ACDSee 7 (Build 61) Update Notes

This free update includes various bug fixes and the following new features:

Save and edit slide show and screen saver projects with the Create Slide Show Wizard. 
Automatically rotate JPEG and TIFF images (based on their EXIF data) when displayed in ACDSee.
Map multiple EXIF and database fields with the Copy EXIF Information Wizard.
To use this update, you must have ACDSee 7 (Build 43 or 47) installed on your computer.

To check the ACDSee 7 build number:
In ACDSee, click Help | About ACDSee.

Note:  When updating your software, please make sure you select the correct update. For example, if you purchased ACDSee 7 PowerPack, you must select the update for ACDSee 7 PowerPack.

If you have ACDSee 7 PowerPack installed, and select the update for ACDSee 7, you will receive an error informing you that the software is not installed.

http://www.acdsystems.com/english/Support/Downloads/Updates/ACDSee/70

Alien Skin Software Press Release 07/12/04

Raleigh, NC (December 7, 2004) — Alien Skin Software today announced the release of Eye Candy® 5: Nature (Nature), a set of 10 plug-in filters for Adobe® Photoshop®, Adobe Photoshop Elements®, Jasc® Paint Shop Pro™ and Macromedia® Fireworks®. Nature simulates a variety of phenomena, including fire, smoke, rust, snow, ice and more. The second of a three-part upgrade to Eye Candy 4000, Nature features four all-new filters and six reincarnated Eye Candy classics. Graphic designers, digital photographers and Web or multimedia content creators will appreciate Nature’s versatile and beautifully rendered effects.

Panasonic SC Device Solutions Co., Ltd. Press Release 09/12/04

Industry’s thinnest 8.63 mm module incorporates auto-focus and image-stabilizer

Tokyo, Japan - Panasonic SC Device Solutions Co., Ltd. (PSCDS), a subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., today announced the development of a 3-megapixel camera module designed for mobile phones. With the latest v Maicovicon™ image sensor at the core, the module, GP-KM3500V, incorporates auto-focusing and image-stabilizing capabilities in the industry’s thinnest 8.63mm package. The GP-KM3500V makes camera phones thinner while ensuring superb picture quality.

“Conventional 3-megapixel Charge Coupled Device (CCD) and CMOS image sensors are not small enough to design compact camera modules, resulting in bulky mobile phones. This new camera module successfully combines quality imaging with compact design by taking full advantage of the new 3-megapixel v Maicovicon™ that features the industry’s smallest 2.2-micron pixel size. Advanced mounting and image processing technologies, as well as the ultra-mini focus actuator and thinner lenses, also contributed to reducing the size,” said Mr. Satoru Masuda, Director of Engineering, PSCDS.

“This tiny package includes automatic focus in the range of approximately 8 cm to infinity and an image stabilizer for motion image recording. This makes taking quality picture very easy,” he added.

Sony Press Release 09/12/04

Announcement of New Lithium Ion Batteries,
Realizing Industry’s Highest Level of Energy Density
High-power output cylindrical lithium ion battery fit for high-power supply also announced

Sony Corporation announces the new line-up of lithium ion batteries, with industry’s highest level of energy density, responding to the needs for high capacity and large current in secondary batteries for mobile products. Shipment will start from December 2004 onwards.
Accomplishment of higher capacities in secondary batteries continue to be required from the market, due to higher performance and enhanced features in mobile products such as note PCs, digital video cameras and mobile phones. At Sony, commercialization of the world’s first high power density, small size, light weight and long life lithium ion battery was announced in 1991 and, in 1999, lithium ion polymer battery with flexibility in shape and enhanced safety was announced, further responding to such needs. As a result, the world-wide market size of lithium ion batteries (including lithium ion polymer batteries) has grown to a market of 1.2 Billion units.

Ricoh have released a new firmware version, 1.07, for the Caplio R1 digital camera. There’s no mention of what the new version actually does on Ricoh’s website, so I’ll guess you will just have to trust them…

Website: Ricoh Caplio R1 Firmware

Website: Read my Review of the Ricoh Caplio R1

Hmmmm…I’m not sure that western technology meets remote Pacific tribe is a great idea, more like a vulgar one to me. Still. HP are getting in on the act by provising cameras and printer to self-style adventurer Richard Bangs. In Engadget’s words:

“The Huli Wigmen of Papua New Guinea probably don’t realize it yet, but they’re about to be visited by Richard Bangs, an “adventurer” and travel promoter who was able to get HP to give him some digital cameras and a photo printer in order to prove once and for all that HP’s digital imaging products are so easy to use that even an isolated tribesperson unfamiliar with the ins and outs of modern civilization could use them to take digital photos and start their own photoblog.”

Website: Engadget - HP sending digital cameras to Papua New Guinea to steal souls of isolated tribespeople

Website: The Seattle Times - Digital world set to invade no-tech culture

Landscape photographer Andy Lim has published a short but sweet guide to the basics of photography (digital and film) with lots of sample shots to clearly illustrate the point (found via brownglasses.com

“On consumer digital cameras, the terms optical zoom and digital zoom are common. When shopping for a digital camera, ignore the digital zoom. What you should look for is the optical zoom capability, because what is captured using optical zoom is what the lens actually sees. Digital zoom is basically using in-camera software to enlarge the center pixels in the photo, resulting in loss of detail and sharpness.”

Website: Andy Lim’s Photography Basics

DPReview have published a review of the new 5 megapixel Panasonic DMC-FX7.

“It is a tribute to Panasonic’s designers that they managed to squeeze as much as they did into the FX7’s diminutive body, and there’s no denying it is the kind of camera that simply begs to be taken everywhere you go. The screen is fantastic (though the resolution isn’t high enough to really take advantage of the extra size), it’s fast, fun to use and capable of surprisingly good results. The Leica lens is certainly no slouch in the resolution stakes, exposure is - though by no means perfect - as good as any other camera in this class, and the auto white balance very good indeed.”

Website: DPReview - Panasonic DMC-FX7 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Panasonic DMC-FX7

Photo.net have published a very short review by Josh Root - 120 minutes to be exact - of the Epson RD-1 digital rangefinder camera.

“With the RD-1, you can set the camera to “Raw” quality, and then turn on the “black & white” mode. The photos on the review screen will show up as black and white images, but when you run the files through the raw converter, you have to option of going back to color again. Because, since you are shooting in the Raw mode, no information is actually thrown away. If you decide that you don’t like the way that the RD-1’s B&W conversion turned out, you can start over and just do it as you normally would in Photoshop.”

Website: Photo.net - 120 minutes with the Epson RD-1

Check the Latest Prices for the Epson RD-1

Write a Review of the Epson RD-1

The German website Photoworld.de have reviewed the new 3 megapixel Casio EXILIM Card EX-S100.

Website: Photoworld.de - Casio EXILIM Card EX-S100 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Casio EXILIM Card EX-S100

Photo-i have posted a review of the new Canon PIXMA iP5000 printer, which features the industry’s first 1 picoliter droplets.

“Monochrome printing is well under control but not 100% neutral, there is a slight overall warmth to the image, rather like the Agfa Portraiture photographic paper. I do not find this objectionable, but the purist may prefer to print 100% neutral grey tones. I tried the Greyscale setting from the printer settings and this had little if any effect.”

Website: Photo-i - Canon PIXMA iP5000 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Canon PIXMA iP5000

Luminous Landscape have cast their critical eye over the new Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens, suitable for the Canon EOS 300D and 20D cameras.

“This lens is small. light and solidly built. Sometimes Canon’s non-L series lenses can feel a bit cheap, but not this one. Focus is as fast as ever due to the USM motor, and manually focusing, if you’re so inclined, is similarly smooth. The lens is in the current Canon idiom, and there is little to fault about it with regard to either fit or finish.

The lens features a Super UD glass element as well as three aspherical elements The filter size is 77mm, though care will need to be taken with filters at the widest focal length settings.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Canon EF-S 10-22mm Lens Review

The Hungarian website Index Digicam have reviewed the Pentax Optio SV, a compact digicam with 5 Megapixels and 5x zoom lens.

Website: Index Digicam - Pentax Optio SV Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Pentax Optio SV

The Hungarian website Index Digicam have just reviewed the 6 megapixel Olympus CAMEDIA C-60 ZOOM.

Website: Index Digicam - Olympus CAMEDIA C-60 ZOOM Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Olympus C-60 Zoom

Write a Review of the Olympus C-60 Zoom

DCResource have just reviewed the 3 megapixel Canon PowerShot SD200 Digital ELPH (also known as the IXUS 30).

“Good image quality and user-friendly design has become synonymous with the ELPH name, and is the reason why the line is so popular with a wide range of consumers. Extending the brand name’s excellent reputation in the film world, members of the digital ELPH series have always impressed me with their quality and versatility. The SD200 is the 3-megapixel “little brother” to the 4-megapixel Canon SD300 that we reviewed before it. The slimmer design of these two models relative to that of earlier digital ELPHs is a definite plus, and their range of features gives them an edge over many other subcompact point-and-shoot digicams in the marketplace.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Canon PowerShot SD200 Digital ELPH Review

Pocket-Lint have just posted their review of the new 8 megapixel Nikon Coolpix 8800.

“Overall the 8800 has a lot more plus points than minuses. The huge zoom and additional lenses makes it ideal for the serious photographer who still wants the easy of a more compact frame. The functions are generally easy to use although some diligence and instruction scrutiny will be needed to get all the finer nuisances down on pat. The sub £650 price tag will also go a long way towards to securing it as one of the most attractive camera this Christmas, even if it won’t quite fit in your stocking.”

Website: Pocket-Lint - Nikon Coolpix 8800 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Nikon Coolpix 8800

The Slovenian website e-fotografija have posted a review in English of the Konica Minolta 7D DSLR.

So far I can only tell good things about the AS system, at least until it is more thoroughly tested and more user’s opinions are created. It really is quite amazing. Konica Minolta has once again proved with this AS system that they are ambitious and can be counted on. This is one of the most obvious features that will bring new customers, especially those Minolta users who have been waiting for so long. A wider choice of cameras is good for everybody. And just a reminder for newcomers to the DSLR world: you are buying a system, not only a body as in a compact class digicams.

Website: e-fotografija - Konica Minolta 7D Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Konica Minolta Dynax 7D

The Danish website Digitalmagasinet.dk have posted their review of the new 8 megapixel Nikon Coolpix 8800.

Website: Digitalmagasinet.dk - Nikon Coolpix 8800 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Nikon Coolpix 8800

DigitalCameraInfo have just reviewed the 4 megapixel FujiFilm FinePix S5100 digital compact camera.

“Loyal Fujifilm consumers would probably find this camera to be simple to use. However, I test and review cameras of all brands, and when compared to other digital cameras, the FinePix S5100 rates low for ease of use. Setup is difficult to learn and tedious to execute. I will admit that, once I had read the manual and knew where to put my fingers, the camera was much easier to use, but still not as easy as a point-and-shoot should be. Shooting in automatic mode was by far the easiest and most simplified means available on the camera. Changing manual settings such as the aperture or exposure became frustrating when I had to hold buttons down while scrolling with the four-way controller. Some buttons are smaller than they should be, and some buttons seem illogically placed.”

Website: DigitalCameraInfo - FujiFilm FinePix S5100 Review

DCResource have posted their review of the 7 megapixel Pentax Optio750Z.

“While it’s not perfect, I do like the Pentax Optio 750Z quite a bit, and it earns my recommendation. It has a stylish, fairly-compact body with a handy flip-out LCD display. Build quality is very good for the most part, save for the cover over the battery/memory card compartment. Despite its size, the Optio packs a 5X zoom lens—great for telephoto lovers who don’t want to carry around a bulky ultra zoom camera. Photo quality is very good, though a bit noisier than the other 7MP cameras I’ve tested. Images were well-exposed, colorful, and very sharp, all with a minimum of purple fringing. You may encounter some blurry corners or vignetting in flash shots while using the 750Z.”

Website: DCResource - Pentax Optio750Z Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Pentax Optio750Z