Dptips :. Digital Photography Tips, Tricks, and Techniques

BenQ announced today the expansion of its DLP Series projectors with the addition MP522 projector. The MP522 features XGA resolution, 2000 ANSI lumens, Wall Color Correction, a smart user-friendly interface and super-quiet operation with noise levels of just 26/31dB (in Eco / Normal mode). Media delight is elevated via HDTV compatibility that supports for up to 1080i. The MP522 will be available in China, North America and select countries in Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America in July…

Carl Zeiss expands its range of SLR lenses with the Distagon T* 3.5/18 super wide angle lens. The lens is designed with a floating lens element in the rear lens assembly, which results in impressive image quality from infinity to the closest focus range. The new lens uses the Zeiss ‘color matching technology’, for homogeneous color rendition across all focal lengths The lens for F-mount cameras is scheduled for delivery beginning July. For K-mount cameras the lens will be available within Q3/2008. The list price is 960,00 Euro…

Just posted: our in-depth review of the Pentax K20D. The K20D is a fully-featured semi-pro DSLR available for the cost of some of the latest, upper-entry-level digital cameras. It adds a handful of features and tweaks to the highly-respected K10D and attempts to address some of its shortcomings whilst also incorporating a colossal 14.6 million photosites on a sensor co-developed with Samsung. Is this enough, given the quality of some of the competitors?

Fujifilm releases firmware update version 1.03 for the FinePix S1000fd digital camera. This update provides following improvements: 1) The brightness of the captured images when “EVF/LCD mode” is set to “60fps” is darker than that set to “30fps”. 2) Some words in some languages which have spelling errors, are displayed on the EVF/LCD screen. This has been corrected…

Ricoh releases the 12 Megapixel GX200, successor to the compact digital camera introduced in April last year. The GX200 inherits popular features such as a 24 to 72 mm high-performance wide-angle optical zoom lens on a 25 mm thin body, and a removable tilting electronic viewfinder. The GX200 achieves increased resolution via its 12 megapixel CCD and noise reduction via its new image processing engine. The GX200 will be available in July for 499.99 euro, the model with electronic viewfinder included for 599.99 euro…

Ricoh has today announced the GX200 digital compact camera. The new model is replacing the GX100 and inherits the old model’s 24 to 72 mm (equiv.) lens, manual controls and a removable (optional) tilting electronic viewfinder. Resolution has been increased to 12 megapixels, the screen now measures 2.7 inches and the camera is controlled by the latest version of Ricoh’s imaging processor - the Smooth Imaging Engine III. The GX200 will be available in the UK from the beginning of July.

Just Posted: Our review of the Olympus E-420. The E-420 was launched exactly one year after its predecessor, the E-410, and comes with only a relatively small number of modifications such a larger screen, contrast detect autofocus in live view and the Auto Gradation feature that we’ve first seen on the E3. It’s the smallest SLR on the market but can it compete with the larger and more expensive models from the competition? Find out after the link…

Just posted! Our new lens review of Olympus’s dinky little Zuiko Digital 25mm F2.8 Pancake. As an accompaniment to our E-420 review (and a welcome change from yet another 70-200mm F2.8), we examine the credentials of the only fixed focal length lens currently bundled as a kit with a DSLR. It’s certainly an attractively tiny package in combination with the E-420, but is it actually any good?

Motorola launches the Motozine ZN5 mobile phone, combining a phone and high-quality camera experience. The new ZN5 is the first mobile phone to combine Motorola’s ModeShift Technology and Kodak’s imaging technology. To launch the camera, simply slide open the Kodak lens cover to transform the phone into a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus, a Xenon flash, 4GB of optional external memory and optimized settings for low-light environments. The ZN5 will be available in China in July and worldwide during the rest of the year….

Casio releases firmware update version 1.02 for the Exilim EX-Z9 digital camera. This new firmware update offers the following fixes and improvements: 1. Adds the support for 16GB SDHC memory cards. 2. Fixes a problem with scrolling of a displayed image. At the same time Casio releases a firmware update to correct on-screen text in certain geographic regions (Chinese Simplified and Traditional) for the models EX-S10, EX-Z20, EX-Z60, EX-Z100 and EX-Z200…

At the InfoComm 2008, Texas Instruments has introduced the industry’s first Home Theater lamp-free projector, utilizing a PhlatLight LED light source and a BrilliantColor DLP. In addition to expanded color and contrast performance, the illumination system has an incredibly long life and offers up to 30% lower power usage and, most significantly, hundreds of dollars in savings from lamp purchases. Several manufactures have plans to develop DLP lamp-free LED-based projectors with units expected to ship in late 2008…

Sanyo launches the LP-XP200L, featuring the world’s first 4-LCD optical engine and the brightest luminance of its class at 7,000 lumens. The projector still houses the standard red, green and blue LCDs of a typical LCD projector, but a fourth LCD referred to as the “Color Control Device” is added in the optical engine. The extra LCD balances yellows and prevents colors from suffering as the image gets brighter, a problem typically associated with very bright projections. The new projectors will be available in the Japanese market in September…

Sony has announced the new HVL-F58AM flagship flash unit. The new model replaces the former HVL-F56AM model, and features a new Quick Shift Bounce system. The flash head can pivot 90 degrees left and right on a horizontal axis in addition to the conventional up and down. It offers a higher degree of flexibility for external lighting control and is compatible will all existing models as well as Sony’s upcoming flagship camera that will be unveiled later this year.

Sony expands its a alpha system of accessories with the new HVL-F58AM flash unit. This new flash features a Quick Shift Bounce system. The flash head can pivot 90 degrees left and right on a horizontal axis in addition to the conventional up and down vertical adjustment, thus the camera and flash unit can keep the same orientation regardless of portrait or landscape shooting. A powerful performer, the flash unit features a maximum guide number of 58 at 105mm and ISO 100. The HVL-F58AM will ship in September for about $500…

Having recently been provided with updated firmware, we have been able to restart our postponed Pentax K20D review. To tide you over while we’re tinkering away in the studio, here’s a full preview of Pentax’s flagship DSLR. So what does the K20D offer, beyond that 14.6 megapixel Pentax/Samsung sensor?

Optoma introduces world’s first Pico Handheld projector, this new four-ounce portable projector fits in your hand palm and is the ideal companion to portable media devices such as iPods, PDA’s, cell phones and digital cameras. Optoma’s Pico Projector utilizes the latest LED technology resulting in a colorful and vivid image. The small and powerful unit is based upon DLP technology assuring the highest possible contrast. The product will be available in Europe and Asia in late 2008, with a worldwide launch in 2009…

At HP’s Connecting Your World event in Berlin last week, HP introduced the world’s first affordable color-critical computer display, the HP DreamColor LP2480zx. This new display generates the industry’s first combination of true 30-bit color (enabling a range of 1 billion colors) in a widescreen, LED-backlit LCD at a fraction of the cost of most high-end, studio-quality LCD displays. The LP2480zx is now available at a price of 3299 dollar, a bargain for professionals when accurate color management is crucial…

Sony Ericsson unveils the C905 Cyber-shot 8.1 megapixel camera phone, its first Cyber-shot slider and its most advanced camera phone yet. With an 8 Megapixel camera and Xenon flash, it offers easy photo-taking in a phone that derives its looks from a digital camera and offers the picture quality to match. Furthermore, the C905 features face detection auto-focus, smart contrast and image stabilizer. The C905 Cyber-shot will be available in three colors (Night Black, Ice Silver and Copper Gold) in selected markets in the fourth quarter…

Just posted! Our new lens review of Tamron’s latest baby, the SP AF 70-200mm F2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro. In the third of our epic four-part series of telezoom reviews, we take a look through the viewfinder using a lens said to inherit its ‘product concept’ from Tamron’s highly regarded 28-75mm F2.8. So does this young pretender really inherit the same compelling mixture of fine optics at a bargain price, and provide a challenge to the camera manufacturers’ own fast telephoto zooms?  

Samsung will unveil its much rumored Omnia SmartPhone at the CommunicAsia, Singapore tomorrow. Heated debates have already started on the Internet, comparing Apple’s latest iPhone with this latest Samsung model. Judging from the published specs, the built-in 5Mp digital camera seems to be a step up from the 2Mp iPhone camera and offers extra features including auto-focus, face and smile detection and auto-panorama shot. The Omnia will be launched in Southeast Asia this week, and in the European market from July…