News

Nikon has introduced two new additions to its COOLPIX Performance Series of
digital cameras: the COOLPIX P5100 and the COOLPIX P50. The P5100 and the P50
incorporate Nikon's new EXPEEDT advanced image processing system and high
sensitivity capabilities that will help create incredible pictures in nearly
any setting.

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Epson America, Inc. has unveiled its latest scanner for the advanced amateur
and creative consumer markets. The Epson Perfection V500 Photo color scanner
is said to provide professional results with 6400 dpi optical resolution. Also
featuring Epson's new ReadyScan LED technology, which delivers fast scans
and no warm-up time, the Epson V500 Photo is only $249.99.



With 6400 dpi optical resolution, users can create 17" x 22" or
bigger enlargements from film. Additionally, with 48-bit color depth and a 3.4
dynamic range, the Epson V500 Photo produces scans with brilliant, true-to-life
colors.



The energy-efficient ReadyScan LED technology completely eliminates warm-up
time both when turning on the scanner and when switching back-and-forth between
reflective and film scanning, as well as automatically turns off in standby
mode, using less power while offering greater productivity. Because the LED
is more efficient than cold cathode fluorescent lamps, users get fast scan speeds.
The ReadyScan LED also adjusts color of the light source based on the type of
original being scanned, using white light for positive film and blue light for
negative film, to produce precise and efficient scans. Additionally, the mercury-free
LEDs are friendly to the environment.



The Epson V500 Photo includes two powerful, yet easy-to-use complete photo restoration
solutions for advanced amateur photographers and creative consumers, including
Digital ICE and Epson Easy Photo Fix technology. Digital ICE is an innovative
technology that easily removes the appearance of dust and scratches from film,
eliminating the need for costly photo retouching services to get the best results.
Epson Easy Photo Fix restores faded color photos, slides and negatives back
to their original brilliance with one click.



Adding to the productivity of the EpsonV500 Photo scanner is a built-in transparency
unit (TPU) with a moving carriage and lamp optimized for scanning multiple 35mm
negatives, slides and medium-format film. The scanner can handle up to four
mounted slides or two film strips up to 12 total frames, or medium-format film
of 2-1/4", 120/220 and 6 x 12 cm. Additional features include an optional
Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) that enables users to quickly scan multiple
documents.



The Epson V500 Photo also comes with Epson Creativity Suite, which includes
Scan to E-Mail, Copy Utility and Scan to PDF; Adobe Photoshop Elements; and
ABBYY Fine Reader 6 Sprint Plus OCR (ABBYY Fine Reader®5 Sprint Plus OCR
for Mac). The scanner is compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows Me,
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Macintosh OS X 10.2.8 and later, and is also TWAIN
compliant.



The Epson V500 Photo can be purchased for an estimated street price of $249.99
from Epson authorized dealers, consumer electronic stores, mail order, distribution,
and on the Epson Store Web site (www.epsonstore.com).
The optional ADF will be available for an estimated street price of $199.99
on the Epson Store Web site. The Epson V500 Photo comes with a one-year limited
warranty. More information about the Epson V500 Photo and other Epson scanners
is available at www.epson.com
or 1-800-GO-EPSON (1-800-463-7766).

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Fujifilm U.S.A., Inc. is pleased to announce a new promotion that enables professional
event, school, and directory photographers to purchase an entire S5 Pro commercial
studio system kit, complete with bar code reader, at a price of $2399.95. Available
through authorized Fujifilm dealers, this promotion represents a savings of $360
on the original price.



The S5 Pro's new bar code reader functionality combines with unique features
such as password protected feature and control lockout, film simulation modes,
iTTL commander flash control, and white balance and color fine tune adjustments.
In addition to the renowned Super CCD SR Pro color accuracy and high quality JPEG
modes, the FinePix S5 Pro is quickly becoming the camera of choice for professional
event, school and directory photographers.



At the heart of the FinePix S5 Pro is Real Photo Technology Pro, which combines
the Super CCD SR Pro sensor and the new RP Processor Pro, and allows for the wide
dynamic range with smoother tonality from brightest light to darkest shadow. The
S5 Pro offers six preset dynamic range settings for expanded dynamic range between
100% and 400% and three new variations of the original film simulation modes pioneered
in the FinePix S3 Pro have been added (five modes in total).



Of particular appeal to event and school photographers is the ability to attach
a bar code reader wand directly to the FinePix S5 Pro via the 10-pin serial port
on the camera. Bar codes are stored directly in the image file's EXIF header
so that images can later be linked to a school, hotel, cruise ship or other name
database. The FinePix S5 Pro also offers an innovative password protected menu
and button lock down system that enables flawless deployment in a multiple photographer
environment, thus reducing errors caused by changing the camera's programmed
setup.



In addition, Fujifilm is also offering professional photographers a free copy
of Fujifilm HyperUtility HS-V3 and Pantone Huey Pro with purchase of the S5 Pro
Body Only Kit, a savings of $240 with mail-in rebate.



For more information on the FinePix S5 Pro, visit www.fujifilmusa.com.

JOBO Spectator Now Shipping JOBO AG has announced that the new JOBO Spectator
mobile storage device for digital images is now shipping and available for sale.
The Spectator joins JOBO's GIGA Vu PRO evolution and GIGA one family of
image storage devices by offering consumers an affordable option for backing
up, storing and viewing their digital images. Similar in style to the GIGA,
with the added benefit of a vivid color display, the new Spectator allows users
to immediately view and share images in high quality without the need for a
PC.

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Delkin Devices, Inc. announced its first shipments of the new CompactFlash UDMA
FireWire 400/800 reader to camera stores, distributors and international channels.
Combining FireWire and UDMA (Ultra Direct Memory Access) technologies, the reader
allows photographers to quickly transfer high resolution photos to a computer,
greatly improving workflow efficiency. The reader features transfer speeds greater
than 45 MB/sec with UDMA enabled CF memory cards.



The Delkin CF FireWire 400/800 reader is compatible with CompactFlash (Type I
and II), MicroDrive, and UDMA enabled CompactFlash media cards. It comes with
an attached FireWire 800 cable and a FireWire 800 to 400 adapter.



Delkin's CF FireWire 400/800 reader will sell at an MSRP of $89.99. For more information,
go to http://www.delkin.com/products/connect/readers/reader39.html.

There are few truly magical names in camera design but Carl Zeiss is certainly one of them. The brand conjures up an image of optical perfection and cameras built to a standard, not a price point. Back in the 1950s, when I was dancing on TV's Buddy Deane Show and dreaming of making photographs with a camera that was more precise, more German, than my Argus C3, Zeiss Ikon...