Ricoh GXR P10 28-300mm VC Sample Gallery
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Just posted! A quick sample gallery of 49 shots taken with the latest lens / sensor module for the Ricoh GXR system, the P10 28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 VC. Sporting a 10.7x wide-to-tele zoom and a ten megapixel 1/2.3" back-illuminated CMOS sensor, the P10 unit offers an interesting alternative to the 'travel zoom' compacts reviewed in our recent group test. We took the new unit on a flying visit to South Africa to put it through its paces.
Blurb CEO on her plans to make publishers of us all
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Print-on-demand book publisher Blurb's third annual international Photography Book Now competition is now in the final phase for submissions - the deadline being July 15, 2010. The competition has had 880 book submissions to date. As the company's founder and CEO Eileen Gittins was on visit to sunny London, we took the opportunity to talk to her about Blurb - how it works, who uses it and what they get out of it.
Sony NEX camera firmware adds 3D Sweep Panorama
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Sony has released the promised firmware update for its NEX cameras adding 3D Sweep Panorama mode. This mode separates the left and right edges of the individual image used for creating panoramic shots. It then uses these slices' differing perspectives to create a 3D still image that can be played back if you buy one of the company's Bravia TVs. Firmware version 02 also includes bug fixes and promises to improve camera performance including quicker start-up in low light conditions. The updates are available for immediate download from the company's website.
Nikon announces submission dates for international photo contest
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Nikon has announced its 33rd annual international digital photo competition will be open for entries from September 1, 2010. Participants can submit up to two images to either of the two categories - one with the theme 'Energy' and the other an un-themed, open category. The overall winner will be awarded the company's D3S digital SLR with two lenses, with category winners receiving a D300S with flashgun and lenses. The contest runs until November 30th 2010.
DxO Optics Pro adds more than 60 lens correction modules
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DxO Labs has updated its DxO Optics Pro raw converter software with more than 60 lens and cameras combinations for Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Sony users. These new lens correction modules join the existing list of over 2000 combinations. The modules are available for immediate download from the company's website.
Samyang to offer 8mm, 14mm & 85mm lenses in Samsung NX mount
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Samyang Optics has announced it will be making its 8mm f/3.5 fisheye, 14mm f/2.8 and 85mm f/1.4 manual focus lenses in the Samsung NX mount. Currently available in Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony and Olympus four-thirds mount, the NX mount version of the lenses will start shipping from September 2010.
Panasonic releases TZ10, TZ9, TZ8 and FT2 firmware updates
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Panasonic has released firmware updates for its Lumix DMC-TZ10, DMC-TZ9, DMC-TZ8 and DMC-FT2 digital compacts. Version 1.1 for all the cameras improves improves flash exposure with the Inon S-2000, D-2000, Z-240 third-party underwater strobes. The TZ10's latest firmware also improves the overall stabilty of the camera. The firmware updates are available for download from Panasonic's website.
Sigma updates Photo Pro software for SD15
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Sigma has released an updated version of its Photo Pro image-editing software for immediate dowload. Version 4.1 extends RAW support to the SD15 digital SLR and adds compatibilty with 64-bit Windows OS. The latest versions available for download - 4.1.1.0 (3591) for Windows and 4.1 (1044) for Mac - also add bug fixes compared to previous versions shipped with the SD15 DSLR.
Hitachi G-Technology announces Driven Creativity competition
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Hitachi has announced a competition for photographers, musicians & filmmakers in the UK, France or Germany, with a chance to win €5,000 cash prize. As a promotion for G-Technology storage device brand, participants can submit one of their creative projects from 2009 or 2010 in any of the three categories with a chance to win either the cash prize or the company's 4TB G-Raid dual-drive dependable storage system. In addition, all winning entries will be exhibited at the Brick Lane Gallery in London. The competition runs until September 30 2010.
Olympus M Zuiko Digital 14-150mm F4-5.6 lens review
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Just posted! Our lens review featuring Olympus's Micro Four Thirds superzoom, the M Zuiko Digital 14-150mm F4-5.6. This latest addition to the company's Pen range continues with its downsizing theme, and is dramatically smaller and lighter than most similar SLR lenses. It also promises fast and silent focusing optimized for video shooting. So is this mini-marvel the ultimate general-purpose travel zoom?
SD association defines new standards for SDXC & SDHC cards
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The SD Association has introduced symbols to denote the latest high-speed SDXC and SDHC cards and to help consumers identify ideal cards for their devices. A UHS-I specification indicates a card has an interface capable of transferring data at up to 104 MB/s, four times faster than the current limit of 25 MB/s. UHS-I cards will be compatible with existing devices but can only make use of their extra speed capabilities when used with a UHS-I reader or cameras. An additional 'Class 1' symbol on these cards promises real time recording of HD videos. This symbol differs from the Class 2, 4, 6 and 10 logos used for non-UHS-I cards that defined minimum write speed.
Sandisk ships tamper-proof single write 1GB SD cards
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SanDisk has announced it is shipping its 1 GB Write Once Read Many (WORM) SD memory cards in volume to the Japanese police force. Introduced in 2008 in 128MB capacity, files recorded onto the WORM cards can be stored up to 100 years, and cannot be altered or deleted. The card is aimed at industries where unaltered content is vital such as police investigations, court testimony, electronic voting etc. The SD WORM card is available worldwide, with 'pricing dependent upon the quantity ordered.'
Toshiba develops wireless SDHC memory cards
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Toshiba has announced the development of its first wireless SDHC memory card in conjunction with Singapore based Trek 2000. In addition, the two companies will invite digital camera makers and other interested parties to join an industry forum to promote and share the technology with the aim of creating a standard for WiFi cards. The WiFi enabled 8GB SDHC card will feature 802.11 wireless transfer rates and support RAW file transfer. The cards will have to compete with Eye-Fi cards, first launched in 2007, that have seen increasing in-camera support from camera makers.
Panasonic reveals more details of AG-AF100 Micro Four Thirds camcorder
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Panasonic has released more details of its AG-AF100 professional Micro Four Thirds HD camcorder. It is capable of recording up to 12 hours of video using its two SDXC compatible slots. It offers 1080 and 720 video recording in frame rates of 59.94, 50, 29.97, 25 or 23.98p with the top two rates interlaced in 1080 mode. The camcorder also features industry-standard HD SDI and XLR connectors and is compatible with the company's line up of Lumix G lenses, filters and adapters for using 35mm lenses.
Olympus dust reduction system wins Japanese invention award
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Olympus's dust reduction system, incorporated both in its E-series DSLRs and Micro Four Thirds cameras has won an award in Japan's National Invention Awards 2010. The awards are organized by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation (JIII) every June to honor the most significant patents of awarded in the previous year. Olympus Development Division manager Kawai Sumio will receive the award sponsored by national newspaper Asahi Shimbun, for the dust reduction system. The original patent application was made in December 2000, with the technology first appearing in the company's E-1 DSLR in 2003.
