June 2001 news and reviews

PC Expo: Pretec has announced what is now the largest flash memory Compact Flash card (clearly the 1 GB Microdrive is larger, but it is a hard drive device). There's also an "industrial and military grade" version, "Industrial and Military grade 640MB CF card is also available from Pretec. Designed with precision mechanics, and full metal protection, the breakthrough product sustains a wide range ( -40°C~125°C) working temperature and offers ultimate level of new data protection and security features to prevent user's image files, software, crucial data and products from being damaged."

Today, in a press release issued by Epson three more companies have announced that they will be incorporating Epson's Print Image Matching (PIM) colour technology into their upcoming camera models. They are Nikon Corp., Pentax Corp. and Sanyo Electric Co. This now brings the total number of manufacturers supporting this colour matching technology (source to print) to twelve. Others already signed up include Sony, Olympus, Casio and Minolta.

Steve over at Steve's Digicams has gone review mad over that last few days and has posted his reviews of the Toshiba PDR-M81, the Fujifilm FinePix 6900 Zoom and finally the Olympus Brio D-150 Zoom here's what he concluded, firstly the Toshiba "This is another one of the new four megapixel cameras... The M81 features a sharp Canon 2.8x optical zoom and is housed in a compact and stylish body. It captures and stores 2400 x 1600 pixel still images in seconds and is loaded with exposure modes and options that will satisfy the needs of point-n-shoot and advanced users", the Fujifilm "All things considered, the 6900 Zoom is a very good camera in spite of its few shortcomings, it delivers gorgeous color pictures" and the Olympus "If you want a very compact point-n-shoot with fast shot to shot time and a high quality 3x zoom that's capable of making 4x6" or 5x7" prints and fits in your pocket then the D-150 may be just what you are looking for"

Hands up everyone who thought the "40" meant 4 megapixels? Nope. Olympus today announced the C-3040Z and C-2040Z, new releases of existing cameras (C-3030Z and C-2020Z) with a new fast F1.8 - F2.6 lens (dubbed "Super Bright Zoom Lens"). This move addresses some of the initial criticism of the C-3030Z which was based around the move from a fast F2.0 to slower F2.8 lens.. There are a few other subtle difference between the new cameras and the (now) old models.

12 PM GMT: Olympus has today announced the new C-4040Z. Based on the popular and successful C-3040Z / C-3030Z body and design the new C-4040Z increases the pixel count with the new 1/1.8" 4.1 megapixel CCD we've seen on Sony's DSC-S85. It has the same F1.8 - F2.6, 3x optical zoom lens as used on the C-3040Z (though now with a rubber barrel grip). There's also now the addition of a 7.7 megapixel interpolated mode (in-camera) and a noise reduction system. Burst shooting speed is 2 frames per second for up to 8 images. Street price $1099.

Kudos to Dave Etchells for getting his hands on a production D1X before any of us (I should receive mine today) and posting up a full review. Here's what he thinks of Nikon's flagship digital SLR "They've managed to simultaneously improve nearly every operating parameter, from color quality, to resolution, to image noise, while at the same time incorporating numerous user-interface improvements and ergonomic niceties... ...Outstanding in every respect!"

Canon BeBit has just posted firmware version 1.0.0.2 for the PowerShot G1 and PowerShot Pro90 IS. This new firmware fixes : "...eliminates the occasional occurrence of unusual brightness or darkness in the LCD panel display when the shutter button is pressed halfway in the Tv mode..." This update can be carried out either via USB or by placing the update files on a Compact Flash card.

Before the cameras have hit the shelves (at least outside Japan) Nikon Japan has announced that the Coolpix 995 problem (strange exposures when the swivel is twisted to the self portrait angle) is solved in firmware version 1.6 and that the D1X / IBM Microdrive incompatibility problem will be solved with its firmware version 1.01. The releases go on to state that these updates can be carried out at Nikon Service Centers (Japan). Although we haven't yet received confirmation from Nikon it's likely that shipping 995 / D1X's outside Japan will have the new firmware.

We have now received the official statement from Nikon Europe on the incompatibility problem between newer 512 MB or 1 GB IBM Microdrive's and the D1x digital SLR. We first picked up on this problem when it was published on a Nikon Japan site and then later on an IBM compatibilty chart. Nikon Europe say, "The incompatibility has arisen as a consequence of a manufacturing change to a key component within the MicroDrive...". There's also a note that the D1x can be upgraded to firmware v1.01 which will solve this problem.

Sony should be pretty happy with recently announced market share results. According to a story in c|net, from just 7% of the flash storage market in Spring 2000 the little purple (or white) stick now (Spring 2001) commands some 25% of sales. Both Compact Flash and SmartMedia have suffered from the competition losing 9% market share each. SmartMedia now represents just 32% of the flash storage market, it looks to me at least as though it won't be long before Memory Stick overtakes SmartMedia. Sony also expect a 256 MB version next year followed by 1 and 2 GB versions by 2003.

It's two weeks since we caught news of the 4 megapixel PDR-M81 from Toshiba Japan. Toshiba US will present the PDR-M81 on Monday at Digital Focus and PC Expo. We've just received the official press release. Labelled as 4.2 megapixels the camera outputs a 2400 x 1600 image (3:2 ratio) which works out at 3.84 megapixels. It has an (unusual) 2.8x optical zoom lens (made by Canon) supports Print Image Matching, weighs in at 240 g (no batts) with an expected retail price of approx. US$600.

Last week I attended the Canon Europe Digital Camera Journalists tour to Japan. There were a total of 29 journalists from various European countries. Despite some initial guesses this visit didn't turn up any new products but was rather an opportunity for Canon Inc. (Japan) to meet us and for us to learn a little more about Canon's digital imaging strategy. During the tour we also visited the Canon factory at Oita, which is essentially the birthplace for all of Canon's digital cameras.

Sony has today announced the DSC-P20, a budget entry-level 1,3 megapixel digital camera based on the DSC-P30. The primary differences are that the DSC-P20 has a fixed focal length lens, no video out, a stepless digital zoom and a new livery. Just like the P30 and P50 the P20 is powered by two AA batteries. The DSC-P20 has a list price of US$299 (expected street price of US$249).

In a press release today Polaroid Corp. announced a "major global restructuring plan" which is designed to reduce debt. Approximately 2,000 jobs out of a global workforce of 8,000 will be "phased out" over the next one and a half years. This doesn't come as too much of a surprise after the recent appointment of a new CFO and various press releases concerning its troubled business.

IBM Japan has today posted its own Microdrive compatibility chart for both MK 1 (170 MB / 340 MB) and MK 2 (512 MB / 1 GB) Microdrive Compact Flash Type II storage cards. The chart covers all sorts of devices from digital cameras to printers and PDA's. We've extracted and translated the portion covering digital cameras as a reference to our readers.

Just to catch up with what's going on elsewhere on the net, we have new reviews from Imaging-Resource and Steves-Digicams. Also what are the first samples from a production D1X posted on the net by Dave Etchells of Imaging-Resource. Kudos Dave.

Toshiba has just posted a firmware update for the PDR-M60, PDR-M61 or PDR-M65 digital cameras to give them support for 128 MB SmartMedia cards. The update can be downloaded from the Toshiba US website and self-installed either via the supplied USB cable or by placing the update file on a SmartMedia card. No other fixes / changes are noted for this firmware udpate.

Sony has today announced two new dye-sub photo printers, the DPP-SV77 and DPP-SV88. The SV77 is based on the sucessful 400dpi, 4 x 6" SV55 engine, however it adds 3.5" touch-sensitive LCD screen which allows you to select and manipulate your prints without a TV monitor. The SV88, also based on the SV55 engine is more revolutionary, it's designed to fit into a AV system rack (all controls are on the front) and adds a CD-R/RW drive which brings the capability to browse, print and archive all from one device. Plus you can view / print / archive directly from CD Mavica CD-R/RW discs (without finalizing!). UPDATED: Specs.

Olympus Japan have released the specifications for two new cameras in their Camedia range. The entry level C-100 features a 1.3 megapixel CCD (1.25 mp effective), 1.5" LCD display and fixed lens, the C-200Z has a 2.1 megapixel CCD (2 mp effective), 1.8" LCD display and 3x optical zoom lens. Both cameras have optical viewfinders and use Smart Media cards for storage. Update: Our friends over at digitalcamera.de inform us that the D-370, as announced in the US, is the same as the C-100.

Displaytech's QVGA Display Module is the basis of Minolta's Digital Hyper Viewfinder (EVF). The EVF functions as an information center, showing a full array of shooting information and monitoring effects of image manipulation and control. Displaytech's microdisplay provides photographers with clear images, even under bright light, and delivers a visual resolution equivalent to almost 220,000 pixels. The variable position viewfinder can be tilted up to 90 degrees, and allows photographers to simultaneously monitor the image and camera settings.

The monthly bilingual webzine Megapixel.Net have just released their June edition (in French and English), this month they've reviewed the Sony DSC-S75, Olympus C-2040Z, Toshiba PDR-M65 and the Sony MVC-FD97. They also have an article about moving from film to digital photography.

David at The Imaging Resource has posted his review of the Olympus C-700 Ultra Zoom, here's what he concluded. "Well, "Ultra" it definitely is! Olympus has somehow managed to shoehorn a 10x telescoping zoom lens into a body that's nearly identical to that on their popular 2040/3040 series cameras... As both the most compact and (at introduction at least), the least expensive digicam equipped with a 10x zoom lens, the C700 seems destined for even greater popularity than it's predecessors."