Panasonic Digital Camera Lumix G Series Receives 2009

Panasonic is pleased to announce that the digital still camera Lumix G Series receives prestigious TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) Award for the Best Design Innovation in Europe 2009.
TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) is an independent association of photo and imaging expert editors, representing 12 countries across Europe. The eminent TIPA Award is presented honouring the product for its superiority in quality, performance and value to distinguish the best in each classified category.
Digital Camera Lumix G Series for Best Design Innovation in Europe 2009
Panasonic Lumix G Series is an exciting new digital interchangeable lens camera system that is based on the new Micro Four Thirds System Standard. Its concept is entirely new, taking even greater advantage of the compactness and light weight which is made possible by an innovative mirror-less structure. Especially for people who have never before used an interchangeable lens camera, and for those who have tried one but didn’t find it comfortable, the Lumix G Series can open the door to a world of fun, beauty and unlimited creative possibilities.

Korean Maker to Launch 3D Camera, 3D Photo Frame in Japan

CompoBank Co Ltd of Korea will release a 3D digital camera and a 7-inch 3D digital photo frame that can display pictures taken by the camera in the autumn of 2009 at the earliest in Japan.
Worldwide Display, CompoBank’s Japanese agency, made this announcement.
CompoBank has already developed a prototype of the 3D digital camera. Assuming a parallax barrier 3D display, the company employed the “side-by-side” format, in which image data for two images, one for the right eye and another for the left eye, are simply placed side by side, for the data format of 3D images.
The output can be switched to “anaglyph format,” which requires red/cyan glasses to view 3D images, and can be used for 3D printing that uses lenticular lens sheets, according to the company.
The 3D digital photo frame employs the two-view parallax barrier method, which enables to see 3D images with the naked eye. It features a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels and a function to convert pictures and moving images from 2D to 3D, CompoBank said.
Fujifilm Corp plans to release a 3D camera/display system within 2009 (See related article). World Display said, “We would like to use the same data format, if possible, for compatibility with its products.”

CompoBank’s prototype 3D digital camera and digiframe

Sure, it’s not the first 3D camera we’ve seen ’round these parts — and it sure ain’t the wackiest — but it looks like CompoBank of South Korea is diving headlong into three dimensional imaging with the release of both a camera and a 7-inch digiframe, sometime in late 2009 or thereafter. The company’s prototype 3D digital camera features a parallax barrier 3D display, which uses two pictures to assemble the image, and an anaglyph format option (for those who prefer the old school red/cyan glasses). Parallax 3D images can be viewed on the digiframe, which boasts an 800 x 480 screen resolution and a function to convert pictures and video files from 2D to 3D. The company plans on making its products compatible with Fujifilm’s 3D camera and display systems, which should also see the light of day sometime this year. There’s no word yet on a release date, except that it will be this fall “at the earliest.” Check out that fine camera after the break. By offering proven 3D equipment on the market, 3ality Digital is espousing everything that MarketSaw stands for as well – 3D everywhere. In the world I want, 3D will be available to budding filmmakers straight through to the top studio directors – from affordable, yet effective to astounding cutting edge performance capture.

Nikon Launches D5Nikon Launches D5000 DSLR Camera000 DSLR Camera

For the basics, the D5000 has a 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor and Nikon’s exclusive EXPEED high speed image processing system. It is capable of continuous shooting at a rate of four frames per second (7 RAW, 25 JPEG Fine, 100 JPEG Normal). It uses 3D Color Matrix Metering II to obtain clear, accurate images. It also features an 11-point selectable autofocus system that includes subject tracking for motion shots.
The EXPEED system includes features such as Scene Recognition, Face Recognition, Active D lighting and Picture Control. The scene mode makes capturing the perfect shot easy and provides an excellent learning tool for beginners. This mode will recognize various scenes (19 total) and adjust settings such as white balance and exposure to optimize the image. The user can preview the image with various settings on the view screen before taking the shot. Active D lighting makes sure detail isn’t lost in darker ares of the image. It uses a 420 pixel RGB sensors to improve details in high contrast scenes, so if there is image loss in certain areas the detail is restored. Active D has six settings including Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low and Off. Picture Control allows the photographer to adjust image capture characteristics and also has six settings: tandard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, and Landscape.
One of the nicer features of the D5000 is the LCD monitor. It has a 2.7 inch vari-angle screen, meaning you can adjust the view screen by tilting and rotating it. This allows the photographer to see the shot he is taking, regardless of awkward angles or situations. You can even tilt the screen all the way down and rotate it such that you can see yourself for self portraits. The screen can also be rotated and closed to prevent damage.
Another great feature is the D-Movie function, which allows the D5000 to capture high definition movies (with audio). It can capture 720p at 24 fps in Motion-JPEG format. Movies can also be viewed in Live View mode on the vari-angle monitor so the shot can be composed for optimal framing. Of course the camera also has an HDMI output so you can view everything on your big screen HDTV.
Another useful feature of the D5000 is the Retouch Menu. This allows the user to edit and modify pictures on the spot rather than waiting to get home, upload the images to a computer and use editing software. Modes on this menu include oft Filter, Perspective Control and Color Outline.
The D5000 also incorporates Nikon’s Integrated Dust Reduction System which reduces or completely removes dust from the sensor. An airflow control system directs dust away from the sensor while a low pass filter vibrates to get rid of dust particles.
Other features of the D5000 include on-demand grid lines, Calendar View and a durable shutter unit tested to 100,000 cycles. There is a built in flash and support for Nikon’s Creative Lighting System. The camera uses a rechargeable Li-Ion battery (EN-EL9a) that allows up to 510 shots per charge. It is compatible with most Nikkor lenses as well.
The Nikon D5000 will probably ship sometime in May but retailers are already offering pre-orders, as this will be a very in-demand camera:

Nikon announces the D5000 Digital SLR Camera

The D5000 has a 2.7 inch versatile Vari-angle LCD display screen with 230,000 dot resolution. The monitor can be viewed in the normal way or can be rotated, tilted or swung. 100% scene coverage and accurate image viewing is offered by this Nikon camera. The display screen can be closed with its screen facing the camera back.
The 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor D5000 includes Expeed image processing system exclusively from Nikon. The Expeed offers a lot of features such as Nikon’s original Scene Recognition System with Active D-Lighting and Face Detection. The D5000 is compatible with a wide selection of Nikkor lenses and produces stunning pictures in vibrant colors. The camera also produces videos with low noise when shooting across a wide ISO sensitivity range.
The D5000 from Nikon sports a whole array of features which deliver excellent quality pictures to their customers. The camera can snap continuous photos at a speed of 4 frames per second. For clear accuracy of photographs, it also has an advanced 3D Color Matrix metering II. With a 11-point selectable Autofocus, automatic exposure and white balance bracketing functions, the camera offers customers a great photo experience. The Quiet Shooting mode minimizes the mirror cycling noise in the D5000 camera.
The D5000 digital camera from Nikon has four Live View AF modes which are Subject tracking, Face priority, Wide and Normal area. For a well-balanced picture, the Nikons D5000 uses a 420 pixel RGB sensor to analyze the color and entire scene milliseconds before exposure.
Another feature incorporated into the Nikon D5000 is the D-Movie function. This feature allows users to video record at 24 frames per second and shoots them in Motion JPEG movie clip formats. The video clips taken out can be later viewed on HDTVs, computer monitors and can upload them onto websites. A variety of dramatic expressions like fisheye, wide-angled shots, long telephoto scenes and extreme close-ups are achieved with Nikkor AF-S and AF-I lenses.
The Scene Mode incorporated into the D5000 allows customers to capture great shots in different environments and different situations. The Scene Mode is used to adjust exposure, white balance, Active D-lighting and Picture Control settings. When customers choose which mode to utilize, a sample is shown on the display. Some new modes added to the array of already existing modes are Pet portrait, Candlelight, Blossom, Autumn colors, Food, Silhouette, High and Low key.
Nikon’s Active D-Lighting function included in the D5000 camera improves details in high contrast scenes by using 420 pixel RGB sensors. In places where there is image loss, this feature restores details back into that area. There are six different settings namely Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low and Off. The Picture Control System enables customers to personalize key image capture characteristics. There are six different settings in this feature namely Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, and Landscape.
With the Retouch Menu, users can enhance or modify their pictures directly on the camera. The options in this menu include Soft Filter, Perspective Control and Color Outline. The Nikon D5000 incorporates the Nikon Integrated Dust Reduction System which reduces the dust accumulation and takes measures to remove the dust completely. The Airflow Control System directs dust away from the sensor and the low-pass filter vibrates to keep the camera dust-free.
Some of the other features included in the D5000 camera are the on-demand grid lines, Calendar view, durable shutter unit tested to 100,000 cycles and a direct HDTV connectivity through a HDMI connector. There is also a built-in flash and support for Nikon Creative Lighting System.
A long lasting rechargeable Li-ion battery EN-EL9a incorporated into the D5000 gives 510 shots per charge. Two shutter release modes namely Quick mode and Delayed mode can be used with the optional ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control. Nikon ViewNX image browsing and editing software is also included in the D5000 camera. Images from the D5000 camera can also be edited with the optional Nikon Capture NX 2 photo-editing software. This software features U Point technology and tools for fast and easy photo editing, including enhanced NEF Editing.
The price and availability of Nikon D5000 digital camera is not known.

3ality Digital to Sell Best-in-Class 3D Camera Rigs

3ality Digital, LLC today announced it will begin making its state-of-the-art 3flex(TM) camera rigs available for sale as part of the company’s continuing effort to expand the creation and distribution of pixel-perfect live-action 3D entertainment. 3ality Digital will exhibit working rigs at the 2009 NAB Show in Las Vegas from April 20-23.
Developed using proprietary intellectual property, the rigs marketed under the 3flex name are engineered and manufactured to aerospace-level precision. When used with 3ality Digital’s rig software controller (SPC) and Stereo Image Processing Systems (SIPS), the 3flex rigs will allow operators to capture nearly pixel-perfect live-action 3D footage.
“Combined with our recent establishment of the 3DIQ training and certification program, 3ality Digital’s rollout of 3flex camera rigs represents an aggressive move to empower the entertainment and broadcast industries to create exceptional live-action 3D content,” said Steve Schklair, chief executive officer of 3ality Digital Systems, the technology and production arm of 3ality Digital. “Our objective is to supply broadcasters and content creators with professional level tools, technologies, and information that integrate well with existing workflows and production methodologies.”
3flex camera systems use sophisticated artificial intelligence to sense the environment and ensure the highest image quality. The systems feature automated setup and alignment to address color ramps, lens aberrations and geometric distortion. The systems also provides broadcasters and filmmakers with a full 3D metadata output package that is generated every six milliseconds.
3ality Digital will immediately begin taking orders for manufacturing, with expected delivery in late summer or early fall. The 3flex product line will consist of three rig models:
TS-2 Camera Rig System: 3D camera rig with beam splitter. The TS-2 accommodates zero to six inch inter-axial distance and features a fully motorized 3D camera rig with fast setup. This rig enables zoom tracking during shots. It is constructed with a lightweight, rugged carbon fiber body and offers full metadata output.
TS-3 Camera Rig System: 3D camera rig with side-by-side camera arrangement that is lightweight for use in situations where handheld rigs are required. The TS-3 offers the same functionality as the TS-2 using 3ality Digital controller and can, if necessary, be easily positioned or mounted on any rig from Steadicam(TM) to flying camera systems such as Spydercam(TM) or Cablecam(TM).
TS-4 Camera Rig System: Versatile modular side-by-side camera system that will hold any camera and lens combination. The TS-4 is ideal for long-range shots such as vista views and stadium shots. The TS-4 offers the same ease of use, zoom tracking, metadata outputs and functionality as the TS-2.
“Each of these rigs has played an integral role in our groundbreaking live-action 3D projects, from U2 3D to the first-ever live digital 3D broadcast of an NFL game in December 2008,” said Gary Ushino, head of 3ality Digital Systems’ camera division. “The rigs incorporate easily into existing systems and deliver exceptional performance under a wide range of demanding conditions. The versatility and quality of the rigs enabled us to do an average of 40 setups a day – and as many as 47 – on the shoot of Chuck vs. The Third Dimension for NBC.”

DMC-FS25 12-Megapixel Digital Camera

Panasonic incorporated Intelligent Auto mode in pursuit of the ultimate ease of operation and the reduction of misshots. This mode is also further advanced with the inclusion of AF tracking and Intelligent Exposure feature for the DMC-FS25. Furthermore, digital red-eye correction is also integrated in the Face Detection.
In iA mode the camera does all the work, activating AF tracking, Intelligent Exposure, Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Selector, Mega O.I.S. (optical image stabilizer), and Intelligent ISO Control. This leaves the user free to simply compose the shot and press the shutter button, with the assurance that the image will be clear, beautiful and properly exposed.
With the new AF Tracking function, the user can “lock” the focus onto a moving subject. The camera then automatically tracks the subject as it moves, keeping it in focus without the user having to hold the shutter button halfway down. This makes it easier to capture the perfect moment clearly and in sharp focus when shooting images of a child, pet, sports or any scene with moving subjects and spur-of-the-moment action.
Intelligent Exposure suppresses blocked shadows and blown highlights to capture images that look natural and true-to-life. It now features an automatic backlight compensation function that activates whenever the camera detects that the light source is behind the subject.
Face detection accuracy has been increased in the FS25 to now provide continuous adjustment of the focus and exposure even if the face is turned sideways to the camera. Combined with AF Tracking, Face Detection helps users capture special moments, including the fleeting expressions on the faces of active children. Plus, with the FS25, the red-eye effectcan be digitally corrected automatically when it occurs due to the use the flash.
Intelligent Scene Selector automatically selects whichever of 5 scene modes – Macro, Portrait, Scenery, Night Portrait, and Night Scenery – best suits the shooting situation. The Quick AF system allows the camera to keep focus on the subject while the camera is in recording mode even before pressing a shutter button.
In addition to the advanced functions mentioned above, the iA mode inherits fundamental functions users need in a good digital still camera. These include MEGA O.I.S., which prevents blurring from hand-shake, and Intelligent ISO Control, which prevents motion blur by adjusting the ISO sensitivity if the subject moves as the shot is taken. The MEGA O.I.S. system conventionally has mode 1 and 2, and now it has AUTO mode to select the suitable one between the modes according to the zoom ratio being used.
The user can activate all of these useful functions by simply pressing an independent iA button on the top of the camera, which is newly equipped for direct activation. All these features make the FS25 the ultimate, super-versatile automatic camera for capturing clear, beautiful, mistake-free photos with ease.
The bigger picture with the Leica DC VARIO-ELMAR wide angle lens
The 12.1-megapixel DMC- FS25 packages a 29mm wide-angle (2) Leica DC VARIO-ELMAR lens with 5x optical zoom into a slim, compact body. Comprising 7 elements in 6 groups, including 3 aspherical lenses with 4 aspherical surfaces, this advanced lens unit realizes the outstandingly slim and compact body yet passing Leica’s stringent standards to deliver an exceptional optical performance.
The zoom ratio can be extended up to 9.8x (294mm) in 3 megapixel resolution mode with minimal deterioration thanks to the Extra Optical Zoom. By using the central part of the CCD, this powerful zooming function allows you to easily capture and magnify distant subjects.
High Performance Venus Engine IV
The image-processing LSI, Venus Engine IV, features advanced signal processing technology for rendering high quality images. Featured in the DMC-FS25, the multi-task image-processing engine Venus Engine IV supports a super-fast response time. The shutter release time lag is as short as 0.006 seconds and the camera’s quick response makes it easier to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities.
The Venus Engine IV also supports a High Sensitivity mode that lets the DMC-FS25 record at a setting of up to ISO 6400, sensitive enough to capture subjects in near-total darkness without using a flash (3).
Look at me! The DMC-FS25 incorporates an easy-to-see, large, 3.0-inch 230,000-dot high-resolution LCD for comfortable viewing while both monitoring shots and playing back the results. The Intelligent LCD function detects the light condition and automatically boosts the LD backlighting by max. 40% when shooting outdoors in bright sunshine, and adjusts the frame rate when shooting in low-lit situations in addition to using the pixel mixed readout method to secure clarity in such situations.
Detecting the lighting condition precisely and automatically controlling the brightness with a total of 11 fine steps, this function gives the display the most appropriate clarity in any situation without using extra energy. The High Angle mode makes the LCD screen extremely easy to view when the camera is held high, such as when shooting over a crowd.

5 Best Bang-for-Your-Buck Cameras

Wondering which camera to buy for that holiday with your family, a business trip overseas or to capture all those wonderful flash-bulb moments that you pass by? It depends a lot on who you are actually, what purpose you want it for, and how much can you lighten up your wallet.
So, with your needs in mind, here’s a wrap-up of top 5 bang-for-your-buck cameras.
1. Nikon D3:  The Nikon D3 is a professional d-SLR with a 12.1mp FX-format, a blazing 9-fps shooting at full FX resolution, and an accurate 51 point autofocus with 3D focus tracking, besides having the world’s first virtual horizon graphics indicator.
With excellent photo quality, especially at high ISO sensitivity, top-notch low-light autofocus, great performance and a tank of a body, the Nikon D3 does a professional proud. We class it under best professional digital SLR cameras.
Price: $4,399.00 – $4,999.00
2. Nikon D90 (with 18-105mm lens):  With a 12.3mp image quality and a cinematic 24-fps in D-Movie mode, Nikon D90 is the world’s first d-SLR with a HD mode and comes with an in-camera image editing. The D90 packs a lot of features, great performance and good photo quality, making it an excellent value for the money. Best option for someone considering a mid-range digital SLR camera.
Price: $1,139.95 – $1,299.99
3. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50: Among the popular mega zoom models, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 stands out due to its combination of high-quality photos, solid performance, and broad feature set.
This is useful for all the nature lovers or the amateur photographers who want to capture the minutest detail of an image from a distance.
Price: $296.99 – $329.99
4. Canon PowerShot SD880 IS: With a wide-angle lens, good performance and excellent photo quality for its class, the Canon PowerShot SD880 is a great choice in the compact camera category. It is a 10MP camera, and is wallet-friendly as well.
Price: $246.88 – $299.99
5. Canon PowerShot A590 IS: When your budget won’t stretch far, you don’t have a lot of choices. Amongst the handful of decent digital cameras costing less than $200, the Canon PowerShot A590 IS offers a good combination of performance and photo quality for the money. It is available in 8 and 9 MP and can be labeled as the best budget camera.

Nikon D5000 vs. Canon Rebel T1i

Okay, so sub-$800 is for the body-only prices, but less than three weeks after the Canon EOS Digital Rebel T1i generated lots of buzz for being the cheapest dSLR to shoot video, comes today’s announcement of the Nikon D5000, a 12.3 megapixel dSLR that shoots 720p movies and will sell for just $729.95 (body-only, or $849.95 with a 18-55mm kit lens). The D5000’s other stand-out feature–the articulating tilt and swivel LCD screen–was outed by the rumor patrol last week.
Clearly poised to take on the Canon Rebel T1i (which has better HD video capture with 720p at 30fps or 1080p at 20fps), the D5000 catches up by inheriting several higher-end features from its big brother, the Nikon D90 ($999.95, body-only), which also shoots 720p movies at 24 fps. These include its 12.3 megapixel, 15.8×23.6mm CMOS sensor (Nikon uses CCDs in the rest of its entry-level line, including the D80, which the D5000 essentially replaces), the 11-point autofocus system, one-button Live View (which in the D5000 features Subject Tracking, Face Priority, Wide Area, and Normal Area autofocus modes) among other features.
In addition to the better video mode, the Canon T1i delivers more megapixels and color depth (14-bit RAW vs. 12-bit for the D5000), but for pure shooting flexibility, the D5000’s flip-out and swivel LCD is hard to beat.

Study shows using a tripod can increase camera shake

Most of us know that you use a tripod to keep your camera steady when going for those long exposures where camera shake will result in blurry images.  Well, a new study from Japan has shown that unless you have a good-enough tripod, you may be better off holding the camera still yourself.
Researchers at Tani Electronics Corp. and the Nishi Lab of the University of Electro-communications (UEC) developed a tool that measures the effect of camera shake correction and discovered that the resolution of an SLR camera was reduced by up to 75 percent, due to the vibration generated when an SLR’s mirror flips up. Though some cameras try to compensate with a mirror lock-up mode that holds the mirror up for a period of time before releasing the shutter, the study showed that the shutter release itself also caused vibration effects.
But the biggest surprise of the study was the discovery that camera shake was significantly worse when using a light tripod (of approximately 3.3 pounds) than when held by hand.
Furthermore, the increased vibration effect while using the lightweight tripod was even worse with image stabilization features turned on (confirming the advice of most camera manufacturers to turn off image stabilization during tripod use.)
The moral of the story: Unless you have a super steady hand, invest in a decent tripod.