Interested in the new range of Carl Zeiss ZF / ZS lenses for the Nikon F mount? Then head over to Rob Galbraith, where they asked 20 questions about the new lens line-up.

“How would you compare the optical quality of ZF/ZS lenses to the same or similar lenses from Nikon and Canon?

The same superiority applies in comparison with similar Nikon lenses. Contax users have been raving about the 3-dimensional look of their pictures taken with ZEISS lenses, when compared with Nikon or Canon photos. So ZF should make this difference even more apparent.”

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-7890-8183

OnAsia Digital Services Press Release

BANGKOK, Thailand – Feb. 1, 2006 – OnAsia Digital Services has revealed that its proprietary keywording system now includes over 20,000 terms including synonyms, alternate forms and misspellings. The Bangkok-based company has spent four years developing its keywording systems which include a database of terms that has been conceived and structured for the classification of imagery. A structured thesaurus of terms, also known as a controlled vocabulary, is seen as essential to effective keywording.

Sony Europe Press Release

Sony announces the launch of its 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo PSP (TM)

Paris / Weybridge, 1st February, 2006 - Sony Europe’s Recording Media & Energy (RME) division today announced the launch of its new 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo being included in special promotional packs for the PSP™(PlayStation®Portable).

Pentax UK Press Release

01 February 2006 - Pentax UK is delighted to announce the appointment of two new Key Account Managers (KAMs) to its Imaging Systems Division. Tim Stevenson and Michael Tate will provide dedicated support to a range of retail partners across a number of diverse channel sectors. As part of Pentax’s newly developed channel strategy, both KAMs will focus their support across the photographic, consumer electronic, IT and mass merchandiser market sectors.

Pure Networks Press Release

Network Magic Delivers Photocasting to Windows Users - Pure Networks teams with Shutterfly to deliver photo printing and services.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) February 1, 2006—Pure Networks, Inc., creator of Network Magic (www.networkmagic.com) and leading provider of home networking software and services, today announced Network Magic PhotoCast, a new feature for PC home network users that simplifies photo sharing with “networked” friends and family. Easy to install, PhotoCast automatically “casts” photos from user’s shared folders on their Network Magic personal website and delivers a unique slideshow of photos that can be viewed by friends and family on their PC desktops. Pure Networks has teamed with Shutterfly, the leading independent online photo service to make it easy for users to print and create photo products using Shutterfly’s extensive product offerings via a direct link from PhotoCast. Network Magic users can download PhotoCast free at www.networkmagic.com.

Hama Press Release

Passing the time on a train trip with a vacation home movie, making the journey more pleasant for the kids in the back seat on a long auto journey, showing photos from the last party on an outing at the lake. The Mobile MediaSafe VSV 2 – to be introduced this year at the CeBIT trade fair – makes all that possible. With its 30 GB hard drive, the silver and black Walkman-sized box can take along lots of pictures, music and videos and present them again on the 5.5 x 7 cm large display in all possible colours. The data are received by the VSV 2 either in its function as a digital video recorder from a TV, or via USB from a computer, or – via the integrated FM aerial from a radio programme, or from CF, SD, MM MemoryCards, MemorySticks or MicroDrives.

Hama Press Release

As far as electronic connectivity in the office is concerned, today almost anything is possible. PCs with scanners, cameras with notebooks, and even mobile phones with printers. At this year’s CeBIT trade fair Hama will present a three-way USB 2.0 hub with an integrated 1.2 Bluetooth dongle. Up to three USB and several Bluetooth-capable devices can be quickly and simply connected with a computer.

Hama Press Release

On business trips in particular, a notebook is essential as a mobile office. Thanks to the new U3 technology, you can now shrink your portable desk to the size of USB memory sticks as presented by Hama at CeBIT. When this U3 stick is plugged in, you can run your own programs on any PC, whether to download your mail or listen to music, without leaving traces on the host computer!

Gordon McKinney has published a very helpful “cheat sheet” that provides a number of useful tables for any photographer who’s interested in planning ahead for prevailing light, enabling the selection of lenses, flashguns, reflectors and associated shutter speeds.

FEATURES
Exposure Value (EV) reference table.
Sun Altitude and Shadow Factor.
Canon Flash Guides, 580EX, 550EX, 430EX.
Nikon Flash Guides, SB-800, SB-600, SB-80DX.
Contrast ratio tables (delta EV and Aperture)
“New Rule” handheld shutter speeds, Canon & Nikon.

Update: Version v0.7 now has a Contrast Ratio Table, Support for Nikon D200 and Canon 430EX.
Update: Version v0.6 now covers the new Canon EOS 5D and Canon EOS 1D MkII N cameras.

Website: Gordon McKinney - Photographic Cheat Sheet

DCResource have reviewed the Olympus SP-500UZ digital camera, which has a 10x optical zoom lens equivalent to 38-380mm, 6 megapixels, 2.5 inch LCD screen and an electronic viewfinder.

“Camera performance was a mixed bag. Startup and focusing speeds were average, and shutter lag was only noticeable at slower (read: tripod required) shutter speeds. Shot-to-shot speeds were good if you’re shooting in JPEG mode, but lengthy (7 seconds) in RAW mode. The camera was exceptionally slow while playing back photos, as well. Photo quality was also hit-or-miss. While I liked the colors and sharpness in the photos I took with the camera, things were a bit noisier than I would’ve liked, and the camera tended to lose detail easily in overexposed areas of a photo.”

Website: DCResource - Olympus SP-500UZ Review

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Canon have announced their 6th straight year of record earnings, posting a profit 384.1 billion yen ($3.3 billion; euro2.7 billion) for 2005 on the back of strong digital camera sales and cost-cutting. ABCNews also reports that Canon is set to expand its business into flat-panel TVs, in partnership with Toshiba, using a new technology called SEDs, or surface-conduction electron-emitter displays.

Website: ABCNews - Digital Camera Sales Lifts Canon’s Profit

Kodak Press Release

Kodak’s 4th- Quarter Sales Rise 12% to $4.197 Billion

Full-Year Digital Sales Exceed Traditional Sales for the First Time; 4th-Qtr Digital Sales Surge 45%, Led by Graphic Communications and Consumer Digital Company Exceeds Full-Year Cash Goals; Delivers $1.180 Billion in Net Cash From Operating Activities in 2005; Cash Balance Totals $1.665 Billion at Year-end 4th-Qtr GAAP Net Loss of $52 Million ($0.18 Per Share), Largely Reflecting Restructuring Charges, Tax Benefits and Cumulative Effect of an Accounting Change

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 30—Eastman Kodak Company today reported that revenue rose 12% in the fourth quarter, led by a 45% increase in the sale of digital products and services. The performance includes strong demand for the market-leading offerings from the company’s consumer digital portfolio and the successful completion of the company’s acquisition program to support its Graphic Communications business. For all of 2005, digital sales represented 54% of total revenue, marking the first time in the company’s history that digital revenue exceeded traditional.

Fujifilm have announced the the reduction of approximately 5,000 people from their Imaging Solutions segment, due to reduced demand for color film and slowing growth in the digital camera market.

Fujifilm Press Release

Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Shigetaka Komori; hereafter, Fujifilm) is implementing a full spectrum of policies and measures based on VISION75, a mid-term management plan formulated in February 2004 that articulates three fundamental strategies: “Building new growth strategy,” “Implementing comprehensive structural reforms over all management levels,” and “Enhancing consolidated management.” Policies and measures include: actively investing in growing businesses such as the flat panel display materials business; conducting drastic reforms in R&D structure to create new businesses; establishing the Advanced Core Technology Laboratories that conduct the basic research; conducting M&As in order to expand the current business domain; shifting of Fuji Xerox production to China and renewing its domestic marketing system; and preparing to adopt a holding company structure. With these efforts, the Information Solutions and Document Solutions segments - which are two of its three main business segments - have posted fair performance results during the current fiscal year (ending March 2006).

X-Rite Press Release

X-RITE TO ACQUIRE AMAZYS HOLDING AG, Agreement Will Create a Global Leader in the Color Industry

Combination Expected to Lead to Enhanced Quality, Increased Scale, Greater Innovation and Improved Operational Efficiency

Grandville, Mich. / Regensdorf, Switzerland, January 31, 2006 – X-Rite, Incorporated (Nasdaq: XRIT) and Amazys Holding AG (SWX: AMSN), two leading providers of color measurement solutions comprised of hardware, software and services for the verification and communication of color data, today jointly announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which X-Rite will offer to purchase all of the outstanding registered shares of Amazys Holding AG for a purchase price of approximately US$280 million or CHF 77 per share plus 2.11 shares of X-Rite, Incorporated stock per share. Amazys develops, markets and supports hardware, software and services to measure and communicate color under the GretagMacbeth brand.

H&M System Software Press Release

H&M System Software Announces StudioLine Photo Classic 3 - New Version of the High-performance Image Database

Rödermark, 31st January-06 – H&M System Software today unveils StudioLine Photo Classic 3. This new version adds major features, including a new user interface, an enhanced descriptor panel, a new load assistant, custom layouts of web galleries, import and export of image descriptions in XML format, management of sound and video data from digital cameras and a search by time spans. This update also marks H&M’s plans to diversify the StudioLine product portfolio. Following the “Classic” version of this software for easy and safe management, editing and presentation of digital photos, a professional version is to be released later in 2006. For beginners H&M continues to offer the new version StudioLine Photo Basic 3 as a free download. StudioLine Photo Classic 3 for Windows XP, 2000, ME and 98 is available from H&M’s online shop at www.studioline.net priced €59 (download), €69 (CD) and coming soon, a boxed product at €89.

DxO Labs Press Release

DxO Labs announces the closing of a €10.6 million round of financing to boost its international presence - Leading private equity group Apax Partners leads new investment.

Paris, France—January 30, 2006 – DxO Labs, a French software company developing advanced image processing technologies for the mobile imaging industry and other digital consumer imaging markets, today announces the closing of a 10.6 million Euro round of funding. Apax Partners France leads the new investment, joining historic investors including Société Générale Asset Management, SPEF Venture, Thalès Ventures/ACE Management as well as Japanese funds, CSK Venture Capital and Hitachi Venture. “Apax Partners’ investment and international network will help us continue to pursue our aggressive approach to business development in Asia and in the United States and our growth in the digital imaging marketplace,” says Jerome Meniere, founder and CEO of DxO Labs. “We will now be able to answer locally the huge customer traction we are experiencing from leading players in this space.”

Wiley Press Release

PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 4 SOLUTIONS: The Art of Digital Photography

As the popularity of digital cameras continues to increase, so, too, does the use of image editing software.  Photoshop Elements provides digital photographers with most of the features and functions of Photoshop - and a few features not available anywhere else - at a fraction of Photoshop’s price.  PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 4 SOLUTIONS: The Art of Digital Photography (Sybex, an imprint of Wiley; January 2006; $29.99) is the ultimate full-color guide for Elements users looking to get more from the program.  Full of practical solutions enhanced with stunning full-color images, this book is devoted to the creative tasks faced by today’s photographer, from quickly sharing photos by TV to advanced selection and compositing.

iView MultiMedia Press Release

iView MediaPro’s new Alamy Wizard speeds professional photographers’ time to market

LONDON, Jan. 30, 2006 – Professional photographers must no longer endure the cumbersome and time consuming submission process to market their images via online stock photography services. A pioneering collaboration between image cataloguing software developer iView Multimedia and stock photography service Alamy has radically reduced the time required by professional photographers to prepare images for sale online. The Alamy Wizard ­– a new addition to iView MediaPro 3.0, the award winning, cross-platform, digital asset management and cataloguing solution for photographers and creative professionals – simplifies the stock photo submission process into just three easy steps.

Mike Johnston has a new article over at Luminous Landscape in which he outlines his desire for a “decisive moment digital” camera.

“I am, first of all, not complaining about the state of digital cameras. It’s been fun — and dazzling — to watch the pace of progress in recent years. Sensors, software, printers — everything’s getting so much better it’s difficult to know what to be most grateful for. Still, while acknowledging that my tastes and needs are not mainstream, I don’t have the digital camera I’d most like to own. It’s nothing terribly fancy — and not beyond the reach of current technology. Why doesn’t it exist? Is there no need for it, or is there a pent-up market niche awaiting liberation? I’d call it a “decisive moment digital,” or, in shorthand, DMD.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - ‘DMD’: The Digital Camera I’d Like to Own

DIWA member LetsGoDigital have published their review of the new 12 megapixel Nikon D2X digital SLR.

“Striking is the fact that Nikon made the choice to use a Sony sensor for the D2X and not one of their own JFET-LBCAST sensors. Officially Nikon chose the Sony sensor because Nikon couldn’t meet the demand for JFET-LBCAST. Other than the D1X, the D2X does feature a CMOS sensor. Of course the focal length multiplier remains 1.5. Nikon sticks to a certain factor and that really has its advantages. The specially designed DX lenses form a perfect combination and there are no mutual differences as far as crop factor is concerned within the assortment of Nikon digital reflex bodies.”

Website: LetsGoDigital - Nikon D2X Review

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