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The Ricoh GR Digital II is a new 10 megapixel compact digital camera with a 28mm, f/2.4 fixed focal length lens. Successor to the Ricoh GR Digital which was launched in October 2005, the GR Digital II offers a 1/1.75-inch CCD with 10.01 million effective pixels, 2.7 inch LCD screen, reduced RAW file writing time and GR ENGINE II image processing engine for better noise performance. Other highlights include a 1:1 aspect ratio for square format photos, electronic level function that indicates if the camera is level, and a much smaller electronic viewfinder (an optional accessory). The Ricoh GR Digital II will cost £399 in the UK.
The Ricoh GR Digital II is a new 10 megapixel compact digital camera with a 28mm, f/2.4 fixed focal length lens. Successor to the Ricoh GR Digital which was launched in October 2005, the GR Digital II offers a 1/1.75-inch CCD with 10.01 million effective pixels, 2.7 inch LCD screen…
Sony is releasing a new firmware update to for the 12 megapixel Sony A700 DSLR camera today. An extract from the Sony Electronics blog states:
“Sony is releasing updated firmware for the DSLR-?700 camera, as well as updates for the Image Data Converter and Image Data Lightbox bundled software applications. The camera firmware update improves image sharpness and reduces noise under certain circumstances. It also improves flash control at very short distances with non-ADI control lenses. The updates for the bundled software applications correct the functioning of such features as image display and file type indication. These updates relate only to early production Firmware “Ver.1” models, which were manufactured through early October. Firmware “Ver.2” models (press Menu & Display together to check) already include this upgrade. Although these improvements are subtle, it is recommended that customers make the update to improve the camera and application software performance.”
Website: Sony A700 Firmware Update
Website: Sony A700 Firmware Update
Website: Sony A700 Firmware Update
Sony is releasing a new firmware update to for the 12 megapixel Sony A700 DSLR camera today. An extract from the Sony Electronics blog states: “Sony is releasing updated firmware for the DSLR-?700 camera, as well as updates for the Image Data Converter and Image Data Lightbox bundled software applications…
In a letter to UK camera retailers, Canon UK has stopped shipments of the new Canon EOS-1D Mark III DSLR and recalled all unsold units. A quality issue with the adjustment of the AF sub mirror is affecting the AI Servo focusing mode. Canon are apparently offering to repair Canon EOS-1D Mark III’s that have actually been sold to customers, but the letter states that Canon “will not be offering an exchange or return”. A technical helpline number has also been provided (08705 143 723). Canon are set to release an official statement on their website at the end of October/beginning of November.
Website: Rob Galbraith - Canon halts shipments to dealers in the UK
In a letter to UK camera retailers, Canon UK has stopped shipments of the new Canon EOS-1D Mark III DSLR and recalled all unsold units. A quality issue with the adjustment of the AF sub mirror is affecting the AI Servo focusing mode. Canon are apparently offering to repair Canon…
Kingston has increased the read and write speeds of its CompactFlash Elite Pro memory cards. The Kingston CompactFlash Elite Pro cards now offer transfer rates of 25MB/second (read) and 20MB/second (write) and capacities up to 16GB. CompactFlash Elite Pro cards are backed by a lifetime warranty and 24/7 live technical support. Prices range from $62 for the 2GB card to $308 for the 16GB.
Kingston has increased the read and write speeds of its CompactFlash Elite Pro memory cards. The Kingston CompactFlash Elite Pro cards now offer transfer rates of 25MB/second (read) and 20MB/second (write) and capacities up to 16GB. CompactFlash Elite Pro cards are backed by a lifetime warranty and 24/7 live technical…
A new version of Serif PhotoPlus X2 Studio Pack offers automatic image fixing, photo album sharing and more. “Serif PhotoPlus X2 Studio Pack makes powerful image editing capabilities even more easily accessible to all PC users, thanks to the innovative usability improvements in this latest version,” said Gary Bates, Serif’s Managing Director. Serif PhotoPlus X2 Studio Pack costs £59.99 and is available now.
A new version of Serif PhotoPlus X2 Studio Pack offers automatic image fixing, photo album sharing and more. “Serif PhotoPlus X2 Studio Pack makes powerful image editing capabilities even more easily accessible to all PC users, thanks to the innovative usability improvements in this latest version,” said Gary Bates, Serif’s…
Victorian Visions is a new exhibition of 19th century photography running at the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Wirral, UK. The collection is on loan from the Victorian & Albert Museum in London and looks at many major names in the field, such as Julia Margaret Cameron, Lady Hawarden, Roger Fenton, Francis Frith, Robert Howlett and B.B. Turner. The exhibition contains around 40 original photographs and offers a fascinating insight into the Victorian view of the world. ‘Victorian Visions 19th century photography’ runs from 1 December to 16 March 2008, admission is free.
Victorian Visions is a new exhibition of 19th century photography running at the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Wirral, UK. The collection is on loan from the Victorian & Albert Museum in London and looks at many major names in the field, such as Julia Margaret Cameron, Lady Hawarden, Roger…
Epsonality is a new marketing campaign from, you guessed it, Epson, which aims to make it easier to choose the right inkjet printer for your needs. Designed to help customers cut through the confusion of model names, the program matches the company’s printer attributes with various personality types and printing behaviors. “We are inviting all of these customers to take a more active experiential role with not only the Epson brand, but also our individual products. Rather than simply looking at features, we want our customers to see their printer a little differently and understand how certain products best meet their needs.” said Jeffrey Marks, director of Marketing and Communications, Epson.
Epsonality is a new marketing campaign from, you guessed it, Epson, which aims to make it easier to choose the right inkjet printer for your needs. Designed to help customers cut through the confusion of model names, the program matches the company’s printer attributes with various personality types and printing…
The release of the Pentax Optio A40 compact camera has been delayed until February 2008 due to a fire at its battery manufacturing plant. The Optio A40 was to be powered by a lithium-ion battery manufactured by Matsushita Battery Industrial Co Ltd. Pentax have had to modify the camera body specifications to accommodate a completely different battery, delaying the A40’s release by 3 months.
The release of the Pentax Optio A40 compact camera has been delayed until February 2008 due to a fire at its battery manufacturing plant. The Optio A40 was to be powered by a lithium-ion battery manufactured by Matsushita Battery Industrial Co Ltd. Pentax have had to modify the camera body…
PhotoReview have reviewed the new Canon SX100, the first camera in the new SX series, offering a 10x zoom, image stabilized lens and 8 megapixel resolution.
“Pictures taken with the test camera were sharp but rather contrasty. Exposures were pitched to record highlight detail, leaving shadows to block up. Autofocusing was fast and accurate in bright conditions – and almost as good in low light. The image stabilisation system proved effective in dim lighting; we estimate it provided a 2-3 stop advantage at long zoom settings.”
PhotoReview have reviewed the new Canon SX100, the first camera in the new SX series, offering a 10x zoom, image stabilized lens and 8 megapixel resolution. “Pictures taken with the test camera were sharp but rather contrasty. Exposures were pitched to record highlight detail, leaving shadows to block up. Autofocusing…
TrustedReviews have reviewed the new Ricoh Caplio R7 digital camera, which offers 8.1 megapixels and a 7.1x wide zoom lens (28-200mm).
“With the higher resolution sensor and new processing engine, image quality is also improved over the already impressive R6. The 256-segment metering provides very accurate exposures, although where it reached the limits of its dynamic range I found it tended to burn out highlights in order to keep shadow detail. Default colour rendition is also a little more highly saturated than is usually the case, but a quick adjustment in the menu provided a more naturalistic tone.”
TrustedReviews have reviewed the new Ricoh Caplio R7 digital camera, which offers 8.1 megapixels and a 7.1x wide zoom lens (28-200mm). “With the higher resolution sensor and new processing engine, image quality is also improved over the already impressive R6. The 256-segment metering provides very accurate exposures, although where it…
Megapixel.net have reviewed the Olympus FE-300, a new 12 megapixel entry-level camera with a 3x optical zoom lens, large 6.4cm LCD screen and Face Detection technology.
“The Olympus FE-300 offers a lot of value for the money. The image quality the camera is capable of producing is, so far, the best we have seen in a 12-megapixel compact. Moreover, when so many compact cameras are equipped with only a tiny flash that barely throws light out to 2 m (6 ft), the FE-300’s flash is actually effective. The FE-300 deserves to become quite popular.”
Megapixel.net have reviewed the Olympus FE-300, a new 12 megapixel entry-level camera with a 3x optical zoom lens, large 6.4cm LCD screen and Face Detection technology. “The Olympus FE-300 offers a lot of value for the money. The image quality the camera is capable of producing is, so far, the…
Steves Digicams have reviewed the Olympus FE-280, an entry-level 8 megapixel digital camera.
“The image quality was average for a consumer model. The sample shots showed good color saturation and nicely exposed images. The images were sharp in the middle, but get a little soft around the edges. This is ok for small prints, but will become more noticeable as the print size gets larger. When shooting in DIS (Digital Image Stabilization) mode, the level of noise did increase noticeably. This is due to the increase in ISO to raise the shutter speed. This is how the camera makes up for the slight shaking of the camera as you are taking a picture. While it will help in well lit situations since the camera won’t have to raise the ISO very much, in low light, it will add much more noise, lowering the quality of your pictures. “
Steves Digicams have reviewed the Olympus FE-280, an entry-level 8 megapixel digital camera. “The image quality was average for a consumer model. The sample shots showed good color saturation and nicely exposed images. The images were sharp in the middle, but get a little soft around the edges. This is…
Now you can look like the airbrushed model on the cover of the latest fashion magazine. Fotofix.com is a new online photo enhancement service which supplies retouched, magazine-quality photos. Fotofix.com provides high-quality digital enhancements like skin smoothing, complexion evening, body slimming, and tooth whitening. A team of professionally trained photographers and artists work on the photos, and the process has a 24-hour turnaround.
Now you can look like the airbrushed model on the cover of the latest fashion magazine. Fotofix.com is a new online photo enhancement service which supplies retouched, magazine-quality photos. Fotofix.com provides high-quality digital enhancements like skin smoothing, complexion evening, body slimming, and tooth whitening. A team of professionally trained photographers…
The inaugural Renegade Photo Shoot 2007 brought together an eclectic mix of photographers to shoot varied assignments in New York. “The cultural diversity found on New York City streets, mixed with the Renegade team enabled me to learn different skills and open my eyes to new ways of photographically capturing imagery,” said Helene DeLillo of Helene DeLillo Photography. Images from this interesting shoot can be viewed at http://www.printroom.com/pro/RenegadeShootNYC2007
The inaugural Renegade Photo Shoot 2007 brought together an eclectic mix of photographers to shoot varied assignments in New York. “The cultural diversity found on New York City streets, mixed with the Renegade team enabled me to learn different skills and open my eyes to new ways of photographically capturing…
SanDisk’s 8GB microSDHC and M2 flash memory cards are now available worldwide. Mobile phone users can now store more than 2,000 digital songs, 5,000 high-resolution pictures, or up to 5 hours of high-quality MPEG 4 video. SanDisk’s 8GB microSDHC and M2 cards are now available with suggested retail prices of $139.99 and $149.99 respectively.
SanDisk’s 8GB microSDHC and M2 flash memory cards are now available worldwide. Mobile phone users can now store more than 2,000 digital songs, 5,000 high-resolution pictures, or up to 5 hours of high-quality MPEG 4 video. SanDisk’s 8GB microSDHC and M2 cards are now available with suggested retail prices of $139.99 and $149.99 respectively.
Apple have just released Apple Aperture 1.5.6. Recommended for all licensed Aperture customers, the Aperture 1.5.6 Update addresses issues related to performance, improves overall stability, and supports compatibility with Mac OS X Leopard v10.5.
- Resolves some minor compatibility issues with iPhoto 7.1, which organizes images by Event rather than Roll.
- Addresses issues related to metadata and sort order when sharing previews with iLife Media Browser.
- Improves reliability of queries based on Import Session.
- Addresses reliability when recovering an Aperture Library from a Vault.
Website: Apple Aperture 1.5.6
Apple have just released Apple Aperture 1.5.6. Recommended for all licensed Aperture customers, the Aperture 1.5.6 Update addresses issues related to performance, improves overall stability, and supports compatibility with Mac OS X Leopard v10.5. - Resolves some minor compatibility issues with iPhoto 7.1, which organizes images by Event rather than…
DIWA member LetsGoDigital have reviewed the new 12 megapixel Sony A700 DSLR camera.
“The image quality delivered by the Sony A700 is excellent and will please the passionate photographer. Remarkable is the difference between RAW and JPEG pictures. For those who will use the Sony A700 purely simple, and leave RAW format for what it is, will not get to see the optimum possible quality of the camera. I think I made my point: shoot in RAW, go to the trouble of sharpening the pictures and converting them to JPEG and you will see the difference. There will always be differences between JPEG and RAW but on the Sony A700 they are too significant to not mention them. Personally I would only use RAW format with the Sony A700.”
Website: LetsGoDigital - Sony A700 Review
DIWA member LetsGoDigital have reviewed the new 12 megapixel Sony A700 DSLR camera. “The image quality delivered by the Sony A700 is excellent and will please the passionate photographer. Remarkable is the difference between RAW and JPEG pictures. For those who will use the Sony A700 purely simple, and leave…
CameraLabs have just reviewed the Fujifilm S8000fd digital compact camera, which offers an 18x zoom lens equivalent to 27mm-486mm.
“Viewed in isolation the Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd is a good super-zoom camera. The 18x optical zoom range is extremely flexible, the stabilisation really works and the image quality at lower sensitivities is more than acceptable. As such we can award it our Recommended rating without hesitation.”
CameraLabs have just reviewed the Fujifilm S8000fd digital compact camera, which offers an 18x zoom lens equivalent to 27mm-486mm. “Viewed in isolation the Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd is a good super-zoom camera. The 18x optical zoom range is extremely flexible, the stabilisation really works and the image quality at lower sensitivities…
DigitalCameraInfo have reviewed the Panasonic DMC-FZ18 digital camera, which features a 18x optical zoom lens, equivalent to 28-504mm on a 35mm film camera.
“The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 is more expensive than its predecessor but the extra $50 is worth the upgrades. The older camera has a 12x lens, 7.2 megapixels, and is missing some of the newer technology like face detection and Intelligent Auto mode. The new FZ18 has 8 megapixels and an 18x optical zoom lens. Its long lens puts it at the top of the market but its price remains relatively low. There are two other 18x ultra-zoom cameras currently on the market. The Olympus SP-560UZ retails for $499 and the Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd sells for $399. The Panasonic FZ18 still has competition, but is priced to sell – not to impress.”
DigitalCameraInfo have reviewed the Panasonic DMC-FZ18 digital camera, which features a 18x optical zoom lens, equivalent to 28-504mm on a 35mm film camera. “The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 is more expensive than its predecessor but the extra $50 is worth the upgrades. The older camera has a 12x lens, 7.2 megapixels…
PopPhoto have reviewed the Canon PowerShot SD950 IS digital camera, which features a 12.1 megapixel sensor and 3.7x image stabilised lens.
“Image quality was fantastic as ISO 80, 100, and even 200, but began to suffer at ISO 400 when viewing the image at 100% on a computer. Noise became overwhelming at ISO 800 and above, so avoid these higher ISO modes if possible. If using the manual ISO, be sure to check the ISO setting when light conditions change so you’re not shooting a midday beach scene at ISO 400! And the Image Stabilization should help keep shots sharp, even at lower ISOs in lower light.”
PopPhoto have reviewed the Canon PowerShot SD950 IS digital camera, which features a 12.1 megapixel sensor and 3.7x image stabilised lens. “Image quality was fantastic as ISO 80, 100, and even 200, but began to suffer at ISO 400 when viewing the image at 100% on a computer. Noise became…