Mitsubishi breaks the glass ceiling with its new deblurring technology, "flutter shutter". Taking image developing to greater heights, this technology deals head on with motion blur problems. The "flutter shutter" is actually an attachment on the actual camera, which uses a coded exposure sequence to cut a normal exposure into short burst. The processing software is then able to sharpen any fast moving objects in the picture. Ramesh Raskar, Senior research scientist, described the method as something akin to a UV filter or a polarizing filter.

Though the prototype is based on an 8 megapixel Canon PowerShot Pro1, the method can be applied to any camera, and could even be developed to work as a built-in feature on a consumer camera later on.  For now, the "flutter shutter" technology is most apt for security cameras, as it can help decipher blurry license plates.

We reported about the Chinese version of Canon's 10.1 megapixel EOS Digital Rebel XTi SLR camera a few days ago, and today we have the real thing. This is Canon's follow-up to the ultra-successful Digital Rebel XT, the camera that set all time sales records for digital SLRs of any persuasion. For 16 years, the Rebel brand has stood for advanced, sophisticated and easy-to-use, and it looks like the new Digital Rebel XTi isn't going to let the family down.

Features include a 2.5-inch LCD which improves on the Xt's 1.8-inch screen, 9-point autofocus, and a 10.1 megapixel CMOS sensor. At 22.2 x 14.8 mm in size, this new CMOS sensor maintains the 1.6x conversion ratio found on many other members of the EOS Digital SLR line including the Rebel XT and the EOS 30D models.

The EOS Digital Rebel XTi comes with the new Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit that shakes off dust using ultrasonic vibration. It also has a Dust Delete Data feature that embeds dust location in metadata, helping the included Digital Photo Professional software delete dust spots automatically.

The EOS Digital Rebel XTi camera will be in stores by mid-September and will be available in both sleek brushed silver patina and "pro" matte black finishes. Retail price for the body only kit is estimated at $799, while the zoom lens kit (which includes Canon's EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens) will carry an estimated price tag of $899.

Pentax Corporation has announced the launch of the new Pentax Optio A20 digital camera earlier today. It features a 10.0 effective megapixels and a high-fine quality image.

Being the latest addition to Pentax' high-grade Optio A series, this model puts in extra features such as three types of anti-shake function like SR (Shake Reduction), which, as the name suggests, reduces camera shake.

This stylish, compact and lightweight model also is equipped with a high-quality smc Pentax zoom lens, which maintains that superior clarity and high-contrast image performance trait that is the mark of Pentax lenses. Its program also has incorporated the Auto Picture mode, which automatically determines the best settings for shooting conditions. Also found is the Programmed Exposure mode, where the camera automatically determines the shutter speed and aperture.  

The Optio A20 supports two removable storage media: the conventional SD memory cards and the new SDHC memory cards.

Other features include: a Calendar Display function that allows image to be retrieved based on the capture date; digital zooming that provides up to 4x magnification; approximately 22MB of built-in memory; and pan-focus functions for effortless snapshots. The A20 supports PictBridge, DPOF functions, Exif Print, and PRINT Image Matching III.

What is Apple up to?

For the first time, Apple will be heading to the Cologne, Germany to be a part of Photokina 2006, the photographic and imaging trade fair, this coming September. Not only will they show up, but they're also going to have a presentation during the trade fair.

It's possible that they may be previewing or releasing a new version of their Aperture image editor. At the very least, they're certainly going to make their presence known.

Photokina is scheduled to take place from September 26 to October 1, with Apple expected to have their presentation the day before the formal opening of the trade fair itself.


New Information: QJ Reader Mike has brought us a little hint. According to him, "Photokina will be one of the largest product unveilings ever." If he really means more than one, then it really will be an interesting event. Keep posted here folks, and thank you Mike!

Lots of big news for digital photographers coming up next month.

The Photokina "World of Imaging" Trade Show is a digital photography show that happens every two years in Germany. This big event is held at the Cologne Exhibition Center. The last show (in 2004) had over 160,000 visitors and had over 1,500 exhibitors. The 2006 Photokina will start September 26 and end October 1.

The Photokina is important partly because it is one of the year's mass unveiling of new photography products. Even though the event won't be until next month, the slow and steady build-up started this past July with the announcements of new products (like the snazzy Ergo-Tech bags from KATA). Here's a list of some of the products announced since July:

• Digicams
• Casio EXILIM EX-Z770
• Casio EXILIM EX-Z700
• Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd
• Fujifilm FinePix F20 Zoom
• Kodak EasyShare V705
• Kodak EasyShare C875
• Kodak EasyShare C743
• Kodak EasyShare C433
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX3
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX07
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX50
• Pentax Optio S7
• Pentax Optio W20
• Samsung NV10
• Samsung NV7 OPS
• Samsung NV3
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T10
• Digital SLR
• Nikon D80
• Lenses
• Nikon AF-S DX 18-135 mm
• Nikon AF-S DX 70-300 mm VR

Digital photography continues to advance, as does the general field of photography. Remember those "how did they do that?" shots that used to make our jaws drop when we saw them in National Geographic? Quite a lot of those are now common and within the reach of amateurs, so who knows what great things will be revealed at this Photokina?

So to our European readers who manage to get in, send us an email or two, will you?

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This, more or less, is how our personal photo files are usually saved in our computers. Point is, it's all letters-numbers-dot-JPEG. It's not a problem really...if you're not taking and saving hundreds of them! But truth is, we all love pictures. And not all of us have time to rename and organize our files.

Google understands. That's why they acquired a company that is best known for its deep technology and expertise when it comes to automatically extracting information from a photo: Neven Vision.

According to Picasa's Project Manager Adrian Graham, there are no specifics yet to be shared as of the moment. But this much he can tell us, "We've been working to make Picasa better when it comes to searching for your own photos—to make finding them be as easy as finding stuff on the web. Luckily we've found some people who share this goal, and are excited that the Neven Vision team is now part of Google."

Great things come in small packages. HP obviously understands this concept well, that's why they were able to come up with the compact HP Photosmart R967. Measuring only 3.7inch-wide, the Photosmart R967 is a 10-megapixel shooter with a 3-inch LCD and 3x optical zoom.

It also features HP's Steady Photo anti-shake mode, a rather unusual 24 frame-per-second VGA video shoot format, as well as the Photosmart Express. That last item lets you enter up to 34 destinations such as email addresses, printers, or online photo services, and then after you take a photo, you select its destination right there on the back of the camera.

Available next month, you can have your own Photosmart R967 for $449.

Almost forty years since it started to create new, innovative ways to improve the quality of photography, Sigma now proudly launches the APO F2.8 EX DC HSM 50-150mm lens.

Sporting a lightweight and compact construction, it provides optimum lens performance via the very latest optical technology. Four SLD glass elements are used for precise correction of chromatic aberrations. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. It is also equipped with HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) with full-time manual focus override, and is compatible with Sigma 1.4x EX DG and 2x EX DG APO Tele-Converters.

Weighing at 770g / 27.2oz, this large aperture F2.8 lens is specifically designed for digital SLR cameras with an APS-C size image sensor.

Backed by decades of credible and reputable products under its belt, Sigma's APO is a great addition to photographers' equipment line to nourish that creative streak in them.

Samsung Electronics has developed the world's first 3-inch VGA LCD screen for digital still cameras which can also be used for portable media players and other small devices that utilize little power and require high resolution screens.

Previously, LCDs could not be made to such tiny specifications. Samsung's ability to create LCD panels that operate at 30hz (instead of the usual 60hz) made it possible for them to create VGA images on the tiny screen without compressing or otherwise manipulating the signal.

Without the advances Samsung discovered, low power, high resolution LCDs of this size wouldn't be possible. According to a Samsung press release, "the three-inch VGA LCD also incorporates a dot inversion scheme that lowers power consumption while substantially reducing the image flickering that has prevented such an approach in the past."

The public will see the new monitor at IMID 2006 (International Meeting on Information Display), in Daegu Korea on August 23. A commercial version of the 3 inch VGA LCD will be made available in the first half of 2007.

Nikon WT-3 just got an approval from FCC; thus, hopefully ending the long wait for Nikon's much anticipated accessory for digital cameras. WT-3 provides a fast Ethernet port at 100 Mbps in addition to its wireless support. The Ethernet is a very cool feature, so we would prefer the Ethernet cabling from the USB port since it can make much longer runs and its unshielded cables are easier to work with.

WT-3 also allows users to remotely control the camera from a computer and transfer photos to an FTP server or printer. It supports a Transfer mode, which allows you to upload new or existing photos to the host; a PC mode. which allows you to control the camera from a computer; a computer Print mode, which allows you to print JPEG photos on a printer connected to the network; and a Print mode on a PD-10 wireless printer adapter, which allows you to print JPEG photos on PictBridge printer connected to PD-10 wireless printer adapter.

The FCC approved the WT-3 last August 4 so it looks like they're getting close to releasing it. Based from recent rumblings, WT3 won't be available until at least the fall...so until then, we still have to patiently wait some more.