- FORUMS - DIGITAL CAMERA DISCUSIONS, NEWS, LEARNING!
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SONY ANNOUNCES NEW 7.2 MEGAPIXEL DSC-P150
CAMERA (07/21/04)
Sony is announcing today a new first of its
kind 7.2 megapixel (1/1.8 inch) compact digital camera
with a Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar 3X optical zoom lens called the
Cyber-shot DSC-P150. The new camera is very similar to the recent
P100 digital camera with one of the main differences being the
increased CCD resolution from 5 to 7.2 megapixels. The new P150
will produce image files with a resolution of 3072 by 2304 and
will allow printing of 8 by 10 prints with a resolution of 300dpi.
We have handled an early sample P150 model and found it to be
quite thin at just 1 inch in thickness, and it is very sharp
looking in silver. We have not had a chance to evaluate image
quality with this new 7.2 megapixel processor.
Like the P100 and other recent consumer digital
cameras from Sony, the P150 takes advantage of Sony's Real Imaging
Processor circuitry which we have found greatly improves the
start-up time, shot to shot time, as well as the auto focus,
flash cycle, and auto exposure speeds. The recent processor also
assists with capturing images with better color and white balance
results. As we indicated above, the P150 is very thin at just
1 inch in thickness making it easy to grip, shoot and then put
away in a pocket. It uses a Sony InfoLithium battery which is
capable of capturing 310 images per charge that can be displayed
on the 1.8 inch color LCD screen. While the P150 is essentially
a point and shoot camera, it also has manual exposure and flash
controls along with 9 pre-set scene modes such as landscape,
fireworks and beach. The P150 is further able to be used under-water
up to depths of 132 feet with the optional Cyber-Shot Marine
Pack model MPK-PHB and like the P100 it can also be used with
an optional telephoto or wide angle conversion lens. The P150
can also be used with the optional Cyber-shot Station CSS-PHA
camera accessory available now for $80.00. The station allows
for playing back slide shows or videos on a TV using a bundled
infrared remote controller or transferring images to a PC while
charging the battery. The P150 is PictBridge Compatible.
Some of the other key features of the P150
include, 2X digital zoom, 0-14X smart zoom using the full CCD
for better image quality, live histogram display, 14 bit DXP
A/D conversion for extended dynamic range, .5 area multi-point
auto focus, Auto Focus Illuminator for low light conditions,
selectable focus mode, pre-flash metering, slow shutter noise
reduction, MPEG Movie VX with VGA 640 by 480 resolution at 30
frames per second, use of memory stick and memory stick pro (pro
sticks are required for the VGA 30 fps movie mode), 5 shot burst
mode at 1.1 frames per second, and a really fun multi-burst mode
which allows 16 shots to be captured as part of a single 1280
by 960 image which can play back sequentially in the camera at
1/7.5, 1/15 and 1/30 of a second. Finally, the P150 has these
additional features: 3:2 Aspect Ratio Mode, Adjustable Color
Saturation/Contrast, Audio/Video Output, Clear Color/Clear Luminance
NR, MPEG1 Cue, Review and Divide, Multi-Use Terminal, and it
Supports High Speed USB 2.0. The camera will come in Silver,
Black and Blue!
For further details including the Sony press
release, specifications and product photos see our Sony
P150 Preview Page.
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KONICA MINOLTA ANNOUNCES 4 NEW DIGITAL
CAMERAS (07/07/04)
Konica Minolta is announcing today four new
digital cameras including some with new ground breaking features
you won't want to miss reading about!
The first camera is the small Dimage X31,
a simple to use snapshot type digital camera which features a
3.2 megapixel CCD (1/3.2 inch), a very fast start-up time of
just 1 second, a f/2.8 3X optical non-protruding zoom lens, the
ultra thin & light-weight (4.1 ounces) design of the X series
cameras, Macro capabilities as close as 3.9 inches without having
to switch to a separate Macro Mode, an intuitive user-friendly
GUI Icon based menu, auto ISO from 50 -200, and the X31 has an
overall responsive operation including an amazing 0.1 second
shutter release time lag. The camera also has a separate playback
button which allows users instant viewing after each shot on
the 1.5 inch color LCD screen, and you can even do some image
editing such as adding in frames or combining 2 images together
side by side. There is an extended movie recording XR mode at
320 by 240 without audio which allows capture of digital camera
movie clips up to the memory cards (SD type) capacity (The X31
does not have the PC Web Camera ability of last year's X21).
Konica Minolta indicates this is going to be a stylish or fashionable
camera which will be sold soon at an affordable price although
we did not see a MSRP price or target availability date. We have
said this before but it is worth repeating, we have used a Minolta
Xi quite a bit over the past year and a half and we have found
the small thin size allows it to be more easily be taken almost
anywhere, and thus you are often able to get shots you might
have otherwise not been able to take. Unlike the Xi, the new
X31 uses AA batteries which are easier to find and replace. This
new improved 2004 model is going to be well worth your consideration,
especially those that need a take anywhere, affordable camera,
regardless if this is your main family camera or just a back-up
to another camera. We have been very very pleased with the resized
images for web sharing, and prints up to 5 by 7 inches look great
from the Xi so we have high expectations foe this newer yet less
expensive X31 model with a similar CCD and optics yet improved
processing and other features! For further details including
the official Press Release, Backgrounder, Specifications and
product photos see our Dimage X31
Preview Page.
The next camera also in the X series is called
the Dimage X50 and features a 5 megapixel 1/2.5 inch primary
color CCD along with the similar type 2.8X non-protruding optical
zoom lens (f2.8- f5.0) now outfitted with a sliding lens cover
for added protection. The new X50 increases the LCD to a larger
2.0 inch (115,00 pixels) size. Like the X31, this new flagship
model in the X-series also features an even faster 0.5 second
(world's fastest in this category) start-up time, a stylish,
small, ultra-thin and light-weight take anywhere design, and
with 5 megapixels it allows sharing of larger sized prints beyond
8 by 10 inches. Included is a new Automatic Digital Subject Program
Selection with automatic choice of the optimal shooting mode
for the particular subject at hand. The Dimage X50 uses the CX
Process II image processing technology to assist in producing
high quality images with natural colors. The camera also has
an ability to take close-up shots up to 4 inches without need
to switch into a Macro mode. There is a Super Macro Mode for
images as close as 2.4 inches! The X50 has PictBridge capability
allowing you to print directly to PictBridge enabled printers
without need of a computer. What is also very exciting in our
opinion is the ability to use the X50 with a new Optional Marine
Case for underwater photography! The X50 also features what is
called UHS which is short for Ultra High Speed Continuous Advance
which allows you to get 11 frames per second at an image size
of 1280 by 960. The X50 also has the XR movie mode at 320 by
240 at 15 fps (30 fps in a night movie mode) with Audio, along
with a 180 minute Audio recording mode and 15 second voice memos
can be attached to images. The X50 has auto ISO between 50 and
160 or user selectable 50, 100, 200 and 400 settings. The X50
has USB 2.0 connectivity with a PC for transfers of files at
up to 12 Mbps. The X50 uses the NP-700 lithium battery. Again,
we got no official word from Konica Minolta on a price or release
date. For more details see our Dimage
X50 Preview Page.
And now for something different for you advanced
amateurs, we move on to the affordable new 3.2 (1/2/5 inch CCD)
megapixel Dimage Z10 Digital Camera which features an
8X "Mega Zoom" high performance f/3.2-f/3.4) Optical
zoom lens, new Rapid Auto Focus (just .3 seconds) with a Predictive
Focus Control for moving objects or sports shooting, fast start-up
time of just 0.5 seconds, use of four AA batteries with a new
power efficiency allowing up to 500 images with the included
set of Alkaline batteries, and it is relatively small and light
weight at just 10.6 ounces. The Z10 has a Macro Mode which allows
shots as close as just 0.4 of an inch and like the X50 uses the
Konica Minolta CxProcess II for high image processing and super
detailed images. The Z10 also has the Automatic Digital Subject
Program Selection capability which chooses the best recording
mode for each image. It has an auto and selectable ISO range
from 64 to 400. The Z10 has auto white balance, 5 presets and
a custom white balance setting along with controls for contrast,
sharpness, and color modes. The Z10 has 16 MB of built-in internal
memory and you can capture pictures at a rate of 1.5 frames per
second with the last six shots stored onto the memory card. For
advanced shooter the camera includes Manual Exposure controls
and there are 3 metering modes including Spot metering. For picture
capture the Z10 has a switch finder which allows you to either
view the scene through a viewfinder or use the 1.5 inch LCD monitor
display. The Z10 is compatible with PICTBRIDGE printing. It also
has VGA Movie Recording without sound at 15 frames per second
or 320 by 240 at 30 fps using the new XR Extended Recording ability
allowing movies up to the capacity of your SD card. The Z10 is
compatible with the optional Wide Converter Kit (ZCW-200) for
wide angle capture. For more details see our Dimage
Z10 Preview Page.
Well, we saved the best for last at least
for all you advanced amateur and serious photographers out there.
The new Konica Minolta Dimage Z3 has a combination of
features we have long waited for and now can say are finally
here! The Z3 is a four megapixel (1/2.5 inch CCD) camera with
a HUGE 12X GTO APO (with high performance AD Glass at f2.8-f4.5)
OPTICAL ZOOM LENS AND KONICA MINOLTA'S CCD-SHIFT ANTI-SHAKE System!
On top of that the camera has a VGA MOVIE MODE AT 30 FPS with
AUDIO which both ZOOMS to 12X (35mm to 420mm) AND USES the ANTI-SHAKE
System. WOW! The Dimage Z3 also has the new Rapid Focus which
Konica Minolta indicates offers the fastest focus in its class
(just 0.15 seconds at widest angles) and it also has the Predictive
Focus Control for "unmatched high-speed focusing that brings
out the very best in the Dimage Z3's superior ability to capture
fast moving subjects." All of this is being processed using
the Konica Minolta proprietary CXProcess II technology for high
quality/detailed and natural colored images. The Anti-Shake system
found in the new Z3 camera uses the same technology used in the
Dimage A-series cameras which we have tested extensively. As
claimed the Anti-Shake system allows you to shoot at 2-3 shutter
speeds slower and will be a great benefit to those shooting at
higher zoom levels or in dim light as where camera shake can
especially make it harder to take hand held shots. We have seen
the Anti-Shake system outside of a camera and it is an amazing
design that works incredibly fast and effective. No other camera
company is currently offering this technology nor combining an
anti-shake system with such a large high quality zoom lens and
fast focusing system.
The Dimage Z3 has many other great features
including a rapid start-up time, very fast shutter lag time,
a real motion monitor with 50 frames per-second capability for
smooth video viewing, and a fast 2.2 frames per second continuous
shooting mode. The VGA (640 by 480) Movie Mode captures 30 fps
in both the standard image quality and now a new FINE mode for
very high quality video capture. There is even a Silent Zoom
feature which uses a new Silent Zoom mechanism that reduces the
amount of noise that is picked up on the Movie Audio when using
the optical Zoom. The XR or Extended Range Movie function allows
capture of movies up to the capacity of your SD card and their
is even a Night Movie Mode as well as a Movie Frame Capture ability.
The UHS Continuous shooting mode allows capture of 15 images
at 10 frames per second. Like the Z10 the Dimage Z3 also has
Progressive Capture allowing 6 images in standard and 15 in UHS
to be captured automatically when the user stops pressing the
shutter release button. Despite the large 12X Zoom Konica Minolta
states that the Z3 still has a relatively light weight and compact
body along with a nice ergonomic grip that makes it easy and
comfortable to carry around. The Z3 has a Real Motion LCD monitor
which delivers images for viewing at up to 50 frames per second.
There is built-in Noise reduction, full manual exposure controls,
spot metering, Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection, and
a 0.4 inch Macro Mode. It has PictBridge printer compatibility,
a new ergonomic design and can use the Wide Angle Converter ZCW-300
Kit along with accessory flash units. The Z3 has both a 1.5 inch
LCD with 78,000 pixels and an Electronic Viewfinder, 0.3 type
with 118,000 pixels. Control settings include ISO at 50, 100,
200 and 400, there is a custom White Balance control, contrast,
sharpness and color modes settings, and key customization. The
Z3 uses 4 AA batteries and is USB 2.0 compatible. It weighs in
at just 11.8 ounces. For a lot more information including some
interesting and easy to read technical discussion on the Anti-Shake
system and other features etc..see our Dimage
Z3 Preview Page.
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- FIREWORKS SHOOTING TIPS (07/03/04)
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- SAMSUNG 3 MEGAPIXEL U-CA3 DIGITAL
CAMERA REVIEW POSTED (06/23/04)
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- The Samsung U-CA3 is the new 3.2 megapixel
camera featuring a 3x optical zoom with a dancing Avatar at startup.
The Samsung U-CA3 comes in 3 different stylish colors - Techno
Silver, Galaxy White, and Space Black and features an Mpeg4 video
mode which allows you to take movie clips until your memory fills
up. We have had a chance to review this compact, easy to use
camera, and found it exceeded our initial expectations. Samsung
has been improving its product lines over the past few years
and is really starting to come on strong in the digital camera
market! Come see how the new Samsung U-CA3 did in our review!
Here is the link to our review!! Check it out!!!
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- SAMSUNG U-CA3 DIGITAL CAMERA REVIEW
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- EXPODISK WHITE BALANCE TOOL REVIEW
POSTED (06/22/04)
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- You may not know what this little tool is
but we can say that most of you would be much better off if you
did. We were very pleased with our test results using several
different cameras over the past few months. If you have had concerns
about the white balance results of your camera you might just
want to take a moment of your time to read about this great little
tool. It is easy to use and well, read our review to find out
more!
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- EXPODISK WHITE BALANCE TOOL REVIEW
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- FUJIFILM ANNOUNCES
NEW ULTRA-COMPACT 4 & 5 MEGAPIXEL CAMERAS (06/17/04)
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- The new Finepix 440 Zoom is a 4 megapixel
camera and the Finepix 450 Zoom is a 5 megapixel camera. Both
cameras use a traditional CCD in place of Fuji's SuperCCD technology.
The two new cameras each have the same 3.4X optical zoom lens
and a relatively large 2 inch LCD screen on the back of the camera.
Joining a trend started by Minolta and Sony the overall shape
of the new cameras is very thin and tiny to the point that Fuji
claims they can be hidden behind a standard pack of post-it notes.
The cameras are capable of shooting at ISO 80 which hopefully
will help them achieve low noise levels in good lighting conditions.
The two new Fuji cameras use a new lithium rechargeable battery
and store images on x/D media cards. The cameras are PictBridge
compatible for direct printing with enabled printers without
need of a PC. The cameras uses a USB PictureCradle for easy downloading
of images to a PC and battery recharging. The cameras weigh 5.3
ounces without battery or memory card. The specs do list manual
shooting modes, manual white balance settings and 4 scene modes.
The new Finepix F440 and F450 cameras will generally be available
in many parts of the world in August 2004.
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- Here is the full
press release, specifications and numerous product photos.
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- KONICA MINOLTA ANNOUNCES
NEW COMPACT 3.2 MEGAPIXEL X31 CAMERA (06/15/04)
Konica Minolta is announcing
today in several major world markets a new X31 digital camera
which features a 3.2 megapixel CCD, 3X non-protruding optical
zoom lens, 1 second start-up time, .1 of a second shutter lag,
light-weight/thin design, 4X digital zoom, and use of 2 AA batteries.
The new X31 camera is designed as an affordable entry level camera
that is very easy to use and to take with you everywhere you
go. The X31 does offer a 320 by 240 extended movie mode which
shoots at 15 frames per second up to the capacity of your SD
card. It also has an easy to use graphic interface and it can
focus up to 3.9 inches without having to switch to a separate
Macro mode. On the back there is an instant playback button for
quick review of images. The X32 has some fun features such as
a framing edit feature as well as a side by side shot which allows
you to put two shots together including self-portraits you can
easily frame with the small mirror on the front of the camera.
The camera only weighs 4.1 ounces and is less then an inch in
thickness. It has a 1.5 inch color LCD screen on the back for
framing, menu selections, and image playback. The X31 has PictBridge
compatibility allowing printing without need for a computer with
PictBridge enabled printers. The X31 has a built in memory capacity
of 10 images which can be taken even if you have no memory card
inserted into the camera. The Konica Minolta USA company has
indicated that the camera is not being officially announced in
the USA today but it will be coming to the USA in the future.
The USA pricing and availability will be indicated in the future
official USA announcement. Here is the press release issued today
and using the link below we have more back grounder information
as well as specs and a shot of the back side of the camera.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
ON THE KONICA MINOLTA X31
KONICA MINOLTA INTRODUCES
STYLISH NEW 3.2-MEGAPIXEL X-SERIES DIGITAL CAMERA
Compact, easy-to-use and affordable new DiMAGE X31 features super-fast
start-up speed and a 12x zoom range
Mahwah, NJ - Konica
Minolta introduces a new member to the X-series of DiMAGE digital
cameras - the new DiMAGE X31. This 3.2 megapixel digital camera
combines a fast startup speed, thin and stylish design, and intuitive
operation in a very affordable entry-level digital camera model.
The new Konica Minolta
DiMAGE X31 is a user-friendly, compact digital camera equipped
with Konica Minolta's proprietary non-protruding 3x optical zoom
that keeps the camera thin, even when the zoom is activated.
This new digital camera features 3.2-megapixel high picture quality
and is one of the slimmest and lightest cameras in its class.
In addition, the camera features a versatile 4x digital zoom
in combination with the 3x optical zoom to take pictures at up
to 12x total zoom, as well as the ability to take photos as close
as 3.9 inches to the subject without having to switch to a separate
macro mode.
"Whether photographers
are inspired to capture everyday memories or those once-in-a-lifetime
shots, the affordable new DiMAGE X31 provides them with a simple
snapshot experience with fashionable style," said Jon Sienkiewicz,
vice president of marketing, Konica Minolta's Camera Division.
"The DiMAGE X31 also allows users to quickly and easily
access a wealth of fun picture-taking functions with just the
press of a few intuitive menu buttons."
When users turn the
DiMAGE X31 on, the camera is responsive and ready to take pictures
in approximately 1.0 second-one of the fastest in the 3-megapixel
digital camera category. And with only a 0.1 second shutter release
time lag, photographers will never miss a photo opportunity.
The camera's Graphical
User Interface (GUI) icon-based menu has a launcher type quick-reference
control panel, providing users with intuitively simple operation.
And the camera's independent playback button lets users preview
their pictures instantly.
Additional in-camera
features include versatile image editing functions for adding
frames (Framing Features) or combining two photos (Side by Side).
And, for even greater creativity, XR (Extended Recording) movie
lets users record digital movie clips up to the duration of their
card's remaining storage capacity.
Weighing only 4.1
ounces, the stylish and compact DiMAGE X31 digital camera fits
right into a jacket or shirt pocket so users can bring the camera
with them wherever they go.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
ON THE KONICA MINOLTA X31
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- NEW SONY P100 SAMPLES FROM BALBOA
BEACH POSTED (06/06/04)
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- CANON i9900 WIDE
FORMAT PHOTO PRINTER REVIEW POSTED (06/07/04)
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- Canon 9900 Photo Printer
- This new top-of-the-line
Canon PHOTO printer uses a new set of 8 color Canon
Dye Inks ("ChromaPLUS") in individual cartridges to
produce up to 13 by 19 inch borderless photos at 4800 by 2400
resolution and using a smaller 2 picoliter ink droplet from
512 Nozzles per color or a total of 6144 Nozzles ejecting 122 million droplets per second. Canon is adding two new Inks, a
new Orange color which has a somewhat red appearance (for better
yellows and reds) and a new Green color (for richer greens) to
help the printer obtain an increased color gamut. It has 3 ways
to connect to it, Firewire, USB 1.1 and USB 2.0, with the
Firewire and USB 2.0 offering very fast print times. Canon
indicates that this printer will have quite a bit of speed as
it can print text at 16 pages per minute, borderless 4
by 6 inch Photos in 32 seconds, 5 by 7 in 45 and a 8 1/2 by 11
inch in 84 seconds and a Full Borderless 13 by 19 inch
can be printed out in 3 minutes. It supports the PictBridge printing
AND Canon Direct Printing formats as well as ICC profiles! This
printer looks fantastic with the use of dye inks it promises
to have excellent vivid color glossy printing and Canon indicated
to us that this printer will be outstanding for black and white
printing! Canon is also releasing a new version of its Easy-PhotoPrint software
- version 2.1 that is bundled with the new 9900 Photo Printer.
The new software works directly with Canon's new Digital Photo
Professional software and together the they are now capable of
identifying color-space information automatically and transferring
it accurately to the printer. Canon indicates in the Press Release
that the new Easy-PhotoPrint v2.1 software enables image data
obtained in Adobe RGB with a broad color range to be more faithfully
printed on the Canon i9900 photo printer .The new Canon 9900 Photo Printer will
have an MSRP of $499.
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- Well, when it comes to speed
in printing larger wide format borderless Glossy Prints up to
13 inches by 19 inches the Canon i9900 has got to be the leader
of the pack! This new printer by Canon is just arriving at stores
and we have had a chance to test out a review model from Canon.
Canon has really set a high bar for the competition as this printer
is capable of ink drops of just 2 picoliters using 8 individual
ink cartridges, and it has an amazing 6144 nozzles for fast print
speeds. How fast is it, and how good are the results from this
$499 printer, and how does it compare to the Epson 2200, will
come read our review and find out!
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- CANON i9900 WIDE FORMAT PHOTO PRINTER
REVIEW
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- STUDIOLINE PHOTO 2 SOFTWARE REVIEW
POSTED (06/07/04)
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- CANON i80 PORTABLE
PHOTO/TEXT PRINTER REVIEWED (06/01/04)
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- We have posted a review
of Canon's latest portable printer, the new i80 photo and text
bubble-jet printer. This little unit weighs in at just 4 pounds
and can operate off a battery (optional), AC plug or even off
a car battery. It has a really high resolution and incredible
2 picoliter ink droplet volume for amazing photo results from
such a small portable unit. It can even work directly with PictBridge
capable cameras and most recent Canon Digital Cameras with no
need for a laptop or desktop computer. It can print 4 by 6, 5
by 7 and 8 1/2 by 11 inch BORDERLESS photo prints on high quality
glossy papers AND it can print out those text reports you may
need in the field! This is a very useful printer for so many
who are traveling around alot and working from a laptop. In addition
its just plain fun to bring this to a party or get together where
you know you will want to be sharing prints right away from your
new digital camera! Come learn more about the Canon i80 printer
from our review! Check out Canon's latest version of their portable
photo printer which is great for those on the road who need both
full sized 8 1/2 by 11 inch text pages and photo capabilities.
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- CANON i80 PORTABLE PHOTO PRINTER
REVIEW
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SONY ANNOUNCES NEW COMPACT 5 MEGAPIXEL
CYBERSHOT DSC-F88 CAMERA WITH 300 DEGREE ROTATING LENS (05/18/04)
Sony is announcing a new 5 megapixel 3X optical
zoom lens compact digital still camera with a unique rotating
lens design called the Cybershot DSC-F88. We have a pre-production
model from Sony and some initial first look information. The
new F88 has a 1/2.4" 5.1 megapixel Super HAD CCD which is
essentially the same as the one used in the recent Sony T1 camera.
The Rotating Lens design provides rotation of 300 degrees, allowing
you to shoot over your head, or down at your waist while watching
the LCD. You can even turn the lens around 180 degrees and take
pictures of yourself while checking the shot in the viewfinder.
If you don't want to use the LCD for framing the F88 does have
an eye-level optical viewfinder! The 3X Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar
optical lens uses the same transmissive optical grade prism design
as found in the Sony T1 although it now resides in a horizontal
position. This means that like the T1 the lens does not extend
outward for zooming and in the case of the F88 it is housed entirely
inside the rotating portion of the camera. The lens design also
allows for very fast focus times and start-up. Just as they have
done with their most recent line-up, the F88 has the Sony Smart
Zoom feature for less degradation of the image, by using the
full CCD to let you zoom in by essentially cropping the image
size.
One of the main innovations in the recent Sony line-up is the
Real Image Processor, which we have noted allows for much faster
processing, faster camera operations, much better image results,
relatively low noise levels at low ISOs & much better white
balance along with several other improvement the faster chip
set provides. As we noted in many of Sony's recent cameras the
F88 does include a Live Histogram Display option for both capture
and playback. Other features of F88 include a 5 area multi-point
auto focus system which we have found to be very fast! This is
the same system we see on the T1, P100 and W1 cameras we have
also recently used. The F88 also shares the same optional manual
exposure control shooting mode, although you must set both the
shutter and aperture as there are no priority modes. The Aperture
control has 2-steps while the shutter speed has 46 steps from
a range of 30 second to 1/1000 of a second. Exposure Metering
in Auto and Program mode has a 49 point measuring system which
can take into account extreme lighting conditions even if they
are not in the center of the image. The F88 does have an AF Illuminator
which is a brief red light emitted in low light conditions to
help the system focus. There is an optional Selectable Focus
Mode, which allows you to manually pre-focus on a subject before
you press the shutter. There are 10 scene selection modes in
the F88 which allow the main shooting parameters to be set to
specific shooting conditions that are often encountered but normally
difficult for the camera to shoot on its own. There is a built
in flash system with red-eye reduction and there is pre-flash
metering to get more accurate flash shots. The Sony Cybershot
F88 does have built-in slow shutter noise reduction during longer
exposures using a dark frame subtraction method. The LCD is 1.8
inches and has a resolution of 134K.
Like all recent Sony Cybershots, the F88 uses Memory Sticks and
Memory Stick Pro Media. It is capable of 9 shot burst mode in
fine mode or 16 shots in the standard mode at 1.6 frames a second.
There is also a multi-bust mode that allows you to capture 16
320 by 240 frames as part of a 1280 by 960 single image which
plays back in sequence in the camera at 1/7.5, 1/15 or 1/30th
of a second. This is really a fun burst mode that comes in handy
some times. The F88 does have MPEG movie mode however due to
technical limitations in the rotating lens design the camera
can only shoot in the VGA standard mode of 640 by 480 at 16 frames
per second. It can also shoot for e-mailing at 160 by 140 at
8 frames per second. It cannot shoot at 30 frames per second
like other recent Cybershots. The video capture is with audio
and can be shot up to the capacity of the media. Given the rotating
design of the camera allowing you to point the lens at yourself
and watch in the LCD monitor live, it makes it great to take
short video clips of yourself for sending via the Internet. The
F88 is compatible with the VCL-07FEB wide conversion lens for
wide angle shots (which again you may want especially given the
rotating lens to take self-images at arms length). The camera
is PictBridge compatible and it uses the same rechargeable InfoLithium
Battery used on the T1. It comes with the AC-LS5 adapter, charger
and a USB transfer cable. The DSC-F88 is compatible with the
optional CS-FEB Cyber-shot station (which we have also been able
to preview). This allows you to just insert the camera into the
dock and it will recharge and allow easy step image transfers
to your PC.
As we mentioned above we have a pre-production model of the F88
here in our offices and have used it for the past several days.
It is an interesting design especially with the rotating lens
and offers users yet one more choice of 5 megapixel cameras from
Sony. While we have been very impressed with the W1 in particular
due to its great results (it has a slightly larger CCD compared
to the T1 and F88), large 2.5 inch screen and compact size, we
have to agree with Sony that there are many users who will like
the rotating lens so you don't have to hold the camera up to
your face all the time. Times are changing and with digital cameras
and their live LCD screens, shooting styles are changing too.
The F88 takes advantage of a unique design to provide flexible
shooting methods and fun while taking shots of yourself or of
you and your friends, with you now included! The F88 is essentially
the lens/CCD system of the T1 mixed with the operating/menu system
of the W1 and P100 cameras. It does appear to have a bigger flash
then the T1 and gone is the T1's ISO 50 setting. We expect the
flash range to be a bit further then the T1 and closer to the
better performing flash on the W1 and P100. The only other major
factor we'd have to say you should consider besides the form
factor is the missing Movie Fine mode (it cannot shoot at 30
fps like other recent Cybershots). We expect to have a production
level F88 camera in the next 30 days, and as soon as we can we
will post sample images.
The Sony Cybershot F88 will go on sale in late June and should
arrive on shelves by the first few days of July at a street price
of under $500. The Wide Angle Lens (VCL-07FEB) will be available
in July for about $60 and the Cyber-shot Station (CSS-FEB) will
be available in July for about $80.
We have the Sony Press Release, Specifications,
and several product pictures at the following posted story about
the new Sony
CyberShot DSC-F88 Digital Camera.
-
-
- KONICA-MINOLTA DIMAGE Z2 REVIEW
& SAMPLES POSTED (05/16/04)
-
- We have posted a review of this very interesting
4 megapixel camera which has a huge 10X optical zoom lens and
features high speed shooting and great video! At under $500 come
see what we thought of the 4 megapixel Z2 and see our great example
of high speed shooting!
-
- MINOLTA DIMAGE Z2 REVIEW & SAMPLES
-
-
- NEW SONY CYBERSHOT DSC-P100 DISNEYLAND
GALLERY POSTED
-
- SONY CYBERSHOT DSC-W1 GALLERY 2
FROM TOKYO
-
-
-
-
- DO LABS RELEASES
DXO® OPTICS PRO™ SOFTWARE THROUGH E-STORE OPENING MAY
24TH (05/11/04)
-
- Today a French Company
called DO LABS has issued a press release with news of an amazing
new software product currently aimed for DSLR camera owners!
We recently met with this company and were provided a very impressive
demonstration of what this new software can do to improve .jpeg
image quality results. The results were especially dramatic when
images are taken under more extreme lens conditions such as at
widest lens openings using various popular lenses, such as the
kit lenses from both the Canon Digital Rebel or the new Nikon
D70, and many others.
We were so impressed we agreed to take an early sample of the
software and try it out ourselves. Over the past week we have
been using the software on several dozen images we have taken,
along with testing out the improvements on over 20 sample images
from 10 different camera and lens combinations provided in the
software. The results are simply amazing and quite impressive.
What the software does, as explained in more detail in press
release below, is to use a combination of mathematically derived
analysis of cameras and lenses using what they call a "characterization
of optical systems with breakthrough algorithms that use this
model to produce the final image". In deed the designers
of the software have obtained input from some of the top mathematical
minds at major facilities through-out the world to come up with
this amazing software!
The software uses this camera and lens specific modular approach
with corrections for specific cameras and lenses to "fix"
or improve the final image result by correcting for issues such
as distortion, vignetting, blurring and chromatic aberrations.
In our initial testing over the past week, we have seen very
dramatic before and after results which show the software is
clearly a major breakthrough for DSLR camera owners, especially
when shooting certain lenses under extreme conditions where optical
problems will occur most. In our tests, the software did process
the .jpeg images at about 2MB per second, so that most images
are corrected in less then 2 seconds. What is so compelling about
this software beside the fact that it really works well, is the
fact that it can easily batch process an entire folder of images
shot with a camera in very quick times.
-
- The software is also very
impressive in that it does not have to over write the original
file but instead can output the corrected images in a separate
new file or folder full of batch processed files. With any specific
image you can click on a before and after button right in the
software and watch the changes then instantly, toggling back
and forth with the improvements right before your eyes. You can
see bent objects straighten, and dark corners brighten up to
the point that now you can see the lens issues, you won't want
to look at images again until they have been fixed or corrected
by the DxO product. In print tests we saw and conducted ourselves,
the images were clearly much sharper, and as they promise, we
saw NO increase in noise despite very dramatic improvement in
what initially was a somewhat blurry result straight from the
camera and lens.
This is a software which really begs to be included in EVERY
camera's firmware right from the beginning, and the company has
advised us, that they can easily provide the component modules
for any camera and lens out there or to be released in the future,
allowing immediate corrected images straight from the cameras
RAW image data or .jpeg files. Camera companies could easily
include this product designed specifically for a particular camera
and lens, but its going to take a lot of demand by you users.
We think that many companies will privately be as impressed as
we are, and most will realize they just cannot duplicate the
mathematical approach easily to do this themselves, such that
about a year from now, we will learn that DxO correction has
been added to the firmware of new cameras, especially new DSLRs.
Currently the company has ready the software to process .jpeg
images, however plans are underway to allow the software to process
DSLR RAW files by Photokina in late September of this year. We
will have more of a mini-review up soon, but for now we did want
to let our readers know that we have used the software and can
tell you all that we are 100% totally impressed with the results.
This software really does what it says, and it does it quite
well, and quickly. We think it a very productive and useful product,
that we hope to see expanded to prosumer cameras, and eventually
we would hope major companies would add it right to cameras,
making it sort of the "Dolby" processor in this new
digital imaging age. We hope many will take note of this software
and that word spread quickly.
Now of course it will cost you some money, as you do have to
buy the core software, and then purchase a camera module and
a specific lens module. We have below a list of current available
modules and pricing. We are told that by the end of 2004 they
hope to have over 200 modules available, which means they are
testing and designing corrections for 200 lenses out there for
DSLR owners. Well, check out the press release below as it has
all the details, and we will soon have much more coverage of
this impressive new software!
-
- DO LABS RELEASES DXO® OPTICS
PRO™ SOFTWARE THROUGH E-STORE OPENING MAY 24TH PRESS RELEASE
& PRICING INFORMATION LINK
-
-
-
-
-
- OLYMPUS ANNOUNCES NEW E-1 DSLR PRICE
OF $1499 & 5 ZUIKO LENS REBATES (05/01/04)
Olympus America has sent us the following
news for posting a midnight May 01, 2004. Olympus is announcing
today a major reduction in the price of their advanced E-1 DSLR
digital camera from $1799 down to $1499, for a fairly sizeable
decrease of $300. This reduction is not limited by time, but
will be the new street price for the 5 megapixel E-1 DSLR. This
price reduction brings the E-1 in line with the the Nikon D100
and Canon 10D as well as the Pentax *iST and Sigma SD10, however
it may well have the advantage over all these cameras with its
very advanced set of features. As many of you will recall, Olympus
initially brought the E-1 to market aimed at the professional
photographer and so it was given many really nice features as
well as a very top-notch body with good protection against the
elements. The camera was designed from the ground up to work
in the digital world and the Zuiko lenses were designed to match
a specific mount and take advantage of the 2X multiplyer allowing
greater zoom range in lenses much smaller than those designed
originally for 35mm cameras. This advantage obviously has had
merit and concerned the competition including Canon and Nikon
to make several specific lenses for their digital cameras.
Overall, at this new price the E-1 suddenly
becomes a much more attractive choice, and its performance had
been praised by most reviewers. We have had extensive contact
with the E-1 but have held off a more detailed review as the
price was not really attractive to our reader base until now.
We will now proceed to do a review of the E-1 and will have more
information soon on our findings.
We are also pleased to announce that for a
limited time from May 01, 2004 until July 31, 2004 Olympus will
also be offering rebates on the 5 Zuiko lenses designed to work
with the Olympus E-1 DSLR camera. The 5 lenses available provide
a very broad coverage and thus those of you looking to start
out with a new DSLR system, and who do not own any DSLR lenses
already will find that the Olympus Zuiko lens quality along with
the E-1 DSLR itself are a very high quality team which will produce
very good to excellent results. The rebates range from around
$50 dollars off to $100 dollars off, so combined you can now
get an E-1 and initial lens for a combined reduction of around
$400.
We think this is big news and good news for
all DSLR buyers, as the competition heats up, the consumers are
getting better deals at better values. Stay tuned as we will
have more details on the E-1 and sample galleries soon.
For now check out the Olympus
E-1 New $1499 Price & 5 Zuiko Lens Rebate Press Release.
A-DIGITAL-EYE IN JAPAN & CUBA
We have often stated that testing out &
reviewing these new digital cameras is much more difficult than
it seems, but somebody has to do it! This week we will be reporting
daily from our temporary new publishing location atop the Westin
Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. Very little has been lost in translation
as we are excited to be visiting Japan and some of the key digital
camera company representatives for the first time. Unfortunately
most of what we learn on this trip we will not be able to publish
until closer to Photokina in September, however we may be able
to pass along a few items, and we hope to have some more cameras
to share sample images and information with you.
We have just been handed the new Sony Cyber-shot
DSC-W1 camera and in our first round of shooting with a production
model here in Tokyo, it is looking quite nice. While it was sunny
and warm here Sunday afternoon, today is a bit overcast so we
will attempt to get some brighter images soon to post sample
images from this new 5 megapixel camera with a huge 2.5 inch
lcd screen that is going on sale next month for just $399.
As many of you will recall, Sony announced
the DSC-W1 the day before PMA started in mid-February. Although
we did attend briefings in January and saw an early version of
the camera, we have to say now that we see the finished version
in both Silver & Black, this is one sharp looking camera.
It really came out nice and we think it is going to catch a lot
of attention given its small pocket size, high quality results,
good features, and appealing look.
Some of our early impressions of the W1 include
the fact that it is an extremely fast starter, with the lens
popping out very rapidly. The camera is ready to shoot in just
about one second, and the lens retracts too in a speedy time
when you power it down to put away. In addition to the fast startup
speed the camera is extremely quick to focus and snap a shot.
Both the focusing and shutter release times are about as fast
as we have seen in this style of camera.
The large 2.5 inch lcd screen is really one
of the big selling points for this camera over the competition.
The only other model out there right now in this format is the
Sony T1 which you will pay extra for due to its tiny form factor.
Once you start shooting with this large of a screen its going
to spoil you and make it hard to ever go back to something smaller.
We have noted that the lcd is very bright and works well outdoors.
Image playback is really fun as viewing your images at this larger
size is much easier and it promotes that new tradition of passing
the camera around just after a shooting session to share the
results. Now, even my mother can see the images!
The W1 is a camera which runs on two AA batteries
and although we have only taken a few hundred shots, there is
still considerable battery life left. The camera comes with two
Sony rechargeable batteries and a small recharger unit. The camera
also support USB 2.0 and comes with a cable and a 32 Meg Memory
Stick. We have a 512 MS Pro with us and we noted transfer of
over 110 Meg of files in 48 seconds onto our computer via the
USB connection. The camera set-up instantly with Windows XP and
we did not need to load any software or drivers to transfer the
images off the camera. The W1 comes ready to interact with PictBridge
printers too however we have not yet tested that out.
As far as picture quality goes, we have to
give the W1 a very good to excellent rating so far. The images
are coming out exposed correctly and Sony really has gotten the
colors coming out very natural with the white balance looking
better than ever. The real image processor seems to really be
doing wonders for the Sony colors, as these images have no color
casts or over-saturated look to them. We will hold off on further
comments until we can shoot more locations, but they really do
look nice and sharp at this stage. We also have the wide angle
lens and the tele-photo lens which attach to the W1 in a unique
new way. We will show you soon with posted images and samples.
We have briefly tested the VGA Fine Movie
mode at 30 frames per second, and the results are very good.
This camera can do a very decent job in capturing moving video
shots, although it takes up a lot of memory fast. After formatting
the 512 MS Pro card we noted it showed a time of 6 minutes and
13 seconds of recording time. A one Gig card thus would allow
just 12 1/2 minutes at the very highest quality. The standard
quality which shoots at half the frame rate does allow exactly
double the recording time, or 22:26 on a 512 card.
Well the day is upon us here in Tokyo so off
we go to shoot some more. This W1 even has full manual controls,
and in our early testing of flash shots, we are pleased to report
the images look very nice, a good improvement over the T1 as
the flash itself is a bit bigger and stronger, and the CCD itself
while also 5 megapixels is larger. We also have yet to try the
new HVL-FSL1B slave flash unit, which looks very interesting
from the info. that comes with the W1.
We also have a member of our photo team in
Cuba shooting with the Nikon Coolpix 8700 so as soon as we get
those pictures later this week we hope to share some very unique
scenes from Cuba with our readers.
We have added a few sample
images with links to the originals here.
Here is link to our story with product
images of the box, camera and the accessory lenses.
Stay tuned, lots more from our new Tokyo publishing
station coming soon:)
KONICA MINOLTA ANNOUNCES NEW 6 MEGAPIXEL
CAMERA (03/18/04)
Konica Minolta has announced
today a new compact 6.4 Megapixel camera called the DiMAGE G600
Digital Camera. The G600 features a new 1/1.76 inch 6.40 megapixel
CCD which provides very high resolution images in a very compact
and slim camera body. The new CCD works together with a new high
speed image processor for more precise and faster calculations
of white balance, exposure and focus. The new G600 also has Rapid
Response with a 1.3 second start-up time and a fast shutter release
time along with faster shot to shot times and playback with magnification
response. Konica Minolta has further used a very high quality
3X Optical Zoom (39 to 117 mm) GT HEXANON lens that was designed
to produce very accurate image results. Additional main features
of the new DiMAGE G600 include PictBridge compatibility, use
of SD Memory Cards and Memory Sticks in dual slots, fine-tuning
of colors and image results (saturation, contrast and sharpness),
a 2.4 inch Macro Mode, a 1.5 inch LCD display, Manual Shutter
Speed setting mode, a Black & White Mode, 30 Second Movie
with Audio Mode, Voice Memo Mode, and a Super long-lasting lithium-ion
battery, in conjunction with a design that conserves power, which
Konica Minolta claims will enable extensive operation on one
charge. We don't have an exact release date yet or price but
we do have the full press release below and we have posted in
our News Forums more details including the Highlights Back Grounder
document and full Specifications along with several different
angles of product shots.
Konica Minolta Introduces
the New DiMAGE G600 Digital Camera
Extremely Compact
and Powerful 6-Megapixel Camera is Quick and Easy to Use
MAHWAH, N.J. - March
18, 2004--Konica Minolta introduces the new DiMAGE G600 - a fast
and easy to use 6 megapixel digital camera designed to enable
photographers to produce high-quality images to last a lifetime.
This new addition to the DiMAGE camera line features Rapid Response
with a 1.3-second start-up time, an ergonomic and easy-to-use
design and this new digital camera is packed with features that
appeal to both beginners and advanced amateurs alike.
"The new compact and fully-featured DiMAGE G600 is a value-packed,
high performance digital camera at an affordable price,"
said Jon Sienkiewicz, vice president of marketing, Konica Minolta's
Camera Division. "This new compact camera is ideal for every
day snapshots as well as a second camera for serious amateur
or professional photographers."
High picture quality
is obtained through the camera's GT HEXANON lens that's designed
to produce stunningly accurate images. These images are then
received by the1/1.76-inch 6.40-megapixel CCD, which provides
high-resolution picture quality unexpected from such a compact
camera. The result is beautifully detailed images across the
entire zoom range in a slim, pocketable design. Completing the
process, high-resolution images are assured with precision processing
provided by the newly developed A*IPS - using Konica Minolta's
proprietary algorithm, which instantly calculates optimum exposure,
focus and white balance.
The DiMAGE G600's
newly developed Signal Processing Engine enables a speedy 1.3-second
start-up time that has the camera ready to use at a moment's
notice. This is further enhanced through speedy image processing
that greatly reduces the interval between pictures. In addition,
pictures can be magnified up to twelve times on the camera's
LCD panel by using the high-speed scroll feature. By magnifying
a portion of a picture after shooting, photographers can conveniently
and quickly double check focus or subtle expressions while the
subject is still present.
As a third addition
to the Konica Minolta DiMAGE G series of digital cameras, the
DiMAGE G600's exterior design and placement of controls has been
redesigned. Stainless steel and aluminum design elements combine
to create a modern, yet timeless design, with ergonomically placed
controls that users will feel right at home with - all efficiently
packaged in a pocketable 3.7 (W) x 2.2 (H) x 1.16 (D) inches.
And the new DiMAGE
G600 is PictBridge* compatible for printing pictures without
having to use a computer. The camera's dual card slots (Memory
Sticks and SD Memory Cards) facilitate transferring of both still
and moving images to other media, and Memory Sticks can be plugged
directly into Sony computers. Advanced users can fine-tune colors
and create special effects with the camera's many functions,
allowing photographers to fully express their artistic vision.
The camera's macro mode allows photographing objects just 2.4
inches away (on the widest angle setting).
PictBridge is an
industry standard established by the Camera & Imaging Products
Association (CIPA).
About 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.us.
-
-
- OLYMPUS ANNOUNCES NEW 6 MEGAPIXEL &
3 MEGAPIXEL CAMERAS AT CEBIT SHOW IN GERMANY TODAY (03/18/04)
-
Olympus is announcing today 2 new digital
cameras including a new compact 6 megapixel camera with a 3X
optical zoom called the C-60 Zoom selling at a price of just
$449 and a new 3 megapixel camera which will sell for just $149
called the D-395!
In addition to a new 6 megapixel 1/1.8 inch
CCD the C-60 Zoom camera has many advanced features including
full manual controls, new rapid start-up, a new faster image
processing chip (TurePic TURBO), ISO 64 - 400, fast shutter release
and playback, and a high quality glass 3X optical zoom lens (38
to 114 - f2.8 - f/8) all in a very compact yet high quality metallic
body that weighs only 7 ounces. The C-60 also features PictBridge
printer connectivity, USB 2.0 high speed image transfer, 13 advanced
shooting modes, a QuickTime movie mode with audio at 320 by 240
resolution and 15 fps, a new Olympus Semi-Transmissive 1.8 inch
LCD with 134,000 pixel which is aimed at significantly improving
display outdoors even in bright sunshine, a nice built-in flash
with several modes and red-eye reduction, and the new sophisticated
dual auto focusing system (TTL contrast detection & passive)
which is also found on the C-8080 camera. The C-60 Zoom
uses x-D picture cards for image storage and comes with a 32
megabyte card. The C-60 will ship in April at a street price
of $449. This looks like an very interesting camera which we
will follow closely.
The second camera being announced today by
Olympus is the entry level 3 megapixel fixed 33mm (no optical
zoom) D-395 which will sell at a price of just $149. The D-395
features PictBridge technology, a 2.5X digital zoom ability,
a 1.5 inch LCD display with 120,000 pixels, an optical real-image
viewfinder, compact pocket design with a polycarbonate body and
weight of only 5 ounces, several common scene modes, QuickTime
Movie Mode, Quick View image review, USB Auto-Connect, use of
x-D Picture Cards, and the use of 2 AA batteries. Although this
has no optical zoom, this is an amazing price to now be able
to obtain a 3 megapixel camera for only $149.
Here is the full C-60 press release with many
more details on this most interesting camera. The question now
is, will we see more 6 megapixel cameras in the future? Stay
tuned and see what develops today at the CeBit TradeShow in Germany!
- OLYMPUS DELIVERS ITS FIRST 6.1-MEGAPIXEL
ULTRA-COMPACT DIGITAL CAMERA:
THE C-60 ZOOM
-
- TruePic TURBO Image Processor Takes
High-Quality Images, Advanced Shooting Modes Ensure Total Control,
Compact Metal Body Design Goes Anywhere
-
- Melville, New York, March 18, 2004
- Olympus today unveiled the C-60 Zoom, a high-performance premium
digital camera for amateur to advanced photographers looking
for sophisticated features and functions in a stylish, ultra-compact
and durable metal body that's designed to do more.
-
- The C-60 Zoom combines a 6.1 -megapixel
(effective) image sensor with the Olympus TruePic TURBO™
Image Processor for rapid startup, shutter release and playback.
The result is brilliant high-resolution images in an instant.
The feature set of this stylish camera is rounded out with PictBridge™
technology for printing directly from the C-60 to any PictBridge-enabled
printer without connecting to a personal computer, and QuickTime®
movie mode with audio recording capability. It also incorporates
other innovations like the new "semi-transmissive"
LCD.
-
- "The C-60 Zoom is one of the smallest
full-featured 6.1-megapixel digital cameras on the market today,"
said T.J. Dickson, product manager of digital, Olympus America
Inc. "Its compact size and attractive, durable brushed-metal
body allows photographers to take it with them anywhere and not
feel weighed down with gear. With more megapixels, advanced shooting
modes, faster image processing, and a powerful Olympus glass
lens, the C-60 Zoom packs a lot of punch into a small package."
-
- Designed to Do More
Olympus digital cameras are known worldwide for producing vibrant,
sharp and realistic photo-quality images. 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 C-60 Zoom digital has a powerful seamless
12x zoom (3x optical zoom + 4x digital zoom) equivalent of 38
to 114mm, f2.8 - f8.0 in 35mm photography, to capture amazingly
sharp details and vibrant colors at distances near or far.
-
- Users of the C-60 Zoom can take full
manual control of the camera with advanced settings that include
controls for aperture priority, shutter priority and more. With
the Macro Mode, they can take close-up photographs to capture
incredibly sharp detail. Other controls include spot metering,
auto white balance, and exposure compensation. Multiple flash
settings on the built-in multi-mode flash provide the widest
range of options.
-
- The sophisticated Dual Auto Focus System
of the C-60 Zoom, also found on higher-end Olympus models like
the new C-8080 Wide Zoom, assists in increasing speed and accuracy
of focus. The dual AF system uses a Through-the-Lens (TTL) contrast
detection system combined with a passive metering system situated
outside the lens. The passive metering system first calculates
the distance of the subject by the phase difference, then the
TTL system fine-tunes the setting so the camera rapidly sets
the optimum sharpness based on both readings.
-
- Designed to View More
Viewing settings and composing shots is easy on the eyes, as
the camera's LCD is a 1.8-inch, low-reflective and bright LCD
delivering 134,000 pixels of image clarity. Moreover, the LCD
on the C-60 Zoom is now "semi-transmissive" thanks
to Olympus' innovation. To combat sun glare during outdoor shooting,
the semi-transmissive LCD on the C-60 Zoom uses not only the
available back light but also bright light from outside that
hits the display's surface. With standard displays, sunlight
is reflected off their surface, negatively impacting the ability
to see the shot. However, the LCD of the C-60 Zoom has semi-transparent
layers so sunlight is able to penetrate a few layers into the
LCD panel, reflect off the underside of the liquid crystal layer
and present a much brighter image on the LCD thanks to this additional
"back light". The brightness of the display even adjusts
itself to ambient light conditions. Regardless of how bright
it is outside, the C-60 Zoom's LCD delivers a perfect view of
the image. The camera's optical real-image viewfinder may also
be used as an alternative to the LCD to compose shots and extend
battery life.
-
- Designed for Excitement
The C-60 Zoom digital camera's 6.1-megapixel CCD sensor is combined
with an enhanced image processor called TruePic TURBO that significantly
improves image quality and delivers faster overall processing
speeds for rapid startup, shutter release and playback. Because
it has minimal shutter delay and a fast shutter speed of 1/1000
of a second, the C-60 Zoom is ideal for capturing fast-paced
action. TruePic TURBO also allows the C-60 Zoom to capture information
from all 6.1 million pixels with pixel "micro-smoothing"
that delivers clearer and more color-accurate photos, even at
lower resolutions. Prints are big enough to crop and print up
to 11" x 14" and larger. The advanced user will appreciate
that this powerhouse camera, not much bigger than a bar of soap,
can produce a 7.5" x 10" image at 326 PPI. The C-60,
with its extensive array of manual controls, makes a great pocket
camera for serious photographers in addition to offering the
advantages of point and shoot simplicity.
-
- When it's time to produce those prints,
the power of PictBridge technology in the C-60 Zoom makes it
simple to create a photo lab quality print at home or in the
office. Users can print directly from the C-60 Zoom to any PictBridge-enabled
printer, like the dye-sublimation Olympus P-10 Digital Photo
Printer, via USB 2.0. The C-60 Zoom has an interface for selecting
the best photos for printing border and borderless single prints,
multiple prints, and index prints. With the camera's 32MB Olympus
xD-Picture Card (included), it is also possible to stitch together
10 images into a single panoramic photograph. Or shoot special
2-in-1 pictures with a split-screen view that captures different
scenes together on the right and left side of the image, and
takes up less memory on the card than two separate images.
-
- Delivering Style
The C-60 Zoom's all-metal body is cool to the touch. Its ultra-compact
design with a lens barrier that slides back to turn on the camera
is an instant classic. Its brushed metal finish is both attractive
and durable. At a mere 3.9" W x 2.22" H x 1.6"
D, and 7 ounces (without battery and media card) the C-60 Zoom
is ready to go anywhere.
-
- Intelligent Design
Now with the C-60 Zoom it's possible to record QuickTime Motion
JPEG video and create short movies with audio that can be sent
over the Internet to friends, family and coworkers. Or take a
still picture while narrating a personalized audio caption for
the scene, and play images back later with sound to easily recall
the names of people, places and things.
-
- The C-60 Zoom camera offers advanced
features with a point-and-shoot simplicity for flawless picture
taking. For photographers who want optimum results in a wide
variety of settings, 13 selectable shooting modes are easily
accessed through the camera's mode dial, and include 6 scene
program modes to provide fully automatic exposure adjustments
for Portrait, Self-Portrait, Sports, Landscape + Portrait, Landscape,
and Night Scene. The customizable MyMode setting allows users
to return to the settings they use most frequently. Or for effortless
shooting, choose Program Auto and let the C-60 Zoom do all the
work. The C-60 Zoom also has a histogram to illustrate range
of tonal values present in the image prior to shooting and also
during image playback. This feature aids the serious photographer
in achieving the most accurate exposures from black to white.
-
- Designed for You
Navigating the menu options of the C-60 Zoom is as easy as pushing
arrow buttons on the back of the camera. These buttons lead to
a menu structure that is intuitive to use and takes little time
to memorize. The camera's Quick View button provides single-click
image review. Transferring images from the C-60 Zoom to a PC
or Mac is a quick and hassle-free experience with the plug-and-play
USB 2.0 High Speed Auto-Connect (that does not require software
drivers with most operating systems). Simply plug the cable into
the camera and the computer, and start downloading images off
the camera as though it were an external hard drive. Images may
also be viewed on a television with the included audio/video
cable.
-
- Availability
The C-60 Zoom Digital will be available in April 2004. It includes
a 32MB xD-Picture Card™, Auto-Connect USB cable, Li-Ion
rechargeable battery and charger, RM-2 Remote Control, Audio/Video
Out cable, wrist strap, Olympus CAMEDIA Master Software, user
manual and Quick Start guide.
-
- U.S. Pricing
C-60 Zoom Digital Estimated Street Price: $449.00 (U.S.)
-
- STEVE'S DIGICAMS POSTS KONICA-MINOLTA
A2 FIRST LOOK (03/15/04)
-
- Steve Sanders has posted a First Look Review
of the exciting new 8 megapixel Minolat A2 digital camera, the
only 8 megapixel camera to have image stablization. We expect
our review unit any day now and will have a lot more to say about
the A2 at that time! We have posted detailed information on the
Konica Minolat A2 - Click
Here. If you want to be one of the first to get a Konica-Minolta
A2 click here!
-
- Here is a link to Steve's Minolta
A2 Review.
-
-
PENTAX ANNOUNCES NEW WATER RESISTANT
4 MEGAPIXEL OPTIO 43WR DIGITAL CAMERA (03/08/04)
Pentax USA contacted us early this morning
to advise word had just come in late Friday night of a new camera
to be announced today. We were unable to get back to our computers
until late tonight so here you go, better a few hours late then
never. This actually looks like a great little camera for just
$349.99 as it has 4 megapixels, a 2.8X optical zoom lens, a small
size, it weighs in at just over 7 ounces, it has a new quick
start-up time, a 1.6 inch LCD display, and it is water resistant
for those who are around water a lot. The new Optio 43WR has
a great movie mode too which can record in VGA resolution at
30 fps up to the capacity of certain new high speed SD memory
cards you can use. Check this out if you want a nice looking
camera for the boat outings, trips to the beach or lake, skiing,
rain, and all the other times when you may take pictures where
water could splash the camera! The only bad news is it won't
ship until June, but that's when the water sports really start
getting wet, so it may come just in time for the Summer Fun!
Here is the Pentax Press Release issued today.
PENTAX INTRODUCES SECOND GENERATION
DUNKABLE DIGICAM:
OPTIO43WR FEATURES 4 MEGAPIXELS, ZOOM
LENS,
FASTER MOVIE AND A QUICK START MODE FOR ACTION SHOTS
GOLDEN, Colorado (March 8, 2004) PENTAX
U.S.A., Inc. has announced a second generation fully-immersable*
digital camera -- the new Optio43WR. Featuring 4.0 effective
megapixels, a powerful 2.8X zoom lens, and a JIS Class 7 waterproof
rating that keeps the Optio43WR watertight even when the camera
is rinsed, splashed or submersed in water.* So, go ahead and
dunk the Optio 43WR! The latest PENTAX Optio digital camera is
the perfect companion for outdoor photography in rain, snow or
a day at the beach.
*The Optio43WR may be immersed up to three feet for less than
30 minutes but should not be operated underwater.
The Optio43WR is compact and fast. Measuring
3.2 x 3.0 x 1.2 inches, it weighs 7.3 ounces. A new quick start
setting allows users to switch on the power in less than a second
prior to shooting, and a new snap shooting mode ensures sharper
results from consecutive action shots. The Optio43WR features
a new high-speed CCD and innovative image processing circuitry
to record movies at the high resolution of 640 x 480 pixels,
and the movie quality has been enhanced with 30fps (frames per
second) performance*. Movies now may be recorded to the full
capacity of your chosen memory media.
*A high transfer speed SD card is required.
The camera hosts a variety of impressive
features also found on other PENTAX Optio digital products including:
movie mode with sound and voice memo, built-in flash, a high-precision
1.6 inch LCD monitor, an optical viewfinder, and a diverse range
of shooting modes including program, landscape, night scene,
night scene portrait, surf and snow, portrait, sunset, flower,
fireworks, snap (automatic pan) and macro modes.
The Optio43WR power sources include
two AA alkaline batteries or optional CR-V3 lithium batteries
and AC adapter. As with all newer PENTAX Optio digital cameras,
the Optio43WR includes the latest version of ACDSee™ 5.1
software. With a $150 value, ACDSee™ digital camera software
makes it easy to retrieve, view, manage, print, enhance and share
your digital photos. The Optio43WR will ship along with the software
to major camera retailers in June 2004.
PENTAX U.S.A., Inc. is an innovative
leader in the production of digital and film cameras, binoculars,
lenses, mobile printers, scanners and internet cameras. For more
than 80 years, PENTAX technology has developed durable, reliable
products that meet the needs of consumers and businesses. PENTAX
U.S.A., INC. is a wholly owned subsidiary of PENTAX CORPORATION.
DIGITAL CAMERA FORUMS
BACK ONLINE (03/02/04)!
After 4 days of being up and
down it now appears that our host/server has fixed whatever issues
they were having at their end to get our forums back up and fully
working. We have not been given any kind of full explanation
for why they had such a delay but it was a problem at their end
and outside of our control. We have asked our host to speed the
forums up and so we shall see if they can help with that request.
Those of you not familiar
with our forums should check them out. We have topics for most
major brands of cameras, we have a breaking news section, and
topics for printers, software and photo galleries. You can post
images directly to the forums and share your images with others.
You do not need to register in order to view the postings or
to add a post. There are several additional features to those
of you who do become registered Forum members such as the 'Topic
Tracker' which allows you to track a thread and get an e-mail
notification should someone add a reply, or you can use the 'New
Posts' feature to have all new topic threads listed since you
last logged into the Forums. Registration only requires you to
select a User ID and Password and takes about one minute! Give
the Forums a try, we hang out there a lot and we can help answer
your questions along with the hundreds of other registered members
and thousands of weekly guests!
We have several new PMA announced
cameras now in and so as soon as we get rid of all this rain
here in Southern California look for more photo galleries and
our impressions, along with new postings in our forums!
Note, we are still having
a problem with our banner ad program so there may be an error
message displaying at the tops of each page for a few days more.
We are sure you can get along without those however. Eventually
we would like to get back to making a modest amount of money,
so we will try and get them working again. In the meantime we
will put some fixed ads with links to Ritz Online and others.
Remember you can help this site out, and we sure could use your
help, by using our banner ads links to Ritz Online to buy. We
only get credit if you use our link and buy directly online.
Thanks!
