A-DIGITAL-EYE (21ST CENTURY DIGITAL CAMERAS, PHOTO PRINTERS, PAPERS, CAMCORDERS, IMAGING SOFTWARE, DIGITAL EQUIPMENT, REVIEWS AND MORE!)
Lexar Media Offers Two New Compact, Portable High-Speed Readers Enabling Faster Downloading of Digital Images (10/31/03)
Lexar Media has announced two new high speed Compact Flash memory card readers (both type 1, type II and Microdrive compatible) for faster transfers of digital camera pictures to computers. One version features a next generation FireWire connectivity and the second uses USB 2.0. Both new readers allow data transfers at speeds of 400 Mbps, which Lexar points out will result in data transfers which are about 4 to 5 times faster then using most cameras and other card readers that use USB 1.1. The improved speeds can be seen most dramatically when using higher speed rated cards including Lexar's high speed and professional series cards. The units are very portable as they are about the size of 4 AA batteries and weigh just 1.5 ounces. The new FireWire reader ships with a new thinner FireWire Cable. The FireWire version will sell for around $49.99 and the USB 2.0 version will sell for around $25. Here is the Lexar Media press release for further details.
Epson Introduces EPSON Stylus Photo R800 Printer with New UltraChrome Hi-Gloss Inks
(10/30/03)Epson America Inc. has announced a new R800 photo printer featuring 8 separate ink tanks, an industry record low 1.5 picoliter ink droplet volume at an optimized resolution of 5760 by 1440, and the use of new Epson UltraChrome High-Gloss pigment inks for archival prints. The new printer can make borderless prints at popular photo sizes up to cut-sheet 8.5 by 11 inch photos. It offers faster print speeds over most prior Epson photo printers and joins several recent Epson photo printers in its ability to print CD and DVD labels directly onto special ink-jet printable CDs and DVDs. The Epson Stylus Photo R800 will ship in February 2004 at a price of $399. For full details see the Epson Stylus Photo R800 press release.
KODAK Introduces DIGITAL SHO Professional Plug-In
Kodak has announced a new plug-in which helps improve the details in the highlights and shadow areas of digital pictures. We have tested this plug-in and we were very impressed with the results! The new Professional version of this Plug-In improves upon the earlier version by Applied Science Fiction, which has now been taken over by Kodak. The tests we did demonstrated that greatly improved dynamic range can be achieved, a result we were initially a bit doubtful of, but the software really does deliver some impressive results! We will have a review posted soon. The FREE trial version is available for download at www.asf.com. For further details see the Kodak Digital Sho press release here.
CANON EOS - 10D FIRMWARE UPGRADED TO VERSION 2.0
Canon has posted a firmware upgrade for the Canon 10D on their Japan BeBit site. Owners/Users of the 10D can download the firmware files and transfer them to the camera to apply the upgrade. However, please be sure to follow the directions very carefully. There is a full set of direction and questions and answers up at the BeBit download page. Here is what Canon says about what the Firmware changes.
This Firmware update (Version 2.0.0) incorporates the following changes:
1. PictBridge support*
Improvements or corrections to the following:
2. The release time lag when using Microdrives
3. C.Fn-04 AE lock operations
4. Exposure compensation display errors when using the Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2*PictBridge is a new industry standard for direct printing that allows you to print images without using a computer by directly connecting digital cameras and digital camcorders to a printer, regardless of the devices' brand and model.
This firmware update applies to cameras with firmware versions 1.0.0 or 1.0.1. It is not necessary to perform this update on cameras that already have version 2.0.0 firmware.
CANON DOWNLOAD PAGE - CANON EOS-10D FIRMWARE 2.0.0 UPGRADE
NIKON ANNOUNCES NEW 3 MEGAPIXEL COOLPIX 3700 (10/28/03)
Nikon is announcing today the new 3.2 megapixel, 3X optical zoom sub-compact Coolpix 3700 point and shoot style digital camera. The newest addition to the Coolpix line of cameras features include, a very small aluminium body weighing just 4.6 ounces, 256 segment Matrix exposure, use of SD memory cards, 15 Scene modes, a Panorama Assist Mode previously found on the Coolpix 4500 camera, files with 2048 by 1,536 pixels, A Macro Mode which focuses as close as 1.6 inches, and 8 movie modes including a Nikon first 640 by 480 resolution at 30 frames per second with audio (up to 60 seconds, other modes up to capacity of the memory card). The Nikon CoolPix 3700 uses a new rechargeable Lithium-ion battery (EN-EL5) and charger which Nikon claims will allow over 200 shots between charges, and it has support for a new optional Duracell CP-1 battery which will allow up to 250 shots before disposal. The camera also allows up to 5 hours of Voice recording plus 20 second Voice Memos can be attached to each image. The Nikon Coolpix 3700 will ship in the late Fall of 2003 at a suggested price of $399.95. Here is the full press release.
Adobe Photoshop CS Now Shipping - Press Release
Adobe has announced that its new version of Photoshop is now shipping. The new version is called Photoshop CS and it offers various upgraded features to Photoshop 7.0 which was announced in February of 2002. The new Photoshop CS has many new features that digital camera owners will find very helpful and there is very good support for most of the new RAW file formats as well as improve file browsing and the making of web pages with images. Photoshop CS costs $649 for new buyers however those who own older versions can upgrade for $169. Here is the full Adobe Photoshop CS is shipping press release.
ACD Systems Releases Latest Version of its Photo Editing Software - FotoCanvas 3.0 -Press Release (10/28/03)
ACD Systems has announced a new version of its popular and very feature filled photo editing software called ACD FotoCanvas 3.0. New to this version are work flow enhancement features such as the Dodge and Burn tools, the ability to add Bubble Talk to images, an easy step by step Photo Correction Wizard and a Professional Color Management system. The new software is affordable to most digital camera owners at $39.99 and it is easier to use in general compared with more professional programs such as Photoshop. We especially like features such as the ability to print to standard sizes like 4 by 6 pictures and the image Thumbnail browser. The program can be purchased together with the great ACDSee photo organizing program in a Power Pack for $79.99. Here is the ACD Systems Press Release.
FOVEON & SIGMA ANNOUNCE NEW SIGMA SD10 DSLR & NEW ENHANCED FOVEON X3 SENSOR (10/27/03)
Click Here For Larger Image Foveon and Sigma are announcing today the new Sigma SD10 DSLR camera, the first to feature a newly improved & enhanced X3 Pro 10M Foveon image sensor. We have been provided all kinds of useful information from both Foveon and Sigma much of which we are posting below.
Briefly, the Sigma S10 is a new digital SLR camera which improves upon their initial offering, the SD9 in many areas, including the use of a new improved X3 Pro 10M Foveon image sensor. The new SD10 produces 10 megapixel X3F RAW files which contain what Sigma and Foveon contend is superior image data for better picture results. This is achieved by having 3 sensors at each pixel site, with Silicon effectively directing the incoming light to different levels of depth for each of the three primary colors, Red, Green and Blue. The RAW files produced by the X3 sensor can be converted to JPEG images using the Sigma Photo Pro RAW imaging processing software, which is also improved and contains a really interesting new feature from Foveon called X3 Fill Light. Overall, both companies claim the new camera and image processor produce better color results and improved dynamic range.
The concept behind the X3 image processor was first announced back in February of 2002 and it was first implemented in the Sigma SD9, which began shipping one year ago in late November and December of 2002. The technology and concept were relatively new compared to the existing Bayer interpolation method used by most other image processors, and it was expected that it would take some time to improve upon the initial results found in the Sigma SD9. Both Foveon and Sigma have worked on improvements to the camera and the X3 sensor itself to enhance the overall image results. These improvements include use of new microlenses over the pixel sites in the X3 sensor, allowing better sensitivity, up to ISO 1600 as well as faster processing, lower noise, more accurate colors and the ability to produce better dynamic range in the images. The combined improvements to the Sigma Camera, the Sigma RAW processing software with technology from Foveon, and the X3 processor itself sound very promising. The new Sigma SD10 featuring the new Foveon enhanced X3 image sensor is set for release on November 14, 2003. We cannot wait to test the new products out, very soon!
As we stated above, there is a lot of information we have been going through for this major announcement. In addition to what we have, the other digicam sites have some additional information that is helpful and both the Sigma web site and the Foveon web site have all kinds of additional information. However, we have attempted to post right here some of the key information, and so without any further delay, we invite you to check out the items below, which do include specifications, press releases and even a sample photograph which displays how the new X3 Flash Fill improves digital images! We are very excited about these new developments and hope you can take a few moments to read the information which follows!
CLICK HERE FOR FULL SIGMA/FOVEON INFORMATION PAGE As Digital Camera Usage Skyrockets, Study Finds Email Fails to Satisfy Demand for Online Photo Sharing
We recently attended an annual digital imaging seminar/conference in San Jose sponsored by digital imaging marketing consultants InfoTrends Research Group. A number of very interesting topics were presented on digital camera usage and trends such as sharing methods etc... however much of the data is proprietary and intended for the attendees only. Accordingly, our press or news coverage was limited more to informing readers of the event and some of the companies attending. Some of the major companies at the conference included Sony, and Picasa who were there showing their new Hello digital imaging sharing software. For those of you who missed our prior post, here is a link.
INFOTREND'S DIGITAL IMAGING CONFERENCE (10/10/03)
Recently InfoTrends and Homestead Technologies released a press release regarding their research on the issues of sharing photos via e-mail and the popularity of Online Photo Sharing vs Printing of pictures by Digital Camera Owners. The study indicated the ability to share images electronically is one of the most important reasons for owning a digital camera, and that e-mailing is the most popular method of doing so. InfoTrends projects that over 14 million digital cameras will be purchased in 2003 yet less then 25% of images taken and saved are ever printed out for sharing and those who do usually use a home or office printer. The good news is that the majority of new digital camera owners say they do take a lot more pictures compared to their film usage, with most taking over 40 digital images or more a month. However, the study also showed there are a lot of problems with e-mailing digital camera images that still need to be addressed, as 2 out of 3 who sent e-mails got complaints from their recipients. In addition, as higher megapixel cameras become more affordable, the problems are going to increase especially if new users do not learn how to use image resizing tools and photo editing software."Recipient complaints include the photo files being too big, trouble opening and viewing the photo file, photos taking too long to receive, and the photo appearing too large on the recipient's computer screen."
The results of the study were also used to stress the importance and need for new services including the one launched by Homestead Technologies called Photosite, allowing the easy creation of web-based photo albums which can shared with others.
We also saw at the conference Picasa's excellent new photo sharing Hello Service/Software which is FREE.
We have long been impressed with Novatix's Send Photos Gold software (see our sample demonstration post - NOVATIX HTML SAMPLE PAGE - YOSEMITE JUNE 2003/MINOLTA Xi) .
Also, see Simple Star's PhotoShow Deluxe (see our prior story Simple Star's Photo Show Deluxe Software Sample Gallery & Slideshow Posted 09/10/03).
Finally, for the past several years we have used quite extensively a FREE program to help us view, e-mail and edit images called Irfanview. In our opinion, Irfanview is a program all digital camera owners should be aware and many should be using. Among its many attributes, Irfanview can resize images for e-mailing in just seconds! We agree that digital camera owners should know of easy ways to share their digital images and we encourage readers to check out all of the resources we offer on these topics on a regular basis!
Here is the InfoTrends press release with some fairly interesting information.
Epson Unveils the Essential Printers for Digital Photo Enthusiasts: The EPSON Stylus Photo R300 and R300M (10/22/03 - Press Release)
Epson has announced a new 6 ink photo printer which comes in two versions, both with faster photo print speeds, individual color ink tanks, direct printing including PictBridge support and USB Host support, Memory Card slots, borderless printing at all popular photo print sizes (up to 8.3 by 44 inches or panoramas), and direct printing onto DVDs and CDs for high quality labelling. The Epson Stylus Photo R300 is essentially the same printer as the R300M model however the R300M comes with an included 2.5 inch color preview monitor which allows viewing, editing, and selecting pictures before they are printed. Both printers are capable of printing at a resolution of 5760 by 1440 resolution, and they have USB 2.0 connectivity with PCs, as well as the option to connect via BlueTooth with a $69 add-on adaptor. The Photo R300 will sell at a suggested price of $179 and the Photo R300M with the included monitor will sell for $229. We will post a few additional specifications as they become available and we hope to test the print output on models very soon. These look like excellent offerings for digital camera owners to print their photos at home so be sure to check them out! Both models are said to be available immediately at major Epson dealers both online and at retail outlets.
Update 9:00 am pst: Information up at the Epson Web site confirms these new printers are using Dye-Based inks and that they can achieve an ink-jet drop as small as 3 picoliters, however there is no information that these may be newly formulated inks (as suggested on the Epson Japan Web Site - see Epson story below). 4 by 6 inch prints can be made in as little as 37 seconds. These printers do not support roll sheet printing, however there is less need for this now that Epson is providing 100 cut-sheet 4 by 6 inch Premium Glossy Photo Paper for under $15. The Specifications indicate that the new printers can accept with appropriate adaptors in some cases virtually all types of digital camera memory cards for direct printing without need of a computer or cable, and you can crop and resize etc...in the printer control panel. The website information also confirms that you can UPLOAD images from the printer memory card slots to your PC or DIRECTLY to portable Zip drives and CD-R drives, and at USB 2.0 speeds thus allowing you a faster way to get images from your camera and backed up! There really are fantastic sounding printers, we do hope to test them out very soon!
Here is the full Epson Photo R300 Press Release.
SONY ANNOUNCES TWO NEW COMPACT CYBERSHOT CAMERAS (10/21/03)
Sony has issued press releases tonight announcing two new Cybershot digital cameras. The Cybershot DSC-T1 is a 5 megapixel (1/2.4" CCD) camera which features an ultra-slim pocket design, a 3X Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® optical lens lens (38~114mm 35mm equivalent, f3.5~4.4) that operates within the camera rather than extending out, and a huge 2.5 inch LCD monitor with 211k Pixels, and a Transflective design which reflects ambient light for increased brightness. The DSC-T1 also has a very fast image processor (Sony's Real Imaging Processor) which allows full resolution images to be shot at 1 second intervals and there is a burst mode which takes four image in under 2 seconds. The DSC-T1 has a very fast startup time of just over 1 second and has other impressive specifications including Clear Color and Clear Luminance Noise Reduction, Slow Shutter NR subtractive noise reduction for long exposures, Live Histogram display in record and playback modes, 4 Mode flash (Auto/On/Off/Slow Synchro), TTL Pre-flash metering, red-eye reduction selectable in all modes, Scene Mode w/8 presets, 49 Segment Multi-pattern measuring exposure system and Spot meter modes a 5 area multi-point AF and multi-pattern AE as well as AF Illuminator low light focusing assist. The T1 camera is further capable of capturing and playing back high resolution moving images in MPEG-VX Fine mode (640 by 480 resolution at 30 frames per second with sound) with use of optional Memory Stick PRO Duo* cards which Sony claims is "good enough to make onlookers believe that it was captured with a digital camcorder." The very slim and light-weight design of this power packed 5 MegaPixel camera (about the size of a credit card according to Sony) is further made possible by the newly designed matchbook sized Infolithium® battery system and by use of the smaller Memory Stick Duo format cards. Sony indicates that the T1 is only 7/8th an inch in width and weighs just 6.6 ounces. Included in the box is a 32MB Duo Memory card, an Memory Stick/Duo adaptor and an AC Adaptor/charger, cradle. The DSC-T1 will be available in January 2004 for about $550.00.
The second camera is the new Cybershot U-40, which features the same small compact design as prior U series cameras but now accepts the newer Duo and Duo Pro memory sticks which are smaller in size compared to the original Sony Memory Sticks. The U-40 is a tiny 2 megapixel fixed lens (no optical zoom) camera with a sliding lens cover design which allows the camera to be powered on and ready to take images almost instantly. The Cybershot U-40 also features PictBridge support allowing users to print images directly from the camera to supported Printers without the need for a personal computer. The U-40 will come in 4 stylish colors, silver, black, dark blue and red and is expected to ship in January at a price of around $200.00.
Here are the full press releases and photos from Sony USA.
KONICA MINOLTA ANNOUNCES PICTBRIDGE SUPPORT FOR Z1 & E323 CAMERAS (Press Release)
Here is a press release from Konica Minolta announcing official PictBridge support for their new Dimage Z1 and Dimage E323 cameras. The growth of PictBridge support really seems to be picking up good momentum offering Digital Camera owners the ability to directly connect supporting digital cameras to supported photo printers via a USB cable. PictBridge is a standard which allows the printing of pictures without the requirement of a computer. Here is the Konica Minolta PictBridge press release.
KONICA MINOLTA ANNOUNCES NEW COMPACT 4 MEGAPIXEL G400 DIGITAL CAMERA (10/14/03)
Konica Minolta has announced today a new compact 4.2 megapixel, 3X optical zoom DiMAGE G400 Digital Camera. The DiMAGE G400 features a fast 0.7 second startup time along with a newly designed signal-processing engine (making the G400 2X as fast as the recent G500), which allows picture capture in .2 seconds and a shutter lag of just .03 seconds, Rapid Auto focusing, auto exposure, auto white-balance, a specially designed GT Hexanon lens aimed to reduce flare, unwanted aberrations and for a sharper image result, a built-in lens cover design, a Super Continuous mode which allows 3 images at a rate of 2.5 frames per second and there is a nice 12X zoom playback with improved speeds in playback mode. The G400 also has many advanced features such as color, sharpness and contrast controls, six scene modes, auto noise reduction of images with shutter speeds at 1/2 a second or longer, auto bracketing and movie recording with audio. Finally, the DiMAGE G400 continues a recent trend and offers dual memory card slots for use of both the Sony Memory Stick and/or the SD Memory Card formats. The new Dimage G400 is expected to ship during this holiday shopping season however we do not yet have an expected retail price. Here is the Konica Minolta G400 full press release for further details.
FLASHTRAX PORTABLE PICTURE STORAGE UNIT REVIEW POSTED (10/08/03)
We have posted a review of the FlashTrax 30 Gigabyte portable storage unit and MP3 player made by SmartDisk, which is aimed primarily for use by Digital Camera owners who need a way to back-up and reuse their memory cards while away from their home or laptop computers. The FlashTrax features a nice color LCD screen for quick reviews of images and it can be connected to a TV set to play a slideshow of your pictures. The LCD screen also allows you to verify that the images have been successfully transferred off of your Memory Card so you can safely erase it and reuse them while away or in the field. We tested the FlashTrax on a near 3 week trip to Europe and found it to be a great alternative to lugging around larger laptops, especially when our Vacation needs did not require taking a laptop along. The FlashTrax unit appears to be a great idea for those working in the field and taking a lot of pictures at a time, or for those going on a long trip such as a cruise, especially if you have a newer 4, 5 or 6 megapixel camera and you want to use the Fine Quality or RAW capture where file sizes can eat up your existing memory card space rather quickly. Well just how did the FlashTrax perform, and how does it work, come check out our full review and find out!
SMARTDISK'S FLASHTRAX PORTABLE STORAGE UNIT - FULL REVIEW
EPSON UNVEILS NEW DURABRITE INKS AND GLOSSY PHOTO PAPER (10/07/03)
Epson has announced a new $59.99 C64 all purpose printer capable of borderless photo printing which uses what they describe as newly formulated DuraBrite pigment based inks and a new DuraBrite Glossy Photo Paper. The printer uses individual ink cartridges for each of the newly formulated DuraBrite ink colors. Last week we reported that the Epson Japan web site had news of new Photo printers and inks and thus we assumed Epson USA would make some announcements soon. Although the printer just announced is a 4 ink model, it is capable of 5760 by 1440 output with ink droplet output down to 4 picoliters and it uses the new DuraBrite Inks with the new DuraBrite Glossy Photo Paper. The key words in the new paper announced are "Glossy" and "Photo", addressing concerns by previous users of the pigment based DuraBrite inks that they did not print out well on existing Glossy paper. It appears Epson has resolved these issues with both newly formulated inks and Glossy paper. On the Japan site it also addresses the fact that the new inks can apparently be sprayed out at a smaller picoliter volume down to 1.5 picoliters. Prior pigment based inks had previously been limited to around 4 picoliters. Smaller picoliter sized ink drops should assist in the ability of the printers to produce better looking Glossy Photos and Epson Japan does claim that the color range of the new inks is improved. The major benefits to use of pigment based inks is they are less susceptible to fading or color shifting due to exposure to light or pollutants such as ozone, and therefore Photos can last much longer then dye-based inks, upward of 80 years. The DuraBrite inks are also water proof and thus colors will not smear with water contact. We assume that 6 ink Photo printers using the same inks are to be announced very soon. Here is the press release from Epson for more details.
UPDATE: The Epson C64 is already stocked in most major Retail Stores and is available for immediate purchase. We had a chance to check one out last night and one of the main changes that we noticed is the inclusion of the individual ink cartridges for all four colors. At the price of $59.99 it looks like a great all around printer. We did not yet find the new DuraBrite Glossy Ink Photo Paper on the shelves, but we will keep you posted.
Here is the Epson DuraBrite Press Release.
ADOBE ANNOUNCES PHOTOSHOP ALBUM 2.0 (10/06/03)
Adobe has announced today Version 2.0 of Photoshop Album, a program designed to help digital camera owners better manage, organize, edit/fix and share their rapidly growing collections of digital images. The changes in this new version include a simple more streamlined user interface, sharing with handhelds, PDAs, TiVo, and mobile phones, and the Calendar View feature now allows users to see photos in a year, day or month views. The new changes also include the Collections feature with allows groups of pictures to be organized together and easily sorted and found with the Tagging feature as well as cross-referenced.
"Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0 comes with a new set of professionally designed templates for greeting cards, including new baby, Valentine's Day, winter holiday season and birthday oriented graphics. Specialized templates also have been added for e-mails, calendars and bound photo albums, Web galleries and slideshows complete with background music and transition effects.".
Adobe's Photoshop Album 2.0 will sell at an estimated street price of $49.99 and owners of the previous version or similar software by other companies can obtain a $15 mail-in rebate. Here is the full press release from Adobe announcing Photoshop Album 2.0.
PANASONIC ANNOUNCES NEW 4 MEGAPIXEL 12X OPTICAL ZOOM LENS CAMERA WITH IMAGE STABILIZATION (10/03/03)
Panasonic has announced the new Lumix DMC-FZ10 camera which features a huge 12X precision Leica optical zoom lens (35 to 420mm), F2.8 brightness through the entire zoom range, optical image stabilization, a very fast shutter lag speed, and a 1/2.5 inch 4 megapixel CCD. The new Panasonic also has a nice live histogram feature, a 4 frame per second burst mode, movie capture with sound at 30 frames per second, and it has a full 2 inch LCD monitor. The DMC-FZ10 has also has advanced functioning including full manual exposure controls and shooting modes, manual focusing, an automatic pop-up flash, use of SD cards, and it comes with a rechargeable battery pack and charger unit. This sounds like a very interesting camera and quite a nice development by Panasonic who are apparently trying even harder to come out with competitive digital cameras in a very crowded yet rapidly changing market. We will follow this camera closely as there are a lot of camera users who really enjoy these big zoom lens cameras and many Olympus C-2100 fans who have been looking for a similar camera yet with more megapixels! The camera will be available in November at a suggested price of $599. For further details see the full Panasonic press release below.
Elevating the Performance of Digital Still Cameras to a New Standard of Excellence, Panasonic's New Lumix(TM) Digital Camera is Industry's First 4-Megapixel Consumer Camera Offering 12X ZOOM
SECAUCUS, N.J., Oct. 2 - Panasonic, creator of the celebrated Lumix(TM) line of digital cameras, introduces the industry's first 4-megapixel consumer digital camera with 12x optical zoom. Featuring F2.8 brightness throughout the entire zoom range, the camera's powerful 12x zoom is equivalent to a 35 - 420mm zoom lens on a conventional 35mm film camera. Its precision Leica lens, extraordinary telephoto features and no-lag processing speed enable this camera to capture every detail of distant or quick-moving subjects with superb brightness and clarity.
The new, high-performance DMC-FZ10 Lumix camera is targeted for retail introduction in November, and will have a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $599.00.The camera features a 1/2.5" CCD and F2.8 large-aperture Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens with 13 elements in 8 groups and three aspherical lenses. Legendary for rendering images with superb color reproduction and expressive depth, the Leica lens opens the door to exciting new creative possibilities, for both the first-time digital camera user and the experienced photographer.
Especially important for a high zoom camera, Panasonic's advanced MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) enhances the camera's telephoto zoom capabilities, helping to deliver sharp, vivid images even when taking handheld telephoto shots or shooting in low light. This feature uses motion sensors, which detects even slight hand movement and integrally links the lens control to the motion of the camera to reduce jitter. Unlike digital image stabilization systems, this optical system provides precise compensation with no degradation in image quality.
The DMC-FZ10's new histogram feature functions like a digital light meter, providing a graphic representation of the luminance level of the pixels composing an image. By using the histogram, users can exercise more precise exposure control for quality photos. The histogram can be displayed on the unit's large, 2-inch LCD screen while an image is being recorded and also after a shot has been taken.
Incredibly responsive, the DMC-FZ10 captures consecutive shots nearly as quickly as a motor-driven film camera. As soon as the camera's CCD captures the image signal, Panasonic's multi-tasking Venus Engine LSI simultaneously displays images on the LCD while writing data to the memory card, significantly reducing lag time between shots. To capture sudden events as they unfold, Panasonic's exclusive MEGA BURST® recording feature enables consecutive rapid-fire shooting, capturing 4 frames per second with undiminished quality from frame to frame.
The camera can also record motion images (320 x 240 pixel JPEG) in 30 or 10-frames-per-second QuickTimea, complete with audio.
The DMC-FZ10 features manual focus, aperture, shutter and exposure functions to help enhance the picture taking experience. Other features include centering guidelines; self timer; program AE; continuous AF function, Spot AF Switching and AF Lock; digital automatic pop-up flash and multiple flash modes; multiple image display; a special panning mode for capturing fast action with clear detail; built-in USB(1) port and more.
The camera comes with a lens hood to help diminish flare and ghosting when photographing extremely bright scenes. Other accessories included are: rechargeable battery pack and charger; 16MB SD Memory Card; AC cable; DC cable; A/V cable; USB connection cable; lens cap; carrying strap and software on CD-Rom.
ACDSee 6.0 IMAGING SOFTWARE FOR PHOTOS RELEASED (10/01/03)
ACD Systems has announced a new version of its very popular Digital Imagaing Software, ACDSee 6.0. For those not familiar with the ACDSee program it is an inexpensive but powerful tool to help in the editing, correcting, viewing, sharing, organizing, searching, and printing of digital camera images on your PC. The new version now includes the ability to rate images numerically for easier sorting and searching, burn them to either CDs or DVDs for viewing on TV and the new Easy Select and Selective Browsing features which allow quick viewing and locating of images from all the various folders and categories on your hard drive. The program allows for flexible tagging of images with "keywords" such as all images with a specific person, for easier sorting and retrieving later. The program also has nice thumbnails for quick viewing and a powerful slideshow function. Best of all this very powerful set of features is available at a relatively low price of just $49 dollars. This is really a great program and considered by many about the best value out there of all the choices available for almost all major functions and general uses of your digital camera images, so we highly recommend our readers to check this software out and see if it might be helpful to you. Here is the full press release for further details.
ACD Systems Releases Latest Version of its Flagship Digital Imaging Software -ACDSee 6.0 ™
New features deliver innovative selective browsing and image rating technologies that streamline workflow
VICTORIA, British Columbia – September 30, 2003 - ACD Systems International Inc. (TSE:ASA), the digital imaging company and makers of ACDSee™ and Canvas™, today released ACDSee 6.0, the newest version of its flagship digital imaging software program for consumer and corporate markets. ACDSee is known for its speed, ease-of-use and powerful image management capabilities including features for viewing, organizing, searching, printing and sharing digital image collections of any size. New features in ACDSee 6.0 include the ability to rate images, burn photos to CD/DVDs and quickly view and locate photos from different folders and categories with the Easy Select and Selective Browsing features.
ACDSee 6.0 solves the problem facing the escalating digital imaging market by offering an easy solution for managing large volumes of images. The new Easy Select feature allows users to select multiple folders and categories to get a combined view of all images that are contained in them. The robust Selective Browsing feature, unique to ACDSee 6.0, takes the frustration and time out of looking for images by combing the search results from different folders and categories simultaneously and then displaying all the images in one window.
After easily finding their images, users can place their selection in an Image Basket where they are temporarily ready for editing, creating an HTML album ready to share on the web or email to friends and family. ACDSee 6.0 also boasts a new Image Rating system, in which photos can be assigned a numerical rating. Image Rating assists users in sorting and searching their images and helps them to distinguish the quality of their photos.
Some of the additional new features of ACDSee 6.0 include:
- CD and DVD Burning – write images and media to CD/DVDs
- Edit Panel – an integrated photo editor with a comprehensive set of editing tools that surpasses many other digital imaging programs
- Magnifying Glass View – examine the detail in photos or check for imperfections by moving the mouse pointer over a particular section of the photo
- Master Keyword List – assign keywords to files using a master keyword list
- Slideshows – create HTML slideshows to share on the web or on CD/DVD and standalone slide shows to view on a computer
- Screensavers – add Hollywood-style transitions to photo shows
- Seamless Three Step Acquire Wizard – automatically finds pictures for importing from cameras, scanners, CDs and other devices
- Pan Lock – compare detail in a series of photos by flipping between photos automatically zoomed to the same picture area
- Improved User Interface – makes it easier to find and select program features and allows users to float and dock window panes for workflow customization
- More Sorting/Searching Options – sort and search photos by any file related data
- Database Back Up and Restoration – allows for quick incremental backups and full database backups and restorations
- Database Conversion – converts older versions of ACDSee databases to the ACDSee 6.0 database
- Media Management – rotate video clips or edit scenes from the beginning or end of a video clip without using video editing software
EXIF 2.2 Print – view and use EXIF 2.2 Print (Exchangeable Image File Format) to get better prints from home printers
"The goal of all our ACDSee programs has always been to provide consumers and corporate users access to a powerful, easy-to-use program that meets all their digital imaging needs," says Mike Zelen, president and chief executive officer of ACD Systems. "By introducing ACDSee 6.0, our goal has been extended to include reshaping the marketplace by now offering the most technologically advanced, feature rich and still easy-to-use digital imaging program that exceeds users' expectations."
Price and Availability
ACDSee 6.0 in English is available for $49.99 (USD) for the full version, or $39.99 (USD) for the upgrade from ACDSee 5.0. Volume licensing for ACDSee 6.0 is available and special pricing is offered for five and ten user licenses. For more information visit our website at www.ACDSYSTEMS.com.
OLYMPUS LAUNCHES WORLD'S FIRST GLOBAL SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS (10/01/03)
Olympus America Inc. has issued a press release today announcing the launch of a global professional support program for professional photographers. The Olympus GPS will begin this month when Olympus releases their first interchangeable lens SLR camera the 5 megapixel E-1 camera with Zuiko Digital Specific Lenses. Comprehensive support will initially be provided to registered GPS professionals in the USA, Canada, Europe, Japan and Korea. The new Global Professional Services will provide that cameras bought in the USA can receive support when in other parts of the world such as Europe and Japan for instance. The launch of this new service along with major sponsorships of such events as the US Open, Photo Exhibits, and major fashion shows demonstrates the commitment Olympus is making to support professional markets with their new high quality Olympus E-1 DSLR camera and lenses. The service will have many benefits such as providing loaner equiptment for testing and special assignments, an online magazine, warranty services in all participating countries and a dedicated Web site with many features and benefits. Qualified professionals will be provided the services for free. Here is the full press release from Olympus for further details.
Leading Digital Camera Manufacturer Expands Commitment to Professionals
Melville, New York, October 1, 2003 - Olympus America Inc. today announced the launch of the world's first global professional support program for professional photographers. Olympus Global Professional Services (GPS) will begin supporting photographers this October with the launch of the world's first 100% all-digital interchangeable lens SLR system: the Olympus E-1 with Zuiko Digital Specific Lenses(tm). The program will provide comprehensive support to registered GPS professionals in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan and Korea, with other countries expected to be added in the future.
"Olympus Global Professional Services means that, for the first time, a photographer will be able to buy a professional camera in New York and get service for it in Paris," said John Knaur, senior marketing manager, Olympus America Inc. "The launch of this program in conjunction with our Digital SLR System shows the depth of our commitment to the professional photography market." Other examples of that commitment include Olympus sponsorships of the U.S. Open, 7th on 6th Fashion Week, and a series of professional digital photography exhibitions.
Olympus Global Professional Services will offer registered Olympus GPS professionals expedited repairs, toll free technical support, loaner equipment for testing and special assignments, and warranty service in all participating countries. Photographers will also be able to access a dedicated Olympus Global Professional Services website featuring a database of Olympus professional digital photography products, an online magazine, and a gallery for participating pros.
A toll free number with English language support will be available in all countries. In addition, Olympus will assign each professional a unique user ID number to facilitate tracking and coordination of repairs.
The launch of Olympus Global Professional Services is timed to coincide with the first shipments of Olympus E-1 Digital SLRs, Zuiko Digital Specific Lenses, and E-Accessories in October. Developed with extensive input from professional photographers, the Olympus Digital SLR System is an uncompromising realization of the full benefits of pure digital technology, with body and lenses designed to perfectly match the image sensor. The E-1 with Digital Specific Lenses offers powerful advantages in terms of image quality, durability, speed, and camera and lens size.
Olympus Global Professional Services is open to qualified professional photographers and there is no fee to participate. Photographers will be able to register online or download an application to send in via regular mail.
KONICA MINOLTA PHOTO IMAGING U.S.A., INC., FORMED ON OCTOBER 1, 2003
We received the following Press Release from our contacts at Minolta regarding the start-up of the new merged business Corporation between Konica and Minolta here in the USA. The new company is starting business operation in the USA today and will be called Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U. S. A., Inc. Minolta veteran Henry Okamura is going to be the president of the newly formed Company. Digital Cameras will continue to be branded with the Minolta name. The combination of these two highly respected imaging companies should result in continued excellent support for current cameras and great new digital cameras in the future. Here is the press release for the new Konica Minolta Photo Imaging USA, Inc.
Newly merged business combines strengths of photo imaging giants Konica and Minolta
Mahwah, NJ (October 1, 2003) - Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc., a new company that combines the strengths of Konica Photo Imaging, Inc. and Minolta Corporation, announced the official start of business operations in the United States effective October 1, 2003. Minolta veteran Henry Okamura was named president of the newly formed business unit, headquartered in Mahwah, New Jersey. Simultaneously, Konica executive Yasuo Matsumoto, was selected to lead a separate business operation focused on office copiers and other business-related technologies known as Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. consists of three sales divisions that will each continue to maintain normal business operations as they have in the past. These are the Camera Division, headed by Yoshi Ito, president, the Photo Imaging Division, headed by Bob Striano, president, and the Instrument Systems Division, headed by Kaoru Morishita, general manager.
"This merger is more than a business transaction - it is a marriage of two of the world's most highly respected imaging companies and a blend of the most talented people in our industry," said Henry Okamura, president of Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. "Clearly the new company is well positioned to take advantage of the many opportunities ahead and offer more to our dealers and consumers as a complete imaging company from input through output."
Products and imaging services provided by Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. will adopt the new Konica Minolta Group logo. Cameras will continue to be branded Minolta and film will continue to be branded Konica. Additionally, the corporate message, "The essentials of imaging," which expresses Konica Minolta's goal to deliver innovative products and services to its customers, will be utilized by all Konica Minolta business units worldwide.
Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc.
Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc., headquartered in Mahwah, NJ, is the North American sales and marketing subsidiary of Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. (Tokyo, Japan). On August 5, 2003 Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. was formed to enhance both the competitive business capabilities and earning capacities of Konica Corporation and Minolta Co., Ltd.
Consumers around the world have come to know and trust the Konica and Minolta brands for all their imaging needs. Since the earliest days of the photo industry, Minolta and Konica have applied their talents and resources to create products and services that are essential to the world of imaging. Today, these efforts concentrate on the most important aspects of imaging: the quality of the images, the tools and methods for creating images, and the creation of environments for the application of images.
This focus on the essentials of imaging ties together the company's key business and consumer product lines. Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of 35mm and Advanced Photo System film, single-use cameras, digital and 35mm film cameras, accessory lenses, binoculars, photographic and color measurement meters. In addition the company offers color print photo papers, Inkjet photo paper, digital minilabs, digital film scanners, optical instruments, software and advanced imaging and sensing technologies. Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. also provides wholesale photofinishing services and Internet imaging services. It is a complete imaging company, from input through output.
For more information about Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc., its products and services, visit www.konicaminolta.net.
- OLYMPUS AMERICA ANNOUNCES 5 MEGAPIXEL OLYMPUS CAMEDIA C-5060 WIDE ZOOM CAMERA (09/29/03)
Olympus America has announced today a new advanced yet compact 5 megapixel C-5060 Wide Zoom Digital Camera. The C-5060 features a 5.3 megapixel 1/1.8 type (.55) CCD along with a F2.8 - F8.0 4X optical zoom lens with a range from a wide 27mm to 110mm equivalent on a 35mm camera. The camera uses both x-D as well as CompactFlash Type 1 and Type II memory cards and can record in RAW format. The camera has an ISO range from 80, 100, 200 and 400 at Shutter Speeds up to 1/4000 of a second. The C-5060 also has a nice 1.8 inch, 130,000 pixel rotating LCD screen, full manual exposure controls, fine-White Balance controls, an SLR fast shutter lag speed, fast start-up time, and it has overall fast camera operations and image processing for advanced continuous shooting. The new C-5060 also has the PictBridge Technology allowing users to connect the camera directly into PictBridge enabled photo printers and make prints without the need of a computer. The camera has a hot-shoe and can use the new Olympus Accessory Flash units announced for the E-1 DSLR camera. The C-5060 also can take advantage of optional accessories like the Wide Angle and Tele Converter lenses, and a Power Grip battery.The Olympus C-5060 Wide Zoom will be available in November at a street price of $699. Here is the full official Olympus America Press Release with further details of this new camera.
OLYMPUS ANNOUNCES THE C-5060 WIDE ZOOM - BODY OF A COMPACT DIGITAL CAMERA WITH THE SOUL OF AN SLR
Features Wide-Angle Lens, Fast Processing Time, Fully Articulated LCD, 5.1 Megapixels
Melville, New York, October 1, 2003 - With the release of the new C-5060 Wide Zoom, Olympus America introduces a high performance digital camera with an incredible wide-angle lens (27mm to 110mm, f2.8 - f8.0) that takes a photographer's creations to a whole new dimension. A state-of-the-art camera with 14x total seamless wide-angle zoom (4x optical + 3.5x digital) and fast processing time, the C-5060 Wide Zoom is ideal for advanced digital photographers seeking full manual and advanced photographic control typically found only in advanced SLR and Rangefinder film cameras.
"Photographers are certain to appreciate the C-5060 Wide Zoom because of its compact size, ergonomic and rugged design, ease of use and high quality optics," said T.J. Dickson, Product Manager of Digital, Olympus America Inc. "But it's the powerful wide-angle lens to see more of the image, and increased processing speed for fast start-up and continuous shooting, that make the C-5060 a compact camera with the soul of an SLR."
Innovative
By combining a "designed-to-be-digital" wide-angle zoom lens with 5.1 megapixels, Olympus developed a camera that delivers optimal image quality. Based on the success of the C-5050 Zoom - the number-one selling camera of its kind during the 2002 holiday season - Olympus decided to evolve the camera further and has designed the C-5060 Wide Zoom with improved processing speed, greater zoom power, as well as a more-articulated LCD to provide greater flexibility while framing awkward angle shots.With the revolutionary new PictBridge technology, it is possible to print directly from the C-5060 Zoom to any PictBridge-enabled printer, such as the Olympus P-10 Digital Photo Printer, via USB without having to connect the camera to a computer.
Stylish
The C-5060 Wide Zoom is a compact camera with a rugged, black, magnesium alloy body that measures a mere (4.6" long x 3.4" high x 2.6" wide, and weighs just 15.2 ounces (without the battery or media). It also has a rounded edge on the corner where the mode dial is located, positioned so the thumb can manipulate the dial with ease.Intelligent
The C-5060 Wide Zoom has remarkable versatility. Its built-in hot-shoe allows an external flash to be connected without the need for cables. An optional Olympus FL-20 or FL-50 flash will provide full 'through the lens' metering so photographers can get the best lighting conditions for their creations. Moreover, the camera has optional accessories like the Wide Angle and Tele Converter lenses, and a Power Grip battery for even greater customization.Understanding the exposure range of an image being shot is easier now thanks to four special histograms on the C-5060 Wide Zoom. In the new "Direct" setting, the histogram generates red or blue squares atop the image on the LCD to show the light or dark areas of the subject, respectively. By adjusting exposure, users are able to equalize contrasting light and dark areas of an image so that details are not lost, and the red and blue squares become equal in number as adjustments are made. This function is particularly helpful when shooting subjects with high contrast between light and dark.
The C-5060 Wide Zoom's advanced settings include controls for aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual operation and are ideal for experienced photographers who want to take control. The camera takes two types of memory media - the xD-Picture Card™ or Compact Flash™ Type I or II including microdrives - and can hold both media cards simultaneously offering flexible storage options. A multi-position LCD for optimized image viewing allows photographers to swivel the LCD in multiple directions: upward from the camera body and swiveling right or left to shoot from the hip or to get the perfect over-the-head shot, or even set up a self-portrait. It also conveniently rotates to hide the LCD and protect it from getting damaged.
Approachable
The C-5060 Wide Zoom is easy to use with controls strategically located on the camera body for fast, easy manipulation. By pressing one of the direct buttons, like the one for Flash Mode, a range of flash options can be viewed on the LCD, and the ideal setting can then be selected via the jog dial. Whether navigating with dials, the arrow controls on the back of the camera, or the menu screens in the LCD, the controls are intuitive to use.On the top of the camera, a mode dial enables quick settings for an assortment of shooting situations with a turn of the dial. In fully Programmed Auto mode, the camera offers basic point-and-shoot simplicity for flawless picture taking. For photographers who want optimum results in a wide variety of settings, the easy-to-use Scene Programs on the mode dial provides fully automatic exposure adjustments for Night Scenes, Portrait, Landscape Portrait, Sports, and Landscape photography. Eight programmable "MyMode" settings enable users to assign frequently used settings for quick and easy access.
Transferring images to the computer has never been easier with the Auto-Connect USB that does not require software drivers (for most computers/operating systems) for hassle-free image downloads. Images may also be viewed on a television using the video cable.
Exciting Features for the Most Realistic Digital Images
Images captured with Olympus digital cameras are known worldwide for their vibrant, sharp and photo-realistic image quality. This is achieved with a host of key technologies including Olympus' high-quality all-glass lens (with aspherical lens elements) that's specially designed for digital cameras.The lens of the C-5060 Wide Zoom is a 14x seamless wide angle zoom (4x optical and 3.5x digital combined), 27mm-110mm equivalent in 35mm photography.
The 5.1 megapixel CCD and Olympus' TruePic™ technology allows users to retain a realistic look to their photographs at all photo sizes e-mailed or printed. The 5.1 Megapixel imager captures the detail needed for true photo quality printing even on large print sizes over 11" x 14". Other controls include Digital ESP multi-pattern and spot metering; adjustable white balance; multiple flash settings including slow sync flash; and auto bracketing and exposure compensation, Noise Reduction, and Optimum Image Enlargement modes. Another useful feature of the C-5060 Wide Zoom is its ability to capture QuickTime™ video and sound so users can create short movies that can be sent over the Internet to co-workers, friends and family.
Availability
The C-5060 Wide Zoom will be available in November 2003. It includes an Auto-Connect USB cable, Audio/Video Out cable, carrying strap, lens cap with retainer cord, Li-Ion rechargeable battery and charger, a 32MB xD-Picture Card™, Olympus CAMEDIA Master Software, RM-2 Remote Control, user manual and Quick Start guide.U.S. Pricing:
C-5060 Wide Zoom Estimated Street Price: $699.00 (U.S.)
C-5060 Wide Zoom MSRP: $799.95 (U.S.)
ADOBE ANNOUNCES NEW PHOTOSHOP CREATIVE SUITE (09/29/03)
Adobe has announced what many thought would be Photoshop 8 today, but instead has taken a new direction by calling the new upgrade to Photoshop and related digital imaging programs, Adobe Creative Suite. The announcement at this time is not a surprise as Photoshop has been upgraded approximately every 18 months over the past several years. The new Adobe Creative Suite includes several individual applications including Photoshop CS, Adobe Illustrator CS and Adobe GoLive CS. Upgrades for the Premium Edition CS cost $799 and the standard edition upgrade is $599. Photoshop CS alone can be upgraded for $169 with a cost of $649 for new purchasers. Photoshop is one of the most powerful digital camera editing tools currently available, and is widely used by advanced digital camera users and professionals all over the world. This new version continues the tradition of offering some of the most sophisticated image editing with many new features. Canon EOS-10D owners will rejoice as the new Photoshop CS includes the RAW file support plug-in for free and it now supports the popular Canon DSLR camera as well as many others (it currently does not support the Canon Digital Rebel, the Minolta A1 or upcoming Sony F828, but give it some time, upgrades could happen)! We are pleased to see that there has been a lot of effort made to improve the File Browser and we are hopeful that publishing of Web Page photo galleries has been greatly improved as they claim. Here is a list of the top ten new features in Adobe Photoshop CS.
UPDATE: Information recently posted by Adobe indicates that several cameras not listed on the new Adobe Photoshop CS RAW Support Web site are in fact supported in the new Photoshop CS including the Olympus E-1, the Canon Digital Rebel and the Minolta A-1. Currently, it is unknown if new Olympus C-5060 files will be supported, although the similar files from the C-5050 are supported. We also do not know if the Pentax *ist is supported, but so far the answer appears that it is not. Adobe also indicated that the Sony F828 is not yet supported in the new Photoshop CS, implying by the wording of this information that its just a matter of time before it will be and that periodic free RAW plug-in updates (the frequency was NOT provided intentionally) will be forthcoming from Adobe for addition RAW formats and cameras. That sure is good news as it would be tragic for Adobe to wait for Photoshop 9 or Photoshop CS 2 or whatever it will be called to come out in another 18 months. We are very pleased to see such good support by Adobe for all the new RAW formats, as more and more cameras will have RAW capture in the future.
Improved File Browser
Quickly preview, tag, and sort images; search and edit metadata and keywords; and automatically share batches of files from the improved File Browser.
Match Color command
Achieve a consistent look between package shots, fashion photos, and more by instantly matching the color scheme of one image to another.
Histogram palette
Monitor changes to your image in the Histogram palette, which dynamically updates as you make adjustments.
Shadow/Highlight correction
Quickly improve the contrast of over- or underexposed areas of an image while preserving the overall balance of the photo using Shadow/Highlight correction.
Text on a path
Create eye-catching typography by placing text on paths or within shapes. Edit the text at any time, even in Adobe Illustrator software.
Integrated digital camera raw file support
Get truer, higher quality output by working with the complete raw data files from most major digital camera models.
Comprehensive 16-bit support
Perform more precise editing and retouching with expanded support for 16-bit images in core features, including layers, brushes, text, shapes, and more.
Layer Comps
Create design variations for clients more efficiently by saving different combinations of layers within the same file as Layer Comps.
Macromedia® Flash™ (SWF) file export
Use ImageReady CS to create SWF animations, complete with vector artwork and variable text.
Customizable keyboard shortcuts
Customize, save, and print a summary of your ideal set of keyboard shortcuts, so the functions you use most are always at your fingertips.
Below is the full Adobe Press Release. In addition here are links to the Adobe Creative Suite Web Page, the Adobe Photoshop CS Web Page and a link to the Adobe Photoshop CS Features Page listing all new features.
All-New Adobe Creative Suite Delivers Platform for The Future of Design and Publishing
New Product Strategy Combines Four Full-Version Upgrades of Essential Creative Applications, Acrobat 6.0 and Introduces Innovative Version Cue File ManagerSAN JOSE, Calif. — Sept. 29, 2003 (NASDAQ: ADBE) — Adobe Systems Incorporated, the leader in network publishing, today unveiled the Adobe® Creative Suite, a new software product that combines new full-version upgrades of Adobe Photoshop® CS, Adobe Illustrator® CS, Adobe InDesign® CS, and Adobe GoLive® CS, incorporates Acrobat® 6.0 Professional, and introduces the innovative Version Cue™ file version manager. The all-new Adobe Creative Suite is a complete design environment that gives today's creative professionals everything they need to create and publish content to print and the Web faster, more easily, and more efficiently than ever.
"Adobe Creative Suite integrates outstanding new product releases and unleashes Version Cue — technology that will save creative professionals time and revolutionize interaction within creative teams," said Bruce Chizen, president and CEO, Adobe Systems Incorporated. "With Adobe Creative Suite we are delivering a platform for the future of design and publishing, building on 20 years of innovation and partnership with the creative community worldwide."
A New Era Of Adobe Integration
Adobe Creative Suite Premium Edition combines four new full-version upgrades of essential Adobe applications, relied on by millions of creative professionals around the world: Photoshop CS with Adobe ImageReady CS®, Illustrator CS, InDesign CS and GoLive CS, all brought together with Version Cue (see separate press releases for component software details).With Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) becoming an integral part of Web and print production workflows, Acrobat 6.0 Professional, released to industry acclaim earlier this year, is also a component of the Adobe Creative Suite — allowing customers to review and comment on documents, as well as pre-flight and output complex print jobs.
Adobe Creative Suite is anchored by Version Cue, an innovative file management system that allows designers to increase productivity and meet tight deadlines. Whether designers, working alone or in teams, are looking for the most recent iteration of a file or for an older version, Version Cue enables users to visually scan image thumbnails in Photoshop CS, Illustrator CS, InDesign CS, and GoLive CS, or search XMP metadata across version comments, keywords, author, date, and more.
"Simplification of the creative workflow and tighter integration of applications into suites is a trend which will benefit designers collaborating on projects to become more efficient and productive," said Joshua Duhl, research director at IDC. "Features that allow users to easily share files with clients and colleagues, and locate files visually or through the use of metadata will facilitate the broader workflow and lifecycle of creative assets."
A Standard Edition of Adobe Creative Suite is available, combining these same components, except for GoLive CS and Acrobat 6.0 Professional, to provide an advanced solution for print design and layout.
Adobe Creative Suite also includes two Adobe typeface families. Warnock Pro, a new Adobe Originals OpenType family, is included with every copy of Adobe Creative Suite, providing a classic yet contemporary composition family that performs a wide variety of typographic tasks with elegance. Brioso Pro, an OpenType family designed in the calligraphic tradition of the Latin alphabet, is available free of charge to customers who register their copy of Adobe Creative Suite via the Web.
Get Up and Running Quickly
Both versions of Adobe Creative Suite include Video CDs, developed by Total Training, and a new Design Guide that offers insights on working more efficiently across the Adobe Creative Suite workflow, with advice for users of all experience levels. Adobe Creative Suite customers will also have access to the new, redesigned Adobe Studio™ (www.studio.adobe.com) a one-stop Web resource for expert tips, tricks, and guidance.Customers receive one serial number for Adobe Creative Suite and one number to call for support and service, greatly simplifying installation and troubleshooting. Adobe Creative Suite comes with complimentary warranty support for registered users that provides toll-free and online support for installation and bug-fix issues. For other types of technical and workflow support issues, customers can purchase one of Adobe's Expert Support options (www.adobe.com/expertsupport).
Pricing and Availability
Adobe is making it easy for creative professionals worldwide to upgrade to Adobe Creative Suite. Any customer that currently has a copy of Photoshop (purchased as a standalone product or part of an Adobe Collection) on their system, can upgrade to Adobe Creative Suite Premium Edition for an estimated street price of $749, or the Standard Edition for $549.Estimated street price for the Adobe Creative Suite Premium Edition is US$1229 and $999 for the Standard Edition. For more detailed information about the Adobe Creative Suite, please visit: www.adobe.com/creativesuite.
Adobe Creative Suite for Mac OS X 10.2.4, Microsoft® Windows® 2000 with Service Pack 2, and Windows XP Professional and Home Edition, will be available in the fourth (calendar) quarter of 2003 to customers in the United States and Canada through Adobe Authorized Resellers and the Adobe Store at: www.adobe.com/store.
NEWS BRIEFS (09/28/03)
An online Tutorial for new Canon Digital Rebel DSLR owners has recently been posted on the Internet at the Photoworkshop.com site. The Canon Digital Learning Center is currently featuring lessons 1 through 10 which cover a wide variety of topics from Basics to Night Photography and more Lessons are coming soon.
We have kept a link to our guidelines for new DSLR owners posted even though it is now over a year old, most of the concepts remain the same. Lesson one begins with, READ THE OWNERS MANUAL, it really does and you really should! Check it out here, GUIDELINES & TIPS FOR NEW DSLR OWNERS.
EPSON has recently started shipments of 4 by 6 inch Premium Glossy Photo Paper in packs of 100 pre-cut sheets for borderless 4 by 6 inch prints at a retail price of $14.99. We have seen the paper at various retail stores over the past few weeks, and it appears to be stocked now at most major stores which sell digital cameras and Epson Printers including Frys, Best Buy and MicroCenters. While we also like other papers, the Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper remains our favourite for digital camera prints on our Epson 6 ink Photo Printers, as it is the closest in our opinion to lab prints. The release of pre-cut sheets to retail stores in a package like this has been a long wait as Epson previously only had 4 by 6 inch PGPP paper in rolls which many Epson Photo Printers could not use and then more recently last Winter they added 50 sheet packages that were available as far as we could ever determine only on the Epson Web site. Currently you can buy an Epson 820 Photo Printer for $79 and obtain excellent photo results.
We expect Epson to announce new printers sometime soon and the Epson Japan site does list new printers and inks, but so far no word from Epson USA what they will release here. The new printers announced for Japan include the PX-G900 printer which features an amazing 1.5 picoliter ink droplet volume and a new 8 color PX-G ink set which can be printed out at a resolution of 2880 by 1440. The new inks appear to have properties that allow for longer lasting prints then previous dye based inks and improves on the color range which had been a limitation with previous pigment based inks (Dye inks generally print brighter more colorful glossy prints but they also tend to fade or have color shifting much faster with exposure to light or ozone). Epson appears to have come up with a break-through in ink technology as previous longer lasting pigment inks not only had less vibrant color results but they also were difficult to spray out at the smaller picoliter volumes dye-based inks could accomplish. We will have to wait for more details on the new printers and especially the new inks from Epson USA as well as learn just what photo papers will work best with the new inks, or if new papers will be coming out to maximize the benefits of the new inks. Stay tuned as the competition for home printing of digital camera images is really heating up.
For more information on the latest in home ink-jet printing see Steve's Digicams. Steve Sanders has just posted a Canon i960 Photo Printer Review and he has great things to say about it. Go check it out to see how Canon is really putting pressure on the other Photo Printer Companies with really fantastic results and very fast print speeds!
Phil Askey over at DP REVIEW has posted some Olympus E-1 samples taken by Les Freed at the US Grand Prix this weekend. These images appear to come from the most recent update of the firmware for the soon to be released Olympus E-1 DSLR and are very impressive, especially compared to initial samples from earlier pre-production units. Those of you interested in the Olympus E-1 should be sure to check out the Olympus E-1 samples and news item at DPREVIEW.
Phil Askey has also posted some of the first Minolta DiMage A-1 production samples pictures we have seen. The Minolta A-1 is a new advanced 5 megapixel prosumer fixed lens digital camera with some very interesting features, including a new Image Stabilising system. These samples of the Minolta A-1 demonstrate that the A-1 is able to take really very high quality images and they sure do appear to be improvements over the model it succeeds, the Dimage 7Hi which we used and reviewed last November. Here is a link to our thoughts on the Minolta Dimage 7Hi & Samples.
Pentax has announced the new lightweight 3.2 megapixel, 3X optical zoom (equivalent to a 38-114mm lens in 35mm format) Optio 33LF digital camera which has a 1.6 inch LCD monitor that swivels 180 degrees horizontally and up to 270 degrees vertically. The camera also has a movie mode (no audio), an optical viewfinder, a variety of shooting modes, built in auto-flash, Macro Focus as close as .33 feet, a world time function that displays time in 62 cities across the globe, a group of included software titles such as ACDSee and more valued at over $150 dollars, a weight of just 6.2 ounces without battery or memory card, uses two AA batteries, and has 12MB of internal memory in addition to use of SD or MMC storage cards. The press release does not indicate when the camera will be available or the suggested price, but states the camera will complete the Pentax 2003 holiday line-up, so we assume it will be available by late November.
In other Pentax news, the Pentax *ist, a small 6.3 megapixel Digital SLR camera is scheduled to ship in the month of September so those who have been interested in this camera should be able to find it soon. The *ist uses the same Sony DSLR CCD imager found in the Nikon D100 DSLR, and thus should be capable of very good results. The camera does require use of Pentax lenses however they do have some nice ones. For those who would like to see how good the image quality can be Phil Askey has posted a nice gallery of *ist sample images at DP Review.
Here is the full press release issued by Pentax regarding the Optio33lf digital camera.
PENTAX Introduces the ``All-Around'' Optio33lf Digital Camera
GOLDEN, Colo. - Sept. 25, 2003--PENTAX digital technology brings new meaning to the term "all around" in the new Optio33LF digital camera.
With an innovative LCD monitor that swivels 180 degrees horizontally and up to 270 degrees vertically, the Optio33LF features 3.2 effective megapixels and a 3X zoom lens. This latest PENTAX digital camera gives you the freedom to frame subjects exactly as you prefer, especially from high and low angles. In addition to the versatile monitor, the Optio33LF features an optical viewfinder. The Optio33LF hosts a full range of features found on PENTAX digital cameras including a movie mode that records video, a variety of picture and shooting modes, 12 MB of internal memory, built-in auto flash, and a world time function that displays time in 62 cities worldwide. Included with the Optio33LF is an ACDSee(TM) software package that is designed exclusively for PENTAX digital cameras. Valued at $150, the package includes ACDSee(TM) 5.0, FotoSlate(TM), FotoCanvas(TM) and Photostitcher. ACDSee(TM) digital camera software makes it easy to retrieve, view, manage, print, enhance and share your digital photos. The Optio33LF completes the newest line-up of PENTAX digital for the 2003 holiday buying season, which includes three more innovative digital cameras and the first PENTAX digital SLR. Complete information on all the cameras is available at www.pentaxdigital.com.
A company called MAGIX has announced a new program for digital camera owners called PhotoStory on CD & DVD 2004. The program features motion transitions, the ability to add music and narration, and there are many special effects to create a theatrical experience when viewing slideshows which can be watched on TV. The program allows for editing of the images and you can make professional looking DVD menus. The program ships with the high quality Ligos GoMotion Mpeg-2 encoder. The program is available for download from the Magix web site linked below the press release at a price of $39.99.
MAGIX Announces PhotoStory on CD & DVD 2004
Provides Exciting Motion Transitions and Effects to Create Theatrical ExperienceMIAMI BEACH, FL - Sep 23, 2003 -- MAGIX, the international technology leader in Personal Rich Media, today announced PhotoStory on CD & DVD 2004, which creates entertaining CD and DVD slideshows that the whole family can watch on TV. With a simple mouse click, MAGIX PhotoStory on CD & DVD 2004 works with personal photos from digital cameras and scanners and a wide variety of image, video and sound files. It captures photos directly from digital cameras and scanners and automatically restores picture and sound quality. Precious memories, such as wedding, parties, and vacations can be preserved on CD and DVD as a movie-like experience that you can play again and again on a home DVD player or PC.
MAGIX PhotoStory on CD & DVD 2004 is easy to use. Consumers can simply select photos, drag and drop to arrange; then click to burn CDs and DVDs, create streaming videos for the Internet, or save as an/**/.AVI movie for use in other projects. If desired, impressive transitions, effects, music and recorded narration can be added. A huge library of creative touches, such as virtual camera movements, images, music, text styles, special FX, cross fades, zooms, subtitles, video clips, close-ups and panorama movements are included to make the slideshow project into a theatrical masterpiece.MAGIX is known for the powerful professional-quality features found in its consumer software and PhotoStory on CD & DVD 2004 follows in that tradition. The 4-track timeline mode makes precision design a snap. The bonus MAGIX Photo Clinic 2.0, a sophisticated 24-bit image editor, fixes photos for the perfect image. It adjusts brightness, sharpness, color, focus, red-eye, and adds fun photo effects, such as fish-eye, mosaic, painting and cartoon-style. Images are instantly resized and restored for a uniform set of pictures with professional color, focus and brightness. Since the software edits non-destructively, consumers can be as creative as they like without worrying about losing their original work.
MAGIX PhotoStory on CD & DVD enables users to quickly burn photo albums and re-editable project archives on disc and designs professional DVD menus that include intros, sounds and animated backgrounds. It supports a wide variety of disc formats, from VCD to DVD and ships with the top-quality Ligos GoMotion MPEG-2 encoder. Since PhotoStory also burns autoplay CD-ROMs, consumers can be sure anyone can play their wedding, party or special event slideshows.
MAGIX PhotoStory is available immediately for Windows through major retailers for $39.99 SRP. For more information, visit www.magix.com or call 888-866-2449.
Kyocera Announces Two Breakthrough Digital Cameras With the World's Fastest Continuous Capture Rate
Here is a press release we did not have a chance to post earlier from over a week ago. Kyocera has announced two really interesting cameras with some very important features. The S5R is a 5 megapixel camera and the Finecam SL300R is a 3.2 megapixel camera. Both cameras have extremely fast shutter lag times, which means the camera will focus and take the shots almost instantly, and more like what many film camera users are more familiar with. Kyocera is attempting to remove one of the bigger criticisms of earlier Digital cameras which many found to be very frustrating in trying to capture such things as family shots, but the camera wouldn't take the picture before the moment was lost. In addition, many have been unable to take advantage of the promise of digital cameras to take lots of shots and then just keep the best when shooting sports or fast action because the continuous burst modes were very limited unless you went up to DSLR cameras at a cost of a few thousand dollars. Kyocera is claiming these new cameras have the fastest continuous capture rate at aprox. 3 frames per second and that they will take as many pictures in rapid sequence for as long as you have memory space on the flash memory card inserted into the camera. The Kyocera cameras use SD cards for storage. The street price for the Kyocera Finecam S5R is $549.00 and is shipping now. The street price of the Finecam SL300R is $399.00 and will be shipping in October. Here is the full Press Release from Kyocera.
New S5R and SL300R Offer the Shortest Shutter Lag Time And Unlimited Continuous Shooting - Sleek SL300R is World's Thinnest 3x Optical Zoom Digital CameraSOMERSET, N.J., Sept. 17 - Kyocera Optics, Inc., an imaging industry leader, offers two exciting new solutions for digital camera fans who have been frustrated by "missing the moment" due to the combination of the shutter speed lag time and slow "click-to-click" speed. The company's new 5-Megapixel Finecam S5R and the 3.2-Megapixel Finecam SL300R utilize RTUNE Rapid Tuning Technology to offer the World's fastest Continuous Capture Mode. (*1) In combination with a virtually non-existent lag time of 0.07 seconds (*2), these cameras can capture images at an incredible 3 frames per second for the S5R, 3.5 frames per second for the SL300R and are only limited by the size of the SD card.
"Kyocera is bringing revolutionary new image processing technology to the market that solves many of the problems that irritate digital camera users," explained Ben La Marca, President of Kyocera Optics, Inc. "RTUNE, or Rapid Tuning Technology, which is at the heart of our new Finecan S5R and SL300R digital cameras, has never been available in a Prosumer/Consumer digital product before. Great pictures can't wait, and Kyocera is providing a solution through RTUNE on our two newest digital cameras as well as future models."The real world benefit is that you will be able to take images with the Finecam S5R or SL300R that were missed before due to digital lag time. Imagine being able to capture the very moment your daughter blows out the candle on her first birthday cake or your son sliding into home plate with the winning run! Any action sequence can be captured, printed and shared with the new Finecam S5R or SL300R cameras.
Kyocera's Rapid Tuning Technology accomplishes this by eliminating the barriers that limited the transfer of digital data to the memory card. The pipeline operation removes the bottlenecks for non-stop captures at a speed that is 10-12 times faster than the competition.
This dynamic new feature removes the restrictions imposed by other competitive digital products and lets users capture the "perfect moment" and action sequence images that were missed before. The Finecam SR5 and SL300R are only limited by the size of the SD memory card in terms of how many images can be consecutively captured.
In addition, RTUNE Rapid Tuning Technology offers:
Quicker start-up time -- Faster click-to-click time -- Reduction of color noise -- Greater dynamic range
Finecam S5RThe 5-Megapixel Finecam S5R packs all its innovation in a small (3.6" wide x 2.3" high x 1.3" deep) and light body that weighs approximately 6.3 ounces and sports high-quality stainless steel covers. The Finecam S5R's additional functions include six shooting modes and a movie mode with VGA sound that is available up to the maximum capacity of the memory-card. The Kyocera 1.6" "DayFine" LCD Monitor ensures brilliant screen representation even in bright lighting conditions. The 11x zoom (3x optical and 3.7x digital) includes continuous AF allows for precise tracking of moving subjects. When it comes to optics, the S5R uses special low-dispersion glass and four aspheric lens elements for the highest-quality images. In addition, six scene modes enable the user to adjust the camera for any situation.
Finecam SL300R
Kyocera's 3.2-Megapixel Finecam SL300R is the World's Thinnest 3x optical zoom camera with a swivel body. (*3) While sleek in size at just over 1/2" deep (3.9" wide x 2.5" high), Kyocera's cool new digital camera features a unique swivel lens for obtaining images from virtually any vantage point. The rotating lens provides easy movement for perfect framing in every scene such as self-portrait, low and high angle shots plus macro mode. With its brushed aluminum panels that are sure to make a fashion statement, the Finecam SL300R also offers a vast array of very flexible functions such as seven scene modes. The high-resolution, 3x optical zoom lens provides a maximum of 6x when used with the newly developed 2x digital zoom. In addition, the Finecam SL300R incorporates Kyocera 1.5" "Day-Fine" LCD Monitor, which ensures brilliant screen representation, even under the brightest lighting conditions.
Both cameras feature Epson's revolutionary new PRINT Image Matching (PIM) technology and are shipped with the highly rated Adobe Photoshop Album software.
The street price for the Kyocera Finecam S5R is $549.00 and is shipping now.
The street price of the Finecam SL300R is $399.00 and will be shipping in October.
- CANON DIGITAL REBEL REVIEW PAGE AND SAMPLE GALLEY PAGES POSTED (09/18/03)
ORDER THE DIGITAL REBEL WITH THE KIT LENS - $999.99 ORDER THE DIGITAL REBEL BODY ONLY - $899.00 - We have posted our initial set of Canon Digital Rebel Production photo gallery pages with links to larger full screen sized images and to the original files. These photos are unaltered with the exception of being resized and given mild sharpening, which most of you know is lost when you resize images down for screen viewing from larger sizes. We have also posted our Digital Rebel Review page which has all of our links, information and news stories on one page, including our current mini-review or initial impressions posted Monday. The Digital Rebel is shipping this week and is available online. You can order it today and have it tomorrow. We will be posting more samples from our production level camera later this weekend, including our impression of flash shots and sports shots. We will also be posting our usual Disneyland Gallery just as soon as we can get out there over the next week. Stay tuned for lots more Canon Digital Rebel coverage.
NEWPORT BAY SAMPLE GALLEY PAGE ONE NEWPORT BAY SAMPLE GALLERY PAGE TWO CANON DIGITAL REBEL REVIEW PAGE GUIDELINES & TIPS FOR NEW DSLR OWNERS
CANON EOS-300D DIGITAL REBEL PRODUCTION CAMERA SAMPLES POSTED & SOME INITIAL IMPRESSIONS (09/15/03)
Ever since Canon made the somewhat stunning announcement about their new $899 EOS-300D Digital Rebel DSLR camera on August 20, 2003, there has been a lot of interest in how final production model cameras will perform and how the camera will compare to its big brother (which has the same 6 megapixel CMOS image sensor) the recent Canon EOS-10D DSLR which sells for $1499. We have obtained a final production EOS-300D digital camera kit (it comes with a 28 - 90 mm zoom lens for $100 more at $999) and have started our process of testing the camera's performance for our review opinions. We also own a Canon 10D for our use on this web site, so we are quite familiar with the Canon 10D. The Digital Rebel camera is just beginning to ship this week and because there are very few production level samples posted on the Internet for evaluation purposes (the recent reviews posted by our friends at the other Internet Review sites were pre-production models), we are going to put up some of our early samples at this time. Below we have posted a link to our first of many unaltered sample galleries demonstrating the results we obtained from the new Digital Rebel. We believe these are some of the first production level images from the Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel posted at any of the review sites on the Internet.
The pictures in this initial sample gallery were taken on Sunday September 14th, 2003 in the mid-afternoon at the Upper Newport Bay located in the Newport Beach area of Orange County, in Southern California. This area is a fairly important wild life refuge and as we get later into the fall season, there are great opportunities to see all kinds of wonderful wild life at the bay. Many local schools bring bus loads of kids down to the park where they are taken on tours and given lectures on the many important environmental impacts this Bay area offers. We were fortunate to be able to join with professional photographer Dave Rector who is also one of the educators of the kids who come down to the Bay for this specific shoot with the Canon 300D. Although we also used the camera at this location and obtained some of these shots, most of the images selected for this gallery were taken by Dave Rector as we followed him on a tour of the area. These shots were taken in the Program (Auto) mode, the Sports mode (we tracked birds with the AI Servo mode with amazingly good results and with the ISO selected by this mode at 400), and a few in the Macro mode, all in the Fine JPEG Quality, during a fairly hazy/ partly foggy day down at the beach area where the Back Bay is located. The camera was kept in the Parameter 1 setting (and most other camera defaults) which sets the contrast, saturation and sharpness levels to a +1 setting. Many who have used the Canon 10D are aware that its main default modes have these three settings at "0" (Zero), which many of those who use software for post-shot editing actually prefer. However, many users moving up from the more point and shoot style digital cameras found the 10D settings to be a bit lacking in punch compared to what they are used to and some felt the images are initially a bit soft in the sharpness. We did find that these Parameter 1 shots do make the images straight out of the camera closer to a lot of the non-DSLR cameras which so many new users are familiar with, and thus many new Digital Rebel users will be more comfortable with the results straight out of the camera. This also will assist many non-professional photographers who do not do a lot of work on computes as they will not be so dependent on their abilities to tweak the images in the often intimidating and yet powerful computer software programs such as Photoshop. Those who want the look of the 10D have nothing to fear, as the camera has a Parameter 2 setting, which puts the contrast, saturation and sharpness to the 0 (zero) level, and thus there is nothing to stop Digital Rebel users from doing lot's of post shot editing in programs such as Photoshop, if that is what they prefer to do or using RAW capture for even more control of final image results.
Overall, we found the camera performed wonderfully and the final image quality is very comparable to the Canon 10D. We like the slightly more saturated colors along with the overall look obtained as the outdoor white balance is excellent and metering was very accurate. The images we obtained still looked neutral and mostly similar to the great results many get with the 10D. We did note that in some situations the camera can slightly overexpose the picture by about 1/3 of an F-Stop, with slightly blown out whites in a few instances (which we also noted in the 10D). So far we are quite pleased with the performance of this new very inexpensive lens, which was designed to work only on the EOS-300D and is currently only available when bought as part of the $999 kit. Images taken in the range f/5.6 to f/11 area especially, look great, and those images really snap into a nice sharpness with mild to moderate sharpening in any editing software used when you downsize images for easier web viewing.
While there is a clear difference in the body of the Digital Rebel from 10D due to the use of a fairly good quality plastic compared with the 10D's more professional quality metal and larger body, there is a very beneficial trade-off, as the Digital Rebel is much lighter, and thus much more comfortable for many photographers to carry around their necks and keep with them for those important shots. Also, the 10D has a nice advantage when it comes to the buffer size, as it can handle approximately twice the number of burst mode & continuous shots. However, we found the Digital Rebel to be essentially just a fast as the 10D for most of our shooting so far as the focus was very quick, there is almost no shutter lag ( just like the 10D) and we fired off many burst modes of 3 or 4 shots in just seconds and then another round moments later, eliminating our missing too many shots that we wanted. In our shooting out at the Newport Bay we simply did not miss the heavier weight, the larger size, or the bigger buffer of the outstanding Canon 10D. It just was not a factor for us in this early use of the camera. We also liked the matching weight of the new lens, which was light and gave the camera a good balanced feeling. The Digital Rebel camera also has a really nice hand grip with a good thumb leverage on the back, and we think it will be found by most users to be a comfortable camera to both carry around and use.
We will have more galleries and many more
