Staff

Olympus announces its new entry-level digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera, the new E-450, which includes three Art Filters – Pop Art, Pin Hole and Soft Focus. The creative filters were first introduced in Olympus’ E-30 DSLR earlier this year. The E-450 offers the 10-megapixel imager and other features from the E-420.

...

Olympus Imaging Corporation (Olympus Imaging) and Matsushita Electric Industrial
Co., Ltd. (Panasonic) today announced joint development of technologies and
devices for the "Micro Four Thirds System standard," a new standard
that extends the benefits of the Four Thirds System standard for interchangeable
lens type digital camera systems by enabling dramatic reductions in size and
weight. Under the terms of an agreement between the two companies, they will
work jointly toward commercial production of significantly lighter and more
compact interchangeable lens type digital camera systems.



Olympus Imaging and Panasonic are expanding the potential of the Four Thirds
System standard even further, enabling the development of radically more compact
and lightweight interchangeable lens type digital camera systems based on the
Micro Four Thirds System standard. Together with the existing range of Four
Thirds System products, the new range of Micro Four Thirds System products will
enable customers to enjoy true interchangeable lens type digital camera system
performance.



When compared to the Four Thirds System standard, the primary distinguishing
characteristics of the Micro Four Thirds System standard are:

1) Approximately 50% shorter flangeback distance (mount-to-sensor distance)

2) 6mm smaller lens mount outer diameter

3) Electrical contacts in mount increased from 9 to 11



* Image sensor diagonal dimensions are the same for both Four Thirds System
and Micro Four Thirds System standards.



The Micro Four Thirds System enables users to enjoy the high image quality benefits
of the Four Thirds System's 4/3-type image sensor in a much more compact camera
body, and also take advantage of significantly more compact lenses, particularly
in the wide-angle and high-power zoom range. The Four Thirds System offers compact,
lightweight performance, and the new Micro Four Thirds System will take this
even further by making it possible to develop ultra-compact interchangeable
lens type digital camera systems unlike anything seen before. The new Micro
Four Thirds System also incorporates a greater number of lens-mount electrical
contacts, enabling support for new features and increased system functionality
in the future.



In addition, users will be able to mount their existing Four Thirds System lenses
on Micro Four Thirds System bodies via an adapter.



Moving forward, Olympus Imaging and Panasonic will jointly develop relevant
technologies and devices for both Four Thirds System and Micro Four Thirds System
standards, and will develop and introduce standards-compliant products in accordance
with their respective business strategies.



While continuing to develop Four Thirds System interchangeable lens type digital
camera system products, Olympus Imaging will also develop a range of Micro Four
Thirds System lenses and accessories, and Micro Four Thirds System camera bodies
that are even smaller and slimmer than the light, compact, and widely acclaimed
Olympus E-410 and E420.



While continuing to develop Four Thirds System interchangeable lens type digital
camera system products, Panasonic will also develop a new generation of compact,
lightweight, interchangeable lens type digital camera system products, including
ultra-portable camera bodies, interchangeable lenses, and related system accessories.



About the Four Thirds System Standard

The Four Thirds System standard defines design and development standards for
interchangeable lens type digital camera systems that fully realize the performance
potential of digital technology. Four Thirds System cameras utilize a 4/3-type
image sensor that delivers the high image quality expected of interchangeable
lens type digital camera systems in a form factor that assures outstanding mobility.
The Four Thirds System standard is an open standard that enables bodies and
lenses produced by participating manufacturers to exchange information and be
used interchangeably with one another.

...

onOne Software, Inc. announced Genuine Fractals 6 Professional Edition and Genuine Fractals 6 Standard Edition. Genuine Fractals 6 adds several new features designed to help photographers get the best enlargements possible. These new features include texture presets, a new gallery wrap function, batch processing, tiling for smaller printers and support for Adobe Photoshop CS4, Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.

...

onOne Software, Inc. announced that all of their currently shipping Photoshop software plug-ins are already compatible with the new Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop CS4 Extended software announced yesterday by Adobe. Specifically, the following Photoshop plug-ins from onOne Software are compatible with Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop CS4 Extended.

• Plug-In Suite 4
• Genuine Fractals 5 Print Pro
• Genuine Fractals 5
• PhotoTools 1 Professional Edition
• PhotoTools 1 Standard Edition
• PhotoFrame 4 Professional Edition
• PhotoFrame 4 Standard Edition
• Mask Pro 4.1
• PhotoTune 2.2
• FocalPoint 1

...