Photo-i’s interactive review of the new HP Photosmart 7960 photo printer has now been completed. There are 18 review pages in total, which are essential reading if you’re currently looking to buy an A4 photo printer. I won’t spoil the surprise by telling you what score Vincent gave to the 7960; instead I’ll just say that he seemed to quite like it…

Website: Photo-i

Kyocera Japan have announced the Finecam SL300R, which features a swivelling design very much like that of the Nikon Coolpix series of cameras. The SL300R has a 1/2.7” CCD with 3.17 Megapixels and will be available in no less than 8 different colours. The lens is a 3x optical zoom with a focal length that is equivalent to 38-115mm on a 35mm camera.

The Finecam SL300R will be available in Japan from the beginning of October. There is no news yet about price or availability in the rest of the world.

Website: Kyocera Japan - Finecam SL300R

Website: DPReview - Finecam SL300R

Website: LetsGoDigital - Finecam SL300R

Website: Imaging Resource - Finecam SL300R

digitalreview.ca have published 3 sample images from a pre-production version of the Nikon D2H digital SLR. The images, all taken at ISO 200, were provided by Nikon and are from a camera with “almost final” firmware.

Website: digitalreview.ca - Nikon D2H Sample Images

Steves Digicams 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.

“A unique feature for a camera in this class is the A310’s ability to produce interpolated 6-megapixel images from a 3-megapixel image sensor. Comparing equally-sized enlargements of segments from 3 and a 6-megapixel interpolated images, the interpolated image showed only minor degradation. This feature will be of most value to those desiring to make poster-size prints.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Fuji FinePix A310 Review

Steves Digicams is the first website to review 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, like its predecessor the QV-R4, is equipped with several unique and effective shooting modes. For example, the Coupling Shot mode combines 2 subjects into 1 image. Imagine you’re with your spouse or friend and want to take a shot of the two of you and there’s nobody else around to help you. One of you poses, the other takes the shot. Then you switch places and stand where you would if you had been next to your partner and she takes a second shot; the two pictures are then “merged” in the camera to form one image.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Casio QV-R40 Review

Steves Digicams has reviewed the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC43, a 4-megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom lens from none other than Leica. The DMC-LC43 currently retails for around $399 / ?300.

“Image quality relies heavily on the lens, and the Leica Vario-Elmarit does not disappoint. It produces very sharp images, and exhibits only a slight amount of pincushion distortion. The autofocus system works effectively, nicely complementing the quality of the lens. The imager produces vibrant and accurate colors. You will be pleased with the quality of the photos you take with this camera.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC43 Review

I’ve updated my Online Print Services Review with a new contender. I’ve taken a look today at Colab, who charge just ?0.12 for a 6x4 inch print. Find out whether the quality matched up to the price and if Peak Imaging and Photobox have anything to worry about…

Online Print Services Review - Part 8 - Colab

As a reminder, in this 8 part Review, I’ve taken a look at some online print services that operate in the United Kingdom and let you know what I think about the service and print quality that I received from each one.

Canon have announced the release of the Digital IXUS i (also known as the PowerShot SD10 in some countries). The Digital IXUS i will be available from October 2003 for ?299 RRP inc VAT.

Canon Press Release 12/09/03

New coloured Digital IXUS i ? Canon?s smallest ever digital camera

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today announces the Digital IXUS i, the most petite and undeniably chic new member of the legendary IXUS collection. Its take anywhere size, silky feel and choice of four irresistible finishes are designed to appeal to the most discerning of consumers. The Digital IXUS i is available in Pearl White, Classic Bronze, Platinum Silver and Piano Black.

Half the size of many mobile phones and weighing in at just 100g , this all-metal bodied 4.0 Megapixel dynamo packs 180 second video clips, a 32MB SD memory card and a 5.7x digital zoom into its tiny casing. Plenty of advanced technology is on hand, specifically designed to deliver great images without the need to carefully plan before taking a picture. For lab-quality prints without a PC, PictBridge support allows direct connection to any compatible photo printer. An optional all-weather case ? submersible to 3m ? is available for beach use, water skiing, snorkelling and surfing.

?This is the camera everybody wants to play with ? and nobody wants to put down,? says Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging in the UK and Ireland. ?It comes packed with all the technology needed to look after the photography ? so Digital IXUS i owners can concentrate on looking after the fun?.

I originally reported this news way back in June, when Konica first announced the KD-510Z, a new 5-megapixel digital camera. It seems to taken another 3 months for the camera to finally make its way onto the UK high street. Anyway, ePhotoZine have just published the Konica press release and technical specifications.

Website: ePhotoZine - Konica announce KD-510Z

The people running the Slovenian digital photography website e-Fotografija must spend most of their waking hours testing cameras, as yesterday they published their review of the Fuji FinePix S5000. The S5000 uses Fuji’s 4th Generation Super CCD HR and sports a massive 10X optical zoom that is equivalent to equivalent to 37-370mm on a 35mm camera. Again e-Fotografija have posted quite a few sample images with 100% crops so that you can see the detail that the camera is recording.

Website: e-Fotografija - Fuji FinePix S5000

OK, OK, I promise that these will be the last Notting Hill Carnival pictures for a while (at least this week anyway).

Notting Hill Carnival Children #16	Notting Hill Carnival #11	Notting Hill Carnival #15
Notting Hill Carnival #9	Notting Hill Carnival #13	Notting Hill Carnival #16

The Slovenian digital photography website e-Fotografija seems to have test samples of all the new digital cameras at the moment! They have just published a First Look at the Minolta DiMAGE A1, including some sample images using the new anti-shake function. Minolta claims that this new system “allows the camera to be handheld with exposures approximately eight times longer than usual. When using the camera at the telephoto setting, approximately 90% of the images recorded will be sharp with a shutter speed of 1/25s.”. e-Fotografija’s test images certainly seem to backup this claim.

Website: e-Fotografija - Minolta DiMAGE A1 Anti-Shake System

Samsung have announced a new addition to their extensive range of competitively-priced digital cameras. the U-CA3 measures 102 x 52.8 x 31mm and weighs a mere 145g. It has a 3.2 megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom.

“As much of a fashion accessory as a digital camera, the silver U-CA 3 is one piece of technology that when you’ve got it, you’re definitely going to want to flaunt it. More akin to the size of a mobile, the super-slim U-CA 3 has a real ‘wow’ factor. It’s sleek, stylish, sophisticated and, above all, small - without compromising on the latest digital camera technology.”

The Samsung U-CA3 is priced from under ?280 and comes with case, PC/Mac compatible software and a 32MB card. It will be available from the end of September 2003.

Website: Samsung U-CA3

Website: Samsung Digital Camera Range

Imaging Resource have reviewed the Fuji FinePix F700, which has a 6.2-megapixel Super CCD SR. As a reminder, the F700 CCD improves image quality by widening the dynamic range, rather than just increasing the number of pixels. This should mean more detail in the shadow and highlight areas of an image than Fuji cameras have previously captured.

“As the first camera to use one of the new “SR” SuperCCD chips, the F700 is cast as the standard-bearer for Fuji’s innovative sensor technology. Fortunately, it appears well up to the task: Its tonal range and to a lesser extent, exposure latitude, do indeed lead the field, and its color is excellent as well.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Fuji FinePix F700 Review

Website: Read my review of the Fuji FinePix F700

Michael Reichmann over at Luminous Landscape has taken a brief look at the best ways of transferring your photos from memory card to computer. Michael highlights the advantages and disadvantages of using PC card readers, Firewire and USB 2.

“Anyone shooting with a digital camera faces the issue of transferring the content of their memory cards to their computer, (usually CompactFlash for those with pro-level cameras).

There are three ways of doing this. If you have a laptop computer then the card can be inserted in to a PC Card adaptor and placed in that slot. Desktop as well as laptop computers may have either Firewire or USB 2 connectors, or both, and there are card readers available for both types of interfaces.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Transferring Memory Cards: Which Way is Best?

Steve’s Digicams have taken a break from reviewing digital cameras by taking a look at the Zenon MagneFlash 57 flash unit. This is a specialized flash that “is ideal for illuminating objects photographed at close range, especially highly reflective objects.” Steve has posted 4 sample photos which compare the Zenon MagneFlash 57 with a regular built-in flash, and the results really do speak for themselves. Nevertheless, here is a quote from Steve’s conclusion:

“A picture is worth a thousand words so if you look at the sample photos above you’ll see about four thousand words of approval for this product. If you you need to do high quality closeup pictures or product photos or you post things on eBay or whatever - this is a simple and very functional lighting system. For the occassional hobbyist the price might be a bit prohibitive but for even the semi-serious user it would be cheap at twice the price.”

Website: Steve’s Digicams - Zenon MagneFlash 57 Review

PhotographyBLOG reader Mike Strock has let me know that Pretec have just announced a 6Gb compact flash card. Yes, you read that right, 6Gb! What’s the catch? Well, the price tag of $4,499.95 might put you off…

Note also that you will only be able to use the full 6GB of space if you own a camera featuring FAT32. If the camera is using FAT16, the standard file system that is used on older or low-end digital cameras, only 2.2 GB of the 6 GB card would be accessible.

Website: Gizmodo - Pretec’s 6GB CompactFlash card

I’m still sorting through my photographs from the Notting Hill Carnival. I took around 1,200 during the 2 days and have “narrowed” the keepers down so far to around 200! My editing skills obviously need some improvement…This selection includes my favourite image so far - the small child in Notting Hill Carnival Children #15. I took about 6 shots of this sleeping child, who was being pushed past in a pram, and this shot was the sharpest and best-composed.

Notting Hill Carnival Children #15	Notting Hill Carnival #14	Notting Hill Carnival #10
Notting Hill Carnival Children #14	Notting Hill Carnival #12	Notting Hill Carnival Children #13

HP have announced UK prices and availability for the new range of printers and scanners that they announced back in August.

Printers
- HP Deskjet 9650 - ?352
- HP Photosmart 7960 (pictured) - ?249
- HP Photosmart 7760 - ?179
- HP Photosmart 7660 - ?149
- HP Photosmart 7260 - ?89
- HP Photosmart 245 - ?149
Available from 15th September 2003.

Scanners
- HP Scanjet 4670 - ?179
- HP Scanjet 4600 - ?149
Available from beginning of October 2003.

Some more Minolta DiMAGE A1 news for you today. The Owner’s Manuals for both the camera and software are now available to download from the Minolta Europe website. It’s available in 9 different languages (found via digicamera.net).

Website: Digit.no - Minolta DiMAGE A1 Owner’s Manuals