Imaging Resource have reviewed the Nikon Coolpix S50c camera, which offers offer 7.2 megapixels, a 3x zoom lens (38-114mm), Vibration Reduction, Face-priority AF, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix and D-Lighting, plus a 3 inch wide-angle LCD monitor and Wi-Fi connectivity.

“While the Nikon S50c has an attractive design with some intriguing bells and whistles that are more than gimmicks, I was disappointed with both how the camera performed and the quality of the images it captured. On the bright side, the Nikon S50c has a VR lens, D-Lighting, and In-Camera Red-Eye Fix: all automatically activated with Face Priority autofocus in Portrait mode. But a WiFi-enabled digicam should be able transmit wirelessly to a computer just like it does via USB connection. The Nikon S50c’s failure to transmit images to your own computer is a big step backwards.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Nikon Coolpix S50c Review

TrustedReviews have reviewed the new weatherproof Olympus Stylus 760. This is a 7.1 megapixel digital camera with 3x zoom (37-111mm), Dual Image Stabilization and a slim-line metal body.

“Since the mju 760 has the same sensor and image processor as the mju 780, it’s no great surprise that the image quality is almost identical. It suffers to some extent from the usual small-sensor problems of limited dynamic range and colour depth, and does have some image noise issues, but overall the image quality isn’t at all bad. There are no colour adjustments on the menu, but the automatic setting is nice and neutral, with very natural colour reproduction.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Olympus Stylus 760 Review

The last few weeks have seen a number of exciting new DSLR cameras announced, with the majority aimed at the prosumer photographer with around £1,000 / $1,500 burning a hole in their back pocket. Saturday Shout returns with a bang this week, as we ask you which “affordable” new DSLR camera would you buy, and why? Yes, that’s right, we’re asking you to pick just one of the following big-hitters:

Canon EOS 40D - 10.1 megapixel sensor, 6.5 fps continuous shooting,3 inch LCD screen, upgraded dust and weather resistant construction, ISO 3200 mode and DIGIC III processor.
Nikon D300 - 12.3 megapixel sensor, 6fps continuous shooting, 51 point autofocus system, 3 inch VGA LCD screen with Live View, self-cleaning sensor unit, expandable ISO settings from 200-3200, and new EXPEED image processing system.
Panasonic DMC-L10 - 10.1 megapixel sensor, unique 2.5 inch free angle LCD screen complete with full time live view, Face Detection, Intelligent ISO Control, nine film modes which replicate analog film styles, and Supersonic Wave Filter system.
Sony A700 - 12.24 megapixel CMOS sensor, BIONZ image processor, 11 point autofocus system, ISO 6400,5fps (for 17 shots in RAW mode), 1/8000th shutter speed, 3 inch LCD screen (with 921,000 pixels).
Olympus E-3 - Not too much is known about this DSLR, due in November - even its name has only recently been revealed!

Remember, you’re only allowed to pick one of the above, but you can give as many reasons as you like for your choice. Try and ignore the slightly different price points that each camera is positioned at, and decide which model you would most like to have in your camera bag.

Universal Flash Storage is a new industry-wide specification for removable memory cards and embedded memory solutions, supported by Sony, Nokia, Micron, and Samsung amongst others. The aim is to provide owners of mobile handsets, digital cameras and other consumer electronics devices with a unified removable memory card that can be shared without the need for any adaptors. So no more swapping between Compact Flash, SD, xD and Memory Stick. Sounds like a good idea in theory, but the bad news is that the Universal Flash Storage standard won’t be finalized until 2009.

A new photo project called America at Home is billed as the largest collaborative project in Internet history. One hundred top photojournalists and millions of Americans will document the concept of home from September 17th to 23rd, creating the most extensive record of American home life ever created in the 21st century. They will contribute their own images via a series of daily snapshots taken at the same time of day across the nation each day throughout the week. You can sign up and upload your photos at http://www.MyAmericaAtHome.com

PopPhoto have reviewed the Canon G9, a 12.1 megapixel update of the G7 compact camera, with a 6x zoom lens, 3 inch LCD screen and the return of RAW mode.

“But all the bells and whistles mean nothing if image quality isn’t there. Fortunately, it is much better on the PowerShot G9 than it was in the PowerShot G7. So much so that we’d recommend against buying a PowerShot G7 on closeout prices. Instead, spend the extra cash for the PowerShot G9. Our Certified Test results show marked improvements in noise, especially at low and middle ISOs, and with Adaptive Noise cranked way up.”

Website: PopPhoto - Canon G9 Review

Website: Read our Canon Powershot G9 Review

CNET have reviewed the Olympus E-510 DSLR camera, which features a built-in image stabiliser in the camera body. The E510 also has a new image processing engine that offers excellent noise performance and 3fps with a seven image RAW buffer in burst mode.

“To its credit, the E-510 does a good job of keeping noise under control across its sensitivity range. While noise becomes noticeable at ISO 800 and is clearly apparent at the top setting of ISO 1,600, you should still be able to get acceptable prints throughout the camera’s sensitivity range. I just wish that the camera went beyond ISO 1,600. Even an entry-level SLR should reach at least ISO 3,200 at this point.”

Website: CNET - Olympus E-510 Review

Website: Read our Olympus E-510 Review

CNET have reviewed the Canon A720 IS digital camera, which offers 8 megapixels and optical image stabilization.

“Fundamentally, the only changes the A720 IS offers over the A710 IS are its new sensor and image processor. The camera’s 8-megapixel CCD can reach ISO 1600, beating its older brother’s limit of ISO 800. The camera uses Canon’s Digic III image processor, an upgrade over the older Digic II processor that offers face-detecting autofocus and autoexposure, an increasingly common feature that helps when framing portraits and family photos. Besides those upgrades, it might as well be the same camera as the A710 IS.”

Website: CNET - Canon A720 IS Review

Adobe have released updates for Photoshop Lightroom Camera Raw which provide RAW file support for 14 additional camera models, including the Canon EOS 40D and Sony A700 DSLRs. The Lightroom update also includes corrections to Microsoft Windows Vista grid display errors and XMP auto-write performance. The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.2 update is available as a free download for existing customers. The Adobe Camera Raw 4.2 plug-in is available as a free download for users of Photoshop CS3, Photoshop Elements 4.0 (Mac) and Photoshop Elements 5.0 (Windows).

The Colour Confidence Profiler colour management package now includes step by step in-system help and full Windows Vista compatiblility. In addition the the award-winning Eye-One Match software is now supplied for use with the included Eye-One Pro measuring device. “A key aim when developing the product was to make high-end printer profiling both affordable and accessible, and part of that is making sure we take notice of what users want. Colour Confidence Profiler is a comprehensive solution, so it makes sense for it to be accompanied by a comprehensive user guide”. commented Geoffrey Clements, Managing Director of Colour Confidence. Colour Confidence Profiler costs 502/€749 ex. VAT, or £425/€635 to eligible academic institutions.

The new PocketPal Camera Straps from epic photo gear have two pockets, one for a cell phone and the other for camera batteries or memory cards. The larger pocket measures 3” x 1” x 1.5” and was designed to hold a cell phone. The elastic band on both sides of the pocket allows it to accommodate a wide variety of cell phones. The smaller pocket measures 2.5” x 1”, and will hold two AA batteries, memory cards a key or change. The contents for each pocket are kept secure with Velcro tabbed flaps. The PocketPal Camera Straps are avialble in three differenct finishes and priced at $13.95 / $15.95.

The latest Inside Digital Photo radio show interviews Chuck Westfall from Canon USA about their their newest line of professional digital cameras. Host Scott Sheppard and Westfall discuss the finer points of the Canon EOS-1Ds MARK III, EOS-1D MARK III and EOS 40D cameras.

Website: Inside Digital Photo - Chuck Westfall Interview

Win thousands of pounds worth of cash and prizes in the Garden Photographer of the Year 2008 competition. In addition, the winners will have their photos exhibited for four months at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London. There are five different categories - My Garden, Garden Views, Plant portraits, Life in the Garden and Trees - and you can enter single images or themed portfolios. The closing date for submissions is 31st January 2008.

PhotoTune 2.2 is an easy-to-use colour-correction Adobe Photoshop plugin. Comprised of two plugins, ColorTune and SkinTune, PhotoTune 2.2 is available now for $129.95. “PhotoTune 2.2, available for the first time, includes ColorTune technology (formerly known as 20/20 Color MD) with its patented color correction process and SkinTune technology, developed after more than two years of in-depth skin color research.” said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. ColorTune works like an eye exam to figure out precisely what is wrong with a digital image. SkinTune instantly finds the nearest acceptable skin color from a library of skin samples and automatically corrects the image.

Nikon has partnered with T-Mobile USA to provide Coolpix S51c customers with a six month subscription to T-Mobile’s HotSpot Wi-Fi service for digital cameras. With nearly 8,500 T-Mobile HotSpot locations available in the USA, owner’s can use Nikon’s new “my Picturetown” sharing and setorage service from nearly anywhere. “Nikon’s all-new ‘my Picturetown’ service allows S51c users to email their images to family and friends across the globe or upload them to Nikon’s photo archiving service. The partnership with T-Mobile USA provides customers with the opportunity to share their images easily and seamlessly from a variety of locations.” said Bill Giordano, General Manager, Marketing, COOLPIX, Nikon Inc. This special offer expires on August 31, 2008.

Duracell Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries provide the ultimate in convenience - NiMH batteries that are ready to use straight out of the pack. Duracell Pre-Charged Rechargeables retain power for up to 365 days while not in use and can be recharged hundreds of times in any NiMH battery charger. Available in September 2007, Duracell Pre-Charged Rechargeables will have a suggested retail price of $12.99 for a four-pack.

The Panasonic DMC-L10 is a new 10.1 megapixel DSLR camera with a unique 2.5 inch free angle LCD screen complete with full time live view. The successor to the L1, the Panasonic L10 is a Four Thirds System camera that’s available either body only or in a kit with the new Leica 14-50mm f/3.8-5.6 lens. Other standout features offered by the Panasonic DMC-L10 include Face Detection (up to 15 human faces can be detected simultaneously), Intelligent ISO Control, nine film modes which replicate analog film styles, and the Supersonic Wave Filter system to remove dust from the sensor. The Panasonic L10 will be available from October 2007.

I’m attending the Panasonic press conference at the IFA show in Berlin, Germany right now. Plus I’ve been given the unique opportunity to use the DMC-L10 on a shooting tour later today, so expect some exclusive product shots and a hands-on report to follow.

Update 1 - The L10 uses a newly developed Panasonic sensor, not the Olympus E-410 sensor that has been mistakenly reported elsewhere (source: Panasonic spokesperson, IFA press conference).

Update 2 - The UK price of the Panasonic L10 with the Leica 14-50mm kit lens has now been confirmed as £899.99. The US price is $1300.

The winners of the Nikon Photo Contest International 2006-2007 have just been announced, chosen from more than 47,000 photographs. The theme for the 31st contest was “At the heart of the image”. A total of 53 prize winners were selected from 16,000 participants from 135 countries. The contest is held since 1969 and currently staged once every other year.

Nikon Transfer and Nikon ViewNX are now available to download for free from the Nikon UK website. Nikon Transfer is a download utility which allows images to be simultaneously downloaded to two locations. Nikon ViewNX is a file browser which ensures quick access to images for instant viewing. To access the new software downloads, you must have an account with the European support centre and have registered a valid digital product.

ePhotoZine 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 FX33 nails its colours to the mast early on. This is a camera for those who want the best results with the least effort. This means that there’s a standard program mode, with exposure compensation and ISO control available, a choice of Scene modes, and the Intelligent Auto function that does everything for you bar wiping noses and picking up litter. In fact the FX33 shares many similar traits to the higher-resolution FX100 such as the 28mm wide angle lens and the way the mode dial sits half under the top plate. Where it stops is that the FX100 is rather more sexily designed, though this isn’t an ugly camera to look at itself.”

Website: ePhotoZine - Panasonic DMC-FX33 Review