Info media photography : Promo Member Alfamart Minimarket Lokal Terbaik Indonesia, Sebagai Minimarket Pertama yang memiliki member terbanyak di Indonesia Alfamart memberikan banyak inovasi untuk memanjakan membernya. Salah satunya adalah dengan konsisten 2 minggu sekali memberikan Promo khusus untuk member-membernya baik untuk berbelanja di Alfamart atau pun di merchant-merchant yang banyak bekerja sama dengan Alfamart untuk memberikan potongan harga atau harga spesial.

PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya merupakan perusahaan terbaik yang bergerak dalam bidang usaha retail yang memiliki Member terbesar di minimarket Indonesia.

PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya

“Promo Member Alfamart Minimarket Lokal Terbaik Indonesia”

Rutin selama 2 minggu sekali dari pihak Alfamart memberikan promo khusus untuk para membernya berupa potongan harga atau harga spesial baik itu untuk berbelanja di Alfamart ataupun di merchant-merchant yang ikut bekerja sama dengan Alfamart. bagi para pelanggan Alfamart yang belum menjadi member anggota bisa langsung mendaftarkan diri langsung ke outlet alfamart.

Ada beberpa Jenis-jenis Member Alfamart diantara nya adalah :

• Kartu Aku

Kartu AKU

Adalah kartu member yang pertama kali diluncurkan Alfamart pada tahun 2005. Dengan Kartu AKU, Member akan dapat memperoleh manfaat dan berbagai macam keuntungan serta promo-promo menarik yang tidak dapat diikuti oleh pelanggan lain yang bukan merupakan member Kartu AKU. Kartu AKU berlaku Nasional di Alfamart seluruh Indonesia.

• A Card Flazz

A Card Flazz 

Adalah Kartu Member Alfamart yang di luncurkan pada 15 Mei 2010 bekerja sama dengan Flazz BCA, yang selain berfungsi sebagai kartu member juga dapat digunakan sebagai alat pembayaran/transaksi karena A Card Flazz merupakan Kartu Prepaid (kartu non rekening yang dapat menyimpan uang untuk keperluan berbagai transaksi).

• Kartu Aku BNI

Kartu Aku BNI 

Adalah kartu member yang pertama kali diluncurkan Alfamart pada tahun 2005. Dengan Kartu AKU, Member akan dapat memperoleh manfaat dan berbagai macam keuntungan serta promo-promo menarik yang tidak dapat diikuti oleh pelanggan lain yang bukan merupakan member Kartu AKU. Kartu AKU berlaku Nasional di Alfamart seluruh Indonesia.

Dengan menjadi anggota member Alfamart anda akan mendapatkan 8 Keuntungan sekaligus, diantaranya ialah :

1. Hematku dan Kalender Belanja
2. Spesialku dan Hadiahku
3. Special Big Program for “Member Alfamart”
4. Redemption For “Member Alfamart”
5. “Member Alfamart” Thematic Promo
6. Special Treatment for “Member Alfamart” Birthday
7. Special Event/Activities For “Member Alfamart”
8. Merchant For “Member Alfamart”

Promo Member Alfamart Minimarket Lokal Terbaik Indonesia
Untuk Informasi selengkapnya klik disini

Promo Member Alfamart Minimarket Lokal Terbaik Indonesia

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Info media photography : After such a long post the English-language articles, this time I Triana(admin photography media information) decided to switch toIndonesian. I personally apologize for this inconvenience, hopefullywith his switch to English Indonesian my loyal readers can stillunderstand what I coretkan in my simple blog. I again apologize for my friends as well.

note. I sometimes also post the English-language articles

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Photo of the Year Winners Announced

Info media photography : The winners of the World Press Photo of the Year contest have been announced. The overall winner is Spanish photographer Samuel Aranda for his image of a woman holding a wounded relative in her arms, inside a mosque used as a field hospital by demonstrators against the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, during clashes in Sanaa, Yemen on 15 October 2011 (above). The jury gave prizes in nine themed categories to 57 photographers of 24 nationalities from: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the USA. The winning entries have been chosen from 101254 images submitted by 5,247 photographers from 124 countries.

Website: World Press Photo

WPP Press Release

Samuel Aranda wins the World Press Photo of the Year 2011

The international jury of the 55th annual World Press Photo Contest has selected a picture by Samuel Aranda from Spain as the World Press Photo of the Year 2011. The picture shows a woman holding a wounded relative in her arms, inside a mosque used as a field hospital by demonstrators against the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, during clashes in Sanaa, Yemen on 15 October 2011. Samuel Aranda was working in Yemen on assignment for The New York Times. He is represented by Corbis Images.

Comments on the winning photo by the jury
Koyo Kouoh: “It is a photo that speaks for the entire region. It stands for Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Syria, for all that happened in the Arab Spring. But it shows a private, intimate side of what went on. And it shows the role that women played, not only as care-givers, but as active people in the movement.”

Nina Berman: “In the Western media, we seldom see veiled women in this way, at such an intimate moment. It is as if all of the events of the Arab Spring resulted in this single moment - in moments like this.”

Aidan Sullivan: “The winning photo shows a poignant, compassionate moment, the human consequence of an enormous event, an event that is still going on. We might never know who this woman is, cradling an injured relative, but together they become a living image of the courage of ordinary people that helped create an important chapter in the history of the Middle East.”

Manoocher Deghati: “The photo is the result of a very human moment, but it also reminds us of something important, that women played a crucial part in this revolution. It is easy to portray the aggressiveness of situations like these. This image shows the tenderness that can exist within all the aggression. The violence is still there, but it shows another side.”

Now in its 55th year, the annual World Press Photo Contest is universally recognized as the world’s leading international contest for photojournalists, setting the standard for the profession. The judging is conducted at the World Press Photo office, where all entries are presented anonymously to the jury, who discusses and debates their merits over a period of two weeks. The jury operates independently, and a secretary without voting rights safeguards a fair procedure.

The jury gave prizes in nine themed categories to 57 photographers of 24 nationalities from: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the USA.

The contest draws entries by professional press photographers, photojournalists and documentary photographers from across the world, with 5,247 photographers from 124 countries participating this year with 101,254 pictures submitted by the mid-January deadline.

2012 Photo Contest Jury
A group of 19 internationally recognized professionals in the field of photojournalism and documentary photography have convened in Amsterdam from 28 January until 9 February 2012 to judge the entries.

Chair:
Aidan Sullivan, UK, vice president of photo assignments for Getty Images

Members:

• Monica Allende, Spain, photo editor The Sunday Times Magazine
• Koji Aoki, Japan, chief photographer Aflo Sport / Aflo Dite and president Aflo Co., Ltd.
• Patrick Baz, Lebanon/France, photo manager AFP for Middle East
• Nicole Becker, Germany, senior photo editor sport DPA
• Al Bello, USA, chief photographer sport Getty Images for North America
• Daniel Beltrá, Spain, conservation photographer
• Nina Berman, USA, photographer Noor
• Pablo Corral Vega, Ecuador, director Nuestramirada.org
• Manoocher Deghati, France/Iran, regional photo manager AP for Middle East
• Renata Ferri, Italy, photo editor Io Donna - Corriere della Sera and Amica - RCS MediaGroup, Italy
• W.M. Hunt, USA, strategist at Dancing B
• Koyo Kouoh, Cameroon, founder and artistic director Raw Material Company
• Dana Lixenberg, the Netherlands, photographer
• Andrei Polikanov, Russia, director of photography Russian Reporter magazine
• Steve Pyke, UK, artist and photographer
• Joel Sartore, USA, contributing photographer National Geographic magazine
• Sophie Stafford, UK, editor BBC Wildlife Magazine
• Ami Vitale, USA, photographer and filmmaker Panos Pictures/ Ripple Effect Images

Secretaries:

• Daphné Anglès, France/USA, European photo assignments editor The New York Times
• Stephen Mayes, UK, managing director VII Photo Agency

Special Mention
Following the judging of the contest, the 2012 jury decided to give a Special Mention to an image of a Libyan National Transition Council fighter pulling Muammar Gaddafi onto a military vehicle. The still image was taken from a video shot in Sirte, Libya, 20 October 2011.

Chair of the jury Aidan Sullivan commented: “The photo captures an historic moment, an image of a dictator and his demise that we otherwise would not have seen, had it not been photographed by a member of the public.”

Jury member Renata Ferri said: “This was an important document for posterity, for transparency, and to understand the dynamics of how Gaddafi came to his end.”

The jury considers a visual document for a Special Mention when it has played an essential role in the news reporting of the year worldwide and could not have been made by a professional photographer.

Awards Days and 2012 Exhibition
Samuel Aranda, the photographer of the World Press Photo of the Year 2011, will receive the award during the Awards Ceremony in Amsterdam on Saturday, 21 April 2012. The award also carries a cash prize of €10,000. In addition, Canon will donate a Canon EOS Digital SLR Camera and lens kit to Aranda.

The Awards Ceremony is preceded by a two-day program of lectures, discussions and screenings of photography. The exhibition with the award-winning images will be open to the public at the Oude Kerk, Oudekerksplein in Amsterdam on Friday, 20 April 2012. The exhibition in Amsterdam is sponsored by Delta Lloyd and will be on show until 17 June.

At the same, time a worldwide tour of the exhibition will be launched. With a record number of 105 venues in 45 countries for the World Press Photo 11 exhibition last year, our exhibition program has established itself as the most popular and wide-ranging traveling photo event in the world. With the yearbook distributed internationally in seven languages, the winning images will reach a worldwide audience of millions in the course of the year.

2012 Multimedia Contest
The winners of the second Multimedia Contest will be announced online on 15 March 2012. The judges will convene in Amsterdam at the beginning of March. The 2012 Multimedia Contest jury is chaired by director Vincent Laforet, France/USA.

World Press Photo receives support from the Dutch Postcode Lottery and is sponsored worldwide by Canon.

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Nikon Coolpix AW100

Info media photography : The Nikon Coolpix AW100 is a new waterproof, shock-proof, cold-resistant compact digital camera. The AW100 is Nikon’s first foray into the weather-proof camera market and is is waterproof to 10 meters, shock-proof to 1.5 meters, and freezeproof to as low as -10°C (14°F). The Coolpix AW100 also has a 16-megapixel back illuminated CMOS sensor, a 5x, 28-140mm equivalent zoom lens with lens-shift vibration reduction, 3-inch 460K-dot LCD monitor, full 1080p HD video with stereo sound, 3fps burst shooting, built-in GPS, a world map display and an electronic compass. The Nikon Coolpix AW100 is available in black, orange, blue or camouflage for an official retail price of £329.99 / €383.00 / $379.95.

Ease of Use

At first glance the Nikon Coolpix AW100 looks very much like a normal compact camera, in that Nikon have chosen to style it in a more subtle way than some of the more chunky all-action cameras on the market. In fact, at 22.8mm thick, it's actually a slim model for compact cameras in general, never mind one that is water-proof, shock-proof and freeze-proof. The main giveaway signs that the AW100 is more robust are the large, textured shutter-release button and the shared battery / memory card / HDMI / AV-Out compartment which is securely locked via a large round dial and button combination and internally protected by a bright yellow rubber seal.

The AW100 is waterproof to depths of 10m, shockproof from heights of up to 1.5m and freeze-proof for temperatures down to -10°C. This isn't quite as good as the Panasonic DMC-FT3, which adds a couple of meters to the waterproof depth and half a meter to the shockproof height, but it should ensure that the AW100 will cope with most things that you literally throw at it, or throw it into. Note that it isn't also officially dust-proof, however, again something that the DMC-FT3 offers.

The Nikon Coolpix AW100's lens is located in the top-right corner when viewed front on, shielded by a clear lens cover that is open when the camera is turned off and on. The lens is a 5x zoom of the internally stacked variety, so it does not extend upon power-up or zooming. In 35mm equivalency, it spans focal lengths ranging from 28mm to 140mm. Aperture-wise it is not particularly fast, its brightness being f/3.9 at the wide end and f/4.8 at full telephoto. On the front of the AW100 there's also the slimline flash unit, four small holes below the lens for the camera's stereo speakers, and the shared self-timer/AF-assist/movie light lamp.

The AW100 has Nikon's Vibration Reduction (VR) feature on board to prevent blurring from camera shake. You won't notice anything unusual except you can take sharp photos at shutter speeds that are critically slow for the focal length used. Note that Nikon recommends to turn off the VR function when the camera is mounted on a tripod.

In addition, there are a range of other functions and modes that also help to prevent camera shake. High ISO light sensitivity up to ISO 3200 at full 16 megapixel resolution reduces the risk of blurred images, while the Motion Detection option automatically detects and compensates for both camera and subject movement. The Best Shot Selector (BSS) mode automatically selects the sharpest of up to 10 sequential shots. The Backlighting mode offers an in-camera high dynamic range (HDR) function, automatically producing an image with a broader range of tonal detail. All of these options and the Vibration Reduction system can be used at the same time if so desired.

Back

Front 

On the top plate there is a large shutter release button with a cross-hatched texture to aid location, a square, recessed power button and one other control that's not normally found on most cameras, a built-in GPS receiver. This records the exact latitude and longitude and records it in the EXIF data of each image. The AW100 has a sophisticated suite of GPS options, from using it to set the camera's clock, plotting points of interest, creating a log of your routes even when you don't take any pictures, to even a built-in electronic compass. It does have a knock-on effect on the battery-life,

The large lozenge-shaped button on the left of the Nikon Coolpix AW100 has two functions. By default it accesses the World Map, a rather rudimentary but useful tool that allows you to see exactly where you took the photos on your memory card or internal memory, if GPS was enabled when you took them, and also to view any created routes if you turned the Create Logs option on. The World Map won't replace Google Maps in a hurry, but it's still handy for quickly reviewing your geographical progress.

Action Control is a clever mode that makes the AW100 easier to use when wearing gloves or underwater. When the camera's action control is set to ON in the Setup menu, the large button on the left of the camera that by default turns on the World Map now toggles Action Control On and Off. When activated, you can control certain functions of the camera by moving it from front to back or tilting it up and down. There are three settings - High, Medium and Low - which determine how much movement is required to actually change a setting. In practice this system works well once you've got the knack of it, although the number of settings that you can change is quite small - the scene mode, start movie recording, playback images, and GPS options.

The rest of the AW100 looks more like a normal compact. The rear panel features a 3-inch TFT LCD screen with a pleasingly high resolution of 460K dots. The LCD also features Nikon’s Clear Color Display technology which helps to minimize reflections in bright sunlight and underwater, and in practice this did make the screen easier to see than the majority of compacts that we test.

The Nikon Coolpix AW100's user interface opts for a conventional button-driven system. To the right of the screen are 12 buttons, with, starting from the top, a thumb-controlled rocker switch for zooming the 5x lens out and in, a one-touch movie record button, a pair of Shooting Mode and Playback buttons, a square navigation pad with an OK button at its centre, and Menu and Delete buttons underneath that. A small flash indicator lamp right at the top completes the rear controls. Our main observation is that although being rather on the small side, the buttons on the rear of the AW100 are surprisingly tactile to use with your right thumb, and they're logically laid out to prevent undue confusion.

Side

Front 

The Nikon AW100 runs on a dedicated Lithium-ion battery, and records images as well as videos on SD / SDHC / SDXC cards. As already mentioned, he battery and card share a common compartment with the HDMI and AV-Out ports, whose locakble, sealed door is found on the right of the camera (looking from the rear). The quoted number of images that can be captured on a single charge is a rather average 250, though the actual figure may vary considerably with the amount of flash, GPS and zoom usage that you opt for. On the bottom of the AW100 is a plastic tripod socket that's centrally located in line with the LCD screen.

There are five main shooting modes on the Nikon Coolpix AW100, accessible via a dedicated button marked with a green camera icon, which include Easy Auto, Scene, the new Special Effects mode , Smart Portrait and finally Auto. Somewhat confusingly, Auto is the mode that gives you the most control over the shooting process. You don't get to set shutter speed or aperture directly - the latter would be impossible given the lack of a diaphragm anyway - but you can set the ISO speed manually, which is something you cannot do in the other modes. Functions and features accessible in this mode include the self-timer, flash mode, image quality setting, exposure compensation, macro, drive mode, white balance, and zoom. New to the AW100 is the Effects mode, which shoots both still images or movies using a special effect, such as Soft Focus and Nostalgic Sepia.

The Easy Auto mode is similar to Auto, identifying the type of subject and automatically applying the optimum scene mode, but with less user control options provided. The camera also has 17 pre-programmed scene modes as well as a Scene Auto Selector. The scene modes on offer include Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Beach, Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Night Landscape, Close-up, Food, Museum, Fireworks Show, Black and White Copy, Backlighting, Panorama Assist and Pet Portrait. The accessibility and behaviour of the various shooting functions (such as flash mode or autofocus area selection) depends on which shooting mode you are in. By enabling the Scene Auto Selector, you entrust the camera with picking the right scene mode at its own discretion. In this case, it can only choose from Portrait, Landscape, Night Portrait, Night Landscape, Close-Up and Backlighting.

In the Smart Portrait mode, the face priority and smile timer functions are activated. In other words, the camera hunts for human faces, keeps track of them, and if it detects a smile, it even fires off the shutter for you. The AW100 can detect up to three faces, but it will always focus on the one closest to the centre of the frame and will only take a shot if a smile appears on that particular face. You have no way of telling the camera to focus on and monitor a different face within the frame. You can, however, take a picture any time you want to, by pressing the shutter release button as normal.

In Smart Portrait Mode, you can also have the camera digitally soften the skin of people automatically after capture. The level of skin softening can be specified by the user. The default is Normal, with a High and a Low option also available. Skin softening can also be turned off. Furthermore, the AW100 has a blink-proof mode, in which two shots are taken in rapid succession, and if the subject's eyes happen to be closed in one of them, the camera discards that photo, while keeping the other one. The flash is disabled in blink-proof mode, as it cannot recycle fast enough.

Battery Compartment

Memory Card Slot 

The Nikon Coolpix AW100 is one of the few Coolpix models to feature a Full 1080p HD video mode, complete with stereo sound. You can set the set the movie quality to 1920x1080p (two quality levels are available), 1280x720p, 960x540 or 640x480, all at 30fps. Four further options, HS 240fps and HS 120fps, HS 60fps and HS 15fps allow you to film in slow or fast motion.

The video features themselves are rather basic: you can uswe the 5x optical zoo, choose from single or full-time autofocusing, turn the movie light on or off, switch the macro mode on or off, and turn wind reduction on or off. You cannot manually set white balance, gain or exposure compensation, neither is there an AE lock function. The clips are compressed using the Quicktime codec and stored in a MOV container.

Once you've captured a photo or a movie clip, you can enter Playback mode via its dedicated button. The user can choose from a number of viewing modes, including full frame, magnified view, and index views of 4, 9 or 16 thumbnails. A calendar display is also available. Quite surprisingly, the camera does not display any meaningful exposure data along with the photo you are viewing; nor does it provide a histogram to judge exposure (there is no live histogram in record mode, either).

On the other hand, there are quite a few post-capture image modification / retouching functions, including Quick Retouch, D-lighting, Glamor Retouch, which applies adjustments only to faces in an image, seven creative effects - Color Options, Soft, Selective Color, Cross Screen, Fisheye and Miniature Effect and Fog removal - set the print order, view a slideshow with music, protect certain images, rotate and downsize them for Web resolution, add a voice memo, copy them to or from the internal memory or memory card, set the sequence display, choose a key picture, and choose your favourite pictures.

As with most Coolpix's that we've reviewed, the AW100 comes with a comprehensive manual that is also downloadable as a PDF from the Nikon website. It is quite thorough and very well cross-referenced. Nikon supplies a Software Suite CD that includes Nikon Transfer, Nikon View NX and Panorama Maker. The first two are standard Nikon camera / imaging applications, while the latter is used to stitch together images shot in the Panorama Assist scene mode.

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Canon PowerShot S100

Info media photography : The Canon PowerShot S100 is a pocket-sized camera that offers a lot of professional features. Aimed at the serious photographer looking for a capable compact, the new Canon S100 features a high-sensitivity 12.1 megapixel 1/1.7-type CMOS sensor, 5x zoom lens with a focal range of 24-140mm and fast maximum aperture of f/2.0, DIGIC 5 processor, and a 3.0 inch LCD display with a resolution of 461K dots, The S100 also offers a maximum ISO of 6400 at full resolution, built-in GPS, 1080p movie recording at 24fps, full range of manual shooting modes, RAW format support and 9.6fps burst shooting. Also present are the innovative lens Control Ring, which enables users to adjust the settings of various functions by twisting the selector at the base of the lens barrel to the left or right, and an anti-shake system which incorporates seven modes of stabilisation. Available in black or silver, the Canon Powershot S100 officially retails for £439.00 / €509.00 / $429.99.

Ease of Use

The new Canon PowerShot S100 is outwardly very similar to the S95 model that it replaces, so some of the comments that we made in that review apply equally to the S100, but there's also a lot of changes that have taken place internally, with a brand new Canon-made image sensor, Digic 5 processor and 5x zoom lens.

The S100 is an understated yet handsome camera that looks a lot simpler than its extensive feature list might suggest. It feels solid at a body-only weight of 198g when gripped in the palm, and measuring 98.9 x 59.8 x 26.7mm it's actually slightly slimmer than its S95 predecessor, impressive given the increase in zoom range, slipping readily into a trouser pocket or handbag. The S100 is completely covered in the same tactile coating as the EOS 7D DSLR, which helps to improve handling, aided by the new small and slim but still useful hand-grip on the front and the rubberised thumb-rest on the rear, two very welcome additions.

Unlike the S95, the S100 increases the megapixel count slightly to a new 12-megapixel sensor, and also changes the sensro type from CCD to CMOS. The S100 now offers the ability to shoot at a maximum ISO speed of 6400 at full stills resolution, with, more unusually still, a plethora of incremental 1/3 stop adjustments available between the lowest ISO 80 setting and this top option.

The S100 also sports a new lens, increasing the zoom range from the S95's 3.8x to a more versatile and wider-angle 5x zoom which offers a focal range of 24-120mm. Canon suggests that its f/2.0 lens has been fitted to allow in twice as much light as a more standard issue f/2.8 aperture optic, allowing for faster shutter speeds and shallower depth of field, although note that it's only f/2.0 at full wide-angle and that the maximum aperture at the 120mm telephoto end is a much slower f/5.9. The optically stabilized 5x zoom provides a four stop advantage and works for both still images and movies, and there's no less than seven different modes of stabilisation (Normal, Panning, Macro, Dynamic, Powered, Dynamic Macro, and Tripod mode) that are automatically detected and applied by the camera.

There's a 3-inch, 461-dot resolution LCD screen, an HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) port for easy hookup to a HDTV set, plus the new Digic 5 processor and exposure adjusting iContrast function now a standard feature across the Canon family. More surprisingly for a compact with a width not a great deal broader than your credit card, both RAW and JPEG capture are also offered.

Perhaps more predictably, point-and-shoot user friendliness on the S100 comes in the form of the fully automatic face detection, motion detection and Smart Auto scene detection technologies regularly found on Canon's snapshot compacts. Something that was missing from the S95 - Full HD video capture - has now been rectified on the S100, with full 1080p movies at 1920x10800 pixels resolution available at 24fps complete with stereo sound. There's also full use of the optical zoom and thankfully continuous auto-focusing too, plus super slow-motion options (640x480 pixels at 120fps or 320x 240 pixels at 240fps), all adding up to a marked improvement on the S95's rather poor video capabilities.

Rear

Front

Pared down to the essentials, which includes a quick start guide in the box and full manual on provided CD only, there's nothing initially about the S100 that feels extraneous or gimmicky. The most prominent feature of the S100's clean and rather serious looking faceplate is firstly the lens itself, and secondly the lens control ring that encircles it and turns with a series of satisfyingly audible clicks. Functions are attributed to a twist of the ring in conjunction with a press of the Ring Function button on camera's rear, with 8 available presets and a Custom option too.

In this way, to take one example, users can elect to adjust focus manually, a distance slider appearing on the right hand side of the LCD screen and the central portion of the image enlarged as a further aid to accuracy. Other options for the ring function include changing the aperture, selecting the ISO speed, tweaking of exposure (+/- 2EV), manual adjustment of white balance, as a stepped zoom providing the equivalent of 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 100mm and 120mm steps, changing the i-Contrast, or choosing one of the aspect ratios.

Apart from the enticingly tactile draw of the lens ring, the front plate of the S100 houses a stereo microphone within two holes the size of a pinprick to the left of the lens, plus an AF assist/self timer lamp window top left of the lens. The clever flash is housed within the top plate so that when it's raised it is at least a centimeter away from the lens in a cursory attempt to avoid the blight of red eye. Instead of a dedicated button for activating the pop up flash, this is done automatically via selection of the settings offered via the rear command pad/scroll wheel. Select the forced flash option and, technically, rather than popping up, the bulb instead rises majestically from the body with a low mechanical accompaniment… very cool.

Moving to the top plate, we find at its foremost edge a silver shutter release button, which is bigger than the S95's, encircled by a zoom rocker switch with front lip that has been squared off to fall into line with the width of the body and avoid distracting from the clean lines. There's just enough of it to achieve purchase with a fingertip, the lens traveling steadily and surely from maximum wide-angle setting to extreme telephoto in just under three seconds sound-tracked by a low operational whirr.

Also set into the top plate is a small round on/off button. Press this with a fingernail and the S100 powers up for action in just under a second, rear LCD bursting into life soundtracked by a musical 'sting' and the lens barrel extending from its stacked hiding place within the camera's innards to its maximum wide angle setting.

Completing the top of the S100 is the GPS logo, which replaces the S95's Ring Function button (now relocated to the rear). The GPS is set to off as a default and to enable it, you have to go into the main menu, go to Settings and scroll down to the GPS sub menu. It's worth noting that GPS can't be used in every country and if you're travelling abroad, you should check with that country's regulations to make sure you're ok doing it. In practice the GPS system does have a little trouble indoors or under cover, but we found that it worked perfectly outside even with cloud cover, embedding your co-ordinates within the EXIF data. Also the GPS Logger function can record your position at set time intervals so that you can review your journey on the supplied Map Utility software.

Front

Pop-up Flash

Software for uploading the pictures to Google Maps is included along with the manual disc in the box. It's relatively easy to find out how to view your pictures on the map, the main problem we had was how to navigate away from the My Pictures folder that the software defaults to, so that we could get to our dedicated folder storing the Canon pictures. The ones that have GPS information will have a small satellite icon in the top corner. The readings are extremely accurate – we would say to within a few metres.

A half press of the nearby shutter button and the camera chooses a point of focus within a quarter of a second, AF point or points flashing in green accompanied by an affirmative 'beep'. Go on to take the shot and there's little if any discernible shutter delay, while full resolution JPEGS are written to inserted (optional) SD or SDHC card (there's no internal memory provided to fall back on) in just over a second, with RAW files - selectable in Program or one of the other four creative shooting modes - taking a mere fraction longer.

With the integral flash housed and hidden to the far left of the top plate (if gazing down on the camera), to the far right is a slightly raised shooting mode dial that's operated by the thumb. Rigid to the touch, it clicks into place at each of its nine mode settings with a definite clicking action. These comprise the creative grouping of Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual and a single Custom mode, plus separate Smart Auto, Scene, Creative Filters and Movie modes. The new High-speed Burst HQ scene mode allows you to shoot at 9.6fps in an 8-frame burst, although it's JPEG only and there's no manual control. The normal continuous shooting mode offers a still quite impressive shooting rate of 2.3fps. The new Creative Filters shooting mode contains 10 different options, including High Dynamic Range, Miniature and Toy Camera. In the High Dynamic Range mode the S100 combines three separate images to greatly expand the dynamic range.

The S100's Smart Auto functionality goes further than some rivals in comparing common scenes or subjects with not just five or six options, but 32 variables to deliver - in theory - the most appropriate and optimal results. Click the mode wheel around to each subsequent setting and the name and icons of said mode appears on the camera's LCD with, in some cases, a brief text description of the best application for the particular mode. This suggests that the S100 can be used as readily by beginners as more seasoned digital camera users, the variety of shooting options to be found on the mode dial allowing first timers to move beyond their initial comfort zone as familiarity with the camera's workings grows over time. More experienced users can turn this Hints & Tips feature off.

With the back of the Canon S100 largely swallowed up by the high-resolution 3 inch LCD screen, the visibility of which proves more than adequate both indoors and out, a familiar array of controls is found shunted to the right hand side. Familiar, in that they ape those found on the G-series camera's to a fair extent, including the love it or loathe it scroll wheel surrounding the thumb operated four-way control pad.

From the top then is the new rubberised thumb-rest, below we find a pairing of buttons for changing the lens control ring function and a new dedicated one-touch movie record button respectively. The Ring Control button can be more usefully assigned a different function, with no less than 20 different options to choose from. In conjunction with the customisable lens control ring, this makes it easy to tailor the S100 to your own specific way of shooting.

Memory Card Slot

Battery Compartment

Beneath this is the control pad and scroll wheel combination. At points north, east, south and west we get options, in capture modes, for adjusting exposure compensation, flash settings, display options, and macro or manual focus, if not already using the front lens ring for the latter. The Tracking AF mode focuses on the subject in the centre of the frame and tracks them if they move, useful for keeping up with fast-moving or unpredictable subjects like children. If the camera is in playback mode, points north and south allow a series of captured images to be leapfrogged if hunting down a particular shot saved to card in a hurry, or alternatively deleting a duff capture.

In the centre of the control pad is the Function/Set button. Press this, and as we're used to from recent Canon compacts a toolbar appears down the left hand side of the screen, options highlighted or de-selected dependant on whether the user is in auto capture or one of the more fully featured creative capture modes. In Program mode, for example, selecting the ISO icon provides a slide rule across the bottom of the screen with ISO speeds set out incrementall and the user simply utilizes the scroll wheel or tabs between them to select the desired setting.

The other selectable options on the tool bar comprise white balance (which can now detect scenes with two different light sources and apply area-specific correction in the Smart Auto shooting mode), Canon's familiar 'My Colours' effects modes, an exposure or focus bracketing option - whereby three successive shots are taken - single or continuous shooting modes, self-timer options, switch between evaluative, centre weighted average or spot metering, turn the new neutral density filter on or off to allow for larger apertures in bright conditions, select one of the five aspect ratios, choose the various image capture formats including RAW and/or JPEG, and set the movie size. Finally, the DR Correction option allows you to manually select the DR strength - off, auto, 200% or 400% - and if you want to turn Shadow Correction on.

Returning to the camera back, and below the control pad we find a final pairing of buttons for the self-explanatory Playback and Menu. A press of Menu brings up a trio of folders, for Camera, Setup and My Menu settings, in that order. It's via the first folder that the user can enable such settings as noise reduction, wind filter and auto red eye reduction/removal, as well as blink detection and adjusting the image stabilization mode to come into effect only when taking a shot, when panning the camera, or have it on continuously.

While the left hand flank of the S100, viewed from the rear, is devoid of controls, the right hand side features a hard plastic covered port for both an HDMI cable (not supplied in the box) plus the more regular combined AV out/USB out port (for which two separate cables are provided).

The base of the camera features a metal screw thread for a tripod attachment just left of centre and a sliding door with catch protecting slots for the provided lithium ion rechargeable battery and optional SD/SDHC card, both of which slot relatively easily into place. A battery life lasting 200 shots without flash or 300 minutes of video isn't particular generous however, and any less would be downright alarming at this price point. As it was, after one days' extensive use our battery was back in the provided charger, so you'll want to take this or a spare battery away with you on any extended trip or visit.

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Ricoh Reorganises Imaging

Info media photography : Ricoh has announced that Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, which was established last October, will assume control of the design, development and distribution of all consumer-oriented imaging products, including all digital cameras. Ricoh’s other business unit, Ricoh Personal Multimedia Product Company - which has hitherto been responsible for the development, manufacture and sales of Ricoh branded cameras -, will now focus on security systems and imaging solutions for the B2B market. The changes will take effect from 1st April.

Ricoh Press Release

Re-organization of Imaging Systems Business including Digital Camera Business

Tokyo, February 9, 2012 — Ricoh Company, Ltd. (President and CEO: Shiro Kondo, hereinafter Ricoh) announces an organizational change to its imaging system business including security system business and consumer digital camera business.

Since October 1, 2011 when PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY (President Zenji Miura, hereinafter PRI) was established, Ricoh managed its global imaging system business under two brands, RICOH and PENTAX. Specifically RICOH brand digital cameras were designed, developed and sold by Personal Multimedia Product Company (hereinafter PMMC), an internal organization of Ricoh, while PENTAX brand digital cameras were designed, developed and sold by PRI.

In an effort to strengthen customer relationships and provide innovative products and services, Ricoh will re-organize its structure.

1. Effective date
April 1, 2012 plan

2. Scope
Worldwide

3. New functions of each business unit
PRI: Consumer businesses such as digital cameras for B2C market
(This includes Ricoh development resources to improve capabilities and support Ricoh branded cameras )
Ricoh PMMC: B2B businesses including security system business, and imaging solutions business for B2B market

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Sigma SD1 Merrill

Info media photography : Sigma has renamed its flagship digital SLR camera to Sigma SD1 Merrill, in honour of Foveon’s founding father, Richard B. Merrill. The rebranding was initiated by Sigma’s new CEO, Kazuto Yamaki, who wrote “a personal letter to the company’s loyal customers” announcing the name change and a reduction of the camera’s MSRP to $3,300. Given the typically huge difference between Sigma’s suggested retail prices and the actual retail pricing of their products, this means you can realistically expect to be able to purchase the Sigma SD1 Merrill for about $2,300 - which is a massive price drop considering that the camera used to sell for about $6,900.

Sigma UK Press Release

SD1 Merrill digital SLR camera
Flagship digital SLR with 46 megapixel Foveon X3 sensor

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new SIGMA SD1 Merrill, the latest high resolution and high image quality digital SLR camera featuring a 46 megapixel (4800×3200×3 layers) FOVEON X3® direct image sensor.

The SIGMA SD1 Merrill is the flagship model which incorporates a full-colour FOVEON X3® direct image sensor. It adopts a lightweight yet solid magnesium alloy body along with buttons and connected parts sealed with O-rings, enhancing the durability as well as preventing dust and water from getting inside the camera. The Dual TRUE II processing engine and DDR III buffer ensure high speed processing of images without lowering the quality. The 46 megapixel (4800×3200×3 layers) sensor ensures outstanding resolution and natural rendering with rich gradation as well as a three-dimensional feel.

About the generation-name “Merrill”
The Foveon X3 Direct Image Sensor uses technology originally developed by the late Dick Merrill (1949-2008), a brilliant engineer and talented photographer. This revolutionary image capture system reflects both the artistic and technological sides of Merrill’s personality. As an expression of Sigma’s passion for photography and in honour of Dick Merrill’s genius, we have named the latest generation of the Foveon X3 Direct Image Sensor the Foveon Merrill.

46 megapixel 23.5×15.7mm full-colour X3 Merrill sensor
The 23.5×15.7mm full-colour FOVEON X3® direct image sensor featured in the SIGMA SD1 Merrill, incorporates 46 effective megapixels (4,800×3,200×3 layers) and 44 recording megapixels (4,704×3,136×3 layers). The FOVEON X3® direct image sensor captures all primary RGB colours at each and every pixel location with 3 layers, ensuring the capture of full and complete colour.

Dual TRUE II image processing engine
The SIGMA SD1 Merrill incorporates a dual “TRUE (Three-layer Responsive Ultimate Engine) II” image processing engine dedicated to the FOVEON X3® direct image sensor. This improves the processing speed and overall quality of the final image. By incorporating two TRUE II processors, Sigma’s unique image-processing algorithm provides high resolution power and reproduces high definition images with richly graduated tones as well as a three-dimensional feel.

Advanced DDR III buffer
To handle large volumes of colour data at high speed, the SD1 Merrill uses DDR III buffer memory technology which delivers class-leading performance. The SD1 Merrill features a continuous shooting speed of 5 frames per second and can capture up to 7 RAW images per sequence in continuous shooting mode.

Intuitive user interface
The improved user interface provides intuitive operation. Aperture and shutter speed can be changed by their own dials. The functions such as exposure compensation button and exposure mode button are on top of the body for quick access. A Quick Set (QS) menu lets you easily change commonly used functions

CF card
The SD1 adopts the TYPE I CF Card and is compatible with UDMA enabling fast processing of large amounts of data.

Magnesium body
The Sigma SD1 Merrill adopts a lightweight yet solid magnesium alloy body designed to withstand rough use and shocks in harsh conditions. Buttons and connected parts are sealed with O-rings to prevent dust and water from getting inside the camera body.

Two-motor system
Using a two-motor system with dedicated motors for mirror-drive and shutter charge reduces the vibration of mirror movement, thereby preventing camera shake. A mirror lock-up mechanism prevents further vibration when the shutter is released. Preventing camera shake is especially important for macro photography and when using ultra-telephoto lenses.

Pentarism viewfinder
The SD1 Merrill features a pentaprism viewfinder with 98% (vertical and horizontal) coverage, 0.95x magnification and an 18mm eye point. Dioptre adjustment is provided over a range of -3 to +1.5.

11 point twin cross sensor
The autofocus system features an 11 point twin cross sensor. The shifted twin cross type sensor improves AF accuracy. The AF point can be selected automatically or manually.

Four metering modes
The SD1 features 77-segment Evaluative Metering, Centre Weighted Average Metering, Centre Area Metering and Spot Metering. When difficult lighting conditions make appropriate exposure unclear, auto bracketing lets you take a sequence of shots of the same subject at three or five different exposure levels. Bracketing can be set in 1/3EV increments up to ±3EV(3levels) or ±1.7EV(5 levels). The 77-segment AE sensor is coordinated with the 11 AF points to achieves accurate exposure even in difficult lightning conditions.

Dust Protector
Most digital SLR cameras are vulnerable to dust entering the body. If dust and dirt adhere to the image sensor, it may appear in the photos. The lens mount of the SD1 Merrill is equipped with a dust protector and the area around is sealed to prevent dust from entering the body. Even in the unlikely event of dust adhering to the image sensor, the dust protector can be removed easily for sensor cleaning.

Focal Plane shutter
The durable focal plane shutter mechanism has a life cycle of over 100,000 exposures and dramatically reduces generation of dust. The photographer can enjoy taking pictures with confidence that the image sensor is clean and protected from dust or dirt originating inside or outside the camera.

Large, highly visible 3.0” TFT colour LCD Monitor
The SD1 Merrill camera features a 3.0 inch TFT colour monitor which ensures a great visibility even outside in the daytime. This approximately 460,000 pixel resolution LCD monitor benefits from a wide viewing angle, making it easy to capture detail and to check focusing and composition.

Built-in flash with 17mm angle of coverage
The Sigma SD1 Merrill camera’s built-in flash has a guide number of 11 to cover a 17mm lens angle (equivalent to 25.5mm on a 35mm camera). The built-in flash can be synchronized to a shutter speed of up to 1/180 sec. The S-TTL automatic exposure system enables control of advanced flash photography.

SIGMA Photo Pro
The supplied image processing software, “SIGMA Photo Pro”, converts RAW data quickly and easily. While looking at photographed images, it is possible to render desired photographic expression by moving the slider from side to side. It incorporates functions such as a loupe, exposure picker, print, JPEG conversion, and batch white balance settings.

The SD1 Merrill will be available in the UK in mid March.


Sigma Corporation of America Press Release

Sigma Corporation of America announces new name, pricing for flagship SD1 camera
DSLR takes Foveon technology creator’s name, undergoes manufacturing improvements to reduce price

Ronkonkoma, NY, Feb. 8, 2012 – In a personal letter to the company’s loyal customers, Sigma Corporation CEO Kazuto Yamaki today announced that, starting next month, Sigma’s 46-megapixel SD1 DSLR will be renamed the SD1 Merrill in honor Richard “Dick” Merrill, the late co-creator of the Foveon X3 Direct Image Sensor technology. The otherwise unchanged DSLR will also be sold at a lower price that reflects new efficiencies in the camera’s production.

The SD1 Merrill will be sold for approximately $3,300 MSRP in the United States.

Today Yamaki wrote:


To our valued customers,

We would like to express our appreciation for your loyal patronage of Sigma products.

Today, we announced our new digital single lens reflex camera, the Sigma SD1 Merrill. This product has the same features, performance, and specifications as the Sigma SD1, however, the price is substantially revised. We are gearing up for its release in March 2012, and the market price is expected to be approximately $3,300 MSRP.

At the time of its introduction, the Sigma SD1 was a revolutionary product incorporating a 46MP* direct image sensor which provided the highest resolution in a digital SLR camera. As the world’s only full-color sensor capturing all three primary color components (R, G, and B) within each pixel location, the Foveon X3 Direct Image Sensor made it possible for the image quality of SD1 to not only demonstrate improved resolution, but also to obtain richer expressions of gradation, as well as to enhance the three-dimensional impression which is specific to Foveon sensors. *Resolution equivalent to 30MP on a color filter array sensor

However, even with this revolutionary image sensor, we could not solve issues related to some of the manufacturing methods before the start of mass production, and the production cost ended up substantially exceeding our originally expected price. As a result, we had no choice but to set the price of the SigmaSD1 high. This caused great discouragement to all of you who looked forward to its release, and wished to experience the very unique image quality of the Sigma SD1 in person; this has become our biggest disappointment and pain.

Since then, overcoming this situation has become the first priority for us and Foveon, and we have together made improvements to reduce production cost substantially. Even though this effort took nearly a year, at last, we achieved a reduction target close to the price we originally planned. Therefore, we decided to release Sigma SD1 as a new product, and were able to make our recent announcement.

The Sigma SD1 Merrill keeps the best image quality of the Sigma SD1, which has a unique identity, but comes with a substantially revised price. Although some of the manufacturing methods have been enhanced, the performance and characteristics of the sensor itself have not changed. There is nothing more pleasurable for us than enabling our valued customers to experience the Sigma SD1 Merrill in person, as a digital SLR camera of a new era which inspires photographers’ inner artistic sensitivity, providing “high image quality” and changing current perceptions of what is possible.

On the other hand, we fully understand that it is not acceptable to current Sigma SD1 users that a new product with exactly the same specifications as their camera is being released with a substantially revised price a year later. After all, those customers committed to purchasing the Sigma SD1 with great expectations.

During this period, we have seriously considered how we can express our appreciation for our Sigma SD1 customers. Currently, we have a plan to offer a support program for current Sigma SD1 owners. This support program will provide points that can be exchanged for our products. This program is expected to be valid after the release of Sigma SD1 Merrill and it will last until the end of this year, 2012. It will be applicable for all Sigma products including both current and new products to be released this year. More details will be available soon; we appreciate your kind understanding as we finalize this program.

We would like to once again express our appreciation to current Sigma SD1 owners, and other customers who are looking forward to our next DSLR camera, for your loyal patronage to Sigma. We will continue doing our best with the aim to design and manufacture ideal photographic equipment that inspires the artistic hearts of photographers everywhere. We sincerely value your continued support.

Kazuto Yamaki
Chief Executive Officer

SIGMA CORPORATION

Sigma Corporation of America will soon contact current Sigma SD1 owners in the United States to discuss the support program and the redemption of points with the company as a result of this pricing change. In the meantime, SD1 owners in the United States may contact Director of Marketing Christine Moossmann by emailing http://infomediaphotography.blogspot.com/ with questions or concerns about this announcement.

To locate an authorized Sigma dealer nearest to you, visithttp://www.sigmaphoto.com/where/where.asp. For information about Sigma Corporation of America, visit http://www.sigmaphoto.com.

About Sigma Corporation
For more than 50 years, Sigma Corporation’s expertise and innovation has driven the company’s core philosophy of “knowledge, plus experience, plus imagination,”with anemphasis on producing high-quality, high-performance photographic technology at moderate prices. This family-owned organization is the largest, independent SLR lens manufacturer in the world, producing more than 40 lenses that are compatible with most manufacturers, including Sigma, Canon, Sony, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Pentax. Sigma Corporation also produces digital SLR cameras and high-definition digital compact cameras. The company is headquartered in Japan, with offices strategically located throughout Europe, Asia and North America. For information, please visithttp://www.sigmaphoto.com.

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Olympus TG-820 iHS

Info media photography : The Olympus TG-820 iHS is a new water-, shock-, freeze- and dustproof compact camera with a 12-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, a 28-140mm equivalent zoom lens and a 3-inch, 1,030,000-dot HyperCrystal III LCD screen with scratch-resistant, anti-reflective coatings. Olympus’ iHS technology builds on the speed of the camera’s back-illuminated CMOS imager and TruePic VI image processor to “dramatically improve” low-light performance, speed up camera response time and auto focus, plus enhance scene and subject recognition. HDR Backlight Adjustment takes a collage of separate photos and blends them into one perfectly exposed image regardless of difficult lighting. Other highlights include Full HD video recording with Multi-Motion Movie IS, an enhanced iAuto shooting mode and an on-board HDMI connector. The Olympus Tough TG-820 iHS will be available in a variety of colours at an estimated street price of $299.99/£269.99.

Olympus Press Release

NEW OLYMPUS TG-820 iHS IS TOUGHER ON THE OUTSIDE AND SMARTER ON THE INSIDE FOR INCREDIBLE IMAGE QUALITY ANYWHERE

iHS Technology Brings Intelligence, High-Sensitivity and High-Speed Performance to Active Families and Adrenaline Junkies Alike So They Can Focus on Fun

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., February 7, 2012 – The Olympus digital camera line-up for spring features a next-generation Olympus TOUGH compact that sets a new benchmark for Waterproof, Shockproof, Freezeproof, Crushproof and Dustproof performance. Combining proven durability with superb image quality courtesy of the new iHS (Intelligent, High-Sensitivity and High-Speed) family of technologies, the Olympus Tough TG-820 iHS has both brains and brawn. iHS harnesses the power of a new 12-megapixel BSI (Back-Side Illuminated) CMOS sensor and the TruePic VI image processor (originally developed for DSLR cameras) to dramatically improve low-light performance, speed up camera response time, enhance scene and subject recognition and double zoom magnification without losing image quality.

Whether you’re using it at a neighbor’s pool party or snorkeling near a tropical reef, out-and-about at your local park or hiking Yellowstone, the Olympus Tough TG-820 iHS is the perfect travel companion for active families and adventurers looking for a camera that delivers outstanding image quality with a worry-free guarantee. Advanced iHS technology ensures that even people with an action-packed lifestyle can capture brilliant photos and 1080p Full HD Videos, no matter how fast their subject is moving or how poor the lighting is.

iHS powers a number of new Olympus features that take all the work out of capturing difficult shots. A blazing quick autofocus and HDR Backlight Adjustment takes a collage of separate photos and blends them into one perfectly exposed image regardless of difficult lighting. Multi-Motion Movie IS (Image Stabilization) records virtually blur-free videos even when you’re moving. The versatile lens on the Olympus Tough TG-820 iHS pulls out wide or zooms in twice as close with its 10x Super-Resolution Zoom that digitally extends the range of the optical zoom with nearly no loss of image quality. Capture beautiful images and videos effortlessly; Enhanced iAuto enables the camera to automatically detect 34 different scenes (portrait, landscape, macro, etc.)

While the new imaging technology delivers optimal results with fast-moving subjects, night scenes and other tricky shots, the Olympus Tough TG-820 iHS is also Waterproof to 33 feet, Shockproof to 6.6 feet, Freezeproof to 14 °F and even Crushproof to a weight of 220 pounds*1. Focus on fun, without worrying about damaging your camera’s high-grade components like the OLYMPUS 5x Wide-Angle Zoom Lens (28 mm-140 mm*2). The 3.0-inch, 1,030,000-dot HyperCrystal III LCD offers super high-resolution with scratch-resistant, anti-reflective coatings for added protection and better visibility in bright and low light.

When you’re back from your adventures, the camera’s HDMI Control makes playback a breeze. Simply connect the camera to an HDTV with an optional HDMI cable and use your HDTV’s remote to control playback functions and navigate the camera’s menus from the comfort of your couch.

*1 Waterproof according to IEC standard publication 529 IPX8. Shockproof figures equivalent to MIL Standard (Olympus test conditions). Freezeproof according to Olympus test conditions.
*2 35 mm camera equivalent.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The Olympus Tough TG-820 iHS will be available in March and ships with a Wrist Strap, USB Cable, A/V Cable, USB-to-AC Adapter (F-2AC), Lithium-Ion Battery (LI-50B), Quick Start Guide, Instruction Manual on CD-ROM, a software CD-ROM featuring [ib] (Windows) and OLYMPUS Viewer 2 (Win/Mac), and a Warranty Card.
Estimated Street Price: $299.99 (Available in Silver, Black, and Blue)

For a complete list of specifications, visit the Olympus website: http://olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1592

ABOUT OLYMPUS IMAGING AMERICA INC.
Olympus Imaging America Inc. is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering award-winning products for consumer and professional markets.

Olympus Imaging America Inc. works collaboratively with its customers and its ultimate parent company, Olympus Corporation, to develop breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality that enhance people’s lives every day. These include:

* Digital Cameras
* Professional and Interchangeable Lens System Cameras
* Related Underwater Products and Accessories
* Digital and Microcassette Recorders
* Digital Media
* Binoculars

Olympus Imaging America Inc. is responsible for sales in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. For more information, visit : http://www.olympusamerica.com.

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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

Info media photography : The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS is a new travelzoom camera with a 16-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, a 25-600mm equivalent zoom lens, touch-sensitive screen, high-speed AF and Multi-Recording functionality. Equipped with two separate TruePic V image processors, originally developed for DSLR cameras, the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS is capable ofsimultaneously capturing Full HD movies and full-resolution stills. Its new iHS (intelligent, High-Sensitivity and High-Speed) technology is claimed to “dramatically improve” low-light performance, speed up camera response time, and enhance scene and subject recognition. “Combined with High-Speed Sequential Shooting (10fps) and high-speed autofocus, iHS reduces picture noise and enhances resolution and colour gradation,” the company says. The camera‘s touch-sensitive, 3.0-inch 920,000-dot LCD screen allows users to change the active AF point, shutter speed and zoom, or navigate the Live Guide controls by touch. Other highlights include a hand-held starlight mode and a dozen “Magic Art Filters”. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS will be available in silver and black, priced at $399.99/£299.99.

Olympus Press Release

NEW OLYMPUS SZ-31MR iHS DIGITAL CAMERA GETS YOU SO CLOSE TO THE ACTION, YOU CAN ALMOST TOUCH IT

iHS Technology, High-Resolution Touch LCD, and 24x Zoom Extends the Power and Performance of the Olympus Long Zoom Line

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., February 7, 2012 – The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS camera packs incredible power and performance into a single, compact and lightweight body thanks to new enhancements to the popular Long Zoom line. Like its predecessor, the SZ-31MR iHS incorporates revolutionary Multi-Recording functionality that simultaneously captures 1080p HD Video and 16-Megapixel still images without missing a frame. But the innovative Olympus SZ-31MR iHS goes further by combining an outstanding 24x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens (25-600 mm zoom equivalent in 35-mm format) with a new touch panel LCD and powerful new iHS (Intelligent, High-Sensitivity and High-Speed) technologies that capture excellent images and videos in the most challenging backlit and low light conditions.

New iHS technology achieves consistently sharp and vivid images in any situation. iHS draws on the camera’s 16-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor and two separate TruePic V image processors, originally developed for DSLR cameras, to dramatically improve low-light performance, speed up camera response time, enhance scene and subject recognition and double zoom magnification without sacrificing image quality. Combined with High-Speed Sequential Shooting (10 frames-per-second) and high-speed autofocus, iHS reduces picture noise and enhances resolution and color gradation despite fast-moving subjects, night scenes and other tricky shots.

Thanks to the ingenious Multi-Recording feature that enables users to combine various photo and video recording modes simultaneously, you’ll never have to choose between capturing 1080p Full HD Videos or still images again. A simple tap on the LCD screen captures a photo while you’re recording video – all without interrupting your movie making.

The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS brings you close to your subjects with its lens, and while you can’t physically touch them from afar, the camera‘s touch-sensitive, 3.0-inch 920,000-dot LCD display helps you effortlessly capture and display images, change camera focus, shutter speed and zoom, or navigate the Live Guide controls by simply touching the screen. Whether you’re trying to capture your child’s first time at bat from a distant bleacher seat or zooming in on a delicate wildlife subject unaware of your presence, the action will feel so close, you can almost touch it.

Multi Motion Movie IS (Image Stabilization for video) and Dual Image Stabilization (for still images) all but eliminate blur, even when you’re moving and shooting at the same time. Hand-Held Starlight Mode enables you to shoot blur-free, beautiful night scenes while holding the camera in your hands and without a tripod.

Twelve Magic Art Filters power your creativity by adding a whole range of special effects to both your images and videos directly in the camera. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS offers three new Magic Art Filters. Reflection takes the image and duplicates it across a horizontal or vertical plane of symmetry creating powerful illusions, Fragmented turns an image into a photo composed of multiple tiles, similar to puzzle pieces, and Dramatic partially changes the contrast of the image for a vividly surreal look.

When you’re back from your adventures, enjoy Full HD Video and HDMI control in broadcast-quality 1080p when played back on an HDTV. The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS also makes photo slideshows even more entertaining by incorporating music and transition effects.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The Olympus SZ-31MR iHS will be available in late April and ships with a Strap, USB Cable, USB-to-AC Adapter (F-2AC), Lithium-Ion Battery (LI-50B), Quick Start Guide, A/V Cable, Instruction Manual on CD-ROM, a software CD-ROM including [ib] (Windows) and OLYMPUS Viewer 2 (Win/Mac), and a Warranty Card.

Estimated Street Price: $399.99 (Available in Silver and Black)

For a complete list of specifications, visit the Olympus website:http://olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1593

ABOUT OLYMPUS IMAGING AMERICA INC.
Olympus Imaging America Inc. is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering award-winning products for consumer and professional markets.

Olympus Imaging America Inc. works collaboratively with its customers and its ultimate parent company, Olympus Corporation, to develop breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality that enhance people’s lives every day. These include:

1. Digital Cameras
2. Professional and Interchangeable Lens System Cameras
3. Related Underwater Products and Accessories
4. Digital and Microcassette Recorders
5. Digital Media
6. Binoculars

Olympus Imaging America Inc. is responsible for sales in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. For more information, visit:http://www.olympusamerica.com

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Voigtländer Nokton 17.5mm f0.95

Info media photography : The Voigtländer Nokton 17.5mm f0.95 is an ultra-bright moderate wide-angle lens for Micro Four Thirds. Like its highly regarded stablemate, the Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f0.95, this is a manual-focus lens with an all-metal exterior. The Voigtländer Nokton 17.5mm f0.95 has a 10-bladed iris diaphragm and features an aperture ring with stepless aperture control. The optical formula comprises 13 lens elements arranged in 9 groups, including aspherical and ultra-high-refractive-index glass elements. Available from March, the Voigtländer Nokton 17.5mm f0.95 has a close-focus point of 15cm, and carries an MSRP of ¥ 118,000 in Japan.

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Olympus OM-D

Info media photography : The dust- and splashproof, metal-bodied Olympus OM-D is a retro styled 16.1-megapixel compact system camera featuring a body-integral 5-axis image stabiliser, 1.44-million-dot EVF and best-in-class auto focus with 3D subject tracking. In sequential shooting mode, the camera is capable of capturing up to 9 frames per second (4.2fps with AF, when fitted with the M.Zuiko DIGITAL ED 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3lens). Also called the Olympus E-M5, the OM-D has an eye proximity sensor that allows automatic switching between the EVF and the articulated OLED touchscreen. The camera is capable of recording Full HD videos that benefit from the improved in-body image stabiliser, and can store them in either AVI or MOV format with M.JPEG or MPEG-4 encoding. The Olympus OM-D is available from April 2012 as a kit with the M.Zuiko DIGITAL ED 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 lens for £1149.99. Body only price to be confirmed.

Along with the OM-D camera, Olympus also announced a number of new accessories including the dust- and splashproof MMF-3 four thirds mount adapter, the HLD-6 power battery holder grip (also dust- and splashproof), and the FL-600R flash with a guide number of 36 (in metres at ISO 100/21°), improved recharge time as well as a wireless control option. Two new lenses, the weatherproofM.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 macro and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8, are also under development.

Olympus Press Release

Speed and sophistication, sublimely packaged - welcome to the next generation

Faster, sharper, smarter: the dust and splash-proof Olympus OM-D, with game-changing IS, electronic viewfinder and stunning new lenses

London, February 8 2012

Olympus is taking the forty-year pedigree of the OM series into the next generation with the launch of the OM-D, featuring the world’s first*1 5-axis image stabilisation (IS) system to eliminate blur in stills and movies.

See the blur reduction effect live via the fast electronic viewfinder, while simultaneously benefitting from the fastest*2 auto-focus of any interchangeable lens camera (including all D-SLRs) with a further refinement of the world-beating FAST AF (Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology) also found on the popular PEN series models. The camera’s innovative new 16.1 megapixel high-resolution Live MOS Sensor works in tandem with the powerful TruePic VI image processing engine to achieve outstandingly refined image quality and high sensitivity.

The integrated 1.44 million dot high-definition electronic viewfinder lets the photographer to check manual adjustments to brightness and colour tones on-screen and with a new interface for exceptionally easy viewing.

This faster, sharper, smarter camera comes attractively packaged in a durable dust-/splashproof magnesium-alloy body that ensures lets the OM-D go-anywhere.

New accessories such as the optional HDL-6 power battery holder grip, MMF-3 Four Thirds mount adapter and FL-600R electronic flash add to its adaptability, while two new lens options – the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm 1:1.8 and the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm 1:2.8 macro – are under development and will extend creative applications for the user.

The OM-D (E-M5) comes in a silver or black body.

The OM-D is available from April 2012 as a kit with the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-50mm 1:3.5-6.3 for £1149.99. Body only price to be confirmed.

Mark Thackara, National Marketing Manager, Olympus UK. ““Why can’t a camera be more like a camera?” paraphrasing some much loved film dialogue. Well for all those who asked, it can. We have listened and delivered with the OM-D. Let’s not talk retro, let’s say classic: the logical consequence of evolution in design. A familiar, well loved shape with controls where they should be and the choice of Olympus genius in packing all this into body of a size and weight you won’t mind carrying or an ingenious two part grip for those who prefer a fuller figure. Come and see us at Focus to get the full effect. OM is back.”

Superior speed

Experienced camera users will appreciate the advances in camera speed on the OM-D, with the FAST (Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology) AF system, a world-beater also featured on the PEN E-P3, driving the Live MOS Sensor at 120 fps. The speed of communications for controlling the lens action has been improved, while the MSC (Movie & Still Compatible) system has also been adopted for AF speed increase and noise reduction in the lens. In sequential shooting, the camera is capable of operating at an impressive 9 fps, and even with focus employed it can perform at a maximum speed of 4.2 fps *3. Users are also sure to appreciate the noticeable reduction in Live View return time after release. This has been achieved by using independent image-processing cores for the recorded images and Live View images, as found in the new TruePic VI engine, since the output to the rear-panel monitor or electronic viewfinder is no longer dependent on completing recording of the captured image Superior image quality and colour reproduction, plus Art Filter enhancements

The new High-Speed Live MOS Sensor on the OM-D comes with 16.1 megapixels, and allied to the TruePic VI image processing engine it offers excellent noise reduction capability and still image shooting sensitivity as high as ISO25600. There’s more faithful reproduction of a wide brightness range, thanks to the expanded dynamic range. Fine Detail Processing technology, first seen on the E-5, eliminates moiré and pseudo-colours, while Real-Colour Technology is used to reproduce previously hard-torender colours such as emerald green.

The OM-D offers a new “Key Line” filter to enhance edge lines, allowing the picture to look more like an illustration; there are two variations, providing different-strength effects. Art Filter Bracketing enables the user to generate multiple pictures with different Art Filters from a single shot – all features designed to inspire the user to experiment and become more creative in their camera use.

Superior viewfinder quality

The 1.44 million dot high-definition integrated electronic viewfinder is a first on an Olympus interchangeable lens camera, and is sure to prove a strong selling point. It features a 100% field of view and max. 1.15x magnification, with an 18mm eye point. The optimised display time lag is a major benefit, particularly when shooting fast sports action, while the unique optical design means the image can be viewed clearly from the centre to the periphery with little or no vignetting. The camera’s eye sensor can switch between the rear-panel monitor and electronic viewfinder automatically – a small but significant enhancement to ease-of-use. Information, including shutter speed, is displayed at the bottom of the viewfinder – allowing the user to concentrate on the framing operation. The electronic viewfinder, unlike an optical viewfinder, also assists in image composition, by allowing the user to check the effects of various manual adjustments and Art Filters.

Extended through-the-viewfinder operation is further facilitated via a new interface, EVF Creative Control, which enables separate adjustment of highlight and shadow brightness, monitored using the viewfinder image with a tone curve overlay. White balance, magnification and aspect ratio can similarly be adjusted without the eye moving away from the viewfinder.

Superior, world-first*1 5-axis image stabilisation (IS)

The previous mechanism compensated for camera shake by dealing with two kinds of rotary movement, yaw and pitch. However, camera shake is actually caused by five different kinds of motion, and the new IS mechanism now also corrects effectively for horizontal shift, vertical shift and rotary motion (rolling). Particularly when shooting at larger magnifications (macro shooting), the user will appreciate the value of being able to correct blur. The OM-D also comes equipped for shooting on the move, as multi-motion IS with wide frequency-band compatibility compensates for shake.

Superior movie functions

The camera’s built-in IS has evolved into the MSC (Movie and Still Compatible) IS system, offering improved stabilisation of movie images. Users who like to perform their movie post-editing on a PC will particularly appreciate the Full-HD movie recording function which adopts the MOV format (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264). It allows a recording time of about 29 minutes. Traditional AVI (Motion JPEG) format is also available. Linear PCM audio is used for both recording modes. One-shot echo and multiecho effects can now be added to movies, adding to the user’s creative options.

Superior ease-of-use and reliability

Alongside the enhancements to facilitate operation while working through the viewfinder, the OM-D also features a 3.0-inch OLED rear-panel monitor that can be tilted by max. 80° upwards or max. 50° downwards, to assist when shooting from high and low angles. It uses a special layout of 610,000 dots and can display video data equivalent to VGA, while its capacitive-type touchscreen has a high response speed that enables intuitive operation with finger-tip focussing and shutter release. In a further development facilitating ease-of-use, the Live Bulb feature updates the Live View image on the rear-panel monitor at preset intervals during bulb shooting. It also allows the user to assess the final image during the exposure and to adjust the exposure time accordingly.

The OM-D is a camera to rely on, even in demanding conditions. It makes extensive use of shields and has a tough dust-/splashproof construction. To facilitate use of interchangeable lenses, Olympus has developed the SSWF (Super-Sonic Wave Filter). Installed in front of the image sensor, it is activated as the camera is switched on to remove any dust attached to the image sensor by generating supersonic vibrations.

Superior lens options

The OM-D is compatible with all MFT Olympus lenses, which will be supplemented by two new lens options later this year: the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm 1:1.8 and the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm 1:2.8 macro. The 75mm lens is in a high-quality metal design and affords fast aperture settings for portraits and indoor sports shooting, while the dustand splash proof 60mm lens features 1:1 macro and a closest shooting distance of just 0.19m. Lens prices will be announced later.

OM-D main features:

· Speed - the world’s fastest*2 FAST AF auto-focusing system plus 3D tracking for improved moving object tracking performance
· 16.1-megapixel new Live MOS sensor, for high resolution and excellent low-light performance
· 1.44 million dot high-definition electronic viewfinder, with unique optical design to reduce vignetting, 100% field of view and very short display time lag

· Powerful TruePic VI image engine, for faster recovery time and excellent image quality (still image shooting sensitivity as high as ISO25600)
· Ultra-effective in-body image stabilisation using the world’s first*1 5-axis IS, for blur-free movies and stills with any lens
· Compact, lightweight body in the tradition of the famous OM series, in magnesium alloy and enhanced with proven dust-/splashproof capability
· Fully compliant with the Micro Four Thirds System standard
· Additional lens options under development - the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm 1:1.8 and the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm 1:2.8 macro

Additional features:

· Tilt LCD (3.0-inch swivel-type OLED monitor, capacitive touchscreen panel with fast response)
· Full HD (1920 x 1080), now in MPEG4
· New Echo effect for movies (one-shot echo and multi-echo)
· Live Bulb feature, updating the Live View image on the rear-panel monitor at pre-set intervals during bulb shooting
· New “Key Line” Art Filter, making the picture look more like an illustration by enhancing the edge lines; and new variations “Cross Process II” and “Dramatic Tone II”

Accessories (Prices to be announced)

· HLD-6 power battery holder grip, in the same dust-/splashproof construction as the OM-D body. This innovative, adaptable two-part grip can be used either as a landscape grip, for easier camera handling, or (with the second part attached) as a portrait grip with an additional shutter release. The portrait grip accommodates an extra lithium-ion battery to supplement the one in the OM-D, thus extending battery life. Used together, the camera can record about 650 images (CIPA test standard).

· FL-600R electronic flash (GN 50 at ISO200 or GN 36 at ISO100), with improved recharge time and enhanced flexibility and operability for movie recording, and with a wireless control option. The flash is equipped with an LED that can be used to light movies and as a brighter AF auxiliary light.

· MMF-3 four thirds mount adapter. Designed for mounting a four thirds lens on a micro four thirds camera body, the MMF-3 features the same dust-/splashproof construction as the camera. It is ideally suited for use with similarly dust-/splashproof “Pro” and “Top Pro” series lenses.

For a full list of OM-D features, go to http://www.olympus.co.uk

*1 As of February 2012. Among interchangeable lens cameras.
*2 As of November 2011. Among interchangeable lens digital cameras on
the market, and using Olympus’s in-house test conditions.
*3 When fitted with the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-50mm 1:3.5-6.3 EZ lens.

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