Tethering involves connecting the Epson multimedia photo viewer to a digital SLR camera via a USB cable. Once connected, images saved to the camera’s memory card will also be backed up to the viewer’s hard drive allowing the photographer to preview images immediately on the 4 inch high resolution LCD display. The latest update also includes a remote shutter release function for additional convenience.

The new tethering feature will be released in late-October as a free download on epson.com and is compatible with select Nikon and Canon digital SLR cameras.

Other features of the P-6000 (80GB) and P-7000 (160GB) multimedia photo viewers include:

• Large 4-inch LCD with exclusive Epson Photo Fine Premia technology displays over 16.7 million colors
• Convenient jog dial to quickly scroll through images
• Wide LCD viewing angle
• Zoom function to confirm image focus and fine detail
• RAW and JPEG file support
• Built-in CompactFlash and Secure Digital memory card slots with many other cards supported via third-party adapter  
• Compatible with high-speed UDMA CompactFlash cards
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasts up to three hours for extended shoots
• High-speed USB 2.0 interface for device to device backup
• Audio/video output to present customized slideshows
• Travel Pack with dual battery charger, car adapter and more (P-7000 only)

The Epson P-6000 has an MSRP of $599.99 while the P-7000 has an MSRP of $799.99.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Epson P-6000, Epson P-7000

Ever have a friend look at a picture on your digital photo frame and say “gee.. can I get a print out of that picture?”.. OK.. maybe they’re more likely to say “gee.. can you email me that picture?” but JUST in case they do want a real printout, Sony now has you covered with the newly announced S-Frame digital photo frame with printer (model DPP-F700). This new all-in-one product combines a 7 inch 800 x 480 digital photo frame with a 4 x 6 inch 300 x 300 dpi photo printer into a single form factor. Features and specs include:

• 16:10 aspect ratio 7 inch WVGA (800 x 600) resolution display
• Print 4 x 6 inch professional quality 300 x 300 dpi photos in 45 seconds
• Edit images before printing with options such as enlarge, reduce, crop, date stamp on/off, border/borderless (for single prints), and brightness, contrast, hue, and sharpness adjustment
• Creative Print mode – you can make a calendar with pictures (more than 30 templates), print an ID photo, and create a “layout print” with multiple images on one sheet
• Screen Capture – print exactly what is displayed on the screen during a slideshow
• 1GB of internal memory
• Auto resizing to downsize photos
• Supports direct USB input from PC as well as media transfer from Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Secure Digital (SD), SDHC, Multi-Media Card (MMC), Compact Flash®, and xD-Picture Card media
• Auto Orientation sensor automatically rotates your photos into portrait or landscape format according to the placement
• Included remote control
• Display pictures as single images, as thumbnails for easy searching, or as a slideshow with ten built-in transitions.
• Supports JPEG, TIFF, and BMP image file formats

The new Sony S-Frame DPP-F700 digital photo frame printer will be available for $200 dollars in January.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sony S-Frame digital photo frame-printer DPP-F700

Canon introduces their latest next generation EOS 1D digital SLR camera today, the EOS-1D Mark IV, with features such as a massive 16 megapixel CMOS sensor, dual DIGIC 4 imaging processors, 14 bit A/D data conversion, and the widest ISO range to date from Canon. Here’s what you need to know about the new digital SLR:

• New 45-point Area AF sensor including 39 cross-type AF points with f/2.8 support plus new AI Servo II AF with improved algorithm.
• ISO 100 – 12800 (expandable to L: 50, H1: 25600, H2: 51200, H3: 102400) for shooting from bright to dim light with low noise levels.
• EOS HD movie capture with manual exposure control and multiple frame rates (1080: 30p (29.97) / 24p (23.976) / 25p, 720: 60p (59.94) / 50p, 480: 60p (59.94) / 50p).
• 16.1 Megapixel APS-H CMOS sensor and Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processors for high image quality and speed – Dual DIGIC 4 processors provide six times the processing power of DIGIC III for full 14 bit A/D conversion at 10fps
• 10.0 fps continuous shooting up to 121 Large JPEGS or 28 RAW using a UDMA CF card.
• 3.0-inch ClearView II LCD monitor, 160° viewing angle, 920,000-dot VGA, reflection resistance with multi coating and high-transparency materials for bright and clear viewing.
• Magnesium alloy body with shutter durability up to 300,000 cycles and exclusive dust- and weather-resistance.
• Fully compatible with over 50 EF lenses and a wide range of EOS System accessories.
• 60 percent more pixels than EOS-1D Mark III
• Peripheral Illumination Correction function corrects darkening that can occur in the corners of images with most lenses when used at their largest apertures
• Record on CF Type I and II, SD/SDHC memory cards, UDMA Mode 6 CF cards and/or external media

The Canon EOS-1D Mark IV digital SLR will be available in the U.S. starting in late December and will be sold in a body-only configuration for an estimated price of $4999.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR

As widescreen displays become more and more prevalent everywhere, it only makes sense that webcams would eventually make the switch to widescreen aspect ratios. That’s exactly what Microsoft has done with the introduction last week of the new LifeCam Cinema webcam – the first consumer webcam for the PC capable of capturing widescreen video with a native 720p sensor.

Features of the new Microsoft LifeCam Cinema include:

• Ability to maintain a high frame rate even under poor lighting conditions
• 720p HD video capture at 16:9 aspect ratio
• Auto focus
• Microsoft ClearFrame Technology which offers faster image processing technology to help deliver smooth video at any resolution and improved noise reduction technology to reduce image graininess and help keep videos sharp
• 74 degree angle of capture
• High precision glass element lens
• Digital microphone
• Aluminum body

In addition to the new widescreen-enabled LifeCam Cinema camera, Microsoft also announced the new LifeChat LX-1000 headset which provides high quality audio and a noise-cancelling microphone.

The LifeCam Cinema and LifeChat LX-1000 will be available starting in September with the LifeCam Cinema priced at $79.95 and the LifeChat LX-1000 priced at $24.95. Pre-sales on Amazon.com will begin today.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Microsoft LifeCam Cinema, Microsoft LifeChat LX-1000

All six new models feature Optical Image Stabilization, the DIGIC 4 Image Processor, and Smart AUTO technology which can track moving faces and up to 22 different shooting situations (up from 18). Let’s jump right into the new models shall we?

Canon PowerShot G11:

• New 10.0 megapixel sensor
• DIGIC 4 Image Processor
• RAW+JPEG output
• 2.8 inch Vari-angle LCD with 461,000 dots
• Large collection of optional accessories including Speedlite flashes, underwater housing, and Tele-converter lens available
• High-powered wide-angle 5x optical zoom
• HDMI output
• Smart AUTO selects proper settings for the camera based on 22 predefined shooting situations
• Focal length – 6.1 (W) – 30.5mm (35mm film equivalent: 28 (W) – 140 (T) mm)
• ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600/3200
• Record video in 640 x 480 at 30fps
• MSRP of $499.99 and available in Sept.

Canon PowerShot S90:

• 10.0 megapixel sensor
• DIGIC 4 image processor
• Low light scene mode for ISO settings up to 12,800
• Pocket-sized camera
• Bright f/2.0 lens ideal for shooting in low light conditions or using a shallow depth-of-field
• Customizable control ring for easy access and operation of manual or other creating shooting settings
• Wide-angle 3.8x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer
• RAW+JPEG output
• 3.0 inch PureColor System LCD
• ISO 80 to 3200
• Record 640 x 480 video at 30fps
• MSRP of $429.99 and available in Sept

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS:

• 20x wide-angle optical zoom with optical image stabilizer
• Record 720p HD movies with stereo sound
• HDMI output
• Smart AUTO selects proper settings from 22 predefined shooting scenarios
• DIGIC 4 image processor
• 12.1 megapixel sensor
• 2.5 inch Vari-angle LCD
• AA battery powered camera
• MSRP of $399.99 and available in Aug

Canon PowerShot SX120 IS:

• Smart AUTO selects proper settings from predefined shooting conditions
• Easy Mode for super easy image captures
• 10x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilizer
• 10.0 megapixel resolution
• DIGIC 4 image processor
• 3.0 inch PureColor System LCD
• AA battery powered
• Record 640 x 480 video at 30fps
• MSRP of $249.99 and available in Aug.

Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Digital ELPH:

• 3.0 inch wide touch panel PureColor System LCD with new user interface
• Active Display for quickly switching between images during playback with a shake of the camera
• 5x optical zoom with ultra-wide 24 mm lens
• 12 megapixel resolution
• 720p HD video recording
• HDMI otuput
• Available in Silver, Blue, Purple, and Gold
• Smart AUTO selects proper settings from 22 predefined shooting conditions
• MSRP of $329.99 and available in Aug.

Canon PowerShot SD940 IS Digital ELPH:

• 12.1 megapixel resolution
• 28mm wide angle lens with 4x optical zoom and optical image stabilizer
• 720p HD movie recording
• HDMI output
• 2.7 inch PureColor System LCD with wide viewing angle
• Smart AUTO selects proper settings from 22 predefined shooting conditions
• Easy to use with built-in hints and tips
• MSRP of $299.99 and available in Aug.

Technorati Tags: Canon PowerShot G11, PowerShot S90, PowerShot SX20 IS, PowerShot SX120 IS, PowerShot SD980 IS Digital ELPH, PowerShot SD940 IS Digital ELPH

Well folks – things are about to get a lot easier thanks to two of three new Samsung digital cameras announced yesterday which feature Samsung DualView technology. As the name implies, DualView cameras come with two LCD displays – your standard large display on the back and a smaller LCD display in the front designed to help make taking self portraits a snap. The two cameras to feature DualView are the TL225 and the TL220. The third new camera, the CL65, features geo-tagging, Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, DLNA support, and built-in Wi-Fi capabilities.

Here are the specs to the TL225:

• 12.2 megapixel resolution
• 4.6x zoom lens
• 1.5 inch front LCD display
• 3.5 inch haptic enabled 1,152,000-pixel touch-screen back display
• Schneider-KREUZNACH lens
• 720p HD / H.264 format capable with an optional HDMI adapter
• Measures 99.8mm x 59.8mm x 18.9mm
• Smart Gesture UI
• Advanced Real Dual Image Stabilization : Optical IS + Digital IS
• Smart Touch Auto Focus
• Smart Auto
• Smart Album
• Smart Face Recognition (up to 20 faces)
• Perfect Portrait System: Beauty Shot / Face Detection / Self Portrait / Smile Shot / Blink Detection
• Photo Style Selector
• Available in September for a price of $349.99

Next up, we have the TL220:

• 12.2 megapixel resolution
• 4.6x zoom lens
• 1.5 inch front LCD display
• 3.0 inch haptic enabled 230,000-pixel touch-screen back display
• Schneider-KREUZNACH lens
• 720p HD / H.264 format capable
• Measures 99.8mm x 59.8mm x 19.1mm
• Smart Gesture UI
• Advanced Real Dual Image Stabilization : Optical IS + Digital IS
• Smart Touch Auto Focus
• Smart Auto
• Smart Album
• Smart Face Recognition (up to 20 faces)
• Perfect Portrait System: Beauty Shot / Face Detection / Self Portrait / Smile Shot / Blink Detection
• Photo Style Selector
• Available in Sept for $299.99

Finally, there’s the CL65 which features:

• 12.2 megapixel resolution
• 5x internal optical zoom
• 3.5 inch 1,152,000 pixel touch-screen display
• Schneider-KREUZNACH lens
• 720p HD / H.264 Format capable with optional HDMI adapter
• Measures 99.8mm x 60.8mm x 18.9mm
• Wi-Fi & Bluetooth 2.0 Connectivity (DLNA Supported)
• Email / Direct upload to photo sharing Web sites
• Smart Gesture UI
• Advanced Real Dual Image Stabilization : Optical IS + Digital IS
• Smart Touch Auto Focus
• Smart Auto
• Smart Album
• Smart Face Recognition (up to 20 faces)
• Perfect Portrait System: Beauty Shot / Face Detection / Self Portrait / Smile Shot / Blink Detection
• Photo Style Selector
• Available in Sept for $399.99

Technorati Tags: Samsung TL225, Samsung TL220, Samsung CL65, digital cameras

According to Bill Giordano, GM of Nikon marketing – “These latest Nikon COOLPIX digital cameras reflect hallmarks of the COOLPIX line: performance, design and innovation,”

Without further ado – let’s check out the features and specs to the four new models:

COOLPIX S70:

• 12.1 megapixel resolution
• 5x Wide-angle Optical Zoom-NIKKOR glass lens
• 3.5 inch high resolution Touch Panel OLED display with Clear Color Display and anti-glare coating
• Swipe your finger to scroll through images and pinch your fingers with two fingers to zoom in or out on images
• Touch Shutter and Autofocus capabilities – tap on your display to have the camera focus and shoot a picture
• Scene effect adjustment by using touch screen sliders
• 5 way VR image stabilization system including Nikon’s Hybrid Optical and Electronic VR Image Stabilization
• Motion Detection
• Up to ISO 6400
• Best Shot Selector (BSS) automatically takes up to 10 shots while the shutter is pressed and saves the sharpest image
• Captures HD video at 1280 x 720 resolution
• Subject tracking will track a moving object
• Scene Auto Selector
• Nikon Smart Portrait System including new Skin Softening feature, In-Camera Red Eye fix, Face Priority AF, Smile Timer, Blink Proof, and Blink Warning technologies, and D-Lighting
• Macro shooting as close as 1.2 inches
• Available in Red & Red, Black & Black, Champagne & Beige, Champagne & Light Brown
• Available in Sept for $399.95

COOLPIX S1000pj:

• 12.1 megapixels
• 5x Wide-angle Zoom-NIKKOR Glass Lens
• First camera to feature an ultra-small, built-in projector – project up to 40 inches
• 5 way VR image stabilization system including Hybrid VR Image Stabilization technology, Motion Detection, ISO support up to 6400, and Best Shot Selector (shoots up to 10 shots and saves the sharpest)
• 2.7 inch High Resolution LCD
• Scene Auto Selector
• Smart Portrait System including Skin Softening, In-Camera Red Eye Fix, Face-Priority AF, Smile Timer, Blink Proof and Blink Warning technologies, and D-Lighting
• Quick Retouch
• 16 scene modes
• Record video at 640 x 480 at 30fps
• Macro shooting as close as 1.2 inches
• Available in black
• Available in Sept for $429.95

COOLPIX S640:

• 12.2 megapixel resolution
• Fast startup
• 5x wide-angle Zoom NIKKOR Glass Lens
• 4 way VR Image Stabilization System including Optical VR Image Stabilization, Motion Detection, Up to ISO6400, and Best Shot Selector
• 2.7 inch Clear Color Display
• Scene Auto Selector
• Subject Tracking
• Smart Portrait System including Skin Softening, In-Camera Red Eye Fix, Face-Priority AF, Smile Timer, Blink Proof and Blink Warning technologies, and D-Lighting
• Quick Retouch
• 16 scene modes
• Record movies at 640 x 480
• Macro shooting as close as 0.8 inches
• Available in Calm Black, Velour Red, Precious Pink, Pearl White
• Available in Sept for $249.95

COOLPIX S570:

• 12 megapixel resolution
• 5x Wide-angle Zoom-NIKKOR Glass Lens
• 4 way VR Image Stabilization System including Electronic VR Image Stabilization, Motion Detection, Up to ISO3200, and Best Shot Selector
• 2.7 inch LCD display
• Scene Auto Selector
• less than 1 inch thick
• Smart Portrait System including Skin Softening, In-Camera Red Eye Fix, Face-Priority AF, Smile Timer, Blink Proof and Blink Warning technologies, and D-Lighting
• Quick Retouch
• 16 Scene Modes
• Record movies at 640 x 480 at 30/15 fps
• Macro shooting as close as 1.2 inches
• Available in Black, Blue, Red, Pink
• Available in Sept for $199.95

[Check it out]

[Check out some product videos]

Technorati Tags: Nikon, COOLPIX S70, COOLPIX S1000pj, COOLPIX S640, COOLPIX S570

OK.. so the new D300s is a bit expensive for the average consumer – that’s why Nikon also introduced last week the new affordable D3000 digital SLR camera. The camera features a new guide mode, a 10.2 megapixel resolution, and an extensive Retouch Menu for in-camera picture editing.

The full features and specs of the D3000 include:

• 11 point autofocus system
• EXPEED image processing
• Active D-Lighting system
• 3D color matrix metering II
• Guide Mode is an easy-to-use interface for newcomers to digital SLR photography providing step-by-step instructions
• Three inch 230K dot LCD display with easier-to-read font size
• 3D Subject Tracking
• In-camera retouch menu allows users to apply effects to images
• Capture images in NED (RAW) format
• Stop-Motion Movie Mode
• 10.2 megapixel CCD image sensor
• ISO range from ISO 100 to 1600
• Supports Eye-Fi memory card functions

The Nikon D3000 will be available later this month for a price of $599.95.

[Check it out]

[Check out the product page]

Technorati Tags: Nikon D3000 Digital SLR

Nikon introduced their latest digital SLR camera last week – the Nikon D300s. The camera features the friendly features of the D300 while improving and enhancing the speed, versatility, and agility of the camera. Features of the D300s include the following:

• 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor
• 51 point autofocus system
• 7 frame per second continuous shooting
• Record HD videos at 720p at 24 fps
• External stereo microphone input
• Dual card slots supporting CompactFlash, and SD cards separately
• One button Live View
• Quiet Shutter Release mode
• Active D-Lighting bracketing
• Three inch 920K dot LCD display
• Multiple focus modes including single point AF mode, and a dynamic area AF mode
• Face Detection System lets users zoom in on a human face in playback mode on the LCD monitor
• 1005 pixel 3D color matrix metering II
• Scene Recognition System (SRS)
• EXPEED image processing
• Low noise ISO sensitivity from 200 to 3200
• Magnesium Alloy Body
• Dynamic Integrated Dust Reduction System using ultrasonic process to remove dust in front of the image sensor
• 4 preset image capture preferences ( Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome) and 9 user customizable settings controlling Sharpening, Contrast, Brightness, Saturation and Hue.
• In-Camera image editing

The Nikon D300s will be available in late August for an estimated price of $1799.95.

[Check it out]

[Check out the product page]

Technorati Tags: Nikon D300s Digital SLR

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ35:

• Creative Movie Mode – allows you to set the shutter speed and aperture manually for movie capture
• My Color Mode – manually adjust the color, brightness, and saturation parameters while seeing how the adjustments change the picture live on the display
• High Dynamic Mode – helps capture a scene with moderate exposure even though the scene contains both bright and dark areas
• 12.1 megapixel resolution
• LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens
• Upgraded POWER Optical Image Stabilizer
• MEGA OIS
• Ultra high-speed Auto Focus (AF)
• 18x optical zoom lens
• Venus Engine HD
• Battery life of around 470 pictures
• Intelligent Auto Mode with features such as Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Selector, Intelligent Exposure, and Face Recognition
• Face Recognition that recognizes up three faces simultaneously while taking pictures
• Available in September for a suggested retail price of $399.99
• Available in black

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FP8:

• 12.1 megapixel resolution
• LEICA DC Vario-Elmar lens
• High-speed Auto Focus(AF)
• Intelligent Auto (iA) suite of technologies
• POWER Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
• MEGA OIS
• Blue LED cursor buttons that glow when pressed
• 2.7 inch large Intelligent LCD
• Face Recognition recognizes up to three faces simultaneously
• Venus Engine V
• HD movies with VIERA Link Networking – record in 1280 x 720 at 30fps or 848 x 480 or 640 x 480
• 27 scene modes including a new High Dynamic Mode which takes a scene in moderate exposure even though there are dark or bright areas in the scene
• PHOTOfunSTUDIO 4.0 software
• Available in September for $299.95
• Available in black, red, and silver

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZR1:

• Has the world’s first 0.3 mm thin aspherical lens providing a 25mm ultra-wide angle 8x optical zoom lens in an ultra-compact body
• Zoom range of 25-200mm
• 12.1 megapixel resolution
• LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens
• High speed Auto Focus
• High speed startup of 1.1 seconds
• 2.7 inch Intelligent LCD
• Venus Engine V
• Intelligent Auto (iA) technologies including hand-shake component, and a face recognition feature – up to 6 faces registered and three detected simultaneously
• POWER Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS)
• Travel Mode – organize information related to travel including destination, date, and time. Allows for simply playback of pictures
• High Dynamic Mode (see above)
• PHOTOfunSTUDIO 4.0 software included
• Available in September for a suggested price of $279.95
• Available in black, red, blue, and silver

[Check out the DMC-FZ35 Press Release]

[Check out the DMC-FP8 Press Release]

[Check out the DMC-ZR1 Press Release]

Technorati Tags: Panasonic, LUMIX DMC-FZ35, LUMIX DMC-FP8, LUMIX DMC-ZR1, digital cameras

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be in a firefight then you’ll want to check out the above video clip from MSNBC.com. The MSNBC report, which aired back on June 29th provided a unique perspective to an intense gun battle between American soldiers and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.

Two cameras were in use that day – one from MSNBC and one on top of a soldiers helmet. Known as the V.I.O. POV.T camera (point of view), this helmet-mounted camera provided a unique first-person perspective to action that most of us will probably never witness in our lifetime. 

Luckily no one was hurt in the hour-long gun battle.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: VIO POV.T gunfight, Afghanistan

The new Hybrid IS technology optimally compensates for both angle and shift camera shake. Angle shake and shift camera shake is depicted as follows:

According to Canon:

“The new Hybrid IS technology incorporates an angular velocity sensor that detects the extent of angle-based shaking and is found in all previous Canon optical image stabilizer mechanisms, as well as a new acceleration sensor that determines the amount of shift-based camera shake. Hybrid IS also employs a newly developed algorithm that synthesizes information from the two sensors to make optimal adjustments, thereby dramatically enhancing the effects of image stabilization during shooting, including macro shooting, which had proven difficult for conventional image stabilization technologies.”

Canon is still working on the commercialization and inclusion of these lens into a wide range of products but you can expect something to come out for the SLR market before the end of the year.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Canon Hybrid Image Stabilizer technology, Digital SLR

Not so fast folks. According to TechCrunch sources, Apple has placed an order for a “massive number of camera modules” and based on the size of the order, it can really mean only one thing. A camera is coming to the iPod touch.

Imagine for a second – a camera found on every single new iPod touch sold around the world – each capable of taking respectable stills and video clips. Yes.. who would need a Flip Video or Kodak Pocket Camcorder after an iPod touch is in your pocket? It’s a small subtle enhancement but one that could easily spell trouble to the low-end camcorder industry.

Evil.. (and delicious at the same time).

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Apple, ipod touch, camera

• 3 inch OLED display with 432 x 240 resolution
• Touch-screen navigation – access your music, videos, and photos through simple flicks of your finger
• Wi-Fi
• Podcast support
• Slacker Radio support
• Digital Clear audio technologies including S-Master digital amplifier and digital noise canceling functions
• Premium EX noise canceling headphones
• 33 hours of music playback or 9 hours of video
• Measures 2-1/8 x  3-7/8 x  13/32 inches
• Weighs 3.5 oz
• 5 band equalizer
• Audio support for MP3/WMA/AAC/L-PCM
• Video support for AVC(H.264/AVC)/MPEG-4/WMV DRM
• FM tuner

The 16GB X Series (model NWZ-X1051FBSMP) is available for $299.99 while the 32 GB X Series (model NWZ-X1061FBSMP) is available for $399.99.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sony X Series Walkman Video MP3 player

Looking to get the picture quality of a DSLR but not willing to deal with the added bulk? Check out Olympus’s newly announced E-P1 – the world’s smallest 12.3 megapixel interchangeable lens system camera.  No, it’s not a DSLR at all. It’s not exactly a point and shoot camera either. The EP-1 is part of the “PEN” family of cameras from Olympus which combine the optics of SLR cameras with the size and simplicity of point-and-shoot cameras.

With the E-P1, Olympus does away with the optical viewfinder and the mirror box thereby reducing the form factor of the camera body. Olympus also reduced the lens mount diameter resulting in smaller and lighter lens for the camera. The E-P1 also is the first Micro Four Thirds camera from Olympus – providing the same image quality as current Four Thirds format E-System cameras since it uses the same image sensor as the E-30 and E-620 DSLR models.

Here’s a rundown of the features and specs to the E-P1:

• Stainless-steel body
• Measures 4.75 x 2.75 x 1.43 inches
• Weighs 11.8 oz
• Available in silver or white
• In-body image stabilization
• 3 inch full color  LCD display
• Dust reduction system
• 12 megapixel resolution with next-generation TruePic V
• ISO 100 to ISO 6400 support
• HD video capture with stereo audio
• In-camera creative features for still images and video (six in-camera art filters such as Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film or Pin Hole)
• Multiple exposures
• Multi-aspect shooting – four aspect ratios – 4:3, 16:9, 3:2, and 6:6
• Multimedia slideshows
• Digital leveler
• Magnified focus assist
• 18 x 18 metering modes
• Record in uncompressed 16 bit/44.1 kHz Linear PCM
• 19 automatic scene modes

Sounds great – what about pricing and availability? Well the E-P1 will be available next month (July) with the following price configurations:

• E-P1 Body Estimated Street Price: $749.99
• E-P1 Body with ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens Estimated Street Price: $799.99
• E-P1 Body with ED 17mm f2.8 with optical viewfinder Estimated Street Price: $899.99

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Olympus. EP-1, micro four thirds camera

Akihabara News reports that Fujifilm will be releasing a new point-and-shoot digi-cam next week called the FinePix Z300. Available in several colors, the Z300 features:

• 10 megapixel resolution
• 5.7x optical zoom lens
• 100 to 1600 ISO support
• 31MB of internal memory
• SD/SDHC memory card support
• 3 inch touch-screen LCD display
• VGA resolution recording at 30 fps

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Fujifilm FinePix Z300, digital camera

Eye-Fi announces the introduction of their latest wireless SDHC media card – the Eye-Fi Pro. The Eye-Fi Pro adds support for RAW image support and ad-hoc network support for peer to peer network connectivity without the need of a router. The company also announced today that all Eye-Fi card users can now select which photos or videos they want to transfer from their camera to the computer or the web using the new Selective Transfer feature.

Here’s what you need to know about the new Eye-Fi Pro card:

• 4GB SDHC Ccard
• Upload through Wi-Fi hotspots or set up an Ad Hoc network
• Upload RAW photos
• Automatic geotagging
• Send photos to any of over 25 popular sharing, blogging, and networking websites including Flickr, Facebook, Picasa, etc
• MSRP of $149.99

As for “Selective Transfer”, this is a new feature announced today which gives users more control over which photos and videos should be uploaded. All you need to do is “protect” or “lock” a file on your camera and then the Eye-Fi cards will automatically upload the file. Selective Transfer is free and available now for all Eye-Fi card users through the Eye-Fi Manager.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Eye-Fi, Eye-Fi Pro, Wireless SDHC card

Other features of the VFD class of frames include:

• 2GB of internal memory
• Compatible with CF/MMC/MS memory cards
• USB 2.0 port
• Calendar and clock functions
• Slideshow feature with various display speeds and transition effects

The new TrueView digital photo frames will be available this quarter with the 10.4 inch going for $129.99, the 8 inch for $89.99, and the 7 inch going for $79.99.

Here’s a picture of the 7 inch model:

The 8 inch model:

and the 10.4 inch model:

ViewSonic also introduced two other digital photo frames today – the 7 inch VFA710W-10 and the 9 inch VFD920w-12 ebony frames. The VFA710w-10 and the VFD920w-12 will be available in Q2 2009 at estimated prices of $54.99 and $99.99.

Technorati Tags: ViewSonic, Digital Photo Frames, VFD1020, VFD820, VFD720

Above is the newly announced and ultra-thin Samsung SPF-87H Photo Frame. The unit has a charcoal colored Touch of Color frame, a depth of a mere 23mm (or 0.91 inches), and 1 GB of internal memory. And the best feature of all? it’s completely powered by a USB cable. You can also connect the SPF-87H to a PC and use it as a secondary small (mini) monitor.

Other specs include:

• 8 inch display with 800 x 480 resolution
• 500:1 contrast ratio
• SD slot
• Measures 9.29 x 6.28 x 0.91 inches

The SPF-87H Photo Frame will be available at retailers such as Frys and Amazon.com

Technorati Tags: Samsung SPF-87H Photo Frame, Digital Photo Frame, Samsung

Sony finally let the cat out of the bag with the introduction of their new flagship Walkman Video MP3 player today called the X-series Walkman (NWZ-X1000 models). The media player features Wi-Fi connectivity, a beautiful OLED touch-screen display, Sony Digital Clear Audio technologies, and support for Internet content. Let’s spend a bit of time on each of the new features found in the X-series.

Display:

• 3 inch OLED touch-screen display
• 180 degree viewing angle
• Movie image can be adjusted based on user preferences
• New scene scroll navigation feature allows users to easily scroll through a movie. Simply select your preferred time increment and then swipe across the screen to scroll fwd or back through scenes

Audio technologies:

• First video MP3 player to feature integrated digital noise cancelling (DNC)technologies to help block out ambient noise
• Comes with 13.5 mm EX headphones which also have an embedded small microphone to measure “intrusive noise”. This allows the software-based DNC filter to create an “optimal inverted sound wave” that reduces the noise up to 98 percent.
• User can select custom settings for different listening environments (e.g. airplane, bus/train, office etc)
• Turn on DNC feature even without listening to music for peace and quiet

Content

• Supports popular audio and video codecs including WMV files, AVC Baseline (H.264) and MPEG-4
• FM tuner
• Supports Slacker radio. When you’re near a Wi-Fi hotspot, content can be refreshed and buffered on the player
• Comes with Content Transfer software for easy drag and drop transfer of non-DRM music, videos, podcasts, and playlists etc

Other notable features:

• 33 hour battery life for music playback
• 9 hour battery life for video playback
• Wi-Fi support
• Internet web browser
• Subscribe and refresh podcasts
• Search/playback content on YouTube
• Related Links function when playing your favorite songs allows you to quickly search complementary content via YouTube
• Buttons for volume, play/pause, rewind/fast forward, lock, and noise cancelling

Not too shabby eh? Now let’s talk about availability and price. You can pre-order the new Walkman players now over at SonyStyle.com with models expected to ship in mid-June. As for pricing – it’s basically the same as iPod touch pricing. The 16GB NWZ- X1051 is priced at $299 while the 32GB NWZ- X1061 is priced at $399.

The question for all of you to decide is – do you get the iPod touch or do you get this Sony X-series Walkman. Right off the bat – the mere fact that the iPod touch has an incredibly diverse App Store gives the media player an edge over anyone else out there. So .. Sony – if you want to stay competitive, you’re either going to need to add many MANY more features or you’re going to need to price the X-series at an even lower price point down the road.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sony X-series Walkman