| September 2001 |
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Short Course's books for Nikon Coolpix 950/880/990/995 Olympus C-700/2100/2020/3030, E-10 Canon G1, D30, Pro90, S100/S300 & more. |
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Advertise on Steve's Digicams |
| 09-30-2001 |
Imaging-Resource Posts Canon EOS-1D Samples
Dave over at the Imaging-Resource has managed to acquire an EOS-1D and has
posted a starter set of
EOS-1D sample pictures. To quote Dave, "We just received our test unit of Canon's new SLR speed demon the EOS-1D today. (Man
it's fast!) I know how many of our readers have been eagerly awaiting the first test images from the new
camera, so I'm happy to provide this first glimpse at it's images. All the shots here were shot more or less
with the camera's default settings,but there's a few shot with other "Color Matrix" settings."
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| 09-28-2001 |
Kingston Technology Introduces 512MB High-Capacity CompactFlash Storage CardsFountain Valley, CA (September 26, 2001) - Kingston® Technology Company, Inc., the world's leading independent memory manufacturer, today announces the immediate availability of a 512MB CompactFlash card featuring the latest in high-density flash components. Kingston's newest high-capacity CompactFlash card provides a low, price per megabyte solution of reliable, high-speed media.
The technological advancement in mobile and digital computing devices is driving the demand for higher capacity CompactFlash memory cards. Devices such as high-resolution digital cameras, palmtops, Portable Digital Assistants (PDAs) and digital music players all need a reliable and easy way to store and transport vital information. Kingston's CompactFlash cards are rugged, flexible and can store up to 512MB of data. This increased capacity means that Kingston's 512MB CompactFlash card can store up to 500 digital images or ten hours of digital music. "Kingston's ever expanding line of CompactFlash memory products are ideally suited to fit today's digital storage solution needs," said Jason Jacobi, Director of Marketing, Kingston. "Kingston's announcement today reaffirms our commitment to providing digital storage solutions for today's technologically advanced, fast-paced, mobile work environments," added Jacobi.
Kingston's 512MB Type I CompactFlash card, part number:
CF/512 has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of
$599.00. All Kingston CompactFlash products come with a five
year warranty and free technical support.
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| 09-27-2001 |
PENTAX Launches the Optio 430; The World's Smallest 4-Megapixel Digital Camera
 DENVER, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- PENTAX Corporation, a long time innovator in the photo industry, launches the Optio 430 digital camera. It becomes the world's smallest and lightest 4.0 megapixel, 3X optical zoom digital camera available on the market.* It features a sleek stainless steel exterior and is packed with an impressive list of capabilities. It will be available through authorized PENTAX dealers at the end of October. (*This information was correct as of September 17, 2001 and compares the Optio 430 with other digital cameras with 4 megapixels or more and 3X optical zoom lenses.) The Optio 430 measures just 3.6" (92mm) wide, 2.3" (59mm) high, and 1.2" (31mm) deep and weighs only 7.2 ounces (205g). Precise imaging is achieved with the powerful 4.13 megapixel (total pixels) primary color filter CCD and a superior PENTAX 3X zoom lens (equivalent to 37.5-112.5mm in 35mm format) which provides high-resolution images and low image distortion. This lens combines two dual-sided aspherical elements and employs a new lens barrel retraction mechanism, which contributes to the camera's overall compact dimensions. Smooth, stress-free operation is achieved with simplified image processing circuit and software. A turn of the conveniently located mode dial controls the selection of shooting and playback modes (Standard, Night Scene, Metered Manual, Movie, multiple exposure and Playback). DPOF and protection settings can be adjusted and images can be deleted with direct key operation. A variety of other operations can be done with ease using the four-way controller and its central "OK" button. Viewing and composing images on the spot is convenient and simple via the high resolution, 1.6 inch LCD monitor. The Movie mode is capable of recording video up to 30 seconds in length at 15 frames per second with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. And because the clips are recorded in AVI format, they can be easily played back on PC. Accurate exposure can be attained with a choice of six-segment metering, center-weighted metering, and spot metering. Exposure compensation is available with a range of +/-2EV in 1/3EV steps. Exposure levels can be easily viewed in histogram format during shooting and playback. This allows levels to be checked with more accuracy than when using the LCD monitor alone. The Optio 430 offers a choice of autofocus settings including Seven-point and Spot autofocus mode which provides greater compositional freedom, allowing you to place the center of focus anywhere within the frame that you choose. Six different white balance modes are available, including Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten Light, Fluorescent Light and Manual. Selection of the manual option allows balanced color to be maintained as you please, free from the influence of artificial light. The Optio 430 is equipped with a USB port that supports the USB standard. This allows easy transmission of photographic data via USB cable to a PC or Mac equipped with a USB port. Once your images are loaded to a computer, they are easy to view, manipulate and share thanks to the ACDSee imaging software bundled with the camera. The Optio 430 is compatible with CompactFlash(TM) Type I memory cards and comes standard with a Lexar Media(TM) 16MB card. It is powered by its own exclusive rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which comes standard with the camera along with a recharger. It can also be powered with an optional AC adapter. The Optio 430 utilizes PRINT Image Matching(TM) technology, which ensures
that the camera and a PRINT Image Matching-enabled printers work perfectly
together to produce the best prints possible.
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| 09-27-2001 |
ACDSee 4.0 Hits Desktops TodayVICTORIA, British Columbia, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- ACD Systems International Inc. (TSE: ASA), the digital imaging company, today announced the release of ACDSee 4.0, the latest version of the world's most popular digital imaging software. Version 4.0 gives home and business users almost 40 new features including a redesigned user interface for highly efficient workflow. It is the industry's most powerful and complete tool for viewing, managing, printing and sharing digital images quickly and easily. ACDSee 4.0 offers unprecedented functionality with intuitive, fast, and easy-to-use features that include:
President and CEO Doug Vandekerkhove commented, "ACDSee 4.0 is a powerful and easy-to-use product. With plug-in extensibility, ACDSee 4.0 also offers tailored solutions to our business and O.E.M. customers. We are confident that the program's spectrum of features will meet the demands of our present loyal users while attracting a broad range of new customers, from the first time user of digital cameras to the veteran 'power user.'" The release of ACDSee 4.0 follows a number of significant announcements the company has made recently. In the past six months the company has signed distribution, O.E.M. and software development agreements with a number of companies including HP, Canon and Pentax. ACD has also released two mobile versions of ACDSee for Palm and Windows CE operating systems. These recent announcements represent significant strategic milestones in positioning ACD as a leader in an industry that is experiencing explosive growth in spite of a general economic downturn. ACDSee 4.0 is available today for download from the company's Web site and
will be available in the company's U.S. retail outlets. The software is
priced at $49.95.
Other language versions of ACDSee 4.0 will be available before the end of
the year.
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| 09-27-2001 |
Digital PIC Technology from Applied Science Fiction Selected as a Seybold Hot Pick; Seybold Publications Recognizes ASF's Digital PIC and Digital ICE3 TechnologiesSAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 2001-- Applied Science Fiction, Inc.., creator of the award-winning Digital ICE technology, the leader of automatic photographic restoration applications and the inventor of the cutting-edge digital dry film processing (Digital PIC) system, announces that the company's Digital PIC technology has been chosen as one of the 23 Hot Picks for Seybold San Francisco 2001 in San Francisco, CA. In addition, the Nikon Super Coolscan 8000ED, which incorporates ASF's Digital ICE3 technology, was also selected as a Seybold Hot Pick. "Applied Science Fiction is honored to receive this recognition from the Seybold organization for our breakthrough Digital PIC technology which bridges analog film and digital imaging technologies," said Dan Sullivan, ASF's president and CEO. "Applied Science Fiction employees have been working long and hard to bring Digital PIC to market making this recognition especially meaningful. While other ASF technologies have received various international honors, this is the first such award for our patented Digital PIC technology and hopefully the first of many." "Applied Science Fiction's dry film-processor technology, called Digital PIC, develops 35mm film directly into an RGB digital format. The benefits include speed and the absence of toxic waste. Rather than giving a film negative, the system gives the consumer a digital negative on CD. Photo labs that solicit work from the general public will find the technology particularly interesting," said Peter Dyson, editor, Seybold Publications. Each year, the editors of Seybold Publications give their Hot Picks distinction to the industry's most exceptional new products, technologies and services on display at Seybold San Francisco. This year, 23 products were selected from more than 100 nominees. Digital PIC Process Applied Science Fiction's Digital PIC technology develops 35mm film directly into a high-resolution RGB digital format in one quick step. In the Digital PIC process, micro-amounts of a proprietary developing agent are applied to a roll of exposed but undeveloped film as it is fed through the processor's image-capture engine. The environmentally friendly Digital PIC process requires no water, generates no hazardous effluents, and makes complete silver recovery possible. Next, the Digital PIC 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 every image. Complete 24-exposure roll development is accomplished within approximately six minutes of the film being fed to the image-capture engine. 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 Digital PIC technology, they can be saved in any standard image file format (e.g., TIFF, JPEG, BMP). Digital PIC output can be directed to different devices, such as printers, palmtops, electronic archives and other storage media, such as CD and DVD disks. Consumers can choose to receive their images as photographic quality prints, in e-mail and through the Internet. After a roll of film is developed using Digital PIC, a unique Extended Range Digital Negative (XRDN) is produced on a CD. The XRDN CD offers consumers tremendous flexibility for communicating with images. The XRDN CD includes an index-print file plus high-, medium- and low-resolution image files that provide the consumer a convenient avenue to distribute their images in many ways. Digital PIC allows for consistent image quality, and is Internet and Broadband ready. Configurations for Digital PIC technology include photo kiosks, microlabs, backoffice workstations, backlabs, quick print stations and develop and print kiosks. ASF expects that Digital PIC will be released for commercial use by the first half of 2002. Digital ICE3 ASF's Digital ICE3 (pronounced ice cubed) suite is a combination of ASF's Digital ICE, Digital ROC and Digital GEM film restoration technologies. Film scanners integrated with this trio provide professionals and photo enthusiasts alike with simple and automatic image restoration. ASF's groundbreaking Digital ICE3 enables photographers, graphic artists and publishers to make the best possible scanned image files from original color negatives and slides automatically, even if there are scratches or dust on the film, the original color has faded or the images are grainy. Digital ICE3 is currently featured in the Nikon Super Coolscan 8000 ED, which also was chosen as a Seybold Hot Pick. Other film scanners incorporating Digital
ICE3 include the Minolta DiMAGE Scan Multi PRO film scanner and the Nikon Coolscan IV ED and Super Coolscan 4000 ED.
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| 09-26-2001 |
Olympus D-40 Zoom Review Posted
I have posted our Olympus D-40 Zoom review.
This is one exceptionally well designed ultra-compact camera. It may be physically
small but the images are 4-megapixels big and the quality is what we have come to
expect from an Olympus digital, superior. The review is complete but there are more
sample pictures to add when our weather gets back to its typical sunny self.
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| 09-25-2001 |
Minolta Introduces DiMAGE Scan Elite II Film Scanner for 35mm and APS
 SAN FRANCISCO, CA (September 25, 2001) - Minolta Corporation introduces at Seybold 2001 today the new Minolta DiMAGE Scan Elite II film scanner. Easy enough for amateurs to use yet powerful enough to please demanding advanced amateurs and professionals, the new DiMAGE Scan Elite II provides an economical and versatile way to scan, digitize and quickly restore 35mm and Advanced Photo System (APS) film. The new Minolta DiMAGE Scan Elite II is a multi-format dual interface (USB and IEEE 1394 "FireWire"), compact film scanner featuring high-resolution 2,820 dpi scans with 16-bit A/D conversion and a 4.8 dynamic range that accurately preserves subtle tones and details in scanned images. "The new DiMAGE Scan Elite II builds upon the success of its predecessor, the Dimâge Scan Elite, by adding features that we know our customers want," said Jon Sienkiewicz, vice president, digital imaging products, Minolta Corporation's Consumer Products Group. "By incorporating ASF's Digital ICE3 technology into a high-quality, high resolution Minolta film Scanner, the DiMAGE Scan Elite II provides the superior level of scanning accuracy and quality required for a variety of applications." Designed for both novices and advanced users, the user-friendly DiMAGE Scan Elite II driver software offers flexible scanning control. Minolta's Easy Scan Utility will allow new users to fully automate the scanning process, while advanced image manipulations can be achieved step by step. And users at all levels will appreciate the bundled Adobe Photoshop Elements software.
With Applied Science Fiction's
Digital ICE3 (pronounced Digital ICE "cubed")
technology incorporated in the Minolta DiMAGE Scan Elite II, users save time and money by
producing professional-quality images without resorting to time-consuming digital
retouching, or by hiring outside digital service bureaus. This technology eliminates
scratches on photographic film or slides, restores faded colors and improves on a
photograph's overall appearance by minimizing grain, quickly and automatically, during
the scanning process, saving hours of manual work.
And speaking of Minolta DiMAGE film scanners, our friends over at Imaging-Resource have just posted their Minolta DiMAGE Scan Multi Pro review. This is Minolta's top of the line film scanner and handles 35mm, APS and Medium format. Dave concluded:
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| 09-25-2001 |
Canon Introduces the EOS-1D: A New Concept In Professional Digital SLRsCaptures 4 Million Pixels at 8 Frames Per Second, Provides Exceptional Image Quality and EOS System Compatibility Combined with Unsurpassed Durability and Weather Resistance
 Click to see a large montage of EOS-1D pictures
The Canon EOS-1D also includes many of the advanced features and functions of the 35mm Canon EOS-1v including an exceptionally strong dust and weather-resistant magnesium alloy body, 45 point autofocus, a 21-point evaluative metering system, complete compatibility with Canon EOS System lenses and Canon EX-series flash units, a comfortable and intuitive control layout, plus 21 Custom Functions and 25 Personal Functions for fine-tuning various camera settings. "The new EOS-1D combines the most advanced features of the EOS-1v with the latest in Canon digital imaging technology," said Yukiaki Hashimoto, vice president and general manager, Photographic Products Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "Professional photographers who are familiar with Canon’s EOS System will be able to quickly and easily use this new digital camera."
The Canon EOS-1D digital SLR camera will be available at authorized Canon dealers in
December with a suggested retail price of $6,499.
Download the EOS-1D specifications in .pdf format  |
| 09-25-2001 |
Canon Introduces New EF 16-35mm F2.8L USM Zoom Lens
This new lens is the first EF-series lens to incorporate three types of aspherical elements, providing even higher image quality than the EF 17-35mm model. In addition, the lens also uses two UD elements to further reduce the chromatic aberrations most likely to occur in wide-angle lenses. As a result, there is no color bleeding along the edges of the subject and the image resolution and contrast are high. Additionally, the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM features weather-resistant construction in the mount area, switch panel, zoom ring and focusing ring to prevent water and dust from reaching the inside of the lens. This design philosophy matches the performance of the EOS-1v 35mm and EOS-1D digital professional cameras and makes the new lens usable in a wider range of adverse shooting conditions. Similar to the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens, the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM uses a new electromagnetically controlled automatic diaphragm designed to maintain nearly circular apertures between f/2.8 and f/5.6. A circular aperture makes blurred points of light appear round and makes the background blur more prominent for greater effect. Autofocusing is fast and accurate, covering the full range from 11 inches to infinity. This was achieved through internal focusing which also enhances focusing speed, durability and handling. Additionally, the lens provides fast and smooth manual focusing in the AF mode through its built-in, full-time mechanical manual focus override. A drop-in gelatin filter holder is also provided at the rear of the lens. Physical dimensions are 4.1 x 3.3 inches with a weight of 21.2 ounces.
It's always been difficult to achieve really wide angle shots with professional
SLRs due to the 1.5x or greater focal length multiplier and the limits of the available
lenses. The EOS-1D's focal length multiplier is just 1.25x, that means the Canon EF
16-35mm zoom will have an effective focal length of 20mm to 43.75mm.
Available at authorized Canon dealers in November it will have a
suggested retail price of $2,400.00.
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The new EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM wide-angle zoom lens incorporates many advanced and
exclusive Canon lens technologies to provide performance at a level that's simply
unavailable to users of other 35mm and digital SLR systems. A highly desirable focal
length range among photojournalists, the new EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM is an ideal standard
lens for the newly introduced Canon EOS-1D digital SLR camera.
| 09-25-2001 |
Canon Introduces New Smaller and Lighter EF 400mm f/4L DO IS USM Lens
To make a lens smaller and lighter, the spacing between the elements is shortened and the refractive properties of the front and rear lens groups become more pronounced. This, however, results in increased chromatic aberration. To resolve this problem, the Multi-Layer Diffractive Optical Element is located within the lens to cancel out the occurrence of chromatic aberration. Compared with conventional super telephoto lenses, the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM lens, measuring 233 mm in length, is about 26% shorter and, weighing 4.3 pounds (including the 5 ounce tripod collar), about 36% lighter. The Multi-Layer Diffractive Optical Element placed in the front lens group eliminates chromatic aberration caused by the refractive lens group. Chromatic aberration is thereby suppressed to an absolute minimum. Furthermore, the aspherical effect corrects for spherical and other aberrations, resulting in high resolution and high contrast for outstanding image quality. Available at authorized Canon dealers in November it will have a suggested retail price of $8,900.00. |
| 09-24-2001 |
DDI Software Releases Profile Prism - An ICC Color Profiling Tool for Digital Cameras and Scanners
ICC profiling is a method of color matching that allows for accurate color rendition on any device. Since ICC profiling is like describing two locations on a map and using software to generate the proper path from point A to point B, a "from" profile is just as important for proper ICC profiling as a "to" profile. Although monitor/printer profiles (the "to" side of the equation) can easily be obtained or derived using custom profiling software, many digital photographers are forced to use "generic" working spaces such as sRGB, Color Match, NTSC, etc. for cameras and scanners (the "from" side of the equation) in hopes that they are "close enough" to the color that the camera/scanner produces. Most digital cameras still are not delivered with ICC profiles that describe the "from" side of the ICC profiling equation, so Profile Prism can help close this gap in color management. Profile Prism is software that allows the digital photographer to quickly and easily create ICC profiles for their digital cameras and scanners using the included 753 patch color target. Since digital cameras can often be more difficult to profile due to lens distortions, lighting, exposure, and other factors, Profile Prism offers several industry firsts that assist in developing digital camera profiles that work under both general lighting and specific lighting conditions. The color target even includes a luminance detection grid that can effectively reverse the effects of lens vignetting and uneven lighting of the target! Be sure to visit the web site and read the "About" section to learn how this $69 tool can provide you with professional camera/scanner profiles that close the loop in your ICC profiling workflow.
Note that we only offer a PC version of the software at this time, however,
the profiles created using this software *are* cross-platform compatible and
can be used in any ICC aware application since they are standard ICC
profiles. As indicated in the "About" section on the web site, a general
knowledge of ICC profiling and how to use ICC profiles in your choice of ICC
aware software is assumed, so if you have never used ICC profiles before, we
recommend that you follow some of the links on our site and learn what they
can do for you before purchasing this software.
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Digital Domain Inc. Software announces the release of
| 09-24-2001 |
New Report on Digital Kiosks Asserts "Large Percentage of Retail Print Fulfillment Opportunity is in Danger of Permanently Being Lost to Soft Display"Belmont, CA -- Sept. 24, 2001 -- A newly released, in-depth report by Imerge Consulting Group LLC indicates that pricing actions in N. America on 1.3 to 2.3 mega-pixel consumer digital cameras will occur by Q-4, 2001 and begin to move a market glut before and during the holiday season. As a result, adoption of consumer digital cameras, for the first time will start to move into the early majority core of mass consumers. But this third plateau of consumer digital camera adoption could be hindered by the fact that there are no ubiquitous, affordable printing-from-digital source solutions at dominant retail chains such as drug, grocery, mass and specialty. This affordable report entitled: Digital Kiosks - The Future Photo Print Opportunities at Retail and Photo Density Areas describes in detail the associated risks and benefits to retailers and digital camera vendors from this digital device retail print opportunity, projected to be a $15-$20 billion market in North America by 2006. "Baby Boomers are the only consumer segment that has viewing and sharing 4 x 6 prints, produced at retail ingrained in their psyche. As adoption of digital cameras penetrates into core consumer segments, a significant portion of the print opportunity, as we know it, is in danger of being lost to other viewing and sharing mechanisms that are not monetizable. Other consumer segments such as GenXer’s and Yer’s are getting used to soft display viewing and sharing from digital capture devices and they will not move the majority of their digital images down the chain into prints unless there is an easy, affordable means of getting prints at convenient retail locations, asserts Ron Tussy, Principal Analyst of Imerge Consulting Group. The report states that digital kiosk "box opportunities" are expected to reach nearly $800M in revenue by 2006 with equivilent after-sale service and upgrade opportunities. Digital kiosks will be connected to analog, digital minilab and central lab systems at retail and retailers will soon be making a decision whether to service the customer directly with well trained employees, keeping the digital kiosk behind the counter or to let the kiosk handle customer interaction out-front at multiple locations in the store, asserts Imerge Consulting Group. "As a result of potential in-action, digital camera adoption could be negatively effected and return rates on low-end digital cameras could begin to soar. Home printing is neither a convenient, easy or affordable option for these types of mass consumers" states Tussy. Karl Kenny, President & CEO of Telepix Imaging, a digital kiosk vendor adds, "This is an important, straightforward and timely report. Today's digital camera users are demanding extremely simple retail printing solutions. Without an appropriate digital print infrastructure at photo retailers, it’s entirely possible that consumer behavior will dramatically shift to other fulfillment options. While this implication may be unsettling for some, perhaps the most important thing that can be done is to educate our industry about such issues - a task in which this report will be most useful." Imerge Consulting Group further predicts that when retailers finally realize the potential missed print opportunity, and begin to adopt digital kiosks enmass, a many-to-one opportunity, (many kiosks at one retail location) will drive digital kiosks unit sales volume over the next five years to a worldwide installed base of 265,000 units. But these digital kiosks will be different from what we currently see available. "The notion that future kiosks, designed looking like refrigerators and built to be expensive, non-scaleable, stand-alone units for infrastructure challenged regions is not what retailers want or can afford" states Tussy. "A future digital kiosk will cost between $5,000 and $10,000, be broadband and wireless enabled and have a small format able to fit on countertops or walls. It will be extensible, affordable and will have after-market service opportunities attached which could possibly exceed the kiosk "box" opportunity." This 63 page, full color, bound report from Imerge Consulting Group is on sale at an introductory price of $1,500 plus shipping and handling until late October and includes an in-depth market overview, a worldwide (N. America, AP/Japan, Europe and ROW) digital kiosk forecast (units, asp and street value) from 2001-2006, a head to head comparison of all digital kiosk features from all available vendors, current and future vendor strategies, retail and Photo Density opportunities, designs and market share. It also includes insightful information regarding large format and "dry" printing at retail, a WW installed base forecast, broadband penetration overview and includes current and future digital kiosk strategies and much more. The report’s Table of Contents are available upon request via email or by visiting Imerge Consulting Group’s site at: www.imergeconsulting.com Other affordable imaging reports are available by calling Imerge Consulting Group LLC at 650-631-5737, email at: tussy@ix.netcom.com or by visiting Imerge Consulting Group's web site.
© Copyrighted 2001 Imerge Consulting Group LLC
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| 09-24-2001 |
Toshiba Protects Products With BoomerangIt® Loss Protection ServiceIRVINE, CA, September 24, 2001 In a move to provide its customers with greater value and confidence, Toshiba announced today that it will become the first manufacturer of digital cameras and projectors to protect its products with the BoomerangIt® loss protection service, an Internet-powered global registration system that works with law enforcement agencies to help return lost or stolen property to its rightful owners. "This holiday season thousands of digital cameras will be given as gifts, and sadly many will be lost or stolen," said Doug Freck, Vice President & General Manager, Toshiba Imaging Systems, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. "Toshiba recognizes the substantial investment its customers have made in their cameras and projectors, and is making it easier than ever to assure their fast return." A VIN Number For Your Camera According to Freck, the BoomerangIt® system works like a "VIN" on an automobile. Registered Toshiba customers simply affix a small label to their camera or projector to establish a permanent record of ownership. BoomerangIt¹s registration service enables the secure inventory of Toshiba cameras and projectors for the purpose of substantiating ownership in case they are lost, damaged or stolen. Once registered, if the camera or projector is lost or stolen, anyone who finds the item contacts BoomerangIt using the instructions on the label, and receives a reward. Each label has a toll-free contact phone number, a web address and a Return for Reward notice. The BoomerangIt system is also a theft deterrent, as studies indicate that thieves are less likely to steal marked property due to resale difficulties. Offered Free For Six Months Toshiba is offering BoomerangIt free for six months to all new buyers who register their cameras or projectors. In addition, Toshiba is making available on its web site product-protection labels to registered owners who purchased a camera or projector prior to the introduction of this new program. For information, U.S. customers call 1-800-288-1354. Fax, 1-800-640-8674. Or visit Toshiba on the Web.
BoomerangIt works with the National Crime
Prevention Council (NCPC) and its "McGruff the Crime Dog" program to help
return lost and stolen items to their rightful owners. More than 17,000
police departments nationwide are aware of the BoomerangIt service.
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| 09-22-2001 |
Pentax Optio 330 Review Posted
I just posted our Pentax Optio 330 user review,
this is "the world's smallest 3-megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom" -- at least it
is for now, who knows when when see an even smaller one. The Optio 330 is only the
size of a pack of smokes yet it cranks out huge 2048 x 1536-pixel images.
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| 09-22-2001 |
Tips, Tricks and Software for D30 UsersIf you have a Canon D30 and Adobe PhotoShop and would like some cool tips, tricks and action shortcuts to make your photos look even better then check out Fred Miranda's "Digital Gradual filter" article posted over at Digital Outback Photo. He'll show you how to salvage an over- or under-exposed image and turn it into a regular work of art.
And then be sure to stop by Fred's site and read his
Breezebrowser
v1.1 Review of some nifty software for viewing and converting Canon raw files.
And while you're there peruse his D30 Tips & Tricks, FAQs and his assortment of
PhotoShop actions and profiles.
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| 09-21-2001 |
Toshiba PDR-M71 Review Posted
I just posted our Toshiba PDR-M71 user review,
this is a reasonably priced ($499 MSRP) 3-megapixel camera that yields excellent quality
images up to 2048 x 1536 pixels. It also captures motion video with sound and has the
same advanced exposure features as the 4-megapixel Toshiba PDR-M81 camera.
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| 09-21-2001 |
Microsoft's New TV Photo Viewer $159
 The products work with the JPEG format, and images can be uploaded from a digital camera, e-mail, a scanner or developed pictures. Using a PC, consumers can select up to 40 photos and save them to a standard floppy disk. Photos can then be sorted, cropped or rotated; captions or numbers can be added; and a title page inserted. Finally, users insert the floppy disk into the TV Photo Viewer to see their digital album on the television. Consumers place a high value on the ability to share digital photos in a social setting, according to Darrell West, director of marketing for Hardware at Microsoft. "Based on extensive user research, we discovered that digital camera owners are satisfied with their digital cameras and are looking for new ways to view and share digital photos in the home," West said. Microsoft TV Photo Viewer is available now for US$159.
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| 09-21-2001 |
Survey Finds Older Generation Buying Digital Cameras Over The InternetOne-third of digital camera owners age 51 years and older purchased their last digital camera over the Internet, according to a survey conducted by Lyra Research Inc., Newtonville, Mass., USA. The study The Digital Camera Consumer: Profiles in Usage also found the Internet (25 percent) was the most popular channel used to buy digital cameras followed by consumer electronics stores (22 percent) and mass merchants (20 percent). Lyra conducted the survey of 727 digital camera owners via the Internet this past spring. "The purchasing behavior of people in the 51+ age group is especially interesting because this age group grew up without the Internet," commented Edward Lee, director of Lyra's Digital Photography Advisory Service. "We expected their shopping experience would predominately involve in-store purchasing." Numbers from the Marketing Research department at Photo Marketing Association International, Jackson, Mich., USA,
agree. The Internet (23 percent) was the most popular channel for a digital camera purchase for all age groups in 2000, followed
by electronics/video stores (20.4 percent), according to its 2000 Digital Imaging Marketing Association Digital Imaging
Consumer Survey and 2001 PMA Camera/Camcorder, Digital Imaging Survey. PMA also reported the average age for a digital
camera purchaser in 2000 was 45.
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| 09-20-2001 |
Olympus 5-Megapixel Camedia E-20N SLRFeaturing World’s First Dual Interlaced & Progressive Scan CCD System Melville, NY, September 20, 2001 - Olympus, the world leader in film and filmless photography, today introduced the Camedia E-20N new advanced 5 Megapixel flagship of Olympus’ E-Series cameras. Building on the proven capabilities of the award-winning E-10 with new technologies and features, the E-20N sets new standards for digital photography.
Read the full Olympus E-20N press release
with complete specifications.
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| 09-20-2001 |
Olympus Brio D-230, Compact And Stylish 2 Megapixel Point & Shoot Digital Camera
Read the full Olympus Brio D-230 press release
for all the details.
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| 09-19-2001 |
Other Sites' ReviewsI haven't had enough time to keep up with all of my own camera reviewing lately let alone the rest of the guys so here's a list of recently posted reviews: |
| 09-18-2001 |
Nikon Introduces 5.24-Megapixel Coolpix® 5000 Digital Camera
 Read our Coolpix 5000 First Look reviewMELVILLE, NY, September 18, 2001 - Nikon (www.nikonusa.com), the world leader in photography, today added a new dimension to its popular Coolpix® digital camera line with the introduction of the Coolpix 5000, a digital camera featuring a 5.24 megapixel CCD (5.0 megapixel effective), 3x Optical Zoom-Nikkor lens and a top shutter speed of 1/4,000 second and shooting speed of up to three frames per second at full resolution. The high-speed Coolpix 5000 is designed for professional and amateur photographers looking for truly spectacular images. The camera is a perfect compliment to any photographer's existing digital or film SLR camera for those times when smaller is better. The Coolpix 5000 takes the unique Coolpix swivel design to the next level with its 1.8-inch LCD monitor that swivels in virtually any direction for easy subject framing. The Coolpix 5000 also packs a Macro shooting mode to capture images as close as 3/4 inch and a Movie mode that shoots up to 60 seconds of video with audio, into a compact magnesium alloy body weighing a mere 12.6 ounces. Along with feature sets traditionally found only on professional digital cameras, the Coolpix 5000 is one of the most complete, versatile digital cameras on the market today. "The Nikon Coolpix 5000 is a testament to Nikon's dedication to provide photographers with the ultimate digital experience," said Deborah Sauer, general manager, marketing for Nikon. "This camera appeals to both the professional photographer and photo enthusiast because of its advanced features, unique compact design and greater creative control options. With the introduction of the Coolpix 5000, Nikon now has a digital camera in the Coolpix brand family to meet the needs of every level of photographer." Superior quality images start with superior quality glass and the Coolpix 5000 incorporates a high resolution, wideangle, 3x Optical Zoom-Nikkor lens with a 28-85mm focal length (35mm equivalent). Three aspherical lens elements minimize color blur and distortion, even in extreme close-ups. This lens is combined with a 2/3-inch 5.0 effective megapixel CCD and 12-bit Analog-to-Digital (A/D) converter resulting in sharp images with vivid color and excellent saturation. The Clear Image mode of the Coolpix 5000 provides highly accurate color, low noise, smooth edges and wide dynamic range images at resolutions of 1280 x 960 and below. The camera also features additional custom mode settings to enhance picture-taking capability by putting the photographer in control. For greater flash versatility the Coolpix 5000 comes with a builtin 5-mode flash, and also has a dedicated hot shoe to add a speedlight, such as Nikon's new compact bout powerful SB-50DX for maximum creative control and flash coverage. The Coolpix 5000 comes equipped with Nikon's exclusive Five-Area Multi Autofocus system for quick focus and sharp, accurate image detail, as well as a Macro mode to produce crisp photos from as close as 3/4-inches. To ensure the desired shot is taken, the camera features multiple capture modes including continuous shooting of up to three frames per second in full size (2,560 x 1,920 pixels) and a top shutter speed of 1/4,000 second. The Coolpix 5000 features a fully articulating 1.8-inch color LCD monitor that tilts 270° and swings 180° to virtually any angle to allow for easier framing of subjects. Additionally, the Coolpix 5000 includes audio with its Movie mode function that captures 60 seconds of QuickTime video. Not only glass and pixels ensure an amazing image from the Coolpix 5000, the camera delivers accurate exposures with Nikon's exclusive 256-segment Matrix Metering in a four-mode through-the-lens (TTL) metering system, with center-weighted, spot and spot Autofocus capabilities. Exposure can be further controlled through programs such as Automatic with Flexible, Shutter-Priority Automatic, Aperture-Priority Automatic and Manual. The camera can reach an ISO equivalent of 800. Even with all of these professional style features, the Coolpix 5000 offers a completely simple out-of-box experience. The camera comes with a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery and charger, and also supports a new optional power pack/handgrip that uses six 1.5-volt AA batteries and enables easier vertical shooting. Also included is a high-speed USB cable for plug-and-play simplicity and NikonView 4 software to store and enhance photos. A 32MB CompactFlash Card is included with the camera, and the Coolpix 5000 is compatible with CompactFlash Card types I and II for enhanced media versatility. The Coolpix 5000 works with the full range of existing Coolpix lens and accessories as well as a new 19mm wideangle converter lens (35mm equivalent) designed exclusively for the Coolpix 5000.
The Coolpix 5000 will be available November 2001 at an MSRP of $1099.95.
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| 09-18-2001 |
Nikon Posts Nikon Capture 2 Update
Nikon posted an update to Nikon Capture 2 for the D1, D1X and D1H cameras today.
There are both Windows and Macintosh versions available for download from the
Nikon Tech
USA web site. This is an update only, you need to have the full Nikon Capture 2
program already installed to use these files. Follow the link above to read the
appropriate notices and fixes for this update.
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| 09-17-2001 |
Silicon Film Suspends OperationsCOSTA MESA, Calif., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Irvine Sensors Corporation (Nasdaq: IRSN) (Boston Stock Exchange: ISC) announced that Silicon Film Technologies, Inc., an independent and consolidated subsidiary, has suspended operations. The Silicon Film Board has retained special counsel in contemplation of liquidation through bankruptcy proceedings, if immediate financing alternatives are not secured.
Irvine Sensors, a fifty-one percent (51%) owner of Silicon Film, stated
that it is also Silicon Film's largest creditor. Robert G. Richards, Irvine
Sensors' President and Chief Executive Officer, said "The failure of
certification tests in the summer delayed Silicon Film's anticipated revenues,
but development expenses continued. They worked hard on the certification
issues, and a little over a week ago re-tested in compliance with the FCC's
emission standards, but are still falling short with respect to stricter
European standards. We believe at least some of those stricter standards must
be met for a successful product launch. This has prolonged the schedule
uncertainty. We have loaned Silicon Film substantial funds to support their
product development because of our belief in the fundamental appeal of the
Electronic Film System(TM) concept. However, we have reluctantly concluded
that further loans in light of present market circumstances and remaining
schedule uncertainty would not be in the best interests of Irvine Sensors'
stockholders. We will consider any reasonable workout or alternative
financing proposals that might emerge, but we have retained our own special
counsel to vigorously pursue our position as their largest secured creditor
should the contemplated liquidation ensue."
Note from Steve: Silicon Film's eFilm was the device that we first
reported on about two years ago. It was a 1.3mpixel digital replacement for the 35mm film
canister used in some SLR cameras. Every six months or so they would put out a press
release and say they were closer to producing a real product but we never even saw a
working prototype of it.
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| 09-17-2001 |
Casio QV-4000 Review Posted
I just posted our full review of Casio's 4-megapixel
QV-4000 digital camera. This is an excellent camera and thanks to the Sony
4mpixel CCD, Canon 3x zoom and a complete feature set, it can hold its own against
any of the competing 4mpixel cameras.
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| 09-17-2001 |
JCIA Publishes Document to Describe DSC Guidelines for Advertising CCD Pixel CountThe following was recv'd from one of the people involved in the Digital Camera Committee of the Japan Camera Industry Association (JCIA), he wished to remain anonymous and we'll respect that request.
The new guideline recommends to use effective pixels used for picture generation to describe camera performance."
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| 09-14-2001 |
Phoenix Unveils New Lenses, Adapter Tubes, FiltersPhoenix Corp. of America, Oceanside, N.Y., USA, introduced several new products. The company says its four new digital lenses will fit most digital cameras. The lenses include a 0.5x wide-angle lens and a 1.5x telephoto lens, both with a 37mm rear thread and 27mm, 28mm and 43mm included adapters; a 0.6x wide-angle lens with a 58mm rear thread (52mm adapter included); and a 1.5x telephoto lens with a 52mm rear thread. The lenses screw either directly onto a camera's lens or onto an adapter tube which then screws onto the lens.
Phoenix's five new digital adapter tubes work in conjunction with many camera lenses, but
are designed specifically for Nikon, Olympus and Sony brands. The adapter tubes are the
Nikon 41-37mm (for the 880); Olympus 41-37mm (for the 3030 and similar series); the
Olympus 41-52mm (also for the 3030 and similar series); the Sony 45-37mm; and the Sony
45-52mm adapter, which includes a 52mm UV filter with hood. Adapter tubes protect cameras
from damage if accessory lenses are used. Phoenix also has three new digital UV filters
with hoods. The 28mm, 37mm and 49mm filters are designed for most digital cameras and
lenses.
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| 09-12-2001 |
A Nation Mourns Its Losses But Pulls Together In Time of NeedIt's difficult to try to keep one's mind on the tasks at hand in wake of the recent terrorist activities in New York City and Washington. I think we all need some time to reflect on what has happened and how we can assist those that desperately need our help. I'm sure that most of us feel pretty helpless as we sit and watch the horrific scenes that the news media repeats over and over again on our television screens. Possibly the best way you can help is to contact your local Red Cross office and find out where you can go to donate blood.
As for the terrorists, they are destined to find out that their plans to cripple us
with their unspeakably evil and cowardly acts will only backfire in their faces. They
should read up on our history as events like this only serve to solidify our nation
and resolve. Our prayers go out to the families and friends of the many people
who have lost their lives in the past two days. And our thanks to the countless
rescue and emergency personnel who are risking their lives to save the victims.
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| 09-12-2001 |
Toshiba Announces New Three-Megapixel PDR-M71 Digital Camera for $499
IRVINE, CA, September 12, 2001 -- Toshiba Imaging Systems, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., is advancing the state of consumer digital photography by announcing today the new PDR-M71, a powerful 3.2 megapixel digital camera with a breakthrough MSRP of $499 (U.S.). An ideal first digital camera or upgrade for users at all levels, the affordable PDR-M71 offers the same advanced feature set as competitive digital cameras retailing for hundreds of dollars more. Although value-priced, its performance is matched to the highest standards of digital photography with extra care being taken in designing its superior optics for vibrant, lifelike photographs. Significant new features include: a built-in five mode flash system with red-eye reduction; AVI movie/audio recording; a Canon® all-glass aspherical zoom lens with Macro; SmartMedia® storage; a full range of shooting modes and options; USB connectivity; and enhanced signal processing technology for fast, continuous shooting and quick operation. The PDR-M71 gets high marks for its precision Canon® lens with 2.8x optical zoom, 2.2X digital zoom, plus a macro mode that enhances the detail of the brilliant 2048 x 1536 resolution, especially in quality-sensitive close-ups. Coupled with the camera's powerful 3.2 megapixel sensor, this professional-grade lens helps photographers capture extraordinary digital images characterized by their true-to-life color saturation and accurate representation of even the subtlest tones. The all-glass, glare-free lens is equivalent to an f=35-98mm on a standard 35mm camera. To encourage photographic creativity, the PDR-M71 is able to accept third-part accessory lenses, such as wide angle, telephoto or fisheye. The PDR-M71 is intuitively easy to understand. Its control dial and zoom are set so that they can be manipulated with either a thumb or index finger. Each function of the camera is clearly indicated on the control dial with an icon, plus the ample shooting modes and options are all easily accessible through the menu system displayed on the LCD. In fully automatic mode the PDR-M71 focuses and adjusts its settings for perfect pictures every time. This flattens the learning curve, making the camera easy to learn and use straight out of the box. For the advanced shooter seeking greater flexibility, the camera has manual controls including Program AE, Full Manual (shutter and aperture), Shutter Priority AE, Aperture Priority AE, ISO sensitivity (100/200/400), flash (auto, red-eye, forced, slow sync, force off), white balance, and exposure compensation. Unique to digital cameras, the PDR-M71 also has a histogram function that enables photographers to check the distribution of brightness levels on the LCD once a picture is taken. In addition to the camera's automatic and manual settings, photographers choose the resolution (2048x1536, 1024x768, 640x480) and the JPEG format compression (fine, normal, basic). Convergence of technology is a cornerstone of Toshiba innovation. The company's integration of new capabilities into traditional product categories is clearly evident in the PDR-M71. In addition to taking outstanding still images, the camera has an exciting AVI movie mode that lets users film up to three minutes of video at 160 x 120 resolution (15 fps), or 60 seconds at 320 x 240 (15 fps). Sound can be recorded during the filming by using the camera's built-in microphone. When the video is finished it can be viewed on a computer monitor, a television (NTSC/PAL), or on the camera's 1.5-inch polysilicon color LCD. Like the photographs, the AVI video can be easily uploaded to a web page or used as an e-mail attachment. Surprisingly lightweight (8.5 oz) and compact, the sporty PDR-M71 is a breeze to take along anywhere, whether it's a business trip, a ball game or a family picnic. Its fashionable all-black exterior makes a striking impression, while the ergonomic design fits easily in the palm of the user's hand.
Accessories include an 8MB SmartMedia card, a USB cable for fast
downloading of images, serial cable, wrist strap, protective lens cap, a
soft carrying case, and a CD-ROM containing a USB driver and Sierra
Imaging's popular ImageExpert® software for managing, editing and accessing
images. The camera is Windows® (98/2000/NT) and Macintosh® (OS 9+)
compatible. Four AA-sized batteries power it.
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| 09-11-2001 |
Kodak Professional DCS Pro Back Plus Digital Camera Back Helps Medium-, Large-Format Cameras with Electronic Shutters Go DigitalROCHESTER, N.Y., September 11 - Kodak Professional today introduces a new version of its groundbreaking, 16-megapixel DCS Pro Back digital camera back - the Kodak Professional DCS Pro Back Plus digital camera back - that delivers all the resolution, functionality and portability found in the original model, but now introduces all of these advantages to many more photographers. "When we introduced the original Pro Back digital camera back, we promised we would ultimately enable more cameras so more photographers could take advantage of its capabilities," said Madhav Mehra, Worldwide Director, Digital Capture Product Development, Kodak Professional. "Well, that time has come. Now almost any medium-format camera with an electronic shutter, and several other cameras, can reap the benefits of high-quality 16-megapixel resolution in this portable, affordable new unit." New integrated electronic circuit boards and housings incorporate a versatile shutter release port into the new Pro Back Plus camera back. To extend the unit's compatibility even further, Kodak Professional has developed new ES (electronic shutter) cables and worked on interface modifications with a number of camera manufacturers. These innovations promise the simplest connections, while the Pro Back Plus camera back's overall design lets photographers enjoy the advantages of Kodak digital imaging while using a familiar film camera. Kodak Professional has posted on its web site a helpful compatibility guide that explains the proper interface between the Pro Back Plus digital camera back and the following models: Medium Format:
Hasselblad 503 Mechanical Hasselblads Bronica Fuji 680 Kapture Group True-Wide Large Format:
Horseman Toyo Arca Swiss Cambo Other Cameras:
Silvestri
The Kodak Professional DCS Pro Back Plus digital camera back is available
now from authorized dealers of Kodak Professional products. In the U.S.,
the suggested list price is $21,995. For other parts of the world, please
contact your Kodak Professional dealer for pricing information.
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| 09-10-2001 |
IBM Reduces Price of All MicrodrivesSan Jose, California, Sept. 10, 2001 - To stimulate consumer appetite for portable electronic devices that require high-capacity removable storage, IBM today announced a price break for its family of Microdrives, the world's smallest hard disk drive. The retail price for IBM's one-inch Microdrive is being reduced by as much as 32% (a reduction of up to $110) across all capacities, making it more affordable for consumers to access storage-intensive applications at home, in the office, or on-the-go.
The Microdrive supports a host of portable handheld devices made by leading digital camera, PDA and MP3 player
manufacturers. The Microdrive's CompactFlash Type II standard format can also be accessed on laptops through PCMCIA
cards and personal computers through card readers. In addition, the Microdrive supports multiple data types including video,
MP3, text, JPEG, voice, etc., and can hold up 1,000 standard digital photographs, a full-length movie, a thousand 200-page
novels or nearly 18 hours of high-quality digital audio music.
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At the new price points, the
| 09-10-2001 |
SCM Microsystems Adds Memory Stick ZiO! To Its Award-Winning Line of Microtech Digital Media Readers
Guilford, CT. - September 10, 2001 - SCM Microsystems (Nasdaq: SCMM, Neuer Markt: SMY), a leading provider of solutions that open the Digital World, today announced its newest addition to the Microtech line of award-winning $39 ZiO! pocket-sized digital media readers, the Memory Stick ZiO! The new Memory Stick ZiO! offers consumers a quick and easy solution for transferring data to and from Memory Stick-equipped digital devices like CyberShot digital cameras, VAIO personal computers, and Sony digital Walkmans and a computer. Providing a fast, portable solution for high-speed transfer of data, images and MP3 files without the need for cumbersome cables or batteries, the ZiO! line of USB-equipped reader/writer devices is available for CompactFlash, including the IBM MicroDrive, SmartMedia, SecureDigital/MultiMedia and MemoryStick digital memory cards.
MicroTech also offers a
$49 Memory Stick PC Card adapter for users of Sony
digital cameras. By offering this new adapter, SCM allows consumers of the number one
consumer brand of digital cameras to experience the quickest and easiest solution for
transferring images from a Sony digital camera to a notebook computer. The MS adapter
enables consumers to read and write to and from a Memory Stick using the standard PCMCIA
slot already built into laptop PCs. Users simply insert the Memory Stick into the adapter
to download images, without the hassle of connecting cables and without using precious
camera battery life. Measuring 85.6mm x 54mm x 5mm, the PC Card adapter is easily stored
in a camera bag or pocket.
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| 09-10-2001 |
Canon Releases Firmware Update Version 1.0.2.0 for EOS D30Canon today has posted the EOS D30 firmware version 1.0.2.0 update which solves an LCD monitor display problem that occasionally occurs when an extremely detailed subject is photographed and one or more of the following camera operations are executed:
Firmware Version 1.0.2.0 has already been installed by the factory in EOS D30 cameras
starting with serial number xxx800000. Most EOS D30 cameras with a serial number prior to
xxx800000 have not been updated. A small paper sheet confirming the update will be
inserted in the display box to identify modified cameras.
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| 09-10-2001 |
Hitachi and SimpleTech Introduce High-Speed MMC Flash MemoryHitachi Semiconductor (America) Inc., San Jose, Calif., USA, and SimpleTech Inc., Santa Ana, Calif., announced lines of high-speed MultiMediaCard flash memory devices that each company will market in the United States under its own brand. The 16-, 32-, 64-, and 128-MB cards -- developed and manufactured by Hitachi Ltd., Tokyo, Japan -- offer write speeds as high as 2 megabytes per second, which the companies said is an industry first.
The new cards can store digital data -- image files for digital still cameras, music
files for MP3 players, and program/data files for other products -- approximately
three or six times as fast as earlier-generation MultiMediaCards of equal capacity.
They are backward compatible with existing MultiMediaCards and use less power,
according to the companies.
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| 09-07-2001 |
Toshiba Lowers Prices of Digital CamerasToshiba Imaging Systems, Irvine, Calif., USA, lowered the price of three digital cameras. The 4-megapixel Toshiba PDR-M81 digital camera, featuring 2,400-by-1,800 resolution and 6x zoom, dropped from $799 to $699. Toshiba also cut the price of its PDR-M65 3.3-megapixel model from $499 to $399 and reduced the cost of the PDR-M61 2.3-megapixel camera from $399 to $299.
Purchase a Toshiba digital camera and an
Epson 785EPX printer between August 17, 2001
and December 31, 2001 and receive a
$100 rebate by mail from Epson. (Offer valid only
for U.S. and Canada buyers.)
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| 09-07-2001 |
Registration Now Open For Digiphoto 101 Web CourseEnrollment is now open for the Fall session of Digiphoto 101, the popular online interactive digital photography course which is limited to ten students and begins on September 20th. Lighting, color, texture, composition, and other photodigital subjects are covered to give both beginning and intermediate students a solid grounding in digital photography as they work at their own individual skill level. The class receives both technical and creative assignments and each student has access to the instructor as a mentor throughout the course. Weekly assignments are critiqued online, and students may interact with the teacher and each other through a class-only Discussion Board. The instructor, Prof. Arthur H. Bleich, has taught creative photography courses at universities and art schools in the U.S. and abroad. He is a professional photographer, feature editor of Digital Camera Magazine, contributing editor and columnist for CNET, and appears worldwide on CNN-TV as a digital photography expert.
The 10-session course costs $350. For further information visit Art's
DP Corner web site or email Arthur Bleich
for registration materials.
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| 09-07-2001 |
Digicam Software Updates ReleasedHolger Jungk, the author of Picture Information Extractor tells me that he has just released PIE v3.2. The changes since v3.0:
PIE for Windows 95/98/NT shows exposure information for each picture.
The exposure information saved in the JPG file will remain as long as the file is not
modified. PIE preserves exposure information in standard textfiles which also may be
imported into a spreadsheet or database. PIE is a file renaming utility that extracts
the camera information from the .jpg and renames the PIC000XX.JPG filename to a
more computer friendly name keyed to the date and time as well as other photo
information. PIE is a file manager. Move, Copy, Delete and Rename JPG files.
PIE has a fast integrated picture viewer with zooming and panning.
PIE rotates JPG pictures without any loss of quality! PIE is simply the best way to
transfer your images from SmartMedia or CompactFlash card or floppy to your computer.
ImageBuddy v1.5.0 is a digital photo printing program for the MacOS that lets you View, Grade, Layout, Crop, Mask and Overlay your digital photo’s quickly and easily. With ImageBuddy you can produce high quality contact sheets using Drag & Drop to quickly sort your photo’s. ImageBuddy’s Page Layout functions allows you to select just the photo’s you want printed and size them in several standard or custom sizes. You can also crop and adjust their size to fit that special frame. ImageBuddy offers both on the fly media saving layout that adjusts to your placed images or you can switch to manual mode and control an image’s placement. ImageBuddy contains many more features to numerous to list and is available as shareware allowing you to try before you buy.
ImageBuddy v1.5.0 is only $15.00 and comes with unlimited free upgrades.
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| 09-06-2001 |
SanDisk to Sell Sony Memory Stick Under the SanDisk Brand; Both Companies Agree to Partner On Next Generation Memory Stick FormatSeptember 2001 (Newstream) -- SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) and Sony Corporation announced they have signed a cooperation agreement involving the Memory Stick. Under the agreement, Sony will supply SanDisk with Memory Stick media that SanDisk will resell under its own brand through its retail channel. SanDisk will also supply under market-competitive terms a portion of Sony's NAND flash memory requirements.
Suehiro Nakamura, executive deputy president of Sony Corporation said "We are very pleased to announce the collaboration with SanDisk on Memory Stick. Our partnership with SanDisk, a world leader in memory cards, will allow us to increase Memory Stick market share and build a strong position to make Memory Stick as the standard of digital recording media in the world." Eli Harari, SanDisk president and CEO, hailed the agreement as "a significant milestone for SanDisk. Sony and SanDisk share a common vision for exciting new digital audio/video applications that will require the next generation Memory Stick. We are very pleased that Sony has invited us to contribute our expertise and intellectual property in flash memory cards to jointly develop the next generation of Memory Stick. This agreement enables SanDisk to sell every major flash memory card form factor so we can truly be a one-stop shop to our retail customers. We are also encouraged by Sony's plan to purchase our NAND flash components because Sony is one of the largest consumers of NAND Flash Memory components today."
SanDisk plans to commence worldwide shipments of Memory
Stick and accessories to its more than 29,000 retail outlets over
the next two quarters. Sales of NAND components to Sony are
expected to begin towards the end of the year.
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The two companies also agreed to jointly develop, separately
manufacture and sell the next generation of Memory Stick that
will incorporate advanced features such as significantly higher
performance and storage capacities.
| 09-05-2001 |
Epson Launches Print Image Matching Web Site and Offers Free Software Updates for Stylus Photo 780, 890 and 1280 PrintersLONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 4, 2001-- Epson America Inc. is expanding support for PRINT Image Matching technology by launching a dedicated Web site, as well as making driver and software updates available that include PRINT Image Matching support for select photo printers. PRINT Image Matching technology ensures digital cameras and printers work together to produce optimized prints automatically. Since the technology's introduction earlier this year, several PRINT Image Matching printers and digital cameras have been introduced by leading manufacturers like Casio, Epson, Kyocera, Minolta, Nikon, Pentax and Sony. Owners of PRINT Image Matching-compatible photo printers and cameras will now have unlimited opportunities to use this technology with the release of Epson Software Film Factory with PRINT Image Matching support. To help consumers understand the benefits of PRINT Image Matching and see the latest developments, Epson has launched a Web site -- www.printimagematching.com -- which provides in-depth, easy-to-understand information on PRINT Image Matching, along with a complete and updated list of partners and products. Users of the site have access to a comprehensive list of FAQs, a technical white paper, published articles and a convenient link to technical support, in addition to much more. "Printimagematching.com is the ultimate resource for our customers with frequently updated information on PRINT Image Matching supported digital cameras, printers and software," said Lisa Graham, product manager, photo imaging, Epson. "Digital camera manufacturers have embraced the technology, resulting in over 20 PRINT Image Matching digital camera models that customers can pair with one of four Epson photo printers to get the best prints possible." The current PRINT Image Matching partners include Casio Computer Co. Ltd., Konica Corporation, Kyocera Corporation, Minolta Co. Ltd., Nikon Corporation, Olympus Optical Co. Ltd., Pentax Corporation, Ricoh Company Ltd., Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sony Corporation and Toshiba Corporation. A complete list of all PRINT Image Matching- compatible products is available on the PRINT Image Matching Web site. The new site will not only provide users with valuable PRINT Image Matching information, but will also tell them about any special promotions and contests. Currently, users can enter for a chance to win a PRINT Image Matching system, which includes an EPSON PhotoPC 3100Z digital camera and an EPSON Stylus Photo 785EPX ink jet printer by completing an online entry form (a). The contest began Aug. 29 and will run through Oct. 31, 2001. How to Get the PRINT Image Matching Upgrade The first PRINT Image Matching-compatible printer, the EPSON Stylus Photo 785EPX, offered PRINT Image Matching support when used without the computer. With a simple software upgrade to Epson Software Film Factory, this printer can now support PRINT Image Matching through the computer. Customers who own the EPSON Stylus Photo 780, 890 and 1280 printers can also easily upgrade their printer with an updated driver and a new version of Epson Software Film Factory with PRINT Image Matching support. These upgrades can be obtained by calling Epson's PRINT Image Matching customer support line at (562) 276-7296 to speak to a representative Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. PST, and on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST. A CD-ROM containing the PRINT Image Matching upgrade will be shipped to each customer, free of charge.
Note: The Epson folks seem to NOT know about this yet, I'd give them a couple of
days to get their support folks up to speed before you call.
Purchase a digital camera from Casio, Epson, Konica, Kyocera, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus,
Pentax, Ricoh, Toshiba, Sanyo or Sony and an
Epson 785EPX printer between August 17, 2001
and December 31, 2001 and receive a
$100 rebate by mail from Epson. (Offer valid only
for U.S. and Canada buyers.)
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| 09-04-2001 |
Minolta Europe Announces New Compact 2-Megapixel DiMAGE E203
The E203 will be available in Japan, Europe and Asian/Oceanic/other countries. Minolta
Corporation (USA) and Minolta Canada will not be carrying the product.
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| 09-03-2001 |
Digital Outback Photo Launches "PhotoShop Corner"The folks at Digital Outback Photo have just started a new series called PhotoShop Corner and to quote editor Uwe Steinmueller, "Working with Photoshop is key to the success of most digital photographers. This page will cover a selection of free and commercial tools and tips to improve your skills and toolset for Photoshop."
The first of these PhotoShop Corner articles is by Fred Miranda and is called
"Why I live in the digital darkroom" -- it gives us some insights into using, but not
abusing, the power of PhotoShop. Fred has written some PhotoShop actions that can
drastically improve your digital images. Some are written specifically for the Canon
D30 but others will work with any digicam images. Be sure to visit
Fred's website and
check out what he has to offer for PC or Mac PhotoShop users.
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| 09-02-2001 |
Olympus Introduces the D-40 Zoom World's Smallest 4 Megapixel Digital Camera
 The D-40 ZOOM incorporates a new 2.8x optical zoom lens, matched to a 4 Megapixel effective image area for sharp, detailed photographs. To further improve image quality, the D-40 ZOOM features Olympus' new Enhanced Color Management system, a technology that customizes color settings for each of its unique shooting modes. Enhanced Color Management delivers better skin tones in portraits, truer blue skies and greener trees in landscapes, without any further operator programming. Users simply select the mode, point and shoot. For night shots with longer exposures, the D-40 ZOOM employs a Noise Reduction mode for clear, colorful nighttime photos. The D-40 ZOOM produces 2272 x 1704 pixel resolution files that create prints up to 11" x 14". An Optimum Image Enlargement mode for applications requiring larger output gives users the flexibility to print images up to 16" x 20". The D-40 ZOOM offers great picture quality; is easy to use and builds a range of advanced features into a hassle-free camera that fits in the palm of a hand. Designed to capture great pictures anywhere and anytime, the D-40 ZOOM is as easy to use as it is technologically advanced, offering features and functionality any level of photographer can enjoy. A new LCD menu interface gives users fast and easy access to commonly used functions. Three of the four default menu categories in the top menu can be programmed by the user as shortcuts, eliminating the need to navigate multiple screens to change camera settings. To further enhance operability, the D-40 ZOOM features a new 10-position Mode Dial, with creative modes pre-set to fine tune exposure, white balance and color saturation settings for any shooting situation. A new "My Image" mode gives users one-touch access to customized settings. The D-40 ZOOM also offers a host of easy to use capabilities for maximum photographic image quality and creativity. The iESP multi-patterned White Balance system automatically adjusts camera settings to ensure proper color reproduction. Metering modes are automatic and feature a choice of ESP multi-patterned or spot metering for easy, yet advanced exposure control. In addition to full manual operation for users with more mature photographic skills, users can select from Aperture or Shutter Priority, multiple Program Scene modes, a two-frame-per-second Burst mode, Black-and-White and Sepia shooting modes, Auto Exposure Bracketing and Exposure Compensation settings. This robust feature set allows even novice digital photographers to capture the highest quality photographs with a minimum of effort.
The D-40 ZOOM will be available October, 2001 with an estimated street price of
$799.00. It ships with a 16MB Olympus SmartMedia™ memory card, USB cable,
AV cable, one LB-01 Lithium battery (also uses 2 standard AA batteries), RM-1
remote control, Olympus Camedia Master Software for image manipulation and
creation, instruction manual, QuickStart Guide, and strap.
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| 09-01-2001 |
Nikon Coolpix 885 Review Posted
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