News Archive - January 2009 Return to: Current News Archive Index Friday, January 30, 2009 Canon G10 Review Posted! 19:00 EST - We've just updated our Canon G10 Initial Test to Review status. Canon keeps refining their enthusiast flagship PowerShot digital camera, and the latest result is the very high quality Canon G10. With a rangefinder-like build and noticeable heft, the Canon G10 isn't... (More) PRESS RELEASE: SanDisk And Toshiba Sign Definitive Agreement To Restructure Flash Manufacturing Joint Ventures 14:13 EST - Significantly Strengthens SanDisk’s Financial Position By Reducing Lease Obligations And Increasing Cash MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA, January 29, 2009—, SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement with Toshiba to restructure their Flash manufacturing joint ventures operating at the 300-mm Fab 3 and Fab 4. As part of the agreement, more than 20 percent of the... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Camera Bits. Announces Feature-Packed Update to its Photo Mechanic Software 13:34 EST - PORTLAND, Ore. -- Camera Bits, Inc., a pioneer in the development of software for professional digital photographers, has announced a feature-packed update to its popular Photo Mechanic photo browser and workflow tool. Version 4.6 of Photo Mechanic, which is expected to ship by the middle of February, is loaded with new features and enhancements aimed to please demanding photographers who work with... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Valentine’s on a Shoestring - Courtesy of Jessops Jpics 13:09 EST - Monday 26th January, 2009 - Valentine’s Day is the time to celebrate the one you love, send secret love letters to an anonymous crush, or even be bold and start up a new romantic adventure. But this year, showing your loved one how much you care doesn’t have to cost the earth thanks to Jessops Jpics. The printing service from the UK’s leading photographic retailer has an array of... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Smith Micro Celebrates 20 Years of Stuffit Success With Launch of Stuffit Deluxe 2009 for Windows 12:39 EST - 'Just StuffIt!' Contest Invites Customers to Share How They Use StuffIt for a Chance to Win a Laptop, MacBook, iPods and Much More! ALISO VIEJO, Calif. -- Jan. 30, 2008 -- Smith Micro Software, Inc. Consumer Group, has announced the launch of StuffIt Deluxe 2009 for Windows, an enhanced version of the award-winning compression and file management solution and celebrates by asking customers to share... (More) Accessory Review: LensAlign Lite 12:10 EST - The Lite version of Michael Tapes' LensAlign solution to front and back focusing started shipping today -- and we review it! The $139.95 LensAlign Pro (reviewed last December) is a focusing target with three planes that you can mount to a tripod. The $79.95 Lite model -- which started shipping today -- uses just two planes and... (More) Thursday, January 29, 2009 PRESS RELEASE: New special edition. The LEICA M8.2 'Safari' 11:30 EST - Classic camera set with an olive green finish January 28, 2009 - Leica Camera AG, Solms has announced a collector’s edition M8.2 ‘Safari’ camera set in an olive green finish. This exclusive special edition is limited to 500 cameras worldwide. The LEICA M8.2 'Safari' set includes a LEICA M8.2 camera body in olive green paint finish and a silver anodized LEICA ELMARIT-M 28 mm f/2.8... (More) Wednesday, January 28, 2009 Full Review posted for Olympus E-520! 18:39 EST - Significantly refined over its predecessors, the Olympus E-520 offers an excellent set of features in a small package. It's not as small as the E-420, but it has what it takes to get you sharper pictures: namely, a bigger grip and built-in image stabilization. The E-520's Live View mode is improved, with several autofocus... (More) December POTD Winners Chosen! 12:20 EST - "The Eyes," "Triplets," and "Winter Wonderland" were chosen as our December winners. Congratulations to Samir Delic, Dan Wittmier, and Rudy Coppens! We're happy to announce the monthly winners of our Photo of the Day contest for December, 2008. Here's a look at December's winners, along with some comments from the judges: First Place The Eyes,... (More) Nikon D700 Hack Captures Video 12:12 EST - Any Live View Nikon may be able to capture video. According to Olivier Giroux's Mutable Conclusions 2.0 blog entry yesterday, the programmer has found a way to capture video from the Nikon D700. And it's likely the same trick will work for the D3 and... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Canon U.S.A. and Pro Football Hall Of Fame Award Winners of the “Why Do You Love Football” Photo Contest with a trip to Super Bowl XLIII 10:01 EST - National Photography Contest also Awards Grand Prize Winners a Place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 28, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced that Stuart Steele, 47, of Kansas and Ben Queen, 13, of West Virginia have been named the winners of the Adult and Teen Divisions of the Canon and Pro Football Hall of Fame “Why Do... (More) Tuesday, January 27, 2009 PRESS RELEASE: Rocky Nook Publishes 'Photographic Multishot Techniques' 12:42 EST - New title covers High Dynamic Range, Super-Resolution, Extended Depth of Field, Stitching SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Photographers are just beginning to realize the potential of high dynamic range imaging. Now, the newest techniques based on a bracketed series of exposures make it possible to go beyond HDRI: photographers can increase resolution for ultra-sharp, detailed images, and they can extend... (More) CIPA Releases 2009-2011 Camera Shipment Forecast 12:34 EST - Camera & Imaging Products Association President Tsuneji Uchida has announced the outlook on the shipment forecasts by product-type concerning cameras and related goods for the term from 2009 to 2011. Highlights from the full PDF follow. Outlook on Shipments in 2009 1) Digital Cameras The total shipments of digital cameras in 2008 (the cumulative total of shipments from January to December) exceeded... (More) PRESS RELEASE: DxOMark Releases Analyses of Panasonic Lumix G1, Olympus E-420 and E-510 12:26 EST - dxomark.com publishes Raw performance data on the first-ever Micro Four Thirds camera, along with data on two Four Thirds system cameras PARIS, France -- Jan. 27 -- DxO Labs has announced the publication of detailed Raw-based image quality data and DxOMark Sensor rankings on its popular http://www.dxomark.com Web site for two additional Four Thirds format cameras, the Olympus E-420 and E-510, as well... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Phanfare Redefines iPhone Photo & Video Sharing 12:09 EST - Latest update adds photo and video slide shows with music, photo editing, image stabilization, bulk uploader and much more to award-winning iPhone app. PRINCETON, N.J. (Jan. 27) -- Photo and video sharing service Phanfare (http://www.phanfare.com) has released a significant upgrade to Phanfare Photon, its award-winning iPhone application. Photon brings cloud-based photo and video management to the... (More) Apple Updates iLife Media Browser, iDVD 11:34 EST - Apple has released updates for its iLife Media Browser on OS X Leopard and iDVD in its iLife '08 suite. The company described both updates as improving "overall stability" and addressing "minor issues." iLife Media Browser Update For Mac OS X 10.5.6 users of of Aperture, iLife 08, iWork 08, "This update improves overall stability and addresses a number of other minor issues." iDVD 7.0.3 The iDVD... (More) Review: Canon 400mm f/5.6L USM 11:09 EST - The Canon 400mm f/5.6L USM inspires an interesting debate among Canon users: which is better, the 400mm f/5.6 prime lens, or the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 telephoto zoom lens? We've finally tested the Canon 400mm f/5.6L USM prime, and now have some results that will help the debate, one way or another. Click here to read our full review of the Canon 400mm f/5.6L USM. Panasonic: Two new TZ-series successor digicams 09:00 EST - Rounding out its announcements for the day, Panasonic has unveiled its new Lumix ZS series - launched with two models that follow in the footsteps of its popular TZ-series. The Panasonic Lumix ZS1 and Panasonic Lumix ZS3 are closely related, but with a few key differences to justify a $100 higher pricetag for the latter camera. The Panasonic ZS1 has a 10.1 megapixel image... (More) Panasonic: rugged H.264 digicam 09:00 EST - Among Panasonic's many digicam announcements today, perhaps the most interesting is one for which the company sadly doesn't currently have press images - the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1. The Panasonic TS1 is a rugged shockproof, waterproof, dustproof camera with a high-def AVCHD Lite (H.264 / MPEG-4 based) movie mode. Due to reach US shores this April with a $400 pricetag, the Panasonic... (More) Panasonic: new touch-screen digicam 09:00 EST - Next up on Panasonic's digicam announcement schedule for the day is a second new FX-series model, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580. The Panasonic FX580 is due to reach US shores this April with a $400 pricetag. This will get buyers the combination of a 12.1 megapixel imager and a 5x optical zoom lens. The standout feature of the Panasonic... (More) Panasonic DMC-FX48 announced 09:00 EST - Continuing Panasonic's digicam announcements for the day is a new FX-series model, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48. The Panasonic FX48 is due to reach US shores this April with a $350 pricetag. For this, you get the combination of a 12.1 megapixel imager and a 5x optical zoom lens. The ultra compact Panasonic Lumix... (More) Panasonic: New FS-series digicam 09:00 EST - One of a raft of new digital camera announcements today from Panasonic is the company's latest FS-series model, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25. Based around a 12.1 megapixel imager and a 5x optical zoom lens, the Panasonic FS25 is slated to reach stores this April priced at about $250. The budget-friendly Panasonic Lumix FS25 also includes a... (More) Monday, January 26, 2009 PRESS RELEASE: Unibind Announces Photobook Album Kit At Craft & Hobby Show 2009 16:01 EST - Make Creative Hard-Cover Photo Books at Home with Holiday & Special Event Printed Album Pages & Embellishment Stickers Alpharetta, GA – January 26, 2009 – Unibind, www.unibind.com, manufacturer of the award-winning Unibind high-quality binding, lamination and presentation product line, announced today the Unibind PhotoBook Album Kit at the Craft and Hobby Association Show (CHA) 2009, held... (More) Saturday, January 24, 2009 PRESS RELEASE: “Leica Oskar Barnack Award” 2009 competition just launched 10:44 EST - Application form and contest rules for participation now available online January 23, 2009 – Submissions for the “Leica Oskar Barnack Award” 2009 are now being accepted. All photographers can enter the competition and view contest rules online at www.leica-oskar-barnack-award.com. A renowned photographic competition, the “Leica Oskar Barnack Award” is celebrating its... (More) Friday, January 23, 2009 Adobe Labs Posts Lightroom 2.3, DNG 5.3, ACR 5.3 Release Candidates 15:14 EST - Support for Nikon D3x and Olympus E-30 added, along with a few bug fixes. Adobe Labs today posted release candidate versions of Lightroom 2.3, Digital Negative Converter 5.3 and Adobe Camera Raw 5.3. According to the company, "The 'release candidate' label indicates that this... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Creaceed Releases Hydra 2.0 13:09 EST - The High Density Range tool adds a Perceptive tone mapper and Homography alignment Creaceed has released Hydra 2.0, an HDR photography application exclusively for the Mac. Among the new features are: • "Perceptive," the new default tone mapper for improved and more natural results • "Homography", the new default alignment technique which is very useful for small distortions • The... (More) PRESS RELEASE: WnSoft Releases PicturesToExe Deluxe 5.6 12:59 EST - Create Stunning Slide Shows to Impress Your Friends And Clients WnSoft has announced PicturesToExe Deluxe 5.6, a tool that allows creating impressive slide shows. Slide show can be created as executables and screensaver (.SCR) files, HD video, DVD video disc or iPhone video. Powerful yet flexible and easy-to-use, the program enables quick export of slide shows to Youtube and Vimeo. It is always a... (More) Thursday, January 22, 2009 PRESS RELEASE: New DxO Optics Pro v5.3.2 supports the Canon 5D Mark II and the Canon G10 10:52 EST - And adds 32 new DxO Optics Correction Modules PARIS, France -- Jan. 21 -- DxO Labs announces today the immediate availability of DxO Optics Pro v5.3.2, now supporting the Canon EOS 5D Mark II (DxO Optics Pro Elite Edition) and Canon PowerShot G10 (DxO Optics Pro Standard or Elite Edition). Thirty-two new DxO Optics Correction Modules are also now available for a variety of cameras including the Canon... (More) Wednesday, January 21, 2009 Full Review update for Nikon D3! 19:10 EST - We've finally updated our Nikon D3 Initial Test to Full Review status. As the the company's first full-frame digital SLR, the 12.1-megapixel Nikon D3 really turned a lot of heads, and brought quite a wave of former Nikon fans back into the fold. Though the full-frame story was big news and the 51-point AF system made folks take notice, it was the Nikon D3's incredible high ISO performance that drew the largest crowd of serious photography fans.... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Olympus Helps New Shooters Move To The Head Of The Class 12:15 EST - Consumers Will Learn Essential Photography Skills from the Pros This Spring CENTER VALLEY, Pa., January 21, 2009 – Olympus launches new photography classes for beginner and intermediate users of Olympus E-System digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. Kicking off in February, the classes are designed for consumers who purchased or received cameras during the holidays and are interested in learning... (More) Tuesday, January 20, 2009 Review posted for Panasonic FZ28! 20:15 EST - Long a favorite in the super zoom digital camera category, Panasonic's Lumix FZ28 continues the tradition of offering a high quality optic for a low price. With a zoom range of 27 to 486mm, and built-in optical image stabilization, the little Panasonic FZ28 makes you feel like a pro with a bag of high quality lenses. You can get as sophisticated as you want,... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Buy the best - get the rest 17:36 EST - To celebrate the introduction of the Digital lens range, Phase One has composed 2 Special Offers for complete Phase One Camera Systems: Phase One P 30+ Offer:Phase One P 30+ Digital Back (31 MP)Phase One 645 Camera BodyCapture One Software3 Phase One Digital Lenses: a 45mm, an 80mm and a 120mm Macro lens at no extra charge! Phase One P 45+ Offer:Phase One P 45+ Digital Back (39 MP)Phase One 645 Camera... (More) PRESS RELEASE: O'Reilly Publishes 'David Pogue's Digital Photography: The Missing Manual' 16:43 EST - SEBASTOPOL, Calif. -- No wonder we snap up 15 million digital cameras a year -- they save us money, provide instant creative feedback and allow instantaneous distribution of our pictures. But now there is twice as much to learn: the art of photography plus the science of working with photos on the computer. Fortunately in O'Reilly Media's new, highly anticipated David Pogue's Digital Photography: The... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Extensis Presents Digital Asset Management Forum for Higher Education 16:33 EST - Harvard University event to focus on DAM best practices, a Yale University case study and round-table discussions. PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 20 -- Extensis, a division of Celartem Inc., today announced its "Digital Asset Management Forum for Higher Education" event to be held at Harvard University on February 19th. This is a one-day conference hosted by Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University... (More) Canon releases EOS 40D firmware v1.1.1 15:18 EST - Canon has released firmware version 1.1.1 for the EOS 40D digital SLR. Available now via Canon Japan's website, the update incorporates a number of improvements and fixes. This firmware update (Version 1.1.1) incorporates the following improvements and fixes.Fixes a malfunction that in rare occurrence causes a low battery indication to be displayed when using the EF 85mm... (More) Nikon: New firmware for D3, D700 14:31 EST - Nikon USA has today released updated firmware for its D3 and D700 single-lens reflex digital cameras. The new firmware versions 1.01 for the Nikon D700 and 2.01 for the Nikon D3 share a couple of updates, and also include a variety of changes specific to each camera model. Both cameras' updates fix a... (More) Full Review posted for Canon 5D Mark II! 12:08 EST - Canon has been adding something special to each of their new digital SLRs, something that sets the camera apart from the pack. This time, the something special is the HD movie mode in the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. Capable of capturing 1080p movies, the new camera opens up a whole world of video opportunities for those with a selection of Canon full-frame lenses -- from capturing extreme wide angles to isolating... (More) Monday, January 19, 2009 Adobe Working On Photoshop CS4 Update 19:53 EST - The company is looking for CS4 userws experiencing problems to test a small pre-release program. In a blog entry today, Photoshop Product Manager John Nack noted, "In the time since Photoshop CS4 shipped, we've heard from some customers about various things not working as designed." The most serious... (More) Samsung sets 10% market goal 16:04 EST - Samsung Techwin aims to increase its share of the global digicam market to 10% this year, according to an article in Thailand's English-language business daily "The Nation". Currently, the subsidiary of Korean conglomerate Samsung Group has a market share of about 9 percent, behind market leaders Canon Inc. (20%) and Sony Corp. (17%). The company expects demand to be flat... (More) Hamrick Software Releases VueScan 8.5.01 15:03 EST - New version adds support for 180 Raw file formats. Hamrick Software has updated VueScan, its scanning application, with support for an additional 180 digital camera Raw files. The full list of 321 supported Raw formats. According to a note on that page,... (More) Review: Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro (UPDATED) 11:33 EST - Every lens manufacturer produces a consumer telephoto zoom in the 70-300mm range; Sigma offers an economical alternative in the form of the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro. A telephoto zoom is typically one of the first lenses consumers acquire after a kit lens. Does Sigma's offering fare well enough to find a place in your bag? Read our full review this lens to find out. Friday, January 16, 2009 Panasonic LX3 firmware v1.2 22:26 EST - Panasonic Japan has released firmware version 1.2 for the Lumix DMC-LX3, which incorporates a number of improvements and fixes. Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Firmware version 1.2 offers the following improvements:Improved white balance flash mode setting when DMW-FL220 is connected. Proper setting of shutter speed on iA mode and Scene... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Camera Armor Announces Line of Protective Silicone Skins for Digital Cameras 13:45 EST - Camera Armor will also showcase their redesigned ToughStrap system and offer a sneak peek of Extreme, weatherproof body armor for DSLR cameras (LAS VEGAS – CES 2009, Hilton Hotel, Suite 2050) – Camera Armor, a leader in protective accessories for cameras and digital SLRs, announces their first line of compact protective skins for point and shoot digital cameras. The Compact Camera Armor... (More) Panasonic: Two new FS-series Lumix digicams 03:00 EST - Two closely-related digital cameras have been added to Panasonic's Lumix FS-series lineup today - the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15. Of the two, the Panasonic FS7 is the more affordable model with 10.1 megapixel resolution and an image stabilized 4x optical zoom lens that offers a 33mm-equivalent wide angle. Images are framed and reviewed... (More) Panasonic announces DMC-LS85 03:00 EST - Panasonic Consumer Electronics Co. has today announced a new entry-level digital camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS85. The Panasonic LS85 offers 8.1 megapixels and an image stabilized 4x optical zoom lens with a 33mm-equivalent wide angle. Images are framed and reviewed on the Panasonic DMC-LS85's 2.5" LCD display.... (More) Thursday, January 15, 2009 November POTD Winners Chosen! 15:28 EST - "Blacksmith from Bashaid," "Autumn Float," and "Flying Colors" were chosen as our November winners. Congratulations to Goran, Deanna Esplin, and Don Holland! Apologies for the delay in our judging, but we've finally chosen the monthly winners of our Photo of the Day contest for November, 2008. Here's a look at November's winners, along with some comments from... (More) Presidential portraiture enters the digital age 12:34 EST - Just days before the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, his official portrait has been unveiled - and for the first time, a digital camera was used for its capture. A blog post on the Change.gov website notes the occasion, and provides a link to a higher-resolution version. The portrait is the work of newly-announced White House photographer, Pete Souza, and contains... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Nikon D3x Performance Data and Analysis Now Available on dxomark.com 11:59 EST - With a DxOMark Sensor score of 88 points, the Nikon D3x takes the lead among the 54 cameras currently evaluated on the site Paris, France -- Jan. 15 -- DxO Labs announces today the addition of detailed Raw-based image quality data and DxOMark Sensor rankings for the Nikon D3x Digital Single-Lens Reflex camera body on its popular http://www.dxomark.com Web site. According to DxO Labs, the Nikon D3x,... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Sigma announces 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM 03:00 EST - The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of new SIGMA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM on March 10th, 2009. The SIGMA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM incorporates Sigma’s original anti-shake compensation function, with a 13.8 times zoom ratio. As opposed to having an anti-shake function in the camera body, this lens’s Hybrid Optical Stabilizer provides not only an anti-shake function... (More) Wednesday, January 14, 2009 PRESS RELEASE: Smartparts Introduces Ultra-Slim Touch Screen Digital Picture Viewers at CES 2009 15:44 EST -  SP24PC and SP35PC Frames Display Photos, Time, and Date Using Touch-Sensitive Controls Las Vegas (January 8, 2009) –Smartparts, Inc., a leading manufacturer and innovator driving the explosive digital picture frame market, is proud to announce two new ultra-slim touch-sensitive digital picture viewers -- the 2.4 inch SP24PC and 3.5 inch SP35PC.  Both the SP24PC and SP35PC feature... (More) Tuesday, January 13, 2009 PRESS RELEASE: Leica M8 Chosen For Chicago Athenaeum’s 2008 Good Design Award 14:54 EST - January 13, 2009 – The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies announced the LEICA M8 digital rangefinder camera as the recipient of the 2008 GOOD DESIGN award. The Jury for GOOD DESIGN based their decisions on aesthetic criteria stated in the original 1950 Program-criteria which measures innovation, form, materials,... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Smartparts Unveils Two New WiFi Digital Picture Frames at CES 2009 12:50 EST - The User-Friendly SPX10 and SPX19 Digital Picture Frames Integrate Windows Live™ FrameIt and Feature SmartFix, Smartparts Patented Image Correction Technology Las Vegas (January 8, 2009) –Smartparts, Inc., a leading manufacturer and innovator driving the explosive digital picture frame market, is pleased to announce two new additions to its line of WiFi enabled frames - the 10-inch SPX10WF... (More) Monday, January 12, 2009 Review: Canon 24mm f/1.4L II USM 12:47 EST - The Canon 24mm f/1.4L II USM was announced just prior to Photokina 2008, as an update to their pre-existing version of this lens. We were lucky enough to put a review unit through its paces in our testing lab. In the field of wide-angle lenses, this is the fastest on Canon's shelf; will it find a place on yours? To read our full review of this lens, click here. PRESS RELEASE: Samsung and Chumby Power Always-On, Internet-Connected Digital Photo Frames 12:12 EST - LAS VEGAS --(Business Wire)-- Jan 08, 2009 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world’s leader in advanced semiconductor solutions, and chumby have teamed up to provide a reference design built on Samsung’s award-winning S3C6410 application processor for Internet-connected digital photo frames (DPFs). The new Samsung / chumby® reference design provides developers with powerful Web–connected... (More) PRESS RELEASE: MAGIX showcases new video editing software and music recommendation tools at CES 2009 12:10 EST - MAGIX presents Mufin, a new music recommendation technology and a new release of the company’s professional video editing software suite, Video Pro X; Previews Movie Edit Pro 15 for consumer video editing. CES - LAS VEGAS, January 8, 2009 -- MAGIX a leader in multimedia software is attending CES from January 8th to 11th to demonstrate its new innovations in music discovery and video editing technology.... (More) Saturday, January 10, 2009 PRESS RELEASE: Sony Adds Breakthrough Technologies To HD Camcorder Line 14:05 EST - New Models Combine Exmor R CMOS sensor, Sony G Lens and BIONZ Processor For Unparalleled Imaging Quality LAS VEGAS (CES BOOTH #14200), Jan. 7, 2009 – As a leader in the high-definition camcorder category, Sony is introducing four hard disk drive Handycam® camcorders with high-performance optics, large storage capacity and advanced technologies. The HDR-XR520V, HDR-XR500V, HDR-XR200V and HDR-XR100... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Share Fun Moments Online With Sony “Webbie HD” Cameras 14:04 EST - Two Stylish Devices Provide Quick Video and Photo Uploads to the Web LAS VEGAS (CES BOOTH #14200), Jan. 7, 2009 – Social networking is all the rage with Sony’s new stylish cameras that make it easy to capture and upload MP4 video and still photos directly to the Web. The MHS-CM1 and MHS-PM1 Webbie HD™ cameras capture daily events in high definition video (1440x1080/30p) and 5-megapixel... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Sony Spotlights New Flash-Based HD Camcorder with Intelligent Features In A Compact Design 14:03 EST - LAS VEGAS (CES BOOTH #14200), Jan. 7, 2009 – Sony is making it easy to preserve memories in the best quality possible by introducing a flash memory-based high-definition camcorder with intelligent features, which is designed to fit within the family budget. The HDR-CX100 Flash Memory Handycam® camcorder preserves your memories in high resolution by capturing 1920x1080 high-definition video... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Sony Enhances DVD Camcorder Line With Advanced Optics, More Embedded Memory, And Ease-Of-Use 14:01 EST - LAS VEGAS (CES BOOTH #14200), Jan. 7, 2009 – Sony is updating its DVD Handycam® camcorder line today with two models that combine advanced optics with easy-to-use features. The new DCR-DVD850 and DCR-DVD650 models offer high performance imaging optics for great-looking movies and photos using powerful Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar lenses, 60X optical zoom, and 1/8-inch 680K-pixel CCD imagers.... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Eye-Fi Developing Wireless Video Uploads Direct to YouTube 12:44 EST - New Technology Will Allow Users to Send Videos Automatically, Wirelessly from their Camera to YouTube and their Computer LAS VEGAS -- Eye-Fi Inc., makers of the world's first wireless memory card for digital cameras, today announced that it is developing a way for users to wirelessly upload videos from their digital camera to YouTube and a home computer. Eye-Fi is previewing the technology at this... (More) Friday, January 9, 2009 Expanded Macworld Expo Slide Show 12:18 EST - SAN FRANCISCO -- We've expanded our Macworld Expo slide show to 67 images this morning. Highlights among the additions (all at the end on pages 7 and 8) are TechRestore's non-glare option for the 15-inch MacBook Pro, Adam Engst at Peachpit and Mikkel Aaland at O'Reilly. You can read the full report in the Jan. 16 issue of the Newsletter. Meanwhile, enjoy the slide show. (More) PRESS RELEASE: Epson Introduces Perfection V30 Scanner 11:15 EST - Incredible Resolution and Image Quality for $79.99 in Easy-to-Use Scanner LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Families, scrapbookers and cost-conscious consumers now have the ideal all purpose high-quality tool for scanning photos, documents and 3D objects with the Epson Perfection V30 scanner, launched today by Epson America Inc. Featuring 4800 dpi optical resolution for outstanding results, the versatile Epson... (More) Thursday, January 8, 2009 Canon 5D Mark II update fixes "black dot" problem 18:05 EST - Canon yesterday announced the firmware update for the 5D Mark II digital SLR camera, designed to fix the "black dot" error, as well as a banding issue. Today we took a few before and after test shots to see whether the black dot problem is indeed fixed. Shortly after the Canon EOS 5D Mark II shipped, users began reporting a strange "black dot" error, where small points of light were rendered with an accompanying black dot just to the right.... (More) PRESS RELEASE: MOGO Media Announces One-Day Seminars on Adobe Creative Suite 4 15:53 EST - Tour Kicks Off in New York City on January 16 SAN FRANCISCO -- January 8, 2009 -- MOGO Media, the premier conference and training provider for creative professionals working with Adobe software, today announced Shortcut to Brilliant: The Adobe Creative Suite 4 tour, a new series of one-day seminars. Presented in conjunction with Adobe, this three city tour launches on January 16 in New York City... (More) Casio: Six new EXILIM digicams 15:31 EST - Casio Computer Co. Ltd. has today unveiled six new digital camera models for the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, all due to ship from March 2009. The Casio EXILIM EX-FS10 is based around a 9.1 megapixel CMOS image sensor, and a 3x optical zoom lens with 38mm wide-angle. The Casio FS10 has been made with speed in mind, being able to shoot a full... (More) Sony announces Cyber-shot DSC-G3 12:00 EST - Sony has today announced the Cyber-shot DSC-G3, a WiFi-capable digicam that aims for compatibility with the maximum number of hotspots courtesy of an included web browser. Based around a 10.1 megapixel Sony image sensor and a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar branded 4x optical zoom lens, the Sony G3 also features a whopping 3.5" LCD display with an unusually high 921,600 dot... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Cronkhite Ships Frame It Image Enhancement Tool for the iPhone, iPod Touch 12:00 EST - SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Bobby Cronkhite Software has announced the release of Frame It 1.0, a new photo enhancement tool created for the iPhone and iPod touch by Bobby Cronkhite and Sam Dominguez. Frame It has an assortment of distinctive frames to choose from. Frame sizes are easily adjusted using the on screen heads up display slider. Frame It integrates seamlessly with your iPhones Camera and Photos... (More) Polaroid, Zink announce instant-print digicam 10:41 EST - A year after the two companies kicked off their cooperation at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show, Polaroid and Zink are back at CES with a new announcement. Last year they unveiled an inkless digital printer, and this year they've wrapped it in a digicam to create the Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera. It's not the first time we've featured a digital camera... (More) PRESS RELEASE: ZINK Imaging, Inc. and Lite-On Technology Corporation to deliver a range of innovative Zero Ink™ products 10:40 EST - Partnership will enable Lite-On to deliver new products with the ZINK™ Zero Ink™ Technology Bedford, MA., January 8, 2009 – ZINK Imaging, Inc. and Lite-On Technology Corp. today publicly announced their strategic partnership, already underway, for the design, commercialization and marketing of a range of ZINK™-enabled digital printing products. In this partnership, ZINK Imaging,... (More) PRESS RELEASE: ZINK Imaging builds on 2008 successes with new partners and products at the 2009 International CES 10:39 EST - Momentum continues for award-winning ZINK™ Zero Ink™ printing platform Bedford, MA -- January 8, 2009 – ZINK Imaging, inventors and manufacturers of the award-winning ZINK™ Zero Ink™ digital printing technology and ZINK Paper™, today unveiled at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show a new member of its expanding partner network and announced the availability... (More) Pentax K2000 First Shots posted! 10:04 EST - We've posted First Shots for the Pentax K2000 digital SLR camera, a new, entry-level model that is quite compact. The Pentax K2000 features a 10.2-megapixel sensor, in-body image stabilization, ISO range from 100-3200, 5-point AF system, and a 2.7-inch LCD. The Pentax K2000 (also known as the Pentax K-m in other... (More) Wednesday, January 7, 2009 Canon updates 5D Mark II firmware 21:32 EST - Canon Inc. has today released updated firmware for its EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR aimed at correcting certain image quality issues. Specifically, Canon's EOS 5D Mark II firmware version 1.0.7 is intended to fix problems with black dots adjacent to the right side of bright point light sources, as well as vertical banding noise patterns.... (More) Tour Macworld Expo With Us 20:03 EST - Sixty-one shots from the show floor including the anti-glare MacBook Pro, Nikon and Canon booths and more... SAN FRANCISCO -- We've been walking the aisles at Macworld Expo and sitting in on a few presentations but today's report is a 61 image slide show of the Expo. Click on an image to view the show with captions,... (More) PRESS RELEASE: SanDisk And Sony To Expand "Memory Stick Pro" And "Memory Stick Micro" Formats 19:56 EST - Achieving 2-Terabyte Maximum Storage Capacity and 60MB/s Interface Speed, Respectively CES 2009, South Hall, Booth # 30659, LAS VEGAS- Jan. 7, 2009- SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) and Sony Corporation today announced the joint development of two expanded formats that will shape the flash memory landscape for years to come. "Memory Stick format for Extended High Capacity (Tentative name)"... (More) Sony: Two new Cyber-shot digicams 19:30 EST - Sony Electronics Inc. has today announced two new Cyber-shot branded digital cameras. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 make their debut right before the Consumer Electronics Show kicks off in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Sony S950 offers 10.1 megapixel resolution and... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Picture Perfect Image Quality With New Sony Digital Photo Frames 19:30 EST - LAS VEGAS (CES Booth #14200), Jan. 7, 2009 – Sony put the spotlight on its new 10-inch digital photo frame today at the Consumer Electronics Show. It is the company’s first to offer a super clear LCD and TruBlack technology, which minimizes the reflection on the display and adds more contrast. The contrast is 15 times sharper and is 13 percent brighter than the company’s previous... (More) Samsung: 10x wide angle digicam 17:30 EST - Samsung has today unveiled a compact digital camera that offers a generous 24mm wide angle. The Samsung HZ10W has a 10.2 megapixel image sensor, and a Schneider-branded 10x optical zoom lens. Images on the HZ10W are framed on a 2.7" LCD display. The HZ10W's ISO sensitivity ranges from 80... (More) Samsung announces TL100 digicam 17:30 EST - Samsung has today unveiled a new twelve megapixel ultracompact digital camera, the Samsung TL100. The Samsung TL100 couples its 12.2 megapixel image sensor with a Samsung-branded 3x optical zoom lens. Images on the TL100 are framed on a 2.7" LCD display. The TL100's ISO sensitivity ranges from... (More) Samsung: Two new SL-series digicams 17:30 EST - Samsung has today announced four new digital camera models that the company will be displaying at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show. Details on two of the new cameras - the Samsung HZ10W and Samsung TL100 - can be found in separate news items, since Samsung has issued separate press releases for those models. The subjects of this news... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Samsung Introduces Six New Digital Camcorders At CES 2009 17:30 EST - New 64GB Internal Solid State Drive Marks a First in Digital Imaging Industry LAS VEGAS, N.V., January 7, 2009 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today unveiled six new digital camcorders at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company further solidified its leadership in the high-definition category with the announcement of five new full-HD models... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Samsung Unveils Next Generation Youtube™ Compatible Camcorder 17:30 EST - New SMX-F34 Offers 16GB of Internal Flash Memory and Digital Still Photo Capability LAS VEGAS, N.V., January 7, 2009 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today unveiled the SMX-F34, the company’s next generation YouTube™ compatible compact digital camcorder. Building on the success of the company’s well-received SC-MX20 camcorder, the SMX-F34 offers users additional features... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Corel and Partners to Showcase Corel Digital Media Lineup at CES 2009 12:51 EST - Corel Digital Media products include the latest in photo and video editing, disc authoring and video and disc playback with the latest Blu-ray support Ottawa, Canada – January 7, 2009 – Corel Corporation (NASDAQ:CREL) (TSX:CRE) today announced that key partners will exhibit its high-definition playback and authoring software at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) from January 8-11, 2009... (More) PRESS RELEASE: ExposureManager Announces Premium Subscription 12:31 EST - New features help photographers improve their presence on the Internet and increase their profits from the sale of their photography; upgrade incentives now available Torrance, CA (January 6, 2009) – ExposureManager (www.exposuremanager.com), a customizable full-service online sales resource for photographers, announces a new Premium Subscription service created to help increase print and merchandise... (More) PRESS RELEASE: SanDisk Mobile Ultra MicroSDHC And Memory Stick Micro (M2) Premium Mobile Memory Cards Increase Capacity To 16 Gigabytes 12:27 EST - SanDisk Mobile Ultra 16GB Cards Feature Increased Capacity, Fast Side-loading and Bundled USB 2.0-Compatible Reader for Easy Transfer of Digital Content SanDisk® Mobile Ultra™ 16GB microSDHC™ & Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™) cards are highest-capacity premium removable memory cards for mobile phones SanDisk Mobile Ultra cards' fast side-loading speed transfers data quickly... (More) PRESS RELEASE: 2009: The Start of a New Era for Canon's Single-lens Reflex Cameras, Commemorating 50 Years Since Canon Launched its First in 1959 10:52 EST - LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 6, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, is honoring 50 years of SLR camera sales, beginning with the sale of Canon's first SLR camera in 1959. 2009 is a milestone year, commemorating the passing of 50 years since Canon sold its first single-lens reflex camera. Canon's single-lens reflex cameras have evolved with the times, incorporating advanced... (More) PRESS RELEASE: SDXC Signals New Generation of Removable Memory With up to 2 Terabytes of Storage 10:42 EST - SDXC Memory Cards Provide Consumers with Massive Storage, Incredible Speed in Familiar, De Facto Standard LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7 -- CES Booth South 3 #31277 -- The next-generation SDXC (eXtended Capacity) memory card specification, announced today at the 2009 International CES, dramatically improves consumers' digital lifestyles by providing the portable storage and speed needed to store weeks of high-definition... (More) Olympus announces 26x zoom SP-590UZ 00:01 EST - Rounding out its pre-CES announcements for the day, Olympus has revealed an SLR-styled, 26x zoom digicam - the Olympus SP-590UZ. The SP-590 UltraZoom has a sensor resolution of twelve megapixels, and that whopping zoom lens offers everything from a healthy 26mm-equivalent wide angle to a powerful 676mm-equivalent telephoto. Maximum... (More) Olympus: Two new Stylus Tough digicams (UPDATED) 00:01 EST - With the Consumer Electronics Show fast approaching, Olympus has taken the opportunity to launch two new digital cameras to join its recently rebranded "Stylus Tough" lineup. The Olympus Stylus Tough-6000 and Olympus Stylus Tough-8000 both offer impressively rugged bodies designed to take whatever you can throw at them - or perhaps, whatever you can throw them at. (Note: The... (More) Olympus: Two new Stylus digicams 00:01 EST - Next up on Olympus' pre-CES announcement list are two closely related twelve megapixel digicams, the Olympus Stylus-7000 and Olympus Stylus-9000. The most notable differences between the two - beyond the pricing, of course - are to be found in their choice of lens and LCD display. The Olympus 7000 features a 7x optical zoom lens with a rather limited... (More) Olympus announces waterproof Stylus-500WP 00:01 EST - Continuing its pre-CES digital camera announcements, Olympus has today taken the wraps off the Olympus Stylus-550WP. The standout feature of the Olympus 550WP is that it's a relatively compact waterproof digital camera, rated as useable to a depth of ten feed. The Olympus Stylus 550 has a sensor resolution of ten megapixels,... (More) Olympus: Three new FE-series digicams 00:01 EST - Olympus America Inc. has today announced a raft of digital cameras in the runup to the annual Consumer Electronics Show. The entry level is represented by three new models in the company's FE-series line, the Olympus FE-3000, Olympus FE-3010, and Olympus FE-5010. The three cameras are closely related, with the lowest-cost... (More) Tuesday, January 6, 2009 DataRescue Updates PhotoRescue 14:52 EST - Support for new cameras has been added... Datarescue today released an update for Photorescue, its image recovery software. In addition to the usual tweaks and fixes, the new version adds support for Raw files from the following cameras: •... (More) The Schiller Keynote: Three New Things (UPDATED) 14:08 EST - Macworld Expo kicks off with three new things... SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing Phil Schiller, in a blue shirt rather than the traditional black mock turtleneck worn by ailing CEO Steve Jobs, gave the Macworld... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Nikon Introduces my Picturetown Application For The Itunes App Store 11:01 EST - Users Can Easily Upload and View Images From iPhone and iPod Touch MELVILLE, NY (Jan. 6) -- Nikon today announced that its my Picturetown application, for photo storage and sharing, is now available for download free of charge to iPhone and iPod Touch. With my Picturetown, users of these devices can access, upload and share their images with friends and family, anytime, anywhere. Nikon's my Picturetown... (More) Monday, January 5, 2009 Pentax: Two new Optio digicams 23:48 EST - Pentax Imaging Co. has today announced two new digital camera models for the Consumer Electronics Show. The Pentax Optio P70 is a twelve megapixel ultracompact digital camera that's just 20 millimeters thick, yet squeezes in a 4x optical zoom lens with a useful 27.5mm wide angle. Other features of the Pentax... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Samsung Extends Full-HD Camcorder Family With Introduction Of New H-Series 22:15 EST - New HMX-H106 is the World’s First Camcorder to Feature a 64GB Internal SSD LAS VEGAS, N.V., January 5, 2009 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today extended its family of full-HD digital camcorders with four new models - the HMX-H106, HMX-H105, HMX-H104, and HMX-H100. Samsung’s new H-Series offer users high-performance, full-HD video, a renowned Schneider Kreuznach Varioplan HD... (More) Kodak: Four new digicams 19:41 EST - Alongside its digital video camera announcement, Eastman Kodak Co. has today taken the wraps off four new digital camera models. The Kodak Z980 digital camera combines a whopping 24x optical zoom Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon-branded lens with a 26mm to 624mm equivalent zoom range, and a twelve megapixel image sensor. Given the... (More) Kodak announces ZX1 video camera 17:05 EST - In the runup to the Consumer Electronics Show, Eastman Kodak Co. has launched a new digital video camera that will sit alongside its existing ZI6 model in the company's lineup. The Kodak ZX1 has a candy-bar form factor with a fixed focus lens and 1/4.5" CMOS image sensor optimized for high speed 720p (1280 x 720 pixels) high definition video capture at up to 60 frames per... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Macworld Debut for O'Reilly's 'Photoshop CS4: The Missing Manual' and 'Photoshop CS4 Channels & Masks One-on-One' 15:46 EST - SEBASTOPOL, Calif. -- Two books will be making their debut at Macworld 2009 -- just in time for all of the photographers and graphic designers present at the show. Lesa Snider King's Photoshop CS4: The Missing Manual (O'Reilly Media, $49.99) covers the newest version of Photoshop and teaches you everything from editing photos to creating beautiful documents -- whether you're a beginner or a power user... (More) PRESS RELEASE: New introductions from Kodak deliver brilliant images, unique ways to create and easy ways to connect 15:36 EST - Pocket-sized HD Digital Video Camera and 24x Ultra-Zoom Digital Camera highlight Kodak launches at 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show Las Vegas, NV, January 8, 2009 – Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) today introduced new products and services that make it easier than ever for consumers to make the most of life’s moments, from go-anywhere High Definition video recording to simple,... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Canon U.S.A. Packs A Punch With A Powerful New Camcorder Line-Up For 2009 14:37 EST - New Camcorders Offer Advanced Technology for Higher Image Quality and Easy Operation Across a Variety of Recording Formats LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 5, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc, a leader in digital imaging technology, announces an exciting new line of five VIXIA high definition and six standard definition camcorders, which are available in a variety of different recording formats, including... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Gigatribe Version 3 Public Beta Available At CES 12:24 EST -  Free Web 2.0 Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Community January 5, 2009, Las Vegas, Nevada – GigaTribe www.gigatribe.com, the company revolutionizing file-sharing, today announced a public beta of GigaTribe Version 3 of its free, community-based file-sharing software.  GigaTribe will preview Version 3 next week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Las Vegas, at Booth #IP228 (Sands). ... (More) Review: Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 VC 12:09 EST - The Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 VC currently holds the crown as the ''vacation lens'' with the longest wide-angle to telephoto zoom distance. Complete with vibration control to combat the effects of camera shake, we've put the lens through its paces in our lab: click here to read our full review of this lens. Phase One releases Capture One 4.6 12:00 EST - Phase One has today released Capture One 4.6, the latest iteration of its flagship imaging software. Three versions are available - either Capture One 4.6, Capture One 4.6 PRO, or Capture One 4.6 DB. Customers using Capture One 3.x will be able to upgrade to the equivalent version of Capture One 4.6 without... (More) PRESS RELEASE: New Video Memory Cards from Lexar Media Provide Extended Recording Capabilities for Growing Number of Consumers Capturing High-Definition Video 09:45 EST - Lexar Full-HD Video Memory Cards Offer Reliable Solutions for Consumers Recording with Digital Camcorders and Digital Point-and-Shoot Cameras Fremont, CA, January 5, 2009 – Lexar Media, a leading global provider of memory products for digital media, announced today a new line of memory cards specifically designed for extended, standard- and high-definition (HD) video capture. The Lexar®... (More) Saturday, January 3, 2009 Mars Rovers Celebrate Five Years of Science, Discovery and Photos 13:33 EST - Designed to roam the red planet for 90 days, the two Mars Rovers are still snapping photos five years later, returning over 36-GB of data to earth. Today marks the fifth anniversary of the NASA Rover landings on Mars. Over a quarter million images have been taken by these interplanetary tourists as they continue their extended trip. To celebrate,... (More) Friday, January 2, 2009 Nikon To Release iPhone App to Access my Picturetown 19:29 EST - Use an iPhone or iPod touch to view your my Picturetown albums. Nikon has announced it will release a dedicated iPhone application developed by Nikon for accessing and using my Picturetown, the company's photo storage and sharing site. This application, which runs... (More) Printer Review: Canon MP980 13:34 EST - The MP980 is Canon's top-of-the-line multifunction device, adding duplex printing and film scanning to everything we liked about the entry-level MP620. We've lived with several multifunction devices over the last year whose main attraction has been convenience. And more than one of them merely promised convenience, failing to deliver anything but frustration.... (More) PRESS RELEASE: Digital Foci Announces Picture Porter 35 Portable Photo Manager 13:29 EST - Faster Copies, New dSLR Support, High-Capacity Hard Drive LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Jan. 2 -- Digital Foci has announced it is introducing the new Picture Porter 35 at next week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Booth #31846 (LVCC, South Hall). Picture Porter 35 (model PPR-350) is a new high-capacity portable photo manager with a 3.5-inch color screen for easy viewing; built-in hard drive with capacity... (More) UK government funds imaging research 13:16 EST - Scottish researchers have recently received a grant of almost half a million pounds sterling with which to develop improvements in image sensor and display technology, according to a report today from the BBC. The University of Glasgow and Sharp Laboratories Europe are partners in the project, which received its funding - equivalent to a bit over US$700,000 - from the United Kingdom's Engineering and Physical... 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