DCResource has just reviewed the compact 4.1 Megapixel Fuji FinePix F440 Zoom (which is the bigger brother of the F420 that I reviewed at the weekend).

“Autofocus speeds on the F440 were average. Halfway-pressing the shutter release button resulted in focus lock in 0.6 - 0.8 seconds in most cases. Focusing in low light wasn’t great—here’s where an AF-assist lamp would’ve helped. In addition, the LCD becomes virtually useless in dim light.

Shutter lag wasn’t an issue at fast shutter speeds but it was quite noticeable at slower ones (e.g. 1/2 second). Then again, you shouldn’t be handholding the camera at that shutter speed anyhow.”

Website: DCResource - Fuji FinePix F440 Zoom Review

Ricoh UK Press Release 20/08/04

Ricoh launches the Caplio R1 - a powerful 4.0 megapixel digital camera that offers a 28mm wide-angle 4.8x optical zoom lens in a 25mm super slim body

Ricoh is proud to announce the release of the Caplio R1, a powerful 4.0 megapixel digital camera featuring an innovative lens retracting system that allows an incredible 4.8x optical zoom lens with 28mm wide-angle shooting capability to be stored in a 25mm super slim aluminium body. The 28mm wide-angle 4.8x optical zoom lens produces the finest quality images that compact digital cameras in this class can offer. The Caplio R1 features the world?s fastest shutter response* and Ricoh?s outstanding 1cm wide macro technology. The Caplio R1 incorporates all the latest high-end features of the digital camera to satisfy even the most discerning professional, whilst offering user-friendly functionality that is sure to capture the hearts of all photo enthusiasts. That these powerful features?and more! ?are encased in an elegantly sleek body as thin as 25mm and weighing a mere 150 grams is simply amazing in and of itself.

*  As of August 2004 for all auto focus digitalcamera

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

Canon’s 7.1 Megapixel PowerShot G6: The professional’s super-compact

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today announces its latest camera in the popular PowerShot G-series: the remarkably small yet highly specified 7.1 Megapixel PowerShot G6. Successor to the popular PowerShot G5, the G6 features dramatically improved image quality through improvements to the fast f2.0 4x zoom lens and image processing algorithms. AF speed is up to 55% faster than its predecessor, while start-up time improves by approximately 30%.

Over 10% smaller than the G5, the G6 features 12 shooting modes and an ergonomic ‘one-touch’ design and jog-dial. All key controls fall under the fingertips of the right hand, which wraps around a comfortable rubberised grip. The clear, anti-reflective vari-angle LCD increases in size from 1.8” to 2.0”. The camera also offers simultaneous RAW and JPEG recording, with selectable JPEG file resolution.

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

New look PowerShot packs 7.1 Megapixels

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today announces the 7.1 Megapixel digital still compact PowerShot S70. Incorporating the same rich feature set as the 5.0 Megapixel PowerShot S60, the new S70 is distinguished by a stylish two-tone dark metallic and black body. New UA lens materials allow for a reduction in lens size, enabling an elegantly sleek body shape despite the lens’ impressive 28-100mm focal length and 4cm macro specification. 

The extensive list of high-end and semi-professional features include simultaneous RAW and JPEG file recording, 15 sec to 1/2000 sec shutter speeds, AF and AE lock, manual focusing and an intervalometer for automatic time-lapse photography. Optional accessories include a wireless controller, 2x tele-converter and a 40m depth waterproof case. Also included is a pre-set white balance mode for underwater photography, Print/Share button and the latest PowerShot S-series user-interface for fast, simple and intuitive navigation.

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

Canon launches new flagship A-series PowerShot

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today announces its latest high performance compact digital still camera, the PowerShot A95 - the new A-series flagship. Replacing the highly regarded PowerShot A80, the A95 builds on the success of its predecessor and features an increased sensor size of 5.0 Megapixels, and the addition of FlexiZone AF/AE, a larger 1.8” vari-angle LCD and VGA movie mode. Now including eight special scene presets, the A95 has a total of 21 shooting modes - more than any other Canon digital camera. 

The A95 includes many features found in Canon?s higher end ‘S’ and ‘G’ series cameras, offering users flexibility and creative control. It incorporates Canon’s advanced DIGIC and iSAPS technologies and 9-point AiAF for outstanding image quality and ease of use, as well as a 3x optical zoom with f/2.8 aperture. A complete range of accessories, including wide and tele-converters and waterproof case, enables photographic exploration. The camera also features a Print/Share button, PictBridge printing as well as ID photo and movie print. 

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

Canon upgrades most popular camera ever

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today adds the 4.0 Megapixel PowerShot A85 to its popular PowerShot range. The camera replaces the PowerShot A70, one of the most successful cameras in Canon’s seventy-year history. 

“The A70 was successful because it found the perfect balance between point-and-shoot economy and pro-sumer control features,” said Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging UK and Ireland. “The A85 builds on this success by adding new features that make it even easier to use, while at the same time giving the experienced user more options.”

As well as improved ergonomics and refreshed styling, the camera includes a large 1.8” LCD, 13 shooting modes (including a special scene mode with six selectable pre-set scenes), VGA movie clips with sound, 9-point AiAF auto focus, and a Print/Share button plus extended print functionality. A wide selection of accessories includes wide and tele converters, close-up lens, and a waterproof case.

Canon UK Press Release 19/08/04

Canon launches fun new PowerShots - in colour

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today announces the release of its new entry level digital camera - the PowerShot A400 - available, in four eye-catching colours. The 3.2 Megapixel camera features a 2.2x optical zoom and Canon’s DIGIC processor for superb image quality. The high performance 9-point AiAF autofocus, the Intelligent Orientation Sensor and 12 shooting modes make it easy to take great photos, even under challenging conditions.

This latest entry level model records to an SD memory card, allowing the camera body to be smaller and lighter. The A400 features an Intelligent Orientation Sensor, and can record up to 3-minute movie clips (new VGA quality up to 30 seconds). With a Print/Share button to simplify direct printing and uploading to Windows PCs, and a free 100 MB online photo album with Canon iMAGE GATEWAY, the A400 is designed to be fun and easy to use.

Pure Digital Technologies are set to introduce the world’s first ever disposable digital camera, retailing in the USA for $19.99. Ritz, CVS, Disney World and Longs Drugs are all going to stock the 2-megapixel camera, which somewhat amazingly has a color preview screen and allows you to delete images before you take it to the store for processing (where you will receive a free picture CD along with your prints).

“Jonathan Kaplan says his company can capitalize on the shift. The secret of his business model is not just persuading retailers to stock his product - but an image processor unit as well. It gets hooked up to the store’s minilab to transfer pictures from the camera.

Unlike traditional digital cameras, you can’t connect the Pure Digital camera to a home PC to transfer images. And retailers like that. It brings customers into the store, Kaplan says.”

Kaplan predicts he’ll have sold 500,000 cameras by the end of the year - hmmm, we’ll see…

Website: USAToday - A disposable digital camera enters the market at $19.99

Website: Yahoo Finance

Ricoh Press Release 19/08/04

Ricoh launches the Caplio RZ1 -a fashionable 4.0 megapixel digital camera with 3x optical zoom lens in a 25mm super slim body

August 19th, 2004. Ricoh is proud to announce the release of the Caplio RZ1, a fashionable 4.0 megapixel digital camera with an outstanding 35 mm lens and a 3x optical zoom lens in a super slim body as thin as 25 mm. On the performance side, the Caplio RZ1 also incorporates technologies that professional photographers would appreciate -  outstanding 1cm macro technology, and the combination of a 4.0 megapixel CCD and Ricoh’ unique image processor -while offering user-friendly functionality that is sure to capture the hearts of all photo enthusiasts. The Caplio RZ1 offers all these and many other features at a surprisingly reasonable price.

*  As of August 2004 for all auto focus digital camera

Rollei Press Release 18/08/04

The Rollei Prego da4 is the second new model in a versatile line of Rollei digital cameras.

By comparison with the entry-level model Prego da3, the Prego da4 has even more to offer: A 4.1-megapixel CCD is a sound basis for high-quality prints up to A4 size; a 3x D-VarioApogon zoom lens and a 3.3x digital zoom let you zoom in on your subject, and a video mode captures even moving images. The Prego da4 will be available for ? 249 (incl. VAT) from September 2004.

4.1 million pixels, a high-performance 3x D-VarioApogon zoom lens 5.6-16.8mm (equivalent to approx. 36-108 mm in 35mm photography) with maximum apertures of f/2.8-4.9 and a 3.3x digital zoom are the heart of this powerful but compact digital camera from the new Prego series. Focusing is controlled automatically from 0.5 m to infinity; a macrofocus setting takes care of subject distances as short as 15 ? 50 cm.

Rollei Press Release 18/08/04

With the launch of their new 3-megapixel Prego da3 model, Rollei are starting an entirely new line of digital cameras.

The Prego da3 is the entry model of a new family of powerful and compact, general-purpose digital cameras. With an image resolution of 3.2 megapixels, a high-quality 3x zoom lens, 5x digital zoom and both video and voice-recording options, the Prego da3 is the ideal entry-level digital camera. It will be available for ? 179 (incl. VAT) from end of August 2004.

The 3.2-megapixel camera has a high-performance D-VarioApogon HFT zoom lens offering focal lengths from 36 mm right up to 108 mm (equivalent to 35mm photography). This 3x optical zoom is enhanced by a 5x digital zoom.

Finally (I think), the Canon Powershot G6 has also turned out to be real - the pictures that the French website Fnac.com posted a couple of weeks ago weren’t fake after all. As with the Canon EOS 20D news, Canon USA have now released the official photos.

Website: Canon USA Press Room

The Hungarian website Index Digicam have reviewed the new 5 megapixel Sony DSC-F88 digital camera.

Website: Index Digicam - Sony DSC-F88 Review

Imaging Resource have published a comprehensive review of the 4 megapixel Minolta DiMAGE G400 digital camera, which is actually exactly the same model as the Konica KD-420Z.

“Good resolution for its 4-megapixel class, 1,100 lines of “strong detail.”. The G400 performed pretty well on the “laboratory” resolution test chart. t started showing artifacts in the test patterns at resolutions as low as 800 lines per picture height, in both horizontal and vertical directions. I found “strong detail” out to at least 1,100 lines. “Extinction” of the target patterns occurred at between 1,350 and 1,400 lines. In shots of more “natural” subjects, the G400’s images looked a little soft, but they seemed to take sharpening in Photoshop(tm) pretty well.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Minolta DiMAGE G400 Review

The Polish website Fotopolis have just reviewed the new 5 megapixel Sony DSC-P100 digital camera.

Website: Fotopolis - Sony DSC-P100 Review

The final review from Steves Digicams today is the FujiFilm FinePix E500 Zoom, which is equipped with a 4.0 megapixel sensor and a 3.2X wide angle optical zoom lens.

“I was pleased with the E500’s outdoor results. The images were well-exposed and richly saturated. The lens and autofocus system combined to produce good image sharpness. The 3.2X optical zoom lens has plenty of field of view at wide angle for landscape shots, but the magnification at the 91mm telephoto end will do little for your distant subjects. The LCD viewfinder has no anti-reflective coating; it was somewhat difficult to use for menu navigation and image review in bright sunlight despite its brightness adjustment. “

Website: Steves Digicams - FujiFilm FinePix E500 Zoom Review

Steves Digicams have just reviewed the 3.2 megapixel Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z10 digital camera, which features fastest-in-class startup, 8x optical “Mega-Zoom,” fast and reliable autofocusing, and energy efficient design.

“I was very pleased with the overall image quality, especially for a camera in this class. The vast majority of our test images were sharp, well exposed and properly saturated. You’ll get great results in auto or “P” mode and the pre-programmed scene modes will help you capture more creative situations. The Z10 has a moderate wide-angle field of view, and its built-in flash has a powerful range (when in Auto mode) of up to 17.39 feet. You won’t be able to illuminate an entire dance floor, but your indoor living room shots and group portraits should please you. When shooting outdoors, I saw very little noise in high contrast (open blue sky) areas or low contrast (shadow) areas.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z10 Review