Canon Japan have made available 3 sample images from the 8 megapixel Canon EOS 20D DSLR. All three JPGs are available to download (4.5mb - 6.5mb each). The new EF-S lenses weren’t actually used with the 20D - instead the EF50mm f/1.4 USM and EF35mm f/1.4L USM prime lenses were used instead.

Canon Japan - Official Canon EOS 20D Sample Images

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

Canon announces the EOS 20D A new digital freedom
 
Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today announces its latest Digital SLR: the EOS 20D. With a newly developed second generation APS-C size 8.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor, 5fps shooting speed, 9-point AF and Canon?s new distance-linked ETTL II flash system, the EOS 20D is the first semi-professional camera to deliver all the performance, speed and flexibility of high-end film SLR cameras.

Replacing the critically acclaimed EOS 10D, the EOS 20D is powered by the same DIGIC II processor found in Canon?s professional series EOS-1D Mark II. Second generation DIGIC improves on Canon?s already class-leading colour rendition accuracy and increases the speed of processing and start-up times. A rugged magnesium alloy body completes the EOS 20D?s professional look and feel.

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

Canon announces new EF-S lenses for its D-SLR cameras
 
Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today announces the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM and EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM wide-angle EF-S zoom lenses. Targeted at advanced digital photographers, both lenses are designed to work exclusively with Canon?s EOS 20D and EOS 300D digital SLR cameras. The focal length ranges of the new lenses are equivalent to 27-136mm and 16-35mm respectively in 35mm film format ? a spread carefully chosen by Canon to reflect the needs of its rapidly growing base of advanced D-SLR photographers.

Both lenses feature Canon?s ring-type Ultra Sonic Motors (USM) for fast, near-silent auto focus, and a range of features designed to deliver a level of image quality approaching that of Canon?s revered L-Series professional lenses.

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

New Canon professional model Speedlite flash ideal for digital photography
 
Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today announces a new flagship model in its EX Speedlite range: the Canon Speedlite 580EX. Now Canon’s most powerful flash unit, the Speedlite 580EX has a guide number of 58 (m/ISO 100 at 105mm) and an adjustable angle of coverage suitable for wide lenses to 14mm. 

Replacing the popular Canon Speedlite 550EX, the Speedlite 580EX improves on many specifications of its predecessor, and includes new features to improve digital EOS SLR flash results. These include transfer of colour temperature data to optimise the white balance compensation, and auto-adjustment of the zoom flash position to best compliment the sensor size of the camera to which the unit is attached.

Circuitry modifications improve on the Speedlite 550EX recycle times by approximately 25%. An ultra-bright 3-LED configuration focus assist-beam has been designed to be compatible with all focus points within the frame of all EOS AF systems, including the new EOS 20D 9-point AF. The unit has improved exposure stability, with a tolerance of just ?0.3 stops.

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

Canon’s 7.1 Megapixel PowerShot G6: The professional’s super-compact

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today announces its latest camera in the popular PowerShot G-series: the remarkably small yet highly specified 7.1 Megapixel PowerShot G6. Successor to the popular PowerShot G5, the G6 features dramatically improved image quality through improvements to the fast f2.0 4x zoom lens and image processing algorithms. AF speed is up to 55% faster than its predecessor, while start-up time improves by approximately 30%.

Over 10% smaller than the G5, the G6 features 12 shooting modes and an ergonomic ‘one-touch’ design and jog-dial. All key controls fall under the fingertips of the right hand, which wraps around a comfortable rubberised grip. The clear, anti-reflective vari-angle LCD increases in size from 1.8” to 2.0”. The camera also offers simultaneous RAW and JPEG recording, with selectable JPEG file resolution.

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

New look PowerShot packs 7.1 Megapixels

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today announces the 7.1 Megapixel digital still compact PowerShot S70. Incorporating the same rich feature set as the 5.0 Megapixel PowerShot S60, the new S70 is distinguished by a stylish two-tone dark metallic and black body. New UA lens materials allow for a reduction in lens size, enabling an elegantly sleek body shape despite the lens’ impressive 28-100mm focal length and 4cm macro specification. 

The extensive list of high-end and semi-professional features include simultaneous RAW and JPEG file recording, 15 sec to 1/2000 sec shutter speeds, AF and AE lock, manual focusing and an intervalometer for automatic time-lapse photography. Optional accessories include a wireless controller, 2x tele-converter and a 40m depth waterproof case. Also included is a pre-set white balance mode for underwater photography, Print/Share button and the latest PowerShot S-series user-interface for fast, simple and intuitive navigation.

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

Canon launches new flagship A-series PowerShot

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today announces its latest high performance compact digital still camera, the PowerShot A95 - the new A-series flagship. Replacing the highly regarded PowerShot A80, the A95 builds on the success of its predecessor and features an increased sensor size of 5.0 Megapixels, and the addition of FlexiZone AF/AE, a larger 1.8” vari-angle LCD and VGA movie mode. Now including eight special scene presets, the A95 has a total of 21 shooting modes - more than any other Canon digital camera. 

The A95 includes many features found in Canon?s higher end ‘S’ and ‘G’ series cameras, offering users flexibility and creative control. It incorporates Canon’s advanced DIGIC and iSAPS technologies and 9-point AiAF for outstanding image quality and ease of use, as well as a 3x optical zoom with f/2.8 aperture. A complete range of accessories, including wide and tele-converters and waterproof case, enables photographic exploration. The camera also features a Print/Share button, PictBridge printing as well as ID photo and movie print. 

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

Canon upgrades most popular camera ever

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today adds the 4.0 Megapixel PowerShot A85 to its popular PowerShot range. The camera replaces the PowerShot A70, one of the most successful cameras in Canon’s seventy-year history. 

“The A70 was successful because it found the perfect balance between point-and-shoot economy and pro-sumer control features,” said Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging UK and Ireland. “The A85 builds on this success by adding new features that make it even easier to use, while at the same time giving the experienced user more options.”

As well as improved ergonomics and refreshed styling, the camera includes a large 1.8” LCD, 13 shooting modes (including a special scene mode with six selectable pre-set scenes), VGA movie clips with sound, 9-point AiAF auto focus, and a Print/Share button plus extended print functionality. A wide selection of accessories includes wide and tele converters, close-up lens, and a waterproof case.

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

Canon launches fun new PowerShots - in colour

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today announces the release of its new entry level digital camera - the PowerShot A400 - available, in four eye-catching colours. The 3.2 Megapixel camera features a 2.2x optical zoom and Canon’s DIGIC processor for superb image quality. The high performance 9-point AiAF autofocus, the Intelligent Orientation Sensor and 12 shooting modes make it easy to take great photos, even under challenging conditions.

This latest entry level model records to an SD memory card, allowing the camera body to be smaller and lighter. The A400 features an Intelligent Orientation Sensor, and can record up to 3-minute movie clips (new VGA quality up to 30 seconds). With a Print/Share button to simplify direct printing and uploading to Windows PCs, and a free 100 MB online photo album with Canon iMAGE GATEWAY, the A400 is designed to be fun and easy to use.

Editor’s Note: This camera will be known as the EOS Rebel T2 in the USA.

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

Canon upgrades Europe?s best selling analogue SLR
 
Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today announces its latest analogue SLR camera, the EOS 300X. Replacing the popular EOS 300V, the EOS 300X produces the fastest AF speed in its class with 7-point wide area AF, while 2.5fps in AI SERVO AF mode gives the camera class-leading predictive focus speed. The camera can fire off up to 3fps in One Shot AF mode and Flash metering is upgraded to Canon?s new distance linked E-TTL II system. The camera will sell as body only, or as a kit with the new Canon EF 28-90mm f/4-5.6 III, which is compatible with the E-TTL II flash metering.

Shutter speed is increased and now extends from 30 sec to 1/4000 sec, with flash synchronisation at 1/125 sec. AF points can be manually selected with new ergonomic cross keys, which fall under the fingers for intuitive, one hand operation. The more compact body has an improved ergonomic design and features a luxuriant dark metallic finish and a rubber skin on the grip. A large 30 x 30 mm illuminated LCD shows all key camera controls at a glance, while the durable body features a rugged metal lens mount. Extremely quiet shutter release and motor wind makes the camera suited for shooting in situations where discretion is required.

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

Canon’s flagship compact film camera now has 4.7x zoom

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today announces the 35mm Canon Sure Shot 180u Date compact camera with a 4.7x zoom lens. The Sure Shot 180u Date is amongst the smallest compact zoom cameras in its class. A chic blast-finish aluminium alloy cover and extensive use of metal components complete the camera’s stylish design, which includes a large rear LCD for fast, easy viewing of key camera controls. Incorporated are a retractable 38-180mm f/5.6-12.9 zoom lens, full compliment of six Programmed Image Control (PIC) modes and a zoom-coupled passive 7-point auto focus. A compact Light Guide zoom flash provides the Sure Shot 180u Date with a long flash range of 2.2 metres and the camera can be triggered remotely via an optional controller RC-5. A date function allows date and time recording to photographs.

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

Canon wins two EISA awards for Professional Camera and Photo Printer of the Year
 
Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, has received two prizes at this year’s prestigious European Imaging & Sound Association (EISA) awards: the EOS-1D Mark II was named European Professional Camera of the Year 2004?2005 and the Bubble Jet i9950 was awarded European Photo Printer of the Year 2004?2005. “At Canon we are passionate about photography, so we are delighted and honoured to receive these two prestigious EISA awards,” said Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging in the UK and Ireland. “The awards cement our commitment to Canon customers and reinforce our dedication to continuously innovating in both digital photography and photo printing technology.” 

A Dutch photography retailer has started listed the Canon EOS 20D and the other cameras that were leaked yesterday, complete with speficiations for all of them. The listed price of the 20D is 1998,00 euros.

Website: www.sdcard.be

Pure Digital Technologies are set to introduce the world’s first ever disposable digital camera, retailing in the USA for $19.99. Ritz, CVS, Disney World and Longs Drugs are all going to stock the 2-megapixel camera, which somewhat amazingly has a color preview screen and allows you to delete images before you take it to the store for processing (where you will receive a free picture CD along with your prints).

“Jonathan Kaplan says his company can capitalize on the shift. The secret of his business model is not just persuading retailers to stock his product - but an image processor unit as well. It gets hooked up to the store’s minilab to transfer pictures from the camera.

Unlike traditional digital cameras, you can’t connect the Pure Digital camera to a home PC to transfer images. And retailers like that. It brings customers into the store, Kaplan says.”

Kaplan predicts he’ll have sold 500,000 cameras by the end of the year - hmmm, we’ll see…

Website: USAToday - A disposable digital camera enters the market at $19.99

Website: Yahoo Finance

Ricoh Press Release 19/08/04

Ricoh launches the Caplio RZ1 -a fashionable 4.0 megapixel digital camera with 3x optical zoom lens in a 25mm super slim body

August 19th, 2004. Ricoh is proud to announce the release of the Caplio RZ1, a fashionable 4.0 megapixel digital camera with an outstanding 35 mm lens and a 3x optical zoom lens in a super slim body as thin as 25 mm. On the performance side, the Caplio RZ1 also incorporates technologies that professional photographers would appreciate -  outstanding 1cm macro technology, and the combination of a 4.0 megapixel CCD and Ricoh’ unique image processor -while offering user-friendly functionality that is sure to capture the hearts of all photo enthusiasts. The Caplio RZ1 offers all these and many other features at a surprisingly reasonable price.

*  As of August 2004 for all auto focus digital camera

PCMagazine have published a shortish review of the Canon CP-330 Photo Printer:

“One minor issue is that unlike some of its competitors, which can print from memory cards, the CP-330 can print only from a camera or computer. We printed both ways on our tests, with consistent times of 1 minute 26 seconds to 1 minute 33 seconds. Output quality was just short of excellent, missing a perfect score primarily because of obvious aliasing in the bicycle spokes in one image, but this was a problem only when we were printing in borderless mode.”

Website: PCMagazine - Canon CP-330 Photo Printer Review

Roger Cavanagh has published a informative tutorial about combining 2 different versions of a RAW file to produce one image with greater dynamic range. He’s even created a Photoshop action to help automate the process.

“One of the advantages of shooting raw is that it is possible to convert the same image more than once using different conversion settings. Put another way, one conversion can be made for the highlights and another for the shadows. These conversions can then be combined to produce an image which has more overall detail and greater dynamic range.”

Website: Roger Cavanagh - Creating Composites

Sony Press Release 18/08/04

SONY DEBUTS NEW PHOTO PRINTER: COMPACT SIZE, LAB QUALITY PRINTS

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 18, 2004 - With a footprint smaller in size than an 8"x 10” portrait, Sony’s new PictureStation DPP-FP30 printer makes it easy to print and share lab-quality photos with or without the use of a personal computer. About the size of a standard paperback the compact FP30 printer will be available in October with an included 40 sheet print pack for about $150.

Featuring a lightweight silver colored casing and cleanly styled industrial design (approximately 7” x 5.5” x 2.5”), the DPP-FP30 printer is a dedicated photo printer that uses dye-sublimation technology to produce continuous tone, photo- quality prints. Each photo is sealed with SuperCoat 2 laminate which makes photos super-resistant to spills, moisture and fingerprints.

“With the introduction of the compact and PictBridge compatible DPP-FP30 printer, Sony now offers consumers a comprehensive line of high-quality and easy-to-use 4 x 6-inch printers,” said Greg Young, general manager for Sony Electronics’ Digital Camera and Photo Printer marketing.

That’s the question that NEAsia Online are asking, as both companies are set to launch cheaper DSLR cameras in the next couple of months. Some interesting tidbits of info about the new cameras are:

“Olympus has yet to disclose the details about its new single-lens reflex camera due to be released this autumn but it will likely offer the popular features of the E-1, such as automatic removal of dust from the charge coupled device when lenses are being changed. Komiya claims the new camera will offer unique capabilities that will set it apart from Canon and Nikon products.”

and:

“Pentax will likely distinguish its new camera from rival firms’ products by making it more compact and lighter. The price could be as low as 100,000 yen, as it will be manufactured in the Philippines.”

Website: NEAsia Online

Q-Technologies Press Release 14/08/04

Q-Technologies releases PictureTheBatch 1.1 for Windows and Macintosh.

Transform your digital images quickly and easily with PictureTheBatch.

Melbourne, Australia (August 14, 2004) - Q-Technologies announced today the release of PictureTheBatch 1.1, a feature release.  PictureTheBatch is an easy to use tool that enables users to transform their digital photos in an easy, reproducible manner.

PictureTheBatch 1.1 introduces the ability to drop a directory of images for processing and an option to keep the file modification date the same as the source image.

PictureTheBatch is a batch processing tool for photos and other images.  The user simply drags the photo(s) from Windows Explorer or the Macintosh Finder and drops them onto the drop window or application icon.  A configuration screen then presents itself so the user can choose how they want to transform the photo(s).  Transformations available include colour adjustment, resizing, rotating, filters and overlaying text or other images.