PMA 2006: Olympus have provided a technical explanation of how the new Live MOS Sensor in the Olympus E-330 and Panasonic DMC-L1 DSLRs actually works.

Olympus Press Release

The Live MOS Sensor offers image quality comparable to an Full Frame Transfer (FFT) CCD sensor with the low power requirements of a CMOS sensor, and is noteworthy for its high-quality imaging capabilities over an extended period of time. Simplified circuitry that reduces the distance from each photodiode to its corresponding on-chip microlens assures excellent sensitivity and image quality even when light strikes it at a high angle of incidence.

This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:

1. In-Camera Noise Ninja?
2. Adjusting Your Digicam To Be As Sharp And Clear As Film
3. Time-Lapse Photography With Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1
4. Image Sensor Sizes Explained

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. And, 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 of 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.

PMA 2006: Pretec Press Release

ORLANDO, Fla.—Feb. 26, 2006—Pretec Electronics Corp., the 2nd company in the world offering CompactFlash memory card (CF) since 1995, is exhibiting the ultra high speed CF card at CFA booth #3076, here in PMA at the Orange County Convention Center. PRETEC 133X CF Card is capable of running at up to 20MB/sec and 14MB/sec of access speed in read & write, enabling users to enjoy the exciting multimedia experience in applications such as high-resolution and high-speed digital cameras where faster write speed means lower set-up time between pictures. PRETEC 133X CF card is more than 50% faster than its predecessor, PRETEC 80X CF card, the fastest CF card in the world two years ago, and is fully ATA/True IDE compatible and operational in both 5V and 3.3V platforms. The introduction of the high performance CF card addresses the growing need for higher density and faster speed data storage in leading-edge products and systems.

PMA 2006: DIMA Press Release

DIMA Cites Two Fujifilm Offerings for Innovative Digital Product Awards; FinePix F30 Digital Camera and GetPix Kiosk VP3 Receive Prestigious Award at PMA 2006

ORLANDO, Fla.—Feb. 25, 2006—The Digital Imaging Marketing Association (DIMA), a section of Photo Marketing Association International, today presented Fujifilm with not one, but two DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards at the PMA 2006 Annual Convention and Trade Show. The two products—the FinePix F30 digital camera and the enhanced GetPix Kiosk VP3 for digital picture printing—were singled out by DIMA for their unique use of technology or applications that result in a significant user benefit. DIMA’s selection of both capture and output products from Fujifilm demonstrates the company’s wide-ranging expertise in digital imaging while reinforcing Fujifilm’s status as one of the most innovative companies in photography.

PMA 2006: The Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro for Four Thirds lens is announced at PMA today.

Sigma UK Press Release

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro for the Four Thirds fitting. This medium telephoto macro lens produces an excellent optical performance due to its new lens power layout. The new lens coating cuts down ghosting, the influence of harmful light caused by reflections from the digital image sensor. Its outstanding optical performance provides the ultimate correction against lateral chromatic aberration and distortion. This lens boasts compact dimensions of 74mm (maximum diameter) and 97.5mm (overall length). It has a filter size of 58mm and, at just 450gms, is also extremely lightweight. The minimum focusing distance of 31.2cm (12.2”) is capable of macro photography with a maximum magnification of 1:1. It is possible to enjoy photography from life-size close-up to infinity.

PMA 2006: The Sigma APO MACRO 150mm F2.8 EX DG HSM lens for Four Thirds is announced at PMA today.

Sigma UK Press Release

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new 150mm 2.8 EX DG for the Four Thirds fitting. This large aperture telephoto macro lens enables you to shoot up to 1:1 life size close-ups. Its large F2.8 aperture makes it an ideal lens for digital SLR as well as film SLR cameras. The new lens power layout provides the ultimate correction against lateral chromatic aberration to which digital cameras are prone. Two Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements control various color aberrations and assure high image quality.

PMA 2006: The Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC lens for Four Thirds is announced at PMA today.

Sigma UK Press Release

EX series, large aperture zoom lens designed specifically for use with digital SLR cameras is now available in the Four Thirds fitting.

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new 18-50mm 2.8 EX DC for the Four Thirds fitting. The characteristics of digital SLR cameras were taken into consideration when designing the lens power layout. The new advanced lens design corrects various aberrations. This lens provides the utmost correction against lateral chromatic aberration which is a serious problem for digital SLR cameras. This lens is specially coated to get the best colour balance whilst cutting down flare and ghosting, caused by reflections from the digital image sensor and lens. It has excellent correction for vignetting and superior peripheral brightness is ensured.

PMA 2006: The Sigma 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX DG/HSM lens for Four Thirds is announced at PMA today.

Sigma UK Press Release

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX DG HSM for the Four Thirds fitting. This high zoom ratio lens is optimised for digital SLR cameras and capable of covering a wide range of focal lengths from 50mm standard to 500mm ultra telephoto. When used on a Four Thirds camera, the effective focal length will be 100-1000mm. This ultra-zoom lens employs a seven-group zoom system, which provides a high zoom magnification of 10x. Triple-cam Rear Focusing System ensures high precision throughout the whole focus range. The new lens coating reduces flare and ghosting, is a common problem of digital cameras, and also creates an optimum colour balance. This lens uses four pieces of SLD (the special low dispersion) glass for excellent correction of color aberration.

PMA 2006: The Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM lens for Four Thirds is announced at PMA today.

Sigma UK Press Release

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM for the Four Thirds fitting. Two SLD glass elements are especially effective in the compensation of magnification chromatic aberration. A molded glass aspherical lens at the rear lens group reduces colour aberration and provides high-quality image results. The lens creates exceptionally sharp images of high contrast from its minimum focusing distance of 40cm to infinity. The HSM design provides quiet high-speed auto-focus with full-time manual focus override. The large maximum aperture of F1.4 produces a versatile lens that performs superbly in a great range of applications including portraiture, indoor and studio work and landscape photography.

PMA 2006: The Sony DSC-H5 and Sony DSC-H2 ultra-zooms digital cameras are announced at PMA today. 12x optical zoom lenses, 7.2 and 6 megapixels respectively, 3 inch and 2 inch LCD screens. The Cyber-shot DSC-H5 camera will be available in May for about $500 and the DSC-H2 model ships in April for about $400.

Sony USA Press Release

ORLANDO, Fla., (PMA 2006, Booth #4150), Feb. 25, 2006 — Sony is expanding its high-zoom digital still camera line with two new Cyber-shot® models that are sure to zero in on the subjects you most desire. Clad in black, the new DSC-H5 model has a 7.2-megapixel CCD imager and extra-large, three-inch LCD screen. It also shimmers in silver along with the stage-worthy DSC-H2 model, which has a six-megapixel imager and two-inch LCD. Both cameras flaunt Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar 12x optical zoom lenses and focal length ranges of 36 to 432 millimeters (35 mm equivalence). “High-zoom cameras are one of the fastest-growing segments in the industry,” said James Neal, director of digital imaging products at Sony Electronics. “They are powerful enough to get those hard-to-see distant shots, and have the easy-to-use functionality of point-and-shoot cameras.

PMA 2006: The Sony DSC-W100 and Sony DSC-W70 digital cameras are announced at PMA today. 8 and 7 megapixels respectively, 3x zoom lenses, up to ISO 1250 on the W100. The Cyber-shot DSC-W100 camera ships in April for about $350, and the DSC-W70 model will also be available in April for about $300. Both models are available in black and silver.

Sony USA Press Release

ORLANDO, Fla. (PMA 2006, Booth #4150), Feb. 25, 2006 — Sony rounds out its new W-series line of digital still cameras with two top-end models packed with powerful features—the Cyber-shot® DSC-W100 and DSC-W70. “Our W-series feature intelligent functions that work behind the scenes, said James Neal, director of digital imaging products at Sony Electronics. “Users can focus on those moments of inspiration that make great photographs without the hassle of worrying about camera settings.” The DSC-W100 model packs in an eight-megapixel imaging sensor, and has a compact metal body with a stylized finish in black and silver. It features a manual exposure mode with extended control for up to 46 steps of adjustable shutter speeds (30 - 1/1000 sec.) and two steps of aperture control.

PMA 2006: Sony USA Press Release

ORLANDO, Fla. (PMA, Booth #4150), Feb. 25, 2006- Sony Electronics is transforming static, digital images into a rich audio visual experience with the world’s first dedicated photo storage unit with high-definition output. Featuring eight slideshow styles with image transitions synchronized to pre-installed background music and high-definition video output, the new HDPS-L1 hard drive photo storage unit offers an interactive way to view and share high-resolution photos from holidays, reunions and birthday parties on a home theatre system. “We expect all sorts of people will take advantage of this new photo storage device to rescue treasured memories buried in their computers and on memory cards, and bring them to life with its built-in slideshow feature,” said Jim Leahey, general manager of peripherals and enhancements at Sony Electronics. “It finally gives high-resolution still pictures the visual realism usually reserved for motion-pictures.”

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 is a new compact digital camera that is positioned in the middle of Panasonic’s range for 2006. That’s not to say that the LZ5 is in any way mundane - in the usual Panasonic tradition of innovative products, the 6 megapixel DMC-LZ5 offers a 6x optical zoom lens, equivalent to 37-222mm in 35mm format. Other stand-out features include a large 2.5 inch LCD screen, optical image stabilisation for blur-free photos, and a new High Sensitivity mode that extends the ISO range to 1600. Find out if this all adds up to make a great camera by reading my review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5.

Website: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 Review

PMA 2006: The HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Photo Printer is announced today. The HP B9180 is an 8 colour, A3+ printer that uses Vivera pigment inks for waterproof photos that resist fading for more than 200 years. The HP B9180 has an estimated street price of $699 (US).

HP Press Release

The HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Photo Printer delivers exceptional image quality and the best photo permanence on the market. HP Vivera pigment ink technology, combined with the printer’s professional colors, enables accurate and consistent color reproduction. HP’s third-generation gray ink is more neutral than ever before, allowing for exceptionally smooth transitions and detail. Eight individual high-capacity ink cartridges enable high-volume printing with efficient printing speeds – producing 4 x 6-inch photos in as fast as 10 seconds and 13 x 19-inch photos as fast as 1.5 minutes – ideal for professional photographers and advanced amateurs. Users can print exceptional photos on digital fine art media including canvas, photo rag, watercolor, stiff pre-matte and film up to 1.5-mm thick, as well as improved HP Advanced Photo Paper.

PMA 2006: Pentax have unveiled plans to launch a 10 megapixel DSLR camera, 21mm wide-angle lens and PENTAX 645 Digital medium format DSLR. All 3 products will be shown at PMA 2006. I have just arrived in Orlando, Florida (where it’s raining, just like London), and PhotographyBLOG will bring you more news about the Pentax 10mp DSLR on Sunday when PMA officially opens.

Pentax Press Release

PENTAX to Exhibit Upcoming Digital SLR Camera Products at PMA 2006 in the U.S.A.

PENTAX Corporation is pleased to announce the exhibition of three upcoming digital SLR camera products, all currently under development, at major trade shows in the U.S.A. They will be showcased at PMA 2006, America’s largest annual photographic merchandise trade show, to be held from February 26 to March 1 in Orlando, Florida.
 
1. [ Product type ]  Lens-interchangeable digital SLR camera
Model name : To be announced
Product information :
  * High-quality digital image reproduction with 10 effective megapixels
  * Market launch tentatively scheduled for autumn 2006

PMA 2006: EIZO Introduces Creator Edition (CE) Series with Two Additions to the ColorEdge(R) Line of High-End Professional LCDs - ColorEdge CE210W and CE240W

CYPRESS, Calif.—Feb. 24, 2006—Eizo Nanao Technologies Inc. (“EIZO”) is further extending its range of LCD monitors for professionals engaged in all forms of graphics with the introduction of two wide-format LCD monitors, the 21” ColorEdge CE210W and the 24” ColorEdge CE240W. Both CE monitors feature increased horizontal viewing space with their widescreen format complemented by features such as an 8 ms mid-tone response time, an ergonomic design, and an industry-leading five-year warranty. In addition to their extended space, they have extended versatility and reliability with color management capabilities making the CE monitors an ideal solution for a wider range of professionals like graphic artists, printers, gamers, video editors, multimedia creators, 3-D CAD professionals and digital photographers.

PMA Show: Phase One Press Release

Phase One Capture One PRO and New iView MediaPro Bundled to Streamline Digital Photographers’ RAW Workflow

Photo Marketers Association (PMA) Convention, Florida, USA (26/02/06) - Phase One, the world leader in digital imaging solutions, and digital asset management pioneer iView Multimedia Ltd.™ (iView) today announce a chance for photographers to take advantage of a software bundling offer that combines two professional-grade tools designed to streamline RAW workflows. The pairing of Capture One PRO and the new version of iView MediaPro empowers photographers to work the way they want to. For a limited time only, iView MediaPro and Capture One PRO will be available for purchase together for $499 – this is $199 off the total price if each application were purchased separately. The offer will run until April 15th, 2006, and will be available as a download from each of the companies’ respective sites: www.iview-multimedia.com and www.phaseone.com. An accompanying RAW workflow guide detailing how the two programs can be used together is also available for download.

DxO Labs Press Release

Paris, France — February 24, 2006 — DxO Labs, a software company focused on research in image generation and enhancement for digital capture devices, announced today that Alpha Digital Services Ltd. will be responsible for distributing DxO Optics Pro software in the UK. DxO Optics Pro, the award-winning software tool for serious amateur and professional photographers, takes camera and lens performance enhancement to a new level with the incorporation of several new DxO technologies. DxO Optics Pro is available in three editions—Starter, Standard and Elite—and provides image correction capabilities for a wide range of digital cameras from high-end digicams to professional Digital-SLRs.

ExpressDigital Press Release

ExpressDigital Extends Darkroom Software with Retouching Tools, Advanced RAW Workflow, and Quick Set-Up Wizards

ENGLEWOOD, CO—February 24, 2006—ExpressDigital, the leader in digital workflow software, internet storefronts, and lab solutions, announced today an enhanced version of its flagship software,
ExpressDigital Darkroom. The enhancements include new built-in retouching tools, advanced RAW workflow, quick-and-easy set-up wizards, and proactive online marketing campaigns. “Ease-of-use combined with new money-making and time-saving features defines this release of Darkroom,” explained Graham McFarland, President and CEO of ExpressDigital. “With over 16,000 professional photographers relying on our solutions everyday, this new release was custom built for the digital professional.

PMA Show 2006: PhotoVu™ Announces Compatibility with Leading Photo Sharing Portals Apple® iPhoto® 6 Photocasts, flickr™, MSN® Spaces, and SmugMug™

Orlando, FL—February 24, 2006—Today PhotoVu™, the leading wireless digital picture frame company, announced a major new software release enabling PhotoVu owners to download public content from four popular photo sharing services. Using RSS technology available from these select services, the PhotoVu can automatically download and synchronize an unbelievably diverse variety of photo content which is freely available in the public domain. “Whether it’s downloading beautiful nature and travel photos from a “public group feed,” or having a friend or family’s PhotoVu automatically retrieve a special album of pictures you’ve uploaded for them to see, this new software adds a whole new and very powerful capability to the PhotoVu line of digital picture frames,” said Robert Jordan, Partner, PhotoVu. “The response from our early beta customers has been extremely positive and we look forward to making this new software available to all of our existing and new customers in the coming weeks.”