Fujifilm’s Hyper-Utility Software HS-V3 Ver.1.1b has just been released for Windows and Mac OS X.

The update supports the following.
PC SHOOTING FUNCTION can be used with the FinePix S5 Pro when the [FUNCTION LOCK] of the camera is ON. To use this function you need update the firmware of the FinePix S5 Pro to version 1.08 or later. FinePix S5 Pro Firmware Update Ver.1.08 is already available from our service and support section of www.fujifilmusa.com

The Samsung G600 is a slider mobile phone with a 5 megapixel camera. The G600 sports various modes such as panorama or mosaic settings and offers a built-in Power LED flash. “Additional benefits, such as creative shot modes, microSD external memory and the Image Editor will make the Samsung G600 a digital must have.” said Mark Mitchinson, Director of Samsung Mobile UK and Ireland. The Samsung G600 will be available in the UK from August 2007 on all major networks and from all retailers.

The Lacie Big Disk Extreme+ is a new external hard-drive with FireWire 800, FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 interfaces. Other features include EMC Retrospect backup and recovery software and Lacie Shortcut Button to backup files or launch any application. The LaCie Big Disk Extreme+ 1TB, 1.5TB, and 2TB drives are available immediately, costing $350, $600 and $850 respectively.

PhotoBox now allows you to upload, mount and frame your favourite images. Photobox has teamed up with YourFramer - in just six steps PhotoBox customers can create bespoke framed prints. Orders are turned around within 14 working days and arrive complete and ready to hang.

ShootLive enables sports photographers to get their action pictures to a customer within minutes. ShootLive will be trialled at David Beckham’s planned debut for LA Galaxy against Chelsea today. ShootLive will allow pictures to appear on authorised sites and devices within minutes of the kick-off of a football match.

Megapixel.net have reviewed the Samsung L74 Wide digital camera, which features a 3.0 inch touch screen LCD, 7 megapixels, 3.6x optical zoom and 28mm wide-angle lens.

“Yet, used with natural light, the L74 Wide is able to yield low-noise images up to 200 ISO, and even 400 ISO when both subject and light lend themselves to it. The upper sensitivities, however, are much as they are on current compact cameras. 800 ISO is noisy, and 1600 ISO produced images that look a tad pointillist.”

Website: Megapixel.net - Samsung L74 Wide Review

CNET have reviwed the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T20 digital camera, which features 8 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom lens and a 2.5-inch LCD screen, and is in pink, white, black and silver.

“Image quality was good for a compact camera, and better in some ways than last year’s model, but those benefits came with trade-offs of their own. While colors are more saturated overall in the T20 than the T10, the noise profile is completely different in the T20. This make s sense, given the increase in pixel count and Sony’s switch to its new Bionz image processor, which was developed for its Alpha DSLR-A100 digital SLR.”

CNET - Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T20 Review

The Sigma EF-530 DG SUPER flash gun features a powerful guide number of 53 and advanced features including modeling flash function, multi pulse flash, and TTL wireless flash. For bounce flash, the Sigma EF-530 DG SUPER’s head can be tilted up by 90 degrees, to the left by 180 degrees, or to the right by 90 degrees. The Sigma EF-530 DG SUPER costs £219.99 in the UK.

The Sigma EF-530 DG ST flash gun offers a powerful guide number of 53 and TTL automatic flash exposure control for easy operation. Covering a focal length of 24-105mm, the Sigma EF-530 DG ST automatically sets the optimum illumination angle. The Sigma EF-530 DG ST Flash costs £129.99 in the UK.

The Sony VRD-MC5 DVDirect DVD Recorder can quickly transfer videos and digital photos to DVD discs without using a computer. The Sony VRD-MC5 can directly record digital photos to a DVD as a slideshow or just for photo storage from any of five popular digital camera memory cards. There’s also a a built-in 2.5-inch color LCD screen for easily previewing video or up to six digital photos at a time. The Sony VRD-MC5 DVDirect DVD Recorder will be available in August for about $230.

The New Zealand Tourism Board are running a competition with the main prize of a 10 day, £5000 holiday for two to New Zealand. Ten Canon cameras are also up for grabs. You just need to interpret New Zealand’s urban soul via photos, videos or words. The deadline for entry is 5pm, Tuesday July 31st 2007.

iStockphoto has just joined CogniSign’s xcavator.net visual search portal. 1.8 million photos from over 38,000 contributors from iStockphoto have already been added to the portal. Visual search allows a user to look for similar images within databases containing millions of images - just like a human can look at a few dozen manually. iStockphoto joins Photovault of San Francisco who initiated xcavator.net’s Beta test.

Photojournalist Harry Benson has just revealed all on Kingston Technology’s ‘Icons of Photography’ microsite. Amongst other things, Benson shares what it was like to be standing next to Robert F. Kennedy when he was assassinated. Benson has photographed every U.S. president from Dwight D. Eisenhower to George W. Bush and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Shutterfly’s Summer Memories promotion will give away 5 million prints to customers. Shutterfly will randomly select 25 daily winners from its customer base and reward them with 1,000 free prints each. In addition to the daily winners, 3 grand-prize winners will receive 10,000 prints each. Shutterfly has also launched SummerMemories.com, to inspire the Shutterfly community to tell their family stories.

Imaging Resource have just reviewed the 15x zoom Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H9 digital camera.

“Surprisingly compact and lightweight, considering its powerful zoom, the Sony H9 is styled to mimic the look and feel of a digital SLR. The grip is sufficiently large for a sturdy and comfortable handhold. The body is made of plastic of course, and while it’s not as sturdy as a digital SLR, it doesn’t feel fragile. Granted, the camera is obviously too large to tote around in a pocket but I was able to stow it in a medium-sized handbag when taking it out and about.”

Imaging Resource - Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H9 Review

ePhotoZine have reviewed the Casio EX-Z75, which features a 7.2 megapixel sensor, Anti-Shake DSP mode and other advanced functions.

“Measuring a scant 16.2mm at it’s thinnest point, the Casio is a thin camera. Unfortunately, the camera is quite unstable when stood on its own and can fall over easily which is not a good thing for your shiny screen. It is made from metal which is always a good thing. It is heavy and solid and looks well built. Movement of the lens is quiet and smooth and if it wasn’t for the immense size of the menus, it would be easy to navigate and quick to move around in.”

Website: ePhotoZine - Casio EX-Z75 Review

CNET have reviewed the Casio Z1200, a 12.1 megapixel compact camera featuring a a 1/1.7 inch CCD sensor with shift anti-shake mechanism and a 2.8 inch LCD screen.

“Of all of the Z1200’s major features, its lens is the least impressive; the 37mm-to-111mm-equivalent lens offers a mere 3x zoom and a relatively narrow wide angle. A wider angle or stronger telephoto lens would have been a nice touch. The camera also falls short in terms of sensitivity; while most point-and-shoots can reach ISO 800 or ISO 1600 levels, the Z1200 tops out at ISO 400, limiting your options when taking low-light or high-speed shots.”

Website: CNET - Casio Z1200 Review

CameraTown have reviewed the Brite Vue Sensor Loupe from VisibleDust, which allows you to closely examine the sensor of a DSLR.

“When examining my camera’s image sensor I found the best technique was to move the loupe around (though, not rubbing it against the camera), helping to bring into sharp focus all sections of the image sensor. Moving and even tilting the loup just a bit also helps you guage whether the specs or debris are on the sensor or on the loupe itself. I also found that moving my head back and forth just a bit also helped to change the magnification - allowing a better view of all parts of the image sensor.”

Website: CameraTown - Brite Vue Sensor Loupe Review

It looks like the much rumoured and long-awaited Canon 40D DSLR camera, successor to the popular EOS 30D model (pictured), may finally be arriving. None other than the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) has spilled the beans by listing the Canon 40D on it’s PictBridge-certified product page, which was last updated yesterday. Normally we don’t comment on internet rumours, and with good reason in the case of the 40D, as it has been the subject of a lot of hot air since 2006. In this case, though, it seems that the 40D may finally be real - Canon are after all a member of the CIPA orgranisation. There’s obviously no specs or pictures - you will just have to entertain yourselves with a Google search until the Canon 40D is officially launched… (CIPA link found via DCViews)

Update 19th July: Somewhat unsurprisingly, CIPA have now removed the Canon 40D from their list of PictBridge-certified cameras…

Plans have been revealed to develop a CompactFlash memory card with a SATA interface. The new CompactFlash SATA cards will provide even faster interface data rates than the current 133MB/second, and ensure compatibility with SATA disk drive interfaces. “The development of a CompactFlash card with a SATA interface will maintain the dominance of CompactFlash in the nonconsumer markets…having the SATA interface will be a significant step for CompactFlash.” commented Mr. Shigeto Kanda of Canon and chairman of the CompactFlash Association.