SLRgear have reviewed the Tamron 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro lens.

“Sharpness was the area where we observed the most dramatic improvement over its 18-200mm predecessor. It shows noticeable corner softness across its focal length range when shot wide open, but center sharpness is always surprisingly good, vastly better than that of the 18-200mm.”

Website: SLRgear - Tamron 18-250mm Lens Review

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

“Under the right circumstances, the photos look very good. Those include shooting at sensitivity settings of ISO 200 or lower, in bright sunlight. Thanks to the fast continuous shooting, solid stabilization and reliable center-point focus, the H9 delivered the best results I’ve had so far shooting dogs in the park. The EVF updates quickly enough to make it possible. The automatic white balance does a solid job, if a bit cool, and colors look bright and saturated.”

CNET - Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H9 Review

Adobe Digital Editions 1.0 is a new software program for managing and reading eBooks, digital newspapers, and other digital publications. Adobe Digital Editions already works seamlessly with more than 150,000 commercially published titles. Digital Editions is available now as a free download for Windows and Macintosh systems.

The Online Photographer has interviewed Kodak scientist John Hamilton about the new image sensor technology that Kodak announced last week, which claims to improve performance in low light conditions.

“T.O.P.: The human eye puts an emphasis on luminance information for the sake of image detail. Is the new sensor likely to increase the level of real detail in digital images?
John Hamilton: Not really. The panchromatic pixels function just like the green pixels of the Bayer pattern except that they are photographically faster. However, under low light conditions, the new patterns will outperform Bayer because of improved signal-to-noise.”

Website: The Online Photographer - A Brief Interview With John Hamilton

CNET have reviewed the new Canon EOS-1D Mark III DSLR camera.

“Images shot with the Canon EOS 1D Mark III can be absolutely stunning. Colors look extremely accurate, and the automatic white balance does an excellent job of neutralizing colors under a variety of lighting situations. The only times it became confused was in situations in which there was mixed lighting, and even then it produced pleasing, if not absolutely spot-on results. If paired with a sharp lens, the 1D Mark III can produce images with a vast amount of fine detail.”

Website: CNET - Canon EOS-1D Mark III Review

DCResource have reviewed the Fujifilm S700 digital camera, which features 7 megapixels, a 10x optical zoom, 2.5 inch LCD plus electronic viewfinder, ISO 1600 and Picture Stabilization mode.

“The FinePix S700 is the entry-level ultra zoom camera in Fuji’s lineup, and it has a lot to offer for its $230 street price. It has a solid design, good photo quality, full manual controls, and a nice movie mode. It’s not without its flaws though: the camera lacks image stabilization, has problems with purple fringing, corner softness, and redeye, and has a lens that’s slow at the wide-angle end. Still, if you’re looking for a budget ultra zoom camera, the FinePix S700 is well worth a look.”

Website: DCResource - Fujifilm S700 Review

Steves Digicams have reviewed the Panasonic DMC-TZ3 camera, which fits a 10x optical zoom, 7.2 megapixels and 3 inch LCD screen into a compact, stylish body.

“In my opinion, the most important feature of the TZ3 has to be its Wide view Leica Vario-Elmarit 10x optical zoom lens. It covers a focal length 28-280mm in 35mm equivalence. With such a versatile zoom range, you’ll be able to capture beautiful landscapes and large group portraits at its 28mm wide angle extreme, while bringing distant subjects up close with the 280mm telephoto capability.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 Review

Website: Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 Review

DigitalCameraInfo have reviewed the new Sony T100 camera, which has a 5x optical zoom lens and 3-inch LCD screen, with red, black and silver colours available.

“This ultra-slim digital camera has a $399 price tag that seems high, but it comes with a solid set of features. At 8.1 megapixels, it has plenty of resolution. A 5x optical zoom lens that is fully functional while shooting still images and video is also a big plus.”

Website: DigitalCameraInfo - Sony DSC-T100 Review

Website: Read our Sony Cyber-shot DSC T100 Review

Steves Digicams have reviewed the Canon TX1 digital camera, which features a 10x optical zoom lens (39mm-390mm) with Optical Image Stabilization, 115,000-pixel Vari-Angle LCD screen and 7.1 megapixel sensor.

“Ergonomics are a bit of a mixed bag. At about the size of a deck of playing cards (just a bit thicker), it can easily be tucked away in small pockets, and the metal body ensures it will hold up to your daily routine. While the controls are positioned within reach of your finger tips, I found the camera itself is a bit awkward to hold, with my right middle finger resting firmly against the bottom of the lens (when extended.) When reviewing images , where the lens in retracted in the camera, my finger then rested right on the lens cover.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Canon TX1 Review

TrustedReviews have reviewed the Pentax Optio A30, a 10 megapixel compact digital camera with a 1/1.8 inch CCD, anti-shake technology, 3x optical zoom and 2.5 inch LCD monitor.

“Image quality is one of the A30’s many strong points. At low ISO settings (64-200) the level of fine detail, the edge sharpness and the richness of the colour rendition were among the best I’ve seen from a compact camera. At higher ISO settings noise did become more of a problem, but the A30 uses an unusual noise reduction algorithm which is very good at retaining edge sharpness and contrast detail even when noise levels are quite high, avoiding many of the problems associated with previous 10MP compacts.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Pentax Optio A30 Review

The Epson V200 Photo is a cost effective, high-quality scanner in a compact and slim design. It features 4800dpi optical resolution, Auto Photo Orientation to straighten photos, and a built-in transparency unit with film holding storage. The Epson V200 can scan a range of document sizes, including A4, 35mm strip film x 6 frames and 35mm slide x 4 frames. The Epson V200 Photo will cost £69.99 / $99, available July 2007.

The FP-5000 from Fantasea Line is a new underwater housing for the Nikon P-5000 digital camera. With a depth rating of 60 meters/200 feet and a double O-ring seal on all controls, the FP-5000 is ideal for outdoor and underwater photographers. The suggested retail price of the FP-5000 is US $245.00.

Leica have released a firmware update, v2.0, for the Digilux 3 DSLR. Improvements include:

  * An additional function for multiple exposures.
  * A third OIS mode (MODE 3) enabling the user to employ the „panning” technique.
  * A mode that considerably improves the visibility of the monitor image when the camera is held below eye level.
  * The aperture value can now be set more easily in the case of lenses (of other makes) that do not have aperture setting rings.
  * White balance (WB), color temperature, ISO-speed, and the flash mode can now be set with the cursor buttons as well as with the main setting dial. Confirming the settings is no longer limited in time.
  * Auto Review now also includes a mode without a time limit.
  * It is now possible to scroll to the other images even when the one being displayed is enlarged (with the zoom function).
  * The firmware version can now be displayed using the setup menu.

Website: Leica Digilux 3 v2.0 Firmware Update

Getty Images ‘My Britain’ competition offers British 13 - 18 year olds the opportunity to express their views on their life, community and the region in which they live through photography. My Britain will run from 4th July until 15th September 2007. The winner of Getty Images’ My Britain competition will receive an exclusive day’s internship with a renowned Getty Images photographer - time for some extensive plastic surgery so that I can pass as an 18 year old!

Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One by Deke McClelland is a new book which guides readers step by step through the program’s features and functionality. It includes 12 self-paced tutorials let you learn at your own speed, 850 full-color photos, diagrams, and screen shots, and more than two hours of video instruction. Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One costs $49.99 USD, $64.99 CAD, £35.50 GBP.

DIWA member LetsGoDigital have reviewed the Nikon Coolpix P5000 camera, which offers 10 megapixels, 3.5x zoom lens (36-126mm), Vibration Reduction to combat camera shake, ISO 3200 capability and a 2.5 inch LCD screen.

“You can work pretty fast with the Nikon P5000 camera, although you will probably have to get used to the ‘speed’ of the auto focus and be satisfied with the fact that real action cannot be captured, which is too bad. Nikon could have scored more convincingly with a wide-angle lens, in order to outcompete the PowerShot G7. Especially since we see compact cameras with a 28mm lens more frequently, Nikon Coolpix P5000’s 36mm is a stark contrast. “

Website: LetsGoDigital - Nikon Coolpix P5000 Review

PCMag have reviewed the Olympus Stylus 770 SW digital camera, which can survive falls from up to 1.5m, is waterproof to 10m depths, as well as being freezeproof to -10 degrees Celsius.

“This specialty point-and-shoot is pricey for an ultracompact, but it lets you take pictures in places where few other cameras can go: underwater. The Olympus Stylus 770 SW is submersible to a depth of 33 feet and will withstand temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s pretty rugged, too: The camera can be dropped from a height of 5 feet, which I confirmed in my testing, and is designed to shrug off 220 pounds of direct force.”

Website: PCMag - Olympus Stylus 770 SW Review

CNET have reviewed the Fujifilm S700 digital camera, which features 7 megapixels, a 10x optical zoom, 2.5 inch LCD plus electronic viewfinder, ISO 1600 and Picture Stabilization mode.

“If you ignore most of the off-key bells and whistles and stick to basics like moderate ISO speed settings and semimanual exposure modes, the Fujifilm FinePix S700 offers quite a bit for your money. If Fuji had only traded some of those high ISO gimmicks for better shooting speed and a more streamlined interface, this might have been a darn good camera”

Website: CNET - Fujifilm S700 Review

DigitalCameraInfo have reviewed the Canon A570 IS compact digital camera, which offers a 7.1 megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom lens, Face Detection Technology and Red-Eye Correction, plus an Optical Image Stabilizer to combat camera shake and full manual control.

“The PowerShot A570IS sells for just over $200 at a variety of vendors, which is an attractive price for an entry level camera. With image stabilization and face detection, it wins the features race not only at $200, but also at $300. Canon image quality is very competitive at a variety of price points, and did well enough here. The biggest drawback in the PowerShot A570IS’s value proposition is its durability. With poor seals and a lightly-built lens assembly, it doesn’t seem as tough as some of its competition.”

Website: DigitalCameraInfo - Canon A570 IS Review

ePhotoZine 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.

“With a very large pixel count noise was always going to be an issue, and the good news is that it’s kept under control up to ISO200, but at ISO400 it really isn’t very good and is worse than compacts with a lower resolution. At the ISO50 and 100 settings though, the extra detail is significant and really makes the image look incredibly detailed.”

Website: ePhotoZine - Casio Z1200 Review