Nikon Press Release

October 17, 2006 - Nikon Corporation (Michio Kariya, President) is pleased to announce the establishment of NIKON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, a wholly owned sales and service subsidiary, in Sydney, Australia. This new company has been launched to fortify sales of imaging products, beginning with digital cameras, and to enhance after-sales service in Australia. Operations will commence on November 1, 2006. Sales of Nikon imaging products began in Australia in 1959 with distribution through Maxwell Photo Optics. Maxwell Optical Industries Pty. Ltd., has continued with sales and service of our products up to the present. In response to the continued digitization of imaging products, we have established this wholly owned sales subsidiary based on our determination that a stronger marketing, sales, and service presence is required to further expand our business in Australia.

Ilford Photo Press Release

Following recent news of ILFORD Photo/HARMAN technology’s formation of a subsidiary company in the USA to handle technical support across North America, the company has now issued details of a global technical services network. Heading up Worldwide Technical Services is USA-based Rod Parsons who has been responsible for technical support in North America for the past 18 years. Parsons was previously manager of Worldwide Technical and Equipment Services for the previous ILFORD Imaging Group, and technical services manager for black-and-white paper at the company’s manufacturing plant in Mobberley, UK. Given which, he brings a wide range of knowledge and experience to the position.

onOne Software Press Release

Portland, OR - October 16, 2006 - onOne Software, Inc., announces the immediate availability of the new professionally designed Helene Glassman Digital Frame Collection. This new collection adds to the already extensive library of easy-to-use border and edge effects currently available for users of onOne Software’s PhotoFrame Pro 3 and PhotoFrame 3 designed specifically for Photoshop® Elements. “This new onOne Software Digital Frame Collection is a great addition to our line of customized signature frame collections,” said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. “Our goal in creating these Digital Frame Collections and collaborating with world-renowned professional photographers is to help other photographers spend more time behind the camera with the knowledge that their own final masterpieces are just a few mouse clicks away. We are proud to partner with Helene to bring her custom frames to our users.”

Casio Europe Press Release

Mysterious X symbol: photographic evidence wanted - great rewards - High-tech digital camera discovered in pharaoh’s grave!

Norderstedt, 16 October 2006 - Enigmatic signs and incredible discoveries are holding the world in suspense: mysterious X symbols are appearing everywhere and confounding the experts. Scientists discover a modern digital camera in the grave of an unknown pharaoh and in other amazing places. What’s the connection between the two phenomena? Will this riddle change the history of mankind for ever? Fans of conspiracy theories and the paranormal will find possible explanations on the website www.x-is-everywhere.com. Popular supernatural cliches and theories are applied to the X phenomenon with humour and an original twist, and to accompany the launch of the new EXILIM card EX-S770 from CASIO. At the heart of the site is the appeal to all users to send in photographic evidence of the X symbols. Attractive prizes can be won as a reward.

Megapixel.net have reviewed the new 10 megapixel Nikon D80 DSLR camera.

“In summary, the D80 is an important step beyond the D70, and is an excellent alternative to the more expensive D200. Compared to its predecessor, the D80’s autofocus is much faster, its sensitivity range is greater and it is equipped with a 2.5-inch LCD monitor. Just as important, the 10.2-megapixel resolution of the D80 allows it to capture even finer details than had been possible with the D70. Last but not least, the D80 can be mated to a vertical grip that supports a second shutter release for vertical shots, something that was unavailable on the D70.”

Website: Megapixel.net - Nikon D80 Review

Website: Read our Nikon D80 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

TrustedReviews have taken a look at the Canon Digital IXUS 850 IS (known as the Canon SD800 IS in the United States).

“Another stand-out feature is the lens. Most 3x zoom compacts have a wide-angle setting equivalent to around 35-38mm, but the IXUS 850 has a 3.8x zoom with a range equivalent to 28-105mm, ideal for landscapes or big group shots at close range. As usual with Canon optics, the lens is of very high quality, producing extremely good edge-to-edge sharpness, and with less wide-angle spherical distortion than most. Combined with the Digic III processor it provides some of the best image quality I’ve seen from a pocket compact. Colour rendition is especially good; even when I deliberately tried to confuse the auto white-balance setting it still got it right. The only criticism I could find was some minor blue fringes on some high-contrast edges, but only under certain conditions.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Canon Digital IXUS 850 IS Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

Canon USA Press Release

Great Savings on Select Products Including up to $600 on the Full-Frame EOS 5D and up to $200 on the Popular EOS 30D, and Double Rebates to Help Expand a Growing EOS System

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Oct. 16, 2006 - From fall foliage to the intensity of fourth down at the five-yard line, the autumn is full of fantastic photo opportunities.  Whether expanding a current EOS system, or thinking of the family photographer for the upcoming holiday season,  Canon U.S.A., Inc. helps make it easy and affordable to capture and share memories on the sidelines, at home, or out in the field.  The “Cash In With Canon” Mail-In-Rebate Program returns from October 15, 2006 - January 13, 2007, providing consumers and professionals the opportunity to take advantage of big savings on an assortment of select Canon products.

BenQ Press Release

Benq unveils the world’s slimmest seven-megapixel digital camera.

Oct 13, 2006 - The award-winning BenQ X720 features a 7 megapixel CCD image sensor, 3x optical zoom, smc Pentax lens and the world’s slimmest body at 12.5 mm. BenQ today introduced the BenQ X720, the slimmest 7.0 megapixel digital camera featuring 3x optical zoom, smc Pentax (Super Multi-Coating) lens, 1/2.5 inch CCD image sensor and a bright 2.5 inch LCD display. The BenQ X720 features an elegant stainless-steel body with a shiny metal grip and has been awarded with the prestigious 2006 iF China Design Award and 2006 G-mark Good Design Award for its smooth, exquisite, elegantly crafted, blade-like design.

Nikon USA Press Release

Nikon Teams With Designer Zac Posen to Create an Exclusive Limited Edition COOLPIX Camera Accessory - Inspired by Retro Camera Cases, Posen Designs Must Have Accessory for Nikon’s COOLPIX Style Series Digital Cameras

MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 13—Nikon is at the intersection of high fashion and high-technology this fall with a new partnership to provide a stunning look for style conscious and tech savvy digital camera users. Nikon and Zac Posen, House of Z, LLC, announce the creation of an Exclusive Limited Edition Zac Posen COOLPIX Camera Accessory. Nikon COOLPIX users can now carry their digital camera in a fashionable yet functional camera accessory. “As a style-focused brand, we are constantly looking for new ways to accommodate the image-savvy consumer. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Zac Posen, a celebrated and talented designer,” said Lisa Baxt, senior communications manager, for Nikon, Inc. “This partnership is based on our admiration of his creative talent, his love for Nikon and how his fashion line plays well with the stylish design of the COOLPIX Style Series cameras.”

HARMAN technology Limited Press Release

HARMAN technology Limited, the leading professional imaging specialist, is to unveil its pioneering range of professional photographic inkjet media to the American photographic community at the Photoplus event in New York next month. HARMAN first announced its plans to enter the photographic inkjet media market this summer, and its new range includes the first ever inkjet products to incorporate real photo Baryta technology. Following an impressive European debut at Photokina in Germany this September, the company is confident of the impact it will have across the Atlantic.

In the latest installment of this regular series, we cast the spotlight on members of the PhotographyBLOG Gallery and ask them about their photography. The 15th member to sit in the interview chair is pacificphoto.

“I now think much more about things such as horizon levels, extraneous objects, whether a subject is served best by monochrome or color, and any other factors. Also, when there comes an opportunity to share something I know with somebody else, it helps me re-learn the craft.”

Website: Gallery Member Spotlight - pacificphoto

DPReview have reviewed the new Canon EOS 400D (Canon Digital Rebel XTi in the USA), which offers 10 megapixels, a large 2.5 inch LCD screen and new integrated dust removal system.

“The EOS 400D (Rebel XTi) turned out to be everything we expected it to be; a progressive upgrade to the already hugely successful EOS 350D (Rebel XT). Image quality was just as good, with plenty of detail, low noise and sophisticated noise reduction at higher sensitivities an well balanced, and thanks to PictureStyles predictable, color and tone. It also has a significantly improved user interface, dust reduction system, 9 point auto-focus, larger LCD monitor and combined status display / setting change system. All this in a camera which is just as small and light as the camera it replaces.”

Website: DPReview - Canon EOS 400D Review

Website: Read our Canon EOS 400D Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

The-Digital-Picture have just reviewed the new Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM, a fast large aperture lens designed for digital SLR cameras with an APS-C sized sensor.

“Sigma’s HSM (Hypersonic Motor) internal autofocus is very nice - reasonably fast and very quiet. The quietness makes it seem even faster. The front element does not rotate and FTM (Full Time Manual) focusing is available. The manual focusing ring is smooth but somewhat stiff. The stiffness is not all bad as your hand will likely be holding the lens by/near this ring - if it turned too easily, you might product OOF (out of focus) shots. AI Servo performance including accuracy is good. “

Website: The-Digital-Picture - Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM Review

DIWA member Photoxels have reviewed the 7.5 megapixel, live preview Olympus E-330 DSLR camera.

“Was it worth switching the pentaprism for the porro mirrors just so a flat top design could be achieved? Those of you coming from the DSLR side will find the viewfinder of the E-330 smaller and darker compared to the large and bright viewfinder of a typical DSLR that uses a traditional pentaprism. But if you come from the consumer digital camera side and are upgrading to a DSLR, you will welcome the optical viewfinder on the E-330: it is much better than the tunnel vision viewfinders or EVFs on the non-DSLR cameras.”

Website: Photoxels - Olympus E-330 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:

1. Getting Close With Add-On Lenses
2. Electronic Shutters In Full Bloom
3. Picassa Ducks Out On DVD Recording

Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, inventor, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected] , and then, En Garde!

You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.

The Panasonic LX2 is a 10 megapixel digital camera with a unique twist - it offers a true 16:9 wide-screen sensor and a 2.8 inch widescreen LCD to match. Panasonic originally conceived the LX series of wide-screen cameras to be used in tandem with their 16:9 televisions. More recently they have been promoting the printing side of things, with a joint announcement with Epson last month. The Panasonic LX2 is also a camera for the discerning photographer, with a 4x zoom lens starting at 28mm wide, support for the RAW file format and full manual, aperture-priority and shutter-priority exposure modes. Add an improved ISO range of 100-1600, a High Sensitivity mode, pop-up flash and optical image stabilisation, and you have the makings of a great pocket camera. But can the Panasonic LX2 deliver on those promises, and more importantly does it improve on the noisy images of the original DMC-LX1? Read our extensive review now to find out.

Website: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 Review

PhotographyBLOG member Northscape has kindly offered all of our readers a £40 discount on the cost of one of their photography workshops (except for the Masterclass weekends), held at various stunning locations in the North of England.

“Northscape Workshops take place throughout the year in some of the most beautiful locations the British Isles have to offer. Weekend courses feature full board and transport, so that all you have to do is bring yourself and your camera - from then on it is our aim to provide you with the best photographic opportunities. Our help and knowledge is yours to utilise during the course and beyond, but above all we want you to go home having enjoyed your stay with us and with a camera full of beautiful images.”

Website: Northscape Workshops

Transcend Press Release

The ICT world is evolving at a very fast pace, constantly bringing on the market new technologies and outstanding devices running at higher speeds and greater capacities. Transcend Information, Inc., a world leader in flash memory cards, always alert to new trends, is very proud to announce the launch of its 4GB high-capacity and high-speed SDHC card (Class 6) and 4GB/8GB SDHC (Class 2). The SDHC (SD High-Capacity) is the new generation of SD cards (Version 2.0) that, formatted in FAT32, can reach up to the enormous capacity of 32GB. With the 8GB SDHC you can easily store up to 2560 pictures (6 Mega pixels) and more than 120 hours of your favorite music. Transcend’s SDHC card (Class 6) features high data transfer speeds and can fulfill the high-capacity demand of the new SDHC devices such as Casio Exilim Z1000/Z600/S600 cameras, Panasonic DMC-L1 camera, and HP printer A/B. Now you can enjoy a high-quality digital life and store all of your MP3 music files, high-resolution pictures, and video clips in your SDHC card.

Sharpcast Press Release

Synchronization Solution Eliminates Dealing with Manual Backups, Tedious Uploads, and Bulky E-mail Attachments; Sharpcast Offers Free 5GB Photos Account Through Year End

PALO ALTO, CALIF. and NEW YORK, NY – (October 12, 2006) – Sharpcast, a pioneer in synchronization software and services for consumers, today released a powerful version of its Sharpcast Photos service that delivers a completely unparalleled way to back up, share, access and sync digital photos. Sharpcast Photos includes free desktop photo software that works automatically with the web to perform all of the tedious tasks associated with digital photo management all on its own. The company demonstrated the new all-in-one photo solution for the first time today at the Digital Life consumer electronics exhibition at the Jacob K. Javits convention center in New York. The company also announced today that everyone who signs up for a Sharpcast Photos account by November 15 will receive a free 5 GB account through the end of the year. It takes only minutes to get up and running on Sharpcast Photos at www.sharpcast.com. Visitors to Digital Life, October 12 – 15, can visit Sharpcast and try Sharpcast Photos in booth 436.

PicaJet Press Release

PicaJet burst on to the digital image management market in 2001 and quickly became a popular tool with professional photographers and digital camera owners alike. Since then, the program has been translated into 20 languages.
Despite a program of continuous improvement, it is still an easy-to-use and convenient tool for the management of large photo collections. Here is a list of the top 10 reasons why people choose PicaJet:

1. Support for Camera RAW formats, including Adobe DNG Images taken in a RAW format offer higher picture quality and richer post-processing capabilities compared to images taken in JPEG or TIFF formats. Because of this, the RAW format is the de-facto image format for professional photographers. PicaJet supports the RAW format of almost all camera manufacturers as well as Adobe DNG.