PhotoNews

October 14, 2009 – Nikon Inc., today introduced the new medium telephoto AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR lens designed specifically for extreme close-up photography, yet perfectly suited for portrait, nature, and general imaging as well. Focusing as close as 0.9 ft., this new 85mm Micro lens allows photographers to capture breathtaking close-up images with life-size reproduction ratios up to 1:1, helping to ensure that even the subtlest of subject detail is reproduced faithfully. The new 85mm Micro NIKKOR lens, in conjunction with Nikon DX-format digital SLR cameras, renders a picture angle equivalent of approximately 127.5mm (in the 35mm or FX-format), providing a natural perspective along with a desirable and practical lens-to-subject working distance.

"Nikon is proud of its strong reputation for designing and producing some of the world's finest close-up lenses, delivering faithful and consistent color reproduction, stunning sharpness and beautifully balanced contrast," said Edward Fasano, general manager for marketing, SLR Systems Products at Nikon, Inc. "The introduction of the AF-S DX 85mm Micro lens further broadens the Micro NIKKOR family and answers a call from serious nature and portrait photographers, generalists and on-line auction specialists seeking superior close-up shooting performance, affordability and versatility."Read more

Powerful Organizer and Smart Technology Take Photo and Video Editing to New Heights

Sept. 23, 2009 - Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 & Adobe Premiere Elements 8 for Windows, the highly anticipated new versions of the No. 1 selling consumer photo- and video-editing software*. Available as standalone products or as a single retail package, the bundle offers the most complete photo and video solution by seamlessly integrating two powerful, yet easy-to-use, products. With this landmark release, Adobe equips users with a completely enhanced Organizer, which serves as a feature-rich media hub for both photos and videos. From the Organizer, consumers can launch directly into Photoshop Elements 8 to create extraordinary photos or Premiere Elements 8 to effortlessly make incredible movies with new, automated features.

"We want our customers to feel confident that they can achieve professional results with their photos and videos, without having to do any of the heavy lifting," said Doug Mack, vice president and general manager of Consumer and Hosted Solutions at Adobe. "With this new release of Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements we've incorporated smart tools with built-in intelligence that automatically analyze photos and recognize people, track motion in video for the easy addition of special effects and perform editing magic in just a few simple clicks. We pushed the limits of our software, so that anyone can create impressive digital memories and have fun in the process."Read more

New Automated Options Make Video Editing Effortless for Everyone

Sept. 23, 2009 - Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced Adobe Premiere Elements 8 software for Windows, the newest version of the No. 1 selling consumer video-editing software.* This major release enables users to easily create incredible movies, offering automated "smart" options that take the work out of video editing, easy-to-apply professional-quality effects and a new Organizer to manage all media in one convenient location.

"It's become easier than ever to shoot video on the fly, but most people don't realize it's just as easy to take raw clips and turn them into a movie that will impress friends and family," said Doug Mack, vice president and general manager of Consumer and Hosted Solutions at Adobe. "We want to take the intimidation factor out of video editing and empower users to get creative and personalize their videos. With the new Organizer and automated technology available in Premiere Elements 8, we created a dashboard full of features that will drive video projects forward in just a few simple clicks."Read more

Intelligent Technology and Ease of Use Delivers the Power to Do More with Photos

Sept. 23, 2009 - Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 software available for Windows and Mac, providing automated and intelligent photo-editing technology across both platforms. With the newest version of the No. 1 selling consumer photo-editing software,* Adobe continues to make cutting-edge innovation accessible to users who want powerful yet easy-to-use tools to tell compelling stories with their photos.

"With nearly 20 years of Photoshop innovation under our belt, we are able to leverage industry-leading technology that the professionals use and make it accessible to our Elements customers," said Doug Mack, vice president and general manager of Consumer and Hosted Solutions at Adobe. "We've simplified the editing process, without taking away any of the power, and incorporated smart tools with built-in intelligence to bring once difficult tasks, within reach of everyone."Read more

World's first Leica Micro Four Thirds lens Compatible with Panasonic's Award-Winning LUMIX G Series of Digital Cameras, Plus a New, Ultra Lightweight F1.7 Lens

September 2, 2009 – Today, Panasonic introduced two new Micro Four Thirds digital interchangeable lenses – the LUMIX G 20mm/F1.7 ASPH, a compact and lightweight "pancake" lens with outstanding brightness, and the world’s first Leica Micro Four Thirds lens, the LEICA DG MACRO-ELMARIT 45mm/F2.8 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. which features exceptional image quality in a compact size. Both lenses are compatible with Panasonic's LUMIX G Series Micro Four Thirds standard digital cameras, which include the award-winning LUMIX DMC-G1 and LUMIX DMC-GH1 models; and the LUMIX DMC-GF1, also introduced today.Read more

New Software Effectively Utilizes both Lightroom Edit-In and Export Features, Rounds out Support for Leading Image Editing and Workflow Applications

August 27, 2009 -- Imagenomic announced today the release of Portraiture 2 for Adobe Lightroom. This latest Portraiture 2 product edition from Imagenomic delivers all of the productivity benefits of fast and accurate skin retouching to the Lightroom user community, and complements earlier introductions of Portraiture 2 for Adobe Photoshop and Apple Aperture.

Portraiture 2 versions for Lightroom include native 32 and 64-bit support for Windows Vista, and support for the latest Mac Intel platforms and OSX releases for Apple computers. All of the familiar features and controls that have made Portraiture 2 popular with Photoshop and Aperture users are now available in the new Lightroom edition. Lightroom users also benefit from two Portraiture workflow usage modes, using both the Edit In and Export techniques for individual and batch image editing and processing.Read more

Experience the First-Ever Touch Screen PowerShot Camera; Celebrate the Resurgence of the S-Series Digital Camera Line; Capture a Memorable Shot with the New High Sensitivity System

August 19, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced six new PowerShot cameras offering diverse photographic options for users who have just begun their photographic journey or have been mastering their skills for many years. The new camera line-up delivers the unique features users want, with the superb image quality, ease-of-use and stylish design they have come to expect from Canon.

Whether a professional photographer looking for a smaller camera to tote along on assignment or a snap-happy sports fan heading to the big game, the new PowerShot digital cameras give users options for upgrading their shooting experience. All of the new cameras feature Optical Image Stabilization and use the DIGIC 4 Image Processor, the proprietary technology that accounts for the cameras' higher performance levels, improved signal processing speeds and enhanced image quality. Smart AUTO technology can now track moving faces and 22 different shooting situations (up from 18 previously) by identifying the surroundings to help ensure proper lighting and focus, providing the confidence to deliver high-quality photos in virtually any situation, from group snapshots, to landscapes, to portraits and more.Read more

Samsung DualView Cameras Help Consumers Take the Perfect Self-Portrait on the Move

August 13, 2009 - Samsung Electronics America, Inc., today announced the Samsung DualView Cameras, the TL225 and TL220. These 12.2 mega-pixel, innovative compact digital cameras feature Dual LCD screens, with one LCD on the front of the camera, and a second one on the back of the camera, to give consumers the ability to truly step out from behind the camera and put themselves in the picture.

Delivering an unrivalled user experience, the 1.5" LCD located on the front of the Samsung DualView Cameras now allows consumers to take first-rate photos whether they are behind the camera or in front of it.

Samsung's new TL225 also features a 3.5" wide touch-screen back LCD. At 1,152K resolution, the TL225's LCD delivers almost four times more resolution than traditional cameras and also comes complete with haptic vibration feedback for ease of use. A 12.2 mega-pixel CCD and 27mm wide-angle Schneider-KREUZNACH lens with 4.6x optical zoom gives a wider shooting range from a shorter distance, producing clear, clean images with balanced resolution from the center of the image to the edges.Read more

Nikon Continues to Lead in Innovation with a New Touch Camera and First Compact Digital Camera with Built-in Projector*

August 4, 2009 – Nikon Inc. continues its tradition of innovation, design and performance with the introduction of four new COOLPIX Style Series compact digital cameras. Building on the success of Nikon’s previous touch-screen models, the ultra-stylish COOLPIX S70 features an enhanced interface and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display technology for a new user experience, housed in a stylish camera body. The COOLPIX S1000pj features the world's first built-in projector, which enables consumers to share their images and videos in an all-new fun way. Additionally, the COOLPIX S640 and COOLPIX S570, leaders in speed and affordability, respectively, complete the new smarter, cooler, simpler COOLPIX line.Read more

New products include pocketable digital video camera, KODAK EASYSHARE Digital Cameras and Digital Frames

July 29, 2009 -- Eastman Kodak Company today introduced an array of new products that deliver stunning results while also making it easy for consumers to capture and share their pictures and videos. The new introductions include the KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera and additions to Kodak's popular digital still camera and digital frame portfolios.

"Consumers place high value on their images and video to strengthen and improve relationships, and have consistently relied on Kodak to help them make their personal content a part of their daily lives," says John Blake, General Manager Digital Capture and Devices, Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. "These new KODAK Products deliver unsurpassed ease of use and quality, and also let consumers experience and share moments they love in fun and engaging ways."Read more