Lexar Media today announced availability of its new Professional CompactFlash and Secure Digital flash memory cards designed to deliver optimal performance in all digital SLR cameras and speed-rated 133X, or capable of a minimum sustained write speed of 20MB per second. Like all of Lexar’s Professional series CompactFlash memory cards, the new 133X cards include Lexar’s Write Acceleration Technology (WA). The WA technology allows digital cameras to exchange and store images faster, thus attaining near instantaneous image-write speeds in cameras supporting this feature.

Panasonic today announces the introduction of the new DMC-LS2, an affordable, accessible, high-quality digital still camera that brings convenient picture taking to a new level. The DMC-LS2 features a 5-megapixel CCD, MEGA Optical Image Stabilization, and a 3x optical zoom lens. The camera also features a 2-inch LCD on its back, with a high-angle LCD function, which makes the display easy to view from all different angles. This high-resolution LCD lets users view pictures in thumbnail form as well, with playback of one, nine, 16 and 25 pictures at a time in a multi-split screen, so searching for one special image among many is easy.

The new Cyber-shot DSC-M2 combines digital still photography and movie-shooting capabilities; featuring 5.1-megapixel resolution, a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens and Sony's Real Imaging Processor circuitry, the camera offers outstanding image capture in either mode. Designed for optimal photo taking and video making, the camera's vertical one-handed grip sits comfortably in the palm of your hand. With just a gentle push to the side of the LCD panel, the camera powers up, the 2.5-inch LCD screen flips out, and it is ready to shoot.

Sony introduced the new Cyber-shot DSC-S600, a digital camera featuring a 6-magapixels resolution and a precision Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens with a 3x optical wide-angle (31 - 93 mm) zoom, which is much wider than other cameras in its class. The camera also offers sophisticated auto exposure and focus controls that work transparently behind the scenes. Sony's multi-pattern measuring function gauges incoming light by examining 49 points across the frame. With multi-point auto focus, the camera intelligently evaluates five different focus areas and selects the best focus setting for the subject instead of the background.

Fujifilm today announced the FinePix V10, a compact digital camera featuring a 1/2.5-inch 5.1 MP CCD sensor, a large 3-inches LCD screen, one of largest in the ultra-compact camera category, a 3.4x optical zoom lens that widens to F2.8, xxx Thanks to Real Photo Technology, can take pictures at light sensitivities as high as 1600 ISO at full resolution, reducing noise and improving image sharpness and vividness.

Panasonic today introduces two new models for its compact, consumer friendly LZ series of Lumix digital still cameras. The six megapixel DMC-LZ5 and five megapixel DMC-LZ3 incorporate Panasonic’s top-rated MEGA Optical Image Stabilization, large and bright LCD displays, 6x optical zoom, and a 1-point high-speed autofocus feature that is new to the LZ product line. The LZ5 and LZ3 also have Panasonic’s Venus Engine Plus, the processor that manages image capture and energy use for the cameras. Both cameras also come packaged with Panasonic’s Oxyride AA batteries, which feature longer life and power than alkaline batteries. With Venus Engine Plus and Oxyride, users can get the most out of their picture-taking experience. With Venus Engine Plus and Oxyride, the LZ5 can take up to 235 images and the LZ3 up to 250. (The LZ5 and LZ3 also can use regular alkaline AA batteries).

A firmware update is now available for the Olympus E-500 digital SLR. Changes to the previous version include addition of a three-step adjustable button timer, a white balance off option and a security mode to protect against the unintentional erasing of both JPG and RAW versions of the one image. TO update firmware, siply open the Olympus Master software, connect the camera via USB to the computer and log onto the internet. Choose the Update Camera function from the Online Service menu in the Olympus Master software and the update will be initiated immediately.

The release of a firmware update for Pentax *ist DS SRL digital camera has been announced. New features have been added, such as "Continuous AF" mode to the AF settings in the Record Mode menu, "Auto ISO" to the sensitivity modes, "AE-L button on M" to the Custom Function menu; and others.
The update is available on the following Pentax website:

www.pentaximaging.com/customer_care/show_firmware?firmId=3