DIWA member LetsGoDigital have reviewed the Canon Digital IXUS 50, a 5 megapixel digital camera with stainless steel finish that is Canon’s smallest ever 5.0 Megapixel optical zoom camera. The Canon IXUS 50 features a 3.0x zoom, a large 2.0” LCD screen and high quality VGA video clips at 30fps.

“The user friendliness stands out, the camera looks beautiful, a great design and a superb finishing touch. The concept of the IXUS series of digital cameras seems to have passed with flying colours. The image quality is excellent and the good thing about it is that it happens automatically. Although the exposure is automatic it is still possible to adjust ISO sensitivity and white balance to your own desires. Besides that, the Canon Digital IXUS 50 lets you set the shutter speed manually. These settings offer the beginning as well as the more creative user more freedom to experiment or to get acquainted with the basic elements of (digital) photography.”

Website: LetsGoDigital - Canon Digital IXUS 50 Review

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Ordering prints of your photos via an online photo processing service is big business. With the recent boom in digital camera sales, demand for easy and affordable printing has never been higher, and using an internet based photo service is one of the ways to satisfy that demand. To find out what actually happens to your images after you click the Upload button, I was recently invited to take an exclusive behind the scenes look at myPIXmania, one of Europe’s biggest online photo finishers.

Website: Behind the Scenes at myPIXmania

The Olympus C-500 Zoom (called the Olympus D-595 Zoom in the USA) is a 5 megapixel compact digital camera that was first announced at the PMA show back in February 2005. Aimed firmly at the beginner market, the Olympus C-500 Zoom has a 3x optical zoom lens equivalent to 38-114mm on a 35mm camera, a 1.8 inch LCD screen and 19 different shooting modes, including a manual mode that gives you control of shutter speeds and apertures. The Olympus C-500 also has a built-in help system, something that has been introduced on quite a few recent entry-level cameras, and a Super Macro mode that allows you to focus as close as 2cms from your subject. Does the Olympus C-500 Zoom have enough features and useability to make it stand out from the dozens of other sub-£200/$300 digicams that line the shelves? Find out in my latest review.

Website: Olympus C-500 Zoom Review

Adobe has released new versions of Adobe Camera RAW and Adobe DNG Convertor.

Camera Raw 3.1 update
Support for the following cameras has been added.

  * Canon EOS Rebel XT (EOS 350D/EOS Kiss Digital N)
  * Nikon D2X
  * Olympus EVOLT E-300
  * Olympus C-7070 Wide Zoom

Adobe DNG Convertor is a free utility that converts files from more than 75 cameras to the Digital Negative (DNG) format. Version 3.1 adds support for the cameras listed above.

Website: Adobe Downloads

PCMagazine have published their review of the 5 megapixel, 10x zoom Kodak EasyShare Z740 digital camera.

“In an effort to decrease the presence of the PC in consumer-level digital imaging, Kodak has been concentrating on developing digital cameras that specialize in ease of use, direct connection to printers, and photo sharing. The company’s latest superzoom, the 5-megapixel Kodak EasyShare Z740, has plenty of consumer-oriented features and controls, but Kodak seems to have skimped a bit on the most important aspect of a camera: image quality.”

Website: PCMagazine - Kodak EasyShare Z740 Review

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DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the HP Photosmart R717, a 6.2 megapixel digicam with a 1.8 inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom lens in a stylish stainless steel body.

“I was pleased with the overall image quality when using 6MP *** mode. Its 3x optical zoom lens produces tack sharp results through out its range. The majority of our outdoor test shots were well exposed, and colors were nicely saturated. I did noticed an average amount of noise in High/Low contrast areas, but there was an improvement over the R707. The Adaptive Lighting feature was useful when shooting either indoors or outdoors; when using it, the camera increases the gamma of the image to better enhance the detail of objects in low contrast (shadow) areas, but the image quality does suffer a little, if you’re not going to print anything larger than an 8x10” you should be fine.”

Website: Steves Digicams - HP Photosmart R717 Review

Website: Read my HP Photosmart R717 Review

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DigitalCameraInfo have published their review of the Sony DSC-W7, a 7 megapixel digital camera with a 2.5 inch LCD screen, battery life of 380 shots between power charges and 32 megabytes of internal memory.

“Overall, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W7 pulls in a lot of desirable features for its retail price of $449.95. This isn’t exactly a stellar deal unless you will really use all of the functions and features. It’s like a pricey pair of shoes; if you’re going to wear them a lot, get them - no matter the price and you’ll probably get your moneys worth. The W7 upgrades from the W1 with 7.2 effective megapixels, but keeps the same 2.5-inch LCD screen that the W series is now known for with a slight decrease in screen resolution.”

Website: DigitalCameraInfo - Sony DSC-W7 Review

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The-Digital-Picture.com have reviewed the new Canon EF 400mm f/4.0 DO IS USM lens.

“Contrast is the Canon EF 400mm f/4.0 DO IS USM Lens’ optical shortcoming. I found that most of my shots needed some healthy contrast boost in post-processing (or a positive in-camera contrast setting). I could easily tell which image was taken with the Canon EF 400mm f/4.0 DO IS USM Lens when looking at comparative shots on a monitor. The 300 f/2.8 IS has much better contrast than the Canon EF 400mm f/4.0 DO IS USM Lens (it is still better with the Canon 1.4x Extender installed). The Canon 100-400mm L has somewhat better contrast when the vignetting does not get in the way. Low contrast is by far my biggest dissapointment with the 400 DO.”

Website: The-Digital-Picture.com - Canon EF 400mm f/4.0 DO IS USM Lens Review

DIWA Press Release

Canon’s latest digital SLR camera, the budget friendly EOS 350D, has passed numerous DIWA tests with remarkable scoring results. Its low price, combined with outstanding image quality, high speed processing and fast response, qualified for a Gold Award from DIWA’s comprehensive and mercyless testing procedure.

Amsterdam, 6. May, 2005 - DIWA (Digital Imaging Websites Association), a world-wide organisation of collaborating websites, today has the pleasure of announcing a DIWA Gold Award to the Canon EOS 350D digital SLR.

EOS 350D is an entry-level D-SLR camera, but performs in many ways better than many of its more expensive rivals. The specifications are outstanding for its class, piloted by its 8.2 Megapixel low-noise CMOS image sensor and the super-powerful on-board DIGIC II image processor. This enables instant startup and super-fast response, as well as high speed continuous shooting, image processing and storing. Even at highest resolution, the EOS 350D can shoot a minimum of 14 frames bursts at 3 frames per second.

DIWA member and German website digitalkamera.de have reviewed the 5 megapixel Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LZ2, which features a 6x optical zoom lens and an Optical Image Stabilizer to combat camera shake.

Website: digitalkamera.de - Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LZ2 Review

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DCResource have published a review of the Sony DSC-W7, a 7 megapixel digital camera with a 2.5 inch LCD screen, battery life of 380 shots between power charges and 32 megabytes of internal memory.

“The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W7 is a very capable 7.2 Megapixel camera. It offers very good image quality, robust performance, limited manual controls, support for conversion lenses, excellent battery life, and a nice movie mode. The DSC-W7 is a fairly compact camera that probably won’t fit in your back pocket, but it’s still small enough to take just about anywhere. The body is made almost entirely of metal, and it feels very solid. The controls are well-placed and it’s easy to operate. The W7 has a redesigned 2.5” LCD display that’s both easy to see in bright outdoor light as well as dimly lit rooms.”

Website: DCResource - Sony DSC-W7 Review

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CNET have published their review of the 5 megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-M1 digital camera.

“At the unveiling of the eye-catching Sony Cyber Shot DSC-M1 in the fall of 2004, it promised hybrid still and video performance to accompany its futuristic, quirky design. We found that the M1 delivers on most counts, delivering decent 5-megapixel images, a solid snapshot feature set with some novel additions, and a video mode that’s impressive as long as you can afford the high-capacity Memory Stick Duo Pro media. Indeed, the Sony M1 has two major pluses that separate it from the hybrid pack: superior performance for a point-and-shoot camera and MPEG-4 movie quality that tops any we’ve seen from a competitor. On the minus side, Sony burdens the device with subpar software.”

Website: CNET - Sony Cyber-shot DSC-M1 Review

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Gateway Press Release

Mini MP3 Player Sports a Stylish New Look, Color Scheme

IRVINE, Calif., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/—The Gateway(TM) MP3 Photo Jukebox, which combines digital music playback, convenient photo storage and a color display in one 3.4 ounce device, will now be offered with 50 percent more storage capacity, longer battery life and a striking new color scheme. It will be available directly from Gateway and at leading electronics retailers for just $249.99.

“Gateway’s digital music player was already a standout for its versatility,” said Dan Stevenson, vice president, product marketing.  “The new version of the Gateway MP3 Photo Jukebox provides even more storage and enhanced features in the same light design.  Our new player combines one of the most straightforward user interfaces with seamless PC music synchronization and compatibility with a broad range of music services.  It is simply the perfect traveling companion for music lovers.”

The newest model, the GCM-6, provides 6GB(1) of storage for housing up to 1,500 MP3 songs(2), putting a vast library of music favorites always within reach.  Sleek enough to fit within a pocket or purse, the Gateway MP3 Photo Jukebox is about the size of a deck of cards and weighs just 3.4 ounces.  Its stylish new look includes an attractive two-tone silver and black design.

SendPhotos Press Release

New Version 4.0 Delivers New Ways to Easily Share Digital Photos

BOULDER, Colo., May 3 /PRNewswire/—SendPhotos, Inc., formerly Novatix Corporation, today announced the release of a new version of its award-winning photo utility, SendPhotos(TM) Gold.  The new version 4.0 now delivers a comprehensive solution for sharing digital photos, allowing consumers to create exciting photo emails, publish personalized professional-looking online photo albums, order prints of their photos or easily print at home.

SendPhotos Gold is currently recognized for its inventive approach to emailing photos.  It automatically inserts pictures into the body of custom-designed emails and thus eliminates the need for large attachments, and makes delivery up to 25 times faster.  The newest version builds upon this innovative email functionality and recognizes the many other ways that consumers enjoy sharing photos.

PhotoBox Limited Press Release

PhotoBox Limited, today announced it has signed a deal with Littlewoods brand, LX Direct, that will offer new services to users of the Littlewoods site www.lxdirect.com.

With the PhotoBox digital photography service integrated into www.lxdirect.com, Littlewoods is building the services available to their community online and encouraging loyalty in a highly competitive market. This partnership will provide their customers with the chance to share memories with loved ones instantly. Their favourite photographs can be seen online by family and friends through private photo albums, they can even share them with the rest of the world if they choose to make the album public.

Printing is also easy with the PhotoBox service, customers simply select their favourite photographs online, order them and they’re delivered the next day. LX Direct online customers can choose from a huge variety of shapes and sizes, from traditional 6x4 to 20x8 panoramic posters. For special occasions and celebrations there’s a range of beautiful personalised gifts like mugs, calendars and canvas prints, to name but a few.

Photobird.com have posted their review of the 4 megapixel Canon PowerShot A85.

“The Canon PowerShot A85 takes excellent photos, as you can see in the unretouched photos on the left of the southeastern coast of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Most people should be very pleased with the quality of the photos. The Canon PowerShot A85 will work well for all but the most professional photos needed. This camera will definitely work well for casual photo takers, for vacations, family events, and other situations that don’t require professional results.”

Website: Photobird.com - Canon PowerShot A85 Review

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PENTAX Imaging Company and Six Flags, Inc. Press Release

GOLDEN, Colo., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ PENTAX Imaging Company and Six Flags, Inc. (NYSE: PKS) announced today that the world’s largest regional theme park company has selected one of the world’s most popular photography manufacturers as a national sponsor and “The Official Digital Camera Of Six Flags Theme Parks” for its 28 U.S. parks, beginning with the 2005 theme-park season.

Under the agreement, PENTAX Imaging Company will expand its presence at the parks and have category exclusivity and promotional rights in-park.

“This partnership blends the fun of a classic American theme park with a popular photography brand,” said Ned Bunnell, director of marketing, for PENTAX Imaging Company. “Six Flags is an American institution that offers a perfect background for visitors to capture and share memorable PENTAX digital photography.”

Sony 5GB Micro Vault Pro is announced. The Sony 5GB Micro Vault Pro is a USB storage device witha built-in 1-inch hard drive offering 5Gb of space. Auto Sync file synchronisation software is supplied for easy downloads, and the Micro Vault Pro has a a unique swivel connector. The Sony 5GB Micro Vault Pro has an estimated retail price of €219 incl. VAT.

Sony Europe Press Release

Paris, 4 May 2005 - Sony Europe’s Recording Media & Energy (RME) division has today announced the 5GB MICRO VAULT PRO. As the highest capacity model in the range of personal USB storage devices, the new enhanced product helps protect and store precious data making it portable and easily accessible when travelling.

The new Sony MICRO VAULT PRO has a in-built 1-inch hard disk drive offering a hefty 5GB storage capacity, equivalent to approximately 9000 two mega-pixel photos or more than two hours of DVD quality video1. The ultra-portable MICRO VAULT PRO, the size of a business card, incorporates a unique swivel connector that plugs straight into a computer’s USB port, enabling users to drag and drop files that are to be stored on the device quickly and easily.

KODAK EASYSHARE Z760 is introduced. There’s no official word from Kodak yet, but they seem to have added the Kodak Easyshare Z760 digital camera to their website today. The Kodak Z760 has a 6.1 megapixel sensor and a 3x optical lens that is equvalent to 39-117 mm on a 35mm camera, plus a 4x digital zoom. The Kodak Z760 features the exclusive KODAK Color Science Image Processing Chip. The Z760 offers a range of manual and custom controls and has a 2.2” high-resolution LCD display. Other features on the Kodak Easyshare Z760 include 16 scene and 5 color modes and one-touch sharing with the Z760’s Share button. The Kodak Z760 has a suggested retail price of $329.95 and will be available in May.

Kodak Press Release

KODAK EASYSHARE C360 Zoom Digital Camera and Printer Dock Series 3

The EASYSHARE C360 camera with Printer Dock Series 3 combination (US$379 MSRP) offers a full-featured, affordable digital camera system with a touch of style. The elegant, pocket-sized camera design allows people to take the camera everywhere, then capture, print and share both everyday and once-in-a-lifetime moments. The large, two-inch LCD display enables instant picture review and sharing right on the camera. Convenient, intuitive back-of-camera controls provide access to most functions with just a slight thumb movement.