Fujifilm UK Press Release

Read it and weep!  New memory card readers from Fujifilm give their rivals the blues

New media card readers feature multiple format support, USB 2.0 connection for fast data transfer, and cool translucent design - with blue LEDs!

Fujifilm, the market leader in memory cards for digital devices, today announces four new media card readers, all characterised by their high performance, stylish design and ease-of-use.  The readers are named as follows:

* DCR2-161: multi-format USB 2.0 card reader (16 types) and 3 port USB 2.0 hub - £34.99 inc VAT
* DCR2-XD: USB 2.0 reader for xD-Picture Cards(tm)  - £12.99 inc VAT
* DCR2-71: multi-format USB 2.0 memory card reader (7 types: Secure Digital(tm), MiniSD(tm), MultiMedia(tm), RS-MMC(tm), MMCmobile(tm), MMCplus(tm), TransFlash(tm)) - £12.99 inc VAT
* DCR2-MS: multi-format USB 2.0 memory card reader (4 types: Memory Stick(tm), Memory Stick PRO(tm), Memory Stick Duo(tm), Memory Stick PRO Duo(tm)) - £12.99 inc VAT

The Plugin Site Press Release

November 8, 2005 - The Plugin Site (www.thepluginsite.com) just released Version 1.01 of LightMachine, a Photoshop-compatible plugin for performing all kinds of light adjustments in photos. It combines shadow/highlight, virtual lighting and color-based correction tools for performing sophisticated corrections without the need for time-consuming selections and layer stacks.

LightMachine lets you selectively correct photos taken under bad light conditions or with inadequate camera settings and achieve results that rival photos taken under the best circumstances. Additionally it can achieve special effects like glows, sunsets, high key and selective b/w effects, replace one color with another and simulate polarizing filters. LightMachine works in dozens of graphics applications including Photoshop, Photoshop Elements,  Paint Shop Pro, IrfanView, PhotoImpact, Photo-Paint and Fireworks. LightMachine can be applied to 8bit and 16bit RGB images.

Redfield Plugins Press Release

Transform a Digital Photo into a Picture with the Most Realistic Hand-drawn Look - Sketch Master Plug-in 1.19 Has Over 30 Image Editing Controls and Options to Render Results that Cannot Be Achieved by Any Known Filter or 3rd Party Plug-in

Redfield Plugins announces today the release of Sketch Master Plug-in 1.19.

Compatible with all currently popular image editors, this plug-in enables rapid transformation of a photo into an image that looks as if it had been drawn with traditional art tools such as lead pencil, ink-pencil, crayon, charcoal, to name a few. The final output image is a blend of three layers - strokes, lines, and background, each of which is created based on specified settings. Unique to this plugin is the ability to alter stroke direction on different planes, having control over outline characteristics and the flexibility of adding your own stroke and background textures.

Agilent Technologies Press Release

Agilent Technologies Introduces Industry’s Brightest and Smallest Auto-Focus Auxiliary LED Flash for Digital Still Cameras - Lamp Enables Auto-Focusing in Low-Light Conditions at Distances up to 3 Meters

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 8, 2005 - Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today introduced a high-brightness LED (light-emitting diode) specifically designed to provide the illumination required to operate the automatic focus function of a digital still camera under low-light conditions, and at a range up to 3 meters. With a typical light output of 18 candela (at 20 mA) the Agilent ASMT-FJ10 is the brightest auto-focus LED on the market. With dimensions of 4.80 mm length x 4.80 mm width, it also features the industry’s smallest package footprint.

In the past, cameras used infrared-emitting LEDs as the light source for auto-focusing under low-light conditions because only IR LEDs provided sufficient light output for the application. The use of visible light means that the same auto-focusing sensor is used under both low-light and ordinary conditions, whereas IR requires a separate sensor. Since the orange 612nm LED provides visible illumination, the same device can also be used as a red-eye reduction lamp and serve as an indicator that the camera’s self-timer is operating.

DIWA member and Czech website FotoAparat have published their review of the Konica Minolta Z6, which updates the popular Z5 and features a 6 megapixel sensor, 12x zoom lens and 2 inch LCD screen.

Website: FotoAparat - Konica Minolta Z6 Review

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DPReview have reviewed the Canon PowerShot S80, an 8 megapixel update of the S70 which offers a 28-100mm f/2.8-5.3 lens, 2.5 inch LCD screen and Canon’s advanced image processor, DIGIC II.

“Like the S70 before it, the S80’s key selling points are the 28-100mm lens range (which is much wider than most zoom compacts), full photographic control and a build quality and design that oozes quality. The addition of dedicated ISO and AE-compensation buttons on the body make the photographic process a lot more fluid, and the results are superb. Most of the serious issues we had with the S70 - including purple fringing and focus problems - have been eliminated, and the result is a camera that seems perfect for the serious photographer itching for SLR - style control in a compact body.”

Website: DPReview - Canon PowerShot S80 Review

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DIWA member and Norwegian website Digit.no have published their review of the 12.8 megapixel Canon EOS 5D digital SLR.

Website: Digit.no - Canon EOS 5D Review

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DCResource have reviewed the Olympus E-500, an 8 megapixel DSLR with a 2.5 inch LCD screen in a body with a classic penta-prism design.

“Camera performance was excellent in nearly all areas. The camera focuses quickly, there’s minimal shutter lag, and shot-to-shot and playback delays are minimal. In low light situations you’ll want to pop up the flash, as it greatly aids in focusing. The only areas in which the E-500 falls short are startup time and continuous shooting. As I mentioned, the slightly long startup time is the trade-off for having a dust-free CCD—which I think most people won’t have a problem with. The continuous shooting mode limits you to four or five shots in row before the buffer is full—the Canon Rebel XT and Nikon D50 both perform better in this area.”

Website: DCResource - Olympus E-500 Review

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CNET have reviewed the new Kodak EasyShare One Wi-Fi digital camera.

“Although it took nine months from announcement to shipment, the Kodak EasyShare One arrived with its promised three-inch touch-screen LCD and Wi-Fi transfer capabilities. With them, the camera opens up genuinely original possibilities for travelers, business people, and government agencies that need instant photo sharing. But all is not perfect in Kodak’s wireless utopia. While the EasyShare One is great for sharing photos, it’s not so great at shooting them. The user interface, optimized for maximum simplicity, can be slow and annoying for anyone unwilling to settle for complete automation. The poor image quality further compounds our disappointment.”

Website: CNET - Kodak EasyShare One Review

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Nikon Europe Customer Care Notice

Safety Warning Recall of Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3 for Nikon D-SLR Cameras

Through strict quality control procedures Nikon has detected that on rare occasions some rechargeable Li-ion batteries of the type EN-EL3 for Nikon Digital SLR cameras may become defective, resulting in overheating during recharging. Investigations have clarified that the cause of the defect is not a design fault, but has resulted from a problem in a manufacturing process that occurred during the production of this battery type between May and September 2004. In the interests of its customers and as a reflection of Nikon’s commitment to safety and product quality, the company has initiated a voluntary recall and replacement program of all EN-EL3 batteries manufactured during this period. The EN-EL3 is provided as a supplied accessory with the D100, D70 and D50 Digital SLR cameras. It is also sold as a separate accessory for these camera models, and can be used in the Nikon D70s.

Nikon have released a new firmware version for their 12 megapixel Nikon D2X digital SLR.

Issues addressed with D2X Firmware Ver. 1.01

  * Autofocus performance has been increased.
  * An issue that prevented the AF-assist illuminator from firing when the Speedlights listed below were used has been corrected.
    SB-29S, SB-29, SB-23, SB-22S, SB-22, SB-20.
  * In images captured at a shutter speed of 1/250 s with a Speedlight SB-800, set to Distance-priority manual flash (GN), or Manual flash (M) with flash output set to full (M1/1) mounted on the camera, the top portion was often dark. This issue has been addressed. However, under the circumstances described above only, the guide number is reduced from that of full flash output level by approximately 0.6 EV.
  * Images captured at white-balance settings of Incandescent, Direct sunlight, Cloudy, Shade, and Choose color temp. tended to have a reddish tint. This issue has been addressed.
  * Errors in Dutch menus have been corrected.

Website: Nikon D2X Firmware

Nikon have released a new firmware update for their Nikon D2Hs digital SLR camera.

Issues addressed with D2Hs firmware version 1.01

  * Autofocus performance has been increased.
  * An issue that prevented the AF-assist illuminator from firing when the Speedlights listed below were used has been corrected.
    SB-29S, SB-29, SB-23, SB-22S, SB-22, SB-20.
  * · In images captured at a shutter speed of 1/250 s with a Speedlight SB-800, set to Distance-priority manual flash (GN), or Manual flash (M) with flash output set to full (M1/1) mounted on the camera, the top portion was often dark. This issue has been addressed. However, under the circumstances described above only, the guide number is reduced from that of full flash output level by approximately 0.6 EV.
  * Errors in Dutch menus have been corrected.

Website: Nikon D2Hs Firmware

Pocket-Lint have reviewed the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T5, an ultra-slim 5.1 megapixel digital camera with 3x optical zoom lens and a 2.5 inch LCD screen.

”
Focusing and metering work a treat, the former using a wide area AF set-up with very clear markings and the latter which seems to get the balance about right, even in quite contrasty scenes. Noise suppression is well handled in brighter conditions but in low light, there’s marked shadow noise – even at ISO 100 – which gets worse as the ISO goes up. The sensitivity ranges from ISO 64 to a modest ISO 400 but to be fair to the little T5, the noise is no different to many such models it competes with on the market.”

Website: Pocket-Lint - Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T5 Review

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TrustedReviews have reviewed the Epson RD-1 digital rangefinder camera.

“As I said, I really don’t get the point of this camera. The kind of person who loves their Voigtlander Bessa is unlikely to ever commit the blasphemy of going digital, and anyone used to a modern digital camera will find it awkward, clumsy and unpleasant to use. Both will be massively disappointed by the poor image quality. My apologies to Epson, but the R-D1 is an expensive, badly conceived white elephant that should never have made it off the drawing board in its present form.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Epson R-D1 Review

The Spanish website Quesabesde have reviewed the Panasonic DMC-LX1, an 8.4 megapixel digital camera with a 4x Leica optical zoom lens equivalent to 28-112mm, optical image stabilizer and a 2.5 inch LCD screen.

Website: Quesabesde - Panasonic DMC-LX1 Review

Website: Read my Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1 Review

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Photoxels have published the first online 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. The Fujifilm S5600 has an ISO range of 64 to 1600 and boasts a 10x optical zoom lens.

“The Fujifilm FinePix S5200 is easily one of the best looking long zoom digital cameras around. Pick it up and your fingers wrap comfortably around the adequately large handgrip, with your index finger naturally poised over the shutter release button, and the thumb over the zoom lever. It comes in a mostly black (with silver accents) solidly built plastic composite body. Startup time is fast at around 1 sec. and there is no practical shutter lag. Autofocus is fast and precise.”

Website: Photoxels - Fujifilm FinePix S5600 Zoom Review

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HardwareZone have just reviewed the Panasonic DMC-FZ30. This is an 8 megapixel compact digital camera with a 12x Leica optical zoom lens equivalent to 35-420mm, optical image stabilizer, addition of a manual zoom ring and rotating LCD screen with 235,000 pixels.

“While there are many improvements over its predecessors, unfortunately it also has a couple of disappointments. Maintaining the 12x optical zoom, the FZ30 took a ‘downgrade’ path and comes with an aperture of F2.8 - F3.7, while the FZ20 has an aperture of F2.8 throughout its focal range. This means that images taken at maximum zoom will be darker compared to the FZ20 for the same shutter speed and maximum aperture size. The second disappointment would be the high noise level. Images taken above ISO100 aren’t suitable for large printing and if it must be done, it is recommended to perform some post-processing to minimize the noise.”

Website: HardwareZone - Panasonic DMC-FZ30 Review

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DigitalCameraReview have reviewed the new Kodak EasyShare One Wi-Fi digital camera.

“Now, the big question—is it worth $600? It’s a tough call. For people who can spend the money, want the conversation piece, and only need a camera for snapshots, this is a good choice. For someone looking for a camera that will grow with them as they learn digital photography, it’s not such a good choice since the camera lacks many manual controls. Another great application for this camera would be in some sort of business application. For example, a car dealer with a wireless network could email a picture of a specific car on their lot to an interested party.”

Website: DigitalCameraReview - Kodak EasyShare One Review

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Hungarian website Index Digicam have published their review of the Samsung Digimax L50, a 5 megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom lens and 2.5 inch LCD screen with 230,000 pixels.

Website: Index Digicam - Samsung Digimax L50 Review

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Konica Minolta has announced plans to sack over 10% of it worldwide work-force, which currently numbers 33,000. Responding to a net loss of 10.8 billion yen in the three months ended September 30th, restructuring is apparently the only way out of the financial hole cuased by struggling digital camera and laser printer sales.

Website: Bloomberg - Konica Minolta Expects Annual Loss, Will Cut 10% of Workforce

Website: Japan Today - Konica Minolta to drastically cut digital camera business