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

CNET have reviewed the 4.1 megapixel Kodak EasyShare DX6440, which has a 4X Schneider 33 - 132mm zoom lens and retails for around $400.

“Kodak’s midrange EasyShare DX6440, with its nearly nonexistent learning curve, should appeal to neophytes looking for a solid first camera. In addition to a 4X zoom lens and a 4-megapixel sensor, the DX6440 provides almost effortless image transfer and postprocessing via its bundled EasyShare dock and software. And you can have it all for a very competitive price. A few manual settings give newbies a little room to grow, but there are better choices if you really want to explore and experiment.”

Website: CNET - Kodak EasyShare DX6440 Review

CNET have published their review of the HP Photosmart 945 digital camera, which features a 5.3-megapixel total resolution and 56x total zoom (8x optical zoom). The HP Photosmart 945 digital camera is available now and has an estimated U.S. retail price of $549.

“With its 8X zoom lens, the HP Photosmart 945 is sure to make the hearts of telephoto aficionados beat faster. But this 5-megapixel replacement for the Photosmart 850 rates as merely average. It lacks many characteristics that enthusiasts look for, including uncompressed file output and external-flash compatibility, and telephoto freaks can find alternatives that provide better performance and image quality.”

Website: CNET - HP Photosmart 945 Review

Imaging Resource have spent the last couple of weeks testing the new RoadStor from Micro Solutions. This is a CD/DVD-based portable storage device, which allows you to copy files from your digital camera onto a CD/DVD via the built-in card reader.

“Pop your storage card into one of the reader ports and press one button twice to copy the images to a CD. Change the CD and copy them again. Confirm they’re copied by plugging the box into a television (NTSC or PAL signal) and watching a slide show. Play DVDs, VCDs, MP3s, too.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Micro Solutions RoadStor Review

Website: ePhotoZine are reporting that the second version of the Apacer Disc Steno, the CP200, has been introduced to the UK, retailing for ?299.99.

Original Apacer Press Release

Apacer Disc Steno CP200 Portable Photo CD Burner
Copy Digital Photos Everywhere and Connect to a TV for easy Image Viewing

Apacer formally announced the second generation of its portable photo CD burner, the Disc Steno CP200, which is positioned as a total solution digital camera peripheral for secure digital image storage and easy image sharing.

From the moment you start a journey to the end of the trip and coming home, use the Disc Steno CP200 to easily record your experiences and share the fun with friends and family. You can copy digital photos anywhere and at any time, as well as connect the Disc Steno CP200 to a TV via the TV Out port for viewing the digital photos and movies taken on your trip.

DP-Now have posted their initial impressions of the Sanyo Xacti VPC-C1, a new hybrid digital still/video camera that certainly looks very stylish.

“We haven’t yet had a chance to test the VPC-C1, but Sanyo has supplied some sample images and you can download a selection of these at the end of this page. Assuming that these are unretouched images out of the camera, the quality looks about right for a typical 3MP digicam. There are some compression artefacts detectable, but nothing serious. Sharpness is good and there seems to be an ancouraging lack of the scourge of compact digital cameras, purple fringing associated with chromatic aberrations.”

Website: DP-Now - Hands-On Test of Sanyo Xacti VPC-C1

Several Asian news websites are reporting that Nikon are set to exit the 35mm film compact camera market in Japan. Apparently “Nikon will halt all development of 35mm compact cameras for the domestic market from this point on and end shipments to stores starting in the fiscal year that begins next April.” Whether this is a sign of things to come that will affect the other 35mm film products that Nikon produces, like its very popular 35mm SLR range, remains to be seen. “It is a fact that the film camera business is shrinking worldwide. Volume sales are also falling,” Kaneko said. “But for the time being, we will continue our film camera operations,” he said.

Website: Pacific Business News

Website: channelnewsasia

Website: DCViews

digitalkamera.de have published their review of the ever-popular Canon EOS 300D digital SLR camera.

Here’s my favourite quote from the very hit and miss Google translation:

“And also in the few shops, which have the EOS 300D available, the camera leaves like warm rolls. Whether such a tumult is justified, we want to go in this digitalkamera.de empiric report on the reason.”

I can just imagine a happy new 300d owner, carrying his camera out of the shop like a warm roll! :-)

Website: digitalkamera.de - Canon EOS 300D Review

Nikon Press Release13/11/03

Thursday November 13, 2003

Nikkor 17-55mm lens release date deferred

When Nikon announced the D2H in July, they also announced three new Nikkor lenses; the AF-S DX 17-55/2.8G IF-ED, AF DX Fisheye 10.5/2.8G ED & the AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED, scheduled for release around the same time as the camera.

However, Nikon regret to inform customers that the introduction of one of those lenses; the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G lens has been deferred until the Spring of 2004.

The AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G is a sophisticated 3.2 zoom ratio lens with fast f/2.8 aperture featuring a unique optical design tailored to the demands of high performance digital photography with all of Nikon?s DX format Digital SLR cameras, namely the Nikon D1X, D1H, D1, D100 and D2H.

Nikon apologize for the inconvenience to customers during the time taken to ensuring that the image quality standards demanded by professionals is fulfilled.

BenQ have recently added the 5 megapixel DC C50 to their range of digital cameras. Here’s a summary of the camera’s main features:

- Stylish/ Compact with 5MP CCD
- PASM model [Program AE/ Aperture Priority / Shutter Speed Priority / Manual] 
- 12X zoom (3X optical zoom / 4X digital zoom)
- Movie clips with sound [B/W, Sepia, Vivid]
- Voice recording on image
- Good power performance (Lithium-ion battery)
- Scene Mode (Portrait / Sport/ Night Scene)
- ISO 100-400
- Wise zoom playback
- Interval self timer shooting
- Diopter / Command dial

There are no details yet on price or availablity.

Website: LetsGoDigital - BenQ DC C50 Camera

Website: BenQ Europe -  DC C50 Camera

Website: BenQ

Epson UK have announced a new addition to their range of flatbed scanners. The Perfection 4870 has an amazing optical resolution of 4800 x 9600dpi which allows a 35mm piece of film to be enlarged to 60cm x80cm (A1 size). The scanner incorporates DIGITAL ICE Technology, traditionally used in dedicated film scanners, to remove surface defects such as dust and scratches from the scanned image. The Perfection 4870 Photo also has a class-leading optical density of 3.8DMax.

Price has yet to be announced, although the scanner is due to be released on 1st February 2004.

Website: DP-Now - Epson Press Release

Website: Photo-i.co.uk - Epson Perfection 4870 Preview

Website: Epson.co.uk

Steves Digicams have published their review of the HP Photosmart 945 digital camera, which features a 5.3-megapixel total resolution and 56x total zoom (8x optical zoom). The HP Photosmart 945 digital camera is available now and has an estimated U.S. retail price of $549.

“Perhaps one of the PS945’s most interesting features is the Digital Flash which uses HP’s new Adaptive Lighting Technology. This is a process whereby the light and dark areas of the image are balanced out to produce a picture that looks more like what the human eye sees. It works well in contrasty outdoor shots where there are areas of both brightly lit subjects and dark shadow areas. It also works with indoor flash pictures, especially those where the main subject is well-lit and the rest of the frame is dimly lit.”

Website: Steves Digicams - HP Photosmart 945 Review

DCResource have reviewed the affordable 5 megapixel Olympus CAMEDIA C-5000 Zoom, which relaces the older C-4000 Zoom model. The C-5000 has a full range of exposure modes, including Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, full Manual control and 6 preset Creative Scene modes. It has a built-in flash with 7 different modes and also accepts an external flash via its hot shoe.

“If there’s one thing I can say about the C-5000Z, it’s that it won’t be winning any beauty pageants. For some reason, it reminds me of a beluga whale (no, this is not a Rorschach test). The unusual design of the camera does have one benefit: it’s really easy to hold. The camera body is made of a mix of metal and plastic, and it feels sturdy enough. Controls are well-placed, so you can quickly change camera settings.”

Website: DCResource - Olympus CAMEDIA C-5000 Zoom Review

If you’re looking for a software package that will reduce the noise in your digital photos, but you’re confused by the multitude of options available (I know I am) then Michael Almond’s “Noise Reduction Tool Comparison” article is just what the doctor ordered. Michael has tested no less than 18 different products that claim to significantly reduce noise in digital camera images, including the recently announced Noise Ninja. Essential reading.
(found via digicamera.net)

Website: Michael Almond - Noise Reduction Tool Comparison

CNET have reviewed the Fuji FinePix A210 Zoom digital camera. The A210 has 3.2 million megapixels and a 3x optical zoom. It retails for $279.99.

“Reasonably good picture quality redeems the A210’s otherwise lackluster character. Our test photos were comparatively sharp, detailed, and smooth. Colors came out mostly accurate and vibrant, and exposure was generally fine. We noted some noise and compression artifacts, but you’ll probably be happy with snapshot-size prints of the A210’s images.”

Website: CNET - Fujifilm FinePix A210 Review

Yasse have published a great interview with Emese Gaal, who runs Photote, one of my favourite photoblogs which I usually visit every day. Yasse is “a publication dedicated to creative and cultural expression using the Web as the primary presentation and distribution medium. We strive to showcase the best in art, literature, poetry, and cultural aesthetics to entertain and inspire our readers.” Emese is a great photographer who just happens to use a Canon EOS 10D :-)

“I don’t think my photographs change the world. I’m just a girl with a hobby. I go out there to shoot what I think looks pretty, interesting, heart-warming, or sad. Sometimes I do it to challenge myself, other times I hope to transform something beautiful ? yet fleeting ? into something more permanent.”

Website: Yasse

Website: Yasse - Emese Gaal Interview

Michael Reichmann from from the popular digital photography website Luminous Landscape has published his review of the Olympus E-1 DSLR.

“The camera can be set so that a post-exposure image review is available. But, as with the Pentax *ist D that I reviewed last week, there is no post exposure histogram available. What is it with camera makers? Don’t they get it? The in-camera histogram is the most important exposure tool since the TTL meter was introduced in the 1960’s. Setting exposure properly for digital makes a huge difference in image quality, yet by leaving it out Olympus (and others) are denying photographers a critical tool.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Olympus E-1 Review

Imaging Resource have published a snippet of news which will be of interest to all Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1 owners. Apparently Panasonic Japan have just announced the DMW-VUZ1 upgrade kit, which incorporates the firmware changes that were made in the updated DMC-FZ2 camera. So for ?6000 you can upgrade your DMC-FZ1 so that it has the same functionality as the later model. At the moment, though, this has only been announced for the Japanese market - fingers crossed that it will appear in the rest of the world…

Website: Imaging Resource - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1 Upgrade Kit

DPReview have just posted their usual extensive review of the Minolta DiMAGE A1.

“There’s little doubt that the DiMAGE A1 is the most feature rich and flexible prosumer digital camera currently available. Indeed it has a range of flexibility beyond that of most digital SLR’s. It’s a camera designed as a photographers tool, and one which can fit a wide variety of roles with the ability to deliver output suited to almost any specific photographers requirements.”

Website: DPReview - Minolta DiMAGE A1 Review

The winner of the 2nd Round of the DP-Now Greek Gods photo competition, sponsored by Olympus UK, has just been announced. My entry made it into the final 12, but sadly wasn’t good enough to win the prize of ?500 worth of Olympus equipment. Damn! Congratulations to Chris Roberts and his winning entry “Swan in Scotland”.

Website: DP-Now - October Competition