DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the Sony Cyber-shot M2 digital hybrid camera, a 5 megapixel diigtal camera which also offers MPEG-4 movies in a stylish upright design.

“Sony equipped the M2 with a high-quality Carl Zeiss 3x zoom lens. It offers a fairly standard zoom range of 38-114mm in 35mm-equivalence, providing a moderately-wide field of view for interiors and outdoor scenics and enough telephoto magnification to bring your distant subjects noticeably closer. The lens produced sharp results from corner to corner throughout its zoom range, with moderate amounts of barrel distortion at wide angle and pin cushioning at telephoto. Chromatic aberrations were well controlled, with nearly imperceptible purple fringing present even in very high contrast areas.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Sony Cyber-shot M2 Review

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Sony Europe Press Release

Paris, 7 March 2006 - Sony Europe’s Recording Media & Energy (RME) division today announced that its first Blu-ray Disc media will ship in Europe in March 2006. Single-layer BD-RE (Blu-ray Disc Rewritable) media will be available in store from mid March and single-layer write-once BD-R (Blu-ray Disc Recordable) media will be available from April. Sony is also set to launch dual layer discs later this year. The single-layer Blu-ray Disc Recordable (BNR25A) and Blu-ray Disc Rewritable (BNE25A) media offer a storage capacity of 25GB, more than five times that of a normal DVD and enough for approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes of video at a bit rate of 24Mbps, or 10 hours and 30 minutes at 5Mbps.1 The new generation media support 2X speed which equates to a data transfer rate of 72 Mbps (9 MB/s), making the discs suitable for video recording as well as data storage and file backup. In addition, Sony’s Blu-ray Disc media will feature its unique AccuCORE™ technology as standard, ensuring reliable data recording, increased disc protection and enhanced durability.

Lastolite Press Release

RayD8 – An affordable lighting system that provides quality results! Award winning manufacturer Lastolite has launched RayD8, an entry-level studio lighting system for product and portrait photography.

The kit contains:
• 2 x light heads
• 2 x reflectors
• 2 x 500w P2/l lamps
• 2 x 4 section stands (min height 86cm (34in), max height 297cm (117in)
• 2 x 80cm white Lastolite reflective professional PVC umbrellas

PhotoSharks Press Release

Ready for a challenge? PhotoSharks, the newest photo challenge over internet, invites you, starting with the 2nd of March 2006, to a great series of photo challenges. Beginning in Leverkusen, Germany, and spreading all over the world, the project provokes you to share your personal most interesting photos with people worldwide, proving you abilities and creativity. We are interested in your own interpretation of the world and its aspects in different situations, as well as your ability to catch it in a photo-frame.

Gitzo Press Release

Gitzo Introduces Traveler Monopod Featuring Breakthrough 6X Carbon Fiber Technology - Light and compact tripod composed of new, 30% lighter 6X carbon fiber and offers strength, stability and high performance.

February 28, 2006—When it comes to traveling with photographic equipment, one thing is true for all photographers on the move – size matters. Gitzo, revered throughout the world for its precision, quality and innovation in bringing new products to market for both the professional photo and video markets, is proud to announce the Traveler GM2560T 6X Monopod. The lightest and most compact carbon fiber monopod Gitzo has on the market, the Traveler, when completely folded, stands at a diminutive 14.3 inches, weighs less than one pound and fits in any case. At 56.1 inches when fully extended, the Traveler rises as tall as most standard Gitzo monopods. This Traveler monopod also incorporates Gitzo’s revolutionary 6X technology tube, which reduces overall monopods weight up to 25% percent without sacrificing strength or stability.

Gitzo Press Release

Gitzo Introduces Mountaineer Tripod Featuring Breakthrough 6X Carbon Fiber Technology - New 6X carbon fiber is 30% lighter without sacrificing strength or stability.

February 28, 2006—Gitzo, revered throughout the world for its precision, quality and innovation in bringing new products to market for both the professional photo and video markets, is proud to announce the Mountaineer GT2540L 2 Series 6X Long Tripod. The new tripod is an extension of the popular Mountaineer line as well as part of a new line of carbon fiber tripods incorporating a revolutionary design process that reduces overall weight up to 17 percent without sacrificing strength or stability. Available in a four leg section configuration and with a maximum capacity of 17.65 lbs, the new Mountaineer rapid column tripod introduces a new concept of “Eye Level” height tripods. According to this concept, tripods can hold the equipment up to eye level without extending the center column. Photographers and birders no longer need to compromise between tripod performance and use comfort. The taller GT2540L reaches maximum heights of 58.85 and 67.7 in (with fully extended central column) and folds to 24 in for travel.

Lyra Research Press Release

Lyra’s Hard Copy Supplies Journal Launches Free Research Site with News & Info on Ink Jet, Toner, Paper, Imaging Supplies

Newton, MA, March 1, 2006—Lyra Research’s The Hard Copy Supplies Journal, the digital imaging supplies industry’s most insightful monthly newsletter, has launched a free online supplement, http://www.HardCopySuppliesJournal.com. Now, marketing and product managers can search an extensive online database for product specifications and press releases on new printers and related digital imaging supplies such as ink jet and toner cartridges, bulk ink and toner, photo and specialty papers, and other marking materials and media. Commenting on the free supplemental Web site, Charles Brewer, managing editor of The Hard Copy Supplies Journal, says, “Through the Journal’s ongoing coverage of the industry, we have compiled a far-reaching library of imaging supplies news and product information. It made perfect sense to align this comprehensive archive with the convenience of Web-based access and powerful search functionality. There really is nothing else like it on the Web, and we are pleased to make this valuable free research tool available online to the digital imaging community.”

Colour Confidence Press Release

Birmingham UK, 27th February, 2006 - Colour Confidence, the leading independent colour management specialists, today launched the newest section of their website - the ‘Monitor Showroom’.

The ‘Monitor Showroom’ will showcase monitors from Eizo, LaCie and NEC. These monitors have been selected to feature in the new section due to their high standard of colour quality and value for money. The range provides customers with a comprehensive choice in terms of price and colour accuracy. A selection of these monitors will be on show at Stand E40 Focus On Imaging, 26th February ? 1st March, NEC, Birmingham. To visit the monitor showroom, go to www.colourconfidence.com/showroom

PMA 2006: Delkin Devices Press Release

Delkin Devices, Inc., based in Poway, California, has been providing “Everything but the Camera” since 1986. From Archival Gold Media to Pop-Up Shades, Delkin provides products with premium quality, innovative designs and an ongoing dedication to superior customer service. Delkin announces 51 new products at the PMA (Photo Marketing Association Show) in Orlando starting February 26th. “We have something for everyone,” says CEO and President Martin Wood. “Everything from new batteries and scratch resistant recordable media to MP3 players and instructional DVD’s, we are dedicated to providing our customers with solutions to their digital photography needs.”

DCViews have published a comparative review of the Kodak Easyshare P880 and Fujifilm Finepix S9000 / S9500 digital cameras.

“The Kodak P880 differs from its competitors by its 24 mm wide angle, which normally is 35 mm and sometimes 28mm. For landscape and interiors this gives beautiful results. From 24 mm the zoom range goes to 140 mm and with this 5.8 optical zoom you can capture 90% of every day subjects. The mechanical ring on the lens makes zooming very easy and accurate, although the fingers of the right hand are sometimes in the way.”

Website: DCViews - Kodak P880 versus Fujifilm Finepix S9000 / S9500

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DigiCamReview have reviewed the Pentax OptioS6 digitial camera, which has a 6 megapixel sensor and 3x optical lens, housed in a slim 19mm body.

“Image quality isn’t this camera’s strongest point - the camera does produce good results but not as often as it should. Outdoors the camera does better, but indoors the camera has focus problems, and flash overexposing problems. Images were generally soft indoors and outside, and the macro mode was below average only allowing you to be 15cm away from the subject at the closest. Noise was fairly well controlled at ISO200 or below. The camera generally has good colour - colours have good saturation and contrast - this can be further tweaked in camera with contrast, saturation and sharpness controls. Better results can also be achieved by using custom white balance, and manual focus.”

Website: DigiCamReview - Pentax OptioS6 Review

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This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:

1. High-Zoom Ultra-Compacts (The Noise On The Street)
2. Love That HP Photosmart 475 Printer
3. Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Structural Tests

Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imaginations run wild. Email all your nagging questions to: [email protected], and then, En Garde!

The best question of the week will receive a small PRIZE from the PhotographyBLOG goody bag, so send your questions now.

If you do not see your previously submitted question in this week’s column, it may have been submitted too late for consideration, in which case it will be held over for next week. If your question is selected for publication, the complete text of your email will be included in the column, but may be edited for grammar, consistency, or other reasons. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically type it into the text of your email. All judging is done on an impartial basis without regard to race, creed, color, sex, national origin, professional status, physical disability, mental handicap, or model of camera owned (these latter two go hand-in-hand). The decision of the judges is final.

Here are this week’s questions and answers.

This week’s Saturday Shout looks back at the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) show in Orlando, Florida. A huge number of new photography products were announced, including more than 90 digital cameras, but did anything get you hot under the collar and give you sweaty hands, or are you already looking forward to Photokina in the autumn? Shout out now…

I’ve just returned from PMA 2006 in Orlando, Florida, followed by a short trip to visit Hewlett Packard’s Lab in Palo Alto, California. Consequently I’ve spent most of the last 36 hours asleep! Dodgy internet connections and a busy schedule have prevented me from updating the site in the last few days. Coming up is a look back at PMA and my Hot Top 10 Poducts from the show, plus a report on what HP’s scientists are busy working on for the future.

PMA 2006: Live from the Panasonc press conference at PMA, where Panasonic have unveiled the new DMC-L1 digital SLR camera. Here are some exclusive shots of the Panasonic L1, new Leica D lens and Sigma Four Thirds lenses. The DMCL1 has certainly caused a stur amongst the journalists here at PMA, but what do you think of the Panasonic DMC-L1?

Update 28th February 2006: I’ve added 14 more photos of the DMC L1 which give you a much better idea of what the new DSLR looks like. There are also some exclusive shots which compare the DMCL1 with the Olympus E-330 and also show the Leica D lens mounted on the E-330, and an Olympus E-System lens on the Panasonic L1. And yes, the Olympus lens did work with the Panasonic body, just as the E-System standard promised.

The Sony Cyber-shot K800 and Sony Cyber-shot K790 camera phones are announced today, the first ever Sony phones to carry the Cyber-shot label. Both offer 3.2 megapixel sensors, autofocus and flash.

Sony Ericsson Press Release

Sony Ericsson introduce new lifestyle of imaging communication with first Cyber-shot™ phones - K800 and K790 camera phones deliver new level of imaging quality

28 February 2006, London – Sony Ericsson takes digital imaging in camera phones to new heights today with the launch of the K800 and K790 phones, the first handsets to carry the Cyber-shot™ brand, a true mark of imaging quality. Both are highly capable mobile phones with integrated 3.2 Megapixel digital cameras with Autofocus, Xenon flash and BestPic™ - Sony Ericsson’s unique imaging technology that allows you to capture exactly the moment you desire. K800 and K790 combine advanced image capture capabilities with high speed data transfer, making them perfect tools for shooting and sharing high quality pictures and videos. K800 is a dual-mode UMTS/GPRS phone and the K790 is a Tri Band EDGE phone. Both are available from Q2 2006.

PMA 2006: Pentax are showing their new, as yet un-named 10 megapixel DSLR under glass here at PMA (making product shots a little tricky). Here are some shots to whet your appetite…

Update 28th February 2006: Pentax kindly took the glass domes off their display booths, allowing a scrum of journalists to kick, bite and punch each other in a bid to get the ultimate shot of the new DSLR, lens and flashgun. So depsite being a little battered and bruised, there are now some better shots of the new prototypes at the end of this article, plus the smc Pentax-DA 21mm f3.2AL Limited lens and AF 540 FGZ flashgun.

PMA 2006: Also under glass at PMA is the prototype of Pentax’s 18 megapixel 645 medium format digital SLR.

Update 28th February 2006: Pentax kindly took the glass domes off their display booths. There are now some better shots of the new prototypes at the end of this article.

PMA 2006: Conspicuous by its absence amongst the tens of new products that Canon have announced today is a G-Series camera. At a press conference this morning, Canon UK representatives confirmed our worst fears by stating that there will be no more G-Series Canon cameras, which makes the Canon Powershot G6 (pictured) the last of its kind. The S-series cameras and the falling prices of Canon’s DSLRs have effectively replaced what has been a venerable, popular and best-selling series of cameras.

28th February 2006: Yesterday I attended a meeting with representatives from Canon Japan’s digital compact camera division. When asked if the Canon G-Series had officially ended, they replied that although there were no new G-Series models in the recently announced Spring 2006 range of Canon products, the G-Series may return in the future, if market conditions allow. So Canon G cameras could make a comeback, although the absence of any kind of bridge-style camera in Canon’s new line-up would suggest that the chances are slim, as DSLRs get ever cheaper and compacts ever more fully-featured.

PMA 2006: Bibble Labs Press Release

Bibble Labs releases 4.6 update with Noise Ninja Technology and Intel Macintosh Support - Other improvements include revised user interface and more speed

PMA 2006 Orlando, FL (February 24th, 2006) - Bibble Labs, Inc. announced today the immediate availability of version 4.6 of its popular Raw Workflow software. Bibble 4.6 offers a major breakthrough via the direct integration of Noise Ninja Technology from Picture Code, LLC. High ISO noise and digital artifacts are one of the more challenging aspects of today’s digital workflow. Historically photographers have had to use 3rd party tools and extra post processing steps to deal with this noise “After the fact”. By directly merging Noise Ninja technology into Bibble’s already blazing fast workflow, better results can now be achieved in shorter amounts of time.