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The UK website Photo-i, run by Vincent Oliver, has updated its interactive review of the highly anticipated Epson Stylus Photo R800 printer. There are some new sections which look at both colour and black and white output. The R800 printer, which uses UltraChrome pigment inks, will cost $399 and will ship in February 2004.
Website: Photo-i - Epson Stylus Photo R800 Interactive Review
The UK website Photo-i, run by Vincent Oliver, has updated its interactive review of the highly anticipated Epson Stylus Photo R800 printer. There are some new sections which look at both colour and black and white output. The R800 printer, which uses UltraChrome pigment inks, will cost $399 and will…
Paul Caldwell has reviewed yet another product that offers a way to sharpen your images. Noel Carboni’s Fractal Sharpening actions use a version of Genuine Fractals to achieve the sharpening effect:
“I have to say; yes I am very impressed with Fractal Sharpening. If you own Genuine Fractals, it’s a no brainer, here, go to Noel’s site and buy this tool, since at 15.00 dollars it’s a deal. If you don’t own Genuine Fractals, I would strongly recommend that you go out and purchase it just so you can use this action, it’s that good.”
Paul Caldwell has reviewed yet another product that offers a way to sharpen your images. Noel Carboni’s Fractal Sharpening actions use a version of Genuine Fractals to achieve the sharpening effect: “I have to say; yes I am very impressed with Fractal Sharpening. If you own Genuine Fractals, it’s a…
Sigma have recently released a new wide-angle zoom lens which will appeal to all digital SLR owners. The Sigma 12-24/F4.5-5.6 ex DG Asph may be quite slow but it will translate to a 19-38mm lens on a Canon EOS 10D/300D, for example. An extensive review of the new lens with lots of sample photos has been posted by Petteri Sulonen.
“The Sigma EX 12-24/4.5-5.6, hereby christened “Popeye,” because of its bulgy front element, occupies a unique niche among lenses. It’s the first rectilinear 12 mm lens designed for 35 mm SLR’s (yes, it’s full frame). In fact, I believe it’s only the second 12 mm rectilinear lens for the 35 mm format. The first was the Voigtl?nder Heliar ultra-wide 12/5.6—considered remarkable enough to rejuvenate an entire lens mount (Leica M39). This is something to keep in mind for the folks who gripe that Popeye isn’t too bright. In other words, it breaks very significant new ground by the simple fact of existing.”
Sigma have recently released a new wide-angle zoom lens which will appeal to all digital SLR owners. The Sigma 12-24/F4.5-5.6 ex DG Asph may be quite slow but it will translate to a 19-38mm lens on a Canon EOS 10D/300D, for example. An extensive review of the new lens with…
A-Digital-Eye have posted sample images from 6 different digital cameras, all taken within a short time of each other. The Nikon D100, Canon Digital Rebel, Sigma SD10, Minolta DiMAGE A1, Fuji S7000, Sony F828 are all included in the test.
“The images were all taken within about 10 mins of each other standing at the same location, and shooting towards the same center point, with the zoom adjusted to be about as close as we could get them under all the circumstances. The images were shot in each camera’s Program mode, and at the lowest set ISO for each camera.”
A-Digital-Eye have posted sample images from 6 different digital cameras, all taken within a short time of each other. The Nikon D100, Canon Digital Rebel, Sigma SD10, Minolta DiMAGE A1, Fuji S7000, Sony F828 are all included in the test. “The images were all taken within about 10 mins of…
Luminous Landscape is claiming to be the first website in the world to review a full-production version of the highly-anticipated Sony DSC-F828 digital camera. Actually it’s the second website in the world to do so, as the German website PhotoWorld.de reviewed the DSC-F828 on 20th December. Even so, this review from professional photographer Michael Reichmann makes very interesting reading:
“Sony shot itself in the foot by not providing web reviewers with production samples before cameras arrived in consumer’s hands. This has meant that well meaning but uninformed amateurs have been almost hysterical in their on-line discussions about their newly delivered cameras, citing all sorts of concerns. This would not have happened in Sony had simply FedExed a dozen cameras from the first production run to the leading online review sites. This would have meant that knowledgeable reviews and properly produced and processed sample images would have been available around the time that cameras reached early buyer’s hands, and much of the sillyness would have been avoided.”
Luminous Landscape is claiming to be the first website in the world to review a full-production version of the highly-anticipated Sony DSC-F828 digital camera. Actually it’s the second website in the world to do so, as the German website PhotoWorld.de reviewed the DSC-F828 on 20th December. Even so, this review…
The projections onto the National Film Theatre are at first sight pretty unimpressive, as only a small square on top of the building is lit up. But the use of a wide-angle lens to include the projection within its wider environment makes for an interesting photograph, and quite different from the other buildings that have taken part in Brightening Up London. This particular projection is a photo of Alexander McQueen, the British designer.
The projections onto the National Film Theatre are at first sight pretty unimpressive, as only a small square on top of the building is lit up. But the use of a wide-angle lens to include the projection within its wider environment makes for an interesting photograph, and quite different from…
Somerset House ice rink in central London gets quite crowded in the evenings, making it difficult to pick out individual skaters from the crowd. This photo was the best one from around 40 frames. The look of concentration on the girl’s face and the watchful eye of the woman behind her combine to make the image what it is.
Somerset House ice rink in central London gets quite crowded in the evenings, making it difficult to pick out individual skaters from the crowd. This photo was the best one from around 40 frames. The look of concentration on the girl’s face and the watchful eye of the woman behind…
Trafalgar Square is often at the centre of many London events; carnivals, parades and more often than not protest marches. At the moment the traditional Christmas tree (donated by Norway) and the lighting up of the National Portrait Gallery has turned it into an altogether more peaceful place.
Trafalgar Square is often at the centre of many London events; carnivals, parades and more often than not protest marches. At the moment the traditional Christmas tree (donated by Norway) and the lighting up of the National Portrait Gallery has turned it into an altogether more peaceful place. View more…
As part of the Brightening Up London campaign, Evening Standard readers were asked to vote for their favourite image from 3 choice; Peace, Charity and Hope. The winning image, Hope, was projected onto the National Portrait Gallery on December 19th, and is I think a fitting image for what has been a turbulent year internationally.
As part of the Brightening Up London campaign, Evening Standard readers were asked to vote for their favourite image from 3 choice; Peace, Charity and Hope. The winning image, Hope, was projected onto the National Portrait Gallery on December 19th, and is I think a fitting image for what has…
Every year the courtyard of Somerset House in central London is turned into an ice rink, complete with floodlights and Christmas tree. The House itself forms the perfect backdrop to an enchanting winter scene. Tickets sell out fast and the small rink gets quite crowded, especially in the evenings when this shot was taken. Consequently it’s a lot easier to take wide-angle shots of the ice rink than close-ups of individual skaters.
This shot was taken using the ISO 800 setting on the Canon EOS 10D, which produces a grainy but perfectly acceptable image, and at the same time allowed me to handhold the camera and get a sharp image (no tripods are allowed without prior agreement). I used a slowish shutter speed of 1/30th second to blur the movement of the skaters and help convey a sense of speed.
Every year the courtyard of Somerset House in central London is turned into an ice rink, complete with floodlights and Christmas tree. The House itself forms the perfect backdrop to an enchanting winter scene. Tickets sell out fast and the small rink gets quite crowded, especially in the evenings when…
Picasa Press Release 23/12/03
WHO: The procrastinators who need the perfect gift for the digital camera enthusiast.
WHAT: Picasa, a photo organizer that can be used by photographers of all skill levels to easily categorize their digital photo libraries, fills a common problem faced by anyone who saves digital photos to the PC. Picasa is the most efficient and easy-to-use way to organize new and old Holiday photographs, memories and events from your life. Picasa users do not have to manually organize their digital photos; all images on the hard drive are added upon installation and new images are automatically added as they are saved.
WHY: Upon installation, all images on the hard drive are automatically organized into albums, and new images are automatically added as they are saved to a user’s hard drive. Picasa allows its users to browse quickly through the entire collection of photos on their PC by displaying thumbnails of each image. The thumbnail system removes the need to search for digital pictures using original file names, which makes it difficult for most digital camera owners to find the photo they need. Advanced features include: cropping, rotation, red-eye removal, keyword search, slideshow (with music), movie support and photo timeline display.
WHERE: Consumers can purchase Picasa for $29.00 or download a free 15-day trial at: www.picasa.net.
Picasa Press Release 23/12/03 WHO: The procrastinators who need the perfect gift for the digital camera enthusiast. WHAT: Picasa, a photo organizer that can be used by photographers of all skill levels to easily categorize their digital photo libraries, fills a common problem faced by anyone who saves digital photos…
10 Trinity Square is just behind Tower Hill tube station, near Tower Bridge and, erm, the Tower of London :-) It took me over an hour to get there, due to the usual Tube delays, and when I arrived at about 10pm the public park in front of this building was locked up for the night. Luckily the railings were wide enough to shove my camera through, balanced precariously on a tilted tripod. I also had to tie the branches of a small tree to the railings to remove it from the frame. Unfortunately I forgot to untie it so I guess it will grow a little haphazardly in future…
10 Trinity Square is just behind Tower Hill tube station, near Tower Bridge and, erm, the Tower of London :-) It took me over an hour to get there, due to the usual Tube delays, and when I arrived at about 10pm the public park in front of this building…
A new NE Asia Online article claims that the video photography option of digital cameras will rival the quality found in dedicated digital video cameras by 2006. Cameras like the Fuji Finepix M603 have tried to combine the best of both worlds by offering still and moving digital photography in one package, but at present top-end models only offer 310,000 pixels per frame at 30 frames per second (fps). Apparently that is all set to change in the next few years:
“Manufacturers have been facing numerous problems in trying to achieve higher image quality and ease-of-use within these limits, and the results of their efforts will hit the streets in 2004. The new digital cameras released then are expected to rival video cameras in terms of image quality and recording time.
But digital camera manufacturers are not likely to stop there: a look at developments in constituent technology shows that the video photography functions are going to continue to evolve. One of the most likely developments is video photography with more than a million pixels per frame in recording. Technically, it is possible that digital cameras could be out by 2006 capable of taking still images with several million pixels/frame, and video at 1.3 million pixels per frame (super extended graphics array, or SXGA format). Above the million pixels/frame threshold, this type of video photography is called megapixel video.”
Website: NE Asia Online - Video from Digital Cameras to Reach 1.3M-Pixels/Frame
A new NE Asia Online article claims that the video photography option of digital cameras will rival the quality found in dedicated digital video cameras by 2006. Cameras like the Fuji Finepix M603 have tried to combine the best of both worlds by offering still and moving digital photography in…
Just in time for Christmas, Steves Digicams have posted their full review of the Nikon D2H digital SLR.
“I have only one disappointment with the D2H I’ve been testing - Nikon wants it back. To say that I’ve been spoiled while using it is an understatement. I’ll repeat what I said earlier: The D2H was nearly transparent as I used it; it did not demand my attention or make me wait, and allowed me to concentrate my efforts on capturing images, not operating a camera. I will surely miss this camera when it’s gone, but I’ll have some fond memories.”
Website: Steves Digicams - Nikon D2H Review
Just in time for Christmas, Steves Digicams have posted their full review of the Nikon D2H digital SLR.“I have only one disappointment with the D2H I’ve been testing - Nikon wants it back. To say that I’ve been spoiled while using it is an understatement. I’ll repeat what I said…
DCResource is the latest website to post their review of the Nikon Coolpix 3700 digital camera. The Coolpix 3700 has a very different design from previous Coolpix models, with a brushed aluminium body that’s both slim and lightweight. The 3.2 megapixel 3700 features a 3x optical zoom that is equivalent to 35-105mm lens on a 35mm camera.
“The Coolpix 3700 is a very nice, compact point-and-shoot camera that addresses one of the two big issues that I’ve had with previous entry-level Nikon cameras: low light shooting. With the inclusion of an AF-assist lamp, the Coolpix can finally compete with cameras from Canon and Sony that have had this feature for years.”
DCResource is the latest website to post their review of the Nikon Coolpix 3700 digital camera. The Coolpix 3700 has a very different design from previous Coolpix models, with a brushed aluminium body that’s both slim and lightweight. The 3.2 megapixel 3700 features a 3x optical zoom that is equivalent…
CNET have reviewed Casio’s EXILIM EX-S3, a 3-megapixel digital camera that is less than 1/2 inch thick! If you’re looking for a camera that is the same size as a credit card, then look no further…
“For a 3.2-megapixel camera, this Casio returned mediocre results, but for a fixed-lens model of such a tiny size, it produced quite good images. If you want to post photos on the Web and make small snapshot prints, you’ll probably be satisfied.”
Website: CNET - Casio EXILIM EX-S3 Review
CNET have reviewed Casio’s EXILIM EX-S3, a 3-megapixel digital camera that is less than 1/2 inch thick! If you’re looking for a camera that is the same size as a credit card, then look no further… “For a 3.2-megapixel camera, this Casio returned mediocre results, but for a fixed-lens model…
CNET have just posted a review of the 5 megapixel Kodak EasyShare DX4530. This digicam retails for just £399 in the UK.
“If you need the maximum pixels at the minimum price and want your digital camera to do all the thinking for you, the pocketable Kodak EasyShare DX4530 deserves a close look. This 5-megapixel, 8.6-ounce snapshooter gives you solid picture quality; surprisingly capable macro features; and fully automatic operation, including one-click upload.”
Website: CNET - Kodak EasyShare DX4530 Review
CNET have just posted a review of the 5 megapixel Kodak EasyShare DX4530. This digicam retails for just £399 in the UK. “If you need the maximum pixels at the minimum price and want your digital camera to do all the thinking for you, the pocketable Kodak EasyShare DX4530 deserves…
CNET have reviewed the Minolta Dimage Xt, an ultra-compact, ultra-thin 3 mega-pixel digital camera that can easily be slipped into a shirt pocket, and the new Dimage Biz software that goes with it, which is aimed specifically at business users.
“The good: Extremely compact; chic styling; generally sprightly performance; bundled with useful business-oriented software.
The bad: Fairly frequent underexposures; skimpy viewfinder coverage; no manual white balance; software has a useless help system and clumsy e-mail implementation.”
Website: CNET - Minolta Xt Biz Review
CNET have reviewed the Minolta Dimage Xt, an ultra-compact, ultra-thin 3 mega-pixel digital camera that can easily be slipped into a shirt pocket, and the new Dimage Biz software that goes with it, which is aimed specifically at business users. “The good: Extremely compact; chic styling; generally sprightly performance; bundled…
Some interesting news today about Tamron, the independent lens manufacturer. Apparently they are set to add a fourth company to the three digital camera makers that they already supply (I’m not sure which companies they are…).
PMA Newsline International 22/12/03
Tamron Co. Ltd. is going to boost production of lenses for digicams and projectors, according to the JPEA’s Photo Electro News. The company will beef up digital camera lens output in 2004 by 25 percent over this year and, as for lenses for projectors, it will install new production lines at its domestic manufacturing unit. Tamron will expand production facility in its factory in Guangdong, South China, by investing some ?1.5 billion (US$13.88 million). The company currently supplies three digital camera makers with lens assemblies and will add another firm next year, the report said. In 2004, Tamron aims at taking a 25 percent share of the mechanism in the world digital camera market, projected to come to 42 to 45 million units, said Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
Some interesting news today about Tamron, the independent lens manufacturer. Apparently they are set to add a fourth company to the three digital camera makers that they already supply (I’m not sure which companies they are…). PMA Newsline International 22/12/03 Tamron Co. Ltd. is going to boost production of lenses…
Over the past couple of months PhotographyBLOG has been focusing more on equipment than on photos, and more specifically my photos. One of the site’s objectives stated on the About page is “to allow me to occasionally post my own photos and work-in-progress”. Taking advantage of the Christmas period, I intend to post one photo a day for the next week or so, and see if I can carry on into the New Year.
I’ve spent most of December literally in the dark, standing freezing in deserted parts of London, looking at brightly coloured public buildings. I blame Bob Geldof, the organiser of the inaugural Brightening Up London event, for dragging me outside when most people are inside watching Eastenders. Actually, I should thank Sir Bob for helping me to avoid that fate! Wellington Arch was the first building to be lit up, and last week the Heart FM radio station added their image to it. Click on the photo to see a bigger version.
Over the past couple of months PhotographyBLOG has been focusing more on equipment than on photos, and more specifically my photos. One of the site’s objectives stated on the About page is “to allow me to occasionally post my own photos and work-in-progress”. Taking advantage of the Christmas period, I…