Canon Announces SD990 IS and SD880 Digicams

Canon today announced the PowerShot SD990 IS and PowerShot SD880 IS Digital ELPH cameras. They come with Optical Image Stabilization and Canon's new DIGIC 4 image processor. In addition, to commemorate the 100 millionth compact digital camera manufactured, Canon created a limited-edition PowerShot SD990 IS Digital ELPH camera in red.

The PowerShot SD990 IS Digital ELPH camera showcases specifications such as 14.7-megapixel resolution, 3.7x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilization and Canon's new Quick Shot Mode for even faster shutter speed.The PowerShot SD880 IS Digital ELPH camera boasts improved specifications such as 10.0-megapixel resolution and 4x wide-angle Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilization. In combination with the latest DIGIC 4 image processor and Motion Detection Technology, the wide-angle zoom lens has been improved, enabling consumers to capture large and small group shots with ease, while on vacation or attending social gatherings.

Available in stylish two-toned body colors of black and silver or gold and brown, the Canon PowerShot SD880 IS Digital ELPH camera functions as a fashion statement, as well as a feature-rich powerhouse. Additionally, four large and distinctive convex buttons are positioned to the right side of the large 3.0-inch PureColor LCD II screen to make camera operation and menu navigation even easier. The LCD screen's contrast ratio has been greatly improved as well, offering more accurate color and viewing from any angle.
Scheduled to be available in October, the Canon PowerShot SD990 IS Digital ELPH and PowerShot SD880 IS Digital ELPH cameras will have estimated selling prices of $399.99 and $299.99, respectively. 
Kit contents will include a memory card, battery, charger, wrist strap, USB and A/V interface cables, Canon Digital Solutions Software CD, and a 1-year Canon U.S.A., Inc. limited warranty.

Canon Introduces the EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR

Cannon today introduced the EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera , the successor to Canon’s highly popular EOS 5D, introduced in 2005. Canon has coupled the power of a full-frame CMOS sensor together with HD video capture. Along with the ability to capture full HD videoclips at 1920 x 1080 resolution, Canon’s EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera features a 21.1-megapixel full frame 24 x 36mm CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 imaging processor and significantly lower noise, with an expanded sensitivity range from ISO 50 to ISO 25,600.

It features the Company’s proprietary DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor that powers the camera’s fast 14-bit analog-to-digital conversion for smooth color tones and exceptional gradation. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR offers a full-frame 24 x 36mm, 21.1 megapixel CMOS sensor and continuous shooting at 3.9 frames per second (fps) for an unlimited number of full-resolution JPEGs to the capacity of the memory card or up to 14 RAW images in a single burst when using a UDMA CF card. The camera includes a 15-point Autofocus (AF) sensor with nine selectable AF points plus six additional Assist AF points (three center AF points sensitive to f/2.8 lenses) with enhanced light source detection and AF microadjustment for greater autofocus performance. The EOS 5D Mark II camera also features a 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen with 920,000 dot/VGA resolution, four times the pixel count of the EOS 5D camera's 2.5-inch screen. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera provides ISO speeds from ISO 100 up to ISO 6400 in 1/3-stop increments, along with two high-speed settings – H1 and H2 – of ISO 12800 and ISO 25600, respectively, as well as a low-speed setting of ISO 50. The full-frame sensor maximizes the performance of Canon EF lenses.

The camera also features 16:9 Full HD video capture at 1920 x 1080 pixels and 30 fps as well as 4:3 standard TV quality (SD) video capture at 640 x 480 pixels and 30 fps, both capabilities appearing for the first time in a Canon SLR camera. Video capture is part of the camera’s Live View function, using the Picture Style that has been set for Live View still image shooting. 
The EOS 5D Mark II will record video up to 4GB per clip or a maximum continuous movie capture time of 29 minutes and 59 seconds, whichever comes first. Depending on the level of detail in the scene, a 4GB memory card can record approximately 12 minutes of video at full HD resolution or approximately 24 minutes in standard definition.Videoclips1 are recorded in .MOV format using an MPEG-4 video compression and sound is recorded using linear PCM2 without compression. The new camera features an input terminal for external stereo microphones as well as a built-in monaural microphone for convenience. To help show off those fantastic movies as well as still photos, the EOS 5D Mark II camera includes an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output to display crisp, clear images on a High-Definition TV.
The Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera is compatible with Canon EF lenses and is scheduled for release by the end of November. The EOS 5D Mark II will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $26,993. It will additionally be offered in a kit version with Canon’s EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $3,499. 

Kodak Introduces OLED DPF

Kodak has introduced the world’s first consumer-available wireless picture frame featuring Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology. This DPF features Wi-Fi technology  that enables the display of pictures as well as access to videos and music stored on a PC elsewhere in the home. The wireless feature also enables connectivity to online photo and video sharing sites and Internet content portals for news, weather, sports and more.
“Kodak is a worldwide market and technology leader in digital picture frames, and OLED technology was created by Kodak, making us uniquely positioned to bring the benefits of OLED to consumers.” said Pete Jameson, general manager, Digital Devices Group, Eastman Kodak Company. “In addition to spectacular image quality, the new frame’s Wi-Fi connectivity delivers a richer experience to the consumer, enabling them to connect to their favorite social sites and view their personalized content online,” Jameson added.
At the heart of the new KODAK OLED Wireless Frame is an ultra-thin, 7.6-inch diagonal digital panel. The viewing experience is further enhanced by Kodak Perfect Touch Technology, which automatically processes images to improve exposure, brightness and color, and KODAK Image Science, which optimizes image quality for display on OLED panels (180 degree viewing angle).

The KODAK OLED Wireless Frame requires no backlighting, and incorporates an ambient light sensor that optimizes the viewing experience by adjusting display brightness based on the surrounding light. Kodak has also designed a premium audio system into the frame, providing outstanding sound reproduction for videos, digital music and online content. Of course the DPF also has a memory card reader and USB port but more importantly, it comes with 2GB of internal user memory. It also supports wide screen display with 16:9 aspect ratio and 800 x 480 resolution.
The KODAK OLED Wireless Frame will retail for a whopping Rs. 46,000 (US $999) (MSRP) and will be available at kodak.com from November 2008, with additional online and retail distribution to be announced later in the year.