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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.”
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…
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 :-)
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…
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
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…
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.”
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…
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
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…
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.”
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…
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”
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…
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.”
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…
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
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…
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
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 -…
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 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…
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
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…
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.”
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…
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.
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…
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.”
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…
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
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…
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! :-)
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…
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.
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…
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
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…
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
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…