DPReview have just reviewed the new 8-megapixel Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 digital camera.

“The DiMAGE A2 takes the A1 design and increases the resolution to eight megapixels. The A1’s primary unique feature (among many other good design features) is the Anti Shake system which works by stabilizing the sensor on a movable platform instead of moving any of the lens elements. This ingenious solution works, and still works on the DiMAGE A2 although I personally didn’t find it that useful in 90% of everyday shooting situations (your mileage may vary). Konica Minolta were at pains to stress that the DiMAGE A2 shouldn’t be seen as a simple ‘drop the sensor in’ upgrade and that many things under the hood have been modified, upgraded and fixed.”

Website: DPReview - Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 Review

Popular Photography magazine have interviewed 8 street photographers and published their insights and advice on their website. Fascinating stuff.

“PPI: Do you try to be “invisible” when you shoot, or do you approach people and ask to take their pictures? Either way, how do you handle approaching people and taking their pictures?
I never try to be invisible. And I almost never ask. I just stand around with a camera and photograph. If I make eye contact, I smile. That’s about it. When you are starting out, you tend to worry about this kind of thing but the truth is most people simply accept your presence if you look as if you know what you’re doing.”

Website: Popular Photography - Street Photographer Interviews

Popular Photography have reviewed the latest version of the popular alternative to Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro from Jasc Software. Version 8 includes several features aimed squarely at photographers, including the Perspective Correction, Straighten, One Step Photo Fix and Scratch Remover tools.

Website: Popular Photography - Paint Shop Pro 8 Review

Popular Photography have just reviewed the SpyderPro monitor calibration device. This is is an an all-digital, seven-filter colorimeter that works with both CRT and LCD monitors with the industry’s premiere monitor calibration software - OptiCAL. The SpyderPRO with OptiCAL calibrates your monitor to a universal standard for color and automatically creates a correct monitor profile.

Website: Popular Photography - SpyderPRO Review

The German website dforum.de has recently reviewed the new 8 megapixel professional DSLR from Canon, the EOS 1D Mark II. The review is available in both German and English.

“For me the Canon EOS 1D Mark II is an extremely successful combination of the precision and speed of a 1D and the smooth pixel quality of a 10D. Actually something I always wanted. But every one has to make the decision on his own whether or not the Mark II is worth it or not. It is undoubted that the Mark II is the - all the performance characteristics put together - the most innovative and fastest DSLR in the world. Only the 1Ds can top it in terms of picture resolution.”

Website: dforum.de - Canon EOS 1D Mark II Review

The Spanish website quesabesde.com have just reviewed the stylish 5 megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T1 digital camera.

Website: quesabesde.com - Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T1 Review

Lastolite Press Release 20/04/04

The Ezybox - the world’s first compact, portable softbox

Softbox lighting often makes the difference between an ordinary shot and an outstanding one, but up until now softboxes have generally been relegated to the studio due to their bulkiness and complicated assembly requirements. After years of development to find the answer to softbox portability, Lastolite have used their expertise in collapsible lighting solutions to create the Ezybox, a fully collapsible softbox without rods.

Offering an ideal combination of durability, portability, light quality and control, the Lastolite Ezybox has revolutionized the location photographer?s kitbag forever. Easy to set up and folding down to a third of its size, the secret of the Lastolite Ezybox is in its unique design. Four collapsible panels are stitched together to form a box, which pops up in seconds. A separate diffuser is attached via velcro, then a unique ‘speedring’ adapter attaches in seconds with no screws or fasteners of any type. For further reduction of the light output an optional additional diffuser is available.

The Czech website FotoAparat.cz have just reviewed the new Konica Minolta Dynax 60 film SLR (notice that I said film, not digital!).

Website: FotoAparat.cz - Konica Minolta Dynax 60 Review

This is the final part of my St. Paul’s Cathedral series. For some people that may be a bad thing, for others it may be a relief! I’ve learnt the following things from posting these particular photos:

1. I should really calibrate my monitors - quickly!
2. I need to find a converging verticals Photoshop tutorial.
3. There are a limited number of views of St. Pauls, and they all seem to be cliched.
4. Despite that , I still like these photos :-)
5. You can’t please everyone all of the time…

You can click on each image to view a larger / better quality version over on my personal website, markgoldstein.co.uk

Popular Photography magazine have just published 5 new digital camera reviews on their website, including the 6 megapixel Nikon D70 DSLR.

- Nikon D70
- Canon EOS-1D Mark II
- Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n
- Panasonic DMC-FZ10 Lumix
- Leaf Valeo 6 Digital Camera Back

Steves Digicams have today published their review of the 6 megapixel Nikon D70 DSLR.

“With the introduction of the D70, Nikon has redefined the amateur dSLR market. While Canon limited the features of its Digital Rebel to prevent competition with its own higher-end 10D, Nikon equipped the D70 with versatile features and equal or better shooting performance than its more costly D100. Nikon also included seven “Vari-Program” shooting modes that optimize camera settings for frequently found shooting conditions, addressing the needs of less-experienced users. The D70 is Nikon’s answer for amateur users of film-based SLR’s looking to move to digital, and for digital photographers who are tired of accommodating the limitations of consumer digicams.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Nikon D70 Review

Steves Digicams have today reviewed the 6 megapixel Casio EXILIM PRO EX-P600 digital camera.

“The image quality of the EX-P600 is very good, it captures sharp and well saturated pictures. Flesh tones were very accurate and well exposed. The 4x Canon zoom lens covers a 35mm equivalent of 33-132mm and has a 4x digital zoom feature. There is moderate barrel distortion at full wide angle but almost no pin cushioning at full telephoto. The zoom lens is quick and smooth as it goes from wide angle to telephoto. The indoor shots were also well saturated but not as sharp, maybe due to a lack of a focus assist lamp for low-light shooting.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Casio EXILIM PRO EX-P600 Review

Michael Reichmann over at Luminous Landscape has attempted to pick a winner from the crop of 8 megapixel digital cameras that he has been reviewing in the last couple of months.

“Of course the question that everyone wants to know, and which I receive countless e-mails asking, is - which one is the best? Since I know of no on-line or magazine reviewer that will provide you with a straightforward answer to this (and they’re probably wise not to), I’ll do my best to answer the question. You may not like the answers though.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - The Winner Is…

The Polish website Fotopolis have today posted their review of the 8-megapixel Sony DSC-F828 digital camera.

Website: Fotopolis - Sony DSC-F828 Review

The Czech website Digineff have published a short review of Version 4 of Neat Image. Neat Image is a digital filter designed to reduce visible noise in digital photographic images. Users of previous versions of Neat Image are entitled to a free upgrade to the latest version of the same edition.

Website: Digineff - Neat Image 4 Review

I bought my Canon EOS 10D digital SLR camera exactly 1 year ago, and in that year I’ve taken nearly 10,000 photographs with it. To help celebrate my first anniversary of ownership, I’ve selected 24 of my favourite images from the past year and presented them in chronological order. There is no commentary or technical information, just the bare 24 photos to look at and (hopefully) enjoy.

Article: Canon EOS 10D: A Year in Pictures

Well, after yesterday’s mixed reaction to the first part of my St. Paul’s Cathedral series, here are 5 more photographs from the same shoot. I’m curious to know if the shadows in these images look “blocked” or not on your monitor? These are the first photos that I’ve edited on my new LCD monitor, which compared to my 3-year old CRT monitor displays a lot more detail in the shadow areas. Having two monitors running side-by-side has made me question which one is showing the “true” colours (if there is such a thing). I think I’m going to have to invest in a monitor calibration device…

You can click on each image to view a larger / better quality version over on my personal website, markgoldstein.co.uk

The winner of the 20th PhotographyBLOG Photo of the Week contest is Gary55 with the entry “TurtleHead”. 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 21st 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.

Please note that 3 new rules have been added to the Photo of the Week contest, with immediate effect:

- Only images with 3 or more votes are eligible to win.
- A vote only counts if it is made during the duration of the contest.
- If you rate a photo with 5 or less, please leave a comment explaining why.

Click here to read the full Photo of the Week Rules.

Olympus Japan Press Release 19/04/04

Olympus Introduces The CAMEDIA AZ-1 Compact Digital Camera Featuring The World’s First Mobile Advanced Super View Display for Enhanced Viewing Enjoyment

- World’s first Mobile Advanced Super View Display
- New album functions and 23 Scene Program modes
- Easy operation with new control dial

Olympus Corporation (President: Tsuyoshi Kikukawa) is pleased to announce the introduction of the 3.2-megapixel CAMEDIA AZ-1 compact digital camera with 3x optical zoom. In addition to full range of camera features, the CAMEDIA AZ-1 is equipped with a sharp, clear, Mobile Advanced Super View Display that makes it equally suitable for use as a photo viewer.

With its Mobile Advanced Super View Display and new album functions, the CAMEDIA AZ-1 is an entirely new type of camera that offers “shooting,” “viewing,” and “sharing.” The Mobile Advanced Super View Display offers high contrast and a wide viewing angle, and its incorporation into the CAMEDIA AZ-1 marks the first time that this display technology has been utilized in a digital camera or other such mobile device. The 2.5-inch display has a resolution of 210,000 pixels, and its large size and excellent image quality make it ideal for both reviewing and appreciating photos. In addition, New Album and slideshow functions allow users to organize images in the camera, and there is a Camera Album function that allows images edited on a computer to be uploaded and viewed on the camera. By taking advantage of the large, high-definition Mobile Advanced Super View Display, users can easily use the CAMEDIA AZ-1 as a portable photo album that allows them to share their favorite photos with other people wherever they go.

The CAMEDIA AZ-1 is also equipped with 23 Scene Program modes that allow users to obtain optimum image quality in a wide range of shooting situations. Ease of operation is also enhanced by a new control dial that allows various functions to be selected using only the thumb and forefinger of the right hand.

Steves Digicams have today reviewed the new 6 megapixel Kodak Easyshare DX7630.

“The DX7630 features a Schneider Kreuznach Variogon 3X optical zoom lens with a focal length ranging from 39 - 117mm in 35mm equivalence. The lens produces sharp images throughout its zoom range, but with a bit of barrel distortion and pin cushioning present at the wide-angle and telephoto extremes. The lens is quite fast; with a wide-open variable aperture range of F2.8 (wide) to F4.8 (tele), it will allow for a higher than expected shutter speed and enable you to hand-hold the camera in lighting conditions that might otherwise require a tripod or some other form of camera support.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Kodak Easyshare DX7630 Review