Leica Camera AG has unveiled the latest addition to its digital compact camera offerings and presents the Leica X Vario. Made in Leica Camera’s headquarters in Germany, the X Vario features a high-performance 16.5-megapixel (effective 16.1), APS-C format, CMOS image sensor, a zoom lens covering a range of focal lengths from 28 to 70 mm (35 mm equivalent) and Full-HD video recording capability. With several design and handling characteristics of the storied M-System, the ‘Made in Germany’ Leica X Vario offers great versatility and creative freedom.
The X Vario’s high performance image sensor is unusually large for a camera in its class. Combined with the Leica Vario Elmar 18-46 mm f/3.5-6.4 ASPH, it sets completely new standards for imaging quality in the compact segment with outstanding exposures in all situations. The Leica X Vario is the world’s first compact camera to combine a large, APS-C format, CMOS image sensor with a zoom lens.
Entries are now open! $40,000 prize pool!
Earlybird entries are open until Sunday 14th July, 2013.
There will be a late entry period from Monday 15th July until Sunday 21st July, 2013. Late entry fees will apply.
The fourth Epson International Pano Awards is dedicated to the art of panoramic photography. Advances in digital photography and software such as PTGui and Adobe Photoshop has resulted in an explosion in image stitching, especially in the panoramic format. Panoramic film photography also remains alive and well.
The Epson International Pano Awards showcases the work of panoramic photographers worldwide and is the largest competition for panoramic photography.
The 2012 competition saw 3853 images submitted from 893 photographers in 55 countries. View the galleries of 2012 winners and top 50 in each category here. View results from 2011 here. View the exhibition at The Digital Show, Melbourne, May 2012 here.
The 2013 competition is now open for all professional and amateur photographers with a record combined prize pool in excess of US$40,000 including US$8000 cash!
Prizes include an Epson Stylus Pro 7900 printer, an Epson Stylus Pro 4900 printer, and an Epson EB-1775 Ultra-slim Projector!
Zebronics has launched their latest Digital Photo Frame ‘Artifice 3’ that lets consumers bring their precious memories to vivid life, with innovative features including video playback function.
The Artifice 3 digital photo frame sports a resolution of 800x480 pixels in a vibrant 7-inch LCD screen, and reads media files off a variety of convenient and easily accessible memory devices including USB flash disk and SD/MMC cards. While the screen display ratio is 16:9, the frame preserves the original format of the photos, ensuring that they are not stretched or cropped. Viewers can enjoy their photographs as a slideshow and also zoom in on a particular part for detail. The picture rotation feature helps seamless slideshow while including those photographs shot in portrait mode. The slide shows can be made more interesting and alive with multiple display modes and transitions. The Artifice 3 can also play music (mp3, wav, wma formats), so one can add appropriate background music to those slideshows. The user interface is intuitive and easy-to-use.
Read more: Zebronics Unveils Digital Photo Frame ‘Artifice 3’
FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Shigehiro Nakajima) and Panasonic Corporation (President: Kazuhiro Tsuga) have developed organic CMOS image sensor technology that uses an organic photoelectric conversion layer with a photoelectric conversion property at the light receiving section of an image sensor to achieve performance beyond that of conventional image sensors**. Applying this technology to the image sensors of digital cameras and other imaging devices expands its dynamic range*** and enhances sensitivity*4 further to prevent highlight clipping in bright scenes and capture a dark subject with vivid colors and rich textures.
The industry has put into continuous efforts to explore image sensor technologies for increasing their number of pixels. This has dramatically improved sensor resolutions, but, in order to further boost image quality, it is necessary to expand the dynamic range, enhance sensitivity and prevent cross-talk or color mixing between pixels. Panasonic took advantage of its semiconductor device technology to boost image quality for its high-performance image sensors. Fujifilm, on the other hand, has developed highly-reliable organic photoelectric conversion layer with high absorption coefficient to be used on a sensor's light receiving section instead of silicon photodiode*5 in its effort to build a new image sensor technology.
Read more: Fujifilm and Panasonic jointly develop an organic CMOS image sensor technology
Pentax has announced the fun and highly capable Q7 compact system camera.Available for order in 120 eye-catching color combinations through PENTAX’s Color To Order™ system, the Q7 gives creative control to the consumer with a complete system of interchangeable lenses, filters, viewfinders, and fun smart effects and digital filters enable truly limitless creativity.
Setting a new standard in the imaging industry, the Q7 incorporates a growing trend among consumer products: customization. With an expertly architected supply chain management system designed around Color To Order, consumers are empowered to integrate individual style, personality and taste into their camera sparking the creative process even as their order is placed. Joining the already successful Q10, the Q7 features an upgraded 1/1.7 inch, back-illuminated CMOS image sensor, high sensitivity shooting up to ISO 12800 and enhanced Q ENGINE with faster response time during start-up and shooting time, the creativity continues as beautiful, sharp images are captured.
Samsung has announced the launch of the Samsung GalaxyS4 Zoom, a new device that combines the stylish heritage of the Galaxy S4 smartphone with advanced photographic capabilities.
Part of the GalaxyS4 family, the Galaxy S4 Zoom is the result of Samsung’s mission to create a single device that can fulfill the role of both an industry-leading smartphone, and a high-end compact camera. Combining 10x Optical Zoom, a 16 Mega Pixel CMOS Sensor, OIS and Xenon Flash with the very latest Samsung Galaxy S4 technology, the GalaxyS4 Zoom sets new standards for mobile photography.
The International Cricket Council (ICC), together with Getty Images Sport, is giving cricket fans the chance to relive iconic moments from ICC events from around the world with the opening of “The ICC Collection” at the Getty Images Gallery, London.
The exhibition, showcasing 50 iconic photographic images, opens on Monday, 10 June, and will run until Saturday, 29 June and is free for the public to enter.
With the extreme wide angle lens Touit 2.8/12 and the robust standard lens Touit 1.8/32, both for Fujifilm X and Sony NEX cameras, ZEISS is entering the new market for compact system cameras (CSC) with autofocus, interchangeable lenses. The new lens series is characterized by a powerful optical and mechanical design, which fully exploits the potential of the cameras thanks to the low distortion and stray-light absorption. Noteworthy is also the professional product design of the new lens family, which has already won several design prizes.
“With Touit photographers can use ZEISS lenses on two leading mirrorless system cameras,” says Michael Schiehlen, Director of Sales at ZEISS Camera Lenses. “We are addressing this market because it offers interesting application possibilities for sophisticated photographers and because the segment promises very interesting growth.”
Pentax has announced the launch of its new Efina digital compact camera.The high-quality aluminium body is available in a range of four sleek and stylish colours (pink, red, silver and green), all offering outstanding specifications to ensure effortless photography every time.
The Efina incorporates an optical five-times zoom lens, approximately 14.0 effective megapixels, HD movie recording and a 2.5 inch LCD monitor in its slim, card-sized body. Its compact dimensions mean it can fit into a pocket or handbag with ease, making it the ultimate take anywhere camera.
