The Digital Story have published an impressive gallery of underwater photos taken with the SD700 IS camera (also known as the Canon Digital IXUS 800 IS), plus some useful tips on how get better results under the waves.

“Having a camera with image stabilization is very important. Everything is moving underwater, including you. The image stabilizer minimizes the effects of camera movement during exposure. I also increase the ISO to 400 to enable as fast a shutter speed as possible. And don’t forget to use the camera’s Underwater scene mode if it has one. It really helps with the white balance setting.”

Website: The Digital Story - Caribbean Underwater Gallery Posted (and shooting tips)

The new Pentax Optio Z10 is a compact digital camera with a 7x optical zoom lens, something of a departure for a company who typically produce compacts with 3x zooms. About the same size as a pack of playing cards and weighing less than 150g, the diminutive Pentax Z10 squeezes in a 38-266mm lens, 2.5 inch LCD screen and 8 megapixel sensor. Also featuring a sliding lens cover, Face Recognition, ISO 64-3200 and available in black or silver, does the Pentax Optio Z10 deserve a place on your holiday shopping list? Read our review to find out.

Website: Pentax Optio Z10 Review

Beyond Sight is a multi-sensory exhibition of photographs by blind and visually impaired people, held at the Association of Photographers gallery in London. In recognition of International Day of Disabled People 2007, images by groups in the UK and Mexico trained by PhotoVoice and Sight of Emotion will be exhibited alongside work by renowned sighted and blind photographers, including Gerardo Nigenda and Martin Parr. The exhibition will celebrate the possibilities of photography; a medium traditionally regarded as the domain of sighted people, and will challenge our conventional understanding of visual communication and of what it means to ‘see’. The exhibition runs from 3rd - 8th December 2007.

Epson’s new 60” PremierArt Water Resistant Canvas and 60” Water Resistant Matte Canvas rolls are ideal for exhibition display, portraits or limited edition fine art. Water Resistant Matte Canvas offers a smooth matte finish while the PremierArt Water Resistant Canvas provides a high-gloss finish. Martin Johns, Business Manager, Pro-Graphics, Epson UK says, “Epson has established a strong reputation for providing superior products that professionals can rely on to continually perform. These are complemented by a wide choice of media, including matte and glossy papers up to 44”. With the launch of these products our canvas range is now available up to 64”.  As canvas prints become an increasingly popular choice for customers displaying photos and art at home, photographers and artists can meet this demand with even bigger prints that will really make an impression.”

Epson is sponsoring a new youth photography competition in conjunction with the Irish Photographic Federation. The first Epson Youth Photography Awards are open to all schools and third level institutions throughout Ireland. Daniel Rafferty, Epson Ireland, commented, ‘We are delighted to expand our collaboration with the Irish Photographic Federation. It is very exciting to be involved at the grass roots level of emerging Irish photographic talent and we believe this will prove to be another very successful partnership between Epson and the IPF.’ The school or college with the best portfolio of images will win an Epson Stylus Photo R2400 A3+ eight colour printer and six individual winners will receive an Epson Stylus Photo R360 A4 six colour printer. Closing date for entries is 1st February 2008.

TrustedReviews have reviewed the 8.1 megapixel Casio EX-S880 camera, which features enhanced movie functionality and a YouTube Best Shot scene mode.

“One of the reasons I heaped praise on the S770 was for its outstanding image quality, and happily the same is true of the S880. I used it in a wide range of situations, including a dimly-lit bar, a cloudy overcast day and even that rarity in these parts, a bright sunny day, and it never failed to produce excellent results.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Casio EX-S880 Review

The Ricoh Caplio RR770 is a new 7 megapixel entry-level digital camera with a large 3 inch LCD screen. Replacing the RR750 model, the Ricoh RR770 also features a 3x optical zoom lens (34-102mm), 32Mb internal memory and runs on standard AA batteries, all housed in an elegant black body. More details on availability and pricing for the RR770 as we get them.

Ricoh have released a new firmware version, 2.40, for the Ricoh GR Digital, an 8 megapixel compact digicam based on the GR Series of 35mm compact film cameras. The update includes the following changes:

- [B&W (TE)] for [IMG SET]
[B&W (TE)] setting is selectable.
- [ON] and [OFF] for [INFO DISP]
[INFO DISP] setting is selectable.
- [FLASH EXPO. COMP]
You can adjust the amount of flash light.
- Tele Conversion Lens
You can use an optional tele conversion lens (GT-1).

Website: Ricoh GR Digital v2.40 Firmware Update (Windows)

Website: Ricoh GR Digital v2.40 Firmware Update (MAC)

DigitalCameraInfo have reviewed the Kodak Z812 IS camera, which has 8 megapixels and a 12x optical zoom lens.

“The Kodak EasyShare Z812 IS is a mix between a point-and-shoot and an SLR and a combination of a still camera and a camcorder. For consumers who want big features and decent image quality for a relatively low price, the Z812 IS is a good option. If you have an extra $70 to spend, and don’t need the HD video, the Sony H7 with 15x optical zoom, one of the best performing cameras we’ve tested this year, is definitely worth a look.”

Website: DigitalCameraInfo - Kodak Z812 IS Review

Laptop Magazine have compared three new superzoom cameras, including the new Canon S5 IS (pictured).

“Being a spectator can be hard work, just ask Cynthia Hyunh. Exhausted from running up and down the sidelines to get shots of her eight-year old, Brian, she needed a high-zoom camera to capture sharp, stable pictures from afar. We gave her three popular cameras—the Canon Powershot S5 IS, the Kodak Z812 IS, and the Olympus SP-560 UZ—to take to Brian’s championship game, and asked her to tell us which ones could keep up with her son.”

Website: Laptop Magazine - Super-Zoom Cameras for Soccer Moms

DxO Labs today announced the immediate availability of DxO Optics Pro v5 for Windows. Originally slated for release at the end of October, DxO Optics Pro 5 was delayed for a month “following an extended testing and quality assurance phase”. DxO Optics Pro v5 is available in Standard and Elite versions at pricing unchanged from the previous version ($169 and $299 respectively).

Olympus have released firmware updates for all of their DSLR cameras, with the exception of the brand new E-3. Improved focusing accuracy when using the EC-20 Teleconverter is included in all the updates, and the E-510 also gets improved image stabilisation at slow shutter speeds.

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR is a general-purpose lens developed specifically for users of entry-level digital SLR cameras. This 3x zoom lens covers 27-82.5mm and incorporates a Silent Wave Motor for fast autofocus and Vibration Reduction for enhanced low-light performance. The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR will be available at the end of November 2007 for £179.99 / €270.00 / $199.

Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 now provides fully integrated support for the Microsoft HD Photo file format. “We’re pleased Corel has integrated HD Photo in Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 to provide their customers with an easy-to-use file format with industry-leading features,” said Kostas Mallios, general manager of the Rich Media Group at Microsoft. “HD Photo offers the ability to retain all of the rich data from RAW files in a convenient, finished file format.”

Canon have released a new firmware update, version 1.0.5, for the Canon EOS 40D digital SLR camera, which offers a 10.1 megapixel sensor, 6.5 fps continuous shooting and 3 inch LCD screen. This firmware update (Version 1.0.5) incorporates the following improvements and fixes.

  1. When playing back images just after recovering from Auto Power Off, the display now shows the last image played back.
  2. During remote shooting, images are now displayed on the camera’s LCD monitor right after they are taken.
  3. Corrects a warning message in Korean that appears when updating the firmware.
  4. Corrects errors in the Spanish menu screens.
  5. Corrects a phenomenon that prevented printing with some print systems.
  6. Corrects a rare phenomenon in which file numbers or image numbers were sometimes skipped.

Website: Canon EOS 40D Firmware Update 1.0.5

Retrevo is the first ever matchmaking service between consumers and electronics, using artificial intelligence to find the perfect product match. Retrevo provides real-time, impartial recommendations on which products offer the best value, combined with both user input and expert reviews. “Americans will spend upwards of $48 billion on consumer electronics this holiday season—but not without first getting overwhelmed by the vast range of products with far too many complex features,” said Vipin Jain, Retrevo’s president and CEO. “Retrevo cuts through that clutter to help you find the right match for your needs. Up-to-the-minute independent information is amassed and translated into unbiased answers that can be easily understood by all consumers, technically savvy or not.”

The Samsung TruDirect SE-S204S allows consumers to create DVDs and burn digital content through a PC without the need for a hard drive. Similar to VCR recording, users can connect a digital device such as a digital camera, and then connect the Samsung TruDirect SE-S204S to the computer to burn DVD movies directly. “The TruDirect SE-S204S enables users to easily and efficiently turn their digital videos or photos into DVDs in the easiest and fastest way ever.” said Richard Aguilera, western regional sales manager, Samsung Storage Division. The TruDirect SE-S204S is shipping now for $159.99.

Due to the incredible demand for digital SLR cameras and the change in price point, the very nice people at Sigma are offering a £200 cash back on purchases of the SD14 camera. This limited offer is timed to coincide with the festive season and is available on cameras purchased between 1st November 2007 and 29th February 2008.

The Jobo PDJ105 and PDJ100 digital photo frames both feature a 10.4” high-resolution LCD display with Acrylic frame design and modern black trim. Each new JOBO digital picture frame features a 640 x 480 pixel resolution with a contrast ratio of 300:1. Both models feature USB 2.0 high speed capability and support all popular memory cards such as CF, SD, MMC, MS and xD. The 512 MB internal memory of the new JOBO PDJ105 model can store up to 5,000 pictures. The JOBO Photo Displays are available for $239 (PDJ105) and $209 (PDJ100) respectively.

The Tokina AT-X M35 PRO DX is a new prime macro lens for crop-sensor DSLR cameras. Available in Nikon and Canon mounts, the Tokina AT-X M35 offers a 35mm focal length, equivalent to 54mm on a Nikon camera and 56mm on Canon. The new lens also has a constant aperture of F/2.8, consists of 9 elements in 8 groups and accepts 52mm filters. Currently announced only in Japan, the Tokina AT-X M35 PRO DX lens will be available in December 2007 for 68,000 Yen.