Nikon are offering a £50 cashback in the UK and €75 in Eire on the Coolpix S500, a 7.1 megapixel camera with a 3x zoom lens (35-105mm), Vibration Reduction to combat camera shake, ISO 2000 capability, 2.5 inch monitor and One-touch portrait button. The offer is valid for purchases made between 13th July and 30th July 2007. Closing date for application is 31st August 2007.

Canon have released Digital Photo Professional 3.0.2 for Windows and Mac OS X. Digital Photo Professional is software exclusively for editing and converting RAW images shot by EOS Digital cameras. The update adds the following new features:

Windows Version
1-1. The following functions can now be used in Windows Vista.
- Trimming Tool
- Quick Check Tool
- Detailed settings printing
- Contact sheet printing
1-2. Improvement of image display quality.
Corrected the issue in which jaggies are noticeable in images displayed on the monitor.
1-3. The setting value of Picture Style files will be applied to images.
When a picture style is applied to images, the setting value of picture style (contrast/color tone/color depth/sharpness) will be applied.

Canon have released EOS Utility 2.0.2 for Windows and Mac OS X, EOS Utility is software exclusively for EOS Digital cameras that combines all the functions involving communication with the camera. This software accommodates features such as importing and viewing images on the computer by connecting the camera to the computer, using the remote shooting function, and controlling the camera from the computer to specify the camera settings. The update adds the following new features:

Windows Version
1-1. Support added for Auto Power OFF (camera) during Remote Live View shooting
The Auto Power Off function can now be used during Remote Live View shooting with EOS-1D Mark III.
1-2. Corrected “From PC” in Time Setting on the Camera
It’s corrected that the “From PC” in “Date/Time” of the camera setting does not function properly when a computer is working in daylight saving time.
1-3. The setting value of Picture Style files will be applied to camera.
When a picture style file is set to the camera, the parameters included in the file (contrast/color tone/color depth/sharpness) will be applied to the camera.

PCMag have reviewed the new HP B9180, an 8 colour, A3+ inkjet printer that uses Vivera pigment inks for waterproof photos which resist fading for more than 200 years.

“Talk about most categories of printers and you have to talk about HP models. Talk about high-quality photo printers for the serious amateur photographer or professional on a budget, however, and HP has been largely absent from the discussion. If the HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Photo Printer ($699.99 direct) accomplishes nothing else, it should change that.”

Website: PCMag - HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Review

Website: Read our HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Review

ePhotoZine have reviewed the Ricoh GX100 digital camera, which features a 10.01 megapixel CCD, fast 24-72mm wide zoom lens and a removable electronic view?nder.

“Upon opening the box of the GX100, I was amused to discover a camera that looked like it had been designed by someone using Sticklebricks. However, that amusement was short lived as the camera grows on you like fungus on an old tree.”

Website: ePhotoZine - Ricoh GX100 Review

Website: Read our Ricoh GX100 Review

DCResource have reviewed the new Canon S5 IS ultra-zoom compact camera, which features a 12x optical zoom lens equivalent to 36-432mm, optical image stabilizer and 8 megapixel sensor.

“The PowerShot S5’s image quality is some of the best you’ll find on an ultra zoom. The camera takes well-exposed, colorful photos with just the right amount of sharpness. At lower ISO settings, images have an almost D-SLR-like “smooth” appearance to them. Noise doesn’t become a problem until ISO 400 in good light, and ISO 200 in low light. ISO 800 is usable (in good light) if you use noise reduction software, but you might as well forget about using ISO 1600.”

Website: DCResource - Canon S5 IS Review

Website: Read our Canon PowerShot S5 IS Review

Megapixel.net have reviewed the Panasonic DMC-FX30, the world’s slimmest digital camera with a 28mm wide-angle lens.

“The Panasonic DMC-FX30 is a camera that produces mixed reactions. It allows capturing fleeting moments thanks to a fast auto focus and a negligible shutter delay. The images the camera yields have an excellent colour rendition, exposures turn out perfectly without any particular effort on the part of the photographer, and images print very well. At the same time, this is a camera that is clearly sensitive to noise, yielding its best results when given plenty of bright light and when the photographer tries to avoid framing shots that contain numerous shadow areas.”

Website: Megapixel.net - Panasonic DMC-FX30 Review

The Ricoh RR750 is an entry-level 7.16 megapixel digital camera with 2.5 inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom lens. The new RR750 replaces the Caplio RR730 model, offering a higher resolution LCD screen and greater lens resolution. So far the Ricoh RR750 has only been announced in Japan. The Ricoh RR750 will be available at the end of July 2007 in the UK at £99.99 including VAT.

The Samsung S85 entry-level digital camera features an 8.2 megapixel sensor and 5x optical zoom lens. The S85 also includes Samsung’s Intelligent Face Recognition Technology and Advanced Shake Reduction system. Full manual control is offered by the Samsung S85, with a fastest ISO speed of 1600 and a 2.5 inch LCD screen. The Samsung S85 will be available from the end of August 2007 for £119.99 in the UK, and late September for $229 in the USA.

Fluid Mask 3 masking software adds a more effective edge detection system and improved “Smart Blending” capability. Fluid Mask 3 also boasts faster initial image processing times, with increased speeds up to 40% faster than the previous version. “Fluid Mask 3 is the most powerful masking tool available today.  The accuracy and speed with which this software separates difficult images such as human hair from a background takes image editing to a new level.” said James Carr-Jones, president & CEO of Vertus. Fluid Mask 3 is currently available for Windows XP and Vista and Mac Intel and Power PC 10.3.9 upwards, and is priced at $239.

iCorrect EditLab Pro 5.5 color correction software is fully compatible with Adobe Photoshop CS3 and offers native support for Intel-based Macintosh computers. Free upgrades are available for registered users who purchased iCorrect EditLab Pro Plug-in on or after January 1, 2007. iCorrect EditLab Pro 5.5 can be downloaded for $99.95, and a free demo version is also available.

The Belkin Wireless USB Hub allows you to wirelessly access up to 4 USB devices from 30 feet away. USB devices are plugged into the hub, and a wireless USB adapter into your computer. Available in late August 2007 with launches in Asia, Europe, and Australia to follow, the Belkin Wireless USB Hub costs $199.99.

Purchasers of the Nikon D200 DSLR camera in the UK can now claim a free copy of Nikon’s Capture NX software, worth £119.99.. This offer is valid between 18th May and 13th July 2007, and the last day for applications is 10th August 2007.

Update July 13th - Nikon UK is pleased to announce it has extended the free Capture NX offer to 3rd August 2007. The new deadline for applications is 31st August 2007.

The We Speak Image fashion campaign challenges 17 European fashion designers to create a collection inspired by photos taken by their fellow countrymen. Members of the public can upload their most creative and iconic images, with the most popular given to a leading fashion designer. The resulting garments will be showcased at London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks. Canon will make a donation to Red Cross Societies across Europe for each image uploaded.

ScanCafé is a new photo scanning and restoration service that allows customers to pay only for the digital images they wish to keep (minimum purchase of 50%). Professional color correction, cropping, scratch cleansing, and red eye removal are included as part of ScanCafé’s basic photo scanning service. “We started ScanCafé to help people preserve their most precious memories…we’ve created an easy, safe, and low-cost photo scanning service that allows people to share those photos with friends and family and preserve them for future generations.” said Sam Allen, CEO of ScanCafé.

Sigma have released a new firmware update, v1.04, for the Sigma SD14 DSLR camera. Improvements include:

  1. Corrects the phenomenon of the intermittent camera freeze with Err message in the top LCD panel under certain conditions.
  2. Corrects the problems related with video output display and functionality.
  3. Corrects the display problem for the number of remaining shots on the CF card.
  4. In the case of Mac OS 10.4.9 with Intel core processor, the SD14 was not recognized as a Removable Disk. Now the SD14 is mounted to the desktop as Removable Disk icon.

Website: Sigma SD14 v1.04 Firmware Update

Adobe have released an update for the critical vulnerabilities that were recently discovered in Photoshop CS2 and CS3. This could allow an attacker who successfully exploits these potential vulnerabilities to take control of the affected system. A malicious BMP, DIB, RLE, or PNG must be opened in Photoshop by the user for an attacker to exploit these potential vulnerabilities. Users are recommended to update their installations immediately.

Website: Adobe - Photoshop CS2 and CS3 updates to address security vulnerabilitiesw

DIWA member LetsGoDigital have reviewed the Nikon Coolpix S500, a 7.1 megapixel camera with a 3x zoom lens (35-105mm), Vibration Reduction to combat camera shake, ISO 2000 capability, 2.5 inch monitor and One-touch portrait button.

“The Nikon Coolpix S500 has pleased me in practice. The camera is extremely users friendly and gives a fine end result. In regards to comfort and user friendliness the Nikon S500 does not seem to need many improvements. Of course, there is always room for improvement in regards to quality. I would like to see improvement in the noise values and I hope that Nikon does not let themselves be tempted by only looking for the larger ISO values.”

Website: LetsGoDigital - Nikon Coolpix S500 Review

CNET have reviewed the Panasonic Lumix FX100, a 12.2 megapixel digital camera with a new 1/1.72-inch large CCD and 28mm wide-angle lens.

“Image quality is generally good, with sharp images, accurate-looking colors, a healthy amount of shadow detail, and consistently accurate white balance and exposures. However, noise remains one of Panasonic’s weakest points. Even at the camera’s lowest sensitivity setting of ISO 80, I saw noise in our test images. The noise is minimized in prints but is readily noticeable when viewing images at full size on computer monitors”

Website: CNET - Panasonic Lumix FX100 Review

The Pentax M40 and Pentax E40 are two new lightweight, affordable compact digital cameras. The 8 megapixel M40 offers a 3x optical zoom lens, 2.5 inch LCD, metal body, Face Recognition and digital Shake Reduction. The cheaper E40 also features Face Recognition technology and Digital Shake Reduction functions, and runs on AA batteries. Priced at US $199.95, the Pentax M40 will ship in August 2007. The Pentax E40 will ship in September 2007 for US $149.95.