It was only announced yesterday, but DCResource have already published a preview of the Canon PowerShot S60, a 5 megapixel digital camera with a wide-angle 28mm-100mm lens and a new thin body.

“The RAW + JPEG option isn’t what it sounds like. The camera doesn’t save a separate JPEG image along with the RAW file like Canon’s SLR cameras. Rather, it embeds a JPEG thumbnail that allows for the zoom and scroll (AKA playback zoom) feature and image playback on the camera or the PC. Why would you want to use a larger thumbnail? The answer is, to check the detail in the image. If you use the zoom and scroll feature a lot, a higher resolution thumbnail will let you see more detail when zoomed in.”

Website: DCResource - Canon PowerShot S60 Preview

The German website digitalkamera.de have today reviewed the 8 megapixel Canon PowerShot Pro1, which was announced by Canon just before the start of the PMA 2004 trade show.

Website: digitalkamera.de - Canon PowerShot Pro1 Review

The Norwegian website DigIT have just reviewed the 6 megapixel Casio EXILIM PRO EX-P600 digital camera.

Website: DigIT - Casio EXILIM PRO EX-P600 Review

CNEt have published their review of the new 8-megapixel Nikon Coolpix 8700 digital camera.

“An 8X ED-Nikkor zoom lens distinguishes Nikon’s Coolpix 8700 from the rest of the 8-megapixel competition but not much else. It shoots great pictures with loads of detail, and it offers enthusiasts a solid feature set, but those same photographers will probably grumble about its lackluster performance and some aspects of its design.”

Website: CNET - Nikon Coolpix 8700 Review

The Spanish website quesabesde.com have posted their review of the new 6 megapixel Nikon D70 DSLR.

Website: quesabesde.com - Nikon D70 Review

Delkin Devices Inc. Press Release 10/05/04

DELKIN?S USB BRIDGE CONNECTS A DIGITAL CAMERA DIRECTLY TO A STORAGE DEVICE WITHOUT A COMPUTER

Poway CA, May 10, 2004 Delkin Devices Inc., maker of premium quality eFilm memory cards and other innovative products, announces a revolutionary new device that connects two USB devices together without a computer. The USB Bridge fits easily in the palm of one’s hand, and enables users to copy files by attaching a digital camera directly to a variety of peripherals such as an iPod (and other MP3 players), USB Flash “Thumb Drives”, external hard drives, CD-R burners and memory card readers. It links your camera to a wide variety of USB mass storage devices without having to remove the memory card. The Bridge works with all the top camera brands including Canon, Fuji, Kodak, Nikon, Olympus and Sony. Delkin designed the Bridge for the traveling photographer who prefers the convenience of leaving their laptop at home but still needs a solution for storing and transferring files on the fly. The versatile USB Bridge is more than a helpful tool for photographers.  It can also work independent of a digital camera and enables anyone to copy files by directly linking:

- USB Flash “Thumb Drives” to USB Flash “Thumb Drives”.
- A USB storage device to an iPod and other USB MP3 players.
- Memory Card Reader to Memory Card Reader.
- USB Flash “Thumb Drive” or Memory Card Reader to a CD-R burner or External Hard Drive.

I’ve just returned home unscathed from a weekend of mountain biking in the Afan Forest, South Wales. So normal service has been resumed here on PhotographyBLOG, until next weekend when I will be at my friend’s stag night extravaganza :-)

On a cycling-related note, at the start of June I’m undertaking a 3-day, 300km cycle challenge from London to Amsterdam to raise money for Mind, the UK mental health charity. In addition to all of the training that I’ve been doing, I also have to raise ?1000 in sponsorship.

So if you would like to show your support with a pledge, I would be very grateful :-)
You can a make a donation via this website:

Website: My Personal Donation Page

I’ve included some information below about some of the work Mind does and what my sponsorship money can help to fund.

Mind is the leading mental health charity working with the one in four people who experience mental health problems, which are common and can happen to anyone. Such problems can have a devastating effect on all aspects of life.

The MindinfoLine is a lifeline to many thousands of people in crisis. It offers immediate, free and confidential support to people who might have nowhere else to turn. The scale of the problem is daunting and Mind is committed to increasing services, to helping everyone who needs Mind’s help.

Sponsorship from just one London - Amsterdam cyclist could pay the running costs of the MindinfoLine for two working days, during which time Mind can help 200 people in distress.

Website: MIND

Thanks very much for your support!

DPreview have just published their review of the 5 megapixel Leica Digilux 2.

“When you first handle the Digilux 2 you can’t help but be impressed by its build quality and logical control layout. I’m quite comfortable stating that the Digilux 2 has the easiest to use manual controls of any current digital camera. This allows for quick switching into aperture priority, shutter priority or manual focus. It’s clear that Leica has also worked hard to ensure the small details are as we would expect, from the weighty yet smooth motion of the lens barrel rings to the neat compartment doors.”

Website: DPReview - Leica Digilux 2 Review

The winner of the 23rd PhotographyBLOG Photo of the Week contest is Gary55 with the entry “Afternoon Raccoon”. There are no prizes as such for this contest, but the winning photo is displayed on the PhotographyBLOG homepage for a week, and the winner can display the Photo of the Week logo on their website if they wish.

The 24th Photo of the Week contest is now open. This is a weekly photography challenge where you decide who the winner is by voting for your favourite photos. It’s an open contest with no set theme and you can enter as many photos as you like.

Click here to read the Photo of the Week Rules.

Canon have today announced the PowerShot S60, a 5 megapixel digital camera with a wide-angle 28mm-100mm lens and a new thin body.

You can view some sample images here:
http://www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/pss60/sample-e.html

Canon Europe Product Info
Fast, powerful and intuitive: the 5.0 Megapixel PowerShot S60 bursts with professional features, yet is compact enough to take everywhere. A finely crafted tool with which to indulge your creativity.

Features
5.0 Megapixels
3.6x wide angle optical zoom lens
Canon UA glass-moulded aspherical lens ensures slim body
13 shooting modes
DIGIC and iSAPS
9-point AiAF
Print/Share button
PictBridge/Canon Direct Print compatible
Wide range of accessories
CIG* access

As big as your imagination, as small as your pocket

Steves Digicams have posted their review of the Samsung Digimax U-CA 3, a 3 megapixel digital camera aimed at the young photographer or the budding photo enthusiast.

“Bottom line - the Samsung Digimax U-CA 3 is a great all-round camera. It’s a good choice for anyone who wants an affordable, easy to use digicam. With the ability to take great pictures, “cool” avatar feature, and compact size, it’s sure to be at the top of our young digicam users’ gift list. And it will also make a great summer vacation camera for mom and dad too!”

Website: Steves Digicams - Samsung Digimax U-CA 3 Review

Steves Digicams have reviewed the 8-colour Canon i9900 printer, which can create a 13 x 19-inch borderless photograph in under three minutes and has a maximum resolution of 4800 x 2400 dpi. The printer is available now for a suggested list price of $499.

“Everytime I think that it just can’t get any better - it does!  Canon has improved the color gamut, the output resolution and made print even faster.  I personally own the Canon i9100 and the output from the new i9900 is noticeably more impressive, especially the reds and greens. It’s not the same as using the vivid printing effect or increasing the overall saturation, these prints just have more visual “punch.”  There’s no doubt that the addition of the Red and Green inks have expanded the already photo-realistic output of Canon’s 6-color printing system. The only downside is that you now have to buy more ink tanks, eight versus six, but thankfully they’re replaced individually and only when needed.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Canon i9900 Printer Review

Mike Johnston’s Sunday Morning Photographer column returns this week with a look at finding the best archival blank CD-Rs.

“There’s not really one “best” type of disc. There are several good ones. The problem is, how do you know what you’re buying? Most CD-R blanks that are available in most stores are only marked with the brand name (which is irrelevant - I’ll get to that in a minute) and the country of origin (this can be marginally helpful, as most “Made in Japan” discs are Taiyo Yuden, a dependably good factory. But it’s not much to go on).”

Website: Sunday Morning Photographer: “Finding the Best CD-Rs”

Imaging Resource have just published their full review of the new 8-megapixel Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom digital camera.

“When I first set eyes on it, the C-8080 Wide Zoom’s large lens and chunky body made it seem a little bulky and ungainly. Once I began shooting with it though, any such impression quickly departed, and I learned to love the corner to corner sharpness and wide aperture that the large lens afforded. The camera’s fit, feel, and finish are excellent, the overall feel of the camera more “pro” than “consumer.”“

Website: Imaging Resource - Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom Review

Website: Read my review of the Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom

According to a brief report on the Forbes website, Olympus shipped 7.4 million digital cameras during their last business year (ending March 31st 2004). This makes it the third largest digital camera brand after Sony and Canon. Olympus has stated that it expects to ship 11 million digicams in the coming financial year (found via Digital Photography Blog).

The Czech website Digineff have just reviewed the new 3.2 megapixel Canon PowerShot A75.

Website: Digineff - Canon PowerShot A75 Review

The Norwegian website Akamera.no have today reviewed the 6 megapixel Casio EXILIM PRO EX-P600 digital camera.

Website: Akamera.no - Casio EXILIM PRO EX-P600 Review

Ricoh makes history with the launch of Caplio GX - a slim 5-megapixel 28mm wide-angle zoom digital camera with exceptional lens construction and the world’s fastest* shutter response time.

May 6, 2004. Ricoh is very pleased to announce the release of the Caplio GX, a superbly built 5-megapixel, 28mm-85mm wide-angle zoom lens digital camera that will most certainly top of the ‘must have’ lists of avid professionals and photography enthusiasts alike.

The Caplio GX debut marks a significant achievement in Ricoh’s long, dedicated history of manufacturing superior optical devices that began in 1938. To fully appreciate the significance of the Caplio GX launch, one must look to the year 1998 when Ricoh took the world by storm with the unveiling of the Ricoh GR1, an automatic high-performance 28mm compact camera that became an instant sensation winning numerous awards such as the TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) Best Compact Camera of the Year.

The Caplio GX combines the traditional craftsmanship expertise of the GR series with further enhanced high-performance technology found in the Caplio RX digital camera that was just released in March 2004.

Steves Digicams 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.

“Pentax’s new Optio S4i is a full-featured “credit-card size” camera that packs a 4-megapixel imager with a 3x Pentax optical zoom lens in an all-metal body. Its unique size makes it easy to take anywhere. The S4i includes many of the features found on the Optio S4 , but adds new features like a larger 1.8-inch LCD and a charging base unit. It also complies with PictBridge technology, so you can print directly to any PictBridge compatible printer.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Pentax Optio S4i Review

Steves Digicams have posted their review of the Pentax Optio S40, a 4 megapixel, 3X zoom digital camera sporting a sleek aluminum design.

“Another new camera from Pentax this year (2004), the Optio S40 is a compact, stylish, and extremely durable camera that is loaded with features usually found on larger, more expensive digicams. It combines a 4-megapixel imager with a smc (super multi coated) Pentax 3x optical zoom lens. It offers the less-experienced user with a wide variety of fully-automatic recording modes, plus includes a Help function that describes various key functions as well as shooting modes.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Pentax Optio S40 Review