Digital Photography Blog: Digital Camera Reviews, Ratings, News, Tips and Tutorials.
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The Samsung DuoCam VP-D6050i brings together Samsung's best digital still camera and digital video camera technology in the one unit. It has a 2.5 inch LCD, is 66 x 96 x 140mm and weighs just 540g.
'"The DuoCam VP-D6050i improved design is a great example of Samsung's commitment to products that are technologically advanced, easy to use, and packed with value," said Byoung Youl Yu, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Video Division in Samsung Electronics. "No other product on the market combines the highest quality video in any lighting conditions, with sharp, clear, high-resolution still photography. It's the perfect solution for consumers who want to spend their time enjoying the moment, not fumbling with a camera while trying to capture it."
With the DuoCam VP-D6050i consumers can switch between a 5.25 megapixel DSC and a DV Camcorder at the push of a button - for no-compromise images that can be saved on a variety of flash memory cards and the power to record great digital video to standard Mini-DV tapes. The DuoCam VP-D6050i also comes equipped with a Multi-Language OSD, broadening its appeal by offering consumers their choice of menus in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian.' - Source - Design Technica
The Digital Camcorder in the DuoCam VP-D6050i is a Mini-DV camera with a 10x Optical Zoom, CCD 1/6", 800K Pixel CCD and Image Stabilizer. The Digital Still Camera has a 3x Optical Zoom and 5.25 Megapixel sensor.
For more information on the Samsung DuoCam VP-D6050 check out the following press release from Samsung.
PRESS RELEASE
Hanover, 19 March 2004 - Samsung Electronics continues its leadership in digital convergence innovation with the second-generation DuoCam VP-D6050i, which combines the best technology from DSC (digital still photography) and Mini-DV (digital video).
The new DuoCam VP-D6050i improves on the swivel lens design by incorporating dedicated DV and DSC lenses in one body. The new design offers a more compact package, similar in size to other Mini DV camcorders, but packs all the features consumers have come to expect from individual DV camcorders and DSCs.
"The DuoCam VP-D6050i improved design is a great example of Samsung's commitment to products that are technologically advanced, easy to use, and packed with value," said Byoung Youl Yu, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Video Division in Samsung Electronics. "No other product on the market combines the highest quality video in any lighting conditions, with sharp, clear, high-resolution still photography. It's the perfect solution for consumers who want to spend their time enjoying the moment, not fumbling with a camera while trying to capture it."
With the DuoCam VP-D6050i consumers can switch between a 5.25 megapixel DSC and a DV Camcorder at the push of a button - for no-compromise images that can be saved on a variety of flash memory cards and the power to record great digital video to standard Mini-DV tapes. The DuoCam VP-D6050i also comes equipped with a Multi-Language OSD, broadening its appeal by offering consumers their choice of menus in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian.
The VP-D6050i's 800,000 pixel CCD and lens system deliver high-quality video and a 10x optical zoom for precision control over what is being filmed. A 2.5 inch 200K pixel high resolution LCD screen built into the DuoCam VP-D6050i makes shooting and playback easy, and there is also a colour LCD viewfinder. The DuoCam VP-D6050i utilizes Samsung's Power Night Capture technology for filming low-light video, and additionally supports a MPEG4 video clip recording onto flash memory cards. USB and IEEE1394 ports are included for fast data transfer between the camera and a PC or Mac.
For truly brilliant digital still pictures, the DuoCam VP-D6050i features a 5.25 mega pixel CCD (2592x1944 resolution), 3X optical/12X digital zoom, and a built-in pop-up flash. The enhanced manual functions such as shutter priority mode or aperture priority mode add versatility to this complete high-end digital camera. The DuoCam VP-D6050i also supports the use of Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Secure Digital Cards and Multi Media Cards, putting consumers first by allowing them to choose the flash they prefer.
General Specifications ( VP-D6050i)
Model VP-D6050i
LCD 2.5" 200K Pixel High Resolution LCD Monitor
OSD Multi Language OSD (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian)
Viewfinder Colour Viewfinder
Dimension (WxHxD)(mm) 66 x 96 x 140
Net Weight 540g
Digital Camcorder
Format Mini-DV
Lens Optical 10x, Digital 900x Zoom Lens
CCD 1/6", 800K Pixel CCD
Low Light Shooting Slow Shutter / Night Capture /Power Night Capture
Interface IEEE1394 in /out, USB Streaming
Image Stabilizer Digital Image Stabilizer
Digital Camera
Format JPEG ./ TIFF
Lens Optical 3x, Digital 12x Zoom Lens
CCD 1/1.8", 5.25M Pixel CCD
Image Resolution 2592x1944 Image Resolution
Movie Clip MPEG4 Movie Clip (VGA 30fps)
Flash Pop-up Flash
Interface USB2.0 / PictBridge
Memory 4 in 1 Multi Memory Card Slot (MS, MS RO, SD,MMC) with 16MB MS
* Specifications are subject to change without notice
Digital Outback Photo has a great series of digital photo workflow technique tips. Their latest one is on Dust Removal. In particularly they look at the new Nikon tool - 'Dust off' which looks like being a very useful tool, especially for those of us with DSLRs. Source - Photography Blog
Exposure Manager is an exciting new service that I'm sure many Digital Photographers will find very useful. Now its not only easy to display your photos online but also to make some cash from them.
It is an online tool that will make displaying and selling your photography a breeze. It allows photographers to upload and display photos giving them complete freedom to produce galleries with the look and feel that will best display the particular images on display.
Photos can be sold in a variety of formats at a variety of prices and 'Exposure Manager's' integrated system will take care of billing, printing of photos, fulfillment of the order and payment to the photographer.
Among ExposureManager’s key features are:
• Unlimited storage for Gold & Platinum members
• Break-through on-demand prints, poster and merchandise wholesale prices
• Fully customizable templates
• Domain mapping (example: photos.yourdomain.com goes to
name.exposuremanager.com)
• Direct Photo Linking to display photos in forums and blogs
• Statistics on visitors and views per photo and per gallery
The Exposure Manager tool is currently in beta and a full release is planned for May 3rd, 2004. The full release will have photoblogging and multiple user management features.
Interested? Well you can now sign-up for free for a 30 day trial period and experience Exposure Manager for yourself. To make the service even better photographers are upgraded to a full year of Gold account benefits when they give active feedback during the beta period!
I suspect we'll see more and more tools released like this in the next few years, its going to be a growth industry for sure. Exposure Manager has definitely set a cracking pace though with the launch of this product!
If when you start thinking about buying a digital camera all you see floating before your eyes is dollar signs this article by TechTV might be a good read for you. It says that you don't have to spend the world to get a good digital camera and suggests 5 that are under the $200 (US) figure that you might want to check out.
Their suggestions include the Olympus D-395 / C-160, the Fujifilm Finepix A210 and the Nikon Coolpix 2200 which are three of my favourite budget digital cameras also.
The Leaf Mamiya ProDigital system is a digital solution from Leaf that comes with either a 6 or 11 megapixel option.
'The Leaf Mamiya ProDigital Solution is offered in two versions; the Leaf Mamiya ProDigital 6 and Leaf Mamiya ProDigital 11. The Leaf Mamiya ProDigital 6 contains a six megapixel Leaf Valeo digital back, Mamiya 645 AFD camera and 80mm f/2.8 lens. This solution is ideal for portrait and wedding photography providing excellent image quality in sizes up to 24x30 inches. The Leaf Mamiya ProDigital 11 is complete with a Leaf Valeo 11 digital back, Mamiya 645 AFD camera and 80mm f/2.8 lens. This solution is designed for commercial and advertising photography and for applications requiring higher resolutions. Both solutions are fully compatible with Leaf's complete portable solution, comprised of the Leaf Digital Magazine and the Leaf DP-67 detachable image display. The Leaf Digital Magazine offers five gigabytes of storage space on a single magazine to hold more than 350 images from the Leaf Mamiya ProDigital 6, and more than 200 images from the Leaf Mamiya ProDigital 11, all in 16-bit uncompressed Leaf HDR (High Dynamic Range) format. Firewire IEEE1394 communication in the Digital Magazine makes the writing speed approximately three times faster than that of a compact flash or a micro drive.' - Source
Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit has been writing about Digital Photography more and more in the last month.
Of particular interest is his column The Greatest Picture Show on Earth which examines how photos are now being shared and distributed online.
'But now the Web is becoming the primary way of distributing photographs. This is both good and bad. The bad -- already noted by many photographic purists -- is that Web images aren't nearly as good as high-quality photographic prints. The good, however, is that a lot more people can see them.'
I'm really interested in his thoughts on how the limitations of digital photography will impact the way in which photographers approach photography. He draws a comparison between the way in which Black and White photography meant that early photographers put a lot more emphasis upon lighting and shadows etc than we do today.
He suggests that the limitations of viewing digital photographs on the web could impact the way we compose photographs we take today.
'You'd expect that people would respond to these limitations by focusing on composition and subject matter. When subtle color and tonal ranges, or tiny detail, can't be preserved for the viewer, the natural response is to focus on those things that can be preserved: interesting subject matter, well presented. And -- as you can see from the photo sites I've pointed to -- that seems to be what people are doing.'
Interestingly Glenn observes that manufacturers are perhaps ignoring this in the approach to build cameras with larger and larger megapixel sensors.
Some of Glenn's photos and thoughts on digital photography can be viewed at his blog here, here and here.
The BBC is telling us what we already know - Digital Cameras have a bright outlook! Not a week goes by when I don't see articles with statements like this.
'2004 is set to be a watershed year, when, for the first time, we will be snapping up more digital cameras than their analogue counterparts.'
One of the more interesting statements in the article was this comment which I've been thinking myself for the last few months.
'In fact the so-called megapixel race has come on so quickly, that it is now running out of steam....This means that the big players are competing on other territory, such as design.'
PC World has a great article on the rise of the 1 megapixel camera phone which are becoming more and more popular.
'Camera phones are moving from novelties to viable digital cameras, with the introduction of several new models that shoot images at 1 megapixel or even higher resolution.'
Whilst they are unlikely to compete with many mid ranged digital cameras in the next year or so the improvements in technology over the past 6 months have been significant.
'Many of the new models are medium-size, clamshell-style phones with big screens measuring up to 2 inches diagonally. Photos produced on a 1-megapixel camera phone promise to yield a good 3-by-5-inch print.'
Camera phones are becoming more and more 'camera-centric'. ie they are becoming more centered around the camera function and less around the phone in their design.
Digital Photography blog will continue to monitor progress in the camera phone world - stay tuned.
Camera phones boast better picture quality is an article on the same topic.
Exposure Manager is an exciting new service that I'm sure many Digital Photographers will find very useful. Now its not only easy to display your photos online but also to make some cash from them.
It is an online tool that will make displaying and selling your photography a breeze. It allows photographers to upload and display photos giving them complete freedom to produce galleries with the look and feel that will best display the particular images on display.
Photos can be sold in a variety of formats at a variety of prices and 'Exposure Manager's' integrated system will take care of billing, printing of photos, fulfillment of the order and payment to the photographer.
Among ExposureManager’s key features are:
• Unlimited storage for Gold & Platinum members
• Break-through on-demand prints, poster and merchandise wholesale prices
• Fully customizable templates
• Domain mapping (example: photos.yourdomain.com goes to
name.exposuremanager.com)
• Direct Photo Linking to display photos in forums and blogs
• Statistics on visitors and views per photo and per gallery
The Exposure Manager tool is currently in beta and a full release is planned for May 3rd, 2004. The full release will have photoblogging and multiple user management features.
Interested? Well you can now sign-up for free for a 30 day trial period and experience Exposure Manager for yourself. To make the service even better photographers are upgraded to a full year of Gold account benefits when they give active feedback during the beta period!
I suspect we'll see more and more tools released like this in the next few years, its going to be a growth industry for sure. Exposure Manager has definitely set a cracking pace though with the launch of this product!
Time Magazine's - Gadget of the Week this week is the Nikon D70. They rave about it - here are some of the excerpts from the article:
'Nikon's D70 is the first camera I've seen that gives total amateurs a fighting chance to capture reality as they see it....
Unlike most cameras, the D70 is an instant photography class, with beginner, intermediate and advanced ways to use it. For starters, a scene-selection knob lets you tell the camera what to prepare for. If this sounds familiar, it should — most digital point-n-shoot cameras have a similar selector, with identical icons for action shot, night portrait and sweeping landscape. It's a first for pro-level SLRs, however.
Next up are the manual settings. As you shoot using scene modes, the camera displays on-the-fly aperture and shutter-speed settings. Once you get the courage to go manual, it's easy to keep shooting and adjusting and shooting more, thanks to convenient selectors at your forefinger and thumb. (Sorry southpaws, this camera is righty friendly.) Best of all, you will instantly see the results of upping the f-stop or dropping the shutter speed on the camera's 1.8-in. LCD.
The third step towards photographic bliss is the custom shooting menu, which gives you 25 freakishly specific variables to tweak — from area of auto focus to the default intensity of the built-in flash.'
Beating the Photography Blues is a fantastic article over at Photography Blog written by Mark Goldstein. We all know that feeling of not having taken a photograph for a while and knowing that we should really get our equipment out again and touching base with that creative side that we bury under the busyness of life. Mark's article gives some practical hints about how to take the plunge back to photography. It is refreshing to read something like this that doesn't just give tips on how to take a great photograph, but that gives tips on how to motivate yourself to even find yourself in a place where you have a camera in your hand.
His strategies (to name just three) include starting a photoblog, visiting a new place and attending a public event. He writes about each and has other great practical suggestions also - head over and have a read.
Also check out Digital Photography School for more free Digital Camera Tips on All Topics.
The Life of a Digital Photo is an interesting insight into the research and development that is happening at Microsoft in their thinking about Digital Photography. The article's writer, by Suzanne Ross, examines a variety of streams of thought, shedding light on possible future directions of Microsoft. She picks up themes of 'Adjustable Light', 'Image Stacks', Converting print to digital, red eye reduction, organization of digital photos (digital shoebox), editing techniques and software and digital photo sharing software.
Its an interesting read that will surely launch readers into hours of wonderings of 'what is nex?t' in the digital photography world.
Digital Photography - Expert Techniques by Ken Milburn is a book that is getting a lot of exposure around the web at the moment. It is full of expert tips and techniques for digital photographers from all levels. Check out O'Reilly's Press Room for a good introduction to this excellent book. Following is an excerpt:
'Milburn draws on his many years of experience in the field to provide invaluable tips and tricks, as well as a start-to-finish workflow--that is, time-tested, step-by-step procedures--for turning digital photographs into works of art. Using hundreds of stunning, full-color photos and a friendly, conversational tone, Milburn presents detailed information on what to look for in today's affordable high-end digital cameras, using simple techniques and equipment to shoot spectacular shots, instructions for shooting great panoramas, dos-and-don'ts for creating better Photoshop masks, and professional digital darkroom techniques for everything from knockouts to restoration to transforming your photos into watercolors.
Milburn explains that the book is for any digital photographer who has dreamed of becoming a "serious" digital photographer. It offers help to experienced photographers who are crossing over to digital or to those who want to make their digital workflow more efficient. The book also focuses on solving the problems that arise most frequently during the day-to-day tasks of digital photography. And finally, the book goes well beyond Photoshop solutions.Photographers will learn how to hone their skills by:
- Preparing to get the best shot
- Extending the capabilities of their digital cameras
- Using Photoshop's palette of tonal and color correction tools
- Creating paintings from photos
- Retouching damaged photos to perfect condition
- Compositing two or more photos together for maximum visual effect,
and much more'
March 2004 --Newstream -- Kopin Corp. (Nasdaq:KOPN) on March 24 announced that its new CyberDisplay™ 113K EVF, an ultra-small, ultra-low power electronic viewfinder system, has been integrated into the new SpyPen Oboe digital camera just introduced in Europe.
"With its low power, miniature footprint and stunning image quality, Kopin's viewfinder system enabled us to design a camera that is fun to use and makes a unique fashion statement," said Giovanni Tomaselli, managing director of World Wide Licenses. "And unlike other digital cameras, the unique viewfinder enables pictures taken to be viewed clearly even in direct sunlight."
"By providing a complete electronic viewfinder system, our new display technology allows manufacturers like World Wide Licenses to design more creatively while shortening design cycles, outsourcing more of their production needs and reducing the time to introduce new products to market," said Kopin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. John C.C. Fan.
World Wide Licenses, a designer and developer of digital interactive products for global distribution, entered the digital camera market in June 2000 and has rapidly become a major supplier in this dynamic category with total shipments of digital cameras in excess of two million units worldwide.
The Kopin CyberDisplay 113K EVF includes the world's smallest color microdisplay which, at 0.16-inch diagonal, is as small as a grain of rice. The 113K EVF consumes far less battery power than other offerings, yet when used with an appropriate optic provides a virtual image size as large, clear and vibrant as full-size displays. In addition to the display, the CyberDisplay 113K EVF includes the lens, polarizer, backlight and housing.
The display in the CyberDisplay 113K EVF utilizes ultra-small color-producing pixels for exceptional image quality. Each pixel is comprised of a red, green and blue sub-pixel, each of which measures a mere 6.3 x 11.3 microns. There are a total of 113,578 sub-pixels in the 0.16-inch diagonal display, a density which has never before been achieved. The display will extend battery power by consuming a mere 10 milliwatts of power while displaying a vivid full-color video image.
Creo have just announced their new Leaf Valeo Digital Backs - the 17 megapixel Leaf Valeo 17wi and the and 22 megapixel Leaf Valeo 22wi. Both models are able to be controlled via Bluetooth by your Pocket PC PDA.
To learn more about the new Creo Leaf Valeo digital backs check out the following press release from Creo.
Press Release
Creo Inc.: Leaf Valeo 22Wi and New Leaf Valeo 17Wi Go Wireless
VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 22, 2004--Creo Inc. (NASDAQ: CREO)(TSX: CRE) is pleased to announce that the fastest digital camera back system - the Leaf(TM) Valeo - is now wireless. This next generation Leaf Valeo is being introduced with an innovative wireless display on two models: the Leaf Valeo 22Wi and the new Leaf Valeo 17Wi, with resolutions of 22 and 17 million pixels respectively. Both camera backs feature an unmatched fast capture rate, optimized 3:4 format ratio CCD, Portable Power technology, and In-Studio Large Format Power.
The new Leaf Valeo Wi family uses built-in Bluetooth(R) wireless technology to accomplish two-way communication between the camera and the Leaf DP-67, a 6 x 7 cm (3.9 inch) image display and control unit, based on the HP iPAQ pocket PC. By using the Leaf DP-67 image display and control unit, users can zoom-in on high resolution images that display instantly, verify focus, set camera parameters or even manage files and folders from a distance of up to 10 meters (33 feet). The DP-67 acts as both a "digital proof" and a "personal photographic assistant".
The Leaf Valeo Wi family is the fastest digital back system in the market at 1.2 sec/frame with its unique DSR (Dual Sensor Readout) technology (patent pending). DSR technology achieves record capture rate by utilizing the CCD two-channel simultaneous readout. Both the 17 mega pixel and the 22 mega pixel CCDs present an optimized 3:4 format for a classic photographic ratio that's efficient and minimizes cropping.
Leaf's Large Format Power turns existing large format analog cameras into digital systems, allowing users to control aperture and shutter speed from their computer. The electronic lens control allows speeds up to 1/500 sec in 1/10 f-stop intervals producing accurate and consistent shutter performance. A Live Video View feature enables easy and accurate composition by superimposing a designer layout over the live image as well as on sensor absolute focusing.
The 16-bit A/D (analog to digital) converter assures the widest tonal range for rich and smooth tonal transitions. An advanced scaling algorithm enables a smooth film-like look in high-scale enlargements for files over 300 MB.
Special offers are available for the purchase of the Leaf Valeo 22Wi and Leaf Valeo 17Wi systems. For more details visit www.creo.com/leaf or contact a Leaf representative.
A Short Course in Choosing a Digital Camera is one of the most comprehensive short courses/tutorials that I've seen on the topic of choosing a digital camera. It covers everything that someone wanting to buy a digital camera would need to consider - starting with answering the question, What is a digital photograph? and progressing right through to questions about Batteries, Lenses and Sensors. It ends with an excellent digital photography Glossary.
Here is how it is described on the introductory page - 'If you are in the market for a digital camera, here's the guide you've been looking for. It takes you around and through the digital camera so you know how it works and what its� features are used for. It has hundreds of links to the best sources and products so you can learn even more. I Hope you enjoy it!'
With 19 well written and comprehensive sections - if you're choosing a digital camera this is the course for you.
Also check out Digital Photography School for more free Digital Camera Tips on All Topics.
A warm welcome to Digital Camera Warehouse who has just come on board as a sponsorship partner of the Digital Photography Blog.
Digital Camera Warehouse offer a comprehensive Digital Camera service to all of Australia. They are fast, friendly and have a large range of competitively priced digital cameras and accessories. They offer a fast Australian wide delivery service and an extended warranty program.
Check out their Customer Feedback which shows a long list of happy clients. Welcome to the Digital Photography Blog partnership team Digital Camera Warehouse!
'ATLANTA - When Lisa Johnson saw a man exposing himself to her in a parking lot, she reached for her cell phone - not to call 911, but to snap a picture.
The images captured on her camera phone led police to the capture of the former principal of a nearby high school. After his arrest on public indecency charges last month, he resigned from a lower school job....
In New Jersey last year, a 15-year-old boy foiled an abduction attempt when he took pictures of a man trying to lure him into a car. In Pittsburgh last month, several visiting St. John's University basketball players were cleared of a rape accusation after one team member gave investigators his cell phone, which he had used to videotape some of the encounter.
In Japan, an 18-year-old woman took a photo of a 38-year-old man who was fondling her on a commuter train, and police arrested him at the next stop. In Sweden, a convenience store owner took a picture of a robber that was used to help identify and arrest the criminal' Source - Camera Phones Helping to Fight Crime
The Sony Ericsson T637 has a dual front - one of which is a digital camera the other being the standard mobile phone front with normal cell phone features.
The camera has CIF resolution (288 x 352 pixels) / 2 MB memory for up to 60 large pictures.
For more information on the Sony Ericsson T637 see the following press release from Sony Ericsson or check out:
- Sony Ericsson T637 Product Information site
- Info Sync World
- Image Acquire - Sony Ericsson T637
- Phone Scoop - Sony Ericsson T637
ATLANTA, GA (BOOTH 4647, HALL B5) – Sony Ericsson recently announced the T637 for the Americas – a fashionable mobile phone perfect for style conscious mobile communicators. It will be one of the first Sony Ericsson mobile phones to incorporate the Push to talk over Cellular (PoC) technology – allowing quick one-to-one or group communications instantly, similar to a two-way radio. In addition, the T637 features a dual front design, one is a digital camera enabling consumers to take a picture, while the other side is a mobile phone offering easy access to communications, imaging and gaming, set to make the T637 a best seller.
The triple-band GSM/GPRS T637 features QuickShare™, which represents ease of use and the key principle behind all Sony Ericsson camera phones. First introduced in the T610/T616, QuickShare™ has introduced to consumers a smart and easy experience for mobile imaging. A picture can be taken with just two clicks and it is easy and intuitive to share pictures between the phone, a PC and other consumer devices - either locally over Bluetooth, Infrared or cable, or across the mobile phone networks with MMS or e-mail.
The push to talk capability is based on the Push to talk over Cellular (PoC) standard ensuring the interoperability. The Sonim-based push to talk service, a new mobile technology standard, fits an array of different situations, and is well suited for small and medium enterprises that need frequent intermediate contacts, or consumers that want to chat with friends and family. The T637 will be available in the Americas in Q2 2004 while the push to talk capability is available with service providers’ network launch schedules.
The high color contrasts of the bright 65,536 TFT-screen provides a responsive viewfinder for the camera, plus crisp image viewing and a great gaming experience.
The popular racing game, V-Rally2, comes pre-loaded in the T637, providing a great gaming experience through the excellent graphics, 32-tone polyphonic sound, force feedback and joystick control. The T637 supports both Java and Mophun platforms which give access to a multitude of fun games.
The T637 also satisfies consumers’ desire for mobile music. Budding record producers can express their originality with the Music DJ function – a 4-track sequencer with which bass lines, drumbeats and chords can be mixed in just a few seconds into original and personalized ring signals.
The Sony Ericsson T637 supports Instant Messaging with a variety of popular instant messaging services. The built-in messaging service lets a consumer chat with their friends – either mobile or at a computer.
The “Liquid Black” triple-band T637 supports GSM 850/1800/1900 and joins its successful companion the T630 available in European and Asian GSM-markets
Product Specifications:
- Weight: 3.26 ounces
- Standby time: Up to 300 hours
- Size: 4.02 x 1.69 x 0.67inches
- Talk time: Up to 9 hours
The Sony Ericsson K700 is a camera phone that takes both still digital shots and video. It has 4x digital zoom, 32MB internal memory, loud speaker, 3D games, MP3 playing, FM radio, Bluetooth etc.
Product Specifications:
- GSM 900/1800/1900, GPRS (4+2)
- Camera: VGA
- Display: 65k color, 176 x 220 pixel TFT
- Application support: Java, Mascot Capsule 3D graphics platform
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, Infrared, cable
- Dimensions: 3.9x1.8x0.8 in;
- 99 x 46.5 x 19.5 mm
- Weight: 2.9oz; 90g
- Talk-time: up to 7 hours
Standby: up to 15 days (360 hours)
Get more information on the Sony Ericsoon K700 from the following press release or see:
- InfoSync - Sony Ericsson K700
- Mobile Burn - Sony Ericsson K700
- Three G Mobile - Sony Ericsson K700
- Mobile Reviews - Sony Ericsson K700
Press Release
Sony Ericsson brings unique camera style to mobile imaging with the K700 camera phone
ATLANTA, GA (BOOTH 4647, HALL B5) – Sony Ericsson showcases the new K700 camera phone featuring the latest in imaging, multimedia, and entertainment functions, as well as a rich offering of advanced messaging and connectivity technologies. This includes, for example, playing video clips, capturing images and video with the built-in camera and listening to the built-in FM radio. Form follows function in this attractively designed phone which features dual fronts; one for the phone features and the other for a true camera look and feel, moving closer to design-language inspired by Sony’s digital cameras.
With the integrated VGA camera, consumers can take still pictures as well as video clips and either store them in the phone’s memory or send them as a picture message or an e-mail. Owing to Sony Ericsson’s much appreciated QuickShare™ feature, it is very simple to use the imaging features of the K700. With one press of its dedicated camera button, the still or video camera is immediately started. It only takes a few clicks to capture images and send them. This ease-of-use adds to simplifying the consumer experience. The camera features 4x digital zoom and features Photo Light to improve the quality in lower light situations.
This triple-band GSM/GPRS phone has a 65k TFT color display, facilitating high-quality multimedia and entertainment and the built-in speaker supports polyphonic sound for clear ring signals and game sound effects. To accommodate the multimedia functions of the K700, it has 32MB built-in memory for storage of content such as pictures, music, ringtones, themes, games and video clips, allowing for storage of up to 450 images, making the K700 an ideal personal photo album.
The intuitive user interface provides easy access to all features, including download services such as ringtones, images, videos and games. A powerful application solution for Java 3D with cutting edge graphics, multi-player games, is featured on the K700, integrating smoothly into the Sony Ericsson games offering.
With its FM radio, up to 20 favorite radio stations can be stored in the K700 with the preset function. The radio, or even MP3 files, can be listened to through a portable handsfree or through the phone’s speaker.
With BluetoothTM, the K700 works well with Sony Ericsson’s broad range of Bluetooth accessories, such as portable handsfree sets, music players and the Bluetooth Car. The K700 will be on the market during Q2 2004.
Correcting Distortion and Color Fringing is a great tutorial with some practical tips on how to deal with the problems of distortion and color fringing in your digital photographs. Here is the introduction to wet your appetite.
'The effect of optical distortion in a lens is to create curved images of straight objects.� Color fringing, or lateral chromatic aberration, is closely related to distortion, and in fact can be thought of as a chromatic variation of distortion.� Most reversed telephoto wide-angle lenses and zoom lenses suffer from noticeable amounts of both distortion and color fringing.� The reason for this is that these types of lenses tend to be highly asymmetrical, which makes correcting distortion and color fringing especially difficult without resorting to expensive aspheric surfaces and exotic glasses.
Also check out Digital Photography School for more free Digital Camera Tips on All Topics.
Distortion is unique among aberrations in that it does not blur the image.� As a result, it is possible to manipulate a digital image with a simple mathematical formula to eliminate� distortion without significantly harming the image sharpness.� A digital image consists of three color channels, so if you can somehow correct the distortion in each channel to precisely the same degree then you will automatically correct color fringing and distortion simultaneously.
The benefits of this type of image correction are a little bit subtle.� Color fringing is often not readily apparent in many images, and only becomes really obvious in extremely high contrast areas such as the transition from pure white to pure black.� Similarly, distortion is often invisible in natural scenes, and only becomes noticeable in scenes such as architecture where straight lines form crucial elements of the composition.� However, for many photographers the subtle improvements possible by eliminating these aberrations can mean all the difference between an ordinary image and a great one.
Many lenses that have mediocre performance when used on a high quality digital camera can take on a whole new life if they are properly calibrated and corrected using the simple techniques described in this tutorial.� Two such lenses in my personal collection are the Nikkor 15mm f/3.5 AI and Nikkor 24mm f/2 AIS, both of which suffer from large amounts of color fringing that seems to be enhanced when used on a digital SLR camera such as the Nikon D1x.� Both of these lenses, and many others, can become stellar performers after proper image processing.
There are a variety of software tools available that can be used to correct distortion and color fringing, but one of the best and most versatile is the Panorama Tools plugin for Photoshop writen by Helmut Dersch.� Despite its impressive capability, Panorama Tools is free, which certainly makes it difficult to ignore.� The only downside to Panorama Tools is that it can be quite intimidating to a first-time user, but hopefully this tutorial will help ease the pain at least a little.' Read More
The sleekly designed Sanyo Xacti VPC-J4 EX has a 4.23 Megapixel Sensor that outputs 8 megapixel interpolated images, internal 2.8x Optical zoom and 1.8 inch LCD. It measures just 101x46x26mm and weighs 130 grams. In video shooting mode it shoots at 30 fps and is able to use the zoom while filming.
Photography Blog reviews the Sanyo Xacti J4 and writes - 'The Sanyo Xacti J4 is a great point and shoot digital camera with a number of additional features that definitely make it worth more than a second look. The fundamental aspects of any digicam are all there - great image quality, above average ease of use and handling, quality construction and stylish looks. On top of those qualities, the Sanyo Xacti J4 adds one of the best movie modes that I've yet seen on a digital camera, responsiveness that borders on fast, and some great playback and review features.'
The Sanyo Xacti VPC-J4 EX comes in three colors.
For more information and reviews on the VPC-J4 EX all see:
- DP Review -Sanyo Xacti VPC-J4 EX
- Lets Go Digital -Sanyo Xacti VPC-J4 EX
The question I get asked more than any other about Digital Photography is 'How do I choose the right digital camera?' There are so many digital cameras currently on the market with more being introduced weekly (over 120 new ones this year alone so far) - how does one make the decision of which digital camera to choose?
A lot has been written online on this subject. Some take a very technical approach and talk about resolution, file formats and sensors, others talk more about usability and design while others seem to be looking for the latest gadget or feature. There is no one way to approach the decision of which digital camera and so we've decided to list some of the more helpful tutorials and tips that attempt to answer - 'Which digital camera should I choose?'
How would you choose a new digital camera? If you have any personal tips of how to choose a digital camera, or would like to suggest a tutorial or article that we haven't included please leave a comment below.
Check out some of our other Tutorials
- Digital Camera Care Tips
- Macro Digital Photography Tips
- Getting the best Results from your Camera Phone
- Depth of Field in Digital Photography Tips
'A phone is worth 29 billion pictures this year, according to data from InfoTrends Research Group. The firm estimates there will be nearly 300 million digital image capture devices in use worldwide through 2004, of which 60 percent will be camera phones.
Worldwide sales of camera phone units are expected to reach nearly 150 million in 2004, resulting in just over a quarter of all mobile phone sales. Growth will continue at an annual compound of 55 percent, topping 656 million units in 2008.'Read More
The Panasonic X300 is a unique little camera phone in that it comes with a pop-up screen that makes shooting digital photos and video a little easier.
'Panasonic have introduced the X300 mobile phone to the European market. Designed with a one-push pop-up screen, the tri-band phone also features a 65K colour screen, video record and playback capability, polyphonic ring tones, Multimedia Messaging (MMS) and built-in camera.
'
Paxcam have just announced the Paxcam ARC Digital Microscope Camera.
'The PAXcam ARCTM (Adjustable Resolution Camera) provides user-adjustable capture resolutions up to 5120 x 4096 (20MP). Default capture resolutions include 5, 10 and 20 megapixels, producing stunning image quality at all size selections.'
Apparently Konica Minolta have just announced that they are cutting back on manufacturing digital cameras
'TOKYO — Konica Minolta Holdings Inc said Thursday it will cut back on its digital camera business despite continuing growth of the market in order to avoid the adverse effects of intensifying competition.
"While digital cameras are in a period of growth, price reduction and competition are accelerating," Konica Minolta President Fumio Iwai said when he released his company's medium-term business plan at a press conference.'
This seems like rather odd news in the currently booming digital camera market that we're experiencing world wide at present.
The Olympus C-460 ZOOM del Sol is a UK release camera marketed for the upcoming summer. It has a 4 megapixel sensor, 3x Optical zoom and is packaged up with a leather case, beach towel, after sun lotion and normal accessories.
UK/European Readers buy the Olympus C-460 ZOOM del Sol
Check out the following press release from Olympus announcing the C-460 Zoom del Sol for further details.
Press Release - The indispensable companion for a perfect summer
The Olympus CAMEDIA C-460ZOOM del Sol.
Olympus shows its strong commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology even in its entry-level models. In addition, the compact camera offers a four million pixel resolution, 3x zoom and the optimised image processing system TruePic TURBO for stunning photos. This not only delivers quicker image processing, but also even sharper, contrast-rich results plus more brilliant colour. Packed in a kit featuring everything you need for fun in the sun, the C-460ZOOM del Sol is set to become the integral part of your summer holiday accessories.
Besides the camera's easy handling, the C-460ZOOM del Sol stands out with a range of convenient features, such as Super Macro mode which permits shooting from just 7cm away, as well as the movie recording function with sound. And when moving from the beach to the mountains, five special scene programmes, including landscape mode, make sure the user is able to master every photographic situation along the way. With night scene mode, for example, the atmosphere of favourite haunts can easily be captured after sundown.
Since the camera supports the PictBridge communication standard, no PC is needed for printing, it just has to be connected to a PictBridge compatible printer, such as the Olympus P-10. This delivers first-class, laminated prints with impressive full-colour detail. Alternatively, the image data can be brought to a photo dealer for printing. With the USB AutoConnect interface, images are also quickly and easily downloaded to a computer.
The C-460ZOOM del Sol comes as a kit featuring everything needed for your summer holiday to get off to a flying start: the camera, a leather case, beach towel and after-sun lotion, as well as the usual accessories such as rechargeable batteries plus charger, xD-Picture Card (16MB) etc. All come together in an eye-catching display package. This model is available from May 2004.
The Konica Minolta DiMage G600 is a 6 megapixel digital camera with a 3x Optical zoom and 1.5 inch LCD.
The DiMAGE G600 is 3.7 (W) x 2.2 (H) x 1.16 (D) inches and has a quick start up time of just 1.3 seconds. It takes both Sony Memory Sticks and SD Memory Cards and is fully equipped with a large variety of shooting modes.
UK/European Readers buy the Minolta DiMAGE G600
Steve's Digicams reviews the Konica Minolta Dimage G600 and writes - '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 the 1/1.76-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.'
DP Expert reviews the KONICA MINOLTA DiMAGE G600 Digital Camera and advises that - 'The natural competitors of the Konica Minolta G600 are the Canon Powershot S60 and the Olympus C-60. The Canon is a 5mp camera and the Olympus is 6. The Canon and Olympus have more easily accessible manual controls which will appeal to some customers and deter others.'
CNET Reviews the Konica Minolta Dimage G600 and writes - 'Overall, we found the colors in the G600's photos to be accurate, though a little oversaturated. The contrast range, especially on darker photos, was very good. We experienced some loss of detail on the bright end of the contrast range, with the light shades blending together. In images with extreme contrast (such as tree branches against the sky), blue fringing occasionally appeared along the edges of highest contrast. These problems were visible only on close inspection and would probably go unnoticed by casual photographers. Except for a tendency for the brightest colors to blow out the detail, the color and the contrast were excellent for a point-and-shoot camera.'
Get more information on the DiMAGE G600 at:
- Image Resourcing - Konica Minolta DiMAGE G600
- DP Review - Minolta DiMAGE G600
To learn more about the Konica Minolta DiMAGE G600 read the following press release from Konica Minolta announcing the camera. Also take a look at the Konica Minolta US site which describes it as follows:
'The DiMAGE G600 provides exceptional image quality and high-speed response via a 6-megapixel CCD, 3X GT Hexanon zoom lens, and A*IPS electronics. This stylish-looking digital camera will appeal instantly to digital photo enthusiasts who demand high-quality images for business or personal use. The G600 will also grab the attention of advanced compact zoom camera fans with its traditional 35mm camera-like design and versatile feature selection.'
Get the Latest Price on the Konica Minolta DiMage G600
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. --(Business Wire)-- 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).
Get the Latest Price on the Konica Minolta DiMage G600
The Olympus C-60 Zoom is a 6.1 megapixel digital camera with a 3x Optical Zoom lens equivalent to a 38 - 114mm range on a 35mm camera.
It has a 1.8inch LCD, real mage optical viewfinder, 6 mode flash system, multiple shooting modes including Portrait, Self-portrait, Sports, Landscape+Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, MyMode (customizable) and 1.5 fps shooting (up to 5 shots per burst).
UK/European Readers buy the Olympus C-60
Steve's Digicams writes about the Olympus C-60 saying - 'The C-60 Zoom is a great little camera that produces sharp, well exposed images. Its compact size enables it to be carried in almost any size pocket. The camera is both stylish and durable thanks to the brushed silver, all-metal body. I'm not crazy about tiny cameras with tiny and impossible to operate controls - the C-60 is NOT one of these. It's small but easy to use, even with large hands, and the controls are well placed and plainly labeled.'
Megapixel writes 'While broadly similar to the C-50, the camera on which it is based, the C-60 has many improvements. However, one change may not be to everyone's taste: the redesigned zoom control. The control is small, and placed in the way of the shutter release making it occasionally awkward, unlike the other controls of the C-60.'
Imaging Resource reviewed the Olympus C-60 and writes - 'Olympus' C-series digicams have always proved flexible and high quality, and the C-60 Zoom carries on that tradition very well. Though small, the C-60 doesn't skimp at all on features, offering many of the advanced exposure features found on Olympus' larger models.'
For more information and reviews on the Olympus C-60 Zoom see the following press release from Olympus announcing the camera and also check out:
- Imaging Resource - Olympus C-60 Zoom
Press Release
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.)
ABOUT OLYMPUS
Olympus is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering innovative solutions in healthcare and consumer electronics worldwide.
Olympus works collaboratively with its customers and its parent company, Tokyo-based Olympus Corporation, to leverage R&D investment in precision technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines. These include:
Digital and film cameras, and digital voice recorders.
Gastrointestinal endoscopes, accessories, and minimally invasive surgical products;
Advanced clinical and research microscopes; and
Lab automation systems, chemistry-immuno and blood bank analyzers and reagents.
In the U. S. and Canada, Olympus serves healthcare, scientific and commercial laboratory markets with integrated product solutions and financial, educational and consulting services that help customers efficiently, reliably, safely, and easily achieve superior results. Olympus is the leader in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes. The company's market-leading consumer electronics business spans North and South America. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.
The Olympus D-395(US) (also known as the Olympus C-160 in Europe) is a 3.2 megapixel camera with a 33mm-equivalent fixed focal-length lens. This entry level digital camera has a 1.5 inch LCD, built in flash, xD card storage and a variety of exposure modes.
UK/European Readers buy the Olympus C-160
Tech TV rates it among is best budget digital cameras with a 4 star rating writing:
the D-395 takes over with a 3.2-megapixel sensor, a sleek intuitive design, and good photo quality. Six preset shooting modes, a nice 1.5-inch LCD, and QuickTime movie mode make this no-frills camera a great buy if you don't seek an optical zoom. The included 16MB xD PictureCard will hold six shots at best quality and 165 shots at the lowest resolution. I'd buy this camera for my mother for its size and ease factor, despite the lack of optical zoom.'
Steve's Digicams reviews the Olympus D-395 and writes - 'The new 3.2-megapixel Olympus D-395 point-and-shoot digital camera is designed for first-time users who want an entry-level model that exceeds their expectations, and at the low estimated street price of $149. Combining world-class optics, greater megapixel resolution than its predecessor the D-390, and PictBridge™ technology for outputting prints without connecting the camera to a personal computer, the D-395 delivers a fast, easy and affordable way for beginners to print vibrant, photo-realistic images up to 8" x 10" and larger and start enjoying the digital experience today.'
CNET reivews the Olympus Camedia D-395 and writes - 'The 3.2 megapixel Olympus Camedia D-395 offers a nice set of basic features at a very affordable price. However, its 33mm lens (35mm-camera equivalent) limits its versatility. It doesn't cost much more to get a camera with a 3X zoom lens, a feature that most people will find is worth paying a little extra for.'
To learn more about the Olympus D-395/C-160 read the following press release or check out:
- Imaging Resource - Olympus D-395 - C160
Press Release - FIRST-TIME USERS DO MORE WITH OLYMPUS D-395 COMPACT DIGITAL CAMERA
3.2 Million Pixels Delivers Photo-Quality Prints Up to 8 x 10 Inches and Larger, Easy Operation and Computer-Free Printing Simplify Photography
Melville, New York, March 18, 2004 – The new 3.2-megapixel Olympus D-395 point-and-shoot digital camera is designed for first-time users who want an entry-level model that exceeds their expectations, and at the low estimated street price of $149 . Combining world-class optics, greater megapixel resolution than its predecessor , and PictBridge™ technology for outputting prints without connecting the camera to a personal computer, the D-395 delivers a fast, easy and affordable way for beginners to print vibrant, photo-realistic images up to 8" x 10" and larger and start enjoying the digital experience today .
Designed to Do More
The D-395 has an f2.8, 33mm (in 35mm equivalent) auto focus Olympus all-glass lens with 2.5x digital zoom to capture amazingly sharp details and vibrant colors. Viewing settings and composing or reviewing shots is trouble-free, as the camera's low-reflective and bright LCD is an easy-to-read 1.5-inches delivering 120,000 pixels of image clarity. The optical real-image viewfinder is an alternative to using the LCD to compose shots.
Designed for Excitement
When it's time to produce prints, the power of PictBridge technology enables the D-395 to create a photo lab quality print at home or in the office. Users can print directly via USB cable connection from the camera to any PictBridge-enabled printer, like the dye-sublimation Olympus P-10 Digital Photo Printer. The D-395 has an interface for selecting the best photos for printing, so it takes just a few simple clicks to get great prints.
Delivering Style
The D-395's compact size makes it ideal for carrying around in a pocket or bag, and its protective clamshell barrier and durable polycarbonate body keep it safe along the journey.
Intelligent Design
The D-395 offers point-and-shoot simplicity for flawless picture taking. For photographers who want optimum results in a wide variety of settings, 6 easy to use shooting modes are accessible through the menu system to provide fully automatic exposure adjustments for Program Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Self Portrait, Night Scene and Movie.
The camera can 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. It also has settings for image editing in black and white and sepia, and with the D-395's QuickTime TM Movie Mode, users can create short movies that can be sent over the Internet to friends, family and coworkers.
Designed for You
Navigating the menu options of the D-395 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 camera to a PC or Mac is a quick and hassle-free experience with the USB Auto-Connect that does not require software drivers with most operating systems. Simply plug the USB cable into the camera and the computer, and start downloading images off the camera as though it were an external hard drive.
Availability
The D-395 Digital will be available in April 2004. It includes a 16MB xD-Picture Card™, Auto-Connect USB cable, 2 AA batteries, wrist strap, Olympus CAMEDIA Master Software, user manual and Quick Start guide.
U.S. Pricing
D-395 Digital Camera Estimated Street Price: $149.00 (U.S.)
ABOUT OLYMPUS
Olympus is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering innovative solutions in healthcare and consumer electronics worldwide.
Olympus works collaboratively with its customers and its parent company, Tokyo-based Olympus Corporation, to leverage R&D investment in precision technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines. These include:
Digital and film cameras, and digital voice recorders.
Gastrointestinal endoscopes, accessories, and minimally invasive surgical products;
Advanced clinical and research microscopes; and
Lab automation systems, chemistry-immuno and blood bank analyzers and reagents.
In the U. S. and Canada, Olympus serves healthcare, scientific and commercial laboratory markets with integrated product solutions and financial, educational and consulting services that help customers efficiently, reliably, safely, and easily achieve superior results. Olympus is the leader in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes. The company's market-leading consumer electronics business spans North and South America. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.
Kodak today announced the DSC Pro SLR/c which is a version of its SLR/n (Nikon Mount) but this time with a Canon Mount. It is also a slightly smaller version of the SLRn, has a smaller LCD and a new AF system.
DP Review reviews the Kodak DSC Pro SLR/c and writes 'If you are willing to learn how to use it, don't need sports camera performance and can live with the occasional artifact or three you're unlikely to be disappointed by the SLR/c. It's probably also worth noting that Kodak do have a habit of progressively improving their cameras with new firmware updates.'
For more information on the Kodak DSC SLR/c read the following press release from Kodak and check out the following information and review sites at:
- Imaging Resource - Kodak DSC Pro SLR/c
- DP Review - Kodak DSC Pro SLR/c
- Outback Photo - Kodak SLRc Experience Report
- Toms hardware - Kodak DCS Pro SLR
Press Release - Kodak Offers More Choices for Pro Photographers by Introducing New 14MP Digital SLR Camera with CANON EOS Mount Compatibility
Highest Resolution, Broadest ISO Performance in a Digital SLR
HANNOVER, Germany, March 18 —Providing professional photographers with a choice of lens mounts on its new digital SLR cameras, Eastman Kodak Company today introduced the KODAK PROFESSIONAL DCS Pro SLR/c – a digital camera compatible with the popular CANON EOS lens mount. It offers the same superior resolution, broad ISO performance and extended burst depth found in the acclaimed KODAK PROFESSIONAL DCS Pro SLR/n digital camera built on a NIKON F-mount and introduced in February, 2004.
The DCS Pro SLR/c digital camera contains a high-performance imaging system and full size 35mm size CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, boasts 14 million pixels with a total available ISO range of 6 to 1600 and offers variable resolution raw files. The camera delivers the highest resolution of any digital SLR with an ISO range that meets the needs of a wide variety of professional photographers, including wedding, portrait, event, commercial and advanced amateur photographers. Aside from the EOS lens mount, the DCS SLR/c camera also includes an infrared (IR) remote for shutter release, a flash sync of 1/180 th of a second with a Focal Plane (FP) flash mode up to 1/6000 th of a second when using an EX – series Speedlite, and an overall shutter speed range from 1/6000 th to 30 seconds. Each of these features is unique to the SLR/c model.
“Once again, Kodak combines the best of medium-format image quality with the convenience and flexibility of 35mm photography in its digital SLR cameras. The introduction of our DCS Pro SLR/c further meets the needs of our customers by giving them a choice of lens mounts,” said Jay Kelbley, Worldwide and US&C Product Manager, Professional Digital Capture. “By pairing a CANON EOS compatible lens mount with highest performance sensor available in a digital SLR today, we are now providing stunning image detail and broad ISO range to customers who use CANON lenses.”
Image Quality and Key Features
As with the DCS Pro SLR/n, the DCS SLR/c camera leverages the same 4536 x 3024 pixel (effective), 12-bit CMOS imager that covers the full 24mm-by-36mm image area of 35mm film. With a full-size sensor, photographers regain the benefits of true wide-angle lenses and can use their CANON EF-lenses the same way they used them with 35mm film. This new sensor incorporates advanced High Performance-Low Noise (HPLN) technology, incorporating a unique pixel design and an optimized device manufacturing process that enables increased sensitivity and reduced noise levels that result in broader ISO performance.
The DCS SLR/c camera's sensor incorporates