Olympus will be prosecuted by the UK Serious Fraud Office over charges that it provided 'misleading, false or deceptive' material in accounts submitted by its medical supplies subsidiary Gyrus Group Limited. Earlier this year three former senior executives of the company were handed suspended jail sentences for their part in a massive accounting scandal which hid huge investment losses dating back to the 1990s, and was uncovered by former CEO Michael Woodford.
A statement issued by Olympus states that the potential impact on the Group's business is unclear, as it's difficult to estimate the level of any fines which may be imposed if the prosecution is successful.

Your Ad Here

Sphere: Related Content

Nikon has announced the Coolpix P7800, which sits at the top of its compact camera lineup, replacing last year's P7700 as flagship zoom camera. The P7800 is extremely similar to its nominal predecessor, the most notable change being the addition of an electronic viewfinder.
For those with a short memory, P-series cameras prior to the P7700 had optical viewfinders. The P7700 got rid of that entirely, but gave users a fully articulating LCD in exchange. On the Coolpix P7800 the viewfinder has returned, in electronic form. The EVF has 921,000 dots and covers 100% of the frame.
Other specifications are more or less unchanged compared to the P7700. The camera is built around a 28-200mm (equivalent) F2-4 zoom lens, and features a fully-articulating rear LCD screen, and has plenty of manual control and exposure options, at an MSRP of $549.99.

The Nikon Coolpix P7800's key selling points compared to arch-competitor Canon PowerShot G16 are its fully-articulated rear LCD screen and 921k-dot electronic viewfinder. In most other important respects, the P7800 is close to identical to its predecessor, the P7700.

We had an opportunity to use a pre-production P7800 recently, and our overall impression was positive. From a handling point of view the new camera is extremely similar to its predecessor, with the only major differences being the new viewfinder and the lack of a Quick Control dial, which was removed to make room for the EVF. This, coupled with the fully-articulated rear LCD makes the P7800 a potentially attractive option for anyone looking to step up from a more basic point and shoot, or as a second body alongside an entry-level DSLR. Canon's PowerShot G16 offers neither, and its imprecise tunnel-type optical finder is a poor substitute. What the G16 does offer though is advanced built-in Wi-Fi functions and speedy performance with impressively responsive AF.
We haven't used a final shipping sample of the P7800 yet, but we understand that its processor is unchanged compared to the P7700. As such, we worry that the P7800 might share its predecessor's relatively slow operation when shooting Raw files - with anything other than a fast, recent UHS-I SD card, at any rate. Obviously, though, we'll be curious to see how the P7800 performs when we get hold of a final shipping sample.

ELEGANT PRECISION, ELITE PERFORMANCE: THE NIKON COOLPIX P7800 HELPS EFFORTLESSLY CAPTURE STUNNING IMAGES WITH CONFIDENCE AND CONTROL

Nikon’s Newest Advanced Performance Camera Offers Leading Performance and Features for Those Who Want Quality Photos and HD Video

MELVILLE, N.Y. (September 5, 2013) – Today, Nikon Inc. announced the COOLPIX P7800, the latest addition to Nikon’s Advanced Performance COOLPIX lineup that offers Nikon’s optical excellence and versatile high-performance features in a portable, compact body. Equipped with both automatic and advanced features, the P7800 presents a high-powered and intuitive option for those who want superior image quality and performance, without sacrificing creative control. Packed with innovative features, including a large 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, a fast maximum aperture f/2.0 lens and new electronic viewfinder, the P7800 captures images and HD video with elegance and precision, even in difficult low-light shooting scenarios.
“This addition to the Advanced Performance COOLPIX series affirms Nikon’s commitment to integrating our storied optical legacy into powerful yet compact cameras,” said Bo Kajiwara, Vice President of Marketing, Planning and Customer Experience, Nikon Inc. “The new COOLPIX P7800 will allow photographers of every level to explore their photographic potential while capturing top-class images and Full HD video.”

Elite Performance and Optics

The COOLPIX P7800 sports a large 1/1.7-inch 12.2-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor and a versatile 7.1x zoom range (28-200mm equivalent). This combination ensures the capture of stunning images and Full HD video in a variety of difficult shooting environments. Whether shooting portraits, landscapes or documenting the family vacation, the P7800 is the ideal compact camera for almost any occasion.
Low-light performance is bolstered by a blazing fast f/2.0-4.0 glass lens that lets more light in, allowing the user to shoot with faster shutter speeds, and providing sharper results, even without the flash. Additionally, lens-shift Vibration Reduction (VR) in the lens helps create consistently steady and clear shots when shooting handheld, even while moving. For moments when speed is of the essence, the COOLPIX P7800 also features extremely fast continuous shooting, at 8 frames-per-second (fps) for up to six shots, allowing the user to be ready for every memorable, fleeting moment.
The camera is also capable of pristine Full HD 1080p video recording with stereo sound. While recording, the P7800 allows effortless optical zoom and presents several in-camera special effects as well as manual controls affording incredible video potential.

Controlled Precision for Every User

The Nikon COOLPIX P7800 presents a portable, practical and powerful compact camera option for the casual or advanced shooter looking to capture photos with precision and confidence. For capturing a fast moving soccer match or documenting the family vacation, a variety of useful scene and shooting modes are at the user’s disposal to help custom tailor the camera’s settings for a number of different shooting situations. An intuitive menu and external control system make it easy to navigate and control with ease.
For more advanced users who seek the ultimate in creative freedom, the COOLPIX P7800 offers complete creative controls that afford any photographer the ability to customize every shot. The P7800 is equipped with full manual controls (P,S,A,M) and the ability to capture RAW files, enabling the user to capture and edit uncompressed images. Styled in a classic design with a litany of external analog controls and mode dials for convenient access, this potent compact camera provides the uncompromising control that enthusiasts and professionals covet, clearing the way for the capture of beautiful images and Full HD video. Much like other Advanced Performance COOLPIX offerings, the P7800 is also compatible with many Nikon accessories, including Speedlights and external GPS units.

Capture and Share with Ease

Framing unique and accurate shots is streamlined with the addition of a new high-resolution eye-level electronic viewfinder (EVF) that makes shooting, even in bright sunlight, enjoyable and easy. More creative composition perspectives are possible with the use of a versatile high-resolution 3-inch Vari-Angle LCD screen that can help frame anything from dynamic overhead shots to low-point-of-view macro photos as well as great candid photos of kids and pets.
When using the optional WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter*, users can easily shoot and share via Wi-Fi® to compatible smartphones or tablets. Pairing with the free downloadable Wireless Mobile Utility application*, the WU-1a enables the seamless transfer of images and videos for easy sharing and viewing with friends and family.

Price and Availability

The Nikon COOLPIX P7800 will be available in September 2013 for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $549.95**. For more information about this COOLPIX camera or other Nikon products, please visit www.nikonusa.com.
In order to give consumers a more effective way to understand the benefits of each COOLPIX camera and to help users determine the best camera to fit their lifestyle, Nikon has segmented the COOLPIX series into five categories: Advanced Performance, Fun & Innovative, Ultra-Slim Zoom, Comfort Long Zoom and Budget Friendly. For more information about this and other COOLPIX cameras, please visit www.nikonusa.com. 

Your Ad Here

Sphere: Related Content

Ricoh has unveiled their new Theta digital camera, which can take 360-degree panoramas with its two ultra-wide-angle lenses.
The stylish and thin Theta can be controlled via your iOS device after you've downloaded the appropriate app. There's no live preview of the photo you're about to take, so you have to cross your fingers and hope for the best. If you're using your smartphone to capture the image, the photo will be automatically downloaded to your mobile device. You can also use the Theta independently and transfer the photos to your phone or computer at a later time.

The spartan interface of the Theta app's shooting mode. The button in the middle takes a photo, while the slider adjusts exposure compensation.	The playback screen can display Theta captures stored on the camera or your smartphone. If it's the former, clicking on one will copy it to your mobile device.

Once a photo is on your iOS device, you can view or share it. The viewing experience allows you to scroll around the whole image, and zoom in or out (the latter is very cool).  A share button will upload the images to Ricoh's theta360.com website, as well as to Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr. You can't actually see the 360-degree panaoramas on these sites, but rather a link to theta360.com.
How's the quality of the panoramas? See for yourself:

Click the image to see the actual panorama on the theta360.com website.

As you can see, the quality isn't great, but it's still a pretty neat effect. The main downside is that your head always ends up in the photo when you hand-hold the camera. Unless you're proud of your hair, you might want to use a tripod.

Your Ad Here

Sphere: Related Content

The smartphone and the point-and-shoot are not, by nature, natural companions. One takes better pictures than the other but has difficulty sharing them. The other takes less inspiring images, but can share them instantly. One is easy to leave at home by accident, and the other is in your pocket at all times.
Camera manufacturers have been trying for some time to make compact cameras more like smartphones by adding Wi-Fi connectivity, but no attempt to date has been quite as bold as Sony's latest effort: the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100 and QX10 are sensor/lens modules designed explicitly for use with smartphones. Each unit contains a lens, sensor and processor and your smartphone provides the user interface.
With a shutter button and zoom toggle the QX100 and QX10 are able to operate as standalone cameras (albeit without an LCD or any way of checking composition) but they're designed to work in concert with a smartphone by way of Sony's PlayMemories Mobile app. Establish a connection between the devices, open up the app and your mobile device acts as the camera's LCD. Included with each unit is a mount that clamps to the backside of a smartphone.
The QX100 is the high-end model, and it's quite a step up: at its core are the best bits of the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II, based around the same 20MP 1-inch sensor and fast (at the wide end) Zeiss-branded zoom lens. The RX100 II's predecessor won a DPReview silver award when we reviewed it, and its excellent image quality was a major factor. In the RX100 II, Sony added a backside illuminated sensor to improve already good low-light performance, and our initial impressions of the updated model have been positive.
Sadly, although not surprisingly, the QX100 is a JPEG-only device. And not only is RAW mode unavailable, manual exposure control is limited too, to aperture priority and exposure compensation. There's no shutter priority mode here, nor fully manual (even though we can't see why there couldn't have been). HD video recording is available at 1440 x 1080 resolution, reduced from the standard 1920 x 1080 found in most compact cameras (including the RX100 II).
The RX100 II currently sells for $750; the QX100 has been introduced at $499.95. That's a sizable discount if you can live with the trimmed-down feature set.

Key specifications:

• 20.2 effective megapixel 1.0" Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor
• 28-100mm equivalent 3.6x optical zoom F1.8-4.9 lens
• Limited manual control - aperture priority, auto and exposure compensation
• Optical SteadyShot image stabilization
• MicroSD card slot
• NFC and Wi-Fi connectivity

Camera manufacturers are doing their best to make nice with mobile devices by adding Wi-Fi and NFC, but nobody has solved the dilemma yet. Sony's bold attempt with the QX100 isn't just to work with your smartphone, it's designed to become part of your smartphone. The QX100 aims to produce better photos and facilitate easier sharing, all from one device.

Your Ad Here

Sphere: Related Content

based on a production Olympus E-M1 with Firmware 1.0

The E-M1 is the second model in Olympus's OM-D series and extends the range further into semi-pro/enthusiast territory. There are two distinctions that set the E-M1 apart from its little brother (the E-M5) - a more sophisticated autofocus system and a 'buttons for everything' design approach. As such the two models will coexist, with the E-M1 sitting at the very top of Olympus's lineup.
The biggest technological step forward on the E-M1 is the addition of on-sensor phase detection elements, giving the camera two distinct focus modes. The phase-detection system is used when lenses from the original Four Thirds system, which were designed for use that way, are attached. With native, Micro Four Thirds lenses, the camera will mainly stick with the contrast detection system that has proved so fast and accurate on the E-M5. Only if you use tracking AF will the camera utilize phase-detection information with a Micro Four Thirds lens.
The E-M1 also gains the excellent 2.3m-dot electronic viewfinder panel we first saw as the VF-4 accessory for the PEN E-P5. Not only is the resolution very impressive, but the viewfinder optics give a viewfinder with magnification of up to 1.48x (depending on display mode), which puts it only a fraction behind the 0.76x viewfinder in Canon's 1D X and ahead of Nikon's pro-grade D4 DSLRs.
There's also a more advanced processor in the E-M1 that conducts a variety of lens corrections, when creating JPEGs, leading the company to proclaim the best image quality offered by one of its cameras. These corrections, enabled by the company's latest, TruePic VII processor, include correcting for chromatic aberation and correcting sharpness on a per-lens basis.
The biggest difference between the E-M1 and the E-M5, though, is the degree of direct control on offer. We really liked the E-M5's twin-dial control system, but the E-M1 goes beyond that by providing button-and-dial combinations for quickly changing almost every imaginable setting on the camera, quickly. It's the kind of approach you don't usually get until the very top of manufacturers' lineups - it means you have to get used to where every function is, but can shoot fluidly once you have.
However, this direct control doesn't come at the expense of the potentially slower but easier to find touch-screen interface. The E-M1 can be operated pretty much however you fancy.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 specification highlights:

• 16MP MOS Four Thirds format sensor with no low-pass filter
• On-sensor phase detection elements
• Twin control dials (front and rear) with '2x2' dual-mode option
• '5-axis' image stabilization with automatic panning detection ('S-IS Auto')
• ISO 'LOW' (100 equiv) - ISO 25,600
• Up to 10fps continuous shooting (6.5 fps shooting with continuous AF)
• 1.04M-dot 3" LCD touchscreen display - tilts 80° upwards and 50° downwards
• Electronic viewfinder: 2.36M-dot LCD, 0.74x magnification (equiv.), eye sensor
• Built-in Wi-Fi for remote shooting and image transfer to smartphone or tablet

Gained over the E-M5

• True Pic VII processor, with lens corrections
• 1/8000 sec top shutter speed, 1/320 sec flash sync
• Built-in microphone socket (rather than optional accessory adapter)
• Flash X-sync socket
• Built-in Wi-Fi
• Focus 'peaking' display
• In-camera HDR blending (two modes)

Four Thirds is dead. Long live Four Thirds

As well as representing the highest-end Micro Four Thirds camera yet, the E-M1's role is also about offering continued support for users of the original Four Thirds system. Olympus created some very nice lenses for the Four Thirds system, but the company struggled to make enough impact in the market to justify the cost of continuing development for both systems in parallel.

The company claims to have studied what the E-M1 and a hypothetical 'E-7' could offer, and concluded that, while image quality, durability and speed would have been the same, the OM-D design allowed a size advantage and much greater viewfinder magnification than would be possible with an optical finder. As such the E-M1 should be considered the successor to the E-5.
We'll look at the performance of the camera with Four Thirds lenses in a little more depth later in this article, but, in principle, the on-sensor phase detection autofocus system should be much more effective when it comes to controlling Four Thirds lenses, all of which were primarily designed to be driven by phase detection-based systems.

Your Ad Here

Sphere: Related Content