New Technology to Fuel Diversification in Digital Photography

Digital Light & Color, a company specializing in software for imaging industries, has released new features in Version 3.5 of its Profile Mechanic application. The program is said to contain advanced sharpening with noise reduction, auto de-specking, and selective application which ultimately reduces moire patterns. An image stacker for combining bracketed exposures is now included in the applications, as well as a colour gamut alarm and the ability to search by date, filename and keyword. The company also has an application labeled Picture Window Pro, which is a photo-editing tool designed for photographers with demanding creative and quality standards. This application provides a set of photo manipulation and retouching tools that allow users to control and shape every aspect of their images and to create high-quality prints, page layouts, multimedia electronic slide shows and other forms of output.

Phase One Medium

Phase has introduced two new medium format digital backs, the P20 and P25, which are evolutions of the chips and electronics used in the H20 and H25 backs that were introduced in the second half of 2003. The P25 is said to be the first fully self-contained 22-megapixel back that features near full-frame 645 coverage. The P20 back is basically identical to the P25 except that it features a square reduced frame 16-megapixel chip. Both systems have a capture rate of up to 45 per minute. The P-series is based on Phase One's sleeping architecture, which means the digital back is only powered when releasing the camera release button. This means there is no need for active cooling. A new compact RAW file format is introduced with the P-series: IIQ RAW, which is half the size of a traditional 22- or 16-megapixel RAW file and completely loss-less. By handling smaller RAW files, internal image processing is cut to a minimum and less . heating is generated inside the back. Phase One's latest Cl 3.5 RAW workflow software has full support for P25 and P20. The 2.2-inch LCD screen on the P25/P20 is optimized for outdoor use. In addition, the ISO ranges from 50 up to 800 on the P-series. The prices on the new P-products range from US$16,990 to USS 32,990.

Fuji Future Camera Generation

Fuji is employing what it calls its 4th generation of Super CCD SR in its new Fujifilm FinePix S20 Pro. The compact SLR-type digital camera for professional photographers works with 6.2-million (S-pixel: 3.1 million, R-pixel: 3.1 million) effective pixels, which can amount to pictures with 2,832 x 2,128 recorded pixels. Powered by the latest Super CCD SR technology, the FinePix S20 Pro can be well aimed at scholastic and social-portrait photography. The FinePix S20 Pro also features what the company calls an ultra-sharp Super EBC Fujinon 6x optical zoom lens for the clearest close-ups, while a 2.2x digital zoom enhances magnification. Users can connect external flash systems to the FinePix S20 Pro through its PC-Sync terminal, which allows high-speed flash synchronization up to 1/1000 second. The FinePix S20 Pro is said to offer two of the fastest image transfer protocols in today's market: IEEE 1394 (FireWire) and USB 2.0. The transfer of high-resolution images has never been easier. Fujifilm has tailored its bundled FinePixViewer image management software for professionals, giving the photographer the power to change camera settings - even release the shutter - from a computer.