Steves Digicams have just reviewed the 3.2 megapixel Pentax Optio 30, which is a simple digital camera aimed at photography beginners.

“The new Pentax Optio 30 is an affordable compact camera that combines a 3.2 megapixel imager with a Pentax 3x optical zoom lens. When you first look at this camera, you might think the stylish body is metal, but with a touch or a tap you will find that it’s really made from high-impact plastic. Even so it seems to be very well built and should hold up well under normal use. This is a simple to use camera that offers beginners and anyone a wide variety of fully- automatic record modes. “

Website: Steves Digicams - Pentax Optio 30 Review

In his latest article Michael Reichmann shares his experience of photographing a bullfight in southern Spain:

“Bullfighting is a traditional sport in many parts of Spain, as well as in Mexico and other parts of the world. Its historical roots are an the province of Andelucia and its heart is in Seville. I attended my first bullfight there last week, and in Death in the Afternoon describe photographing a bullfight as well provide a small portfolio. If you’re squeamish or have objections to bullfighting, you are under no obligation to view this page.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Death in the Afternoon

Imaging Resource have reviewed the 4.0 megapixel Canon Powershot S410 (known as the Digital IXUS 430 outside North America).

“Image Noise: Noticeable even at ISO 50, but probably not objectionable for most users until ISO 400. With higher CCD resolutions, the pixels are getting smaller, and so image noise is becoming more apparent than in earlier generations of cameras. The S410 exemplifies this trend, in that there is slight but visible image noise, even in its ISO 50 images. For most users though, the results at ISO 50 and 100 will likely be OK, 200 marginal, and only ISO 400 really objectionable. Also, as you’d expect due to its slightly larger pixels, the S410 shows slightly less noise than its higher-resolution sibling, the S500.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Canon Powershot S410 Review

Imaging Resource have just reviewed the new flagship model of the Canon Digital IXUS fleet, the 5.0 megapixel Powershot S500 (known as the Digital IXUS 500 outside North America), which was announced at the start of February.

“The quality and versatility of the ELPH series has impressed me from the start, and the 5.0-megapixel S500 doesn’t disappoint. The camera’s tiny size makes it a travel worthy companion, and the range of features give the camera an edge over many point-and-shoot style digicams in the marketplace.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Canon Powershot S500 Review

The Hungarian website Index Digicam have just reviewed the 3-megapixel Nikon Coolpix 3200 and the 2-megapixel Nikon Coolpix 2200 compact digital cameras.

Website: Index Digicam - Nikon Coolpix 3200/2200 Review

Shortcut Press Release 06/05/04

NEW RELEASE: Shortcut(R) PhotoArtist(TM) - Turn your Photos into Art.

ARNHEM, May 6, 2004—The official release of Shortcut PhotoArtist is now a fact. Following to its successful showcase introduction at CeBIT 2004, Shortcut just put the finishing touch to their PhotoArtist software.

Shortcut PhotoArtist is a unique, creative tool that lets you make fantastic artwork based on digital photos. For example, you can create a watercolour painting, or give your photo an oil paint effect. Maybe you would like to add contour with fine sketches, and have your work on a
canvas background; by combining different effects and blending modes, artistic possibilities are endless.

Characteristic for PhotoArtist is the focus at fun and creativity. That makes it such a valuable addition to the Shortcut Photo Series. Like the rest of the Series, PhotoArtist offers typical high quality and ease-of-use standards.

PhotoArtist is available for both Macintosh and Windows platforms. The software can be downloaded at http://www.trulyphotomagic.com/downloads

Canon Press Release 05/05/04

Canon delivers new levels of scanning performance for photo-enthusiasts

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology,is pleased to announce the 2400x4800 dpi, 48-bit colour depth CanoScan 5200F film and document scanner. A 6-frame Film Adapter Unit (FAU) allows high volume film scanning. Dust and scratches on spoiled film are automatically detected and removed with Canon’s highly accurate infra-red FARE Level 2 technology. A striking, sleek new design matches the scanner’s strong technical specifications.

Many of the CanoScan 5200F’s features are designed to save time. An enlarged FAU allows up to six 35mm unmounted negatives or four 35mm mounted slides to be scanned in a single operation. A USB 2.0 Hi-Speed connection works together with a new, faster scanning engine to deliver excellent scan speeds on both Windows and Mac operating systems. Fast Multi-Photo mode creates separate de-skewed files from a single pass scan of multiple photographs. ‘EZ’ buttons provide single step functionality for common operations, such as scanning to PDF file or email.

Following my enthusiastic review of the Lensbaby a few weeks ago, Photo.net have also given this unique product a glowing report.

“It takes a bit of manual dexterity to use the “lensbaby:. You have to compress the lens to focus it, and apply tilt if you want an extra “effect” and that’s most easily done by holding the camera body in both hands and using the two middle fingers of each hand on either side of the lens. You can then get the index finger of your right hand on the shutter release, but it can be a bit of a struggle, or at least require a little practice. This is more of an art than a science.”

Website: Photo.net - Lensbaby Review

Website: Read my review of the Lensbaby

“How to determine the best exposure for a specific photograph with film and digital capture” is the sixth part of Alain Briot’s Aesthetics and Photography series over on the Luminous Landscape website.

“Exposure. The word contains a certain notion of risk and a certain amount of irremediable commitment. Once the exposure has been set on a camera and the subsequent photograph taken there is no way to physically change this exposure. You are done, set and have to live with the consequences. Hopefully the exposure is ?right on? and the photograph holds details everywhere.

But what if the photograph does not hold detail everywhere? What if your calculated exposure isn?t absolutely, 100% correct? What if your calculations were off, what if you made a mistake! Then what? Is there a way out, a way back to a great image despite the fact you could have done better in the field exposure-wise?”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Aesthetics and Photography Part 6

The Slovenian website e-FotoGrafija have reviewed the ultra-thin 3 megapixel Minolta DiMAGE Xg, another digital camera that was first announced at PMA 2004 in February.

Website: e-FotoGrafija - Minolta DiMAGE Xg Review

A new firmware version, 1.2, has been released for the Nikon Coolpix 3700 by Nikon Europe.

The following improvements have been made with firmware version 1.2.
- A problem was found with certain brands of Secure Digital memory cards which meant that some images are not visible after download to computer also that some images could not to be displayed during camera playback. This problem has been corrected with firmware version 1.2.
- An issue with the brightness levels of movies which varied when recorded under certain lighting conditions has been corrected.
- Corrections to city names and English error messages in the Time Zone option of the SET-UP menu have been made.

Website: Nikon Coolpix 3700 Firmware 1.2 (Windows)

Website: Nikon Coolpix 3700 Firmware 1.2 (Macintosh)

The FinePix F610 Zoom is the successor to the popular FinePix F601, and like its predecessor it has the same upright format. The major difference between the two models is that the FinePix F610 Zoom features the brand new 6 megapixel 4th Generation Super CCD HR sensor. The FinePix F610 Zoom also borrows a feature from the professional FinePix S2 Pro digital SLR - both cameras have 2 LCDs on the rear, displaying shooting information on one LCD screen, and devoting the primary 1.8” screen to the image. So is the FinePix F610 Zoom a clever fusion of innovative features, or just a confused mish-mash of ideas? Read on to find out.

Website: Fuji FinePix F610 Zoom Review

Express Digital Press Release 05/05/04

EXPRESS DIGITAL SHIPS EXPRESS DIGITAL DARKROOM IMAGING WORKFLOW SOFTWARE

Integrates with Labtricity.com Network of Photo Labs & PhotoReflect.com Internet Storefront to Sell Photos

Protects Photo Libraries with USB Darkroom Key for Secures Images

Englewood, CO - May 5, 2004 - Express Digital, the leading provider of professional digital imaging workflow, e-commerce and lab connectivity solutions for the digital photographer, announced today at the Photo Imaging & Design Expo in San Diego shipment of Express Digital Darkroom integrated imaging workflow software for the emerging professional, advanced amateur, digital enthusiast, and professional digital photographer looking to maximize the functionality and investment in their digital camera purchase. 

Express Digital Darkroom provides everything a digital photographer needs for complete photo management, printing and promotion, including wide-ranging image capture; proofing and editing; comprehensive photo storage and management; extensive image enhancement tools and connectivity to Adobe PhotoShop; print fulfillment with Express Digital?s Labtricity network of labs; tracking packages and orders; and Internet publishing and storefront integration to sell photos online with Express Digital’s PhotoReflect Internet storefront. 

Two new reviews of cheap digital cameras prove that you can get a decent digicam for less than $100. Gadget Madness have reviewed the Che-ez! Foxz2, and The Inquirer have taken a look at the Umax (Yamada) Astrapix 550. One camera was judged to be rubbish, the other a veritable bargain.

“If you can’t tell, I’m annoyed I wasted my time on this camera. I’ve been watching Che-ez! camera for a long time. I even emailed and faxed their offices in 2001 to try to convince them to sell me the Che-ez! Cracker. They wouldn’t, so I’ve anxiously been waiting to get my hands on one of their cameras.

If this camera was $30 I’d be happy. I paid $99, and I’m not happy. It’s going back to the store today.”
(Gadget Madness)

“Can it be considered as a good buy? The Astrapix 550 provides with fantastic value for money especially considering the state of the competition for that sum of money. It might have a number of shortcomings but everything is forgiven when the price is considerd. It can be purchased at ebuyer.com.”
(The Inquirer)

Website: Gadget Madness - Che-ez! Foxz2 Review

Website: The Inquirer - Umax (Yamada) Astrapix 550 Review

Photoxels have reviewed the 8 megapixel Canon PowerShot Pro1, which was announced by Canon just before the start of the PMA 2004 trade show.

“I am very partial to compact digital cameras and the Canon PowerShot Pro1, with its compact size, superb build and handling, excellent image quality, and professional features, comes close to as perfect as a digital camera can be for me. Now, if only Canon would put its APS-sized CMOS image sensor into it….”

Website: Photoxels - Canon PowerShot Pro1 Review

The Hungarian website Index Digicam have published a review of the Epson Perfection 3170 flatbed scanner.

Website: Index Digicam - Epson Perfection 3170 Scanner Review

DCResource have just reviewed the 6 megapixel Olympus CAMEDIA C-60 ZOOM.

“In terms of photo quality, I was a bit disappointed with the C-60. Photos are well-exposed and colorful, but noise levels are higher than average, most likely due to the tightly-packed pixels on the 1/1.76” sensor. I also noticed some strange horizontal lines in some of my photos, which may just be specific to my camera.”

Website: DCResource - Olympus CAMEDIA C-60 ZOOM Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Olympus C-60 Zoom

Write a Review of the Olympus C-60 Zoom

The Norwegain website Akamera.no have published a test of 3 Canon 50mm lenses - the Canon EF 50mm 1.8 Mark II, Canon EF 50mm 1.4 USM and Canon EF 50mm 2.5 Compact Macro. There are an excellent set of comparitive sample shots so that you can see the differences between the lenses, even if norwegian isn’t one of your strong points.

Website: Akamera.no - Canon 50mm Lenses Test

The Spanish website Foto Imagen Digital have just reviewed the new 8-megapixel Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 digital camera.

“In the A2 the anti-shake works in many situations as an real ANTI-NOISE system, because allows the photographer to keep the noise under control with low sensibilities in dim light conditions, where other 8mpx cameras simply can’t. If such feature is really usefull is in THIS KIND of camera.”

Website: Foto Imagen Digital - Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 Review

The fourth PhotographyBLOG Portfolio has been submitted by Charlie Morey.

“Four decades of experience, rich in traditional photography, photojournalism, journalism, creative writing, graphic design and computer graphics has prepared self-taught digital artist Charlie Morey for his latest endeavor, producing fine art gicl?e prints based on computer-enhanced digital photographs and marketing them via the World Wide Web and other media.

Morey’s photography experience began in 1965 with a second-hand 35mm Minolta viewfinder camera, purchased at a pawn shop in Bangor, Maine, and used to launch a 30-year period of creating fine-art black-and-white prints.

In 1974, a career change to journalism/photojournalism and an upgrade to Nikon SLR cameras further enhanced his visual experience, as the editorial position offered opportunities to travel and photograph much of Europe and segments of the Far East. Producing both images and words to describe his experiences for publication, Morey’s depth of understanding and creative/emotional development increased manifold during the fast-paced 22-year period in print media.

In 1994, Charlie discovered the World Wide Web. In 1995, he launched CYBERpress Publishing Company, a web-development firm, and began applying his art to digital media, designing interfaces and creating content during the dot-com boom. In 1996, Morey left print media behind and began working fulltime for such companies as EarthLink Network, idealab!, Tickets.com and Mail2World to create the visual “front end” for their complex web systems.

He bought his first digital camera, a floppy-disk Sony Mavica MVC FD-91 with a resolution of less than one megapixel, in 2000 and created CYBERpress Galleries to display his work to the world. A year later, he upgraded to a higher-resolution Sony Mavica MVC CD-1000 and launched digitalphotography.tv, his current fine-art photography gallery complex and digital photography portal. And in September, 2002 he upgraded once again to a state-of-the-art Nikon D100 (just in time for his annual Maine Fall Foliage pilgrimage) to support his full commitment to the joy and business of creative photography.”

Website: Portfolios: Charlie Morey