Fujifilm's New 'A' Series Digital Cameras

Following the huge success of the 2010 range of FinePix 'A' series cameras, Fujifilm is pleased to introduce three new additions for 2011. The FinePix AV200, AV250 and AX350 all combine a good all-round feature-set with affordability, and are perfect for beginners who want a simple point and shoot digital camera.

Feature-packed

The new 'A' series compacts differ only in their zoom and resolution capabilities. The 14 megapixel AV200 and the 16 megapixel AV250 both boast a 3x Fujinon zoom and the 16 megapixel AX350 features a versatile Fujinon 5x zoom lens. You can rest assured that whichever model you choose, the excellent resolution sensors and top quality Fujinon optics combine with the high sensitivity settings (to ISO 3200) to deliver sharp, clear images whatever the shooting conditions. All models feature Fuji's Digital Image Stabilisation technology to compensate for image blur caused by hand shake or subject movement, and ensure you always get a great picture.

Shoot and share

All the new 'A' series compacts capture stunning 1080p HD photos and 720p movies, allowing you to show off your impressive pictures and videos to your family and friends on any HD ready television* (or home PC).
*To connect to an HD-ready TV, you will need a HD Player (HDP-L1) (sold separately)

Intuitive features

All of these models come with Scene Recognition Auto mode, which intelligently detects your scene type and shooting conditions, and is able to optimise the camera's focus, exposure and white balance to achieve perfect results. So whether you're photographing your beautiful garden or the kids on the beach, you will get flawless photos at the press of a button. Or if you prefer you can choose one of 21 pre-programmed scene modes for extra control. What's more this season's 'A' series digital cameras also benefit from Single and Tracking Auto Focus modes to ensure crisp, clear photos, every time.

Can't find what you're looking for?

If you have ever struggled to find the photo you are looking for on your camera, then this will be your saving grace. All FinePix cameras benefit from a Picture Search feature which allows you to find all images taken in a particular scene mode (e.g. Portraits and Landscapes) ensuring that it is much faster to navigate through the photos on your camera to find the one you are after.

Get creative

Use the Motion Panorama Mode to take impressive snaps of your favourite places and fill your walls with pictures your family and friends will admire. This mode allows you to stitch three photos together to create one stunning panoramic image, perfect for wide landscapes, tall buildings or large groups of people.

Face Detection and automatic red-eye removal

Great group photos can be challenging to get right when you are trying to make sure everyone looks good. Fujifilm's Face Detection feature takes the hard work out of it, by ensuring that the camera settings are optimised for focus and red-eye removal, on all faces detected.

 

Varied specification dependent on model:

Key features on the A series' models

    •    14 or 16 megapixels
    •    3x or 5x Fujinon zoom lens
    •    Digital Image Stabilization
    •    Lightweight design
    •    Single and Tracking Auto Focus with SR Auto and movie mode
    •    Motion Panorama mode
    •    ISO sensitivity 1600 at full resolution and up to ISO 3200 with 3MP
    •    Full HD photos and 720p HD movie capture (16 : 9 stills)
    •    Scene Recognition Auto (SR AUTO)
    •    Face Detection technology with auto red-eye removal
    •    Picture Search – by Face, by Scene, and by Date
    •    Easy to use with intuitive GUI
    •    AA battery operated

Fujifilm Announces 16 New FinePix Digital Camera Models For 2011

Star products of the new range include the highly anticipated professional grade compact camera (X100) a new all-in-one semi-pro model (HS20) high end compact models (F550 EXR and F500 EXR) a new rugged, GPS enabled camera (XP30) and a super slim, social media focused, style compact (Z90). Full details of all 16 new models can be found at: www.fujifilm.co.uk/presscentre.
 
The W3 stereoscopic 3D camera also continues as one of the star products in the 2011 range.
 

Unique technologies gives Fuji the finer image

A common feature on all the new Spring 2011 cameras is a series of Fujifilm proprietary technologies and bespoke, superb quality Fujinon lenses; the top models sport ½ inch EXR-CMOS sensors – and the X100, a full size APS-C sensor.
 
One of the most exciting developments in the range is the creation of a new hybrid EXR-CMOS sensor delivering extra fast, high quality results in a wide range of lighting conditions. The design of conventional CMOS sensors is such that the light has to pass through a layer of wiring before hitting the photo diodes. But the Back side illuminated BSI-CMOS configuration places this wiring layer behind the photo diodes improving light sensitivity and dramatically boosting results, particularly in low light.
 

Featuring Fujifilm’s EXR technology, which allows the unique flexibility to optimise the sensor’s performance for either maximum resolution, the widest dynamic range or exceptional signal to noise. Consumers can either manually select one of the three EXR modes, or can use the camera in EXR Auto mode, which will automatically decide upon the best performance for a particular shot.
 
In HR High Resolution mode, users can take advantage of the huge 16 megapixel resolution (the world’s largest for a sensor of this type) for truly breathtaking levels of detail and sharpness. The DR Dynamic Range mode uses dual image capture technology to provide a much extended dynamic range for stunning results on high contrast scenes. While SN High Sensitivity Low Noise mode increases doubles up on the pixels using Pixel Fusion technology to produce outstanding images in low lighting conditions.
 

Fujifilm’s EXR technology isn’t purely limited to the sensor, the system also features a newly developed triple core EXR processing engine, which speeds up processing time & boosts performance and picture quality on both still and moving images.
 
Photographers who like to point and shoot will also benefit from an expanded scene recognition function. In addition to nine subject-based scene scenarios, object recognition now delivers a total of 27 different scene scenarios.
 
The EXR processing engine also has the capability to spot and reduce purple colour fringing, most common on dark subjects against a light backgrounds, and improve the resolution at the corners of an image for more uniform image sharpness.
 
Perhaps the most obvious benefit of the EXR engine, however, is the new Rich User Interface, which employs Flash and Vector fonts and graphics to dramatically improve the appearance of the menus on the cameras LCD screen – or via display to the same high quality on an HDTV, with connection via HDMI on some models.
 

Exhibition to feature rare photographs by Roger Fenton at National Army Museum

The National Army Museum on the north bank of the Thames at Chelsea is to stage an exhibition with an unusual theme. Starting on 9th February, Wives and Sweethearts promises to be a powerful experience for visitors with exhibits ranging from rare photographs including those by Roger Fenton (1819-1869) and a host personal effects of soldiers and their partners. Fenton was one of the first war photographers and founder of what was to become the Royal Photographic Society. Fenton's pioneering work wasn't duly recognised during his lifetime but his work documenting the Crimean war, especially, has since become acknowledged by historians.

Image 4607: Photograph: Cantiniere.

Photograph by Roger Fenton (1819-1869).
From photograph album of 52 photographs associated with the Crimean War (1854-1856).

Usually the wives of non-commissioned officers, Cantinières (women supplying food and drink to soldiers), played an important role in the support of French regiments, running canteens and providing additional rations such as brandy to the soldiers. 

Image 4593: Photograph: Henry Duberly Esq, Paymaster 8th (The King’s Royal Irish) Light Dragoons (Hussars) and Mrs Duberly mounted on a horse.

Photograph by Roger Fenton (1819-1869).
From photograph album of 52 photographs associated with the Crimean War (1854-1856).

Captain Henry Duberly, paymaster of the 8th Hussars, and his vivacious wife, Fanny. Of her conduct Lieutenant-Colonel William Forrest, 4th Dragoon Guards, wrote 'They say she is not actually a "bad one" but that she behaves in the most extraordinary way, riding and walking about with anybody, giving men every encouragement to flirt with her, but when the gentleman becomes rather too ardent in his admiration, she suddenly says "why you must forget that I am a married woman. I shall tell my husband of this, & we shall have such a laugh." They say that she has played this trick to several.'

Press Release
04.01.11

Fenton Photographs captures Wives and Sweethearts
 

Rare Roger Fenton photographs are at the heart of an upcoming Wives and Sweethearts exhibition which launches on 9 February 2011 at the National Army Museum.  

The exhibition celebrates love at the front-line with remarkable images by Roger Fenton, which document the powerful presence of 'Women of the Regiment' during the Crimean War.  

Spanning over 200 years the Museum’s newest exhibition will explore all aspects of soldiers’ relationships from the joy of courtships, weddings and births to separation and tragic deaths.
 
Exhibited for the first time, Wives and Sweethearts presents the treasured personal items of soldiers and their sweethearts from letters of engagement and poignant photographs to dazzling diamond love tokens. 

Drawing on the Museum’s collections visitors can discover the love, fears, doubts and joys of generations of soldiers and the profound effect of Army life on the personal relationships of soldiers and their partners and families from the Napoleonic period to the present day. 
 
Frances Parton, Curator of Wives and Sweethearts exhibition, said: “As curator, it has been a challenge as much as a joy to select the items for the exhibition. The Museum has such a wealth of social history material on the subject of soldiers and their love lives that I was spoilt for choice. These items provide us with a touching insight into the lives of others and remind us of the people behind the conflicts.”

The exhibition highlights the fascinating and changing roles of soldiers’ partners from nineteenth-century ‘Women of the Regiment’ who worked as cooks and laundresses to modern Army families, where both partners may in the Armed Forces.
 
From the wives of Wellington’s armies to those currently missing a partner in Afghanistan, the Wives and Sweethearts exhibitions brings alive for today’s visitors the personal aspects of war and its continued relevance.

Key exhibition items from Napoleonic, Crimean, Boer, First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, the Falklands War and the Gulf War:

 

 
·       Roger Fenton photographs of ‘Women of the Regiment’ during the Crimean War
·       Love token sent to his wife from an soldier at Waterloo
·       A Boer War letter sent with a pressed flower
·       Embroidered postcards from the First World War
·       Diamond-encrusted sweetheart brooch from the Second World War
·       Letters and photographs from the Falklands, Korean, and Gulf Wars
·       Oral histories from current soldier’s wives and sweethearts

 

 

Visitor Information
Address: National Army Museum,
Royal Hospital Road,
Chelsea,
London, SW3 4HT
Start date: 9 February 2011
End date: 30 July 2011
Admission: Free
Opening hours: Daily from 10.00am until 5.30pm
Visitor enquiries: 020 7730 0717
Website: www.nam.ac.uk

Lexar outs Class 10 128GB Pro SDXC

This Lexar card is a little faster (20MB/s) than the already announced SanDisk Ultra Class 4 64GB SDXC card, which is rated at 15MB/s. These are minimum guaranteed speeds, so testing would be required to confirm real-world differences. We've been using one for a few months now and there are a few notable cameras and devices where the new format is not yet supported; the Canon EOS 1Ds MK III and Pentax 645D being just two, but also the Apple iPad (using the camera connection kit). We were also concerned that our 2009 spec iMac wouldn't be (as the 2010 spec states support for SDXC), however we can confidently confirm that it is.

Nissin adds TTL wireless flash to Di622 MkII

Nissin, an independent manufacturer of portable flash units, has introduced an upgrade to the Di622 adding wireless TTL flash and a PC socket for use with Pocketwizard remotes (and the like). For more details please see the press release below.

Happy New Year!

Wishing all our loyal and dedicated readers a very Happy New Year with best wishes from all The Team.

And remember - An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. Whichever you are, have a great night!

No Hands Required: Looxcie Brings Social Video Platform to iPhone Users

Wearable Bluetooth Camcorder Frees Users to Go Back, Capture What's Happened and Share It Instantly.

Looxcie, Inc. announced today the availability of its iPhone-compatible wearable camcorder at www.bestbuy.com. Initially launched in September 2010, Looxcie™ (look-see) is the first small, light, easy-to-wear camcorder that videos everything the user sees. A Bluetooth-enabled headset, Looxcie fits comfortably on the ear and points where the user looks. Because it is always on, always videoing, users never have to worry about pressing a record button or missing a key event. When an unexpected event occurs, a press of the instant clip button captures the last 30 seconds of video and stores it as a video clip on the device. When paired with an iPhone, the phone becomes both a view-finder and an accessory that lets users share video clips by email, post to Facebook or upload to YouTube in real-time.

 

Looxcie clips can be shared in the moment, or they can be uploaded to a Mac or PC via the USB connector for archiving, viewing, editing or additional sharing. Users can also pre-program an Instant Share recipient so that when they "long-press" the instant clip button, Looxcie automatically sends the clip to the pre-determined email address. Looxcie utilizes a dual processor system for video and Bluetooth communication so the headset can operate in video mode and talk mode at the same time, or separately. Looxcie uses a mini processor for Bluetooth that includes a digital signal processing system to process and optimize the audio. The camcorder's mini video processor includes software by Looxcie that optimizes power use, 1automatically corrects for light and color, and formats video for mobile devices. These processing systems operate concurrently so users can simultaneously handle calls and capture video.

Additional Product Features & Specs:

Fully adjustable fit for comfort and view refinement
Lightweight: less than 28g (1 oz.)
Always on battery life allows up to 4 hrs of continuous video use
6+ hours of continuous talk time when the video capability is not on
Clips are time stamped and stored in a clip register as MP4 files
On-board storage of up to 4 hrs of video and hundreds of instant clips (3 hrs of clips)
Stored video drops off on FIFO basis for any material unsaved as clips
15 FPS, HVGA resolution camera
Bluetooth Class 2 (2.5mW) for up to 10 meters range
480mAh Li Po battery for extended record and talk times
ROHS compliant manufacturer
DSP optimized for clear, crisp audio

This new version works with iOS 4.2 and costs $199, and we suspect the older version (without iOS 4.2 support) to see a price drop very soon.

DropPhox For iPhone - "DropPhox, the camera replacement app with DropBox support"

DropPhox is a Camera app that automatically sends photos to Dropbox as you take them. Now this is pretty damn cool, take a look...

    •    DropPhox transfer starts as soon as you snap the camera shutter.
    •    Multiple photographs are uploaded in parallel as you take them.
    •    Photos taken offline are uploaded as soon as a 3G/WiFi connection is detected.
    •    You can also set DropPhox to Autosave photos to your device's camera roll.
    •    Supported in-camera Flash, Focus and Video
Note: You will need a Dropbox account (Free) to use this application

$1.99/Download

The Top 10 iPhone Grossing Photography Apps of 2010

Take a look at the top 10 iPhone grossing photography apps of 2010...

Camera+

★ EXCLUSIVE Touch Exposure & Focus for the ultimate control…
Set exposure separately from focus for the ultimate control of your shots… simply touch with a 2nd finger while focusing to adjust exposure until your shot is perfect. [available on iPhone 4 and 3GS on iOS4 only]
★ EXCLUSIVE Photo Flashlight to brighten up your photos…
Use the iPhone 4 LED flash as a continuous fill light to improve photo quality, especially for portrait and macro shots.
★ No more blurry shots…
Use the stabilizer to steady your camera and get the sharpest pics you can.
★ Put an end to crooked pics…
Use the grid to line up your shots and eliminate unsightly angled photos.
★ Highest quality zoom…
Camera+ has a 5× digital zoom that simply blows away the competition in terms of quality.
$0.99/Download

Panasonic offers gift pack worth £150 when pre-ordering the new GF2

Panasonic UK has announced a gift pack worth £150 for those pre-ordering the GF2 between the 1st January and the 27th January 2011. Please see below for more details.

The Top 10 Grossing iPad Photography Apps of 2010

Yes it's that time of year when we get all statistical and what a better way to show you the top grossing photography apps of 2010. Take a look at these...

ArtStudio for iPad - draw, paint and edit photo

50% off the regular price for a limited time! BUY NOW AND GET FREE UPDATES FOREVER!
ArtStudio is a professional drawing / painting application. It uses advanced mathematics to attain the highest level of quality, at the same time offering incredible performance achieved through numerous code optimizations. It still remains a fantastic tool for beginners - it contains drawing lessons showing step-by-step instruction on drawing various types of images.
$2.99/Download

Skype Video Calling for iOS over Wi-Fi and 3G Now Available

Skype released version 3.0 of its app for iOS late last night, adding long-awaited video calling to the list of features for the popular VOIP app. This feature comes on the heels of a support document discovered last week by Engadget on Skype’s site that hinted at video calling features on the iPhone. Skype first released its free iOS app in early 2009 and added the ability to make calls over 3G in its last major update over the summer.

The full list of new features and changes in version 3.0 is as follows

WWT Photo Competition 2010 regional winners are announced

Judges have selected the regional winners of the WWT Photo Competition 2010 and these will now be put forward to a panel of experts, including Chris Packham, which will decide on overall winners.
The competition attracted over 6,000 entries in the categories of Wetland Wildlife, Wetland Landscapes, People and Wildlife and Quirky, and there was also a category for entrants aged 16 and below.
Photos had to be taken at one of WWT's nine regional wetand reserves (with the exception of the Quirky category). The People's Choice winners were decided by public vote on the photo competition website.
All of the regional winners will now be invited to a Winners Day taking place at London Wetland Centre on 24 January, 2011 and are in with a chance of winning a four day trip to New York State courtesy of Continental Airlines and a £600 photography voucher from Tatra Photography, among other great prizes. We'll be publishing the overall winning pictures as soon as they've been picked. 

People's Choice regional winner - London 'Bomber Command' by Paul Neuman
Picture: Paul Neuman / WWT Photo Competition 2010 / Supplied by Geoff Robinson

Samsung out NX11 at CES

There's no word on price, but it's expected to be in the region of £599 inc VAT. From the specification sheet below, the NX11 adopts the same 14.6-megapixel resolution sensor as the NX10 (though the sensor / pipeline maybe updated slightly) and will be available in February. We're waiting for Samsung to supply images, but as it's based on the NX10, we don't expect there to be much difference visually. A 20mm pancake and a 20-50mm zoom have also been announced.

'Appy Christmas from MacPhun

For a limited time, MacPhun LLC announces a sale for its 10 top products from December 21st, 2010 till January 3nd, 2011. With some extra savings over 75%, for those who own iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, this is a good chance to pack their iDevices with some really nice photo and entertainment applications. Apps include FX Photo Studio, FX Photo Studio HD, PhotoPal, Predator Vision, Doodle Cam, iRetroscope, Real-Time Distorter, PopArt VidCam, Amazing Facts HD and ArtPuzzle HD.

Star Trails Captured in Time Lapse

YouTube user Nachtwolke captures beautiful star trails with 1262 photos taken at 30-second exposures.
Lens/aperature/camera used: Sigma 12-24mm/4.5-5.6@ 12mm f/4.5, ISO 800, Canon 20D
Take a look at this...

10 Brand New Christmas Eve iPhone Photography Apps

Oh boy, they keep on coming and we just love 'em. Here we have the latest iPhone photography apps just approved by the App Store, take a look at these...

Photo Folders

Photo Folders is an iOS application that is able to file your photo and videos using custom folders.
You can put comments on your photos and able to search and sort by the comments added.
Application description:
1. You can create custom folder within this application.
2. You can protect your folder by setting password.
3. Original date can be saved with your photo.
4. Location information can be saved with your photo.
5. You can sort your photo by original date or import date, ascending or descending.
6. You can show photo location map by your folder or single photo.
7. You can add comments to your photo and video.
8. You can perform search against your comment.
9. Easy to select your photo/video with our custom image picker.
10. Original image can be saved by setting system options.
11. Folders are always iTunes file shared. You don't need to export yourself.
Notes:
You need iOS 4.1 or later. You must enable location service while using this application.
Now on start-up sale $2.99 -> $1.99.
Download

Fuji reveal more about X100

We were one of the first sites to break the news about the Fuji X100, the innovative rangefinder-esque compact with the hybrid viewfinder, APS-C sensor and attractive but fixed 35mm f/2 equivalent lens. Details at the time of the announcement were sketchy, though, as the X100 was and is still a work in progress. However, the company's dedicated X100 micro-site launched shortly after the news of the camera continues to add details, as and when they're finalized by Japan. If you're wondering what sort of expertise Fuji have then think of their now discontinued 6x7 and 6x9 rangefinders, and the Hasselblad XPan, which was made by...yep, you guessed it, Fuji.

UNICEF Photo of the Year 2010 Winners Announced

Each year, UNICEF Germany grants the “UNICEF Photo of the Year Award” to photos and photo series that best depict the personality and living conditions of children all around the world in an outstanding manner.
“High-quality photography shows both, beauty and the things that really matter. The aim of this award is to help us increase the awareness of children’s suffering and also of their hopes and dreams“, says Dr. Jürgen Heraeus, Chairman of UNICEF Germany. “Images can tell us much better than words where children suffer and where they are neglected or exploited. They show the unique way how children experience the world, they show their tears, joys and challenges. Without much ado, they let us know why we must think of these children and how we can.”
Renowned photographers from all over the world take part in the contest. They document the living conditions of children who are in difficult circumstances such as war, material and emotional distress after natural disasters but also moments of happiness and joy of living.
Young photo journalists, above all, are being addressed with the contest. A recommendation from a renowned photography expert is a prerequisite for taking part in the competition. The award is granted annually on an international basis. A participation in the contest is not possible without a nomination. The winner receives a commission for a photo-reportage in GEO as recognition. The award is being presented in Berlin at the end of December.

First Prize - Vietnam: The legacy of war

Photograph: Ed Kashi/Agency VII/UNICEF Photo of the Year 2010
First prize: Ed Kashi, Agency VII, US
The Vietnam war ended in 1975. The US withdrew their troops and north and south Vietnam were reunited. But for the Vietnamese people the legacy of American warfare continues. US forces used the herbicide Agent Orange to destroy foliage that the north Vietnamese were using as cover. Agent Orange contains dioxins that are known to cause cancer and damage genes. The effects of the toxic substance can be seen among Vietnamese people to this day, such as cancer, immune disorders and severe deformities. According to official estimates, 1.2 million children, including nine-year-old Nguyen Thi Ly, are disabled. In rural areas, the percentage of disabled children is significantly higher than in urban areas.

'Steve Jobs - The American Dream' By Obama

US president Barack Obama cited Apple boss Steve Jobs as an example of the ‘American dream’, saying that the incentive to be rich is a ‘good thing’ and part of the free market.

“We celebrate somebody like a Steve Jobs, who has created two or three different revolutionary products. We expect that person to be rich, and that's a good thing. We want that incentive. That's part of the free market.”according to PCR today.

Man Of The Year

Meanwhile The Financial Times has given Steve Jobs their Man of the Year accolade. In particular citing the iPad as marking the moment when the ‘rebound’ in Apple’s fortunes “was complete”.

The iPad is the culmination of an approach that he has seemingly been perfecting for his entire career,” stated the Richard Waters and Joseph Menn from theFT.