Imaging Resource also have the scoop on 2 new mid-range digital cameras from Sanyo. The Xacti DSC-S3 is a 3 megapixel model with a 3x optical lens, whilst the Xacti DSC-S4 has 4 megapixels and a 2.8x optical lens. The cameras look very similar from the outside but they have completely different sensors and lenses.

Website: Imaging Resource - Sanyo announces two new Xacti digicams

Imaging Resource are running a story about a curious new digtal camera from Hitachi. The i.mega HDC-401 has a 4 megapixel CCD and, get this, a fixed-focus, fixed focal length (37mm), fixed aperture lens! It’s only on sale in Japan at the moment…

Website: Imaging Resource - Hitachi i.mega HDC-401

Up to now I’ve resisted blogging about camera phones - they’re just low-megapixel, non-zoom, low-quality toys, right? Well, Casio’s latest camera phone, the A5406CA, is set to change all of that, as it offers 3.2 megapixels and up to 60 minutes of video!

On a more general note, do you think that PhotographyBLOG should cover camera phones? Are they the digital cameras of the future? How many of you own one?

Website: Casio Japan Press Release

Website: DCViews - Casio A5406C

Steves Digicams have just reviewed the 4 megapixel Kodak Easyshare LS743 digital camera.

“Building on the success of the LS443 , The Kodak EasyShare LS743 combines the same 4.0 megapixel imager found on its predecessor, but adds new features like a high-quality Schneider Kreuznach Variogon 2.8x optical zoom lens, and the new Kodak Color Science image processing chip, all wrapped up in an all-metal compact design.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Kodak Easyshare LS743 Review

Steves Digicams have reviewed the new 4 megapixel Kodak Easyshare CX7430 digital camera

“The overall image quality in BEST 4.0MP was good. Flash portraits were well exposed, and skin tones were natural in our test shots. The flash range of up to 11.8 feet (at wide angle) won’t illuminate large rooms, but is adequate for most interior shooting, especially group portraits. You can include yourself in these portraits thanks to the CX7430’s tripod mount and self-timer. The flash also works extremely well for macro photography and “throttles down” to prevent over-exposure at even the closest range.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Kodak Easyshare CX7430 Review

Steves Digicams have reviewed the Kodak Easyshare CX7300 (US$129.95 MSRP), which is designed for the entry-level digital photographer. Its 3.2-megapixel resolution and 3X digital zoom provide prints up to 11 x 14 inches.

“Bottom line - The EasyShare CX7300 will make a great choice for those just entering the digital world or anyone who wants something to replace all those disposable cameras they have been buying. The EasyShare CX7300 is easy to use, and produces 3.2 megapixel images capable of being printed at up to 8x10-inches. This is a great camera to start out with and one that you’ll be happy to pass on to a family member or your children when you’re ready to upgrade to a more advanced camera with greater capability.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Kodak Easyshare CX7300 Review

Steves Digicams has reviewed the dye-sublimation Olympus P-10 Digital Photo Printer, which produces a photo-lab quality 6x4” print in less than 45 seconds. The Olympus P-10 Digital Photo Printer has a street price of $199.

“The P-10 is a very fast 4x6” dye-sub printer with an average printing time of just 45 seconds (not counting data transmission time.) That puts it in a tie with the HiTi PhotoShuttle and the HiTi 730PS which also produce 4x6” prints in 45 seconds. Most other 4x6” dye sub printers take anywhere from 75 to 100 seconds per print. Another nice feature is that the prints do not come out of the printer with the usual tear-off tabs on both ends, they’re 100% borderless and ready to be shared.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Olympus P-10 Digital Photo Printer Review

Imaging Resource are reporting that production of the new 5 megapixel DSC-T11 digital camera has been temporarily halted due to a problem with the finish of the camera body flaking off if it’s bumped against a hard surface. The Sony DSC-T11 is currently only available in Japan.

Website: Imaging Resource - Sony Japan temporarily halts DSC-T11 sales

Sony have quietly introduced a new model to their range of digital cameras. The DSC-W12 is the same camera as the DSC-W1, but it has a Special Edition black body, black leather case and is supplied with 4 x NiMH batteries. The DSC-W12 will be available in mid June 2004.

Website: Sony Style - Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W12

The Slovenian website eFotoGrafija have just reviewed the tiny 4 megapixel Pentax Optio S4i, which has a 3X optical zoom, 1.8 inch LCD monitor and features the first PENTAX digital cradle-style lithium ion recharge base unit.

Website: eFotoGrafija - Pentax Optio S4i Review

DPReview have reported that Canon have made Digital Photo Professional V1.0 available for download for Canon EOS-1D and EOS-1Ds owners. This is a new image management and RAW conversion utility that originally shipped with the EOS-1D Mk II. You need to type in the serial number of your camera to be able to download the new software - visit DPReview for the links.

Website: DPReview - Canon’s DPP for EOS-1D and EOS-1Ds owners

Ofoto, Inc. Press Release 19/05/04

Online Photography Service Now Enabled With Premium, High Quality Digital Photo Processing
Emeryville, CA., May 19—Ofoto, Inc. (www.ofoto.com), a leading online photo service and wholly owned subsidiary of Eastman Kodak Company, today announced the addition of KODAK PERFECT TOUCH processing to its online photo processing services. KODAK PERFECT TOUCH processing service literally transforms pictures as they are being processed to individually improve each photo before it is printed. KODAK PERFECT TOUCH processing is now being applied to all Ofoto print orders at no extra charge.

Nikon Corporation Press Release 20/05/05

TOKYO - Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce that the D70 has been selected to receive the coveted Camera Grand Prix 2004 award.

The Camera Grand Prix is the most prestigious award presented to a camera in the Japanese photo industry. It is sponsored by the Camera Press Club, an organization founded in September 1963 and comprised of writers from thirteen of Japan’s leading photography and camera publications.

This year’s selection committee of 51 photographers, scholars, and magazine editors selected the D70 to receive the 21st annual Camera Grand Prix award as the single most outstanding still camera from 172 nominees released between April 2003 and March 2004. This is the 4th time Nikon has received the award, with previous wins in 1984 (the 1st Grand Prix) for the Nikon FA, in 1989 (the 6th Grand Prix) for the Nikon F4, and in 1997 (the 14th Grand Prix) for the Nikon F5.

SMaL Camera Technologies Press Release 19/05/04

SMaL Camera Technologies Introduces Ultra-Pocket 5 Rapid Development Kit to Enable World’s Slimmest 3-Megapixel Digital Cameras

Kit Positions Manufacturers to Launch Best in Class 3MP DSCs at Retail Price Points of $129 or Below

Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (May 19, 2004) ? SMaL Camera Technologies, a developer of digital imaging solutions and enabler of award-winning super-thin digital still cameras, announced today its new Ultra-Pocket? 5 rapid development kit for 3-megapixel credit card cameras with color TFT display. The Ultra-Pocket 5 kit enables manufacturers and brands to rapidly enter the heart of the mass consumer market ? 3-megapixel ? with unparalleled thinness, style, wide dynamic range, and worry-free battery life, in the sub-$129 retail price range.

“Manufacturers and brands struggle to penetrate the highly coveted ‘slim’ category for digital cameras,” says Maurizio Arienzo, SMaL’s president and chief executive officer. “When they rely on off-the-shelf components, not only is their time to market slow and expensive, but also their cameras fail to meet consumers’ and retailers’ expectations in thinness, battery life, and quality, and in many cases, price point. Only SMaL’s Ultra-Pocket 5 kit overcomes all of these sources of frustration for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers alike.”

The Ricoh Caplio RX is the successor to the Caplio G4wide, with Ricoh claiming that the new model is quicker, slimmer, lighter and even easier to use. The Ricoh Caplio RX stands out from the rest of the market because of its wide-angle 28mm lens, and because it has the world’s fastest shutter response and start-up times. Other features, such as the 3 megapixel sensor and 3x optical zoom, are standard for this class of camera, so does the Caplio RX have what it takes to catch your attention? Find out in my review.

Website: Ricoh Caplio RX Review

Does your digital camera offer a RAW file format, but you have no idea what it does or what advantages it offers? Take a look at Michael Reichmann’s latest article on the Luminous Landscape website, which explains what a RAW file is and the pros and cons.

“Something to consider is that every digital camera is indeed always shooting in raw mode. But, if we choose to save the file as a JPG we are committing to the raw conversion program that is built into the camera. If we allow the file to be saved in raw format though we have the opportunity to do the conversion on a more sophisticated platform, and to do so again and again if there’s any benefit to this in future. In other words, the decision is ? do you want to do the raw file conversion now in the camera, or later on your computer?”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Understanding Raw Files

DCResource have posted their review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1, a rangefinder-like digital camera which is exactly the same as the Leica Digilux 2 in terms of camera design.

“There’s a whole lot to like about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1. It could be the stunning, retro design that’s reminiscent of Leica cameras of old. Or perhaps it’s the manual shutter speed, aperture, and focus rings, which make adjusting settings super-easy. The photo quality is very nice, too, but a bit on the noisy side. What’s the catch? The price. With a list price of $1599, you could buy a Nikon D70 kit plus an extra lens, and you’ll have better photos, performance, and expandability. You’re paying a lot for nostalgia here, folks.”

Website: DCResource - Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1 Review

The Spanish website quesabesde.com have reviewed the Panasonic DMC-FX5, which features a 1/2.5” CCD with a total of 4.23 mega pixels. The camera’s Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens is comparable to a 35 to 105mm lens on a 35mm camera. Enhanced features include guide lines to help identify horizontal and vertical reference, and a real-time histogram which indicates the exposure status.

Website: quesabesde.com - Panasonic DMC-FX5 Review

According to an article on Reuters.com, global digital camera sales are set to rise by 39% during 2004, reaching 100 million units by 2008. The catchily-named “Worldwide Digital Still Camera Forecast” by IDC also said that shipments this year will reach 68.6 million units.

Website: Reuters.com - Digital Camera Shipments Seen Up 39 Pct in 2004

Colour Confidence Press Release 17/05/04

ColorPlus launch heralds new era in affordable Monitor Calibration Devices

ColorVision ColorPlus available from £89.95 inc VAT
Brings monitor calibration devices to a wider consumer audience

Birmingham, UK, May 17, 2004 - Colour Confidence, the colour management division of TypeMaker, is set to revolutionise the consumer digital photography marketplace with the launch of ColorVision ColorPlus. Priced at a highly attractive £89.95 (including VAT), the simple to use PC Windows-based device introduces consumers to the benefits of monitor calibration devices, traditionally the preserve of professional photographers.

“The growing popularity of digital photography and imaging has created a requirement for an entry-level colour management solution that delivers true monitor accuracy. The introduction of ColorPlus brings a new dimension to the photographic experience of digital camera enthusiasts who traditionally have not been able to justify the additional spend. ColorPlus offers an affordable introduction to monitor calibration devices and a simple migration path to the Spyder and Spyder Pro portfolio,” said Geoffrey Clements, Managing Director, Colour Confidence.