The Picture Porter 35 from Digital Foci is a new high-capacity portable photo manager. Featuring a 3.5 inch color screen, built-in hard drive with capacity starting at 160GB, and a multi-format memory card reader, the Picture Porter 35 can copy 1GB of data in about 2 minutes. Available in Summer 2009, Picture Porter 35 will be available in 160GB and higher capacity configurations (price tbc).

As 2008 has just ended, we thought it would be a great idea to round-up all of our accessory reviews from the past year. There are 9 in-depth reviews, including printers, colour calibrators, graphics tablets, hard drives and portable storage devices. You should be able to find the right accessory for you from this round-up.

Our seventh and final Christmas guest writer, Michael C. Johnston from The Online Photographer, shares a festive tale with you all.

Back when I was editor-in-chief of Photo Techniques magazine, one of my duties was to sort through the many letters the magazine received to find a few short ones to print. As happens at any magazine, among the many ordinary inquiries were a variety of epistolary missiles from an always-entertaining assortment of cranks and crackpots. One enigmatic correspondent, for instance, once sent us a perfectly mediocre drugstore snapshot of a field with a nondescript tree stump in the middle distance. One the back was written, “I thought this was a pretty nice stump.”

During one period that lasted half a year or so, we received a succession of long, rambling, often angry letters from one particular reader, one after each issue was published.

Our sixth Christmas guest writer, commercial photographer Keith Cooper from Northlight Images, shares his top tips for becoming a professional photographer.

So you want to be a Pro Photographer?

Many people wonder about their futures and whether it’s a good time to become a professional commercial photographer?

I often get asked about what it takes - so here are some of my answers. Remember I’m a commercial photographer (so no weddings or portrait work) - If you want to be a wedding photographer then ask one of them :-)

As the end of 2008 quickly approaches, we thought it would be a great idea to round-up all of our software reviews from the past year. There are 16 in-depth reviews, covering everything from the big daddy of digital imaging (Adobe Photoshop CS4) to specialized black and white conversion software (Nik Silver Efex Pro). You should be able to find the right software for you from this round-up.

Our fifth Christmas guest writer, long-time professional photographer Philip Dunn from PhotoActive, shares his top tips for taking great photos of mixed light.

Ever wondered how to create those wonderful atmospheric exterior photographs where golden light from a house window streams into the cold, blue light of the street? You must have seen them – National Geographic photographers use this technique all the time when taking pictures of villages or towns. Advertising photographers use it when photographing hotels and guest houses. It’s a really old trick to make the place look cosy and inviting – the front door is often left open so that yellow light spills out onto the doorstep.

As the end of 2008 quickly approaches, we thought it would be a great idea to round-up all of our point and shoot compact camera reviews from the past year. There are 16 in-depth reviews in total of cameras that are great for beginners looking to get into photography, or just something easy-to-use for family snaps. You should be able to find the right point and shoot compact camera for you from this round-up.

Serif PhotoPlus X2 is a full-featured image editing application at an entry-level price. Taking on the likes of Adobe Photoshop Elements and Corel Paint Shop Pro, PhotoPlus X2 allows you to organise and open RAW files, correct common camera flaws and photo problems, makeover portrait photos, apply powerful artistic effects, print a range of layouts, create web graphics, and share photos digitally. Serif PhotoPlus X2 Digital Studio retails for £59.99 / $79.99. Jon Canfield discovers if PhotoPlus X2 is a realistic alternative to the market leaders.

Website: Serif PhotoPlus X2 Review

Our fourth Christmas guest writer, one of Britain’s most accomplished large format photographers, David Ward from Light & Land, shares his top tips for taking great photos of winter landscapes.

Many people dream of the long, languorous days of summer, with its gentle, warm zephyrs. But, as a landscape photographer I dream of the short days of winter, preferably with snow and ice. Despite what you may think this isn’t simply a case of me being contrary. No, honestly, it isn’t! For me there are many compelling reasons why landscape photography is a more worthwhile experience in winter.

As the end of 2008 quickly approaches, we thought it would be a great idea to round-up all of our ultrazoom compact camera reviews from the past year. There are 12 in-depth reviews in total of cameras that offer at least a 10x optical zoom lens, allowing you to get much closer to the action without having to change lenses. You should be able to find the right ultrazoom compact camera for you from this round-up.

Our third Christmas guest writer, photography website editor Ian Burley from DPNow, considers if the days of the SLR camera are numbered.

SLR cameras are special, aren’t they? The first time you pick up an SLR, peer through the viewfinder and release the shutter, if was the same for you as it was for me (all those years ago!) , it was a watershed experience;  rather like driving a car for the first time. The viewfinder, the mechanical whirr, clunk and click of the mirror and shutter operating in tandem, and the reassuring interchangeability of the lens, they all add up to a feeling that never goes away. An SLR has purpose, a mechanical assuredness, almost infinite potential. It’s exhilarating and satisfying in use and makes one look down upon compact cameras with a sense of diluted respect.

But is the SLR camera era under threat? Will many of us never fulfil long-cherished ambitions to own an SLR? Might existing SLR users abandon their old reflex passion… for something new?

As the end of 2008 quickly approaches, we thought it would be a great idea to round-up all of our advanced compact camera reviews from the past year. There are 26 in-depth reviews in total of cameras that offer at least aperture/shutter-priority modes, which is surprising given the recent trend to de-feature compacts in order to sell more entry-level DSLRs. You should be able to find the right advanced compact camera for you from this round-up.

The Samsung NV100HD (also known as the Samsung TL34HD in North America) is a stylish, full-featured and affordable compact camera. Offering a headline-grabbing 14.7 megapixels, 720p HD video mode, touchscreen interface and high-res 3-inch LCD, the NV100HD certainly offers enough innovations to stand out from the crowd, while still being very well priced at £229 / $329.95. Gavin Stoker discovers if the Samsung NV100HD is either a bargain or a missed opportunity.

Website: Samsung NV100HD Review

Our second Christmas guest writer, world famous photo-blogger David J. Nightingale from Chromasia, shares his top tips for creating great high dynamic range (HDR) photos.

As the end of 2008 quickly approaches, we thought it would be a great idea to round-up all of our DSLR camera reviews from the past year. There are 20 in-depth reviews in total, which is proof of just how quickly the DSLR market is expanding, and how busy we’ve been this year! You should be able to find the right DSLR camera for you from this round-up.

Our first Christmas guest writer, world class photographer Annabel Williams, shares her top tips for taking great photos of children.

People always say, ‘Never work with children or animals’ – where’s the challenge in that!

Capturing stunning images of children is one of the most rewarding parts of my job – and while they aren’t always perfectly behaved, there are many ways in which you can put them at ease and within a great environment in order to shoot the best images possible!

Parents and Grandparents always want beautiful shots of their little ones – and today there are so many different ways to present these – framed prints, albums, on canvass, photobooks and even digital photo frames.

The new Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS (also known as the PowerShot SD990 IS in North America) is currently the highest-resolution Canon compact camera, offering a massive 14.7 megapixels. Even more attractive to all keen photographers is the addition of a manual Mode that allows control of shutter speed and aperture, making the Canon 980 IS the first ever IXUS to allow true creative control. There’s also a new QuickShot mode that uses the optical viewfinder for framing and focusing, virtually eliminating shutter lag. Is the Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS worth the rather steep price-tag of £349.99 / $399.99 / €459.99? Read our 300th (!) product review to find out…

Website: Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS Review

DIWA (Digital Imaging Websites Association) has honoured the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G1 with a prestigious Gold Award. Kai Thon, test manager of DIWA Labs, commented: “Our unbiased, computer generated lab measurements reveal that the G1 delivers premium overall image quality, and the LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. Standard zoom lens outperforms any of its rivals. The G1 may look simple, but it acts and performs on par with most comparable D-SLR’s.”

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX3 compact camera has received a DIWA Gold award. According to Kai Thon, test manager of DIWA Labs, “The LX3 is by far the most powerful compact camera available, even when compared to much larger cameras. Despite its record-breaking 24mm wide angle zoom and f/2.0-2.8 lens speed, lens performance is outstanding.” The Digital Imaging Websites Association (DIWA) is a fast growing group of independent Web-based specialist publications dedicated to digital imaging.

The JOBO PDJ077 is a new stylish and modern 7 inch digital picture frame. “As with our entire line of digital picture frames, our newly introduced 7-inch digital picture frame has been designed to make viewing and sharing of digital photographs easier than ever before,” said Johannes Bockemuehl-Simon, JOBO’s CEO. “This elegant and versatile new digital frame is sure to fit in with any décor at home on the family room wall or in the office on a desk.” The JOBO PDJ077 features an 800 x 480 pixel resolution with a contrast ratio of 400:1 and user adjustable brightness. The PDJ077 is now available at a price of €99.