Professional photographer Bjorn Rorslett has just published his in-depth review of the Nikon D2H DSLR.

“Nikon D2H has, pixel by pixel, the best image quality of any Nikon DSLR so far available to the public. Do not let the pixel count mislead you into thinking “small in numbers, small in quality”, because the exact opposite is true. From the D2H emerges digital images with a clarity you should see to believe, provided you manage to get the exposure correct. The camera itself exposes virtually perfect when the lighting is flat or the contrast range within the frame is moderate, so under these conditions absolutely no user intervention with regards to the exposure settings is necessary. However, you do need to be a little more careful under high-contrast situations or when flash is used, because most shots then will benefit from a judicious additional increase in the exposure. Anything from +0.3 to +1 EV can be appropriate.”

Website: Bjorn Rorslett - Nikon D2H Review

DCResource have published their review of the 6 megapixel Pentax *ist D digital SLR.

“Despite it’s dumb name, the Pentax *ist D is a high quality digital SLR camera. It offers excellent (but very soft) photo quality, top-notch performance (though its burst mode isn’t as good as other D-SLRs), full manual controls, and nearly infinite expandability. Noise levels are extremely low, even at ISO 1600.”

Website: DCResource - Pentax *ist D Review

Olympus Press Release 15/12/03

More illumination versatility for the Olympus E-System

The comprehensive Olympus Macro Flash System

Hamburg, 11 December 2003 ? With its professional macro flash system, Olympus opens up further creative and business areas to users of the Olympus E-System. Meeting the highest requirements for quality and flexibility, it comprises a ring flash unit, twin flash unit, adapter rings and flash controller. Ideal for advertising and still life photography plus macro work where precise, shadow-free lighting is required, these flash accessories allow every detail of the subject to be captured. Dedicated to the Olympus E-System, the professional digital SLR system based on the TIPA Award winning FourThirds Standard, this macro flash system will be available from February 2004.

A variety of macro flash units and accessories are being launched:
- Ring Flash Unit FS-RF11
- Ring Flash Set FS-SRF11
- Twin Flash Unit TF-22
- Twin Flash Set STF-22
- Flash Adapter Ring FS-FR1
- Macro Flash Controller FS-FC1

Nikon DSLR user Thom Hogan has posted a few thoughts about the recently-announced Nikon D70, which is due to ship in early 2004. Nikon decided to tell us next to nothing about the new DSLR, so Thom has had a go at filling in the gaps (found via digicamera.net).

Website: Thom Hogan - Nikon D70 Speculations

The American magazine Popular Photography have published an article on their website which would certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons if everything comes true in 2004.

“A trio of top Pop Photo editors recently returned from a tour of the photo industry in Japan. Their mission: to find out, directly from the source, what’s happening in the photo industry, and how it will affect photography consumers in the coming year. In this exclusive report, they share news about upcoming products, photo buying trends, and what’s being designed for the future.”

Amongst other things, the article claims that Minolta will finally release a digital SLR, with delivery by Photokina (September-October 2004), that Olympus will release 2 more DSLRs aimed at the amateur and mid-range markets, Pentax will also release 2 new DSLRs, and that almost most camera makers are researching putting image stabilisation systems into digital SLR camera bodies, rather than the lenses.

So it looks like being a good year for digital SLRs then :-)

Website: Popular Photography - Report From Japan

The website Digital Journalist have published Magnum photographer Eli Reed’s enthusiastic review of the Olympus E-1 DSLR, which he used on a recent shoot in Malawi, Africa.

“The Olympus people have done it again. The Olympus E-Digital SLR system has delivered into this new digital age a camera for the ages. It is the first 100 per cent digitally designed SLR. After years of development by the Olympus engineers, they have delivered a camera that is ready-made for the professional photographer and while doing so, have introduced ground-breaking new features that leap over their professional rivals while keeping the price down to reasonable lows.”

Website: Eli Reed - Olympus E-1 Review

Digital Outback Photo have concluded their report on the Olympus E-1 digital SLR with a look at the 50mm macro and 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 lenses.

“As we like closeups and near macro shots the 50mm would be a must if we would own an E-1. The 50mm Macro allows only 1:2 magnification. This may be not large enough for some macro fans but is no problem for our style of work. Also to note is that AF can be problematic as the auto focus starts hunting with low light and less textured objects.”

Website: Digital Outback Photo - Olympus E-1 Experience Report

Steves Digicams have published their first impressions of the Nikon D2H DSLR; the full review will be posted shortly.

“Just posted is our Nikon D2H SLR First Look. We’re really enjoying doing this review but it’s going to take a while to finish - in the meantime here’s a little teaser. This is a camera that will satisfy anyone’s “need for speed,” it’s so fast it’s unbelievable. It will spoil you forever though.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Nikon D2H First Look

Michael Reichmann, editor of Luminous Landscape, has published an open letter addressed to all DSLR manufacturers, calling for the addition of full-feature exposure histograms to all future DSLR models.

“In recent years I have been especially interested in digital SLRs, because these clearly represent the future of mainstream professional and advanced amateur photography.

Recently I have noticed a disturbing trend though ? as several companies bring their first DSLRs to market ? and it concerns histograms. Or, I should say, either the lack of or poor quality of histograms.”

Website: Luminous Landscape

The Slovenian website e-FotoPortal have published Part 1 of their review of the recently announced Sigma SD10 digital SLR, together with the Sigma 18-50mm and Sigma 55-200mm lens.

Website: e-FotoPortal - Sigma SD10 Review Part 1

Website: Slovenian Translator

A Digital Eye are currently testing a production version of the recently announced Sigma SD10 digital SLR. They have published quite a lot of sample images prior to their full review:

“Perhaps some of the most Colorful shots, showing off the great capabilities of the Sigma SD10 are posted here, including several very nice shots from Disneyland taken Sunday November 30, 2003 using the 28 - 70 mm Sigma Zoom lens, and powered by 4 AA 15 minute chargeable batteries from Rayovac, which yielded over 200 pictures, nearly 1.5 GB of X3 RAW files in 3 hours!!!”

Website: A Digital Eye - Sigma SD10 Sample Images

Digital Outback Photo have started a report on the Olympus E-1 digital SLR in the form of a regularly updated diary.

“As a camera we just love the E-1. The viewfinder is bright and easy to use. The autofocus works for us although it is not as sophisticated as the systems from Canon and Nikon. But no problem for us. We even like the electronic controlled manual focus feature as the mechanical manual focus for some lenses is not always fun to use (often not that precise). The shutter and mirror slap is soft and very silent.”

Website: Digital Outback Photo - Olympus E-1 Experience Report

DPReview have published their usual exhaustive review of the Olympus E-1 digital SLR camera.

“Olympus are clearly aiming the E-1 at the professional market, this in my opinion is a hard sell. From a marketing and positioning point of view I feel that the E-1 is stuck between a rock and a hard place. It doesn’t really offer the continuous shooting or AF speed required for professional sports photography. At the other end of the spectrum it doesn’t offer the resolution expected by professional studio photographers, ignoring the ‘megapixel race’ I feel that it falls short of delivering the full potential of a five megapixel sensor with a vertical resolution of 1920 photosites.”

Website: DPReview - Olympus E-1 Review

Digital Outback Photo have updated their experience report on the Nikon D2H DSLR with two new entries. The first contains sample images from a recent trip to Santa Cruz Pier, whilst the second compares the D2H with the Canon 1D in terms of the noise at high ISO settings.

“We used the Nikon AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8 and Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses which are both excellent zooms. The Canon 1D shots came out a bit brighter and the Nikon D2H shots have more contrast. Sharpening was done in both case with PhotoKit SHARPENER (only basic Capture Sharpening).”

Website: Digital Outback Photo - Nikon D2H Experience Report

Tom’s Hardware reviewed the Canon EOS 300D yesterday. As ever the cheapest digital SLR in the world receives a more than enthusiastic response.

“You read it here first: Canon has broken the $1000 price point barrier for SLR digital cameras. With Canon’s launch of the Canon EOS 300D, that magic price point of $1000 represents half of the cost of a top-of-the-range traditional camera. The competition, both SLR and compact cameras, will surely not be happy about this, but it represents a slam-dunk win for the user.”

Website: Tom’s Hardware - Canon EOS 300D Review

Photoxels have today published their review of the Canon EOS 300D digital SLR camera.

“The EOS Digital Rebel simply bests the best of the prosumer digital cameras with its excellent resolution, virtually noise-free images at high ISOs, low-light capability, virtually no shutter lag for fast response times, excellent AF, easy to use dedicated buttons for less reliance on the MENU, and an attractive and affordable price point.

It should appeal to serious amateur photographers who are willing to put forth the effort to learn and master its capabilities, as well as to advanced amateur photographers who appreciate its excellent image quality and fast response times.”

Website: Photoxels - Canon EOS 300D Review

Digital Outback Photo have posted their first impressions of the Nikon D2H DSLR in the form of a diary; check back regularly to read what Uwe and Bettina think of Nikon’s new DSLR.

“The D2H is designed for speed and as such the resolution is limited to 4MP. But even the D1H served journalists well at 2.7 MP. So the 4MP is matching the Canon 1D and will be enough for most journalistic work. There will be always a tradeoff between speed and resolution (but we still expect Canon come out with a follow up to their 1D as next year are the Olympic games).”

Website: Digital Outback Photo - Nikon D2H First Impressions

The Slovenian digital photography website e-fotografija is the latest website to publish an extensive review of the Olympus E-1 DSLR.

Website: e-fotografija - Olympus E-1 Review

Website: Slovenian Translator

The Slovenian website e-FotoPortal have posted a review of the Nikon D100, which may be getting on a little now in digital camera terms but is still Nikon’s entry-level DSLR (for the time being anyway).

Website: e-FotoPortal - Nikon D100 Review

Website: Slovenian Translator

The Norwegian digital photography website DigIT has just published an extensive review of the Olympus E-1 DSLR.

Website: DigIT - Olympus E-1 Review