Delkin Devices Press Release 11/12/04

90 mins AA / AAA Quick Charger
With Adaptor and Car Charger
SRP £24.99

Quick Charger charges AA and NiMH and NiCd batteries in 90 minutes.  Save time and money with e-film rechargeable AA NiMH batteries. 

Features:

- Includes 4 – 2300mAh Delkin efilm AA NiMH rechargeable batteries.
- DC Car Adaptor for Charging on the road.
- 2 Channels: Charges 2 or 4 AA or AAA batteries.

Delkin Devices also manufactures many other competitively priced Camera and Camcorder batteries for many other well known brands such as, Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Sony, Leica, Samsung, Konica / Minolta, and many others.

For further information on many other Delkin products visit: www.Delkin.com.

123di.com Press Release 10/12/04

123di.com announces “The 123 of digital imaging Interactive Learning Suite - Version 3.0”

The 123 of digital imaging combines several digital photography books into one comprehensive Interactive Learning Suite:

123di covers digital imaging via a three step workflow:
1. Understanding digital imaging and digital camera selection
2. Enhance your images in the “pixelroom”
3. Manage, view, share, and print your images

Highly Integrated Content
123di is packed with more than 2,500 screen-size pages filled with thousands of colorful graphics and animations.

CNET have published their review of the new 7 megapixel Canon PowerShot S70.

“Though it fails to garner the same across-the-board high marks as its predecessors, the Canon PowerShot S70 nevertheless acquits itself very well as an enthusiast’s compact. A 7-megapixel camera with a 3.6X zoom lens, the S70’s first-rate photos and flexible feature set appeal now as much as they ever did. Only poor battery life and average performance hold it back from attaining better grades. “

Website: CNET - Canon PowerShot S70 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Canon PowerShot S70

Creativepro.com have published a review of the 8 megapixel Canon EOS 20D DSLR.

“The most noticeable change in image quality with the 20D (in addition to increased resolution) is more-aggressive default settings. Following in the footsteps of the Rebel, the 20D comes pre-configured to perform a little more sharpening than the 10D, and its images consequently receive a boost in contrast. The camera comes equipped with a number of parameter sets, and it’s easy enough to change and customize them to yield images with more or less processing.”

Website: Creativepro.com - Canon EOS 20D Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Canon EOS 20D

Nikondigital.org have just published a review of the ColorEyes Display, an inexpensive monitor calibration device (found via digicamera.net

“For less than $200 (just over $300 bundled with an XRite colorimeter) ColorEyes has all the features of the very expensive products and even throws in a few new ones. I used it to quickly and easily re-profile my NEC FP2141SB and was pleasantly surprised by how much brighter CE was able to make the monitor while maintaining the same color fidelity I had achieved with Profilemaker 4.1.5 (a tool which sells for 10 times as much—although it also does printer profiling).”

Website: Nikondigital.org - ColorEyes Display Review

If you have recently bought one of Canon’s DSLRs, like the Digital Rebel (also called the EOS 300D) or the new, flying off the shelves like hotcakes EOS 20D, then you will be very interested in Bob Atkin’s great overview of Canon lenses.

“This review is for the new users. The assumption is that they don’t want to spend $7000 on an EF 600/4L IS USM, and indeed they probably don’t even want to spend $1150 on an EF 300/4L IS USM. I’ve chosen a series of lenses which the new user might be most interested in. These are mostly zooms and mostly priced in the $200-$400 range. I’ve avoided recommending most of the low end, plastic mount, inexpensive lenses normally sold with Rebel series bodies because, quite frankly, they aren’t all that good.”

Website: Bob Atkins - A review of lenses for the Canon EOS 300D, EOS 10D and EOS 20D Digital SLRs

HP are having a busy day today. Not only are they introducing cutting-edge digital technology to far-flung tribespeople, but they’re also working on developing an electronic badge that jams electronic cameras, preventing any lurking press photographers from taking those incriminating snaps that could get the rich and famous into a spot of bother. Sounds like a great idea to me - no more shots of David and Victoria Beckham…

“The “privacy protection system” being developed by Hewlett-Packard will allow the publicity-shy to transmit an infrared signal to any nearby compatible camera. Once activated, the camera’s software will automatically blur beyond recognition the face of anybody wearing the badge, New Scientist magazine reports.”

Website: The Times Online - Badge keeps paparazzi out of the picture

Thom Hogan has published a detailed review of the new Nikon F6 film SLR.

“Let’s start with the changes on the “film” side. This is Nikon’s top-level film camera, so it has Nikon’s top-level film transport and shutter. I don’t see much that’s different from the F5 in the F6’s transport mechanism, though I’m sure that there are many small differences in some of the internal parts. Essentially the multi-gear pull is still there, as are the subtle things that the F5 did to keep film flat and steady through the gate at high frame rates (again 8 fps with the extended grip and lithium-ion battery, 5 fps with the regular batteries). Film in the F6 engages the same way, and at the same point in the chamber, as the F5. I haven’t run many rolls through my F6 yet, but those that I have run as smoothly as did my F5.”

Website: Thom Hogan - Nikon F6 Review

Another month, another round of Kodak job cuts (or so it seems). I’m not sure if this is part of Kodak’s original restructuring plan that they announced aeons ago, but the Toronto, Canada manufacturing facility will close by mid-2005, affecting 360 employees.

“The Company said in a prepared press release that it is consolidating many different types of functions and operations at sites around the world, in order to “maintain competitiveness in the face of fundamental changes in the imaging market driven by the rising popularity of digital photography.” Kodak manages its manufacturing plants as worldwide assets, and makes decisions based on global capacity requirements.”

Website: marketnews.ca - Kodak Canada To Close Toronto Manufacturing Operations

Thanks to Sanj for the link.

Not to be mistaken for the RD-1 from Epson, the unique R-1 film camera from inventor Clifford Ross is capable of taking photos that have “100 times as much data as the average professional digital camera” using film negatives. Ross’s camera is capable of resolving amazing levels of detail - apparently a tree on a ridge four miles away is sharply focused.

“The camera, called the R-1 (R for Ross), looks oddly rigged, like something out of Dr. Seuss, and almost like an antique viewfinder camera on legs. In fact, Ross pulls a cloth over his head and the back of his contraption when he takes a picture. But with this camera that he concocted out of 60-year-old camera parts, mirrors, a microscope and other items—none of them digital—Ross has taken photographs on 9-by-18-inch negatives that when slowly processed by hand and digitally scanned contain 100 times as much data as the average professional digital camera.”

Website: CNET News - Tom Swift’s new camera, ready for space and spies

Matsushita Electric Corporation Press Release 09/12/04

Renaming Is Part Of Global Brand Strengthening

Secaucus, NJ (December 9, 2004) ― The Panasonic brand is about to go corporate.  Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, the North American headquarters of Osaka, Japan-based Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC), will soon formally take on its best known brand name as its corporate name.  As of January 1, the company will be known as Panasonic Corporation of North America. 

“Panasonic is the name that customers and channel partners have known us by for years,” said company chairman Yoshi Yamada.  “We want to take advantage of the tremendous brand equity and good will that research tells us is built into the Panasonic name, so it makes great sense to call our company Panasonic.  In addition, we are also in the midst of a huge transformation of our company’s systems and organization.  By putting the Panasonic name on the revitalized company, we want to underline the dynamic change going on within the organization.”

ACDSee 7 (Build 61) Update Notes

This free update includes various bug fixes and the following new features:

Save and edit slide show and screen saver projects with the Create Slide Show Wizard. 
Automatically rotate JPEG and TIFF images (based on their EXIF data) when displayed in ACDSee.
Map multiple EXIF and database fields with the Copy EXIF Information Wizard.
To use this update, you must have ACDSee 7 (Build 43 or 47) installed on your computer.

To check the ACDSee 7 build number:
In ACDSee, click Help | About ACDSee.

Note:  When updating your software, please make sure you select the correct update. For example, if you purchased ACDSee 7 PowerPack, you must select the update for ACDSee 7 PowerPack.

If you have ACDSee 7 PowerPack installed, and select the update for ACDSee 7, you will receive an error informing you that the software is not installed.

http://www.acdsystems.com/english/Support/Downloads/Updates/ACDSee/70

Alien Skin Software Press Release 07/12/04

Raleigh, NC (December 7, 2004) — Alien Skin Software today announced the release of Eye Candy® 5: Nature (Nature), a set of 10 plug-in filters for Adobe® Photoshop®, Adobe Photoshop Elements®, Jasc® Paint Shop Pro™ and Macromedia® Fireworks®. Nature simulates a variety of phenomena, including fire, smoke, rust, snow, ice and more. The second of a three-part upgrade to Eye Candy 4000, Nature features four all-new filters and six reincarnated Eye Candy classics. Graphic designers, digital photographers and Web or multimedia content creators will appreciate Nature’s versatile and beautifully rendered effects.

Panasonic SC Device Solutions Co., Ltd. Press Release 09/12/04

Industry’s thinnest 8.63 mm module incorporates auto-focus and image-stabilizer

Tokyo, Japan - Panasonic SC Device Solutions Co., Ltd. (PSCDS), a subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., today announced the development of a 3-megapixel camera module designed for mobile phones. With the latest v Maicovicon™ image sensor at the core, the module, GP-KM3500V, incorporates auto-focusing and image-stabilizing capabilities in the industry’s thinnest 8.63mm package. The GP-KM3500V makes camera phones thinner while ensuring superb picture quality.

“Conventional 3-megapixel Charge Coupled Device (CCD) and CMOS image sensors are not small enough to design compact camera modules, resulting in bulky mobile phones. This new camera module successfully combines quality imaging with compact design by taking full advantage of the new 3-megapixel v Maicovicon™ that features the industry’s smallest 2.2-micron pixel size. Advanced mounting and image processing technologies, as well as the ultra-mini focus actuator and thinner lenses, also contributed to reducing the size,” said Mr. Satoru Masuda, Director of Engineering, PSCDS.

“This tiny package includes automatic focus in the range of approximately 8 cm to infinity and an image stabilizer for motion image recording. This makes taking quality picture very easy,” he added.

Sony Press Release 09/12/04

Announcement of New Lithium Ion Batteries,
Realizing Industry’s Highest Level of Energy Density
High-power output cylindrical lithium ion battery fit for high-power supply also announced

Sony Corporation announces the new line-up of lithium ion batteries, with industry’s highest level of energy density, responding to the needs for high capacity and large current in secondary batteries for mobile products. Shipment will start from December 2004 onwards.
Accomplishment of higher capacities in secondary batteries continue to be required from the market, due to higher performance and enhanced features in mobile products such as note PCs, digital video cameras and mobile phones. At Sony, commercialization of the world’s first high power density, small size, light weight and long life lithium ion battery was announced in 1991 and, in 1999, lithium ion polymer battery with flexibility in shape and enhanced safety was announced, further responding to such needs. As a result, the world-wide market size of lithium ion batteries (including lithium ion polymer batteries) has grown to a market of 1.2 Billion units.

Ricoh have released a new firmware version, 1.07, for the Caplio R1 digital camera. There’s no mention of what the new version actually does on Ricoh’s website, so I’ll guess you will just have to trust them…

Website: Ricoh Caplio R1 Firmware

Website: Read my Review of the Ricoh Caplio R1

Hmmmm…I’m not sure that western technology meets remote Pacific tribe is a great idea, more like a vulgar one to me. Still. HP are getting in on the act by provising cameras and printer to self-style adventurer Richard Bangs. In Engadget’s words:

“The Huli Wigmen of Papua New Guinea probably don’t realize it yet, but they’re about to be visited by Richard Bangs, an “adventurer” and travel promoter who was able to get HP to give him some digital cameras and a photo printer in order to prove once and for all that HP’s digital imaging products are so easy to use that even an isolated tribesperson unfamiliar with the ins and outs of modern civilization could use them to take digital photos and start their own photoblog.”

Website: Engadget - HP sending digital cameras to Papua New Guinea to steal souls of isolated tribespeople

Website: The Seattle Times - Digital world set to invade no-tech culture

Landscape photographer Andy Lim has published a short but sweet guide to the basics of photography (digital and film) with lots of sample shots to clearly illustrate the point (found via brownglasses.com

“On consumer digital cameras, the terms optical zoom and digital zoom are common. When shopping for a digital camera, ignore the digital zoom. What you should look for is the optical zoom capability, because what is captured using optical zoom is what the lens actually sees. Digital zoom is basically using in-camera software to enlarge the center pixels in the photo, resulting in loss of detail and sharpness.”

Website: Andy Lim’s Photography Basics

DPReview have published a review of the new 5 megapixel Panasonic DMC-FX7.

“It is a tribute to Panasonic’s designers that they managed to squeeze as much as they did into the FX7’s diminutive body, and there’s no denying it is the kind of camera that simply begs to be taken everywhere you go. The screen is fantastic (though the resolution isn’t high enough to really take advantage of the extra size), it’s fast, fun to use and capable of surprisingly good results. The Leica lens is certainly no slouch in the resolution stakes, exposure is - though by no means perfect - as good as any other camera in this class, and the auto white balance very good indeed.”

Website: DPReview - Panasonic DMC-FX7 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Panasonic DMC-FX7

Photo.net have published a very short review by Josh Root - 120 minutes to be exact - of the Epson RD-1 digital rangefinder camera.

“With the RD-1, you can set the camera to “Raw” quality, and then turn on the “black & white” mode. The photos on the review screen will show up as black and white images, but when you run the files through the raw converter, you have to option of going back to color again. Because, since you are shooting in the Raw mode, no information is actually thrown away. If you decide that you don’t like the way that the RD-1’s B&W conversion turned out, you can start over and just do it as you normally would in Photoshop.”

Website: Photo.net - 120 minutes with the Epson RD-1

Check the Latest Prices for the Epson RD-1

Write a Review of the Epson RD-1