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The Norwegian website Akam.no have just reviewed the Ricoh GR Digital, an 8 megapixel compact digicam based on the GR Series of 35mm compact film cameras.
Website: Akam.no - Ricoh GR Digital Review
The Norwegian website Akam.no have just reviewed the Ricoh GR Digital, an 8 megapixel compact digicam based on the GR Series of 35mm compact film cameras. Website: Akam.no - Ricoh GR Digital Review Latest Prices / User Reviews
DIWA member and Czech website Foto Aparat have published a review of the Canon BubbleJet i9950 printer.
DIWA member and Czech website Foto Aparat have published a review of the Canon BubbleJet i9950 printer. Website: Foto Aparat - Canon BubbleJet i9950 Review
Canon UK Press Release
Canon is offering, for a limited time only, £200 cash back to purchasers of the Canon EOS 5D. The ground-breaking EOS 5D is a full frame 12.8 Megapixel digital SLR in a compact, lightweight body. Customers who purchase the camera between 21 February and 30 June 2006 are entitled to the £200 rebate. The offer can be redeemed by sending a completed application form, along with the barcode and purchase receipt, to the Canon EOS 5D Promotion Centre. A sticker on the box of the camera will direct purchasers to a website that supplies full details of the cash back offer, including the Promotion Centre address, downloadable application form and the Terms and Conditions that apply to the offer.
Canon UK Press Release Canon is offering, for a limited time only, £200 cash back to purchasers of the Canon EOS 5D. The ground-breaking EOS 5D is a full frame 12.8 Megapixel digital SLR in a compact, lightweight body. Customers who purchase the camera between 21 February and 30 June…
Canon have released a new firmware version, 1.05, for their 12.8 megapixel Canon EOS 5D digital SLR.
This firmware update incorporates the following improvements:
1. Fixes the phenomenon where the images are monochrome.
2. Fixes the phenomenon where the shutter cannot be released when using the EOS 5D + EF85mm F1.2L + Speedlite580EX. (*)
*: For EOS 5D units that contain 1 in the fifth digit of the body number (e.g., XXXX1XXXXX), the correction will not be reflected even if the firmware is updated to Version 1.0.5.
If you have an affected product that you would like to have fixed, please contact the nearest Canon Service Center.
This firmware update applies to cameras with firmware versions up to 1.0.4 installed. If your camera’s firmware is already version 1.0.5, it is not necessary to perform this update.
Website: Canon EOS 5D v1.0.5 Firmware
Canon have released a new firmware version, 1.05, for their 12.8 megapixel Canon EOS 5D digital SLR. This firmware update incorporates the following improvements: 1. Fixes the phenomenon where the images are monochrome. 2. Fixes the phenomenon where the shutter cannot be released when using the EOS 5D + EF85mm…
Canon have released a new firmware version, 1.04, for their 8 megapixel Canon EOS 30D digital SLR.
We learned that some products have problems displaying Simplified Chinese or Traditional Chinese on the LCD monitor when the display language is set to these languages.
This problem can be corrected by overwriting the character data stored in the camera. So we request that users experiencing this problem overwrite the firmware referring to the following information.
Note:
The Version of this firmware is 1.0.4.
This announcement concerns all the products that have this problem regardless of the firmware version.
We request that all users experiencing this problem overwrite the firmware, even if the camera’s firmware is already 1.0.4.
The functions of the camera will not be changed by overwriting the firmware Version 1.0.4 with this Version 1.0.4.
Website: Canon EOS 30D v1.0.4 Firmware
Canon have released a new firmware version, 1.04, for their 8 megapixel Canon EOS 30D digital SLR. We learned that some products have problems displaying Simplified Chinese or Traditional Chinese on the LCD monitor when the display language is set to these languages. This problem can be corrected by overwriting…
Canon have released a new firmware version, 1.0.4, for the Canon EOS-1D Mark II digital SLR camera.
This firmware update (version 1.0.4) includes the following improvements:
1. Fixes the phenomenon where the images are monochrome.
2. Fixes the phenomenon where the images are overexposed when using Focusing Screen Ec-S.
This firmware update applies to cameras with firmware version up to 1.0.3 installed. If your camera’s firmware is already version 1.0.4, it is not necessary to perform this update.
Canon have released a new firmware version, 1.0.4, for the Canon EOS-1D Mark II digital SLR camera. This firmware update (version 1.0.4) includes the following improvements: 1. Fixes the phenomenon where the images are monochrome. 2. Fixes the phenomenon where the images are overexposed when using Focusing Screen Ec-S. This…
Luminous Landscape have an intriguing interview with Jack Showalter, president of Hasselblad USA.
“Do you see any possibility that Hasselblad will build a dedicated digital monochrome back for the H series cameras?
Our decisions on what products to build revolve around 1) What do photographers want to do 2) What is possible technologically and 3) Is the market size sufficient to justify R&D and production expense to design a product we can deliver at a profit. You know much more about B&W digital than I do – if you were running Hasselblad, do you think this market fits these criteria? Would you spend 1,000,000 Euros, and commit a significant percentage of your R&D resources to design and build a new camera exclusively for B&W digital?”
Luminous Landscape have an intriguing interview with Jack Showalter, president of Hasselblad USA. “Do you see any possibility that Hasselblad will build a dedicated digital monochrome back for the H series cameras? Our decisions on what products to build revolve around 1) What do photographers want to do 2) What…
DIWA member Steves Digicams have just reviewed the new 10.2 megapixel Nikon D200 digital SLR camera.
“Image noise was essentially absent at sensitivity settings lower than ISO 400. Noise begins to appear at ISO 400, but the D200 provides in-camera Noise Reduction that is controlled by the camera’s menu system. High ISO NR can be set to Off, providing minimal cleanup at ISO 800 and above; Low, Normal and High settings control the degree of Noise Reduction at settings of ISO 400 and higher. The higher the level of Noise Reduction the greater the loss of fine image detail; the D200’s Noise Reduction settings allow the photographer to balance image noise and detail as he/she sees fit.”
Website: Steves Digicams - Nikon D200 Review
DIWA member Steves Digicams have just reviewed the new 10.2 megapixel Nikon D200 digital SLR camera. “Image noise was essentially absent at sensitivity settings lower than ISO 400. Noise begins to appear at ISO 400, but the D200 provides in-camera Noise Reduction that is controlled by the camera’s menu system…
News has reached us that Pentax are set to withdraw a number of its products from the European market, as new EU legislation regarding the use of lead solder in camera circuit boards is about to come into force (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2004 (RoHS Regulations)). Pentax is the second company to pull product due to this legislation - the Hasselblad Xpan has already been withdrawn from market. The full list includes the Pentax 645N II and 67II medium format cameras, some lenses and a number of digital compact cameras (the majority of which have already been discontinued due to product life cycles).
John Dickins, the Marketing Manager of Pentax UK, has issued the following statement.
“In light of impending EU legislation (RoHS) governing materials used in the manufacturing of consumer technology and IT products, Pentax will be discontinuing the production and European sales of a number of products, including its film based medium format cameras, some film and digital compact cameras, as well as a number of lenses and accessories.
Pentax is currently revaluating its European product portfolio in light of this legislation and information on future product introductions will be made in due course once assessments have been made into market demand. The company would like to make clear, however, that the decision to discontinue these products has been made in order to fully comply with this European directive - which comes into affect in July this year and which has implications for number of consumer electronic companies retailing within the EU.
News has reached us that Pentax are set to withdraw a number of its products from the European market, as new EU legislation regarding the use of lead solder in camera circuit boards is about to come into force (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and…
Corel Press Release
MAIDENHEAD, UK - 28 March 2006; Following this year’s extremely cold and gloomy winter period, the delights of spring seem all too far away; however, with Spring officially beginning and the sun starting to show its face, many households will honour the time-old tradition of spring cleaning - whether it be their homes, cars, PC or lives. This year Corel provides tips on how to re-organise, improve and spring clean those photo snaps that have been cluttering up your camera, PC or shoebox for too long! Corel® Photo Album* 6 offers the broadest range of easy-to-use features for organising, enhancing, sharing, showcasing and protecting digital photography. With Corel Photo Album 6 users are able to spring into action by simply plugging in their digital camera, card reader or scanned photos to a PC. Corel Photo Album 6 then automatically organises those photos into date order and vertically rotates photos for easy viewing. The user can further arrange their photos by using Folders, Collections, Keywords, Favourite Photos, Recent Downloads etc; whilst also using basic Improve and Enhance functions to add that air of professionalism to everyday photos.
Corel Press Release MAIDENHEAD, UK - 28 March 2006; Following this year’s extremely cold and gloomy winter period, the delights of spring seem all too far away; however, with Spring officially beginning and the sun starting to show its face, many households will honour the time-old tradition of spring cleaning…
DPReview have the first online review of the new 6 megapixel, 28mm wide-angle lens Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX01.
“Of course the sensor has long been the Lumix’s achilles heel, and noise is still enough of an issue here that some fairly harsh noise reduction is needed. But whereas other recent Lumix models have been so noisy that the problem threatened to overwhelm all the good stuff, here the noise is only a serious problem in daylight at ISO 400. That said, noise gets steadily worse as light levels drop, and I cannot recommend the output in low light at ISO 100 or above for anything over postcard-sized prints.”
Website: DPReview - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX01 Review
DPReview have the first online review of the new 6 megapixel, 28mm wide-angle lens Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX01. “Of course the sensor has long been the Lumix’s achilles heel, and noise is still enough of an issue here that some fairly harsh noise reduction is needed. But whereas other recent Lumix…
CNET have reviewed the new 6 megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 camera.
“The modest Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 tops Panasonic’s midrange line of compact, 6X-zoom snapshot cameras; its 6-megapixel resolution and about $50 are all that differentiate it from its 5-megapixel sibling, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ3. Both incorporate a 37mm-to-222mm (35mm equivalent) Leica lens, optical image stabilization, and numerous ways to control image capture, though they lack manual exposure modes. The DMC-LZ5 fares moderately well in bright environments, but poor performance and average photo quality lessen the allure of this attractively priced model.”
Website: CNET - Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 Review
CNET have reviewed the new 6 megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 camera. “The modest Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 tops Panasonic’s midrange line of compact, 6X-zoom snapshot cameras; its 6-megapixel resolution and about $50 are all that differentiate it from its 5-megapixel sibling, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ3. Both incorporate a 37mm-to-222mm (35mm equivalent)…
Imation Press Release
Get Hooked on Imation’s New Clip Flash Drives - Rugged carabineer clip design provides easy file access for on-the-go professionals
OAKDALE, Minn. (March 27, 2006) – Feel secure knowing that your valuable files are with you – anytime, anywhere – with Imation’s (NYSE: IMN) new durable Clip USB 2.0 Flash Drives. Safely encased in a tough rubberized shell, this extremely compact flash drive can be quickly removed from its case and fit into the tightest USB slots. An ultra-tough carabineer clip attaches the drive quickly and easily to backpacks, shoulder bags or belt loops to ensure the drive is ready to go anywhere it’s needed. “Imation’s unique flash drive designs are built to last – giving the user the confidence that their important digital files will be protected,” said Tom Lally, U.S. executive director of sales and marketing, Imation. “For the ultimate in portable data storage, the durable carabineer design of our new Clip Flash Drive is ideal for professionals and students who are always on the go.”
Imation Press Release Get Hooked on Imation’s New Clip Flash Drives - Rugged carabineer clip design provides easy file access for on-the-go professionals OAKDALE, Minn. (March 27, 2006) – Feel secure knowing that your valuable files are with you – anytime, anywhere – with Imation’s (NYSE: IMN) new durable Clip…
DCResource have just branched out by launching a new printer review website called Printerspot.
“PrinterSpot is a new printer review site from the creator of the Digital Camera Resource Page, one of the leading websites of its kind on the Internet. Here at PrinterSpot we review multifunction and photo printers in a simple, easy to understand fashion, without any of the “tech speak” that you’ll find elsewhere. Our reviews are unbiased: we’re not afraid to call a spade a spade.”
Website: Printerspot
DCResource have just branched out by launching a new printer review website called Printerspot. “PrinterSpot is a new printer review site from the creator of the Digital Camera Resource Page, one of the leading websites of its kind on the Internet. Here at PrinterSpot we review multifunction and photo printers…
Sharp have developed a CMOS sensor that can calculate the distance between itself and the subject using infrared light. Sadly the resolution is only 320 x 240 pixels, so one for the future then in terms of digital cameras (found via digicamera.net).
“In order to provide these two functions, the company has adopted the Time-of-Flight (TOF) method as the distance measurement technique, in which a distance is back-calculated from the flight time of light. Commercialization is in progress, aiming at home appliances, automotive and security related products as its target applications.”
Website: TechOn - Sharp Develops CMOS Image Sensor Able to Measure Distance to Object
Sharp have developed a CMOS sensor that can calculate the distance between itself and the subject using infrared light. Sadly the resolution is only 320 x 240 pixels, so one for the future then in terms of digital cameras (found via digicamera.net). “In order to provide these two functions, the…
DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the new Canon PowerShot A540, which offers 6 megapixels, ISO 800, 2.5 inch LCD and a 4x optical zoom lens.
“When it comes to image quality, Canon’s models are almost always at the top. And, the A540 is no exception. We were very pleased with its Large SuperFine 6-megapixel images. Our sample images were sharp, well exposed, and showed accurate color balance. As you can see from our kayak shots, the exposure system of this model does an excellent job of capturing sky detail. Imager noise is an issue we touch with just about every model we test, and the A540 showed very little, if any, when using ISO 80 and 100. As the ISO sensitivity is increased, so does the noise; a common problem with almost all consumer cameras.”
DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the new Canon PowerShot A540, which offers 6 megapixels, ISO 800, 2.5 inch LCD and a 4x optical zoom lens. “When it comes to image quality, Canon’s models are almost always at the top. And, the A540 is no exception. We were very pleased…
DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the new Canon PowerShot A530, which offers 5 megapixels, ISO 800, 2.5 inch LCD and a 4x optical zoom lens.
“Shooting performance was very robust for a consumer model. From power up until the first image was captured measured just 1.8 seconds, and waking the camera from sleep mode to image capture took only 1.1 seconds. Shutter lag, the delay between depressing the shutter button and capturing an image, was less than 1/10 of a second when pre-focused, and only 2/10 of a second including autofocus. When using single drive mode and shooting a sequence of images, the shot to shot delay averaged approx. 1.8 seconds without the flash, but increases dramatically to between 4 - 6 seconds when using the flash, depending on subject distance and battery life.”
DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the new Canon PowerShot A530, which offers 5 megapixels, ISO 800, 2.5 inch LCD and a 4x optical zoom lens. “Shooting performance was very robust for a consumer model. From power up until the first image was captured measured just 1.8 seconds, and waking…
DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the new Canon PowerShot A430, which offers 4 megapixels, ISO 800, 2.5 inch LCD and a 4x optical zoom lens.
“Like its predecessor, the A430’s ergonomics are great. The various controls are well placed and easily accessed by your fingertips. It still has the same Zoom control that we disliked on past models, but it works just fine. The Menu system is logically organized and changing settings quickly is very easy with the FUNCtion menu. I was happy to see that Canon did away with the tiny 1.5-inch LCD display. The 1.8-inch LCD offers a better viewing surface and the text is more legible; something that is very important for those with less than perfect eyesight. “
DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the new Canon PowerShot A430, which offers 4 megapixels, ISO 800, 2.5 inch LCD and a 4x optical zoom lens. “Like its predecessor, the A430’s ergonomics are great. The various controls are well placed and easily accessed by your fingertips. It still has the…
DigitalCameraInfo have published a comparative review of the new Nikon D200 and Canon EOS 5D digital SLR cameras.
”...the D200 and the 5D are the latest cameras from the leading DSLR manufacturers, and are the results of big R&D efforts. As such, they ought to show where the two companies are going, and what they’re capable of. Second, they are Canon and Nikon’s step-down models to their flagship DSLRs – both the EOS 5D and D200 represent more affordable, scaled-down versions of their top of the line cousins, with the full-frame 5D a smaller iteration of the 1Ds Mark II, and the D200 a mid-level D2X.”
Website: DigitalCameraInfo - Nikon D200 vs Canon EOS 5D Review
DigitalCameraInfo have published a comparative review of the new Nikon D200 and Canon EOS 5D digital SLR cameras. ”...the D200 and the 5D are the latest cameras from the leading DSLR manufacturers, and are the results of big R&D efforts. As such, they ought to show where the two companies…
CNET have just reviewed the Pentax *ist DS2 digital SLR camera. The Pentax DS2 is virtually identical to the existing *ist DS, adding a larger, higher-resolution 2.5 inch color LCD monitor.
“The picture quality is generally solid, with minimal noise at typical settings and nearly no chromatic aberration. A minor weakness is the DS2’s erratic automatic white balance, but overall, the DS2 is a hearty, well-performing, intuitive, and easy-to-handle camera. For those approaching the dSLR market with a bag of Pentax lenses—or no lenses at all—it’s a camera to consider.”
Website: CNET - Pentax *ist DS2 Review
CNET have just reviewed the Pentax *ist DS2 digital SLR camera. The Pentax DS2 is virtually identical to the existing *ist DS, adding a larger, higher-resolution 2.5 inch color LCD monitor. “The picture quality is generally solid, with minimal noise at typical settings and nearly no chromatic aberration. A minor…