Olympus Europe Press Release 18/03/04

New version of the Olympus Studio software ready for downloading.

Hanover, 18 March 2004 - Olympus Studio, an extended version of the Olympus Viewer software which comes bundled with the Olympus E-1 camera, is now available in a new version. This latest release not only makes processing RAW image files faster, it also enables the online upgrading of the camera’s firmware.

Both the Olympus Studio and Olympus Viewer software, which were developed especially for use with the Olympus E-System camera, feature a number of functions useful in the day-to-day working routine of the professional photographer. One of the highlights is the virtual light box, which works very much like the standard light box used with film. The key difference is that after the photos have been checked, coloured sort marks may be applied. Images can even be placed together in several collections for easy retrieval at a later time. The software offers individual or batch editing of images. RAW image files can also be developed and converted to TIFF or JPEG files in batch mode. Needless to say, copying images from the camera to PC, browsing through folders or viewing single photos as well as organising and printing pictures is also possible.

DCResource have today posted their review of the recently announced Sigma SD10 digital SLR.

“While the Sigma SD10 would be a nice D-SLR if it used a traditional CCD or CMOS sensor, it’s the SD10’s Foveon X3 image sensor which really makes it stand out from the crowd. Image quality is, in a word, stunning. The resolution and detail makes your typical 3 Megapixel camera look like a toy. Don’t let the Megapixel difference scare you away from the SD10, though. All that detail that the X3 sensor captured allows you to enlarge the image and still get a nice looking image.”

Website: DCResource - Sigma SD10 Review

Lexar Media, Inc. 17/03/04

Lexar Media’s JumpDrive 2.0 Pro 80X Sets New Precedent for Professional-Level USB Flash Drive Performance

Hannover, Germany, March 14, 2004 (CEBIT Hall 20, Stand D28)—Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a leading manufacturer and marketer of high-performance digital media and accessories, oday introduced JumpDrive? 2.0 Pro 80X, the most recent addition to the company’s market-leading line of USB flash drives. Featuring a minimum sustained read and write speed capability equal to that of twelve megabytes per second, JumpDrive 2.0 Pro 80X is designed for professionals who need to move stored information from one location to another, instantly. Shipping in April in capacities of 256MB, 512MB and 1GB, JumpDrive 2.0 Pro 80X further satisfies the speed and capacity demands of professional users.

Lexar Media, Inc. 17/03/04

Addresses the Professional Photographer’s Need for High-Speed Data Transfer and Large Storage Capacity in a Compact, Durable Design; Value-Added Package Includes Image Rescue 2.0, Lexar Media’s Award-Winning Image Recovery Software

HANNOVER, GERMANY, March 17, 2004 (CEBIT Hall 20, Stand D28) Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a leading marketer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media and accessories, today introduced JumpDrive? Photo, a 40X speed-rated, large capacity USB 2.0 flash drive designed to satisfy the needs of photographers who require professional-level performance, in a rugged industrial design. JumpDrive Photo is an ideal storage solution for professionals who share their digital images, presentations and other important information in the office and on the road, as the unit allows for an immediate transfer of data to PCs and Macs without requiring drivers or any other software support. In addition, all capacities of JumpDrive Photo ship with Image Rescue 2.0, Lexar Media’s award-winning software that allows for the immediate recovery of seemingly “lost” or deleted images from memory cards and JumpDrive Photo. Like JumpDrive Photo, Image Rescue 2.0 is a ‘must-have’ tool for professional photographers worldwide.

Lexar Media, Inc. 17/03/04

Popular JumpDrive Now Includes Support for Microsoft Outlook

HANNOVER, GERMANY, March 17, 2004 (CEBIT Hall 20, Stand D28)—Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a leading manufacturer and marketer of high-performance digital media and accessories, today introduced JumpDrive? Traveler 2.0, a software enhancement for its popular JumpDrive Traveler USB flash drive that allows people to take their email and personal web settings with them when they move from one Internet connected PC to another. JumpDrive Traveler 2.0 offers expanded product capabilities including support for Microsoft Outlook. For customers purchasing the original JumpDrive Traveler, a software upgrade will be available for download from Lexar?s web site free of charge in April.

Sigma have recently released a new wide-angle zoom lens which will appeal to all digital SLR owners. The Sigma 12-24/F4.5-5.6 ex DG Asph may be quite slow but it will translate to a 19-38mm lens on a Canon EOS 10D/300D, for example. About.com has just posted an extensive user report.

“This is a lens that opens up the wide-angle end of the range for DSLRs. It’s a lens that needs care in use, but can give superb results. The specification and performance would have been unbelievable only a few years ago, and are still exceptional. Within the limits of aperture and focal length there is little more it could be expected to do. It is a superb lens, but perhaps something of a specialist tool.”

Website: About.com - Sigma EX 12-24mm Lens User Report

The Hungarian website Index Digicam have reviewed the Panasonic DMC-FX5, which features a 1/2.5” CCD with a total of 4.23 mega pixels. The camera’s Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens is comparable to a 35 to 105mm lens on a 35mm camera. Enhanced features include guide lines to help identify horizontal and vertical reference, and a real-time histogram which indicates the exposure status.

Website: Index Digicam - Panasonic DMC-FX5

After CNET’s review yesterday, Imaging Resource have posted their review of the 3 megapixel DiMAGE E323 compact digital camera. Equipped with a 3X optical zoom, the DiMAGE E323 has a focal range of 5.6mm to 16.8mm, which is equivalent to a 36 - 108mm zoom on a 35mm camera.

“I’ve always been impressed with the DiMAGE line of digital cameras and the ease of use and functionality they provide. Though the DiMAGE E323 is aimed more at the novice user with its full automatic exposure control and limited exposure options, it has enough flexibility to handle most average shooting situations and even a few more challenging ones.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Minolta DiMAGE E323 Review

The Slovenian website e-Fotografija have reviewed the latest 4 x 6-inch dye diffusion printers from Canon, the CP-200 and CP-300 models. The only difference between the two is that the CP-300 accepts an external battery that attaches to the back of the printer and makes it completely portable.

Website: e-Fotografija - Canon Card Photo Printer CP-200 Review

Luminous Landscape have today reviewed the new 8-megapixel Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 digital camera. Find out just what Michael Reichmann thinks of the third 8-megapixel digicam that he has reviewed.

“It’s hard to really fault the A2’s image quality. Images are crisp, fully detailed, and at ISOs of 64 or 100 virtually noise free. Up to ISO 200 can be used if a noise reduction program is used in post processing. Chromatic aberration is hardly visible, and I’ve seen no evidence of purple fringing.

Prints up to A3 in size are easily made, and even seriously cropped frames can produce very nice 8X10” prints.

While a 6MP DSLR will produce somewhat better images, they will not print as large without ressing up, and for may users the difference will not be that significant.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 Review

Rob Galbraith has a very interesting article that looks at the day in a life of Sport’s Illustrated magazine, focusing on its digital workflow at the recent US Superbowl.

“But Fine, who is Sports Illustrated’s Director of Photography, has a monstrous job in front of him, and there’s no such thing as too much computer. He’s chewing through SI’s take from Super Bowl XXXVIII, 16,183 digital pictures shot in Houston’s Reliant Stadium by eleven of the magazine’s staff photographers over the course of about six hours. It’s 11:00pm, an hour-and-a-half after the game has ended, and Fine is stashed in SI’s media trailer outside the stadium with six other SI employees. The photographers, their work done, left half an hour before.”

Website: Rob Galbraith - Sports Illustrated’s digital workflow

Photo.net have taken a look at Image-Stablised (IS) lenses, specifically from Canon, and investigated if they really do offer any advantages over normal, non-stablised lenses.

“One of the most popular question on web forums is some variation on “what should I buy” or “Is it worth it”. This article addresses some aspects of the issues of which 300mm lens to buy and whether IS is worth it! Is it worth an extra $200 to upgrade from a Canon EF75-300/4-5.6 lens to the EF75-300/4-5.6 IS version? Is it worth the extra $400 to upgrade the EF75-300/4-5.6 IS to an EF 300/4L (used, since it’s not made anymore) or $700 to upgrade to a 300/4L IS lens?”

Website: Photo.net - Canon IS Lenses: “Worth it” or not?

Steves Digicams have published a full review of the 8 megapixel Canon PowerShot Pro1, which was announced by Canon just before the start of the PMA 2004 trade show.

“And what of the seemingly shrinking difference between the high-end 8-megapixel prosumer digicam and the low-end digital SLR? If it’s features you crave, the family-friendly prosumer digicam like the Pro1 is your answer; you’ll not find a dSLR with the Pro1’s VGA-sized movies, built-in macro capability, Focus bracketing, or flexible vari-angle LCD viewfinder. But the Pro1’s feature advantages are less important if you need the versatility of interchangeable lenses, dSLR shooting performance, an optical thru-the-lens viewfinder and superior image quality (especially at high ISO).”

Website: Steves Digicams - Canon PowerShot Pro1 Review

Imaging Resource have posted some sample images taken with a production version of the Nikon D70 digital SLR, Nikon’s new entry-level DSLR.

“Overall, I was quite impressed, based only on this brief initial contact. I found the D70’s color very appealing, and its resolution and detail rendition is first rate. Oh - and did I mention it’s great to shoot with? A final conclusion will obviously have to wait until I’ve had the chance to really pick apart its images with my standardized tests, but at first glance, I’d say Nikon has a real winner on their hands.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Nikon D70 Samples

The Norwegian website Digit.no has published a review of the Ricoh Caplio G4 Wide, a 3 megapixel digital camera with a 28-85mm lens.

Website: Digit.no - Ricoh Caplio G4 Wide Review

DCViews are reporting that Voigtlander have just announced a 5 megapixel digital camera, the Digital 530, which has an RRP of just 279 Euros. The full specs and a photo of the new camera is available at the link below.

Website: DCViews - Voigtlander Digital 530

The Spanish website quesabesde.com has published its review of the FujiFilm FinePix F610, a 6-megapixel digital camera that was first announced back in November 2003.

Website: quesabesde.com - FujiFilm FinePix F610 Review

Website: Read my review of the Fujifilm FinePix F610

CNET have posted a review of the 3 megapixel DiMAGE E323 compact digital camera. Equipped with a 3X optical zoom, the DiMAGE E323 has a focal range of 5.6mm to 16.8mm, which is equivalent to a 36 - 108mm zoom on a 35mm camera.

“Konica Minolta’s bargain-priced 3-megapixel offering is the Dimage E323, a well-designed, solidly built compact equipped with a 3X zoom lens. A metallic finish of silver and blue lends the camera a touch of style, but this Dimage is basically the workaday version of its svelter and hipper X-series siblings.”

Website: CNET - Minolta DiMAGE E323 Review

Akamera.dk have reviewed the HP Photosmart 735 digital camera, which has 3.2 megapixels and up to 15x zoom - 3x optical and 5x digital - from a Pentax precision lens for clear, crisp photo prints.

Website: Akamera.dk - HP Photosmart 735 Review

The Norwegian website Akamera.no have posted their review of the new flagship model in the Canon Digital IXUS fleet, the 5.0 Megapixel Digital IXUS 500, which was announced at the start of February.

Website: Akamera.no - Canon Digital IXUS 500 Review