Camren Photographic Resources
December 2009

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The Tech Pages

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The old-school Jpeg file format is about to receive a new soul. Hopefully all photographers are familiar with the benefits and limitations of the standard Jpeg file. This industry standard image file is fast, efficient, and internationally recognized, but that is due to its innate 8 bit-depth capabilities. An 8 bit file is limiting simply because much of the original data the camera captures is compromised while being made into a Jpeg. Camera and printer technology today supports 12, 14, and 16 bit-depth, so why are we using a slightly antiquated file format? And why are we merging photos so that their dynamic range is fuller and richer and saving them in not-so friendly file formats? To make a difference and promote our best photographic product, of course, but wouldn't it be great if a simpler, world-recognized format that supported a greater image tonal range and color accuracy came around? And do so while taking up less digital space?

Chair of CEA's Digital Imaging Division Rick Glomb shares his thoughts inside the November 2009 issue of Picture Business Magazine.

Looking back over this decade, we saw the category we represent explode almost overnight. From that initial boom came new business opportunities in segments like printing, hardware, photo-finishing services—you name it. Companies and individuals have taken the opportunity, at each passing turn, to develop new products or launch fresh services. We are an innovative group. There are several breakthrough technologies in imaging changing the game right now, but I say the biggest opportunity in digital imaging is almost upon us. It will reinvent digital imaging with entirely new business opportunities, the likes of which we could never think possible. The next wave in digital imaging is JPEG-XR.

JPEG-XR, which stands for a new eXpanded Range image file format, has been years in the making. It is much more evolved than the JPEG format we rely on today. It will lift the technical restrictions of standard JPEG, allowing it to offer quality and features previously unimaginable in an easy market wide format. This isn't some glimpse into the future or a fantasy scenario, it is real and it is here. In fact, the JPEG-XR format is within months of complete standardization and public release. As it gains momentum this winter, it should have a voice by the 2010 International CES, with products shipping for the 2010 holiday season. So far a few camera companies are embracing this format as the future of digital imaging.

JPEG-XR has features that are marketable and will create opportunities for manufacturers, service providers and retailers. So how will it deliver?

Drastically Improved Image Quality

While today's imaging devices continue to offer more and more megapixels, the limitations of the JPEG format are bringing us close to a point of diminishing returns for most consumer applications. What good is all that extra resolution if saving the image to a digital file is the weakest link in the chain? The XR format will remove the current restrictions, allowing consumer cameras—even at medium resolutions—to capture more detail and with a dramatically expanded gamut range.

Much of the quality of today's digital images have been lost in translation, so to speak, in the JPEG file format. For example, the "old" JPEG can't capture the bright highlights and dark shadows in wide dynamic range scenes. A camera using JPEG-XR, on the other hand, can capture a person standing in front of window without creating shadowed face or overexposed background. JPEG-XR allows users to capture and output images closer to what our eyes see. Although high-dynamic-range shots are possible on today's DSLRs using pro techniques and a lossless image format, the process is too wieldy for most consumers to master. JPEG-XR will consolidate the need for multiple image formats, simplifying professional imaging controls to a mere snap of a point-and-shoot shutter, yet still allow after-image controls a master would want.

No-Compromise Compression

While not a sexy selling point to consumers out of the gate, many players in the imaging space will recognize JPEG-XR's super-efficient CODEC as a true game changer. For starters, users can crop, resize or tweak images without the need to uncompress then re-compress it. This means faster edits and no loss to image quality. Even more exciting, the new format promises an up to 30 percent smaller file than JPEG while delivering nearly twice as much data. JPEG-XR will not only allow cameras to capture new images in a smaller package, but will also allow for conversion of existing images for a nearly one-third smaller photo library. Anyone creating or selling storage solutions, including companies in the Internet storage arena, will see all kinds of new opportunities here. And I'm sure you will find opportunities too. This marriage of high resolution and high capture with smaller storage requirements is, well, huge!

Exciting Social Media Features

JPEG-XR was designed for the future and incorporates features that are natural extensions for the Web world: social networking and cloud computing. With standard JPEG, socially connecting pictures is a share-and-search concept. In other words, users must search out photos that other users have shared. Likewise, they must jump through more hoops to connect photos with friends or family to manually create the greater story the collection of photos tells. JPEG-XR enables content creators to automatically assemble these stories based on social networks, geotags and even facial recognition.

Another exciting feature is the ability to group random photos from random users together based on location to paint a larger picture. With JPEG-XR, applications can use smart geo-tags to create meta-images—a string of images taken within an area or period of time—to create a multi-dimensional view of a place or event. Users can find images by relating or associating them to other images. This is just one more example of how JPEG-XR will take imaging to an entirely new place. We're going to see digital imaging evolve into a viral, virtual imaging world.

I've presented just a few of JPEG-XR's new features, and there are still quite a few others. A holiday season from now, we'll just begin to see the new format infiltrating and forever changing the imaging category as we know it. It should rocket our industry to the next level. Even just the ability to transfer existing images to JPEG-XR will be earth shattering. []

Article also available at this address: http://www.picturebusinessmag.com/article/exciting-new-image-format-bring-growth-new-opportunities-414709_1.html

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Canon Instant Rebates

on select Canon products.

October 22, 2009 through January 16, 2010

Camren is an authorized Canon dealer.

(click the image above for a listing of included products).

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Not only does Camren rent high-end Canon equipment, we are also a Canon Authorized Dealer. Camren is also a dealer for other photographic companies. If you are looking to purchase Canon digital SLR cameras, lenses, flashes, or other accessories please give us a shout. We are competitive in both pricing and support.

3D Update: Sumitomo 3M has recently previewed an optical film capable of, "bringing naked-eye 3D to small- and medium-size LCD panels," the company said in a released statement. 3M is claiming that no special glasses or viewer device is needed to experience that 3D effect. Click here for details.

Laura Novak has created a pricing application for the iPhone and iPod Touch called PhotoPrice. It is available in the iTunes store and can be found with the search term “PhotoPrice.” PhotoPrice for the iPhone is the first and only application wedding and portrait photographer to assist in pricing services and products. It helps photographers to determine their COGS (or cost of goods sold) on products and services. The website for PhotoPrice can be found here.

Hi Touch Imaging introduces wireless event printing . Click here for more details.

CEA (Consumber Electronics Association) has conducted a study saying that there are six segments of digital photographers. The study, The Digital Photographer – Segmenting the Market to Gain Deeper Understanding, shows the segments are the Frustrated Photogs making up 25 percent of the market, Digital Curators (23 percent), One-Click Wonders (15 percent), Feature-Focused Photogs (16 percent), Picture Happy Socialites (10 percent) and Digital Mavericks (10 percent). Click here for more details.

PHOTOMEDIA announced their 2009 Photographer of the Year award finalists for the 2009 International Photography Awards. This year's winner is Rick Smolan, creator of the "A Day in the Life" series. Click here for the 411.

From the Ashes is an article published in the Fall 2009 PhotoMedia. All photographers should read this article. Either come by and pick up your complementary copy (while they last) or click here for details.

Nikon wants your finest film for the "Nikon Festival," a new social site developed by Nikon to empower the HD videographer. Click the photo below to enter the site. Click here for more.

Panasonic and Olympus announced firmware updates. Click here for details.

Fujifilm S5 Pro

USED

12.34 Megapixel w/ Super CCD $999.99

Includes AC-Adapter, Pantone/Huey monitor calibrator, and 30 Day Parts and Labor Warranty

Norman 400B

USED

$699.99

w/ Super Charger version 2, LH52K Lamphead w/ 5" reflector, (2) batteries, charing cord, power cord, and strap.

Sigma announces their first ever scholarship competition for aspiring photography students graduating High School in 2010.  

Click the photo below for details.

The International Conservation Photography Awards are underway.  

Click image below to participate.