“Dedicated to the all-knowing cynics on the DPReview Forums”, this week’s Sunday Morning Photographer column from Mike Johnston is sure to spark some heated debate.

“And that’s just the way it is, in this reviewer’s life. Yeah, I checked my ideals at the door a long time ago. Sure, I sell out every day. Whaddaya want, objectivity? Honest opinions? If I did that, what would the cynics on the DPReview Forums have to talk about? They’re wise to the fact that every positive review is the result of bribery or special treatment. No, you can’t fool those guys. But it’s a hard world. A guy’s got to get along in it, you know? It’s just not so easy, this reviewer’s life.”

Website: Sunday Morning Photographer: The Reviewer’s Life

Tom’s Hardware have just reviewed the Archos Gmini 220 portable storage device (found via digicamera.net).

“The Gmini 220 is attractive, no doubt about it. 20GB for this size and weight will delight any self-respecting nomad. Its elegant unadorned finish increases its appeal. The large screen and the ergonomics of the browse system make it a pleasure to use. Now all we need to decide is whether it is worth the investment of $350. The insatiable audiophile who dreams of a hard-drive player will be delighted. If this audiophile is also a digital photographer who uses CF cards, so much the better. And so much the better if they have voluminous data to carry around.”

Website: Tom’s Hardware - Archos Gmini 220 Review

HP Press Release 10/04/04

HP today launches one of the most ambitious public archiving projects of recent times which with the public’s help, could bring to light hidden gems in Britain’s rich cultural and social history. 

The company is encouraging people to dust off their old photo albums and submit their most striking images of social and cultural value so that schools, researchers, the media and members of the public can use them as a useful resource.  To participate in the HP National Photo Album, people should follow the simple instructions on www.nationalphotoalbum.co.uk* or send their submissions by post**.

HP believes the project will not only make it easy for people to digitise, store and share their photographic inheritance but in time will be a unique resource that shows Britain through the eyes of the people that lived and breathed this and the last century. 

“This is the first digital national album to be comprised solely of photographs from personal collections and we are inviting everyone to be part of it”, said Peter Urey, marketing and category manager for HP’s Imaging and Printing Group. “The most positive outcome will be an archive that brings to life monumentally historic events and illustrates the massive socio-cultural change we’ve witnessed since photography was invented.”
 
“We know the average household contains around 1,500 non-digital photographs, making roughly 24 billion images of potential interest. Of course, most of them would be of no interest to a public archive, but we are convinced that lurking in the nation’s attics and lofts are thousands of images that have real social and cultural value.”

There was very bright sunshine during the Nifu Nifa performance, so most people who bought a programme ended up using them as sunscreens. Only one person that I could see was actually reading her copy.

Steves Digicams have published their review of the A4 Epson Stylus Photo R800 printer.

“The Matte Black ink makes a very noticeable difference in the print quality when using the Matte Paper Heavyweight or Enhanced Matte papers. Color or B&W images with good dynamic range make gorgeous monochrome prints that rival the best of what I used to make in my darkroom some twenty-five years ago. Just like the Stylus Photo 2200, the R800 with its UltraChrome inks is an ideal printer for monochrome prints, especially on the Epson matte or art papers.”

The R800 printer costs around ?299 and is available now. Cartridges cost ?11.90 each and ?6.35 for the Gloss Optimizer cartridge (inc. VAT).

Website: Steves Digicams - Epson Stylus Photo R800 Review

Website: Read my review of the Epson Stylus Photo R800

LetsGoDigital have just published a First Look report of the new Pentax OptioMX digital digital camera, which features 3.2 effective megapixels and 10X optical zoom to capture still images and high resolution (VGA) full-motion movies on MPEG-4 format with zoom capability.

“The Pentax Optio MX camera is a digital camera with an exclusive design with which one really has to become acquainted. It will be a while before the Optio MX is really available but when this model gets onto the shelves of the dealer around the corner it is definitely worth while to get to know it better…”

Website: LetsGoDigital - Pentax OptioMX First Look

ShortCourses Publishing Company have just released a guide to the new 8 megapixel Canon PowerShot Pro1 digital camera.

This book is organized around the concepts of digital photography because that’s how photographers think. You think about scenes and subjects, highlights and shadows, softness and sharpness, color and tone. The procedures you use with the Canon PowerShot Pro 1 camera are integrated throughout the concepts, appearing in those places where they apply. This integrated approach let’s you first understand the concepts of photography and then see step by step how to use the Canon PowerShot Pro 1 in all kinds of photographic situations.

Website: The ShortCourses Bookstore - Canon PowerShot Pro 1

The website Digital Photography Blog have started a poll to find the best digital photography website, and PhotographyBLOG has been nominated as one of the 10 entries! :-) So head over there now and vote for your favourite website (which is obviously this one, right?!).

Website: Easter Digital Photography Site Awards

The German website digitalkamera.de have reviewed a new software product from Extensis called pxl SmartScale, which allows you to enlarge the sizes of your digital images with no discernible loss in quality. Or at least that’s what Extensis claim anyway - find out if they’re right in Photoworld.de’s review.

Website: digitalkamera.de - Extensis pxl SmartScale Review

DCResource have reviewed the ultra-thin Minolta DiMAGE Xg, another digital camera that was first announced at PMA 2004.

“The Xg is a pure point-and-shoot camera, with no manual controls at all. Photo quality is good, but you can expect vignetting, blurry corners, and an overall “fuzzy” look to your images. With that in mind, I see the Xg fitting in either a “second camera”, or for those who are doing small prints or web pictures (as the image quality issues will be apparent at larger sizes). The image quality issues are the price you have to pay for that unique lens design. All-in-all, I do recommend this camera, but do your research carefully before you buy, as there’s good competition.”

Website: DCResource - Minolta DiMAGE Xg Review

Bob Atkins has published a useful overview of the differences between the Canon EOS 10D and Canon EOS 300D digital SLRs, and tries to answer the question “Which one should you choose?”.

“Overall the 10D is a more professional camera, with features lacking on the digital Rebel (EOS 300D). Both use the same 6.3 megapixel size sensor, in fact they both probably use the same sensor, so assuming you use the same lens and the same exposure on both bodies, you should get images of equal quality. But of course you can say exactly the same thing about the Rebel and EOS 1v film bodies and there aren’t too many people torn for choice between those two!”

Website: Bob Atkins - Canon EOS 10D vs. Canon Digital Rebel (EOS 300D)

The winners of the March 2004 PhotographyBLOG Competition have now been decided. The theme for March was “Springtime” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery.

The panel of judges thought long and hard before deciding on the three winners:

1st Place
“First Leaves (Willow Tree)” by abravorus
View this entry

Judges Comments:
“Surreal and beautiful. The vein-like trees juxtaposed against the leaves and streaks of blue sky make for a brilliant shot.”

“Beautiful backlit contrast between the dark gnarled trunks and the light green new leaves. Very interesting composition that really evokes springtime.”

Prize: 1 copy of Digital Photography Captured Volume 1, kindly donated by KnowledgeTrek.
http://www.knowledgetrek.com

2nd Place
“Fragrant Spring” by picperfic
View this entry

Judges Comments:
“Gorgeous collection of spring colors, with great composition to show it off.”

“Brilliant colors and great texture.”

Prize: 1 copy of Picasa, kindly donated by Picasa Inc.
http://www.picasa.net

3rd Place
“still waiting ” by make
View this entry

Judges Comments:
“This picture captures the instant when winter turns to spring. The boats seem to be rousing themselves, maybe yawning and stretching a bit because they know the boaters are on the way. The little streaks of blue sky and the feathery new leaves contrast gently against the white of last year’s snow.”

Prize: Photobird.com one-year subscription with 100 megabytes of storage space, kindly donated by Photobird.com.
http://www.photobird.com

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone who took part!

As promised yesterday, here are some photos of performing musical clowns for you. The stars of the hour-long show were definitely the junior members of the troupe, which was just as well as I could only really focus on them from where I was standing. The smallest boy spent most of the time looking back at the adult performers behind him, until the last shot in this sequence, when he must have spotted a family member in the crowd. The name of the group is Nifu Nifa.

Luminous Landscape have published the final part in a 3-part review of the Leica Digilux 2, with a second opinion by photographer Ben Lifson.

“Light, silent, unobtrusive, and - after the first few weeks of steady use - likely to lead to that relationship between photographer and instrument that we call intimate. It is likely to feel like a natural extension not only of the hand but of the eye, the mind, the sensibilities, the heart, the intuition and the imagination and as much a part of oneself as any of these.

However, with respect to major aspects of what can be called the genius, perhaps more precisely the poetic genius of the small camera as an instrument and as defined by the Leica camera since the first one appeared, the new Digilux 2 has disappointing flaws.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Leica Digilux 2 Review - Part 3

Digitalreview.ca have published a comparative review of the Canon Powershot A75, Nikon Coolpix 3200 and Olympus Stylus 300 digital cameras.

“The 3 megapixel resolution range of digital cameras, like the Canon Powershot A75, Nikon Coolpix 3200 and the Olympus Stylus 300, continues to be one of the more popular categories among users looking for a general purpose family, travel photography type of camera.

With this is mind, we have completed a side by side comparison featuring three of the top models in this megapixel range.”

Website: Digitalreview.ca - Canon Powershot A75 vs. Nikon Coolpix 3200 vs. Olympus Stylus 300

The Czech website Digineff have just reviewed the 4-megapixel, 10x zoom Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z2.

Website: Digineff - Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z2 Review

These are the last mountain/coastline shots - tomorrow will see a complete change of pace with some photos of performing musical clowns :-)

Canon Japan have just announced the availability of a black version of the Canon EOS Kiss Digital DSLR, also known as the Canon EOS 300D in Europe and Canon Digital Rebel in North America. There’s no word yet as to whether or not this version of the very popular DSLR will be sold outside Japan.

Website: Canon Japan - Black Canon EOS Kiss

The US magazine Popular Photography have just published their review of the 6 megapixel Nikon D70 DSLR.

“Our first impression is that this camera is far more than a “light” version of the D100, as many have nicknamed Canon’s EOS Digital Rebel when compared to the more expensive EOS 10D. On the one hand, the D70’s durable body construction is similar to the D100 and Digital Rebel, with a stainless-steel chassis surrounded by a polycarbonate body, and a stainless-steel lensmount. It’s smaller and easier to grip than the D100, and, at 1.3 pounds, the D70 body weighs about the same as the Digital Rebel. But with a lens attached, the D70 feels more solid and well-balanced.”

Website: Popular Photography - Nikon D70 Review

The Danish website Digital Magasinet have posted their review of the 8-megapixel Sony Cybershot DSC-F828 digital compact camera.

Website: Digital Magasinet - Sony Cybershot DSC-F828 Review