Samsung Camera Press Release 02/11/04

Samsung Adds 6-Megapixel A6 to its Rapidly Growing Digimax Range Of Compact Digital Still Cameras

Secaucus, N.J., (November 1, 2004) - Samsung Camera today announced the launch of the Digimax A6 6-megapixel digital camera. The A6 is the first member of the Digimax “A Series”, and one of several new compact, digital point and shoots introduced in the U.S. market by Samsung in advance of the holiday season. Offering superb image quality, an extremely robust feature set and a highly-intuitive graphical user interface (GUI), the A6 combines all the best features that digital imaging has to offer in a sleek, compact and stylish package. With an approximate street price of just $349, the A6 puts all of these features well within reach of even the most budget conscious consumer this holiday season.

Neat Image Press Release 03/11/04

Finally, Neat Image is available on Mac platform too!

This is the first public release of Neat Image for Mac.

Neat Image for Mac is currently in the stage of active development. We are working hard to provide the Mac version with even more advanced functionality to match that of the original Windows version of Neat Image. The qualit of noise reduction is already as high as in the Window version.

Early adopters of Neat Image /Mac will benefit from the introductory license price (it is temporarily lowered) and will get free upgrade to the next version of Neat Image for Mac.

In their latest article Digital Outback Photo urges everyone to backup their photos, and presents their own specific way of doing this using Wiebetech drive bays and Hitachi disk drives.

“Some people say that disks are getting cheaper and cheaper per GB. True, but the needs for storage grow even more. Here are some of the reasons:

- Cameras have higher pixel count
- Resulting images get stored in 16bit
- Photoshop layers add even on top
- The need to have multiple backup versions of your files

It is very clear that you need external storage disks to handle the flood of images.”

Website: Digital Outback Photo - Backup, Backup, Backup #2

Lastolite Press Release 03/11/04

E Photomaker - Perfect Product Photography Made Easy!

Internet technology has become so accessible to everyday users it has prompted a growing number of people and even budding businesses, to buy and sell items over the internet, for example, on Ebay.  Additionally, many hobbyists like to take photographs to catalogue their collections. However, getting really good product photographs even with the latest digital cameras remains a huge challenge. All too often the results of shooting your product photographs on the kitchen table are poorly exposed, contain shadows or are an inaccurate colour.

According to Sean Henry, Managing Director of Lastolite Limited, “The E Photomaker is the perfect solution for anyone who relies on good images to sell their products”.

Tom’s Hardware have just reviewed the Archos Gmini 400 portable storage device, which amongst other things allows you to view photos (found via digicamera.net).

“To display photos, you just open the appropriate menu. Useful thumbnails let you see the current, previous and next photos, and navigation is simple using folders. The only potential issue is the size of the photos. When copying, the player doesn’t resize the pictures, which is normally what you want. But if they’re too big (from a 5 megapixel camera, for example), it takes time for them to display on the Gmini, and the quality of reproduction on the screen won’t be optimal.”

Website: Tom’s Hardware - Archos Gmini 400 Review

CameraTown have posted one of the first reviews of the new ColorVision Spyder2PRO Studio monitor calibration device.

“I never really thought that spending money on a monitor calibrator made sense - until now. I know there are many professionals out there that would be amazed by that statement. I got used to making a print, re-adjusting the photo, then making the print again, as my way of “calibrating” my screen. Not only is this annoying, expensive, and a waste of time, it also frustrated me continuously since an adjustment I made for one photo didn’t apply to the next one.”

Website: CameraTown - ColorVision Spyder2PRO Studio Review

The Norwegian website Akamera.no have published their review of the FujiFilm FinePix S5500 Zoom digital camera (also known as the S5100 in the USA), which has a 10x optical zoom and 4 megapixel resolution and is the successor to the popular FinePix S5000 Zoom.

Website: Akamera.no - FujiFilm FinePix S5500 Zoom Review

Check the Latest Prices for the FujiFilm FinePix S5500 Zoom

PicaJet.Com Press Release 02/11/04

Digital Image Organizer with Built-In Photo Album.

PicaJet Photo Organizer 2.2 is a straightforward photo organizer that is gaining popularity among digital camera owners.  The pivotal points of the software are the following - direct import from camera, one-click image sharing, automatic photo enhancement feature, easy search, built-in photo album and one-click print.

The idea behind the software is that most camera owners are not high-tech pros, so they need one program that does all photo-related tasks for them.  And that’s just what PicaJet Photo Album does.  Once the camera is connected to PC, the image is imported.  It can then be renamed, rated and described.  Later, if one need so find an image, the built-in search engine will sort images by ratings or dates.  This is especially helpful when the number of images is the hundreds and thousands.

The 41st PhotographyBLOG Portfolio has been submitted by Tony Welham.

“My name is Tony Welham and have been taking photographs for almost 40 years. I still enjoy creating images without any particular theme apart from recording my experiences. The images I have chosen are a sample of those.

I tend to visit remote areas and enjoy meeting local people. In addition to travel my other interests include, mountaineering, flying (PPL (A)), scuba diving and bridge.

I occasionally use a my Canon D10 digital camera but, as most of my travel is off the beaten track, I still prefer film. The camera I use is a Canon EOS3, a Canon 28-105 lens and an Epson scanner and printers.”

Website: Portfolios: Tony Welham

The latest issue of the monthly online photo magazine, Vivid Light Photography, has just been published. It has some great articles - here are my highlights, in no particular order:

What’s the Big Deal About a Full-Size Chip? - We clear up some misconceptions regard digital SLRs and their image chips.
http://www.vividlight.com/articles/3814.htm

Gary Stanley - Put the Buzz Back in Your Photography!
http://www.vividlight.com/articles/3804.htm

Lennie Lee Rue III - Success—At Last !
http://www.vividlight.com/articles/3804.htm

Website: Vivid Light Photography - Issue #38

Steves Digicams has posted the Internet’s first review of the 7 megapixel Olympus C-70 Zoom (called the Olympus C-7000 Zoom in the USA).

“We were pleased with the overall image quality in SHQ mode. Our outdoor samples were sharp, well-exposed, and colors are nicely saturated. As we have seen on past cameras from Olympus, its Auto white balance setting was very accurate, with it being on the money most every time. There was very little noise in high/low contrast areas as well as virtually no traces of chromatic aberration (purple fringing around extreme highlights.)”

Website: Steves Digicams - Olympus C-70 Zoom Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Olympus C-70 Zoom

Steves Digicams have just posted their review of the diminutive and stylish 4 megapixel Olympus Mju Mini digicam (called the Stylus Verve in the USA).

“We had mixed feeling about the ergonomics of this little camera. The controls are well placed, and its menu system was easy to navigate. However, you will have to learn how to hold it as its shape in rather unique. The problem is, when holding the camera with two hands your left index finger lands right on the flash. We found the “pinch” method (left thumb and index finger) worked well.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Olympus Mju Mini Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Olympus Mju Mini

Pocket-Lint have published their review of Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0.

“If editing photos, or rather tidying them up to give your final image that professional look, is your thing then this is where Elements comes into its own. There are quick fix options, which apply a number of filters to compensate for any quality problems in your image. If you want to control the changes more closely, you get the option to punch the auto button or slide the slider. You can view your edited photo along side the original, so it?s easy to see if you are over-doing things. The ubiquitous red-eye removal feature is in there, which seems to be the top of most people?s lists. You can also stitch pictures together to make a larger panoramic image.”

Website: Pocket-Lint - Adobe Photoshop Elements 3 Review

Pocket-Linte have just reviewed the 3.2 megapixel Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z10 digital camera, which features fastest-in-class startup, 8x optical “Mega-Zoom,” fast and reliable autofocusing, and energy efficient design.

“Technology has always been Minolta?s forte, and the merger has not dappened this ability. So, for example the Konica Minolta Z10 has inherited the AF of the older company, with predictive AF, which tracks the speed and movement of the subject so can predict where the AF should focus at the press of the shutter button. The camera?s fast, with a half-second start up, focusing within three tenths of a second and fast shutter release time lag.”

Website: Pocket-Lint - Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z10 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z10

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

“The FX7 proves that little cameras can have image stabilizers too. If you’re tired of blurry photos (especially indoors), the FX7 can help. Sensors in the FX7 detect camera movement, and an element in the lens is shifted to compensate. This lets you use shutter speeds 3-4 stops slower than what you can use on an unstabilized camera. For example, a 1/30 sec shutter speed will result in a blurry photos for most people (unless you have hands of stone), but with image stabilization you’ll most likely get a nice, sharp photo.”

Website: DCResource - Panasonic DMC-FX7 Ultra Zoom Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Panasonic DMC-FX7 Ultra Zoom

Epson Japan Press Release 01/11/04

- TOKYO, Japan, November 1, 2004 - Seiko Epson Corporation (“Epson”) today announced that it has succeeded in leveraging its proprietary inkjet technology to develop what the company believes is the world’s first ultra-thin 20-layer circuit board.

Multilayer circuit boards are normally produced by using a photolithography process to pattern a copper foil bonded to a base board. However, the industry has struggled to produce thin, lightweight, high-density multilayer circuit boards cheaply because the traditional process requires (1) thick copper layers; (2) the creation of a different photomask for each layer; (3) a complex step for forming through-holes to electrically connect different layers; and (4) a large volume of photoresist, developer, etchants, stripping agents and other chemicals.

Against this backdrop, Epson received a grant from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), an independent Japanese governmental agency, to develop technology for fabricating circuit boards using inkjet technology. The goal of the three-year project, which was launched in June 2003, is two-fold: dramatically reduce the energy consumed in the manufacture of circuit boards; and fabricate small, lightweight, high-performance circuit boards used in end-products such as information and communications equipment, thus helping to bring about the realization of a ubiquitous computing society.

Nikon UK Press Release

D70 Price Re-alignment

To celebrate the award winning success and popularity of the D70 digital SLR, Nikon are pleased to announce a price re-alignment just in time for Christmas.

From the 1st November the recommended retail price will be as follows:

D70 + 18-70DX
£899.99 / ?1344.00

D70 + 28-80mm
£749.99 / ?1120.00

D70 body
£699.99 / ?1045.00

Check the Latest Prices for the Nikon D70

Ritz Camera Centers/Mirra, Inc. Press Release 01/11/04

Mirra Digital Shoebox Featured at Ritz Camera Stores as a Must-Have Digital Camera Accessory for Protecting and Sharing Digital Photos

Beltsville, MD and Sunnyvale, CA (November 1, 2004) - Ritz Camera Centers, the largest retail camera and photo chain in the United States, and Mirra, Inc., developer of content protection and management solutions for the consumer and home office market, today announced the immediate availability of the Mirra Digital Shoebox at select Ritz Camera Stores nationwide.

An exclusive Ritz holiday promotion, the Mirra Digital Shoebox is an essential camera accessory offering 80 gigabytes of backup protection-enough to protect more than 100,000 3-megapixel digital photos. In addition to hands-free backup, the Mirra Digital Shoebox provides free, secure photo sharing over the web. The Digital Shoebox can also protect and share any kind of digital file, making it an ideal solution for home users with valuable content on their PCs, ranging from photos to music, work documents, financial records, and email.

Canon USA Press Release 01/11/04

AMERICA’S BEST SELLING DIGITAL SLR GETS A LIMITED EDITION MAKEOVER

The Canon EOS Digital Rebel SLR Returns for a Second Round with a Sleek Black Body

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Nov. 1, 2004-Canon’s EOS Digital Rebel, the camera that put the excitement of SLR digital photography into the hands of consumers, will now be available for a limited time in a new black body. The black edition of the Digital Rebel digital SLR will be available at Canon U.S.A. authorized dealers and will sell with the digitally enhanced EF-S 18-55mm zoom lens kit for $999*.

“When we introduced the Digital Rebel, we were excited to put the fun and excitement of SLR photography into the hands of consumers at an affordable price,” stated Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the Consumer Imaging Group at Canon U.S.A. “The new black body will appeal to even more people with a more professional and fresh new look and easy-to-use advanced functions at an affordable price point.”

Check the Latest Prices for the Canon EOS 300D

NikonNet Press Release 01/11/04

NikonNet and ‘Legends Behind the Lens’ Honor the Work of ‘Unclassifiable’ Photographer Rick Rickman

MELVILLE, N.Y., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/—While Rick Rickman’s work has been the definition of outstanding photography, it’s nearly impossible to put a label on his style of work.  For nearly 25 years, this Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer has captured some of the most memorable and creative images in a variety of fields, including sports, outdoor, adventure, corporate, travel and news photography.  It’s an oeuvre that can perhaps only be defined by calling
it “unclassifiable.”

This November, NikonNet’s inspiring monthly, “Legends Behind the Lens,” honors the work of esteemed photographer Rick Rickman.  Over the last 25 years, Rickman’s work has appeared in Time, Newsweek, National Geographic, Smithsonian and Men’s Journal, among many others. His corporate clients include AT&T, Coca Cola, Magnavox, the U.S. Olympic Committee and Nikon.

“NikonNet is pleased to honor the images and extraordinary career of Rick Rickman in this November’s ‘Legends Behind the Lens,’” said Tracy Mack- Jackson, senior manager of Internet Development and Programs at Nikon Inc. “He possesses an uncanny ability to tell stories through images. Whether the photo is for a major publication or a corporate client, Rick consistently produces work that is exceptionally creative and extremely powerful.”