Nikon UK has announced that for the first time its new professional Digital SLR cameras, the D3 and D300, will be accompanied by Capture NX, Nikon’s award winning software package. The latest version of the software, Capture NX v1.3 will give professional photographers the creative freedom to develop and enhance shots, particularly when shooting in RAW format. Initial shipments of the new cameras will come with a product key that will unlock a downloaded trial version of Capture NX 1.3 available from the web site. A CD ROM version will be bundled with D300 and D3 from December. This is a limited offer that forms part of the initial launch campaign. The response to the offer has been extremely positive and Nikon expects the software offer to run well into 2008.

The Saitek Photo Mouse is the first customisable mouse that allows you to display your favourite photos. The ideal way to personalise a mouse, simply print out the desired photograph, cut it to size using the template provided, and slide it under the transparent cover. The photo will be illuminated with the integral white spotlight when the computer is turned on. “Saitek’s Photo Mouse is a great opportunity for computer users to add some fun to their surroundings,” says Jignisha Patel, Saitek Marketing Executive. “The Photo Mouse makes an ideal gift for any family member, colleague or friend, for any occasion.” Saitek’s Photo Mouse is available now for £12.99.

Following discussions with the Stock Artists Alliance, Getty Images has announced significant changes to its $49 “web-resolution” license. The major changes include a three month term limit, maximum usage size of 180x150 pixels and limits on distribution. SAA Executive Director Betsy Reid says the organization’s leaders are pleased the direct dialog led to “an improved license product that resolves many of the concerns raised by photographers and our coalition. It expands new licensing opportunities in a growing market for very small digital uses where this type of product makes sense.”

The free “The Good, the Bad, the Ugly” Adobe Photoshop online training course features portrait retouching tips and techniques from expert Russell Brown. “This fun and exciting class features all of the professional techniques that anyone using Adobe Photoshop needs to know to make their portraits better than real life,” said Siotha Vest, xTrain’s Director of Training. Dr. Brown provides several insider secrets for retouching portraits such as whitening teeth and eyes, enhancing eyelashes, reducing 5 o’clock shadow, removing wrinkles, and color correcting skin tones.

Steves Digicams have reviewed the Fujifilm Finepix F50fd compact digicam, which has a 12 megapixel sensor, Dual Image Stabilization, and Face Detection 2.0 technology with a a new Automatic Red-Eye Removal feature.

“The indoor portrait shots also turned out very well. If you stay within the range of the flash, it produces very natural skin tones, and well exposed images. When shooting in auto mode you are not able to change the white balance from auto which did have a little problem when shooting at the local pool (as do most cameras, including some pro-level dSLR’s) but did pretty well under normal lighting. When using higher ISO settings the flash is capable of lighting up even some larger rooms, but once the ISO is over 400 the noise levels become apparent when viewing the image on your computer at less than 100%, and could start to show in your smaller prints.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Fujifilm Finepix F50fd Review

Website: Read our Fujifilm Finepix F50fd Review

CNET have reviewed the Pentax Optio S10, which is a 10 megapixel camera with digital Shake Reduction, Face Recognition and DivX video format.

“Unlike many budget models we’ve seen lately, such as the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T2, Pentax strikes the right balance between noise suppression and sharpness in the S10. It produces nicely sharp photos with relatively little image noise, and which remain usable up to and including ISO 400—about a stop beyond the usual. It displays very good color, with generally neutral-to-cool white balance, even exposures and a broad dynamic range.”

Website: CNET - Pentax Optio S10 Review

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.3 and Camera Raw 4.3 updates are now available. Lightroom 1.3 adds support for Leopard Mac OS X 10.5 and includes a technology preview of the Lightroom Export SDK. Both Lightroom 1.3 and Camera Raw 4.3 include raw file support for seven additional digital cameras including the Nikon D3, Nikon D300 and Canon 1Ds Mark III.

The PhotoShelter Collection, a new edited stock image library for professionals and amateurs, has just opened its virtual doors. The PhotoShelter Collection offers the widest and most eclectic array of commercial imagery that is quality-sorted, keyworded, priced, licensed and ready for instant purchasing. Photographers keep 70% of all transactions and set their own prices. Since an initial launch to photographers on September 15th, over 5,000 photographers have uploaded more than 225,000 images to The PhotoShelter Collection in the first eight weeks.

Rob Galbraith have published sample photos from the unreleased Nikon D3 DSLR camera, taken by pro photographers Tony Bock, Nick Didlick, David Einsel and Peter K. Burian. The D3 photos are all full-size and have been taken at a range of ISO speeds, including the fastest possible speed of ISO 25600! The Nikon D3 is a full-frame, 12.1 megapixel DSLR camera that offers 9fps continuous shooting and a 51 point autofocus system. It also includes a 3 inch VGA LCD screen with Live View, expandable ISO settings from 200-6400, and new EXPEED image processing system with 4-bit analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion.

Website: The Nikon D3 from ISO 200 to 25600

Get a second copy of ACDSee Pro 2 and a Naneu Media Wallet for free when you buy ACDSee Pro 2 Photo Manager. ACDSee Pro 2 features next-generation workflow management and RAW processing functionality. This special offer expires on December 31st 2007.

Website: ACDSee Pro 2 Offer

The Glossary of Digital Photography book contains over 1500 digital photography words, abbreviations, and acronyms. The Glossary has been extensively researched to collect the terms currently in use and to provide the most up-to-date meanings of these terms. The Glossary of Digital Photography from publisher Rocky Nook costs $39.95 USD / £24.99 GBP.

Luminous Landscape have a really in-depth report about using the new Canon 1Ds Mark III, a 21.1 megapixel full-frame digital SLR on a recent trip to Madagascar.

” I haven’t yet done any side by side comparisons with the 5D, the D3, the 1Ds MKII, the P21, the P45, or any other camera for that matter. All I’ve had time for is travel half way round the world with the IIIs, shot from 4WD vehicles on dusty ox-cart trails, from canoes on the ocean, on sandy beaches, and in tropical jungles and forests. The camera has been dust covered, splashed with sea water, and bounced around on the floor of a Land Rover for hours at a time. So, sorry – no tests reports with graphs and comparison tables right now. Just five thousand plus frames of actual photography done in the harsh real world.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Mad About Madagascar

Imaging Resource have reviewed the new Olympus E-3 DSLR camera.

“The Olympus E-3 is by far the most advanced Olympus digital camera I’ve used, very satisfying to shoot with, and one of the more compelling SLRs launched this season. Its design, though big, is ergonomically pleasing and handsome, and it gives you a feel of confidence and control. The E-3’s build matches the sturdy feel of Olympus’s high-end lenses, which are some of the tightest we’ve seen.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Olympus E-3 Review

Website: Read our Olympus E-3 Review

TrustedReviews have reviewed the Panasonic Lumix FX100, a 12.2 megapixel digital camera with a new 1/1.72-inch large CCD and 28mm wide-angle lens.

“As always, we finally come to the crunch; picture quality. Here there is both good news and bad. The good news is that the combination of a 12MP sensor and a very high quality lens produces some of the most detailed shots I’ve ever seen from a compact, rivalling the performance of some digital SLRs. The bad news is that Panasonic still hasn’t managed to crack its recurring image noise problem, and here the 12MP sensor just makes it worse. There is image noise visible in shots even at the minimum setting of 80 ISO, and at 400 ISO it is bad enough to cause serious colour rendition problems.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Panasonic Lumix FX100 Review

DigitalCameraInfo have reviewed the new Fujifilm A920, a 9 megapixel entry-level digital camera aimed at the first-time buyer.

“Despite these limitations, the Fujifilm A920 can take great pictures. It has excellent resolution, low noise, and good dynamic range that make its images look nice and clean. It doesn’t perform well in low light and the autofocus system is slow, but it takes beautiful portraits when the subject is well-lit and ready to smile for about a half-second.”

Website: DigitalCameraInfo - Fujifilm A920 Review

Imaging Resource have reviewed the Canon A720 IS digital camera, which offers 8 megapixels and optical image stabilization.

“The Canon A720 IS is a capable all-around camera with high-end features that are more useful than exotic. High ISO is usable and image stabilization so useful you almost always want it enabled. Digital zoom was a bit of a disappointment on this 8.0-megapixel camera, but otherwise the DIGIC III image processor provided above-average performance yielding some wonderfully natural shots in a variety of settings.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Canon A720 IS Review

Think Tank Photo are giving away a free AI Low Divider Set worth $49 with all purchases of the Airport International roller bag. With the AI Low Divider Set, your laptop case (such as our Artificial Intelligence 15), Cable Management 50 case, or other vulnerable equipment is recessed within the safe confines of the roller. The Airport International is a rolling carry-on backpack designed specifically for the overhead lockers of international carriers and smaller regional aircraft. It can hold 300mm f/2.8, 400mm f/2.8, or 500mm f/4 lenses with hoods, multiple DSLR bodies, and other photography accessories.

The PhotoVu PV1765w is a new 17” widescreen wireless digital picture frame. Equipped with a 1280 x 800 LCD display and a fully customizable picture frame and mat, the 17” Widescreen PhotoVu display is a great way to display and enjoy your photos. “This is clearly a premium digital picture frame at a very affordable price, making a PhotoVu the perfect gift for the 2007 holiday season” said Mark Van Buskirk, Partner, PhotoVu. All PhotoVu digital picture frames include features such as WiFi support, built-in software, and Internet photo sharing. The PhotoVu PV1765w is available now from $699.

Canon’s “Try My Photo” invites you to have an image printed on a select Canon printer to test out its quality. “This program will give consumers a sample print of their own image and provide first-hand knowledge of the quality prints a Canon printer is capable of creating while at the same time giving the consumer the power to make an educated choice on what printer to purchase.” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. The first printer featured in the program is the SELPHY ES2 compact photo printer.

DPNow have tested the latest UDMA high-speed compact flash memory cards to find out if you really need to use them with your DSLR camera.
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“Both the Sony Alpha A700 and Olympus E-3 we tested are UDMA-compatible, but it was the Canon EOS-40D that impressed the most, despite not being UDMA compatible. Instead, the Canon relies on a more efficient onboard JPEG compression and buffer management system. The 40D does eventually choke during a lengthy continuous JPEG shooting burst, and the shooting rate drops dramatically, but it’s capable of many more more high speed shots before this happens. Only when shooting for long stretches in RAW mode, over 15-16 continuous shots, do the UDMA DSLRs show better performance.”

Website: DPNow - Ultra high-speed Compact Flash - do you need it?