Fujifilm allows more pawing of its prototype 3D camera

LAS VEGAS--It's probably the least stylish digital camera on display here at PMA 2009, but it's also one of the most unusual.

As a result, Fujifilm is getting a lot of attention at its booth in the Las Vegas Convention Center with its FinePix Real 3D camera, even though it first showed the unit at Photokina last fall. It's just a prototype, but the point-and-shoot camera is capable of taking and displaying 3D photos.

The camera has two lenses, which take two different images. Then Fujifilm's RP Processor 3D takes the two images and combines them to create a single image on the fly. When you want to review the photo, you click the 3D button and the camera's internal backlighting system on the display will make the image 3D. The lighting system is Fujifilm's own light direction control module, which controls how light hits a person's right and left eyes individually.

Fujifilm has been working on getting 3D technology into its camera products for five years, according to Shizuo Habuta, a manager in the electronic imaging products division at Fujifilm. Besides, the point-and-shoot also has a system for printing 3D photos as well as a 3D viewer in the works.
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Sony previews supertelephoto, other SLR lenses

LAS VEGAS--Sony showed off models of a forthcoming supertelephoto and five other lenses Monday at the Photo Marketing Association trade show, a new sign the electronics giant is holding tight to its ambition to be a major player in the digital SLR market.

"Sony is passionate in proving better lens development," said Shigeki Ishizuka, president of Sony's Digital Imaging business group, at a news conference held here in conjunction with PMA. He said Sony now ranks third in the SLR market.
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Two new photo printers from Sony

LAS VEGAS--Sony's pre-PMA 2009 press event wasn't just about cameras. It was also about things you can buy to go with your camera.

The two new photo printers from Sony aimed at the average point-and-shoot camera owner are the (horrifically monikered) DPP-FP67 and DPP-FP97, updates on last year's DPP-FP75 and DPP-FP95.

The FP67 is the smaller of the two, with a 2.4-inch LCD screen. It can print out 4X6-inch photos, as well as index prints, photo IDs, and calendars. The printer will also do you the favor of fixing red-eyes and evening out the photo's exposure for US$120.
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New window opens on camera sensor cleaning

LAS VEGAS--Camera cleaning accessory maker LensPen announced a new product to help remove dust, hairs, specks, and other detritus that sticks to digital SLR sensors.

The US$59.95 SensorKlear Loupe, announced here at the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) show, is a magnifying glass that attaches to a camera's lens mount. Its four battery-powered LEDs illuminate the sensor, and unlike rival products such as VisibleDust's Sensor Loupe, a gap in the side allows you to clean off the sensor.

Unsurprisingly, the company recommends use of LensPen SensorKlear II to actually clean off the schmutz. The pen and loupe together cost US$69.95.

Newer SLRs are equipped with a small motor that can shake the sensor or its cover to help rid it of debris, but sensors still have problems with dust flecks even when combined with new coatings not as prone to attracting flecks in the first place. Larger specks, especially when shooting with narrow apertures, can produce dark blemishes on photos.

Via the Underexposed blog at CNET.com

Eye-Fi's Wi-Fi no longer video shy

Eye-Fi's now ready to unleash its next generation of Wi-Fi SD cards on the point-and-shooting public. The Eye-Fi Share Video and Eye-Fi Explore Video cards, first announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, extend the capabilities of their predecessors to support uploading video directly to YouTube and Flickr via Wi-Fi.

While it'd be great if the cards could upload from the increasing number of Flash-based camcorders, they still only work with cameras; according to the company, that's because they only transmit files found in the DCIM directory. Cameras have a single standard directory structures but camcorders don't.

Eye-Fi has to stash the geotagging information generated by the Explore Video card in a sidecar file as well, since video files don't have a standard for storing it.

The geotagging 4GB Eye-Fi Explore Video card will cost US$99 when it ships at the end of this month; the 4GB Eye-Fi Share Video will run US$79. The company also dropped the price on its 2GB photo-only cards.

Via Crave CNET

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