PopPhoto have the first review of the new Nikon D40x DSLR, which features a 10.2 megapixel sensor, producing 3,872 x 2,592-pixel images, 3D Colour Matrix Metering II system and 2.5 inch LCD screen, all in the most compact Nikon DSLR ever.

“The Nikon D40x ($799, estimated street with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX Nikkor; $729, body only) may be small, but its shooting capacity is big. It’s a great camera for first-time DSLR buyers set on a 10MP model and Nikon system users who want a lightweight body that’s not lightweight in performance. It returned Excellent Image Quality in tests in the Pop Photo Lab and out in the world, with excellent resolution through ISO 3200, stellar noise control (Extremely Low through ISO 400, Very Low through ISO 1600), and Excellent color accuracy.”

Website: PopPhoto - Nikon D40x Review

Website: Read our Nikon D40x Review

CNET 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.

“Like a lot of Canon’s new cameras, the A570 IS includes a Digic III processor chip, which means it also has Canon’s face detection. In our field tests, the system quickly and accurately identified faces. Once it identifies them, the system uses your subject’s face to focus and meter the scene. Another feature that comes along with Digic III is in-camera red-eye removal. In this case, Canon lets you pluck the red pupils from your portrait victims in playback mode.”

Website: CNET - Canon A570 IS Review

The new Sanyo CG6 digital video / still camera features a “blur correction with gyro sensor” system to combat camera shake, 6.0 megapixel CCD and a 5x optical zoom lens. The CG6 also offers a 2.5-inch LCD screen which can rotate up to 290 degrees, USB battery charging, 1cm macro mode and 9-point range finder AF system. The Sanyo CG6 will be available in the U.S. at the end of March for $329.99.

Kingston DataTraveler Secure and DataTraveler Secure - Privacy Edition USB 2.0 flash drives are now available in 8GB capacities. Both drives offer titanium-coated stainless steel casings that are waterproof rated to depths up to four feet. The standard DataTraveler Secure will cost $282 and the Privacy Edition $350.

Ever wondered whether or not a memory card could survive a nuclear radiation test? No? Well, now you can find out anyway, thanks to some rather risky “hands-on” testing from e-fotografija.

“Memory card temperature and radiation test in Nuclear Power Plant Krsko labs. Both cards kept data after relatively high doses. A conclusion can be drawn – there’s no need to worry about our pictures when we pass through airport scanning devices. Also we know that we can make pictures in a medical X-ray facility. With film, this was always risky. Worrying about whether our pictures can survive an X-ray scan is a thing of the past. While the new X-ray scanners have a “film safe” label, digital media is resilient even to those without the label.”

Website: e-fotografija - Memory card temperature and radiation test

A new industry report by Understanding & Solutions predicts that sales of lenses, bags, flashguns, supports and dedicated camera batteries will reach €1.1bn in 2009. “The lens segment is taking a leading role in the boom - accounting for $878m (€697m) last year, up from $600m (€476m) in 2005. Moving forward, we expect lenses to remain the most lucrative product segment, accounting for nearly 60% of the total aftermarket value by 2011.” said David Watkins, Research Analyst.

HARMAN technology has announced a UK photo contest to help promote its new HARMAN PHOTO MATT FB Mp inkjet paper. Entrants are asked to submit their images on the new HARMAN PHOTO paper. The winner will receive a comprehensive digital photography course with Les McLean and £150 worth of HARMAN PHOTO digital inkjet products. Deadline for entries is August 31 and the winners will be announced on Friday September 28.

For every red Canon PowerShot A460 digital camera sold in Tesco stores, Canon is donating £5 to the British Red Cross. The money raised will be spent on essential British Red Cross services in local communities in the UK. The Canon PowerShot A460 is a 5 megapixel entry-level camera with a 2 inch LCD screen and 4x zoom lens.

Pixinfo.com have reviewed the dust removal systems of 4 recent DSLR cameras - the Canon EOS 400D, Sony A100, Olympus E-300 and Pentax K10D.

“Our goal was to set up a controlled environment to get the image sensors of digital cameras dirty and test how effective the different cameras’ sensor cleaning technologies are. It is well known fact (and it is a bit over dramatized) that digital SLR cameras are very sensitive to the dust particles found in the air. These particles can settle on the image sensor, and will show up on the images as dark spots when the image is taken with a small aperture (high F number).”

Website: Pixinfo.com - Dust removal systems / sensor cleaning

Wolverine Data have released a firmware upgrade for the Wolverine ESP portable multimedia player that provides RAW file support for the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100, Canon 400D and Canon Digital Rebel XTi digital SLR cameras. The Wolverine ESP is available in four models, ranging in capacity from 80GB to 160GB, with prices starting at $379.00.

Light Crafts is offering LightZone Basic for the discounted rate of $99.95 to all Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Apple Aperture and Apple iPhoto users. Unlike traditional photo-editing software, LightZone enables users to retouch and enhance photos in a simple and natural way. “Light Crafts is fundamentally changing digital photo editing to reduce complexity and return control to photographers,” said Georges van Hoegaerden, chief executive officer, Light Crafts. “We’re introducing the power of visual photo editing to all photographers, independent of their photo management software environment.”

Sony have added a 4Gb model to its Micro Vault Tiny range of ultra-portable USB storage media. The pre-loaded Virtual Expander data compression software allows users to store up to 3 times more data than the native capacity of the drive. The Sony 4GB Micro Vault Tiny is compatible with Windows Vista and is available now.

Extensis have released an update for Portfolio 8.1. The Portfolio Raw Filter 3.2 update adds support for 32 cameras, bringing the total to more than 100. The Portfolio Raw Filter is powered by technology from Bibble Labs and the update is free of charge for registered Portfolio 8.1 users.

The Ilford Photo “Pioneers of Photography” exhibition records the progress of the black-and-white genre through 150 years of outstanding photography. All of the exhibits will be printed on Ilford’s new digitally-enabled photographic paper Ilford Galerie FB Digital. “Pioneers of Photography” will be staged at London’s HOST Gallery from 16 - 28 April 2007.

Our friends at DPNow are offering 20 UK readers an exclusive free training day at Adobe’s UK training centre in west London. Lunch will be provided, followed by an introduction to the new Creative Suite 3, then an intensive session on Photoshop CS3 and, finally a session on Lightroom. You’ll have to be quick as places are limited!

Website: Free Adobe Training Day with DPNow

CameraLabs have reviewed the new Olympus SP-550 UZ. This is the first digital camera to offer an 18x optical zoom lens, equivalent to 28-504mm.

“Shooting at massive focal lengths is of course pointless if you can’t keep the image steady, but the SP-550UZ’s sensor-shift system effectively eliminated any wobbles in our tests. Olympus has also done a great job in the design and construction of the camera: the rubber coating ensures a secure grip and the body is very comfortable to hold and use. We’d have loved a flip-out screen, but guess you can’t have everything at this price point.”

Website: CameraLabs - Olympus SP-550 UZ Review

Website: Read our Olympus SP-550 UZ Review

DigiCamReview have reviewed the new Olympus SP-550 UZ. This is the first digital camera to offer an 18x optical zoom lens, equivalent to 28-504mm.

“The camera is quite compact considering the massive 18x optical zoom lens, it is almost pocketable. Thankfully Olympus have added an anti-shake CCD shift system to help achieve the most from the lens. The camera is stylish with a black and dark grey rubber body. The camera has good 2.5” screen, with a good resolution, it also has a decent electronic viewfinder with diopter correction. The camera feels very well built, and is very comfortable to hold thanks to the extensive rubber cladding.”

Website: DigiCamReview - Olympus SP-550 UZ Review

Website: Read our Olympus SP-550 UZ Review

ePhotoZine have just reviewed the 10 megapixel Samsung NV10 digital camera.

“Unlike most cameras, there is actually some colour noise evident in the shadow areas of the ISO100 test shot. At ISO200 its slightly worse, the colour of the noise being stronger and there are also other artefacts beginning to appear. Curiously the ISO400 mode isn’t really any worse. The noise is still noticeable, the elements of random colour are larger but softer so have less impact. Black areas though are really, quite variable. The ISO800 shot shows a slight colour change in the red petals, becoming darker, but the noise becomes appreciable. The ISO1000 test, despite being only a slightly higher rating is a lot more noisy, showing that an ISO1600 mode would have been untenable.”

Website: ePhotoZine - Samsung NV10 Review

Website: Read our Samsung NV10 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

TrustedReviews have published the first online review of the 6 megapixel, 10x zoom Panasonic DMC-TZ2 digital camera.

“Finally we come to picture quality, and this is where I have previously had the harshest criticism of some Panasonic cameras. In the case of the TZ2 however I found much that I liked, especially the superb lens. It’s the first time I’ve seen a compact super-zoom lens with a 28mm-equivalnet wide-angle that also has no barrel distortion whatsoever at wide angle. Not only that but it has excellent corner-to-corner sharpness with no trace of chromatic aberration. In fact I’d go as far as to say that it may be the best long-zoom lens I’ve ever seen on a compact camera, and one that lives up to its Leica badge.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Panasonic DMC-TZ2 Review

Final Update: 17th March 2007, 10.00am GMT

Welcome to the Final version of my PMA 2007 Report. I’ve updated my PMA 2007 Report with the latest news. The Photo Marketing Association (PMA) Annual Convention and Trade Show takes place this year in Las Vegas, USA and runs from 8th - 11th March 2007. This is the world’s largest annual photo imaging trade show, where the major photography manufacturers will unveil their new product line-ups for 2007 and beyond. Just like last year, PhotographyBLOG will be covering PMA live from the show floor. Expect a lot of announcements both in the weeks leading up to PMA and during the 4 days of the show itself. To help you keep track of everything that’s going on, our PMA Report will contain links to all of the latest product announcements. You can also signup for our email Newsletter or subscribe to our RSS feed, which will keep you up to date with everything that is happening before, during and after PMA 2007.

Website: PMA 2007 Report