simply hit the "MAIL" and the shutter buttons and your images will automatically be attached to a new e-mail message that's ready for sending to friends and family. It's that easy! Motion Image Recording with Audio - record a twelve-second mini movie with audio to playback or post on the Internet. (Then, playback the movie using the included QuickTimeÔ software.) 120 consecutive images can be taken every 0.1 seconds in 320 x 240 resolution when you press the shutter button. Still Image Recording with Audio - enhance your still images by recording a brief narration (five seconds) or natural sound effects using the built-in microphone. Burst Recording - an ideal way to record quick moving objects. When activated, this feature can record up to three images when you press the shutter button. Time Lapse Recording - automatically capture an image from once every minute to once every 24 hours*. When downloaded to a computer, the images can be stored, saved and organized for printing, e-mailing or inclusion on a Web site. With the included Adobeâ PhotoDeluxe® Home Edition 4.0 for Windows® and PhotoDeluxe® 2.0 for Macintosh, users can enhance and modify their photos in a variety of ways, from simply improving color and contrast, to removing unwanted items and adding special effects. The camera uses four AA Alkaline batteries (included) and features a built-in flash for low-light situations and an automatic multiple flash function to reduce the occurrence of "red eyes" in your subjects. Also included is a 16MB MultiMediaCard, USB cable, driver software, video cable for viewing pictures on a standard television set, camera strap, Adobe PhotoDeluxe, and QuickTime software. The new PV-DC3000 ipalm digital camera will be available in October, 2000 with a suggested retail price of $899.95. SD Memory Cards will be available for purchase separately.

09-19-2000

Kodak Professional Introduces 16-Megapixel Single-Shot DCS Pro Back COLOGNE, Germany, September 19 -- Kodak Professional today makes a dramatic addition to its industry-leading digital camera line by presenting the Kodak Professional DCS Pro Back - a Kodak-designed and manufactured medium-format camera back that features unprecedented 16-megapixel resolution and creates large, versatile 48-megabyte image files. Providing untethered freedom of operation, a fully featured LCD with histogram, new-generation software for exceptional workflow and a host of other capabilities, the DCS Pro Back is designed for commercial location and tabletop photography and high-end portraiture applications. It will be especially welcomed by advertising and catalog photographers, table-top studios, and in-house and independent portrait studios. Complementing the DCS Pro Back is Kodak Professional DCS Capture Studio Software, Version 1.5, a powerful stand-alone application for capturing and editing digital images. This robust but simple-to-use software delivers exceptional workflow and optimized image quality, using an open systems approach to color management that maintains the integrity of captured images for virtually all monitors and printers, computer platforms and imaging applications. "The DCS Pro Back represents everything Kodak Professional has learned about digital image capture and workflow, studio and portraiture applications, and what photographers want after more than a decade of developing the world's best-selling professional digital cameras," said Jerry Magee, Worldwide Product Line Manager, DCS Capture Systems, Kodak Professional. "This digital camera back marries Kodak's image science and color management expertise with important new photographic features and our own 4K-by-4K ITO sensor, representing the highest standard of image quality and light detection on the market," Magee said. "The result is large, precise, quality image files that are remarkably easy to capture, evaluate and process in a professional workflow." The DCS Pro Back is a single-shot unit that is designed to afford photographers as much freedom as possible. Currently compatible with Hasselblad 555 ELD and Mamiya RZ film cameras, the camera back will in time have interfaces for a wide range of medium- and large-format camera systems. And the DCS Pro Back operates untethered, making it suitable for high-end location photography as well as studio work. The fully featured LCD gives photographers critical real-time control over the images they take. The LCD screen has a full 90 degrees of movement for waist-level operation and can be controlled one-handed. In addition to acting as a viewfinder, the LCD provides instant review, a histogram for precise exposure control, focus check, and a built-in spot meter. The DCS Pro Back can also perform 1:1 zoom and pan functions for precise images, and offers video review capability for high-angle or other out-of-reach camera placements. The camera back's full-frame CCD delivers more than twice the resolution of any single- shot, medium-format camera back currently available. This sensor - measuring 36.86mm by 36.86mm - produces 48mb files with very low noise. A removable anti-aliasing filter, digital anti-aliasing solutions and a non-reflecting IR cutoff filter help ensure the highest image quality. The DCS Pro Back captures images at the equivalent of ISO 100. It can capture an image every two seconds, and store up to eight images before writing to either internal PC cards or a host computer via an IEEE 1394 "firewire." The back ships with ICC-enabled color management tools and other software specifically designed for photographic workflows. It can be powered either by internal rechargeable batteries or via a "firewire" cable attached to a host computer. The Kodak Professional DCS Pro Back will be available in the first quarter of 2001 from authorized dealers of Kodak Professional products. Pricing information is not yet available.

09-18-2000

Nikon Posts Coolpix 990 Firmware v1.1 As expected Nikon USA has posted the Nikon Firmware Update for Coolpix E990 Version 1.1 today. NikonView 3.x must be installed BEFORE you attempt the upgrade. There are firmware updater versions for PC/Windows and Macintosh users with both USB and serial connections available. Please read all the update directions on the web site BEFORE performing the firmware upgrade or risk turning your camera into a doorstop!  I'm happy to report that we upgraded two 990's via the USB port with no problems. Improvements and bug fixes in firmware version 1.1 Improved autofocus. Improvements have been made to focusing when auto AF-area selection is in effect.  Improvements have also been made when focusing in a selected focus area with manual focus-area selection. Addition of a function allowing additional photographs to be taken as memory becomes available in continuous mode. After a series of photographs has been shot in continuous sequence, the next photograph can be taken as soon as memory for a single photograph becomes available in the buffer. Support for the remote release cable. The MC-EU1 remote cord (available separately) can be used not only to release the shutter but also to perform such operations as zoom and interval photography.  Improvements to Best Shot Selection (BSS). With BSS on, you can now take up to ten shots of any image quality and size.  (Only the shot with the highest level of detail is recorded to the memory card.  BSS is not available at an image-quality setting of HI.) Improvements to the review function. A reduction has been made in the amount of time photographs are displayed after shooting, making it possible to set up the next photograph immediately.  Improved playback speed. Improvements have been made to allow rapid display of uncompressed photographs taken at an image-quality setting of HI.  Improved white balance. The performance of the white balance function has been further improved. Changes to menus. Corrections have been made to some of the English, French, and German menus.

09-18-2000

New Canon 3-Megapixel PowerShot G1 From our colleagues at digitalkamera.de in Germany comes word of a new 3-megapixel Canon PowerShot G1 camera. It has a 3x (34-102mm) F2.0 zoom, 2048x1536 JPEG or raw format, 30-bit processing, automatic, aperture and shutter priority, 7 program AE modes. 1.8-inch rotating color LCD screen and CompactFlash Type II card slot. More info, camera and sample pictures can be found in our Canon G1 first look report.  Expected availability is November.

09-17-2000

Olympus E-10 Beta Review The folks at Photography.com.hk got an Olympus E-10 beta evaluation unit and have posted a review on their web site. It's the current cover story so you should have no trouble locating it from their main page.

09-17-2000

Iomega's FotoShow: Portable Image Storage, Editing and Presentation The $299 Iomega® FotoShow digital image center lets you easily organize, edit and view digital images from the comfort of your own couch.  It will be available the middle of October. When connected to the television, the FotoShow digital image center creates a portable digital photo album by functioning as a photo viewer, editor, organizer and storage device. Built-in PictureIQ technology also gives you the convenience of cropping, rotating, and removing red eye from your images right from your own television set with the included remote control. Those priceless family memories that have been saved onto digital camera memory cards can be inserted into the Compact Flash or Smart Media card slots on the FotoShow digital image center and transferred to an inexpensive Zip® 250MB disk. All this can be done without being connected to a computer. When connected to a personal computer, the FotoShow digital image center functions as a Zip® 250MB USB drive, enabling users to transfer photos from the hard drive, scanned pictures, pictures attached to personal e-mails, or those downloaded from the Internet. The FotoShow digital image center can also be used to impress clients. Multi-media presentations can be saved onto Zip® 250MB disks and then viewed on any television set, eliminating the cost of laptops and projectors. Zip® 250MB disks can also be used at tradeshows to display images for prospective customers. The Iomega FotoShow digital image center helps preserve your precious memories by putting the quality of digital imaging on the convenience of a television. The FotoShow digital image center is powered by Zip® 250 technology and connects to the television via S-video or composite RCA video. Use on a TV (no computer required): Composite (RCA) (cable included) S-Video (cable sold separately) RF (coaxial) (adapter sold separately) PC Systems: Pentium® 100Mhz or higher with built-in USB controller Microsoft® Windows® 95 / 98 / NT 4.0 / Me / Windows 2000 (If you are running Windows® 95 or Windows NT® 4.0 only Iomega® devices are supported on the USB connections after Iomega® drivers are installed) 20MB free hard drive space recommended 2X CD-ROM drive or higher Macintosh® Systems: PowerMacintosh® G3 / G4 or iMac™ computer with built-in USB connection Mac OS 8.6 or higher 20MB free hard drive space recommended 2X CD-ROM drive or higher The Iomega FotoShow package includes: FotoShow™ Digital Image Center One vertical stand One RCA video/audio cable One power supply One USB cable One remote control (batteries are included) One Iomega® Zip® 250MB disk containing demo and product information One CD containing IomegaWare® software User's manual Quick start guide Download the FotoShow user manual in Adobe PDF format (caution it's big ~20MB!)

09-16-2000

Nikon Posts Coolpix 700 Firmware 1.1 Nikon-Tech USA has posted the Coolpix 700 v1.1 NTSC firmware upgrade on their web site. Do not install this if you have a PAL (European) version of the Coolpix 700, go to Nikon-Euro site to get your upgrade. New features of the Coolpix 700 v1.1 firmware are: With SENS. at the default setting of AUTO, the camera will automatically raise sensitivity by the approximate equivalent of one or two exposure stops to compensate when lighting is poor. File-numbering (SEQ.XFER) settings now apply in both A-REC and M-REC modes. A SEQ.XFER option has been added to the A-REC menu to allow you to change these settings while the camera is in A-REC mode. The brightness of the LCD monitor has been increased. Choosing a setting of + in the LCD BRIGHT menu not only increases the brightness of the backlight but also raises the overall brightness of image displayed on the monitor. When the shutter speed is set to 1/4 sec. or slower, shutter speed will be displayed in the LCD monitor in yellow.

09-15-2000

Nikon Posts Windows ME Compatibility Notice Following the recent launch of Microsoft's latest Windows ME we once again face the problem of what will and won't work right if we upgrade our PC's operating system. Nikon has posted a Windows ME news page on the NikonTech-USA web site. This is a compatibility report for Nikon Digital Cameras, Scanners, and Printers used with the Windows ME OS. I strongly suggest that you read this BEFORE you start crying the blues when something that used to work now doesn't !

09-13-2000

Epson Responds About Stylus Photo 870/875DC/1270 Problems Epson responds to Bruce Fraser's "Open Letter to Epson" about the orange-shift and fading problems some of the Epson 870/875DC/1270 owners have been experiencing. Dan Crane, Vice President, Marketing, Epson America, Inc. has posted an open letter to respond to the questions that Bruce and others have asked about the photo printer problems. I'd just like to say that I have had an Epson 1270 since the first day it was available and I have had zero problems with my prints and I've printed a lot of glossy and matte prints. Epson has promised to deliver a new formulation of the Premium Glossy Photo Paper due in October and Dan had this to say about it: "We recognize that Epson needs to solve the "gasfastness" problem. The best solution today is to frame the prints to maximize display life or to use an Epson paper with greater gas resistance for unprotected prints. Our next step will be to release a reformulated Premium Glossy Photo Paper, which will be distributed in early October. This paper delays the effects of airborne contaminants, but it does not solve the problem. After discussing this issue with numerous customers, we have concluded that it's important to keep the reformulated paper in the market for those customers who choose to follow the recommended display procedures. We have changed the packaging for this paper to emphasize that it is for use in glass frames or protected storage. We are also continuously updating our Web site at: http://www.epson.com/lightfastness to provide more information about ozone and other polluting oxidants and to emphasize the importance of properly displaying or storing photos to maximize display life. Additionally, we changed our advertising so any messages about lightfastness ratings cannot be misunderstood to apply to gasfastness for unprotected prints. "

09-13-2000

New FinePix 1300 And FinePix 2400 Zoom Round Out Fujifilm's Digital Camera Offerings ELMSFORD, NY, September 13, 2000 - Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. today announced the latest additions to its already expansive digital camera line: the FinePix 1300 and the FinePix 2400 ZOOM. The cameras are Fujifilm's fifth and sixth introductions of 2000, giving it one of the broadest camera rosters in the digital industry. Now, Fujifilm's offerings range from entry-level shooters like the aforementioned FinePix 1300 to groundbreaking commercial cameras like the FinePix S1 Pro digital SLR. "At Fujifilm, we have a history of offering digital cameras that appeal to specific sectors of the market and the FinePix 1300 and FinePix 2400 ZOOM are no exceptions," remarked Darin Pepple, Product Manager, Consumer Digital Products, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. "As a whole, digital photographers are a diverse lot with certain features and controls appealing to some, but not others. If there is one common denominator among them it's the desire for colorful, true-to-life pictures and as a company world renowned for its color reproduction, we can deliver just that with our new digital cameras." Designed as the ultimate family camera, the fun and easy-to-use FinePix 1300 builds upon the tradition of the high-resolution sub-$300 digital camera pioneered by Fujifilm's MX-1200. Sporting a standard 1.3 million-sensor CCD, the FinePix 1300 records images with vibrant color and detail at resolutions as high as 1280 x 960, a perfect size for eye-catching, 4 x 6- and 5 x 7-inch prints. Despite their size, the image files generated by the FinePix 1300 can transfer smoothly through E-mail, allowing the user to share his or her images with family and friends. "With the picture-taking ability of the FinePix 1300 there has never been a better time for families to make the leap into digital photography," said Pepple. "This starter model, with its quality image reproduction and transferability, is a superb, entry-level digital camera." While the FinePix 1300 was designed for families and beginners, the FinePix 2400 ZOOM is a fine choice for a more discerning digital photographer. Packing a 2.1 million-sensor conventional CCD in a familiar point-and-shoot camera body, the FinePix 2400 ZOOM captures images through an aspherical 3x optical zoom lens that has a range equivalent to that of a 39mm-117mm zoom in the 35mm format. And just like a point-and-shoot film camera, the FinePix 2400 ZOOM has a bevy of easy-to- find features that make it easy for just about anyone to pick up the camera and take pictures. "Rather than have most of the key controls placed within an internal menu system, we pulled the controls 'out' of the FinePix 2400 ZOOM and placed them on the body of the camera for ease of operation," explained Pepple. "This makes the camera very user friendly, allowing just about anyone who has operated a camera, film or digital, to take pictures with the FinePix 2400 ZOOM." The Fujifilm FinePix 2400 ZOOM and Fujifilm FinePix 1300, which will both ship with Adobe PhotoDeluxe7 Home Edition 3.0 software, will be available in September and October, respectively. The FinePix 2400 ZOOM will be available at an estimated street price of $499, while the FinePix 1300 will retail for approximately $249.

09-12-2000

Sony Announces Diminuitive New 3-Megapixel DSC-P1 CyberShot Read our complete Sony DSC-P1 user review and check out the sample pictures. SAN DIEGO, Sept. 12, 2000 - Sony Electronics today announced a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use pocket-sized digital camera with high resolution and a powerful zoom that, together, raise the bar for the emerging ultra small digital camera category. Sony's new Cyber-shot DSC-P1 captures high resolution images up to 3.3 megapixels, the highest resolution found in a small camera, and has a powerful 3X optical/6X digital zoom to catch far-away events, both of which have been unachievable in this category of digital cameras until now. Available in October for about $800, the tiny DSC-P1 measures just 4-½" x 2-¼" x 1-¾" and weighs just over 9 ounces with battery and Memory Stick® media. It sports a distinctive contoured design for easy handling, as well as easy-access controls. The images are captured on Sony's Memory Stick media, a sturdy, removable flash memory card that can be connected with dozens of other electronics products. "The DSC-P1 merges advanced digital imaging technology and Sony's expertise in miniaturization," said Greg Young, Sony's director of digital still camera marketing. "And it's a perfect holiday gift for the family photo buff." The CyberShot DSC-P1 also includes: ClipMotion - An exclusive new GIF animation feature, ClipMotion allows users to take up to 10 pictures that the camera automatically combines to make a single ClipMotion animation file. The ClipMotion file is smaller in memory size than a standard MPEG movie. 1.5" Precision LCD - This LCD display has a 123k pixel count that enhances the detail of pictures that appear in the screen, making displayed images sharper and more true-to-life. Versatile File Formats - Files can be saved in several ways: JPEG, uncompressed TIFF (Tagged Image Fill Format) for higher quality images, GIF for text mode and three different MPEG options for motion video and sound, including MPEG HQ for full-frame 15-frames-per-second video. InfoLithium Battery with AccuPower Meter - One battery charge lasts up to 60 minutes in shooting mode and up to 90 minutes in playback mode. Sony's exclusive AccuPower meter continuously displays the battery time remaining, in minutes, on the LCD screen. Supplied Accessories - These include an 8MB Memory Stick media, NP-FS11 InfoLithium battery, AC adapter/charger, AV cable, USB cable, and application software/USB driver CD-ROM.

09-11-2000

Fujifilm Ships New FinePix 40i ELMSFORD, NY, September 11, 2000 - Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. is now shipping the Fujifilm FinePix 40i Digital Camera to retailers nationwide. Available at an estimated street price of $699, the ultra-compact portable device combines three of today's most popular mobile platforms -- digital imaging, MP3 audio and digital video -- into one product. Fujifilm is the first manufacturer to pair MP3 audio technology with a high-resolution digital camera. Featuring the same Super CCD image sensor found in Fujifilm's popular FinePix 4700 ZOOM digital camera, the super-small (3.4" W x 2.8" H x 1.1" D) FinePix 40i captures sharp and colorful pictures. It has an equivalent ISO sensitivity of 200, built-in flash, five programmed exposure modes, a USB port for the quick and easy transfer of images and a generously sized 1.8-inch LCD, considering the size of the camera. Compatible with wafer-thin SmartMediaÔ cards, the removable storage media of choice for many digital camera and portable MP3 player users, the FinePix 40i also can capture 80 seconds of continuous AVI video with sound. Just like other MP3 audio players, users can download music to the FinePix 40i via its USB port and playback near CD-quality music. All MP3 controls (play/stop, forward/back, volume) are on a tethered remote into which the FinePix 40i's provided headphones - or the user's own - can be inserted for private listening. As an added bonus, the remote control can be used with the camera to take and then view captured pictures, along with controlling the camera's digital zoom. "With the FinePix 40i, we've created a digital camera that not only produces great pictures, but also offers consumers the benefits of the MP3 audio format," said Darin Pepple, Product Manager, Consumer Digital Products, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. "The FinePix 40i is a digital convergence product in the truest sense of the term, further exemplifying Fujifilm's commitment to digital as well as its overall technology prowess." In addition to Fujifilm's traditional silver, magnesium alloy housing, a limited supply of metallic blue FinePix 40i digital cameras also will be available to consumers. Bundled along with the camera will be two, high-powered, nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, a charger, Adobe ActiveShare® photo editing software and RealJukebox® digital audio software. Read our complete Fuji 40i user review

09-11-2000

Digita OS Powers New Pentax EI-2000 SLR Digital Camera SAN JOSE, CA - September 12, 2000 - FlashPoint Technology, Inc., the creator of Digita OE, the industry standard operating system for digital cameras, announced today that the new Pentax EI-2000 marks the first application of the Digita OE in a commercially-available single lens reflex (SLR) digital camera. The introduction of the 2.24 megapixel EI-2000 (also being sold as the HP PhotoSmart C912) in Japan and July's introduction of the Digita-enabled Pentax EI-200, a 2.11 megapixel compact camera, highlight the growing acceptance of an industry- standard operating system in digital cameras. "Digita is redefining photography by enabling digital cameras to become intelligent, stand-alone devices," said FlashPoint President Stephen Saylor. "With the introduction of these exciting new cameras, Digita is rapidly becoming the standard platform for the next generation of software-driven photography applications." The Pentax EI-2000 is the latest addition to the growing list of Digita-enabled digital cameras that includes the HP PhotoSmart C500, the Kodak DC220, DC260, DC265, and DC290, the Minolta Dimâge EX ZOOM and WIDE 1500 digital cameras. The new Pentax models mark the next step in Digita's groundbreaking performance. "With the introduction of these cameras, FlashPoint dispels the myth that an open-ended programmable operating system adversely impacts performance," said Saylor. "These new Digita products lead the market in boot time and shutter response time." Digita-enabled cameras, like the Pentax EI-2000 and EI-200, can be customized for a variety of vertical and consumer markets, special interests and applications. Using the DigitaScript programming language or the Digita Application Software Developer Kit (SDK), developers and enthusiasts can create customized applications to meet their evolving digital imaging needs and address diverse market requirements. Applications include appending images with customized text and sound annotations, automating camera settings, running a guided image capture sequence, and building photo albums and HTML reports - all right inside the camera without the need for a PC.

09-11-2000

Startup Claims 16-Megapixel Digital Photo Breakthrough (From the WSJ Interactive Edition) A startup founded by scientist Carver Mead claims a breakthrough in the chips used to make digital cameras, a development that could sharply drive down prices and help dislodge a rival technology. Foveon Inc., a closely held company in Santa Clara, Calif., plans to announce Monday that it has set a new image standard for sensors constructed using a production process known as CMOS, for complementary metal oxide semiconductor. That performance -- the ability to create an image with 16.8 million picture elements, or pixels -- would mark the first time that CMOS chips have reached parity with image sensors called charge-couple devices, or CCDs, that have led the field for 30 years. The process used to create chips can be vitally important in determining the cost of making them, and hence the price of cameras. CMOS is widely believed to have major cost advantage over CCDs, since it is the same process used in more-widely used chips that are driving heavy investments in new manufacturing facilities. Dr. Mead, a pioneer in semiconductor technology and professor at the California Institute of Technology, says the CMOS breakthrough will hasten the day that consumers will be able to afford professional-quality digital cameras -- and help consign film to the same marginal role as vinyl records in a CD-dominated world. Analysts who have been briefed on the new chip say it sounds promising. "It's very significant," said Alexis Gerard, president of FutureImage Inc., a San Mateo, Calif., market-research firm. "If the images that are shown are equivalent or better to a CCD, this can very well be viewed as a turning point." Digital cameras come in many types and prices, from relatively crude $50 devices used with personal computers to $20,000 studio cameras. The image-sensor chips are often the most expensive element in such products. The CCD in a high-end camera might cost $1,000, compared with $450 for a comparable CMOS sensor, said Michael Berger, an analyst at Frost & Sullivan, a market-research firm in San Jose, Calif. Many consumer and low-end professional cameras have image resolution of 1.2 million to three million pixels, Gerard said. They make acceptable prints but are well short of the quality of the best film cameras, especially when images are enlarged. Top professional gear can capture six million pixels, or six megapixels. Foveon, whose major investor and manufacturing partner is National Semiconductor Corp., is now known mainly for selling high-end digital cameras. Its 16-megapixel chip has nearly 70 million transistors, or 2.5 times the number in Intel Corp.'s Pentium III microprocessor. The company says the chip offers three times the resolution of any prior CMOS device as well as high-end CCD sensors now found in cameras, and will help fuel a new business in selling chips to other camera makers. Cameras with the new chip are expected to be available early 2001. (Foveon will be showing its wares at Photokina, Sept 20-25)

09-10-2000

Ricoh Introduces RDC-i700 Internet-Ready Digital Camera WEST CALDWELL, N.J., -- Ricoh PC Peripherals Business Unit announced the future of digital imaging with the debut of its new RDC-i700 digital camera. Ricoh combines the power of the Internet with sophisticated imaging technology, producing an ultra-portable business productivity solution for anywhere, anytime image communications. The 3.34-megapixel, Internet-ready RDC-i700 imaging tool provides the ability to capture crisp images and video, send and receive e-mail with attachments, send images via fax, surf the Web, create image-rich documents and HTML files, and FTP data and images directly from the camera. The RDC-i700 will be available in Japan September 20, 2000 at a suggested retail price of $1,500. The RDC-i700 is first of a new breed of cameras that enable business users to dramatically enhance the workflow process. By simply inserting a PC Card modem, LAN adapter, or storage card into the integrated type II expansion slot, the RDC-i700 instantly transforms into a mobile communications, workstation and presentation device. The RDC-i700 features an innovative Virtual Assistant that integrates Microsoft Word and Excel templates inside the camera to help generate data management, guided capture and text/HTML-based applications. It provides the ability to automatically populate pre-defined source files and then transfer the information directly to the PC. The sleek and elegantly designed RDC-i700 is extremely user-friendly. It features a large, rotating 3.5-inch touch-screen LCD for viewing multimedia images, presentations, files and Web pages on the go. The accompanying stylus pen is handy for editing images, jotting notes onscreen or entering text via the onscreen keyboard. The camera also offers a series of enhanced modes, including text mode for capturing documents, motion picture mode for creating small movies, and voice memo mode to annotate still images. The RDC-i700 combines a 3.34-megapixel CCD with a 3x optical zoom lens-equivalent to 35-105mm on a 35mm film camera-for print-quality resolution of up to 2048 x 1536 pixels. It offers a specialized macro-mode to capture close-ups as near as 1cm (0.4 inches). To further extend the camera's Internet connectivity, the RDC-i700 can be linked to a host PC's Web browser to manage images in the camera or copy them to the hard disc drive. The RDC-i700 software pack includes the Explorer Plug-In for Windows and Mac. Once installed, the RDC-i700 can also emulate an external disc drive. The RDC-i700 is also a powerful presentation tool. Using the large 3.5-inch LCD screen or a standard NTSC or PAL television monitor, mobile professionals can create, edit and display full multimedia-rich presentations. To further simplify the process, an optional remote control unit is available. The RDC-i700 ships with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, battery charger, lens cap, soft case, neck strap, stylus pen, USB cable, and AV cable. An AC adapter, remote control and lithium-ion battery are optionally available. The kit also includes a software CD with Image Capture Guide List templates and a USB driver. See pictures of the RDC-i700 and RDC-7 at the PC Watch web site.

09-09-2000

Epson Photo 1270/870/875DC Problems The "orange shift" and fading problems continue with the 1270, 870 and 875DC printers and it doesn't seem to be confined to those using only the Premium Glossy Photo paper. Epson-USA and most other Epson branches are now instituting a buy-back program for the printers, paper and other consumables. Epson-USA also has a one year grace period to receive a refund or participate in the buy-back program. For lots, and I do mean LOTS more info on this problem please visit the following web site: http://www.p-o-v-image.com/epson/ The story has also been picked up by CNN: CNN Technology - Ozone fades some Epson photos Also see this open letter to Seiko-Epson from Bruce Fraser who is a coauthor of the book "Real World Photoshop." Dan Crane, Vice President, Marketing, Epson America, Inc. has posted an open letter to respond to the questions that Bruce and others have asked about the photo printer problems.

09-08-2000

DC Resource Posts Kodak DC3400 Review Jeff over at the DC Resource has posted his Kodak DC3400 review. He had this to say about it: "My conclusions about the DC3400 are very similar to those of the DC280 that it replaces. It's a good camera, but not the best for the money. I compared the DC3400 to the Olympus D-490Z at the beginning of the review, and I'd say the D-490Z wins the battle hands down."

09-08-2000

Sharp, Kodak To Jointly Manufacture Digital Cameras NEW YORK, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Eastman Kodak Co. (NYSE:EK - news) and Sharp Corp. said on Friday they agreed to jointly manufacture digital cameras. Sharp will be the original equipment manufacturer in Japan for "lower-end" cameras to be sold in the United States under the Kodak brand name. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. "We are seeking expansion of the (digital camera) line into lower-end cameras," priced under $200, said Kodak spokesman Paul Allen. Kodak's new line of digital cameras will be used largely for sending digital images via electronic mail or for posting on Web pages, Allen said. Previously Kodak had focused on pricier, high-resolution, mega-pixel digital cameras for high-quality prints. Both companies said they would seek to expand the alliance into new products in the future. The deal is the first of its kind for Kodak and Sharp.

09-08-2000

Epson Launches Most Advanced Line Of 4-Color Ink Jet Printers Starting At $99 LONG BEACH, Calif., Sept. 7, 2000 - Epson America Inc. today announced its most advanced line of four-color ink jet printers for business, small office and home users, starting at only $99. The EPSON Stylus Color 777, Stylus Color 880, Stylus Color 980 and Stylus Color 980N all offer faster speeds, unmatched photo-quality images and greater ease of use over their predecessor models, at prices designed to meet the budgets of any consumer. Enhancements include up to 2880 x 720 dots per inch (dpi) hardware resolution, twice that of Epson's previous award-winning models. With Epson's Advanced Micro Piezo technology, these printers also boast the industry's smallest droplets, which are necessary for extremely accurate dot placements and the ultimate print quality. All models in this line feature significantly faster output speeds on both color and black text printing for increased productivity. Epson also has improved the printer software for greater saturation and better shadow and highlight detail to give the best print quality, and printing photo quality images is a standard feature out of the box with no other ink cartridges to buy. The new double-sided/booklet printing feature enables easy printing on both sides of the paper, and animated "Fix-It Flix" help users troubleshoot without referring to a manual. EPSON Stylus Color 777:  tailored to meet the needs of consumers who want the most value for the lowest price. Priced at only $99, this printer features not only class-leading 2880 dpi resolution and four-picoliter droplets, but also up to eight pages per minute (ppm) in black text printing and up to six ppm for text and color graphics. The printer also features a new modern rounded industrial design. EPSON Stylus Color 880:  designed to meet the needs of today's more demanding consumers who require business-level performance at an incredible price. At $149, the Stylus Color 880 delivers up to 12 ppm black text output and up to nine ppm text and color graphics for the fastest color printing in its class. It also combines 2880 dpi and four-picoliter droplets to deliver the most outstanding print quality in its class. The Stylus Color 880 uses a printer mechanism that delivers ultra-quiet operation to minimize impact on the user's working environment. An optional external Ethernet interface is also available. Epson Stylus Color 980:  For the user who demands the ultimate combination of outstanding print quality with blazing-fast output. Priced at $199 (after a $50 rebate), this printer offers the industry's smallest droplet at three picoliters and 2880 dpi resolution. The Stylus Color 980 delivers up to 13 ppm in its default normal mode. Users can also print color Microsoft PowerPoint pages in as little as 15 seconds and high-resolution (720 dpi) full-color 8" x 10" photos in approximately 78 seconds. EPSON Stylus Color 980N:  available in mid-October, combines all of the high-speed, high-quality output features found in the Stylus Color 980 with more advanced networking features. Priced at $449, this printer offers a built-in 10/100 Mbit print server in addition to full multi-protocol support of networks such as TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk and NetBEUI. The Stylus Color 980N also includes network printer management software for simple management of all printers on the network and supports all printers that contain an MIB. Each of these new printers is compatible with both Windows and Macintosh platforms and has both USB and parallel connectivity. Each model, except for the Stylus Color 980N, also comes with a value-packed software bundle that includes EPSON Film Factory for collecting and organizing digital photos and Trellix Web for creating personalized Web sites. Additionally, Corel Printhouse is included specifically with the Stylus Color 777, and ArcSoft Photo Impression 2000 and ArcSoft Photo Montage are included with the Stylus Color 880 and Stylus Color 980.

09-07-2000

SanDisk to Supply Ericsson with MultiMediaCard (MMC) Flash Memory LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Data storage company SanDisk Corp said on Thursday it will supply the memory card for a new digital music player made by Ericsson that plugs into the Swedish telecommunications giant's mobile telephones. Ericsson will use the postage stamp-sized 32-megabyte MultiMedia Card to store about a half-hour of music in its HPM-10 digital music player. The player, itself only the size of a book of matches, will plug into several new telephone models and will download and play music in the MP3 format, which is used to turn songs into small computer files. Such digital music players are gradually winning buyers as their prices come down and as consumers get more comfortable with the idea of handling music as a computer file rather than as a CD or tape cassette. Ericsson's device will automatically stop playing for incoming calls, allowing the listener to answer the call, then resumes after the call is finished. The HPM-10 will hit the market in Europe by the end of the year, SanDisk said in a statement from Stockholm. With second quarter sales that almost tripled from a year earlier to $122 million, SanDisk says it is the largest supplier of so-called flash memory chips, which retain data even after power has been turned off.

09-07-2000

Imaging-Resource Teams With Ofoto To Bring You Digicam Test Prints The folks over at the Imaging-Resource have come up with a great way for you to see how certain digicams stack up when it comes to print quality. IR has teamed up with Ofoto.com to let you order high-quality photographic prints of their test images, and have them mailed directly to your home for viewing. (If you're a new Ofoto subscriber, you can even use your free 4x6 sample prints to print the pictures!) There are two different sets of photos available in Ofoto albums for you to order prints from. One is a composite of six photos that has been designed to be printed at 8x10" size and the other album is the raw camera images, these can be printed at 4x6" or whatever size you want. You can get all the information by going to the Imaging-Resource's Ofoto.com Sample prints page

09-06-2000

HP Announces New Inkjet Printers Hewlett-Packard Co. announced three new printers Tuesday, the DeskJet 990C available at the end of September, the PhotoSmart 1215 and PhotoSmart 1218 shipping in October. The PhotoSmart printers include slots for both CompactFlash and SmartMedia cards. All three printers have a new optical paper-sensing technology that detects the type of paper in the printer's paper tray and adjusts the print settings automatically to deliver optimal print quality. Customers can also control the print settings by manually selecting paper type and print mode. The feature will detect most manufacturers' plain papers, photo-glossy papers, specialty coated papers and transparency media. Automatic two-sided printing is standard on the 990 printer and 1218 printers and is optional on the HP PhotoSmart 1215 printer. All three printers use HP's color layering technology and include a 2400-by-1200-dpi photo mode. Other smart features include a print-cancel button, low-ink warning, a 4x6 photo paper tray on the HP PhotoSmart printer eliminating the need to change papers to print photos and a 150-sheet high-capacity paper tray on the HP DeskJet 990.

09-05-2000

Conexant Imaging Chip to Cut Camera Costs - Sub-US$150 Megapixel Digicams on the Horizon Following the acquisition of Sierra Imaging Inc, Conexant Systems Inc has introduced an imaging solution that combines Sierra's digital image processors and image management software with its new complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors. It is claimed to be industry's first complete imaging solution for entry-level 1.3 megapixel digital still camera and dual-mode PC cameras, allowing OEMs to bring to market sub-US$150 megapixel digital still cameras. The CX20450 CMOS image sensor is a 1.3-megapixel sensor that supports 27 frames-per-second (fps) video operation compared to competitive products that only support video frame rates of 9 fps with 1,280 x 1,024 colonized pixels. The sensor uses a 5.6 micorn pixel, which allows for the use of industry standard near half-inch optical format lenses. It features an integrated 10-bit analog-to-digital converter, all timing circuitry, and operates from a single 3.3V power source, and progressive scan output, standard color filters and microlenses that are preferred for digital still cameras. It is sampling now and priced at US$42.50 in OEM quantities of 1,000.

09-04-2000

MacBibble v1.0 Released Today Bibble was born from the need for an alternative to Nikon Capture for users of the Nikon D1 Professional camera. The author of Bibble wanted a better, less expensive program to read in the NEF files created by the D1 and so it began. At first Bibble was strictly a Windows standalone program and then a PhotoShop plugin was created. Along the way the author was asked to support the Macintosh platform and its beta development began. Today the official MacBibble v1.0 was released. This release represents all the features of MacBibble being online which are: 16-Bit JPEG, 16-Bit NEF, EXIF file reader, manipulator, browser, and corrector with ICC Support. All of the power of the original Bibble are now yours to use in MacBibble, as well as some unique macintosh features (preview icons) MacBibble is currently shareware and includes a free fully functioning 10-Day trial. During that ten days, everything will function normally. If after ten days, you have not registered, all of MacBibble's major functions will cease to function. In homage to Bibble's roots, you will *always* be able to process single D1 raw NEF files, even if you haven't registed. MacBibble's Photoshop plugin should install automatically now. To batch process with MacBibble, merely select a source and destination folder and MacBibble will process all of the JPG or NEF files in the sources folder and send them to destination folder. Note that if you have "preview image options" enabled MacBibble will pause to let you preview each image. MacBibble's browser will let you browse JPG and NEF files. Viewing actual untouched camera images with the browser is lightning fast, though files from other sources can be browsed as well. MacBibble currently needs a full 80 megabytes of RAM all to itself. If you don't have this much free memory, it won't run. Machine Requirements: A PowerMac G3 or higher with a minimum of 128 megabytes of RAM is recomended. OS 8.5 or higher is required, as well as a video card that supports 32-bit video. Virtual Memory is required for the minimal conifiguration.

09-04-2000

PhotoBrush - Digital and Photo Image Editor for Windows Photo-Brush is a brand new image editor, natural and artistic media painting program, picture retouching tool and photo enhancer for Windows 95/98/NT. It has many rich tools and effects for photo adjusting and photo retouching found in much more expensive professional tools. Artistic brushes, seamless textures, auto-enhance photos, rendered text with 3D and drop shadow, reads and writes PhotoShop PSD files. Support for PhotoShop-compatible plugins and image/film scanners. You can download a copy today and try it for free for 30 days. After the trial period the PhotoBrush program can be purchased for the introductory price of $38!

09-02-2000

Leica DigiLux 4.3 and Optical Accessories Leica has continued ther tradition of OEM'ing digital cameras frm Fujifilm and has released their new DigiLux 4.3 which is a re-labeled FinePix 4700 Zoom. As you can expect all of the camera specifications are the same: SuperCCD imager that yields 2400 x 1800, 1280 x 960, or 640 x 480 pixel, 24 bit color images. F/2.8 optical 3x (36-108mm 35mm equivalent) zoom lens, 2-inch color LCD, USB, SmartMedia, ISO 200, 400, or 800. Durable metal body and automatic metal lens cap. Here's the complete specifications. Leica takes the DigiLux beyond just being a simple OEM camera by offering the following high-quality accessories: LEICA digicopy 4.3, an optical attachment designed by Leica exclusively for the LEICA DIGILUX 4.3 is perfect for digitizing slide films from all manufacturers, but also black-and-white and color negative material. High quality reproduction and archiving of your valuable originals becomes very easy by this means. The specially developed LEICA digimacro 4.3 close-up attachment expands the close-up limit of the lens and enlarges the linear magnification. The particular suitability of the LEICA digimacro 4.3 is mainly in the documentary sphere of medical reporting and expert opinions, as well as the photography of microorganisms and details of plants. Objects down to 13 x 17 mm in size can now be photographed filling the whole frame.

09-02-2000

Sept 2000 megapixel.net e'zine Online Our bilingual friends up in the great white north have posted their September 2000 issue of the megapixel.net magazine online. The digicam reviews in this month's issue are Olympus D-490 Zoom, Pentax EI-200, Sony Mavica FD90 and Minolta Dimâge 2300. Check them out in French or English.

09-01-2000

Qimage Pro v9.0 - Many New Features Mike Chaney has been busy lately and has added all sorts of new features into his Qimage Pro program for Windows. It now has a new white balance filter where you can enter the red or blue bias values directly or use an eyedropper and click on a known white area of the image. A powerful side benefit of this filter and Qimage's batch processor is that you could "save" an entire series of pictures taken with the wrong white balance setting. The "exposure" filter has been changed to take maximum advantage of the dynamic range of your images without introducing highlight "blowouts". Back in v8.9 Mike added an unsharp mask filter, it now works for all images the same as it does for the Nikon D1 NEF (raw) files. Qimage now requires less memory to run and the entire batch filter window has been redesigned. Well worth checking out this fine program as it just keeps getting better and better all the time. Qimage Pro v9.1 Now With Color Fringing Filter Qimage Pro v9.1 was released today with a new filter that removes or drastically reduces color fringing. In addition, we have updated the exposure compensation filter to give users control over the clipping values and therefore the amount of "pop" being added to images. We also released the Sony D770 color profile plugin which results in quite a dramatic improvement in color for the D770 as well as the D700. Info and samples for the new plugin can be obtained by clicking on the D770 link on the Qimage Plugins page.

August 2000 News

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