Olympus has announced that they will be releasing a waterproof protector "PT-E02" for its DSLR E-330 on April 14. The price will be 157,500 JPY ($1334.7 USD).

This protector can keep your camera safe at 60m underwater. You'll need to buy an optional waterproof lens port if you want an add-on lens. The live view function of the E-330 will still be accessible when underwater.

E-330 is a DSLR with 7.5 million pixel LiveMOS sensor and exchangeable lens. It is equipped with the world's first full time live view function.

Uniden has announced that they will be releasing digital camera "UDC-5M", which has 5.08 million effective pixels and a 2.5-inch LCD monitor on May 1. The price of the product will be 13,980 JPY ($118.5 USD). There are 2 colors of this model: black and white. Pre-order will be available from early April.


This compact digital camera is equipped with a 1/2.5-inch CCD with 5.08 million pixels, 3x optical zooming lens and a 2.5-inch LCD monitor with 115K pixels. The power source is 2 AAA batteries. This camera uses SD memory card as its external storage media, which also has 26MB memory built-in.

The sensibility ranges from ISO64 to 200 in Auto mode, but you can also choose from ISO64/100/200/400/800. There are 15 scene modes prepared for you, as well as a hand shake filter.

This camera supports image resolution up to 2592*1944. Shots interval is about 2.5sec. Continuous shooting function is not supported.

The focus range is about the same as 35 - 105mm. The lens is a F2.8-4.9 3x one. Closest shot distance in normal mode 10 (wide) - 40cm (narrow), and in micro mode 5-70cm (wide), 40-70cm (narrow).

TTL splitting range finder is present for auto-exposure. AF supports to 9 points. You can also select to use spot focusing.

You can use quite some AAA batteries such as alkaline battery, nickel-h battery, lithium battery and etc. Possible shot counts when using the enclosed alkaline batteries is around 300. When using Nickel-H batteries, Sanyo eneloop supports up to 550 shots, while 2700 series can support up to 600 shots.

On the unit, there is a built-in strobe, PictBridge supported USB 2.0 port, video output port, one-push white balance, video recording function which supports 640*480 @ 30fps. The size of the unit is 88.7*23.1*59.7, weight at 123g (unit only), and 168g (including batteries).

Pentax has released 15 new picture frames for its compact digital camera series "Optio". Users can download them from the official website for free.

The supported devices are: "Optio S6", "Optio A10", "Optio WP", "Optio WPi", "Optio M10" and "Optio W10".

The frame picture formats of Optio S6/A10 and Optio WP/WPi/M10/W10 are different. Users should download them from their own page.

You can save the downloaded frames in the root directory of the SD memory card, and select them in the "Frame composing menu". You can even store the new frames into the internal memory to replace the old ones. There is no need to worry if you deleted all of the frames, since the official website offers both the add-on frames and original frames that came with the camera. You will be able to restore the camera to its initial state easily.

Download: [New Frames for Optio S6/A10]
Download: [New Frames for Optio WP/WPi/M10/W10]

Leica has released firmware version 1.2 for its DSLR camera back "DIGITAL-MODUL-R" on the official website.

This update tends to improve the image display on the LCD monitor, as well as adding 4GB SD memory card and MacOS X 10.3 support to the camera. It also fixes a bug that ISO sensibility 1600 setting cannot be memorized, and optimizes the internal data processing.

However, a new problem has been found with the v1.2 firmware. The LCD monitor on the unit is found to be affected by a color coverage error after upgraded to v1.2. The company has released earlier patch to fix this error before. The countermeasure now is to download the old v1.1 firmware and install it again.

DIGITAL-MODUL-R is a digital back designed for its own SLR camera "R8" and "R9" by Denmark Imacon A/S. It is equipped with a 10 million effective pixel CCD, SD memory card slot, IEEE1394 and 1.8-inch LCD monitor. The size of the CCD is 26.4*17.6mm. The focus distance is 1.37 times of the lens' specs.

[Download Page]
[V1.2 Error Document]

Main Features

• Pixel count: 1/1.8-inch 8 million CCD
• Supported resolution: 3264*2448 / 2592*1944 / 2304*1728 / 2048*1536 / 1600*1200 / 1024*768 / 640*480
• Supported format: JPEG
• ISO sensibility: Auto, ISO50/100/200/400 (up to ISO800 in candle mode)
• Supported media: SD memory card (24MB built-in)
• Lens: Focus distance 38-114mm/F2.8-5.4
• Photo distance: 35cm-∞, (wide) micro 12-40cm, (wide) super micro 6-15cm
• Photo modes: Auto, program, scene (10 modes)
• Shutter speed: 4-1/2000sec
• Actinometer method: split, center emphasis, spot
• LCD monitor: 2.5-inch TFT, 232K pixels
• PC connection: USB 2.0
• Battery: Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery
• Possible shot count: around 150 (CIPA standard)
• Video: 640*480@ 30fps
• Unit size: L88.5*W23*H54.5
• Weight: around 144g (battery & media card included)
  

Olympus has released a new firmware for its DSLR camera "E-500". The new version number is 1.2.

Compared to version 1.1, the new ver1.2 has added a function switching menu for AEL/AFL button and one touch WB button.

Also,  this new version has improved the exposure accuracy of the built-in strobe when using with certain lens, including Sigma "18-50mm F3.5-5.6 DC", "18-125mm F3.5-5.6" and "55-200mm F4-5.6 DC".

E-500 is an entry-purpose DSLR camera product equipped with Four-Thirds System. It uses full frame transfer CCD with 8 million pixels, dust reduction system, double slot for both CF and xD picture cards. Its weight is the lightest among all the DSLR cameras, which is only 435g. The price of the product is less than 90,000 JPY ($762.7 USD).

Download: [Olympus E-500 Firmware Version 1.2]

Here are some close-ups of Panasonic's DMC-TZ1.


Prices of ultra-zoom cameras are not only dropping, relative to digital SLRs, but they are getting physically smaller and more functional. Take Panasonic’s 5-megapixel compact DMC-TZ1 - the world’s smallest (4.41 x 2.29 x 1.58 in) optical zoom digital still camera.The TZ1 sports the Mega O.I.S. technology and the third generation of Panasonic's Venus Engine processor. It is also the first model to incorporate a Linear autofocus system which, when combined with the high speed AF function, improves AF response time.


According to Panasonic, the compact size was achieved not through a machine that can shrink kids, but through a new lens design which combines retractable with folded-path and aspherical optical elements. At $349, this compact ultra-zoom camera proves small can be satisfying too.

Canon has released new firmware versions for its DSLR "EOS-1D Mark II N", "EOS 5D" and "EOS 30D" on the official website.

The new firmware for EOS-1D Mark II N is version 1.0.4. This new version fixes problems such as unexpected monochrome photos
and over-exposure when using focusing screen Ec-S.

The unexpected monochrome photos problem happens when you set picture style to "standard", "saturation" + 4, and take photos in sRGB color space. It will also happen when you set picture style to "clear", "twilight".


The new firmware for EOS 5D is version 1.0.5. This new version fixes the monochrome problem mentioned above, as well as a shutter not releasing problem when you use EF 85mm F1.2 and Speed Light 580EX.

The shutter not releasing problem can also happen when using combinations other than those mentioned above. Also, cameras with the 5th digit of the serial number as "1" cannot be fixed with the new 1.0.5 firmware. Users who have this camera should contact the service center for further service information.


The new firmware for EOS 30D is version 1.0.4. This new version fixes LCD display errors when using Simplified/Traditional Chinese language.

The firmware updates require a PC installed with Windows or MacOS to complete.

New Firmware Download Page:
[EOS-1D Mark II N]
[EOS 5D]
[EOS 30D]

Nikon COOLPIX S6 is the latest model from the "COOLPIX S" slim series which was released this spring. It is equipped with 3-inch LCD monitor, wireless LAN and slideshow making function "PictoMotion". S6 is similar with the sister model "COOLPIX S5" which doesn't have WLAN capability.

The basic specifications of this model are: 1/2.5-inch CCD with 6 million effective pixels, 3x Zoom nickel ED lens. Focus 5.8-17.4mm, F3 - 5.4.

The normal photograph distance of this camera ranges from 30cm to infinite. It is also possible to take photos only 4cm from the object. The ISO sensibility can be up to 400. The shutter speed can be as fast as 1/500sec. The 3-inch LCD monitor has a wide view angle. It has around 230K pixels, with the brightness adjustable. Grid display function is also available, however the line is a bit too thick. The built-in memory is about 20MB. The camera supports SD memory card as external storage as well. You can even copy data between the internal and external memory.

The battery is Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery "EN-EL8". You can charge it through the cradle with the enclosed AC power adapter. You can take up to 200 shots with a fully charged battery, as the CIPA test result suggested. However the WLan transmission would drain the battery faster than normal usage. The unit itself weights at 140, and will grow to 160g with battery installed.

Main Features

• Pixel count: 1/1.8-inch, effective pixels up to 8.1 million
• Supported resolution: 3264*2448 / 3264*2176 / 2816*2112 / 2304*1728 / 1600*1200 / 640*480
• Supported format: JPEG
• ISO sensitivity: Auto, ISO50/100/200/400 (up to ISO1600 in high sensitive mode)
• Supported storage media: SD memory card, MMC (internal 8MB)
• Lens: Focus 38 - 114mm / F2.8-5.1
• Distance range: 40cm - ∞ (AF), 10cm - ∞ (MF), micro 10 - 50cm
  
• Photo modes: Auto, program AE, aperture-prior AE, shutter-prior AE, manual, best shot (34)
• Shutter speed: 60-1/1600sec
• Actinometer: Multi-pattern, center emphasis, spot
• LCD monitor: 2.5-inch TFT, around 115K pixels
• PC connection: USB 2.0
• Battery: Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery
• Possible shot count: Around 440 shots (CIPA standard)
• Video: 640*480 @ 30fps
• Unit size: L89*W23.7*H58.5mm
• Weight: 130g (unit only)