Photo&Cameras

SDXC memory specification supported by Panasonic : The SD Card Association, of which Panasonic is a founder, has announced the next generation SD Memory Card, the SDXC (SD eXtended Capacity), a new standard for storing data more than 32 GB and up to 2 terabytes (TB). This new SDXC flash memory standard will be the specification for SD Memory Cards with capacities more than 32 GB and their host devices. The new SDXC memory cards will provide capacities in the future ranging up to 2 TB at read/write speeds of 300 megabytes per second. Pricing and availability for Panasonic’s SDXC Memory Cards will be announced at a future date.

Panasonic 64GB SDXC memory card
Panasonic supports the announcement and development of the SDXC standard and plans to launch a 64GB massive capacity SDXC Memory Card, which will have more capacity than the currently available 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray Disc. This introduction will allow consumers to conveniently store more data, helping them to experience a true High Definition (HD) digital lifestyle.

SDXC card specification
The SDXC specification uses Microsoft’s exFAT file system to support its large capacity and interoperability in a broad range of PCs, consumer electronics and mobile phones. The exFAT system was designed for increased compatibility with flash media, from portability of data to interoperability with multiple platforms and devices on removable media.”The SD Association is committed to answering and anticipating consumer demand for easy-to-use memory card storage that is interoperable in any device with a matching SD slot,” Taylor said. “The SDXC card gives consumers a new, yet familiar, high-performance card that will be used in hundreds of manufacturers’ device offerings.”

Panasonic SDXC memory cards
Panasonic supports the usage and application of SDXC Memory Cards in order to bring to life a world where high-quality HD content can be easily handled and a large volume of professional-quality HD video and high-resolution pictures can be captured smoothly. The SDXC Memory Cards will allow for seamless transfer of large quantities of HD content from one device to another.

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Panasonic Lumix digital cameras at Vancouver Olympics 2010 : Panasonic is pleased to announce the addition of Digital Camera to the Audio and Visual Equipment category for which it is recognized as an Official Worldwide Olympic Partner under an agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Under the terms of the TOP agreement, Panasonic has obtained global Olympic marketing rights in Digital Camera equipment, as well as the supply rights for Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, London 2012 Olympic Games, Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and 2016 Olympic Games.
Panasonic LUMIX digital cameras
Panasonic’s LUMIX digital still cameras combine high-quality imaging, innovative features that deliver value to the user, and easy-to-use designs. By offering a wide range of products, from compact cameras & digital SLRs, to the next generation interchangeable lens camera, the LUMIX G Micro System, Panasonic aims to meet the diverse needs of the growing digital camera market.

Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
Using its advanced in-house black box technologies, Panasonic continues to develop products with unique, innovative features – including optical image stabilisation , Mega O.I.S., high-speed, fast-response imaging engines with low power-consumption, typified by the Venus Engine, and the iA (Intelligent Auto) mode which allows users to take beautiful digital photos with unprecedented ease. Thanks to its alliance with Leica Camera AG, Panasonic’s LUMIX digital cameras also incorporate high quality Leica DC Lenses for creating beautiful photos.

Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
“We’re extremely pleased to announce that the long-term partnership between the Olympic Games and Panasonic has allowed us to bring LUMIX digital cameras to the world sporting arena,” said Toshihiro Sakamoto, President of AVC Networks Company of Panasonic. “LUMIX has always been an important segment of our High Definition audio and visual equipment line-up. We are very proud of the high-quality images made possible by LUMIX, and we are confident that LUMIX’s participation in the Olympic Games will help billions of sports fans capture and share the unforgettable moment of Olympic Games with their family and friends.”

Panasonic official partner of Olympic Winter Games 2010
John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic Games said, “Panasonic is a valued partner of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Panasonic’s continued innovation and contribution in High Definition technology will enable visitors to the Games to more deeply share and experience the unmatched excitement of the Games.”

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Kodak and Lexar Media introduce SDHC video memory card : Lexar Media, a leading global provider of memory products for digital media, in conjunction with Kodak, introduced the new Kodak SDHC Video Memory Card. This advanced compact memory card provides users of flash-based digital camcorders and point-and-shoot cameras, as well as all SDHC-compatible devices, including Kodak’s Zi6 HD Pocket Video Camera, with a high-performance, high-capacity solution for High Definition video capture. The new card combines the quality and guaranteed compatibility that Kodak users have come to trust with the innovative and reliable technology of Lexar Media.
Kodak SDHC video memory card
Available in 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB capacities with the ability to record up to 90 minutes, 3 hours, and 6 hours of HD video content, respectively, the Kodak SDHC Video Memory Card provides a high-capacity solution for capturing HD-quality video using SDHC-compatible digital cameras and other devices, which have been increasing in popularity for use with video-sharing sites. Thanks to these large-capacity storage options, consumers no longer have to lug around a pocketful of cards in order to avoid sacrificing either the amount of video footage they wish to capture or its image quality. The SDHC Video Memory Card from Kodak offers the freedom and flexibility to capture and store more high-quality video content on a single card.

Kodak video memory card for mixed-media devices
The Kodak SDHC Video Memory Card was specifically designed to address the increasing demands of today’s advanced mixed-media devices. Noted Manisha Sharma, Lexar Media director of product marketing, “Today’s value-conscious consumers are looking for ways to affordably increase the memory capacity of their existing digital devices. The real benefit of the Kodak SDHC Video Memory Card is that it allows users to shoot more HD video clips of friends and family, giving them the opportunity to capture and store more of life’s important moments. Additionally, the card makes it easy to share video content through the popular Kodak Gallery or other video-sharing websites.”

Kodak adaptability with video versatility
The Kodak SDHC Video Memory Card lets consumers maximize the storage capabilities of a wide range of digital devices and is ideal for use with Flash-based digital compact camcorders, digital point-and-shoot cameras, other SDHC-compatible digital devices and Video Cameras such as the Zi6 HD Pocket Video Camera. Compatible with both digital camcorders and cameras, the cards provide users with a convenient, affordable way to increase onboard memory and capacity for HD video capture, storage and archiving.

Lexar media capacity and performance
Consumers will be especially pleased by the various high-capacity options available. The Kodak SDHC Video Memory Card has a Class 4 rating, offering high-speed video transfer from the card to a computer. These factors make this an excellent solution for storing large quantities of HD video on a single card. The Kodak SDHC Video Memory Card includes a 5-year limited warranty and will be available in March 2009.

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SanDisk Sana Slot Radio player : SanDisk, the inventor and world’s largest supplier of flash storage cards, unveiled the new SanDisk Sansa slotRadio player and companion line of slotRadio music cards designed especially for the casual music consumer. The SanDisk Sansa slotRadio music player is a small, stylish, portable music device that comes bundled with a slotRadio card preloaded with 1,000 songs handpicked from the Billboard charts, and professionally arranged into a variety of genre-themed playlists. The SanDisk player comes bundled with a slotRadio mix card containing 1,000 songs. It features a variety of playlists from Billboard’s charts, including rock, contemporary, country, and others organized into themes.
SlotRadio portable music Player
“slotRadio’s unprecedented simplicity will have even the most time-pressed music fans enjoying a huge range of music in no time,” said Daniel Schreiber, senior vice president and general manager, SanDisk. “1,000 handpicked songs in your pocket with zero downloads makes enjoying digital music easier than ever. Never before has music been this accessible.” The immediacy of the plug-and-play model offered by the card-plus-player format ushers in a new way for consumers to enjoy music. To date, portable music devices typically required software installations, followed by time-consuming music selection and file-by-file downloading, topped off with cable connections and synchronization.

SanDisk SlotRadio Player
“slotRadio dramatically lowers these barriers, offering a genuine alternative to existing options,” said Noam Kedem, vice president of product management, SanDisk. “This makes slotRadio a perfect player for the pressed-for-time mom, the harried traveler, the can’t-stop-now fitness fanatic, as well as anyone who just wants to kick back and discover new songs, or re-discover a timeless favorite.”

SanDisk Sansa SlotRadio Player
“slotRadio offers a uniquely uncomplicated portable digital music experience, combining the music discovery aspects of radio with consumer choice in genre selection,” said Susan Kevorkian, Program Director, Consumer Markets at IDC. “Solutions like slotRadio that offer competitively priced, straightforward new ways to acquire and interact with music will play a key role in driving demand among new and existing digital music device and service users as those markets continue to evolve.”

SanDisk SlotRadio Player price & availability
Priced at $99.99 (MSRP) – including the 1,000 song card – the die-cast aluminum player also features a 1.5” OLED screen for viewing artist and song information, an FM radio and even an integrated, handy belt clip for hands-free listening. Additional 1,000 song, genre-specific and themed slotRadio cards will be sold separately at $39.99 MSRP. The SanDisk Sansa slotRadio player is expected to be available for purchase online and at more than 4,400 RadioShack stores nationwide in early 2009.

SanDisk Sansa music players
The Sansa slotRadio cards are designed to be interchangeable with any slotRadio player and will also be compatible with the Sansa Fuze line of MP3 players. The SanDisk Sansa slotRadio Player expands SanDisk’s Sansa audio / video product family, which includes the recently introduced slotMusic player and cards for avid fans, the popular SanDisk Sansa Fuze and the small SanDisk Sansa Clip.

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Samsung Omnia smartphone review at LetsGoMobile : The Samsung Omnia smartphone was originally sold as a special Millionaire Pack. The Samsung Millionaire Pack adds just that little extra to the Omnia i900. The black matte package carrying the text: Omnia Millionaire Pack and an image of the mobile phone is tied together with a strap containing pictures that appeal to the millionaire feeling of the purchaser. It also refers to a special promotion with many prizes, among which: being a millionaire for one day.

• Read the full Samsung Omnia review at LetsGoMobile.

Samsung Omnia test
LetsGoMobile says: “The Omnia features a large touchscreen which is easy to operate. It does not require pressing hard, and the phone responds pleasantly fast. Operating the phone with your fingers is quite alright to do, however, sometimes you do need the stylus pen and that is a minus, while the stylus pen is not integrated in the Samsung Omnia i900. Although the pen is included, you have to attach it to the phone as we see on the LG Viewty.”

Samsung Omnia reviews : 5 Megapixel camera
LetsGoMobile says: “The Samsung Omnia smartphone features a 5.0 Megapixel digital camera with auto focus. The camera button on the right side serves to start the camera application. Starting up takes a while, however, it’s not too bad compared to other Windows Mobile phones. The entire screen functions as viewfinder in landscape mode, which makes it ever so easy to see how the picture will turn out.”

Review Samsung Omnia i900 at LetsGoMobile
The Samsung Omnia is a neat mobile phone offering much functionality. Samsung has equipped the Omnia i900 with a 5.0 megapixel digital camera, GPS-receiver, Windows Mobile software, HSDPA and a large touchscreen. At this time, the Omnia is the flagship of Samsung, however, whether the phone is actually able to compete with other mobile phones of the smartphone line in daily life, is yet to be seen and can be read in the full Samsung Omnia review at LetsgoMobile.

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New Toshiba flash memory cards announced : Additional enhancements to SDHC memory card lineup include ultrafast, Class 6 SDHC cards in 8GB and 16GB capacities. Toshiba, a leading innovator in flash memory card technologies and solutions introduced a new memory card line-up with the launch of a 16GB microSDHC card offering the largest capacity available in the market. At the same time, the company extended its range of industry-leading memory card solutions by adding ultra fast read/write 8GB and 16GB SDHC cards to its line-up. Mass production of the new Toshiba SDHC memory cards will start in December, with production of the new Toshiba micro SDHC slated to start in January 2009.
Toshiba SDHC memory cards
All of the new Toshiba SDHC memory cards comply with the SD memory standard Ver. 2.00, and the two new SDHC memory cards that support class 6 ultra fast read/write speed – a maximum write speed of 20MB per second, delivering high performance for continuous shooting of still images and recording video images. The new Toshiba mobile phone memory cards meet strong market demands for flash memory cards combining high capacities with high speed data read and write. The new Toshiba microSDHC memory card can be used with an adapter that allows it to be used in SDHC slots.

Toshiba 16GB MicroSDHC cards
Demand is growing fast for larger data storage in portable digital consumer products. Micro SDHC cards provide a solution for mobile phones, while SDHC memory cards support other digital consumer products. The high-level specifications and wide range of memory cards announced by Toshiba will allow third-party developers to bring exciting applications to future generations of consumer products. Toshiba will continue to meet market demand by further expanding its SD memory card series.

The SD memory card
The SD memory card was jointly developed in 1999 by Toshiba Corporation, SanDisk Corporation and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (now Panasonic Corp.) SD memory cards have been widely adopted worldwide. Toshiba has shipped more than 300 million memory cards and is currently the world’s second largest supplier of NAND Flash memory. The addition of these new SDHC cards to the Toshiba SD Card family addresses the growing demand for high capacity storage.

Toshiba memory cards
Toshiba offers the latest high-capacity, high-performance memory cards, including SD, SD High-Capacity (SDHC), microSD and microSDHC. The entire SD memory card line features cryptographic security, protection of copyrighted data, high-data transfer rate for fast copy/download and high storage capacity. TAEC currently offers SD Memory Cards with storage capacities of 1GB and 2GB in its standard (blue) Class 2 product family, a higher performance (black) family of Class 4 cards, and the new ultra fast (white) Class 6 Cards. The Toshiba SDHC Memory card line-up now includes microSDHC cards in capacities from 2GB to 16GB, and a selection of SDHC Cards in various speed classes with capacities of up to 32GB.

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Canon PowerShot SX10IS Test photos : One of Canon’s new digital compact cameras that was introduced before the Photokina 2008 started, is the new Canon SX10 IS. This latest model features an impressive 20x optical zoom lens, combined with Canon’s image stabilization system. 10 Megapixel suffice for daily photography and poster-sized prints. The Canon PowerShot SX10 IS megazoom camera remains a popular segment in the compact digital camera market. Naturally, it is a powerful combination; compact with a large optical range. User ease is a strong feature of the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS and the camera is pleasant for frequent use.
Canon PowerShot photo gallery
The Canon PowerShot camera offers all-round possibilities with numerous setting options for both the amateur and hobby photographer. The Canon SX10 IS camera features Canon’s latest powerful processor; DIGIC IV. This image processor started its career in the digital SLR however; it soon found its way into the Canon compact camera assortment. The Canon PowerShot SX10 IS digital camera faces strong competition. When it comes to settings and functionalities the other digital cameras are at the same level. Price / quality ratio and strong marketing strategy will have to make the difference.

Canon PowerShot SX10 IS sample photos
The lens of the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS mega zoom camera features an ultrasonic motor (USM) with Voice Coil Motor (VCM) technology resulting in a hardly audible working of it, and the right speed required for capturing action moments or still images. Canon’s optical Image Stabilizer, with the advantage of from-to increments prevents blur even at maximum zoom. The Canon PowerShot SX10 IS offers a resolution of 10 Megapixels which suffices for poster-sized prints or creative editing.

Canon photo gallery
The Canon PowerShot SX10 IS sample photos were taken with a full production camera which means that this camera is equal to the model that the consumer can expect to purchase. Our DIWA test lab has already fully tested the Canon SX10 IS compact camera under laboratory circumstances from a technical viewpoint. The next few weeks we will test the SX10 IS megazoom camera in practice and come up with a review soon. The Canon PowerShot SX10 IS test photos are taken in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The pictures in this article have been reduced to enable correct reproduction and compressed to ensure a faster loading time. To download the original Canon PowerShot photos, simply click on the link below images. Enjoy the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS photo gallery!

Download original : Canon PowerShot SX10 IS test photo (Warning: approx. 3.9MB file size!)

Download original : Canon PowerShot SX10 IS sample photo (Warning: approx. 2.4MB file size!)

Download original : Canon PowerShot SX10 IS picture (Warning: approx. 2.9MB file size!)

Download original : Canon PowerShot SX10IS test photo (Warning: approx. 3.0MB file size!)

Download original : Canon PowerShot SX10IS sample photo (Warning: approx. 2.8MB file size!)

Download original : Canon PowerShot SX10IS picture (Warning: approx. 3.6MB file size!)

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Sony 16 GB CompactFlash memory card : Sony Recording Energy & Media (RME) has launched its highest capacity 300x CompactFlash memory card to date. The new Sony memory card offers a substantial 16GB of storage and the speed necessary to meet the requirements of the most demanding photographer. The Sony Compact Flash memory card supports UDMA (ultra direct memory access), allowing it to achieve data transfer rates of 45MB/second during write operation. This makes it the perfect partner for UDMA-enabled cameras such as Sony’s α DSLR range, letting you to record more frames per second in continuous shooting mode.
Sony CompactFlash card specifications
• Storage capacity 16GB, 8GB, 4GB
• Dimensions 42.8 x 36.4 x 3.3mm
• Weight 12 grams approximate
• Operating voltage 3.3V or 5V
• Operational conditions 0 to 60oC
• Transfer rate 45MB/second write
• Support Image Recovery service
• Warranty 5 years

Sony 16GB CompactFlash card
The advantages of the additional capacity are immediately apparent: up to 3,608 10 Megapixel pictures; 2,465 12 Megapixel pictures in Fine mode. Rigorous manufacturing quality control means peace of mind for photographers, and the card is backed by a 5 year warranty underlining the care with which it has been produced. On any occasion when you do need to recover unreadable or unintentionally deleted images, the Sony Image Recovery service is available to ensure that you get your pictures back. The addition of a 16GB card completes the current line-up of high-speed 300x UDMA CompactFlash cards available from Sony designed for high quality DSLR cameras.

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Nokia 6260 Slide : People use mobile devices to share their lives with friends and family and with this in mind, Nokia introduces the Nokia 6260 slide mobile phone. The phone call is the most obvious way to use the new handset to connect with people, but it will also be used to share photographs and videos, check on a friend’s social network status or be guided to a restaurant to meet up with a loved one. For this, the Nokia 6260 camera phone features quick access to search engines and points of interest straight from the home screen and the new 360В° navi-key allows a great mobile Internet experience.

Nokia 6260 Slide
Uploading images and videos to websites, blogs and social networks is quicker than ever with Nokia’s newest arrival, which features lightning-fast speeds over both cellular and Wi-Fi networks. The Nokia 6260 camera phone comes with the latest 3G technology, with high speed uploads (HSUPA) and downloads (HSDPA), a great camera, music player and web browser with a simple, instantly familiar interface. Combined with the range of Ovi services on offer, Nokia brings a compelling mobile Internet experience to a huge group of consumers.

Nokia 5 Megapixel camera phone
A 5 Megapixel Carl Zeiss digital camera with flash takes fantastic photos which can be easily shared and uploaded to Share on Ovi or other photo and video sharing websites. In addition to the photo, music and sharing features that come packed in the Nokia 6260 slide, Nokia Maps and the assisted GPS provide a great navigation experience. The Nokia 6260 camera phone brings GPS into the Series 40 software platform for the first time, really signifying navigation arriving in the mass market.

Nokia 6260 Slide price & availability
The Nokia 6260 slide camera phone is expected to begin shipping at the beginning of 2009 for an estimated retail price of 299 Euro, before taxes and subsidies. For Nokia 6260 price information and full technical specifications, please visit this page.

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DxOMark Digital camera benchmark database : At the Image Sensor 2008 conference in San Diego, DxO Labs unveils the DXOmark, a new website delivering key objective metrics of sensor performance for a variety of cameras measured directly on the RAW image. Available as a free online resource, dxomark.com makes it possible for the first time to assess the intrinsic quality of a camera before the impact of any RAW conversion. “There are many valuable resources reviewing the image quality of digital cameras, but none of them consider the actual RAW signal straight from the camera sensor,” explains Nicolas Touchard, Vice President of Marketing, DxO Labs Image Quality Evaluation business.

Camera benchmark database
“Demanding photographers who shoot in RAW should only care about the genuine quality of the RAW image, yet until now they have had to rely on measures based on converted RAW images, obviously biased by the processing applied to them, whether embedded or performed offline with a software RAW converter. Furthermore, as RAW converters evolve and improve, the latent potential of RAW images can only be gauged by analyzing the RAW images themselves, projecting the potential quality achievable with the ultimate RAW converter. This is why we believe that our approach will dramatically change the way photographers evaluate digital cameras.”

DxO Mark website features
DxOMark provides in-depth measurements of all the relevant characteristics of a sensor: actual ISO sensitivity (which generally differs from the value reported by the camera), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), dynamic range, tonal range, color depth and sensitivity, metamerism, etc. dxomark.com already covers 50 popular cameras, including Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLRs) and high-end bridge cameras offering RAW image format. The site will be updated on a regular basis with new cameras.

RAW image quality database
DXOmark RAW image quality database relies on DxO Analyzer, the world’s leading turn-key laboratory solution for image quality evaluation. Thanks to its accuracy, completeness, and reliability, DxO Analyzer has become the reference tool for numerous leading imaging industry players, photography magazines and websites.

DxOMark Sensor scale
DxOMark Sensor aggregates dxomark.com’s large and complex set of measures into a simple scale, allowing for easy comparison between camera performances. The DxOMark Sensor scale is designed to map to real world photographic scenarios such as portrait, landscape and action photography, ensuring that the scale is relevant to photographers. DxOMark Sensor is naturally an open scale, as it will need to cope with performance improvements driven by the evolution of sensor technologies.

DxO Labs scientists
To help understand the ramifications of such a new tool, and to assist those who want to take advantage of the RAW image quality database, DxOmark features a number of technical papers, collectively referred to as “Insights,” written by DxO Labs scientists. These technical articles aim in particular to give an original perspective on the technology challenges faced by the imaging industry. Early Insights include a paper on how pixel count impacts noise, providing an unexpected yet well-supported contribution to this controversial topic, along with an analysis of the evolution of camera sensor performance over the past few years. The Insights section will be updated on a regular basis with more technical papers.

Resource for photography journalists
Free camera resource for photo journalists and imaging experts. Accessible for free to visitors, dxomark.com has in fact been designed to serve the imaging community, and more precisely the photo press. Photography journalists and experts can now complement their analyses and reviews with an evaluation of the intrinsic performance of cameras, regardless of optics or processing considerations.

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