Canon and Sony News for Jan 2012 (Page 4)

To answer some of the questions I'm receiving, I'm sharing my 2011 Central California photography trip itinerary below.

I planned my trip for this time of the year for a few reasons. First, I wanted to be in Yosemite before schools let out for the summer - so that the crowds would be light. I also wanted the Yosemite waterfalls to still be flowing strongly. And, I wanted Glacier Point and Tioga roads to be opened.

I was very successful with all but the last goal. While Glacier Point Rd opened the day we arrived, a 200% of normal snowpack (most in 70 years I was told) meant that Tioga Rd over Tioga Pass did not open until mid-July or so.

Wed 5/25: Big Sur
Flew into San Francisco. I planned to arrive in time to shoot the sunset from the Monterey area, but a late flight meant that I drove into Big Sur around midnight. We stayed in a small cottage at Ripplewood Resort.

Thu 5/26: Big Sur
Explored the Big Sur area south to a road slide-out below Gorda.

Fri 5/27: Big Sur
Explored the Big Sur area north including Monterey and Carmel. Arrived at the Holiday Inn Express in Paso Robles around midnight. The original plan was to explore the southern Big Sur area on day two, making Paso Robles a nice stop-over point on the way to Sequoia National Park. With RT 1 being closed, I adjusted the schedule. Flexibility is always important when traveling.

Sat 5/28: Sequoia National Park
Drove from Paso Robles (after having the front license plate on the rental SUV "reinstalled" at the local GMC dealer), through the Central CA valley (sampled the excellent fruit growing there), through Visalia and into Sequoia National Park on RT 198. Note that RT 189 entering Sequoia National Park is an amazing road. Spent the rest of the daylight hours exploring Sequoia National Park and drove to Kings Canyon National Park after dark. We stayed in the John Muir Lodge for two nights.

Sun 5/29: Kings Canyon National Park
Explored Grant Grove and the entire Kings Canyon.

Mon 5/30: Yosemite National Park
Left Kings Canyon National Park. Drove to Fresno - did laundry, got food (including more fresh fruit such as oranges). Drove to Yosemite National Park. Checked into Yosemite View Lodge. Yosemite View Lodge is located just outside of the Yosemite National Park entrance - it is at an ideal location for photographers concentrating on the Yosemite Valley.

Tue 5/31 through Sat 6/4: Yosemite National Park
Lots of driving and hiking around Yosemite National Park. On Sat, drove to Cavallo Point in Sausalito, CA. Cavallo Point is a few notches above the lodging quality I'm used to, but a winter deal made this ideal location for photography available to me.

Sun 6/5 - Tue 6/7: San Francisco, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Woods, Point Reyes National Seashore
Explored these areas until flying out of San Francisco at 11:20 PM Tue night.

List of Central California Photo Galleries:

Big Sur, California Pictures
Sequoia National Park Pictures
Kings Canyon National Park Pictures
Yosemite National Park Pictures
Golden Gate National Recreation Area Pictures
Point Reyes National Seashore Pictures

Hopefully you find some of these pictures inspiring. I intended to give you somewhat of a tour of the photographic potential of these areas.

Weather does not always cooperate with those of us with only a short amount of time to spend in an area. More time in an area increases the chances for great images, but the competent, passionate locals will always get the best shots.

From Phase One:

Phase One Releases Media Pro 1.2

World’s best digital visual assets manager just got better

COPENHAGEN, January 10, 2012 — Phase One today released Media Pro 1.2. Media Pro is a powerful photography assistant for finding, organizing, and sharing digital images and videos no matter where the files are stored. Media Pro supports very large photo libraries, with support for photo and video files from more than 100 different cameras.

New in this release you’ll find:

• Better support for exporting annotations/metadata to XMP sidecars;
• Now, catalog sets, custom fields and hierarchical keywords may be exported to XMP sidecars so they will always be included when extracting metadata;
• Two new general preferences increase the flexibility of importing annotations/metadata;
• Now people and event annotations/metadata also map according to the IPTC-Extended definition.
• More camera support: supports images from additional cameras when using the Phase One renderer.
• Bugfixes on Mac: fixed an issue with Import Items > From Camera for German language.
• Bugfixes on Windows: Fixed an issue with the crash reporter not always appearing correctly.

Availability and Pricing

Media Pro is available via download for 199 USD and 139 EUR through Phase One’s Online Store and from top pro photography dealers worldwide. You can learn more about the new release at: http://www.phaseone.com/media-pro

Media Pro 1.2 is available as a free upgrade to existing Media Pro customers.

About Phase One

Phase One is the world’s leader in open-platform based medium format camera systems and solutions. Phase One medium format cameras, digital backs and lenses are designed to deliver superior quality image capture and investment value. Phase One’s Capture One and Media Pro software helps streamline capture and post-production processes for both medium format and DSLR cameras. Phase One products are known for their quality, flexibility and speed enabling pro photographers shooting in a wide range of formats to achieve their creative visions without compromise.

For more information, please visit Phase One at http://www.phaseone.com. Follow Phase One on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/PhaseOneWW and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Phase-One/184811514906561

Phase One is an employee-owned company based in Copenhagen with offices in New York, London, Tokyo, Cologne and Shanghai.

Phase One and Capture One are registered trademarks of Phase One A/S. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

From Epson:

New Epson Artisan 1430 Takes Wide Format Photo Printing to the Next Level of Performance with Wireless Connectivity

Latest Artisan Printer Offers Gallery-Worthy Prints up to 13” X 19” for a Range of Creative and Professional Projects

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Jan. 9, 2012 – Epson America, Inc., a leading provider of superior performing desktop printing solutions, today introduced the Epson Artisan® 1430 wide-format printer. Offering brilliant, Ultra Hi-Definition prints as large as 13”x 19”, convenient wireless networking and mobile printing, the Artisan 1430 enables photo enthusiasts and professionals alike to complete a wide range of creative and professional projects.

The Artisan 1430 delivers professional quality photos by leveraging Epson’s exclusive Advanced MicroPiezo® print head with DX5™ technology for accurate ink placement, smooth gradations and amazing skin tones. The Artisan 1430 offers Wi-Fi CERTIFIEDTM n1 wireless networking to easily share the printer with anyone on the network – as well as Epson iPrint app – to print and share from a smartphone, iPhone®, tablet or other device. With superior media handling capabilities to create gallery-quality prints on a host of popular borderless sizes – including 4”x6”, 13”x19” and 12”x12” – and Adobe® Photoshop® Elements bonus software, the printer is ideal for a range of projects – from brochures and posters to photo enlargements and personalized CDs/DVDs.

“The Artisan 1430 was designed with the creative professional and photo enthusiast in mind, delivering superior photo quality, unprecedented media handling capabilities, and convenient wireless connectivity that continue to set the Artisan line apart from the competition,” said Gregg Brunnick, group product manager, Epson America, Inc. “Consumers will be amazed at the level of performance and results they are able to achieve with the all new Artisan 1430 wide-format printer.”

Additional High-Performance Epson Artisan 1430 Features:

• Ultra Hi-Definition photos that are smudge, scratch and water resistant2
• PC-free printing and sharing documents and photos from a smartphone, iPhone®, tablet or other mobile devices3 with Epson iPrint
• Photos last up to 200 years in storage and up to 98 years on display under glass4
• Customized photo enlargements, brochures, posters and scrapbook pages
• Professional-looking ink jet printable CDs/DVDs
• Image enhancement tools for automatic color and lighting correction and red eye removal
• Range of eco features and environmental qualifications including, ENERGY STAR® and RoHS compliance, and is designed to be recycled5

Pricing and Availability

The Epson Artisan 1430 ($299.99*) will be available in February through major computer, office and electronic superstores, a variety of retail stores nationwide and Epson’s retail site, www.epsonstore.com. For more information, please visit www.epson.com.

About Epson

Epson is a global imaging and innovation leader dedicated to exceeding the vision of customers worldwide through its compact, energy-saving, high-precision technologies, with a product line-up ranging from printers and 3LCD projectors for enterprise and the home, to sensors and other microdevices. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 78,000 employees in 99 companies around the world, and is proud of its ongoing contributions to the global environment and the communities in which it operates. To learn more about Epson, please visit: http://global.epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (http://facebook.com/EpsonAmerica), Twitter (http://twitter.com/EpsonAmerica and http://twitter.com/EpsonEducation) and YouTube (http://youtube.com/EpsonTV).

# # #

Specifications are subject to change without notice. Epson is registered trademark, and Epson Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks.

1. Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n certified; level of performance subject to the range of the router being used. Visit www.wi-fi.org/files/11nbasics_glossary.pdf for more information.
2. Smudge, scratch, water and fade resistant on Epson photo papers. For CDs/DVDs, resistant only on specially-treated discs.
3. See www.epson.com/mobileprinting for a list of supported/compatible devices and apps.
4. Display permanence based on accelerated testing of prints displayed under glass in indoor display conditions; album permanence based on accelerated testing of prints in dark storage conditions. Actual print stability will vary according to media, printed image, display conditions, light intensity, temperature, humidity and atmospheric conditions. Epson does not guarantee the longevity of prints. For maximum print life, display all prints under glass or UV filter or properly store them.
5. See our website for convenient and reasonable recycling options at www.epson.com/recycle.

 
B&H carries Epson products.

From SanDisk:

SANDISK INTRODUCES WORLD'S FASTEST 128GB SDXC CARD-IDEAL FOR CAPTURING FULL HD 3D VIDEOS AND HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTOS

• Can capture up to 10 hours of Full HD 3D video-enough capacity to film an entire day at the Consumer Electronics Show
• Features up to 45 megabyte per second read and write speeds for faster shot-to-shot performance and quick data transfers
• Shipping worldwide in 64GB and 128GB capacities carrying MSRPs of $199.99 and $399.99 respectively

Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas, January 9, 2012- SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today introduced the 128 gigabyte (GB)1 SanDisk Extreme® SDXC™ UHS-I card. The new card is ideal for photography enthusiasts capturing Full HD2 3D videos and high-resolution photos.

Video Recording Drives Growth of User-Generated Content

Advanced DSLR cameras and HD camcorders enable imaging enthusiasts to capture Full HD 1080p videos, even in 3D. According to IDC3, user-generated video from digital cameras and flash memory-equipped camcorders will increase more than 50 percent, from 4 exabytes in 2011 to 6.8 exabytes in 2014.

"Consumer video capture is driving user-generated content creation," said Chris Chute, research manager, worldwide digital imaging solutions, IDC. "This is the first year that more than half of all video captured will be in HD, and that number is set to reach nearly 80 percent in 2014. This trend highlights the need for memory cards that are fast enough to handle a massive data flow while offering enough capacity to store the resulting files."

The 128GB SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-I card is based on the new Ultra High Speed (UHS-I) architecture and is designed to capture hours of top-quality video footage. The card's UHS Speed Class 1 rating surpasses the recording requirements of demanding video use cases-from home movies captured on a DSLR to high-quality 3D footage.

"Five minutes of Full HD video can consume one gigabyte of storage space," said Susan Park, director, product marketing, SanDisk. "Our new SanDisk Extreme SDXC card can capture up to ten hours of Full HD 3D video, enough to film an entire day here at the Consumer Electronics Show."

The SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-I card is designed to help imaging enthusiasts shoot like the pros, with the speed and capacity needed to capture not only high-quality videos but also high-resolution RAW+JPEG photos, which can reach up to 30 megabytes in size.

Faster Shot-to-Shot Performance, Faster File Transfers

The SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-I card features up to 45MB/sec read/write speeds4, enabling photographers to capture sequences of high-resolution photos using their camera's burst mode and then quickly transfer the files to a computer.

The card's fast shot-to-shot performance lets photographers capture the images that matter most to them-whether using a point-and-shoot camera to take photos of a young child's first steps or a DSLR to capture a high school track star racing across the finish line. The card's fast file-transfer speed lets photographers offload an hour-long Full HD video in five minutes or a batch of 500 high-resolution photos in as little as one minute5.

The SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-I card is backed by SanDisk's reputation for quality-professional photographers trust SanDisk. The card provides consumers with the reliability and durability they need to capture photos anytime, anywhere, and includes a built-in write-protect switch to help prevent accidental data loss. For added protection, the card includes a one-year downloadable offer for RescuePRO® Deluxe data recovery software (a $59.99 value), which can bring accidentally deleted images back to life.

Pricing and Availability

The 64GB and 128GB SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-I cards are shipping worldwide with MSRPs of $199.99 and $399.99 respectively.

About SanDisk

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) is a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, from research and development, product design and manufacturing to branding and distribution for OEM and retail channels. Since 1988, SanDisk's innovations in flash memory and storage system technologies have provided customers with new and transformational digital experiences. SanDisk's diverse product portfolio includes flash memory cards and embedded solutions used in smart phones, tablets, digital cameras, camcorders, digital media players and other consumer electronic devices, as well as USB flash drives and solid-state drives (SSD) for the computing market. SanDisk's products are used by consumers and enterprise customers around the world.

SanDisk is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company, with more than half its sales outside the United States. For more information, visit www.sandisk.com.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1 billion bytes. Some capacity not available for data storage.
2 Full HD video (1920x1080x30fps), HD and 3D video support may vary based upon host device, file size, resolution, compression, bit rate, content, and other factors. See:www.sandisk.com/HD.
3 Worldwide User Generated Video Content and Archive 2010-2014 Forecast: The Video Bible (IDC #227749, April 2011). Worldwide Digital Imaging User Generated Content 2010-2014 Forecast: The UGC Bible (IDC #227692, April 2011)
4 Up to 45 MB/sec (300X) read/write speeds. Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending upon host device. 1 megabyte (MB) = 1 million bytes. X = 150KB/sec.
5 Approximations: results will vary based on file size, resolution, compression, bit rate, content, host device, computer, pre-loaded files and other factors.

SanDisk, the SanDisk logo, RescuePRO and SanDisk Extreme are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. SDXC is a trademark of SD-3C, LLC. Other brand names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder (s).

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including expectations for new product introductions, applications, features, markets, and customers that are based on our current expectations and involve numerous risks and uncertainties that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate. Risks that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include among others: the market demand for video capture products may grow more slowly than our expectations, or our products may not be available in the prices, the geographies or the capacities that we expect, or our products may not perform as expected, and the other risks detailed from time-to-time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our annual report on Form 10-K. We do not intend to update the information contained in this press release.

B&H carries SanDisk products.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 Beta is now available for download.

"New tools let you extract more detail from highlights and shadows, make a wider range of targeted adjustments, and easily share your images and video clips on social media and photo sharing sites."

Free Lightroom 4 Beta Delivers Unparalleled Image Processing and Workflow Efficiency for Photographers

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Jan. 10, 2012 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 4 beta for Windows® and Mac. Available as a free public download from Adobe Labs, Lightroom is the essential digital photography workflow solution helping amateur and professional photographers quickly import, manage, enhance and showcase their images. Lightroom 4 beta is a preview of new features and capabilities that will be offered in the final release of Lightroom 4, expected in early 2012. The beta features refined technology for superior shadow and highlight processing, expanded management capabilities including enhanced DSLR video support and the ability to create beautiful photo books from within Lightroom. Adobe encourages photographers to try the beta release and provide feedback to the product team.

“Giving early customer access to new versions of Lightroom has helped our team deliver an outstanding battle-tested product that really stands up to the demands of photographers worldwide,” said Winston Hendrickson, vice president of Digital Imaging Products, Adobe. “The much anticipated release of Lightroom 4 beta continues this tradition and shows how much Adobe values customer insights into photography workflows.”

New Features in Lightroom 4 Beta

Lightroom 4 beta is a major software update adding a broad range of new capabilities based on feedback provided by the photography community. All new basic tonal adjustment controls extract the entire dynamic range from cameras for stunning shadow details and highlights. The software features additional local adjustment controls, including Noise Reduction, Moire and White Balance.

New native video support gives photographers the capability to play, trim and extract frames from video clips shot on DSLRs, point-and-shoot cameras and smartphones. Many standard Lightroom image adjustment controls can also be applied to video clips and adjusted videos can be exported as a H.264 file or published directly to Facebook or Flickr.

Lightroom 4 beta provides photographers the tools to create impressive photo books with rich text controls and a variety of easy-to-use templates, as well as a direct link for photo book creation from within the new Book module. Also, a new intuitive Map module displays images already assigned a location, provides location tagging controls and saved locations for effortless assignment of a photographer’s common locations.

In the Develop module, the addition of soft proofing helps photographers tune images in a destination color space to ensure prints and Web content look their best. In addition, customers can now email images directly from Lightroom using an email account of their choice including Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail.

Adobe Photoshop Family

Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Photoshop CS5 Extended are at the heart of the Photoshop family, joined by solutions for users at every level who want to bring out the best in their digital images either at home, in the office or on the go. Photoshop Lightroom 4 beta addresses the workflow needs of amateur and professional photographers, helping them create, manage and showcase images in impactful ways. Photoshop Elements 10 provides consumers with powerful yet easy-to-use tools that organize, edit, create and share photos memories. For mobile devices, Photoshop Touch app transforms images with core Photoshop features custom-built for tablets; and Photoshop Express is a free app for simple photo fixes and enhancements, and sharing to social networks.

Pricing and Availability

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 beta is available immediately as a free download on both Windows and Mac at http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/. Customers can submit feedback on the community powered feedback site: http://feedback.photoshop.com. Users can also connect with the Lightroom team directly on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lightroom), via Twitter (www.twitter.com/lightroom) or on the Adobe Lightroom blog (http://blogs.adobe.com/lightroomjournal). For Lightroom how-to videos, visit http://www.youtube.com/lightroom.

 
Lightroom Journal has lots of useful and important information. (thanks Sean, Tony & Mark)

From Canon USA:

Canon U.S.A. Showcases Latest Products And Technologies At The 2012 Consumer Electronics Show

LAS VEGAS, January 9, 2012 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, kicks off 2012 with highly anticipated products at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES). On display will be six new VIXIA HD camcorders*, along with three new additions to the PowerShot line-up. As a special treat for CES attendees this year, Canon U.S.A. will unveil a crowd-sourced music video in its booth (#13304, Central Hall), which showcases photographs taken by attendees at Canon's "Legends in Imaging" PIXMA PRO-1 launch event where legendary artist Herbie Hancock performed his iconic song "Chameleon."

Visitors to the booth will be able to explore the full range of video, photography, printer, scanner and projector products that make up Canon's complete imaging system. From stunning scene-capture to ultra-high quality print and display, Canon's products champion image quality and demonstrate that each and every moment of life is worth capturing with the excellence it deserves.

Canon products showcased at CES include:

Canon VIXIA HD Camcorders

Canon unveiled a new line of six VIXIA High Definition flash memory camcorders, including three compact VIXIA HF M-series models (HF M52*, HF M50*, HF M500*) and three entry-level VIXIA HF R-series models (HF R32*, HF R30*, HF R300*) which include improved functions and features to capture HD videos with high-resolution and superior quality. Tapping into social sharing experiences, Canon equipped select models with Wi-Fi connectivity and DLNA compatibility, as well as the option to capture videos in MP4 format. Through the new Wi-Fi functions, users can share, view and store videos wirelessly, including the ability to upload videos directly to YouTube and Facebook, or to mobile devices such as an iPhone or iPad.

Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera

Ideal for photography enthusiasts seeking the highest image quality in a compact, point-and-shoot camera, the Canon PowerShot G1 X features the largest image sensor to date for a Canon PowerShot model. The camera packs a large 1.5-inch (18.7 x 14mm), 14.3-megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor, delivering exceptional shallow depth of field, a wide dynamic range and incredible light gathering ability up to ISO 12800. The camera is also equipped with an amazing 4x Optical Zoom lens, featuring a 28mm-equivalent wide-angle setting, with an incredible f/2.8 to f/16 aperture range for beautiful images that make an impact. The PowerShot G1 X shoots 1080p Full HD video with optical zooming and continuous AF, includes HDR Shooting and comes fully equipped with Canon's latest DIGIC 5 processor that enables the High-Speed Burst HQ1 feature.

Canon PowerShot ELPH Digital Cameras

Two new chic PowerShot ELPH models will also be on display at the show, the ELPH 520 HS and ELPH 110 HS. Both PowerShot models are equipped with Canon's leading HS SYSTEM, featuring Canon's exclusive DIGIC 5 image processor that allows the cameras to achieve quality images in low-light settings, faster operation and improved spot-on color accuracy. The contemporary and radiant looking Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS features a 10.1-megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor, an ISO range up to 3200 and the world's thinnest 12x optical zoom with a 28mm-equivalent wide-angle setting.2 With easy operation, compact design and a no-compromise performance, the ELPH 110 HS shoots 1080p Full HD video, includes a 24mm-equivalent wide-angle 5x Optical Zoom lens and offers a High-Speed Burst Mode to help ensure the perfect shot.

Herbie Hancock Crowd Sourced Music Video Premiere

A first-of-its kind music video featuring iconic recording artist and technology pioneer, Herbie Hancock, will premiere at the Canon Booth during CES. Shot at Canon's "Legends in Imaging" event in October 2011, Herbie Hancock partnered with Canon to create a "crowd-sourced" video shoot where guests were invited to take photos using Canon EOS 7D and EOS 5D Mark II cameras of Herbie's performance of his hit song "Chameleon." 1,800 high-quality stills were then printed with the new PIXMA PRO-1 and edited together using time lapse and stop motion film production techniques. Check out the premiere of Herbie Hancock's Crowd-Sourced Music Video at the Canon Booth #13304 or at www.facebook.com/CanonUSA.

Unrivaled Capture

Alongside the newly launched products, visitors to Canon's booth will be able to handle some of the more recent additions to its imaging system, including Canon's EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera which helps bring professional photography to a whole new level. Thoroughly redesigned from the inside out, it features a completely new 61-Point High Density Reticular Autofocus (AF) System (the first of its kind for a DSLR), fast shooting up to 12 frames per second (fps), a newly developed high-performance 18-megapixel Full-Frame CMOS Image Sensor, Full HD Video Recording, and many other advancements.

Bringing decades of innovation and expertise to the world of motion picture production, Canon launched the Cinema EOS System, highlighted by its first product, the EOS C300 digital cinema camera, in November 2011. Featuring a unique Super 35mm Canon CMOS sensor, revolutionary Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor and a Canon 50 Mbps 4:2:2 codec, the EOS C300 provides outstanding cinema quality movie capture. Visitors will have a unique opportunity to handle a cinematographer's dream.

For PC and Mac users on-the-move, Canon will be showcasing its imageFORMULA P-215 Scan-tini personal document scanner. Complete with a built-in card reader, and weighing just 2.2lb, the P-215 scanner's compact size, simple use, and high-quality imaging bring sophistication to mobile and portable information capture, storage, and collaboration.

Meanwhile, office users can sample the style and quality of the Canon imageFORMULA DR-C125 Document Scanner. The DR-C125's innovative space-saving design makes it a standout in any office environment, while its flexibility and high image quality are only surpassed by its ease-of-use.

Exceptional Output

Images captured with exceptional input deserve only to be paired with equally exceptional output capabilities. Canon will demonstrate a range of its leading printer products at CES 2012, showing visitors how to get the best from their digital content.

On display will be the recently announced Canon PIXMA PRO-1 Professional Inkjet Printer. The new PRO-1 is the first and only A3+ printer that will utilize five distinct monochrome inks in a 12-ink systemi designed to yield the absolute truest prints possible. From capture to output, users can look forward to maintaining every incredible nuance and color with the utmost accuracy and precision.

Continuing the theme of unrivaled picture printing, Canon's imagePROGRAF iPF6300, 24-inch Large Format printer will be on display at the Canon booth, demonstrating how professional designers and photographers can achieve extraordinary quality in their printed materials. Also on display, the 24" imagePROGRAF iPF610, is ideal for general poster printing and offers office environments media input flexibility with a cassette holding sheets up to 17" x 22".

Meeting the demands of small office/home office (SOHO) users and workgroups, Canon will be showcasing some of its imageCLASS multi-function printers (MFPs), including three machines that support wireless connectivity.ii The Color imageCLASS MF8380Cdw, as well as the imageCLASS MF5950dw and MF4570dw multi-function printers allow end-users to print from virtually anywhere in their home or small office. The imageCLASS MF3010 multi-function printer is a great fit for a consumer seeking an entry-level compact laser MFP.

For those with more space available, Canon will be showing its REALiS WUX4000 D, a high-performance WUXGA (1920 x 1200) resolution installation projector employing Canon's AISYS-enhanced LCOS technology and interchangeable Genuine Canon lenses. With 4000 lumens of brightness, it delivers spectacularly clear and rich images.

For more information on all of Canon's products, please visit booth #13304 in the Central Hall at CES, or www.usa.canon.com.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. With more than $45 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks fourth overall in patent holdings in the U.S. in 2010†, and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2011. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility.

###

* This device has not been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.

† Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.

Specifications, availability and prices are subject to change without notice.

i This information as of January 9, 2012.

ii Wireless printing requires a working network with 802.11b/g/n capability. Wireless performance may vary based on terrain and distance between the printer and wireless network clients.

1 The PowerShot G1 X camera's continuous shooting speed at high resolution is approximately 4.5 shots at 6 frames per second.

2 This information as of January 9, 2012.

B&H is now accepting preorders for the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S Nikkor Lens.

From Nikon:

5th Notice on the damage from the flood in Thailand

January 10, 2012

This is to advise you of the latest situations of Nikon (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a consolidated manufacturing subsidiary of Nikon Corporation in the Rojana Industrial Park in Ayutthaya Province located in Central Thailand, which is suffering damages from the flood.

1. Latest situations

Operations at the Nikon Thailand had been suspended since October 6. After completion of water pumping-out on November 26, we have been putting all our energy into restoring infrastructure and production equipment. We are now pleased to announce that partial operation at the factory resumed on January 3, earlier than expected, and production of certain digital SLR cameras and interchangeable lenses has started on the same day.

2. Recovery and latest estimation

Manufacture of production equipment and some parts is already being carried out at our Group facilities in Japan, and alternative and limited production of digital SLR cameras and interchangeable lenses is also continuing at our partner factories in Thailand since the end of November. With partial operation restart at Nikon Thailand, our plan remains unchanged to resume production of digital SLR cameras and interchangeable lenses to the normal level of volume by the end of March 2012.

Estimated impact on business results for the financial period ending March 31, 2012 remains unchanged from our announcement on November 4, we assure you to immediately advise new findings once it is judged there will be an important change for it.

We deeply apologize for your inconvenience caused by the disaster such as short supply of our products.

Just announced: Sigma APO 180mm f/2.8 EX DG OS Macro HSM Lens

From SD Association:

SD ASSOCIATION ADDS STANDARDIZED WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TO WORLD-LEADING SD MEMORY CARD STANDARDS

New Wireless LAN feature extends SD memory card convenience so consumers can transfer pictures and videos wirelessly from their cameras

LAS VEGAS – CES Booth South Hall 4 #36231 -- Jan. 9, 2012 – A new SD memory card standard can transform millions of everyday consumer electronics into wireless LAN devices with portable storage and communications. The Wireless LAN SD standard announced today is the SD Association’s first wireless SD memory card standard combining storage and wireless capabilities. Consumers will be able to transfer pictures, videos and other content wirelessly from most existing digital cameras and digital video cameras to web-based cloud services and between SD devices over home networks.

The Wireless LAN SD standard combines the world-leading memory card storage standard with the ubiquitous wireless standard IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n, part of the Association’s strategy to expand SD services and features by incorporating other global standards. This standard is applicable to full size SD/SDHC/SDXC and microSD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. It taps into a billions-strong SD standards market for which manufacturers can develop products and consumers can reliably use Wireless LAN applications.

“As cloud servers and wireless technologies continue to penetrate the consumer experience, wireless accessibility will become increasingly more important,” said Michael Yang, senior principal analyst, memory and storage, IHS iSuppli. “The addition of wireless capability to the existing SD memory card standard, will enable SD memory cards to remain relevant to shifting market demand, and add value to consumers and manufacturers of new cameras, tablets, and mobile phones.”

With wireless communication capabilities in their familiar SD memory cards, consumers around the world will be able to:
 

• Upload family, vacation or sports photos and video wirelessly from a camera or video camera to a computer or server for sharing or backup.
• Wirelessly download pictures from servers with cameras and video cameras using Wireless LAN SD memory cards. Consumers can share pictures and videos without email or physical card transfers, including peer-to-peer picture and video transfers from cameras to smart phones and tablets wirelessly without an access point.
• Use Wireless LAN SD memory cards as wireless control points for other devices, such as TVs, in a home network.

The Wireless LAN SD memory card standard defines two interface types:
 

• The Web interface supports server upload and peer-to-peer functions;
• The home network interface supports server upload and home network communication functions.
• A Wireless LAN SD memory card can provide both of the wireless communication types, designated by both symbols.

“Wireless LAN SD offers you a standardized approach to transfer pictures, video, documents and other content easily with most existing cameras and video cameras,” said Norm Frentz, chairman of the SD Association. “The Wireless LAN SD memory card standard demonstrates how SD Association innovation continues to respond to market demand and improve consumers’ digital lives.”

For more than a decade, SD standards have increased the value, usefulness and longevity of consumer electronics by allowing consumers to easily upgrade storage instead of replacing devices and creating more electronic waste.

SD Association

The SD Association is a global ecosystem of more than 1,000 technology companies charged with setting interoperable SD standards. The association encourages the development of consumer electronic, wireless communication, digital imaging and networking products that utilize market-leading SD technology. The SD standard is the number one choice for consumers and has earned more than 80 percent of the memory card market with its reliable interoperability and its easy-to-use format. Today, mobile phones, Blu-ray players, HDTVs, audio players, automotive multimedia systems, handheld PCs, digital cameras and digital video cameras feature SD interoperability. For more information about SDA or to join, please visit the association’s web site, www.sdcard.org.

B&H is now accepting Canon PowerShot G1 X preorders.

It did not take Corel long to bring the Bibble Labs software under the Corel brand name:

Corel® Releases New Photo Workflow Solution: Corel® AfterShot™ Pro

Delivers Unrivaled Speed, Flexible Photo Management and RAW Power on Windows®, Mac OS® and Linux®

Las Vegas, Nevada - January 9, 2012

Corel is pleased to announce the exciting expansion of its digital photography portfolio with the introduction of Corel® AfterShot™ Pro. The total photographic workflow solution for professional and enthusiast photographers will be displayed today at Pepcom®’s Digital Experience!® and tomorrow at Showstopper® at CES. Providing complete RAW workflow, flexible photo management, advanced, non-destructive editing and breakthrough performance, AfterShot Pro offers a powerful and affordable alternative to products like Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® and ACD Systems ACDSee™ Pro. Based on technology from Corel’s acquisition of Bibble Labs, Corel AfterShot Pro provides Windows®, Mac OS® and Linux® users with the tools they need to get the most out of their photos.

“Today’s photographers, whether they’re professional or enthusiast, are coming from shoots with hundreds, if not thousands of photos,” said Chad Kinzelberg, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Digital Media at Corel. “They want to be able to bring in their photos and get right to work finding their best shots and making them better. With AfterShot Pro we are delivering a powerful RAW workflow solution to help photographers power through their photo workflow and get back to doing what they love – taking great pictures.”

Flexible Workflow Gives Photographers Great Results - Fast

Fully multithreaded and optimized for multi-core and multi-CPU computers, Corel AfterShot Pro delivers fast RAW processing and incredibly color-accurate images with regular support for an ever-increasing number of major camera manufacturers and models. Unlike current competitors, AfterShot Pro offers workflow capabilities that enable you to work with photos virtually any way you want, such as quickly accessing images from existing file folders or memory cards or importing them into searchable catalogs. Corel AfterShot Pro’s powerful, non-destructive editing tools let you make your photos look their best, while unique selective editing capabilities provide incredible control over image adjustments by letting you apply them exactly where you want them. Corel AfterShot Pro key features include:

• Breakthrough Performance: Corel AfterShot Pro is designed for speed and allows those with and without the latest hardware to process their images fast. AfterShot Pro is fully multithreaded and optimized for multi-core computers by taking advantage of every CPU at its disposal to maximize the speed of onscreen preview, adjustment and output generation.
• RAW power: Corel AfterShot Pro is designed to help you make the most of the extra detail and data in your RAW images by offering fast RAW processing and incredibly color-accurate images.
• Flexible photo management: Whether reviewing, adjusting or exporting RAW, JPEG or TIFF images, Corel AfterShot Pro gives you the freedom to work the way you want. Create custom or even portable catalogues that can be moved to another computer, or if you already organize your photos in folders on your computer, you aren’t required to catalogue them at all. Work with photos wherever they are, whether they are in folders on your hard drive or on a memory card.
• Robust Metadata tools: Browse and search your photos with ease using the powerful metadata features in Corel AfterShot Pro. Easily find your images with automatically imported EXIF data such as camera settings, lenses and dates. Add your own keywords, ratings, labels and tags or use industry-standard IPTC Metadata, such as captions and copyright. Tailor metadata sets to display only the information you want to see or use AfterShot™ Pro Presets to attach information to your photos for easy searching.
• Advanced, Non-destructive editing: With the non-destructive editing tools in Corel AfterShot Pro, refine and enhance your photos without ever altering your original image. Apply intelligent automatic or manual adjustments—including complete exposure and tone control, color correction, white balance, noise reduction, curves and levels, lens correction and many more—knowing you can always revert to an earlier version of the image at any time.
• Selective editing: The unique Regions and Layers capabilities in Corel AfterShot Pro give you incredible control over image adjustments by letting you apply them exactly where you want them.
• Easy Photo-Editing Software Integration: When you’re ready to get into deeper photo editing and advanced image manipulation, Corel AfterShot Pro lets you to bring your image into Corel® PaintShop™ Pro, Adobe® Photoshop® or the image editor of your choice from directly within the application.
• Batch processing: Corel AfterShot Pro saves you time with some of the most advanced and flexible batch processing tools available. Use them to rename multiple files, apply adjustments to groups of similar files with the same settings, or convert and export files to one or more pre-defined image formats and sizes.
• Speed to output: When you’re ready to create image files to print, share online or access in other applications, Corel AfterShot Pro offers lightning-fast output generation. Plus, use Batch Output to quickly process images according to predefined output settings like JPEG and PDF, create contact sheets or standard print sizes, and more. It’s easy to modify Batch settings or create a custom Batch process that suits your workflow.

 
Pricing and Availability

Corel AfterShot Pro is available in English, German, French, Dutch, Italian and Japanese immediately as an electronic download (ESD) from www.corel.com. Box versions will be available from Corel's global resellers later in January 2012. North American pricing is $99.99 (US and CDN). The upgrade version is available for $79.99 (US and CDN). To be eligible for the upgrade you must own a previous licensed version of: Bibble Pro or Lite 5, Corel® Paint Shop Pro® Photo X2 or higher, Adobe® Lightroom® or Apple® Aperture®.

To download a free fully-functional trial version or for more information about AfterShot Pro, please visit www.corel.com/aftershotpro

B&H carries Corel products.

Amazon.com just started accepting Canon PowerShot G1 X Preorders.

B&H just started accepting Nikon D4 preorders.

Adorama is accepting Canon PowerShot G1 X preorders.

I don't know how strong the initial G1 X inventory will be, but I expect demand for this camera to be quite strong.

Adorama is also accepting Canon PowerShot ELPH 110 HS and Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS preorders.

B&H has the Canon PowerShot G1 X product page live.