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Thursday, December 16, 2004

FujiFilm FinePix S3 ProFujiFilm have just announced the official UK price of their long-delayed DSLR, the FinePix S3 Pro. Available in January next year, the S3 Pro will have an SRP of £1599.

Check the Latest Prices for the FujiFilm FinePix S3 Pro

FujiFilm have just announced the official UK price of their long-delayed DSLR, the FinePix S3 Pro. Available in January next year, the S3 Pro will have an SRP of £1599. Check the Latest Prices for the FujiFilm FinePix S3 Pro

Olympus C-8080 Wide ZoomPCMagazine have taken a look back over the last year of new products and published their Best of the Year guide. The 8-megapixel Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom (pictured) is their recommended model in the Camera—Enthusiast category.

“Other models have longer zoom lenses and more intuitive menus, but the Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom’s excellent picture quality, deep feature set, and solid construction make it a great choice for enthusiasts. It boots up and recycles very quickly. In testing, flash shots showed well-saturated colors and strong, balanced illumination. Exposure and colors were good in our simulated daylight shots.”

Other photography-related winners include the Leica Digilux 2, Nikon D70, Canon EOS 20D, Canon i9900 Photo Printer and Epson PictureMate.

Website: PCMagazine - Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom Review

Website: Read my review of the Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom

PCMagazine have taken a look back over the last year of new products and published their Best of the Year guide. The 8-megapixel Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom (pictured) is their recommended model in the Camera—Enthusiast category. “Other models have longer zoom lenses and more intuitive menus, but the Olympus C-808…

Nikon Coolpix 8800DCResource have just posted their full review of the new 8 megapixel Nikon Coolpix 8800.

“The Nikon Coolpix 8800 is a high resolution ultra zoom camera that I can recommend to everyone except action shooters. That’s because I found the 8800’s performance to be, shall we say, a little lacking. This is especially noticeable in terms of focus speed (average at best), shot-to-shot delays, and image playback speed. Continuing shooting was frustrating due to LCD blackouts between shots. If these things aren’t critical, then the 8800 is a heck of a camera.”

Website: DCResource - Nikon Coolpix 8800 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Nikon Coolpix 8800

DCResource have just posted their full review of the new 8 megapixel Nikon Coolpix 8800. “The Nikon Coolpix 8800 is a high resolution ultra zoom camera that I can recommend to everyone except action shooters. That’s because I found the 8800’s performance to be, shall we say, a little lacking…

Olympus E-300The German website Digitalkamera.de have published their review of the new Olympus E-300/Evolt DSLR.

Website: Digitalkamera.de - Olympus E-300/Evolt Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Olympus E-300 / Evolt

Write a Review of the Olympus E-300 / Evolt

The German website Digitalkamera.de have published their review of the new Olympus E-300/Evolt DSLR. Website: Digitalkamera.de - Olympus E-300/Evolt Review Check the Latest Prices for the Olympus E-300 / Evolt Write a Review of the Olympus E-300 / Evolt

Konica Minolta DiMAGE E40I say quietly, because there has been no press release or the usual fanfare for this new addition to the Konica Minolta range of digital cameras, the entry-level DiMAGE E40. Costing around £150 in the UK and actually in the shops right now, the E40, as DigiCamReview.co.uk point out, bears an uncanny resemblance to a couple of other budget models in terms of its looks and specification.

Website: DigiCamReview.co.uk - New Konica Minolta Dimage E40

I say quietly, because there has been no press release or the usual fanfare for this new addition to the Konica Minolta range of digital cameras, the entry-level DiMAGE E40. Costing around £150 in the UK and actually in the shops right now, the E40, as DigiCamReview.co.uk point out, bears…

LowePro Off Trail 2 BagBob Atkins has reviewed the LowePro Off Trail 2, which fits into the waistpack category of camera bags.

“I’ve found the Off Trail 2 to be very useful. It’s not expensive (around $65) and it’s very versatile. It may not be the perfect bag - since there is no perfect bag - but it’s the best all-round general-purpose bag that I own. I also have a LowePro Trekker backpack which is great for hiking through the woods with a 500/4.5L in it, but when I leave the big lens behind, I often take the Off Trail 2.”

Website: Bob Atkins - LowePro Off Trail 2 Bag Review

Bob Atkins has reviewed the LowePro Off Trail 2, which fits into the waistpack category of camera bags. “I’ve found the Off Trail 2 to be very useful. It’s not expensive (around $65) and it’s very versatile. It may not be the perfect bag - since there is no perfect…

Canon EOS 20DSportsShooter.com, which is orientated towards professional sports photography, have today published their review of the 8 megapixel Canon EOS 20D DSLR.

“Is this a camera body I would buy INSTEAD of a pro - level model? If I were making my living in sports and news photography, probably not. If my livelihood depended on my equipment, I think I would tend to learn toward something that would withstand the use (or is it abuse?) that Sports Shooters and PJ’s subject their gear to.

However this is a great camera, make no mistake about that, one that would work well as a primary body for many photographers working out there. Even for PJ’s, its size and weight make it appealing for many situations and uses. For the money, there is not a better deal out there for Canon shooters.”

Website: Sports Shooter - Canon EOS 20D Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Canon EOS 20D

SportsShooter.com, which is orientated towards professional sports photography, have today published their review of the 8 megapixel Canon EOS 20D DSLR. “Is this a camera body I would buy INSTEAD of a pro - level model? If I were making my living in sports and news photography, probably not. If…

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Epson Stylus Photo R800 PrinterBBC News are running an interesting article that claims home printing can be cheaper than high street developers. PC Pro Magazine tested 100 (!) printers, including the Epson Stylus Photo R800 (pictured), to try and find out if they produced cheaper prints than your local photo lab.

“Some High Street photo shops can be the cheapest when it came to developing prints that were 6x4in, said Mr Ross, but the test revealed that images 7x5in and 8x10in in size were cheaper to produce at home.

According to PC Pro, producing a print 8x10in on an Epson R800 printer using top quality paper costs £1.87. At Jessops the same image would cost £2.50 and at Snappy Snaps £9.99. A 10x7in snap at Boots would cost £4.99.”

Website: BBC News

Website: Read my review of the Epson Stylus Photo R800

Check the Latest Prices for the Epson Stylus Photo R800

BBC News are running an interesting article that claims home printing can be cheaper than high street developers. PC Pro Magazine tested 100 (!) printers, including the Epson Stylus Photo R800 (pictured), to try and find out if they produced cheaper prints than your local photo lab. “Some High Street…

HP Photosmart R707HP Press Release

HP Grabs Top Awards Across Its Consumer Electronics Portfolio; Nine Innovation Awards from Consumer Electronics Association among 21 Garnered in Last Three Months

PALO ALTO, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Dec. 15, 2004—HP (NYSE:HPQ)(Nasdaq:HPQ)today announced that it has won 21 industry awards over the last three months, including prestigious innovation and design awards from the Consumer Electronics Association and iF International Forum Design.

Demonstrating the company’s broad leadership in the digital entertainment market, every product category in HP’s consumer electronics portfolio—digital cameras, PCs, handhelds, displays, printers and digital entertainment products—received recognition during the period.

Consumer Electronics Show honorees include the HP Photosmart R707 Digital Camera (pictured), HP LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling Technology and the HP z545-b Digital Entertainment Center.

HP Press Release HP Grabs Top Awards Across Its Consumer Electronics Portfolio; Nine Innovation Awards from Consumer Electronics Association among 21 Garnered in Last Three Months PALO ALTO, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Dec. 15, 2004—HP (NYSE:HPQ)(Nasdaq:HPQ)today announced that it has won 21 industry awards over the last three months, including prestigious innovation and…

HP Photosmart 2610Trusted Reviews have just reviewed the HP Photosmart 2610 all-in-one printer.

“This is a well-designed machine which genuinely warrants the term all-in-one. However, unless the colour print samples we saw from our ink-usage tests are not representative, we feel that hp has some problems with ink placement on plain paper, which could drastically affect its running costs. But assuming that the problems we encountered were due to a defective ink cartridge, hp has a great all-in-one product on its hands.”

Website: Trusted Reviews - HP Photosmart 2610 Review

Trusted Reviews have just reviewed the HP Photosmart 2610 all-in-one printer. “This is a well-designed machine which genuinely warrants the term all-in-one. However, unless the colour print samples we saw from our ink-usage tests are not representative, we feel that hp has some problems with ink placement on plain paper…

About.com has published a good guide to filing and finding your digital images.

“Digital files offer some advantages and some disadvantages over film in terms of storage. The important thing is to plan for it, and then make sure you put those plans into practice. The key files to store are the raw files direct from camera - the digital equivalent of your negatives. It may also be convenient to store the processed tiff or jpeg files, but these could always be recreated from the originals.”

Website: About.com - Filing and Finding your Images

About.com has published a good guide to filing and finding your digital images. “Digital files offer some advantages and some disadvantages over film in terms of storage. The important thing is to plan for it, and then make sure you put those plans into practice. The key files to store…

Panasonic DMC-LC80Hungarian website Index Digicam have posted a review of the new 5 megapixel Panasonic DMC-LC80 digital camera.

Website: Index Digicam - Panasonic DMC-LC80 Review

Hungarian website Index Digicam have posted a review of the new 5 megapixel Panasonic DMC-LC80 digital camera. Website: Index Digicam - Panasonic DMC-LC80 Review

Casio EXILIM Card EX-Z50Spanish website Quesabesde have just reviewed the new slimline 5 megapixel Casio EXILIM Card EX-Z50 digital camera.

Website: Quesabesde - Casio EXILIM Card EX-Z50 Review

Spanish website Quesabesde have just reviewed the new slimline 5 megapixel Casio EXILIM Card EX-Z50 digital camera. Website: Quesabesde - Casio EXILIM Card EX-Z50 Review

Reuters Press Release

London – Reuters.co.uk has launched a brand new photo section featuring the award winning work of Reuters international team of photographers. The service, www.reuters.co.uk/picturestories, includes many exclusive and up to the minute pictures from the world’s largest multi-media news agency.

Visitors to the site can choose from of a range of galleries offering the latest pictures of world news stories, major sporting events and images from the world of entertainment taken by Reuters global network of 600 photographers.

The site offers users a visual way to catch up on key news events with a series of pictures on each of the day’s main stories. An “Editor’s Choice” section also offers the very best of Reuters pictures from the last 24 hours, specially selected by Reuters editors from the 1,000 pictures taken by Reuters every day around the world.

Reuters Press Release London – Reuters.co.uk has launched a brand new photo section featuring the award winning work of Reuters international team of photographers. The service, www.reuters.co.uk/picturestories, includes many exclusive and up to the minute pictures from the world’s largest multi-media news agency. Visitors to the site can choose from…

Sony and Samsung have teamed up by agreeing to share the majority of the 24,000 patents that they jointly hold. It remains to be seen how this will affect each manufacturer’s digital cameras and accessories - will we see Sony’s unique Night Hologram mode appearing on Samsung cameras, for example?

“Sony and Samsung started negotiations on the cross-licensing deal in December 2003. The agreement is broad, covering 94 percent of Sony’s 13,000 U.S. registered patents, and a similar percentage of Samsung’s 11,000 U.S. registered patents.

The remainder are viewed as “differentiation technology patents” and will remain the sole property of each company. They include patents on the PlayStation’s architecture and Samsung’s home networking technology.”

Website: CIOL

Sony and Samsung have teamed up by agreeing to share the majority of the 24,000 patents that they jointly hold. It remains to be seen how this will affect each manufacturer’s digital cameras and accessories - will we see Sony’s unique Night Hologram mode appearing on Samsung cameras, for example…

Digital Outback Photo have a new contributor, Brad Hinkel, and a new article, Digital Printer Test Strips, to offer you today. Reminds me of my old darkroom days…

“I strongly recommend that you learn to properly profile your monitor and to use profiles for your printer and papers. Profiles will make the process much easier to get good prints; the monitor can be a very good representation of your printer output if you learn to use color management well. But the monitor is not a perfect proofing tool for your final print; it provides the first step for creating a good print, but once you have decent prints, how can you create the final exceptional print. I use test strips to allow me to easily evaluate the effect of minor adjustments to my prints; these allow me to quickly fine tune my prints to that one exceptional print.”

Website: Digital Outback Photo - Digital Printer Test Strips

Digital Outback Photo have a new contributor, Brad Hinkel, and a new article, Digital Printer Test Strips, to offer you today. Reminds me of my old darkroom days… “I strongly recommend that you learn to properly profile your monitor and to use profiles for your printer and papers. Profiles will…

Canon PowerShot G6PC Magazine have published a round-up of 7 megapixel cameras, including the Canon PowerShot G6 (pictured).

“If you wanted an enthusiast or compact camera with a bit higher resolution than 6 megapixels but didn’t want to spend around $1,000 for an 8MP camera, you were out of luck—until the recent release of a slew of 7MP cameras. For just $500 to $700, there is now a wide range of cameras that can produce images of up to 3,072-by-2,304 pixels, suitable for making razor-sharp 11-by-17 prints—even after some cropping. In this batch we also include the Fujifilm Coolpix E550, which uses Fujifilm’s own SuperCCD HR sensor, which is rated at 6MP and has a 12MP hardware interpolation mode that brings its images in line with those of the 7MP cameras.”

Website: PC Magazine - Lucky Sevens: 7-Megapixel Cameras

Check the Latest Prices for the Canon PowerShot G6

PC Magazine have published a round-up of 7 megapixel cameras, including the Canon PowerShot G6 (pictured). “If you wanted an enthusiast or compact camera with a bit higher resolution than 6 megapixels but didn’t want to spend around $1,000 for an 8MP camera, you were out of luck—until the recent…

I3AA press release today from I3A, Sandisk and the US TSA indicates that it is safe to carry digital media and camera-phones through X-ray scanners and with walk-through metal detectors or hand-held metal detector wands, at least in American airports anyway. Film users aren’t so lucky, as the scanners can cause fogging. Complete details of the tests annd how they were performed can be downloaded from http://www.i3a.org/itip.html.

International Imaging Industry Association Press Release

Digital Camera Media Safe In Both Carry-On And Checked Baggage, According To Tests By Imaging Industry And Transportation Security Administration

Travelers Still Strongly Advised to Request Hand Inspection of High-Speed Film

White Plains, N.Y Dec. 15, 2004 — Recent tests found no evidence of X-ray scanner damage to digital camera media cards or to the images they hold. The tests of scanner models currently in use in the U.S. transportation industry were jointly conducted by the International Imaging Industry Association (I3A), the leading global association for the imaging industry; SanDisk Corporation, a manufacturer of digital media cards; and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

A press release today from I3A, Sandisk and the US TSA indicates that it is safe to carry digital media and camera-phones through X-ray scanners and with walk-through metal detectors or hand-held metal detector wands, at least in American airports anyway. Film users aren’t so lucky, as the scanners can…

Microsoft Press Release

Microsoft Announces Enhanced Windows XP Online Print Wizard To Enable Quick and Easy Pickup of Digital Prints at Popular Local Retailers

Service Offers Consumers Greater Selection and Flexibility When Ordering Prints of Digital Photos From Windows XP

REDMOND, Wash.—Dec. 14, 2004—To offer even greater choice and convenience for digital photography customers, Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of an updated version of its Online Print Wizard, a feature that allows quick and easy ordering of prints from digital photos via Windows® XP. In addition to the mail-order service, consumers can now pick up their photo prints directly from their nearest photofinisher in as little as one hour (pickup times may vary by retailer and location).

Microsoft Press Release Microsoft Announces Enhanced Windows XP Online Print Wizard To Enable Quick and Easy Pickup of Digital Prints at Popular Local Retailers Service Offers Consumers Greater Selection and Flexibility When Ordering Prints of Digital Photos From Windows XP REDMOND, Wash.—Dec. 14, 2004—To offer even greater choice and convenience…

Toshiba 80Gb 1.8-inch Hard DriveToshiba Press Release 14/12/04

Toshiba Leads Industry in Bringing Perpendicular Data Recording to HDD—Sets New Record for Storage Capacity With Two New HDDs

Perpendicular Recording Technology Achieves 1.8-inch Drive That Holds the Industry Largest 80-gigabytes Of Information

TOKYO—Toshiba Corporation today announced the world’s first*1 hard disk drives (HDD) based on perpendicular recording, a breakthrough technology that sets new benchmarks for data density, boosting the capacity of a single 1.8-inch hard-disk platter to 40 gigabytes. Toshiba has brought the new technology to two high capacity drives: the MK4007GAL HDD packs 40GB into a drive only five millimeters thick, while the MK8007GAH achieves a capacity of 80GB—the largest capacity*1 yet achieved in the 1.8-inch form factor. Toshiba plans to start mass production of the 40GB and 80GB*2 drives in the first and second quarters, respectively, of the fiscal year starting April 1, 2005.

Toshiba Press Release 14/12/04 Toshiba Leads Industry in Bringing Perpendicular Data Recording to HDD—Sets New Record for Storage Capacity With Two New HDDs Perpendicular Recording Technology Achieves 1.8-inch Drive That Holds the Industry Largest 80-gigabytes Of Information TOKYO—Toshiba Corporation today announced the world’s first*1 hard disk drives (HDD) based on…