The Norwegian photography website Akamera.no have today reviewed the Fuji FinePix F700, which has a 6.2-megapixel Super CCD SR and is supposed to capture more detail in the shadow and highlight areas of an image than Fuji cameras have previously captured. Find out if the F700 achieves this in Akamera.no’s review.

Website: Akamera.no - Fuji FinePix F700 Review

Website: Read my review of the Fuji FinePix F700

CNET have reviewed the Casio QV-R40, a 4 megapixel digicam which has an amazing start-up time of one second and shutter-lag of 0.01 seconds. The Casio QV-R40 currently retails for around $300 / ?300.

“The QV-R40’s aggressive price and clean design make this 4-megapixel compact an attractive choice for snapshooters who consider ease of use a digicam’s most important aspect. The wide-angle view of the 39mm-to-117mm zoom lens may not be enough for landscape fans, but the rest of the QV-R40’s feature set is optimized for the point-and-shoot crowd. Alas, mixed performance and mediocre images dim the luster of this camera’s potential.”

Website: CNET - Casio QV-R40 Review

Kyocera Press Release 18/11/03

JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Kyocera Solves the Most Common Digital Camera ?User Irritants? with the Revolutionary Finecam SL300R and Finally Fulfills the Promise of Digital Photography

The World’s Thinnest 3x Optical Zoom Digital Camera

Virtually Eliminates Lag Time and is Capable of Unlimited Continuous Shooting at an Unprecedented 3.5 Frames Per Second

The 3.2 megapixel Kyocera Finecam SL300R:

TAKES LESS THAN A SECOND TO ?BOOT UP?.
- Digital photographers no longer have to worry about missing important moments of spontaneity with a boot up time of just under 0.7 seconds. Hit the power button and you?re ready to shoot.

VIRTUALLY ELIMINATES THE SHUTTER RELEASE LAG TIME.
- Offers a solution for digital camera fans who have been frustrated by “missing the moment” due to the combination of the shutter speed lag time and slow “click to click” speed. 

SHOOTS AT AN UNPRECEDENTED 3.5 FRAMES A SECOND.
- Utilizing Kyocera?s new RTune Rapid Tuning Technology, the Kyocera Finecam SL300R offers the World’s fastest Continuous Capture Mode. For instance, you can fill a 256MB SD memory card with continuous images at 3.5 fps, then go back, review the shots and pick the ones you want to keep. And this is at 3.2 Megapixel resolution of 2048 x 1536.

ENSURES STYLE IS NOT SACRIFICED WITH SIZE.
- The Kyocera Finecam SL300R is also the thinnest and the most stylish camera available today (15 mm), it can easily fit into the pocket of your jeans, shirt or into the tiniest of bags. This fashionable and sheik design is covered with brushed aluminum panels and boasts a unique swivel lens for achieving images from virtually any vantage point. 

Consumer Benefits
- Able to take images that were missed before due to digital lag time.
- As close as you get to a traditional SLR camera experience.
- Users can instantly switch on their camera, take a picture or a continuous stream of photos, and expect the camera to instantly write the image and be ready again.

The Kyocera Finecam SL300R comes bundled with the highly rated Adobe Photoshop Album software and has an MSRP of $399. It is available nationwide.

Sigma have announced a new version of its 17-35 mm F2.8-F4.0 wide-angle zoom lens, which now features full-time manual focus from the focusing ring. LetsGoDigital and DPReview have all of the details.

Website: LetsGo Digital

Website: DPReview

The German photography website digitalkamera.de has posted its review of Canon PhotoStitch, a software package that is supplied with some Canon products which allows you to combine several photos to create a panoramic image.

Website: digitalkamera.de - Canon PhotoStitch Review

Steves Digicams have reviewed the affordable 5 megapixel Olympus CAMEDIA C-5000 Zoom, which relaces the older 4 megapixel C-4000 Zoom model.

“Shooting performance is a bit below average. Power-on to first shot captured measured an agonizingly-slow 13 seconds when equipped with a 512MB Olympus xD memory card; this shrunk to a more reasonable 6 seconds when using the supplied 32MB xD card. Because the C-5000 produces JPG files of about 1.5 megabytes at its highest quality setting, you’ll want to have a sizable xD card installed, but you’ll pay a price in startup time in proportion to its capacity. As a result, this is not the best camera to capture unposed, impromptu moments.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Olympus CAMEDIA C-5000 Zoom Review

Rob Galbraith has published a First Look report at the image quality from a production version of the Nikon D2H digital SLR. There are a number of full resolution images for you to look at, as well as Rob’s professional opinion to read.

“A lot of noise has been made about the noise from the D2H. Much of the hand-wringing has been prompted by the posting of camera store and trade show happy snaps, which have really demonstrated only that the D2H will faithfully record certain scenes in all their poorly-shot glory. Add that to what’s discussed in the point a few paragraphs ahead, and what we’ve seen in photos captured in venues with which we’re familiar, and we’re left thinking that D2H noise is a wash. While ISO 200 photos look pretty clean, thanks to Nikon’s ballyhooed new noise suppression technologies, higher ISO photos shot in available darkness can get noisy. Which makes it not unlike the D1H, the camera it replaces, and the Canon EOS-1D, its most direct competitor.”

Website: Rob Galbraith - Nikon D2H Image Quality

Following yesterday’s review of the Pod, which is basically a beanbag with a tripod mount fixed to it, ePhotoZine have reviewed another very similar accessory. The Beanpod is a small beanbag that costs ?9.99 and is designed to rest your camera on in low-light situations. Unlike the Pod, there is no built-in tripod mount -  you just sit the camera on top of the Beanpod.

“The ?9.99 bag is made from a leather look black vinyl and has Beanpod embroided across the bottom left in red. You certainly wouldn’t feel embarasees about carrying this around whereas a cloth sack sewn together that rattles with the sound of hard beans may be a different matter.”

Website: ePhotoZine - Beanpod Review

The Slovenian website e-fotografija have reviewed the 3.2 megapixel Minolta DiMAGE Z1. This digicam has a 10x optical zoom lens, equivalent to a 38-380mm 35mm camera zoom, which in combination with the digital zoom offers a 40X zoom range.

Website: e-fotografija - Minolta DiMAGE Z1 Review

Sigma are releasing 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. Digicamera.net have spotted a short review of a production lens on the Nikonians website. Here’s an extract:

“It looked pretty balanced on the D100, not bad at all. Interestingly enough, it has a double lens cap scenerio. There is a lens cap that comes on and off just like any other cap, but there is also a removable hood. You can put the lens cap on and then pull off the hood and there is a permanent petal hood. My guess here, is that the simple cap can be used with a DSLR, but with a full SLR you need to pull the entire thing off to avoid vignetting.”

Website: Sigma 12-24mm Lens Review

Fujifilm Press Release 17/11/03

Looking for Nemo? Find him with your FinePix F700 Zoom

Fujifilm launches underwater housing for the FinePix F700 Zoom

Hot on the heels of underwater casings for the popular FinePix F410 Zoom and F401 Zoom, Fujifilm today announces a sealed underwater housing for its acclaimed FinePix F700 Zoom - allowing outstanding image clarity at depths of up to 40 metres.

A precision-engineered strongbox, this underwater package guarantees sharp stills and brilliantly colourful motion images. Practical and stylish, the housing won’t detract from the ease of use of the FinePix F700 Zoom, and ensures that you can focus your attention on the underwater world, rather than worrying about the process of taking the photo. What’s more, the housing will also protect your precious camera from snow, mud, dust and rain.

Built from high-impact strength polycarbonate to withstand underwater pressure, the housing is a gift for sports fans and a ‘must-have’ for anyone into diving, sailing or even skiing.

Will Rolls, Fujifilm’s Marketing Manager for Digital Imaging, commented, “Under water is a notoriously difficult environment from which to capture clear and accurate images. The lack of light can result in dull pictures, but with its exceptional dynamic range capabilities, this camera copes superbly. The FinePix F700 Zoom has already received critical acclaim for its photographic flexibility and Super CCD SR technology. By combining sharp images and underwater photography, the F700 is an irresistible package for photography enthusiasts who like to get out and about.”

The winner of the second PhotographyBLOG Photo of the Week contest is Hannah with her entry “self portrait”. 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 3rd 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. Just make sure that you submit your photos to the current Photo of the Week Gallery.

Last week’s winning entry, “Running” by Blackadder, has been viewed 884 times, so if you want to gain some exposure and publicise your photography, then winning the Photo of the Week contest is a good start :-)

Pixel Genius have released updated versions of Photokit Sharpener, a sharpening software program, and PhotoKit, which replicates common analog photographic effects. Both programs now work with 16bit RGB files in Photoshop CS. The new versions are available as free upgrades for all registered users, or are available to buy for $99.95 and $49.95 respectively.

“PhotoKit SHARPENER is now at version 1.1 with 16 bit/channel capability in Photoshop CS?. Other products may provide useful sharpening tools, but only PhotoKit SHARPENER provides a complete “Sharpening Workflow”. From capture to output, PhotoKit SHARPENER intelligently produces the optimum sharpness on any image, from any source, reproduced on any output device. But PhotoKit SHARPENER also provides the creative controls to address the requirements of individual images and the individual tastes of users.”

Website: PixelGenius

ePhotoZine have posted a review of one of the more unusual photography accessories that will find in your local camera shop. The Pod is basically a beanbag with a tripod mount fixed to it, which provides support for your camera and allows you to use slower shutter speeds than usual. Whether it’s worth the ?14.99 asking price depends largely on the kind of photography that you do; nature and landscape photographers will probably be most interested in the Pod.

“I shot for a full day with the Pod with long and short lenses, both of which were attached to the lens mount. When shooting from a wooden hide and holding on to the camera with my hand over the barrel of the 100-400mm lens, the Pod was very good indeed and I got sharp shots down to 1/20 second.”

Website: ePhotoZine - The Pod Camera Platform Review

DCResource have completed their review of the Pentax Optio 555, a 5 megapixel updated version of the popular 550 model.

“The Pentax Optio 555 ($550) is an updated version of the popular Optio 550 (see our review). Both cameras have a 5 Megapixel CCD, 5X optical zoom lens, and compact body. The differences between the new cameras are few. The 555 adds PictBridge support, improved performance, a larger range of shutter speeds, and a new flash exposure compensation option—otherwise they’re the same camera. Those who purchased the 550 a few months ago are probably not pleased by the rapid introduction of this new model.

Website: DCResource - Pentax Optio 555 Review

A Digital Eye has posted the first part of their 2003 Holiday Shopping Guide, which is basically their recommended digital cameras for a particular price bracket. First up is the “$300 compact point & shoot style digital camera” category. It’s a good article to read if you’re looking for an inexpensive digital camera, but have no idea where to start.

“One of the first cameras that comes to mind in this particular category is the really fine Canon Powershot A70 Digital Camera selling at around $299.99. We have been very impressed with the image results from this camera in a wide variety of family type shooting at this price range, and overall it provides some of the sharpest images & best colors from what is apparently a very good quality 3X optical zoom lens.”

Website: A Digital Eye - Holiday Shopping Guide

If you’re a prefessional wedding photographer, then Mike Johnston’s latest weekly column is essential reading:

“On November 6th, on www.cbs.marketwatch.com, a reporter named Chris Plummer wrote an article that has caused a stir among professional photographers. The article purports to name the ten most overpaid jobs in the United States. The top ones are just as you’d expect: CEOs of failing companies, washed-up athletes working out the remaining years of big contracts, and mutual fund managers. Surprisingly, however, the #10 spot named, of all things, wedding photographers.”

Personally I’d never photograph a wedding, especially for somebody that I knew - all that pressure to get things exactly right, in a very small amount of time. I’ll stick to photographing buildings, thank you very much!

Website: Sunday Morning Photographer: Wedding Photography and the “$39K Schmuck”

Imaging Resource have reviewed the Fuji FinePix A310, which uses Fujifilm’s new 4th Generation Super CCD HR with 3.1 million effective pixels and 6.0 million recorded pixels. The Fuji FinePix A310 currently retails for around $250 / ?250.

“Sleek and compact, and with great outdoor picture quality, I wanted to like the FinePix A310 more than I did. Unfortunately, its photos showed quite a bit of image noise, most likely due to its minimum ISO of 200 (most cameras provide a minimum ISO of 100 or even lower, to deliver lower image noise when shooting under bright conditions), and its white balance system had some trouble under the household incandescent lighting that’s very common in the US.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Fuji FinePix A310 Review

DP-Now editor Ian Burley has posted his report of the Photo-Optix Digital Imaging Expo, held this wekend at Windsor Race Course in the UK. The Sony F-828, Olympus E1, Nikon D2H and the Sigma SD-9 were all being displayed. Ian has posted pictures of these cameras and more. I totally forgot that the show was on…damn!

Website: Digital Imaging Expo Report

Sigma have made their RAW conversion software Sigma Photo Pro 2.0 available as a free download in both Windows and Macintosh versions. Owners of both the recently announced Sigma SD10 digital SLR and the original SD9 can now both use the improved software.

Website: Sigma Photo Downloads

Website: DPReview - Sigma Photo Pro 2.0 Review