HP announces pigment-based pro printer

22:57 EST - Hewlett-Packard Co. has announced a new printer model based on pigmented inks that the company says has shown fade resistance of more than 200 years in preliminary testing.

The tests, conducted by Wilhelm Imaging Research, suggest that HP's Photosmart Pro B9180 Professional Photo Printer will offer exceptional fade resistance (when using the new eight-color HP Vivera pigment inks and HP Advanced Photo Paper, HP Matte Photo Paper, HP Hahnemühle Smooth Fine Art Paper or HP Hahnemühle Watercolor Paper). The B9180 is also swift, printing a 13" x 19" photo... (More)

Panasonic SLR video, PMA galleries posted

13:56 EST - As the Photo Marketing Association tradeshow has officially begun, we've just added some interesting new material to our PMA report.

Most significantly, we've published a video covering Panasonic's just-announced Lumix DMC-L1 digital SLR. You'll really get a feel for the size and ergonomics of the DMC-L1 as you watch our publisher, Dave Etchells, get hands on with a prototype camera. Dave also chats with Suguru Takamatsu of Panasonic's Optical Group, who gave some insight into the design of both the DMC-L1 camera body, and the... (More)

Sigma announces five Four Thirds lenses

11:00 EST - In its second announcement of the day, Sigma Corp. has released details of five new lenses for the Four Thirds system, as used in digital SLRs from Olympus (and soon Panasonic, as well).

The newly announced lenses include two DC models (the 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM and 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC), and three DG types (the MACRO 105mm F2.8 EX DG, APO MACRO 150mm F2.8 EX DG HSM, and APO 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX DG HSM). The five vary in weight from a low of 410 grams for the 30mm prime up to 1830 grams for the 50-500mm zoom, and feature aperture diaphragms with from seven to nine blades. Maximum magnification... (More)

Sigma announces 70-200mm lens

11:00 EST - Sigma Corp. has today announced a new 70-200mm lens destined for the Canon, Nikon and Sigma lens mounts.

The Sigma APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG MACRO HSM lens has eighteen elements in fifteen groups, and a nine bladed diaphragm, with an angle of view ranging from 34.3° - 12.3°. It focuses down to 100 centimeters, accepts a 77mm filter thread, and weighs 1,380 grams. More details can be found in the specifications sheet and press release below, both courtesy of Sigma. Sigma APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG... (More)

PMA: Mike Takes Three Sneak Peaks

10:16 EST - Our first floor report from Orlando was delayed by an Internet outage and broken door handle, but we persisted. Snow, sleet or rain would could have handled.

But despite the delay, our coverage of PMA Sneak Peak, a Sony Shoot at Universal Studios and Pepcom's DigitalFocus has finally been posted. The trade show floor opens in just a few minutes, so we're going to make ourselves presentable and wander over there to see what all the fuss is about. Join us later for our report. (More)

Casio USA reveals EX-Z850 plans

10:00 EST - In its second US announcement of the day, Casio has described its plans for the EXILIM EX-Z850 model.

The Z850 was announced in Europe and Asia on February 21st, and the camera will ship in the USA by mid April, priced at $399.99. The Z850 is an eight megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom lens, 2.5" LCD display, USB 2.0 High-Speed and NTSC/PAL video connectivity. It stores images on SD / MMC cards and 8MB of built-in memory, offers creative controls including aperture-priority, shutter-priority,... (More)

Casio USA: EXILIM EX-Z60 announced

10:00 EST - Casio USA has today announced its new EXILIM EX-Z60 digital camera.

Announced in Europe and Asia on February 21st, the EX-Z60 will reach US shores by mid April, with two variants - black and silver body colors respectively - both being available priced at $249.99. The Z60 is a six megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom lens, 2.5" LCD display, USB 2.0 High-Speed and NTSC/PAL video connectivity. It stores images on SD / MMC cards and 8.3MB of built-in memory,... (More)

Casio USA announces EX-Z600

10:00 EST - As this year's PMA 2006 trade show is about to kick off, Casio USA has officially announced the EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z600, a camera that was announced in late January in the rest of the world.

Full details can be found in our coverage of the earlier announcement. To recap, though, the EX-Z600 is a six megapixel ultracompact model with a 3x optical zoom lens, and a large 2.7" LCD display. The camera offers a generous helping of scene modes (dubbed "Best Shot" modes in Casio parlance), including the unusual "Angle Correction" and "Color Restoration" modes... (More)

Panasonic announces its first SLR (UPDATED)

09:00 EST - Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., whose digital cameras are sold under the Panasonic brand name, has today unveiled what may be one of the most anticipated products at this year's Photo Marketing Association tradeshow.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 brings to fruition the company's pledge last April that it would create a digital SLR under its own branding, compatible with Olympus' Four Thirds lens mount standard. The L1 looks to be quite an interesting SLR at that, with a traditional - perhaps retro - styling aesthetic. It is based around the same 7.5 effective megapixel Live MOS image sensor that debuted in Olympus'... (More)

Panasonic, Leica announce stabilized interchangeable lens

09:00 EST - Alongside Panasonic's announcement of its new single-lens reflex digital camera, the company has today released news of a new lens that is a joint development with Leica Camera AG.

The Leica D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 ASPH lens is, the companies note, the first interchangeable Leica lens to be designed specifically for digital cameras. The lens offers Panasonic's proprietary MEGA O.I.S. image stabilization technology, and also integrates Panasonic's Venus Engine in the lens unit. Lens construction is 16 elements in 12 groups, with two aspherical lenses, and an aperture... (More)