Yearly Archives: 2011

The ViewPad 10Pro is the world’s first dual-OS tablet that has both Windows 7 Professional and Android at your service. It is also one of the first tablets to use the latest Intel Oak Trail processor. The new Intel processor is powerful, yet offers amazing power savings which delivers the perfect combination of Windows technology in a mobile touch screen device.

Alan Chang, ViewSonic Managing Director of Europe and Asia-Pacific, said: “ViewSonic is the industry leader in launching a comprehensive range of tablet models. With cloud computing, social networking and streaming multimedia driving demand more than ever, ViewSonic is well positioned as a ‘display solution provider’ that integrates all its products and services into the best possible user experience. We have continued to invest in our strategic partnerships with Microsoft and Google. At Computex, you will see that ViewSonic is not content with standing still and are continuing to innovate with ‘display solutions’, ranging from small as three inch ultra mobile devices to large 300 inch professional display solutions, all brought to the user with the ViewSonic attention to quality and service.”

In addition to tablet PCs, ViewSonic is also announcing advanced AV solutions that include the V3D245wm-LED, a 24-inch 3D Full HD LED monitor; the W200, an ultra-thin and lightweight WXGA pico projector; the WFM851, a slim and sleek digital photo frame; as well as a range of HD digital camcorders.

Omnio WOWKeys keyboard bring QWERTY functionality to your iPhone or iPod Touch. Placing your iDevice into the docking port, will automatically begin charging and syncing with iTunes.

You can use your mobile’s touchscreen as a trackpad for your Mac or PC with an extra app.

More info: http://www.compuexpert.com/wowkeys/index.html

Canon U.S.A., Inc., has announced updated availability dates for five of its EF lenses.

*Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lens is scheduled to be available in late July 2011
*Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens is scheduled to be available in late August 2011
*Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens is scheduled to be available in late August 2011
*Canon EF 500mm F4L IS II USM lens is scheduled to be available in December 2011
*Canon EF 600mm F4L IS II USM lens is also scheduled to be available in December 2011

Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lens

With its unique focal length range, the EF 8-15mm f/4L USM is the world’s widest fisheye zoom lens. It delivers 180-degree diagonal angle of view images for all EOS SLR cameras with imaging formats ranging from full-frame to APS-C, and provides 180-degree circular fisheye images for full-frame EOS models. Professional photographers and cinematographers will revel in the unique perspectives afforded to them through this lens, particularly when coupled with the highly popular full-frame EOS 5D Mark II DSLR camera.

The Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lens is expected to be available in late July for an estimated retail price of $1,399.

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens

The Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM is the sixth generation of a venerable family of Canon 300mm f/2.8 lenses that began in 1974, and have become famous for their exceptional sharpness, contrast and color fidelity. Ideal for a wide range of applications ranging from professional photojournalism and sports photography to nature and wildlife, Canon’s 300mm f/2.8 lenses have always led the industry with new technical advances in every generation. The EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens carries on this tradition with improved image quality, lighter weight, improved Image Stabilization and enhanced durability, making it a great option for handheld work in the field. The optical formula of the new lens has been upgraded with the inclusion of two fluorite lens elements for improved image quality and reduced chromatic aberration. Canon has reduced the overall weight of the lens by 8 percent to 82.9 oz., making it the lightest weight lens in the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 series.

The Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM lens is expected to be available in late August for an estimated retail price of $6,599.

Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens

Quintessential for many sports assignments including baseball, football, soccer and golf, Canon’s professional 400mm f/2.8 lenses provide the light-gathering capability and long telephoto reach that photographers need to freeze the action and fill the frame. The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM is the fifth generation in Canon’s 400mm f/2.8 series and the successor to the current EF 400mm introduced in 1999. The new lens has been engineered for the ultimate in optical performance through the use of two fluorite lens elements for improved quality and reduced chromatic aberration. Canon has reduced the overall weight of the lens by a substantial 28 percent from 189.4 oz to 135.8 oz, making it Canon’s lightest weight 400mm f/2.8 lens ever.

The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM lens is expected to be available in late August for an estimated retail price of $10,499.

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens for Sports and Nature Photography

The Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM offers professional photographers a lighter weight option for those situations that require a long focal length with improved image quality and enhanced durability over its predecessor. Great for a wide range of applications, the EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens is ideal for professional photojournalism, sports photography and nature and wildlife photography. The optical formula of the new lens has been enhanced to include two fluorite lens elements for improved image quality and reduced chromatic aberration. Canon has reduced the overall weight of the lens by 18 percent from 136.5 oz to 112.5 oz.

The Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens is expected to be available in December for an estimated retail price of $9,499.

Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM Lens for Wildlife and Photojournalism

The Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM is the successor to the current EF 600mm IS lens first introduced in 1999. This new lens has been engineered for outstanding optical performance and durability and includes two new fluorite lens elements for improved quality and reduced chromatic aberration. Helping photographers in the field, Canon has reduced the overall weight of the lens by a substantial 27 percent from 189.1 oz to 138.3 oz.

The Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens is expected to be available in December for an estimated retail price of $11,999.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked fourth overall in the U.S. in 2010†, with global revenues of more than US $45 billion and is listed as number five in the computer industry on Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies 2011 list. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. At Canon, we care because caring is essential to living together in harmony. Founded upon a corporate philosophy of Kyosei – “all people, regardless of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future” – Canon U.S.A. supports a number of social, youth, educational and other programs, including environmental and recycling initiatives. Additional information about these programs can be found at www.usa.canon.com/kyose

KINGMAX has implemented the 9 Stacked Die technology for this Class 6 micro SD card. It complies with the latest SD3.0 and Class 6 specifications but is also compatible with SD Card Association’s SD2.0 specification. Although it comes in a compact size, it definitely satisfies consumer’ needs for massive multimedia data storage. Simply plug the micro SD card into mobile devices and one can instantly enjoy the convenience of memory expansion. Whether it is high-resolution or video clips, photos, mp3 files, mobile games or multimedia downloads; the 64GB micro SD card makes entertainment on-the-go possible. Moreover, with the help of an adapter, KINGMAX’s micro SD card can also be used as a SD card or USB flash drives. With its wide ranging applications from digital cameras, multimedia players, PCs, PDAs, card readers to printers, this multi-purpose tiny memory card is definitely a great value buy!

KINGMAX’s micro SD card has a built in Error Correction Code (ECC) which acts through controller to auto detects and reconstructs lost data during transmission to ensure reliable data transfer. In addition, micro SD comes with Wear leveling algorithm function which allocates all the information into different areas in the memory card to increase each area’s average usage and helps to maximize product lifetime. From multimedia files, address book, business applications to personal data, KINGMAX’s mega-capacity 64GB micro SD card makes files storage fast and easy; enabling consumers to enjoy quality and convenient on-the-go experience.

All of KINGMAX’s micro SD cards have been approved by various safety and environmental standards including CE, FCC, and RoHS; they have also been certified compatible with major OS. KINGMAX is proud to say all of its products are subjected to the most stringent quality control; all products go through rigorous testing to ensure product quality. And finally, all microSD products come with lifetime warranty to provide 100% satisfaction guarantee to customers

Product Feature:
High compatibility & reliability
Ultra fast transfer rate
plug and play

Product specifications:
SD3.0
Capacity 64GB
Speed Class6
Dimension?15 mm x11 mm x1.0mm
Wear leveling algorithm to maximize product lifetime
Built-in Error Correction Code that auto corrects data
Energy efficient, extends mobile devices’ battery lifetime

www.kingmax.com

Leica Camera has announced a new digital compact camera, the Leica V-Lux 30.

Equipped with a 15.1 MP sensor (14.1 effective), high performance Leica lens with extended 16x zoom range, built-in GPS capabilities and a new 3D mode, the V-Lux 30 guarantees images of unmatched brilliance.

The V-Lux 30 ifeatures a video recording mode that offers performance comparable to that of digital camcorders. A particular highlight of the video mode is its efficient, 1080i-AVCHD-Full-HD, recording format with the entire 16x zoom range available during video recording and an integrated stereo microphone with an electronic wind noise filter guarantees a crystal-clear soundtrack.

The built-in GPS feature makes archiving and organizing photos quick and easy, during or after a trip. When travelling, the V-Lux 30 can also display the sightseeing highlights of the immediate neighborhood (1,000,000 so-called “Points of Interest”). Furthermore, for photographers posting images on social networks, image portals or map sites such as Google Maps or Google Earth, the data automatically reveals exactly when and where the photos were taken.*

As a compact camera for the whole family, the V-Lux 30 achieves ease of use along with timelessly elegant styling. A new 3″ LCD touch screen allows many camera features to be controlled for the first time by touching the screen with a fingertip. Images on the screen are displayed with outstanding brilliance with a display resolution of 460,000 pixels. The V-Lux 30 also features a new 3D mode to allow users to realize fascinating, creative images in addition to its numerous automatic features and manual setting options.

The Leica V-Lux 30 retails for $749.00 and will be available beginning June 2011.

* It is possible that GPS tagging may not function in the People’s Republic of China and neighboring regions. Satellite signal reception may be impossible, depending on the location. In such cases, the positioning data may be recorded inaccurately or not at all.

Hasselblad’s 200 megapixel H4D 200MS camera is based on a 50-megapixel sensor but composites six shots to create the effective resolution. The camera relies on a piezoelectric motor to create the image and takes about 30 seconds, making it more suitable for static subjects such as jewelry, watches, cars, and paintings for reproduction.

Three Cameras in One
The H4D-200MS includes all the functionality of the H4D-50 and H4D-50MS – True Focus, Ultra Focus, digital lens Correction plus a range of top of the line features that make the H4D such an outstanding camera system – and provides three distinct capture modes in one ultimate photographic package.

Normal single-shot capture for 50Mpix resolution images of live subjects.

Four Shot, 50Mpix Multi-Shot capture for high detail images of still subjects.

Six Shot, 200Mpix Multi-Shot capture for the ultimate in still subject capture.

The H4D-200MS capture unit can also be used on a view camera by way of an H System adapter. The digital capture device can work with electronic shutters like those from Rollei and Schneider, either stand-alone using the flash sync signal from the shutter or together with Phocus, allowing full control of the electronic shutter from the computer.

Hasselblad announced the H4D-200MS last September at the Photokina show

Read more: http://www.hasselblad.com/products/h-system/h4d-200ms.aspx

The Pix4D project can stitch together patchworks of photos, thereby generating three-dimensional (3D) models on the cheap, reports Smartertechnology..

“Cloud-based services are enabling fast, cheap, large-scale three-dimensional models of almost any landscape. The models are generated from easy-to-obtain aerial photos from drones—unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Pix4D cloud service accepts a stream of related photos from which it generates a 3D model in as little as 30 minutes. The service not only automatically generates the 3D maps, but also adds points of interest that can be cataloged by users. To demonstrate the service, Pix4D took 50,000 photos of its host city—Lausanne, Switzerland—and created the world’s highest-resolution 3D model of the city. The Pix4D user interface then allows users to navigate to any location in the city and view it from any orientation.”

Pix4D hands free image processing: pix4d.com

Read more: http://www.smartertechnology.com/c/a/Smarter-Strategies/Cloud-Makes-3D-Models-from-Ariel-Photos/

46-megapixel DSLR creates new market for medium-format photographers

Sigma Corporation of America, announce that its flagship DSLR, the Sigma SD1, will be available for purchase for the MSRP of $9,700 in early June.

This 46-megapixel DSLR is delivered in a splash-proof, easy-to-handle build that is similar to that of a classic 35mm camera. Professional and high-end enthusiast photographers will utilize the SD1’s exclusive Foveon 23.5×15.7mm APS-C X3 direct image sensor to capture exceptionally rich and detailed images that have a film-like quality. Users will also benefit from Sigma’s wide selection of interchangeable lenses that are compatible with the SD1.

“The SD1 will carve out a new category in the marketplace by providing high-end photographers with an alternative to very expensive medium-format cameras and digital backs, while offering unrivaled image quality,” said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of Sigma Corporation of America. “By embracing the SD1, serious photographers will also be able to take advantage of Sigma’s extensive lineup of affordable lenses, which are compatible with this new camera. The selections of lenses for medium-format cameras on the market are somewhat limited, so this will be a huge advantage for SD1 users. This is undoubtedly a very special camera, and we’re thrilled to share it with the photo community.”

In addition to the 23.5×15.7mm APS-C X3 direct image sensor, the Sigma SD1 features dual “Three-layer Responsive Ultimate Engine (TRUE) II” image processing engines, which improves processing speed, provides high resolution power and produces high-definition images with richly graduated tones. It also allows simultaneous RAW and JPEG recording, which is a first for Sigma cameras. Additionally, the photographer has the option to select full-size, half-size or quarter-size RAW files making it a more versatile camera for a wide range of photographers. The Foveon sensor uses three silicon-embedded layers of photo detectors, stacked vertically to take advantage of silicon’s ability to absorb red, green and blue light at different respective depths. This technology efficiently reproduces color more accurately and offers sharper resolution, pixel for pixel, than any conventional image sensor. Since color moiré is not generated, the use of a low-pass filter is not required.

The optical format of the Foveon sensor has been upgraded from that which was used in previous SD cameras, and has increased from 1.7x focal length to the 1.5x focal length multiplier. The SD1 also benefits from improved image processing and noise reduction algorithms, with an ISO sensitivity range from 100 to 6400. This is two full stops more sensitivity than the SD15, which has a maximum 1600 ISO. An intuitive user interface and an impressive lightweight, yet solid magnesium alloy body and O-ring sealing connections that make the camera durable and splash proof are also key feature upgrades of the flagship SD1.

The SD1 adopts the TYPE 1 Compact Flash Card, and is UDMA-compatible enabling fast processing of large amounts of data. The autofocus system features an 11-point shifted twin cross type sensor, which improves AF accuracy. The SD1 features a 3.0 inch TFT color monitor. This 460,000 pixel resolution LCD monitor benefits from a wide viewing angle, making it easy to check focusing and composition. The SD1 can be used with more than 40 Sigma SA mount lenses such as ultra-wide, ultra-telephoto, macro and fisheye.

Sigma’s image processing software, Photo Pro 5.0, comes bundled with the camera and its simple operation allows quick and easy capture of the desired imaged. Additional functions such as Loupe, Slideshow, Print, Convert to JPEG file and Batch White Balance settings are also incorporated into this software.

The Sigma SD1 will be available for the MSRP of $9,700 through select authorized Sigma dealers. For information about Sigma Corporation of America, visit www.sigmaphoto.com. For more information about the Sigma SD1 DSLR, visit http://www.sigmaphoto.com/shop/sd1-dslr-sigma or view the camera’s special page at www.sigma-sd.com/SD1.