Focus on Imaging 2008 Show Report!

Focus on Imaging is Europe's biggest annual imaging show, and is a great opportunity to try out and buy the latest digital camera equipement. It's at the Birmingham NEC, in the UK, every year, and is currently running from the 24th of February to the 27th of February. We were there, and have the following coverage to share with you:

Previews / First Look:
Sigma DP1 Foveon Digital Camera - Preview
Samsung GX20 Digital SLR with Live View - Preview
Olympus EVOLT E-3 Digital SLR with Swivel Screen and Live view
Canon EOS 450D Digital SLR Hands On
Nikon D60 Digital SLR with Nikkor VR kit lens
Fujifilm FinePix S1000fd - World's Smallest 12x Optical Zoom.
Fujifilm FinePix F100fd - Top of the range pocket Fuji.
Fujifilm FinePix IS Pro - New UV / IR 12mp DSLR.
Kodak Easyshare V1073 - Hands on with the 3" touch screen.

More at Focus on Imaging:
Epson Stylus Pro 11880 Epson's largest Professional Printer
Nikon D300 Digital SLR - 12 megapixel DSLR.
Kodak Easyshare Z1275 - Cheap Pocket Zoom.
Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR - 10 megapixel DSLR.
Fujifilm FinePix S8100fd - New 18x ultra zoom!

For more stories, including what can happen when you mistreat an expensive Digital SLR, what happens when you freeze a memory card in a block of ice, and how to get creative with photo backups, click here to read the full Focus on Imaging 2008 Show Report!

Ever wondered what happened to Kodak's Digital SLR business? I think you'll find the answer in this picture:

This is what happens when you have an unfortunate accident with an expensive camera! Ouch! This was one of Towergate Camerasure's demonstration models showing the importance of camera insurance.

Lexar were demonstrating that their memory cards will withstand freezing conditions - with a giant ice sculpture of a Digital SLR.

Lightscribe were demonstrating their clever disc labelling system - with the right CD/DVD writer, and right CDs/DVDs, you can backup all your photos to disc, then flip the disc over, and the drive will print the label for you. Some of the designs are getting quite good...

Although I'm not sure about the english! More on Lightscribe here, here and here.

Lensbabies were being demonstrating - and were attracting a lot of interest.

The Canon EOS 5D full frame 12.8 megapisel Digital SLR with the Canon EF 28-300 mm F3.5-F5.6 L IS USM UltraSonic lens. Click the picture above to view a bigger version of the picture.

Updated: Other Focus on Imaging Show Reports: ThinkCamera, DPNow. View previous years Focus on Imaging Show Reports: 2007, 2006, 2005.

Lightscribe Photography Kit Announced

Lightscribe have announced the Lightscribe Photography Kit, Lightscribe allow you to write labels directly onto CD/DVD using your CD/DVD writer, we had a look at them at Focus on Imaging 2007 and 2006, the new software is now available for download for free:

"LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling announced today the launch of the LightScribe Photography Kit, a CD and DVD labeling package created specifically for professional photographers and photo enthusiasts. The LightScribe Photography Kit's disc labeling tips and resources for photographers are immediately available for free download on www.lightscribe.com."

Click here to read the full press release.

LightScribe -- a laser disc labeling technology found in many popular brands of disc burners, laptops and PCs -- gives people the ability to easily burn silkscreen - quality photos, graphics, images and text directly onto LightScribe CDs and DVDs. Disc colors include gold CDs and DVDs as well as CDs in red, orange, yellow, blue and green.

To ensure that discs containing clients' images stand out, photographers owning a LightScribe-enabled drive can go to the Photography Kit (www.lightscribe.com/go/create) and download photo label designs, mailers as well as disc sleeve designs.

With the new kit, photographers can create professional custom designs that integrate clients' photos with text so that the discs are personalized and also serve as advertising pieces. With LightScribe, photo archive discs can be labeled with a telltale photo from the collection as well as client information so that they can be found easily with a quick visual reference.

According to professional photographer and exclusive istockphoto contributor Bobbie Osborne, “As a stock photographer that works with models on a regular basis, LightScribe is invaluable. After burning images to CD for my clients' portfolios, I can add a reference picture from the shoot, my contact information and a note of 'permission to reprint' in case they get questioned about printing copyrighted images. It's professional and sexy. My clients and I both love it."

LightScribe, the only widely available embedded disc labeling technology, is licensed to over 75 optical drive and media manufacturers, software developers, media and computer brands worldwide. LightScribe-enabled CDs, DVDs, software, desktops, notebooks, aftermarket optical disc drives and duplicator systems are available at major retailers worldwide, as well as through most leading brands online.

About LightScribe - LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling offers consumers and businesses a simple, no-hassle way to burn professional-looking, silkscreen-quality labels on their CDs and DVDs. LightScribe extends optical media, recorders and software through an integrated system of media with special laser-sensitive coating, laser control and imaging drive modifications, and labeling software enhancements. LightScribe uses the same laser that burns data in the disc drive to create precise, iridescent labels. LightScribe technology was developed and patented by HP. A business unit of HP, LightScribe licenses its technology to optical industry leaders in drive and media manufacturing, and to hardware, media and software brands. Additional information is available at www.lightscribe.com.

Focus on Imaging 2007 Show Report

I was at Focus on Imaging 2007 - Europe's biggest annual imaging show today - it's held at the Birmingham NEC from the 25th to the 28th of Febuary and it's an opportunity to see the latest digital cameras, the latest printers, and latest accessories. Unlike a lot of other shows, Focus on Imaging has shops offering special show offers where you can potentially grab a bargain on the latest digital camera (for example - the Olympus E-500 with lens is / was available for £299!). This page will be updated with more news and coverage over the next few hours.

Latest: Apple Aperture Demonstrations
Latest: Nikon D40 DSLR Hands On
Latest: Nikon D2X, D2Xs, D200, D80 Sensors on Display
Latest: Nikon Coolpix P5000 Hands On
Latest: Nikon Coolpix S50c, S500, S200
Latest: Sigma SD14 DSLR + 300-800mm Zoom Lens
Latest: Olympus SP-550 Ultra Zoom Hands-On
Latest: Olympus Mju Stylus 770SW Hands-On
Latest: Fujifilm FinePix S5700 Hands-On
Latest: Fujifilm FinePix F40 Hands-On
Latest: Fujifilm FinePix Z5 In Pink Hands-on

View the full Focus on Imaging 2007 Show Report

More Focus on Imaging 2007 Photos:

This year seemed to have a bond theme, as can be seen above!

Left: Jaguar XKR at the Phase One stand. Right: Joby Gorrillapod - it's now available in three different sizes on their website. Click pictures to enlarge.

Left: HP Lightscribe Direct Labeling system stand. Medea Infiniti were also on the stand demonstrating the technology. Right: Multi-coloured discs, and Lightscribe CD/DVD writers - all new drives that feature the Lightscribe capability now have the Lightscribe logo on them. For more information see our Lightscribe Disc Labeling page - we had a look at the system at last year's Focus on Imaging. Click pictures to enlarge.

Left: Broncolor Flash Lighting Systems Stand. Right: HP Photosmart R827 - HP were there demonstrating all their printers from small photo printers to large professional printers, however, their digital camera range on show consisted of four models, and they didn't seem to be putting much focus on the cameras. Click pictures to enlarge.

Left: The Monster Pod (monsterpod.co.uk) a new go-anywhere tripod that sticks to almost anything. Available for £29 - people who bought one at the show recieved a free case. Right: Eizo were demonstrating their monitors, including the Eizo S2411W-U - a 24" Wide-screen display with 3000:1 contrast ratio, 178 degrees viewing angle, a 5 year warranty, 1920 x 1200 native resolution and a new feature that simulates colour vision deficiency. Click pictures to enlarge.

Pre-show: Nikon at Focus on Imaging 2007

Read more Focus on Imaging 2007 Reports:
Photography BLOG
DPNow.com
Think Camera

A word from friends: Digital cameras and batteries go together like peanut butter and jelly, though maybe the former is a relationship that's a little more parasitic than the latter. Discover a wealth of information about batteries for electronic equipment, including Toshiba laptop batteries, PDA batteries and digital camera batteries on the Internet.

View the Focus on Imaging 2006 Show Report

Lightscribe CD DVD Labelling System

LightScribe were demonstrating a clever disk labelling system at the Focus on Imaging show. With the right hardware and software it's as simple as flipping the disk over once the data is written and the CD/DVD burner then writes the label to the disk. This is summarised as: "Burn, Flip, Burn".

The costs involved are particularly impressive as the latest versions of all CD/DVD writing software should have built in support for Lightscribe disc labelling. The latest CD/DVD drives should also come with Lightscribe support built in at no extra cost and are expected in the next month. DVD media is priced fairly competitively with discs priced around 50 pence per disk. Another clever feature is that you can add to the label at a later date. The system is portable with drives from Lacie. The label is permenant which is good for copyright or cataloging. The system is ideal for corporate environments where you may not have access to a colour label printer, or easily lose permenant marker pens.

Above, left: A fully printed disc with a full CD graphic shown next to a disc that has simply been labelled with my name and this websites name. The simple disc should be labelled in around 1 - 2 minutes, whereas a full disc print can take 20 - 30 minutes depending on hardware. Newer hardware should label the discs quicker. Above, right: A close up of the labelled disc. Click any of the images to view a larger version.

Click here for more information.

"LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling is a new technology, invented by HP, which enables CD and DVD images and disk labels to be etched onto discs using the same laser in the optical drive used to burn data. The technology requires three elements to deliver lasting, silkscreen-quality labels: 1) a LightScribe-enabled optical disc drive, 2) LightScribe-compatible media, and 3) LightScribe-supported software applications. HP’s intent is to create a market standard by licensing LightScribe to manufacturers in the computer and consumer electronics markets, including optical disc drive manufacturers, media manufacturers, software providers and computer and consumer electronics brands."

"LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling (www.lightscribe.com) offers a simple, no-hassle way to burn professional, silkscreen-quality labels onto CDs and DVDs. Musicians or music lovers simply burn their music or video, flip the disc over, and burn a great looking label for a demo CD or a disc of favourite songs or video – no printer, permanent marker or adhesive labelling is required."

Information on how it works and what's needed in order to use the Lightscribe disk labelling system:

"What is LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling? LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling is a technology that offers consumers and businesses a simple, no-hassle way to burn professional-looking, silkscreen-quality labels on their CDs and DVDs. Using the same laser that burns data in their disc drives, customers burn their data as always, flip the disc over, reinsert it into the drive and burn a precise, iridescent label.

Highlights - Professional-quality labels: laser precision and detail mean no more marker scrawl or adhesive labels to centre only to have them peel off the disc

Simplicity: no-hassle labels; just burn the disc, flip it and burn the labelCreativity: freedom to combine text and graphics in simple or complex labels that reflect one’s personality and attitude

Convenience: labels can be burned wherever and whenever a disc is burned, no need for a printer.

Key Components - LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling technology consists of three elements:

LightScribe-enabled optical disc drive (ODD) – Minor, low-cost modifications to the optical disc drive enable validation of media types and control of sled position, spindle speed and focus to burn the label on LightScribe-compatible media.

LightScribe-compatible media – A micro-thin, low-cost coating of a highly specialised material on the label side of compatible media absorbs laser light, triggering an image-producing chemical reaction. Consumers can readily identify LightScribe-compatible media through the LightScribe logo, found on media packaging and in the hub of every disc.

LightScribe-supported software applications – Licensed software applications tap lower-level software system services to connect the user experience to the firmware controls and deliver the customer's desired label to the imaging system."

LightScribe is supported by the following brands: Hardware: Alienware, Asustek, BenQ, Evesham Technology, Freecom Technologies, HP, I/OMagic, LaCie, Lite-On IT, Medion, Packard Bell, Philips, ProStar Computer and Sager Computer. Media brands: BenQ, HP, Imation, Maxell, Memorex, Philips, TDK and Verbatim. Optical drive manufacturers: Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Lite-On IT, Panasonic Communications, Panasonic Shikoku Electronics, Philips-BenQ Data Storage, Pioneer, QSI and Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology. Software developers: Acoustica, CyberLink, Droppix, InterVideo, MicroVision Development, Nero, NewSoft Technology, NewTech Infosystems, Roxio, SmileOnMyMac, Sonic Solutions, Medea, Infiniti and Ulead

Free label designs and more information is available on Lightscribe's website.