Dptips :. Digital Photography Tips, Tricks, and Techniques

Sigma releases the APO 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM zoom lens for Sony and Pentax cameras. The lens incorporates Sigma’s Optical Stabilizer function that enables the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower. Furthermore, the lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) which ensures a quiet and high-speed AF as well as full manual focusing capability. The optional 1.4x or 2x EX DG APO Tele Converters (Sony) produce a 168-560mm F6.3-8 MF or a 240-800mm F9-11 MF ultra-telephoto zoom lens respectively…

Sharp has developed a camera module for mobile devices that is capable of capturing HD (720p) video images in 3D. The images are composed of two views taken using two cameras that capture separate images simultaneously for the right and left eyes. The new 3D camera module incorporates functions to process image data output by the left and right camera, incl. Color Synchronizing Processing to adjust color and brightness. Sharp will start shipping samples in July. Mass production of these modules will begin within this year…

Sony is developing a new type of AVCHD high definition camcorder which features key technologies cameras NEX-5 and NEX-3. The camcorder will also be equipped with the same “Exmor” APS HD CMOS sensor that will be used in these cameras. In addition, the new camcorder will be compatible with the “E Mount” interchangeable lenses developed for the new NEX-Series and also with the existing Alpha camera lens lineup via the special “A Mount” adapter. Sony plans to commercialize the new HD camcorder in the fall…

Following the pre-announcement, Ricoh has now revealed details and specifications of the P10 28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 VC lens unit. This new GXR camera unit is equipped with a 10.7x optical zoom lens (28-300 mm) and offers RAW high-speed continuous shooting at up to 5 fps. Also included are a 1280 x 720 pixel HD movie function, the dynamic range double shot mode function, a macro function capable of close-up shooting at 1 cm. Two package types available: the P10 28-300 mm unit itself and a kit with the GXR camera included…

Epson has introduced the first sub-$100 All-in-One with built-in wireless-N printer on the market. The affordable Epson Stylus NX420 printer/scanner/copier is designed for those that want to conveniently share one printer with multiple users for various everyday printing tasks, such as schoolwork, recipes, or vacation photos. In case your focus is more on photo printing, you should have a look at the Artisan 810, my All-in-One companion that delivers superb photo quality and offers a fax and two-sided printing in a compact stylish body…

Fujitsu announces development of a newly-enhanced color electronic paper (e-paper) that features the world’s highest image quality. A new liquid-crystal material allows a reflectance of 33%, 1.3 times brighter compared to Fujitsu’s previous color e-paper. Other key features are a high contrast ratio of 7:1, three times greater, and a newly developed driver control method that results in re-write speeds that are twice the speeds of the previous color e-paper version. The new color e-paper will be exhibited at Fujitsu Forum 2010 in Tokyo, May 13 - 14…

Addonics has introduced a new CFast flash memory card that redefines the high speed storage standard. This CFast memory comes with a SATA interface and features improved write/read performance over traditional Compact Flash memory. The new CFast flash memory has a maximum transfer rate of 100MB/s which is twice as fast as the fastest Compact Flash memory while still maintaining the small original CF form factor. The CFast cards are currently available in 8 GB and 32 GB for $98.40 and $189.60 respectively…

Pandigital is shipping its Photo Mail Digital Photo Frame. This Digital Photo Frame is a next-generation, wirelessly-connected digital photo frame that displays photos emailed directly to it. You can view photos from family and friends by allowing them to send photos directly to the frame from their own email account. The frame will have an SRP of $179.99 and includes the ability to receive 300 photos emailed to the frame with no service fee to the customer. Additional photo allotments may be purchased directly from Pandigital…

DALSA is powering the new generation of Z/I Imaging Digital Mapping systems by Intergraph, the model DMC II 140, with a custom 140 Megapixel image sensor, designed exclusively for Intergraph. The new DMC II 140 camera uses five customized image sensors per system: four 42 Megapixel (6096 x 6846) and one 140 Megapixel (12240 x 11418), collecting 308 Megapixels with one exposure. DALSA’s very large image format (88 x 82 mm), hermetically sealed sensors are optimized for photogrammetric performance…

Pentax introduces the Optio M90, a new lightweight, entry-level, compact digital camera. Key features include a sophisticated metal rubber coated soft-touch exterior, a high-definition CCD sensor of approximately 12.1 megapixels, a large and easily-viewable 2.7″ LCD monitor, as well as an optical wide-angle 5x zoom (28mm to 140mm in 35mm format). The Optio M90, now only announces in Europe, is also available in two colors, black and burgundy red, and will be available by mid June for £119.99…

Lexar Media announces - with some delay - the availability of the Professional 600x / 300x 32GB CF cards. These Professional 600x/300x memory cards offer increased speed & performance, with a guaranteed minimum sustained write speed capability of 90MB/s and 45MB/s, respectively, when paired with an UDMA 6-enabled device. All Lexar Professional memory cards include a limited lifetime warranty, a free downloadable copy of Image Rescue 4 software, and money-saving promotions from Adobe…

BenQ introduces the E1260 HDR camera. HDR (High Dynamic Range) image enhancement technology is designed to bring out the finest details in the darkest and brightest parts of an image, allowing you to create stunning photos under even the highest contrast lighting conditions. It is built to be more than just a backlight solution, and is the perfect tool to overcome high contrast lighting condition challenges. The 12 megapixel E1260 with a 4x wide optical zoom lens and a 2.7-inch LCD will be available next month…

Nikon announces the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II lens. The lens benefits from the addition of Nikon’s proprietary Nano Crystal Coat to reduce instances of ghosting and flaring, and lets you select from three focus modes: manual mode (M), autofocus with manual override (M/A) mode, and new A/M mode which is used to avoid cancelling the AF setting by unintentionally moving the focus ring while shooting. The lens is scheduled to be available in late May with an estimated selling price of $6,999.95…

The days that camera bodies are available only in black or silver are long gone. The choice seems to be - except for some discussions on heat dissipation - just a matter of taste. Even new SLR cameras are joining the pact as we have seen with the Pentax K-x. For compact cameras, color seems to have become the standard and the new Praktica luxmedia 12-Z4 is no exception. This 12 Mp camera comes in 6 colors and features 4x optical zoom, a 2.7″ LCD, and 1280×720 Video mode. At the same time, Praktica launches the DCZ 12.Z4…

Pentax USA expands the K-x digital SLR color palette beyond the current black, white, red or navy. For those of you getting ready for a colorful spring, the Pentax K-x SLR will now also be available in a limited edition bright blue, orange, green and purple. The K-x SLR camera features a 12.4 megapixel CMOS image sensor, a 2.7 inch LCD with Live View and HD video capture in full 720p resolution. Each fresh new color comes in a kit with a DA L 18-55mm lens. The new colorful kit will be yours for $649.95…

The TIPA 2010 Award winners in the digital camera category: DSLR Professional Nikon D3S DSLR Expert: Canon EOS 7D DSLR Advanced: Canon 550D/T2i DSLR Entry level: Pentax K-x Expert Compact: Canon G11 Compact camera: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V Compact system advanced: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Compact system entry level: Olympus PEN E-PL1 Rugged D-Compact: Casio Exilim EX-G1 Superzoom Camera: Fujifilm FinePix HS10 and the Leica M9 in the Prestige Camera class…

On April 22 Olympus will release a firmware update to improve the Olympus PEN camera family: • Auto Focus Performance will be improved when shooting both stills and videos using any Micro Four Thirds or Four Thirds lens • Viewfinder/LCD Simultaneous Playback Function brings additional display functionality to the E-P2/PL1 when fitted with the VF-2 Electronic Viewfinder • Movie-Still-Compatible (MSC) ensures E-P1/P2 are compatible with two recently announced lenses Update: Olympus PEN firmware now available…

Sharp Corporation introduces eight models in the DX Series of LED AQUOS LCD TVs with built-in Blu-ray Disc recorders. This “all-in-one” integrated design allows simple and easy Blu-ray Disc recording and playback with sophisticated recording functions, such as an extended recording time of up to 36 hours of full-HD video programming on a single Blu-ray Disc. The new models feature next-generation LCD panels with LED backlight that deliver superb image quality with a cinema contrast of 5,000,000:1…

On May 10th, Panasonic will release firmware updates for the DMC-G1/GF1/GH1 digital SLRs: The DMC-GF1 will get improved operation for image stabilizer and improved AF performance with lenses of other manufacturers The DMC-GH1 will get these same updates and in addition AF performance improvement in full HD movie recording and movie recording with Leica lenses, and improved modulation accuracy of flash The DMC-G1 will get the improvements of the GH1 and the improved modulation accuracy of flash…

At the CHI (Computer Human Interaction) 2010 Technical Program in Atlanta last week, Skinput an original input/output method has generated a lot of attention. The body is portable and always available, and fingers are a natural input device. Skinput is a technology that makes use of the human body as an input surface, enabling the location and vibration of finger taps on hands and arms to be analyzed and used as signals. Chris Harrison of Carnegie Mellon University explains the technology in this video…