News

Panasonic has introduced the new LUMIX 7.2-megapixel DMC-FX50 and DMC-FX07 digital
still cameras, and also the 6-megapixel DMC-FX3, the world's first to feature
Intelligent ISO Control (IIC) to correct image blurriness caused by movement of
the subject matter. The FX50 will have an MSRP of $399.95, the FX07 will have
an MSRP of $349.95 and the FX3 will have an MSRP of $279.95.

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) has introduced a 4-gigabyte SD High Capacity
(SDHC ) card. The new cards, which support capacities of 4GB and higher, are
rated Class 2 for speed and performance. The 4GB SDHC card will be bundled with
the MicroMate USB 2.0 reader at no extra charge. These new readers work with
both SDHC and SD cards. SDHC cards require an SDHC-compatible reader.

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Unibind has announced their Professional Series XU138 Book Creator. This do-it-yourself
binding system is said to be perfect for weddings or other special occasions.
Priced at $455.00, XU138 binding machine is dubbed the perfect system for photographers
to help generate additional income by offering their wedding customers hard-cover
8 ½" x 11" personalized wedding photobooks/albums during
or after photographing an event. The wedding party can also quickly create their
own wedding photobooks/albums the day of the wedding to give out at the reception
using a digital camera, photo printer and Unibind XU138 at the wedding.

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ACD
Systems International Inc. (TSX: ASA) has announced the release of ACDSee Photo
Editor -- a photo editing application that offers quick fixes, such as
lighting and red-eye correction, and creating fun projects like scrapbook pages,
CD covers, invitations, and more.



Some of the major features in the programs that make photo editing easy for
users include:

How-tos: Guided walk-throughs of projects that teach you how to be creative
with photos step-by-step. Users can easily create CD covers, albums, and other
great creative projects from the very first time they open the application.

Vignette Tool: Creates portrait-style photos in one simple action - streamlining
and facilitating a process for new users that would normally require more advanced
techniques.



Adjustment/Filter Variations: Simplifies the creative process
by displaying up to eight different previews of your original photo, right on
screen, each preview showing a different variation of the effect, adjustment,
or filter you're applying.

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Samsung Camera has announced the NV3, one of three new camera models in their
new NV series of digital still cameras. The NV3 is a 7-megapixel digital still
camera that features Samsung's exclusive Digimax Converter software to play
movies and MP3 files. Samsung's new NV Series of digital still cameras all
have bodies in brushed black, stainless steel and a trademark Samsung blue ring
located around the lens.



At the heart of the NV3 is a 7-megapixel digital still camera measuring 3.7"
x 2.2" x 0.7" with a 2.5-inch, high resolution LCD display. The NV3
integrates a 3x optical zoom (equivalent to 38-114 mm in 35 mm format) capability
with Samsung's exclusive SHD lens technology. The NV3 is equipped with Samsung's
state-of-the-art Advanced Shake Reduction (ASR) technology to combat hand shake.
The ASR function provides enhanced image clarity by electronically compensating
for excess hand shake and improving color in environments lacking sufficient lighting
where the use of the flash is not desirable. The unique technology uses proprietary
algorithms to interpret sharpness and color information to deliver an image that
looks like it has been taken with the flash. As the flash is disabled, side effects,
such as red eye, are prevented.



For entertainment on-the-go, users simply use the included Digimax Converter software
to easily convert their favorite MP3 files or watch their favorite video content
on the large, 2.5-inch color display. The user-friendly software can convert MPEG,
AVI, MOV, WMV and ASF files for viewing on the NV3. For music on-the-go, the software
can also convert MP3 and WAV audio files in several simple steps. The innovative
software also allows users to view subtitles, adjust the screen size and crop
and stretch the image to fit the screen as desired. Users can listen to their
entertainment using the included ear buds or on the dual stereo speakers discreetly
located on the camera, and even listen to their music while taking photos.



In addition to playing video, the NV3 can also make movies using MPEG-4, the high-compression,
high-quality video format. The NV3 can record in VGA (640x480) at 30fps, for smoother
video and a bigger view of the movie on LCD and TV screens. For steady videos,
the NV3 includes a movie stabilizer function that automatically detects and corrects
minor lateral and vertical camera movement. For additional control the continuous
video recording function allows the user to pause and resume video recording at
any time, while the built-in movie editing function allows users to edit video
in-camera. The NV3 features several special effects functions for creative control
in-camera, such as Color Effect, Highlight, Photo Frame, Negative and Composite
Shot. Color effects include B/W, sepia, blue, green and red.



The NV3 features 11 scene modes including Night, Portrait, Children, Landscape,
Close-up, Sunset, Backlight, Fireworks, Beach & Snow and Text Recognition.
Text Recognition, a feature unique to Samsung digital still cameras, allows users
to shoot documents such as books, papers and magazines and then extract text from
the image taken using the bundled "Digimax Reader" text recognition
software.



The NV3 features 16 MB of internal memory and comes bundled with ear buds and
a powerful lithium ion battery.



The Samsung NV3 has an MSRP of $349.99 and will be available in Fall of 2006.

Professional and avid photographers looking to travel to Cologne, Germany will
notice some changes when they prepare for their trip to photokina 2006, Sept.
26 -- Oct. 1, 2006 in Cologne, Germany. Photokina veterans should quickly
forget about the previous hall number system. As a result of an altered fairground
all hall numbers have changed. Halls are no longer defined by consumer or professional
interest. The newly renovated and renumbered fairground has now the shape of
a shopping mall. Connected by one Main Corridor "Messeboulevard"
navigation is now easier than in the past. Forgot to see someone in Hall 6?
Don't worry, cut through the main corridor and you will be there in no
time. Traffic into the halls will be fed from four entrance points at the South,
East, North and West of the fairground.

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Panasonic Corporation of North America (NYSE: MC) has announced the availability
of its first digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera with an interchangeable
lens, the DMC-L1. The camera will be available beginning early September for
a suggested retail price of $1,999. The camera comes equipped with a LEICA D
VARIO-ELMARIT lens featuring the industry's first optical image stabilization
system -- MEGA O.I.S -- designed specifically for the Leica lens.

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