CNET have the first online review of the 7 megapixel, dual-lens Kodak Easyshare V705 camera.

“Image quality from the V705 is decent for a camera of its class. As usual with Kodak, colors looked very accurate and were well saturated. Though while the camera is capable of capturing an admirable amount of detail, we did see some JPEG artifacts in the form of jaggy diagonal lines and curves as well as other off-color speckles along edges of high contrast.”

Website: CNET - Kodak Easyshare V705 Review

Website: Read our Kodak Easyshare V705 Review

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Steves Digicams have just reviewed the new Canon PIXMA MP960 all-in-one printer.

“The MP960 is not the equal of a $1,500 dedicated film scanner, but considering its lower cost and greater versatility, you’ll find it more than adequate. Would you like to digitize that old slide collection that you’ve got gathering dust in the closet before they just fade away? The entire process of scanning a slide or negative is made simple with the included ScanGear software. Not only does it scan quickly, it automatically adjusts the color, brightness and contrast and for old slides it can correct color fade and minimize the dust and scratches too.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Canon PIXMA MP960 Review

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Here are the sample photos from our upcoming review of the Panasonic LX2, which offers 10 megapixels, 16:9 format LCD and shooting mode, 300 shot battery life and 4x optical zoom lens.

Website: Panasonic LX2 Photos

Here are the sample photos from our upcoming review of the Kodak V705, a dual-lens, 5x optical zoom camera with 7 megapixels and 2.5 inch LCD screen.

Website: Kodak V705 Photos

Here are the sample photos from our upcoming review of the Samsung NV10, which offers 10.1 megapixels and a 2.5” wide-view LCD screen.

Website: Samsung NV10 Photos

Wolverine Data Press Release

The Wolverine ESP is the world’s first portable media player to deliver true digital multimedia convergence for professional and serious amateur photographers as well as for consumers who want the most extensive array of multimedia/multifunction capabilities in the palm of their hand. Featuring a 3.6-inch TFT LCD display, the ESP can display 60,000 digital photos, play 240 hours of video, 40,000 songs and record television programs and FM radio—all in a 10-oz. unit.

IRVINE, Calif.—Wolverine Data Inc. today introduced the ESP Professional Portable Media Player (PMP), the world’s first professional or “prosumer” PMP model to deliver complete digital multimedia convergence. The new Wolverine ESP features a razor-sharp 3.6-inch TFT LCD display and the ability to store and view 60,000 digital photos, play 240 hours of video and 40,000 songs, plus the capability to record television programs and FM radio—all in a 5.3"x2.8"x0.9” footprint that weighs 10.2 ounces. It is ideal for professional and serious amateur photographers as well as for consumers who want the most extensive array of multimedia/multifunction capabilities in the palm of their hand.

Leaf Press Release

Leaf introduce the Leaf AFi, a new medium-format digital camera for professional photographers.

Herzlia, Israel (October 4, 2006) - Leaf, the acclaimed leader in the design of digital backs for professional photographers and developer of the world’s fastest digital camera backs, announced today the introduction of the Leaf AFi - a new, nextgeneration, medium-format digital camera aimed at professional photographers. The Leaf AFi is specifically designed for high-resolution digital photography, and is seamlessly integrated with the new Leaf Aptus S-Series digital camera backs. The Leaf AFi product line will include three models: Leaf AFi -75, Leaf AFi -65 and Leaf AFi -54.

There’s a fairly informative 3 minute video preview of the Pentax K10D DSLR on YouTube, which is a good way to pass the time until this new DSLR makes it onto store shelves in November. Just to recap, K10D offers 10.2 megapixels, shake-reduction, dust removal system, 22-bit colour, three new shooting modes, 2.5 inch LCD screen and 11 point auto-focusing.

Metz Press Release

Metz announce the worlds first USB TTL Flashgun - 58-AF-1. The new Metz 58 AF-1 has a maximum guide number of 58 and boasts a number of new features, the most revolutionary of which is the inclusion of a USB port for future upgrading as Camera flash technology changes and new models are released. The new 58 AF-1 also includes Metz unique second reflector which can now be used in Full TTL mode with varying output to ¼ power in order to add a fill light to your subject when “bouncing” the main flash head.  The main head of the flashgun also has both tilt and swivel facilities with a reflector card and wide angle diffuser giving unparalleled control together with a zoom head range of 24-105mm. Suggested retail price £309.99.

Nokia Press Release

Unique views of the Capital by Jefferson Hack, Naomi Cleaver, Nigel Coates and Tom Dixon on public view from 6 – 21 October. Nokia today announces Perspectives of London, a unique exhibition that brings together the cutting-edge technology of the Nokia N93 advanced mobile video device with the creative talent of four artists to produce films that epitomise the capital city from their different perspectives.  The four artists to take up the challenge are Jefferson Hack, founder of Dazed & Confused, Another Magazine and Another Man; Naomi Cleaver, designer, writer and TV presenter; Tom Dixon, creative director of Habitat, design company Artek and his namesake design company – Tom Dixon; and Nigel Coates, head architectural professor at the Royal College of Art.

Intro 2020 Press Release

CBL Professional White Balance Lenses are a new concept for professional accurate colour control. CBL White Balance Lenses are a new range of 3 double sided hand held discs which facilitate the accurate measurement of neutral colour balance by reflecting the light falling onto your subject into your lens in order to take a white balance reading. This system differs from many available products in that it is allowing you to take an “Incident” reading from the light source itself to calculate colour balance, giving highly accurate results in all situations, even where the subject has a particular dominant colour. The product materials are also waterproof and the colour characteristics will not change over time giving consistent and accurate results. Suggested retail prices are £119, £159 and £199 respectively.

Virtual Moment Press Release

Spitfire Photo Pro Offers Integrated Print Fulfillment and Introduces SpitfirePrints™ New, affordable options for e-commerce-enabled photo databases

SAN FRANCISCO, October. 4, 2006. - Virtual Moment, LLC announced today the expansion of the Spitfire Photo Pro image management system to include a flexible new store front for selling photos online. This new feature includes integration with a partner print lab to offer a wide range of professional quality prints and photo merchandise. In addition, photographers can choose to self-fulfill orders for added control over product offerings. “Our integrated fulfillment option adds one more level of automation to the normally tedious and time-consuming workflow tasks that photographers face,” said Jody Vandergriff, Co-founder of Spitfire Photo Pro. “By choosing to sell through our pro lab services, photographers can rely completely on us to print, pack, and ship.”

The Plugin Site Press Release

October 2, 2006 - The Plugin Site (www.thepluginsite.com) released B/W Styler for Windows, which is another product in the PhotoWiz series. B/W Styler is a Photoshop plugin for B/W conversion, creating traditional B/W effects and styling B/W photos. B/W Styler works in dozens of graphics applications including Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop Elements, Photo-Paint, Photo Plus, IrfanView and PhotoImpact. It supports 8bit and 16bit RGB images.

ProFotoSoftware Press Release

3rd October 2006 - London, UK - ProFotoSoftware Ltd, the London, UK, based Digital Imaging Software House, have today released V2.04 of PFS Image Darkroom for Windows. This new version adds support for the new Canon 400D camera and improves the ‘click’ white balance capabilities of the program. PFS Image Darkroom now supports the full range of Canon and Nikon digital SLRs and most RAW formats from other manufacturers, providing a unified interface that transparently handles the many differences between these formats. Full details and trial versions can be obtained from http://www.profotosoftware.com

JPG Magazine has just relaunched. Members can now upload photos, submit to themes, and review other submissions. Contributors get a free year subscription and $100 if they are published. More on how it works here: http://jpgmag.com/about/howitworks.html

JPG is also currently seeking submissions for Issue 7 on three themes: Big, Hometown, and Self-portraiture. 
Photos must be 72dpi JPGs, 2200px wide/tall, and photographers can submit one to each theme.

shootExperience have just launched a global photography competition. Simply take a photo representing the colour “Red” and upload your three best photos onto the Shoot Experience website. Deadline for entries is the 23rd of October and winners announced by Friday the 27th of October.
http://www.shootexperience.com/archived/octobercomp/content/info.php

If you live in or near to London, there’s also a Shoot Brixton event on 21st October.
http://www.shootexperience.com/archived/brixton/content/info.php

CameraLabs have just reviewed the new 10 megapixel Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX2.

“The Lumix DMC LX2 is instantly recognisable as a Panasonic compact. It’s a smart-looking camera with a selection of dials and buttons which hint at the degree of manual control available while giving an air of seriousness. With design elements harking back to classic film rangefinders, you know from the first look the LX2 will appeal to photographic enthusiasts.”

Website: CameraLabs - Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX2 Review

Website: Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 Review

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ThinkCamera have published the first review of the new Lexmark P350 Portable Photo Printer, which features new Evercolor II ink technology and PerfectFinish Photo Paper.

“What is remarkable is the fact that the colours on the print exactly match those on my monitor. I didn’t have to mess about with profiles, set options or experiment. In Photoshop I “let the printer determine colours” and it did just that - one of the most faithful prints I have seen on an budget inkjet. This really is as it should be - Lexmark supply the printer, the paper and the ink. My screen is carefully calibrated - as long as I don’t fiddle with anything I should get accurate prints time after time (allowing for the difference between LCD and paper). What’s refreshing is that it works!”

Website: ThinkCamera - Lexmark P350 Review

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I’ve now returned from Photokina 2006, after a long week of meetings, walking, and even more meetings and walking. We’ve now fully updated our Photokina Show Report, which takes a look at some of the new products in detail, nominates our Stars of the Show, and summarises all of the major announcements that were made both leading up to and during the week-long event. I’ll also be adding a comprehensive look-back at the show in the next few days. Finally, what did I find waiting on my desk when I got back? Only an invite to PMA 2007…

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 13th member to sit in the interview chair is snaphappy.

“As a wheelchair user it is often easier to take photographs of flowers, gardens, birds etc than to absail down cliffs to get that ‘perfect landscape’. As a result I have become a lot more interested in nature and find that there are many good photo opportunities right in front of me if I only take the time to look.”

Website: Gallery Member Spotlight - snaphappy