Fujifilm Press Release 05/02/04

FinePix A340 Zoom: Fujifilm goes for four

Stylish compact camera offers great value and impressive features with four megapixel resolution

5 February 2004 - Fujifilm today launches the FinePix A340 Zoom, a camera that marries Fujifilm’s entry-level compact expertise with four megapixel resolution. The FinePix A340 Zoom represents extremely good news for those new to digital photography: high performance, sleek styling and complexity kept to a minimum.

The FinePix A340 Zoom has been developed with no-nonsense, enjoyable digital photography in mind. Offering 4 million effective pixel resolution, 3x optical zoom and a sturdy but stylish body, this camera forms a reliable base for shots that will satisfy every time.

Hugely efficient and simple to use, the FinePix A340 Zoom offers the user fully-automated settings to ensure sharp detail, faithful colour reproduction and accurate exposure. This, combined with low power consumption (operating on standard AA batteries) and compatibility with xD-Picture Card? format (available up to 512 MB), makes the FinePix A340 Zoom an ideal option for newcomers who want a smooth transition into the world of digital photography.

Fujifilm UK Press Release 05/02/04

Fujifilm announces the FinePix A330 Zoom: slim, smart, but straightforward

Stylish ‘point-and-shoot’ digital camera designed to include the non-computer user

5 February 2004 - Fujifilm today announces the arrival of the FinePix A330 Zoom, a slim, attractive and easy-to-use digital camera that makes top-quality photography available to all - even those without a PC.

With 3.2 million effective pixels and precision Fujinon optics, the FinePix A330 Zoom produces high-resolution pictures with sharp detail and brilliant colours - ideal for printing enlargements up to 8x10 inches for framing or family photo albums.

With the FinePix A330 Zoom, those new to digital photography need not worry about complicated features or functions. With its fully automatic operation, the camera controls every setting, including focus, exposure and white balance, ensuring that pictures are clear and vibrant every time. Using its 3x optical zoom and 1.6x digital zoom, the FinePix A330 Zoom makes it simple to capture subjects without fuss or error - well-exposed, well-focused and with excellent colour balance. The camera’s powerful macro mode also enables users to achieve close-ups at up to 10cm.

It was only announced by Nikon about a week ago, but Digital Camera Resource have already published their preview of the new 8-megapixel Nikon Coolpix 8700 digital camera.

“It’s very well built, with a metal frame (magnesium alloy to be exact) and good quality plastic parts (except for that darn door over the CF slot). It’s easy to hold, though a larger right hand grip wouldn’t hurt. One thing I don’t care for on both the 5700 and 8700 are the tiny buttons scattered all over the body. Maybe you get used to their placement, but when you first start using it, you’ll find yourself having to turn the camera to find what you’re looking for.”

Website: Digital Camera Resource - Nikon Coolpix 8700 Preview

DIWA Press Release 05/02/04

Casio’s compact QV-R40 digital camera nets DIWA Silver award

09:00 CET, 4th February, 2004: A DIWA Silver medal has been awarded to Casio Computer Co., Ltd (Consumer Products division) in recognition of the fine results achieved by the Casio QV-R40 digital camera when tested independently by several DIWA testers throughout Europe.

The Casio QV-R40 is a very compact, fast-operating four megapixel digital camera that is affordable and easy to use. A number of different samples of this Casio model were tested independently by DIWA member testers and the combined scores for the QV-R40 achieved the necessary score to earn a DIWA Silver medal in the category of Amateur Compact Digital Camera.

Kai Thon, DIWA’s test manager, observed: “With the Casio QV-R40, a new standard is set for user-friendly compact digital cameras. The introduction of two large buttons for instant RECORD and PLAY modes is a small, yet highly appreciated innovation that simplifies digital photography for amateurs. The camera also performs very well, with 4MP resolution, 3x quality optical zoom and a large array of smart features. The Casio QV-R40 is a rare combination of high performance at a most affordable price.”

The Finnish website Finclockers have reviewed the 3.2 megapixel Minolta DiMAGE Z1. This digicam has a 10x optical zoom lens, equivalent to a 38-380mm 35mm camera zoom, which in combination with the digital zoom offers a 40X zoom range (found via digicamera.net).

Website: Finclockers - Minolta DiMAGE Z1 Review

the Danish website Akamera.dk have reviewed one of Nikon’s top-of-the-range prosumer digital cameras, the 5 megapixel CoolPix 5400.

Website: Akamera.dk - Nikon Coolpix 5400 Review

Pentax Press Release 02/02/04

NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: LATEST PENTAX DIGITAL CAMERA JUST THE FIT FOR NEWCOMERS

GOLDEN, Colorado (February 2, 2004)...Feeling a little daunted by digital?  Help is on the way inside the new PENTAX Optio30 digital camera.  This latest PENTAX camera is designed for newcomers with little or no digital photography experience making it a perfect answer for a growing demand for quality, easy-to-use digital. 

In addition to 3.2 megapixels, a 3X optical zoom, and the signature, compact dimensions of the PENTAX digital brand, the Optio30 sports a simple, but revolutionary, menu prompt that provides helpful, tutorial messages about frequently used digital camera functions.  With a simple touch, this feature will guide new, and old, hands through the camera?s array of digital features.  Expertise is the last thing you need to go digital with PENTAX—just turn on the Optio30 and shoot! 

The PENTAX Optio30 makes digital easy and fun!  Equipped with PictBridge, a new direct-print standard released by the Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA), the Optio30 connects directly to your printer so you may print images without a personal computer!  You also may record a favorite shot on the start-up screen and select customized wallpaper choices for the menu screen on the ample 1.6 inch LCD monitor.  In addition to a variety of conventional picture modes (Landscape, Nightscene, Nightscene Portrait, Portrait, Surf and Snow, Flower), the innovative Optio30 virtual mode dial features new lifestyle-oriented modes including Pet, Party, and Food.

Pentax Press Release 02/02/04

PENTAX PACKS BIG MONITOR ON A LITTLE DIGITAL: NEW OPTIO S4i CAMERA BOASTS FIRST PENTAX CRADLE CHARGE

GOLDEN, Colorado (February 2, 2004)  PENTAX USA packs a hefty 1.8 inch LCD monitor for larger viewing and focusing on the tiny, new Optio S4i digital camera. With 4.0 megapixels and a 3X optical zoom, this latest Optio digital camera also features the first PENTAX digital cradle-style lithium ion recharge base unit.  The rechargeable unit design makes it so easy to recharge the Optio S4i.  Simply set the camera in the recharge base until it ready to use again.

Featuring the legendary smc PENTAX lens and the unique PENTAX Sliding Lens system that allows the lens to retract fully when the camera is off lens, the Optio S4i is sleek and compact enough to carry everywhere.  With the optional, acrylic waterproof housing that is newly-designed for the Optio S4i, everywhere may well include the exciting world of underwater digital photography!  For optimal results, the Optio S4i now features both Marine Picture and Marine Movie modes to capture drama of blue underwater hues.

Pentax Press Release 02/02/04

NEW PENTAX OPTIO S40 CAMERA PAVES THE WAY FOR DIGITAL NEWCOMERS

GOLDEN, Colorado (February 2, 2004)  Will 2004 be the year you go digital?  The new PENTAX Optio S40 is a 4 megapixel, 3X zoom digital camera that is loaded with the features to help you on your way!  Sporting a sleek aluminum design and the signature, compact dimensions of the PENTAX Optio digital brand, the Optio S40 features an exciting, new “help” function.  Offering simple-to-understand explanations in a regular or enlarged font for easier viewing, the “help” function guides new, and old hands, through the camera?s array of digital features with a simple touch. 

The PENTAX Optio S40 makes digital easy and fun!  The buttons and controls of the Optio S40 are placed in easy reach for ready-to-shoot positioning.  The shutter release button and all the manual buttons are enlarged for easy manipulation.  Featuring the legendary smc PENTAX lens and the unique PENTAX Sliding Lens system that allows the lens to retract fully when the camera is off lens, the Optio S40 is sleek and compact enough to carry everywhere. Plus, with the optional, acrylic waterproof housing that is newly-designed for the Optio S40, everywhere may include the exciting world of underwater digital photography! 

Kodak Press Release 02/02/04

New KODAK EASYSHARE CX7430, CX7300 and CX7220 Digital Cameras Simplify Picture-Taking, Sharing and Printing

Latest Models Pair High Image Quality with Great Value; Compatible with the KODAK EASYSHARE Printer Dock for At-Home Prints in as Little as 90 Seconds

ROCHESTER, N.Y., February 2 - Building upon its popular EASYSHARE consumer digital photography system, Eastman Kodak Company today introduced three new digital cameras in the EASYSHARE CX line: the CX7430 camera, with 4 megapixel (MP) resolution and 3X optical zoom; the CX7300 camera, with 3 MP resolution and a fixed-focus lens; and the CX7220 camera, with 2 MP resolution and 2X optical zoom. All offer one-touch picture sharing, outstanding picture quality and Kodak?s hallmark simplicity of operation.

EASYSHARE camera owners can quickly select pictures for printing and e-mail - with up to 32 e-mail addresses stored right on the camera - with a touch of the exclusive, red-jeweled “Share” button. The CX7430 model also integrates Kodak?s new camera favorites feature for storing multiple pictures in an on-camera digital photo album. Each picture can then be shared anytime on the camera?s 1.6-inch indoor/outdoor LCD screen, or printed in as little as 90 seconds with the KODAK EASYSHARE printer dock 6000.

“Life moves at an incredibly fast pace these days, so capturing both everyday and once-in-a-lifetime moments with a digital picture becomes all the more important,” said Rowan Lawson, director of worldwide digital product marketing for Kodak?s Digital & Film Imaging Systems operation. “The newest additions to the KODAK EASYSHARE CX camera line give moms and others on the run great looking pictures without hassle, all at an affordable price. Whether those pictures are shared on the camera’s LCD screen, e-mailed, or printed, they’ll bring smiles to the faces of friends and family for years to come.”

Kodak Press Release 02/02/04

New KODAK EASYSHARE DX7630 Zoom Digital Camera Delivers Unsurpassed Consumer Image Quality

6-Megapixel Model Features the KODAK Color Science image processing chip, SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON optics

ROCHESTER, N.Y., February 2 - Eastman Kodak Company today unveiled the Kodak EASYSHARE DX7630 zoom digital camera, which features unsurpassed image quality among 5- and 6-megapixel consumer digital cameras. With 6-megapixel resolution, a professional-quality SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON 3x optical zoom lens, precision low-light autofocus system, and a host of creative controls, the camera is well suited for the avid photographer. It will be available in April 2004 for a suggested retail price of US$499.

“We’ve designed the DX7630 camera for people who need sophisticated control and performance features without sacrificing compact design and ease of use,” said Rowan Lawson, worldwide director of product marketing for Kodak?s Digital & Applied Imaging operation. “The picture quality produced by this camera is nothing short of stunning. The images can even be printed as large as 30 x 40 inches, or even cropped up to 80 percent while retaining a printable 4 x 6-inch or 5 x 7-inch picture.”

Casio have today announced a 4 megapixel version of the the QV-R51 digicam, logically called the QV-R41. It’s identical to the 5-megapixel QV-R51, with the same industry leading start-up time of just 1 second and a 0.01 second shutter release lag time, plus a large 2.0” LCD screen which enables easy viewing and editing of images.

The QV-R41 will be available in the UK from February - no word yet on how much it will cost, although LetsGoDigital are reporting that it will be 399 Euros.

Casio Press Release 02/02/04

February 2nd 2004 ? CASIO Electronics Co. Ltd, are today delighted to unveil the latest addition to their popular QV compact digital camera series, the new 4.0 megapixel QV-R41. Following last month?s announcement of the QV-R51, also with 3x optical zoom, both models are perfect for the first time user. With compact good looks and improved user-friendliness the QV-R models provide incredible response and convenience while offering CASIO?s exceptional quality and value for money.

CASIO is well known as a pioneer in the digital camera market, having consistently delivered products with better performance and refinement while reducing size and bringing great advances in usability. This philosophy is clearly evident in the QV-R41, which has even more functionality than previous CASIO cameras in this range.

It was only announced just over 2 weeks ago at the CES show in the USA, but DCResource have got hold of the 5-megapixel Casio QV-R51 and have published their review.

“While I doubt the review I wrote two weeks before this one had anything to do with it, Casio’s QV-R51 addressed many of complaints I had with their QV-R40. First and foremost is noise. It was pretty bad on the R40, and now it’s gone—images have a nice smooth look to them. I also didn’t like the R40’s slow shutter speed limitations; now you can shoot for up to 4 seconds. As added bonuses, Casio upped the LCD size to 2 inches (though the resolution didn’t go up as well), and the longest movie you can record is up to 60 seconds (though still without sound).”

Website: DCResource - Casio QV-R51 Review

The Minolta DiMAGE A1 was only announced in July 2003, but already it seems that the DiMAGE A2 is on the way. An eagle-eyed reader on the DPReview Minolta forum has spotted something interesting on the Minolta USA website:

“On the USA Minolta site:

http://www.minoltausa.com/eprise/main/MinoltaUSA/MUSAContent/CPG/CPGProducts

On the Dimage A1 page click on “Software” and you’ll see the ” DiMAGE Viewer Update Ver 2.2.2 - 01-30 2004 ” (Today !!! ), click on it and a window opens with:

DiMAGE Viewer Update Ver 2.2.2 - Win

Model: DiMAGE_5,DiMAGE_7,DiMAGE_7Hi,DiMAGE_7i,DiMAGE_A1,DiMAGE_A2, ....... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

The full text actually reads:

DiMAGE Viewer Update Ver 2.2.2 - Win
Model:  DiMAGE_5,DiMAGE_7,DiMAGE_7Hi,DiMAGE_7i,DiMAGE_A1,DiMAGE_A2,
DiMAGE_F100,DiMAGE_F200,DiMAGE_F300,DiMAGE_G400,DiMAGE_G500,DiMAGE_S304,
DiMAGE_S404,DiMAGE_S414,DiMAGE_X,DiMAGE_X20,DiMAGE_Xg,
DiMAGE_Xi,DiMAGE_Xt,DiMAGE_Xt_Biz,DiMAGE_Z1,DiMAGE_Z2 
Description:  This is an update to the DiMAGE Viewer 2.x for Windows. 
Instructions:  This is an update to the OPTIONAL DiMAGE Viewer 2.x.  It is a general improvement for overall functionality.  A previous version of the OPTIONAL DiMAGE Viewer 2.0 or higher must exist in your computer in order to complete installation of this update. If a previous version is not found, installation of this update will fail.  If you do not have a full version of the OPTIONAL DiMAGE Viewer 2.0, it can be purchased through Minolta?s on-line store. NOTE: While the DiMAGE Viewer is compatible with Windows 95 and NT, the DiMAGE cameras are not.  We suggest the use of a card reader when using the DiMAGE Viewer in those operating systems.

Minolta DiMAGE Z2 and Xg models are also listed, so maybe Minolta are set to announce updates to the A1 and Z1 models and a new Xg model at PMA?

Website: DPReview - Minolta Forum

The Norwegian website Akamera.no have reviewed the Fuji FinePix S7000, which is the successor to the popular FinePix S602 model. The S7000 uses Fuji’s 4th Generation Super CCD HR with 6.3 Million Effective Pixels output and 12.3 million recorded pixels. It costs around $799.99 and is available now.

Website: Akamera.no - Fuji FinePix S7000 Review

Website: Read my review of the Fuji FinePix S7000

It was only announced by Nikon a couple of days ago, but Steves Digicams have already published their first look at the new 8-megapixel Nikon Coolpix 8700 digital camera.

“The Nikon Coolpix 8700 is for serious photographers who demand the highest level of quality and control from their compact digital camera. It features an 8.0 effective megapixel CCD (3,264 x 2,448-pixels) and an 8x Optical (35-280 mm) Zoom-Nikkor lens, with Nikon’s Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements. It has a high resolution (238,000 pixel) electronic viewfinder (EVF) for through-the-lens viewing and a 1.8” vari-angle color LCD monitor. The Coolpix 8700 is constructed with a compact, lightweight magnesium alloy body that has been designed for durability and portability.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Nikon Coolpix 8700 First Look

The German website digitalkamera.de has posted its review of the Olympus CAMEDIA C-5060 Wide Zoom camera, an updated version of the popular Olympus CAMEDIA C-5050 model, with a wider-angle lens that is equivalent to a 27-110mm lens on a 35mm camera.

Website: digitalkamera.de - Olympus C-5060 Wide Zoom Review

Nikon Europe have released firmware version 1.3 for the Coolpix 4500 digicam today.

About this firmware:
A problem with flash photography using the Remote Cord MC-EU1 which sometimes produced images that were underexposed,  has been corrected.
 
Compatible OS:
Windows 98 SE
Windows 2000
Windows ME
Windows XP

Website: Nikon Coolpix 4500 Firmware Update 1.3 - Windows

Website: Nikon Coolpix 4500 Firmware Update 1.3 - Macintosh

Photoxels have reviewed the 3.2 megapixel Minolta DiMAGE Z1. This digicam has a 10x optical zoom lens, equivalent to a 38-380mm 35mm camera zoom, which in combination with the digital zoom offers a 40x zoom range.

“The Minolta DiMAGE Z1 shines in all respects. If you are learning about digital photography, or you are looking for the perfect present for someone who is starting out in digital photography, and you like its futuristic look, then you won’t go wrong with the Minolta Z1.”

Website: Photoxels - Minolta DiMAGE Z1 Review

BenQ Press Release 23/01/04

Ultra-fresh and exciting, the BenQ DC S30, my Digital Music Camera
 
Europe 23rd of January, 2004 ? BenQ proudly announces the BenQ DC S30. The BenQ DC S30 is one of the first in its class to combine the ability to take photographs, play music, record voice memos, and shoot continuous amount of video ? making it an all-in-one personal digital entertainment center. In addition, the BenQ S30 features 3.34 Mega-pixels, 3X optical zoom, and an 180? flip-out LCD preview screen.

Music On-The-Go
Not only can the BenQ DC S30 be used for taking photographs, but it also enables users to enjoy the integrated both FM radio and MP3 playback function to satisfy their needs and indulge in their favorite music. Furthermore, the BenQ DC S30 acquires an integrated speaker that allows play-out music and is bundled with Q-Music software for easy music editing. Also, with the fine MSRE (Metal Resonance Sound Effect) system, the DC S30 delivers superb audio quality despite its diminutive size, making you enjoy the excellent audio enjoyment.

Non-stop Enjoyment
Armed with a lithium-ion battery and unique DRS (Dual Recharge System), BenQ DC S30 users will no longer have to be dependent on recharging power indoor whilst using an adapter. With its DRS it is now possible to recharge outdoor by connecting an USB cable to your notebook to reload the battery life of your S30. Enjoyment regardless where you are! 

Ultra-hip Design, fresh and exciting
The BenQ DC S30 boasts a neatly outlined magnesium alloy casing with a smooth tasty-tangerine tone that shows freshness and energy with an unique personal style. The camera?s color LCD screen can flip-out a full 180? that gives users the flexibility to capture images from virtually any angle, including self-portraits.

Continuous Video Recording
The BenQ DC S30 has the ability to capture continuous lengths of video, making it a completely functional compact digital camcorder. Supporting the ASF format, the BenQ DC S30 not only provides advanced video quality; but also allows users to record longer with the same amount of storage. With a 256MB memory card, up to 70 minutes of incessant video can be stored. Voice memos can be added up to 20 seconds long to captured photographs. The BenQ S30 will be available in February.

She?s fresh, exciting, she?s so exciting to me, the new BenQ DC S30, my Digital Music Camera.