Leaf Imaging (a Phase One company), a company that introduced the world’s first commercial digital camera back 1992, has recently announced the Leaf Aptus-II 8 medium format digital camera back. This newest addition to Leaf product family offers 40 megapixels of resolution.

It features CCD image Sensor, 44 x 33mm large, and is targeted at professional photographers who require the highest quality available at a relatively affordable price. Though the price tag is around €13.995, it is still fewer that that of Leaf’s flagship product, the Leaf Aptus-II 10. The latter is a 56-megapixel digital camera back with the same CCD sensor.

The products’ quality can be described by the words of Ziv Argov, Director of Marketing, Leaf Imaging Ltd., who said: “The Leaf Aptus-II 8 is designed to deliver superior image quality, with true to life skin tones for portrait and fashion assignments, and richly detailed images for any technical photography requirements.”

The system is also the industry’s fastest digital back to date. It delivers capture rate of 0.8 seconds per frame, which means that it can produce 60 full resolution images per minute.

Moreover, the Leaf Aptus-II 8 offers professional photographers a choice of connecting to more than 80 different camera platforms, which is very flexible, as well as the ability to connect to large format cameras.

The Leaf Aptus-II 8 ships with both Leaf Capture v.11 and Capture One v.5 software, as there’s an open file format in the system. It presupposes the choice of tethered shooting to either Leaf Capture or Capture One software applications.

Leaf Aptus-II 8 Digital Back – Key Features:

• 40 Megapixels of Resolution
• CCD Image Sensor
• Sensor Size: 44 x 33mm
• Largest File Size: 240 MB 16 bit TIFF
• 3.5” (6×7 cm) Display
• Touch Screen Controls
• Sensitivity: ISO 80-800
• Capture Rate: 0.8 sec/frame
• Open File Format
• Workflow Software Included
• Available for €13.995

OmniVision Technologies, Inc. has lately launched two 14.6-megapixel image sensors, the OV14810 for digital still/video cameras and the OV14825 for mobile applications. They are aimed at to achieving the highest quality in both video and photography as they can provide for high-resolution still photography and full 1080p high-definition (HD) video at 60 frames per second (fps).

OmniVision’s new HD sensors use the company’s most advanced 1.4-micron pixel architecture, so that even being the industry’s smallest format sensors they could achieve good performance in terms of sensitivity.

So they measure 1/2.33-inch in size and have active array of 4,416 x 3,312 backside illumination pixels. In full HD video mode, the sensors also provide additional pixels for electronic image stabilization (EIS).

Back illumination technology helps achieve highest sensitivity. “The OV14810 represents a new milestone in digital imaging, bringing the most advanced pixel technology and sensor design to offer the highest quality video and photography in a single device,” said Bruce Weyer, vice president of marketing at OmniVision.

The OV14810/OV14825 will be used in different end applications ranging from mobile phones to digital cameras. It enables ultra compact camera designs with a low-cost bill of materials and reduced power consumption.

These products are offered with industry-standard connectivity including LVDS, MIPI and DVP and do not require external IC components. They will enter mass production in the second quarter of 2010.

OmniVision OV14810 and OV14825 – Features:

• CMOS Image Sensors
• Sensor Size: 1/2.33-inch
• 14.6 Megapixels
• Sensor Resolution: 4,416 x 3,312
• Backside Illumination
• Delivers Full 1080p HD video at 60 fps
• Pixel Size: 1.4-micron
• OV14810 for Digital Still/Video Cameras
• OV14825 for Mobile Applications

Technology is the sphere of digital camera production is advancing rapidly, and now Aptina, a global provider of CMOS image sensors, creates a high performance 1.4-Micron image sensor with 14 Megapixels of resolution, high speed snapshot and HD video modes as well as flexible interface and pre-processing options.

Aptina MT9F001 image sensor is the right solution for high performance digital cameras in terms of sensitivity, hot pixel count, and manufacturability. Moreover, Aptina has overcome crosstalk for photon collection that small pixels face when front side illumination (FSI) is used. Now the results are the same as with BSI (back side illumination) namely lower noise and more accurate color reproduction.

“This sensor puts into practice Aptina’s latest technology, including Aptina™ A-Pix which maximizes the light gathering of each pixel,” says Sandor Barna, General Manager for Aptina’s Camera Business Unit.

For high-speed performance the MT9F001 sensor incorporates a four-lane HiSPiTM (High Speed Serial Pixel Interface) technology which was developed by Aptina. It allows for high speed and low power consumption data transfer as well as high still image quality and video performance. Thus the sensor can capture full HD video (1080p) at a speed of 60fps.

“Aptina is clearly focused on continuous improvement to meet the severe demands of the consumer digital camera market,” said Mr. Toshinobu Haruki, General Manager in the DI Division at SANYO.

The sensor also enables such necessary end-user feature as support for Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS).

Aptina MT9F001 SMOS Image Sensor – Features:

• High Resolution of 14 Megapixels
• Pixel Size: 1.4-micron
• Front Side Illumination (FSI)
• High Speed Snapshot
• Full HD Video (1080p/60fps)
• Flexible Interface
• Pre-Processing Options
• Support for Electronic Image Stabilization
• Availability: 2010

ViewPLUS, a world leading distributor, designer, and manufacturer of advanced camera solutions for computer vision and scientific research, introduced the Lumiere 4K x 2K digital camera system, a video camera that outputs full video signals.

The camera features an 8 megapixel CMOS sensor and is able to output 12-bit raw uncompressed 4096 x 2048 images at 60 frames per second to the host PC. In other words, it is connected to a PC and transmits movies and a real time.

The device gives has a lot to offer, for example external frame synchronization to standard HD formats, such as 480i, 480p, 1080i, and 1080p as well as CVBS and S-Video bi-level and tri-level input signal synchronization. The usage of opto-isolated general purpose I/O (GPIO) connector makes it possible to synchronize the camera to external devices such as a light source.

The Lumiere camera system also includes Lumiere-REC, a software development kit, that allows users to record image data and output movies in industry-standard CinemaDNG RAW file format.

The Lumiere-RT application, in its turn, when used in conjunction with CUDA technology can ensure color process and display of full 4K-width color images in real time on a 4K monitor or four high-definition (HD) monitors.

So, the Lumiere-REC will be ideal for those who are interested in raw, uncompressed, high quality video, while Lumiere-RT will be useful for those interested in real-time display and monitoring.

The camera is compatible with standard Nikon F-mount lenses.

ViewPLUS Lumiere 4K x 2K 60 FPS Digital Camera System – Features:

• 8 Megapixels of resolution
• CMOS Image Sensor
• PCI Express (PCIe) x4 Interface
• 12-bit Uncompressed RAW Images
• Output to Host PC: 60 fps
• Data Transfer: Up to 700 Megabytes per Second
• External Frame Synchronisation to Standard HD Formats
• CVBS and S-Video Bi-Level and Tri-Level Input Signal Synchronisation
• External Usage of Light Source
• Lens Mount: Nikon F

Official Information: viewplus.co.jp.

Canon brings enhanced wireless control and flexibility to the latest EOS-1 Series and EOS 5D Mark II with the launch of two new Wireless File Transmitters: the Canon WFT-E2 and the Canon WFT-E4. They will be available from late December.

The devices are designed for EOS-1D Mark IV and the EOS 5D Mark II, respectively and offer the capability to transfer images securely to a computer or server, control the camera remotely and connect to WiFi enabled devices to view images directly from the camera.

Transferring images from the camera to a PC, external hard drive or FTP server is made more secure. As the transmitters support high security WPA2-PSK authentication and AES encryption over wireless networks. IPsec encryption is also used as to ensure that your personal IP is protected.

The WFT-E2 II and WFT-E4 II allow you to communicate with their camera remotely using a number of different methods.

For instance, when using EOS Utility software, you can easily browse, control camera’s settings and capture images over a network connection. The EOS Utility allows photographers to control EOS cameras remotely. This is great for studio photographers or sports photographers who may view and review their images on a large screen for netter image quality.

The cameras can be controlled also from portable wireless devices such as a PDA or smartphone whilst on the move or when carrying a computer may be impractical.

Also, the new wireless file transmitters allow up to ten slave cameras can be wirelessly connected to a master unit up to 100m away, with the ability of the master camera to trigger the slaves. So now wildlife and sports photographers gain the possibility to capture a subject from a multitude of different angles.

Canon WFT-E2 and WFT-E4 Wireless File Transmitters - Features:

• File Transfer Function
• WPA2-PSK Authentication
• IPsec encryption
• Ethernet LAN Port
• Remote Control Function
• Camera Control from Smartphones
• The Possibility to Connect up to 10 Slave Cameras
• USB Port
• Prices:
  • The WFT-E4 II: £649.00 / €799.00
  • The WFT-E2 II: £699.00 / €849.00