Breeze Systems Press Release

New in DSLR Remote Pro v1.2: Canon EOS 30D Support

19th May, 2006: Breeze Systems today released DSLR Remote Pro v1.2. Photographers can now use Breeze Systems’ highly regarded software to control Canon’s new EOS 30D as well as Canon EOS 5D, 350D/Rebel XT, 20D, EOS-1D Mark II and EOS-1Ds Mark II, 10D, 300D/Rebel, EOS-1D and EOS-1Ds models.

Sigma have announced the APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG MACRO HSM lens, a large aperture zoom lens designed specially for digital SLR cameras with close-up capability. This large aperture telephoto zoom lens has a minimum focusing distance of 100cm (39.4”) and has a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.5 and it is optimized for digital SLR cameras. This lens’ super multi layer lens coating reduces flare and ghost, which is a common problem with digital cameras. ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) glasses and SLD?Special Low Dispersion? glasses are used for utmost correction against chromatic aberrations, high image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range.

Praktica Press Release

Praktica announces the Luxmedia 10-X3. 10.0 Mega pixels digital camera with 3x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom, 2,4“ TFT color monitor (diagonal: app. 6,1cm), 32 MB built-in memory.

Praktica Press Release

PRAKTICA DCZ 6.3 – The passion of photography - If modern colour psychology is right, red stands for passion and the desire for happiness. PRAKTICA is adapting this passion – this fire –to its latest model – the DCZ 6.3. Every single pixel of the six million on the CCD sensor is taking care that even the most filigree detail is stored accurately and brought to life on the 2.5” monitor afterwards. High resolution video clips are no problem either. Whether you record with 320x240 or 640x480 pixels with a constant rate of 30 frames per second – the world around you starts to move.

InvenSense Press Release

SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 16, 2006 – InvenSense, the leading provider of motion sensing solutions for mobile applications, today announced it is addressing image quality problems in the high-growth camera phone market with its miniature image stabilization system, due out in the second half of this year. Global camera phone sales are skyrocketing and are projected to be the most common image capture device in the world within a few years. Gartner Group estimates that nearly 300 million camera phones were shipped in 2005, while Infotrends/CAP Ventures projects that number to reach one billion units by 2010.

Nikon Press Release

TOKYO – Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce that the D200 Digital SLR Camera has been selected by Japan’s Camera Press Club to receive the Camera Grand Prix 2006 award. The Camera Grand Prix is the Japanese photo industry’s most prestigious award for a camera. It is determined by a panel of 49 (in 2006) respected photographers, scholars and technical writers in the field of photography, as well as chief editors and magazine representatives of each of the 12 magazines that comprise the Camera Press Club. A total of 149 cameras - all released between April 2005 and March 2006 - were nominated for the Camera Grand Prix award 2006. The Nikon D200 was chosen as the most outstanding camera from among these nominees to receive the Camera Grand Prix award.

Zorpia Press Release

Zorpia photo editor can enhance your photo sharing and blogging experience with your own creativity.

(PRWEB) May 18, 2006—Bring photo editing online with an effortless process, a pleasing result and no software installed. The solution is the Zorpia photo editor where photographers can enhance photo sharing and blogging experience with their own creativity. Zorpia developed a flash-based photo editor which integrates the most popular photo editing functions into a simple, self-explanatory platform. The web-based editor includes features like crop, rotate, brightness, saturation, hue, tint, unlimited undo or redo, save a copy, and also supports non-destructive editing.

Redbug Press Release

(Carlisle, PA) - Redbug Technologies has announced Mapwing Creator, a $39 shareware application for turning digital photographs into virtual tours. Redbug has also updated Mapwing Creator Pro to version 1.5, adding support for high resolution maps and improving web page integration. To learn more about Mapwing, visit http://www.redbugtech.com/mapwing.php. Mapwing is a software technology for building, sharing, and exploring virtual reality (VR) tours. It enables anyone with a digital camera and a computer to create tours quickly and easily. Users can create VR locations or “points” out of images and connect these together to form tours. A tour can be enhanced with an interactive map, text comments, web site links, and detail image hotspots. Mapwing tours can be viewed in web pages using Adobe’s Flash Player or explored with OpenGL using Mapwing Viewer.

DPReview have reviewed the Canon PowerShot S3 IS, a 6 megapixel camera with an image stabilized 12x zoom lens, ISO 800 and a 2 inch LCD screen.

“Comparisons with it predecessor aside, the S3 IS Image quality is very good - certainly on a par with most of its competitors - though the results are still a bit on the soft side, something the fairly high default sharpening doesn’t really help. Again, experimenting with the in-camera parameters and a little sympathetic post-processing means that in the right hands it can produce images every bit as good as anything else in its class.”

Website: DPReview - Canon PowerShot S3 IS Review

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TrustedReviews have reviewed the new Epson Stylus Photo R2400 A3+ photo printer.

“Epson has really tried with this machine to provide a semi-pro finishing printer or a professional-level proofing machine. The flexibility of its paper handling, combined with its three-black greyscale printing, will see it adopted in a number of different business and creative offices, where its undoubted high print quality will shine through.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Epson Stylus Photo R2400 Review

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CNET have just reviewed the Olympus mju 720 SW, a 7.1 megapixel, 3x zoom, 2.5 inch LCD, weatherproof digital camera.

“The most weatherproof Stylus to date, the Olympus Stylus 720 SW is a waterproof, 7.1-megapixel camera that’s fully submersible up to 10 feet, for an hour at a time. This ultracompact Stylus also happens to be shockproof (putting the S in SW), rated to withstand a drop of five feet. Sleek, responsive, and outfitted with image stabilization, the Stylus 720 SW makes a rugged and welcome travel companion.”

Website: CNET - Olympus mju 720 SW Review

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ByteSector have reviewed the new Samsung SPP-2020 6x4” compact photo printer, which uses Dye Diffusion Thermal Transfer technology to produce water and fade resistant 4” x 6” prints in 60 seconds.

“I tested this printer with images taken with various digital cameras; Canon Digital Rebel XT, Konica Minolta Z3, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20, just to name a few. No matter the camera or its megapixel capture capacity, the photos the printer printed out were fantastic in colour and detail at the 4”x6” size. This is not to say that if you have a cheap quality digital camera that captured a horrible image with unbalanced colours that this printer could somehow make it pretty. The pictures came out more naturally colorful compared to what you might see on the monitor, bringing more life to the overall image.”

Website: ByteSector - Samsung SPP-2020 Printer Review

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The Kodak Easyshare V610 is a 6 megapixel digital camera with a difference - it has two lenses rather than the usual one. The V610 is the second Kodak camera to feature the company’s Dual Lens Technology. This time it offers a 38-114mm lens and a 130-380mm lens for a total 10X optical zoom range. In addition the Kodak V610 has a 2.8 inch LCD screen, Bluetooth support, 180-degree panorama mode, advanced video with built-in image stabilization and 23 different scene modes, all in a body that is just 2.3cms thick. Read my review to find out if the Kodak V610 is the ultimate compact camera.

Website: Kodak Easyshare V610 Review

Fujifilm Press Release

May 17, 2006 - Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Shigetaka Komori, hereinafter Fujifilm) announced today that from June 2006 onward, it will implement worldwide price increases for its photosensitive material products. The rapid digitalization of photography has created harsh market conditions for the photo imaging business. To sustain its photo imaging business, Fujifilm is undertaking intensive structural reforms, but despite efforts to reduce fixed costs and improve productivity, it no longer can absorb the soaring costs of silver, oil and other raw materials.

Nikon Press Release

Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce strong results for the year end, 31st March 2006, which have exceeded original expectations.

• Net sales increased from 638.5 at the end of March 2005 to 730.9 at the end of March 2006.
• Operating income increased from 30.5 at the end of March 2005 to 66.6 at the end of March 2006.
• Net income increased from 24.1 at the end of March 2005 to 28.9 at the end of March 2006. (Units: billions of Yen)
• 1.34 million SLR cameras were sold in the fiscal year to March 2006, up from 1.05 million the previous year.
• 7.11 million compact digital cameras were sold in the fiscal year to March 2006, up from 5.56 million the previous year.

Micron Technology Press Release

BOISE, Idaho—(BUSINESS WIRE)—May 18, 2006— The world of digital cameras just got bigger and smaller at the same time. Using a tiny 1.75-micron pixel design, Micron Technology (NYSE:MU), Inc., has built the world’s first 8-megapixel image sensor in a 1/2.5-inch optical format, the standard size for mainstream digital cameras. This new sensor comes loaded with features and functionality that will catapult Micron-equipped cameras into the next generation of digital cameras featuring high-resolution still images, ultra-fast image capture and vibrant high-definition video. The company today unveiled a prototype of an 8-megapixel image sensor that packs a punch with incredible capture rates at full resolution and stunning high-definition (HD) video capture. Because of its high resolution, the sensor captures large, crisp pictures (11-inch by 14-inch) or can be used to zoom-in and print just a portion of the image without sacrificing image quality.

Stamps.com Press Release

LOS ANGELES, May 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/—Stamps.com (Nasdaq:STMP), a leading provider of Internet-based postage services, today announced the availability of PhotoStamps(R) from within Adobe(R) Photoshop(R) CS2, Photoshop Elements and Photoshop Album Starter Edition software. The launch of PhotoStamps for Business, also announced today, will now allow users of the Photoshop family of products to easily design and use PhotoStamps to create awareness for their products or services, to build their brand, or for other commercial uses.

Sony Electronics Press Release

New VAIO UX Model Combines Micro-Portable Design with Smooth Functionality

SAN DIEGO, May 16, 2006 – Sony Electronics today introduced the VAIO® UX Micro PC, placing full-size computer performance in a pocket-sized package. Weighing just over a pound, the new PC has a Microsoft® XP Professional operating system and an Intel® Core™ Solo Ultra Low Voltage CPU for fast processing and long battery life. The UX model also features a 4.5-inch wide SVGA screen with XBRITE™ technology for viewing that slides up to expose an integrated keyboard. This allows you to access familiar applications easily in the same way you would on a full-sized computer. The pocket-sized PC also comes equipped with a stylus and Sony’s VAIO touch launcher for quick access to functions frequently used such as Internet access, e-mail, various computer applications, games and music. Just push the launcher button located on the side of the unit.

Imation Press Release

Imation’s new Flash Drive plays a pivotal role in providing rugged security - Resilient drive will protect important files and applications from damage

Bracknell, 17 May 2006 - Imation, a leading supplier of removable data storage media, has today announced the launch of its new Pivot Flash Drive.  Set in a tough rubberised, water-resistant shell and designed with a reinforced ring, the Imation Pivot Flash Drive offers high capacity and file encryption in a durable form.  The Imation Pivot Flash Drive is also protected with a pivot cap to prevent loss and includes an ultra-sturdy keychain clip.

PMA UK Press Release

Manufacturers and importers are to be banned from bringing cameras and other photographic equipment made using lead solder into the UK after the end of June. According to the DTI, electrical and electronic products are “placed on the EU market” as soon as they leave the point of manufacture in the EU or clear customs in the EU and, with effect from July 1st, “placing them on the market” will be banned. However, provided no further work, of any sort, is performed on them after July 1st 2006 products already in stock in the UK can still be sold. The restrictions are contained in an EC directive which bans the use of lead solder and other materials in new electrical and electronic equipment and which has already led to the demise of cameras such as Hasselblad’s XPan and Pentax’s 67 and 645 models.