The 37th PhotographyBLOG Portfolio has been submitted by Martin Kimeldorf.

“This is my Jack portfolio. It contains a study of my best friend, Jack the Dog. I’ve been shooting digitally for about 3 years years. As I learn to master pixel editing I find my work drifting more towards photoart rather than straight photography. I have arranged the sequence to suggest this idea. This collection spans three years.

Website: Portfolios: Martin Kimeldorf

DPReview have today reviewed the 6 megapixel FujiFilm FinePix F810 Zoom.

“The FinePix F810 Zoom is a very classy camera ideal for the serious photographer wanting a ‘carry anywhere’ companion to an SLR. The design, built and speed of operation are superb, and the range of controls comprehensive. Even more importantly, all the everyday photographic functions are easily accessible via external controls or fast, well-designed menus. The 32.5-130mm lens offers more versatility than the more common 38-115mm equiv. found on many similar cameras, and is very sharp across the frame. Resolution is excellent, noise very well controlled and the colors really jump out at you. The ISO 800 mode is not only usable, but very useful too - the low noise means you can often get away without using flash in social situations.”

Website: DPReview - FujiFilm FinePix F810 Zoom Review

Website: Read my Fujifilm Finepix F810 Review

DPNow have published a comprehensive review of the 4 megapixel Casio Exilim EX-Z40, which was first announced at the end of February.

“Casio has designed the Exilim EX-Z40 to be easy to use. This does mean some more sophisticated features are missing. There is no manual control of aperture and shutter speed settings, nor full manual exposure mode. This will frustrate some photographers but at least you can manually select ISO speeds to suit conditions and white balance settings. 21 scene-specific modes are available and you can set your own scene mode based on a photo you have previously taken. Unfortunately, the printed user guide supplied is far too brief and offers no help for the camera’s more advanced features. A much more detailed manual is supplied as a pdf document on the utility CD.”

Website: DPNow - Casio Exilim EX-Z40 Review

Vosonic Press Release

VOSONIC NEW RANGE OF MULTIMEDIA X’S-DRIVES

XS Drive Super VP6210
MMV VP6300

Vosonic, the manufacturer based in Taiwan of the XS Drives, has announced the availability of two new MultiMedia XS Drives to complete its range of portable storage devices, which were shown at Photokina trade show.

The XS Drive Super VP6210 and MMV VP6300 enter the range as top specification devices providing via their 2” LCD display the possibility to view JPEG photos, play MPEG-1 videos or MP3 - WMA music.

The XS Drive Super is available from 20GB to 80GB and uses an internal 2.5” Hard disk, whereas the MMV is a more compact unit by using a 20GB 1.8” internal Hard disk.

Both units provide the exact same features:
- Copy from any memory card including Compactflash, MicroDrive, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo (via adapter), MMC, RS-MMC (via adapter), Secure Digital, mini SD (via adapter), Smartmedia,  xD picture card to the internal Hard disk
- Copy selected files from the Hard disk (or a memory card) to a memory card inserted
- View JPEG photos up to 16 MegaPixels, run slideshow, view Exif information, Rotate by 90 degrees, Zoom in/out
- Play MPEG-1 or Motion JPEG in AVI or MOD format videos
- Play MP3 and WMA music
- Audio/Video outputs to plug to a TV and/or listen on headphones
- Infrared remote control is supplied
- 3 hours of battery life with the LCD Screen on (up to 6 hours when the LCD is in standby)
- USB 2.0 (USB 1.1 backward compatible) connection to a computer
- Faster transfer speed than current XS Drive models (VP2060, VP300, VP3310, VP3610)

Vosonic Press Release

VOSONIC X’S-DRIVE PRO VP3310

9in1 Portable Storage Device with 40GB or more
Fast connection with USB 2.0 & Blue Backlight LCD Panel
MP3 Jukebox Player

Cardmedia (Europe) Ltd, the official UK distributor for the manufacturer Vosonic, has announced the availability of the X?S-Drive Pro VP3310, a new Portable Storage Device with enhanced LCD display + MP3 player, which features a blue Backlight LCD display and support long MP3 filenames.

Like the XS Drive Pro VP300, the Vosonic X’S-Drive Pro VP3310 combines all the X’S-Drive latest features; Fast USB 2.0 compatible interface, LCD panel to indicate detailed Working status, File transfer and battery power level.

The X’S-Drive Pro VP3310 allows the transfer of pictures and any other file from any memory card to its internal 2.5 inches hard drive.

It displays on its 2.5 inches LCD screen detailed information such as the names of files being transferred and the transfer progress status.

It can be used with all types of memory cards: Compactflash, IBM Microdrive, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, and xD picture card without any adapter.

If your compact digicam has a hotshoe, this new flash unit from Metz is available to fit Canon, Nikon, Konica Minolta and Olympus models.

Metz Press Release

Metz mecablitz 28 AF-3 digital - Optimized for compact digital cameras  

The flash boost for your shots

Be it a garden party, wedding, child?s birthday or a luxury cruise - They are all those irretrievable moments in life that build up in the course of the years. Yet, in spite of the importance of the moment, the photographic results often turn out to be disappointing: Sometimes faces are too dark on account of the high contrasts between light and shadows. And then the colours are too flat because the camera?s internal flash was not powerful enough. The real answer is to be on the safe side with a Metz mecablitz 28 AF-3 digital. This small, clip-on flash unit is designed in technology and size to match optimally the compact digital cameras.

The new Metz unit operates fully automatically and is so handy that it will easily fit in your jacket pocket. Power can be supplied either by normal alkaline batteries or equally price-effective rechargeable batteries. Four variants are available for Canon, Konica Minolta, Nikon or Olympus - and they all feature the very latest “digital picture technologies”.

This looks like a great idea for anyone who uses a compact digicam without a hotshoe, but would like a better flash unit than the tiny one that is built into their camera.

Metx Press Release

Metz mecablitz 28 CS-2 digital - Optimized for compact digital cameras: 

Firing flashes with perception

How often have you been disappointed about dark photos merely because the flash integrated in your camera was not powerful enough? And have you ever wanted a handy compact flash unit that can be used separately from the camera? Well Metz offers the perfect solution with the mecablitz 28 CS-2 digital - optimally adapted in performance and size to compact digital cameras! To this must be added the fun factor with the ingenious EASY mode. For the very first time the flash shot taken can be directly influenced with the instant correction keys (+/-)! This means simply release the shutter, check the result on the camera’s monitor, and correct with the keys should this prove to be necessary. With this slave model the flash power can be boosted without any undesirable side-effects. The power is generated by normal alkaline size-AAA batteries or the equally inexpensive rechargeable AAA batteries.

PhotoScala has featured an interesting new product today - well, as interesting as tripods get anyway! The Panorama-VR System from Novoflex looks like just the thing to ensure perfect panoramic photographs with a 35mm DSLR (or film SLR for that matter). Maybe a bit pricey at EUR 349.00, but probably worth it if you’re really into panoramic images.

Website: PhotoScala - Novoflex Panorama-VR System

The Hungarian website Index Digicam seem to have the scoop on a new wide-angle digital lens from the budget manufactuer Tokina. The Tokina AT-X 124Pro DX 12-24mm/F4, to give it it’s full name, has a fixed f/4 aperture and is APS-C sized for 1.6x digital SLRs. It will be available in a Nikon fit in November and Canon in December.

Website: Index Digicam - Tokina AT-X 124Pro DX 12-24mm/F4

Sony Press Release 12/10/04

SONY UNVEILS INDUSTRY’S FIRST DVD BURNER THAT COMBINES STAND-ALONE AND COMPUTER-ATTACHED DVD VIDEO RECORDING

New DVDirect Burner Enables Users to Transfer Home Videos Directly from Camcorders to DVD Discs with or without a Computer

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 12, 2004 - Sony is unlocking new levels of home video enjoyment with the world’s first DVD burner capable of stand-alone, real-time DVD recording, as well as computer-attached burning.

Sony’s new DVDirect (pronounced DVD Direct) device can connect directly to a camcorder or VCR for transferring tape-based video footage to DVD for playback on most home DVD players and PC DVD-ROM drives.

Camcorder sales continue to soar, marking a significant opportunity for the DVDirect device to help camcorder owners transfer home movies onto DVD without the complexity of using a computer. This allows DVD recording to be extended to a broader group of consumers who might otherwise consider the task too daunting.

The DVDirect burner can also be attached to a PC, and comes with the necessary software for advanced DVD video authoring projects, as well as the creation of data, music, and video DVDs and CDs.

“Preserving precious moments onto DVD has never been easier than with the DVDirect burner,” said Robert DeMoulin, marketing manager for branded storage products in Sony Electronics’ IT Products Division. “Users can simply connect their camcorder to the recorder, hit the record button, and out comes a DVD disc that they can pop into their home DVD player. Meanwhile, computer-savvy users can attach the DVDirect device to a PC to perform all of the common tasks characteristic of computer-attached burners.”

I now have US pricing:

IR-500 Estimated Street Price: $499 (U.S.)

S-HD-100 hard disk drive storage device Estimated Street Price: $299.99 (U.S.)

P-S100 digital photo printer Estimated Street Price: $199.99 (U.S.)

Olympus Japan Press Release 13/10/04

The information contained in this news release applies only to the Japanese market

Olympus Introduces i:robe IR-500 New-Concept Digital Camera and Dedicated “Dock & Done” Digital Photo Printer and Hard Disk Storage Device

- New-concept style and “Dock & Done” convenience for easy image storage and printing -

Olympus Imaging Corporation (President: Hiroshi Komiya) is pleased to announce the introduction of the i:robe IR-500 new-concept digital camera for a new digital photo lifestyle, and supporting peripherals that include the S-HD-100 hard disk storage device and the P-S100 digital photo printer.The i:robe IR-500 camera and its peripherals, connected viaa dedicated cradle , offer a comprehensive “Dock & Done” image printing and storage solution.

The newly introduced Dock & Done functionality was developed by Olympus to simplify connection and operation so that digital cameras and related peripherals are easier and more fun to use. Users simply “dock” the digital camera in its dedicated cradle and they’re “done” - image storage and printing can be performed without even using a computer. In fact, with Dock & Done, users can shoot, review, save, search, view, display, and share their photos with greater ease than ever before.

The new-concept digital camera that supports Dock & Done functionality is called the “i:robe IR-500” because it can be carried anywhere, anytime, allowing users to “robe” themselves in “images” wherever they go. It is the first Olympus camera to feature a multi-swing display that can be rotated 360 degrees for versatile shooting in a wide range of situations, including low-angle/high-angle shooting and self-portrait shooting. The multi-swing display also ensures carefree portability because it protects both the display and the lens when in the closed position. S-HD-100 storage device, equipped with a CPU and USB hub funcitionality, incorporates a 40GB hard disk drive that can hold approximately 40,000 4-megapixel images, while the compact P-S100 digital photo printer can produce postcard and L-size photo prints. Both peripheral devices support Dock & Done functionality, as well as personal computer connectivity.

I now have US pricing:

MR-500i Estimated Street Price: $499.99 (U.S.)

MR-100 Estimated Street Price: $249.99(U.S.)

Olympus Japan Press Release 13/10/04

The information contained in this news release applies only to the Japanese market

Olympus Enters Portable HDD Music Player Market With New m:robe Brand Products

- New m:robe MR-500i motion music player offers fusion of music and imagest
- New MR-100 HDD music player offers compact music playback

Olympus Imaging Corporation (President: Hiroshi Komiya) is pleased to announce its entry into the portable hard disk drive music player business with the introduction of m:robe brand products that offer a totally new way of enjoying music. The first m:robe series products to be offered are MR-500i and MR-100 HDD music players. With these and other m:robe series products to be released in the future, Olympus is offering consumers a new music-oriented lifestyle and a convenient new way to carry their favorite music and images with them wherever they go.

The m:robe brand derives its name from the fact that m:robe products can be carried anywhere, anytime, allowing users to “robe” themselves in their favorite music wherever they go. It will be aggressively promoted by Olympus as a new brand of HDD music player. White is used as the signature color for m:robe products to evoke the timeless beauty of white porcelainware that sets off the beauty of the items it contains. The m:robe also features touch-screen / touchpad operation and a user-friendly GUI that provides visual and emotional feedback in response to user input.

The second review of the new 4 megapixel Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3 today comes from DCResource.

“The DiMAGE Z3 has a first-rate movie mode that’s one of the best on the market. You can record “fine quality” 640 x 480 video (with sound) at 30 frames/second until the memory card is full. A “regular quality” 640 x 480 mode as well as a smaller 320 x 240 size are also available. You can choose between 15 and 30 frames/second for any of those resolutions. The included 16MB memory card holds just 9 seconds of video at the highest quality sitting, so consider a larger card a requirement if you like videos.

The DiMAGE Z3 is one of the very rare cameras that lets you use the zoom lens during filming. Konica Minolta has designed the camera’s lens to move very slowly and quietly in movie mode, and the microphone placement is as far from it as possible. You do need to keep an eye on your fingers, as the microphone is close to a comfortable resting post for them. “

Website: DCResource - Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3

The German website digitalkamera.de have today posted their review of the new 4 megapixel Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3.

Website: digitalkamera.de - Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3

O’Reilley Digital Media have published an article by Randal L. Schwartz which gives his first impressions of the Canon EOS 20D DSLR.

“One of the most frequent things I find myself doing with a camera is capturing candid shots indoors. For these shots, having the ability to drop into ISO 1600 (or even ISO 3200) is definitely an advantage because I don’t have to flip on the flash to interrupt the experience. The 20D is amazing in this respect. I was constantly blown away at the cleanliness of the shots at high ISO figures, and also that the little noise that I saw almost never manifested itself as variations in brightness, just in color. For example, Figure 8 shows a dark interior of a pub lit only by a streetlight outside. I could not even see the wood grain of the floor with my eyes, and yet it’s plainly visible in the image.”

Website: O’Reilley Digital Media - The Canon 20D DSLR: First Impressions in the Field

Following yesterday’s preview preview of the new Konica Minolta Dynax 7D DSLR, there’s even more new information about this exciting DSLR today in the form of the official Owners Manual, which has been made available for download by Konica Minolta.

Website: Konica Minolta Dynax 7D Owners Manual

And if that isn’t enough for you, Imaging Resource have published some sample images from a full production version of the camera!

Website: Konica Minolta Dynax 7D Production Photos

DigitalCameraInfo.com have just reviewed the 3 megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC50 digital camera.

“The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC50 is, for the most part, a simple camera to use. It is meant to be a point-and-shoot camera for snapshots, even stocking the camera with a “Simple Mode.” If advanced image control is not necessary, this may be the camera to check out. While the poor viewfinder placement may be of annoyance, most point and shooters prefer the LCD so this shouldn’t be of much concern as viewfinders in general are moving into obsolescence. Regardless, the controls on this camera are intended for the point and shooter on the go or the intrigued beginner who wants to record pictures right out of the box. Most of the functions are intuitive and self-explanatory and even those who have never used a digital camera should not expect a long grace period.”

Website: DigitalCameraInfo.com - Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC50 Review

Bob Atkins has published his review of the new photo editing software, Paint Shop Pro 9 from Jasc Software.

“For those who like to read the last page of a book first, my conclusion is that I like Paint Shop Pro a lot. I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a very capable image editor and who only has $110 or so to spend. It’s now the image editor I use most myself. I know that’s heresy to Adobe PhotoShop priests, but that’s the way it is!”

Website: Bob Atkins - Paint Shop Pro 9 Review

Digital Camera Magazine have published their review of the Canon PowerShot S60, a 5 megapixel digital camera with a wide-angle 28mm-100mm lens and a new thin body.

“The S50’s sleek, metal construction was one of its most endearing features. From the lighter-feeling sliding lens cover, through the grained plastic body panels, to the cheap-feeling controls, this new model is much more plasticky. It’s not bad in absolute terms - many others are the same - but it feels like a step back from previous Canon build standards.”

Website: Digital Camera Magazine - Canon PowerShot S60 Review

Digital Camera Magazine have posted their review of the Kyocera Finecam M410R, a 4.0 megapixel digital camera with a high-powered 10x optical zoom and high-speed lens.

“Overall, we were happy with the quality of the results. Sharpness is excellent, though care does need to be taken when using the top end of the zoom range, especially in poor light. Shutter speeds can easily drop to the stage where slight camera shake takes the edge off the image sharpness.

Images are bright and punchy, even in flat conditions, and noise is acceptable at ISO100 and 200, but is more of a concern at ISO400 and 800, which are sometimes needed when using the longer focal lengths.”

Website: Digital Camera Magazine - Kyocera Finecam M410R Review