DCViews Digital Camera and Photography News

Seitz Phototechnik AG has introduced the Roundshot D2x panoramic digital camera last month. The new D2x has a 2048 pixel vertical resolution and captures 2x full HD panoramas, ideal for nature photography and virtual tours. The system is available in 2 versions, the base D2x or the advanced D2xs (speed) with faster data transfer. The new camera accepts either fisheye or standard Nikkor lenses of any focal length. You don't have to hurry as the camera is in stock and available now for only € 9,700 (D2x) and €11,000 (D2xs)...

Samsung announces its 6-inch E-ink display (600x800) with 8-gray scale eReader for the US market. The most visibly distinguishing feature of the Samsung eReader is its electromagnetic resonance stylus pen, that allows you to make annotations in the margins and to record your own thoughts and interpretations while reading. With 2GB of internal memory, the Samsung eReader can easily store 1,500 books or 24,000 pages of memos. An external Micro SD card slot increases the device's storage capabilities by an additional 16GB...

BenQ Europe announces the 12 Megapixel DSC C1250. The new camera comes with a 3x optical zoom lens and a bright 2.7-inch LCD display. Furthermore, the C1250, the offers Scene Detection Technology to analyze the scene in detail: Subject brightness; Contrast; Distance and Overall hue. The camera then immediately chooses one of eight possible modes, to ensure perfect settings: Landscape, Night scene, Night Portrait, Sunset, Macro, Portrait, Backlight, and Backlight Portrait. The C1250 will be available in Europe in April...

HOYA launches the long-waited PENTAX 645D medium-format digital SLR camera. The 645D has been developed to provide super-high-resolution images produced by large image sensors to serious landscape/outdoor photographers. The new camera incorporates a large, high-performance image sensor (44x33mm) offering an image resolution of approx. 40 megapixels. The body is dust-proof, weather-resistant with 70 special seals, and outstanding cold-resistant to assure solid operation at a temperature as low as –10°C...

HOYA launches the smc PENTAX-D FA 645 55mm F2.8 AL[IF] SDM AW lens. When mounted on the Pextax 645D camera body, this standard lens offers a focal length of 43.5 mm (35 mm format), which produces an angle of view close to that of the human eye. As such, it can be used for many different kinds of subjects and applications, including landscapes and portraits. With seven special seals, the dustproof, weather-resistant construction effectively prevents the intrusion of dust and water to the lens interior...

Canon launches the REALiS SX7 Mk II Multimedia LCOS projector. This new model offers SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) native resolution and 4000 lumens of brightness, delivers excellent, lattice-free motion and still images. The Photo Image Mode allows you to easily make changes to improve look & feel of the content being projected. The Color Level and Temperature functions allow for fine-tuning by selecting from easy-to-use presets. The SX7 carries a hefty price tag of $6999, but a bit of Internet shopping will get you much better deals...

Tamron will develop a 70-300mm F/4-5.6 telephoto zoom lens. The new lens - to celebrate Tamron 60th anniversary - can be used with both full-frame sensor and AF 35mm cameras with a zoom range of 70-300mm; or with APS-C sensor cameras where the angle of view will change the zoom range equal to 109-465mm. Furthermore, it offers image stabilization-VC (Vibration Compensation) and an ultrasonic auto-focus drive -- USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive). The lens has been produced for the Nikon mount, Canon and Sony mounts will follow...

Digital Foci will introduce a new Pearl White version of its Photo Book, a portable digital photo album with an 8-inch 800 x 600 digital LCD color screen and a large 4 GB built-in memory at the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International Convention in Las Vegas this week. Featuring a slim design encased in a soft leather-like case photo display, Photo Book offers over 2.5 hours of battery life and an easy and portable way to enjoy and share digital photos. The Pearl White Photo Book will be available in June priced at $189...

Panasonic launches the new standard zoom lens for LUMIX G Micro System. The Ultra-compact and light weight Lumix G Vario 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH / MEGA O.I.S. lens offers a zoom range of 14-42mm (28-84mm equiv. ) suitable for a wide range of scenes from dynamic landscape to portrait. With its minimum focus distance of 30 cm even at full zoom, the new lens provides a maximum magnification of 0.32x. The new lens will be available from June 2010 with either the new DMC-G2, DMC-G10 or as a standalone lens...

Panasonic announces the 12.1 megapixel DMC-G2, the world's 1st interchangeable lens camera with touch-control shooting, which offers you a new kind of shooting. The G2 is equipped with the new Venus Engine HD II processor, double Live-View function, AVCHS Lite high definition movie recording, popular My Color Mode and Intelligent Auto mode. The G2 adopts touch-control shooting in an interchangeable lens system camera, once you lock on the subject by touch, the camera tracks the subject even if it moves with the AF tracking function...

Panasonic announces the new compact, lightweight Lumix DMC-G10 featuring dual Full-time Live View for the LCD and the LVF (Live View Finder). It gives you a live view of what you're shooting, with approx. 100% field of view. The wide-viewing angle 3.0" LCD features 460,000-dot resolution. The Intelligent LCD automatically controls the brightness and provides sharp, clear images in virtually all shooting situations. The DMC-G10 also features Contrast AF system that is not only accurate and easy-to-use, but also very fast...

Mamiya has last week introduced the new DM40 in its lineup of professional large-sensor DSLRs. Featuring a resolution of 40 Mp (7360x5562) with a peak capture rate of .8 seconds per frame and a sustained capture rate of 60 frames per minute, the DM40 is the industry's fastest large (44x33mm) sensor DSLR. The other members of the DM family, the model DM33 (6726x5040) and DM56 (9288x6000) feature a 48x36mm and 56x36mm sensor respectively. The DM40 DSLR kit including 80mm f.2.8 D lens will be available in the US for $21,990...

Agfa introduces the new Optima 103/104 slimline digital cameras measuring 16.9mm resp. 18mm in depth. The Optima 104 features a 4x optical zoom wide-angle lens with 29mm focal distance and a 3-inch touchscreen. The model 104 is available now in black, silver and rosé for €189. The Optima 103 features the same wide-angle lens, and offers a special picture mode for all Internet auctioneers: the Auction mode puts various perspectives of the same image onto one picture with 640 x 480 pixel resolution. Available in silver, red or titanium for €179...

Aiptek shows its PocketCinema Z20 at the CeBIT. The Z20 is a pocket size multimedia projector with built-in camcorder function which provides High Definition Video recording at a resolution of 720p. In addition, it gives you a quickly and easy access to capture still images at a resolution 8 megapixels. The new RGB LED technology offers a wide range of true colors in high contrast and can throw images up to 65" at a distance of 2 meters. For even more brightness Acer is showing its 200 lumen K11 and LG its 300 lumen HX300 at CeBIT...

Wacom introduces the Cintiq 21UX interactive pen display. The 21UX offers new pen performance that is capable of capturing the slightest nuance of pen pressure against the LCD surface, as well as offering 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity. Other enhancements include rear-mounted Touch Strips for fingertip access while working. Each Touch Strip has a thumb-controlled Toggle button that controls up to 4 user-assigned functions such as zoom, scroll, brush size and canvas rotation. The new 21UX is planned late March / early April for $1999...

Olympus releases the third firmware update for the PEN E-P1 digital SLR camera. This update offers the following improvement: • Resolved the issue introduced in firmware version 1.2 where LEVEL GAUGE display did not move when using MF (manual focus)...

THK announces the Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX, 11-16mm f/2.8 AF lens will be available in a Sony mount in approx. 60 days. The Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX is an ultra-wide angle lens with a fast f/2.8 aperture for better shots in low-light situations. Tokina stopped making lenses in the Sony (then Minolta) mount in 2005 and this will be the first Tokina lens that will be made in a Sony mount since that time. Sony has increased its market share since 2005 and Tokina makes one of its most popular lenses in the Sony mount first...

Canon announces a firmware update for the EOS 5D Mk II, which adds 24 and 25 fps recording. Furthermore, a new histogram display for shooting movies in manual exposure, shutter- and aperture-priority have been added, and exposure modes will also be available in movie mode. Improved audio will allow you to set record levels using a sound-level meter displayed on the LCD, and audio sampling has been increased from 44.1 to 48KHz. The update will be available from the middle of March...

Minox launches the DC 9011 WP, a new 9 megapixel watertight and shock-proof digital camera, and the follow-on to DC 6033 WP. This new 9011 WP is waterproof up to a depth of three meters and repels dust, water, sand and salt. The ergonomic camera with slim dimensions of just 96 x 65 x 25 mm is fitted with a 2.5 inch color monitor. The scope of delivery of the new Minox DC 9011 WP includes a camera pouch, strap, software, USB-cable and 2x AAA batteries. The camera is available now for 129 Euro...

Mamiya introduces the Sekor AF 55mm F2.8 LS D lens. The Sekor LS lens series is designed for use with the 645DF and it incorporates a lens shutter. A wide-angle lens with an angle of view of 65 degrees, which is the equivalent to a 34mm lens in the 35mm format, produces most natural image for a wide-angle lens. Mamiya also announces that the three separate digital back adapters to connect the M series digital back (M18, M22 or M31) to the RB67, RZ67Pro/ProII and 4x5 cameras have become available for sale...