DigitalCameraInfo have just reviewed the Sony Cybershot DSC-T30, a 7.2 megapixel camera with a 3 inch LCD screen, image stabilisation and high sensitivity mode (ISO 1000) to help avoid blurry photos.

“It is easy to use, offering a selection of automatic modes, along with a High Sensitivity scene mode that boosts the ISO up to 1000 to capture pictures without the flash at places like night clubs where illumination is limited. The 3x optical zoom lens is good in both still and video recording modes, and Sony’s Super SteadyShot image stabilization system helps keep pictures crisp and video stable.”

Website: DigitalCameraInfo - Sony Cybershot DSC-T30 Review

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DIWA member and Czech website Fotoaparat have reviewed the Pentax Optio W10, a 6 megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom lens, 2.5 inch LCD and a waterproof body.

Website: Fotoaparat - Pentax Optio W10 Review

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This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:

1. What Goes Up, Must Come Down
2. Changing The Laws Of Physics
3. Venus And Mars Are Alright Tonight

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.

Here are the sample photos from our upcoming review of the Panasonic FZ50. The Panasonic FZ50 is a 10 megapixel update of the popular FZ30 digital camera. As well as the increased resolution, the Panasonic FZ50 offers a 12x, 35-420mm Leica lens with optical image stabilizer, 2 inch flip-out LCD screen, longer battery life and up to ISO 1600.

Website: Panasonic FZ50 Photos

Website: Read our Panasonic DMC-FZ50 Review

Here are the sample photos from our upcoming review of the Ricoh R5. The Ricoh R5 is the latest version of Ricoh’s 7x wide-angle zoom compact cameras, with an upgrade to 7 megapixels and a new Smooth Imaging Engine II image processing engine which promises to reduce noise at faster ISO speeds (up to ISO 1600 is now available). The 2.5 inch LCD screen on the Ricoh R5 now has 230,000 pixels and battery life has increased to 380 shots.

Website: Ricoh R5 Photos

The Canon Inc. website has issued a warning to consumers about a recent online offer for its digital camera products that appears to be too good to be true. Canon’s statement is as follows:

“Please be aware that there has been a fraudulent online promotional offer suggesting that Canon digital camera products can be purchased for unreasonably low prices directly from Canon. This may include the Canon logo, company name and/or product images. This is in no way associated with Canon Inc. or any Canon Group companies.”

HP UK Press Release

Great For Both Work and Play - HP All-in-One Produces Lab-Quality Photos and Laser-Quality Documents - HP printer, copier and scanner gives breakthrough printing speeds along with networking, exceptional photo printing and 2.4in colour screen

Bracknell, UK, 7 September 2006 - HP today unveiled the HP Photosmart C5180 All-in-One, giving home users photo quality expected from a dedicated photo printer alongside fast, efficient document printing, scanning and copying. The all-in-one comes with six economical individual HP Vivera inks for beautiful photos that last for generations(1), printed in as fast as 12 seconds.(2) Built-in Ethernet networking and document print speeds of up to 32 pages per minute (ppm) in mono and 31ppm in colour make this an efficient home office companion. Using the 2.4in display, users can scan, print, organise and edit photos and documents without using a computer.

Canon USA Pres Release

Grand Prize Winner Awarded a Trip for Four to Super Bowl XLI and Winning Photo to Be Displayed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., September 6, 2006 - Canon and the Pro Football Hall of Fame are once again giving football and photography fans the opportunity to capture the fun, passion and excitement of youth football by entering their best football photos, everything from a playful catch in the backyard to any youth, school, or organized football games in the “Why Do You Love Football” Photo Challenge. The nation-wide amateur photo contest features two entry categories “Action” and “Feature.”  The “Action” category focuses on any image that captures football action during game play, while the “Feature” category comprises any football imagery outside of game action on the field.

onOne Software Press Release

Affordable add-ons for PhotoFrame Pro 3 and PhotoFrame Elements enhance creativity and professional style

Portland, OR, - September 7, 2006 - onOne Software, Inc., announces today at the Photoshop World tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV, the addition of four new professionally designed digital frame collections that add to the already extensive library of easy-to-use border and edge effects available for users of onOne Software’s PhotoFrame Pro 3 and PhotoFrame 3 designed specifically for Photoshop® Elements. Available today is the new Jim DiVitale Digital Frame Collection and the new Vincent Versace Digital Frame Collection. The new Helene Glassman and Jack Davis Digital Frame Collections will be available in late September 2006. These four new Signature Collections for PhotoFrame Pro 3 and PhotoFrame Elements join the recently introduced Rick Sammon Digital Frame Collection and the popular Instant Film Digital Frame Collection.

onOne Software Press Release

Announced update adds new features and tutorials on how to best use each masking tool

Portland, OR, - September 7, 2006 - onOne Software, Inc., announces and demonstrates today at the Photoshop World tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV, Mask Pro 4 – the long-awaited update to the company’s popular digital image masking plug-in Mask Pro 3. Mask Pro 4 provides a complete collection of Photoshop® plug-in tools that allow users unprecedented flexibility when tackling the most challenging masking job. And this new version focuses on teaching the user how to best use each comprehensive toolset for masking a wide range of images. And as in the previous version, onOne Software’s Mask Pro 4 uses the concept of “keep colors” and “drop colors” chosen by the user and then based on those user selections, the Mask Pro algorithm will remove only those selected colors from an image. One of the strengths of Mask Pro is that when a “drop color” is found in another pixel, Mask Pro will remove only that color value from the pixel, leaving that pixel (or pixels) semi-transparent. This allows Mask Pro to minimize the edge halo effect often seen when masking a transparent object or edge.

InfoTrends Press Release

New InfoTrends Forecast Reveals Continued Growth in Digital Photo Printing for Western Europe through 2009

(Weymouth, MA) September, 07 2006… According to new forecast data released by InfoTrends, the total volume of digital photo prints produced in 2005 by Western European consumers was 9.4 billion. The digital photo prints market is expected to grow to 11.9 billion in 2006. This significant growth can be primarily attributed to the increase in the installed base of digital cameras. Although the total volume of digital photo prints is growing for the next couple of years, InfoTrends estimates that the market will peak in 2009 at 14.6 billion prints. The market will still remain stable or decline slightly, but it is unlikely that total print volume will grow significantly beyond 2010.

Imaging Resource have just reviewed the new 10.2 megapixel Sony A100 DSLR camera.

“After a few days of use I’m happy to say that my initial impression of borrowed design has melted away. The Sony Alpha A100 is Sony’s first SLR, backed up by years of Minolta experience and Sony’s reputation for design excellence. By naming it the Alpha—the name used for Minolta Maxxum cameras in Japan for years—Sony has signaled that they’re not at all concerned about their new camera’s association with the Konica Minolta line. Nor should they be.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Sony A100 Review

Website: Read our Sony A100 Review

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Imaging Resource have reviewed the Nikon Coolpix L4, a 4 megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom lens and 2 inch LCD.

“Compared to some competing entry-level models that take AA batteries the new Nikon Coolpix L4 has very limited manual control particularly when it comes to ISO light sensitivity adjustment. The L4 makes up for its lack of control, however, with a robust automatic feature set that’s helps make picture-taking easier for the entry-level shooter. Still, it’s not the fastest camera in its class, and the Nikon L4’s images are really only suitable for 5x7 or 4x6, due to significant noise in the images. Consider the price, and it’s not bad, but we saw much better performance from the L3, which seems to be the sweet spot in the L-series lineup.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Nikon Coolpix L4 Review

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TrustedReviews have reviewed the new HP Photosmart D7360, which can print a 4x6-inch photo in just 12 seconds.

“You can use two different kinds of photo paper with the Photosmart D7360, but we strongly recommend using Advanced Photo paper. This is an absorbent paper, so the ink sinks into the surface and dries almost instantly. Photo prints come out with a photographic gloss and a clarity which is as good as we’ve seen from a digital print. Even at fast draft, which is when you approach the 12 seconds per print claimed by HP, print colours are very natural, while remaining full and vibrant.”

Website: TrustedReviews - HP Photosmart D7360 Review

Epson and Panasonic Press Release

6 September 2006 - As 16:9 ratio has become the international standard of HDTV, a new photo culture is emerging, raising the demand for true 16:9 format cameras, printers and photo paper.  At the forefront are Epson and Panasonic with new products to meet the needs of photographers who want to shoot, view and print in 16:9 format which brings wider breadth and deeper perspective into the picture.  Panasonic has introduced its LUMIX LX2 digital camera to feature a 16:9 CCD sensor and LCD screen.  Epson is launching Premium Glossy Photo Paper 16:9 (101.60mm x 180.60mm).  It features a smooth, bright white resin-coated layer for a vibrant high-gloss finish and is compatible with a range of Epson printers including the new Epson Stylus Photo R360 and Stylus Photo RX560. As an introductory offer Epson and Panasonic are joining together to provide a trial sample of the new 16:9 Premium Glossy Photo Paper with every purchase of the Panasonic DMC-LX2.

JP Distribution Press Release

JP Distribution is pleased to announce the new Digital Master L-758 Light Meter from Sekonic. The Digital Master L-758 is the world’s first multi-functional light meter that can be calibrated to match the sensitivity of a digital cameras sensor at all ISO settings, flash/ambient or file format characteristics. Sekonic have ensured that the L-758 offers photographers the greatest digital exposure control, accuracy and repeatability. Available in October, price to be confirmed.

The PictureMate Pal, Snap and Flash will all be available in September 2006 for $149, $199 and $299.

Epson America Press Release

Epson Builds on Success of PictureMate® Personal Photo Lab Family With New Printers That Deliver Even Better Image Quality, Speed and Ease of Use - PictureMate Pal, Snap and Flash Offer Professional Quality 4” x 6” Photos That Consumers Can Easily Print Themselves

LONG BEACH, Calif., Sept. 6 /PRNewswire/—Building on the phenomenal success of the PictureMate personal photo lab line, Epson America Inc. today announced three new printer models, which enable consumers to easily print professional looking 4” x 6” photos themselves at home or wherever they choose, with or without a computer. The newest PictureMate printer line, which includes PictureMate Pal™, PictureMate Snap™ and PictureMate Flash™, boasts several improvements over the previous generation, including features that make it even easier to print the best looking photos with no tradeoffs.

Casio have released a new firmware version (v1.03) for the Casio EX-S500, which adds SDHC memory card format support.

Website: Casio EX-S500 v1.03 Firmware Update

Sony have released a firmware update, v1.01, for the 10.2 megapixel Sony A100 DSLR camera.

The firmware update is to:
  1. Address the symptom that in very rare cases, RAW format files may not be opened by the supplied image control software, Picture Motion Browser.
  2. Improve image gradation when the shutter speed is 1 sec or longer.
  3. Improve printed picture quality when the image is printed by Epson(R) printer under PRINT Image Matching.

Website: Sony A100 v1.01 Firmware

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Pentax have released firmware updates for their *ist DL and DS series digital SLR cameras, adding support for the new SDHC memory card format.

Website: Pentax *ist DL2 v1.01 Firmware
Website: Pentax *ist DS2 v1.01 Firmware

Website: Pentax *ist DL v1.02 Firmware
Website: Pentax *ist DS v2.01 Firmware