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The Galaxy S23 Ultra is Samsung's new no-holds-barred flagship smartphone for 2023. Featuring a quad-camera setup with 200 megapixels and a 10x optical zoom, 8K video recording, a 5000mAH battery and 5G connectivity, is this the ultimate smartphone for keen photographers? Find out now by reading our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review, complete with full-size sample photos and videos...
The Pixel 7 Pro is Google's flagship smartphone for 2022, yet it's priced at just £849 / $899. Does it offer similar performance and features to other, more expensive range-topping handsets? Read our in-depth Google Pixel 7 Pro review to find out just what it offers photographers and videographers, complete with full-size sample photos and videos.
The new Honor 70 is a mid-range Android smartphone with a signifcant number of photographer-friendly features, including a Pro mode and Raw file support, 4K/30p and 1080/120p video, and standard and ultra-wide-angle cameras. Read our in-depth review of the Honor 70 to find out what it's capable of, complete with full-size sample photos and videos...
The Sony Xperia 1 IV is a new flagship smartphone for 2022 that is clearly aimed at keen photographers and videographers. Standout features include a true 85-125mm optical zoom, 4K/120p video recording, 20fps burst shooting, and advanced Photo Pro, Video Pro and Cinema Pro apps. Read our in-depth Sony Xperia 1 IV review, complete with full-size sample photos and videos, to find out if this new device can justify its £1299 / $1599 price-tag...
The new Honor 50 marks the welcome return of Google Play services to the Huawei/Honor empire, but what else does this mid-range smartphone offer to keen photographers and videographers? Find out now by reading our in-depth review of the Honor 50, complete with full-size sample photos and videos.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is Samsung's new flagship smartphone for 2021. Featuring a quad-camera setup with 108 megapixels and a 10x optical zoom, 8K video recording, a 5000mAH battery and 5G connectivity, is this the ultimate smartphone for keen photographers? Find out now by reading our expert Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review, complete with full-size sample photos and videos...
The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max is billed as the ultimate iPhone for photographers, boasting a larger sensor for the main camera, a 2.5x zoom lens and a much bigger screen and overall size than the standard Pro version. With prices starting at around £$1099, is this really the best iPhone for photography? Read our in-depth iPhone 12 Pro Max review now, complete with full-size sample photos and videos...
The Apple iPhone 12 Pro is one of four new iPhones released for 2020, joining the Mini, Pro Max, and the standard model. With prices starting at around £$999, is this the best iPhone for photographers? Read our in-depth iPhone 12 Pro review now, complete with full-size sample photos and videos...
The Galaxy S20 Ultra is Samsung's new flagship smartphone for 2020. Featuring a 6.9-inch screen, 108 megapixel sensor and 100x zoom lens, it's certainly big in size, megapixel count and zoom range, but is it also big in performance? Find out now by reading our expert Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra review, complete with full-size sample images and videos...
The Honor 20 Pro is a mid-range smartphone with flagship pretensions, aiming to take on £$1000 devices at a much lower-price point whilst delivering similar levels of performance, specification and quality. Does it succeed? Find out now by reading our in-depth Honor 20 Pro review, complete with full-size sample images and videos.
The OnePlus 7 Pro is the biggest and most expensive flagship smartphone that OnePlus has ever released. With a 48-megapixel triple-camera setup, 4K/60p video recording, Nightscape and Pro shooting modes and the ability to shoot in Raw, is it also the best ever OnePlus phone? Find out now by reading our in-depth OnePlus 7 Pro review...
The Sony Xperia XZ3 is a flagship smartphone with a 19 megapixel camera, 4K HDR Movie recording, 960fps Super slow motion in Full HD, and AI predictive capture.Are there enough features and performance to tempt keen photographers? Find out now by reading our in-depth Sony Xperia XZ3 review, complete with full-size sample images and videos...
The Galaxy S10 Plus is the best smartphone that Samsung have ever made, but is it also the best for keen photographers? Find out now by reading our expert Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus review, complete with full-size sample images and videos...
The Xperia 1 is the first ever Sony smartphone to borrow technology from the company's successful Alpha range of mirrorless cameras, including the very popular Eye AF feature and the latest Bionz X processor. Could this be the ultimate smartphone for photographers? Find out now by reading our in-depth Sony Xperia 1 review, complete with full-size sample images and videos...
Samsung have unveiled the Galaxy A70, the newest smartphone in the popular Galaxy A range. This new mid-range smartphone showcases a stylish design, large infinity display, enhanced triple camera, powerful battery and seamless connectivity.
The Samsung Galaxy A70 will be available in the UK from 26th April priced at £369.
Samsung have just launched 4 new Galaxy 10 smartphones - the Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10e and Galaxy S10 5G.
Galaxy S10 is designed for those who want a premium smartphone with powerful performance and sets the stage for the next generation of mobile experiences. For consumers looking for a supercharged device, Galaxy S10+ takes every spec – from display, to camera, to performance – to the next level. Galaxy S10e is built for those who want all the premium essentials in a compact package, on a flat screen. Finally, Galaxy S10 5G is created for those who want more of everything and are ready for the fastest available speeds and the most powerful features.
The Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy S10e will be available in stores and online beginning 8th March 2019. Pricing starts at £799 for Galaxy S10, £899 for Galaxy S10+ and £669 for Galaxy S10e.
Samsung has added a new card to its EVO Plus microSD range of memory cards, introducing its highest-capacity 512GB microSDXC with SD adapter.
The Class 10 UHS-1 Grade U3 512GB EVO Plus microSD memory card offers super fast read and write speeds up to 100MB/s and 90MB/s. The card is compatible with a wide range of devices such as smart phones, tablets, PC’s, sports cams, drones, Digital SLR cameras and camcorders and you can capture detailed 4K UHD video. The included SD adapter fits all devices with an SD slot while preserving all of EVO Plus’ outstanding speed and performance. It comes with a limited 10 year warranty. MRSP £227.99.
Samsung has introduced two new 0.8-micrometer (μm) pixel image sensors for smartphones – the 48-megapixel (Mp) Samsung ISOCELL Bright GM1 and the 32Mp ISOCELL Bright GD1. One or both of these may be used in the next-generation Samsung Galaxy S10, which is due out in February 2019.
The Galaxy Note 9 is Samsung's latest flagship smartphone, boasting a 6.4-inch screen, dual 12-megapixel cameras with dual-aperture control, 2x optical zoom, 4K video at 60fps and super slow motion video at 960fps, and internal memory up to 512GB. Take a look at our in-depth Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review to find out if this is the best smartphone camera for avid photographers...
The Samsung Galaxy A9 smartphone debuts the world’s first rear quad camera. The Galaxy A9 has a 24MP Main Lens, a 2x Optical Zoom lens, an Ultra Wide Lens, and a Depth Lens.
The Galaxy A9 will be available in the UK from November priced at £549.
The Insta360 Pro 2 is a groundbreaking six-lens professional VR camera. Ready to shoot 8K-per-eye 3D 360 video, the Pro 2 innovates the entire professional VR production workflow – offering effortless FlowState stabilization, long-range live monitoring, simplified post-production in partnership with Adobe, and a new technology that delivers 8K VR to viewers regardless of whether they have high-end playback devices.
Preorders for the Insta360 Pro 2 are open now via Insta360 Store, B&H Photo Video and select retailers worldwide. It’s priced at $4999.95 USD, and includes the Farsight transmitter system, plus one battery. Cameras are set to ship in September.
VEGAS Pro 16 features a high-performance video engine, intelligent workflow enhancements, and long-awaited, state-of-the-art editing features.
Prices and availability:
We attended the UK launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, the company’s brand new flagship smartphone. Ahead of our full review, here are our detailed first impressions of using the latest Samsung Galaxy premium device...
The Lensbaby Sol 45 is an inexpensive tilt-shift lens which lets you easily isolate a subject within the frame and surround it with beautiful bokeh effects. Available in a wide range of camera mounts, is the new Sol 45 worth adding to your lens bag? Find out by reading our in-depth Lensbaby Sol 45 review, complete with full-size sample images...
The Galaxy S9 Plus is Samsung's flagship smartphone for 2018, boasting a 6.2-inch screen, dual cameras with dual-aperture, 4K video at 60fps and super slow motion video at 960fps. Is this the ultimate smartphone for keen photographers? Find out by reading our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus review...
Samsung have introduced the Samsung PRO Endurance microSDHC/microSDXC card, which offers industry-leading endurance and up to 43,800 hours of continuous video recording.
The Galaxy S9 is the smaller of two new flagship smartphones from Samsung for 2018, featuring the much heralded variable aperture lens and super slow-motion video recording at 960fps. Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S9 review with full-size sample images and videos now...
The Huawei P20 Pro is one of the most exciting new smartphones of 2018 for photographers - find out why by reading our in-depth Huawei P20 Pro review with full-size sample images and videos...
The Honor View 10 is a flagship smartphone that won't break the bank. Key features include a 18:9 format 6-inch screen, a 16 megapixel twin rear-facing cameras each with f/1.8 apertures, and 4K video at 30fps. Read our in-depth Honor View 10 review for photographers now...
Iggy & The Cradle is a new mini tripod and expandable universal phone holder from 3 Legged Thing. Built from from rugged ABS plastic, Iggy has an adjustable ballhead with 1/4"-20 screw mount. Iggy comes packaged with a handy GoPro adapter, and is available on its own, and in a variety of kits. Orders placed now will be shipped to arrive in time for the release date of 23rd March 2018.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ smartphones feature Super Slow-mo video, best-in-class low light camera and AR Emojis. Samsung’s Dual Aperture (F1.5 / F2.4) automatically lets in more light when it’s dark and less light when it’s too bright, taking photos that are crisp and clear. Super Slow-mo records dynamic, slow-motion video that captures 960 frames per second. The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ will be available starting in March 16, 2018 in select markets and will be offered in Midnight Black, Titanium Gray, Coral Blue and a new hue, Lilac Purple.
The Lensbaby Burnside 35 is an entirely new kind of creative effects lens. This 35mm f/2.8 lens creates images with a large, bright central area of sharp focus and striking color rendition surrounded by variable, swirling bokeh and vignette. It also features an effect slider that operates as a second internal iris that changes the shape and amount of swirl in the bokeh, all while adding or removing vignette and center brightness.
The Burnside 35 is now available for purchase on lensbaby.com and select Lensbaby-authorized retailers for $499.95.
The Asus Zenfone 4 is a flagship smartphone with a mid-range price and a surprisingly long list of photographer-friendly features. Read our in-depth Asus Zenfone 4 review to find out if it's the right smartphone for the keen snapper...
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is Samsung's biggest and most expensive smartphone, but is it also the best? Find out what it offers photographers in our in-depth Samsung Galaxy Note 8 review...
Ahead of our full review, here are some sample images taken with the new Samsung Galaxy Note 8 smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 has a 6.3 inch screen, dual 12 megapixel cameras and a wide-angle, f/1.7 lens.
Adobe have updated the entire Lightroom CC ecosystem, including for Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and the web, as well as updates to Lightroom Classic CC and Adobe Camera Raw. The new Auto Setting creates a better photo by using Adobe Sensei artificial intelligence to analyse your photo and compare it to tens of thousands of professionally edited photos. The Tone Curve has been added to Lightroom CC on desktop, along with split toning.
We were at the global launch of the Honor 7x and the Honor View 10 smart phones in London last week. During the event, Honor CEO George Zhao took us through the key features of the two new phones.
The Sony Xperia XZ1 is a new flagship smartphone that's a little more affordable than the other flagships out there. For photographers, it offers a 19 megapixel Exmor RS sensor, f/2 25mm Sony G branded lens, 4K video recording, and a manual shooting mode. Read our Sony Xperia XZ review now to find out more about Sony's latest handset...
We've spent some time getting to know the Huawei Mate 10 Pro, so check out our first impressions of Huawei's new flagship smartphone...
Canon today announced the UK launch of a World Press Photo virtual reality experience. In a bid to inspire a wider photography audience, users can explore the 45 best images of 2017 – and their incredible stories – at any time. The World Press Photo VR app is available for free download in the Oculus Store. Created by the makers of Canon’s photography management platform, irista, those who engage with the VR experience will see the winning photos displayed in a virtual gallery that evolves based on each users’ individual interaction with the photos. The unique VR experience, which provides a deeper insight into the stories behind the images, is narrated by Stuart Franklin, chair of the 2017 World Press Photo Content general jury.
Research and Markets have announced the addition of the "Photography Equipment Market in the US 2017-2021" report to their offering. The analysts forecast the photography equipment market in the US to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.53% from 2017-2021. Research and Markets think growth will be driven by personalised digital cameras, product innovation and enhanced features. Key vendors include Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Panasonic and Sony.
The new Huawei P10 Plus smartphone has once again been co-developed with Leica, this time around focusing on delivering "stunning artistic portrait shots in the Leica image style". Is this the best smartphone for photographers? Find out by reading our in-depth Huawei P10 Plus review...
Samsung today announced a new Samsung Gear 360, a 4K resolution 360-degree camera offering enhanced features for producing high-quality content. When paired with the Gear 360 application, users can control the camera remotely as well as stitch, edit and share content on the go. Equipped with 8.4-megapixel image sensors, the Gear 360 can also capture 15-megapixel high resolution images. Whether creating a 360-degree video or still image, users can access various viewing modes, and editing tools to use on their own content. “As consumers turn more to video to share their experiences, we want to deliver accessible and innovative products to make digital content easier to create, share and stream. The Gear 360 is no exception,” said DJ Koh, president of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “The updated Gear 360 continues to expand the horizons of what consumers can experience and share.”
RNI have released a new version of RNI All Films. The new RNI All Films 4.0.4 for Adobe Lightroom and ACR brings customised camera profiles for a number of new cameras including the Leica TL and M10, the Phase One IQ3 100MP, the Fujifilm X-100F. GFX 50S, X A3, X A10 and X T20, the Canon EOS M5 and PowerShot G9 X Mark II, the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, the Panasonic FZ80, GF9 and GH5, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, and the Sony DSC-RX100 M5. Additionally, film grain is now turned off by default. You can use RNI Toolkit in Lightroom to set the desired level of film grain (ISO 100/21° – ISO 1600/33°).
AirSelfie, the first pocket-sized flying camera that communicates with your smartphone, is now available to pre-order. The device is composed of four powerful propellers and a tiny video camera with a 5-megapixel sensor, and can fly vertically up to a height of 66 feet allowing users to take aerial selfies of themselves and their friends. The device connects to the most popular smartphones, including iPhone (6, 6s, 7 and 7 Plus), Huawei P9, Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge via WiFi. “People have the impression that flying cameras are costly, difficult to operate and unwieldy,” says Edoardo Stroppiana, co-founder of AirSelfie. “AirSelfie redefines the space with a device that's small, light and easy to use. We have succeeded in developing a great product, and we can’t wait to share it with our growing base of AirSelfie enthusiasts.”
Think Tank Photo have just enhanced their Mirrorless Mover camera bag collection by offering three new colourways: Pewter, Dark Blue, and Deep Red. The collection is available in five sizes; from the smallest case, the Mirrorless Mover 5, designed for one compact system camera, on up to the largest, the Mirrorless Mover 30i, which will accommodate a camera, lenses, accessories and an iPad. “The new colourways are about personal expression and quality,” said Doug Murdoch, Think Tank Photo’s CEO and lead designer. “These bags use metal hardware instead of plastic buckles, high-quality fabrics, YKK zippers and a new, magnetic closure. The Mirrorless Movers offer photographers quality in their camera bags worthy of their investment in these sophisticated camera systems.”
Adobe Camera Raw 9.8 is now available through the update mechanism in Photoshop CC and the Creative Cloud application. This update adds support for the Canon EOS M5, Fujifilm XA3, Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Hasselblad X1D, Leica TL, Nikon D5600, Olympus EM1 Mark II (preliminary), Olympus PEN EPL8, Panasonic LUMIX DMCFZ2500 (DMCFZ2000 and DMCFZH1), Pentax K70 (pictured), Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Sony Alpha a6500 (ILCE 6500), Sony Alpha a99 II (ILCA99M2) and Sony DSCRX100 Mark V cameras, and dozens of new camera-lens profiles. Creative Cloud users can select Help>Updates to use the update mechanism in the Creative Cloud app.
Adobe Lightroom CC 2015.8 is now available. This version introduces a new view mode witin the Develop Module called Reference View, which allows you to compare 2 different images in order to make them visually consistent. This is helpful when making a group of images from a single event look similar or setting the white balance appropriately in mixed lighting conditions. Additionally, Adobe Lightroom CC 2015.8 adds support for raw image files generated by the Canon EOS M5, Fujifilm X-A3, Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Hasselblad X1D, Leica TL, Nikon D5600, Olympus E-M1 Mark II (preliminary), Olympus PEN E-PL8, Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ2500 (DMC-FZ2000 and DMC-FZH1), Pentax K-70, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Sony Alpha a6500 (ILCE-6500). Sony Alpha a99 II (ILCA-99M2) and Sony DSC-RX100 Mark V cameras, plus tethered shooting support for the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV SLR. Creative Cloud users can select Help > Updates to use the update mechanism in the Creative Cloud app.
Insta360 today launched an Indiegogo campaign for the Insta360 Air, a clip-on smartphone camera that captures immersive 360-degree HD images and videos that can be livestreamed or shared instantly. Exclusively designed for Android devices. the Insta360 Air features an advanced 210-degree dual fish-eye-lens and real-time image stitching. The smartphone app also features image and video editing tools. Compared with conventional 360° cameras, the Insta360 Air is lightweight and ultra portable. Designed as an extension of the smartphone rather than a bulky add-on, the device can also be used as a 360 webcam which users connect to laptops via the multifunctional extension cable to capture 360-degree video or livestream for longer periods of time. Insta360 Air will be available on Indiegogo InDemand for $99. The Insta360 Air's RRP is $119 and will be available on Amazon and Insta360’s official online store once the campaign finishes.
Leica UK is to host Curtain Call, an exhibition by photographer Matt Humphrey. Featuring a unique collection of never-before-seen backstage theatre photographs and portraits, the images in this exhibition were captured entirely on Leica cameras including the Leica M-P (Typ 240) with the Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 and Leica Summarit-M 90mm f/2.4 lenses, and the Leica Q. Many of the black and white photographs going on display have never been made available for public viewing before. The exhibition runs from 21 November to 9 December 2016. Prints and the Curtain Call book are available for purchase. Leica Store City is located at 18 The Royal Exchange, London EC3V 3LP.
The Apple iPhone 7 Plus is the first version of the most popular smartphone in the world to offer not one, but two integrated cameras. The iPhone 7 Plus also offers photographers 12 megapixel resolution and 4K video recording, plus the intriguing new portrait mode which uses both lenses to recreate the defocused look of a DSLR with a wide aperture lens. Read our in-depth Apple iPhone 7 Plus review, complete with full-size sample images, test shots, videos and more...
Samsung has unveiled its latest SSDs, the Samsung 960 PRO and 960 EVO. The V-NAND based, M.2 form factor SSDs were built on the company’s Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) SSD leadership. Both the 960 PRO and 960 EVO use the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) Gen.3 x4 lane interface and are compliant with NVMe specifications to realise effective use of the high-speed PCIe bus and optimise both hardware and software configurations to take advantage of the NVMe SSD technology. . The 960 PRO delivers peak sequential read and write transfer speeds of 3,500 MB/s and 2,100 MB/s, respectively. On top of being the world’s fastest M.2 NVMe- SSD, the 960 PRO will also offer 2 terabyte capacity, which is the highest capacity commercially available for M.2 NVMe SSDs, along with 512GB and 1TB versions. The 960 EVO is available in 250GB, 500GB and 1TB capacities and features Samsung's "Intelligent TurboWrite" technology, reaching peaks of 3,200 MB/s and 1,900 MB/s read/write speeds, respectively. The 960 PRO and 960 EVO SSDs will be available worldwide starting October 2016, with manufacturer’s suggested retail prices starting at $329.99 and $129.99.
We sat down with Andy Loughlin, European Exexutive Account Manaager for JK Imaging Ltd, to discuss the new Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360 action camera.
MIOPS has launched its latest Kickstarter campaign to support its new MIOPS MOBILE, a versatile smartphone-based wireless camera remote. MIOPS MOBILE allows DSLR or mirrorless camera owners looking to harness the power of their smartphone to create infinitely creative photos. MIOPS MOBILE utilizes the smartphone’s built-in capabilities to remotely fire the camera with various creative modes like Vibration, Sound, Motion, Distance as well as advanced Timelapse modes, all from an easy-to-use smartphone app.
Samyang have just introduced a new ultra-bright, ultra-wide manual-focus prime lens for full frame DSLR cameras. Featuring an optical construction comprising 13 elements in 12 groups - including 3 extra-low-dispersion and 2 aspherical glass elements - and an iris diaphragm with 7 rounded blades, the Samyang 20mm F1.8 ED AS UMC offers an angle of view of 94.8° and a close-focus point of 20cm/8". The lens will be available in Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax K, Sony Alpha, Canon M, Fujifilm X, Samsung NX, Sony E, FourThirds and Micro FourThirds fit; at a recommended retail price of €499.00.
Shanghai-based Nicovr has launched an IndieoGoGo campaign for the Nico360, an intriguing little device billed as "the World's smallest consumer 360° virtual reality camera." The diminutive Nico360 lets everyone record and share their moments in 360-degrees anytime, anywhere. Offering a resolution of 32.7 megapixels (and stills capture in Adobe DNG raw format), the Nico360 VR camera allows 360-degree LIVE VR video streaming with image stabilisation on platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Periscope, Snapchat, Twitter and more. The waterproof device weighs in at 109 grams, measures 1.8"x1.8".and comes with 32GB of internal storage plus a microSD card slot. The WiFi- and Bluetooth-enabled Nico360 is now available for pre-order, priced at $149.
Samsung has announced the industry’s first ultra-fast memory cards based on the JEDEC Universal Flash Storage (UFS) 1.0 Card Extension Standard. Coming in a wide range of storage capacities including 256, 128, 64 and 32 gigabytes; Samsung’s UFS cards provide more than five times faster sequential read performance compared to that of a typical microSD card, reading sequentially at up to 530MB/s. With a UFS card, consumers have the ability to read a 5GB, Full-HD movie in approximately 10 seconds, compared to a typical UHS-1 microSD card, which would take over 50 seconds with 95MB/s of sequential reading speed. When it comes to writing, the new 256GB UFS card attains a 170MB/s write speed. Do note that UFS-compatible devices have yet to be announced.
The new Huawei P9 smartphone has been co-developed with none other than Leica, and promises to "reinvent smartphone photography" - a bold claim indeed. The P9 offers photographers a 12 megapixel sensor, not one, but two lenses (one colour, one monochrome), a fully manual shooting mode, 1080p movie recording, and a powerful 3000mAh battery. Is the Huawei P9 a dream ticket for keen photographers? Find out by reading our in-depth Huawei P9 review...
Magix have released a new version of Video easy HD, a beginner-level application for editing video footage. The software's native 64-bit architecture and H.264 support lets you import, edit and export videos faster than ever before, and the latest version of Video easy HD lets you edit video footage in resolutions up to 4K Ultra HD. Using the automatic image optimisation and backlight correction features, users can enhance colour, brightness and contrast and make one-click adjustments to lighting. You can burn videos to DVD or Blu-ray Disc, upload directly to YouTube and Facebook from within the program or save them on your hard drive. The new version of Video easy HD is now available in stores and online, priced at £29.99.
Macphun have announced an update to Aurora HDR Pro, their latest Macintosh software co-developed with Trey Ratcliff. The features of Version 1.2.2 include added support for raw files generated by the Canon 80D, 1300D and 1DX Mk II, the Leica M (Typ 262), the Nikon D5, the Olympus SH3 and Pen F, the Panasonic GX80/85, TZ80/81/85/ZS60 and TZ100/101/ZS100, the Samsung Galaxy S7, the Sony A68, ILCE6300, RX1R II and RX10 III, the DxO ONE Digital Camera and the Fuji X-Pro2. The update also bringsa number of performance improvements. Aurora HDR Pro is available for $99.99.
The new Fujifilm X-E2S is a subtly improved version of the two-year-old X-E2 compact system camera, principally offering a better auto-focusing system, an electronic shutter and a clever Auto mode. Does it still offer enough to compete in 2016? Read our Fujifilm X-E2S review to find out...
Samsung has unveiled its newest memory card globally – the EVO Plus 256GB microSD card. Offering the highest capacity for a microSD card in its class, the Samsung EVO Plus 256GB microSD memory card delivers fast speeds of up to 95MB/s and an expanded memory storage for use in premium smartphones and tablets, 360-degree video recorders, action cameras, and drones. Samsung will offer the EVO Plus 256GB microSD card with a limited 10-year warranty in more than 50 countries, including the USA, Europe, China, and other regions starting in June 2016.
Iridient Digital has released version 3.1 of Iridient Developer, a raw file conversion and photo processing application for Mac OS X. This update brings two new demosaicing algorithms for Bayer sensor cameras featuring improved fine detail rendering, lower noise and faster performance. It also includes a critical workaround for an issue introduced in the recent Mac OS X 10.11.4 update which affects the Shadows and Highlights (Neighborhood Adaptive) adjustments. A bug with loading raw files from some 2007 and earlier Canon DSLR models has also been fixed. Additionally, version 3.1 adds support for raw image files generated by the Canon EOS 80D, 1D X Mark II, 1300D and PowerShot G7 X Mark II, the Nikon D500 and D5, the SonyA6300. A68 and RX10 III, the Fujifilm X-Pro2, the Panasonic DMC-GX80 and DMC-GX85, the Leica M-D, the Blackmagic URSA Mini 4.6K, URSA Mini 4K, URSA 4.6K and URSA, the DJI FC550 (Xenmuse X5), FC350 (Inspire 1 and Phantom 4), FC300X (Phantom 3 Pro) and FC300S (Phantom 3 Advanced), the Samsung Galaxy S7, plus the HTC One A9 and One M9. The update is free for all users who have purchased a new or upgraded license after September 2014.
The Polaroid LED camera/camcorder video lighting line is now available for purchase. The range includes the Polaroid 350 ultra-high-powered, dual-colour LED video light wih barndoors ($159.99, pictured), the Polaroid 312 ($139.95) and Polaroid 144 ($99.95) camcorder LED lights and the flashgun-mountable Polaroid 102 LED dimmable video light ($39.95). All four products are available from Amazon.
Adobe has released Lightroom CC 2015.5 / Lightroom 6.5 plus Adobe Camera Raw 9.5. The updates add support for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, EOS 80D and EOS 1300D, the Nikon D500 and D5, the Olympus PEN-F and SH-3, the Panasonic DMC-CM10, GF8 and TZ100, the Samsung NX3300, the Sony Alpha A6300 and the Yuneec CGO4, and fix a number of bugs.
The Sony Xperia Z5 is a new flagship waterproof smartphone that features a lot of cutting-edge camera technologies. The Xperia Z5 has a 23 megapixel sensor, 24mm fixed lens with fast f/2 aperture, 4K and 1080p video, sweep panoramas, a range of picture effects and Hybrid AF system featuring phase detection points. Read our in-depth Sony Xperia Z5 review now...
Intro2020 today announced the immediate UK availability of the Metz mecablitz 44 AF-2 flash. Featuring a guide number of 44 (in metres at ISO 100/21° and 105 mm), the mecablitz 44 AF-2 has a bounce-and-swivel head with a motorised 24-105mm zoom function, plus an integrated (12mm) wide angle diffuser and flip-out bounce reflector card. A built-in LED light - with an output of 100 Lux at a distance of 1m - creates additional lighting opportunities for moving images. The Metz mecablitz 44 AF-2 flash can be synchronised to the first or second shutter curtain and supports High Speed Synchronisation (HSS). The unit's firmware can be updated via the integrated USB socket. Available for Canon, Four Thirds, Fujifilm, Nikon, Samsung and Sony cameras, the mecablitz 44 AF-2 carries a suggested retail price of £179.99.
Samsung today unveiled the PRO Plus 128GB microSD memory card. Built with Samsung’s advanced MLC NAND flash chip, this product is the newest addition to Samsung’s PRO Plus line-up, which was first introduced in 32GB and 64GB versions in May 2015. The 128GB microSD features UHS-I 3 (U3) and Speed Class 10 support, offering read and write speeds of up to 95MB/s and 90MB/s, respectively. It comes with a 10 year limited warranty and is guaranteed to survive operating temperatures from -25°C to 85°C (-13°F to 185°F) and non-operating temperatures from -40°C to 85°C (-40°F to 185°F). Data stored on the card will not be affected by X-rays and will resist up to 15,000 gauss magnetic force.
Samsung have confirmed today that they are ending camera and camcorder sales in the United Kingdom, including their flagship NX1 mirroorless camera (pictured). Here's the official statement from Samsung:
“We quickly adapt to market needs and demands. In the UK, we have seen a gradual and sustained decline in demand for standalone digital cameras and camcorders and related accessories. For this reason, we have taken the decision to phase out the sales and marketing of these products. This is a local decision, based on local market conditions.”
This follows a similar statement for the German market made last week.
Lensbaby has announced the new Composer Pro II with Edge 50 Optic. Introduced at PhotoPlus Expo 2015, the Lesnbaby Composer Pro II with Edge 50 Optic is a high-quality, 50mm f/3.2 upgraded metal-bodied tilt lens providing a sharp slice of focus bordered by silky, smooth blur. The lens body swivels and tilts on a smooth metal ball and socket design, and is compatible with the Lensbaby Optic Swap System, allowing users to swap optics in and out of the Composer Pro II lens body to change effect and focal length. The Composer Pro II with Edge 50 Optic retails for $424.95 and is available for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony Alpha A, Pentax K, Fuji X, Sony Alpha E, Micro 4/3rds, and Samsung NX.
Fotodiox Pro has announced four new models in its expanding Sharkcage line of custom-fit, fully-configurable camera cages. Designed for the Panasonic GH4, the Samsung NX1, the Sony A7, A7R and A7S, and the Sony A7 II and A7R II compact system cameras; the new Sharkcages are crafted entirely from aluminium and are available in Samurai Silver and Pitch Black. “Similar to our Sharkcage model for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera, these new models come equipped with tons of accessory mounts, an integrated cable pinch system and a complete rod mounting system - everything you need to transform your camera into a powerful, portable video production powerhouse,” said Bohus Blahut, product consultant and marketing director for Fotodiox. “What’s more, because our camera-specific designs mirror the silhouette of each camera, all of the flexibility of a much larger rig system fits into a more efficient and compact footprint.”The complete Sharkcage camera cage kits are available now for $329.95 each.
The Galaxy S6 is Samsung's flagship smartphone, offering photographers a 16 megapixel sensor, a 28mm f/1.9 lens with optical image stabilisation, and UHD movie recording. Can the Samsung Galaxy S6 replace a compact camera? Find out by reading our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S6 review...
DxO have released DxO OpticsPro 10.4.3, DxO FilmPack 5.1.5 and DxO ViewPoint 2.5.7. These updates add support for the Canon EOS 750D / Rebel T6i, the EOS 760D / Rebel T6s and the EOS M3, as well as the Leica T (Typ 701), the Nikon 1 J5 (pictured) and the Pentax K-3 II. DxO OpticsPro 10.4.3 also adds 672 new camera/lens combinations to the DxO Optics Module library, providing support for Canon, GoPro, Leica, Nikon, Pentax, Samsung, Sigma, Sony, Tamron, Tokina and Zeiss lenses for numerous Canon, GoPro, Leica, Nikon, Pentax, Samsung and Sony cameras.
Digital Splash - a photography show hosted by Wilkinson Cameras – opens its doors at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston once again on Sunday, 11th October. The event itself is free to attend and there’s even plenty of free parking – doors open at 10am. Attendees will be able to listen to several presentations delivered by acclaimed photographers Jonathan Chritchley, Damien Lovegrove, Kerry Hendry, Adam Duckworth and Paul Rogers. Paul’s masterclass will include practical lighting demonstrations, highlighting his unique approach to this genre. This is a hands on workshop with the chance to shoot your own images – so guests are encouraged to bring along their cameras. Tickets for the seminars are £6, and £20 for the live phootshoots with Paul Rogers.
Corel have released Version 2.2.1 of AfterShot and AfterShot Pro. This update adds raw image file support for 10 new cameras, including the Fujifilm X-T10, X-Q1, X-Q2 and X-A2, the Samsung NX30 and NX300, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II (pictured) and XZ-10, plus the Nikon D5500 and D7200. In addition to the new cameras, AfterShot Pro 2.2.1 also includes a variety of usability improvements based on our users’ feedback.
Samsung have announced the industry’s first 1μm-pixel-based 16 megapixel CMOS sensor designed for use in mobile devices. The S5K3P3 imager takes advantage of Samsung’s ISOCELL technology to deliver image quality that is on a par with sensors featuring slightly larger, 1.2μm photosites. The new sensor reduces the camera module’s overall height by 20 percent, offering designers the ability to develop thinner-than-ever smartphones and tablets. Samsung’s new S5K3P3 image sensor is available today to original equipment manufacturers.
DxO have released DxO OpticsPro 10.4.2, DxO FilmPack v5.1.4, and DxO ViewPoint 2.5.6 for Mac and Windows. These updates add support for the Canon EOS 5DS and 5DS R. Additionally, DxO OpticsPro 10.4.2 also adds 789 new camera/lens combinations to its DxO Optics Modules library, whilst DxO FilmPack 5.1.4 and DxO ViewPoint 2.5.6 gain full compatibility with Adobe Photoshop CC 2015.
The new Samsung Galaxy S6 active is a rugged smartphone with a 16-megapixel camera and a 5.1" QuadHD screen boasting a resolution of 577 pixels per inch. Built to withstand whatever everyday life throws its way, the Samsung Galaxy S6 active has IP68 certified casing that is water resistant up to 1.5 metres for up to 30 minutes, shock resistant, and dustproof. The 16-megapixel rear- and 5-megapixel front-facing cameras are claimed to "launch faster than ever," whilst auto-real time High Dynamic Range (HDR) promises balanced exposures even in contrasty light. Photos and videos are saved unto the smartphone's 32GB internal storage unit. The Android 5.0.2 powered Galaxy S6 active has a 3500mAh battery and a 64-bit octa-core processor but unlike the S6 edge and regular Galaxy S6 models, it appears not to feature optical image stabilisation. In the US, the Galaxy S6 active will be available exclusively atAT&T.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 is a new compact system camera designed to bring 4K shooting to the masses. With an affordable price-tag and a wealth of features, can the 4K Panasonic G7 succeed in an ever more crowded market-place? Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 review, with sample photos, test shots, videos and more, to find out...
The Canon EOS M3 is a new compact system camera that offers 24 megapixel resolution, full 1080p high-definition videos, a faster auto-focusing system, and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the EOS M3 include a tilting 3-inch LCD screen, ISO range of 100-12,800, wi-fi and NFC connectivity, and a built-in flash. Is Canon's new mirrorless model finally a real contender? Read our Canon EOS M3 review to find out...
The Fujifilm X-T10 is a new mid-range compact system camera that inherits most of the key features of the flagship X-T1 model. Does the X-T10 cut too many corners to hit its aggressive £499 / $799 price-tag, or does it offer a compelling blend of features, performance and price? Read our in-depth Fujifilm X-T10 review to find out...
Iridient Digital has released Iridient Developer 3.0.2. This update adds support for the Nikon 1 J5, the Olympus TG-4 and Stylus 1S, the Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246), the Canon EOS 760D (Rebel T6s, 8000D), EOS 750D (Rebel T6i, Kiss X8i) and the EOS M3. Additionally, it includes further improvements to the v3 noise reduction introduced in version 3. Both Luminance and Colour noise reduction adjustments in particular are now much more effective with some forms of noise, especially when strongly increasing shadow brightness and with high ISO images. The maximum strength of noise reduction has also been increased to give smoother, lower noise output when set to high levels while still retaining good detail and colour fidelity.
Samsung have launched two new memory card lineups, PRO Plus and EVO Plus. Available in 64GB and 32GB storage capacities, the PRO Plus microSD and SD cards are equipped to handle storing and transferring professional-grade photos and 4K UHD video content created from high-end DSLRs, smartphones, tablets and modern action cameras. With their higher read and write speeds of up to 95MB/s and 90 MB/s respectively, the PRO Plus SD cards and microSD cards satisfy both UHS-I Speed Class 3 (U3) and Class 10 performance levels. The new EVO Plus memory cards are also available in SD and microSD form factors, and have read and write speeds up to 80MB/s and 20MB/s respectively that provide UHS-I Speed Class 1 (U1) and Class 10 performance, boasting a much more advanced read performance compared to the existing EVO lineup.
Lensbaby today announced the Velvet 56, a new 56mm lens with a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:2 and maximum aperture of f/1.6. According to the company this lens "delivers a velvety, glowing, ethereal look at brighter apertures, and beautifully sharp but subtly unique images as you stop down." Velvet 56 enables photographers to move seamlessly from shooting an environmental portrait to capturing details in a subject's clothing or jewelry. Nature and macro photographers will also find it highly usable thanks to its excellent close-up capabilities. Boasting an all-metal construction, the Lensbaby Velvet 56 will be available in two colours, black and silver. As seen in the photo above, the silver edition features a clear-anodised finish with engraved aperture and focus markings. Velvet 56 retails for $499.95 (black variant) and $599.95 (silver edition). The lenses will be available in Canon, Nikon, Sony A and Pentax mounts beginning13th April at lensbaby.com, B&H, Adorama, and from select specialty photo stores worldwide. Mirrorless mounts including Micro 4/3rds, Sony E, Samsung NX and Fuji X will be available in early May. Click through / scroll down for a gallery of web-resolution sample images taken by Caroline Jensen, Pauline Putt, Rachel Schomsky and Victoria Hederer Bell.
Iridient Digital has released Iridient Developer 3.0.1. This version adds support for the Canon 5DS and 5DS R, the Nikon D7200, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and SH-2, the Panasonic TZ71 and Samsung NX500. Additionally, it includes improvements to the new v3 noise reduction methods for Luminance and Luminance Grain Smoothness, particularly for images with high levels of speckle type noise in the deep shadows. The v3 Colour noise reduction methods are now both applicable to monochrome conversions and are now applied prior to monochrome conversion. New presets for Fujifilm X-Trans cameras with APS-C based sensors are also available. This update is free for everyone who purchased a new or upgraded license after 14 April 2013.
Phase One today released Capture One Pro 8.2. This update adds support for the Fujifilm X-A2, Nikon D5500, Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and Samsung NX1 cameras and eleven lenses (one from Nikon, one from Sigma and nine from Zeiss), plus offers a new Colour Balance tool. Capture One Pro 8.2 is a free update to existing Capture One Pro 8 customers.
Modelled after its American parent company, MAC Group US, the new MAC Group Europe unit will bring the same unique line of products to the EU. "We believe in the old-fashioned way of selling, people-to-people," says MAC Group president Jan Lederman. "So our new sales team will be bringing that message, face-to-face, with our European dealers." Leading the foray into this territory from the company's new Wolverhampton headquarters will be Managing Director Nigel Fielden, who previously spent many years overseeing the European market for Lowepro and Manfrotto. The group's current brand portfolio includes Benro, Induro, MeFOTO, Tenba and Vü.
The Samsung NX500 is the World's most affordable compact system camera to feature 4K video recording. The Samsung NX500 also features a compact rangefinder-like design, 3-inch tilting AMOLED screen, built-in wi-fi, bluetooth and NFC connectivity, 9fps burst shooting, and an APS-C CMOS sensor with 28.2 megapixels. Read our in-depth Samsung NX500 review, complete with sample images and videos, to find out if it's a game-changer...
DxO has released version 10.3 of Dxo Optics Pro, along with DxO FilmPack v5.1.1 and DxO ViewPoint v2.5.3. These updates provide support for new cameras such as the Nikon D5500, Canon PowerShot SX60 HS, and Olympus PEN E-PL7, as well as new correction tools. A new search engine has been added to the Source Browser to help users easily find and load any folder available on the operating system by simply typing its name. The OS X version also offers a new drag-and-drop feature that allows photographers to directly open a folder by dragging it into the Image Browser, providing quicker access to images. Additionally, the DxO Optics Modules library benefits from the addition of 422 new camera/lens combinations.
The Fujifilm X-A2 is a new entry-level compact system camera designd to take better selfies. The retro-styled X-A2 features a flip-up , 175-degree LCD screen with face and eye detection, a 16 megapixel APS-C sensor, built-in flash and hotshoe, wi-fi connectivity, 5.6fps burst shooting, a new kit zoom lens, and Full HD video recording. Read our in-depth Fujifilm X-A2 review now to find out if it's the perfect step into the world of interchangeable lens cameras...
Is it a camera? Is it a smartphone? No, it's the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1, which is bravely offering both in one device. Can the Panasonic CM1 replace a high-end camera and a premium smartphone? Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1 review now to find out...
DxO has released DxO OpticsPro v10.2, DxO FilmPack v5.1 and DxO ViewPoint v2.5.2. The updates add support for the Sony A7 II, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100, the Pentax K-S1, and the Samsung Galaxy S5. The DxO Optics Modules database benefits form the addition of 291 new camera/lens combinations. DxO OpticsPro v10.2, DxO FilmPack v5.1 and DxO ViewPoint v2.5.2 are now available in the DxO online store.
The Pentax QS-1 is a tiny new compact system camera. Featuring a 1/1.7-inch back-illuminated CMOS sensor, the Pentax QS1 is available in 40 different colour combinations. Read our in-depth Pentax QS-1 review to find out if it can stand out from the crowd...
The Samyang 135mm T2.2ED UMC VDSLR Cine Lens is the cinema / video version of the Samyang 135mm f2.0 ED UMC telephoto prime. Featuring a floating type design, one extra-low-dispersion lens element and a clickless diaphragm with nine rounded aperture blades, the Samyang 135mm T2.2ED UMC VDSLR Cine Lens comes with geared aperture and focus rings to accommodate a range of video accessories. The optical construction comprises 11 elements in 7 groups. Initially expected to be released in Canon, Nikon, Sony E and MFT mounts, the new Samyang VDSLR lens can now be preordered for $599. In the United Kingdom, the Samyang 135mm T2.2ED UMC VDSLR Cine Lens will be priced at £429.99.
The Samyang 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC is a new full-frame telephoto lens for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Samsung, Pentax and Olympus/Panasonic cameras. Featuring one extra-low-dispersion (ED) element, ultra-multi-coating, an iris diaphragm with nine rounded aperture blades, and a 77mm filter thread; the Samyang 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC has a close-focus point of 2.6 feet and an angle of view of 18.8 degrees (11.7° on APS-C, 9.4° on Micro Four Thirds). The new lens can be preordered now for $549. In the UK, the Samyang 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC will be available in early February, priced at £419.99 for Nikon AE and£389.99 for Canon, Sony A, Pentax and Sony E fittings.
Samsung has unveiled its highest storage capacity for its EVO MicroSD memory cards. Boasting Ultra High Speed (UHS-I) Class 10, Grade 1 level performance, the new EVO 128GB MicroSD card offers read speeds of up to 48MB/s, can survive up to 20 hours in sea water, endures operating temperatures from -25 – 85 °C, can resist over 10,000 gauss, and is also protected from damage caused by airport X-ray machines. The new Samsung EVO 128GB card is available for £92.99 (£93.99 with an SD card adapter that allows it to be used in digital cameras).
The Samsung S 50-150mm f/2.8 ED OIS is a new premium telephoto zoom lens for Samsung's NX system of interchangeable lens cameras. Offering an effective focal range of 77-231mm in 35mm terms, the Samsung 50-150mm lens boasts a fast constant aperture of f/2.8, fast and quiet auto-focusing, quality construction and weather sealing. Read our in-depth Samsung S 50-150mm f/2.8 ED OIS review, complete with 54 sample images, to find out if it's a must-have lens for Samsung photographers...
Samsung has announced the premiere of a new short film created by renowned actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt and his open collaborative production company, hitRECord. ‘In a City’ was shot entirely on the Samsung NX1 compact system camera (pictured) in 4K resolution. “This emotive short film is testament to both Joseph’s exceptional talents as a director and the outstanding technology within the Samsung NX1,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics. “The NX1’s advanced features make it ideal for filmmakers in search of a camera with 4K UHD capabilities, to wow their audiences with exceptional beauty and clarity in every shot.” Click through / scroll down to watch the movie.
The NX1 is the new professional model in Samsung's compact system camera range. The weather-proof Samsung NX1 features a DSLR-like design, 3-inch tilting AMOLED screen, electronic viewfinder, 4K video recording, built-in wi-fi, bluetooth and NFC connectivity, 15fps burst shooting, and an APS-C CMOS sensor with 28.2 megapixels. Read our in-depth Samsung NX1 review, complete with sample images and video, to find out if this is a serious proposition for professionals...
Ahead of our full review, here are some sample images taken with the new Samsung 50-150mm f/2.8 S ED OIS lens mounted on a Samsung NX1 body. The Samsung 50-150mm f/2.8 S ED OIS is a new premium telephoto zoom for Samsung NX compact system cameras, providing an effective focal range of 77-231mm in 35mm terms.
The new silver edition of the Fujfilm X-T1 adds a more durable coating, ultra-fast electronic shutter, Natural Live View function, and a Classic Chrome film simulation mode to one of the year's most popular mirrorless cameras. Read our Fujifilm X-T1 Graphite Silver review to find out if this new edition is another hit for Fujifilm...
Lensbaby has released new versions of its 5.8mm Circular Fisheye lens. The company now offers the product in Sony A and E, Micro Four Thirds, Samsung NX, Pentax K, Canon EF and Nikon F mounts. This all-manual lens has built-in aperture control ranging from f/3.5-22 and can focus from 1/4" in front of the lens to infinity. Thanks to its 185° angle of view, the Lensbaby Circular Fisheye lens can "look" slightly behind itself. Available now, the lens retails for $299.95.
Phase One today released Capture One 8.0.2. This update adds support for Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite; lenses including the Zeiss Otus 55mm f1.4, the Zeiss Otus 85mm f1.4, the Nikon AF-S Nikkot 20mm f/1.8G ED and the Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro; and cameras including the Nikon D750, D3300 and P340, the Canon EOS 7D Mark II, the Leica T (Typ 701) and C (Typ 112), the Panasonic GM1, and the Samsung NX30.
The Samsung Galaxy K Zoom is Samsung's latest attempt to fuse together a 10x compact camera with a smartphone. Can the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom really replace a standalone camera and smartphone? Read our Samsung Galaxy K Zoom review now to find out...
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 is a tiny interchangeable lens camera complete with an electronic viewfinder and a flash hotshoe. Can the Panasonic GM5 challenge the likes of the Samsung NX Mini and the Sony A5100? Read our full Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 review, complete with full-size JPEG and RAW sample images to find out...
Now in its 6th year, Digital Splash - which is hosted by Wilkinson Cameras – will see a selection of the UK’s best photographers descend on Preston. Lancashire, for a celebration of all things photography related. Headlining the show this year is world famous landscape and travel photographer, Colin Prior, alongside Andrea Denniss, Damian McGillicuddy, Matt Hart and Catherine Connor. Brand new for this year is the F-Stop Stage – which will host a range of free talks on subjects including the use of flash and studio lighting, colour management systems and the use of filters – (hosted by Lee Filters). This year, Digital Splash will take place on Sunday 9th November (10am to 5pm) at the University of Central Lancashire. The event is free to attend and tickets for the seminars are just £6 – available to purchase online at the website below.
The Samsung S 16-50mm f/2-2.8 ED OIS is a new premium standard zoom lens for Samsung's NX system of interchangeable lens cameras. Offering an effective focal range of 24-75mm in 35mm terms, the Samsung 16-50mm lens boasts a fast constant aperture of f/2.0, fast and quiet auto-focusing, quality construction and weather sealing. Read our in-depth Samsung S 16-50mm f/2-2.8 ED OIS review, complete with 54 sample images, to find out if it's a must-have lens for Samsung photographers...
Samsung Electronics has revealed more technical details about its new 28 megapixel (MP) APS-C BSI CMOS image sensor for digital cameras. The S5KVB2 is designed into Samsung’s new compact system camera, the NX1, and will be showcased alongside the camera at Photokina 2014. The S5KVB2 is the industry’s first APS-C sensor to adopt back-side illuminated (BSI) pixel technology.
The Samsung NX1 is a new compact system camera designed for the expert photographer. Boasting fantastic image quality, remarkable fast AF system and ease of use, the Samsung NX1 features best in class 15FPS continuous AF shooting, a unique Auto Focus (AF) System III with 205 Phase Detection AF points, a 28MP APS-C BSI CMOS Sensor for superior image quality, a weather-sealed magnesium-alloy body, and 4K video recording. The Samsung NX1 will cost £1299 body-only, release date to be confirmed.
Samsung have also announced the new 50-150mm 2.8 S ED OIS lens, a high end, premium telephoto lens perfectly matched with the NX1. Price and availability to be confirmed.
Tether Tools have announced four new AeroTab Universal Tablet Mounts. The AeroTab S2/S4, and AeroTab L2/L4 mounts are compatible with various tablet makes and models and are mountable to any tripod, light stand, arm, clamp, camera sling strap or grip. "Whether taking photos using cabled or wireless tethered capture, editing on-the-spot during a production or integrating a tablet as a video monitor, clapboard, time clock or instant play-back tool for clients - the AeroTab Series gives Acer, Amazon, Apple, Asus, Dell, Microsoft, Samsung, Sony, Wacom and other tablet users a versatile, streamlined and sleek new way to mount portable devices to any tripod, lightstand, arm or clamp used in photography or video work," the company says. Tether Tools will showcase the AeroTab Series at Photokina - September 16-21, 2014 at their booth in Hall 9.1, Stand B.24.
The venerable Kodak name is back with the Pixpro S-1, a Micro Four Thirds compact system camera. Boasting a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor, 3-inch 920k-dot articulated LCD, sensor-shift image stabilisation and Full HD video recording capabilities, can the first-generation Kodak Pixpro S-1 compete with its more well-established rivals? Read our in-depth Kodak Pixpro S-1 review to find out...
Olloclip has introduced 4-in-1 photo lenses for the Samsung Galaxy S5 and S4. Each of these quick-connect conversion lenses offers fisheye, wide-angle, and two macro optics in a single package. With the fisheye and wide-angle lenses adjacent to each other, selecting a lens is as simple as shifting the desired lens over the device’s camera. The macro lenses are cleverly revealed by unscrewing either the fisheye or wide-angle lens. The olloclip 4-IN-1 lens retails for £59.99.
The Samsung NX3000 is a well-appointed new entry-level compact system camera. Featuring a 20 megapixel APS-C sensor, full 1080p video, ISO 100-25,600, a 3 flip-up screen, 5fps continuous shooting and Wi-fi / NFC connectivity, all for just £350 / $529, is this the best budget mirrorless camera? Read our Samsung NX3000 review to find out...
Iridient Digital has released version 2.4.4 of Iridient Developer. This update adds raw image file support for the Samsung NX3000 and also includes support for automatic lens corrections based on raw image metadata for all Samsung NX mirrorless models. This release is a paid upgrade for users who originally purchased a license prior to 1 November 2012. Upgrades are available for the discounted price of $45. New licenses can be purchased for $75.
VSN Mobil has unveiled its V.360° camera - the first device to capture 360 degrees of video in full 1080p high definition. “The V.360° camera finally makes it possible to capture life’s most astonishing moments at every angle simultaneously,” explained Matt Gordon, VP of Strategic Marketing for VSN Mobil. “This unprecedented device truly changes the game for anyone who wants to shoot videos or capture still images.” The camera features an f/2.8 lens, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC with a 2.3GHz quad-core CPU - and Wi-Fi connectivity, which enables it to be controlled through a free companion app for Android and iOS phones and tablets. The V.360° camera is currently on display at the Sin City: A Dame To Kill For experience at Comic-Con 2014, which is open from 9am-6pm every day until 27th July in the Petco Park car park by the footbridge leading to the Convention Center in San Diego.
DxO Labs have released DxO Optics Pro v9.5.1 for Mac and Windows. This update adds support for the new Sony Alpha A7S (Elite Edition only - pictured) and for four other cameras: the Sony DSC-RX100 III and SLT-A77 II, the Nikon 1 J4, and the Samsung NX30. Additionally, it gains 376 new Optics Modules offering support for Canon, Konica Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Samsung, Sigma, Sony, Tamron, Tokina, and Zeiss lenses for many Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony cameras..
The new Samsung WB1100F is a full-featured super-zoom camera that won't break the bank. The WB1100F offers a 16-megapixel CCD sensor, 35x optical zoom (25-875mm), integrated Wi-Fi and NFC, 720p movies and a 3-inch LCD screen. Read our in-depth Samsung WB1100F review with sample photos, test shots, videos and more...
The new Samsung WB2200F super-zoom camera has a second hand grip and dual controls at the base of the camera for easier portrait shooting. The WB2200F also offers a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, 60x optical zoom (20-1200mm), integrated Wi-Fi and NFC, an i-Function control button and an eye-level electronic viewfinder. Read our Samsung WB2200F review to find out if this unique design hits the mark or not...
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is the latest edition of one of the most popular flagship smartphones of all time. Find out what it has to offer photographers by reading our Samsung Galaxy S5 review, complete with full-size sample photos, test shots, videos and more...
Samsung has announced a new digital campaign which will showcase the potential of the Galaxy K Zoom. ‘100 Days of Family’ will celebrate the diversity of modern British family life by inviting 50 families from across the country to tell their unique stories through the lens of the Samsung Galaxy K zoom. Featured families won’t just be parents with young children – the campaign will also capture families in the wider sense – aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, pets and the like. Samsung’s Speak Pictures hub will be refreshed every week over the 100 days with content from new families. “Our strategy with this campaign is to highlight the unique camera capabilities of our latest smartphone, the Galaxy K zoom,” says Ines van Gennip, Marketing Director, IT & Mobile Division, Samsung UK. “We know from our research that especially families are looking to combine the practicalities of a smartphone with the benefits of a very advanced camera that capture those special moments of their lives, like Father’s day, that they can share together. 100 Days of Family is all about bringing that to life in an interactive way that is relevant to that audience with the Galaxy K zoom.”
The new Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 is half travel-zoom camera, half smartphone. Using the latest Android 4.3 operating system, the Galaxy Camera 2 also offers wi-fi and NFC connectivity along with a 16 megapixel sensor and 21x zoom lens. Read our Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 review, complete with full-size sample images and video...
The NX mini is the new entry level model in Samsung's compact system camera range. The tiny Samsung NX mini features a a 1-inch CMOS sensor with 20.5 megapixels, 3-inch swivelling touchscreen, 1080p video recording at 30fps, built-in wi-fi and NFC connectivity, and 6fps burst shooting. Read our in-depth Samsung NX mini review to find out if it's worth upgrading from your cameraphone...
Samsung invites consumers to #DITCHtheDSLR at Ditch Day on New York’s Times Square today from 12pm – 6pm ET. Attendees have the opportunity to trade-in a DSLR in exchange for a new Samsung NX30 (pictured). The event features several unique shooting stations where consumers have the opportunity to experience the full line of mirrorless and SMART cameras in a variety of scenarios. Additionally, a group of Samsung #Imageloggers are on hand discussing their experiences since ditching the DSLR in favour of Samsung’s NX cameras and offering up tips for how to capture great images. The Samsung Ditch Day event is taking place on Times Square, between 42nd and 43rd streets, in front of the NASDAQ marquee.
The Nikon Coolpix S6800 is a stylish point-and-shoot compact camera, featuring a 12x, 25-300mm lens and a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor. The S6800 also offers a 3 inch screen, 1080p Full HD movies, built-in wi-fi and 9.4fps burst shooting. Read our in-depth Nikon Coolpix S6800 review now...
Samsung today announced the Samsung NX3000, the latest edition to Samsung’s award winning NX series of compact system cameras. Key features include an APS-C sized 20.3-megapixel CMOS imager, 3" flip-up display, 5fps continuous shooting, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity and a top shutter speed of 1/4000s. The NX3000 will be available in White, Black and Brown, and will feature Samsung’s new compact 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS lens. Availability is slated for June, with pricing to be communicated.
Iridient Digital has released Iridient Developer 2.4, a major update to its critically acclaimed raw converter and image editor for Mac OS X. This update includes a number of new features to provide better integration with other photo management tools, in particular Lightroom and Aperture. New features include 'Find and Open raw' for doing a local search for the raw source of a standard image, the ability to overwrite standard images in place and support for automatically opening the raw source image when sent a standard image for external editing. Version 2.4 also adds support for the Leica T, Samsung NX mini, Canon Powershot G1 X II, Sony A77 II, Nikon 1 V3, Nikon 1 J4 and Panasonic DMC-GH4 cameras, and fixes bugs. Do note that this release is a paid upgrade for users who originally purchased a license prior to 1 November 2012.
The Canon PowerShot SX600 HS is a new travel-zoom camera with an 18x zoom lens in a slim and compact body. The Canon SX600 also offers 16 megapixels, a 3-inch LCD screen, built-in wi-fi and 1080p HD movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX600 HS review to find out if it's the right camera for you...
At a recent event held by Samsung at Sandown Racecourse in the UK, we got our hands on the company’s new WB200F 60x bridge camera. Read all about this massive zoom camera in our Samsung WB2200F preview...
At a recent event held by Samsung at Sandown Racecourse in the UK, we got our hands on the company’s new NX Mini system camera. Read all about this tiny new mirrorless camera in our Samsung NX Mini preview...
Adobe has released final versions of Adobe DNG Converter 8.4 and ACR 8.4. These updates add support for the Canon EOS 1200D, Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II, Casio EX-100, Fujifilm X-T1, Hasselblad H5D-50C, Hasselblad HV, Nikon 1 V3, Nikon Coolpix P340, Nikon D3300, Nikon D4S, Olympus OM-D E-M10, Panasonic TZ60 / TZ61, Samsung NX mini, Samsung NX30, Sony A5000 and Sony A6000 cameras, the Phase One IQ250 digital back (pictured) and the DJI Phantom quadcopter; similarly to Lightroom 5.4. Additionally, ACR 8.4 brings support for a host of new lens profiles, implements changes to local corrections and updates to the Preview Controls, and fixes bugs. Camera Matching color profiles for more than a dozen Fujifilm cameras have also been added.
Source: Lightroom Journal
Samsung today annnounced that it is now shipping a new line of SD and microSD memory cards. Boasting newly designed exteriors and branding, the new cards are available in PRO, EVO and Standard categories, colour coded silver, orange and blue respectively. The PRO and EVO products both support UHS-I Grade 1 level performance with read speeds of up to 90MB/s and 48MB/s. All models are guaranteed to survive up to 24 hours in seawater and endure operating temperatures from -13°F to 185°F and non-operating temperatures from- 40°F to 185°F (-25°C to 85°C and -40°C to 85°C). The new Samsung memory card range will be show on the Kondor stand at this year’s Gadget Show 9-13th April, NEC Birmingham, Hall 6, Stand K40.
Research and Markets have released a new report entitled "United States Digital Camera Market 2014-2018 with Canon, Nikon, Sony, Samsung Electronics & Panasonic Dominating." According to the report, the digital camera market in the US is driven by many growth factors, one of which is the increasing demand for compact system cameras such as the Panasonic GX7 (pictured). The report includes information on segmentation, buying criteria, market challenges, trends, vendors and drivers of growth. Available in electronic format, the report is priced at $2500.
Samsung UK has today announced a major trade-up promotion across selected models of its Smart camera and NX lens range. Running until 31 at participating retailers both in-store and online, the promotion enables anyone that purchases a new Samsung camera or lens included within the offer and trades in their old digital camera (in working condition) to claim up to £200/€240. To claim the reward, all people need to do is buy a qualifying Samsung camera or lens from an eligible retailer, either in-store or online, and fill out an online claim form on Samsung.com within 14 days of making the purchase. They will then receive a pre-paid postage label within two days via email. Customers in the Republic of Ireland will be emailed the freepost address to send back their camera. Once this has arrived, they must simply pack and return their old digital camera within 30 days of purchase. Qualifying claims will then be fulfilled via direct bank transfer.
Iridient Digital has released an update to Iridient Developer for Mac OS X. Version 2.3.4 includes a complete overhaul of the image caching architecture and gives greatly improved loading performance when accessing previously viewed images. Additionally, it adds compatibility with the Phantom Vision FC200, the Nokia Lumia 1520, the Samsung NX30, the Fujifilm FinePix S1, the Sony ILCE-6000, ILCE-5000 and ILCE-3500, as well as the Nikon D4S, D3300 and P340.
The Samsung NX mini is billed as "the world's slimmest interchangeable-lens camera." Featuring NFC and Wi-Fi capabilities, the Samsung NX mini has a 1"-type 20.5-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, 6fps continuous shooting mode and a maximum shutter speed of 1/16000 second. The 3-inch touchscreen that flips 180-degrees allows users to take self-portraits effortlessly. Unlike other Samsung NX models, the NX mini has a brand new NX-M lens mount, with two lenses available at launch: a 9mm f/3.5 and a stabilised 9-27mm f/3.5-5.6. A stabilised 17mm f/1.8 will be available at a later date (multiply the focal lengths by 2.7 for the 35mm equivalents). The Samsung NX mini will retail for $449, paired with the new 9mm NX-M lens, or $549 when paired with the 9-27mm lens and SEF-7A flash. The 9mm and 9-27mm NX-M lenses will retail for $179 and $279, respectively. In the UK, the camera will be available for £399.99 in a kit with the 9mm f/3.5 lens. Availability is slated for early April in both markets.
Launching at Crufts, the Kennel Club is urging budding and experienced photographers to submit their canine images to the annual Dog Photographer of the Year competition. Heidi Hudson, Kennel Club Picture Librarian, said: “The Dog Photographer of the Year competition is the biggest canine photography competition in the world and we are looking for stunning images that capture a wonderful moment and that reflect our contemporary experience of living with dogs." The competition, which is exclusively presented by Samsung, is now open and free to enter. The overall winner will receive a Samsung Galaxy NX camera and will have VIP access to photograph the Crufts Best in Show winner in 2015. The submission deadline is 5p.m. (UK time) on 10 November 2014.
Here are 12 sample images taken with the new Samsung 16-50mm f2-2.8 S ED OIS lens mounted on a Samsung NX30 body. The Samsung 16-50mm f2-2.8 S ED OIS is a new premium standard zoom for Samsung NX compact system cameras, providing an effective focal range of 24.6-77mm in 35mm terms. Please note that the Samsung 16-50mm f2-2.8 S ED OIS lens we briefly used was a pre-production version, so the image quality isn't fully indicative of the final shipping version.
DxO Labs have released DxO Optics Pro 9.1.3 for Mac and Windows. This latest version adds support for the Nikon D3300, the Canon EOS M2, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 the Samsung NX1000 and NX1100. Additionally, DxO Optics Pro has been enriched with 264 new Optics Modules including camera/lens combinations for Nikon, Samsung and other brands. Photographers who acquired a DxO Optics Pro 8 license on or after 1 September 2013, are entitled to a free upgrade to version 9.
The NX30 is the new flagship model in Samsung's compact system camera range. The Samsung NX30 features a DSLR-like design, 3-inch swivelling AMOLED screen, tiltable electronic viewfinder, 1080p video recording at 60/50fps, built-in wi-fi and NFC connectivity, 9fps burst shooting, and a large APS-C CMOS sensor with 20.3 megapixels. Read our in-depth Samsung NX30 review, complete with full-size sample images, to find out if this is Samsung's best ever compact system camera...
Adobe has posted Release Candidate (RC) versions of ACR 8.4 for Photoshop CC and CS6. This update adds Camera Matching colour profiles (Provia/standard, Velvia/vivid, Astia/soft, monochrome etc.) for the Fujifilm X-A1, X-E1, X-E2, X-M1, X-S1, X-T1, X-Pro1, X10, X20, XF1, XQ1, X100 and X100S cameras; and raw image file support for the new Canon EOS 1200D, Casio EX-100, DJI Phantom, Fujifilm X-T1, Hasselblad H5D-50c, Hasselblad HV, Nikon D3300, Nikon D4S, Olympus OM-D E-M10, Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ60, Phase One IQ250, Samsung NX30, Sony Alpha a5000 (ILCE-5000) and Sony Alpha a6000 (ILCE-6000) cameras and backs. You can download Adobe Camera Raw 8.4 RC for Photoshop CC and ACR 8.4RC for Photoshop CS6 from the website below.
Website: ACR 8.4 for CC RC
Website: ACR 8.4 for CS6 RC
Samsung Electronics America has officially announced availability and pricing details for the new Samsung Galaxy Camera 2. Unveiled in the run-up to this year's Consumer Electronics Show, the Galaxy Camera 2's upgrades include a faster 1.6GHz Quad Core processor, 2.0 GB of RAM, enhanced battery life, Android 4.3 and NFC connectivity. The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 will be available from mid-March at a retail price of $449.99.
Following a similar announcement made by its UK sister company, Samsung Electronics America today revealed availability and pricing details for the Samsung NX30 compact system camera. The traditionally-styled NX30 features a 20.3MP APS-C CMOS sensor, tiltable electronic viewfinder, 3.0-inch Super AMOLED swivel and touch display, 1/8000 sec maximum shutter speed, 9fps continuous shooting, and NFC and Wi-Fi capabilities. In the United States, the NX30 will be available from mid-March, at an MSRP of $999.99.
The new Samsung WB350F travel zoom camera offers a wide-angle 21x zoom lens, 16.3 megapixels, full 1080p video recording, 3 inch touchscreen, built-in wi-fi and NFC connectivity, plus full manual controls. Read our in-depth Samsung WB350F review now to find out if it's a bargain or not...
Last year, 'selfie' was officially named the Oxford Dictionaries' word of the year - now it's time to learn the phrase 'petsie.' A recent survey conducted by Samsung Digital Imaging shows that Brits are literally "obsessed with taking and sharing more photos of our furry friends than of our own friends and family." 63% of pet-owners in the UK confess to taking photos of their pets on a regular basis, with 62% of respondents admitting to frequently taking photos of their dogs, 52% of their cats, 8% of their rabbits and 4% even taking ‘petsies’ of their guinea pigs. In a sign of the social world in which we now live, nearly two thirds (62%) of people admit to regularly uploading and sharing photos of their pets on Facebook and Twitter, with a further 16% revealing that half of the photos they upload onto Facebook are of their pets. To celebrate Britain’s love of dogs and the growing ‘petsie’ phenomenon, Samsung Digital Imaging has launched an online search to find Britain’s best ‘petsies’. To take part in the Petsie Awards, all you have to do is upload the coolest picture of your pet dog on Facebook by visiting the website below.
Photographers who buy a Samsung NX300 will receive £30/€35 cashback and a free camera case. The offer is available by redemption on purchases made until 31 March 2014 at participating retailers. The promotion can be activated online at the website below.
Cinemartin has released version 3.X of its Cinec video converter / encoder for Windows. Adding support for Cineform, Sony XAVC, XAVC-S and RED files (.r3d) as well as 4K Ultra HD videos created with Snapdragon 800 powered mobile devices; Cinec 3.X comes with a number of new features such sd Motion Picture Adjustments, Dual Preview Monitor and the ability to create transparent videos with the new Quicktime Animation preset. The software is available in Standard, Pro and Gold versions, priced at €99, €199 and €799 respectively.
The Fujifilm X-T1 is a brand new compact system camera that looks, feels and performs very much like a classic DSLR that''s been shrunk in the wash. Is this the best X-series camera that Fujifilm have released, and can it compete with the likes of the Sony A7/A7R and Olympus OM-D E-M1, not to mention DSLRs from Canon and Nikon? Read our in-depth Fujifilm X-T1 review to find out...
The Samsung WB2200F dual-grip camera offers a 1/2.3-type 16-megapixel CMOS imager and 60x optical zoom. Equipped with a 20-1200mm equivalent f/2.8-5.9 lens, the Samsung WB2200F features integrated Wi-Fi, image stabilisation, Near-Field Communication (NFC), an i-Function control button and an eye-level electronic viewfinder.
The Samsung WB1100F is a new digital compact camera with 35x optical zoom, Wi-Fi and NFC. Equipped with a 16-megapixel CCD and a 25-875mm equivalent lens, theThe Samsung WB1100F is a new digital compact camera with 35x optical zoom, Wi-Fi and NFC. has a Speed Control Key that allows users to move through the various levels of zoom with speed and ease. The Speed Control Key can be used to activate both the zoom and the Panorama mode. The Samsung WB1100F is currently on display at the CES trade show held from 7th-10th January in Las Vegas.
The Samsung NX30 is a new APS-C compact system camera. The traditionally-styled NX30 features a 20.3MP APS-C CMOS sensor, tiltable electronic viewfinder (XGA, 2,359K-dot resolution), 3.0-inch Super AMOLED swivel and touch display, 1/8000 sec shutter speed, 9fps continuous shooting, and NFC and Wi-Fi capabilities. The price and availability of the Samsung NX30 are still to be announced.
Samsung have also unveiled two new lenses, the premium ‘S’ Series 16-50mm F2-2.8 S ED OIS lens, and the more consumer 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 is one of the most popular flagship smartphones of 2013, but can it replace your compact camera? Read our Samsung Galaxy S4 review to find out...
The Samyang 10mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS CS is a new manual-focus, rectilinear ultra-wide angle lens for cameras with APS-C and FourThirds sized sensors. With an optical formula comprising fourteen elements in ten groups, the Samyang 10mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS CS offers an angle of view of 109.5° on Fuji, Nikon, Pentax, Samsung and Sony bodies, 105.9° on Canon DSLRS and CSCs, and 93.4° on (Micro) Four Thirds models. Other key features include a nano-crystal anti-reflex coating, a manual aperture ring, an integrated hood, one extra-low dispersion and two aspeherical lens elements, a close-focus point of 25cm and a six-bladed iris diaphragm. The lens will be available from the end of January 2014. The suggested retail price for the Nikon version, which has a CPU to enable open-aperture metering and the use of various non-manual exposure modes, is £469.99. All other fittings carry a suggested retail price of £429.99.
Big sensor in a small body - that's the USP of the new Sony A7R camera. Offering a 35mm full-frame sensor inside a relatively compact body that takes interchangeable lenses, the A7R is a truly unique and genuinely exciting proposition. Is the Sony A7R the ultimate fusion of DSLR technology and compact system camera size? Read our Sony A7R review to find out...
In the sixth part of our 2013 Holiday Gift Guide, we've selected our favourite smartphones, with something for every budget.
In the fifth part of our 2013 Holiday Gift Guide, we've selected our favourite Compact Cameras, with something for every budget.
The Nikon 1 AW1 is the World's first ever water-, freeze-, dust- and shockproof compact system camera. The AW1 is waterproof to 15 metres, freezeproof to -10°C and shockproof from heights of up to 2m, and comes with a new all-weather 1 Nikkor AW 11-27.5mm f/3.5–5.6 lens. Is this the perfect action camera for all the family? Read our Nikon 1 AW1 review to find out...
In the second part of our 2013 Holiday Gift Guide, we've selected our favourite Compact System Cameras, with something for every budget.
The new Fujifilm X-E2 is a faster, more full-featured version of last year's X-E1 compact system camera, promising better image quality too. Can this gorgeous retro-styled model improve on one of our favourite cameras of 2012? Read our Fujifilm X-E2 review to find out...
Introducing the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom. Is it a camera? Is it a phone? No, the Galaxy S4 Zoom is Samsung's attempt to bring both together in one device - but have they succeeded? Read our Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom review to find out...
The NEX-5T is the latest mid-range compact system camera from Sony. With a 16 megapixel APS HD CMOS sensor, 1080p HD movies, high-res 3 inch tilting screen and external flash, the Sony NEX-5T also features a touchscreen user interface, fast hybrid auto-focus, built-in wi-fi and NFC connectivity, downloadable PlayMemories Camera Apps and a new 16-50mm kit lens. Read our full Sony NEX-5T review, complete with sample JPEGs, RAW files, and movies...
Brian Griffith has released Iridient Developer 2.3, an update to his photo editing software for Mac OS X. This release includes support for the Sony NEX-5T and ILCE-3000, the Samsung Galaxy NX, the Olympus OM-D E-M1, the Nikon Coolpix P7800, the Fujifilm: X-A1, the Canon PowerShot G16 and the PowerShot S120. The automatic chromatic aberration correction algorithm has also been greatly improved to give better, more consistent results under difficult image conditions. This release is a paid upgrade for users who originally purchased a license prior to 1 April 2012.
Scarab Labs have released version 2.0 of Scarab Darkroom, a fast and easy-to-use raw converter for Windows. Unlike the previous edition, this is a paid app that retails for $49, but it comes with expanded functionality courtesy of a number of new features such as noise filtering, chromatic aberration correction, split toning, Adobe RGB colour space support and more. The free variant, now renamed Scarab Darkroom Lite, remains available alongside the paid version.
ArcSoft has announced that its digital photo makeover app, Perfect365, has reached 10 million downloads. Perfect365 is free to download, and lets people easily apply a natural touchup or a trendy makeover on digital self-portrait photos with a single tap. The app is available for Android, iOS and Windows platforms. A premium version is also available for Mac and Windows users.
The Fujifilm X-A1 is a new entry-level compact system camera. The retro-styled X-A1 offers a 16 megapixel APS-C sensor, built-in flash and hotshoe, wi-fi connectivity, 5.6fps burst shooting, tilting LCD screen and Full HD video recording. Read our in-depth Fujifilm X-A1 review now...
The Samsung Galaxy NX is the world's first interchangeable lens camera to run on the Android operating system and offer 3G/4G connectivity. The innovative Galaxy NX also features a 20.3 megapixel APS-C sensor, hybrid AF system, 4.8-inch touchscreen LCD, 8.6fps continuous shooting, Wi-fi and NFC connectivity, full 1080p video, and an ISO range 100-25,600. Read our Samsung Galaxy NX review to find out if it's the future of cameras...
Ahead of our full review, here are 39 sample JPEG photos and a 1080p movie taken with the new Samsung Galaxy NX compact system camera, including the full ISO range. Running on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system, the Samsung Galaxy NX is the World’s first interchangeable-lens camera with 3G/4G LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity.
The Samsung ST150F compact camera offers a wide-angle 5x zoom lens, 16.2 megapixel sensor, 720p video recording, 3 inch LCD screen and built-in wi-fi, all for less than £100 / $150. Read our in-depth Samsung ST150F review to find out if it's worth the modest asking price....
The new Kodak PixPro AZ521 super-zoom camera features a massive 52x zoom lens with a focal range of 24-1248mm. Other highlights of the affordable Kodak AZ521 include a 3 inch LCD screen, full 1080p HD movies, and a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor. Read our in-depth Kodak PixPro AZ521 review now...
The Samsung DV150F compact camera features a 2.7-inch LCD on the front, useful for composing self-portraits, and a wide range of wi-fi connectivity options. The 16 megapixel Samsung DV150F also features a 25mm wide-angle 5x zoom lens, 720p HD video, and a multitude of special effects modes, all for just £99.99 / $149.99. Read our in-depth Samsung DV150F review now...
AppCam today announced that it had acquired the rights for Virtual Grid, a new technology which makes it possible to replace the mechanical dials of digital cameras with sensory optimised, virtual dials directly on the touchscreen. The term "sensory optimised" means that a 3D line pattern is pressed into the glass screen above the touchscreen field which gives the fingertips a sensory feedback. This feedback, in conjunction with acoustic clicks, allows the user to handle the camera as accurately and reliably as with a mechanical dial. With the Virtual Grid technology it is now possible to replace these dials more than adequately with a touchscreen solution, clearing one of the major obstacles from the introduction of the AppCam Control System for digital cameras.
Phase One today released Capture One 7.1.4, a software update that includes support for new cameras and new lens profiles. This edition adds support for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R and DSC-RX100 II, Fujifilm X-M1, Olympus E-P5 (pictured) and Ricoh GR, plus tethered shooting support for the Nikon D7100 and Nikon D5200 digital SLR cameras. Capture One 7.1.4 is a free update for all existing customers of Capture One 7.
Samsung USA has announced availability and pricing for the intriguing Samsung Galaxy NX Camera. The Android-powered compact system camera, which takes interchangeable lenses and boasts 3G/4G LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity, will be available from October priced at $1,599.99 (body-only) or $1,699.99 (bundled with an 18-55mm lens).
Samsung today announced two new promotions for its NX range of compact system cameras. From today until the 31st October 2013, customers are eligible to receive a free 50-200mm lens worth £249, when they purchase a Samsung NX2000 or Samsung NX300 from participating retailers. Do note that the promotional offers are available to UK and Ireland residents only. To learn more, visit the website below.
Joby has launched two adaptable mini tripods designed for point-and-shoot cameras, phones and action video cameras. Inspired by the original GorillaPod, the Joby the GPod Mini Magnetic (pictured) is a mini-tripod with magnetic feet that secure to all types of metal objects. Designed for point-and-shoot and action video cameras, the mini-tripod has an adjustable neck which allows users to change the position of their camera angle for more creative possibilities. The Joby MPod Mini Stand features a universal design that fits most smartphones, with or without their protective cases. The mini tripod is built with flexible leg joints that adapt to all types of surfaces. Its expandable head mount clamps a smartphone in place, making it easy to set up a steady shot. Available for pre-order, each mini-tripod weighs less than two ounces.
The three lucky winners of a Samsung 64GB micro SDXC UHS-I card PRO memory cards are Paul Smith, Jon Pertwee and Alan Penman. Congratulations!
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a world leader in advanced memory technology is offering Photography Blog readers the chance to win one of three professional, class 10 micro SD cards.
Samsung’s memory cards are built to maximize the users’ mobile experience with faster speeds, more reliability and higher capacity, making it the essential complementary item for smart phones, tablets and digital cameras. Samsung's 64GB micro SD Pro card offers read speeds up to 70 Megabytes per second (MB/s) and write speeds up to 20 Megabytes per second (MB/s).
The 64GB micro SD Pro card has been designed with Samsung’s proof technologies to provide users with ultimate levels of durability: Water- proof, Magnetic-proof, X-ray-proof and Temperature-proof. All Samsung memory cards come with a 10 year warranty.
For more information about Samsung memory, please visit http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/memory-cards-hdd-odd/memory-cards-accessories/
The European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) has recognised the Samsung NX300 and Galaxy NX compact system cameras with two prestigious awards. The 20.3-megapixel NX300 has been named the 'European Compact System Camera of the Year 2013-2014,' while the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy NX (pictured) has been awarded the 'European Photo Innovation 2013-2014' title.
Tether Tools and Phase One have announced a special Pro Tether Kit with Capture One Pro 7 for professional tethered capture. The kit includes a Capture One Pro 7 licence, Tether Table & Aero Accessories, TetherPro Cable & Case and Tether Tools' JerkStopper Cable Management System. For a limited time, the Tether Tools + Phase One Capture Pro7 Kit is available at 15% off regular price -- $583.55 to $593.75 -- a saving of more than $100 off the complete kit. This promotion will run from August 10 - 23, 2013 at the website below.
The Samsung WB250F is a new travel-zoom camera that won't break the bank. The WB250F offers a wide-angle 18x zoom lens, 14.2 megapixel sensor, 1080p video recording, 3 inch LCD touchscreen and built-in wi-fi connectivity. Read our Samsung WB250F review to find out if it's worth the modest price-tag...
The Samsung WB800 is a very capable travel-zoom camera that doesn't cost the earth. The WB800 offers a wide-angle 21x zoom lens, 16.3 megapixels, full 1080p video recording, 3 inch touchscreen, built-in wi-fi, plus full manual controls. Read our in-depth Samsung WB800 review now to find out if it's a bargain or not...
The Samsung NX2000 is a new entry-level compact system camera with a lot of bells and whistles. Featuring a 20 megapixel APS-C sensor, full 1080p video, ISO 100-25,600, a 3.7-inch touchscreen, 8.6fps continuous shooting and Wi-fi / NFC connectivity, is this the best budget mirrorless camera? Read our Samsung NX2000 review to find out...
The Fujifilm X-M1 is a new compact system camera that's designed to expand the appeal of the X-system. The retro-styled X-M1 offers the same image sensor and lens mount as the more expensive X-Pro1 and X-E1 cameras in a smaller, lighter body. The X-M1 has a built-in flash, new 16-50mm kit lens, wi-fi connectivity, tilting LCD screen and of course a more affordable price tag. Read our Fujifilm X-M1 review to find out if it succeeds in bringing Fujifilm's mirrorless range to the masses...
DxO Labs have launched DxO Optics Pro 8.3 with support for smartphones as well as GoPro. Samsung NX and Samsung EX cameras. The software automatically removes distortions due to the GoPro cameras’ use of a very wide-angle lens. Among other things, DxO Optics Pro v8.3’s exclusive correction of volume anamorphosis restores the proper proportions of the subjects located on the edges of images, resulting in photos that look much more natural. DxO Optics Pro 8.3 supports the GoPro HERO3 line (Black, Silver, and White editions), along with the GoPro HD HERO2. The software also benefits from the addition of new DxO Optics Modules that automatically correct the optical defects of the iPhone 4, 4S, and 5, as well as of the Samsung Galaxy S3 and S4 smartphones. This upgrade is free for all owners of DxO Optics Pro 8, as well as for DxO Optics Pro 7 users who obtained a software licence on or after 1 September 2012.
Brian Griffith has released Version 2.1.1 of Iridient Developer, his critically acclaimed image processing software for Mac OS X. This release features all-new, native demosaic processing for the Fuji X-Trans (X-Pro1, X-E1, X100S and X20) cameras, in addition to the existing support for these cameras using either Apple's RAW libraries or Adobe DNG (linear) format conversion. The new demosaic method provides improved fine detail rendering, even better sharpness and other advantages over Apple's conversion. Version 2.1.1 also includes a number of improvements to preview drawing for Retina displays, better handling of touch gestures for preview scrolling on older laptops and other bug fixes, adds support for 14 new cameras, and greatly reduces the memory usage of the new noise reduction methods introduced in Version 2.1.
Capture One 7.1.3 adds new camera support, bug fixes and beta version of a new catalog importer. It includes file (and tethered support in Capture One Pro) for Canon 700D/Rebel T5i and 100D/Rebel SL1 cameras, as well as 11 other recent cameras. Capture One version 7.1.3 is a free update to owners of Capture One Pro 7, Capture One Express 7, and Capture One DB 7 (digital back) software.
Want to see exactly what the new Samsung Galaxy NX compact system camera looks like in the flesh?
Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the Samsung Galaxy NX compact camera.
The Samsung Galaxy NX is the World's first interchangeable-lens camera to run on the Android operating system. Positioned as the top-of-the-range NX compact system camera, the new Galaxy NX combines key technologies from the Samasung Galaxy phone and the NX series of cameras.
The Samyang 300mm f/6.3 ED UMC CS is a small-size, manual focus, reflex lens for compact system cameras. The optical structure features 9 elements arranged in 6 groups, including one ED-type lens ensuring high contrast and effectively preventing chromatic aberration. Available from July for Sony E, Fujifilm X, MFT and Canon M mounts, the Samyang 300mm f/6.3 ED UMC CS has a suggested retail price of £289.99. In addition, the company has re-announced the Samyang 16mm f/2 ED AS UMC CS lens, which will be offered for £419.99 (or £459.99 for the Nikon version).
Samsung has announced a 10mm fisheye lens for its NX system. Billed as the smallest AF fisheye lens on the market, the Samsung 10mm f/3.5 weighs in at only 72 grams, and has a diagonal angle of view of 180 degrees. The optical formula comprises 7 elements in 5 groups including one aspherical element, and an iris diaphragm with 7 rounded blades. The Samsung 10mm F3.5 Fisheye Lens will be available to buy in the UK later this year.
Ahead of our full review, here are 49 sample JPEG photos and a 1080p movie taken with the new HTC One smartphone. The HTC One has a 4 megapixel 1/3-type “UltraPixel” sensor, fast f/2.0 28mm lens with optical image stabilization, a 4.7-inch screen, and offers 1080p HD video recording, Auto focus, Geotagging and a built-in flash.
Samsung has released the source codes for its NX2000 (pictured) and NX300 compact system cameras. Available as free downloads, the codes are provided "without representation or warranty of any kind," under the GNU General Public License and GNU Lesser General Public License. The legal agreement that you must accept when downloading the source codes allows you to specify your intentions, which may include reasons like "Enhance my product," "Apply it to another product or project" and "Study the source code."
Website: Samsung Open Source Release Centre
The Samsung WB30F is a new travel-zoom camera that won't break the bank. The WB30F offers a wide-angle 10x zoom lens, 16.2 megapixel sensor, 720p video recording, 3 inch LCD screen and built-in wi-fi. Read our in-depth Samsung WB30F review to find out if it's worth the modest asking price....
The Samsung NX300 is a new mid-range compact system camera featuring a 20.3 megapixel APS-C sensor, hybrid AF system, 3.3-inch tilting AMOLED touchscreen, 8.6fps continuous shooting, Wi-fi and NFC connectivity, full 1080p video, and an ISO range 100-25,600. Read our in-depth Samsung NX300 review now...
Think Tank Photo has just released a new camera bag collection scaled to fit today’s mirrorless cameras. The Mirrorless Mover 5 fits one small size compact system camera (CSC) body with a small lens attached. The Mirrorless Mover 10 accommodates one medium size CSC plus one to two lenses and additional accessories. The Mirrorless Mover 20 houses one medium size mirrorless body plus two to three lenses and additional accessories. The Mirrorless Mover 30i holds one medium to large size compact system body plus two to four lenses. Click through / read on for the details.
Intro2020 has announced availability and pricing details for the Samyang T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC tilt-shift lens in the United Kingdom. Manufactured in Canon EF, Nikon F and Sony A. fittings - with Canon M, Fujifilm X, Samsung NX, Pentax and Sony E-mount versions coming soon -, the lens has an optical formula comprising 16 lens elements in 11 groups, including two aspherical lenses and two Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements. Each optical component has been covered with multi-layered, anti-reflective UMC coatings, which are claimed to provide superb light transmission, high contrast and natural colours. The tilt-shift function in the Samyang T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC allows for tilt and swing movements up to +/-8.5° and enables shift, rise and fall movements of up to +/-12 mm. The Tilt-Shift section may be rotated left by 90° (with 30° adjustment), while the lens mount may be rotated both ways by 90° (in 30° increments). The Samyang T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC tilt-shift lens will be available from mid-May, at a suggested retail price of £949.99 including VAT.
Enlight Photo’s ioShutter lets you use an iPod touch, iPhone or iPad as a wired remote release with extra features for your Canon, Nikon, Hasselblad or Pentax camera. Is it a worthwhile alternative to your manufacturer's own remote release? Read our ioShutter review to find out...
Samsung today announced that the Samsung NX300 compact system camera will be commercially available in the UK at the end of March from John Lewis and Dixons. Unveiled at CES in January, the NX300 is the new flagship model in the NX series and boasts the updated version of SMART Camera 2.0, a hub of innovative connectivity features. Highlights include a 20-megapixel imager with on-sensor phase detection AF sensors, an articulated OLED touchscreen, Wi-Fi connectivity, a sensitivity range of ISO100/21°—ISO25,600/45°, a maximum shutter speed of 1/6000 sec, 8.6fps continuous shooting, a 5-way manual key interface and i-Depth, an easy and simple way to adjust the depth-of-field of an image using the NX Series’ unique i-Function system.
Ten years ago today, Phase One released the first version of its Capture One raw conversion and image editing software that added support for DSLR cameras. “
Born in the late 1990s to process raw files exclusively from Phase One’s first digital image capture devices, the software that would become Capture One was one of the first raw conversion solutions,” the company said in a statement. “Its general availability in 2003 helped support a growing DSLR market.” The latest iteration, Capture One 7, is localised for Simplified Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish.
Blurb has partnered with Samsung to power world-wide book and magazine print production utilising the Story Album feature of the new Samsung Galaxy S4. The pre-installed Story Album offers auto-generated layouts that instantly convert into “print-worthy publications,” meaning that users of the Samsung Galaxy S4 can automatically create professional quality print photo books and magazines seamlessly from their camera phone images. “People love the convenience and immediacy of camera phone imagery, but they also prize the beauty and permanence of print media,” said Eileen Gittins, Blurb’s CEO and Founder. “By combining the remarkable image quality that the Galaxy S4 offers with the easy production of books and magazines that Blurb brings, everyone gets the best of digital and analogue.” For more information visit the website below.
Phase One today updated its Capture One software with the release of version 6.4.5. This edition includes support for Canon tethering on Mac OSX 10.8 and better support for Samsung EX2F files. The update is free to existing owners of all versions of Capture One 6.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ9 is a brand new travel-zoom compact camera. The stylish Panasonic SZ9 offers 16 megapixels, a 10x zoom lens (25-250mm), 3 inch LCD screen, built-in wi-fi connectivity, 10fps burst shooting and 1080p HD movies. Read our expert Panasonic DMC-SZ9 review now...
Phase One has released Capture One Express 7. Offering the essential tools to import, convert, organise, adjust, share and print superior-quality photographs in a fast, intuitive workflow; Capture One Express 7 includes many of the advanced features found in Capture One Pro 7, like noise reduction when shooting in low light, the ability to recover details in shadows and highlights, plus fast black-and-white conversions. Improved OpenCL support means faster image processing. New and improved adjustment tools - e.g. Clarity, HDR - offer greater control for more creative possibilities. Phase One Capture One Express 7 for Windows and Mac is available now for $99 or €69 through the Phase One online store.
The Pentax MX-1 joins the growing list of premium compact cameras aimed at advanced users. Offering a large 1/1.7" 12 megapixel sensor, fast f/1.8 4x zoom lens, tilting 3-inch LCD screen and an appealingly retro design, does the Pentax MX1 offer enough to compete in this increasingly competitive market? Read our detailed Pentax MX-1 review to find out...
Samsung Electronics America today launched the first two models in its “Smart Camera 2.0” line-up. The Samsung WB250F long-zoom model (MSRP: $249.99) and DV150F DualView camera ($149.99) – which both offer Wi-Fi connectivity for photo sharing, backup and a range of other features – are available now at retailers across the U.S.A. Announced at CES, the “Smart Camera 2.0” range is aimed at smartphone users yearning for better imaging performance. As the flagship model of the WB long zoom line-up, the 14.2-megapixel WB250F comes with 18x optical zoom, a hybrid interface and a BSI CMOS sensor; while the DV150F combines Samsung’s unique DualView technology in the form of a 1.48” front LCD screen for easy self-portrait taking, with a 16.2 Megapixel CCD sensor, 5x optical zoom with an f:2.5, 25mm bright lens.
Intro 2020 has been appointed the sole UK importer and distributor of Samyang lenses. The Korean optics company currently manufactures a range of 25 lenses covering focal lengths from a 7.5mm fisheye to a 650-1300mm super zoom telephoto lens. Their newest product was announced just before Photokina 2012: the Samyang T-S 24mm 1:3.5 ED AS UMC is a wide-angle, full-frame lens fitted with perspective control and tilt-shift functions, making it an ideal tool for architecture and landscape photography with high-resolution full-frame digital SLR cameras. Like all other Samyang lenses, the Samyang T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC is covered by a 3 year guarantee.
Oloneo have updated their HDRengine and PhotoEngine applications to include support for 28 new camera raw formats. Newly supported cameras include the Canon EOS 6D, EOS 650D, EOS M, PowerShot G15, PowerShot S110 and PowerShot SX50 HS, the Fuji X-E1, XF1 and F800EXR, the Nikon D600, 1 J2, 1 V2 and Coolpix P7700m the Olympus E-PL5, E-PM2 and XZ-2, the Panasonic FZ200, G5, GH3 and LX7, the Pentax K-5 II, the Samsung EX2f and NX1000, as well as the Sony RX1, RX100, NEX-5R, NEX-6 and A99. Those who buy PhotoEngine today are entitled to a $30/€26 discount.
Cooltopia has announced that its Kickstarter campaign for the SnappGrip - a snap-on camera controller that essentially turns smartphones into point-and-shoot cameras - has met its funding goal and will enter production in late February. “We will release SnappGrip for iPhone and Galaxy III in less than a month and will soon follow that with additional smartphone options,” says Lee Harris, Creator of SnappGrip. Completely portable, compact and removable, the SnappGrip enables smartphone users to take one-handed photos and snap off spontaneous pictures with ease. Carrying an MSRP of $99, the SnappGrip can be pre-ordered now for approximately $79 (£49) at the website below.
Samsung has unveiled a range of upgraded “smart” cameras and the first devices to run on the new technology: the WB250F/WB200F, the WB800F, WB30F, DV150F and ST150F. The Samsung WB250F (pictured) and WB200F boast 18x optical zoom, a 14.2 Megapixel BSI CMOS (WB250F) or CCD (WB200F) sensor and 24mm equivalent wide angle. With the addition of Wi-Fi capabilities, users can share high-quality photos quickly and easily. The WB250F is completed with pop-up flash and is available across four colours; white, cobalt black, gun metal and red. The WB800F is a classic long-zoom camera, with 21x optical zoom and a 16.3 Megapixel BSI CMOS sensor. Built around a hybrid user interface, the Samsung WB800F has both a touchscreen and a five-way manual key. The WB30F is the range’s new ‘mini model’ with 10x optical zoom and 24mm, wide angle lens, in an ultra-slim body that is only 17mm thick. Extra features built into the slim and stylish design include Magic Frame and Live Panorama. Housed in a stylish aluminium body, the Samsung DV150F combines Wi-Fi connectivity with a 2.7” Front LCD for easy and simple self-portraits. “The imaging technology of the DV150F, a 16.2 Megapixel CCD sensor, f/2.5 25mm bright lens and 5x optical zoom, deliver outstanding quality pictures that can then be shared instantly via Wi-Fi,” the company says. The Samsung ST150F also comes with a 25-125mm equivalent lens, f/2,5 maximum aperture 16.2-megapixel CCD sensor and integrated Wi-Fi, but lacks the DV150F’s front mounted LCD.
The Samsung NX300 is a new compact system camera featuring a 20-megapixel imager with on-sensor phase detection AF sensors, an articulated OLED touchscreen and Wi-Fi connectivity. Other highlights include a sensitivity range of ISO100/21°—ISO25,600/45°, a maximum shutter speed of 1/6000 sec, 8.6fps continuous shooting, a 5-way manual key interface and i-Depth, an easy and simple way to adjust the depth-of-field of an image using the NX Series’ unique i-Function system. Available in either black or white with a contrast silver band, the Samsung NX300 is expected to hit the shelves priced at around $750. Also announced today is the new Samsung 45mm 2D/3D lens, which supports both 2D and 3D movie capture with the NX300, and boasts a maximum aperture of f/1.8. This new 2D/3D version of the Samsung 45mm f/1.8 lens will cost around $500.
The BenQ G1 is a serious compact camera at a wallet-friendly price, offering a fast f/1.8 lens, full HD video and a tilting high-resolution LCD screen. BenQ aren't very well-known for their digital cameras, so how does the new G1 compare with the well-established competition? Read our BenQ G1 review to find out...
DxO Labs have released DxO Optics Pro 8.1.1. Providing support for four new cameras including the Canon EOS M, the Pentax K-5 II and K-5 IIs as well as the Sony Alpha SLT-A99 (pictured), DxO Optics Pro 8.1.1 also adds 298 new DxO Optics Modules to its ever-growing library. This upgrade is free for all owners of DxO Optics Pro 8, as well as for photographers who purchased a license for DxO Optics Pro 7 after 1 September 2012.
The Canon EOS M is a new compact system camera that boasts 18 megapixels, full 1080p high-definition videos with continuous auto-focusing, and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the EOS M include a 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-25,600, and a flash hotshoe. Is Canon's new mirrorless model a real contender? Read our Canon EOS M review to find out...
proDAD has unveiled Defishr, an automatic video fisheye correcting application for Windows. According to the company, Defishr is highly effective at removing distortions caused by very wide angle camera lenses on GoPro-type action cameras, DSLR cameras fitted with wide angle lenses, and even mobile phones with wide angle lenses. To remove fisheye from a video clip, a user simply drags a video clip into the Defishr app, selects the camera model that recorded the video from a drop-down list and the software corrects for the distortion automatically. “Finally action camera users, professional wide-angle lens users and simply ‘all videographers and photographers’ have a simple solution for removing unwanted distortion from otherwise good video” said Andreas Huber, proDAD’s Managing Director. “Defishr is by far the easiest and most effective video and photo de-warp solution currently available and it’s quite affordable too.” proDAD Defishr is currently available as an electronic download from the proDAD online shop at an introductory price of £58.
Samsung has revealed a new range of accessories for its Galaxy Camera and many other models in the SMART range of connected cameras. The sleek Galaxy Pouch (£32.99) comes in black, white, orange and red so photography enthusiasts can match their camera case to suit their personal tastes. The leather Premium EX Case (£54.99, pictured) for the Samsung EX2F comes in black and tan, while the also-new Premium Case (£16.99) is designed to protect some of the SMART range’s high-end models including the Samsung WB150F and Samsung WB850F. For more information visit the manufacturer’s website via the link below.
It's not very often that something entirely new enters the camera market, but the Samsung Galaxy Camera certainly fits that bill. Half travel-zoom camera, half smartphone, with a dash of the Android operating system and a pinch of wi-fi and 3G/4G connectivity, the Galaxy Camera is a very brave attempt to breathe new life into the declining compact camera business. Read our detailed Samsung Galaxy Camera review, complete with 90 full-size sample images, to find out if it's a success or not...
The Samyang 85mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC is a portait prime lens for full-frame and APS-C DSLRs. The Samyang 85mm f/1.4 is a much more affordable alternative to the Nikon and Canon equivalents thanks largely to being manual-focus only. Read our in-depth Samyang 85mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC review complete with full-size sample images.
ACD Systems have released version 15.1 of ACDSee and version 6.1 of ACDSee Pro, adding raw file support for a number of cameras. Newly supported models include the Panasonic G5, Panasonic LX7, Panasonic GF5, Panasonic FZ200, Sony A37, Sony NEX-F3, Sony RX100, Samsung NX1000, Nikon 1 J2. Nikon D3200, Nikon P7700, Canon EOS-1D X, Canon EOS 650D/Rebel T4i/Kiss X6i. Pentax K-30, Leica X2 and Leica M Monochrom. Additionally, the updates incorporate a number of improvements and bug fixes.
The Samyang 35mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC is a moderate wide-angle prime lens for full-frame and APS-C DSLRs. The Samyang 35mm f/1.4 is a much more affordable alternative to the Nikon and Canon equivalents thanks largely to being manual-focus only. Read our in-depth Samyang 35mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC review complete with full-size sample images.
The Samsung HMX-F90 is a 720p camcorder with 52x optical zoom and a five-megapixel CMOS sensor. The affordable new camcorder comes with a 2.7” TFT LCD display. time-lapse recording and One-Touch movie sharing. Users can simply connect their cameras to their PC via the USB cable, select videos to upload and the intelli-studio software will launch automatically to take the user through the upload process. Weighing in at 267.9 grams with a battery, the Samsung HMX-F90 records videos in MPEG-4 format and stores them on SD cards. Although the 1/3.2-type CMOS sensor has a pixel count of 5 million, the camcorder can only record stills at a resolution of less than 2 megapixels. Availability and price have yet to be communicated.
ArcSoft has released the “Whip Social Album” mobile application. The free app allows users to quickly create and share photo albums, using customised templates. Whip allows users to choose up to 24 photos for each album. Once the photos are selected, the album is automatically generated with just one tap. After that, users can select one of nine available templates that include background music from “indie” bands, and offer the opportunity to caption and edit each photo. Additionally, ArcSoft’s proprietary image editing technology built into Whip enables users to enhance their photos in a number of ways. Downloadable from iTunes, the app is also available on the Windows 8 platform.
Jessops today launched the Winter edition of its Image magazine, available free at Jessops stores across the United Kingdom. This edition features a number of helpful guides and in-depth articles to help customers make the most of their photography at this time of year. The new magazine also features an extensive gift guide and a number of reviews of the latest products from leading manufacturers. Commenting on the latest edition of Image magazine, Sean Emmett, Marketing & E-commerce Director at Jessops says, “As the UK’s leading photography retailer, we are uniquely placed to offer impartial advice and the widest choice of products to our customers. With technology advancing so quickly, Image magazine offers a quick and easy way for customers to stay up-to-date with the very latest cameras and accessories. This edition acts as a brilliant gift guide that I believe will really help our customers when buying gifts this season.”
The Fujifilm X-E1 is a new premium compact system camera. The retro, rangefinder-styled X-E1 offers the same image sensor and lens mount as the flagship X-Pro in a smaller, lighter body, with a new electronic viewfinder, built-in flash, 18-55m kit lens and more affordable price tag. Read our Fujifilm X-E1 review to find out if it's a viable alternative to the X-Pro1...
DxO Optics Pro 8.0.1 now supports the Nikon1 J2 and the Sony NEX-5R. Additionally, the new update brings 200 new DxO Optics Modules supporting Canon, Konica-Minolta, Nikkor, Sigma, Sony, and Tamron lenses for Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Samsung, and Sony cameras. This upgrade is free for all owners of DxO Optics Pro 8, as well as for photographers who purchased a license for DxO Optics Pro 7 after 1 September 2012.
The new Olympus XZ-2 is a serious compact that's aimed at the enthusiast and professional user looking for a small yet capable camera. A 12 megapixel 1/1.7 inch CMOS sensor, fast f/1.8 maximum aperture, high-res 3-inch tilting touch-screen LCD, and a full range of manual shooting modes should be enough to grab your attention. Read our expert Olympus XZ-2 review, complete with full-size JPEG, RAW and movie samples.
Developed in partnership with Samsung, the Google Nexus 10 is an Android 4.2 powered 10” tablet with a 2560x1600-pixel display boasting a resolution of 300ppi. The panel’s aspect ratio is 8:5 (or, as display manufacturers like to put it, 16:10), which falls between the classic 3:2 proportion of photos taken by most 35mm film cameras and digital SLRs, and the widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio of HD movies. The 300ppi resolution bests the 264ppi Retina display of the Apple iPad 4 and matches that of standard photographic prints, making it especially attractive to photographers in need of a device to showcase their portfolio. Equipped with two camera modules (a 5-megapixel main camera and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing unit), microUSB and microHDMI ports, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity (but no memory card slot or 3G/4G support), the Nexus 10 will hit the shelves on 13th November in the UK, US, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan in two versions, with the 16GB model costing £319/$399 and the 32GB variant selling for £389/$499.
Samsung Electronics America today announced pricing for the new Samsung NX 12-24mm f/4-5.6 ED and Samsung NX 45mm f/1.8 i-Function lenses. First shown at Photokina, the lenses are on display now at Photo Plus Expo. The Samsung NX 12-24mm f/4-5.6 ED ultra-wide angle zoom carries an MSRP of $599.99, whilst the Samsung NX 45mm f/1.8 short telephoto lens will cost $299.99.
Samsung today announced an expanded line of advanced SD and microSD cards with the introduction of a new Pro Series. Offering capacities up to 64GB, write speeds up to 40MB/s and transfer speeds up to 80MB/s, the new cards are currently on display at the PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo. Available now, the Samsung Pro Series memory cards sport a unique high-end design while being water resistant, shockproof (up to 3,200 lbs.), and magnet proof (up to 10,000 gauss ).
The Nikon Coolpix S800c is half compact camera, half smartphone, based upon Android, the world's most popular mobile platform. Featuring a 10x, 25-250mm lens and a 16 megapixel CCD sensor, the S800c also offers a 3.5 inch touch-screen OLED display, 1080p HD movies and wi-fi connectivity. Read our in-depth Nikon Coolpix S800c review now to see if it really can replace your smartphone...
The FinePix F800EXR is the latest travel-zoom camera from Fujifilm, sporting a 20x lens with a versatile focal range of 25-500mm. The 16 megapixel F800 EXR also features wireless image transfer, GPS support, full 1080p movies, a high-contrast 3 inch LCD screen and 8fps continuous shooting. Read our in-depth Fujifilm FinePix F800 EXR review to find out if it's the ultimate travel camera...
Samsung today announced a cash back initiative for customers purchasing a camera from the Samsung SMART range. The offers available include £100 cash back upon purchasing a Samsung NX20, the Samsung NX210 also comes with £100 cash back and the Samsung NX1000 comes with £50. The Samsung MV900F and the Samsung EX2F also come with £50 whilst the Samsung ST200 and DV300F come with £20, the Samsung QF20 camcorder comes with £30. Once a SMART camera has been purchased, a pre paid visa card loaded with cash will be sent back to the customer via post.
PMDA today announced that its fourth annual Portraits of Love Project will launch in November 2012 and aim to provide active US military personnel with free family portraits during the holiday season. Starting 1 November 2012 and running through 31 January 2013 military families can sign up for a free portrait session hosted by the program’s growing network of photographers. Participants will receive two free 5x7 prints from Shutterfly. Active military families can participate at select USO facilities, military bases hosting on-base sessions and at the Project’s nationwide network of local photography studios.
The Nikon Coolpix P7700 is a new compact camera for enthusiasts, offering the functionality of a DSLR without the associated bulk. The P7700 adds 1080p video, a vari-angle LCD screen, 8fps burst shooting and a faster lens to help make it an even more serious rival to the market-leading Canon Powershot series. Read our in-depth Nikon P7700 review now, complete with full-size JPEG and RAW sample images.
Last month, Samsung issued a call for every Briton called David Bailey to meet up in London and take part in a photography project. The initiative was successful as 142 David Baileys came together to meet their namesake, iconic fashion and celebrity photographer David Royston Bailey. The company gave all participants the new Samsung NX1000 camera (read review) to test the theory that “it’s so good that it lets everyone take photos like the world’s best photographer.” For more information, visit the website below..
DxOMark has launched new measurements dedicated to camera performance data for cellphones, smartphones and tablets. The new service, DxOMark Mobile, aims to help consumers analyse and compare the still and video performance of mobile devices, the company says. “Mobile phone image quality has also made considerable progress - for example, the image quality of the Nokia 808 PureView, in first place in the DxOMark Mobile rankings for still photos, is superior to that of a 5-year-old compact camera,” Frédéric Guichard, Chief Scientific Officer for DxO Labs said in a statement. “And as for video, the best mobile tested in this category, the Samsung Galaxy SIII, outperforms the Canon Powershot 100.” DxOMark Mobile measures many attributes of mobile camera image quality such as color, exposure, texture, noise, and autofocus, in both still photo and video modes. In all, DxOMark Mobile analyzes 14 attributes, assigning each one a score between 1 and 100. An overall DxOMark score lets users rank and make comparisons between camera-equipped mobile devices, as well as between mobile cameras and compact cameras.
Adobe has posted updates to Adobe Camera Raw (ACR), DNG Converter and Lightroom, including preliminary support for the Nikon D600 digital SLR camera (pictured), allowing you to play with the raw files provided in our Nikon D600 review. The updates also add support for 21 other cameras ranging from the Canon EOS 650D / Rebel T4i to the Sony DSC-RX100 and profiles for over 40 Canon, Carl Zeiss, Hasselblad, Leica, Nikon, Pentax, Sigma and Tamron lenses. The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.2 and Adobe Camera Raw 7.2 updates additionally incorporate a number of bug fixes.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 is a new mid-range travel-zoom compact camera with built-in wi-fi connectivity. The Panasonic SZ5 also offers 14 megapixels, a 10x zoom lens, 3 inch LCD screen and 720p HD movies. Read our Panasonic DMC-SZ5 review now...
The Samsung EX2F is a new pocket camera for serious photographers, sporting a super-bright f/1.4, 3.3x zoom lens, sensible 12 megapixel sensor and a swivelling 3 inch AMOLED screen. 1080p video, RAW shooting, ISO 80-12800, 10fps burst shooting, image stabilisation and full manual controls complete the EX2F's star attractions. Read our Samsung EX2F review to find out if this is the advanced compact camera for you...
We sat down with SH Lim, Vice President, Samsung Digital Imaging, HQ, at the IFA show in Berlin to discuss the new Samsung Galaxy Camera and Samsung imaging products in general.
Samsung has announced its new ‘Pro’ series of microSD memory cards that provide UHS-I support and up to 64GB of data storage. The full line-up includes the premium series ‘Plus’ and commercial series ‘Standard,’ the company says. Water-, temperature-, magnet- and X-ray-proof, the new Samsung ‘Pro’ line-up of microSD cards deliver read speeds of up to 70 Megabytes per second. Pricing for the new cards has yet to be confirmed.
DxO Labs released DxO Optics Pro v7.5.4 for Mac and Windows. With this update, DxO Optics Pro 7 now supports the Pentax K-30 (pictured) and the Sony DSC-RX100 cameras, and adds 400 new DxO Optics Modules, meaning the program now offers a total of 8,000 camera/lens combinations in its library. This update is free of charge for all owners of DxO Optics Pro 7, as well as for photographers who purchased a license for DxO Optics Pro 6 after 1 September 2011.
The Samsung ST200F is an affordable travel-zoom camera with a 10x zoom, 16 megapixels, 3 inch screen and built-in wi-fi. Read our in-depth Samsung ST200F review to find out if it's worth the modest outlay...
CEWE Photobook has launched its “Europe is Beautiful 2012” photo competition. Billed as the largest photo competition in Europe, the contest has four categories including ‘people’, ‘sports’, ‘city and nature’ and ‘culture and nature.’ You can submit up to 5 of your pictures in any of the four categories for a chance to win one of “many spectacular prizes.” The competiton is now live at the website below. The submission period lasts until the end of of they year. As always we suggest that you read the rules before entering your work.
The Samsung WB850 is a new travel-zoom camera with a mouth-watering specification. The WB850 offers a wide-angle 21x zoom lens, 16.2 megapixels, Full 1080p video recording, 3 inch AMOLED screen, built-in wi-fi and GPS, plus full manual controls. Read our detailed Samsung WB850 review to find out if it's a contender for the travel zoom crown.
The Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC is an ultra-wide-angle prime lens for full-frame and APS-C DSLRs. The Samyang 24mm f/1.4 is a more affordable alternative to the Nikon and Canon equivalents thanks largely to being manual-focus only. Read our in-depth Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC review complete with full-size sample images.
The Samsung NX1000 is a new wallet-friendly mirrorless camera aimed at beginners upgrading from a simpler compact. Featuring a 20 megapixel APS-C sensor, full 1080p video, ISO 100-12,800, a 3-inch AMOLED screen, 8fps continuous shooting and Wi-fi connectivity, read our in-depth Samsung NX200 review to discover if this is the best budget compact system camera.
Samsung today announced that it is now shipping the Wi-Fi enabled NX1000 compact system camera to retailers across the USA. The entry-level Samsung NX1000 is a highly portable 20-megapixel camera weighing in at just over 350g with a lens, battery and memory card fitted. In the US, the camera is available in black, white and pink, priced at $699.99 including a 20-50mm lens and external flash.
Read our in-depth review of the Samsung NX1000 compact system camera
Samsung today announced the latest addition to its range of Wi-Fi enabled SMART cameras; the MV900F. Featuring a stabilised, 25-125mm equivalent f/2.5-6.3 lens and a 16.3-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, the Samsung MV900F MultiView camera also boasts a 3.3-inch, 180-degree flip-up display, 1920x1080 Full HD video recording at 30fps, and wireless smartphone connectivity. The camera will be available next month for around $350.
The Samsung NX200 is a new mirrorless compact system camera that aims for the middle ground between the more DSLR-like NX20 and consumer-oriented NX1000 models. Featuring a 20 megapixel APS-C sensor, full 1080p video, ISO 100-12,800, a 3-inch AMOLED screen, 8fps continuous shooting and new Wi-fi connectivity, read our in-depth Samsung NX200 review to discover if this is the right camera for you.
The Samsung EX2F is a high end compact camera with with a bright F/1.4 lens, the brightest in any compact. The EX2F also features a 1/1.7” 12 Megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, 3.0” Swivel AMOLED display, 1080/30p Full HD movies, Wi-Fi functionality, and full manual control. The Samsung EX2F will cost £429 / $549 and be available in early August.
The Fujifilm FinePix Z1000EXR is a stylish new compact camera, sporting a 3.5-inch touchscreen, 16 megapixels, 1080p HD video, wi-fi connectivity and a 5x optical zoom lens. Read our detailed Fujifilm FinePix Z1000EXR review to find out if it's all style and no substance...
Oloneo has released Oloneo PhotoEngine 1.1 and Oloneo HDRengine 1.1 for Windows. These updates support DNG v1.4 as well as 24 new cameras including the Nikon D800, D800E and D4, the Canon EOS-1D X, 5D Mark III and PowerShot G1 X, the Sony SLT A37 and SLT A57, as well as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 among others. The latest English/International 32-bit/64-bit versions of Oloneo PhotoEngine and Oloneo HDRengine for Windows are available through the Oloneo online store. A 20% Summer Special discount is available until 15th July.
The NX20 is the new flagship model in Samsung's compact system camera range. The Samsung NX20 features a DSLR-like design, 3-inch swivelling AMOLED screen, high-res electronic viewfinder, 1080p video recording, built-in wi-fi connectivity and a large APS-C CMOS sensor with 20.3 megapixels. Read our in-depth Samsung NX20 review, complete with 40 JPEG and 20 RAW samples.
DxO Labs have released DxO Optics Pro v7.5.1. This update adds support for the Nikon D800E (Elite edition only) and D3200, the Sony SLT A35 and SLT A57, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC GX1. The program’s raw conversion algorithms have been fine-tuned such that the “Remove colour moiré” tool works more effectively for the Nikon D800E camera to restore the finest details. Additionally, DxO Optics Pro v7.5.1 has integrated more than 400 new DxO Optics Modules, of which 61 are modules for the Nikon D800E and 71 are for the Nikon D3200. The Standard and Elite editions of DxO Optics Pro for Mac and Windows are available in the DxO Labs online boutique and at photo resellers, at a special discount price good through June 30, 2012.
The Samsung WB150F is a brand new travel-zoom camera at a bargain price. The WB150F offers a wide-angle 18x zoom lens, 14.2 megapixel sensor, 720p video recording, 3 inch LCD screen and full manual controls. Read our in-depth Samsung WB150F review to find out if it's worth the modest price-tag.
Research and Markets have published a new report entitled “Global Digital Camera Market 2011-2015”. Prepared by the analysts of TechNavio, the report forecasts that the global digicam market will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10 percent over the period 2011-2015. “One of the key factors contributing to this market growth is the increasing demand for digital cameras in emerging markets,” the company says. “However, the increasing smartphone penetration could pose a challenge to the growth of this market.” The report is available for purchase through the website below.
Designed specifically for Sony NEX and Samsung NX cameras, the Samyang 8mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC Fisheye is the latest addition to the Korean manufacturer’s range of manual-focus lenses. Comprising 10 elements arranged in 8 groups, including one aspherical and two extra-low-distpersion elements, the lens offers an angle-of-view of 180 degrees, with a minimum focusing distance of 0.3 metres. Slated for a July release, the Samyang 8mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC Fisheye will retail for €349.99/£279.99.
The new Samsung DV300F compact camera brings together an innovative 1.5 inch LCD on the front, useful for composing self-portraits, and a wide range of wi-fi connectivity options. The 16 megapixel Samsung PL120 also features a 25mm wide-angle 5x zoom lens, 720p HD video, and a multitude of special effects modes, all for just £179.99 / $199.99. Read our in-depth Samsung DV300F review.
Samsung has announced the pricing and U.S. retail availability of the world’s first Wi-Fi enabled compact system cameras. The Samsung NX20 and N210 are available now from authorized Samsung retailers for MSRPs of $1,099.99 and $899.99, respectively. The sleek and compact NX1000 will be available in June in white, black and pink at an MSRP of $699.99.
Getty Images has released its newly redesigned The Curve: Technology and Telecommunications, a multimedia research report on visual trends shaped by the “democratisation” of technology and the rise of social media. No longer a static landing page, this updated presentation of The Curve features a dynamic, changing interface of industry findings that permits commentary and collaboration from readers as well. The first issue of The Curve centred on social photography is now live, and the second issue - slated to go live later this month - will examine connectivity, identity and creativity providing insight on the cloud, content management, the personal information economy and more. To read the first issue, visit the website below.
The FinePix F770EXR is the latest travel-zoom camera from Fujifilm, sporting a 20x lens with a versatile focal range of 25-500mm. The 16 megapixel F770 EXR features a fast auto-focus system, full 1080p movies, enhanced GPS, high-contrast 3 inch LCD screen and 8fps continuous shooting. Read our in-depth Fujifilm FinePix F770EXR review to find out if this is the ultimate travel camera...
Adobe has released the final version of Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) 6.7 for Photoshop CS5 users. This version adds support for 21 new digital cameras, including the Canon EOS 1D X, 5D Mark III, PowerShot G1 X and PowerShot S100V, the Fuji FinePix F505EXR, F605EXR, F770EXR, F775EXR, HS30EXR, HS33EXR and X-S1, the Nikon D4 and D800/D800E, the Olympus E-M5 (pictured), the Pentax K-01, the Samsung NX20, NX210 and NX1000, the Sony Alpha NEX-VG20 and A57. Note that ACR 6.7 is not compatible with versions of Photoshop older than CS5.
Website: Adobe Camera Raw 6.7 for Macintosh
Website: Adobe Camera Raw 6.7 for Windows
XPro Software has posted a release candidate of GeniuX Photo EFX 3. Boasting a 32 bit colour graphics engine, GeniuX Photo EFX 3 ensures smooth tonal gradations with no dithering artifacts, supports a number of camera raw formats as well as PSD files created with Adobe Photoshop, and offers real-time corrections and short processing times. You can download the release candidate free of charge by clicking on the link below.
The A16 is a new unit for the Ricoh GXR camera system, combining a 24-85mm zoom lens with a 16 megapixel APS-C image sensor. The A16 also offers 720p video, an ISO range of 100-3200 and dynamic range compensation. Read our Ricoh A16 24-85mm review to find out if this new camera unit can widen the appeal of the GXR system.
The Samsung NX20, NX210 and NX1000 are the world’s first Wi-Fi enabled compact system cameras. All three new models allow users to connect to wireless networks without any additional cards or devices. The NX20, NX210 and NX1000 also feature the same 20.3megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor as the NX200, an ISO range of 100-12800, 8fps continuous shooting, i-Function 2.0 and 1080p Full HD Stereo movie recording.
The DSLR-like NX20 incorporates both an SVGA EVF and a 3.0” Clear AMOLED swivel display, along with a top shutter speed of 1/8000th second, while the NX210 offers a 3.0” VGA AMOLED display. The entry-level NX1000 is highly portable at just over 350g with a lens, battery and memory card fitted and is available in black, white and pink.
The Samsung NX20 is priced at £899 with the new 18-55mm OIS III lens which has a metal mount, the Samsung NX210 at £749 with the same lens, and the Samsung NX1000 costs £599 with the 20-50mm OIS II lens (black and white versions). Also announced is the ED-EM10 zoom microphone which will be released in the second quarter of this year.
Samsung has won four TIPA awards this year. The ‘Best General Compact Camera’ award went to the Samsung MultiView MV800, while the ‘Best Mobile Imaging Device’ title was awarded to the Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone. Samsung also won the Best Photo Monitor Award for the Samsung SyncMaster S24/27A850, with its “new Samsung LED PLS (Plane to Line Switching) technology” and “more accurate colour and a much wider viewing angle than competing monitors.” The company was recognised by a fourth honour with the Samsung OLED TV, which won the Best Photo TV Display Award.
Review: Read our in-depth review of the Samsung MV800 camera
Ahead of our full review, here are 46 sample JPEG photos and a 1080p movie taken with a full production version of the new Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR ultra-zoom compact camera. The HS30 EXR is a 16 megapixel superzoom/bridge camera with a 30x optical zoom lens, Full 1080p HD movie recording, RAW image capture, electronic viewfinder, a tilting LCD screen and a flash hot-shoe.
DxO Labs have just released DxO Optics Pro 7.2.2 for Mac and Windows, offering support for the new Nikon D4 (pictured), as well as for the Olympus XZ-1 and Olympus PEN E-P1. Additionally, more than 500 new camera-lens combinations were added to the DxO Optics Module library during the past several weeks, crossing the milestone of 6,000 available modules. This means that DxO Optics Pro v7.2.2 now supports additional Canon, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Samyang, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina and Zeiss lenses for numerous Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony cameras. This upgrade is free for all owners of DxO Optics Pro 7, as well as for photographers who acquired a license for DxO Optics Pro 6 after September 1, 2011.
The Samsung MV800 and the Samsung NX200 have received iF awards for “outstanding product innovation”. The judging panel praised the MV800 (read review) in particular for its slim compact design and the superior picture quality offered by the device’s unique 180 degree flip-out display. The NX200 (read review), meanwhile, was singled-out for its state of the art usability. Nick White, Head of Digital Imaging, Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to accept the iF Award for our innovation in the digital imaging space. Both the Samsung MV800 and Samsung NX200 are flagship products for us and it is great to see that they have been recognized by something as prestigious as the iF Awards”.
Lensbaby LLC has released the Lensbaby Composer Pro for a range of compact system cameras (CSCs), including Micro Four Thirds, NEX and Samsung NX models. Compatible with the Lensbaby Optic Swap System, the Lensbaby Composer Pro ships with the Double Glass Optic installed. The Double Glass Optic, a 50mm f/2 selective focus optic, creates a Sweet Spot of sharp focus that photographers can move around the photo by tilting the Composer Pro’s swiveling lens body. Other compatible products in the Lensbaby Optic Swap system include the separately sold Edge 80, Sweet 35, Fisheye, Soft Focus, Pinhole/Zone plate, Single Glass, and Plastic Optics. Each optic can be swapped into the Composer Pro to deliver a different creative effect. The Lensbaby Composer Pro retails for $300.
The Fujifilm X-Pro1 is a new premium compact system camera. Building on the popularity of the X100, the retro, rangefinder-styled X-Pro1 offers a brand new sensor that's claimed to rival full-frame DSLRs, an improved hybrid viewfinder, and a new X lens mount with three prime lenses available on launch. Read our Fujifilm X-Pro1 review to find out if it can emulate the runaway success of the X100...
Apple have released an update for Aperture 3 and iPhoto ‘11. This update adds RAW image compatibility for the following cameras:
- Canon PowerShot G1 X
- Nikon D4
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GX1
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ35
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ38
- Samsung NX200
- Sony Alpha NEX-7
- Sony NEX-VG20
Download the Apple Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 3.10
Samsung announced today that it is now shipping a new line of SD and microSD cards. The seven new models of SD and microSD cards are now available as part of either the High Speed Series or the Plus Extreme Speed Series, both of which deliver up to 24MB/sec read speeds on cards with a capacity of 4GB or higher. Water-, shock- and magnetproof, these models are guaranteed to survive up to 24 hours in water, withstand the force of a 1.6 ton vehicle, and resist up to 10,000 gauss (slightly less than the power of a medical imaging magnet). MSRPs range from $14.99 to 89.99.
The Samsung ST93 is a slim and stylish 16 megapixel compact camera with a wide-angle 5x zoom lens. Priced at £89.99, the affordable ST93 also offers 720p video and a range of creative filters. Read our expert Samsung ST93 review.
Kodak has filed a lawsuit against Fujifilm, alleging infringement of certain patents related to Kodak digital imaging technology. Specifically, the complaint alleges infringement of the following five patents: “Single Sensor Color Camera With User Selectable Image Record Size”, “Electronic Camera For Initiating Capture of Still Images While Previewing Motion Images”, “Electronic Still Camera For Capturing Digital Image and Creating a Print Order”, “Electronic Camera With Quick Review of Last Captured Image” and “Electronic Still Camera Providing Multi-Format Storage of Full and Reduced Resolution Images”-
A detailed hands-on look at all of Samsung’s new CES compact cameras.
It’s all about Wi-Fi for Samsung cameras at CES, with four new models - the WB850F, WB150F, ST200F, and DV300F - sporting the “F” moniker which denotes wireless connectivity. We were shown a pretty slick demo of the DV300F being controlled remotely by a Samsung smartphone, something that all four models will be capable of out-of-the-box.
In addition to wi-fi, the hero WB850F camera sports a 21x lens, 16 megapixels and GPS tracking, placing it firmly in the advanced travel-zoom catgeory and taking on the likes of the Panasonic DMC-TZ20.
Completing Samsung’s CES lineup are the ST77 and ST66 entry-level compacts and the HMX-W300 all-action camcorder.
Take a close-up look at all the Samsung CES 2012 cameras in our extensive photo gallery.
Update: We’ve added some photos of camera section of the massive Samsung stand, which very much focuses on the sharing and connectivity aspects of the new wifi-enabled line-up.
Samsung has launched a new range of Wi-Fi enabled travel zoom cameras. The flagship Samsung WB850F (€350, pictured) features a 21x optical zoom, 16.2-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, 3-inch AMOLED screen, Full HD video recording built-in GPS and Digital Compass. The 14.2-megapixel Samsung WB150F (€220) comes with 18x optical zoom, 720p HD video recording capabilities and the same large AMOLED display as the WB850F, while the Samsung ST200F (€200) sports a 10x zoom lens and 720p video. With the innovative Remote Viewfinder feature, users can remotely control camera settings and set-up shots via a connected smartphone using the cameras’ Wi-Fi connection. The Wi-Fi capability of the new Samsung long-zoom cameras also allows users to email photos from any hotspot or share them on social networks such as Facebook and Picasa. The WB850F and the WB150F give photographers full manual control over the picture-taking process, with a Smart Auto mode also on board to help beginners or less experienced photographers.
Samsung has unveiled a duo of metal-bodied 16.1-megapixel compact cameras called the Samsung ST66 and ST76. The 25-125mm (eq.) f/2.5-6,3 lens available on both models is complemented by optical image stabilisation on the ST76 (pictured). Live Panorama, featured on each of the new ST models, allows users to capture wide panoramic shots by simply holding down the shutter button and sweeping the camera across the scene. Finally, both the ST76 and ST66 include 720p HD movie recording at 30fps.
Our understanding is that the Samsung ST76 will be marketed under the name Samsung ST77 in the UK and continental Europe, where consumers will also be able to purchase a third model called the Samsung ST88, which has the same features as the ST76/ST77 except that it comes with a 3” hVGA screen rather than a 2.7” LCD.
14.38 That’s all the photo news from Samsung at CES 2012. Next up is Panasonic, so stay with us.
14.35 CET Smart cameras and camcorders introduced with - 5 new models with wi-fi. WB850 is the highlight with a 21x zoom. Can control it remotely using a smartphone or tablet using Wi-Fi direct! Autobackup uploads all photos to your PC wirelessly, share them on YouTube or Picasa, and email them straight from the camera.
14,32 CET Cameras and connectivity - wireless transfer via the new All Share Play feature.
14.25 CET Camera press releases are in. WB850F, WB150F, ST200F, DV300F, ST88, ST77 and ST66 compact cameras, QF20, W300, and F80 camcorders. No surpises of note.
14.20 CET Angry birds tie-in. Thy get their own animated channel.
14.15 CET New TVs have integrated camera in the top.
14.12 CET TVs, TVs, TVs. ES8000 has dual-core processor and multi-tasking. Nice.
14.05 CET Samsung Smart TV is the heart of the home. Every device will connect, including cameras, anywhere and anytime.
4.00 CET Samsung’s event begins with some very loud music. Bear with us as the wi-fi connection creaks under the strain of thousands of devices.
13.35 CET And we’re in! 1,000 journalists are gathered to find out what digital delights Samsung have in store for 2012. We’re just hoping for the NX20 CSC and maybe an EX-2 premium compact…
13.15 CET We’ve accidentally and very fortunately jumped to the head of the 1,000+ queue for Samsung’s CES conference, which begins in 45 minutes. Stay tuned to find out if Samsung releases a new compact system camera or a high-end compact, which have both been recently rumoured.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 is a new compact system camera for enthusiast photographers. With a 16 megapixel sensor, 3 inch LCD screen, built-in flash, 1080i high-definition video, new power-zoom kit lens and a wealth of shooting modes, is the GX1 the best portable interchangeable lens camera? Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 review to find out....
The Samsung DV300F is a new compact camera with Dual LCD technology and Wi-fi connectivity. The DV300F features a a 1.5-inch front LCD screen display, 16 megapixels, 5x optical zoom and a bright f2.5 lens with a 25mm wide-angle setting. The Samsung DV300F will cost £179.99.
The Samsung ST96 is a 14 megapixel compact camera with a wide-angle 5x zoom lens and a BSI CMOS sensor, claimed to be twice as sensitive as conventional sensors and therefore better for low-light photography. Priced at £179.99 / $199.99, the ST96 also offers Full 1080p HD video and fast 10fps burst shooting. Read our Samsung ST96 review complete with full-sized sample photos and video...
Adobe has released the final versions of Lightroom 3.6 and Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) 6.6. Previously available as “release candidates”, these updates add support for new cameras including the Nikon 1 V1 and J1, the Canon Powershot S100, the Fujifilm X10, the Leica V-Lux 3, the Ricoh GR Digital IV, the Sony NEX-7, the Panasonic GX1 and the Samsung NX200 and NX5 (pictured). They also contain various bug fixes.
Website: Adobe Software Updates
The Samsung WB750 is a brand new travel-zoom camera with a compelling list of features. The WB750 offers a wide-angle 18x zoom lens, 12.5 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, 1080p video recording, 3 inch LCD screen and full manual controls. Read our in-depth Samsung WB750 review to find out if it's a real contender for the travel zoom crown.
The new Canon PowerShot SX150 IS is one of the most affordable travel-zoom cameras around. For less than £200 / $250, the Canon SX150 offers a 12x optical zoom lens, 14 megapixels, 3 inch LCD screen and 720p movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX150 IS review to find out if this is the travel zoom camera for you.
The Samsung MV800 is a slim and stylish 16 megapixel compact camera with a unique difference - it has a flip-out, touch-screen LCD that can be rotated through 180 degrees. In addition the MV800 also offers a wide-angle 5x zoom lens, stainless steel body, 720p video and a range of creative filters. Find out if the new Samsung MV800 is worth a place on your Christmas list by reading our in-depth review.
The FinePix F600EXR is the latest travel-zoom camera from Fujifilm, sporting a 15x lens with a versatile focal range of 24-360mm. The 16 megapixel F600 EXR features a quick auto-focus system, full 1080p movies, built-in GPS, 3 inch LCD screen and 8fps continuous shooting. Read our in-depth Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR review to find out if this is the ultimate compact camera...
The Samsung NX200 is a new mirrorless compact system camera that aims for the middle ground between the DSLR-like NX10/11 and consumer-oriented NX100 models, designed to appeal to beginners and prosumers alike. Sporting a 20 megapixel APS-C sensor, full 1080p video, ISO 100-12,800, a 3-inch AMOLED screen and 7fps continuous shooting, the NX200 certainly seems to have what it takes to challenge the ever-expanding number of competitors. Read our expert Samsung NX200 review to find out if it can deliver on its promise...
Iridient Digital has released an update to Iridient RAW Developer. Version 1.9.3 adds support for 14 new camera models, and offers various performance improvements and a couple bug fixes. The newly supported camera models include the Canon PowerShot S100, Fuji X10 and F600EXR, Nikon P7100, J1 and V1 (pictured), Olympus E-PM1, Panasonic DMC-FZ150, Ricoh GR Digital IV, Samsung NX200, Seitz 6x17, Roundshot D2x and Roundshot D3 and the Sony NEX-7. The update can be downloaded from the website below.
Website: Iridient Digital
We've selected our top picks for this year's Holiday season, all the way from the cheapest digital compact up to the most expensive DSLR and everything in between. So no matter what your budget, make sure that you consult the Photography Blog Holiday Gift Guide for 2011 before splashing out your hard-earned cash.
Jessops has opened its fourth Centre of Excellence store in the heart of London. Located at 129-131 Oxford Street, the showcases a customer friendly layout enabling customers to test and trial an extensive range of cameras, camcorders, accessories and Jessops photo products. Additionally, the store’s shop-in-shop design allows the customer to browse by brand, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Pentax and Tamron. The in-store large format printer is able to produce posters and canvases up to 44” wide, and you can also create onsite photobooks all within one hour. The store is open from 9am till 9pm Monday through Saturday, and from 11am till 5pm on Sunday.
Adobe has posted Release Candidates (RCs) for Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) 6.6 and Photoshop Lightroom 3.6, adding support for new cameras including the Nikon 1 V1 and J1, the Canon Powershot S100, the Panasonic GX1 and the Samsung NX5 (pictured). Additionally, the new release candidates contain bug fixes and new profiles for 4 Canon, 6 Nikon, 1 Sony, 5 Sigma and 15 Phase One / Mamiya / Schneider-Kreuznach lenses. A “Rrelease Candidate” label indicates that this update is well tested but would benefit from additional community testing before it is distributed automatically to all Adobe customers.
Website: Adobe Camera Raw 6.6 Release Candidate
Website: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.6 Release Candidate
We sat down with Barney Sykes, Panasonic UK Product Manager for Lumix G, and Michiharu Uematsu, Panasonic Japan’s Advanced Planning Manager for Products Planning Group, to discuss the new Panasonic GX1 compact system camera.
Phase one has released an update for Capture One. Version 6.3.2 adds support for raw files generated by the Samsung NX200, Pentax Q and Olympus E-PM1 compact system cameras. Additionally, it provides improved colour and noise defaults for the Samsung NX11 as well as PEF/DNG support for all Pentax camera models. Capture One 6.3,2 can be downloaded from the website below.
Website: Phase One | Download Capture One
Phase One today released Version 1.1 of Media Pro. a professional digital visual assets managing application for Mac and Windows. This update fixes a number of bugs, features faster importing / media rendering and improved Capture One integration, and adds support for a number of camera raw formats when using the Capture One renderer. Media Pro is available now via download for $199 / €139 through Phase One’s Online Store.
Arca-Swiss has announced its NEX kit for the Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5 compact system cameras, comprising a mini L-bracket and a viewfinder shoe for an optical finder. The Sony NEX L-bracket is fully compatible with the company’s monoball Fix and monoball Classic quick release systems. Allowing a fast change from landscape to portrait orientation and vise-versa, the Arca-Swiss NEX kit is available for €159.
The Nikon Coolpix P7100 is a new compact camera for the aspiring photographer, offering most of the functionality of a DSLR without the associated bulk. A more responsive and more intuitive version of last year's model, the P7100 is an even more serious rival to the market-leading Canon Powershot G12. Read our in-depth Nikon P7100 review to find out if this really is a serious challenger.
At the Samsung Mobile Solutions Forum held in Taiwan, Samsung announced its new, fast 1/2.3-inch 16-megapixel CMOS image sensor. Featuring backside illumination technology and a 1.34-micrometre pixel pitch, the Samsung S5K2P1 sensor is designed for high-performance, advanced smartphones as well as digital still cameras and camcorders. The new imager supports native 16:9-format video at up to 8.3Mp resolution at 60 frames per second and maximum 16-megapixel-resolution for stills at up to 30 frames per second. Mass production is scheduled to start in November.
The wallet-friendly Samsung PL120 compact camera has an innovative 1.5 inch LCD on the front, useful for composing self-portraits. The 14 megapixel Samsung PL120 also features a 26mm wide-angle 5x zoom lens, 720p HD video, and a range of special effects, and costs £149.99 / $149.99. Read our in-depth Samsung PL120 review to find out if two screens really are better than one...
The Nikon 1 V1 is a new compact system camera with a 10-megapixel CMOS sensor and a high-resolution integrated electronic viewfinder. Featuring a 13,2x8,8mm imager with a “crop factor” of approximately 2.7, the Nikon 1 V1 weighs in at 383 grams including battery and memory card. The new Nikon 1 V1 also boasts an ultra-fast AF system as well as pre- and post-capture modes that help you avoid missed moments. The Nikon 1 V1 will be available in a kit with the new 10-30mm zoom for $899.95 / £829.99 / €962.00, starting mid-October.
The Nikon 1 J1 is an even smaller camera with a built-in flash, but no electronic viewfinder or Multi-Accessory Port. Both the Nikon 1 J1 and its lenses come in a variety of matching stylish colors, including white, pink, red, silver and black. The Nikon J1 offers the same core features as the more expensive V1 at a more affordable $649.95 / £549.99 / €638.00 with the 10-30mm zoom lens.
Along with the new cameras comes a new range of lenses and accessories, designed specifically for the Nikon 1 system. The lenses include a 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6, 30-110mm f/3.8 -5.6, 10mm f/2.8 and 10-100mm f4.5-5.6 PD-ZOOM, with future 1 NIKKOR lenses already in development. The Nikon 1 range of optional system accessories includes a SB-N5 Speedlight flash, GP-N100 GPS unit, and FT-1 mount adapter for attaching any NIKKOR DSLR lens (all AF-S and AF-I NIKKOR lenses are compatible with the Nikon 1 autofocus system).
The Samsung ST95 is a slim and stylish 16 megapixel compact camera with a wide-angle 5x zoom lens and touch-screen LCD. Priced at £179.99 / $199.99, the ST95 also offers a stainless steel body, 720p video and a range of creative filters. Gavin Stoker finds out if the Samsung ST95 is worth considering in our in-depth review.
The British Journal of Photography (BJP) is now available free as a quarterly app, created bespoke for the Apple iPad. “The BJP app gives readers the highlight features of our print editions together with extra features, photos and a raft of new multimedia and video content, including a moving image cover created by New York-based artists Reed+Rader,” BJP says. The first issue, available now on iTunes, includes exclusive interviews, a special report on the role of photojournalism since 9/11, a trend report on the new fashion for “character culture”, a Q&A with legendary South African photographer David Goldblatt, and more.
We had a brief opportunity to try out the new Pentax Q camera yesterday. Here are 72 sample JPEG photos, 27 RAW images, and a Full HD movie taken with the tiny new Pentax Q interchangeable lens camera. There's also a full ISO range from 125 to 6400 so that you can see exactly what the Pentax Q's 12 megapixel 1/2.3" back-illuminated CMOS sensor is capable of.
Apple has posted a Camera RAW compatibility update, adding system-level support for raw files produced by a number of new (and not-so-new) digital cameras. The newly supported models include the old Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 as well as the new Olympus E-P3, Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G3, Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF3, Samsung NX11, Samsung NX100, Sony NEX-C3 (pictured) and Sony Alpha SLT-A35. To view the full list of currently supported digital cameras, visit the website below.
Website: Apple Mac OS X Lion: Supported digital camera raw formats
The Olympus SZ-10 is a new wallet-friendly travel-zoom compact camera, featuring an 18x lens, 14 megapixel sensor, 720p HD video recording, 3 inch LCD screen, 3D photos, sensor-shift image stabilisation and a range of Magic Filters. Priced at around £155 / $250, read our Olympus SZ-10 review to find out if it cuts too many corners.
The WB700 is Samsung's latest travel-zoom challenger to the market-leading Panasonic TZ series. Offering a wide-angle 18x zoom lens, 14 megapixel sensor, 720p video recording and full manual controls are just some of the highlights of the WB700. Read our Samsung WB700 review to find out if it's a real contender.
The Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC is a new wide-angle lens. Available for the Canon, Four Thirds, Nikon AE, Pentax, Samsung NX and Sony Alpha mounts, the Samyang 24mm lens is constructed of 13 lenses arranged in 12 groups, with multi-layered and anti-reflexive UMC coatings. The Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC will be available for sale by the end of the year or at the beginning of 2012, priced at 599 EUR for Canon, Four-thirds, Pentax, Samsung NX, Sony, and 625 EUR for Nikon.
The Fujifilm FinePix F500 EXR is a new travel-zoom camera with a 15x lens offering a versatile focal range of 24-360mm. The 16 megapixel F500EXR also features a quick auto-focus system, full 1080p movies, 3 inch LCD screen and 8fps continuous shooting. Read our in-depth Fujifilm FinePix F500EXR review to find out if you should take it on your travels.
The innovative Samsung PL170 camera has a small 1.5 inch LCD on the front as well as the 3 inch rear screen, which is very useful for composing self-portrait and video. The stylish 16 megapixel Samsung PL170 also features a 26mm wide-angle 5x zoom lens, can record 720p HD video and costs £179.99 / $229.99. Read our in-depth Samsung PL170 review to find out if two screens really are better than one...
The Sigma DP2x is a new compact camera featuring a large APS-C DSLR sensor from Foveon and a fixed 41mm lens with a fast aperture of f/2.8. Can Sigma's latest model compete with the recent crop of compact system cameras? Read our in-depth Sigma DP2x review to find out...
The Samsung ST90 is a slim and stylish 16 megapixel compact camera with a wide-angle 5x zoom lens. Priced at £89.99 / $149.99, the affordable ST90 sports a stainless steel body, 720p video and a range of creative filters. Matt Grayson finds out if the Samsung ST90 is worth considering in our in-depth review.
Leica is looking into producing compact system cameras (CSCs) to compete with the mirrorless systems of Olympus, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony. In an interview given to Amateur Photographer (AP), Leica CEO Alfred Schopf and chairman Dr Andreas Kaufmann revealed that the company is planning to announce a compact system camera featuring “an imaging sensor at least as large as an APS-size” at Photokina 2012. The news comes as a surprise, especially given that a number of Leica-designed (and -branded) Panasonic lenses are already available for the Micro Four Thirds system, including the Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 ASPH. Mega O.I.S: (read review) and the brand new Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4 ASPH. From the interview, you can also learn - among other things - whether Leica is still considering the introduction of a digital R system and whether they are outsourcing the production of Leica lenses to China.
Source: Amateur Photographer
The Samsung PL210 is an affordable travel-zoom compact camera, offering a 10x zoom lens, 14 megapixel sensor, 3 inch LCD and 720p movie recording, all for less than £150 / $175. Read our in-depth Samsung PL210 review to find out if this is the right pocket camera for you...
The Samsung SH100 is an affordable compact camera offering built-in Wi-fi for easy connectivity to a variety of devices. The SH100 also has a 14 megapixel sensor, 3 inch touch-screen LCD, wide-angle 5x zoom lens and 720p movie recording. Read our Samsung SH100 review to find out if this is the right compact for you...
The Samsung ST6500 is an affordable compact camera with a distinctive curved design that certainly makes it stand out from the crowd. The ST6500 also offers 16 megapixels, a 3 inch touch-screen LCD, wide-angle 5x zoom lens and 720p movie recording. Read our Samsung ST6500 review to find out if this is the right compact for you...
Samsung has developed a range of animation features for display on the front screen of its unique Dual View compact cameras to keep children captivated while their photo is being taken. The Samsung ST700 boasts eight fun and playful children’s animations, available as free downloads from the Samsung website. The Samsung PL170 and PL120 models also include 21 creative animations to keep the kids mesmerised. Nick White, Head of Digital Imaging, Samsung UK, said: “At Samsung we are always trying to come up with creative new ways to further enhance the consumer experience. This new range of animations for Samsung’s 2View compact cameras have been designed to be as engaging as possible to help families capture the perfect shot of their little ones by keeping their eyes fixed on the camera..
Apple has issued a Camera RAW compatibility update to add support for five - mostly - new digital cameras. These include the following models:
Fujifilm FinePix X100
Nikon D5100
Olympus E-PL2
Olympus XZ-1 (pictured)
Samsung GX-1S
These and all previously added digital cameras benefit from system-level raw file support in Mac OS X v10.6.
Website: Mac OS X v10.6: Supported digital camera RAW formats
A photo gallery comparing the Panasonic G3 alongside several other compact system cameras.
The Fujifilm FinePix F550 EXR is the latest travel-zoom camera, sporting a 15x lens with a versatile focal range of 24-360mm. The 16 megapixel F550EXR features a lightning quick auto-focus system, full 1080p movies, built-in GPS, and 8fps continuous shooting. Read our in-depth Fujifilm FinePix F550EXR review to find out if this is the ultimate compact camera...
The Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC manual-focus lens is now available for Canon and Nikon. The lens, whose final version was announced in March, uses a system of floating lens elements in order to preserve high image quality even at the lens’ close focus point of 30cm. The Canon version of the lens sells for €399, while the Nikon variant (pictured) costs €419 including taxes.
Phase One has released Capture One 6.2, which adds camera support for a range of Samsung, Fuji, Ricoh, Panasonic, Canon, Sony and Nikon cameras, as well as the Phase One IQ180, IQ160 and IQ140. Further additions and improvements include local adjustment of saturation and clarity and the ability to copy a local adjustments mask from other layer, auto sync of XMP metadata, additional camera controls for Canon and Nikon, and improved OpenCL and 64 bit performance. Capture One version 6.2 is a free upgrade to current owners of Capture One Express 6 and Capture one Pro 6.
Samsung has posted firmware upgrades for the Samsung NX10 (pictured) and NX100 compact system cameras. The firmware upgrades improve AF performance, and add a new Panorama Shot scene mode plus compatibility with the Optical Image Stabiliser of the 50-200mm f/4-5.6 II lens to both cameras. The upgrades are available now for all NX100 and NX10 customers to download at the websites below.
The NX11 is the third model in Samsung's compact system camera range, adding compatibility with the innovative iFunction, which allows you to change key camera settings using the focus ring on the lens. The Samsung NX11 also features a DSLR-like design, 3 inch AMOLED screen, electronic viewfinder, 720p video and a large APS-C CMOS sensor with 14.6 megapixels. Read our in-depth Samsung NX11 review, complete with 40 JPEG and 15 RAW samples.
The Nikon Coolpix S3100 is a budget digicam with a sense of style thanks to its all-metal body and wide variety of colours. Costing just £130 / $140, the S3100 ticks all the right boxes - 14 megapixels, 5x wide-angle lens, 2.7 inch screen, range of do-it-all auto modes - at a price that won't break the bank. Read our in-depth Nikon Coolpix S3100 review complete with sample images, video and more to find out if this is the right point-and-shoot camera for you.
Samsung today announced a new partnership with iconic record store, Rough Trade East. The partnership with Samsung centres upon the NX digital cameras, namely the NX10, NX11 and NX100. Commenting on the partnership, Stephen Godfroy, Director of Rough Trade, said: “Music and photography have always been inexorably linked, we’re continuing that tradition with a typical Rough Trade DIY ethos, involving staff, audience and artists to capture the magic of a place like Rough Trade East.”
Adobe has just posted the new Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) 6.4 and Photoshop Lightroom 3.4 Release Candidates. Both updates fix a few bugs and includes support for many new cameras, including the Canon EOS 600D and EOS 1100D (pictured), the Hasselblad H4D-40, the Olympus E-PL1s, E-PL2 and XZ-1, plus the Samsung NX11. They also add support for 4 Canon EF, 3 Leica S and 6 Nikon F mount lenses.
Website: Adobe Camera Raw 6.4 RC
Website: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.4 RC
Samyang has modified the design of the Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC lens by adding a DOF scale at the request of photographers. Originally announced on 16 September 2010, this ultra-fast moderate wide-angle manual-focus lens has also seen a reduction in size, Samyang says. Available in Canon, Four Thirds, Nikon, Pentax, Samsung NX and Sony Alpha fit, the lens is priced at €379 including taxes.
Samsung have officially unveiled 5 new NX lenses for 2011. They include a 18-200mm multi-purpose telephoto zoom, 16mm ultra wide pancake, 60mm macro, 85mm ultra bright portrait and 16-80mm standard zoom. All of the lenses are compatible with Samsung’s unique i-Function system. Here is the full list:
18-200mm F3.5-6.3 ED OIS (May)
16mm F2.4 (July)
60mm F2.8 Macro ED OIS SSA (August)
85mm F1.4 ED SSA (October)
16-80mm F3.5-4.5 OIS (December)
The new Olympus XZ-1 is a serious compact that's aimed at the enthusiast and professional user looking for a small yet capable pocket camera. A relatively large 1/1.63 inch CCD sensor, f/1.8 maximum aperture, 3 inch OLED screen and a full range of manual shooting modes should be enough to get their attention. But can the XZ1 take on the likes of the Panasonic LX5, Samsung EX-1 and Canon PowerShot S95? Read our detailed Olympus XZ-1 Review, complete with full-size JPEG, RAW and movie samples, to find out...
The Samsung PL20 and ES80 are two new entry-level point-and-shoot cameras. The PL20 offers a 14 megapixel sensor, 27mm wide angle and a 5x optical zoom, and 720p HD movie recording. The ES80 boasts 12 megapixel resolution, a 5x optical zoom, and an internal charging system. Both the PL20 and the ES80 come in four colors - Silver, Tomato Red, Pink and Black - available in March and April for $119.99/£99.99 and $99.99 respectively.
The Samsung ST6500 is a stylish new digital camera with a curved design. The body of the ST6500 is curved around the lens and angled at 7 degrees to make for a more ergonomic fit. The ST6500 also comes equipped with a 16-megapixel sensor, 5x zoom lens, new Smart Touch 3.0 User Interface, 3.0 inch LCD touch screen, and the intelligent Smart Auto feature which automatically adjusts the camera’s settings. The Samsung ST6500 will be available in March for $229.
The Samsung ST95, ST90 and ST65 are three new ultra-slim, stylish digital compact cameras. The ST95, ST90 and ST65 measure 16.5mm (ST90) or 17mm (ST95 and ST65) thick, include a 26mm wide lens on the ST95 and ST90, and a 27mm wide lens on the ST65 plus a 5x optical zoom lens, and boast 16 megapixels for the ST95 and 14 megapixels for the ST90 and ST65. The Samsung ST95, ST90 and ST65 will be available in February for $199.99 / $149.99 / $129.99 respectively.
The Samsung ST30 is a new ultra compact camera. The 10.1-megapixel ST30 Smart Auto focus, an internal battery charging system, a 28mm lens and 3x power optical zoom, all contained within the camera’s fun-sized body. The Samsung St30 will be available in March for $99.99.
Boldly promoted as an alternative to a DSLR, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 is a new mid-range compact camera with a wealth of advanced features. A fast f/2.4 lens, sensible 12 megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor, and Superior Auto and Background Defocus modes supposedly produce DSLR picture quality, while Sony have also included Full HD movie recording and even 3D via the Sweep Panorama mode. Priced at around £225 / $300, read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 review to find out if it lives up to its full promise.
The Samsung ST700, PL170 and PL120 are three new DualView digital cameras. The ST700 represents the ultimate in dual screen innovation from Samsung, boasting a 1.8” front LCD screen, new 3.0” rear touch screen with Smart Access UI, a 16.1 megapixel image sensor and a 26mm 5x optical zoom lens. The PL170 and PL120 bring the added value of dual screen technology to all camera users, with bright 1.5” front screens and Easy Self Shot feature. The Samsung ST700, PL170 and PL120 will be available in March for $279.99 / £249.99, $199.99 / £179.99 and $149.99 / £149.99 respectively.
The Samsung WB210 and PL210 are two new high zoom, wide angle digital cameras. The WB210 boasts a 12x optical super zoom lens set in a slim-line 22.4mm body, 21mm wide angle setting via the super wide shot mode,14 megapixel sensor, and a large 3.5” touch screen with Samsung’s new Smart Access UI system. The PL210 features a 10x optical zoom with 27mm wide angle lens in a body measuring just 19.7mm, a large 3.0 LCD screen, 14 Megapixel sensor and HD movie capabilities. The Samsung WB210 and PL210 will be available in February for $279.99 / £249.99 and $199.99 / £179.99 respectively.
The Samsung HMX-P300 and HMX-P100 are two new point-and-share camcorders. The full HD HMX-P300 and HMX-P100 have been designed for those who love sharing videos with friends and family, and enjoy capturing film spontaneously and uploading just as quickly. The Samsung HMX-P300 will be available in March for $199.99, and the HMX-P100 in February for $149.99.
The Samsung SH100 is a new Wi-Fi enabled digital camera. The SH100 built in Wi-Fi wirelessly connects to other devices, automatically back up your shots to your PC, or wirelessly connect to your HDTV. The Wi-Fi capability on the SH100 also allows you to use your smartphone as a remote control and viewing device for your camera. The Samsung SH100 will be available in March for $199.99.
The Samsung NX11 is the latest NX system camera. The NX11 is an upgraded model based on the NX10, sporting a new handgrip and compatibility with the new i-Function lenses. The NX11 will come complete with an 18-55mm i-Function lens, as well as two new i-Function lenses, a 20mm pancake and a 20-50mm zoom silver colour lens. The Samsung NX11 will be available in February for $649 with the 18-55mm lens.
The Samsung WB700 is a new travel-zoom camera with an 18x optical zoom lens. The 16 megapixel WB700 features a 24mm ultra-wide focal length, 720p video, and manual shooting modes. The Samsung WB700 will cost $299.99 in the USA and £249.99, available in April 2011.
New research from Samsung reveals over a third of Brits are under-using their cameras, more so than other technologies such as mobiles or laptops. A quarter admit to feeling worried when they press a button which produces a display they don’t recognise and just over one in ten say they are so confused by their cameras that they hand it to someone else to take the shots. In addition, many Brits are unaware of key functions on their cameras: 27% aren’t aware of the built-in flash function; 35% claim to be unaware of the delete function and 48% aren’t aware of the Red Eye reduction options available on many cameras. Note that this research has been carried out by Samsung to mark the launch of their iFunction lens and the Samsung NX100 camera (and presumably to promote them at the same time).
Adobe has posted the full versions of Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) 6.3 and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.3, adding raw file support for 15 new cameras and distortion profiles for a number of lenses. Previously available as Release Candidates only, ACR 6.3 and Lightroom 3.3 add support for the Canon PowerShot G12, Canon PowerShot S95, Nikon D3100 (pictured), Nikon D7000, Nikon Coolpix P7000, Olympus E-5, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2, Pentax K-5, Pentax K-r, Ricoh GXR & GR LENS A12 28mm f/2.5, Samsung NX100, Samsung TL350 (WB2000), Sony A560 and Sony A580 models. Adobe has also released the free Lens Profile Downloader 1.0 for Camera Raw 6, Lightroom 3 and Photoshop CS5. This companion application allows customers to search, download, rate and comment on over 300 lens correction profiles provided by the Adobe user community.
Samyang Poland has announced the European launch of the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC lens for the Samsung NX mount. Given that the the existing Samsung NX cameras use an APS-C sized sensor, the lens’ angle of view is equivalent to that of a 21mm lens mounted to a 35mm camera. The recommended retail price of the manual-focus Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC lens is €329.
The Samsung PL90 is a budget digital camera with a unique twist - it has a built-in USB connector that allows quick and easy transfer of your photos to a computer. The 12 megapixel PL90 also offers a 4x wide-angle zoom lens, 2.7 inch LCD screen and VGA video recording. Read our in-depth Samsung PL90 review complete with sample images and video.
Looking for a travel zoom compact camera with a wide-angle lens, 12 megapixels and HD movies that won't break the bank? The Casio EX-H5 could be the answer, offering a 24-240mm focal range, 2.7 inch LCD, CCD-shift image stabilization and 1,000 shot battery life, all for under £150 / $200. Read our expert Casio EX-H5 review to find if it's a hit or a miss...
The Samsung ST100 is a new Dual View camera with not one but two LCD screens, the usual one on the back and a smaller one on the front that makes it easy to get everyone in the picture. The 14 megapixel ST100's rear LCD is a large 3.5 inch touch-screen affair with a Smart Gesture User Interface, and it also offers a 5x optical inner zoom lens and 720p video recording. Read our Samsung ST100 review to find out if two screens really are better than one...
Some top tips for improving your outdoor photos from Alastair Lee, specialist outdoor filmmaker and photographer.
John Maguire and Simon King explain how to choose the right memory cards for extreme conditions.
The new Canon PowerShot SX130 IS is one of the most affordable travel-zoom cameras around. For less than £200 / $250, the Canon SX130 offers a 12x optical zoom lens, 12 megapixels, 3 inch LCD screen, 720p movies and fast DIGIC 4 processor. Aimed at both the family market, with Easy and Smart Auto modes, and enthusiasts, with a full range of manual controls, read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX130 IS review.
The new NX100 is Samsung's answer to the Panasonic GF, Olympus PEN and Sony NEX - a mirrorless, compact system camera with interchangeable lenses and the attraction of a large APS-C sensor. As well as being smaller and lighter than the more DSLR-like NX10 model, the NX100 offers an innovative i-Function button which allows you to change the camera's key settings simply by pressing a button and turning the focus ring of the lens. With a retail price of around £449.99 / $599.99 with the new 20-50mm kit lens, the Samsung NX100 also offers fantastic value for money. Read our Samsung NX100 review to find out if it's the real deal...
We've selected our top picks for this year's Holiday season, all the way from the cheapest digital compact up to the most expensive DSLR and everything in between. So no matter what your budget, make sure that you consult the Photography Blog Holiday Gift Guide for 2010 before splashing out your hard-earned cash.
The new Canon PowerShot SX30 IS compact camera climbs straight to the top of the super-zoom ladder with its incredible 35x, 24-840mm optical lens - truly all the focal range that most photographers will ever need or use. In addition to this, the SX30 offers a 14 megapixel image sensor, 2.7 inch vari-angle LCD screen, electronic viewfinder, flash hotshoe, full manual controls and 720p HD movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX30 IS review to find out if this new super-zoom really is all the camera you'll ever need.
Samsung has released a firmware update for its NX5 and NX10 compact system cameras, adding support for the new i-Function lens.Version 1.20 also provides support for an external GPS module that enables the geotagging of photos captured with these cameras. Additional improvements include better AF speed and accuracy and the addition of firmware-based lens distortion reduction. To download the firmware update, follow the link below.
Website: Samsung UK
DxOMark raw sensor data are are now available for the new Canon EOS 60D, Samsung NX10 and NX100 digital cameras. Unsurprisingly, the Canon 60D produced almost exactly the same results as the 7D and the 550D, with only the Low-Light ISO score differing slightly from both of these models (which received different scores on this metric themselves). The two Samsung produced lower scores on Low-Light ISO (and also in terms of dynamic range), but got higher scores on colour depth. Overall the two Samsung models finished just slightly behind the Canon EOS 60D.
Website: DxOMark
The WP10 / AQ100 is Samsung's first foray into the world of waterproof cameras. Sporting a 12 megapixel sensor and 5x zoom lens, the WP10 can be used at a depth of 3 meters / 10 feet. Available for less than £179.99 / $199.99, read our Samsung WP10 review find out if this budget shooter is all the camera you need.
Photokina is over for another 2 years, so we’ve looked back at some of the most notable products we have seen at the world’s biggest photography show.
At Photokina Samsung are heavily promoting their great Compact System Camera hope, the new NX100, with a series of interactive displays demoing the camera’s capabilities, plus a giant-sized replica just in case you’d forgotten what it looks like. The NX10 and NX10 have also been “exploded” into their component parts to illustrate Samsung’s engineering prowess. And if you ever wanted to see the full range of Samsung cameras and camcorders, there’s a mind-blowingly long wall containing every current product in their line-up.
The Samsung WB2000 / TL350 hasn't garnered much attention since its release, being somewhat overshadowed by its big brother, the EX1. After a couple of weeks of use, though, we're hard-pressed to understand exactly why the Samsung WB2000 isn't on the short-list of every photographer looking for a capable and compact pocket digicam. The list of the WB2000's standout features is almost endless - 10 megapixel CMOS sensor, 24-120mm lens with fast f/2.4 maximum aperture, RAW format support, full range of creative shooting modes,10fps burst shooting, Full 1080p HD movies, 3 inch AMOLED screen - but can it deliver as an overall package? Read our in-depth Samsung WB2000 / TL350 review to find out...
In the UK, Samsung has teamed up with iBluBox to offer a free version of BluBox 5.0 with every Samsung camera purchased. The BluBox application quickly and easily compresses digital images, so they can be uploaded and shared faster. Additionally every time a BluBox archive is created, all photos are BluBox secured with Government standard 256-AES encryption. Archives can even be password protected to ensure only authorised people can view or share the images. Usually retailing at £19.95, Samsung and BluBox are offering this software complimentary to all consumers who purchase specific Samsung cameras from UK retail partners until the 31st December 2010.
The Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC is a bright wide-angle lens for manual-focus enthusiasts. Constructed of 12 optical elements arranged in 10 groups (including one aspherical and two highly refractive elements), the Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC uses a system of floating lens elements in order to preserve high image quality even at the lens’ close focus point of 30cm. The new 35mm lens from Samyang will be available in Canon EF, Four Thirds, Nikon F, Pentax, Samsung NX and Sony fit. The price has not yet been revealed.
The Fujifilm FinePix F300EXR is the latest travel-zoom camera, sporting a 15x lens with a versatile focal range of 24-360mm. Taking on the likes of the Panasonic TZ10 and Samsung WB650, the new 12 megapixel F300EXR features a hybrid auto-focus system that switches between traditional contrast AF and a quicker phase detection AF system, as used in DSLR cameras. But can it keep up with its main rivals too? Read our in-depth Fujifilm FinePix F300EXR review to find out...
The NEX-3 is the second mirrorless system camera from Sony and the baby brother of the NEX-5. With a 14 megapixel APS HD CMOS sensor, 720p HD movies, high-res 3 inch tilting screen and external flash, the plastic-bodied NEX-3 undercuts the NEX-5 in terms of price but offers virtually all of the same features. Find out if it can match the performance and image quality too in our in-depth Sony NEX-3 review, complete with sample JPEGs, RAW files, and movies.
Every person who writes a qualifying consumer review of an electronics item on Sears.com until 18th August is eligible to win one of five Samsung DualView TL205 cameras. This camera features Samsung’s DualView technology, plus a front-facing 1.5” LCD screen that allows users to take pictures of themselves. It also has a 2.7” rear screen, 3x optical zoom and a 12.2-megapixel imager. For full information and rules, visit the website below.
Website: Sears Review Promotion
Adobe has posted new release candidates for Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) and Lightroom. The updates extend raw file support to 12 new camera models, improve on several of the lens correction profiles introduced as part of the Lightroom 3 and Camera Raw 6.1 releases, and add over 50 new lens profiles to help photographers automatically correct for a number of distortion and aberration effects. The Lightroom 3.2 Release Candidate is available as a free download for Lightroom 3 customers, and the Photoshop Camera Raw 6.2 Release Candidate is available as a free download for Photoshop CS5 customers.
The Samsung PL90 is a new 12 megapixel camera featuring a built-in USB connector. Removing the need for additional wires or cords, the PL90’s Auto-install intelli-studio software provides instant access to any computer via the USB connector. The PL90 also features a 4x zoom lens, 2.7 inch LCD screen, VGA movies, Samsung’s Smart Auto (Still & Movie) technology, Perfect Portrait System, and Smart Album feature. The Samsung PL90 will be available in September 2010 for $149.99 / £129.99.
Apple has released a Digital Camera RAW.compatibility update for iPhoto and Aperture. Version 3.3 adds support for raw files created by the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS, Olympus E-PL1, Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 & G10, Samsung NX10, Sony A450, NEX-3 and NEX-5 (pictured) digital cameras. The update is downloadable from the website below.
The Samsung ST80 is a new Wi-Fi enabled, 14.2 megapixel point and shoot camera. The ST80 supports Wi-Fi and Samsung’s AllShare (DNLA) connectivity, as well as offering a 3 inch wide touch-screen LCD, 3x optical zoom, and 720p HD video recording. The Samsung ST80 will be available in September for $249.99 / £199.99.
The Samsung ST5500 / CL80 digital camera almost literally includes the kitchen sink, with a whole range of cutting-edge features on offer. 14 megapixels, a massive 3.7 inch AMOLED touch-screen, 7x zoom, built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and DNLA connectivity - the ST5500 is easily one of the most full-featured compact point-and-shoots of 2010. But can it justify its £349.99 / $399.99 price-tag? Read our Samsung ST5500 review to find out...
Futuresource has released a report on the Western European market opportunity for interchangeable-lens compact digital cameras, better known as EVILs. “In the short-term, whilst we are expecting significant growth for the Interchangeable Lens Compact market, it will still only reach shipments of 377,000 units across Western Europe in 2010, compared to expectations of 3.3m units for DSLRs,” opines James Wells, consultant with Futuresource. “Panasonic, Olympus, Sony and Samsung (with a 20% combined share of interchangeable lens camera shipments in 2009) are expected to promote this segment heavily in 2010, particularly at the Photokina show in September in the run up to the important fourth quarter period. The long term aim is to try to break Canon’s and Nikon’s stranglehold on the interchangeable lens camera market. Suffice to say this will be an interesting space to watch over the next two to three years.”
The Samsung PL200 is a stylish yet competitively priced 14.2-megapixel, 7x zoom point-and-shoot digital camera that also shoots HD video. The lens, whose 35mm equivalent focal length range goes from a relatively wide 31mm to 217mm telephoto, features optical image stabilisation. Other highlights include a three-inch rear screen, Smart Auto scene recognition technology, Beauty Shot and Smile Shot modes, as well as Blink Detection and Face Detection. Available from September, the Samsung PL200 is expected to hit the shelves at a price of about $180 / £149.99.
The Samsung ST600 and ST100 are two new 14.2 megapixel DualView compact cameras. Featuring Samsung’s revolutionary dual LCD technology, the ST600 and ST100 are the new flagship models of the Samsung DualView camera family. Both models feature a larger 1.8” front LCD screen, Smart Auto (Still & Movie) scene recognition technology and Smart Gesture User Interface. The Samsung ST600 has a 5x optical zoom / 27mm wide lens, while the ST100 offers a 5x optical inner zoom / 35mm angle lens. The Samsung ST600 and ST100 will be available in September for $329.99 and $349.99 respectively, and both will retail at around £299 in the UK..
Samsung has issued firmware updates for the Samsung EX1 and the Samsung TL500 (which are identical cameras but require different firmware updates nonetheless). Versions 006291 (for the EX1) and 006254 (TL500) deal with an intermittent error occurring when the camera is turned on by holding down the playback button, and improve overall system stability.
Website: Samsung EX1 / TL500
Imagine Publishing and Samsung are joining forces to launch the fourth annual Digital Photography of the Year awards. Digital Photographer magazine anticipates record a number of submissions for the competition in 2010, with the overall winner receiving a Samsung NX10, three lenses and a flashgun kit. Six category winners will each receive a Samsung EX1 camera. The six categories include The Big Picture; Strike a Pose; Wild at Heart; Location, Location; Capture the Action and Get Creative. For all the details on how to enter, look out for Digital Photographer issue 98 on sale now throughout the UK, or head online to the website below.
Website: Digital Photographer
Nikon is planning to release a “new concept” SLR camera according to President Makoto Kimura. Available either this year or in 2011, the new Nikon hybrid may use the same mirrorless structure as rival cameras from Panasonic, Olympus, Samsung and Sony. According to the interview by Bloomberg, Nikon’s entry into the hybrid market will also possibly “have an enhanced function for video recording”.
Samsung has partnered with leading aerial photographer Jason Hawkes to capture the artistic brilliance of London and its famous landmarks from above after dark, using Samsung’s new EX1 camera. Hawkes travelled across the city by helicopter taking images with the new EX1, using its impressive capabilities for taking shots in low light conditions. Hawkes commented “The EX1 is a very impressive and intuitive compact camera, with a great build. It has a remarkable set of features, such as the bright f/1.8 Schneider lens, which would be valuable for any photography enthusiast, and I was pleased to be able to test the extent of its capabilities during the low-light conditions on the shoot. The swivelling AMOLED screen on the back of the camera is a great feature, and proved useful in the helicopter during the shoot. And finally, the ability to work with RAW files was also a real bonus for a camera within this category – until now this has often remained within the domain of the pro models.”
Sony have joined the likes of Panasonic, Olympus and Samsung in the mirrorless system camera market with the release of the NEX-5 and NEX-3. With a 14 megapixel APS HD CMOS sensor, full 1080i HD movies, high-res 3 inch tilting screen, optional external flash and two available lenses on launch, the NEX-5 certainly seems well-equipped to take on the already established competition. Find out if it has what it takes in our in-depth Sony NEX-5 review, complete with sample JPEGs, RAW files, movies and even 3D panoramas.
The Samsung EX1 (also known as the Samsung TL500) is a new pocket camera for serious photographers, sporting a bright f/1.8, 3x zoom lens, sensible 10 megapixel CCD sensor and a swivelling 3 inch AMOLED screen. RAW shooting, ISO 80-3200, image stabilisation and full manual control complete the EX1's main attractions. Read our Samsung EX1 review to find out if it hits the mark.
Boingo’s “Hotspots and Snapshots” digital photo contest could land you a new Wi-Fi enabled Samsung digital camera. There are four categories including Travel, Happingess, Technology and Boingo Hotspots - and each category winner will receive a Samsung ST5500 / CL80 digital camera. The competition is open to amateur photographers all over the world. You have until 22 July to submit your work.
Website: Boingo Blog
The Samsung WB650 (also known as the Samsung HZ35W) is Samsung's flagship travel-zoom camera for 2010, offering a better feature-set than the market-leader, the Panasonic DMC-TZ10, at a lower price. Built-in GPS, a 3 inch AMOLED screen, 15x zoom, 12 megapixels and full manual control are just some of the highlights of the WB650, which is available in grey for £299 / $349. Read our Samsung WB650 review to find out if this is the best travel compact of the year.
The Samsung ST70 (also known as the TL110) is a slim and stylish 14 megapixel compact camera with a 5x zoom lens. Priced at £179.99 / $199.99, the affordable ST70 sports a stainless steel body, 720p video and a range of creative filters. Gavin Stoker finds out if the Samsung ST70 is worth a look in our in-depth review.
From now till July 19th, you can submit a photo or video of your “moments of wonder” to a dedicated website set up by Samsung, for a chance to win one of 7 DualView cameras or a 24” HD monitor. Your moment can represent an everyday joy or a once-in-a-lifetime event, like sitting front row at your daughter’s college graduation. Note that this competition is open to US citizens only. As always, we recommend that you read the rules before entering your work.
Website: Moments of Wonder
Samsung has issued a firmware update for the Samsung NX10 mirrorless interchangeable-lens system camera. Available today, version 1.15 improves stability, offers faster SD card read / write speeds and adds features like user selectable manual focus assist and an EVF selection function in the AMOLED display menu. The firmware is currently available on the Samsung UK website for users to download.
Website: Samsung UK
The Samsung PL150 improves on the innovative dual-screen technology of last year's ST500 / 500 cameras and makes it much more affordable for the masses. The PL150 (also known as the TL210) has a smaller LCD on the front as well as the 3 inch rear screen, which is very useful for composing self-portrait stills and now video too. The stylish 12 megapixel Samsung PL150 has a wide-angle 5x zoom lens, can record HD video and only costs £179.99 / $229.99.
The Samsung WB600 (also known as the HZ30W) is the latest travel-zoom camera to hit the market, and in true Samsung style it offers a lot of features at a bargain price. The WB600 has a 12 megapixel sensor, 15x, 24-360mm lens, 3 inch LCD screen, 720p HD movies, and even manual shooting modes, all for just $279 / £249. Read our expert review to find out if the Samsung WB600 / HZ30W is too good to be true.
The new Fujifilm FinePix S1600 super-zoom is the cheaper relative of the S2500HD, with the only difference being the lack of an HDMI port and a shorter 15x lens. Competitively priced at less than £150 / $200, the 12 megapixel S1800 offers a versatile 15x lens, 3 inch LCD screen, full manual control and HD movie recording. Read the World's first online Fujifilm FinePix S1600 review now.
The Fujifilm FinePix F80EXR is an attractively designed compact camera with a 10x zoom lens, 12 megapixel sensor, 3 inch LCD screen, HD movie recording and manual controls, all for a street price of less than £200 / $250. Read our Fujifilm FinePix F80EXR Review to find out if it's a worthy successor to last year's F70EXR model.
Samsung has announced the ten winners of its World Creative Imaging Competition (WCIC). The competition involved selecting students from some of world’s most famous and influential colleges, who were asked to convey their ‘creative moment’ through the use of the new Samsung NX10. Following an online vote which allowed the public to become ‘fans’ of the entrants, images created by the ten winners were unveiled at the Photo and Imaging Exhibition 2010 in Seoul, Korea. The images from the final ten winners are available to view at the website below.
Website: World Creative Imaging Competition
The EX-H15 is Casio 's second travel-zoom camera, following on from last year's EX-H10 model. Still offering a 10x, 24-240mm zoom lens, large 3 inch LCD, and 720p HD movies in a pocketable body, the new EX-H15 also has a faster processor, improved Premium Auto mode, plus creative Dynamic Photo and Art Photo functions. Gavin Stoker takes an in-depth look in our Casio EX-H15 review.
There's no doubt that Micro Four Thirds has proved a big hit for Panasonic and the photography industry in general, so the brand new G10 camera comes as no surprise. One of two new G system models for 2010, the DMC-G10 attempts to bring all the benefits of the Micro Four Thirds system - smaller size and weight with comparable features and image quality to a fully-fledged DSLR - to a wider audience, with an aggressive price tag of £499 / $599 with the new 14-42mm kit lens. Mark Goldstein finds out if it succeeds in our Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 review.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 is a brand new travel-zoom compact camera that's stuffed to the proverbial gills with all the latest must-have features. A 10x, 25-250mm Sony G lens? Check. Built-in GPS tracking complete with a compass? Check. Full 1080i high-definition video with stereo sound? Check. A 10 megapixel CMOS sensor, 3 inch screen, manual shooting mode, 10fps burst mode, even SD memory card support - all present and correct. Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 review to find out if all of these features add up to a great camera.
The Canon PowerShot SX210 IS camera is the latest travel-zoom model to hit the market, sporting a 14x lens and a 14 megapixel image sensor. Other key features of the Canon SX210 include a 3 inch LCD screen, 720p HD movies with stereo sound, a range of hand-holding modes for beginners, and full manual controls for experienced snappers. Gavin Stoker finds out if this is all the camera that you need in our Canon PowerShot SX210 IS in-depth review.
We got all hands-on today with the new Leica X1 compact camera at Leica’s main retail store in central Mayfair, London. The Leica X1 boasts a 12.2 megapixel sensor and 24mm f/2.8 lens. Click through for an extensive gallery of photos of the Leica X1, including side-by-side comparisons with the Olympus E-PL1 and Samsung NX10 cameras.
The catchily named "mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras" are quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with, a fact that Samsung have recognised with the launch of their own rival system to the Micro Four Thirds standard. The Samsung NX10 is the first model in the new series, featuring a DSLR-like design, large 3 inch AMOLED screen, electronic viewfinder, 720p video and a large APS-C CMOS sensor with 14.6 megapixels. With 30mm pancake, 18-55mm and 50-200mm lenses and a smattering of accessories available from day one and five more lenses to follow this year, Samsung are certainly making a sizeable investment in their compact/DSLR hybrid system. Read our Samsung NX10 review, complete with 50 JPEG samples and 12 RAW, to find out if it can out-perform its Olympus and Panasonic rivals.
Focus on Imaging is Europe’s biggest annual photography show, and this year’s event is currently being held at the NEC in Birmingham, England. Open to both trade and the public, business seemed brisk as we made our way around the show floor, perhaps indicating that the worst of the global recession is behind the photography industry - or at the very least that photographers are window-shopping again. Read on for our Focus 2010 show report.
Small cameras with big sensors are set to be the future of photography - at least, that's what Olympus think as they introduce the E-PL1, their brand new PEN camera for the mass-market. Cheaper, smaller, lighter and easier to use than most rival models, the Olympus E-PL1 is firmly aimed at frustrated compact camera owners who crave more control and better results, but who are put off by bulky and complicated DSLRs. The full-featured E-PL1 should also appeal to experienced prosumers looking for a cheaper way into Micro Four Thirds. Read the World's first online Olympus E-PL1 review to find out if it strikes the right balance between affordability and functionality.
Our roving reporter Jon Canfield looks back at the highlights of what was a fairly quiet PMA 2010 photography show.
The new Panasonic Lumix ZX3 / ZR3 is a tiny camera that packs a big punch, with an 8x, 25-300mm wide-angle zoom lens and 14 megapixel sensor. Capable of recording 720p HD movies in the AVCHD Lite or Motion JPEG formats, the ZX3 (called the ZR3 in North America) features Panasonic's newly introduced Intelligent Resolution function which can boost the zoom to 10x with minimal loss of image quality. Mark Goldstein takes an in-depth look at the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZX3.
Samsung will launch 5 more lenses for its NX camera system in 2010. These include an 18-55mm, 20-50mm, 20mm, 18-200mm and 60mm macro lens. The total number of Samsung lenses at the end of 2010 will be 8, rivalling similar systems from Olympus and Panasonic. “The Samsung NX10 represents a whole new category of digital cameras and the new offerings within our lens line up will ensure our users feel empowered to unleash their creative side and integrate camera technology into everyday life, in their own way.” explained Steve Mitchell, General Marketing Manager, Samsung Digital Imaging.
The Samsung TL500 (also known as the EX1) is an advanced 10 megapixel compact camera with a large 1/1.7” CCD sensor and bright f/1.8 lens. Clearly rivalling the Panasonic DMC-LX3, the Samsung TL500’s 3x optical lens offers a focal range of 24-72mm and is optically stabilised, plus there’s a 3 inch swivelling AMOLED LCD screen, pop-up flash and external flash hotshoe, RAW shooting mode, and full manual control over exposure. The Samsung TL500 will be available in Spring 2010 for $449.99.
The Samsung TL350 (also known as the WB2000) is a 10 megapixel digital compact camera featuring 1080P, full-HD video recording. The TL350 offers a maximum video recording speed of 1,000 frames-per-second (fps) and a 10fps burst mode for stills,thanks to its CMOS sensor and DRIMeIII processor. In addition to sheer speed, the Samsung TL350 also features a 5x, 24mm ultra wide-angle lens, 3 inch AMOLED LCD screen, manual control over exposure, and RAW shooting mode. The new Samsung TL350 will be available in Spring 2010 for $349.99.
The waterproof Samsung AQ100 (also known as the WP10) and durable Samsung SL605 are two new 12 mega-pixel point and shoot cameras. The Samsung AQ100 can be used in up to 10 feet of water and has a dedicated Aqua mode for underwater photography. In addition the AQ100 has a 5x optical inner zoom lens, 2.7 inch TFT-LCD screen and can record 720p HD video. The Samsung SL605 features an Anti scratch Mask and the bottom, buttons and areas surrounding the 2.7-inch TFT-LCD screen are rubberized. Other key features of the SL605 include an internal 27mm wide angle, 5x optical zoom lens and new Smart Night Mode. Both cameras will be available in Spring 2010, with the Samsung AQ100 costing $199.99 and the SL605 $129.99.
The Sigma DP1s is the newest member of Sigma's big-sensor, small camera family, offering a 14 megapixel APS-C imager more typically found in DSLR cameras. Offering a 28mm fixed focal lens, manual shooting modes and RAW format support, providing DSLR image quality in a compact camera is clearly the DP1s' main aim. Successor to the DP1 model, the Sigma DP1s offers a few key enhancements to the original design. Read our expert Sigma DP1s review to find out if this is the pocket camera that every keen photographer has been waiting for.
Samsung has posted a number of sample shots taken with the all-new Samsung NX10 system camera and (mostly) the 30mm f/2 lens. Available on SamsungImaging.net, the photos link to their own full-resolution versions on Flickr. The entire set consists of 87 images, of which 13 are reproduced on the SamsungImaging blog.
Website: SamsungImaging
The Samsung ST1000 (also known as the CL65) is one of the most cutting-edge compact cameras on the market, offering built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS tracking and a fantastic 3.5 inch, 1,152k dot touch-screen LCD. As if that wasn't enough, there's also a 12 megapixel sensor, 5x zoom lens, 720p video recording at 30fps, and a range of auto modes for beginners. Officially retailing at £349.99 / $399.99, we find out if the Samsung ST1000 / CL65 is worth the price premium.
The WB5000 / HZ25W is Samsung's first entry into the big boy world of all-in-one super-zoom cameras. Offering a 24x zoom lens with 26mm wide-angle setting, the WB5000 literally has most photographic subjects covered, for both 12 megapixel stills and 720p movies. Throw in a range of hand-holding smart modes for beginners and RAW format and Manual mode for advanced users, and Samsung could be onto a winner at their very first attempt. Read our expert Samsung WB5000 / HZ25W review to find out if Panasonic, Olympus et al have anything to fear...
It hasn't taken Panasonic long to release their second all-action digicam, the Lumix DMC-FT2. Successor to the very good FT1 model that we reviewed just a few weeks ago, the Panasonic FT2 gains new freezeproof capabilities, better shock and water proofness, plus a faster auto-focus system, more stable anti-shake, and a couple more megapixels. In this World First review, find out if the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT2 is the new toughest camera on the block.
The Olympus Mju Tough 6010 is the latest nigh-on-indestructible camera to find its way onto the Photography Blog test-bench. On paper the freeze, shock and water -proof Olympus 6010 makes a great choice as a one-size fits all camera for the entire family. It's also a capable model too, with 12 megapixels, a 2.7 inch screen, and 3.6x wide-angle zoom lens. Find out if it makes the grade in our Olympus Mju Tough 6010 review.
Samsung UK’s press launch for their extensive range of 2010 cameras gave us the opportunity to get all hands-on with the jewel in their crown, the NX10. Modestly billed as the “Evolution of camera”, the Samsung NX10 is targeted at the so-called “Wannabe” user, who’s apparently looking for perfect image quality from a smaller camera than a traditional DSLR. Therefore the NX10 is up against the likes of the Olympus Pen range and the Panasonic G1 - indeed, we have a few side-by-side comparison shots with the G1 in our photo gallery. Find out just what Samsung UK are going to spend £1million promoting by reading the rest of this article.
In addition to the NX10, Samsung have also unveiled a veritable deluge of new compact cameras for 2010. Top of the tree is the exciting WB650 / HZ35W, which packs in a veritable smorgasbord of features into its small frame, including a 15x ultra-wide-angle lens, 3” AMOLED screen and even built-in GPS. The WB650 / HZ35W really should give Panasonic’s popular TZ-series a run for its money. We also grabbed a few moments with 4 other Samsung compacts of interest which feature some clever new design touches, so click-through to see the photo gallery.
The Samsung SL630 is a 12.2 megapixel point-and-shoot camera with a 28-140mm equivalent zoom lens and optical image stabilisation. The new Samsung SL630 comes fully equipped with an array of automatic controls, including Samsung’s scene recognition technology known as Smart Auto. The SL630 also features useful auto focusing options such as object tracking. In addition, the new Samsung offers the manufacturer’s Perfect Portrait System – a series of automatic technologies which take the guesswork out of shooting beautiful portraits. Key features of the Perfect Portrait System include Face Detection, Smile Shot and Blink Detection technologies, Red Eye Fix mode, and Beauty Shot. There is no HD video recording on offer - the Samsung SL630 shoots standard-definition VGA movie clips instead. The SL630 is called PL80 in Europe, and will be available in March priced at £129.99.
Samsung have announced two new additions to their TL line of ultra-thin digital compact cameras. At just 0.65 inches thin, the 14.2 megapixel Samsung TL110 and 12.2 megapixel Samsung TL105 are each equipped with a 2.7-inch LCD and feature a 5x optical zoom and a 4x optical zoom respectively. Also, Samsung’s new models feature an improved 27mm wide-angle lens (TL110) and 27.5mm wide-angle lens (TL105) when compared to their predecessor, the TL100. The Samsung TL110 also boasts optical image stabilisation. New image effects available with the Samsung TL110 and TL105, such as Fisheye and Lomo, let photographers easily add a touch of creativity to their photos. Both new cameras offer 720p HD video recording capabilities. Unlike the more advanced HZ30W and HZ35W models - also announced today -, the TL105 and TL110 do not feature a full manual exposure mode. The TL105 and TL110 are called ST60 and ST70 in Europe, and will be available from February priced at £149.99 and £179.99 respectively.
Samsung have just unveiled the world’s slimmest cameras with 15x zoom and 24mm equivalent wide angle - one of the two even features built-in GPS and a 3” AMOLED screen. The new compacts are called the Samsung HZ30W and HZ35W, with the latter being the GPS/AMOLED model. The HZ30W has no GPS unit and makes do with a more traditional 3” LCD screen. The two cameras are otherwise identical: both sport 12-megapixel sensors, 24-360mm equivalent Schneider-Kreuznach lenses and 720p HD video recording capabilities. Both the Samsung HZ30W and the Samsung HZ35W offer semi-automatic and full manual exposure control, optical image stabilisation and HDMI ports. The HZ30W and HZ35W are called WB600 and WB650 in Europe and will be available from March 2010, priced at £249.99 and £299.99 respectively.
Over the past week we posted over 50 CES-related articles, mostly product announcements, so don’t blame yourself if you are feeling a little overwhelmed and wondering if there have been any major pieces of news among these. We’ve just put together a list of what we thought were the most interesting photography-related products announced before or at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. But before we delve into these, let’s summarise in a few words the main tendencies that emerge from this avalanche. Firstly, the sheer number of digital compact cameras announced was way beyond expectations. In some cases, the companies didn’t even bother to highlight the differences between the models in any detail, or indeed differentiate the cameras in any meaningful way. Secondly, it’s evident that certain features that used to come at a premium are now must-haves in entry-level models too. These include HD video, at least 4x zoom and image stabilisation. While there still are 3x zoom models with VGA video recording and no optical or mechanical image stabilisation, these are becoming the exception rather than the rule. Thirdly, 2010 has brought the almost total victory of the SD card, with both Olympus and Sony giving in to the trend. While Sony is still making Memory Sticks, it has announced its own branded SD/SDHC cards, and made all of its new compacts capable of reading them. Olympus apparently said goodbye to its xD cards and also made its newest cameras compatible with SD. Meanwhile, CES 2010 also saw the appearance of the first SDXC cards and SDXC host devices.
After these general tendencies, let us now see the products that have grabbed our attention the most.
Samsung has extended its innovative DualView family of digital cameras with the introduction of two new models, the TL210 and TL205. Offering Samsung’s dual screen LCD technology, the new 12-megapixel TL205 and TL210 offer a variety of updated features. Both have a 1.5-inch color LCD screen located on the front of the camera. This 1.5-inch display gives consumers the ability to perfect their self-portraits or join their friends and family in the shot. New for the Samsung DualView TL210 and TL205, photographers can now use the 1.5-inch front LCD to frame video in addition to digital stills. With the TL210, consumers can enjoy 720p HD video recording at 30 frames?per?second (fps). The Samsung TL210 has an optically stabilised 5x optical zoom starting at 27mm (eq.) and a 3” rear screen, while the TL205 has a more pedestrian 35-105mm equivalent lens and a 2.7” LCD on the back. Both cameras feature Samsung’s advanced scene recognition technology, Smart Auto, which has been upgraded for use with video as well as with still images. The Samsung TL205 and TL210 are currently on display at CES, in the Samsung booth #11026 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Pricing to be released.
Samsung has officially unveiled the Samsung CL80 (pictured) and TL240, a pair of stylish, 14.2-megapixel digital cameras with some exciting new features. A recipient of a 2010 CES Innovation Award, the Samsung CL80 offers integrated Wi-Fi connectivity and a 3.7” WVGA AMOLED touch screen. It allows consumers to share their video and photos on the go without being tethered to their laptops or home PCs thanks to its wireless connectivity options, which include Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi and DLNA. Using an available Wi-Fi connection, users can send a digital image to any email address using the camera’s touch?screen QWERTY keypad or selecting those stored the camera’s address book. The CL80’s Wi?Fi connection also allows users to upload their images directly to popular websites such as Facebook, Picasa and YouTube, as well as SamsungImaging.com. Both the Samsung CL80 and the Samsung TL240 offer the manufacturer’sSmart Gesture touch?screen user interface which is complimented by an internal Gravity sensor for added ease?of?use. Also, both feature Schneider-Kreuznach branded 7x optical zooms with optical image stabilisation, and both offer 720p HD video recording at 30 frames-per-second in H.264 format. The Samsung CL80 and TL240 are currently on display at CES in the Samsung booth #11026 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Pricing and availability to be confirmed.
Samsung has officially unveiled the much-anticipated Samsung NX10, a compact digital camera with a large sensor, electronic viewfinder and interchangeable lenses. The NX10 incorporates an allegedly fast and decisive auto focus system, 14.6-megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor and large 3.0” AMOLED screen, allowing users to easily view their images, even in bright sunlight. The camera has a wide range of manual controls as well as a Smart Auto function which automatically detects the surrounding environment of the shot and selects the best shooting mode. Its Smart Range feature also enables the user to vividly express both bright areas and dark areas in the same frame, and the Supersonic Dust Reduction system keeps those dust particles clear of the image sensor that can often impair an image. It even senses when the user brings the camera close to their face to look through the viewfinder, and puts the AMOLED screen on standby to conserve power. The Samsung NX10 takes NX-mount lenses, which are completely new. The NX10 will be on display during the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show, January 7-10, in the Samsung booth #11026 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, and should be available at retail by Spring 2010. The final pricing is not yet known, but the Samsung NX10 is expected to sell for £600 with an optically stabilised standard zoom lens, £650 with a fast normal prime, and about £750 with both of these lenses.
The new Samsung ST550 camera pushes the envelope of user interface design, with a incredibly clever touch-screen interface that is finally worth using. Widely promoted in an expensive TV ad campaign, the ST550 (also known as the TL225) has an LCD screen on the front as well as the back, which is used for self-portraits. A 12 megapixel sensor and 4.6x wide-angle zoom complete the key specifications of the ST-550. Mark Goldstein finds out if the Samsung ST550 / TL225 is the ultimate Christmas gift in our in-depth expert review...
With Christmas literally round the corner and a worldwide recession in full swing, Samsung are offering a veritable stocking full of features in the form of the PL70 / SL720 camera. Priced at just £199 / $229.99, this bargain model offers a 12 megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom, 3 inch LCD screen and even 720p HD movies. Is the Samsung PL70 / SL720 the answer to your cash-strapped dreams this holiday season? Mark Goldstein finds out...
The PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA) announced today that Michio Kariya, President, CEO and COO of Nikon Corporation, will receive the association’s 2010 Person of the Year Award. Michio Kanya has worked for Nikon since 1967 (when the company was still called Nippon Kogaku), and as an engineer, he was personally responsible for the successful development of Nikon’s first ED lens. He was promoted to Director, member of the board and President of the Nikon Imaging Company in 1999. His vision and leadership skills have led to his present position at the helm of Nikon Corporation. The award will be presented at the annual PMDA awards dinner on February 20, 2010 in Anaheim, California, prior to the opening of the 2010 PMA show.
Website: PMDA
Just 6 months on from its already very capable predecessor, the Ricoh CX2 enters the competitive travel-zoom camera category with a new 10.7x, 28-300mm zoom lens. Other improvements include even faster 5fps burst shooting, new Pre-AF and Continuous AF focus modes, several extra scene settings, and improved face recognition. The Ricoh CX2 also features the same 3 inch HVGA LCD screen, 9 megapixel CMOS sensor, CCD-shift vibration correction system and fast operation as the CX1. Read our in-depth Ricoh CX2 review to find out if it's a worthy update...
Samsung Digital Imaging is launching a £2m multi-discipline advertising campaign this week, featuring a heavyweight TV campaign to support Samsung’s new 2View products. The campaign, comprising TV, print and online activity, will focus on the recently launched ST500 and ST550 cameras, which feature the world’s first front and back LCD screens. The dual LCD screens offer photography enthusiasts a unique opportunity to perfect their self-portraits and this feature will be central to the advertising campaign.
The FinePix F70 is the latest camera to feature Fujifilm's revolutionary EXR technology, which offers you the choice of images with high resolution, expanded dynamic range or less noise at high ISO speeds. The Fujifilm F70EXR also offers two new shooting modes, Pro Focus Mode and Pro Low-light, which use multi-frame technology to create photos with greater depth-of-field and reduced noise, plus a versatile 10x zoom lens in a small and stylish body. Priced at just $279.95 / £229.99, is this the perfect compact camera for beginners and more experienced photographers alike? Read our expert review of the Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR to find out...
The Samsung ST45 is a new ultra-slim camera measuring just 16mm thick. The 12 megapixel ST45 features an aluminium body, 2.7 inch LCD screen, ISO 3200 and digital image stabilisation. Samsung’s new “Smart Scene Recognition” technology offers 11 optimized picture pre-settings such as Portrait, Night portrait and Macro, and you can also use these settings when sorting through your photos. Face Detection, blink detection, smile mode and beauty shot are all present and correct, while the new Self Portrait & Frame Guide helps to capture better portraits. The ST45 is available in Red, Black, Blue and Grey from late September 2009.
The Samsung NX series of cameras will be launched in either late 2009 or early 2010. Samsung’s Michael Zoller revealed that the NX series is still in the “field test stage” at today’s Samsung IFA press conference.First announced in March 2009 and slated for release in the second-half of 2009, the NX Series utilizes an APS-C sized image sensor and replaces the mirror box of a DSLR with an electronic viewfinder, rivalling the likes of the Olympus E-P1 and recently announced Panasonic GF1. It also seems that the NX series will use interchangeable lenses, as Samsung were briefly showing 3 prototype lenses behind glass here at the IFA show in Berlin, Germany, alongside an NX body.
Samsung haven’t announced any more new cameras at IFA, but we were able to briefly try out the WB5000. As a reminder, the Samsung WB5000 is a new bridge camera with a 26mm wide angle lens and 24x optical zoom. The WB5000 (also known as the HZ25W) offers RAW shooting, aperture priority, shutter priority and two User defined Modes as well as full manual shooting modes. Click through to see a gallery of shots of Samsung’s first entry into the mega-zoom market.
The Samsung WB5000 is a new compact camera with a 26mm wide angle lens and 24x optical zoom. The WB5000 (also known as the HZ25W) offers RAW shooting, aperture priority, shutter priority and two User defined Modes as well as full manual shooting modes. The 12.5 mega pixel WB5000 records HD video in 1280x720p resolution at 30 frames per second using the latest H.264 format. The Samsung WB5000 will be available in the UK from September 2009, pricing to be announced. In the US the Samsung HZ25W will be available in October for $399.99.
Samsung has unveiled the 12.2-megapixel Samsung ST1000 camera with built-in geo-tagging, Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi connectivity. Offering consumers an ‘always on’ experience, users can now send and post pictures almost as quickly as they take them, whilst the GPS capabilities will keep track of exactly where each picture was shot. Using Bluetooth 2.0 technology, users can wirelessly beam their favourite images to other compatible mobile phone devices. With the Wi-Fi technology, users can email photos direct from their camera and upload their photos or videos to selected popular social networking websites including Facebook, Picasa, YouTube, without needing to connect to a PC. Smart Touch AF is on board to let you quickly change the position of the active AF point. Equipped with a 5x zoom lens and available in silver/red, black/black, red/black, black/gold and blue/grey colours, the Samsung ST1000 allows users to capture twelve-megapixel stills and 720p high-definition video clips. UK availability is slated for late August. The US version of the ST1000 is called the Samsung CL65, and can be yours for $399.99 from September onwards.
Samsung Digital Imaging today announced the arrival of the ultra slim, 12.2-megapixel ST550 and ST500 compact cameras, which boast a ‘world first’: front and back LCD display technology for easy self-portraits. The hidden 1.5” LCD located on the front of the camera allows consumers to take accurate portraits using the front image as a guide – whether it’s a group shot with friends or a snap of yourself on holiday. There is no need to even press the shutter button – a big smile is enough to trigger the cameras to take the picture. On the reverse, the Samsung ST550 features the world’s highest resolution 3.5” wide touch screen LCD. A Smart Gesture User Interface with built-in orientation sensor, means a simple tap or hand gesture allows users to access key features quickly. Furthermore, the ST550 and ST500’s One Touch Auto Focus feature allows you to focus on a user-defined part of the frame by simply touching the desired area. Both the ST500 and the ST550 come with a 27-124mm equivalent zoom lens. 720p video recording at 30 frames per second rounds off the feature set of the new cameras, the difference being that only the ST550 also features HDMI connectivity via an optional adapter. The ST500 will be available in silver, red and blue colours, and the ST550 will come in black, gold, orange and purple from late August. The US versions of these cameras are called the Samsung TL220 and the Samsung TL225, and will hit the shelves in September priced at $299.99 and $349.99, respectively.
The Sigma DP2 is a compact camera with a difference - at its heart is a large DSLR sensor that delivers better image quality than virtually all other compacts. The successor to the DP1 model has a new 41mm lens, faster operation and a more intuitive user interface, whilst retaining the same 14 megapixel sensor, 2.5 inch LCD screen and RAW file support. We find out if the Sigma DP2 is the right compact camera for you in our latest in-depth review...
Samsung has launched a teaser campaign called ‘Tap and Take’, to draw attention to its new range of ‘Smart Cameras’, scheduled for launch on 13 August 2009. The Korean company has created a promotional website, called TapAndTake.com, which teases visitors with a host of short, intriguing videos (with more to come). The ‘Tap and Take’ campaign also has a presence on Twitter and Facebook.
Website: Tap and Take
Hama has announced two solar chargers for digital cameras and other devices. Both chargers are small, handy and light. They are easy to transport and come with an integrated battery. These chargers are charged using solar cells and then serve as “filling stations” for your end devices. Both models come with a USB cable and mini-USB adapter for connecting to digital cameras. The new solar chargers will be on display in Hall 7.2c at the IFA show in Berlin.
The Samsung ES17 is a new 12 megapixel compact camera with 3x zoom lens. The ES17 also features Face Detection technology, Beauty Shot mode, and a Digital Image Stabilization system. Available in Pink, Silver, White and Black, the Samsung ES17 has a recommended retail price of £89 and will be available from August 2009.
The Samsung WB500 (also known as the Samsung HZ10W) is a compact pocketable camera with a 24mm ultra wide-angle, 10x optical zoom lens. The 10 megapixel WB500 has some impressive features, including a 720p HD movie mode, 2.7 inch LCD screen, manual shooting, and not forgetting that 24-240mm lens. Priced at $299.99 / £229, Mark Goldstein finds out if the Samsung WB500 / HZ10W is worth considering.
The new Samsung WB550 (also known as the Samsung HZ15W) is the first camera in the World to feature a 24mm ultra wide angle, 10x optical zoom lens. A direct competitor to the Panasonic TZ series of cameras, the 12 megapixel WB550 has some impressive features, including 720p HD movie mode, 3 inch LCD screen, manual shooting mode, and not forgetting that 24-240mm lens. Priced at $329.99 / £299, Gavin Stoker discovers if the Samsung WB550 / HZ15W really can depose the TZ king...
Samsung has announced the Samsung Pixon12, the first 12-megapixel camera phone in the world. The Samsung Pixon12 boasts a 28mm equivalent lens, a 3.1” touch-sensitive AMOLED screen that also enables AF point selection via a touch of your fingertips, AF tracking, one-touch access to the camera function, a shot-to-shot time of just 2 seconds, a Xenon flash and a Smart Auto feature that intelligently picks the right scene mode based on an analysis of the scene in front of the camera’s lens. Videos are recorded at a resolution of 720x480 pixels at 30 frames per second and are saved using the H.264 codec.The phone’s high-connectivity functions including Wi-Fi and HSUPA capabilities mean that users’ photos can be shared with their friends in no time, Samsung says. The Samsung Pixon12 will be available from end of June in European countries and it will be expanded to other regions in August.
The range of Rollei digital cameras is being extended with 7 new models in the UK. The new Rollei Compactline 50 costs just £49.99, the Compactline 90 is only £79.99, and the Compactline 150, which has a host of features including a 5x optical zoom, panorama function and 19 different shooting modes, is just £129.99. The RCP8330, Flexline 140 and the Swarovski at £79.99, £169.99 and £199.99 each are also stacked with functions and features that belie their prices. The new range of Rollei products put German excellence in technology, design and build quality in your hands, for a very Japanese price.
According to Dublin-based market research company Research and Markets, product penetration for digital still cameras has reached at least 48% in the USA. Affordable and easy-to-use digital cameras have transformed how U.S. consumers use photography, changing it from something used to document important occasions like weddings and trips to an integral part of everyday life, the company notes in its new report, “Still and Video Cameras in the United States 2009”. The high penetration figure may indicate that the market is becoming increasingly saturated, and makes it challenging to maintain revenue growth.
To celebrate DxO Optics Pro’s 5th birthday, DxO Labs offers a 25% discount on DxO Optics Pro and DxO FilmPack for the entire month of May. DxO Optics Pro is a piece of software that automatically enhances each photo with respect to the camera, the lens and the shooting conditions. It is also a powerful RAW converter with functionalities like noise reduction, contrast and colour corrections for a wide range of digital cameras. DxO FilmPack is a program that allegedly allows digital photographers to rediscover the styles, colours, and grains of the most famous silver-halide films. The promotional prices are £74.25 for DxO Optics Pro v5.3.3, £149.25 for DxO Optics Pro v5.3.3 Elite and £44.25 for DxO FilmPack.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T500 is a stylish digital camera with a large touch-screen LCD and HD movie recording. The 10 megapixel Sony T500 also features a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens with 5x optical zoom and optical image stabiliser. Video is recorded at 1280x720 pixels at 30fps in the MPEG4 AVC/H.264 format. Available in black, silver and red for £289 / $399, Gavin Stoker discovers if the Sony Cyber-shot T500 offers as much substance as style.
The Samsung NX Series offers the performance and image quality of a DSLR and the portability and convenience of a compact point-and-shoot. The NX Series utilizes an APS-C sized image sensor and replaces the mirror box of a DSLR with an Electronic Viewfinder. The size and weight of the Samsung NX Series is reduced by approximately 60% compared to traditional DSLRs. “With the release of the NX Series, a digital camera that combines the strengths of a DSLR and compact digital camera, Samsung Digital Imaging will become a global leader in the new hybrid digital camera market and achieve the company’s goal to become the global leader in the digital camera market by 2012.” said Sang-jin Park, CEO of Samsung Digital Imaging Company. The first model in the Samsung NX Series will be available in the second-half of 2009.
The Samsung TL320 is a new 12 megapixel camera with a 5x, 24mm wide-angle zoom lens and 3 inch OLED screen. The TL320 (also known as the Samsung WB100) has a a 3 inch, 460,000 dot HVGA AMOLED screen, offering a high contrast ratio of 10,000:1 which produces darker black levels, more vibrant colors, and a brighter display that can be reviewed at any angle. The Samsung TL320 also features high-definition video recording at a resolution of 720p and HDMI connectivity, plus aperture priority, shutter priority and full manual shooting. Available in black or silver, the TL320 will be available in May 2009 for $379.99. In the UK the Samsung WB100 will be available in black and silver for £329 from April 2009.
The Samsung SL820 and SL620 are new 12.2 megapixel cameras with 3 inch LCD screens and 5x zooms. The SL820 (known as the IT100 in Europe) offers a 28mm wide angle lens and 720p HD video recording, while the SL620 has a standard 35mm lens and 640x480 pixel video. Both the SL820 and SL620 (known as the PL65 in Europe) feature both Optical and Digital Image Stabilization, Smart Auto mode, Smart Album, Face Detection, Blink Detection, Smile Shot, and Beauty Shot. The Samsung SL820 will be available in May for $279.99. The Samsung SL620 will be available in March for $199.99. The Samung IT100 will be available in silver, black, and red for £229 from April 2009. The Samsung PL65 will cost £179 and comes in Black, Pink, Silver and Dark Grey, available from March.
The Samsung SL202 and SL30 are new family-friendly 10 megapixel cameras with 3x zooms. The SL202 (known as the PL50 in Europe) has a brushed metal finish, 2.7 inch LCD screen and Smart Auto, Smart Album, Face Detection, Blink Detection, Smile Shot, and Beauty Shot modes. Like the SL202, the SL30 (known as the ES15 in Europe) also offers MJPEG, VGA video recording, Face Detection, which detects up to nine faces and automatically adjusts focus and exposure, as well as Beauty Shot, which automatically enhances subjects’ skin tones. The Samsung SL202 will be available in March 2009 for $149.99, and the Samsung SL30 for $99.99. The Samsung PL50 will cost £119 and is available in Candy Pink, Black and Silver. The Samsung ES15 will be available in Candy Pink, Silver, White and Dark Grey for £79 from April 2009.
Samsung is aiming for a 10% share of the global digital camera market in 2009. Last year Samsung’s share was 9%, compared to leaders Canon (20%) and Sony (17%). According to the article by The Nation, Samsung will apparently concentrate on mid to high level cameras in developing countries, as it expects “demand would still be flat in some countries, including the United States, China, Australia and Ukraine”.
Website: The Nation
The Samsung ST10 is the world’s first digital camera to feature face recognition. The ST10 can recognize the people you’re taking photos of, prioritizing friends, family and those you photograph most, and classify photos according to the most recognized faces. The 9 megapixel ST10 also features a 3 inch hVGA Touch Screen LCD, in-built PMP (Personal Multimedia Player) with integrated MP3 player, Digital Image Stabilization, Smart Scene Recognition and Angle/Composition Guide. The Samsung ST10 will be available from February 2009 in various colours, priced at £179.
The Samsung HZ10W is a new 10 megapixel digital camera with a 10x, 24mm wide-angle zoom lens. Offering both Optical and Digital Image Stabilization, the HZ10W (also known as the WB500) has manual controls and can also capture 720p high-definition video. The Samsung HZ10W / WB500 will be available in black or silver in January 2009 for $299.99 / £229.
The Samsung TL100 is a new slim and stylish 12.2 megapixel digital camera. Measuring just 16.6mm thick (excluding the lens), the TL100 (also known as the ST50) features a 2.7 inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom lens. Smart Auto automatically selects one of the TL100’s 11 scene modes, while Smart Album automatically organizes your images. The Samsung TL100 also offers Face Detection, Smile Shot, Blink Detection, and Beauty Shot technology. The Samsung TL100 / ST50 will be available in Spring 2009, priced at £179.
The Samsung SL420 and SL102 are two new entry-level digital cameras. Both the SL420 (also known as the PL60) and SL102 (also known as the ES55) feature a resolution of 10.2 megapixels, offer Face Detection and are powered by rechargeable Li-Ion batteries. The Samsung SL102 / ES55 has a 3x optical zoom, Digital Image Stabilization technology, and a 2.5 inch LCD screen, and will be available from February 2009 priced at £79. The Samsung SL420 / PL60 features a larger 2.7 inch LCD display, 5x optical zoom and Dual Image Stabilization, and will be available from March 2009 at £129.
The latest version of SilverFast adds improved support for Canon scanners. Version 6.6.0r4 offers a significant quality boost while delivering much faster scans. SilverFast Multi-Exposure increases dynamic range of Canon scanners significantly, and this new release dramatically reduces the effective time for scans with dust and scratch removal function.
A new range of Rollei compact cameras is being launched in the UK. The Rollei Compactline 80 and the Rollei X-8 Compact sell for £59.99 and £69.99 respectively, offering 8.0 megapixels, movie mode, 3x optical and 4x digital zooms, plus smile/face and shake detection. Mid-range models cost from £79.99 to £109.99, and the top-of-the-range Rollei XS-10 inTOUCH with 10.0 megapixels and 3.0” touch control screen costs £139.99. The all-action Rollei X-8 Sports is crash proof, frost proof, waterproof (up to 10 meters), available for £149.99. The new Rollei compacts are distributed exclusively by Sonic UK Ltd.
DxO Optics Pro v5.3 is a major new release of the automatic image quality enhancement solution for digital SLR and compact camera users. DxO Optics Pro 5.3 adds more RAW support, 64-bit Windows compatibility, support for Adobe Lightroom 2, and new DxO Optics Correction Modules. “The noise removal technology for RAW images featured in DxO Optics Pro 5.3 opens up exciting options to photographers providing them with up to a 2-stop gain at photo capture, as if digital grain never really existed,” says Cyrille de La Chesnais, director of the photography business at DxO Labs. “This translates into a dramatic increase in capture flexibility.”
Samsung are giving away a year of 2 for 1 cinema tickets to customers who buy an NV compact camera. The free annual cinema pass provides access up to 165 cinemas across the UK, and is transferable so the whole family can take advantage of the card. This offer is valid in the UK on purchases made between 13th October and 31st December 2008.
Abbyy FotoReader turns photographed text into a computer file to store or edit on the PC. FotoReader converts the image of the text in the photo into Microsoft Word, Excel, PDF and other file formats. “ABBYY FotoReader takes the evolution of the camera and the photo one step further. Cameras and photos become devices for capturing not just images but also important texts and documents, and in doing so, become a productivity tool.” explained Jupp Stoepetie, CEO of ABBYY Europe. Abbyy FotoReader is available now for £39.99.
Photokina is over for another 2 years, so we’ve looked back at some of the most notable developments from the World’s biggest photography show.
Leica S System
Undoubtedly the greatest surprise of this year’s Photokina was Leica’s announcement of the new S system. The German manufacturer did not simply launch a new, high-resolution camera with an assortment of lenses to go with it. They did not simply introduce a new mount either. Instead they announced a completely new camera format, something that hasn’t happened since the debut of the FourThirds system five years ago.
Samsung have introduced NaBee, a wirelss USB connection for digital cameras. Samsung NaBee allows for a simple, high-speed wireless communication between a digital still camera and PC. Plug the miniature dongle into the camera USB connector, and its matching dongle into the PC and it connects just like a standard USB cable. NaBee will be available in December 2008.
Pentax’s Sales & Marketing Director of Imaging Systems, Mr. Toshiaki Iue, who recently joined the company in July, has stated that “Pentax’s relationship with Samsung is not perfect – there are some issues”, but went on to say that the two companies would continue their technology partnership for at least the near future. In a wide-ranging round-table interview held at Photokina, Mr Iue candidly answered questions on a wide range of topics, including Pentax’s future plans for their long-delayed digital 645 medium format camera, the potential impact of Micro Four Thirds, and their relationship with parent company Hoya.
Apple have just released the Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 2.2 for Mac OS X 10.4.11 and OS X 10.5.2. This update extends RAW file compatibility for Aperture 2 and iPhoto ’08 for the following cameras:
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS/Kiss Digital F/1000D; Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n; Nikon D700; Olympus EVOLT E-420; Olympus EVOLT E-520; Olympus SP-570; Samsung GX-10; Samsung GX-20; Sony DSLR-A300; Sony DSC-R1
Samsung have announced plans to launch a brand new camera system that’s a cross between a DSLR and a compact camera. Samsung Hybrid cameras will feature an APS-C sized sensor, removable lenses that are smaller than current DSLR lenses, and a framing combination of electronic viewfinder and rear LCD screen. According to the report by Amateur Photographer, the first Samsung Hybrid model will be based on the same 14 megapixel sensor that’s used in the Samsung GX-20 DSLR, and will be launched in Spring 2010. Samsung’s announcement comes just weeks after Olympus and Panasonic unveiled plans for Micro Four Thirds, a very similar system to Samsung Hybrid. ‘Although we want to make the new system affordable, we are concentrating on achieving professional quality with this system. The most important point is that this is very successful in the market. A difference between Samsung’s system and Micro Four Thirds will be that Samsung will have a much bigger sensor.’ commented Samsung Techwin Executive Vice President Byung Woo Lee, who also clarified that Samsung’s Hybrid standard has no connection to Micro Four Thirds.
So what do you think? Is the announcement of the second brand new camera system in as many months a good thing? Who will win - Micro Four Thirds, Samsung Hybrid, or neither?
Website: Samsung reveals new Hybrid digital camera system to rival Micro Four Thirds
Samsung are offering up to £100 off the new 14 megapixel GX20 DSLR camera. Buy the GX-20 single (18-55mm) or twin (18-55mm and 50-200mm) lens kit and get £100 cash back. Buy the GX-20 body-only kit and you will be eligible for £75 cash back. Purchasers of the GX-10 twin or single lens kit are eligible for £50 cash back. This offer is valid in the UK from until 30th September 2008.
TrustedReviews have reviewed the Samsung i8 camera, which features a 2.7 inch touch-screen LCD and PMP (Personal Multimedia Player) with integrated MP3 player.
“Image quality is also surprisingly good. The lens is the weakest link, but even this performs reasonably well, with good centre and edge sharpness awith only a small amount of barrel distortion, although it does suffer from noticeable chromatic aberration in the corners of the frame at wide angle. Colour reproduction is very good, and captures highlights in bright colours better than some cameras I’ve seen recently. The exposure system does tend to sacrifice highlight detail in favour of shadow detail, resulting in some burned out highlights, but on the whole it copes well with a wide range of conditions.”
Website: TrustedReviews - Samsung i8 Review
Samsung UK have announced Limited Edition versions of the NV4 and L100 digital cameras featuring the Chelsea FC team crest. Free luxury camera cases are also included. “Samsung is delighted to strengthen the Chelsea range with the launch of two new limited edition premium compact cameras which provide unrivalled image quality and innovative features to photographers of all levels” said Robert King, Director, Samsung Cameras UK. The Limited Edition Samsung NV4 Titanium is expected to retail at around £149.99 and the L100 at around £99.99. Both will be available from the Chelsea Megastore from the start of the season.
TrustedReviews have reviewed the 10.1 megapixel Samsung L210 digital camera.
“The Samsung L210 is an ambitious camera, a budget ultra-compact with optical image stabilisation, a technology usually only found in more expensive cameras. While it does make an attractive package for the price the rest of the camera is still very much budget-level, and it doesn’t really compete with more expensive IS compact models from other manufacturers. Low light focusing and overall shooting performance are especially poor.”
Website: TrustedReviews - Samsung L210 Review
The Samsung NV100HD is a new 14.7 megapixel, 28mm wide-angle lens digital camera. The NV100 HD (called the TL34HD in the USA) features the updated Smart Touch 2.0 user interface, which uses a touch-screen interface to provide fast access to creative settings as well as intuitive control of images - for example, a simple X on the screen signifies delete. 720p resolution video can be recorded at up to 30 frames per second and viewed on the 3.0-inch, 460K pixel LCD screen. The NV100HD also features a highly sensitive ISO 3200 mode and Samsung’s Perfect Portrait System. The Samsung NV100HD is priced at £229 and will be available from August 2008 in the UK. In the US, the Samsung TL34HD will be available in September 2008 at an MSRP of $329.95.
The Samsung NV9 is a 10.2 megapixel digital compact camera with a 5x optical zoom lens. The NV9 (called the TL9 in the US) features an inbuilt MP3 player and a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), MJPEG Movie recording at 30fps, and retro Mini-Dashboard status gauges which provide information about the camera’s battery and memory status. The NV9 also offers Samsung’s new Perfect Portrait System (incorporating Face Detection, Blink Detection, Smile Detection and Beauty Shot). The Samsung NV9 is priced at £179 and will be available from August 2008. In the US, the Samsung TL9 will be available in September 2008 at an MSRP of $279.95.
The Samsung L310W is a new 13.6 megapixel compact digital camera. The stylish L310W (called the SL310W in the US) features a 28mm 3.6x wide optical zoom lens, intelligent 2.7” LCD screen, and the new Perfect Portrait System (incorporating Face Detection, Blink Detection, Smile Detection and Beauty Shot). The Samsung L310W is priced at £199 and will be available September 2008. In the US, the Samsung SL310W will be available in September 2008 at an MSRP of $229.95.
The Samsung L201 is a new ultra-compact and stylish 10 megapixel digital camera. The L201 (called the SL201 in the US) has a slim, metal body design, 3x zoom lens, 2.7-inch LCD screen, plus Face Detection and Auto Contrast Balance technologies. Available in classic black and silver as well as three eye-catching new colours – pink, turquoise and lime green - the Samsung L201 will be launched in August 2008 for £129. In the US, the Samsung SL201 will be available in September 2008 at an MSRP of $169.95.
The Samsung S1070 is a new 10 megapixel entry-level digital camera. Highlights of the S1070 include a 3x optical zoom lens, Intelligent 2.7-inch LCD screen, Face Detection and Digital Image Stabilisation. The Samsung S1070 is priced at £99 and will be available from September 2008. All Samsung cameras include a two year warranty.
Kingston has increased the capacity of its microSDHC memory card line-up to 8GB. Kingston 8GB microSDHC cards can store more than 1,500 digital songs, more than 4,000 images from a 5MP cameraphone, or up to eight hours of video. “Our 8GB microSDHC cards are so roomy that mobile users can easily move entire digital libraries from a PC to their mobile phones — and beyond.” said Wendy Lecot, Flash card business manager, Kingston. The new Kingston microSDHC 8GB card has a suggested price of $58.
7 in 10 women have stopped their photo being taken because they didn’t have time to pose properly - with three in ten men doing likewise. The survey of UK adults by Samsung also revealed that Kylie Minogue was thought to look consistently good in photos even when caught off-guard, whilst Londoners are the most image-conscious, with 42% striking a pose for the camera.
Samsung is launching a multi-million pound advertising campaign this week including a heavyweight TV campaign. The new campaign – with an investment of £3million - focuses on on Samsung’s new NV24HD camera and launches with a 30 second spot on 9th June, and runs across ITV (London, Midwest, North, South East and Scotland), Channel 4, FIVE, Sky and a host of other stations. “This campaign shows how we give consumers exciting and innovative technology that helps them to capture their world,” says Robert King, Director of Samsung Cameras. “The new Samsung NV24HD offers cutting-edge functions and outstanding picture quality to satisfy users of all abilities.”
Website: Samsung NV TV Ad
Today we bring you the World’s first online review of the Samsung NV24HD, a new digital compact camera that certainly has a lot to offer. Samsung’s first High Definition (HD) camera can record 720p resolution video at 30fps and can connect to a HDTV via HDMI. The 10 megapixel NV24HD has an ultra-wide, 24-86.5mm lens and an innovative 2.5” OLED screen. Priced at £249 / $350, can the Samsung NV24HD replace your current digital still and video cameras? Gavin Stoker took a closer look…
Website: Samsung NV24HD Review
Get a free travel book when you buy a Samsung NV camera, plus the chance to win a holiday. That’s what Samsung are offering UK residents (excluding Northern Ireleand) until 30th August 2008. As well as being able to claim 1 of 20 free travel guide books, you can also win one of four holidays to New York, Barcelona, Paris, or Rome. Proof of purchase must be submitted by 30th September 2008.
Printer calibration with ICC profiling is now available for SilverFast Ai Studio. Printer calibration ensures a fully calibrated workflow from input to output, and supports a wide range of media, paper types, and inks. “The new SilverFast Printer Calibration with ICC-Profiler will help our customers to create high quality prints, without requiring to purchase new hardware. We know that demanding users not only need superb quality from their scans and prints, they also need a reliable and easy to manage workflow. We feel that our new printer calibration technology will make that possible.” commented Karl-Heinz Zahorsky, President & CEO of LaserSoft Imaging AG. Printer Calibration with ICC-Profiling is available now for Mac and Windows platforms as an optional SilverFast Ai Studio feature at € 99.
Microsoft and Hoya Pentax have signed a patent cross-licensing agreement to further the development of each company’s current and future product lines. The agreement covers digital cameras made by Pentax and a broad range of other consumer products from each company. “We believe that this contract will further solidify the alliance between the two companies,” said Ko Torigoe, general manager of HOYA CORPORATION PENTAX Imaging Systems Division. “We also expect that it will bring considerable benefits to consumers in the near future, as we should be able to shorten the time required for product development because of technological advancement by both companies, and therefore deliver higher-quality products to the market.”
DxO Optics Pro v5.0 now supports the Samsung GX-20 DSLR camera. Support for the GX-20 camera body and an initial selection of lenses has been added. DxO have also implemented 22 additional DxO Correction Modules for a variety of Nikon lenses, including the 16-85 f/3.5-5.6 and 80-200mm f/2.8. DxO Optics Pro v5 is available in Standard and Elite versions for £99 and £199 respectively.
Samsung are offering up to £100 off the new 14 megapixel GX20 DSLR camera. Buy the GX-20 single (18-55mm) or twin (18-55mm and 50-200mm) lens kit and get £100 cash back. Buy the GX-20 body-only kit and you will be eligible for £75 cash back. This offer is valid in the UK from 1st May until 31st July 2008.
The new WR-100 is both a standard cable release and a wireless remote shutter release with a range of up to 100m. The WR-100 includes a built-in Li-ion battery pack and a dedicated charger and international power adaptor. Models are available for Canon 3 pin and single jack cameras, Pentax, Samsung and Contax single jack, Nikon 10 pin and Olympus cameras, priced at £39.95.
Amateur Photographer are reporting that Samsung are currently working on a full-frame DLSR camera. Rivals Canon and Nikon already have full-frame DSLRs available, with Sony unveiling a full-frame prototype at the PMA show back in January. So it makes perfect sense for Samsung to join in if they’re serious about becoming a major player. The news that Samsung will also continue its close relationship with Pentax could mean that we’ll actually see two very similar full-frame cameras released at the same time, as with the GX-10/K10D and GX-20 (pictured) /K20D cameras.
“The news emerged during an informal discussion with a high-ranking Samsung official at an industry event in Seoul, Korea, attended by Amateur Photographer (AP) technical writer Barney Britton. Kyong-Kook Shin, assistant manager for Samsung’s digital camera marketing planning group, suggested that the firm is actively pursuing development of a full-frame CMOS sensor intended for use in a professional camera.”
Website: Amateur Photographer - Samsung hints at full-frame camera
The new Samsung TruDirect SE-S204S DVD Burner allows consumers to create DVDs and burn digital content through a PC without the need for a hard drive. The SE-S204S provides easy and fast real-time recording from nearly any digital device, including camcorders, digital cameras and Web cams. Compared to using a hard disk drive, the Samsung SE-S204S dramatically cuts down on the time it takes to create DVDs. The TruDirect SE-S204S is shipping now in the UK for £69.00.
Two digital cameras from Samsung have been chosen by Russia’s Energia as their “outer space digital cameras”. The un-named DSLR and NV cameras will be taken on board the Soyuz spacecraft and used on the international space station on April 8th. The cameras will be used to record daily life in space for 10 days, and the camera’s capabilities will be tested in the outer space environment for about 7 days. To pass the complicated and rigorous test process, the cameras underwent a certification process, including an intense shock and vibration test, which started in February of 2007 and lasted a year.
TrustedReviews have reviewed the new Samsung NV15, a 10 megapixel digital camera with a refined Smart Touch User Interface, up to ISO 3200 and faster Advanced Shake Reduction system.
“Like most of the cameras in Samsung’s NV range, the NV15 has distinctive style, first class build quality, good handling, exceptional performance and an interesting range of features at a very reasonable price. The Smart Touch control system is something you’ll either love or hate, and the USB charging is a very useful addition. Unfortunately it also suffers from rather poor image quality, with significant levels of noise at all ISO settings. The 8MP NV8 is a better camera.”
Website: TrustedReviews - Samsung NV15 Review
The world digital camera market is projected to reach 122 million units by the year 2010. The United States and Europe has a combined share of over 59%, with Asia-Pacific expected to offer strong growth backed by the growing affluence of the population. Technical innovations in batteries, photo printing, storage devices and internet technologies are expected to propel the growth of digital cameras.
TrustedReviews have tested the new 8 megapixel Samsung NV8 digital camera.
“For what is practically a budget price the Samsung NV8 provides a level of quality on a par with premium-range cameras from any of the other manufacturers. It has a lot of style, excellent build quality, fast performance and a range of useful and entertaining features, made more accessible by the clever Smart Touch control system. It lacks a little in the picture quality department due to its image noise problems, but makes up for this somewhat with good low-light performance.”
Website: TrustedReviews - Samsung NV8 Review
Samsung Cameras are offering you the chance to win a unique Red Letter Days experience worth up to £1,000. The prize draw includes top prizes such as a Top Gun style aerobatics ride for two plus other major prizes including dinner on the Orient Express and a hot air balloon ride. To take part simply complete the on-line claim form no later than 31st March 2008.
Tessera Technologies, a provider of miniaturization technologies for the electronics industry, is paying $29 million to purchase FotoNation, a provider of embedded imaging solutions for digital still cameras. Tessera will pay $29 million in net cash with up to $10 million of additional consideration, contingent upon certain milestones over one year. The transaction is expected to close in February 2008. “There is significant, untapped potential for sophisticated imaging solutions in the growing camera phone market, and Tessera’s close ties to this market will enable us to accelerate the commercialization of FotoNation’s rich portfolio of technology and products,” said Eran Steinberg, chief executive officer, FotoNation. FotoNation’s technology is embedded in more than two out of three digital still cameras sold today.
The Samsung GX-20 is a new 14.6 megapixel digital SLR camera. The GX-20 builds on the previous GX-10 model, offering more megapixels, a larger 2.7 inch LCD monitor, Live View mode, ISO 100-6400, Dust Alert System and an X-sync socket for studio flash systems. Other standout features offered by the Samsung GX-20 include a built-in Shake Reduction system, 11-point AF, and Enhanced Digital Filter which allows a greater dynamic range of exposures. The 14.6 megapixel sensor inside the GX-20 has been developed in a joint-venture with Pentax, with Samsung responsible for the fabrication. The new Samsung GX-20 will be available from March 2008, for £699 / $1399.95 with the 18-55mm kit lens. Samsung are also launching a 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 super-zoom lens, which will cost around £449 and be available in March 2008.
Samsung has launched two new DSLR lenses, the D-XENON 18-250mm F3.5-F6.3 and 18-55mm II F3.5-F5.6. Robert King, Commercial Director of Samsung Cameras commented “These two new lenses form part of the next step in Samsung’s continued growth in the SLR market – the lenses used together with the new GX-20 offer superb quality and cutting-edge functionality.” Available from March 2008, the price for the GX-20 with 18-55mm lens is £699. The price and release date for the Samsung 18-250mm superzoom lens is still to be confirmed.
ChromaFix from FotoNation is a new one-step chromatic aberration correction technology. Aimed at camera manufacturers rather than consumers, ChromaFix brings advanced image processing technology normally found in much higher-priced cameras to low-cost low-power devices. “We see tremendous potential in using digital technologies to correct optical aberrations that are currently present in consumer-level digital capture devices. FotoNation’s ChromaFix technology has been designed to leverage our expertise in bringing advanced image processing to low-power consumer devices,” said Eran Steinberg, CEO of FotoNation.
FaceTime from FotoNation is a new technology that makes it easier to take a self-portrait when using digital camera or camera phones. FotoNation FaceTime is a new type of shutter trigger technology that is invoked when the photographer’s face is detected in a scene. The camera waits to fire the shutter until it recognizes face of the photographer. “Sooner or later, every photographer wants to be part of a photo they are composing; and until now, it has always been a cumbersome effort. We believe that FaceTime is the first new technology that brings a pragmatic solution to self-portraits,” said Eran Steinberg, CEO of FotoNation, Inc.
FotoNation’s new SmileCheck technology detects smiles in portrait photos taken by digital cameras and camera phones. An extension of Fotonation’s FaceTracker product line, the camera’s shutter is not engaged until smiles are detected on all faces within the frame. With two out of every three digital cameras sold today containing FotoNation’s embedded Technology, expect to see SmileCheck appearing in a lot of 2008 cameras.
The new Samsung i8 camera features a 2.7 inch touch-screen LCD and PMP (Personal Multimedia Player) with integrated MP3 player. The i8 is equipped with Samsung’s Digital Image Stabilization system, Intelligent Face Recognition Technology and ISO 1600 high sensitivity. An in-built ‘World Tour Guide’ function provides instant access to travel information covering 2,600 regions in 30 countries The Samsung i8 will retail at £149, available from February 2008.
Samsung has unveiled the 8.1 mega pixel L100, the 10.1 mega pixel L110 and the 10.1 mega pixel L210 digital cameras. All three combine Samsung’s Digital Image Stabilization and Intelligent Face Recognition Technology in a compact aluminium body. The Samsung L210, L100 and L100 also feature 3x optical zoom, a bright 2.5” LCD display and a suite of advanced video and editing features The Samsung L100 will be available from February 2008 for £99, and the Samsung L110 and Samsung L210 will be available from March 2008 for £129 and £149 respectively.
The Samsung NV24HD digital compact is Samsung’s first High Definition (HD) camera. The 10 megapixel NV24HD records 720p resolution video at 30 frames per second and can connect to a HDTV via HDMI. The NV24HD also features an innovative 2.5” OLED screen to provide a faster response time, a wider viewing angle and higher image quality. “We are thrilled to take the range even further with the launch of the NV24 and its innovative HD capabilities. Photographers of all levels will now be able to create high-quality video recordings at the touch of a button.” said Robert King, Commercial Director, Samsung Cameras UK. The Samsung NV24HD is priced at £249 and will be available from March 2008.
The new Samsung NV40, NV30 and NV4 cameras all feature dual image stabilization and improved noise reduction. All three new models in the NV Series include Samsung’s award-winning Smart Touch User Interface which has now been further enhanced. “With new, improved image quality and enhanced features the NV4, NV30 and NV40 take the range to the next level. We are confident photographers of all levels will appreciate the addition of these three stylish models.” said Robert King, Commercial Director, Samsung Cameras UK. The Samsung NV4 is priced at £149, Samsung NV30 at £179 and Samsung NV40 at £199, all available from February 2008.
Research from Samsung Cameras reveals that more women are buying gadgets this Christmas than men. Six out of ten families said looking through pictures of friends and family was the number one Christmas family activity. Hannah Perry, News Editor of Heat magazine commented on the research; “Gadgets are no longer the preserve of the tech hungry male – we see women embracing technology all of the time without fear of them compromising on style or beauty. Cameras look so stylish now and the latest range from Samsung which are available in various colours make them ideal fashion accessories for today’s fashion conscious women.” The survey was carried out on 1766 UK adults throughout November 2007.
Buy the Samsung GX10 DSLR single (18-55mm) or twin (18-55mm and 50-200mm) lens kit and get £50 cash back. To claim the cashback, log onto www.samsungcamera.co.uk/gx10cashback , download the redemption form, complete and return, along with proof of purchase and serial number to the address specified on the form. You will then receive a cheque within 28 days. This offer is valid until 31st January 2008.
The Samsung S860 and Samsung S760 are new additions to Samsung’s entry-level S series digital cameras. The 7 megapixel S760 and 8 megapixel S860 both offer a 3x optical zoom, 2.4” LCD display, 11 scene modes and digital image stabilisation technology. Samsung’s Intelligent Face Recognition Technology focuses on and exposes for the subject’s face. The Samsung S760 and Samsung S860 will be available in black, silver, pink or blue from January 2008. The S760 will cost £79.99, price to be confirmed for the S860.
The Metz 48 AF-1 flashgun is the world’s second USB TTL Flashgun, which allows firmware updating via the internet. Following on from its big brother, the 58 AF-1, the Metz 48 AF-1 has a guide number of 48 and can be used with Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung and Sony DSLRs. The 48 AF-1 is supported by a full swivel reflector system, including an extractable reflector card and a diffuser.
The PIXO C2 universal recharger replaces the battery chargers from a wide range of digital devices (but not quite everything). The PIXO C2 supports all battery packs from digital cameras and camcorders, standard NiMH / NiCd batteries, mobile phones, PDAs, MP3 Players, and car navigation systems. For worldwide operation the compact charger is shipped with an energy saving switch mode power supply with a input voltage from 100-240 volts. For mobile use it comes with a 12 volt car cigarette lighter plug. The suggested retail price is 49.90 Euros.
The Samsung G800 is the world’s first 5 megapixel camera phone with 3x optical zoom lens. The G800 looks like a streamlined digital camera on one side and a fashionable mobile phone on the other side. The Samsung G800 also offers face detection, Xenon flash and Wide Dynamic Range, and video editing functions allow users to cut, paste, and edit their own films. “Samsung’s G800 will satisfy the unmet needs in the camera category with a true digital camera-like design and functionality. The G800 will enable users to capture and share precious moments in their daily lives through the enhanced camera functions in a fast 3G network.” said Geesung Choi, President of Samsung’s Telecommunication Network. The Samsung G800 will be available in European countries from November.
Following the release of the E-3 on Tuesday, Olympus is targeting at least 20% global market share for DSLR cameras within 5 years, according to a report by Reuters. Aiming to become one of the top 3 leaders in the sector, Olympus are taking on the likes of Canon, Nikon and most notably Sony, who recently released the A700 DSLR. Other possible contenders include Pentax, Samsung and Panasonic. Olympus’s current market share is around 8%. Much will depend upon the acceptance of the Four Thirds standard, which all Olympus DSLR cameras and lenses are based upon.
Have you bought a digital camera because it offers face detection, but been disappointed by the slow performance? FotoNation have the answer with the catchily-named FastTrack IPC, hardware acceleration technology that improves Face-Tracking quality and performance by up to 400%. It won’t make any difference to your current camera, but will probably appear in future models, as FotoNation’s system is used by a significant number of manufacturers. “With FastTrack IPC, we are providing better image quality and a prolonged battery life, which are always important in the design of handheld electronic products, such as cameras and camera phones,” said Eran Steinberg, CEO of FotoNation Inc.
DigitalCameraInfo have reviewed the Casio EX-V8, which offers a a 7x optical zoom and 8.1 megapixels plus a YouTube video mode.
“The 7x optical zoom market isn’t too competitive, with the main competition between Casio, Pentax, and Samsung. For the hefty price of $329.99, the Casio V8 is one of the most expensive of the 7x optical zoom bunch. Most of that money goes to the Casio’s advanced functions for video, mechanical, and optical image stabilization, which makes it a strong competitor, but consumers might want to avoid having to fork over their wallets while less expensive 7x zoom cameras sit on the same shelf. “
Universal Flash Storage is a new industry-wide specification for removable memory cards and embedded memory solutions, supported by Sony, Nokia, Micron, and Samsung amongst others. The aim is to provide owners of mobile handsets, digital cameras and other consumer electronics devices with a unified removable memory card that can be shared without the need for any adaptors. So no more swapping between Compact Flash, SD, xD and Memory Stick. Sounds like a good idea in theory, but the bad news is that the Universal Flash Storage standard won’t be finalized until 2009.
ACDSee Pro 2 features next-generation workflow management and RAW processing functionality. The upgrade was developed with input from more than 2,500 photographers worldwide. “The ability to work directly with our customers has allowed us to develop a product release that will bring unprecedented efficiency to the photographic community, freeing them to focus on what they do best—producing quality images.” said Mark Franklin, executive vice president of ACD Systems. ACDSee Pro 2 is available now for $129.99. Current ACDSee customers are eligible for a 30-percent customer discount.
FotoNation’s Red-Eye and FaceTracker imaging technologies are built-in to more than one out of every two digital cameras. 21 out of 48 new compact digital camera models introduced in the first half of 2007 used the FaceTracker face detection system, which can track up to 10 human faces in an image. FotoNation Red-Eye instantly finds and corrects red-eye artifacts in digital images with no software required. FotoNation holds more than 180 pending and granted patents worldwide related to embedded imaging technology.
Samsung Camera has completely redesigned its website with exciting new interactive controls and enhanced flash animation. A new Product Showroom provides visitors with either an interactive 3D tour or a flash presentation of each camera. Other new features include Club SOA, an enhanced product support section, and e-commerce capability. “This was a significant project for the Samsung Web development team and we are very proud of what they were able to accomplish,” said Stewart Henderson, Vice President Marketing, Samsung Opto Electronics America.
The Samsung i70 digital camera has won the European Design Camera 2007-2008 EISA award. The i70 is a camera, portable media player and MP3 player in one device. “The Samsung i70 is an incredibly popular camera and the recognition provided from EISA further supports the fact that our cameras present unique styles and beautiful designs.” commented Jake Kim, Managing Director, Samsung Cameras.
100 million DivX Certified video devices have been shipped since the DivX Certification program started in 2003. The 100 million devices represent over 2,500 individual product models that fully support the playback of high-quality DivX video files. “In practical terms, there are now over 100 million devices sitting in the hands of consumers that can easily playback high-quality video from the PC or the Internet.” said Kevin Hell, Acting CEO of DivX, Inc.
The new Samsung NV20, Samsung NV15 and Samsung NV8 digital cameras offer 12, 10 and 8 megapixels respectively. All three models include a refined Smart Touch User Interface, up to ISO 3200 and faster Advanced Shake Reduction system. “Quite simply our new NV cameras ensure photographers of all levels can enjoy taking high quality images they can be proud of” said Robert King, Commercial Director, Samsung Cameras UK. The NV20 is priced at £249 / $399, NV15 at £229 / $299 and NV8 at £199 / TBC and will be available from September 2007.
The Samsung i85 is an all-in-one camera, MP3 player and portable media player with a large 3 inch touchscreen LCD. Other features include an 8 megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom lens and Intelligent Face Recognition Technology. The Samsung i85 will retail at £229 / $349 and be available from the end of August 2007.
Carl Zeiss lenses are now available for Pentax and Samsung SLR and DSLR cameras. The Carl Zeiss ZK is a series of manual focus lenses that will fit the K bayonet currently used on Pentax and Samsung cameras. Shutter priority, aperture priority and programmed auto exposure modes will be available on all camera models with these features. The Planar T* 1,4/50 ZK lens will be available in August, with 5 other models following later in the year.
Megapixel.net have reviewed the Samsung L74 Wide digital camera, which features a 3.0 inch touch screen LCD, 7 megapixels, 3.6x optical zoom and 28mm wide-angle lens.
“Yet, used with natural light, the L74 Wide is able to yield low-noise images up to 200 ISO, and even 400 ISO when both subject and light lend themselves to it. The upper sensitivities, however, are much as they are on current compact cameras. 800 ISO is noisy, and 1600 ISO produced images that look a tad pointillist.”
The Samsung S85 entry-level digital camera features an 8.2 megapixel sensor and 5x optical zoom lens. The S85 also includes Samsung’s Intelligent Face Recognition Technology and Advanced Shake Reduction system. Full manual control is offered by the Samsung S85, with a fastest ISO speed of 1600 and a 2.5 inch LCD screen. The Samsung S85 will be available from the end of August 2007 for £119.99 in the UK, and late September for $229 in the USA.
The Samsung L83T digital camera offers 8.2 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom and a fastest ISO speed of 1600. Other features include a 2.5 inch LCD screen, Face Recognition and a slim aluminium body. The Samsung L83T will be available from August 2007 with a two year warranty at an RRP of £179 in the UK, and mid August for $279 in the USA.
The Samsung L830 and Samsung L730 are new 8 and 7 megapixel entry-level digital cameras. Both models offer a 3x optical zoom, bright 2.5” LCD display, Face Recognition and compact aluminium body. The Samsung L730 and L830 will both be available from the end of August with an RRP of £119 for the L730 and £149 for the L830 in the UK. The L830 will be released in September for $229 in the USA (L730 not available).
Megapixel.net have reviewed the Samsung L700 camera, which offers several advanced features, including a suite of advanced video and editing functions, in a compact, stylish metal body. It has 7 megapixels, 3x optical zoom and a bright 2.5” LCD display.
“Overall, the Samsung L700 yields very good images, particularly if these are destined to be printed. The L700 reacts quickly to its controls, including its shutter release, and its photos can be printed out to 10.2 x 7.6 inches (26 x 19.5 cm) at 300 dpi easily and with excellent results, placing it on the same footing as most expensive cameras. In fact, the L700 probably has one of the best cost-to-value ratios for cameras currently on the market.”
Website: Megapixel.net - Samsung L700 Review
OptiML WLC from Tessera Technologies is a new wafer-level camera technology which reduces the size and cost of camera modules. OptiML WLC delivers up to 50% size reductions over conventional camera modules in camera phones today. Using OptiML WLC technology, thousands of lenses are manufactured simultaneously on a wafer, and then bonded at the wafer level to create the optical element of the camera.
CNET have reviewed the Samsung S850, which offers an 8 megapixel image sensor, 5x optical zoom, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual modes, continuous shooting and AEB.
“The S850 is an 8-megapixel, sub-$250 shooter with full manual exposure controls, giving frugal photographers plenty of settings to tinker with. Manual mode even has a convenient onscreen meter that tells you if your photo will be over- or underexposed, an extremely useful tool when tweaking all the settings by hand. Strangely, the camera doesn’t have a manual focus setting, forcing you to choose between center and multipoint autofocus. Manual focus would have been nice, but its absence is hardly a surprise; few, if any, low-end cameras offer manual focus.”
Website: CNET - Samsung S850 Review
Samsung have released a new firmware update, version 1.20, for the GX-10 digital SLR camera. Eight new functions have been added, including a built-in flash function for use in wireless mode and two new ways to change the ISO speed.
The latest version of the SilverFast scanning software can now calibrate a scanner in just 2 clicks. This is the only completely automatic IT8 calibration available. The IT8-Calibration function is available in all 6.5.0r6 (or later) SilverFast Studio versions. SilverFast Ai, HDR and DCPro can be optionally upgraded.
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. Next Big Camera Feature – Automatic Mic Removal
2. Sigma DP1 v. Ricoh GX100 – Too Many Bells & Whistles
3. Human Rights For Chimps (Yes, You Read Correctly)
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 Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, inventor, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. 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 imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected] , and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
Samsung has unveiled a 8Gb microSD Card with a read speed of 16MBs per second and a write speed of 6MBs, faster than most competing microSD cards currently on the market. The new fingernail-sized card is capable of storing 2,000 MP3 music files, 4,000 digital photos, or approximately five DVD-quality movies. MicroSD cards are commonly used in camera-phones, but are also are backward compatible with SD cards using an extender.
CNET have reviewed the Samsung L700 camera, which offers several advanced features, including a suite of advanced video and editing functions, in a compact, stylish metal body. It has 7 megapixels, 3x optical zoom and a bright 2.5” LCD display.
“Compared to a lot of other budget cameras, Samsung’s L700 offers plenty of options when shooting, including sensitivity, white balance, and exposure compensation. The camera’s sensitivity peaks at ISO 1,600, allowing nice flexibility in low-light and high-speed shooting. White-balance settings include standard (aka auto), cloudy, sunny, tungsten, fluorescent, and manual. We rarely see manual white balance modes in budget cameras, so this came as a pleasant surprise.”
Website: CNET - Samsung L700 Review
The Samsung Digital Roadshow 2007 showcases their latest digital cameras, including the hugely popular i7 and L74, in various shopping centres across the UK. Anyone that purchases a Samsung digital camera before 31 August 2007 can claim a free Virgin Holiday voucher worth £150. Shoppers will also be entered into a special larger prize draw, with ten vouchers worth £2,500 and 50 vouchers worth £1,500 up for grabs.
Canon shipped 19.7 million digital cameras in 2006 to retain its position as global leader, according to an IDC report. Sony, Kodak and Olympus were next, with a surprise jump from 9th to 5th for Samsung, who more than doubled their market share from a year earlier. Nikon dropped to 6th, but retained 2nd place in the DSLR market, which was again headed by Canon.
Samsung have announced an 8.4 megapixel CMOS image sensor with a 1.4? pixel size. The new sensor uses just one-tenth the power of an equivalent CCD image sensor. An extended photo diode technology was implemented to achieve higher light sensitivity and saturation levels.
A panel of digital imaging editors have selected the winners of the prestigious DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards. DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards recognize products or services utilizing new technologies and /or applications that make the product either distinct or the first of its kind. The winners include the HP Designjet Z Photo Printer Series, Lensbaby 3G, Olympus SP-550 UZ and Think Tank Photo rotation360 backpack.
Extensis have released an update for Portfolio 8.1. The Portfolio Raw Filter 3.2 update adds support for 32 cameras, bringing the total to more than 100. The Portfolio Raw Filter is powered by technology from Bibble Labs and the update is free of charge for registered Portfolio 8.1 users.
ePhotoZine have just reviewed the 10 megapixel Samsung NV10 digital camera.
“Unlike most cameras, there is actually some colour noise evident in the shadow areas of the ISO100 test shot. At ISO200 its slightly worse, the colour of the noise being stronger and there are also other artefacts beginning to appear. Curiously the ISO400 mode isn’t really any worse. The noise is still noticeable, the elements of random colour are larger but softer so have less impact. Black areas though are really, quite variable. The ISO800 shot shows a slight colour change in the red petals, becoming darker, but the noise becomes appreciable. The ISO1000 test, despite being only a slightly higher rating is a lot more noisy, showing that an ISO1600 mode would have been untenable.”
Website: ePhotoZine - Samsung NV10 Review
Website: Read our Samsung NV10 Review
DCResource have taken a look at the distinctive Samsung NV7 digital camera.
“The Samsung NV7 OPS is a camera that offers a lot of bang for the buck, but is ultimately a let down due to its below average image quality, poor battery life, and frustrating user interface. While I like its design and feature set quite a bit, the bottom line is that there are better cameras out there for the money.”
Website: DCResource - Samsung NV7 Review
Website: Read our Samsung NV7 Review
Camera phones become more like traditional still cameras every day, as FotoNation introduces the world’s first red-eye technology for cameras phones. This new technology will feature on the will be available on the Nokia N73, N80 and N93 series of camera phones. “FotoNation’s Red Eye detection and reduction technology has become the defacto standard for embedded implementations of red-eye correction in today’s digital cameras,” said Eran Steinberg, CEO of FotoNation. “We have optimized the implementation of our red-eye technology over many different DSC platforms. Our most recent port to mobile camera platforms is the logical next step.”
Adobe have released Camera Raw 3.7 for both Windows and Mac platforms. Support for the Nikon D40 and Pentax K10D DSLR cameras has been added in this update.
Website: Adobe Camera Raw 3.7 (Windows)
Website: Adobe Camera Raw 3.7 (MAC)
PMA 2007: FotoNation MTP-IP for mobile phones allows users to transfer large photos, movies, and audio files from mobile phones at speeds of up to 10 times faster than Bluetooth. A 3 megapixel cameraphone photo can be transferred to another mobile phone, a computer using Windows Vista, or other device at speeds of 0.3 seconds or less. FotoNation will be demonstrating the MTP-IP for mobile phones technology at PMA using Nokia N80 and N93 phones.
PMA 2007: GE have announced aggressive plans to enter the digital camera market. Entry-level GE digital cameras will start with 7 megapixels of resolution and 2.5-inch LCD screens. Higher-end GE cameras will offer up to 12 megapixels of resolution and 3-inch LCD screens. A photo printer will also be included in the line-up. The new products will be distributd by General Imaging, a new, privately held company that serves as the exclusive worldwide licensee for the GE line of digital cameras and printers. Cameras will be available in North America from mid-April, whilst shipments to Europe and Asia are scheduled for later this year. The GE digital cameras will make their debut at the PMA show in early March.
PMA 2007: The Samsung L77 digital camera is just 21.mm wide, yet still offers a 7x internal optical zoom lens equivalent to 38-266mm, a 7 megapixel sensor and 2.5 inch LCD screen. Other features include 30fps MPEG-4 movies for TV-quality film clips and in-built editing capabilities. The Samsung L77 will be available from April 2007 for $399.99.
PMA 2007:The Samsung S1030 digital camera offers 10 megapixels, 3x zoom lens and a 2.5 inch LCD screen. Other features include MPEG-4 movies clips, ISO 1600, and Aperture priority, shutter priority and full manual exposure modes. The Samsung S1030 will be available in the spring of 2007, price to be confirmed.
PMA 2007:The Samsung S830 digital camera offers an 8 megapixel sensor, 3x zoom lens equivalent to 35-105mm and a 2.5 inch LCD screen. Other features include ISO 1600, aperture priority, shutter priority and full manual exposure modes, and an Auto Macro function that automatically adjusts shooting distance and focus. The Samsung S830 will be available in the spring of 2007, price to be confirmed.
The new Lensbaby Creative Aperture Kit is for use with the Lensbaby 3G (pictured) and Lensbaby 2.0 SLR lenses. Points of light in out of focus areas of the photo take on the shape of the hole in the aperture disk. Photographers can fashion the blank disks into their own custom shaped apertures. The new Lensbaby Creative Aperture Kit is available now for $9.99.
The new special edition Samsung NV3 OPL camera is coated with a patterned Oriental Plant Lacquer which apparently “evokes artistic techniques from Eastern Asia”. Samsung are also launching a silver version of the NV3 digital camera. The NV3 silver and NV3 OPL retail at £199 and £229 respectively and are available from early February for the NV3 silver and mid-March for the NV3 OPL.
PMA 2007: The Samsung NV11 is an updated version of the NV10 featuring a Schneider lens, Smart Touch user interface, 2.7 inch high definition LCD, 10 megapixels and 5x optical zoom lens. The NV11 is also equipped with Samsung’s Face Recognition technology, 1600 ISO high-sensitivity capability and ASR image stabilisation system. The Samsung NV11 will retail at £299.99 and is available from leading high street and online retailers from mid-March 2007.
PMA 2007: The Samsung i7 digital camera features a 3.0 inch touch screen LCD which rotates through 180 degrees, 7 megapixels, 3x optical zoom and integrated Portable Multimedia Player. The i7 also has 512 MB of internal memory and a Tour Guide function providing quick access to information about places to see and things to do in over 4,000 regions in 30 countries. The Samsung i7 will retail at £249.99 and will be available from leading high street and online retailers from mid-March 2007.
According to the latest forecast from Lyra Research worldwide digital camera shipments rose 21 percent in 2006 to approximately 98 million units. This sizeable growth spurt occurred despite household penetration of greater than 50 percent in Japan, the United States, and leading nations in Western Europe, and in spite of multimegapixel camera phones becoming commonplace in Asia and Europe. Lyra’s forecast now projects worldwide digital camera shipments to exceed 130 million units in 2010 for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 10 percent.
CES 2007: The Samsung S1050 is the new flagship model of the S series, offering 10 megapixels and a 5x optical zoom. The S1050 offers Samsung’s Intelligent Face Recognition Technology, which detects the subject’s face and automatically adjusts auto focus and auto exposure to ensure the best possible image quality in portraits and other shots featuring people. The Samsung S1050 will be available in the spring of 2007, price to be announced.
CES 2007: The Samsung S850 offers an 8 megapixel image sensor, 5x optical zoom and a host of advanced capabilities. More advanced features of the S850 include aperture priority, shutter priority and manual modes, continuous shooting and AEB. The Samsung S850 will be available in the spring of 2007, price to be confirmed.
CES 2007: The Samsung S730 and Samsung S630 are user-friendly compact cameras that represents the next generation of Samsung’s advanced image processing technology and quality optics. The 6 megapixel S630 offers the photographer a straightforward, uncluttered user interface and stylish, ergonomic design and is powered by AA batteries. The S730 offers the same design and features as the S630, but comes equipped with 7 megapixels. The Samsung S630 and the S730 will be available early 2007, prices to be confirmed.
CES 2007: The Samsung L73 is a sleek, pocket-sized digital point-and-shoot camera with 7 megapixels, 3x optical zoom and the unique Smart Touch interface for easy access to all settings. The Samsung L73 is an ideal camera for any photographer wanting to take pictures without compromising on features, image quality or ease of use. The Samsung L73 will be available in black or silver finish in early 2007, price to be confirmed.
CES 2007: The Samsung L700 offers several advanced features, including a suite of advanced video and editing functions, in a compact, stylish metal body. It has 7 megapixels, 3x optical zoom and a bright 2.5” LCD display. For ease of use, the Samsung L700 also features 20MB of internal memory and is compatible with SD/MMC and SDHC memory up to 4GB. The Samsung L700 will be available in early 2007, price to be confirmed.
CES 2007: The Samsung i70 features 7.2 megapixels, 3x zoom and a large 3.0” LCD. This premium camera offers an innovative sliding cover which, when opened, reveals the intuitive 9-button User Interface. The Samsung i70 has an eye-catching body design and special finish. This combines with multimedia capabilities to make it a particularly attractive camera for people who demand entertainment on the move. The Samsung i70 will be available in February 2007 for £199.99 in the UK.
Samsung UK have quietly added a new digital camera to their lineup, the D103, just in time for Christmas. The Samsung D103 is a 10 megapixel model with 3x optical zoom lens, 2.5 inch LCD screen, MPEG-4 movies and ISO 1000 mode. The “D” series is a new addition to Samsung’s point and shoot range of cameras.
Website: Samsung D103
DxO Labs Press Release
New DxO Analyzer version 3 strengthens its leadership as the only comprehensive, operator-independent solution to evaluate image quality from camera phones and digital cameras.
Paris, France - November 28, 2006 – DxO Labs today announces the immediate availability of DxO Analyzer version 3, adding groundbreaking innovations to the product’s image quality evaluation and analysis capabilities. DxO Analyzer now encompasses a comprehensive measurement set in a turn-key solution to qualify the image quality of any image capture device. Available measurements include color, resolution (MTF) and sharpness, dynamic range, exposure, noise, flash uniformity, distortion, chromatic aberrations, vignetting - and more.
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. Concert Audio For Digital Camera Videos
2. SDHC Write Speed For Digital Camera Videos
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 Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, inventor, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. 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 imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected] , and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
FotoNation Press Release
FotoNation Implements PTP-IP Protocol on Trimble Devices to Wirelessly Transfer Photos from Digital Cameras
Burlingame, CA, Nov. 6, 2006—FotoNation, (www.fotonation.com), a world-leading imaging and connectivity solutions company for the digital photography industry, announced today that it has been selected by Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) to provide wireless PTP-IP technology for Trimble’s Mapping & Geographic Information System (GIS) handheld product line. Trimble’s new TrimPix technology enabled by FotoNation, links high resolution digital photographs to GIS features using Wi-Fi capable Nikon cameras. The technology is being showcased at the Trimble Dimensions Users Conference in Las Vegas and the European Conference for ESRI Users in Athens, Greece.
Pocket Solutions Press Release
Islandia, New York – September 12, 2006 - Pocket Solutions, Inc., a premier global provider of premium accessories for PDAs, smart phones, cell phones and digital cameras, today announced the latest addition to its high-quality line of PDA accessories – the only camera case that protects your camera while you are using it. Pocket Solutions’ new leather camera cases are custom hand-crafted, laser cut and hand sewn and made specifically for each model of camera. “Just about everyone has a digital camera these days. While it is important to protect them from scratches and dings, it is also imperative to not miss that perfect shot struggling to get the camera out of its case,” stated Mike DiLeo, president of Pocket Solutions. “Our new camera case is specifically designed to offer protection and instant usability – with just about any camera out on the market today. This gives Pocket Solutions a huge advantage over standard camera cases and offers consumers the ultimate in camera case design and flexibility.”
ACD Systems Press Release
ACDSee Pro Photo Manager Gives Professional Photographers Total Control Over Their Workflow with public beta RAW Format Support.
Victoria, British Columbia – November 2, 2006 – ACD Systems International Inc. (TSX: ASA), today announced a public beta software release which updates ACDSee® Pro Photo Manager, adding support for the newest RAW formats. Developed specifically for the professional photographer, ACDSee Pro will be showcased from November 2-4 at PhotoPlus Expo, Booth #1212, in New York. ACDSee Pro delivers advanced functionality designed to streamline the workflow of professional photographers, while incorporating the speed and organizing capabilities synonymous with ACDSee software solutions. “Once again, our commitment to working closely with professional photographers yields support for the newest digital cameras”, said Doug Vandekerkhove, CEO of ACD Systems.
Adobe have released Camera Raw 3.6 for both Windows and Mac platforms. Support for 13 new cameras has been added in this update, including the Canon EOS 400D / Rebel Xti and Nikon D80.
Website: Adobe Camera Raw 3.6 (Windows)
Website: Adobe Camera Raw 3.6 (MAC)
FotoNation Press Release
Advanced Software Identifies and Locks onto Faces for Automatic Cropping, Focus & Exposure
October 24, 2006, Monterey, CA,— FotoNation, (www.fotonation.com), a world-leading imaging and connectivity solutions company for the digital photography industry, announced today at the 6Sight Mobile Imaging Summit, FotoNation “Face Tracker™,” the world’s first face detection and tracking technology for camera phones. FotoNation Face Tracker represents a major breakthrough in advanced digital image capture technology. It detects the presence and position of a subject’s face at up to 30 frames per second during image capture enabling the optimal setting of exposure, focus and color balance.
The Samsung GX-10 and 5 new lenses are announced this morning. The Samsung GX10 is a 10 megapixel digital SLR camera a 2.5 inch LCD screen, built-in Optical Picture Stabilization technology (CCD Shift), dust removal function, water-proof and anti-dust coating, one-touch RAW button and continuous shooting at 3 fps. The Samsung GX10 and lenses are expected to be available from October, with the price being announced at that time.
Samsung UK Press Release
London, UK. Samsung today announced the launch of the 10.2 mega-pixel Samsung GX-10 digital SLR, the first DSLR from the company to be positioned firmly towards the discerning enthusiast photographer searching for comprehensive functions, stunning design, ease of use and real value for money - all in one camera. Samsung also announced the launch of five more lenses, that each would be released before the end of 2006, giving GX-10 and GX-1 series users alike even more freedom to express their creativity through the Samsung DSLR range.
Photokina Update: We now have some product photos live from Photokina 2006 - just click the link below to view them.
FotoNation Press Release
September 22, 2006, Galway, Ireland – FotoNation, (www.fotonation.com), a world-leading imaging and connectivity solutions company for the digital photography industry, announced today that its patented in-camera red-eye detection and correction technology has surpassed an installed base of over 50 million digital cameras. FotoNation red-eye reduction technology is shipping in digital cameras from the industry’s leading brands, including Kodak, Nikon, Pentax, Sanyo and Samsung among others. “164 million digital cameras with 4 megapixels or more have shipped since 2004,” said Ron Glaz, Program Director for IDC’s Digital Capture Devices and Photofinishing Research. Based on this finding, the FotoNation red-eye reduction technology is commanding over 30% of this market segment.
FotoNation Press Release
September 21, 2006, Galway, Ireland—FotoNation® (www.fotonation.com), one of the world’s leading embedded imaging and connectivity companies, announced today that it will demonstrate its new patented FotoNation Dust Removal Technology at Photokina 2006, held in Cologne, Germany from September 26 - October 1st, 2006. The FotoNation Dust Removal Technology completely and automatically removes dust from digital images. FotoNation has been awarded a U.S. patent for this technology and has 10 additional patents pending in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. FotoNation eliminates dust from images using in-camera software which distinguishes between dust and real detail in the photo. The software dynamically builds a map of every dust-spec and then tracks changes and movement of the dust particles to distinguish dust from the details of the photograph. The technology has been designed to scale across multiple platforms is optimized to run as embedded software in digital cameras and mobile phone cameras as part of image acquisition.
Samsung UK Press Release
International footballer and Samsung Cameras demonstrate great teamwork
London, UK – September, 2006: Chelsea and England footballer star, Joe Cole, has signed an exclusive partnership with Samsung Cameras to champion their new NV range of stylish digital cameras. This high profile relationship highlights Samsung’s dedication to the new NV series with Cole’s skill and creative flair on the pitch reflecting the high performance and results experienced with Samsung cameras. Both Joe Cole and the Samsung cameras are supremely talented in their own fields and this partnership is sure to reinforce the profile of Samsung as a serious player in the digital camera arena.
Transcend Press Release
A greater number of advanced mobile devices and smart phones are now available on the market. This new breed of Hi-Tech Handheld device typically has a built-in High-resolution digital camera and a large number of multimedia applications; both of these features alone have catapulted the need for higher performance and bigger capacity Flash Memory Cards. To ensure you get the most from your Hi-Tech devices, Transcend Information Inc., a world leader in flash memory devices, has released its latest Hi-Speed 80X Ultra-Performance microSD Memory Cards, available in 256MB and 512MB capacities, and only half the size of a mobile phone SIM card they are the smallest memory cards in the world with the highest speed.
FotoNation Press Release
FotoNation Face Tracker Identifies and Locks on Faces for Optimal Focus & Exposure in New PENTAX Optio S7 & Optio A20 Digital Cameras
September 5, 2006, Galway, Ireland— FotoNation, (www.fotonation.com), one of the world’s leading award-winning imaging and connectivity solutions companies for the digital photography industry, announced today that its innovative “Face Tracker”™ technology is now available in PENTAX Corporation’s latest addition to its Optio line, the 7 megapixels Optio S7 & the 10 megapixels Optio A20 digital camera. FotoNation Face Tracker, available as the “Face Recognition AF & AE” function on the PENTAX Optio S7 & Optio A20, automatically detects the position of a subject’s face and adjusts focus and exposure accordingly.
ThinkCamera have reviewed the Samsung Digimax L85, which features 8-megapixels, 5x optical zoom (38-190mm - 35mm equivalent), 2.5-inch LCD display (230K pixels), full manual control and 11 preset scene modes.
“Let’s get over this one straight away. Our reviewer called the L85 “ugly” (in fact he compared it to a Trabant). Pictures of the Samsung L85 really don’t do it justice. It is bigger and bulkier than many of the compacts we see here at ThinkCamera but it has a very tactile rubberised finish that sets it apart from other cameras. Depending on your viewpoint this makes it “distinctive” or “retro”. Having lived with one for a couple of weeks I found the L85 growing on me.”
PCMagazine have reviewed the Samsung Digimax L85, which features 8-megapixels, 5x optical zoom (38-190mm - 35mm equivalent), 2.5-inch LCD display (230K pixels), full manual control and 11 preset scene modes.
“My tests show it has the worst shutter lag of any camera I’ve tested to date. Sadly, the Digimax’s deficiencies don’t end here: The camera also has serious autofocus problems. Many point-and-shoot cameras have one or two lighting conditions that give their autofocus trouble. The L85 had problems in many different situations: low light, bright light, high contrast. More often than not, I had to find another angle to shoot from in order to achieve proper focus in the scene. “
Samsung UK Press Release
London, UK – 15 August, 2006 - The Samsung NV10 has been named as the European Compact Camera 2006-2007 by The European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA). Along with the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) award. The EISA award is one of the most respected in the world and often referred to as the Nobel Prize for cameras. The Samsung NV10 was short listed by a team of 50 influential specialists from 20 European countries before being subjected to rigorous quality tests. EISA praised the unique makeup of the Smart Touch user interface and groundbreaking new design concept before concluding that the NV10 is a truly compact and robust camera.
Samsung Press Release
Samsung Electronics Develops World’s First 3-inch LCD Screen of VGA Quality for Digital Still Cameras
SEOUL, South Korea—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Aug. 10, 2006—Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world’s largest provider of thin-film transistor, liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, announced today that it has developed the first three-inch LCD panel with VGA (640 x 480 pixels) resolution that directly meets industry interface standards for digital still cameras. Executive Vice President Yun Jin-hyuk of Samsung Electronics said, “Our new LCD panel will make viewing of digital pictures distinctly more impressive on camera screens, personal multi-media players and other products requiring high-image resolution and low-power consumption.”
The Samsung Digimax L70 is announced today. This 7 megapixel digital camera features a 2.5 inch LCD screen and innovative nine button touch and click control pad. The Samsung L70 is expected to be available in September for around £230.
Samsung UK Press Release
4 August 2006, London, UK - Samsung Cameras is adding to its popular Digimax range of digital compact cameras with the launch of the stylish yet user-friendly Digimax L70. Featuring 7 mega pixels the Samsung L70 can be used by photographers of all levels to produce high quality results. With its sleek look and slim 17.5mm design the Digimax L70 boasts a large 2.5” LCD screen for great viewing of pictures. The brightness of the LCD is automatically adjusted to the intensity of the environment helping to prolong battery life. For enhanced picture quality the Samsung L70 comes complete with three times optical zoom lens barrel to allow for brighter, faster and more professional results.
Samsung USA Press Release
Samsung Camera Bolsters Feature?Packed Premium Line with Two New Models - Seven MP S700 and Ten MP S1000 Complete the “S” Series Line
Secaucus, NJ (July 20, 2006) – Samsung is pleased to announce the launch of two new “S” Series models within its Premium line of Samsung Digimax digital still cameras. The seven mega-pixel Samsung S700 and the ten mega-pixel Samsung S1000 are full featured models designed to deliver maximum value, style and performance for digital photographers of all skill and experience levels. Offering features useful to the entire family, both models boast a crystal-clear 2.4-inch LCD and a 3x optical zoom in both still and movie modes. “The “S” Series cameras are perfect for everyone from beginners to advanced digital photographers,” says Stewart Henderson, National Marketing Manager at Samsung Opto?Electronics. “With the addition of the Samsung S700 and the Samsung S1000, we have bolstered our already strong and comprehensive range of digital still cameras. This, combined with the recent launch of our NV Series, enables us to deliver products that meet the needs of a diverse dealer and consumer base.”
Sony Press Release
Tokyo, Japan, July 13, 2006 - Panasonic, the brand name for which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is known and Sony Corporation (hereafter Sony) announced jointly today the commencement of licensing for “AVCHD,” the high definition (HD) digital video camera recorder format, as well as expansion of the format’s specifications. Panasonic and Sony announced basic specifications for “AVCHD” on May 11th this year, and since then have extensively promoted the format throughout the industry while preparing for licensing. Then, the two companies have decided to include memory cards (SD Memory Card and Memory Stick) and hard disk drives as applicable recording media of the format in addition to previously-announced 8cm DVD. This is for the purpose of broadening the range of applicable media, thereby allowing wide variety of products to be developed by various manufacturers. The new specification was defined as “AVCHD” format Version 1.0.
LaserSoft Imaging Press Release
Heidelberg High-End Scanners Get Updated by SilverFast Ai Studio to Run Under the Latest Macintosh and Windows Operating Systems
KIEL, Germany, July 10 /PRNewswire/—LaserSoft Imaging once again, building on its advanced line of award winning scanning/imaging software, is releasing SilverFast with new support for the high-end Heidelberg Nexscan and Tango series. This is a breakthrough for those companies who originally purchased these legendary workhorses only to run into difficulties when Heidelberg dropped its interest in the scanning market and discontinued support. This professional level software breathes new life into these high quality scanners and provides a current workflow solution to the thousands of units still in operation today. With SilverFast Ai Studio, it is now possible to integrate these scanners with the new high powered Macs and PC’s running the most current software to date, such as OSX - Tiger.
The Samsung NV7 OPS is priced at £299, Samsung NV10 at £279 and Samsung NV3 at £229, available from leading high street and online retailers by September. We have some exclusive product shots from the recent European press conference.
Samsung UK Press Release
Samsung offers a brand new vision with premium “NV Series” - NV Series strengthens digital compact camera portfolio for Samsung
London, UK - Samsung Cameras is bringing a new vision to the digital compact camera market with the NV Series. Consisting of three cameras, the NV7 OPS, NV10 and NV3, the NV Series was developed following a two year consumer research study to gain insight into the lifestyle and needs of consumers and their picture-taking interests. Samsung has devised attractive designs and new user interface (UI) concepts to create a premium product group. As well as offering practical technology and easy usability, the new NV Series stands for individuality and style. Launched with a new blue ring, this design concept aims to become a consistent mark for Samsung quality and design in the digital camera market. The NV Series introduces the innovative UI using Smart Touch buttons for the first time in a digital camera, offering easy and convenient control for the NV7 OPS and NV10 – a gentle touch is all it takes to navigate menu items, manipulate the settings, or view your pictures.
CNET have reviewed the Samsung Digimax L60, which has 6 megapixels, 3x optical zoom lens, MPEG4 video recording and a 2.4-inch LCD screen.
“A fairly flexible point-and-shoot camera, the Digimax L60 is the 6-megapixel member of Samsung’s L series of high-end point-and-shoot cameras. This easy-to-pocket camera is about the size of an iPod and weighs just 5.3 ounces. It sports a nice handful of image settings for the casual shooter, but more advanced photographers might find it lacking. Users who prefer lots of manual controls might want to check out the L60’s bigger brother, the Samsung Digimax L85.”
Website: CNET - Samsung Digimax L60 Review
CNET have just reviewed the 8 megapixel Samsung Digimax S800 point and shoot digital camera, which also offers a 2.4 inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom lens.
“Samsung categorizes its S-series cameras as point-and-shoots on its Web site, but with the controls included in these models, they have the potential to reach beyond the majority of simple snapshot cameras. Unfortunately, a not so intuitive set of menus and less than stellar image quality keep the 8.1-megapixel Samsung Digimax S800 from reaching its potential.”
Website: CNET - Samsung Digimax S800 Review
STOIK Imaging Press Release
STOIK Imaging (http://www.stoik.com) today released STOIK Noise Autofix v.1.0. - the fully automatic software for correction of noise in digital photos. The program automatically cleans noise in photos obtained from digital cameras, cameraphones, and scanners. The noise removal filter processes the image to reduce noise level providing best possible balance between noise suppression and the preservation of image details and sharpness. In photographic terms the noise reduction is equivalent to 2 - 3 stops, so that the noise level of the photo shot at ISO 1600 is effectively reduced to ISO 200 - 400 levels. STOIK Noise Autofix is the latest addition to STOIK’s line of automatic photo enhancement and manipulation products which inlcude STOIK RedEye Autofix, STOIK Smart Resizer, STOIK Cameraphone Enhancer, and STOIK Imagic.
ByteSector have reviewed the new Samsung SPP-2020 6x4” compact photo printer, which uses Dye Diffusion Thermal Transfer technology to produce water and fade resistant 4” x 6” prints in 60 seconds.
“I tested this printer with images taken with various digital cameras; Canon Digital Rebel XT, Konica Minolta Z3, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20, just to name a few. No matter the camera or its megapixel capture capacity, the photos the printer printed out were fantastic in colour and detail at the 4”x6” size. This is not to say that if you have a cheap quality digital camera that captured a horrible image with unbalanced colours that this printer could somehow make it pretty. The pictures came out more naturally colorful compared to what you might see on the monitor, bringing more life to the overall image.”
Adobe have officially released Camera Raw 3.4 for both Windows and Mac platforms. Support for the following cameras has been added in this update.
* Canon EOS 30D
* Leaf Aptus 65
* Leaf Aptus 75
* Olympus EVOLT 330
* Olympus SP-320
* Pentax *ist DL2
* Samsung GX-1S
Website: Adobe Camera Raw 3.4 (Windows)
Website: Adobe Camera Raw 3.4 (Mac)
DigitalCameraInfo have reviewed the new Samsung GX-1S digital SLR, a 6 megapixel digital camera that uses the Pentax lens mount.
“As far as we can tell, with the logos covered, the GX-1S and the Pentax *ist DS are virtually the same camera. Spokespeople for Samsung at the Photo Marketing Association convention this February, in fact, said that the GX 1L is a Pentax with their logo on it; Pentax had no comment. We haven’t examined an *ist DS, but as far as specifications are concerned, the 2 cameras are a lot alike.”
DxO Labs Press Release
Free upgrade improves product while support for new Samsung, Kodak and Fuji cameras increases versatility of DxO Optics Pro.
Paris, France, March 30, 2006 – DxO Labs announces today the immediate availability of DxO Optics Pro v3.55a, a free upgrade to DxO Optics Pro v3.5. Version 3.55a of DxO Labs’ flagship product for automatic image quality enhancement contains a number of significant refinements which will improve users’ experience when using DxO Optics Pro. Notably:
New configurable “docked palette” mode for easy access to all adjustment tools;
Improved configuration wizard;
The “Automatic” mode of DxO Optics Pro is now easily and fully configurable thanks to a “Default preset”;
Option to save or not .dxo sidecar files;
Option to set application level output setting preferences (can be locally overridden);
Numerous other improvements and fixes.
Here are the stand-out news stories from the last 7 days:
New Cameras
Epson R-D1s
New Accessories
Sony Compact Vault 8GB Drive
Epson P-4500
10 Megapixel Samsung B600 Camera Phone
New Software
Apple Aperture 1.1 Update
Breeze Systems PSRemote 1.5
Canon Software Updates
Other Headlines
Canon EOS 30D Cashback Offer
Epson OLED Print Head
PMA 2006: PMA 2006 turned out to be as much about the future as the present, with some of the hottest new products just being prototypes or mockups, rather than the real deal. Consequently you won’t be able to get your hands on quite a lot of the kit that has been announced until May, June, or even 6 months later in the case of the Panasonic DMC-L1 and the as yet un-named 10 megapixel Pentax DSLR. In fact, of all the products listed in our Hot Top 10 for PMA 2006, only 2 of them are available to buy today (Bibble Labs 4.6 and Muvee). Carry on reading to find out which products made our top 10…
Samsung Press Release
Hanover, Germany - 9 March 2006 - Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. brings its new digital photo frame for easy digital picture viewing to CeBIT 2006. The device shows pictures taken with phones or digital cameras on its built in LCD screen, removing the need for printing or storing of hard copy photos in bulky photo albums. Most notable is an embedded feature that allows easy transmission and sharing of digital photos with friends and family. “The digital photo frame with networking capability is a state-of-the-art digital device that helps users cherish their precious photo-memories without loss of clarity or fading. It also allows users to share pictures with friends and family in other locations,” said Yoon Ho Ha, Senior Vice President of the Visual Display Division of Samsung. “Samsung plans to introduce more new concept digital devices throughout 2006.”
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. High-Zoom Ultra-Compacts (The Noise On The Street)
2. Love That HP Photosmart 475 Printer
3. Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Structural Tests
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. 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 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: Epson, HP, IDS, Olympus, PortalPlayer and Samsung Electronics Announce PictSync Guidelines for Easy Photo Sharing Between Cameras, Phones and Portable Media Players
PictSync(TM) Enables Easy Transfer of Digital Photos Between Camera Phones, Digital Cameras, and Portable Media Players; Industry Leaders Announce Pre-Release Interoperability Guidelines for Industry Comment
ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/—Epson, HP, IDS, Olympus, PortalPlayer and Samsung Electronics, working together as the PictSync Promoters Group, announced today that they have jointly developed guidelines to increase interoperability between digital cameras, camera phones and portable media players. The guidelines, dubbed PictSync(TM), will enable the easy transfer of digital photos between two portable devices that are able to capture or store images, without requiring a personal computer. A licensing program is under development to allow for broad industry adoption of the PictSync guidelines.
PMA 2006: The Samsung Digimax L85 is unveiled. 8-megapixels, 5x optical zoom (38-190mm - 35mm equivalent), 2.5-inch LCD display (230K pixels), full manual control, 11 preset scene modes. Available in March.
Samsung UK Press Release
Samsung Unveils the New High-Performance Samsung Digimax L85 with the World’s First High Definition Multimedia Interface. The new Digimax L85 is the latest addition to Samsung’s prestigious line of digital cameras. It is the world’s first digital still camera to feature High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) - a revolutionary new feature allowing users to view their photos on a high definition television with outstanding quality. Set to launch in April, the eight-mega-pixel Digimax L85 also includes a top-class Schneider Kreuznach lens with 5x optical zoom and a 2.5-inch LCD display (approximately 230K pixels), which provides the photographer with a greater zoom options and a vivid display.
PMA 2006: The Samsung Digimax L60 is introduced today. 6 megapixels, 3x optical zoom lens, MPEG4 video recording, 2.4-inch LCD screen. Available in March.
Samsung UK Press Release
Samsung is announcing the new Digimax L60. Part of the L series featuring sleek designs and user-friendly advanced features, the L60 features a 3x optical zoom SHD lens, a 5x digital zoom and a large 2.4-inch color LCD display. Set to hit the shelves in March the Samsung L60 is perfect for those who demand easy to use features and high quality optics. The Samsung L60 packs advanced features such as MPEG4 into a sleek, stylish body. MPEG-4 is a high-compression, high-quality video format, which can record up to 4 times longer than traditional video formats commonly used in other digital cameras. This means the user can record in VGA (640x480) at 30fps, for smoother video and a bigger view of the movie on LCD and TV screens.
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. Noise Reduction 101
2. New Fuji And Panasonic Digicams (The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly)
3. Kind Words From A Gary’s Parries Fan
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 would like your name, location, email address, and/or website included in the column with your question, please expressly give your permission in the email, along with the information you would like included. No private information will be included without your consent.
Samsung Electronics Press Release
SEOUL, South Korea—Feb. 9, 2006—Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced that it has developed the fastest micro memory card with a gigabyte of density, for use in small cell phones, digital cameras and MP3 players. High demand for the high-speed 1 GB MMCmicro(TM) card is expected from cell phone manufacturers because of its compelling combination of features: speed, capacity, size and reduced power consumption.
Pro photographer and Nikon user Thom Hogan has published his predictions about digital SLR cameras for 2006. Yes, I know it’s February already, but at least you can see if some of them have already come true!
“But 2006 is the year of new entrants. Sony (piggybacking off KonicaMinolta), Panasonic (ditto with Olympus), and Samsung (ditto with Pentax) are all greedily eyeing the DSLR market growth and plan to introduce new DSLRs. I expect to see a few of those at PMA in February, with more showing up at Photokina in the fall. But let me just say up front: it’s going to be brutal.”
Brutal is certainly right, as Konica Minolta have already withdrawn from the battle.
Website: Thom Hogan - 2006 DSLR Predictions
Here are the stand-out news stories from the last 7 days:
New Cameras
Pentax *ist DL2 DSLR
Olympus E-330 DSLR (pictured)
Olympus SP-320
Olympus mju 810
Olympus mju 720 SW
Olympus mju 700
Olympus FE-160
Olympus FE-150
Olympus FE-140 and Olympus FE-130
Olympus FE-115
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7
Casio Exilim EX-Z600
New Accessories
Olympus Underwater and Outdoor cases
Wolverine MVP 9060
Other Headlines
£50 Cashback on Samsung Pro 815
Sony DSLR in Summer 2006
Samsung UK Press Release
Get Cash Back on the Award Winning Samsung Pro 815
… £50 cash back offer on Pro 815
… Valid for purchases between 1 Feb - 30 April 2006
Samsung Cameras is announcing a great cash back promotion throughout Spring offering purchasers of the multi-award winning Pro 815 digital camera the chance to claim back £50.*
The promotion will apply to Samsung Pro815’s purchased at all leading photographic retail outlets between 1 February and 30 April 2006. Purchasers simply need to complete a form on the www.samsungcamera.co.uk website and send it to the featured address together with the camera serial number and proof of purchase (these items will be returned to the purchaser). A cheque to the value of £50 will then be sent to the new Samsung Pro815 owner.
The Samsung GX-1S digital SLR is unveiled today. DIWA member and Norwegian website Digit.no has the scoop on the new Samsung GX-1S digital SLR camera. The Samsung GX-1S is a 6 megapixel digital camera that uses the Pentax lens mount and the new Schneider D-XENON lenses. The GX-1S has a large 2.5 inch LCD screen, ISO range of 200-3200 and continuous shooting speed of 2.8 fps up to 8 frames in JPEG mode. If it looks at all familiar to you, that’s because the GX-1S is a rebadged version of the Pentax *ist DS2. Digit.no have kindly sent us the English version of the full specification for the Samsung GX-1S - just click the Read the Full Story link below to view the spec, full press release and larger pictures.
This week’s Saturday Shout looks back at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) show in Las Vegas. A surprising number of new photography products were announced, with more than 25 new cameras from the likes of Kodak, Samsung, Fujifilm, Panasonic and Pentax. But did anything really set your pulse racing, or was it a case of “same old, same old”? Shout out now…
Samsung USA Press Release
SAMSUNG’S 6-IN-1 DIGITAL CAMERAS PROVIDE A WEALTH OF FUNCTIONALITY IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND
CES Innovations Award Winning SC-MS25 Combines Digital Camera, Camcorder, MP3 Player, Voice Recorder, Web Cam and Data Storage in One Device
Las Vegas, NV – January 5, 2006 – Samsung, a world leader in award-winning innovation, is leading the charge in multi-function devices with a new line of three 6-in-1 digital still cameras that offer video and voice recording, music playback, data storage, and web cam capability in addition to producing high-quality digital stills. The ultracompact SC-MS25 combines multiple functions with full 6 MegaPixel photo quality and the best MPEG4 recording quality (640 x 480, 30fps) available in a digital still camera. Samsung’s innovative 6-in-1 still cameras will be on display during CES 2006 at the Samsung booth, #11033 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 5th – 8th.
Samsung Press Release
Samsung Digimax A503 to offer superior value with features including 2” LCD and 5x Digital Zoom
Las Vegas , NV ( January 5, 2005 ) Samsung is proud to announce the newest addition to their exceptional line of Digimax digital cameras, the A503. This five mega-pixel model features a 5x digital zoom, as well as an 8x zoom during playback, allowing shooters to check the precision and detail of their images. Along with excellent lens quality, the A503 is equipped with a large, two-inch 115k pixel TFT LCD screen that provides outstanding image quality for shooting and reviewing pictures.
SD Card Association Press Release
New High Capacity SD Memory Card Specification Under Final Review by SD Card Association - Specification to Allow Development of Higher-Capacity Memory Cards for Next Generation A/V and Telecommunications Devices -
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/—At the 2006 International CES held here this week, the SD Card Association (SDA) announced it expects to finalize specifications for a new, high-capacity SD Memory Card—the SDHC Memory Card—in early 2006. The new specification will expand SD card capacity beyond 2GB, to meet the memory-hungry requirements of a new generation of audio/video and telecommunications devices—from camcorders to cell phones and computers, digital still cameras to plasma televisions and PDAs, among others.
The Samsung Digimax i6 digital camera is announced today. The Samsung i6 is a 6 megapixel camera and also a portable media player with a 2.5 inch LCD screen and Advanced Shake Reduction. The Samsung Digimax i6 will be available in early 2006.
Samsung UK Press Release
Introducing the Samsung Digimax i6 PMP camera.
The i6 is the world’s first PMP slim camera
- i6 PMP plays MP3 and works as a Portable Media Player
- Slim, striking and ergonomic design
- ASR (Advanced Shake Reduction)
- large bright TFT LCD (2.5 inch)
- All the great functions of a Samsung camera including 6-megapixels and 3x optical zoom
The 8 megapixel Samsung Digimax S800, 6 megapixel Samsung Digimax S600 and 5 megapixel Samsung Digimax S500 point and shoot digital cameras are announced today. All three models offer a 2.4 inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom lens. The S800, S600 and S500 are expected to hit the market in early 2006.
Samsung UK Press Release
Introducing the “S” Series of Point & Shoot cameras.
‘S’ series point and shoot digital cameras to be launched
- 5, 6, and 8 megapixels, all with 3x optical zoom
- Easy and quick operation
- Ergonomic design with camera grip
- Large and Vivid TFT LCD (2.4 inch)
Samsung USA Press Release
SECAUCUS, NJ – Known throughout the world as one of the most prestigious distinctions for manufacturers, the iF Product Design Award is presented in recognition of superior product design. Like the IDEA (Industrial Design Excellence Awards) in the United States, the iF awards represent the best product design of Europe. Samsung is proud to announce that it has received the iF Product Design Award for its ultra-compact Digimax i5 digital camera.
Winning products are selected from over 2000 entrants from over 30 countries and are judged on several levels, including design quality, material compatibility, innovation, environmental consideration, convenience, stability and durability. The Digimax i5 was recognized for its design concept, which was ‘plainness,’ emphasizing ‘clean’ and ‘simple.’
Lexar Press Release
Lexar LockTight Security Technology Now Supported by the Nikon D200 Digital SLR Camera
A Perfect Combination for Security-Conscious Organizations Requiring the Flexibility of a Mid-Range, Feature-Rich Digital SLR Camera
FREMONT, Ca., November 21, 2005 – Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a world leader in advanced digital media technologies today announced that its LockTight™ technology will be supported in the Nikon D200 creating an ideal solution for photographers who want to fully utilize the advanced feature set in this new camera, including security functionality and burst mode shooting. Lexar Professional LockTight CompactFlash is a unique security technology that allows photographers and organizations to control access to information stored on the user’s memory cards. Following full support in the Nikon D2X and D2Hs digital SLR cameras, the new Nikon D200 is the most affordable digital camera that includes built-in LockTight functionality.
Samsung have announced plans to add mobile TV and movie playback to their future digital cameras. In an article on the Korea Times website, a company spokesperson said “Our DMB cameras will compete against phones as we will arm them with a screen as large as 3 inches diagonally, much larger than today’s DMB phones at about 2.2 inches.” Samsung also stated that they aim to become one of the top 3 digital camera makers by 2007, which is to say the least an aggressive aim. It remains to be seen if adding new features previosuly unseen in digicams will tempt buyers to purchase a Samsung product.
Website: The Korea Times - Samsung to Couple TV With Digital Camera
Research and Markets Press Release
‘Image Sensors 2005 Report’ Provides a Complete Review of the 2004 Market for Image Sensors, as Well as Annual Forecast Numbers Through 2009
DUBLIN, Ireland—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Nov. 11, 2005—Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c27583) has announced the addition of Image Sensors 2005: Camera Phones Drive CMOS Past CCDs in 2004 to their offering.
The image sensor market has continued to show sharp growth over the past year. CMOS sensors have ridden the camera phone wave to surpass CCDs in 2004. Camera phones shipped well over three times the volume of the next most successful image sensor application, digital still cameras. CMOS sensors have also been successful in low-end digital still cameras and web cameras.
Samsung UK Press Release
Samsung Embarks on a Nationwide Imaging Roadshow
Shoppers will have a world of technology at their fingertips with Samsung’s nationwide Imaging Roadshow, running through to 5 December 2005. Designed to showcase stylish and high-spec digital cameras, mobile phones and photo-printers, the roadshow will be offering promotions across the Samsung product ranges including free memory cards to purchasers of specific digital cameras.
Ahead of Christmas, the Samsung Imaging Roadshow is visiting shopping centres across the country including Bluewater in Kent, Meadowhall in Sheffield, Centre MK in Milton Keynes and London’s Brent Cross.
Lexar Media Press Release
FREMONT, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Oct. 14, 2005—Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq:LEXR), a world leader in advanced digital media technologies, today announced that the trial court has entered final judgment in Lexar Media, Inc. v. Toshiba Corporation et al. In entering the judgment, the Superior Court for the State of California affirmed the jury verdict delivered in March in the case against Toshiba Corporation (JP:6502) and Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (PNK:TOSBF.PK) in which the jury awarded Lexar over $465 million in damages based on Toshiba Corporation and Toshiba America Electronics Components’ breach of fiduciary duty and theft of trade secrets from Lexar.
“We are very pleased that, after six months of Toshiba’s efforts to challenge the jury verdict, the Court has rejected those challenges and entered judgment confirming that verdict in every respect,” said Eric Whitaker, executive vice president and general counsel, Lexar. “The jury’s verdict was based on a mountain of evidence, mostly from Toshiba’s own files, establishing that Toshiba deliberately violated its duties to Lexar and that a large number of the products currently manufactured and sold by Toshiba contain Lexar’s trade secrets. We are confident that Toshiba’s remaining efforts to challenge the verdict, including its inevitable appeal, will fare no better than Toshiba’s earlier attempts.”
Samsung Press Release
Samsung announces agreement with Pentax to co-operate and jointly develop new digital camera products. This will broaden the product range to offer consumers greater choice
Seoul, Korea - October 12th, 2005: Samsung (CEO Lee Joong-Koo, www.samsungcamera.com) announces an agreement with Pentax to jointly develop Digital-SLR cameras.
The partnership between Samsung and Pentax will be based on sharing their respective competencies to enhance competitiveness in digital cameras.
Samsung holds superb digital image processing technologies, digital convergence technologies and world-wide brand recognition in digital appliance markets. Its partner, Pentax, has developed SLR cameras using Penta Prism technology. Pentax possesses a wide range of high-performance interchangeable lenses as well as cutting edge technologies for high precision cameras.
CNET have just reviewed the new Samsung Digimax i5, a slim 5 megapixel digital camera with 3x optical internal zoom lens equivalent to 39-117mm and a 2.5” 230K-pixel high resolution LCD.
“There’s no doubt that 5-megapixel resolution currently defines the sweet spot of point-and-shoot digital cameras. Samsung’s 5-megapixel ultracompact entry, the Digimax i5, offers a competitive snapshot feature set housed in a nondescript but slender metal body. Interesting features, a bright 2.5-inch LCD, and a VGA movie mode, however, don’t compensate for listless performance and just so-so image quality.”
Website: CNET - Samsung Digimax i5 Review
DxO Labs Press Release
DXO LABS ANNOUNCES DXO OPTICS PRO STARTER EDITION FOR HIGH-END DIGITAL CAMERAS
DxO Labs brings award-winning DxO Optics Pro technology to advanced digicam users at an irresistible price
New York, NY, USA, October 4, 2005 – DxO Labs announced today DxO Optics Pro Starter Edition, a new version of its flagship application specifically designed for advanced digicams – cameras also sometimes referred to as “ZLR”, “SuperZoom” or “Bridge” cameras.
Based on the award-winning image enhancement technology acclaimed by Digital SLR users, this new addition to the DxO Optics Pro family will support advanced digital cameras such as: Sony DSC-H1, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1, Canon PowerShot Pro S2 IS, Kodak P880, Olympus SP-500, Fuji Fine Pix S9500, Nikon Coolpix 8800, Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6, Panasonic DMC-FZ30, Samsung Digimax Pro815, Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2, Sony F-828, and others.
Lexar Press Release
Lexar Professional LockTight™ CompactFlash™ Offers Card Level Protection to Security-Conscious Photographers
Industry Experts Agree That Restricted Access to Stored Images and Information is Vital in the Growing Digital Camera Market
FREMONT, Ca., September 20, 2005 – Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a world leader in advanced digital media technologies, announced its LockTight™ CompactFlash™ security system is an essential solution for digital photographers who want to protect their stored digital images and information. Photographers working in highly sensitive and vulnerable areas who require added security can leverage the LockTight system for card level security designed to limit unauthorized access to data and material stored on the card.
Samsung Electronics Press Release
Seoul Korea , September 12 , 2005 - Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a leader in advanced s emiconductor technology, announced that it has developed a 7.2 megapixel CMOS image sensor (CIS). It is the world’s first 7.2M-pixel CIS for compact cameras with the smallest pixel size. Higher resolution CIS chips reflect the industry-wide attention on CIS technology as a promising new imaging technology as well as a feasible replacement of charge-coupled device (CCD), especially in mobile applications such as camera phones, digital still cameras and digital camcorders.
This announcement was made at a press conference hosted by Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor business president and CEO, Dr. Chang-Gyu Hwang in Seoul .
Samsung’s 7.2M-pixel CIS has a 1/2-inch lens aperture and a 2.25um pixel size. The proprietary pixel structure enhances the fill factor over 55 percent and delivers high signal to noise ratio. Copper technology has been used for interconnects, and the resulting reduced pixel height gives high focusing efficiency and sensitivity. The overall performance is comparable to , or even exceeds, CCD quality.
DigitalCameraReview have just reviewed the new Samsung Digimax i5, a slim 5 megapixel digital camera with 3x optical internal zoom lens equivalent to 39-117mm and a 2.5” 230K-pixel high resolution LCD.
“The Samsung Digimax i5 is an attractive camera in a busy field of ultra-compact cameras. The inclusion of 50MB of internal memory is a real plus for this camera as is the excellent 2.5 inch LCD. However, slower than average shutter lag and average image quality need to be weighed against the positives in order for this to be a good choice for you.”
Website: DigitalCameraReview - Samsung Digimax i5 Review
PCMagazine have reviewed the new 5 megapixel Samsung Digimax U-CA5 camera.
“We can’t quibble with the 5.1MP Samsung Digimax U-CA 5’s $250 price tag, but when it comes to features and performance, the camera disappoints. The resolution is in the 4MP range, the menus are clunky, and we noticed a good deal of shutter lag during testing. The market is crowded with consumer cameras vying for your money, and most of them are better than this one.”
DCResource have taken a look at the new Samsung Digimax i5, a slim 5 megapixel digital camera with 3x optical internal zoom lens equivalent to 39-117mm and a 2.5” 230K-pixel high resolution LCD.
“I applaud Samsung for going above and beyond the call of duty in the bundled memory department. Like many manufacturers, Samsung choose to build memory right into the i5 instead of supplying a memory card. On most cameras in this class, that means anywhere from 8.3 to 16 Megabytes of internal memory. Not Samsung—they put a whopping 50MB of internal memory on the i5, something that separates it from everything else in this class. If you want to add more memory, you can buy a Secure Digital or MultiMedia card and put it into the slot on the bottom of the camera. I’d suggest a 256MB SD card as a good starting point. A high speed SD card does make a difference, especially when shooting in continuous mode.”
Website: DCResource - Samsung Digimax i5 Review
PCMagazine have posted a less than enthusiastic review of the new 7 megapixel Samsung Digimax V700.
“Samsung has been bold recently, laying out plans to penetrate the digital camera market and position itself among the leaders, up with Canon, Nikon, and Sony. But it certainly won’t get there making mediocre cameras like the 7.1-megapixel Digimax V700. Given the problems we found in testing and using this compact, the V700 falls far short of its competition.”
Website: PCMagazine - Samsung Digimax V700 Review
SD Card Association Press Release
SD Card Association Announces Final Approval of the microSD Specification—World’s Smallest Removable Storage Card
SAN RAMON, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—July 13, 2005—The SD Card Association (SDA) today announced the final approval of the microSD specification that is now available for immediate use. The microSD card, the world’s smallest removable storage card provides full compatibility and interoperability with current SD devices. The card is fully compatible with SanDisk’s TransFlash(TM) cards, over 5 million of which have shipped to date and is supported in 40+ handsets announced by manufacturers such as Motorola, Samsung, LG, Kyocera, and Sagem.
Ampex Press Release
Redwood City, CA June 14, 2005 - Ampex Corporation (OTCBB:AEXCA) today announced that it has concluded license agreements with two manufacturers of digital still cameras based in Japan: Nikon Corporation (Nikon), and Funai Electric Co., Ltd. (Funai).
The agreements permit the use of several United States and foreign patents held by Ampex in the manufacture and sale of digital still cameras. The licenses provide that their terms are confidential.
Pursuant to the licenses, Ampex will receive during its second fiscal quarter negotiated payments totaling approximately $2 million to settle liability for past use of its patents prior to conclusion of the agreements. The licensees will also pay to Ampex quarterly running royalties in the future based on the sales value of digital still cameras that utilize its patents.
Samsung Pro815 is unveiled. The Samsung Pro815 is an 8 megapixel digital camera with a 15x Schneider-KREUZNACH optical zoom lens equivalent to 28-420mm on a 35mm camera and a massive 3.5” TFT LCD screen and an electronic viewfinder. The Pro815 comes with the world’s largest-capacity 1900mAh, 7.4V lithium-ion battery which enables shooting of up to 500 frames on a full charge. In addition the Samsung Pro815 has a 1.44 inch LCD on the top of the camera to enable waist-level shooting. High speed mode ensures steady shooting even in tele-zoom, as the Pro815 automatically increases the sensitivity up to a maximum of ISO 800. Three rings surrounding the lens control manual zoom, manual focusing and EV compensation, providing you with direct control of manual operations on the Pro815. Price and availability of the Samsung Pro815 to be announced.
Samsung Press Release
Samsung Camera releases the best-in-class 8 mega-pixel digital camera - Pro815
Samsung Camera has announced that the company will release the world’s longest (15X) optical zoom 8 megapixel high-end digital camera (model name: Pro815), targeting enthusiast photographers, later this year. The Pro815, offers unrivalled features and performance and is beyond comparison to other cameras in the same class. This marks the pinnacle of Samsung Camera’s product range for 2005.
Samsung Digimax V800 is introduced. The Samsung Digimax V800 is an 8 megapixel digital camera with a 3x Schneider-KREUZNACH optical zoom lens and 2.5” colour LCD with 230,000 pixels. The Digimax V800 is even faster than the current 7 megapixel Digimax V700 in terms of operational speed - a picture can be taken as soon as the power is turned on. For an enhanced movie shooting experience MPEG-4 is used and the Samsung V800 can record in VGA(640x480) mode at 30 fps. The Samsung V800 also has movie stabilization, which helps maintain steady recording of a subject. Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual modes, as well as Manual Focus allowing detailed focus control, are all available. The Digimax V800 provides a Histogram showing a variety of shooting information, including brightness and contrast, to help adjust exposure. Price and avability of the Samsung Digimax V800 to be announced.
Samsung Press Release
Samsung Camera releases a high-grade 8 mega-pixel digital camera - the Digimax V800
The Digimax V800, newly released by Samsung Camera, is an evolution of the Digimax V700, which was released early this year and has enjoyed a strong market response. According to a source from Samsung Camera, the company aims to lead in the 8 mega-pixel compact digital camera market, satisfying both amateur and enthusiast photographers with the Digimax V800.
Samsung Digimax i5 is introduced. The Samsung Digimax i5 is a slim 5 megapixel digital camera with 3x optical internal zoom lens equivalent to 39-117mm and a 2.5” 230K-pixel high resolution LCD. The Samsung i5 will be available in silver, black, red and grey. The Digimax i5 supports the MPEG-4 video format and can record up to 30 frames per second at VGA resolution. It also has a movie stabilizer function. Samsung will release a compact waterproof protective housing for the Digimax i5. Price and availability of the Samsung Digimax i5 to be announced.
Samsung is also planning to release a new MP3-enabled product with an aluminum cover (model name: i50 MP3) as a follow-up model for the i5 later this year. Further details to come.
Samsung Press Release
Samsung Camera releases the slim digital camera - Digimax i5
Samsung Camera has recently announced the launch of a new 5 mega-pixel, 3X optical zoom digital camera with internal zoom technology adopted for the first time in Samsung digital cameras (model name: Digimax i5). With enhanced design and multimedia capabilities, the Digimax i5 will accelerate Samsung’s penetration into both the domestic and international slim digital camera market, where demand is surging among the young population.
Samsung Digimax L50 is released. The Samsung Digimax L50 is a 5 megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom lens and 2.5 inch LCD screen with 230,000 pixels. For an enhanced movie shooting experience MPEG-4 is used by the Samsung L50 and it can record in VGA(640X480) at 30 fps. The Samsung L50 also has a movie stabilizer to reduce camera shake. Price and availability of the Samsung Digimax L50 to be announced.
Samsung Press Release
Samsung Camera releases a 5 mega-pixel digital camera - the Digimax L50
Samsung Camera has announced that it will release a 5 mega-pixel high-resolution digital camera with Samsung’s 3X optical zoom SHD lens(model name: Digimax L50) to strengthen its success in the expanding, 5 mega-pixel digital camera sector.
The Digimax L50, released by Samsung Camera, is a portable pocket-sized digital camera(93.3X52.1X22.3 mm) that provides faster operation speed and a variety of functions. Even though the Digimax L50 is small Samsung have managed to ensure it has a 230k-pixel 2.5” large LCD.
Samsung Digimax L55W is unveiled. The Samsung Digimax L55W is a 5 megapixel digital camera with a 4.8x optical zoom lens equivalent to 28mm-135mm and a 2.8 inch wide LCD that allows you to view in 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios. The Samsung L55W uses the MPEG-4 video format and can record in VGA(640X480) mode at 30 fps. The Samsung L55W also has movie stabilization, which helps maintain steady recording of a subject. Price and availability of the Samsung Digimax L55W to be announced.
Samsung Press Release
Samsung Camera widens its range even further with the release of the Digimax L55W a 5 mega-pixel, 4.8X zoom digital camera with wide-angle capabilities
Samsung Camera has announced that the company will release a 5 mega-pixel, 4.8X optical zoom digital camera (model name: Digimax L55W) later this year marking Samsung’s entry into the market for compacts with a high zoom.
Most regular compact digital cameras have a 3Xoptical zoom, the Digimax L55W has a 4.8X optical zoom offering a focusing range of 28mm-135mm(35mm equivalent). The 28mm wide-angle lens provides a far wider field of vision than a regular camera, allowing you to capture sweeping landscapes or to fit a group of subjects into just one frame. The Digimax L55W is a unique advanced digital camera that supports both 28mm wide-angle and 4.8X telephoto zoom, extending the range of options available to the photographer.
Samsung Digimax A50 is released. The Samsung Digimax A50 is a 5 megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom lens and 2.5 inch LCD screen. The Samsung A50 supports the MPEG-4 video format and can record in VGA(640X480) mode at 30 fps. The Samsung A50 can also reduce the camera shake that occurs during movie recording. Price and availability of the Samsung Digimax A50 to be announced.
Samsung Press Release
Samsung Camera releases a 5 mega-pixel digital camera with 3X optical zoom - the Digimax A50
Samsung Camera has announced that it will release a 5 mega-pixel high-resolution digital camera with Samsung’s 3X optical zoom SHD lens(model name: Digimax A50) to drive penetration of the important 5 megapixel category.
The Digimax A50 provides a 4X digital zoom in addition to a 3X optical zoom, achieving 12X total zoom when they are used together. It also provides 5X zoom during playback,. The Digimax A50 is equipped with a large 2.5” 200K high-resolution LCD to offer the best image quality for getting the right shot and reviewing your pictures.
Samsung Digimax A55W is announced. The Samsung Digimax A55W is a 5 megapixel digital camera with a a 4.8X optical zoom and 2.5 inch LCD screen. The Samsung A55W supports the MPEG-4 video format and can record in VGA(640X480) format at 30 fps. The Digimax A55W offers movie stabilization, which helps maintain steady recording of a subject. Price and availability of the Samsung Digimax A55W to be announced.
Samsung Press Release
Samsung Techwin widens its 5 mega-pixel digital camera portfolio with the Digimax A55W
The Digimax A55W provides 5X digital zoom in addition to a 4.8X optical zoom, achieving 24X total zoom when used at the same time. It also provides 8X zoom during playback, so you can really check the detail of the shots you have taken. The Digimax A55W is equipped with a large 2.5” 200K high-resolution LCD to offer superb image quality for both photography and image playback.
ATP Press Release
ATP Showcases Latest Flash Card Innovation at Computex 2005
New ProMax Super High Speed (133X) SD cards up to 2GB and MMCmicroTM cards up to 512MB for Latest Mobile Phones
Sunnyvale, CA (May 30, 2005) - ATP, a leading manufacturer of quality memory products, will showcase its latest flash media products at Computex Taipei 2005 from May 31 to June 4, in Taipei Taiwan. The ATP booth is located in Hall 1, Area C, Booth # C1100, C1102, C1199, and C1201, where ATP will debut both its ProMaxTM series of super high speed SD cards and MMCmicroTM cards. Both product unveilings are expected to solidify ATP’s leading expertise in the design and manufacture of the highest capacity, performance and quality flash cards in ultra small form factors.
Samsung Digimax i5 is announced today. The Samsung Digimax i5 is an ultra-slim digital camera with a depth of just 17.3mm. The Samsung i5 has a 5 megapixel sensor, 3 optical zoom lens and 2.5” high resolution LCD with 230,000 pixels. Available in in silver, black, red and blue, the Samsung i5 will cost under £250 in the UK.
Samsung UK Press Release
Digimax i5 - in the palm of your hand. Blending form and function
Samsung launches the i5 - its first ever ultra-slim digital camera with internal zoom technology, set to retail for under £250. Measuring only 17.3mm this is truly one of the slimmest cameras on the market today.
Marking the start of a series of camera announcements from Samsung, the i5 houses 5 mega-pixel resolution in a stunningly compact stainless steel body. The internal zoom technology delivers 15x zoom (3x optical zoom; 5x digital zoom) allowing the i5 to retain its ultra-sleek form.
DPReview have published their review of the new 7 megapixel Samsung Digimax V700.
“The V700 is the first Samsung camera we’ve ever tested on dpreview, and to be honest we were fairly sceptical that a camera offering so much at a price well below similarly-specified cameras from the mainstream manufacturers could possibly deliver on its promise. So does it? In a word, partially. In many respects the V700 can hold its own when compared to significantly more expensive models such as the Canon S70 or Olympus C-7000Z. It has a very comprehensive set of photographic controls (which aren’t hidden away in menus), a good lens producing superb resolution and a well-rounded feature set that combines user-friendly ‘point and shoot’ ease with proper enthusiast control. It also produces bright, sharp results that make very appealing prints, though purists will find that even after tweaking the various parameters the images are a little too ‘over processed’ (and a little noisy) for their liking.”
Website: DPReview - Samsung Digimax V700 Review
PhotoBox Limited Press Release
PhotoBox Limited, today announced it has signed a deal with Littlewoods brand, LX Direct, that will offer new services to users of the Littlewoods site www.lxdirect.com.
With the PhotoBox digital photography service integrated into www.lxdirect.com, Littlewoods is building the services available to their community online and encouraging loyalty in a highly competitive market. This partnership will provide their customers with the chance to share memories with loved ones instantly. Their favourite photographs can be seen online by family and friends through private photo albums, they can even share them with the rest of the world if they choose to make the album public.
Printing is also easy with the PhotoBox service, customers simply select their favourite photographs online, order them and they’re delivered the next day. LX Direct online customers can choose from a huge variety of shapes and sizes, from traditional 6x4 to 20x8 panoramic posters. For special occasions and celebrations there’s a range of beautiful personalised gifts like mugs, calendars and canvas prints, to name but a few.
Samsung Digimax A402 is announced. The Samsung Digimax A402 is a 4 megapixel camera with a 4x digital zoom (no optical zoom) and 1.8 inch LCD screen. The Samsung A402 uses SD/MMC memory cards and has 16MB internal flash memory. Perhaps the biggest attraction of the Samsung Digimax A402 is its price - likely to be under £100.
Samsung UK Press Release
Samsung Cameras has taken another giant leap forward with the launch of the incredibly stylish Digimax A402. Available in Black, Red or Silver, the 4 mega-pixel A402 certainly has plenty of wow factor.
With a street price likely to be under £100, the new addition to the A Series is at the forefront of Samsung’s commitment to designing great digital cameras suited to how you want to take pictures.
Lexar Media Press Release
Jury Awards Lexar Over $380 Million For Toshiba’s Theft of Trade Secrets and Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Jury To Consider Punitive Damages Tomorrow
FREMONT, CA, March 23, 2005 – Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq:LEXR), a leading marketer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media and accessories, today announced that after a six week trial, the jury found Toshiba Corporation (JP:6502) and Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (PNK:TOSBF.PK) liable of breach of fiduciary duty and theft of trade secrets and awarded Lexar over $380 million in damages.
The jury also found that Toshiba’s and TAEC’s actions were oppressive, fraudulent or malicious, which supports an award of punitive damages. Evidence and argument will be presented to the jury tomorrow on the amount of punitive damages.
Thanks to Sanj for letting me know.
Zoran Press Release
SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/—Zoran Corporation (NASDAQ:ZRAN) announced that its COACH 7 digital camera processor is powering Samsung’s new Digimax V700 and Digimax U-CA 5 high quality, high performance digital camera models displayed recently at the Photo Marketing Association tradeshow in Orlando, Florida.
The new Digimax V700 delivers 7.1 megapixel high resolution images with enough high quality detail to print poster size. It comes with a 30x (3x optical, 10x digital) zoom with world renowned Schneider lens, high-speed shot capture and is equipped with a 2.0-inch LCD screen. The V700 supports MPEG-4 video recording of movie clips in VGA at 30 frames per second that can be played back on a television or PC. The movie capture feature supports Zoran’s proprietary jitter stabilization technology, suppressing unwanted camera jitters. Additional features include manual shooting, scene selection, special effects, and a voice recording function among others.
Lexar Press Release
Lexar Expands Award-Winning Professional Series Flash Memory Cards and Accessories
Line-Up Now Features Speed-Rated SD Card and Memory Stick PRO in Newly Designed Packaging
ORLANDO, FL, February 20, 2005 (PMA booth #4132) – Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a world leader in advanced digital media technologies, today announced the expansion of the company’s Professional Series of flash memory cards and accessories by adding Professional Memory Stick PRO™, speed rated at 80X, and Professional Secure Digital™ (SD), speed rated at 60X, to its award-winning professional line of products. In addition, the company also announced that the complete line of Professional Series flash memory cards and accessories is now available in newly designed, eye-catching packaging designed to drive customer attention at retail sales locations.
Lexar’s Platinum Series Flash Memory Cards Provide Consumers with High-Speed Performance and Superior Reliability
Complete Platinum Series of Cards Now Speed-Rated at 40X, Including Memory Stick PRO and Secure Digital (SD) Formats
ORLANDO, FL, February 20, 2005 (PMA booth #4132) – Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a world leader in advanced digital media technologies, today announced that the company’s full line of Platinum Series flash memory cards are speed-rated at 40X, equivalent to a minimum sustained data read and write speed capability of 6MB per second, and provide consumers with superior performance. Available in recently updated, contemporary packaging designed to drive consumer interest at retail sales locations worldwide, Lexar’s Platinum Series now includes Memory Stick PRO™ and Secure Digital™ (SD) flash media formats as well as CompactFlash®.
Kodak and Lexar Press Release
Kodak and Lexar Expand Flash Memory Card Line-Up to Include Popular Mobile Card Formats
CANNES, France—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Feb. 14, 2005—miniSD, Reduced Size MMC (RS-MMC), MMCmobile Formats Make It Easy to Print, Share, and Store Pictures Anytime, Anywhere
Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) and Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq:LEXR) today announced the further expansion of the KODAK flash memory card line to include popular formats for mobile devices including mobile camera phones and PDAs.
“Generations of people have trusted Kodak to help them take and preserve pictures. Our introduction of the new KODAK memory cards is yet another way of extending such trust and reliability to the mobile imaging market,” said Claudio D’Amico, general manager, worldwide memory business, Digital and Film Imaging Systems, Eastman Kodak Company. “The mobile memory card formats—miniSD, Reduced Size MMC, and MMCmobile cards—will be competitively priced and offered at retail locations where memory cards and mobile devices are currently sold.”
CNET News are running an interesting story on the use of image processors, looking at which digital camera manufacturers make their own and which use chips from 3rd partys like Pixim, Texas Instruments and NuCore.
“So far, progress is proceeding in a bottom-up fashion. NuCore has landed deals with Contax, Kyocera and JVC, among others, and has shipped a million chips since production began in 2001. Texas Instruments maintains comfortable relationships with Kodak and HP, the top two U.S. manufacturers, and sells its chips for use in cameras from Olympus and Samsung.”
Website: CNET News - Who will become the Intel of photography?
The following press release only has a tenuous link to photography, in that a new cameraphone with 1.3 megapixels is hardly going to set the world on fire. What is interesting is the way in which the Samsung SCH-S310 mobile phone is controlled by the user - apparently it detects 3-dimensional movement, so that “the user can “write” the number “three” in the air. The mobile phone can read this movement and then dial “3.” Shaking the phone twice will conclude a call or delete spam messages.” Imagine millions of people all drawing madly in the air with their hands…George Orwell never predicted that!
Samsung Press Release
The Samsung SCH-S310 mobile phone, the world’s first “3D movement recognition” mobile phone. (Photo: Business Wire)
SEOUL, South Korea—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Jan. 12, 2005—Samsung Electronics
—The world’s first movement recognition mobile phone is unveiled; a new starting point for mobile phone technology.
—Ultra-precision technology calculates spatial movement in three dimensions.
Samsung Electronics unveiled the world’s first “3D movement recognition” mobile phone (model: SCH-S310). ‘Accelerometer’ is built in to accurately calculate and ascertain movement in three dimensional space and then carry out commands according to those calculations.
Sophisticated sensing technology calculates the direction in which the mobile phone is moving as well as its speed of movement. The capability extends beyond the identification of the general locus to include precise recognition of small and rapid movements as well as alphanumeric symbols.
Mobile Imaging and Printing Consortium Press Release
Mobile Imaging and Printing Consortium Publishes Initial Guidelines for Consumer Printing of Camera Phone Images
- SAN DIEGO, United States, January 10, 2005 -
The Mobile Imaging and Printing Consortium (MIPC), an industry group developing solutions and implementation guidelines for printing images captured with camera phones, today announced their first set of guidelines for the mobile and printing industry.
January 10, 2005 San Diego, California – The Mobile Imaging and Printing Consortium (MIPC), an industry group developing solutions and implementation guidelines for printing images captured with camera phones, today announced their first set of guidelines for the mobile and printing industry.
This first set of the MIPC Implementation Guidelines sets a common standard which all mobile and printer manufacturers can follow and implement into their products. The guidelines leverage existing connectivity technology standards and solutions, such as Bluetooth™ wireless technology, printing from memory cards and PictBridge. As a result, consumers can expect seamless interoperability between a broad base of mobile phones and printers. Any products that follow the MIPC technical guidelines will work with each other in that applicable technology.
Samsung USA Press Release
SAMSUNG ADDS NEW 7 MEGA PIXEL FLAGSHIP MODEL TO ITS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL V-SERIES LINE OF DIGITAL CAMERAS
New Digimax V700 To Lead the Way for 2005
LAS VEGAS, N.V., (January 6, 2005) – For manufacturers, there is no better launch pad than the Consumer Electronics Show when it comes to introducing their hottest, most advanced electronics for the new year. Samsung Camera will do exactly that as they are set to introduce the Digimax V700 - a seven mega pixel digital still camera. Following the Digimax V50, introduced at CES 2004, the V700 is the latest addition to Samsung’s highly successful V-Series line of high end digital cameras. Competitively priced at $399.99, the V700 is sure to turn heads with its unparalleled style and host of features, making it one of the most affordable, advanced point-and-shoot digital still cameras on the market today.
Samsung USA Press Release
SAMSUNG INTRODUCES 3 NEW MODELS TO ITS AVANCED, HI-TECH AND AFFORDABLE A-SERIES LINE OF DIGITAL CAMERAS
LAS VEGAS, N.V., (January 6, 2005) – Samsung Camera is pleased to announce the introduction of 3 new models to its newly formed A-Series line of midrange digital cameras. At 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 effective mega pixels respectively, the Digimax A5, A6 and A7 are far more than stereotypical midrange point and shoot digital still cameras as each is equipped with a wide range of the most technologically advanced and cutting-edge features available on the market. The A5, A6 and A7 are among six new, affordable digital cameras that Samsung will be introducing at this year’s CES.
Samsung USA Press Release
SAMSUNG CAMERA PACKS 5 MEGA PIXEL POWER AND HOST OF IMPRESSIVE FEATURES IN AN ULTRA-THIN PACKAGE
Digimax U-CA 505—Small Enough to Fit In the Palm of Your Hand
LAS VEGAS, N.V., (January 6, 2005) – Thin is in at the 2005 CES show in Las Vegas, as all of the top digital camera manufacturers will be showing their slimmest, most compact models on the exhibit floor. Samsung Camera is no exception and the new Digimax U?CA 505 is a perfect example of the trend toward thin this year. Sleek, compact and ultra thin (97mm x 52mm x 25mm), the new Digimax U-CA 505 packs a ton of impressive features into a stylish body that’s small enough to take anywhere. A 5 mega pixel camera with 5x digital zoom, the U-CA 505 is destined to become the camera of choice for style conscious consumers who travel light and want to catch life’s excitement along the way.
Samsung USA Press Release
SAMSUNG CAMERA PROVES THAT VERSATILITY CAN BE AFFORDABLE WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DIGIMAX A400
A400 Joins the Ranks of the Affordable A-Series with a Host of User Friendly Features
LAS VEGAS, N.V., (January 6, 2005) – Samsung Camera is proud to introduce the Digimax A400—a 4.0 mega pixel digital camera that is big on functionality and small on price. With a host of advanced features such as 9 different and customizable photo frame modes, 5 different scene modes and 2.8x optical and 4x digital zoom, the Samsung Digimax A400 is one of the only compact digital cameras in its class to offer such an impressive combination of quality and creative control. With an estimated street price of just $189.99, the Digimax A400 was designed to deliver high-end performance without breaking the consumers’ bank.
Samsung Press Release
SAMSUNG’S Compact New DUOCAM™ Puts The Best Of Both Worlds In The Palm Of Your Hand
3rd Generation DuoCam Is 40% Smaller, Combining State-Of-The-Art Digital Video and Pro Quality Still Photo Capability in New Ultra-Compact Package
Las Vegas, NV - Samsung Electronics America, Inc., which pioneered true digital imaging convergence with the award-winning DuoCam family of integrated digital camcorders/still cameras, is making a great idea smaller than ever with the introduction of the ultra-compact SC-D6550 DuoCam. The palm-sized SC-D6550 features Samsung’s groundbreaking dual-lens system, which can switch modes effortlessly to produce sharp-as-life digital video or high-resolution still images. Samsung’s newest DuoCam will be on display throughout CES 2005 in the Samsung booth, #11024 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 6th - 9th.
Sony and Samsung have teamed up by agreeing to share the majority of the 24,000 patents that they jointly hold. It remains to be seen how this will affect each manufacturer’s digital cameras and accessories - will we see Sony’s unique Night Hologram mode appearing on Samsung cameras, for example?
“Sony and Samsung started negotiations on the cross-licensing deal in December 2003. The agreement is broad, covering 94 percent of Sony’s 13,000 U.S. registered patents, and a similar percentage of Samsung’s 11,000 U.S. registered patents.
The remainder are viewed as “differentiation technology patents” and will remain the sole property of each company. They include patents on the PlayStation’s architecture and Samsung’s home networking technology.”
Website: CIOL
Samsung Camera Press Release 13/12/04
December 13, 2004—Samsung Camera is pleased to announce the availability of a $50 rebate on its Digimax V50, Digimax V6, Digimax, V5, Digimax U-CA 4 and Digimax U-CA 3 digital cameras. The offer is valid through January 31, 2005, giving shoppers yet another great reason to choose Samsung Digimax digital cameras for everyone on their gift lists this year.
Customers who purchase any of the above mentioned cameras at participating stores can redeem the rebates by sending a complete certificate, a copy of the original cash register receipt with the price circled and the original UPC code on the camera box to Samsung Digimax Digital Camera Production, P.O. Box 9087, Bridgeport, NJ 08014.
Lexar Media Press Release 13/12/04
FREMONT, CA, December 13, 2004 – Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a world leader in advanced digital media technologies, today announced a new USB card form factor designed for universal and superior interoperability to bring next generation storage, connectivity and utility products to a broad variety of computing, consumer electronics and mobile electronics devices.
The new USB card form factor is based on the USB Type A connector as outlined in the Universal Serial Bus Specification. A mere 12 millimeters wide, 4.5 millimeters high and 31.75 millimeters long the card is no longer than the diameter of a penny. At half the width and a little more than twice the height, it is volumetrically similar to an SD card. The rugged, sturdy metal housing is intended to make the USB card suitable for use in a range of environments.
Samsung Press Release 13/12/04
Samsung Electronics Develops Removable, Thumbnail-Sized Memory Card for Mobile Phones
SEOUL, South Korea—(Business Wire)—Dec. 14, 2004 - Samsung announced today that it has developed an extremely small, low-power multimedia memory card (MMC) for mobile phones. The Samsung MMCmicro memory card has been designed to overcome a major hurdle in cell phone design—achieving high performance with a low-power, removable memory card, now smaller than the size of a thumbnail.
With dimensions of only 12x14x1.1mm, Samsung’s new “MMCmicro” device is one-third the size of today’s common reduced-size multimedia cards (RS-MMC). Samsung said that the design of its low-power card makes it easy to incorporate removable memory into progressively smaller mobile phones. Each card can operate on 1.8 or 3.3 volts of power.
Samsung Camera Press Release 15/11/04
SAMSUNG ADDS 6-MEGA PIXEL V6 MODEL TO ITS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL V SERIES LINE OF DIGITAL CAMERAS
SECAUCUS, N.J., (November 15, 2004) - Samsung Camera today announced the launch of the Digimax V6 six mega pixel digital camera, the latest introduction to the highly successful Digimax V Series range of compact digital cameras. The V6 is one of three new models added to the Samsung Digimax range of digital still cameras for the 2004 holiday season. With world-renowned Schneider optics, 6 mega pixel clarity, support for nine different power sources and a street price of just $399.99, it is sure to be one of the most popular holiday gifts of 2004.
Samsung Press Release 08/11/04
SAMSUNG BRIDGES GAP BETWEEN QUALITY AND “COOL” WITH LAUNCH OF U-CA 4 THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Designed for Today’s Young, Tech-Savvy Snap Shooters, the U-CA 4 Has it All
SECAUCUS, N.J., (November 8, 2004) - With the holiday shopping season rapidly approaching, millions of American consumers are turning their attention to the task of getting their hands on the hottest, most cutting-edge gadgets and gizmos for everyone on their gift list this year. Finding the coolest high-tech gifts is difficult enough, but finding high-tech gifts for the kids that combine quality and cool has been nearly impossible—until now. Samsung has bridged the gap between quality and cool with the launch of its new Digimax U-CA 4 digital still camera. With 4 mega pixel resolution, MPEG 4 video compression, a stylish, compact design, the choice of three body colors and a street price of just $299.99, the U-CA 4 is sure to be a hit with parents as well as tech-savvy kids this holiday season.
Samsung Camera Press Release 02/11/04
Samsung Adds 6-Megapixel A6 to its Rapidly Growing Digimax Range Of Compact Digital Still Cameras
Secaucus, N.J., (November 1, 2004) - Samsung Camera today announced the launch of the Digimax A6 6-megapixel digital camera. The A6 is the first member of the Digimax “A Series”, and one of several new compact, digital point and shoots introduced in the U.S. market by Samsung in advance of the holiday season. Offering superb image quality, an extremely robust feature set and a highly-intuitive graphical user interface (GUI), the A6 combines all the best features that digital imaging has to offer in a sleek, compact and stylish package. With an approximate street price of just $349, the A6 puts all of these features well within reach of even the most budget conscious consumer this holiday season.
Lexar Media, Inc. 27/09/04
Lexar and Kodak Expand Flash Memory Card Offering With the Introduction of KODAK xD-Picture Cards
COLOGNE, Germany, September 29, 2004—Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), and Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: EK), announced today the continued expansion of KODAK flash memory cards with the introduction of KODAK xD-Picture Cards. The addition of the xD-Picture Card continues the companies’ commitment to offer consumers a range of popular digital media formats. Lexar will distribute and market KODAK xD-Picture Cards through both Lexar and Kodak’s global retail distribution channels beginning in the fourth quarter of 2004.
“Retailers and distributors worldwide are eager to begin offering KODAK xD-Picture Cards to more fully meet the consumer demand spurred by the popularity of digital photography,” said Bobby Billman, vice president of marketing, Lexar. “With this addition to the KODAK memory card line, we are offering a wider variety of products that people trust for capturing and preserving their memories - hallmarks of Kodak.”
LetsGoDigital have exclusive news of 6 new digital cameras from Samsung, headed by the 7 megapixel Digimax V70 (pictured). No sign of any official press releases yet, so more details when I get them. In the meantime here’s a brief round-up of the new models:
Samsung Digimax V70
“With a 7 Megapixel high definition CCD, the Digimax V70 gives photographers the ability to print up to A1 size of poster with great detail. Coupled with the on camera trimming function this means you can get the shot you want without using a PC. The Digimax V70 has 3x optical zoom (equivalent to 38mm -114mm in 35mm format) and a further 5x digital zoom to give 15x total zoom.”
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_1793.html
Samsung Digimax U-CA 505
“Sleek, compact and ultra thin (97 x 52 x 25 mm), the Digimax U-CA 501/505 packs impressive features, including 5 Megapixels, into a stylish body that’s small enough to take anywhere. The Digimax U-CA 501/505 has a 2.0-inch TFT LCD, which is a pleasure to use outdoors, bright enough to use even in direct sunlight for both composing and reviewing your shots.”
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_1792.html
Samsung Digimax U-CA 501
“Sleek, compact and ultra thin (97 x 52 x 25 mm), the Digimax U-CA 501/505 packs impressive features, including 5 Megapixels, into a stylish body that’s small enough to take anywhere. The Digimax U-CA 501/505 has a 2.0-inch TFT LCD, which is a pleasure to use outdoors, bright enough to use even in direct sunlight for both composing and reviewing your shots.”
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_1792.html
Samsung Digimax A6
“The Samsung Digimax A6 and A5 digital cameras come equipped with a wide range of the most technologically advanced and cutting-edge features available on the market at an affordable price. The Digimax A6 has a 6 Megapixel CCD sensor and the Digimax A5 has a 5 Megapixel CCD sensor.”
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_1791.html
Samsung Digimax A5
“The Samsung Digimax A6 and A5 digital cameras come equipped with a wide range of the most technologically advanced and cutting-edge features available on the market at an affordable price. The Digimax A6 has a 6 Megapixel CCD sensor and the Digimax A5 has a 5 Megapixel CCD sensor.”
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_1791.html
Samsung Digimax A400
“A 4 Megapixel auto focus camera with 2.8x optical and 4x digital zoom, the Samsung Digimax A400 captures crisp images. The Digimax has a 2.0-inch colour TFT LCD that enables users to quickly and easily review and preview. The superb 5cm macro mode allows users to capture clear images of subject matter as close as 5cm from the camera’s lens.”
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_1790.html
Website: LetsGoDigital - Photokina Coverage
The Norwegian website DiGIT ran this story earlier in the week, but now Samsung have issued the official press release for their new 6 megapixel camera, the Digimax V6. The best news seems to be the price, which is “set to retail at well under £300”.
Samsung Press Release 05/08/04
Samsung Introduces the V6, its Most Powerful Digital Camera to Date
Building on previous success, Samsung Cameras introduces its most powerful camera ever to the acclaimed V range, the V6.
Developed with the more demanding photographer in mind, where high definition shooting is required, it features 6 million megapixels in a stylish aluminum design and is set to retail at a well under £300.
The Samsung Digimax V6 provides more enhanced manual photograph functions for advanced users who expect true professional quality photography. Three kinds of manual creative adjustments are available: Aperture priority, Shutter priority, and Manual adjustment. The manual focus adjustment function allows fine focusing and total user control.
The exclusive 1400mAh Li-ion battery, enables users to take up to 380 images in succession. This feature provides unlimited ability for advanced users who want to take many pictures at once.
DP-Now have posted a First Look at the Samsung Digimax U-CA 3, a 3 megapixel digital camera aimed at the young photographer or the budding photo enthusiast.
“Although the Samsung U-CA 3 is a plastic-bodied camera, the mouldings are of a very high quality and appear to be more resistant to wear and tear than many other cameras in this class. Complementing its cool and trendy ambience, the body is finished in a sparkling metallic paint job. A really cool pouch case is supplied to protect your U-CA 3 anyway.”
Samsung Press Release
THE DIGIMAX I-PACK RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM ION BATTERY - ANOTHER WORLD’S FIRST FROM SAMSUNG CAMERA
Samsung is proud to announce the world’s first rechargeable Lithium-Ion CR-series battery pack. Known as the Digimax Battery I-Pack, it can replace two conventional AA cells or a single CR-V3 battery in today’s digital cameras while providing the high voltage and low temperature performance they demand. The I-Pack is compatible with numerous cameras yet is specifically designed as a power source for the Digimax series of digital cameras, including the V50, V5, 530, V40, V4, 430, 401, 370, V3, 250 and 202.
“No matter what kind of electronic devices consumers use today, the need for a reliable, long-lasting power source is universal,” said Gary Sutton, Sales manager for Samsung Camera. “With the introduction of the new I-Pack rechargeable battery, we’ve delivered an ideal power solution for the majority of the cameras within the Digimax line.”
Samsung Camera Press Release 12/02/04
SAMSUNG INTRODUCES 5-MEGAPIXEL MODEL TO ITS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL V SERIES LINE OF DIGITAL CAMERAS
SECAUCUS, N.J., (January FebruaryXX, 12, 2004) - Samsung Camera today announced the launch of the Digimax V5 five-megapixel digital camera, the latest introduction to the highly successful Digimax V Series range of compact digital cameras. The V5 is one of three new models added to the Samsung Digimax V Series at the start of 2004, and is prices at just $349.
“The launch of the V5 further demonstrates Samsung?s commitment to the digital still camera space,” said Ken Gerb, Senior Vice President, National Sales for Samsung Cameras. “As the market for high-end, prosumer type compact digitals shifts to higher resolution models, Samsung continues to anticipate consumer demand and deliver top quality products at affordable price points. The V5 is based largely on the design and feature sets of our familiar and highly-successful V3 and V4 models, so we expect it to be well received by consumers.”
Samsung Camera Press Release 12/02/04
SAMSUNG CAMERA ADDS STYLE AND SUBSTANCE TO COMPACT DIGITAL RANGE WITH NEW DIGIMAX V-SERIES MODELS
V50 and V40 Packed with Power and Features in Stylish Chassis
SECAUCUS, N.J., (February 12, 2004) - Samsung Camera will be packing quite a punch at this year?s PMA as it is set to introduce its newest Digimax cameras, the successors to the company’s popular flagship digital camera lineup. Following the success of the Samsung Digimax V4 and V3 models (unveiled at PMA in March, 2003) the new V50 and V40 propel the Digimax lineup to new heights, with new capabilities and features.
“The V50 and V40 represent the next generation of the highly successful V series line introduced at last year’s PMA show,” said Ken Gerb, Senior Vice PresidentNational Sales for Samsung Camera. “With features like MPEG-4 video compression, a 4cm (wide) macro feature, a 2-inch swivel LCD and compatibility with multiple external memory formats, these cameras are ideal for virtually every application. Of course, they also offer all of the signature features of our existing V series line, such as Schneider optics, compatibility with 9 different power sources and a host of manual controls”.
Samsung Camera Press Release 12/02/04
SAMSUNG DIGIMAX 530 DELIVERS QUALITY AND VERSATILITY AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE
SECAUCUS, N.J., (February 12, 2004) - Samsung Camera is proud to introduce the Digimax 530—a 5.0 megapixel digital camera that is big on quality and small on price. A quality 5-megapixel auto focus digital camera with 3x optical and 4x digital zoom, the new Digimax 530 allows even the casual snap shooter to experience everything the 5-megapixel world has to offer without breaking the bank. With an approximate street price of $279.99, the Digimax 530 is an incredible value. Its 1/1.8” CCD captures razor sharp images, and the 1.5” TFT LCD with multiple language support is ideal for image preview and review.
Samsung Camera Press Release 12/02/04
SAMSUNG LAUNCHES FULL-FEATURED, AFFORDABLE 3 AND 4 MEGAPIXEL DIGITAL CAMERAS IN DIGIMAX 370 AND 430
SECAUCUS, N.J., (February 12, 2004) - Samsung Camera has always been known for bringing high-end technology to consumers at very competitive prices. The company has established a leadership position in the 35mm point and shoot category by delivering products that are the undisputed price/performance leaders in their respective classes. The launch of its new Digimax 370 and 430 digital cameras at PMA 2004 underscores Samsung’s commitment to utilizing the same proven strategy in the digital still camera space.
“The new Digimax 370 and 430 cameras epitomize our strategy of providing the consumer with a full complement of high-end features at affordable price points,” said Ken Gerb, Senior Vice President, Sales for Samsung Camera. “Both come equipped with a host of features and technologies that are commonly found in much more expensive digital cameras. The 370 and 430 are perfect for the consumer who wants the quality of a 3 or4 megapixel camera without the hefty price tag that normally comes along with it.”
Samsung Camera Press Release 12/02/04
SAMSUNG DIGIMAX 250 OFFERS STATE-OF-THE-ART FEATURES AND TECHNOLOGY IN AN AFFORDABLE, EASY-TO-USE PACKAGE
SECAUCUS, N.J., (February 12, 2004) - Consumers who want all of the latest features and technologies in an easy-to-use, affordable digital still camera are about to find what they’re looking for in the new Samsung Digimax 250 model. Introduced at PMA 2004, the Samsung Digimax 250 is a compact, 2.1 megapixel digital camera with a sleek ergonomic design, 2x optical and 2x digital zoom, still and video image capture capabilities and a host of additional features and functions. Best of all, it comes at an approximate street price of just $139.99, making it as easy to own as it is to use!
The Samsung Digimax 250 was designed to meet the needs of even the most budget-conscious consumers who want to experience everything the digital world has to offer. With 2x optical and 2x digital zoom, multiple power sources, MPEG-4 video compression and a host of creative capabilities, there isn’t much that can’t be done with the Digimax 250.
Samsung Camera Press Release 12/02/04
SAMSUNG CAMERA INTRODUCES INCREDIBLY COMPACT, INCREDIBLY STYLISH CAMERA
SAMSUNG U-CA 401—Small in Stature but Big on Features
SECAUCUS, N.J., (February 12, 2004) - PMA might be the scene for some of the most impressive sights around, but Samsung Camera is truly turning heads with the launch of its new U-CA 401 ultra compact digital camera. Sleek, compact and ultra thin (96.7mm x 60mm x 15mm), the U-CA 401 packs a ton of impressive features into a stylish body that’s small enough to take anywhere. A 4 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom, the U-CA 401 is destined to become the camera of choice for those who like to travel light, but record all of their experiences along the way.
Samsung Camera Press Release 12/02/04
SAMSUNG CAMERA UNVEILS STYLISH, TINY, AFFORDABLE CAMERA FOR BUDDING PHOTOGRAPHIC ENTHUSIASTS
SAMSUNG Digimax U-CA 3 Provides Professional Features at Affordable Price, Perfect For Youth Market
SECAUCUS, N.J., (February 12, 2004) - PMA has always been the place to see what’s new in digital photography and get up close and personal with any new products before they hit the retail shelves. This year is no exception, and Samsung Camera is doing its part to keep tradition alive with introducing its new Digimax U-CA 3 compact digital camera at the show. Aimed at the young photographer or the budding photo enthusiast, the U-CA 3 packs a range of professional features into one compact, affordable body, scarcely bigger than a cell phone.
“The U-CA 3 is the ideal product for today’s young, hip digital photo enthusiasts,” said Ken Gerb, Senior Vice President, Sales for Samsung Cameras. “This camera is stylish, easy to use and packed with a host of cool new features that bring digital creativity and personalization to a whole new level. Like all of the Digimax cameras, the U-CA 3 is aggressively priced, and packed with all of the latest features and capabilities”.
Samsung Camera Press Release 12/02/04
SAMSUNG LAUNCHES NEW RANGE OF INEXPENSIVE ENTRY LEVEL DIGITAL CAMERAS
Ideal for First Time Buyers and Promotional Purposes
SECAUCUS, N.J., (February 12, 2004) - Samsung Camera today announced the launch of its new Samsung Digimax 401, 301 and 202 digital still cameras. At 4.0, 3.14 and 2.0 effective megapixels respectively, the Digimax 401, 301 and 202 combine to form a new range of entry level compact digital still cameras designed specifically for first time users and promotional purposes. Like all Samsung digital still cameras, each of these new models was designed to be the price/performance leader in its respective class. With approximate street prices of $179.99 for the 401, $129.99 for the 301 and $99.99 for the 202, there is little doubt that these new models will easily achieve that objective.
“Every Samsung Digimax model is designed to be the price/performance leader within its class,” said Ken Gerb, Senior Vice President of Sales for Samsung Camera. “From the V Series cameras at the highest end of the spectrum to these three models at the entry level position, consumers can count on Samsung cameras to offer all of the same features and functionalities as the other major manufacturers’ cameras—at lower price points. Our strategy is to deliver a unique combination of quality AND value, and this new entry-level line typifies that approach”.
Samsung Camera Press Release 12/02/04
THE DIGIMAX I-PACK RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM ION BATTERY - ANOTHER WORLD’S FIRST FROM SAMSUNG CAMERA
SECAUCUS, N.J., (February 12, 2004) - Samsung is proud to announce the world’s first rechargeable Lithium-Ion CR-series battery pack. Known as the Digimax Battery I-Pack, it can replace two conventional AA cells or a single CR-V3 battery in today’s digital cameras while providing the high voltage and low temperature performance they demand. The I-Pack is compatible with numerous cameras yet is specifically designed as a power source for the Digimax series of digital cameras, including the V50, V5, 530, V40, V4, 430, 401, 370, V3, 250 and 202.
“No matter what kind of electronic devices consumers use today, the need for a reliable, long-lasting power source is universal,” said Ken Gerb, senior vice president of sales for Samsung Opto-Electronics America, Inc. “With the introduction of the new I-Pack rechargeable battery, we?ve delivered an ideal power solution for the majority of the cameras within the Digimax line.”
Samsung Camera Press Release 12/02/04
SAMSUNG ADDS 1350Ti TO ITS POPULAR MAXIMA LINE OF 35MM POINT-AND-SHOOT CAMERAS
SECAUCUS, N.J., (February 12, 2004) - Samsung Camera today announced the launch of its new Maxima 1350Ti fully automatic 35mm point-and-shoot camera. The new camera features a 38-135mm Samsung SHD (Super High Definition) lens with aspherical elements for extra sharpness and a built-in flash with a maximum range of 37.7 ft with ISO 400 film. The camera covers a wide range of focal lengths and works perfectly for shooting any subject—indoors or out. The built in Quartz Date feature offers advanced imprinting capabilities, allowing the user to record the date and time of every photo right on the negative. With an approximate street price of $99.99, the Samsung Maxima 1350Ti camera combines affordability and ease-of-use with outstanding image quality.
“Despite the tremendous growth of digital photography, many consumers still want the familiarity and convenience of a 35mm, point and shoot camera,” said Ken Gerb, Senior Vice President, Sales for Samsung Camera. “Samsung has long been a leader in providing top quality, affordable products for those consumers, and will continue to do so as long as the demand exists.”
Lexar Media Press Release 12/02/04
Lexar Media Announces World’s Highest Capacity Memory Card with 8GB CompactFlash
Lexar Doubles the Highest Capacity of CompactFlash, Allowing Professional Photographers to Shoot and Store Over 1,000 High-Resolution RAW Image Files on One Memory Card
Las Vegas, February 12, 2004 (PMA Booth H100)—Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a leading manufacturer and marketer of high-performance digital media and accessories, today announced its 8GB Professional Series CompactFlash? card, the highest capacity memory card available in the world today. In addition to delivering extraordinary capacity in a matchbook-sized memory card, Lexar?s new 8GB CompactFlash card delivers a 40X speed-rating, signifying a minimum sustained write speed capability of 6MB/s. By maintaining a close alignment with manufacturers who offer high-end digital cameras that create high-resolution files - which can be over 8MB each, Lexar?s new 8GB memory card meets the needs of professional photographers who require capacity, speed and reliability - in an easy-to-handle removable media format.
Lexar Media Press Release 12/02/04
Lexar Media Announces 80X Professional CompactFlash Cards with 12MB/s Minimum Sustained Write Speed
Professional Memory Cards Include New Write Acceleration with Optimized Firmware for Increased In-Camera Performance
Las Vegas, February 12, 2004 (PMA Booth H100)—Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a leading manufacturer and marketer of high-performance digital media and accessories, today doubled the minimum sustained write speed capability of its Professional Series CompactFlash (CF) product line to 80X, or 12MB per second. With this introduction, Lexar Media is providing the fastest CompactFlash with guaranteed write speeds available, serving the needs of professional photographers and all digital camera users requiring faster image write times. Lexar is offering its 80X Professional Series CompactFlash cards in five different capacities, including 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB and 4GB. Lexar Media today also announced a 8GB 40X Professional Series CompactFlash card, extending the company?s CF line with the highest capacity CompactFlash card on the market.
Lexar Media Press Release 12/02/04
Lexar Media Announces its 1 Gigabyte Secure Digital Memory Cards
Las Vegas, February 12, 2004 (PMA, Booth H100)—Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a leading manufacturer and marketer of high-performance digital media and accessories, today announced that it has doubled its highest capacity Secure Digital (SD) memory card to 1 gigabyte. Lexar?s new larger capacity Secure Digital card allows users of SD compatible devices to capture more digital pictures, store more digital video, and listen to MP3s for longer periods of time. In a form factor roughly the size of a postage stamp, Secure Digital memory cards will now be available from Lexar Media in capacities from 32MB to 1GB.
1GB of memory capacity is equivalent to storing over 500 high-resolution JPEG images (with a 4 megapixel digital camera), 16 CDs worth of music, or close to 6 hours of MPEG 4 digital video ? on one compact, interchangeable memory card.
Lexar Media, Inc. Press Release 29/01/04
Fourth Quarter Revenues of $177 Million Increase 80% Sequentially and 171% Year-over-Year;
Fourth Quarter Earnings Total $0.21 per Diluted Share
FREMONT, Calif, January 29, 2004—Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a leading manufacturer and marketer of high-performance digital media and accessories, today reported record financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2003.
Total fourth quarter revenues of $177.5 million increased 80% sequentially from $98.7 million in the preceding quarter and 171% from $65.5 million in the same period last year. Product revenues of $172.8 million increased 83% from $94.3 million in the preceding quarter and 183% from $61.2 million in the same period last year. Gross margin for the quarter was 24%, compared to 27% in the preceding quarter and in the fourth quarter of last year. Net income was $18.9 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, as compared to $9.7 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, in the preceding quarter and $5.6 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, in the same period last year.
Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2003, were $412.3 million, a 137% increase from $174.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. Product revenues of $394.6 million for 2003 increased 152% from $156.7 million for 2002. Net income was $39.9 million, or $0.49 per diluted share in 2003, as compared to $4.0 million, or $0.06 per diluted share in 2002.
Lexar Media, Inc. Press Release 15/12/03
Companies? Latest Technologies to Produce the World?s Highest Capacity and Fastest Removable Memory Solutions
FREMONT, CA, December 15, 2003—Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR), a leading designer, developer and marketer of high-performance digital media and accessories, today announced that the company has begun sampling Samsung Electronics? first 8Gb NAND flash memory device. The new high-density chips, combined with Lexar Media?s next-generation controller technology, will enable Lexar Media to increase the performance and storage capacity of its award winning memory cards and USB flash drives.
?Photographers consistently demonstrate an insatiable appetite for fast, high-capacity digital storage and our close relationship with Samsung allows us to be the first to deliver it,? said Eric Stang, chairman, president and CEO, Lexar Media. ?Our collaboration with Samsung allows us to maximize the capabilities of their flash memory through advanced features programmed into our controller.?
?Our 8Gbit quad-die NAND flash using single level cell (SLC) technology offers a superior, reliable high performance storage solution over substantially slower multi level cell (MLC) solutions,? said Jon Kang, Senior Vice President of Samsung Electronics? memory product planning and application engineering team. ?Our SLC technology is not only low cost but also performs ideally for high-end, high performance applications such as digital still and video cameras allowing consumers to take consecutive pictures more quickly and enabling continuous recording of high quality video.?
Lexar Media?s next generation technology will produce faster write speeds in high-density memory through more efficient operation. Historically, Lexar Media’s proprietary and patented controller has allowed many sectors of flash memory to be programmed without any erase cycles, and erases blocks in the background when the system is idle for faster performance. Included in the new architecture are pipelining and streaming technology to enable smooth transfer of data without interruption, which further increases the speed at which data is written and read.
About Lexar Media, Inc.
Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: LEXR) is a leading designer, marketer and licensor of award-winning removable flash-based digital storage media, card readers and ATA controller solutions for the digital photography, consumer electronics, industrial and communications markets. Lexar Media brands digital memory cards in the industry’s most popular formats including CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard and SD. As a digital storage innovator, Lexar Media was the first to develop and advance proprietary read-write speed standards for its USB-enabled CompactFlash cards and holds over 60 controller and system patents. Licensees of Lexar Media’s technology include Olympus, SanDisk, Samsung Electronics and Sony. Headquartered in Fremont, California, Lexar Media also has offices in London and Tokyo. Lexar Media is a member of the Russell 2000 Index. For more information, please call 1-800-789-9418 or visit www.lexarmedia.com.
Samsung have announced a new addition to their extensive range of competitively-priced digital cameras. the U-CA3 measures 102 x 52.8 x 31mm and weighs a mere 145g. It has a 3.2 megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom.
“As much of a fashion accessory as a digital camera, the silver U-CA 3 is one piece of technology that when you’ve got it, you’re definitely going to want to flaunt it. More akin to the size of a mobile, the super-slim U-CA 3 has a real ‘wow’ factor. It’s sleek, stylish, sophisticated and, above all, small - without compromising on the latest digital camera technology.”
The Samsung U-CA3 is priced from under ?280 and comes with case, PC/Mac compatible software and a 32MB card. It will be available from the end of September 2003.
Website: Samsung U-CA3
Website: Samsung Digital Camera Range
DCResource have reviewed the 4 megapixel Samsung Digimax V4, which has the unique ability to use 9 different types of battery sources.
“The Digimax V4 is a compact plastic camera that looks much like Sony’s Compact P-series cameras (e.g. DSC-P8). So much so, that I had to check to see if it had a Memory Stick slot (it doesn’t). The build quality is decent, but it’s not as sturdy as the all-metal cameras that are so popular these days.”
Samsung have just announced 2 new additions to their digital camera range, in the form of the Digimax 420 and Digimax 360. The 420 is a 4-megapixel model which retails for ?300, and the 320 has 3 megapixels with a price-tag of ?250.
Website: Samsung UK Press Release
Samsung have also just announced a new 4-megapixel compact digital camera, the Digimax V4, in what is becoming a very crowded and competitive marketplace. You certainly have a lot of choice if you’re thinking of buying a mid-range digital camera in the next few months.
The Digimax V4 has a very impressive, Macromedia Flash mini-site on the main Samsung website - no ordinary text-based press release for this camera! As for the camera itself, its spec certainly looks promising, with a 3x optical zoom, 4 megapixels, Schneider lens and an unprecedented 9 possible power sources!
Website: Samsung
“Whether you are new to digital photography or are looking to upgrade, the Digimax V4 is the perfect digital camera. The introduction of this highly specified and sophisticated digital camera makes a strong addition to the wide range of Samsung digital cameras.”