News from
Photokina & PhotoPlus Expo
Canon
| EOS 1Ds Mark II, 16.7MP, Full
Frame Digital SLR
 The
latest version of the EOS 1DS, this is a camera that is faster,
offers higher resolution images and is rugged enough for the most
demanding pro - the target market for this camera.
It features a full frame 16.7 megapixel CMOS image sensor,
combined with Canon's new DIGIC II Image Processor. It captures up
to 32 consecutive shots at speeds up to 4 frames-per-second, and has
dramatically decreased startup and card-writing times in comparison
to the EOS-1Ds.
It is fully compatible with over 50 EF Lenses, and the entire
line of EOS accessories, including the new Wireless File Transmitter
WFT-E1 (see below)
Street Price: $7995.95, Available now |
| Wireless File Transmitter
WFT-E1
This new accessory allows photographers to transmit images from
their cameras directly to a computer over any 802b or 802g
compatible LAN. It is compatible with the EOS-1Ds Mark II, and with
the EOS-1D MARK II and EOS 20D through firmware upgrades and allows
you to write directly to any computer accessible through a wireless
network.
How powerful is this? Imagine five photographers working a
sporting event, each shooting with multiple camera bodies. Each
camera is assigned it's own IP address. As the game progresses every
shot taken is immediately written to the hard drive of a photo
editor half a world away - who is culling through shots in real
time. Before the photographers have packed their camera bags at the
stadium the artwork for the coverage is already laid out. The system
features 128 bit encryption for security and includes a mini-antenna
and IEEE1394 cable.
Street Price: $999, available late November |
| EOS 20D Digital, 8.2 MP Digital
SLR
 Canon's
latest pro-sumer digital features an all-new 8.2 MP CMOS Sensor, a
second generation DIGIC II Image Processor, 5 fps performance for up
to 23 consecutive frames and a 0.2 second start-up time.
Top shutter speed is 1/8000 sec., flash sync at 1/250, a new
high-precision 9-point AF System, a built-in multi-controller for
fast focus point selection and a refined magnesium alloy body, for
ruggedness. Compatible with Canon's new EF-S Lenses as well as the
entire EOS System of lenses and flashes.
Street Price: $1499.95, body only and in kit form with several
different lenses. Available now. |
| EOS Rebel T2 Film Camera
 Canon's
Rebel has been a story of constant improvement and refinement.
The T2 is Canon's latest souped-up Rebel. It features expanded
shooting modes, Canon's state-of-the-art E-TTL II autoflash system,
and a 7-point high-speed, wide-area selectable autofocus with
35-zone Metering.
This is a lightweight, ergonomic, and user friendly camera that
is great for beginners and brings along a surprising amount of
control for advanced users.
Street Price: $189.95, w/ 28-90mm f/4-5.6 EF III Lens: $269.95,
QD (date) version: $214.95, Available now. |
| Data Verification Kit DVK-E2
While ease of manipulation is usually considered a key benefit of
digital photography, officials involved in data verification and
legal proceedings consider it a liability. Canon's release of the
DVK-E1 represents the world's first data verification kit for
digital SLRs.
This breakthrough was originally introduced as an option for the
EOS-1Ds camera. Now Canon is offering a new improved version - the
DVK-E2 - as an option for the EOS-1Ds Mark II, EOS-1D Mark II,
EOS-1Ds and EOS 20D.
Like its predecessor, this kit can verify whether or not a photo
is an untouched original. But its use of a Secure Mobile (SM) card
reader, instead of an IC card reader, makes it more compact and
affordable than the previous version.
MSRP $699.95, available now. |
| Three New Digital Lenses from
Canon
10-22MM f/3.5-4.5 USM Digital
Lens
 An
ultra wide-angle digital lens designed for the EOS 20D and Digital
Rebel shooter.
Equivalent to a 16-35mm zoom in the 35mm format, it offers
excellent performance and optics designed from the ground-up for
digital SLR use.
It features three Aspherical lens elements, plus a Super-UD
element, to assure image quality. Its ring-type USM means fast and
silent AF along with full-time manual focus. It focuses down to 9.5
inches, uses internal focus, and has a circular aperture design for
natural out of focus highlights.
Street Price: $800, available now |
| EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Digital
Lens
 This
new EF-S lens brings true wide-angle to telephoto coverage to EOS
20D and Digital Rebel photographers. It features Canon's Image
Stabilization system, allowing safe hand-held photography at shutter
speeds up to three steps slower than otherwise possible. And of
course, it's optically optimized for digital SLRs. A ring-type USM
delivers fast and silent auto focus, as well as full-time manual
focus when in the AF mode.
The EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens provides a 5x zoom ratio and
an angle of view equivalent to a 27-136mm lens on a 35mm camera. The
new lens also uses a glass-molded aspherical lens element with
aspherical surfaces on both sides for superb image quality
throughout the entire zoom range and it features a closest focusing
distance of 12 inches at all focal lengths. The EF-S 17-85mm IS lens
is 5% shorter and 12% lighter than the EF 28-135mm IS lens and
accepts 67mm filters.
Street Price: $599 |
| EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM Digital
Lens
 This
is the USM version of the popular EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens
that is available in kit form with the EOS 20D and Digital
Rebel.
Both lenses have an angle of view equivalent to a 29-88mm lens on
a 35mm camera. Weighing in at just 6 oz. and measuring only 2.5
inches in length, the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM produces
exceptional image quality in an ultra-compact package. The new lens
accepts 58mm filters and features Canon's exclusive Micro USM II
focusing motor technology for swift and silent AF.
Street Price: $169, available now |
| 580EX Speedlite
 Canon's
new flagship flash. The Speedlite 580EX flash is compatible with
Canon's E-TTL II (Evaluative Through The Lens) auto exposure
technology. When combined with a compatible Canon camera, E-TTL II
utilizes subject distance and other information that automatically
modifies flash power, resulting in accurate flash exposure
regardless of subject size, reflectance, or photographic
composition. This is great news for photographers that shoot high
contrast or reflective subjects, like those encountered in wedding
photography. Photographers can now capture every detail from the
black of tuxedoes to the white of wide smiles and wedding dresses.
The Speedlite 580EX flash is compatible with all film and digital
EOS cameras as well as G-series and Pro-1 PowerShot digital cameras.
The flash includes two features especially for digital photography.
EOS 20D and EOS-1D Mark II digital SLR users will especially
appreciate the Speedlite 580EX flash's ability to auto-compensate
for the size of the CMOS sensor, and zoom the flash head
automatically to match the effective focal length conversion. This
feature allows the Speedlite 580EX flash to maximize the efficiency
of its light distribution and produce more flashes from a set of
batteries.
When used with the EOS 20D or 1D Mark II digital SLR cameras, the
flash and camera communicate to make fine adjustments to auto white
balance by electronically monitoring the charge level of the
batteries and the duration of each flash burst, resulting in
consistently accurate color for every shot.
Street Price: $480, available now |
| Selphy DS700 Compact Photo
Printer
 This
compact photo printer connects to your TV and allows you to print
4"x6" photos with a minimum of fuss from your digital
camera, digital video camera or wirelessly from an infrared equipped
camera phone. It also accepts a wide variety of memory cards.
Unlike most photo printers which use a variety of small buttons
to access menus that could try the patience of Job, the Selphy DS700
uses a familiar television remote control to scroll through, choose
and print images.
This is the first personal printer we've seen that sucessfully
takes the computer out of the personal printing equation and we hope
there are more to come.
Street Price: $199.95, available now. |
| Concord Camera
WIT - Universal Wireless USB Adapter Concord
Camera was showcasing it's the new WIT technology, 2” x 2” WIT
wireless interface that plugs into the USB port of any camera
allowing photos to be transmitted wirelessly over 802.11b and
802.11g Wi-Fi networks. Obviously the utility of the adapter
will be determined by how the camera makes use of it's USB
interface, but this device represents tremendous utility for a wide
range of digital camera users. Price and availabiltiy to be
announced. |
| Epson
Epson P-2000 Portable Storage Device
 Epson
calls the P-2000 "a perfect companion to any digital
camera", and they're not far off. After PMA
2004 we gave our Innovation
Award to it's predecessor the P-1000.
The P-2000 makes it easy to download files to and from any
CompactFlash or Secure Digital memory card through its built-in card
slots; and with an optional third-party adapter it supports
additional memory cards. Designed with a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface,
this portable device transfers photos, video and audio files
quickly.
It supports JPEG and select RAW image files, MPEG4 and Motion
JPEG video files, plus MP3 and AAC audio files.
Printers
 From
the pro printer perspective things were quiet at the Epson booth this
year.
New printers include the PictureMate, a portable (it even has a
handle) personal printer for creating 4"x6" prints from
your digital camera. No computer is required and the prints are of
the quality you'd expect from Epson. However our enthusiasm was
tempered a bit after seeing the Selphy from Canon (see above).
Street price is $199 and it is available now.
 The
R320 is a versatile photo printer that can produce borderless images
up to 8x10 and handle letter size printing. It can also print
onto printable CDs and DVDs.
It is intended to be operated as a standalone printer with or
without a computer and can even be hooked to standalone CD-R, DVD-R,
Zip or thumb drive to save and print photos.
Street price is $199 and it is available now.
FujiFilm
| Hybrid Pro Workflow - Film + Digital Contrary
to what you might think professional film sales were up
significantly for FujiFilm this year. In talking with those
pros they've found multiple reasons, chief among them concerns
over the archival permanence of digital and the costs of
"keeping up" with the latest digital technologies,
and the falling prices of scanners. As photographers loose
images to faulty backups, system crashes, viruses, and corrupt
files they look to their cabinet full of slides - which can
still be scanned. As a result many pros are turning
back to film and a workflow that sees them shoot, scan, and
post process on the computer. That doesn't mean they abandon
digital completely, rather that they are picking and choosing
between formats based on the assignment. This trend
has FujiFilm reminding photographers that they have solutions
for every step of the Hybrid film/digital workflow. |
| NPS 160 & NPC 160
Portrait Films, Updated w/ Finer Grain
 NPS
160 and NPC 160 are fine-grain color negative films designed
for portrait, commercial, fashion, and architectural
photography, performing well under a wide range of lighting
sources.
FujiFilm announced updated versions of these films with
even finer grain and changes to their composition that make
them more "scanner friendly". Credit FujiFilm with
their responsiveness to the feedback they've been receiving
from the pros using their films (see above).
|
| Firmware Updates for S3 Pro
 FujiFilm
is already announcing updates for the S3 Pro (which hasn't
even hit the shelves yet). It seems the camera will have
"a number of previously unannounced features",
including adjustable dynamic range and film simulation modes.
Fuji
claims the Super CCD SR II sensor will produce dynamic range
approximately 400% greater than that of CCD working on a
single-pixel design, capturing finer detail in high contrast
scenes. And that dynamic range will be adjustable. The
photographer will be able to fine tune the dynamic range by
adjusting the ratio of S & R pixels on the CCD. To achieve
smaller file sizes you can even turn off the expanded dynamic
range. Photographers that favor the look and feel of
film can replicate the results of various chrome and negative
films while shooting digitally with the FinePix S3 Pro's Film
Simulation Modes and can choose between sRBG and Adobe RGB.
Gary Stanley wrote about this concept in his article Putting
Film in Your Digital Camera around this
time last year. We're thrilled to see it appear in a
camera. |
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