There have been 10 digital camera announcements today from 4 different manufacturers. Now Acer is set to join the fray by releasing 3 new models in December in the £250-300 range. According to the website Pocket-Lint, “On the cards are a 5 megapixel 3x optical zoom credit card sized model, a 6 megapixel 3x optical in black and another 5 megapixel 3x optical zoom model in silver.”

Website: Pocket-Lint - Acer to join digital camera market

FotoWare Press Release 22/09/04

FotoWare Launch FotoStation Classic, professional media database for Mac OS X.

At Photokina in Cologne, FotoWare a.s celebrate their 10th anniversary by releasing FotoStation Classic, the completely new media database for Mac OS X.  FotoStation Classic is the standard edition in the FotoStation product family, and offers a wealth of solutions for problems created by the ever-increasing flow of digital images.  Version 5.1 Classic for the Mac OS X operating system provides many new features and a unique flexibility which enables the adaptation of the software to the needs of a single user as well as in a corporate environment.

“It was our goal to make FotoStation even more adaptable to the individual needs of a photographer, an editor, or any user who on a daily basis is working with digital images”, commented Norman Milne, Managing Director Fotoware UK.

“The considerable volume of pictures which are taken today by digital cameras can cause great organisational problems for smaller companies.  We have done everything to help the users overcome these problems with a minimum of effort”, Milne continues.

LetsGoDigital have exclusive news of 6 new digital cameras from Samsung, headed by the 7 megapixel Digimax V70 (pictured). No sign of any official press releases yet, so more details when I get them. In the meantime here’s a brief round-up of the new models:

Samsung Digimax V70
“With a 7 Megapixel high definition CCD, the Digimax V70 gives photographers the ability to print up to A1 size of poster with great detail. Coupled with the on camera trimming function this means you can get the shot you want without using a PC. The Digimax V70 has 3x optical zoom (equivalent to 38mm -114mm in 35mm format) and a further 5x digital zoom to give 15x total zoom.”
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_1793.html

Samsung Digimax U-CA 505
“Sleek, compact and ultra thin (97 x 52 x 25 mm), the Digimax U-CA 501/505 packs impressive features, including 5 Megapixels, into a stylish body that’s small enough to take anywhere. The Digimax U-CA 501/505 has a 2.0-inch TFT LCD, which is a pleasure to use outdoors, bright enough to use even in direct sunlight for both composing and reviewing your shots.”
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_1792.html

Samsung Digimax U-CA 501
“Sleek, compact and ultra thin (97 x 52 x 25 mm), the Digimax U-CA 501/505 packs impressive features, including 5 Megapixels, into a stylish body that’s small enough to take anywhere. The Digimax U-CA 501/505 has a 2.0-inch TFT LCD, which is a pleasure to use outdoors, bright enough to use even in direct sunlight for both composing and reviewing your shots.”
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_1792.html

Samsung Digimax A6
“The Samsung Digimax A6 and A5 digital cameras come equipped with a wide range of the most technologically advanced and cutting-edge features available on the market at an affordable price. The Digimax A6 has a 6 Megapixel CCD sensor and the Digimax A5 has a 5 Megapixel CCD sensor.”
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_1791.html

Samsung Digimax A5
“The Samsung Digimax A6 and A5 digital cameras come equipped with a wide range of the most technologically advanced and cutting-edge features available on the market at an affordable price. The Digimax A6 has a 6 Megapixel CCD sensor and the Digimax A5 has a 5 Megapixel CCD sensor.”
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_1791.html

Samsung Digimax A400
“A 4 Megapixel auto focus camera with 2.8x optical and 4x digital zoom, the Samsung Digimax A400 captures crisp images. The Digimax has a 2.0-inch colour TFT LCD that enables users to quickly and easily review and preview. The superb 5cm macro mode allows users to capture clear images of subject matter as close as 5cm from the camera’s lens.”
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_1790.html

Website: LetsGoDigital - Photokina Coverage

Eastman Kodak Company Press Release 21/09/04

New KODAK EASYSHARE LS755 Digital Camera Combines Sleek Design with High-End Features

TOKYO, September 21 - Eastman Kodak Company today unveiled the EASYSHARE LS755 zoom digital camera, a sleek, Japanese-designed model created for the person with impeccable style and taste. It pairs high tech features and outstanding image quality.

The camera will be available in Japan beginning in Q4.

“We developed the LS755 camera to meet the discerning eye of Japanese consumers, who relentlessly seek the best combination of form and function,” said Yusuke Kojima, general manager of worldwide digital camera and system development, and vice president, Eastman Kodak Company.

The size of a deck of playing cards, the EASYSHARE LS755 camera’s aluminum body houses exclusive, high-powered components and technologies to deliver and share stunning pictures.

A professional-grade SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH C-VARIOGON 3X (36 - 108 mm equivalent) zoom lens and 5.0 megapixel CCD sensor work in conjunction to maximize picture quality. With each press of the shutter button, the camera rapidly analyzes lighting conditions and color balance to deliver sharp, color-accurate, properly exposed pictures. To help keep the camera body very thin while still using a barrel lens for optimal picture quality, Kodak developed an innovative, first-of-its-kind solution - the lens retracts behind the shutter when the camera is turned off.

Panasonic Press Release 21/09/04

- The cameras have 3.2 megapixel photo, MPEG4 video and music capabilities all in one ultra compact device -

Osaka, Japan - Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., best known for its Panasonic brand products, today introduced two new D-snap SD video cameras. The models SV-AS30 and SV-AS3 can snap still and moving images, play back video and music files, record voice notes and share contents with a wide variety of SD-enabled products, including digital TVs, DVD recorders and printers. The SV-AS30 will be available to the public on October 30 and the SV-AS3 on November 27.

The two models function as effective 3.2 megapixel CCD digital cameras, MPEG4 video recorders, AAC/WMA/MP3 music players and voice recorders recording up to 66 hours on a 1 GB SD Memory Card. The SV-AS30, super-thin model, incorporates all these features in a compact 53.2 ? 103.2 ? 9.9 mm (14.0 mm at the lens) casing, the slimmest in the world. The stylish and ultra-portable units can conveniently drop into a pocket or lady’s purse.

Equipped with an SD Memory Card slot, they can network with PCs and other SD-compatible products. As a digital still camera, they produce 16:9 images in the HDTV mode. Images can be reproduced on Panasonic’s VIERA large-screen high-definition TVs. By directly connecting to a PictBridge*1 compatible printer, the new D-snap models can print images without using a PC.

Plustek Inc Press Release 21/09/04

Plustek Launches Pro Film Scanner; Professional resolution and fast scans—the OpticFilm 7200 is Plustek’s powerful pro film scanner for slides and negatives

LOS ANGELES—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Sept. 21, 2004—Plustek Inc (www.plustek.com), a leading manufacturer of consumer, prosumer and professional scanners, today launched the OpticFilm 7200 professional-grade film scanner, offering the market’s highest film-scan resolution (7200 x 7200 dpi) in a consumer device. Until now, due to the high cost, film scanners with professional resolution were nearly exclusively purchased by service companies, high-profile photographers, and ambitious amateurs/prosumers. This era has passed with the introduction of the OpticFilm 7200, the first consumer-priced high-resolution 35mm film and negative scanner. User-friendly and affordable, the OpticFilm 7200 is ideal for organizations or individuals who wish to scan their work and share it on the Web with fellow photographers or anyone wanting to digitize and archive their slides and negatives onto CD - to create their own photo albums or digital slide shows. Users can easily preserve their work and valuable memories onto compact disc for easy access and retouching in the future. Launched earlier in the year in Germany, the OpticFilm is already the winner of the coveted “foto MAGAZIN GUT award” and the “PC Direkt Budget Kauftipp! award.” Priced at $199, the OpticFilm 7200 will begin shipping in the U.S. in September.

The Hungarian website Index Digicam have just reviewed the ImpressCam Elite DSC 11 digicam, a 4 megapixel model that I admit to not having heard of before.

Website: Index Digicam - ImpressCam Elite DSC 11 Review

Imaging Resource have reviewed the Kodak Easyshare DX7440, a 4-megapixel digital camera with a 4x (33 - 132 mm equivalent) optical zoom lens. The camera is available now for a suggested retail price of US$349.

“Low image noise at low ISOs. Also low at higher ISO settings, but a heavy price is paid in terms of image detail. Image noise is present in the DX7440’s images but quite low at the 80 and 100 ISO equivalent settings. As the ISO increases, the noise levels remain fairly low, but that’s because the camera makes a heavy tradeoff with subtle subject detail to suppress the noise in the final images. The net effect isn’t too bad at ISO 200, but the ISO 400 shot looks almost like a watercolor painting in places. - Don’t shoot with the DX7440 at ISO settings over 200 if you care about subtle detail in your photos.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Kodak Easyshare DX7440 Review

Thom Hogan has also taken a look at another DX lens, the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G.

“Autofocus is very fast and hunt-free. The f/2.8 aperture helps make low-light focus even better. (This, by the way, is one of two areas in which the decision between the 17-55mm and the 18-70mm DX lens should be made. While the latter is a decent performer and holds its own against the more expensive lens being reviewed here in most respects, you will notice autofocus speed differences as you get into dimmer and dimmer light.”

Website: Thom Hogan - AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G Lens Review

Thom Hogan has just reviewed the Nikkor 18-70mm f3.5-4.5G IF-ED lens, which is the newest addition to a growing range of lenses designed specifically for Nikon digital SLR cameras. This lens currently ships with the Nikon D70 in kit form.

“Sharpness is excellent throughout the range, with f/8 being the point of maximum sharpness on my sample pretty much across the entire focal length range. Even at f/3.5 (or 4.5 at the tele end) in the corners this lens remains an very good performer—much better than you’d expect for the price. I’d be more comfortable about using this lens wide open if it weren’t for the vignetting, but if you’re a Capture user and shoot NEF, you can safely ignore that comment, as Capture’s Vignette control handles this lens perfectly.”

Website: Thom Hogan - Nikkor 18-70mm f3.5-4.5G IF-ED Lens Review

The Norwegian website Akam.no have published their review of the Epson R300 photo printer, which offers convenient and innovative features such as printing directly onto the surface of ink jet printable CDs and DVDs, and being able to print photos with or without a computer.

Website: Akam.no - Epson Stylus Photo R300 Review

Weighing in at a whopping 7-11Mbs, Canon have released 4 sample images for their new 16 megapixel Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Digital SLR. One for broadband users only I think! Canon have even indulged us by including a night photograph amongst the samples, taken with a 15 sec shutter speed.

Website: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Official Sample Images

PhotographyBLOG has joined forces with the No.1 European online photo processing service myPixmania to offer you a great range of affordable online printing and storage services. Prices start from just 8p per print and you automatically get 10 free prints when you register for a free account. myPIXmania uses Fuji Professional Paper which is widely recognized in the specialized press as being the standard for digital paper, and your photos will be processed within 24 hours. You also recieve a free photo album with unlimited space.

Register for a free myPixmania account

GretagMacbeth Press Release 20/09/04

The new ProfileMaker 5 from GretagMacbeth

GretagMacbeth will show new ProfileMaker 5 professional color management solutions for the photographic digital workflow

New vertically focused ProfileMaker 5 packages provide price/performance advantages for color management workflows in prepress-publishing, multicolor packaging-textile printing and studio photography

Regensdorf, Switzerland, September 20th, 2004 - GretagMacbeth, the worldwide technological leader in color measurement and management solutions will show at Photokina ProfileMaker 5 solutions to the photographic industry. In hall 14.1, booth A034 GretagMacbeth will show the latest generation of its comprehensive, high-end color management solutions for professionals in color critical environments. The new ProfileMaker 5 solutions has been introduced to the European market for the first time at Drupa.

ProfileMaker 5 software is now packaged in three, vertically focused solutions - PM5 Publish Pro, PM5 Packaging Pro and PM5 Photostudio Pro - that provide optimal price/performance levels for professionals in prepress-publishing, multicolor packaging-textile printing and studio photography environments. Each solution is designed to provide only the functionality required for each specific workflow, thereby maintaining ease of use. Individual functional modules and additional tools are also available giving users the flexibility to expand their packages as their needs grow.

Princess Cruises Press Release 20/09/04

Princess Cruises has today announced that it will extend the deadline for their Escapes Photography Awards due to the volume of interest being shown by professional and amateur photographers.

The deadline has been extended to 1 October.

Pieter van der Schee, head of brand marketing, Princess Cruises says, “We’ve had thousands of high quality entries already but given the stature of the awards we want to make sure as many people as possible are given time to enter.”

With a prize of ?10,000 for the winning professional entry and luxury Princess cruises for the winning amateur entries, interest in the competition has gone from strength to strength, leaving the illustrious judging panel with some very hard decisions.

2 official images taken with the new Konica Minolta Dynax 7D DSLR have just been posted on konicaminolta.com. Both are available to view at 100% magnification, so you can judge for yourself what the quality is like.

Thanks to Zoltan Arva-Toth for letting me know :-)

Website: Konica Minolta Dynax 7D Official Sample Images

I’m still using 512Mb compact flash cards and a 20Gb portable storage device , but that hasn’t stopped Samsung from developing an 8GB NAND-type flash memory chip that “will allow designs of up to 16 gigabytes (GB) of storage on a single memory card. That 16GB of memory translates into storage of up to 16 hours of DVD quality video or 4,000 (five minutes per song) MP3 audio files.” God knows how much that will cost!

Thanks to Sanj for the link.

Website: ZDNet UK - Samsung clears the way for 16GB flash disks

Canon UK Press Release 21/09/04

Aspheric lens gives new flagship CanoScan 9950F the edge

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, is pleased to announce the launch of the new flagship to its CanoScan scanner range: the 4800 x 9600 dpi 48 bit colour depth CanoScan 9950F. The world’s first flat-bed scanner to offer 30-frame capacity for 35mm filmstrip, the 9950F also incorporates an aspheric element lens - Canon’s own ‘Super-Toric’ lens - for unsurpassed levels of clarity, contrast and image quality.

Canon?s new range-leader features FARE Level 3 - the ultimate infra-red film correction and enhancement system for precise, automatic dust and scratch removal, colour resaturation, plus grain and backlight correction. QARE Level 3 offers a similar correction and auto-retouching functionality for photo prints. A fast scan engine, moving backlight FAU, extremely efficient light capture system and USB 2.0 Hi?Speed / IEEE1394 FireWire connection combine to deliver super-quick 3.6 second previews and exceptionally fast scan times. The slim contours, aluminium hairline finish and robust build of the 9950F are consistent with its position at the top of the CanoScan range.

“New sensor, lamp and lens technologies introduced with the release of the 9950F are indicative of Canon?s commitment to producing superior solutions through Research & Development in scanning technology,” said Head of Canon Consumer Imaging in the UK and Ireland, Malcolm Hills. “With its capacity to scan a full roll of 35mm film in one operation, Canon expects this scanner to be the new first choice for serious professionals.”

The Canoscan 9950F will be available from November 2004 for £339 RRP inc.VAT / EUROS 489 RRP inc. VAT

Canon UK Press Release 21/09/04

Canon’s new CanoScan 8400F: fast track to exceptional professional film scans

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, is pleased to announce the launch of the CanoScan 8400F - a premium film and document scanner. Featuring a 3200 x 6400 dpi CCD sensor, a 12-frame FAU (Film Adaptor Unit) and advanced FARE Level 3 technology, the 8400F delivers exceptionally detailed and accurate professional film scans.

Replacing the CanoScan 8000F, the 8400F is designed for maximum productivity with its new super fast scan engine. The moving light source within the FAU and a USB 2.0 Hi-Speed connection add to the scanner’s blistering speeds. A fast warm up time enables scanning within 20 seconds of powering up, while previews can be viewed in just 2.1 seconds.

The CanoScan 8400F will be available from November 2004 for £179 RRP inc. VAT / EUROS 259 RRP inc. VAT

Canon UK Press Release 21/09/04

Canon’s new CanoScan 4200F makes 3200 x 6400 dpi scanning affordable

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, is pleased to announce the launch of the low cost, high performance 3200 x 6400 dpi CanoScan 4200F.  With a price tag similar to that of many entry level scanners, the 4200F features 48 bit colour depth, class-leading 2.6 second preview time, a film guide built into the FAU (film adapter unit) for quick and easy transparency scanning and a rapid warm up time of approximately 15 seconds.

A super fast scan engine and USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface combine to deliver 2.6 second preview times, 12 second scan times (A4, full colour at 400 dpi)  and fast transfer of large hi-resolution images to the PC. The 4200F also features QARE Level 2 automatic retouching function for restoring old or damaged photographs.

A sleek design, smooth curves and granite-like finish match the scanner?s commanding performance and challenge the appearance of much higher priced models.

“The 4200F represents high-end scanner performance at an entry level price,” said Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging in the UK and Ireland. “With such exceptional price and performance, Canon expects this ground-breaking product to redefine the first-time scanner buyer market.”

The CanoScan 4200F will be available from November 2004 for £99 RRP inc. VAT / EUROS 143 RRP inc. VAT