PMA 2006: PMA 2006 turned out to be as much about the future as the present, with some of the hottest new products just being prototypes or mockups, rather than the real deal. Consequently you won’t be able to get your hands on quite a lot of the kit that has been announced until May, June, or even 6 months later in the case of the Panasonic DMC-L1 and the as yet un-named 10 megapixel Pentax DSLR. In fact, of all the products listed in our Hot Top 10 for PMA 2006, only 2 of them are available to buy today (Bibble Labs 4.6 and Muvee). Carry on reading to find out which products made our top 10…

PMA 2006: The first ever digital camera that I bought was the Minolta DiMAGE 5 bridge-style camera, so-called because it “bridged” the gap between a smaller compact digital camera and a larger digital SLR. Now it seems that the bridge camera has become something of a dying breed, at least for those manufacturers with DSLRs in their product range.

Panasonic Press Release

Panasonic is Developing 4 GB SDHC Memory Card Based on New SD Memory Card Specification

Panasonic, the leading brand for which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is best known, today announced that it is developing a 4 GB SDHC (SD High-Capacity) Memory Card based on the new SD Specifications Version 2.00. The new specifications were established to meet the growing demand for HD (High Definition) video and high-resolution image recording used in many SD enabled devices. The 4 GB SDHC Memory Card is scheduled for global release in the summer of 2006. Since its introduction in the year 2000, the SD Memory Card has been accepted by a wide range of digital devices, backed by its four main advantages - compact size, high data storage capacity, fast data transfer speed and advanced copyright protection features. The demand for higher-capacity SD Memory Cards still continues to grow due to the widespread use of high-resolution digital cameras and semiconductor audio and video players. Reacting to remarkable growth in the market for such devices, the SD Card Association released SD Specifications Version 2.00 for the capacity beyond 2 GB.

BenQ Press Release

BenQ Announces New High-Performance, Ultra-Slim 5- and 6-Megapixel Digital Camera Line Up - Stylish Cameras Include the World’s Slimmest 6-Megapixel 3” LCD Camera and 5-Megapixel Models with Shake-Free Mode

Hannover, Germany, 9th of March, 2006 – BenQ today unveiled six new additions to its digital camera Classic, Elegance, Luxury and Performance lineup: the X610, E520+, E600 and P500, C530 and C630. The highlight of all six models is the X610, the world’s slimmest 6-megapixel 3” LCD screen DSC camera in the market. All digital cameras offer an ultra-slim, compact design and versatile feature set, and are ideal for consumers seeking a high-quality multi-function digital camera at an affordable price delivering true-to-life, crisp photos with pristine clarity and superb contrast.

JP Distribution Press Release

JP Distribution’s stand at Focus on Imaging 2006 has been it’s most successful show to date. The number of enquiries for all of JP Distribution’s brands was at an all time high and the company were Highly Commended for their innovative stand design. Launched at the show was the worlds first 22 Million Pixel DSLR – The Mamiya ZD.  Focus on Imaging was the ideal event to launch the camera and, as expected, the Mamiya ZD caused great interest at the show. Stock is now available through authorised Mamiya ZD dealers.

BenQ Press Release

Hannover, Germany, 9th of March, 2006 – Seventeen BenQ lifestyle designed products will receive the prestigious 2006 iF Design Award for design excellence, including a BenQ scanner which will also receive iF International Forum Design’s top honor, the Gold Award. Known in industrial design circles as the “design Oscars,” this year’s Gold Award will be bestowed on the BenQ 7350CT scanner in recognition for its outstanding design. The iF Gold Award is given to a select group of 50 products a year, out of a total number of 1,952 product entries from 37 different countries.

Sony Europe Press Release

Sony Digital Still Camera Cyber-shot T7 & the WALKMAN A Series Win iF Gold Awards

Hanover, 09 March 2006 - At the awards ceremony for the iF product design award 2006 – held at CeBIT 2006 on 9 March – Sony was a runaway winner scooping 14 iF product design awards, including two prestigious iF gold awards for its digital still camera Cyber-shot T7 and the WALKMAN A Series (NW-A3000 and NW-A1000). Selected from 1,952 products, entered from 37 countries worldwide, the International Forum Design awarded the coveted iF seal of design excellence to the following Sony products within the two categories “Consumer Electronics / Telecommunications”* and “Computers”:

Kodak Press Release

Three Kodak Products Recognized for Design Excellence - KODAK DIRECTVIEW DR 7500 System, KODAK EASYSHARE P850, P880 Digital Cameras Recognized with iF Seal.

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Mar. 9—Three digital imaging products from Eastman Kodak Company have received the prestigious iF Seal of Design Excellence, announced this week in Hannover, Germany. The KODAK DIRECTVIEW DR 7500 System, along with the KODAK EASYSHARE P850 and P880 digital cameras, earned the highly regarded 2006 iF Product Design honors. Showcased at the annual CeBIT technology fair in Germany, the iF Design exhibition showcases a range of cutting-edge product designs, ranging from cellular phones to sleek luxury sports cars. In 2006, the design organization said, just under 2,000 products submitted from 37 countries competed for an iF award. Kodak’s award-winning entries “successfully asserted (themselves) in a first-rate, highly international competitive environment,” the organization said.

Ilford Photo Press Release

Many months in the making, but well worth the wait, ILFORD Photo’s new website has gone live and is proving a magnet for everyone with an interest in black-and-white photography.

“Spreading the word” is one thing, but the new website launched by ILFORD Photo (www.ilfordphoto.com ) is something else. A virtual encyclopaedia of all you wanted to know about black-and-white photography but didn’t know where to go, the site provides a vast resource of information about black-and-white photography in general, and ILFORD Photo in particular. Reaching out to everyone interested or involved in pure photography, the site carries separate ‘Home’ pages for students, educators, professionals and enthusiast photographers. Each of these contains information and links of particular interest to the visitor, and invites visitors to register with information about themselves to create a forum for interactive communications, and to set the basis for future events, promotions and content which will be geared to visitors’ interests and requirements.

PMA 2006: Imagenomic Press Release

“Breakview” Noiseware 4 Sets New Gold Standard for Speed, Quality, Workflow and Ease-of-Use

Orlando, FL, February 24, 2006 – Booth #1653 / Technology Suite X4 – Imagenomic, an independent software vendor specializing in digital imagery enhancement solutions, has announced the release of Noiseware 4, the latest generation of its highly acclaimed, award winning noise correction technology, here at the Photo Marketing Association’s annual trade show and convention. Noiseware 4 features a range of high performance and unique feature enhancements, including Unmatched Processing Speed, Intuitive and Intelligent Workflow, and new, Powerful Noise Suppression Controls.

Blue Pixel Press Release

Blue Pixel Presents Nature’s Best Photography Experience Led By Award-Winning Photographer Daniel J. Cox - Nature’s Best Photography™ Experience is a Unique Educational and Instructional Event Appropriate for Digital Photographers of All Experience Levels

Annapolis, MD – March 9, 2006 – Blue Pixel, the world’s leading digital photography educators, photographers and consultants committed to teaching digital photography from an unbiased, real-world perspective, today announced details of the Nature’s Best Photography Experience, a seminar series solely created to broaden and improve the nature photography skills of attendees. The seminars will be led by Daniel J. Cox, a professional nature photographer whose credits include: award-winning images in Nature’s Best Photography, cover stories in National Geographic and television appearances on Animal Planet. Beginning in March and visiting 16 cities across the country, Nature’s Best Photography Experience is a full-day seminar designed to teach attendees how to work with the latest technology, capture better images and work more efficiently throughout the digital workflow process.

The New York Times has reported that the photographer Gordon Parks has died at the age of 93.

“Perhaps his best-known photograph, which he titled “American Gothic,” was taken during his brief time with the agency; it shows a black cleaning woman named Ella Watson standing stiffly in front of an American flag, a mop in one hand and a broom in the other. Mr. Parks wanted the picture to speak to the existence of racial bigotry and inequality in the nation’s capital. He was in an angry mood when he asked the woman to pose, having earlier been refused service at a clothing store, a movie theater and a restaurant.”

Website: New York Times - Gordon Parks, a Master of the Camera, Dies at 93

Update: Due to an overwhelming response, with 18,000 replies so far, the OpenRAW Survey will now close on March 15th, 2006.

OpenRAW Press Release

RAW Survey launched: An International Study of the Experiences, Requirements, Preferences, and Concerns of Photographers regarding RAW Imaging Technology

On January 31, 2006, the OpenRAW initiative launched an international survey on its Web site ( http://openraw.org/survey/ ) to collect information about the experiences, requirements, preferences, and concerns of digital photographers and other interested parties regarding RAW imaging technology, a concept that many writers are comparing to a “digital negative”.

Tokina have quietly unveiled their 2006 roadmap for lenses, including the very interesting Tokina 10-17mm fisheye zoom. Here’s a list of all the new Tokina lenses for 2006:

- 10-17mm f3.5-4.5
- 16-50mm f2.8
- 17-135mm f3.5-5.6
- 50-135mm f.28

These are all in the AT-X Pro DX and AT-X DX for digital SLRs with APS-C sized sensors. Sounds like one of the more intriguing lens lineups!

Website: Tokina Lens Roadmap

Popular Photography have just reviewed the new 10.2 megapixel Nikon D200 digital SLR camera.

“Images from the D200 rival those from the D2x in resolution, color accuracy, and overall image quality. The D200 averages 2,075 lines of resolution (see test results). That’s the same as the D2x—and 300 lines higher than the Canon EOS 20D or new 30D (see our review of the 30D on page 62). It also delivers excellent color accuracy, on par with the D2x and nearly as good as the EOS 20D. But the real surprise is that the D200 captures images with slightly higher resolution and color accuracy than Canon’s full-frame 12.8MP EOS 5D ($3,000, body only).”

Website: Popular Photography - Nikon D200 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

PCMagazine have just reviewed the new 10.2 megapixel Nikon D200 digital SLR camera.

“Control has always been an essential part of photography. Once you understand which dials to turn and what buttons to press, you can determine whether you freeze the action of your subjects or create a blur of movement. As with most digital SLRs, the Nikon D200 comes loaded with controls, both automatic and manual. It also performs beautifully and takes truly amazing pictures. But the camera’s innovative ability to control lighting, particularly in studio situations, is what really impressed me enough to select it as our new Editors’ Choice.”

Website: PCMagazine - Nikon D200 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the new entry-level Pentax *ist DL digital SLR camera. The Pentax *ist DL is a 6.1 megapixel DSLR which features a 2.5 LCD screen and light 16 ounce body.

“As with its *ist D-series predecessors, the first thing that strikes you about the *ist DL is its diminutive (for an SLR) size. It weighs-in at just under 2 pounds including batteries, SD memory card, strap and DA 18-55mm lens, among the lightest dSLR’s currently available. The value of its light weight became clear to me during the recent PMA show; I walked the aisles all day with *ist DL without any soreness in my neck, arm or hand. Its small size does not diminish its ergonomic qualities, however; the *ist DL is comfortable to hold and its controls are both logically organized and easy to operate.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Pentax *ist DL Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

Here are the sample photos from my upcoming review of the 5 megapixel Canon Digital IXUS 55, a few days before the full review is online. The Canon IXUS 55 is a very compact, stylish digital camera with a 3x optical zoom lens, DIGIC II image processor and a 2.5 inch LCD screen.

Website: Canon Digital IXUS 55 Photos

There are some fantastic prizes on offer in our February 2006 Giveaway, courtesy of DxO Labs!

- One person will win DxO Optics Pro Elite (value: $US 299 / € 249 / £ 199)
For professional and high-end Digital-SLRs.

- One person will win DxO Optics Pro Standard (value: $US 149 / € 124 / £ 99)
For expert amateur Digital-SLRs

- One person will win DxO Optics Pro Starter (value: $US 79 / € 64 / £ 49)
For advanced digital cameras (sometimes also called EVF, superzoom or zLRs)

All prizes kindly donated by DxO Labs
http://www.dxo.com

On Monday 13th March 2006, 3 names will be randomly selected from the list of PhotographyBLOG Newsletter subscribers.

All you have to do to enter is subscribe to the PhotographyBLOG Newsletter before March 13th.

Samsung Press Release

Hanover, Germany - 9 March 2006 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is enhancing its Camcorder product range by bringing a new multifunction digital camera series to CeBIT. The VP-MS1x, the first product in this category, is a business card sized digital camera that provides users with portability and huge storage capacity. “Our customers wanted a lightweight, compact, easy to use digital stills and video camera that could be carried anywhere, yet that had a large storage capacity,” said says Moon Soo Bang, Vice President of the Digital AV Division of Samsung. “Our team designed a slim, elegant product that not only takes the highest quality still pictures currently available on a Camcorder, but also built into it innovative functions such as flash memory, which allows users to still take great pictures even if the memory card runs out of capacity.”