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News News & New Products From Photokina Newsflash! Films Not Dead! Product Recalls
Canon CanonDebuts Two New SLRs - One Digital and One Film
EOS 1Ds 11 Megapixel Full Frame CMOS Digital The EOS 1Ds is a rugged pro camera with an impressive list of features and an impressive list price at $8,999. For a full review of the camera check out our initial review by clicking here
Newest Rebel - the Rebel Ti The Rebel now features a 7-point high-speed selectable autofocus system with superimposed focusing points and Canon's advanced flash metering system including E-TTL, FE Lock, and high-speed sync modes with EX series Speedlights. But the big news with the Rebel Ti is that for the first time the Rebel is compatible with all 50+ EF lenses and most EOS system accessories - a huge advantage for Rebel users who want to move up later on. For the full scoop on the Rebel Ti go to http://www.canoneos.com/rebelti/index.html Minolta Minolta Rolls Out New Digital Products
Two New Light Meters The new customize function changes meter operation to suit the user and allows the meter to be calibrated.
Flash Meter VI Nikon New VR Lens - AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED G series lenses feature light weight construction but lack an aperture ring - an issue for many pros who have older bodies as well as the current series cameras. Nikon may not view this as so much of a compromise since vibration reduction only works with current models. Although this is a G lens at just over 3 lbs (50 ounces with tripod collar) it is no lightweight. The lens incorporates five ED glass elements in it's 21 element/15 group optical formula and a high-grade Nikon Super Integrated Coating. It also features a fast constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 at all focal lengths. Other pro level features in this lens include internal focus, a 9 blade diaphragm for natural looking out of focus elements and water resistance equal to the F5. This lens yields an effective focal length of 105-300mm with D1-series and D100 digital SLRs. Two New Nikon Digitals
The Coolpix 3500 is a 3.2 megapixel digital with a 3x optical and 4x digital zoom. To simplify it's use and ensure proper exposures it features 256 segment matrix metering, 5 area autofocus, and allows the user to choose from 12 pre-defined shooting modes. At 4.5 x 2.3 x 1.2 inches and weighing only 6 ounces the Coolpix 3500 lives up to it's claim of being a pocket camera. Price not yet announced. The Coolpix 4300 is a 4 megapixel digital with a 3x optical and 4x digital zoom. It allows the user to choose from four metering options including 256 segment matrix metering, center-weighted, spot, or spot AF area metering. For advanced shooters it has white balance bracketing and a noise reduction mode for exposures longer than 1/4 second. It offers single shot, continuous, Multi-Shot 16 (16 pictures in one 2272 x 1704 frame), VGA sequence, Ultra-High Speed Continuous (30 fps in VGA), or Movie Mode (40 seconds max. in QVGA at 15fps). The Coolpix 4300 accepts all optional Coolpix accessory lenses. $499.95 Nikon rebates are back on Coolpix and SLR Equipment
Sigma Sigma Announces Release of SD-9 Digital SLR Well it appears that they've made it. The first SD-9s will begin shipping worldwide the end of October in small quantities with those early cameras destined to go towards existing customer orders. Sigma expects to begin shipping production quantities in the first quarter of next year. The camera will take Sigma mount lenses (8mm - 800mm) and Sigma's own flash units. The chip is smaller than a 35mm frame providing a magnification factor of 1.7x for 35mm lenses. It will ship with batteries, cables, and Photoshop Elements software but no memory card. List price is $1,799. Sigma Announces It's First Lens with Image
Stabilization The 80-400mm lens is a variable aperture zoom (f4.5-f5.6). It's optical formula includes 20 elements in 14 groups and a 9 bladed diaphragm. A pleasant surprise is the common 77mm filter size. The lens features too OS modes: mode one is a conventional OS mode, and mode 2 works only in the vertical plane and is designed for motorsports. A list price has not been announced but Sigma has indicated that it will be in the "thousand dollar range". The lens is expected to be available in the spring. Two New Hypersonic Tele-Zooms & a Fast Normal Zoom Also introduced was a lightweight, fast, 28-70mm f2.8-4 normal zoom. At only 8.6 ounces this lightweight zoom is expected to have wide appeal.
Sony introduces new 5-megapixel Cyber-shot
digital camera
It
powers up in just over 1 second. The DSC-F717's multi-burst mode can snap up to 16 frames at
320-by-240 resolution that adds up to a single 1280-by-960 image, designed for
capturing every detail of subjects in motion, like a golf swing or high dive.
For better organization and easier access to image files, the DSC-F717 features
a file folder option that allows photographers to create and select specific
folders for customized photo-indexing. Also, for photographers using the
camera's zoom capabilities, the DSC-F717 has a new rotating zoom-control ring,
for more intuitive precision handling, offering an alternative to the camera's
standard toggle switch. Sony introduces new compact Cyber-shot U
digital cameras
The cameras are light enough to hook to a belt
loop or carry in a pocket and are smaller than many cell phones weighing only 4.3 ounces (with battery and media). For more accurate
exposure, the cameras incorporate a built-in advanced pre-flash metering system.
At the time of exposure, the flash automatically fires twice: once to illuminate
the subject and calculate correct exposure, then a second time to record the
image with the best exposure possible. In addition, the cameras' automatic
center-weighted focusing system helps ensure accurate capture of any subject. Epson Epson announces new fast printer with choice of inks systems
The Stylus Pro 10600 uses the same print engine as the EPSON Stylus Pro 10000 making it the company's fastest inkjet printer to date. Images can be printed up to 231 square feet per hour using the printer's fastest settings and approximately 72 square feet per hour when printing truly photographic output.
Using a variable droplet Micro Piezo DX3 print head with photo accelerator and nozzle verification technologies, the Stylus Pro 10600 creates six-color images up to 44 inches wide on a broad selection of media at 1,440-by-720 dpi resolution. The new engine also uses variable-sized droplets as small as five picoliters to produce text and line art comparable to a final press sheet. Buyers will be able to choose from three six-color ink solutions. At the time of purchase, customers have the option of configuring their printer for use with Epson Archival Ink, Epson Photographic Dye or with UltraChrome ink. After the ink choice is made, the printer is dedicated to only that ink type. The Stylus Pro 10600 basic printing system is scheduled to begin shipping in September 2002 and will be available for an estimated street price of $9,995 through authorized Epson dealers. The optional Fiery Spark Professional Software RIP will also be available through Epson dealers and have a street price of $2,995. Nokia
New Nokia cell phone features built-in camera
The
3650 uses the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
phone standard, which makes U.S. carriers T-Mobile, Cingular Wireless
and AT&T Wireless, the three U.S. carriers with
GSM networks, likely candidates to sell it in the
United States.
U.S. carriers are hoping to create new revenue streams by selling picture messages, a service in which someone can snap a picture with a camera attached to a cell phone and e-mail the photo to another cell phone or computer. AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile and Sprint PCS now offer picture messaging services. Sprint PCS also offers a way for subscribers to store the photos on the Internet.
All three carriers now sell phones that become cameras by attaching a
separate device. Both AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile's phones have an attachable
black-and-white camera the size of a marble. Sprint PCS sells a full-sized color
camera for $60 that can attach to two of its phones.
The
3650 features a keypad shaped in a circle, rather than the
usual rectangle. The phone's combination number and letter keys are arranged
around a quarter-sized button used to scroll in any of four directions. Lexmark
Lexmark Debuts New All-in-one Home Printers
Lexmark announced a new $199 photo printer, which integrates camera card readers with 4,800 dpi resolution.
The Lexmark Z65p Photo Jetprinter offers
four card slots to accommodate six kinds of media - CompactFlash I and II,
Secure Digital, Memory Stick, IBM MultiMedia and Microdrive - and dual paper
trays. The printer is bundled with Fotoslate software for printing management
and PrecisionSense technology for automatically sensing paper type and adjusting
the printer's settings for optimal output.
Lexmark also introduced a sub-$200 all-in-one device, the Lexmark X85 All-in-One Printer Center, offering 4,800 dpi resolution; flatbed scanner and scan-to-fax capability. Designed to handle traditional photographs and books of varied thickness, the X85's flatbed scanner has a removable lid and has 600-by-1,200 dpi optical resolution, 48-bit color scan depth and up to 19,200 dpi enhanced resolution. The unit can also function as a standalone black-and-white copier.
Kodak Kodak Announces 14 Megapixel, Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR The DCS Pro 14n supports all current Nikon F-mount lenses and the Nikon D-TTL flash system. It is expected to begin shipping in December, price to be announced. For a detailed first look at the DCS Pro 14n Click Here. News
Flash - Film's Not
Dead!!!
Kodak says the new films will have cleaner negatives and less static electricity, making them much less susceptible to attracting dust. Great news for anyone doing their own darkroom work. Grain, sharpness, and contrast are similar to the current Kodak black and white films. However there will be a slight adjustment in development times compared to Kodak's current films.
Look for new packaging and names to differentiate the new emulsions from the old. Complete information on the emulsions as well as Q&A and data sheets can be found on Kodak's site at http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/blackWhiteIndex.jhtml
Fuji
Fuji Announces A New Portrait Film It will be available in 35mm, 120, and 220 formats. Fuji Announces a New Line of Inkjet Papers Fuji claims this new inkjet paper "realizes for the first time the granularity, gloss and razor-sharp quality of genuine photographic paper." The new paper works with most of popular inkjet printers.
Nikon has not received any reports of short circuits or overheating in the United States and no injuries have been reported from anywhere in the world. For full details go to Nikon USA's Web site at http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/cp_2000_newsinfo.pdf. Kodak Recalls all DC5000 Cameras
Consumers should stop using these cameras and contact Kodak immediately for a free inspection and repair. This recall affects the DC5000 camera only. If you have a DC5000 you should go to the DC5000 recall page and choose the country where you live for exact instructions for sending your camera into Kodak. HP Recalls Selected DeskJet and PhotoSmart Printers - Faulty Power Cord is
Shock Hazard The recall is isolated to Longwell "LS-7C" gray two prong power cords. The cords were shipped with certain HP Deskjet and Photosmart printers in the U.S. and Canada from April 2001 through January 2002. For more information on determining if your printer is part of the recall go to: http://h30022.www3.hp.com/home1/ |
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Canon's
best selling SLR gets updated with a redesigned body, a new ergonomic
shape and improved control layout. A large LCD information panel has been added
to the back of the camera and the chassis has been updated with a stainless steel
lens mount. 
DiMAGE 7Hi 
DiMAGE Xi
DiMAGE Scan Dual III 
Auto
Meter V F
The
first Nikon VR lens to offer a fast f2.8 constant aperture and Nikons super fast
AFS II autofocus technology.
Ever
since Sigma announced the SD-9 with the new technology Foveon chip at PMA in
February there has been much speculation about how good the camera would be and
if Sigma would make it's projected fall ship date. 
Sigma
also announced it's first Image Stabilization/Vibration Reduction lens. Adding
to the confusion Sigma's lenses will be called OS lenses for Optical
Stabilizer. 
Sigma
announced three other lenses at Photokina including two HSM zooms, a 120-300mm
with a fast constant aperture of f2.8 and a 200-800mm with a constant aperture
of f5.6. Both are internal focus members of Sigma's EX Pro series of
lenses. 
Sony introduced
the new Cyber-shot
DSC-F717 digital still camera, with a 5.02-megapixel effective CCD image sensor. It features Carl
Zeiss optics, ISO sensitivities of 100 thru 800 and shutter speeds of up to
1/2000 second in auto mode. 
Sony
USA introduced the Cyber-shot U
DSC-U20 and DSC-U10 models. The cameras snap digital still images and record
MPEG movie clips. A 2.0 megapixel (effective) CCD image sensor on the DSC-U20
model is capable of capturing a photo with a maximum image size of
1,600-by-1,200. The DSC-U10 model offers a 1.3 megapixel (effective) CCD image
sensor. 
Nokia
introduced a cell phone with a built-in camera and a new look keypad.
The 3650 will be the first Nokia phone for North America with a built-in camera.
Kodak
announced one of two groundbreaking full frame CMOS Digital SLRs at this year's
Photokina. The DCS Pro 14n is features a full frame CMOS chip and 13.8 megapixel
resolution. 
Fuji
announced an update to it's Fujicolor Professional NPH 400 Portrait film. The
addition of a fourth color layer is said to give the film improved flesh tones
and a wider exposure latitude. 
Fuji
announced a new high-grade photo-quality inkjet paper using Fujifilm’s
original Luminax technology that spreads ultra-fine ink-absorbing particles on
the substrate. This technology is an adaptation of the thin-layer emulsion
coating technology Fuji uses in film manufacturing. 
Nikon
is voluntarily recalling certain Coolpix 2000 digital cameras because of a
possible short circuit and overheating in the battery compartment. This
overheating could cause a burn to the hand of someone touching the affected
area. Nikon is asking that owners of the recalled units return them to Nikon for
a free replacement. The replacement units have been redesigned so that this
problem will not occur. 
Kodak,
in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is voluntarily
recalling the DC5000 Zoom Digital Cameras due to a possible electrical shock
hazard.