DC Views

Plustek announces the OpticFilm 7400, designed to take 35mm film and slides and convert them (at up to 7200 dpi) into high-quality digital images. The new scanner uses LED illumination, which is thirty percent more efficient than traditional illumination systems. LED illumination also provides more accurate color rendering, has consistent light output over the scanner life, requires no warm up time and requires less calibration. The new OpticFilm 7400 scanner is intended for home users and amateur photographers and is priced at $349...

Sigma announces the new Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM large aperture lens designed for digital SLRs, first introduced at the PMA 2010 in February. The compact lens with a length of 91.8mm (3.6"') features an Optical Stabilization function that offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 28cm (11") throughout the entire zoom range and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:5. The Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 lens is available now for $669...

Sanyo announces the Xacti CA100, the world's first Full HD Dual Camera that can be used to a depth of 3 meters underwater. The Full HD video (1920 x 1080 pixels) in MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 format enables you to handle videos on a computer using a single file, just like a still photo. Furthermore, the camera captures 14 megapixel photos and the "High-Speed Sequential Shooting" mode enables you to capture up to 22 photos at 7 frames per second (in 2M Continuous mode). The DMX-CA100 will be launched at the end of June 2010...

Pentax releases firmware version 1.01 for the Optio I-10, W90, H90 and the X90. This firmware brings the following improvements: • Eye-Fi function setting can be maintained after power-off • When transfer the image data by using Eye-Fi card, the image data can be transferred until battery indicator shows yellow • It does not support Endless mode function for X2 card. • Cards that are unused or that have been used on other devices, such as another camera or a computer, must first be formatted on this camera...

Hama introduces the new series of Varadero camera bags from Samsonite. Modern, sporty, light and yet at the same time stylish and tasteful, the are new seven models of camera bags each with their carefully thought-out details. Various labeled compartments for batteries and memory cards, or a document compartment on the reverse side that has space for a mobile, keys and a money stash. Removable and adjustable padded handles and shoulder straps provide superior carrying comfort. Available now in prices ranging from €40 to €60...

Samsung releases the second NX10 firmware version 1.15. This version offers the following improvements: • System stabilization • new EVF selection function on the AMOLED displayed menu • improved SD Card Read/Write speed. • added MF Asist On/Off selection function • added MF usage function for K-Mount adapter • improved Auto White Balance function of Low color temperature condition ...

Pandigital enters the eReader market with the 7-inch Pandigital Novel. This new eReader features a full color, 800 x 600 resolution touch-screen, Wi-Fi connectivity, and multimedia capabilities. Pandigital partners with Barnes & Noble to power the eReader, allowing you easy access to Barnes & Noble's catalog with more than one million eBooks, newspapers and magazines, a wide variety of free eBooks and more than half a million free classics. The Pandigital Novel is priced at $199.99 and will be available at the beginning of June...

Sony has developed a new 1/2.3 size CCD image sensor (diagonal 7.763 mm) for consumer digital still cameras that offers a 14.2 M effective pixel resolution. Sony adopted a new optical condensing structure that adds an upwardly convex lens below the existing micro lens as a technique to improve optical condensing and create a 1.43 µm unit pixel CCD image sensor, the industry's smallest unit pixel. At the same time, the new sensor achieves HD (720p) video imaging and continuous still imaging of 3.55M pixels at 5.389 fps...

Canon releases firmware update version 2.0.7 for the EOS 5D Mk II. This firmware incorporates the following improvements and fixes • Fixes abnormal aperture movement when shooting movies in manual exposure mode and Aperture Priority AE on some Canon lenses • Fixes exposure level shown in the LCD panel that differs from what is shown in the viewfinder when shooting still images in manual exposure mode • Fixes the Wireless File Transmitter (E4 or E4 II) not automatically powering off with FTP...

Fujifilm releases the second firmware update for the FinePix HS10 / HS11 digital camera. This update incorporates the following improvements: 1. In Raw data a line is visible where colors slightly change when developed by Raw File Converter 2. Battery indicator turns on too early 3. When Image Disp in set-up menu is set to Zoom, sometimes the image corrupts...

Australian consumers will today be among the first in the world to access the Uniden ULP 1000 Laser Pico Projector. The Uniden ULP 1000 is a simple plug-and-play projector that can connect to a variety of devices that delivers colorful images at WVGA (848x480) resolution, ranging in size from 15 to 250 cm (6 to 100 inches), depending on ambient light. The sleek unit weighs in at just 122 grams and offers up to 120 minutes of projection time. The projector including a VGA 1000 Dock is available now for a price of AU $999 (US $825)...

Sony announces Sony Internet TV, the world's first TV based on the Google TV platform. Google TV combines the familiar TV with the freedom and power of the web. You can access all your favorite websites and move between the television and the web. With the entire Internet in your living room, your TV becomes a photo slideshow viewer, a gaming console, a music player and much more. Sony Internet TV is scheduled to first launch in the U.S. in the Fall, with a standalone TV model and set top box-type unit incorporating a Blu-ray Disc drive...

Voigtländer introduces the latest member in their Classic lens collection, the APO-Lanthar 90 mm / F3.5 SL II lens, in Europe. The new lens has a slightly larger diameter and is much shorter than its predecessor (63 x 48.8cm vs. 51 x 90mm). It is fitted with 7 lenses (rather than 6) in 5 groups and as a result overall weight has increased from 260g to 320g. Optical performance remains the same except closest distance is now 50cm rather than 1m. The APO-Lanthar 90 mm lens is available now for Canon, Nikon and Pentax mount for € 549...

Ricoh will release the first function-enhancing firmware update for the GXR compact digital camera and the second function-enhancing firmware update for the GR DIGITAL III. The enhancements for the GXR - eleven in total - deal with Noise reduction performance and settings, various other function settings, zoom and macro enhancements, and information display updates. The update for the GR DIGITAL III - while being the second version - offers five new or enhanced functions. Update: the firmware is available now...