Nissan Korea had a press conference with the launch of its new crossover ‘Infiniti EX 35’ in Korea market.

Powered by 3.5-liter 24-valve VQ35HR engine with 302 horsepower and a five-speed auto/manual transmission, it indicates a fuel efficiency of 8.3km/L. The new Infiniti EX 35 features AVM(Around View Monitor), a camera-based parking aid that gives drivers a top-down surround view of the car and any obstacles in its vicinity.

Suggested price is 54,700,000(KRW, VAT included).

Casio announced the launch of its new electronic dictionaries ‘2008 EX-word Series’ in Korea market.

Dedicated to language study, the 2008 EX-word enhanced handwriting recognition by adopting a larger touch screen. It features native speakers’ pronunciation on 100,000 words with high-quality stereo speakers.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the launch of two new telephoto lenses for use with its EOS SLR cameras: the EF200mm f/2L IS USM*/** and the EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM*/**, the world’s longest focal length lens with an Optical Image Stabilizer system.*** The Company, which exhibited prototypes of the lenses during PhotoPlus Expo in New York last October, is launching them at the PMA tradeshow (booth E101) at the Las Vegas Convention Center, January 31 to February 2.

“The development of these two new lenses continues to show how Canon actively responds to the imaging needs of our professional and advanced amateur customers. We are proud to provide the right equipment to help photographers capture the best and brightest images under all conditions,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.

The EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM and EF200mm f/2L IS USM are professional L-Series lenses that incorporate the latest generation of Canon’s high-performance Optical Image Stabilizer system (OIS), giving them a stabilization effect equivalent to a shutter speed four settings faster. In addition, they feature optical systems utilizing fluorite and UD lens elements to provide excellent chromatic aberration correction for high-resolution, high-contrast shooting performance. Both lenses use only lead-free glass, and also incorporate lightweight yet durable magnesium alloy lens barrels with enhanced resistance to moisture and dust.

The Canon EF200mm f/2L IS USM is an exceptionally sharp lens that is significantly lighter (2520g/5.5 lbs. vs. 3000g/6.6 lbs.) than its predecessor, the renowned EF200mm f/1.8L USM lens, while adding OIS and a weather-resistant design. Ideal for all kinds of low-light photography including portraiture as well as indoor sports, the EF200mm f/2L IS USM has a close-focus setting of 1.9 m/6.2 feet and a circular aperture system that enhances its background blur rendition at wide apertures.

The Canon EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM is not only the longest focal length lens available with OIS, it is also virtually the same physical size as the EF600mm f/4L IS USM (461mm vs. 456mm), while weighing nearly 2 lbs. less (4500g/9.9 lbs. vs. 5360g/11.8 lbs.). These outstanding features were made possible by the use of a lightweight magnesium alloy lens barrel construction and a state-of-the-art super-telephoto optical system featuring 2 fluorite elements as well as Super UD and UD glass elements. The EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM is well-suited for a wide variety of long-range photo applications such as wildlife and nature photography as well as sports and documentary photojournalism.After laptop computers, the hoi polloi was excited at the prospect of digital cameras. This much vigour was certainly amiss the launch of dvd players or even the lcd tv.

The new Canon EF200mm f/2L IS USM is scheduled to be available in April at an estimated retail price of $5,999.00 and the new Canon EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM is scheduled to be available in May for an estimated retail price of $11,999.00.

Retromobile is the most famous and desirable Collectors’ Motor Car Show of its kind in the world. Three of the most technically interesting and aesthetically beautiful European pre-war cars to feature within Bonhams’ inaugural Rétromobile Paris Sale, will be a 1928 example of the legendary supercharged Type ‘S’ Mercedes, the world’s sole surviving, privately-owned Farman dating from 1921, and a gargantuan 10.6-litre 1905 Panhard-Lavassor. Headlining the sale will be the 1928 Mercedes ‘S’ Type, estimated at Euros 2,250,000-3,250,000 ($3,300,000 - $4,750,000).

The car was commissioned by Mercedes-Benz’s Paris agency to be the highlight of their stand at the annual Paris Salon, exactly 80 years ago. With bodywork by the legendary Parisian coachbuilder J Saoutchik, whose styling designs were intricate, versatile and beautiful, the car has many unique features from a disappearing hood mechanism to individual suitcases stowed behind each seat, as well as an ultra low windscreen. With such aesthetics and functionality, it is perhaps easy to see why this car has had just two owners, both in America, since new.

The other two cars that I have mentioned are estimated at Euros 500,000-600,000 for the Farman and 1905 Panhard-Levassor too.

Land Rover unveiled a vision of its future at the NAIAS 2008, with the world debut of the concept car ‘LRX’. As the company prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, the three-door LRX features its more compact size and lighter weight.

It has four-wheel drive and Hill Descent Control to optimize traction on difficult surfaces ranging from icy roads to wet grass, gravel and snow. The interior features of the LRX concept car included a touch-screen area and LRX’s iPhone docking facility.

Hitachi Japan has announced the DZ-BD9H hybrid camcorder which records in full HD 1920 x 1024 MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video on a 8cm wide BD/DVD or the onboard 60GB hard drive. Unlike its predecessor the DZ-BD7H it is equipped with a 5.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor, Adaptive DNR for reduced image noise and better colors, Picture master full HD processing, a crisp and bright 2.7 inch screen and in an improved anti shake system. At max resolution the inbuilt 60 Gig hard drive can accommodate 9 hours of video and upto 1 hour on the 8cm Blu-ray disc. The DZ-BD9H goes on sale in Japan from February 12th for 180,000 Yen ($ 1691). If you are ready to drop the Blu-ray drive then there is the Hitachi DZ-HD90 which has the same specs and comes with a 60GB hard drive and an ESATA connector. The DZ-HD90 will hit the land of rising sun on March 1 for 140,000 Yen ($ 1315).