DIWA, a world-wide organisation of collaborating websites, today announces a DIWA Gold Award to the Nikon D40 digital single-lens-reflex (DSLR) camera for its high overall performance at a very competitive price. Kai Thon, DIWA’s test manager says: “The DSLR camera market is booming and new models are introduced at rapid pace. DIWA members are pleased to confirm that the Nikon D40 is far more than just another DSLR. Built on Nikon’s long experience and indisputable reputation for quality, filled with the most important goodies from more advanced Nikon models, with priority on performance rather than marketing tricks and gimmicks, the D40 is currently as close to the perfect DSLR you can get for a reasonable sum of money”.

First announced in August 2006, the Nokia N95 has now started shipping. The N95 offers in-built GPS, 5 megapixel camera, DVD-like quality video capture, Wi-Fi connectivity and a unique two-way slide concept and music player. “The Nokia N95 is set to become the flagship device of a generation and transform the face of mobile technology,” said Andrew Connell, head of multimedia, Nokia UK.  “With its groundbreaking features set, the Nokia N95 takes mobile communication to a new level, meaning users need only one device in their pocket.” The estimated retail price of the Nokia N95 will be around £599 in the UK. The N95 will be released in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2007.

The Getty Images iView Submission Utility is available as a free plug-in for iView MediaPro for signed photographers to Getty Images Creative image collections. Designed to cut preparation time for stock photo submissions, the utility automates two key processes, image validation and submission packaging. “Our close relationship with iView in developing this submission utility demonstrates our commitment to helping photographers streamline their overall workflow and deliver images to us with less hassle,” said Paul Banwell, Director of Photographers and Filmmaker Relations at Getty Images.

A panel of digital imaging editors have selected the winners of the prestigious DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards. DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards recognize products or services utilizing new technologies and /or applications that make the product either distinct or the first of its kind. The winners include the HP Designjet Z Photo Printer Series, Lensbaby 3G, Olympus SP-550 UZ and Think Tank Photo rotation360 backpack.

Lastolite HiLite backgrounds provide a portable and illuminated solution for photography on location and in restrictive spaces. The HiLite is free standing and can be rotated and used on its short or long edge. The Lastolite HiLite background comes in two sizes, 1.5m x 2.15m (5’ x 7’) and 1.8m x 2.15m (6’ x 7’), for £229.99 and £279.99 respectively.

PopPhoto have the first review of the new Nikon D40x DSLR, which features a 10.2 megapixel sensor, producing 3,872 x 2,592-pixel images, 3D Colour Matrix Metering II system and 2.5 inch LCD screen, all in the most compact Nikon DSLR ever.

“The Nikon D40x ($799, estimated street with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX Nikkor; $729, body only) may be small, but its shooting capacity is big. It’s a great camera for first-time DSLR buyers set on a 10MP model and Nikon system users who want a lightweight body that’s not lightweight in performance. It returned Excellent Image Quality in tests in the Pop Photo Lab and out in the world, with excellent resolution through ISO 3200, stellar noise control (Extremely Low through ISO 400, Very Low through ISO 1600), and Excellent color accuracy.”

Website: PopPhoto - Nikon D40x Review

Website: Read our Nikon D40x Review

CNET have reviewed the Canon A570 IS compact digital camera, which offers a 7.1 megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom lens, Face Detection Technology and Red-Eye Correction, plus an Optical Image Stabilizer to combat camera shake and full manual control.

“Like a lot of Canon’s new cameras, the A570 IS includes a Digic III processor chip, which means it also has Canon’s face detection. In our field tests, the system quickly and accurately identified faces. Once it identifies them, the system uses your subject’s face to focus and meter the scene. Another feature that comes along with Digic III is in-camera red-eye removal. In this case, Canon lets you pluck the red pupils from your portrait victims in playback mode.”

Website: CNET - Canon A570 IS Review

The new Sanyo CG6 digital video / still camera features a “blur correction with gyro sensor” system to combat camera shake, 6.0 megapixel CCD and a 5x optical zoom lens. The CG6 also offers a 2.5-inch LCD screen which can rotate up to 290 degrees, USB battery charging, 1cm macro mode and 9-point range finder AF system. The Sanyo CG6 will be available in the U.S. at the end of March for $329.99.

Kingston DataTraveler Secure and DataTraveler Secure - Privacy Edition USB 2.0 flash drives are now available in 8GB capacities. Both drives offer titanium-coated stainless steel casings that are waterproof rated to depths up to four feet. The standard DataTraveler Secure will cost $282 and the Privacy Edition $350.

Ever wondered whether or not a memory card could survive a nuclear radiation test? No? Well, now you can find out anyway, thanks to some rather risky “hands-on” testing from e-fotografija.

“Memory card temperature and radiation test in Nuclear Power Plant Krsko labs. Both cards kept data after relatively high doses. A conclusion can be drawn – there’s no need to worry about our pictures when we pass through airport scanning devices. Also we know that we can make pictures in a medical X-ray facility. With film, this was always risky. Worrying about whether our pictures can survive an X-ray scan is a thing of the past. While the new X-ray scanners have a “film safe” label, digital media is resilient even to those without the label.”

Website: e-fotografija - Memory card temperature and radiation test

A new industry report by Understanding & Solutions predicts that sales of lenses, bags, flashguns, supports and dedicated camera batteries will reach €1.1bn in 2009. “The lens segment is taking a leading role in the boom - accounting for $878m (€697m) last year, up from $600m (€476m) in 2005. Moving forward, we expect lenses to remain the most lucrative product segment, accounting for nearly 60% of the total aftermarket value by 2011.” said David Watkins, Research Analyst.

HARMAN technology has announced a UK photo contest to help promote its new HARMAN PHOTO MATT FB Mp inkjet paper. Entrants are asked to submit their images on the new HARMAN PHOTO paper. The winner will receive a comprehensive digital photography course with Les McLean and £150 worth of HARMAN PHOTO digital inkjet products. Deadline for entries is August 31 and the winners will be announced on Friday September 28.

For every red Canon PowerShot A460 digital camera sold in Tesco stores, Canon is donating £5 to the British Red Cross. The money raised will be spent on essential British Red Cross services in local communities in the UK. The Canon PowerShot A460 is a 5 megapixel entry-level camera with a 2 inch LCD screen and 4x zoom lens.

Pixinfo.com have reviewed the dust removal systems of 4 recent DSLR cameras - the Canon EOS 400D, Sony A100, Olympus E-300 and Pentax K10D.

“Our goal was to set up a controlled environment to get the image sensors of digital cameras dirty and test how effective the different cameras’ sensor cleaning technologies are. It is well known fact (and it is a bit over dramatized) that digital SLR cameras are very sensitive to the dust particles found in the air. These particles can settle on the image sensor, and will show up on the images as dark spots when the image is taken with a small aperture (high F number).”

Website: Pixinfo.com - Dust removal systems / sensor cleaning

Wolverine Data have released a firmware upgrade for the Wolverine ESP portable multimedia player that provides RAW file support for the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100, Canon 400D and Canon Digital Rebel XTi digital SLR cameras. The Wolverine ESP is available in four models, ranging in capacity from 80GB to 160GB, with prices starting at $379.00.

Light Crafts is offering LightZone Basic for the discounted rate of $99.95 to all Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Apple Aperture and Apple iPhoto users. Unlike traditional photo-editing software, LightZone enables users to retouch and enhance photos in a simple and natural way. “Light Crafts is fundamentally changing digital photo editing to reduce complexity and return control to photographers,” said Georges van Hoegaerden, chief executive officer, Light Crafts. “We’re introducing the power of visual photo editing to all photographers, independent of their photo management software environment.”

Sony have added a 4Gb model to its Micro Vault Tiny range of ultra-portable USB storage media. The pre-loaded Virtual Expander data compression software allows users to store up to 3 times more data than the native capacity of the drive. The Sony 4GB Micro Vault Tiny is compatible with Windows Vista and is available now.

Extensis have released an update for Portfolio 8.1. The Portfolio Raw Filter 3.2 update adds support for 32 cameras, bringing the total to more than 100. The Portfolio Raw Filter is powered by technology from Bibble Labs and the update is free of charge for registered Portfolio 8.1 users.

The Ilford Photo “Pioneers of Photography” exhibition records the progress of the black-and-white genre through 150 years of outstanding photography. All of the exhibits will be printed on Ilford’s new digitally-enabled photographic paper Ilford Galerie FB Digital. “Pioneers of Photography” will be staged at London’s HOST Gallery from 16 - 28 April 2007.

Our friends at DPNow are offering 20 UK readers an exclusive free training day at Adobe’s UK training centre in west London. Lunch will be provided, followed by an introduction to the new Creative Suite 3, then an intensive session on Photoshop CS3 and, finally a session on Lightroom. You’ll have to be quick as places are limited!

Website: Free Adobe Training Day with DPNow