New Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70 One Of Ten!

Panasonic has announced the release of ten new digital cameras. 2007 has started with a bang in regard to new cameras from the major digital photography companies. Below is the original press release for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70, a new 7.2MP CCD with multi-tasking Intelligent Image Stabilization.

SECAUCUS, N.J. (January 31, 2007) -- Panasonic today announced the Lumix DSC-LS70 digital camera, to its 2007 digital camera line. The 7.2 megapixel Lumix DSC-LS70 features Intelligent Image Stabilization with MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) and Intelligent ISO Control, superb optical 3x zoom (equivalent to 35-105mm on a 35mm film camera), and a LUMIX DC VARIO lens. Panasonic is committed to bringing top line features - like Intelligent Image Stabilization - to all their digital cameras, making superior imaging a priority.

Panasonic's multi-tasking Intelligent Image Stabilization system makes it easy to capture beautiful photos every time. Today, MEGA O.I.S., which is a standard feature across the entire line of Lumix cameras, compensates for the effects of hand-shake, making it possible to capture clear, crisp photos indoors, at night, or when taking macro close-ups. However, MEGA O.I.S. cannot suppress the motion blur caused by a subject moving as the photo is being snapped. In this case, the camera's Venus Engine III image-processing engine - detects whether the subject is moving and, as necessary, raises the ISO setting and shutter speed according to how fast the subject is moving and the light conditions.

"Panasonic is committed to bringing a variety of cameras to our users to match their digital lifestyle," said Alex Fried, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Corporation of North America. "The DMC-LS70 is leading the charge for our 2007 Lumix line as the ideal compact camera that offers more than a consumer would expect for its features and size."

The DMC-LS70 is powered by two simple AA batteries, which can be purchased anywhere. Each camera comes with two Panasonic Oxyride AA batteries, which lets users take approximately 60 percent more shots than available with ordinary alkaline batteries -- approximately 250 images with the DMC-LS70. The camera also accepts large-capacity SDHC memory cards, giving users more flexibility in shooting and recording.

In addition to added features, Panasonic has redesigned the full exterior of the DMC-LS70, bringing a new sleek design and bright 2.0-inch LCD to their most compact models. The user friendly menu and its graphical user interface have also been redesigned, with the colors brightened for easier viewability.

The DMC-LS70 also features:
• Easy Zoom: Shifts the lens instantly to full 3x zoom power at the touch of a dedicated button.
• Extra Optical Zoom: Provides additional magnification, extending the zoom power to 4.5x by using the centre part of the CCD.
• Quick Setting: Lets users quickly and easily access and set the functions used most often.
• Date Stamp: Allows users to utilize the Lumix date stamp feature in three ways: (1) Simply stamp the date on photos, (2) Stamp the day of a trip or event on the photos, and (3) For those precious baby photos, stamp the child's age in months on the image itself.
• Wide-Aspect VGA Motion Images: Records standard VGA (640 x 480) motion images at 30 frames per second, and the LS70 records stunning wide-aspect VGA (848 x 480) motion images at 30 frames per second. These 16:9 motion pictures look extremely impressive on a wide-screen TV.
• Added Scene Modes: Offers a total of 18 scene modes, including the new Pet and Sunset modes, making it easy to get beautiful photos in a range of photographic situations.
• The Lumix DMC-LS70 will ship in February with an MSRP of $149.95.

Panasonic has also released the DMC-FX10, DMC-FX12 and DMC-FX30, the DMC-LZ7 and DMC-LZ6, the DMC-FZ8, and the DMC-TZ3, DMC-TZ2 and DMC-LS60.
Image provided by Panasonic.

Nikon Firmware Updates For D40 And D80

Nikon has released firmware updates for the D80 DSLR (v 1.0.1) and D40 DSLR (v1.1) that correct a number of minor problems.

The Nikon D80 firmware update 1.0.1 fixes problems with Shutter-priority and Aperture-priority when using the built-in flash and improves the long exposure noise reduction setting. The Nikon D40 firmware update 1.1 is now certified for the new Microsoft Windows Vista. Among other improvements are Auto Focus settings, the white balance icon in shooting menus, and ISO settings.

Both firmware updates correct a problem in which the cameras freeze when using the retouch menu. Errors in language menus in English, Polish, Swedish, and traditional Chinese are also corrected. Firmware files can be downloaded here directly from Nikon.

Image provided by Nikon.

More Sony A100 B&W Color Mode Photos

In November I became a 'one percenter', no I didn't score at 10,000 feet, I joined a small percentage of Grand Canyon visitors who actually hiked to the bottom of the canyon and back up. While spending three days and two nights at Phantom Ranch, the facility at the bottom of the canyon, I took some time to walk around and test out my Sony Alpha 100 DSLR in Black and White color mode. These RAW images, converted directly to JPEG, were taken at ISO 100, with a monopod and Steady Shot engaged. The Sony Kit Lens was used. I posted some studio shots taken in BW color mode earlier this month. These new images were captured in less then controlled situations. I'm again, pleased with the Alpha's results.

Adorama Introduces Photography Workshops

I’ve purchased quite a lot of film and some photo equipment from Adorama, and the occasional batch of prints. I recommend their services, and now they are launching an educational workstop series featuring elite photographers. Below is the offical press release in its entirety.

New York, NY (PRWEB) January 28, 2007 -- Professionals, enthusiasts and amateur photographers throughout the tri-state metropolitan area will be thrilled to learn that their favorite source of photographic equipment, Adorama Camera, Inc., is launching an affordable new educational series, Workshops@Adorama. (www.adorama.com/workshops)

"Our workshops will be taught by a world-class team of top photographers, digital processing gurus and color experts," notes Monica Cipnic, program director of Workshops@Adorama. "There will be workshops geared towards pro shooters, first-time digital camera users and enthusiasts looking to improve their picture-taking skills."

All workshops are conveniently scheduled for Sundays or weekday evenings. Classes will be small and registration limited, providing students with an intimate setting for learning new skills and techniques.In addition to its course offerings, Workshops@Adorama will be hosting special events and book signings by its illustrious instructors. The first of these will take place from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday January 28th, when Bryan Peterson will be on hand to sign copies of his best-selling works -- Understanding Exposure, Learning to See Creatively and Beyond Portraiture.

Registration is currently underway for the February workshops, which are being offered at special low introductory rates. Included are: Pressing Buttons: Making the Most of Your Digital Camera's Controls with Philip Ryan, Senior Editor of Digital Imaging Products and CNET Reviews -- $39.95. Using Your Digital SLR with George Schaub, Editorial Director of Shutterbug Magazine -- $99.95. Digital Essentials for Shooting and Printing, a Master Session with SanDisk Photo Master Jack Reznicki, President of Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and founder of Photo News Network (PNN) -- $89.95. Adobe Photoshop CS2: Understanding Layers and Masks with noted photographer and educator Jean Miele -- $125. Color Management: What is it and How to Use it to Get Better Prints, and Color Correction: Getting it Right with Adobe Photoshop CS2 with photographer/educator Maria Ferrari -- $65 each. Shooting for eBay with Lou Jawitz and Kitty Jawitz. Lou is a noted advertising, editorial, stock, travel and fine arts photographer. -- $39.95. March 2007 offerings, also with introductory prices, will include Light, Geometry, Moment with Tod Bryant; The Working Photojournalist with Louis Lanzano; Exploring the Night: Life in New York City with Toby Old; ABC's of Digital Photography and Digital SLRs with Steven Hirsch; Digital Food Photography: Creating Delectable Images with Lou Manna; The Power of Adobe Bridge in Photoshop with Maria Ferrari; Digital Image Management: Keeping your Assets in Line with Kenneth Rowe; Master Session: Understanding Exposure with Bryan Peterson; and Adobe Photoshop Raw: Advanced Techniques with Jean Miele.

Most workshops will take place at the Adorama Building, 42 West 18th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues, conveniently located in the heart of the Photo District. Register online at: www.adorama.com/workshopsFor further information please contact Carl Nilson by phoneMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at 212-741-0401 ext 2216 or via email.

Adobe Releases Photoshop Lightroom 1.0

Big announcement from Adobe today, the production release of Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 is finally available and at a discounted price for a limited time. In a nutshell Lightroom is Adobe’s answer to Apple’s popular and exclusive ‘Aperture’ application which provides specialized digital darkroom tools. Adobe has taken tools from within Photoshop that are geared toward digital photography and expanded them into this new product, adding workflow and advanced RAW image processing. The beta has been out for awhile which I’ve had the opportunity to play with and the final product stayed true to that version with some additional features. The interface is clean and simple. Batch processing has been made easier than ever, and automatically add metadata to photo files as they are imported from a camera. One of the best features of Lightroom 1.0 is that images are edited in a virtual environment so the orginal image files are never actually altered. This improves processing and workflow, and allows for quicker previewing. Adobe is providing special introductory pricing until April, equaling $100 off of the purchase price. Get more details directly from Adobe, and also read today’s review on popphoto.com.

Image provided by Adobe.

Yuri Kozyrev Photo Motivates Readers

Photographs can inform, enlighten, enrage, and engage those who view and take them. This is especially true of images captured by TIME Magazine photographer Yuri Kozyrev. A recent article on PDNOnline (Photo District News) describes how readers can be motivated into action by the click of a single shutter.

Remembering Discontinued Film

Herbert Keppler waxes poetic about discontinued film in the latest 'Frankly Speaking' section of PopPhoto.com. As an 'economy' film shooter I miss Agfa Ultra 50 the most, but I've always been partial to Agfa films and still shoot Agfa APX 100 for my 35mm and 120 medium format, black & white work. Although a digital shooter, I still love using and developing film, and hope it doesn't disappear completely like the 78rpm record, 8-track and Sammy Hagar. Read the entire "My Favorite Discontinued Film? You'll Be Surprised" article here.

Adobe Bridge CS3 Beta 2 Now Available

Adobe Photoshop CS2 users and/or current Photoshop CS3 Beta testers should be aware that Adobe has released the Beta 2 update for its Bridge CS3 application. A valid CS2 serial number is required to download both the Photoshop CS3 and Bridge CS3 Beta files. The beta is available as a Universal Binary for the Macintosh platform as well for Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista computers, with the final shipping release of Adobe Photoshop CS3 planned for spring 2007.

Windows Photo Gallery A Plus For Microsoft Vista

Microsoft Windows Vista is an inevitable reality for many Windows users. January 30th is the official launch date when consumers will have, for the first time, the ability to download a Windows OS directly from the corporate site. Store shelves will also be filled with colorful boxes containing Vista and new computers will come loaded with the OS. It will be everywhere, but don’t feel compelled to jump off the cliff just yet. Microsoft recently announced it will extend its support of Windows XP until 2014. Word on the street and all over Microsoft.com is that Vista boasts improved built-in imaging functionality and organization in the form of Windows Photo Gallery.

I recently had the opportunity to take the plunge and I jumped in head first ready to accept whatever fate had in store. Since Microsoft recommends a minimum of 512MB of RAM and a 1GHz processor, my trusty Dell Latitude D600 seemed the perfect guinea pig. At 1.5GHz and 2GB of RAM, this secondary system would give me the chance to evaluate Windows Vista on a minimal computer system without crippling my productivity if the inevitable happens…yes, I’m a pessimist. I decided to perform a clean install after backing up the system, since past experiences with upgrading a Microsoft OS have been less than pleasant. This MSDN version of Windows Vista Business (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate are the four available versions of Windows Vista) prompted to upgrade the current OS, which was Windows XP SP2, or copy all current Windows related files and folders into a ‘Windows.old’ folder and perform a fresh new installation of the OS. I chose the latter. MAC users are snickering at this point, but to be fair OS X wasn’t a walk in the park to upgrade either.

I must admit the installation was quick and painless, the main caveat being that an internet connection was required. The process downloads several components directly from Microsoft and was completed within thirty minutes, with little interaction from me. After completion and a reboot, I found all of my installed devices such as internal wireless NIC, Modem, Video Driver, etc., all discovered and working correctly. The ‘Windows.old’ directory that was created was a surprising 10GB in size. My first impression of Microsoft Windows Vista is that it has serious MAC envy. Gadgets instead of Widgets, Aero instead of Aqua; who is Bill trying to kid, they’ve been copying Apple since day one, and Vista is the closest Redmond has come so far.

That being said, my first point of interest was Vista’s image related upgrades. The new Windows Photo Gallery is a welcome improvement. This multi-use tool allows for better management of images and video, and includes basic image editing capabilities such as Auto Adjust, Adjust Exposure, Adjust Color, Crop Picture, and Fix Red Eye. Similar imaging editing tasks can also be performed within the new Microsoft Office 2007 Suite, but I’ll comment on that at a later date. Within Windows Photo Gallery add keywords, tags, edit metadata, rate images with the common star rating system, and search by date including day, month or year the image was taken. I am impressed with the level of detailed information that can be added to each image using Windows Photo Gallery, such as Camera Model, Lens Maker, Lens Model, Flash Model, Camera Serial Number, Light Source, and other common data such as F-Stop, ISO, Focal Length, etc. Combined with the free Microsoft Photo Info tool, which allows for editing metadata directly from Windows Explorer and context menus, Vista’s inherent image management provides intuitive organization possibilities right out of the box. Another suggestion is to install Google’s free Picasa tool to expand your capabilities and managing images with Vista won’t cost you a dime beyond the initial investment in the OS upgrade. The Windows Photo Gallery also supports video. View movie files, add tags, captions and organize videos all within the same interface used for still images. Windows Photo Gallery also includes a ‘Make a Movie’ feature, direct emailing of images, printing and burning directly to CD/DVD. This application is definitely a marked improvement over its predecessor.

I don’t want to be a shill for Brother Bill, but let’s face it, don’t be surprised if our nation becomes the ‘United States of Microsoft’ within the next fifty years. If you can somehow trademark the name of a country Gates will figure out how. Since I use Microsoft Windows, along with millions of others, it’s logical for me to be curious if upgrading to Windows Vista will improve imaging productivity. I believe it will. Along with the much improved search capabilities of Vista, which tops my list for the best new feature, I think most folks will come to like this new OS, once they get past the initial ‘shock and awe.’ Now it’s time to unbox the new IMac that just arrived. Life is good…

Olympus Announces Seven New Digital Cameras

The new year has brought new digital imaging products from most of the heavy hitters. Now Olympus follows Sony, Canon and Pentax with the announcement they will release seven new digital cameras including the SP-550 UZ Ultra Zoom with an 18X optical zoom lens. That is a 35mm film equivalent of 28-504mm! The 7.1MP SP-550 can shoot in RAW, features dual-image stabilization, manual exposure controls, 2.5-inch LCD and will list for around $499.99; very impressive for a point-and-shoot digital camera.

Four new FE-series cameras will be available, the FE-210, FE-230, FE-240 and the FE-250. All will include a 3X optical zoom lens, and 7.1MP CCD sensor except for the FE-250 which will sport a 5X optical zoom and 8MP sensor. Two new Stylus-series cameras the Stylus 770 SW and Stylus 760 are also 7.1MP sensor models with 3X optical zoom lenses and 2.5-inch LCD. However the Stylus 770 SW has the added feature of being waterproof up to 33 feet underwater (depth gauge included) and in temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit, an equivalent of minus 10 degrees Celcius. While the 760 is considered 'weatherproof' with its metal body and rubber gaskets. Image stabilization and digital IS are additional features of the Stylus 760. The 770 SW will list for $399.99 while the 760 will list for $279.99. Expect these new Olympus models to be available in February and March. With these products from Olympus, Sony and others the bar has definitely been raised for digital point-and-shoots.

Image provided by Olympus.

QPict Digital Asset Management Update For MAC

MAC OS users, somewhere between Picasa and Adobe Bridge resides QPict, a useful and inexpensive way to view, organize, search and batch process all your media files. The following is the official, unedited press release from the creator of QPict, RL Development.

MALMO, Sweden -- RL Development has released QPict Digital Asset Manager 7.0.1. QPict 7.0.1 adds new features and important bug fixes to the recently released version 7 of the popular tool for viewing, organizing, searching and batch processing media files.

QPict 7 is a result of constant striving to predict and follow users' needs in work with media related files, the company said. QPict is used by a large number of newspaper publishers, photographers, web designers, institutions, publishing professionals, scientists and educators all over the world. QPict is equally well suited for both professional and personal use.

For a complete list of changes in QPict 7.0.1 visit QPict.com.

Pentax Releases New Optio T30 and M30 Cameras

The main players seem to be flooding the market recently with several new digital point-and-shoot cameras. First Canon, then Sony, now Pentax has announced two new models from their Optio line, the T30 and the M30. Both models include a 7.1MP CCD sensor with top setting of ISO 3200, and 3X optical zoom lenses, along with an impressive new face-recognition function that helps the camera autofocus. These cameras are also compatible with SD and HCSD cards. The big difference between the models is that the T30 features a 3-inch touch display LCD including stylus. Sketch or write over the image files directly on the camera LCD. The vintage Kodak Autographic idea is still going strong after nearly one-hundred years. List price for the T3o is $349.95 while the ‘touchless’ M30 will list at $199.95. Expect these models to hit store shelves around March of this year.

Image of the T30 provided by Pentax.

Pentax Releases K10D Firmware Update

Pentax K10D users there is already a new firmware update for the camera. Pentax has released firmware update version 1.10 for this recent digital SLR that has already received wonderful reviews. In fact if I didn’t already have the Sony A100 due to my collection of Minolta Maxxum lenses, I’d be very interested in the Pentax K10D. The specs are impressive, the camera build is sturdy and the price is right within my minuscule budget. According to the Pentax update page the following function has been added in version 1.10

1. Wireless control of external flash through built-in flash.
2. Instantly return to centre AF point by one push of button in AF select mode.
3. Possible to change ISO setting by dial at TV/AV mode.
4. ISO setting change by dial while the ISO setting is being displayed on the LCD by pushing OK button.
5. Green button function in M mode is available at TAv mode (Hyper manual).
6. AV and TV switch by dial at P mode.
7. Instant return to the default value by green button at strobe light compensation.

The following contents have been corrected.
1. In rare case, vertical stripe at long time exposure.
2. Released “B exposure” and show battery empty sign when using B mode.

Be cautious when updating firmware and be sure to read all instructions before attempting this. Incorrect procedure could cause permanent damage.

Image provided by Pentax.

Professional Portraits In Ten Minutes (?!)

Anthropics Technology has announced the release of PortraitProfessional 4, a new application that the company claims is the world’s first intelligent touch up software. Automatically reshape the face and enhance the skin. Remove spots and wrinkles, retain skin texture, and relight the image all in as little as ten minutes. Click here to download a free trail or purchase for just $39.95. The company website mentions support for various Microsoft Windows platforms but there is no mention of support for MAC OS that I can find. After downloading the trail version and working with the sample photos, and then with my own photos, the results are pretty impressive for a forty dollar tool. The interface is intuitive and after the initial process, sliders are presented that allow for even more detailed adjustments like whitening of teeth and eyes, removing pores, balance hue, adjust fine shadows, lighting highlights, shine and contrast. Adjust the head, jaw, nose and mouth shape. Images look great in regard to online viewing, but I’d have to print a sample to see if these adjustments perform as well for inkjet or lab prints.

image provided by Anthropics Technology.

Free Microsoft Metadata Management Tool

For those who don’t have Adobe Photoshop and its fine tool called Bridge that assists in management of metadata for digital photographs, or another similar application, Microsoft has released a free add-in tool to manage this information inside Windows Explorer for Windows XP SP2 and Vista users. Best part is that its free and can be downloaded here. Called ‘Microsoft Photo Info’ some features include the ability to edit metadata of a single image file or an entire collection, generate copyright notice automatically, view and correct EXIF capture data, as well as preview the image itself. This add-in supports JPEG, TIFF, WDP, HDP, NEF, CR2 and CRW file types. File type support may expand with future releases. Once installed just right-click on the image file within Windows Explorer and select 'Photo Info' from the context menu. Tabs available withing the application menu for modifying the file include Description, Keywords, Origin, Advanced, and Details along with a thumbnail of the image being modified. Settings can be reverted if necessary.

Image provided by Microsoft.

POPPhoto.com Takes A Look At Sony DSC-H5

Popular Photography & Imaging magazine is apparently not impressed by the performance of the new Sony Cyper-shot DSC-H5 camera, at least when it comes to Auto Focus. The Carl Zeiss optics receive the highest marks for the 7MP EVF model, while the 'camera system', controls and overall aesthetics are also addressed as a positive. However the apparent slowness of the Auto Focus system, poor menu design, slow burst rate and limitation of f8 as the fastest aperture setting, makes for a less than enthusiastic review. Read the entire article here.

Image provided by Sony.

Kingston, More Than Memory

In addition to providing several memory related products, Kingston Technology has included a wonderful ‘Icons of Photography’ section on their corporate website. The current featured photographer is Chris Rainier, who most notably is the editor of National Geographic Traveler, has contributed photographs to publications such as National Geographic Adventurer, Life, Time, The New Yorker, and The New York Times to name a few. Chris Rainer shares techniques for Studio Lighting in the Wild, Softening your light, Preparing for Trouble, and more. Check out his Calendar of events and most importantly the image gallery. Wonderful stuff.

The Archive should also be investigated. Previous Kingston IOP photographers include Barbara Bordnick, who has received numerable awards for her film, print and editorial work; Colin Finlay, documentary photographer; Douglas Kirkland, formally of Look and Life magazines; and Harry Benson, who has shot more than 100 covers for People magazine.

Image provided by Kingston Technology.

New PowerShot Digitals From Canon

As an owner of a Canon PowerShot digital camera, I was pleased to see Canon continuing the line with two new models. Canon announced today (1/18/07) that the 7.1MP A550 and 5.0MP A460 models will be on store shelves in about a month. View the official Canon press release. I’ve had the PowerShot A75 for a few years now and even though it’s sensor is only 3.2MP, it’s been a reliable camera that provides beautiful 4x6 and 5x7 prints of family events and vacations when I didn’t want to break out my DSLR. The following descriptions of each new camera were taken from the official Canon press release.

The new PowerShot A550 digital camera is a 7.1 megapixel model with a 4x optical zoom lens and a 2-inch LCD screen. It features Canon’s renowned DIGIC II image processor for crisp, vibrant images, responsive performance, and low power consumption. Replacing last year’s popular PowerShot A530 digital camera, the new model offers not only higher resolution and a bigger LCD screen, but also better battery life, compatibility with MMC, SD and SDHC memory cards, and an enhanced movie mode that can record 30 fps VGA clips. Operating this camera is even easier than before with a redesigned mode dial featuring five of Canon’s most popular Special Scene modes for easier access, as well as standard fully automatic settings. The PowerShot A550 digital camera retains many hallmark A-series features, including an optical viewfinder and a comfortable handgrip, making it ergonomically friendly for comfortable handling while providing yet another option for viewing the subject and saving battery power while shooting.

The new PowerShot A460 digital camera features 5.0 megapixel resolution with a 4x optical zoom lens and a 2-inch LCD screen, up from 4.0 megapixels and a 1.8-inch LCD screen on last year’s PowerShot A430 model. The new camera also incorporates Canon’s renowned DIGIC II image processor, which delivers superb image quality, fast performance, and excellent battery life. Additional features include an optical viewfinder and compatibility with MMC, SD and SDHC memory cards. At its value price point, the PowerShot A460 digital camera is an ideal purchase for a first time digital camera buyer.

Image provide by Canon.

Canon Extends Rebate

If you’ve been eye-balling a new Canon DSLR or lens(es), now is the time to make the decision. Canon recently announced it will extend last year’s rebate until February 19, 2007. Only about a month to go! This includes popular cameras such as the EOS 5D and EOS 30D, and lenses such as the EF 20mm f2.8, EF 100mm f2, EF 70-200mm f2.8L, etc. Click here for the official Canon rebate form. If I didn’t already have a ton of Minolta Maxxum glass and not purchased the Sony A100, I would have been looking toward the EOS 5D or 30D, but I do enjoy my Canon PowerShot A75 for grab shots. Multiple rebates are also available under certain circumstances. Image provided by Canon.

New Digital Point-and-Shoots From Sony

Provided by Sony Press Release on Jan. 17, 2007 - Sony is ringing in the New Year with four additions to its Cyber-shot® digital camera line: the DSC-W55, DSC-W35, DSC-S700 and DSC-S650 models. The slim, compact DSC-W55 and DSC-W35 models will sport 7.2-megapixel imagers and precision Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar lenses. They combine traditional, eye-level viewfinders with large LCD screens for easy framing and viewing of photos. The W55 camera will make a splash in Caribbean blue, pale pink, elegant black and sleek silver with a 2.5-inch LCD screen wrapped in a metal body, and the W35 camera will shimmer in silver with a two-inch screen.

The new DSC-S700 and DSC-S650 cameras will also feature 7.2-megapixel imagers, and will shine in classic silver. The former model will house a 2.4-inch LCD wrapped in a metal body and the latter a two-inch screen.

All four new models feature 3x optical zoom capability, blur-reduction technologies (ISO), and substantial internal memory for shooting without a media card. Their storage capacities can be expanded further with optional 8GB Memory Stick Duo ™ or Memory Stick PRO Duo™ flash media cards for the W-series models and 4 GB Duo media cards for the S-series models.
Complete Sony Press Release. Image provided by Sony.

Digital Darkroom Fun

I’ve been shooting like a madman ever since I purchased the Sony Alpha 100 DSLR. Digital is great in that respect, no worries about purchasing film, developing negatives, getting prints made, etc., just shoot and upload from the camera to the computer. I’ve messed around with some of the DEC (Color Mode) settings on the Alpha and have had great results using ‘Standard’ and ‘Vivid’ color modes. Others include Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Night, BW, and AdobeRGB. Except for AdobeRGB, all other Color Modes incorporate the sRGB color space, which is utilized for the web and most print labs. AdobeRGB is primarily used for four-color press printing.

I decided to play with the BW (Black and White) Color mode on the Alpha since I have always enjoyed developing my own black and white film and producing prints in my darkroom. Agfa APX 100 is my B&W film of choice. Common ways to generate a black and white print using digital, are to simply expose in JPEG mode using an sRGB color space, and desaturate after the fact using Adobe Photoshop or some other imaging editing tool; use RAW/sRGB and save to a desaturated JPEG, or use the BW color space to generate a black and white image at time of exposure. Since the third option can be limiting, (you’ll never get the color version if doing this using non-RAW quality settings) I decided to choose the BW color mode but shoot in RAW. Using this method allows the capture of a color RAW image, but when saving to JPEG using camera settings the result is the intended B&W image. This method also allows for a preview of the monochrome image on the LCD of the camera.

Using a black background, a single AlienBee B800 monolight with attached brolley box, and a white reflector I grabbed my best guinea pigs (the kids!) and went to work. After completing several shots and uploading them from the camera to the computer, I converted the RAW images using the Image Data Converter SR tool, that comes with the A100, to JPEGs using the original in-camera settings. I’m generally pleased with results. Nice tonal quality. I’ll be interested to see how the prints turn out. Click here to view a small gallery of images taken using the Sony Alpha 100 DSLR in BW Color Mode and Standard Dynamic Range at ISO 100. The Sony 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 AF kit lens was used for these images at 70mm.

Sony To Produce CompactFlash Media

Sony Europe has announced the intention of Sony to enter the CompactFlash market. Due sometime this spring the initial line-up will include CompactFlash Type I cards with 66x and 133x transfer speeds and capacities between 1GB and 4GB. Sony recently announced that an 8GB version of their popular Memory Stick PRO Duo will be available in February.

Film vs. Digital Continues...

This is a great editorial regarding the cost of digital vs. film from ‘About Photography.’ I made the plunge into digital when I purchased the Sony Alpha 100 DSLR back in September of 2006. So far I’ve taken over 3000 images. Of course not all of those are keepers. But then again neither were all of my film negatives. If I factor in that an average roll of decent 36 frame 35mm color negative film would run anywhere from $2-4 dollars each (for the cheap stuff) if purchased using popular online retailers, and development only (no prints) of those rolls would be around $2 each at my local lab; I would have spent around $400-500 dollars on film and development so far. If calculating for the higher end film like Kodak Portra, I would be looking at a minimum of 650 dollars for the same amount of film and development. These costs obviously would vary and buying film in bulk would reduce those costs as well. But just in film and development alone my price per shutter click has been well worth going to digital. I already had the computer, scanner, printer, etc., before switching to digital as I believe you can’t have an online presence or even accommodate clients without those items regardless of using film or digital. With the price of DSLR’s dropping every week it seems, even the Alpha is cheaper now then when I bought one back in September, digital is much more viable for any photographer. The Pentax K10D is arguably one of the best buys right now for a 10MP DSLR especially if you aren’t already invested in a specific line of lenses. I’m a Minolta Maxxum shooter so the Alpha was the logical choice. The workflow using digital is so quick and easy, it is well worth any initial investment in the camera, memory cards, software and any other additional accessories. I still love film and believe it is a viable format, but digital has improved my workflow dramatically.

New Sony Memory Stick Pro Duo Card

Sony has announced it will release an 8GB Memory Stick PRO Duo card (compatible with the Alpha 100 DSLR when using the available adapter) that will ship on February 19th. That’s approximately 1500 images in 10MP JPEG Fine Mode. Current list price is $299.99. Also used in the Sony PSP and upcoming Handycam video cameras. Offical Sony Europe press release also applies to the USA market.

Let There Be Light

With the purchase of the Sony Alpha 100, I knew going in that it doesn’t have a PC sync terminal for studio flash connectivity like my Maxxum 7 film camera. An adapter would be necessary to accomplish this. Trigger voltage is an issue with newer electronic cameras, but since I use AlienBees (B800 model specifically) which produce a sync / trigger voltage of less than 6V, these are safe to use with just a passive adapter. The Wein Safe-Sync adapter (around 50 bucks) just reduces all external flash trigger voltage from up to 400V down to 6V, so if you use strobes that already produce only 6V or less, you don’t need to spend that kind of coin for an adapter.That being said, the official Minolta FS-1100 adapter is passive and doesn’t feature a PC sync connection; so I came across this generic passive hot shoe adapter on the ‘Bay and decided “Why Not?.” Actually I went online and did some research on this adapter before saying “Why Not?”. GadgetInfinity out of Hong Kong is the company I purchased this product from, although I have seen others supply it. I’ll give them a plug for having a reasonable price, quick shipping and good communication.This adapter works fine with my Sony Alpha as long as the flash mode is set to ‘Fill-Flash’. It fires my AlienBees perfectly, and not that I will ever need to, but it does allow me to use the older Maxxum 2800AF flash with its standard shoe connection. Be careful what standard hot shoe flash you use. If it’s fairly old, it may have very high trigger voltage which could damage the camera using a passive adapter like this. Always discover the trigger voltage of any on-camera flash or studio strobe you intend to use with any newer electronic camera. Life sucks when a $20 EBay flash damages a new $1000 digital camera.

Sony Releases Picture Motion Browser Update

Sony Alpha 100 DSLR owners, like myself, be aware that Sony has released an update for their Picture Motion Browser software that comes bundled with the Alpha on 01.10.07. This download also includes an update for Cyber-shot Viewer software , if you happen to own that camera too.

Everything But The Kitchen Sink...

We may not have the flying suitcase car as on The Jetsons (a big disappointment for me) but the 21st century has allowed anyone to become a photographer. Even the smallest cellular phone these days has at least a 1MP digital camera for quick snapshots or video. Even an event like the hanging of Saddam Hussein was captured by a cell phone camera. Enter the iPhone from Apple. The company has included a 2MP digital camera on this new cellular innovation, along with the ability to synch practically any digital content including e-mail, movies, music, photos, and even web bookmarks, the iPhone will be available in 4GB and 8GB versions. Even though most current pocket cameras are now up to 8-10MP, at 2MP I suspect these images would generally be regulated to e-mail or uploading to someone’s MySpace webpage. However 2MP can also produce decent 4x6 prints. I can’t wait to see the image quality generated by this device. Taking grab shots while listening to the latest Red Hot Chili Peppers tune on the same device is an exciting prospect. Then, once the shot has been taken to immediately e-mail it to friends or uploading it to your blog…pretty friggin’ cool. Despite the high price, potential lawsuit problems due to trademark violations, the glaring fact that the FCC hasn’t yet approved it, and that Cingular is the only cellular carrier available for the iPhone (at least for now), Apple should see some great success once these issues are resolved. It also won’t be long before the competition (Microsoft, Samsung, Verizon, etc.) has their own version of this type of device to compete with Apple. So the consumer will benefit as 2007 progresses as I believe even more multi-use devices will be introduced that will include at least a 2MP digital camera. But I still want my own flying, suitcase car...

Battered and Beaten Portra

Back in September Kodak introduced new optimized versions of its popular Portra color negative films. At that time they also ran a promotion giving four rolls of free film to anyone who signed up. So naturally I did. Fast forward to the last week of December 2006 and I find a battered and beaten mailing tube on my front porch. It had been so beaten, abused and wrapped with what seems to be half a roll of packing tape, I wasn’t quite sure what it was at first. After looking at the tag, that had been attached, explaining that it had been resealed by the post office due to damage during shipping, I was able to make out the full color packaging touting the new Portra emulsion improvements such as skin tone and finer grain.

I had read online that many folks were having issues with this promotion, by either not receiving the film or open and damaged packages arriving. One photo.com poster received the same mailing tube from Kodak but no film inside. Kodak obviously felt that simply capping both ends of the tube with a simple black plastic stopper, the film would be safe from damage or sticky postal fingers. In all fairness to Kodak, the poster did contact them and they sent him out another batch of free film. I feel lucky to have received four rolls of film, although I was supposed to get two NC (Natural Color) and two VC (Vivid Color) 35mm rolls but was sent 1 roll of 160NC, 1 roll of 160VC but two rolls of 400VC. Free is free and I’ll just have to live with the fact that if I want to try the 400NC, I’ll have to buy it myself. So although it took almost four months to receive an incorrect order, I’ll take the high road and thank Kodak for these free samples. That’s the type of humanitarian I am.

Kodak boasts it’s new Micro-Structure Optimized T-Grain Emulsions (whew!) now provide higher color saturation, lower contrast, better skin tones and finer grain. I’m looking forward to loading my Minolta Maxxum 7 with both NC and VC ISO 160 rolls and plan to discover how well the 400VC performs in classic Russian-made workhorses like the FED 4 or Zenit-C, a challenge for any film. It worked out well, now I can start the new year with Kodak’s new films.