Intro 2020 Press Release

CBL Professional White Balance Lenses are a new concept for professional accurate colour control. CBL White Balance Lenses are a new range of 3 double sided hand held discs which facilitate the accurate measurement of neutral colour balance by reflecting the light falling onto your subject into your lens in order to take a white balance reading. This system differs from many available products in that it is allowing you to take an “Incident” reading from the light source itself to calculate colour balance, giving highly accurate results in all situations, even where the subject has a particular dominant colour. The product materials are also waterproof and the colour characteristics will not change over time giving consistent and accurate results. Suggested retail prices are £119, £159 and £199 respectively.

Virtual Moment Press Release

Spitfire Photo Pro Offers Integrated Print Fulfillment and Introduces SpitfirePrints™ New, affordable options for e-commerce-enabled photo databases

SAN FRANCISCO, October. 4, 2006. - Virtual Moment, LLC announced today the expansion of the Spitfire Photo Pro image management system to include a flexible new store front for selling photos online. This new feature includes integration with a partner print lab to offer a wide range of professional quality prints and photo merchandise. In addition, photographers can choose to self-fulfill orders for added control over product offerings. “Our integrated fulfillment option adds one more level of automation to the normally tedious and time-consuming workflow tasks that photographers face,” said Jody Vandergriff, Co-founder of Spitfire Photo Pro. “By choosing to sell through our pro lab services, photographers can rely completely on us to print, pack, and ship.”

The Plugin Site Press Release

October 2, 2006 - The Plugin Site (www.thepluginsite.com) released B/W Styler for Windows, which is another product in the PhotoWiz series. B/W Styler is a Photoshop plugin for B/W conversion, creating traditional B/W effects and styling B/W photos. B/W Styler works in dozens of graphics applications including Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop Elements, Photo-Paint, Photo Plus, IrfanView and PhotoImpact. It supports 8bit and 16bit RGB images.

ProFotoSoftware Press Release

3rd October 2006 - London, UK - ProFotoSoftware Ltd, the London, UK, based Digital Imaging Software House, have today released V2.04 of PFS Image Darkroom for Windows. This new version adds support for the new Canon 400D camera and improves the ‘click’ white balance capabilities of the program. PFS Image Darkroom now supports the full range of Canon and Nikon digital SLRs and most RAW formats from other manufacturers, providing a unified interface that transparently handles the many differences between these formats. Full details and trial versions can be obtained from http://www.profotosoftware.com

JPG Magazine has just relaunched. Members can now upload photos, submit to themes, and review other submissions. Contributors get a free year subscription and $100 if they are published. More on how it works here: http://jpgmag.com/about/howitworks.html

JPG is also currently seeking submissions for Issue 7 on three themes: Big, Hometown, and Self-portraiture. 
Photos must be 72dpi JPGs, 2200px wide/tall, and photographers can submit one to each theme.

shootExperience have just launched a global photography competition. Simply take a photo representing the colour “Red” and upload your three best photos onto the Shoot Experience website. Deadline for entries is the 23rd of October and winners announced by Friday the 27th of October.
http://www.shootexperience.com/archived/octobercomp/content/info.php

If you live in or near to London, there’s also a Shoot Brixton event on 21st October.
http://www.shootexperience.com/archived/brixton/content/info.php

CameraLabs have just reviewed the new 10 megapixel Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX2.

“The Lumix DMC LX2 is instantly recognisable as a Panasonic compact. It’s a smart-looking camera with a selection of dials and buttons which hint at the degree of manual control available while giving an air of seriousness. With design elements harking back to classic film rangefinders, you know from the first look the LX2 will appeal to photographic enthusiasts.”

Website: CameraLabs - Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX2 Review

Website: Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

ThinkCamera have published the first review of the new Lexmark P350 Portable Photo Printer, which features new Evercolor II ink technology and PerfectFinish Photo Paper.

“What is remarkable is the fact that the colours on the print exactly match those on my monitor. I didn’t have to mess about with profiles, set options or experiment. In Photoshop I “let the printer determine colours” and it did just that - one of the most faithful prints I have seen on an budget inkjet. This really is as it should be - Lexmark supply the printer, the paper and the ink. My screen is carefully calibrated - as long as I don’t fiddle with anything I should get accurate prints time after time (allowing for the difference between LCD and paper). What’s refreshing is that it works!”

Website: ThinkCamera - Lexmark P350 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

I’ve now returned from Photokina 2006, after a long week of meetings, walking, and even more meetings and walking. We’ve now fully updated our Photokina Show Report, which takes a look at some of the new products in detail, nominates our Stars of the Show, and summarises all of the major announcements that were made both leading up to and during the week-long event. I’ll also be adding a comprehensive look-back at the show in the next few days. Finally, what did I find waiting on my desk when I got back? Only an invite to PMA 2007…

In the latest installment of this regular series, we cast the spotlight on members of the PhotographyBLOG Gallery and ask them about their photography. The 13th member to sit in the interview chair is snaphappy.

“As a wheelchair user it is often easier to take photographs of flowers, gardens, birds etc than to absail down cliffs to get that ‘perfect landscape’. As a result I have become a lot more interested in nature and find that there are many good photo opportunities right in front of me if I only take the time to look.”

Website: Gallery Member Spotlight - snaphappy

Panasonic Press Release

Panasonic today introduced two new interchangeable lenses designed specifically for the digital SLR camera. Both the LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 ASPH. and the LEICA D SUMMILUX 25mm/F1.4 ASPH. comply with the Four Thirds System.

The LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 lens (35mm equivalent: 28-100mm) is a bright F2.8 standard zoom lens that was previously sold with the LUMIX L1 package and is now offered separately. It delivers an outstanding optical performance and incorporates Panasonic’s MEGA O.I.S. – an optical image stabilization system that can add up to three additional exposure stops when shooting. Also equipped with an aperture ring, the D VARIO-ELMARIT lens provides easy, intuitive shooting when used in-conjunction with Panasonic’s first digital SLR camera LUMIX DMC-L1. The new LEICA D SUMMILUX 25mm/F1.4 lens (35mm equivalent: 50mm) is a bright, large-diameter F1.4 standard lens. Like the D VARIO-ELMARIT lens, it incorporates an aperture ring. It boasts as many as 10 lens elements in 9 groups, including a large-diameter aspherical lens, which assure a superb optical performance and F1.4 brightness, while three ED (extra-low dispersion) lenses reduce color bleeding to an absolute minimum.

Kodak Press Release

ROCHESTER NY and COLOGNE GERMANY, September 26—Taking a bold new step in wireless printing technology, Eastman Kodak Company today announced the KODAK EASYSHARE Photo Printer 350—an affordable, innovative, and easy-to-use printing solution ideal for camera-equipped mobile phones. Using state-of-the-art BLUETOOTH® wireless technology, the Photo Printer 350 can wirelessly print 4x6-inch photos directly from BLUETOOTH technology-enabled devices.  Additionally, the Photo Printer 350 works with any PICTBRIDGE-enabled digital camera or camera phone and can quickly print pictures from personal computers using USB 2.0. “As the latest addition to Kodak’s award-winning line of EASYSHARE printers, we are proud to introduce the EASYSHARE Photo Printer 350.  Kodak is committed to offering consumers a smart and simple photo printing solution at an affordable price that does not sacrifice quality,” said Lisa Vandemark, Worldwide Marketing Director, Kodak’s Home Printing.  “Helping to free pictures wirelessly from their mobile phone, the Photo Printer 350 is an essential companion to any BLUETOOTH technology-enabled camera phone and part of a cool, interactive printing experience.”

Hasselblad Press Release

Hasselblad Launches World’s First 48mm Full-Frame DSLR Camera System - With a new, fully digital strategy, Hasselblad sets new benchmark in high-end DSLR camera systems for professional photographers.

Hasselblad is today firmly positioning itself as the pre-eminent provider of high-end digital cameras with the launch of the Hasselblad H3D, the world’s first 48mm full-frame DSLR camera system.  The H3D is the result of Hasselblad’s strategy of taking photographic flexibility and image quality to new levels, as yet unseen in any competing product.  When compared with high-end 35mm DSLRs, the H3D delivers unmatched pixel resolution, better colors and detail rendering and a new choice of viewfinders for creative image composition.  In comparison with digital backs, the H3D delivers image quality with a higher level of detail and true sharpness thanks to Hasselblad’s Digital APO Correction (DAC) and the advances of its new Ultra-Focus functionality.  The H3D’s full-frame concept offers unique control of image composition and with its new 28mm lens, the H3D allows photographers for the first time ever to take wide angle shots on a 36 x 48mm sensor.

Carl Zeiss Press Release

Oberkochen, 25.09.2006. - Victor Hasselblad’s world-famous medium format camera with its distinct cube-shaped body and elegant, chrome-plated contours has become a real icon. Many experienced photographers across the globe consider the Hasselblad with its Carl Zeiss lenses to be the best camera ever – particularly when it comes to image quality. This is also why NASA opted for this camera for their photos of the moon landing. At Photokina 2006, Carl Zeiss presents its new ZV lenses which are particularly tailored to the aesthetic design of this classic camera. They provide everything demanding photographers expect of lenses of a particularly high quality.

Carl Zeiss Press Release

Oberkochen, 25.09.2006. - Tailor-made for the Zeiss Ikon rangefinder camera and other cameras with Leica M-bayonet, Carl Zeiss will launch two new, particularly compact super wide angle lenses at Photokina 2006: Distagon T* 4/18 ZM and C Biogon T* 4.5/21 ZM. Both lenses are based on highly sophisticated optical designs from Carl Zeiss and provide high image definition in high purity colors – without flare and ghosting. They both cover the full 24x36mm format and are suitable for both analog and digital photography. Even with digital sensors in the small APS-C format, they still cover very wide field angles. Both lenses are remarkably compact and light and are therefore ideal for mobile photography.

Carl Zeiss Press Release

Oberkochen/Germany, 25.09.2006. - Carl Zeiss introduces two completely new wide-angle lenses with Nikon F mount. They cover full 35mm frame and can be used on both analog and digital SLRs. They focus manually and can produce sharpness well beyond the capabilities of the best color films available today. Both lenses feature a long-life all-metal barrel of very high precision. The Distagon T* 2/35 ZF is a versatile all-round lens with moderate wide-angle coverage and high speed, a classical standard for photojournalistic work. Due to its high performance this lens can capture very detailed scenes with high accuracy and information content.

Carl Zeiss Press Release

Oberkochen/Germany, 25.09.2006. - At f/2, the new ZEISS Makro-Planar T* 2/50 ZF and Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF are the fastest macro lenses for 35mm full-frame photography today - whether for film or digital capture. The two new lenses focus manually from infinity to ½-life size, capturing an object field of approximately 50x70mm at the close-focus limit. All of the ZEISS ZF lenses feature precision metal mechanics, providing the photographer with a durable, reliable tool of lasting value. A ‘floating element’ optical system enables the Makro-Planar T* 2/50 ZF to deliver very high image quality over the entire focusing range. The Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF goes several steps further by employing an optical design originally developed for the ARRI/ZEISS Master Prime T* 1.2/100 – an ultra-high performance lens for big budget feature films. Thus, the Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF lens offers an optical performance never before available for still photography, especially at wide-open apertures and in macro applications. This lens allows photographers to use selective focus on important details with unprecedented clarity, effectively isolating the subject from distracting surroundings. This is a common technique used by Directors of Photography in the Cine industry to direct the viewer’s attention and create what admirers call the ‘film look’.

Carl Zeiss Press Release

Oberkochen/Germany, 25.09.2006. - Never before has the world of photography seen such a lens. The ZEISS Apo Sonnar T* 4/1700 was developed by Carl Zeiss for a customer with very high demands and a special interest in long distance wildlife photography. To achieve the highest possible image quality, the customer decided on the Hasselblad 203FE 6x6cm medium format camera and ZEISS lenses as the best combination for his special needs. At a focal length of 1700mm and a speed of f/4, this project even challenged the manufacture of the optical glass. The delicate, special glass types required for this unique design had never been cast before in such huge dimensions. Some of the resulting lens blanks weighed more than 25 kg (55 lbs.) and were valued more than a luxury sedan! Turning these blanks into the finished lens elements added even more to their value.

Canon UK Press Release

Canon, one of the world’s leading photographic brands, has joined forces with Experience Seminars to offer consumers who purchase the Canon EOS 400D a £50 saving on a bespoke course designed to help consumers maximise the potential of their purchase. The promotion will run both in-store and online from 1st October 2006 through until 31st January 2007. Experience Seminars, the leading training organisation in EOS photography, has developed a new course to complement Canon’s latest consumer Digital SLR product which is already proving to be a worthy successor to the EOS 350D. Mark Robinson, Trade Marketing Manager for Canon is confident of continued success between the two organisations, “This promotion, which through its aspirational nature, will encourage consumers to take their photography to the next level, and with the EOS 400D they already have the camera to do this. Through the added expertise that Experience Seminars has to offer, I have no doubt that consumers soon be producing images that before they could only have dreamed about.”

LaCie Press Release

PORTLAND, OR (September 2006) – Today LaCie unleashed the d2 SATA II 3Gbits Hard Drive Series, ultra-speedy desktop hard drives with interface speeds up to 3Gbit/s—twice as fast as LaCie’s first-generation SATA I 1.5Gbits drives. Faster interface transfer rates provide enough bandwidth for even the most demanding audio/video applications and small server/IT workstations, especially when multiple drives are striped together in a software RAID. Boot Windows or Mac natively from the drive or use it as a cost-effective back up solution with included LaCie software. LaCie d2 SATA II 3Gbits Hard Drives Series offer up to an amazing 500GB on one disk for ultimate capacity and speed in a sleek d2 case. “LaCie has lead the way with making external SATA hard drives accessible and affordable for early adopters,” said Olivier Mirloup, LaCie Hard Drive Business Unit Manager. “Our new d2 SATA II 3Gbits Hard Drives are faster than the previous generation and the best alternative to high-priced SCSI. You’ll see more adoption of eSATA in 2007 as many desktop and even laptop computers adopt this new external interface natively, or with optional cards.”