News

If you've ever been walking down the street and a picture caught your
eye, but had no camera to capture the moment, then the small, shirt-pocket size
digicams might just be item you're seeking. A number of companies, including
Pentax, Casio and Minolta have already introduced such models, each with their
own unique feature sets. Now, Contax, a name renowned for exquisite cameras
and excellent lenses, has jumped into the fray with their own version, the U4R,
a 4-megapixel camera sporting a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* lens. Those familiar
with the amazing image clarity of this line of lenses will immediately recognize
the name; those unfamiliar with it can be assured that it is a legendary name
in optics. The camera has just under a 3x optical zoom lens, delivering the
equivalent of 38-115mm in 35mm format. There's also a digital zoom if
you need it, delivering over 400mm, but as with many digital zooms it's
really a crop into the frame, and will not deliver the quality of the prime
optics.

...

Eastman Kodak Company has introduced new versions of KODAK PROSHOTS Studio Software
Suite v6.3, KODAK PROSHOTS Basics Software v2.0 and KODAK PROSHOTS Online Services
v7.0 that, via labs, will provide photographers with a broader range of templates
for their print ordering process. Photographers will also have improved tools
for previewing and selling their images to customers in-person or over the Internet.




The KODAK PROSHOTS System, a powerful set of image-management, design and ordering
tools, serves professional wedding, social and portrait photographers whether
they work with film or digital cameras. PROSHOTS System Participating Labs use
hybrid and complete digital lab workflows to offer a broad range of products and
services to photographers through the PROSHOTS System. The KODAK PROSHOTS System
is the industry's most-used service of its kind, with more than 40 labs,
11 album and frame companies and two studio management software companies integrating
it seamlessly with existing lab products.



PROSHOTS Studio Software Suite v6.3

Available as a free download to photographers with a current version of PROSHOTS
Studio Software Suite, or US$249 for new users, version 6.3 includes enhanced
proof book options with a variety of selectable background colors and definable
cover pages. Additional improvements include enriched digital product ordering
and presentation features:

· Lab templates now can be organized into categories, e.g., "Weddings,"
"Sports," etc., for easier navigation.

· More sophisticated lab products, e.g., templates with images displayed
on an angle or customizable text, can now be displayed and cropped as "what
you see is what you get" for better previewing and ordering.

· Enhanced slide-show options to play music through a PC, and a slide show
that can now easily be saved to be burned later to CD or DVD.



The album and frame interface definitions are streamlined, further enhancing Kodak's
full-featured software product for both photographers and labs.



PROSHOTS Basics Software v2

PROSHOTS Basics Software now includes additional features to simplify the image-ordering
process. As with the PROSHOTS Studio Software Suite, PROSHOTS Basics Software
now allows the organization of lab templates into categories, and enhanced proof
book options are now available. The features are all available in the intuitive,
easy-to-use interface for which PROSHOTS Basics Software is known.

In addition, key selling features have been added to PROSHOTS Basics Software.
With version 2, users can for the first time:

· Preview and order a broad range of lab digital products in a "what
you see is what you get" manner.

· Access the capabilities of PROSHOTS Online Services to create product
and price lists, post images and take orders over the Internet.

· Use a new built-in slide show capability for reviewing images with customers.



For PROSHOTS System Participating Labs, PROSHOTS Basics Software expands the potential
printing volume by providing a solution for the estimated one-third of professional
photographers who are MACINTOSH OS users.

PROSHOTS Basics software is free, runs on both MACINTOSH OS X and WINDOWS 2000
or XP platforms, and is available as a download at www.kodak.com/proshots/basicsinfo.




KODAK PROSHOTS Online Services v7

The award-winning PROSHOTS Online Services have been redesigned to enhance the
image viewing and ordering experience for the increasing number of consumers using
the Internet. Redesign features include:

· A modern, sophisticated look and feel with a cleaner shopping cart and
checkout process.

· Improved slide show with faster refresh and improved navigation and speed
controls.

· Increased image-zoom capability to better view image details.



Access to PROSHOTS Online Services is integrated within PROSHOTS Studio and PROSHOTS
Basics Software so photographers only need one piece of software for lab print
ordering, in-studio presentations and online selling. A new rewards program provides
benefits to photographers the more they make use of PROSHOTS Online Services.


The PROSHOTS System software updates will be available in March. For more information
on the KODAK PROSHOTS System and membership benefits for photographers ¾
including Web site and other training resources ¾ please visit www.kodak.com/proshots/membershipinfo.
...

Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. has introduced the new compact DiMAGE
Z5 -- a digital camera that offers a built-in 12x optical Mega Zoom lens,
Konica Minolta's proprietary Anti-Shake System, 5.0-megapixel CCD, fast
overall response including Rapid autofocusing (AF), and a large 2.0-inch LCD
screen.

...

LightScribe and LaCie have announced that they are partnering to offer the first
direct disc labeling drive for Macintosh computers. For the first time, Macintosh
customers can burn the data side of a disc, then flip the disc over and burn a
precise, iridescent label with their desired text and graphics using the same
laser that burns the data. No printer, permanent marker or adhesive labeling is
required to develop and burn creative designs onto the CD or DVD.



LightScribe uses the LaCie d2 DVD±RW Double Layer drive's existing
laser to deliver precisely controlled light energy to the disc through an innovative
circular writing system. The light energy causes a visible chemical change in
the dye coating. The result is a high-resolution label image of art, text or photos.
Because the labels are laser etched in a coating applied during disc manufacture,
no ink or adhesive labels are required.



The LaCie d2 DVD±RW Double Layer supports burning a full 4.7GB DVD in about
five minutes, as well as burning to double layer discs that offer twice the capacity.
Easy-to-use DVD creation software allows people to create movies in a matter of
minutes complete with menus, thumbnails and backgrounds. With the LightScribe
technology, customers can also burn a label that is a high-resolution reproduction
of their artwork, text or photos.



LaCie d2 DVD±RW Double Layer drives with LightScribe will be available
in early 2005.



www.lacie.com

www.lightscribe.com...

Casio, Inc. has introduced the EXILIM PRO EX-P700, with a 7.2 million megapixel
CCD and 4X optical zoom. The EX-P700 will be available for a MSRP $599.99. The
EX-P700 features a 4X optical zoom (coupled with 4X digital zoom), combined
with a large 2.0-inch LCD screen. The camera has a claimed start-up time of
approximately 2.0 seconds and a 0.01 second release time lag. The EX-P700 also
features a high speed continuous shooting function that can take 3 photos per
second up to 5 photos. New features include Flash Assist, which operates during
flash photography to compensate for underexposure in areas which are not reached
by flash and Auto Macro, which automatically switches between Macro mode and
AF mode. One of the most interesting features is what Casio calls Business Shot,
which compensates for photos taken at an angle and records them as though taken
from straight ahead. While exposure, white balance and focus position are quickly
set with a single press of the shutter, the multi-bracketing feature enables
a variety of shots with different color effects to be taken in combination with
the rapid shooting function.



www.casio.com

...

Nikon Inc. has announced pricing and availability for its D2X professional
digital SLR camera introduced at Photokina last year (see Jan, 2005 Shutterbug,
or visit at www.shutterbug
.com). The camera will begin shipping on February 25, 2005 with a suggested
street price of $4999.95 (MSRP $6299.95). Designed as a truly versatile workhorse
camera for many professional disciplines, the 12.4 million-pixel D2X blends
high levels of resolution and class-leading speed. The D2X can comfortably shoot
full resolution 12.4 million pixel images at 5 frames per second (up to 21 consecutive
JPEGS and 15 NEFs), and when the situation demands yet faster frame rates, the
D2X has a unique 6.8 megapixel 'High Speed Cropped Image' mode that boosts the
shooting rate to 8 frames per second (up to 35 consecutive JPEGs or 26 NEFs)
by cropping the number of pixels used on the sensor to create the image.

...

If you're an underwater photo fan, or just like to photograph in all sorts
of weather, or when surfing, etc. you are probably going to be interested in
the Pentax Optio WP. This small, 5-megapixel camera has a 3X zoom, a 2.0 inch
low reflection LCD, 10MB built-in memory, quick start-up, a nine point autofocus
system and captures movies at 30 frames per second in JPEG format.

...