Sigma have released a new firmware update, version 1.04, for the DP1 compact camera. The new Sigma DP1 firmware version offers the following improvements:

- A customizing function has been added to the Digital Zoom button.
- The ft (feet) indicator has been added to the scale bar in MF mode.

Website: Sigma DP1 Firmware Update 1.04

Olympus have released a new firmware update, version 1.1, for the SP-570 UZ camera, which features a 20x zoom equivalent to 26-520mm. Version 1.1 includes the following changes:

- Improves response while zooming.
- Corrects a part of Swedish languages.

Website: Olympus SP-570 UZ Firmware Update 1.1

The new Casio EX-Z150 is the world’s slimmest digital camera with a wide-angle 4x optical zoom lens. The 8 megapixel EXZ150 features a CCD-shift anti-shake function and a large 3.0 inch LCD screen. “This camera is the perfect accessory for the picture taking enthusiast as it is compact, attractive and comes equipped with face detection technology which is a popular feature,” said Bill Heuer, Vice President of Casio’s Digital Imaging Division. “The EX-Z150 stays true to the user-friendly features that have become standard to the EXILIM Zoom series.” Available in September, the Casio EX-Z150 will be available in silver and black, as well as red, pink and green, for $199.99.

TrustedReviews have reviewed the GE G2, a budget digital camera offering 8 megapixels and a 4x optical zoom lens.

“Colours are bold and punchy and the camera does a good job of keeping sharp edges. There’s a little bit of aggressive processing and JPEG compression, which can lead to some increase in artefacts at times, but nothing too sinister and a common problem with compacts. Fringing is evident in areas of high contrast but again this is often to be expected, especially at this price point and the G2 generally maintains good control of this.”

Website: TrustedReviews - GE G2 Review

The new Kodak Easyshare Z1015 IS digital camera features a 15x, f/2.8 28mm wide-angle lens. Kodak’s Smart Capture feature identifies the scene and adjusts the camera settings accordingly, and a full range of creative exposure modes (PASM) are offered. “The versatile lens, combined with our exclusive Smart Capture feature, lets consumers capture great pictures with the Kodak Z1015 IS as they move from daytime to night and from close-ups to landscapes – the camera does all the thinking for them.” said Matthew Yarrow, Country Business Manager, Kodak UK. The Kodak Easyshare Z1015 IS will be available from October 2008 at £199.99 in the UK and $349.95 in the US.

The Kodak Easyshare M1093 IS is the newest member of Kodak’s line of affordable digital cameras. The Smart Capture feature identifies the scene and adjusts camera settings accordingly, whilst image stabilization reduces blur caused by camera shake, subject movement or fast-action situations. The Kodak M1093 IS will retail for £129.99 in the UK and $199.95 in the US from September 2008.

TrustedReviews have reviewed the entry-level Canon A470 camera, which has a 7 megapixel sensor and 3.4x optical zoom.

“The PowerShot A470 is the latest camera to hold the distinction of being Canon’s bottom-of-the-range model. Despite its extremely low price it is a well made camera, simple to use and easy to hold, with and surprisingly good performance and reasonable image quality.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Canon PowerShot A470 Review

Ricoh have released the fifth firmware update, v1.50, for the Ricoh GX100 digital camera. Version 1.50 includes the following improvements:

1. Supports the TC-1 (the optional tele-conversion lens). The detailed information is available in a PDF document.
[Note]
• Requires the HA-2 (the hood & adapter) in order to attach the TC-1
• Use the lens in the tele-end position to use the TC-1. If you use the other lens positions, the vignetting will appear.
• If you use the internal flash with attached the TC-1, the vignetting will appear.

Website: Ricoh GX100 Firmware Update 1.50

Casio are releasing a new firmware update, version 1.10, for the EX-F1 digital camera. Available on July 8th, version 1.10 will add Casio’s unique “Prerecord Movie” function to the camera, allowing recording to commence 5 seconds before the user presses the Movie Button. The EX-F1 camera features ultra-high speed burst shooting at 60 still images per second in high resolution, 6.0-megapixel quality.

TrustedReviews have justed tested the Ricoh GR Digital II, a new 10 megapixel compact digital camera with a 28mm, f/2.4 fixed focal length lens.

“Picture quality is also a crucial consideration, and it is here where the original GR Digital excelled, although some commentators criticised it for image noise at higher ISO settings. Since the new model uses the same lens optical quality is unchanged, and is still superb, with virtually no barrel distortion and very good edge-to-edge sharpness. The final images are slightly soft in default mode, but adjusting the sharpness either in the menu or afterwards in editing produces better results. Shooting in Raw mode and converting images in Photoshop, as most serious users will prefer to do, overall picture quality is excellent with good colour depth and above average dynamic range for a 10MP camera.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Ricoh GR Digital II Review

Website: Read our Ricoh GR Digital II Review

Steves Digicams have reviewed the Casio EX-Z80, a new 8 megapixel digital camera that’s designed to be “easier” and “more fun”.

“Most of the exposures outdoors were good, however, as we have seen in our Sample Pics taken with both the S10 and the Z80 the sky in the sample shots of the canon the clouds seem to be slightly overexposed. This is a problem as it causes the area to lose detail otherwise the colors look vivid and lifelike. The 3x optical zoom, with a 35mm equivalent of 38-114mm, it is very good for landscapes and portrait photography. The zoom is great for framing or singling out an individual from a group but is not enough to bring a distant object much closer. At the wide end of the zoom you will see some barrel distortion and slight edge softness as well as some chromatic aberrations throughout.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Casio EX-Z80 Review

Ricoh have released a new firmware update for the Ricoh R8, a 10 megapixel digital camera with a 7.1 wide-angle zoom lens. The new firmware update, version 1.22, improves the accuracy of the white balance.

Website: Ricoh R8 Firmware Update 1.22

TrustedReviews have reviewed the Fujifilm Finepix J50, an 8 megapixel entry-level compact digital camera.

“The J50’s biggest let-down is its image quality, which I can only describe as terrible. It’s a pity, because the lens actually performs very well, with virtually no distortion at either end of the zoom range, and good edge-to-edge sharpness, but it is let down by the lousy sensor. Even at the lowest ISO setting there are problems with image noise, and despite only having a maximum setting of 800 ISO, images at this setting are unusable. The combination of image noise and massive over-compression robs the images of any fine detail. File sizes at the highest quality setting average under 2MB, which is very small for an 8MP camera.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Fujifilm Finepix J50 Review

Website: Read our Fujifilm Finepix J50 Review

Fujifilm have released a new firmware update for the FinePix S1000fd, the world’s smallest 12x optical zoom digital camera. Version 1.03 fixes the following issues:

1. The brightness of the captured images when “EVF/LCD mode” is set to “60fps” is darker than that set to “30f/s”.
2. Some words in some languages which have error of spelling, are displayed on the EVF/LCD screen.

Website: Fujifilm FinePix S1000fd Firmware Update 1.03

“Announced on the 23rd of January 2008, the Sony Cybershot DSC-W130 is one of Sony’s latest W series compact digital cameras, and is the cheapest Sony available with optical image stabilisation. The camera features an 8 megapixel sensor, a 4x optical zoom lens, a 2.5” screen that works in the sun, an optical viewfinder and a VGA video mode. The Sony Cybershot DSC-W130 is available from around £130 which makes it great value for money.”

Website: DigiCamReview - Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W130 Review

Buy-n-Shoot have tested the new Olympus mju 1020 digital camera, which offers a 7x optical zoom (equiv. to 37-260mm), 10.1 megapixels and a 2.7 inch LCD screen.

“The ‘shadow adjustment’ feature along with ‘face detection’ technology – each of which is fast becoming a standard across the entire Olympus range - will ensure properly exposed and evenly lit portraits and happy snaps where both the faces of the subject/s and the background are correctly exposed. Thankfully, the days where your camera sacrificed either one or the other have passed increasing the success of the Mju 1020 as a point-and-shoot even further.”

Website: Buy-n-Shoot - Olympus mju 1020 Review

The Ricoh GX200 compact digital camera for professionals is the 12 megapixel successor to last year’s GX100 model. Other significant improvements offered by the GX200 include better noise reduction thanks to the new Smooth Imaging Engine III processing engine, a larger 2.7-inch, 460,000 pixel HVGA LCD screen, 5 shot continuous RAW mode and an electronic level function for horizontal and vertical shooting. It also offers the same 24-72mm zoom lens, 25mm thick body and removable tilting electronic view?nder (optional accessory). The Ricoh GX200 costs £349.99, or £399.99 as a kit with the VF-1 electronic viewfinder. We’ve got some exclusive Ricoh GX200 sample photos, and our full review will follow later this week.

Panasonic have released a new firmware update for the DMC-TZ4 / TZ5 digital cameras. Version 1.2 simply “improves auto focus performance”.

Website: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ4 / TZ5 Firmware Update 1.2

Casio have released a new firmware update for the EX-Z9 digital camera. Version 1.02 includes the following improvements:

1.  Adds support for 16GB SDHC memory cards.
2. Fixes a problem with scrolling of a displayed image.
  * Item 2 limited to when “Off” is selected for the confirmation tone setting.

Website: Casio EX-Z9 Firmware Update 1.02

TrustedReviews have reviewed the Pentax V20, a new 8 megapixel camera with a 5x zoom lens and 3 inch LCD screen.

“Pentax has made a lot of improvements in the performance of its compact cameras recently, but unfortunately the V20 seems to be something of a step backwards. The startup time is a little slow at just over three seconds, but it does shut down more quickly in just over two seconds. The performance bottleneck is once again the autofocus system, which is very slow, and as a result the shot-to-shot time in single shot mode is approximately 3.5 seconds, even shooting in good light with a high-contrast target.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Pentax V20 Review