The de-haze feature makes its way to Photoshop Elements 14.

---

---

Polaroid introduces the Z2300 instant digital camera at the 2012 CEA Line Show taking place June 27-28 at the Metropolitan Pavilion and Altman Building in New York City.
The newest addition to the Polaroid instant digital camera line, the Z2300 features an integrated printer with ZINK® Technology, enabling users to instantly capture, edit and in less than a minute print full color, 2x3” prints.  Along with the ability to easily upload images to any social media platform, the Z2300 combines a compact form factor with a host of fun, easy-to-use features to create the ultimate social media machine.
The camera is available in white and black and houses a 10 megapixel image sensor. The large 3.0” LCD display makes it easy to frame and review images and capture video in virtually any setting.
Ever since the introduction of the Polaroid Land Camera in1948, people around the world have enjoyed the magic of Polaroid instant photography. Polaroid continues instant sharing in the 21st century with the Polaroid Z2300 camera which allows the user to take and instantly share pictures digitally and in print.
“Polaroid invented instant photography, and for the past 75 years the brand has been synonymous with instant gratification, ease-of-use and fun,” said Graeme Chapman, MD of Polaroid’s sole UK imaging licensee C&A Marketing. “The Z2300 represents the next step in the evolution of that proud tradition and it was designed to fully integrate the classic Polaroid instant photography experience into today’s digital, social world. Portability, creative expression and the ability to share your most memorable moments in digital or print form all come standard in the Polaroid Z2300 camera’s compact body.”
The Polaroid Z2300 instant digital camera has a suggested retail price of £129.99 and will be available in August from Dixons, ASDA, Harrods, Selfridges, Digital Depot and all good photographic stores. The camera can be pre-ordered from www.polaroid.co.uk until the end of July.

s

September 2010 | Barnaby Britton Preview based on a pre-production Nikon D7000 Stop the rumor mill - the D95 D7000 is here! The much-anticipated successor to the D90 new DSLR isn't quite what a lot of internet pundits expected, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a lot to get excited about if you're a D90 user impatient for an upgrade. In fact, that's exactly what the D7000 is - an upgrade option for D90 and D5000 users, which occupies a new position in Nikon's DSLR lineup, between the D90 and D300S. Although ergonomically, the D7000 is a very close match for the D90, its overall 'feel' is considerably more serious, thanks to a magnesium alloy body shell and thicker rubber coating on the hand grip and rear of the camera. In terms of its specification, the D7000 actually outguns the D300S in many respects, and at 16.2Mp it offers the second highest resolution of any Nikon DSLR, behind only the 24Mp D3X. All of these pixels are packed onto a newly developed CMOS sensor, which is almost certainly the same or very similar to that in the Sony Alpha SLT-A55. As well as extra resolution, the new sensor also offers a higher 'standard' ISO span of 100-6400, expandable up to the equivalent of ISO 25,600. The D7000's AF and metering systems are also new, and represent a significant upgrade to those used in the D90. The new camera boasts a 39-point AF array with 9 cross-type AF points and works in collaboration with a new 2016-pixel RGB metering sensor to allow 3D AF tracking (essentially tracking by subject color,explained here). Other changes include the same combined live view/movie switch control as the recently announced D3100, and a significantly upgraded movie specification, up to 'full HD' - 1920x1080 resolution at 24fps. Unlike the D90, the D7000 can also maintain AF during live view and movie shooting, thanks to its AF-F ('full time') AF mode. D90 owners have been waiting for a replacement camera for a while, and although the D90 isn't set for retirement quite yet, the D7000 certainly represents a compelling upgrade. We've been using a pre-production D7000 for a few days - just long enough to compile our impressions into a 7-page hands-on preview article. Read on for an in-depth look at Nikon's newest DSLR... Nikon D7000 Key Features 16.2MP CMOS sensor 1080p HD video recording with mic jack for external microphone ISO 100-6400 (plus H1 and H2 equivalent to ISO 12,800/25,600) 39-point AF system with 3D tracking 2016 pixel metering sensor Scene Recognition System (see 2016 pixel sensor, above) aids metering + focus accuracy Twin SD card slots 3.0 inch 921k dot LCD screen New Live View/movie shooting switch Full-time AF in Live View/movie modes Up to 6fps continuous shooting Lockable shooting mode dial Built-in intervalometer Electronic virtual horizon Shutter tested to 150K actuations Positioned alongside the D90 and D300S, the D7000 is clearly a lot closer to the former than the latter in terms of its size and control layout. The similarities between the D90 and D7000 don't run much deeper than the surface level though - where specifications are concerned, on paper, the D7000 at least matches and frequently surpasses the abilities of the D300S in several key areas. Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90: Key differences The D7000 sits above the D90 in Nikon's current lineup, and as befits its new position in the range, the D7000 combines elements of the D90 with elements of the D300S - Nikon's current APS-C flagship. The most obvious physical clue to its new position is a magnesium alloy body shell, which up to now has been reserved for Nikon's top-end APS-C and full frame cameras. 'Under the hood' though the differences are legion - a new 16.2MP CMOS sensor, dual card slots, a new 39-point AF array, 'true' HD movie mode with full-time AF and more customization options, some of which are inherited from Nikon's professional DSLRs. Like the D90, the D7000 supports AF with Nikon's older AF and AF-D lenses (lower-end models are limited to compatibility with AF-S and AF-I optics only) but additionally, because the D7000 has an Ai indexing tab on its lens mount, up to 9 'non-CPU' lenses can also be registered with the camera. This allows the use of virtually any Ai specification or later lens to be used in aperture priority or manual mode with the P7000, with almost no loss of functionality (apart from AF). Novice DSLR users might never look beyond the horizons offered by their kit lenses, but for the enthusiast, legacy support like this could well be a deal-breaker. The overall dimensions of the D7000 are very similar to the older D90, but the heavier, magnesium alloy body shell and thicker rubber on the hand grip lend it a noticeably more 'serious' feel. Higher resolution sensor (16.2MP vs. 12.3MP) Choice of 12-bit or 14-bit NEF (RAW) 1080p HD movie mode Limited movie editing functionality AF possible during video shooting (but we're not over-optimistic on this score) Live View switch (basically the same as D3100) Faster AF in live view mode. Twin SD card slots Non-CPU lens data function (allows registration of up to 9 non-G lenses with manual apertures) Magnesium alloy body shell Wider ISO span (100-25,600 including 'H1' and 'H2') Newly developed 39-point AF system 'Quiet' single frame advance mode 'Proper' mirror lock-up (as distinct from 'exposure delay mode') Lockable drive mode dial Higher maximum frame rate (6fps) with a Continuous Lo shooting option (1-5fps) 100% viewfinder Choice of 12-bit or 14-bit NEF (RAW) recording in compressed or lossless compressed formats Up to 9 'non-CPU' lenses can be registered (same as D300s/D3s/D3X) New EN-EL15 lithium-ion battery New MB-D11 battery pack (magnesium alloy construction) Ergonomically, the D7000 and D90 are quite similar, and as you can see from this view of the back of the two cameras, in terms of its control layout, the D7000 is very close to the D90. Some controls have changed slightly (the D90's 'Lv' button becomes a spring-loaded switch for example) but the number of control points is the same and everything is basically in the same place. Compared to the D90 and D300S: core feature and specification differences Nikon D7000 Nikon D90 Nikon D300S Construction Magnesium alloy body Polycarbonate Magnesium alloy body Sensor • 23.6 x 15.6 mm CMOS sensor • RGB color filter array • Built-in fixed low-pass filter (with self-cleaning unit) • 16.2 million effective pixels • RGB Color Filter Array • 14-bit A/D converter • 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor • RGB color filter array • Built-in fixed low-pass filter (with self-cleaning unit) • 12.3 million effective pixels • RGB Color Filter Array • 12-bit A/D converter • 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor • RGB color filter array • Built-in fixed low-pass filter (with self-cleaning unit) • 12.3 million effective pixels • RGB Color Filter Array • 14-bit A/D converter ISO range • Auto ISO (100-Hi2) • ISO 100-6400 in 0.3 or 1.0 EV increments • H1 and H2 (ISO 12800 and 25600) expansion • Adjustable Auto ISO limit • Auto ISO (400-H1) • ISO 200 -3200 in 0.3 or 1.0 EV increments  • L1 (ISO 100) and H1 (ISO 6400) expansion • Adjustable Auto ISO limit • Auto ISO (400-H1) • ISO 200 -3200 in 0.3 or 1.0 EV increments  • L1 (ISO 100) and H1 (ISO 6400) expansion • Adjustable Auto ISO limit Movie resolution* • 1920 x 1080p (24fps) • 1280 x 720p (30, 25, 24fps) • 640 x 424p (30, 25fps) • 1280 x 720p (24 fps) • 640 x 424p (24 fps) • 320 x 216p (24 fps) • 1280 x 720p (24 fps) • 640 x 424p (24 fps) • 320 x 216p (24 fps) AF sensor • 39 AF points • 9 cross-type sensors • 11 AF points • 1 cross-type sensor • 51 focus points • 15 cross-type sensors Metering sensor • TTL exposure metering using 2016-pixel RGB sensor • Metering range: EV 0 - 20 EV • TTL exposure metering using 403-pixel RGB sensor • Metering range: EV 0 - 20 EV • TTL exposure metering using 1005-pixel RGB sensor • Metering range: EV 0 - 20 EV Viewfinder • Eye-level pentaprism • 100% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.94x • Eyepoint: 19.5 mm • Type B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark II with AF area brackets • Built-in diopter adjustment (-3 to +1.0m-1) • Eye-level pentaprism • 96% (horizontal and vertical) frame coverage • Magnification: 0.94x • Eyepoint: 19.5 mm • B-type BrightView Clear Matte Screen II with AF area brackets • Built-in diopter adjustment (-2 to +1m-1) • Eye-level pentaprism • 100% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.94x • Eyepoint: 19.5 mm • B-type BrightView Clear Matte Screen II with AF area brackets • Built-in diopter adjustment (-2 to +1m-1) Continuous shooting rate • Approx 6 fps max • Approx 4.5 fps max • Up to approx 8fps with AC adapter or MB-D10 pack and batteries other than EN-EL3e Memory format • SD/SDHC/SDXC (dual slots) • SD/SDHC • Compact Flash (type I and UDMA) (dual SD/CF slots) Dimensions Approx 132 x 105 x 77mm (5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0in) Approx 132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 in.) Approx 147 x 114 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 in) Weight (inc battery) 780 g (1.7 lb.) 704 g (1.5 lb.) 918 g (2.2 lb.) *In movie mode, 30fps is actually 29.97fps, 24 is actually 23.976fps.

Canon has announced it has developed a 120 megapixel 29.2 x 20.2mm APS-H CMOS sensor - the same size used in its EOS-1D series of professional DSLRs. The sensor, for which Canon has announced no production plans, has a pixel count nearly 7.5 times larger than the company's highest pixel count commercially available sensor. It offers full HD recording (using 1/60th of its surface area) and can deliver 9.5fps continuous shooting. This follows a 50 million pixel sensor of similar format the company developed in 2007.
Press Release:

Canon successfully develops world's first APS-H-size CMOS image sensor to realize record-high resolution of 120 megapixels

TOKYO, August 24, 2010 —Canon Inc. announced today that it has successfully developed an APS-H-size*1 CMOS image sensor that delivers an image resolution of approximately 120 megapixels (13,280 x 9,184 pixels), the world's highest level*2 of resolution for its size.
Compared with Canon's highest-resolution commercial CMOS sensor of the same size, comprising approximately 16.1 million pixels, the newly developed sensor features a pixel count that, at approximately 120 million pixels, is nearly 7.5 times larger and offers a 2.4-fold improvement in resolution.*3
With CMOS sensors, while high-speed readout for high pixel counts is achieved through parallel processing, an increase in parallel-processing signal counts can result in such problems as signal delays and minor deviations in timing. By modifying the method employed to control the readout circuit timing, Canon successfully achieved the high-speed readout of sensor signals. As a result, the new CMOS sensor makes possible a maximum output speed of approximately 9.5 frames per second, supporting the continuous shooting of ultra-high-resolution images.
Canon's newly developed CMOS sensor also incorporates a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) video output capability. The sensor can output Full HD video from any approximately one-sixtieth-sized section of its total surface area.
Images captured with Canon's newly developed approximately 120-megapixel CMOS image sensor, even when cropped or digitally magnified, maintain higher levels of definition and clarity than ever before. Additionally, the sensor enables image confirmation across a wide image area, with Full HD video viewing of a select portion of the overall frame.
Through the further development of CMOS image sensors, Canon will break new ground in the world of image expression, targeting new still images that largely surpass those made possible with film, and video movies that capitalize on the unique merits of SLR cameras, namely their high mobility and the expressive power offered through interchangeable lenses.
*1The imaging area of the newly developed sensor measures approx. 29.2 x 20.2 mm.
*2 As of August 20, 2010. Based on a Canon study.
*3 Canon's highest-resolution commercial CMOS sensor, employed in the company's EOS-1Ds Mark III and EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR cameras, is equivalent to the full-frame size of the 35 mm film format and incorporates approximately 21.1 million pixels. In 2007, the company successfully developed an APS-H-size sensor with approximately 50 million pixels

By LR Editor

Jump to:

Press Release:
Further improvements to a top model
The top model in the Metz compact flash unit range has been further improved with numerous optical and functional features. The successor to the mecablitz 58 AF-1 which won the EISA Award for "best flash unit in Europe 2007/2008" has been equipped with a new stable metal base which can be attached to the camera flash shoe quickly and easily with one single movement thanks to the optimised lock system. Refinements such as the revised motor zoom mode and an improved high performance flash tube further increase the longevity of the product. Its multi-functionality has been extended with additional features. Thus the mecablitz 58 AF-2 digital offers servo flash release functionality via the integrated camera flash which is also perfectly compatible with cameras without master function. The slave/servo sensor has been integrated into the front of the flash unit to increase the transmission quality of wireless flashes. The wide-angle diffuser has also been adapted for illumination of wide-angle focal widths from 12 mm (135 format). Like all mecablitz system flash units, the new flash unit is available in different versions, perfectly tailored to digital cameras made by the leading manufacturers.
Special functions for any flash situation

The mecablitz 58 AF-2 digital offers the perfect solution for every flash situation. The innovative secondary reflector provides perfect image illumination for portraits. Numerous manual fine tuning options afford the mecablitz 58 AF-2 digital exceptional creative photographic freedom. Virtually limitless possibilities are opened up for individualised lighting thanks to a fully swivelling reflector system which also contains a flip-out reflector card and a diffuser. The slave function and the new servo function allow the new top model in the Metz compact flash unit range to be used without constraints in various operating modes, depending on the camera model. With the servo flash release, no camera master function is required to use the flash as an additional creative light source in the room. The camera-specific wireless TTL remote mode of the respective model comes into play with the slave function. In addition, automatic mode provides the possibility of achieving a perfect picture even in situations where the camera-specific TTL control is impaired.
High performance compact flash with USB connection
Thanks to the Metz mecablitz 58 AF-2 digital USB interface, updates can be easily installed via the Internet. Due to its very high guide number 58 for ISO 100/21° and 105 mm focal length, the 58 AF-2 digital is not just high performance but also lends itself perfectly to being used as an indirect flash. The real highlight – a flip-out reflector card which is integrated into the both vertically and horizontally tilting and swivelling reflector.
Different versions for Canon, Nikon/Fujifilm, Olympus/Panasonic/Leica, Pentax and Sony
It goes without saying that the respective camera manufacturer’s refined flash lighting technology can also be employed with the corresponding version of the mecablitz 58 AF-2 digital, in addition to numerous special functions, such as high speed synchronisation. Thus the 58 AF-2 digital offers E-TTL and E-TTL II flash mode for Canon – iTTL/D-TTL/3D flash mode for Nikon/Fujifilm – P-TTL for Pentax and four thirds TTL mode for Olympus/Panasonic/Leica.

Metz mecablitz – Technology "Made in Germany"
Metz flash units represent high performance technology and reliable quality. We have been manufacturing exclusively in Germany for over 50 years. As such we hold a unique position – Metz is the only manufacturer of flash devices to develop and manufacture products in Europe.

Press Release:

The next generation of a successful model

Nikon D3100 Key Features

• 14.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor
• 3.0" LCD monitor (230,000 dots)
• Image sensor cleaning (sensor shake)
• 11 AF points (with 3D tracking)
• IS0 100-3200 range (12,800 expanded)
• HD movies (1080, 720p or WVGA)

Nikon D3100 vs D3000: Key Differences

The D3100 substantially refreshes the D3000, taking a rather outdated-looking specification and turning it into one of the most competitive in its sector.

• Higher resolution sensor (14.2MP vs. 10MP)
• Ability to shoot Raw + Fine JPEG
• Socket for connecting Nikon GP1 GPS unit
• Optional wired remote via GPS socket
• No wireless remote option
• Live view
• 1080 HD movies
• HDMI output
• Wider ISO range
• Full-time AF mode (AF-F in live view)
• Revised focus screen (different AF point illumination)