Secaucus, NJ (April 24, 2007) - Panasonic is pleased to announce that its 10x Optical zoom LUMIX DMC-TZ3 digital still camera has received the prestigious 2007 Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) Award for the "Best Superzoom Digital Camera" in Europe. TIPA is an independent association of photo and imaging expert editors, representing 12 countries across Europe. The renowned TIPA awards honor products for their superiority in quality, performance and value when distinguishing the best in each classified category.

Early next year, January 2006, Fujifilm will release their newest digital SLR model, the FinePix S5 Pro. Until then, however, the FinePix S3 will remain Fujifilm's flagship professional camera. The FinePix S3 is powered by a fourth-generation 6.17-megapixel Super CCD SR sensor (23 x 15.5mm). What's unique about this sensor is that it can produce up to 12 million recorded pixels (12-megapixel resolution) when all 6.17 million S-pixels and 6.17 million R-pixels are used. Fujifilm claims that this double photodiode design, which is arranged in a "honeycomb" pattern, improves contrast, broadens tonal capability, deepens shadows, brightens highlights, and provides a 4x increase in dynamic range. 

With a price tag of about $600, the Leica D-Lux 3 is one of the few compact digital cameras that reach up into the price range of an entry-level dSLR. Then again, few compact cameras offer a 10-megapixel CCD sensor, O.I.S. optical stabilization technology, aperture at F2.8-F8.0 (wide angle) and F4.9-F8.0 (telephoto), and countless other features you will find on Leica's newest compact.

Panasonic's first digital SLR camera, the DMC-L1K, has been surprisingly popular. Even with a relatively hefty price tag for an entry-level dSLR (around $1700 with a Leica 14-50mm lens), and only 7.5-megapixels, the DMC-L1K continues to sell quite well.

One reason for the camera's popularity must be the dust-reduction system. The Panasonic DMC-L1 is equipped with essentially the same system you will find on Olympus dSLRs, such as the Evolt E-300. 

Although Photokina is long over, at least for another two years, we had to mention just one more camera that caught everyone's eye: the Seitz D3 6x17 160-megapixel digital camera. This camera easily has the highest resolution capability of any device we have seen. In RAW mode, each 160-megapixel image takes up about 307 MB of storage space. Despite the camera's power, it is also surprisingly fast, capable of taking those 160-megapixel photos in just one second, and a maximum exposure speed of 1/20,000 second. Another very impressive feature is the camera's ISO range, which is an unheard of 500 to 10,000. No wonder the camera is said to work in almost any light condition. The Seitz D3 should be available in January 2006 for 28,900 Euros, or about $36,500.

Just short of a true SLR, the relatively new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 is winning over typical point and shoot customers who are looking to capture the best photos for the money.

The successor to the popular DMC-FZ30 features a 10.1-megapixel CCD, a powerful f2.8 Leica DC lens with 12x (equivalent to 35mm to 420 mm on a 35mm film camera) optical zoom, and Panasonic's own Optical Image Stabilization System. The camera's Venus Engine III image processor allows for a fairly wide ISO range, up to 1600. Panasonic claims that their processor minimizes noise levels at even these highest of ISO settings.

Leaf is a well-recognized brand name among professional photographers. They are best known for their high-quality Aptus camera backs, which you will find prominently displayed at their booth at Photokina. The one Leaf product gaining the most attention this year, however, is the brand-new medium-format digital camera line: the AFi. This comes not too long after the release of their last digital camera, the popular 65 and 75-megapixel dSLR Leaf Mamiya ProDigital II.

Among the many 35mm SLRs at Photokina this year, you will find very few (if any) with such an impressive superwide lens. In fact, for picky superwide photographers, it hardly gets any better than this. The Zeiss Ikon SW\'s lens mount is compatible with any lens of the M bayonet variety, including the high performance superwide-angle Distagon T* 2.8/15mm ZM and Biogon T* Zeiss ZM range lenses.

The most expensive digital SLR at Photokina this year is, of course, a Hasselblad. The new Hasselblad H3D is truly an engineering marvel, and with 22 to 39-megapixels for 48x36mm digital capture, it will likely cost the well-financed photographer over $40,000.

Fujifilm today officially announced the development of its newest dSLR, the FinePix S5 Pro. The S5 bears a striking resemblance to Nikon's D-line of dSLRs, especially the D200. The S5 has a few significant improvements over its predecessor, the S3 Pro: an all-metal body, a new 2.5-inch color display, 11-point AF, shutter speed from 30 to 1/8000 seconds, Lithium Ion battery, and a lens aperture control of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 stop.