Category:

Monday, December 19, 2005

DxO Press Release

Paris, France, December 12, 2005 – DxO Labs today announces the DxO Image Masters photography showcase is now online: www.dxo.com/en/photo/image_masters/default.php

The electronic gallery features photographs by professionals and rising stars from around the world. The gallery is dynamic in nature and will be evolving over time.

DxO Image Masters allows visitors a privileged ‘behind the scenes ’ experience of original, unedited images and enhancement provided by DxO Optics Pro as each photographer fulfills his or her vision of the final photo. A sample of each photographer’s work is featured along with his or her biography and thoughts on digital photography and DxO Optics Pro.

DxO Press Release Paris, France, December 12, 2005 – DxO Labs today announces the DxO Image Masters photography showcase is now online: www.dxo.com/en/photo/image_masters/default.php The electronic gallery features photographs by professionals and rising stars from around the world. The gallery is dynamic in nature and will be evolving over time. DxO…

Olympus SP-350DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the new Olympus SP-350, an 8 megapixel camera that offers a 3x optical zoom lens equivalent to 38-114mm and a 2.5 inch LCD monitor.

“While there are many positives to this camera, there is also a very big negative - its shooting performance. Power up until the first image is captured was average at about 3.2 seconds. The all important shutter lag (the time between pressing the shutter release and actually capturing the image) measured 2/10 of a second when pre-focused and 9/10 of a second including autofocus; much slower than some of the least expensive models on the market today. The shot to shot delay when using single exposure mode was 2.3 seconds without the flash and 4 - 10 seconds with the flash (depending on subject distance.) When I was shooting portraits with the flash at mid-telephoto range the time between shots was very aggravating.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Olympus SP-350 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the new Olympus SP-350, an 8 megapixel camera that offers a 3x optical zoom lens equivalent to 38-114mm and a 2.5 inch LCD monitor. “While there are many positives to this camera, there is also a very big negative - its shooting performance. Power…

Olympus SP-310DIWA member Steves Digicams have just reviewed the 7 megapixel Olympus SP-310 digital camera.

“The 7-megapixel SP-310 and 8-megapixel SP-350 are some of the latest offerings from Olympus this year (2005), and are the first of the new “SP” model line. The SP-310 includes many of the features found on its “big brother” like a 3x optical zoom lens, large 2.5-inch LCD display, and VGA (640x480) size movie mode, but resolution is decreased and there’s no flash hot shoe. This compact consumer model is aimed more towards the novice user with loads of manual controls, but it will still appeal to those who are a little less experienced because it has user-friendly exposure modes like Auto and Program as well as 24 pre-programmed SCENE modes.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Olympus SP-310 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

DIWA member Steves Digicams have just reviewed the 7 megapixel Olympus SP-310 digital camera. “The 7-megapixel SP-310 and 8-megapixel SP-350 are some of the latest offerings from Olympus this year (2005), and are the first of the new “SP” model line. The SP-310 includes many of the features found on…

Olympus FE-110DIWA member Photoxels have reviewed the 5 megapixel Olympus FE-110 digital camera.

“The Olympus FE-110 is a digital camera targeted to novice snapshooters. It has 5.0 effective megapixels resolution on a 1/2.5 in. image sensor. The Olympus lens is a 38-106 mm (35mm format equivalent) F3.0(W)-F5.0(T), 2.8x optical zoom. We find the overall image quality of the Olympus FE-110 to be average. Colours are saturated.”

Website: Photoxels - Olympus FE-110 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

DIWA member Photoxels have reviewed the 5 megapixel Olympus FE-110 digital camera. “The Olympus FE-110 is a digital camera targeted to novice snapshooters. It has 5.0 effective megapixels resolution on a 1/2.5 in. image sensor. The Olympus lens is a 38-106 mm (35mm format equivalent) F3.0(W)-F5.0(T), 2.8x optical zoom. We…

Canon PowerShot A610Imaging Resource have reviewed the new 5 megapixel Canon PowerShot A610 digital camera.

“The PowerShot A610 sits at the top of Canon’s A-series—a lineup distinguished by cameras that are fairly compact, relatively inexpensive and equipped with a robust set of exposure controls. The A610 is no exception: priced under $300, it has a 5.0-megapixel CCD—ideal for photographers who like especially large prints or who frequently crop their photos. With exposure controls that range from full-automatic, snap-shot simplicity to full-manual creativity, the A610 is a good choice for a family with widely differing photography skills. Given its low price and breadth of features, it should also be attractive to budding shooters on tight budgets who want to advance their photographic skills.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Canon PowerShot A610 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

Imaging Resource have reviewed the new 5 megapixel Canon PowerShot A610 digital camera. “The PowerShot A610 sits at the top of Canon’s A-series—a lineup distinguished by cameras that are fairly compact, relatively inexpensive and equipped with a robust set of exposure controls. The A610 is no exception: priced under $300…

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1DIWA member and German website Digitalkamera.de have just reviewed the new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1, a 10.3 megapixel compact camera with an APS-C sized sensor that allows for a “live” preview.

Website: Digitalkamera.de - Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

DIWA member and German website Digitalkamera.de have just reviewed the new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1, a 10.3 megapixel compact camera with an APS-C sized sensor that allows for a “live” preview. Website: Digitalkamera.de - Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 Review Latest Prices / User Reviews

Nikon Coolpix S4DigitalCameraInfo have reviewed the Nikon Coolpix S4, which has 6 megapixels and a 10x Zoom-Nikkor lens that is equivalent to 38-380mm.

“Nikon returned to the pivoting-lens design of its Coolpix 900 series for their latest ultra zoom camera, the 6 megapixel Coolpix S4. Built around a 6.3 to 63mm lens (equivalent to a 38-380mm zoom on a 35mm camera) and a 1/2.5-inch imaging chip, the 4.4 x 2.7 x 1.4-inch S4 offers shooting versatility in a portable package. While many ultra zoom cameras strive to imitate the styling of DSLRs, the design of 10x optical zoom Nikon Coolpix S4 suggests that it is really more of a compact point-and-shoot at heart. Available online for about $320, the price of the S4 places it in the company of higher-end point-and-shoots.”

Website: DigitalCameraInfo - Nikon Coolpix S4 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

DigitalCameraInfo have reviewed the Nikon Coolpix S4, which has 6 megapixels and a 10x Zoom-Nikkor lens that is equivalent to 38-380mm. “Nikon returned to the pivoting-lens design of its Coolpix 900 series for their latest ultra zoom camera, the 6 megapixel Coolpix S4. Built around a 6.3 to 63mm lens…

Pentax Optio S45CNET have published their review of the 5 megapixel Pentax Optio S45 compact digicam.

“The 4-megapixel sibling of Pentax’s 5-megapixel Optio S55, the Pentax Optio S45 offers the same ultracompact body, large LCD, 3X optical zoom, and streamlined feature set as its predecessor. It also has a number of helpful and fun features that aren’t as easy to find as they could be, so you’ll need to read the manual to acquaint yourself with everything this camera can do. But for out-of-the-box use, the Optio S45 is snapshot simple.”

Website: CNET - Pentax Optio S45 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

CNET have published their review of the 5 megapixel Pentax Optio S45 compact digicam. “The 4-megapixel sibling of Pentax’s 5-megapixel Optio S55, the Pentax Optio S45 offers the same ultracompact body, large LCD, 3X optical zoom, and streamlined feature set as its predecessor. It also has a number of helpful…

Fujifilm FinePix S5600 ZoomCNET have published a review of the Fujifilm FinePix S5600 Zoom, a 5 megapixel compact digital camera with Fujifilm’s new 5th Generation Super CCD HR sensor with Real Photo Technology (also known as the S5200 in the US).

“The 5.1-megapixel Fujifilm FinePix S5200 is a well-designed, well-built camera with very good image quality and performance. While smaller than any digital SLR, it’s not the kind of camera you thoughtlessly toss into your purse or jacket pocket. But those shooters willing to tote it around will enjoy the benefits of a high-quality 10X zoom lens (38mm to 380mm in 35mm-camera terms), a comfortable, well-balanced body that fits nicely in the hands, and a high-speed sensor that provides usable natural and low-light images at sensitivities up to ISO 1,600.”

Website: CNET - Fujifilm FinePix S5600 Zoom Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

CNET have published a review of the Fujifilm FinePix S5600 Zoom, a 5 megapixel compact digital camera with Fujifilm’s new 5th Generation Super CCD HR sensor with Real Photo Technology (also known as the S5200 in the US). “The 5.1-megapixel Fujifilm FinePix S5200 is a well-designed, well-built camera with very…

Canon IXUS i ZoomThe Norwegian website Akam.no have reviewed the new Canon IXUS i Zoom digital camera (also known as the SD30). The Canon IXUS i Zoom is a 5 megapixel model with a 2.4x optical zoom lens and 1.8 inch LCD screen.

Website: Akam.no - Canon IXUS i Zoom Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

The Norwegian website Akam.no have reviewed the new Canon IXUS i Zoom digital camera (also known as the SD30). The Canon IXUS i Zoom is a 5 megapixel model with a 2.4x optical zoom lens and 1.8 inch LCD screen. Website: Akam.no - Canon IXUS i Zoom Review Latest Prices…

Sony Cyber-shot N1PCMagazine have reviewed the Sony Cyber-shot N1, an 8 megapixel digital camera with a 3 inch touch-screen LCD and 3x optical zoom lens.

“With its signature slick, stylish design and a large, 3-inch touch screen, Sony’s latest Cyber-shot DSC-N1 looks very cool, but it has a lot more than good looks going for it. This 8.1-megapixel ultracompact doesn’t unseat the current ultracompact Editors’ Choice, the Canon PowerShot SD500 Digital Elph, but it has a lot of great features that make it an appealing choice for style- and performance-conscious shutterbugs.”

Website: PCMagazine - Sony Cyber-shot N1 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

PCMagazine have reviewed the Sony Cyber-shot N1, an 8 megapixel digital camera with a 3 inch touch-screen LCD and 3x optical zoom lens. “With its signature slick, stylish design and a large, 3-inch touch screen, Sony’s latest Cyber-shot DSC-N1 looks very cool, but it has a lot more than good…

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Saturday ShoutThis week’s Saturday Shout looks forward to 2006. With the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January, Photo Marketing Association (PMA) show in late February, and Photokina in October, there are lots of opportunities for exciting new photography announcements. PhotographyBLOG will be at PMA and Photokina to bring you the breaking news live from the show floor, but in the meantime what do you think will be announced? More budget DSLRs, cheaper and better-featured compact digicams Photoshop CS3 and are all obvious contenders. Perhaps even more importantly, what would you like to see announced? (be realistic here!). Shout out now…

This week’s Saturday Shout looks forward to 2006. With the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January, Photo Marketing Association (PMA) show in late February, and Photokina in October, there are lots of opportunities for exciting new photography announcements. PhotographyBLOG will be at PMA and Photokina to bring you the…

Great Christmas Giveaway5 winning names have been randomly selected from the list of PhotographyBLOG Newsletter subscribers in the Great Christmas Giveaway. If you are one of the winners, you will already have received an email from me ([email protected]).

Simon Wright, Denise Grigas and unnamed have each won a copy of REALVIZ Stitcher 5 (worth £340 each).
Kindly donated by Realviz.
http://www.realviz.com

Daniel Lemaire has won a copy of Paint Shop Pro X (worth £99).
Kindly donated by Corel.
http://www.corel.co.uk

Darren Haines has won copies of Ulead PhotoImpact 11 and PictureShow 3 (worth £80).
Kindly donated by Ulead.
http://www.ulead.co.uk

Don’t worry if you haven’t won - a brand new contest will start early in the New Year.
All you have to do to enter is subscribe to the PhotographyBLOG Newsletter.

5 winning names have been randomly selected from the list of PhotographyBLOG Newsletter subscribers in the Great Christmas Giveaway. If you are one of the winners, you will already have received an email from me ([email protected]). Simon Wright, Denise Grigas and unnamed have each won a copy of REALVIZ Stitcher…

Friday, December 16, 2005

Ricoh Caplio R3Ricoh have released a new firmware update, v1.27, for the Ricoh Caplio R3, a 5 megapixel compact camera with a 7x optical zoom lens equivalent to 28-200mm and vibration correction of the CCD.

- Improved accuracy of the AF algorithm in the macro mode.
- Improved accuracy of the vibration correction function.

Website: Ricoh Caplio R3 v1.27 Firmware Update (Windows)

Website: Ricoh Caplio R3 v1.27 Firmware Update (Mac)

Ricoh have released a new firmware update, v1.27, for the Ricoh Caplio R3, a 5 megapixel compact camera with a 7x optical zoom lens equivalent to 28-200mm and vibration correction of the CCD. - Improved accuracy of the AF algorithm in the macro mode. - Improved accuracy of the vibration…

Sony Cyber-shot N1HP Press Release

LONDON, December 15th, 2005 – THE QUEEN has today received the largest Christmas card ever to be sent to the Royal family.

The huge 9ft x 5ft card was hand-delivered to Buckingham Palace by a group of young children from NCH, the children’s charity. The card was received by Palace footmen on behalf of the Royal family.

The giant Christmas card contains festive digital photos from thousands of British people across the country, and also features goodwill messages from Britons to the Royal family.

Photo expert HP spent the last two months collecting the photos and messages as part of their “Colourful Christmas” charity fundraising effort for NCH, the Children’s Charity. For each picture and message donated for the card, HP donated £1 to the NCH. This money will help disadvantaged children around the country.

HP Press Release LONDON, December 15th, 2005 – THE QUEEN has today received the largest Christmas card ever to be sent to the Royal family. The huge 9ft x 5ft card was hand-delivered to Buckingham Palace by a group of young children from NCH, the children’s charity. The card was…

IntemosIntemos Press Release

A range of Christmas offers were announced today by Intemos, the digital SLR cleaning specialist.

Until the end of December every purchase of two packs of Intemos’s best seller, DSLRClean, will receive a set of five StikCaps (worth £6.95 / US$12.50 approx) free. In addition, every purchase now earns Intemos reward points (each worth £1.00/ US$ 1.80 approx) towards future orders. Customers have to collect a minimum of 5 points which can be redeemed against any product from the Intemos range. And, until the 9 January 2006, all visitors to the Intemos web site, (www.intemos.com) can enter a competition to win a year’s supply of Intemos cleaning products.

Intemos Press Release A range of Christmas offers were announced today by Intemos, the digital SLR cleaning specialist. Until the end of December every purchase of two packs of Intemos’s best seller, DSLRClean, will receive a set of five StikCaps (worth £6.95 / US$12.50 approx) free. In addition, every purchase…

Sony Cyber-shot N1CameraLabs have just published a group test of 4 compact digital cameras.

“At Camera Labs we believe a good quality compact could be one of the best investments you’ll ever make. It will end up travelling almost everywhere with you and be responsible for recording some of your most memorable events. As such we strongly believe you shouldn’t skimp when buying a compact, but at the same time you don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy excellent results. So over the following pages we’ve taken four of the most popular mid-range models and put them through their paces in our first compact camera group test. We’ve tested Canon’s chunky but powerful PowerShot A620, Fujifilm’s highly sensitive FinePix F11, the tiny Pentax Optio S6 and the futuristic touch-screen action of Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-N1.”

Website: CameraLabs - Compact Camera Roundup

CameraLabs have just published a group test of 4 compact digital cameras. “At Camera Labs we believe a good quality compact could be one of the best investments you’ll ever make. It will end up travelling almost everywhere with you and be responsible for recording some of your most memorable…

Epson Stylus Photo RX520Trusted Reviews have the first online review of the Epson Stylus Photo RX520 all-in-one printer, which includes a transparency unit for film scanning and allows direct photo printing from memory cards.

“When it comes to printing 15 x 10cm photos, though, things are very different. A print from a PC still takes an uncomfortably long 2:24, but prints from memory cards or a PictBridge camera come in at only just over a minute. This is a very competitive time, when compared with Canon or HP devices in the same price bracket. Print quality for photos, as we’ve come to expect from Epson printers, is very good. Our test images were clear and precise with little noticeable colour cast. There was good definition in darker, shadowed areas and gradated areas of colour, such as skies, were smooth. Colours printed from cards and cameras were also natural and images sharp.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Epson Stylus Photo RX520 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

Trusted Reviews have the first online review of the Epson Stylus Photo RX520 all-in-one printer, which includes a transparency unit for film scanning and allows direct photo printing from memory cards. “When it comes to printing 15 x 10cm photos, though, things are very different. A print from a PC…

Kodak Easyshare P850Imaging Resource have reviewed the Kodak Easyshare P850 camera which features a 12x, 36 – 432 mm, image-stabilised, f2.8 – f/3.7, SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON lens.

“The Kodak EasyShare P850 joins a long line of EasyShare digital cameras that are among the easiest and most goof-proof out there, and the Kodak P850 maintains this ease of use, though it does offer an expanded range of options. Featuring a five-megapixel CCD, an impressive 12x optical zoom, and an extensive array of automatic and manual exposure modes, the Kodak P850 is a capable camera with great flexibility. Like the rest of the EasyShare line, the Kodak P850 is compatible with Kodak’s popular Printer Docks, offering one-button printing. The P850 appeals to novices and experienced users alike, and will make a good fit for many consumers.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Kodak Easyshare P850 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

Imaging Resource have reviewed the Kodak Easyshare P850 camera which features a 12x, 36 – 432 mm, image-stabilised, f2.8 – f/3.7, SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON lens. “The Kodak EasyShare P850 joins a long line of EasyShare digital cameras that are among the easiest and most goof-proof out there, and the Kodak P85…

Olympus SP-350DCResource have reviewed the new Olympus SP-350, an 8 megapixel camera that offers a 3x optical zoom lens equivalent to 38-114mm and a 2.5 inch LCD monitor.

“Camera performance is, without a doubt, the SP-350’s biggest weak point. While the camera starts up quickly, it’s all downhill from there. Focus times are just fair, shutter lag was noticeable (which was very surprising), and shot-to-shot times can be lengthy, especially if you’re using RAW mode. The continuous shooting modes were nothing to write home about, either. Playback speeds were slow as well, especially when RAW images are displayed. Low light focusing performance was a little disappointing for a camera with an AF-assist lamp.”

Website: DCResource - Olympus SP-350 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

DCResource have reviewed the new Olympus SP-350, an 8 megapixel camera that offers a 3x optical zoom lens equivalent to 38-114mm and a 2.5 inch LCD monitor. “Camera performance is, without a doubt, the SP-350’s biggest weak point. While the camera starts up quickly, it’s all downhill from there. Focus…