The Sony’s new HDMS-S1D Digital Photo Album will bring benefits to shutterbugs who want to archive, organize and enjoy slideshows of their digital photos. This compact device features an 80GB hard drive, connects to a high definition television via HDMI and showcases up to 50,000 high resolution photos. It also offers several methods for importing photos, including multiple flash memory card formats, CD, DVD, USB or Ethernet. Once imported, photo collections can be managed with the supplied remote control and the device’s intuitive interface.

Photos can be organized by date, special occasions such as birthdays and travel (using pre-selected icons), or into as many as 3,000 different photo albums– enough for every major family milestone. The digital photo album also provides the ability to review, edit, rotate, delete and arrange photos for a slideshow or digital scrapbooking with Sony’s x-Application® features. – Slideshows can be created by selecting from 30 pre-loaded music tracks and transition styles. For personalization, you can add up to five songs from your own CDs. The software also allows for connection to a compatible printer for making prints of your photos or scrapbook pages directly from the device.

Other features include face detection technology to locate faces in photographs and adjusts the slideshow transitions around the location of faces and you can directly save those photos to CD, DVD, or flash memory card.

The HDMS-S1D Digital Photo Album is available since October for about $400 online at sonystyle.com, across the country at Sony Style® retail stores http://www.sonystyle.com/retail and at authorized dealers nationwide.

Tags: sony, sony photo album, digital photo album

Optical storage company LiteOn released its first digital photo frame under its new consumer brand name cenOmax.
The cenOmax F7024B 7-inch digital photo frame is a beautifully-designed photo frame with playback features that make it ideal for the home, office, college dorms or for traveling executives.

The F7024B can play back photos, video and audio in several formats including SD/MMC/MS/xD/CF for photos, supports major video formats and MP3 audio through its built-in speakers, and allows users to add music to their slideshows.
The F7024B includes four (4) interchangeable frame inserts to match the style and décor of any room—and any season of the year. It incorporates the Auto Rotate feature which automatically rotates images for proper viewing, whether the frame is positioned vertically or horizontally. The built-in alarm clock and calendar option make it an ideal travel companion for students and executives.
The F7024B 7-inch digital photo frame will be available at retail outlets nationwide in October and have a suggested retail price of $89.99.

Tags: digital photo frame, photo frame, cenOmax F7024B

This month I noticed the first digital photo frame that allows you to send pictures toyour mobile phone via MMS.
Responsible for this invention is Parrot, the leader in wireless mobile telephony devices.
PARROT DF7700 (7-inch digital TFT LCD, leather-bound) digital frame uses wireless technology to send the photos with just one click button, but, also features a USB connection and an SD card slot.
It is told that this frame reproduces incredibly rich pictures in terms of colour & contrast and showing the tiniest details, for you to relive your most treasured moments and those of your friends with the same intensity. You can also change the frame to suit your mood and environment by purchasing the other finishes in the range (optional extra).

Just like all the other digital photo frames in the Parrot range, the PARROT DF7700 boasts an ultra-easy user interface with a wealth of advanced features for giving your photos the very best display. Irrespective of the picture’s size before sending, the PARROT DF7700 frame automatically adjusts it to match the size of its screen.

In addition, a position sensor detects the orientation of the frame and automatically rotates the photos, either in portrait or landscape mode, to match the chosen position. A light sensor continually measures the amount of light in the room and adjusts the brightness of the frame accordingly, switching off when you go to bed – so ecological! Furthermore, different slideshows can be programmed: your photos are displayed one after the other or in the order that you have chosen.

The Parrot DF7700 will first be available exclusively in France in Bouygues Telecom shops for 189 Euros, beginning in December 2007, but later on in 2008 it will be available in other countries too.

Tags: digital photo frame, mms, sending pictures, digital picture frame, Parrot digital frame, Parrot DF7700

Cirrus TLZ, a new line of top-loading camera bags from Lowepro, the worldwide leading provider of protective cases and backpacks for imaging and technology products. It is designed (in black and ultra marine blue) for compact, pro-compact digital cameras and digital SLRs and it is available in three models: Cirrus TLZ 5, 15, and 25:

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Cirrus TLZ 5 has been developed to protect one pro-compact digital camera or ultra-compact video camera. In addition, the front accessory pocket holds batteries and the media storage pocket provides quick access to one memory card. Dimensions:
External: 11.5 x 11.5 x 17 cm 4.5 x 4.5 x 6.7 in.
Internal: 9.5 x 9 x 11.5 cm 3.7 x 3.5 x 4.5 in.

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Cirrus TLZ 15 protects one digital SLR with lens attached. Dimensions:
External: 18 x 13 x 22 cm 7.1 x 5.1 x 8.7 in.
Internal: 15.5 x 10.5 x 16.5 cm 6.1 x 4.1 x 8.3 in.

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Cirrus TLZ 25 protects one digital SLR with short zoom lens attached. Dimensions:
External: 18 x 13 x 26.6 cm 7.1 x 5.1 x 10.5 in.
Internal: 15.5 x 10.5 x 21 cm 6.1 x 4.1 x 8.3 in.

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Both Cirrus TLZ 15 and Cirrus TLZ 25 are capable of holding multiple memory cards and small accessories.
The interior features a built-in memory card pocket for quick changes and the brushed-tricot lining protects LCD screens from scratches. The exterior of the bags are constructed of rugged water- and abrasion-resistant fabric to provide durability and style. Adjustable shoulder strap, padded handles and belt loops present a variety of comfortable carrying options. These lightweight and compact top-loading shoulder bags provide digital camera users with solid protection and immediate access to capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments. Additional features include dust-resistant reversed zippers to keep dirt and dust away from imaging equipment and water-resistant outer fabric to protect against moisture. 360-degree swivel clips prevent tangling of shoulder straps.

Tags: camera bag, camera bags, Cirrus camera bag

Olympus FL-50R and FL-36R Wireless Flash are ideal for use with the Olympus E-3 professional D-SLR which enables the control of up to three different flash groups directly from the camera – no separate commander unit is required. Using their slave function, the FL-50R and FL-36R can also be used with other Olympus SLRs with manual flash facility and Olympus SP series cameras capable of slave mode operation. The irradiation angle of each flash unit can be set either by automatic zooming according to the interchangeable lens used or manually. Available starting from November 2007 and December 2007.

FL-50R

· multiple adjustment modes including TTL Auto and manual, high-speed synchronisation – in Super FP Mode up to 1/4000th sec
· features fast recycle intervals which can be as little as less than 1.3 sec. when using the SHV-1 Flash High-Voltage Set
· GN28 performance at a 12mm focal length (equivalent to 24mm on a 35mm camera; ISO 100)
· GN50 at a 42mm (equiv. to 84mm; ISO 100)
· Wireless remote control in three groups (A, B and C)
· Control settings directly from camera LCD
· Choice of four channels to avoid interference
· Extendable transmission distance
· Option of TTL Auto, Auto, and Manual modes
· Bounce and swivel head
· Usual synchronisation speed 1/180 sec.
· Super FP Mode up to 1/4000th sec
· Built-in diffuser can be used to obtain wide-angle coverage at an 8mm focal length (equivalent to 16mm on a 35mm camera)
· Red-eye reduction, slow synch and 2nd curtain synch
· Flash coverage is automatically adjusted in several steps to correspond to the focal length of the lens when zooming
· Flash recycle time less than 1.3 sec. when optional SHV-1 Flash High-Voltage Set is used

FL-36R

· Enhancing mobility
· lightweight compact design
· allows 1/8EV-step accuracy to satisfy the high light metering precision digital photography demands
· GN20 at a focal length of 12mm (equiv. to 24mm; ISO 100)
· GN36 at 42mm (equiv. to 84mm; ISO 100)
· well-suited for high-action assignments
· Wireless remote control in three groups (A, B and C)
· Control settings directly from camera LCD
· Choice of four channels to avoid interference
· Extendable transmission distance
· Option of TTL Auto, Auto and Manual modes
· Compact design and light weight
· Energy-saving circuitry
· Bounce and swivel head
· Super FP Mode up to 1/4000th sec
· Flash coverage is automatically adjusted in several steps to correspond to the focal length of the lens when zooming
· Flash intensity setting in 1/8 EV steps possible with Olympus E-System D-SLR
· Red-eye reduction, slow synch and 2nd curtain synch

More accesories:
The Bounce Adapter FLBA-1 can be mounted on the FL-50R flash head and diffuses the irradiation light to soften the bounce light by attenuating the contours of shadows produced in bounce shooting. The FLBA-1 comes with the FL-50R and is also compatible with the Olympus FL-50 flash unit.

The Reflector Adapter FLRA-1 not only provides a catch light effect, it also softens the effect of bounce lighting by providing auxiliary frontal irradiation to eliminate shadows caused by bounce shooting; it can be used in both ceiling and wall bouncing, alloing photographers to take advantage of bounce lighting more often and in a wide range of situations. It comes with the FL-50R and is also compatible with the FL-36R, FL-36 and FL-50 Olympus flash units.

Tags: Olympus FL-50R, Olympus FL-36R, Wireless Flash, Olympus Wireless Flash

The Panorama Kit pictured below includes a panorama plate that has a 360° index wheel and integrated spirit level. It consists of two pieces:
1) The panoramic plate which turns the camera frame by frame while the camera shoots one shot after the other.
2) And the Software from Arcsoft who accurately merges the individual pictures on your computer.
This package allows you to achieve amazing panoramic results even without professional photography equipment, at a costs of 29.99 Eruos.

An 8GB SanDisk Extreme III SDHC card can store more than 4,000 high-resolution pictures or up to 16 hours of MPEG 4 video2.
The card has a read/write speed of 20 megabytes per second, thus providing rapid downloads to a personal computer.
The 8GB SDHC card will be packaged with a SanDisk MicroMate™ USB 2.0 Reader – a $20 value – so that users have a one-stop solution for capturing, storing and transferring their images.

“With the introduction of more cameras that can use SDHC, including the Nikon D80 and the Canon EOS-1D Mark II, the SanDisk Extreme III card is an ideal choice for those who want maximum dependability, durability and fast download speeds,” said Tanya Chuang, SanDisk’s director of retail product marketing for global imaging. “Also, since many of these cameras have extended video capabilities, the 8GB capacity provides users with storage for longer movie clips.”

All SanDisk Extreme III cards offer ESP Technology to streamline data transfer, RescuePRO® software to recover accidentally deleted files and images, a dedicated technical support telephone hotline and a limited lifetime warranty
cards are designed for shooting in extreme temperatures (-13 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit or -25 to 85 degrees Celsius), high altitudes and other demanding situations.

SanDisk’s ultra-portable, high-performance MicroMate SDHC Reader can rapidly move images from an SDHC card to a personal computer. It also reads standard SD as well as SDHC flash memory cards. The reader is being bundled with the 8GB SanDisk Extreme III SDHC card at no extra cost.

While the SDHC is expected to ship in the next 30 days, you might be interested in CF 8GB cards from ScanDisk:

Whenever you need to process your images you first must make sure that your monitor is well calibrated to obtain the best possible results in matter of color accuracy, white balance, exposure and contrast.
Datacolor Spyder3 is a new monitor calibration device (also called colorimeter) aimed at photographers needing the most accurate color for digital editing.

Spyder3Elite incorporates a new suite of features for increased accuracy and performance and enables users to calibrate multiple studio displays to a single target. Spyder3Studio combines the features of Spyder3Elite’s display calibration with a printer profiling tool providing a complete calibration package for the whole workflow, from monitor to hard copy. Spyder3 measurement device is 37 per cent smaller than its Spyder2 predecessor. Calibration time is cut by 29 per cent to five minutes, with re-calibration at only two and a half minutes, which is 64 per cent faster than the previous model.

The new Spyder3 colorimeter offers the only seven-detector colour engine on the market, with its 27mm aperture, the largest in its class, giving a greater screen sampling area and a 400 per cent increase in light sensitivity. In conjunction with the embedded ambient light sensor, which automatically measures surrounding ambient light levels even when stored in its cradle, Spyder3 enables users to achieve the most precise results when calibrating a display, or multiple displays matched to a single target. Spyder3’s optical design and colour engine enable calibration of the latest in wide gamut, LED backlight and AdobeRGB displays.

Spyder3 also introduces SpyderProof, a proofing function that lets users evaluate calibration results in before and after modes. Four quadrants of thematic images are displayed, targeting saturated colours, skin tones, gradients and black and white. Users can zoom in on any picture to assess highlights, shadow, colour or tonal response in greater detail, and softproof the images using custom profiles.
Spyder3Elite’s dual-mode software offers the choice of a walkthrough wizard guide or expert console to give advanced users full control of all settings. It is also the only device in its category able to calibrate front projectors. Unlimited, user-defined calibration targets for white point, gamma, white luminance and black luminance allow users to get the most from their digital workflow. Creatives using L-Star workflows can use Spyder3Elite’s patented L-Star compatible technologies as an alternative to typical gamma settings, enabling individual tonal response curves to be generated for open shadows and detailed highlights.

Coming with the Spider3Elite, Spider3Studio combines the features of Spyder3Elite’s display calibration with a printer profiling tool. Supplied with Datacolor’s 1005 Spectrocolorimeter and a colour calibration tile with tracking ruler for more accurate readings, Spyder3Studio produces professional-looking prints quickly and accurately, avoiding wasteful trial-and-error testing. Giving complete control over the digital workflow, Spyder3Studio means users can tailor colour management to their requirements from single-screen to complete studio solutions, as custom colour or black and white ICC profiles can be created and set up for individual printer and media selections.

Allot more informations and availability here.

Lightweight, Compact, Portable, Bendable, Wrappable, Grippable, and doesn’t require an elevated surface to take the perfect shot!!

Joby’s Gorillapod is a tripod designed for smaller, lightweight cameras that allows placement in a variety of places that traditional tripods just can’t manage. The tripod allows you to utilize the environment around you with the three flexible legs that can wrap around a variety of objects – like in the image below.

Each of the joints on the legs are able to bend and rotate 360 degrees. The base joints also have larger grips so the tripod can stand in the traditional manner without any slippage. It uses the traditional 1/4-inch screw and only weighs 1.5 ounces. Available for $25 through the Gorillapod website. You can get it in three sizes and many colors!

Tags: camera tripod, flexible tripod, gorillapod, camera accessories

From November 16 through to December 15 Think Tank Photo are giving away one of their camera bags every day.
It is easy to enter this random daily drawing. Simply enter your first name and email address into the form below. We will contact you if you are one of the lucky 30 winners. No purchase is necessary and you need to enter only once (duplicate entries will be eliminated). If your name isn’t pulled as a lucky winner one day, it is still eligible to be drawn on subsequent days. [Note: the Airport Security roller is not available as a prize.]

Think Tank Photo is a professional photography equipment manufacturer, creating innovative camera bags, camera cases, photo backpacks and beltpacks for Professional Photographers that use digital SLR cameras. By designing camera bags for speed and accessibility, we prepare a photographer to Be Ready “Before The Moment.”

Apply here: http://www.thinktankphoto.com/fall07/

Tags: photo bag, camera bag, think tank photo