The Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 is a 10 megapixel DSLR camera with a difference - it’s currently the only DSLR to offer a free-angle, swivelling LCD screen, Live View mode complete with focusing, metering and white balance adjustments, and Face Detection system. Looking like a Panasonic DMC-FZ50 ultra-zoom compact on the outside, Panasonic have abandoned the retro look and feel of their first DSLR, the L1, and opted for a much more conventional design for the DMC-L10. Based upon the Four Thirds standard, other significant features include the new Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-50mm F3.8-5.6 kit lens, Supersonic Wave Filter system to remove dust from the sensor, and full range of scene and more creative shooting modes. As with the L1, Panasonic have introduced a DSLR camera that is radically different to what’s on offer from the other manufacturers - but should you choose the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 instead of a DSLR from the likes of Canon, Nikon or Olympus? Mark Goldstein reviewed the Panasonic L10 to find out.

Website: Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 Review

The new JPEG XR image file standard proposed by Microsoft has just been approved by the countries participating in the Joint Photographic Experts Group. According to a report by CNET News, work will now begin on defining the standard, which will begin later this month. Formerly referred to as the HD Photo file format, JPEG XR (“extended range”) promises better image fidelity, higher image compression efficiency and flexible editing features.

Website: CNET News

Croydon-based photographer Mark Hughes has been named as the 2007 UK Event Photographer of the Year. His winning Monochrome of motorcyclist Valentino Rossi “getting wet” at the 2007 Donnington meet scooped the 2007 Event Award. The British Professional Photography Awards are the UK’s premier professional photographic ‘Oscars’, showcasing the work of the UK’s most innovative and successful photographers.

A beta version of the new Olympus E-3 has just survived a multiple hands-on test deep in the countryside of Derbyshire, England.

“A weekend photo safari was organised for Olympus users some time before the E-3 was formally announced. It struck the organiser, Brian Mosley, that it would be a wonderful opportunity for Olympus to glean ‘authentic’ user opinion by giving the group access to an E-3 for true ‘field’ testing. Olympus agreed. The company also agreed to allow publishing of the results from the weekend, the opinion of the camera and some of the results on a completely independent website, rather than any Olympus sponsored sites.”

Website: biofos.com - Many Hands on the E3

PhotoReview have reviewed the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T200, the first digital camera to automatically react to a person’s smile.

“We’ve covered the problem we had with the Smile Shutter setting, which links shutter triggering to detection of a smiling face, in the review of the T70, which was posted on the Photo Review website recently. This feature is more of a gimmick that a real benefit because smiles vary from one person to another, making it difficult to set the right detection level. Things get complicated with group shots because one person smiling can trigger the shutter before the others are ready.”

Website: PhotoReview - Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T200 Review

CameraLabs have just reviewed two high speed memory card readers and two fast memory cards.

“The importance of speed should never be under-estimated with digital photography. Higher resolution photographs create larger file sizes and larger files require larger memory card capacities. At the same time - larger file sizes make it increasingly more difficult for cameras and computers to process and transfer these images with speed. Cameratown has just published an article/review titled “The Need for Speed,” where they take a look at the advantages of using faster memory cards and faster card readers to improve your overall digital photography experience. The review covers the SanDisk high-speed USB 2.0 reader, the new Lexar Professional UDMA USB 2.0 card reader, the new Lexar 300x Professional UDMA CompactFlash card, and the new Kingston 266x Ultimate CompactFlash card.”

Website: CameraTown- The Need for Speed - Gear Review

CameraLabs have reviewed the 8 megapixel Panasonic DMC-FX33 digital camera, which offers a 28mm wide-angle LEICA DC lens (28-100mm), 2.5 inch monitor, optical image stabiliser, face detection and Intelligent Auto mode.

“The extra Megapixel doesn’t make much difference and the boosted 6400 ISO is operating in a fantasy land. But the inclusion of face detection is worth having while Panasonic’s Intelligent Auto mode really does an uncanny job of knowing what you’re trying to photograph. Together they make the FX33 – along with Panasonic’s other July 2007 launches – a joy to use in automatic.”

Website: CameraLabs - Panasonic DMC-FX33 Review

PopPhoto have reviewed the Fujifilm Finepix F50fd compact digicam, which has a 12 megapixel sensor, Dual Image Stabilization, and Face Detection 2.0 technology with a a new Automatic Red-Eye Removal feature.

“You’ve got to give FujiFilm credit for trying, but these lab numbers don’t live up the legacy of the F30. ISO 100 images look fantastic, ISO 200 and 400 images look very good, but at ISO 800, you’ll start to notice noisy shadows and soggy edges. This wasn’t the case with the F30. In fact, the F30 performed significantly better at ISO 3200 than the F50fd (both of which capture at 6 megapixels at this ISO), which is disappointing.”

Website: PopPhoto - Fujifilm Finepix F50fd Review

Website: Read our Fujifilm Finepix F50fd Review

In anticipation of the Bonfire Night celebrations in the UK this weekend, I’ve trawled the web for the 10 best tips and tutorials on photographing fireworks. You still have a day or so to read through all this great free advice before you head out, so have a read and learn how to take great fireworks photos. Even if you don’t live in the UK, these great tips should come in handy on more than one occasion this year. And after this weekend, when you’ve taken lots of award-winning photos of fireworks displays, make sure to share them in our Gallery.

Nearly a year after Hoya and Pentax first announced their merger, the two companies seem to have finally made it. In an open letter to customers, Pentax and Hoya have announced that they have entered into a merger agreement which will become effective on March 31, 2008. “We continue to devote our efforts to make even more outstanding the PENTAX brand even after the merger.” said the brief statement. The merger agreement effectively negates the news back in June that Hoya had bought Pentax outright.

The DXG-110 is the first 10 megapixel digital camera to break the $200 barrier. Retailing for just $170, the DXG-100 has a 2.5-inch LCD screen, 3x optical zoom, anti-shake and face detection. The DXG-110 also features several DXG proprietary technologies, including Automatic Contrast Management, Advanced Flash Controls, ISO 1600/Antishake, and Dynamic Fill Light. The DXG-110 is available immediately with a street price of $169.99 through major retailers and at www.dxgusa.com.

The HDRI Handbook reveals the secrets behind High Dynamic Range Imaging (HDRI). This book is packed with practical hints and tips, software evaluations, workshops, and hands-on tutorials, and HDR software is included on the companion DVD. Author Christian Bloch is a highly acclaimed visual effects artists works and lives in Hollywood, California. The HDRI Handbook costs $49.95 USD, £30.99 GBP.

DPReview have tested the Eye-Fi Card, the world’s first wireless SD memory card for digital cameras.

“The Eye-Fi card is one of those products which is great fun out of the box but the returns begin to diminish the more you use it. It’s not particularly fast (no surprise really as it is WiFi but it’s quite a bit slower than we expected), it needs to be pre-configured for each access point and doesn’t support public access points, it uploads everything on the card (which could literally be a gigabyte of images) and there’s no option for delivering reduced size images to photo sharing sites (although to counter that you can uploaded without a computer which could be useful if your files aren’t too large).”

Website: DPReview - Eye-Fi Card Review

Imaging Resource have reviewed the Kodak V1003 camera, which offers 10 megapixels, 2.5 inch LCD screen, 3x optical zoom lens and up to ISO 1600.

“Despite the attractiveness of the Kodak EasyShare V1003, I was disappointed in its performance. It was hard to read the LCD and “catch the moment” with this camera. Focus was very slow and shutter lag really got in the way. It got even worse when I added flash to the equation. When I looked over the images, they were far too saturated with too much contrast in sunlight.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Kodak V1003 Review

TrustedReviews have reviewed the Pentax Optio S10, which is a 10 megapixel camera with digital Shake Reduction, Face Recognition and DivX video format.

“Fortunately the improvement in performance has been accompanied by an increase in overall picture quality, thanks in no small part to the excellent lens. Pentax has always enjyed a good reputation for the quality of its optics, and the SMC (Super Multi Coated) Pentax label is usually a guarantee of superior performance. This is certainly the case here, with the S10’s lens producing excellent edge-to-edge sharpness and minimal barrel distortion at wide angle, both things that have been an issue on some versions of the Sliding Lens system.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Pentax Optio S10 Review

PCMag have reviewed the Epson PictureMate Dash (also known as the PM 260) compact photo printer, which can produce a 10x15cm borderless lab-quality photo in just 37 seconds.

“Epson’s PictureMate small-format photo printers have always stood out from the crowd, but the company has really outdone itself with its latest iteration, the PictureMate Dash ($99.99 direct). Although the Dash is the low cost version of the newest generation of PictureMates, it offers features I’m used to seeing only on printers that cost far more—from a surprisingly big 3.6-inch LCD screen to the ability to print from a wide range of sources. It’s also the fastest small format photo printer I’ve seen at any price.”

Website: PCMag - Epson PictureMate Dash Review

Canon USA have issued a service notice for the EOS-1D Mark III DSLR, specifically about its autofocus system. Some EOS-1D Mark III cameras may have an issue with the mirror mechanism which causes inconsistent focusing accuracy or inconsistent focus tracking with moving subjects when using AI-Servo AF and continuous shooting modes, particularly in high temperatures. If the serial number on the bottom of the camera is between 501001 and 546561, the camera might require an adjustment of its AF mirror mechanism. Starting in late November, Canon will offer repairs free of charge for customers who have affected products and are experiencing this problem.

Photo Expo West 2007 is Southern California’s most successful photography event, with free seminars from the world’s best photographers including Douglas Kirkland. This popular public event, formerly the San Diego Photo Expo, is being held this year at a larger, improved venue at the Del Mar fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday, November 10th and 11th. Admission to Photo Expo West 2007 is free, including 19 daily seminars from professional photographers.

Ricoh have released a new firmware update, version 1.25, for the R7 digital camera, which includes the following changes.

- Modified the following phenomenon. In direct printing (PictBridge), a camera may not connect properly with some printers and you may not print out a picture.
- Improved stability at the lens unit retracting.

Website: Rioch R7 v1.25 Firmware Update

Ricoh have released a firmware update, v1.45, for the Ricoh R6 camera. It includes the following change:

Improved stability at the lens unit retracting.

Website: Ricoh R6 v1.45 Firmware Update