This Carnival is all about the other stuff. You know, all the "stuff" you just have to buy once you thought you were done spending money when you bought your camera!

First up: Duracell's new chargers to power high-drain devices like digital cameras. Cameratown has the story.

Speaking of batteries, Steve's Digicams brings info about a AA and AAA charger from Maha Energy.

MacNN has a review of an essential accessory: the memory card. In this case, it's Lexar's 2 GB SD model.

For backing up all that data, ePhotozine gives us a look at the XS-Drive Centre VP6250.

Imaging Resource brings us news of Nikon's "fashionable yet functional camera accessory."

And when you're without your camera, why not get the shot with a 10 megapixel camera phone? The new Samsung SCH-B600 is previewed at Gizmodo.

Finally, in an unrelated but interesting piece, PopPhoto.com has a comparison between digital SLR's and digital backs. You may be surprised at their conclusions!

The Carnival of Digital Cameras runs weekly. To find out more about the carnival (or just what the heck a carnival IS anyway) or to find out how to host the carnival on your site, see the main Carnival of Cameras page.

Click on the headline for more information.

Click on the headline for the press release.

Large Capacities, High Reliability and High Performance Ideal For Digital SLRs & Broadcast-Quality Camcorders

SanDisk(R) Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) today introduced the 12- and 16-gigabyte (GB)(1) SanDisk Extreme(R) III CompactFlash(R) cards to its award-winning Extreme III performance line, making these the highest capacity cards in the world. The new high-performance, large-capacity cards are ideal for professional photographers who shoot RAW or high-resolution JPG files and need the performance, reliability and capacity to capture these large files.

The new SanDisk Extreme III CompactFlash cards can also be used with the Grass Valley(TM) Infinity Series Digital Media Camcorder, the first camcorder introduced in the broadcast industry that uses non-proprietary, removable, solid-state flash memory cards as recording and playback media.

The new cards will have minimum write and read speeds of 20 megabytes per second (MB/sec.)(2) and will ship to photo retailers by the end of the year. The announcement was made at the Photokina trade show where SanDisk is demonstrating products in Hall 6, Stand D78/E79.

"The beauty of using large capacity cards like the 12- and 16GB SanDisk Extreme III cards is the freedom to shoot without worrying about filling up the card," said Jonathan Torgovnik, contract photographer for Newsweek magazine and international freelance photographer. "I shoot in RAW mode almost exclusively and the large files can fill up a card very quickly. Having a large capacity card lets me focus on what I love to do--take pictures."

Tanya Chuang, SanDisk's senior retail product marketing manager, said, "The SanDisk Extreme III line combines exceptional performance and reliability with large capacities to provide an ideal storage solution for professional photographers that meets their shooting and workflow requirements. We believe that SanDisk will continue to be the preferred choice by professional photographers based on our capacity and performance advantages as well as our commitment to the digital photography market as a whole."

SanDisk Extreme USB 2.0 Readers Improve Workflow

While the speed of the card is important for in-camera performance, card-to-computer transfer rates are becoming an increasingly important workflow consideration. The time it takes to transfer images to a computer can be a bigger bottleneck now that card capacities have expanded into the multi-gigabyte range. The SanDisk Extreme USB 2.0 reader is designed to transfer images as quickly as possible.

SanDisk Extreme III cards use SanDisk-developed ESP (Enhanced Super-Parallel Processing) technology that combines advanced NAND flash memory chips and controller designs, 32-bit RISC processing and leading edge algorithms for an architecture that streamlines every aspect of read and write data transfer operations. In addition, SanDisk works closely with major camera manufacturers to ensure speed and compatibility. The ESP architecture effectively removes the card as the bottleneck in data storage applications.

SanDisk Extreme III cards have the industry's widest guaranteed operating temperature range from a minus 13F (minus 25C) to a 185F (plus 85C). The cards also include RescuePRO(R) software that allows photographers to easily recover accidentally deleted images, lost digital images or data.

Pricing and Availability

SanDisk Extreme III cards are available in CompactFlash, Memory Stick PRO Duo(TM) and SD(TM) card formats. Suggested retail prices for the two new capacities are:

Capacities US$ Euros, Ex VAT
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SanDisk Extreme III 12GB $779.99 EUR 475 December
----------------------------------------------------------------------
16GB $1,049.99 EUR 633 December
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SanDisk Extreme USB 2.0 $24.99 EUR 22 November
Reader
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SanDisk Extreme III cards carry a 10-year limited warranty in Europe, the Middle East and Africa but will have a lifetime limited warranty in the rest of the world. Photographers who purchase the cards also will have access to a dedicated toll-free number for technical support questions. The RescuePRO image recovery software on the cards is compatible with both Windows and Mac and requires no driver download or special card reader.

Click on the headline of this article for the SanDisk press release.

New Cards Include Free MicroMate USB 2.0 Reader

SanDisk(R) Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) today introduced a 4-gigabyte (GB)(1)SanDisk Ultra(R) II SD High Capacity (SDHC(TM)) card to meet the growing demand for higher capacity storage. The new cards can store more than 2,000 high-resolution pictures or up to 8 hours of MPEG 4 video(2). The announcement was made at the Photokina trade show where SanDisk is demonstrating products in Hall 6, Stand D78/E79.

The SanDisk Ultra II SDHC card features write speeds of 9 megabytes (MB) per second and read speeds of 10MB/sec.(3) The cards are targeted at digital photography enthusiasts with 5 mega-pixel or higher resolution digital cameras or videographers with camcorders that require significantly faster flash storage cards.

The SanDisk MicroMate(TM) USB 2.0 reader, which normally retails for $19.99, will be bundled with the 4GB SanDisk Ultra II SDHC card at no extra charge. SDHC cards require an SDHC-compatible reader to transfer images from card to computer, and the MicroMate readers work with both SDHC and SD cards.

Anna Enerio, retail product marketing manager at SanDisk said, "The 4GB SanDisk Ultra II SDHC card and MicroMate reader bundle offers high capacity, proven performance and versatility at an exceptional value. We are confident that consumers will find this to be an ideal combination for storage-intensive applications such as digital cameras and video recording."

The 4GB SanDisk Ultra II SDHC card adheres to the SD 2.00 specification, a completely new design that is required for cards and cameras to support capacities from 4GB to 32GB. The specification was developed by the SD Association, an industry standards board, which also defined three speed classes for speed and performance capabilities. These cards adhere to the SD Speed Class Rating specification which defines a minimum sustained transfer speed for SDHC cards.

Though standard SD and SDHC cards look identical in size and shape, only SDHC-compatible cameras and devices will be able to accept the new SDHC cards. SanDisk differentiates its new cards with the new SDHC logo on the card and retail package.

Suggested Pricing and Availability

Capacities US$ Euros, Availability
Ex VAT
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SanDisk 4GB Ultra II 4GB + $219.99 EUR 123 October 2006
SDHC Bundle with MicroMate
MicroMate SDHC/SD USB 2.0
Reader
----------------------------------------------------------------------
For additional information, please visit SanDisk's website:

What is SDHC: http://www.sandisk.com/sdhc/SDHC.pdf
SDHC product information: http://www.sandisk.com/sdhc/

Click on the headline of this article for the Apple Computer press release.

Major Update Adds Open Library Option and Extends Workflow

Apple(R) today released Aperture(TM) 1.5, a major update to the all-in-one post production tool for photographers that delivers enhancements across each phase of the entire workflow. Aperture 1.5 delivers a powerful new open library, seamless iLife(R) '06 and iWork(TM) '06 integration, XMP metadata support, powerful new adjustment tools and an export API that makes it easy to extend the Aperture workflow to third party applications and services.

"Aperture has given photographers around the globe the confidence to work in exciting new ways," said Rob Schoeben, Apple's vice president of Applications Product Marketing. "Now with Aperture 1.5, we've opened the library and extended the workflow to provide a solution that is as flexible as it is powerful."

Managing RAW, JPEG and TIFF images in Aperture 1.5 is incredibly flexible, with a new open library system that allows photographers to store image files wherever they want -- either within the Aperture library itself, or in other disk locations, including external hard drives, CDs or DVDs. Aperture can now generate high-resolution previews of each image so that users can review, rate and organize images as well as perform slideshows -- even when the master images are offline. The previews, which can be generated at a range of size and quality levels, make it possible for photographers to keep their original images safely stored on a desktop system at home or in the studio, while still being able to take a compact version of their entire photographic library on the road using a MacBook(TM) or MacBook Pro.

"In less than a year, Aperture has become as essential to me as my camera, lens and tripod," said Steve Winter, contributing photographer for National Geographic. "At the end of a day's shoot, it's so easy to find photos in my Aperture library and use these amazing tools like the Light Table to quickly piece something together and figure out what I need to make the story complete."

"Aperture has been a rock for me, and I'm now using it to build an archive of all my professional work -- 25 years' worth," said Bill Frakes, staff photographer for Sports Illustrated. "With everything tagged and organized, including my current projects, I can retrieve any photo I want in a matter of seconds."

Aperture 1.5 is now supported across Apple's full line of Macintosh(R) computers, from Mac(R) mini to Mac Pro, and offers powerful new integration with the iLife '06 suite of digital lifestyle applications and iWork '06 productivity software. The tight integration means that photographers can build complete websites with iWeb(TM), create self-contained slide presentations with Keynote(TM), or produce stunning DVD slideshows with iDVD(R), all using JPEG versions of photos directly from their Aperture library, which is never more than a click away. Integration also includes syncing to iPod(R) using iTunes(R) 7 and the ability to access and copy Aperture photos from within iPhoto(R).

Aperture 1.5 dramatically streamlines the process of adding metadata to photo shoots with new pre-filled IPTC Metadata Presets. Captions, credits and other critical metadata that photographers rely on can be added on import automatically or via a batch process at any point in the workflow. Another major enhancement to metadata support within Aperture is the ability to export RAW images with IPTC data stored in XMP sidecar files for easy use with other applications like Adobe Photoshop and even the ability to generate XMP files automatically through AppleScript(R).

Powerful new adjustment options in Aperture 1.5 include a sophisticated luminance-based Edge Sharpen filter for extremely high-quality sharpening results and a new Color tool that lets photographers tune the hue, saturation and luminance of specific color ranges within each image. Aperture's popular Loupe magnifier has been dramatically enhanced with a set of onscreen controls, smooth zooming with up to 1600 percent magnification and a new option that enables it to be detached from the cursor while making adjustments. Individual image adjustment settings can now be saved as presets that can be automatically applied through a menu command, so that photographers can quickly and easily make standard adjustments.

An innovative new export API plug-in architecture in Aperture 1.5 allows third party developers to tap into the expanding Aperture user community with plug-ins that seamlessly connect Aperture's workflow to complementary applications and services. Plug-ins from industry leading companies, including Getty Images, iStockphoto, Pictage, Flickr, PhotoShelter, DigitalFusion, Soundslides and Connected Flow, will be demonstrated at photokina 2006. These plug-ins will demonstrate a range of printing, publishing and storage workflows that take advantage of this new architecture.

Pricing & Availability

Aperture 1.5 is available this week in English, French, German and Japanese as a free Software Update to current Aperture 1.0 customers. Aperture 1.5 is available to order for new customers for a suggested retail price of $299 (US) through the Apple Store(R) (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and through Apple Authorized Resellers. Full system requirements and more information on Aperture can be found at www.apple.com/aperture

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award- winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.

Click on the headline of this article for the press release from Fujifilm.

Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., is proud to unveil the FinePix F31fd, the first pocketable digital camera from Fujifilm to feature the company's new Face Detection Technology.

Fujifilm's Face Detection Technology debuted on the SLR-styled FinePix S6000fd. It has a tremendous impact on the quality of "people pictures" by ensuring that cameras like the FinePix F31fd will automatically focus on and expose for faces, rather than details that lead to less-than-desirable photographs. Identifying up to 10 faces in a frame, Face Detection Technology ensures photos of friends and family are crisp, clear and properly exposed for a natural feel. It has an advantage over the few other face detection systems currently on the market as the technology is built-in to the camera's processor, enabling the FinePix F31fd to identify faces and optimize settings within a scant 0.05 seconds.

With the FinePix F31fd, which is similar in style to the FinePix F30, Fujifilm adds Face Detection to the many significant breakthrough features in the award winning and critically-acclaimed FinePix F30 - unprecedented light sensitivities up to ISO 3200 at full resolution, Fujifilm's Picture Stabilization, the 'i-Flash' system, and best-in-class 580-shot battery life. Add a 3x optical zoom lens from Fujinon, a 6-MegaPixel Super CCD HR sensor, and a 2.5 inch LCD screen with glare-reducing coatings and the FinePix F31fd is an ideal companion for consumers looking for a first-class upgrade to their current digital cameras.

Face Detection Technology

Fujifilm's Face Detection Technology was originally developed for the company's photofinishing division where it has been improving the quality of photos produced at retail photo centers nationwide by Fujifilm's Frontier Digital Lab Systems. Fujifilm's Research & Development team adapted the technology for use within digital cameras, where it is now a genuinely useful tool for making subjects look their best.

A selectable option, Fujifilm's Face Detection Technology identifies faces by triangulating a subject's eyes and mouth using an algorithm to optimize focus and exposure. It simultaneously displays a green rectangle around the primary subject, while white squares identify up to nine other subjects. Movement tracking keeps the camera 'locked on' to its subjects until they move out of the picture. The technology works regardless of the subject's position in the frame, and is not confused by eyeglasses.

In Playback mode, Face Detection automatically zooms to subjects' faces and trims the shot for optimum portraits.

Low Light Photography and Picture Stabilization

Fujifilm has identified low light photography as one of the true benchmarks of a digital camera's performance, as many images are taken when light is limited. Limited light requires the use of a flash, however, a flash can leave subjects looking 'washed out' and background detail almost non-existent. Higher light sensitivities make flash-free photography possible with available light, balancing foreground and background exposure and contributing to a natural look and feel.

Higher light sensitivities also enable the camera to shoot with faster shutter speeds, which lessen the likelihood of blurry pictures caused by a moving subject or the shake of an unsteady hand. To make it easy for consumers to achieve blur-free results, the FinePix F31fd features a helpful "Picture Stabilization" mode dial setting. This easy-to-identify, automatic setting lets the FinePix F31fd choose the correct light sensitivity and best-matching shutter speed, producing the highest quality digital pictures without blur and the noise often associated with high sensitivity photographs.

i-Flash

For those occasions when flash is required, Fujifilm's intelligent 'i-Flash' system sets flash power output to achieve natural foreground illumination with balanced background exposure. Fujifilm's i-Flash system is more advanced than similar flash systems because it can detect more accurately the subtle lighting differences within a scene, and then light the subject accordingly with a wider range of flash intensities. Together, the Face Detection and i-Flash technologies produce photographs with prominent subjects exhibiting pleasing, natural tones.

"Fujifilm set the benchmark for digital camera performance earlier this year with the introduction of the FinePix F30, a model that helped consumers take better pictures through innovative technology breakthroughs and best-in-class performance," remarked David Troy, Senior Product Manager, Consumer Digital Cameras, Electronic Imaging Division, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. "With the addition of Face Detection Technology to an already outstanding camera package, the FinePix F31fd will turn just about any picture-taker into a top-notch photographer."

The FinePix F31fd has a number of useful features that make it easy to snap outstanding photos:

-- "Natural Light & with Flash" Dual Shot Mode: In this mode the FinePix F31fd quickly shoots two images in succession -- one with and one without the flash -- saving both. This convenient function lets the user perform an on-the-spot picture comparison and decide whether the FinePix F31fd produced the most pleasing photo with flash, or without.

-- "Natural Light" shooting mode: This mode preserves scene mood and enhances background detail by shooting with faster shutter speeds at higher light sensitivities (if necessary) with a suppressed flash.

-- Fast Operation: The camera's fast response times, 0.01 second shutter lag and 1.5 second start-up time, ensure it will catch all the action and spell the end for missed photo opportunities.

-- LCD: The FinePix F31fd features a large 2.5 inch, 230,000 pixel LCD screen coated with Fujifilm's proprietary CV film. This minimizes glare and reflection so that images can be viewed from any angle and even in sunny conditions, when glare would usually be a problem. In addition, the screen's brightness adjusts automatically, depending on the amount of light available, to further enhance ease of viewing.

-- Better Movie Quality: Movie capture for the FinePix F31fd is enhanced by noise reduction, making it possible to capture clear, sharp moving images even at high ISO sensitivity speeds. It is also capable of VGA movie capture at 30 frames per second with sound.

-- Special scene modes: The FinePix F31fd has 15 scene positions including beach, snow and fireworks for optimum photography, no matter what the event.

-- Manual settings: Includes shutter and aperture priority, for more user control.

The FinePix F31fd will be available in December at a retail cost of $399.

Click on the headline to read about this and other new products announced by Kodak.

World's Foremost Imaging Innovator Announces New Digital and Traditional Products for Consumers, Professionals and Retailers

ROCHESTER, N.Y. & COLOGNE, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eastman Kodak Company today introduced an array of new products and services--from self-serve kiosks and digital capture solutions to professional photo services--that unleash the power of pictures for consumers, professionals and retailers.

Kodak's new lineup, unveiled at Photokina--the largest imaging exposition and trade show in Europe--is a continuation of the steady stream of innovative, award winning products and services introduced to help retailers succeed in today's changing marketplace.

"Kodak invented digital photography, and today's announcements further demonstrate our innovation and commitment to enhance all types of imaging--digital, traditional and mobile," said Antonio M. Perez, Chairman and CEO, Eastman Kodak Company. "These new products and services allow consumers to enjoy a richer imaging experience, and provide our partners with increased business opportunities."

Kodak's line-up of new products and services include:

New KODAK Picture Kiosk GS Digital Station--an addition to the digital picture kiosk family--that creates a new category of affordable, medium volume retail digital photo printing solutions. The self-service GS Digital Station sports a 17-inch touch screen monitor and the ability to print from a full range of input methods, including BLUETOOTH ® wireless technology. The GS Digital Station is fast--11 seconds per print--and yields 750 4x6 prints per roll. It will be available for installation in Europe beginning October 2006.
New KODAK Picture Kiosk G4 Software, V1.1, brings a host of features specifically designed to maximize return on hardware investment for retailers and elevates the consumer experience. The V1.1 software creates photographic specialty products such as greeting cards, calendars and collages instantly from the kiosk without any additional hardware expense. A new "shopping cart" feature allows retailers to drive incremental sales of enhanced prints and enlargements--all printed in seconds for the consumer.
New KODAK EASYSHARE Z710 Zoom Digital Camera combines advanced photographic features with point-and-shoot simplicity. With a 7.1 megapixel image sensor and 10X optical zoom, the Z710 model makes it simple to zoom and capture crisp shots that can make high-quality prints up to 30 x 40 inches (76 x 102 cm).
New KODAK EASYSHARE Photo Printer 350 connects to camera phones for high-quality prints. Using BLUETOOTH wireless technology, the Photo Printer 350 prints 4 x 6 photos directly from BLUETOOTH technology-enabled devices.
Enhanced KODAK PROFESSIONAL PORTRA color negative films underscore Kodak's ongoing support of the professional photography market. The recently released 160VC, 160NC, 400VC and 400NC films in the PORTRA film family produce finer grain, spectacular skin tones and improved scanning performance for greater enlargement capability. At Photokina, a panel of professional photographers, including Renate Forster, Frederic Lagrange, Jock McDonald and Chris Usher will discuss their experiences with PORTRA Film, and how it fits into their photography work.
New KODAK NEXPRESS Photo Bundle provides increased revenue opportunities for digital print providers. The Photo Bundle includes software and hardware components to enhance a KODAK NEXPRESS system for high quality digital photo applications. The professional advisory services included in Photo Bundle provide tailored assistance, training and workflow consultation to the growing number of digital print providers. The NEXPRESS 2500 digital production color press will be on display in Hall 5, Stand A002, to demonstrate a range of new photo-rich print applications.
New KODAK KAF-10500 Image Sensor--developed specifically for the LEICA M8 digital camera--continues Kodak's legacy of offering high performance imaging devices that result in low noise, high sensitivity and wide dynamic range.
New KODAK batteries for digital cameras maximize speed, performance and battery life, resulting in an increase in the number of pictures consumers can take between battery charges.
Kodak believes in the power and beauty of pictures, and to bring this to life, the Kodak exhibit at Photokina will include an explosion of cutting edge, dramatic images in electrifying fashion. On the booth's catwalk--and the entire Kodak show floor--models dressed in one-of-a-kind ensembles made of KODAK pictures and products, including CDs, memory cards, film, paper and stickers will fuse fashion with photography. The Kodak Photokina gallery will showcase a visually stunning array of more than 250 images from 20 of the world's top professional photographers. Visit Kodak in Hall 5.2, Stand A002/C031 to experience the largest display of imaging products at the Photokina trade show.

Click on the headline of this article for the Samsung press release.

Samsung also announced the launch of five more lenses, that each would be released before the end of 2006, giving GX-10 and GX-1 series users alike even more freedom to express their creativity through the Samsung DSLR range.

GX-10 - Intelligent design
The GX-10 boasts a 10.2 mega-pixel image sensor, which offers the photographer a sharper image, with richer colours for a truly compelling composition. Taking photos is made easier with the PentaPrism viewfinder with its high magnification (0.95x) to provide a clearer, wider field of view (95%) for optimum shooting. For unrivalled viewing of photos the GX-10 also comes complete with a wide view 2.5" TFT LCD (210k pixels). With its powerful built-in Optical Picture Stabilization (OPS) technology, the GX-10 prevents blurred pictures by shifting the CCD to counter any movement of the camera's body. OPS also uses the lens information to ensure results remain sharp every time.

The advanced design features of the GX-10 ensure it is robust enough for taking quality pictures in even wet, sandy or dusty conditions as the camera comes equipped with a special water-proof and anti-dust coating. The advanced dust removal function included in the GX-10 also removes potentially problematic dust from the CCD by vibrating it automatically when the camera is booted, resulting in perfect blemish-free pictures with minimum effort on the part of the photographer. A further dust barrier is provided by the special coating on the CCD's protective window.

With the one-touch RAW button, built into the GX-10, RAW file shooting is made simple and instantly available to users even during general JPEG shooting. The RAW files can be checked on the LCD and then be directly converted to JPEG format via the built-in converter for convenience.

With the GX-10, continuous shooting at 3 fps (frames per second) is possible; RAW files can be shot at the same speed up to 9 frames; giving the user the best chance to get a great picture.

The GX-10 has been designed to let the photographer customize and take control of their camera with the My Set Dial option allowing you to personalise your dial settings by choosing your most frequently used functions for ultimate ease of use.

A comprehensive lens offering
Samsung also announced that five kinds of lenses will be launched by the end of 2006. These lens have been designed to enable real freedom in the creative process and include: fish eye lens (fish eye 10-17mm F3.5-F4.5 ED), an ultra wide zoom lens (12-24mm F4 ED AL), a wide zoom lens (16-45mm F4 ED AL), a fixed focus lens (35mm F2 AL) and a macro lens (Macro 100mm F2.8). The lenses will also be compatible with the DSLRs launched by Samsung earlier in the year - the GX-1S and GX-1L which were aimed towards the serious amateur photographer.

Pricing and availability
The GX-10 and lenses are expected to be available from October, with the price being announced at that time.

Key features:
Professional digital SLR camera with 10.2 mega-pixel CCD sensor
OPS (optical picture stabilization) Shake reduction with image-sensor shift mechanism
Dust-free CCD with dust removal system
Impenetrably built, resistant to water, sand, or other potentially harmful materials
Field of view 95%, bright PentaPrism viewfinder (0.95x magnification)
Brightness adjustable and wide-angle view 2.5" TFT LCD (210K)
Raw file format support (including converting)
Continuous shooting of 3 pictures per second (up to memory full)
Support high sensitivity ISO 1600
TTL phase-matching 11 points wide AF
TTL open-aperture 16 segment metering system

You can get the software for Mac and Windows.

A new lifestyle camera of 10-Mega Pixel's from Wetzlar to reflect a new golden age in Digital Compact Cameras

In this case all that glitters is gold, plus diamonds that have created the elegant MINOX DC 1011 Gold. Unique jewellery stirs all kinds of emotions and the gold and diamonds used in this fully working digital camera make it an unusual and even unique piece of camera jewellery. There are 10 genuine diamonds surrounding the lens as a marker of its uniqueness which, coupled with the camera body coated with gold, presents an innovative, powerful digital camera with a magnificent 10 megapixel image resolution. With the new DC 1011 Carat taking digital photographs is an exclusive pleasure that promises brilliant and satisfying images at the same time.

Minox designers have long understood the need to develop unique lifestyle cameras for a demanding market that is always looking for something beyond the norm. After all, the gadget and jewellery market is full of unique and exciting 'lifestyle' product, so today, why not digital cameras. Because of the inside workings of a camera there are a limited number of materials that quality cameras can be manufactured from, gold being one precious metal that suits camera production very well.

Each camera is finished by hand and so could be considered a work of art in camera production. The Minox DC 1011 special edition has a gold plated outer skin of 24 carat gold with ten 2mm diamonds at 0.03 carat each adorning the lens. This very unique look certainly does make the DC 1011 Carat stand out in a crowd. Add the outstanding technical features of the camera and its real value becomes evident.

Very impressive resolution via the fast MINOCTAR lens and integrated picture stabilization which together make photography a satisfying pleasure. The 10 megapixels guarantee that large enlargements or even extreme sectional enlargements in poster-size are a reality.

From auto focus to aperture setting up to white balance, the automation of the camera takes care of all the important settings. If wanted, the user can also take control of all the features and let creativity take its course. Practical, ergonomically-formed features and a logical menu guide complete the well thought-out concept of the MINOX DC 1011 Carat.

The user can always keeps track of settings, subject and image by the generously sized and sharp 2.5 inch TFT color display, which has a special coating for minimizing reflections of direct solar radiation. If the display is not going to be used then an optional optical viewfinder with optical zoom is available. A digital zoom of up to 10.4 can act as a supplement to the triplicate zoom to enhance creativity.

Picture files, optional video clips with VGA-resolution or voice-notes are stored on SD-cards with a capacity of up to 2 GB. In addition the camera is equipped with a memory of 32 Megabyte. With a built-in USB 2.0 port all data quickly can be transferred to a computer. A removable lithium ion battery ensures the power supply. All that you would expect in a 'normal' aluminium body digital camera.

The MINOX DC 1011 Carat is supplied in an elegant wooden box, with an ever-ready case, wrist strap, lithium ion battery, power supply unit, USB- and AV-cable, a manual as well as software for picture preparation on a PC.

Specifications

Image sensor:
10.1 Mega Pixel. 1/1.7 inch CCD
Resolution:
3.648 x 2.736 pixels / 2.816 x 2.112 pixels / 2.048 x 1.536 pixels / 640 x 480 (still)
640 x 480 pixels / 25 fps (AVI) (Video-Clip)
Colour:
24-bit RGB
Lens:
Autofocus MINOCTAR lens
Aperture:
f/2.8 ~ f/4.8
Focusing range:
5 cm to infinity (Wide Angle)
0.5 m to infinity (Tele)
0.3 m to infinity (Standard)
Exposure:
Auto / Portrait / Landscape / Sports / Movies / SCN
AV /TV / Manual / Program
Exposure-correction:
-2.0 ~ +2.0 EV (1/3 EV steps)
Focal length:
f/7.5 mm ~ 22.5 mm (corresponds to 35-105mm with 35 mm format)
Shutter speed:
1/2 ~ 1/1500 sec
Zoom:
capture mode: 3x optical / up to 10.4x digital
playback mode: 2x, 4x and 8x digital
White balance:
Auto, Manual, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Incandescent
LCD:
2.5" LTPS-TFT colour-LCD (230K resolution)
Flash:
integrated
Flash program:
Auto, Forced, On/Off, Red-Eye-Reduction
Voice record:
Voice recordings can be added to every photo
Self-Timer:
10 sec, 2 sec, 10+2 sec
File format:
JPEG (EXIF 2.2), DCF, DPOF, AVI, TIFF
Memory:
internal memory 32MB, (26MB free for images)
external memory with SD card up to 2GB
Language support:
English, German, French, Italian, Spanish
Software:
Driver: for PC and Mac
AP: Photo Explorer 8.0, Photo Express 5.0, Cool 360 SE
System requirements:
Windows 98/98SE/2000/ME/XP; Mac OS 9.0 or later version
Connectors:
AC-DC-port, USB-2.0-high speed port, Audio/Video-output (NTSC or PAL)
Power:
rechargeable Li-Ion Battery, AC-DC-Adapter (5 V)
Dimensions:
91 x 57 x 27 mm
Weight:
approx. 157 g

Click on the headline of this article for the press release from SmartParts.

New frame permits automatic slideshow viewing of images and videos

Englewood, NJ (September 22, 2006) -- Smartparts, Inc. (www.smartpartsproducts.com), one of the pioneers of the quickly growing Digital Picture Frame product category, announces an affordable easy-to-use Digital Picture Frame with a 5.6-inch LCD display that clearly showcases standard (JPEG) images and movie (.avi) files.

Featuring three interchangeable 8" x 7" frames including a genuine walnut wood frame, automatic variable-speed slide show capability, infrared (IR) remote control for easy and interactive use, USB cable and AC adapter, this 8" x 7" digital picture frame is compatible with all memory cards including SecureDigital (SD), SmartMedia (SM), Memory Stick (MS), MultiMediaCard (MMC), CompactFlash (CF) and xD Picture Cards. It can easily be displayed on a desk or countertop.

"The new reduced pricing on this digital picture frame makes it even more affordable for consumers to now display hundreds of digital pictures in a single picture frame without the need for a computer," said John Roberts, product manager for Smartparts, Inc. "And with its selection of frame choices from modern black or metallic to a warm and rich wood frame, this versatile product easily integrates nicely into many different environments and decors making it ideal for home or business applications."

Using a Smartparts Digital Picture Frame is easy. Users just remove their media card from their digital camera, insert the card into the digital picture frame and the frame will display the pictures directly from the media card using its automatic slide show feature - no computer is necessary. Computer users who would like to use their PC or Mac can also easily transfer image files that have already been edited directly from their computer to a media card for use in the digital picture frame. In addition, image files can be transferred to or from a media card inserted in the digital picture frame via the (supplied) USB computer cable.

The Smartparts 5.6-inch viewable image Digital Picture Frame (SPDPF56N) is currently available for $129.95 at Circuit City, and other major consumer electronics retailers and photo dealers. In addition, the Smartparts genuine wood Digital Picture Frame with an 8.4-inch hi-definition LCD display is now available at the reduced price of $179.95.

Click on the headline for more information in the press release from Lensbabies.

Wide Angle/Telephoto kit and convertible Wide Angle/Macro accessory lens are optimized for use with Lensbaby selective focus SLR lenses

Lensbabies announces today three new accessory lenses -- the convertible Lensbaby 0.6X Wide Angle/Macro Lens™ and the Lensbaby Wide Angle/Telephoto Kit™, which includes the Lensbaby 0.6X Wide Angle Conversion Lens and the Lensbaby 1.6X Telephoto Conversion Lens. The new wide angle conversion lenses have a unique optical design that delivers superior performance when used with the Lensbaby selective focus SLR camera lenses, Lensbaby 2.0™ and The Original Lensbaby™.

Lensbaby 2.0 and The Original Lensbaby both feature a 50mm fixed focal length. The Lensbaby 0.6X Wide Angle Conversion Lens and the 1.6X Lensbaby Telephoto Conversion Lens allow photographers to change the effective focal length to either 30mm or 80mm respectively. Lensbaby selective focus SLR camera lenses take photos with one area in sharp focus, with that 'Sweet Spot' surrounded by graduated blur. Photographers can move the Sweet Spot of sharp focus anywhere in the photo by bending the flexible lens tubing.

The optics in the Lensbaby 0.6X Wide Angle Conversion Lens and the Lensbaby 0.6X Wide Angle/Macro Lens have a unique design that is tuned to the optics used in the Original Lensbaby and Lensbaby 2.0. These new Lensbaby wide angle conversion lenses widen the field of view while keeping the size of the Sweet Spot of focus constant relative to the size of the photo.

"When a photographer uses an industry standard wide angle conversion lens with a Lensbaby it shrinks the size of the Sweet Spot. The shrinking Sweet Spot makes it harder to shoot wide open at f/2.0 or f/2.8, because the Sweet Spot reduces to quite a small percentage of the photo. Our new Lensbaby wide angle conversion lenses solve the problem of the shrinking Sweet Spot," said Craig Strong, the inventor of the Lensbaby and Co-Founder of Lensbabies, LLC.

With the introduction of the accessory lenses, there are now five members in the growing Lensbaby product family, which now includes the Original Lensbaby ($96), Lensbaby 2.0 ($150), the Lensbaby Macro Kit™ ($29), the 0.6X Lensbaby Wide Angle/Macro Lens ($59), and the Lensbaby Wide Angle/Telephoto Kit ($89).

The Lensbaby 0.6X Wide Angle/Macro Conversion Lens
The Lensbaby 0.6X Wide Angle/Macro Lens™ includes a 0.6X attachment that converts the 50mm focal length of the Lensbaby lens to a wider angle 30mm, while keeping the Sweet Spot the same size as a Lensbaby photo taken without a wide angle conversion lens. This lens also has the bonus feature of allowing photographers to unscrew the rear lens element for use as a macro lens that focuses as close as 2" to 3" from their subjects. The rear element of the Lensbaby 0.6X Wide Angle/Macro Conversion Lens is comparable to using a Lensbaby with the +4 and the +10 lenses from the Lensbaby Macro Kit stacked together.

The 0.6X wide angle conversion lens weighs 2.1 ounces and measures 1.25" x 1.8" -- with macro attached. The macro element weighs .6 ounces and measures 1.5" x .75". Both are 37mm threaded for ease of use.

The Lensbaby Wide Angle/Telephoto Kit
The new Lensbaby Wide Angle/Telephoto Accessory Lens kit includes the Lensbaby 0.6X Wide Angle Conversion Lens and the Lensbaby 1.6X Telephoto Conversion Lens. The Lensbaby 0.6X Wide Angle Conversion Lens changes the effective focal length to 30mm while keeping the Sweet Spot the same size as a Lensbaby photo taken without a wide angle conversion lens. The Lensbaby 1.6X Conversion Lens converts the Lensbaby to 80mm and slightly increases the size of the sweet spot of focus. Both conversion lenses simply screw onto the 37mm threads on the front of the user's Lensbaby lens.

The Lensbaby 0.6X Wide Angle Conversion Lens weighs 2.1 ounces and measures 1.25" x 1.8". The Lensbaby 1.6X Telephoto Conversion Lens weighs 1.9 ounces and measures 1.2" x 1.8".

Click on the headline of this article for the press release from Bibble Labs.

"Supporting new cameras is critical" says Hyman. "Folks buy these brand-new cameras, shoot RAW, and then have a limited range of software to choose from. Great image manipulation tools don't matter if your camera is not supported." Bibble 4.9 adds support for all the newest popular cameras including the Sony A100, Nikon D80, Canon 400D XTi, Panasonic FZ-50, LX2, L1, Leica's DMR and Leaf's line of Aptus and Valeo digital backs. Version 4.9 also includes sensor defect correction to remove "hot" or "stuck" pixels, updated Web Gallery output, 5-Star image rating and includes French, German and Dutch translations. Users of the recently discontinued Raw Shooter Professional will be pleased to find an included importer for moving their ratings and other simple settings into Bibble.

Bibble Labs also officially announces the development of Bibble 5.0, planned to be the company's next major release. Bibble 5 is based upon 2 years of customer feedback from Bibble 4 and improves upon all aspects of the program, including workflow, speed, and image quality. Bibble 5 will support all current operating systems and platforms as well as 64-bit operating systems. Specific details regarding cost, availability and upgrade options will be announced at a later date, however anyone who purchases Bibble 4.9 will receive a free upgrade to Bibble 5 when it is released, even though Bibble 5 is expected to be offered at a higher price than Bibble 4.

Availability:
Bibble is available in both "Pro" and "Lite" versions for Windows, Macintosh (PPC/Intel as a Universal Binary) and Linux.

Expect this new digital camera to ship by November 2006 and sell for $899.95.

Click on the headline of this article for the Pentax press release.

PENTAX Imaging Company announced today the PENTAX K10D digital SLR camera with 10.2 effective megapixels and a host of advanced technologies including a PENTAX-developed Shake Reduction (SR) system and a weather-resistant body.

Designed to deliver high-quality digital images and responsive operation for advanced photo enthusiasts, the K10D features an array of PENTAX innovations in image capture and camera functionality.

The most significant features in the K10D include:

-- A PENTAX-developed Shake Reduction (SR) system that effectively offers a 2.5 to 4 stop advantage for sharp, blur-free images even under difficult shooting conditions, such as macro and telephoto photography or low light settings without a flash. The SR mechanism is designed to minimize camera shake by oscillating the CCD image sensor vertically and horizontally at high speed using magnetic force, while adjusting the speed of oscillation in proportion to the amount of camera shake detected by built-in sensors. As a result, the system does not require special anti-shake lenses and can be used with more than 24 million PENTAX lenses produced since 1964. (a)

-- A newly developed Pentax Real IMage Engine (PRIME) designed exclusively for PENTAX digital SLR cameras to produce well-balanced, true-to-life images. In order to meet the performance requirement in handling 10 megapixel data, PENTAX also incorporated a new high performance 22 bit A/D converter to quickly transfer images with accurate color tones and richer gradation from the CCD to the imaging engine.

-- A new Dust Removal (DR) system incorporating PENTAX-original Special Protect (SP) coating to help keep the CCD surface dust-free, and a shift mechanism to shake dust off the CCD.

-- A dependable dust-proof, weather-resistant body construction featuring 72 seals throughout the camera to allow photographers to continue shooting even in dusty or rainy environments.

(a) Lenses compatible with this mechanism are the PENTAX K-, KA-, KAF- and KAF2-mount lenses; screw-mount lenses (with an adapter); and 645- and 67-system lenses (with an adapter). Some functions may not be applicable with certain lenses.

"Advanced photographers will not find another 10 megapixel digital SLR that offers features such as a weather-resistant body, shake reduction, and great ergonomics, at any price," said Ned Bunnell, director of marketing, PENTAX Imaging Company. "With the K10D introduction, PENTAX is now able to offer digital SLRs for two important users - the first time SLR customer who can buy the K100D and now the K10D for the more advanced users."

Along with the body, PENTAX announced a D-BG2 battery grip for exclusive use with the PENTAX K10D. This battery grip can be used in combination with the camera's rechargeable lithium-ion batteries to double the camera's battery life. With a vertical shutter-release button, preview lever, two control dials, AE-lock button and green button, the new battery grip makes vertical-position shooting simple and effortless. The grip features the same dust-proof, weather-resistant construction as the K10D camera body.

PENTAX also announced the smc PENTAX-DA 70mm F2.4 Limited lens, designed for exclusive use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras and featuring an ultra-thin pancake design and uni-focal, medium-telephoto optics. With a medium-telephoto perspective, this new lens is ideal for many applications including portraiture and landscape. The high-performance optics ensure outstanding image quality, and provide distinctive visual expression. Materials used for this lens are selected for optimum holding comfort and operability, and the new lens is designed to be extremely thin and lightweight, for go-anywhere portability for casual, day-to-day snapshot photography.

The K10D body will ship by November 2006 for US $899.95, and as a kit with the DA 18-55mm lens for US $999.95. The D-BG2 Battery Grip will ship at the same time for less than US $190.00. The PENTAX DA 70mm lens will ship in October 2006 for less than US $600.00.

For related images, go to: http://www.pentaxtech.com/Press/pressfiles.html

PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of digital SLR and compact cameras, lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, eyepieces, mobile printers and scanners. For more than 80 years, PENTAX technology has developed durable, reliable products that meet the needs of consumers and businesses. With headquarters in Golden, Colorado, PENTAX Imaging Company is a division of PENTAX of America, Inc.