PMA 2007: The Olympus mju 770 SW digital camera is a new addition to their shockproof range of digicams. The Olympus 770 SW can survive falls from up to 1.5m, is waterproof to 10m depths, as well as being freezeproof to -10 degrees Celsius. It can also withstands loads up to a staggering 100kg. Available in three colours, Dark Blue, Titanium Grey, Mocca Brown, the 7.1 megapixel Olympus Mju 770 SW will hit the shelves in March 2007 at around £300.

PMA 2007: The weatherproof Olympus mju 760 is a 7.1 megapixel digital camera with 3x zoom (37-111mm), Dual Image Stabilization and a slim-line metal body. Available in Light Silver, Dark Blue and Ruby Red, the Olympus mju 760 has a 6.4cm LCD with 230,000 pixels, 23 scene modes and ISO 1600. The Olympus mju 760 will be available from March 2007 at around £200.

PMA 2007: The Olympus FE-250 digicam offers 8 megapixels, 3x optical zoom (35-105mm), large 6.4cm LCD with 230,000 pixels, Olympus’  BrightCapture Technology and stylish metal body. The Olympus FE-250 will be available from February 2007 with an estimated price of £200.

PMA 2007: The Olympus FE-240 digital camera features a 5x optical zoom lens (38-190mm), 7.1 megapixels, large 6.4cm LCD, slim metal body and a High ISO Setting mode with ISO 1000. The Olympus FE240 will hit stores in February 2007 with an estimated price of £180.

PMA 2007: Just 16.5mm slim, the new Olympus FE-230 digital camera has a smart stainless metal body and 7.1 megapixel sensor, plus a 3x zoom lens and large 6.4cm LCD screen. The FE230 also offers High ISO Setting mode with ISO 1250, Super Macro and a movie recording function with sound. The Olympus FE-230 will be available from February 2007 with an estimated price of £150.

PMA 2007: The entry-level Olympus FE-210 offers 7.1 megapixels and a 3x zoom lens (38-114mm), plus a large 6.4cm LCD and 15 scene modes. The Olympus FE210 will hit stores in February 2007 with an estimated High Street price of around £100.

The Fujifilm Finepix S6500fd (also known as the S6000fd) is a new ultra-zoom digital camera with a focal length of 28-300mm, 6 megapixels and a 2.5 inch LCD screen. The S6500fd features Fujifilm’s new Face Detection technology for better portrait shots, and there are aperture-priority, shutter-priority and manual modes, plus RAW format support. Find out now if the Fujifilm Finepix S6500fd is the best ultra-zoom camera available.

Website: Fujifilm Finepix S6500fd Review

Microsoft Photo Info is a new software add-in which enables easy editing of “metadata” for digital photographs from inside Windows Explorer, supporting most of the common IPTC properties. It also provides enhanced hover tips for digital photographs in Explorer. Photo Info runs on 32-bit versions of Windows XP (with Service Pack 2 or later) and the Windows Vista operating systems. JPEG, TIFF, WDP, HDP (HD Photo), NEF, CR2, and CRW files are currently supported.

Website: Download Microsoft Photo Info

VisibleDust’s sensor cleaning products will soon be available in France, Germany, Japan and the UK, after Bogen Imaging and KATA UK agree to distribute their product range. These include VisibleDust’s most popular products, the Sensor Brush and Arctic Butterfly, a revolutionary sensor cleaning product that only requires two AAA batteries, and takes just a few seconds to get a spotless sensor. VisibleDust products remove and lift up dust particles away from the sensor leaving the surface of the sensor spotless, while decreasing the chances of scratches or dust returning to the sensor.

The YouSendIt Export Plug-In for Apple Aperture allows photographers to send photos directly from within the application. You can send multiple photos to multiple recipients, add comments, and select resolution, file size and file type before sending from within the plug-in. The YouSendIt plug-in will be available as a free download from www.yousendit.com by January 22, 2007.

PowerSnap 2.0 is a free, downloadable application that lets users automate photo sharing and enables digital photo organization so users can find all their pictures within a single easy-to-use application. For the first time users can manage all their photographs, automatically sending and receiving pictures in near real-time, and synchronize their uploaded albums with their desktop instead of struggling with multiple sites and applications.

The Casio Z1000 and S770 digital cameras have both received an iF Product Design Award for 2007, recognised around the world as one of the premier industrial design competitions. The iF product design award 2007 attracted 2,293 entries from 35 countries with 756 entries receiving awards.

ImagingResource have published their review of the 10 megapixel Panasonic DMC-FZ50 camera.

“The Panasonic FZ50 is more evolutionary than groundbreaking, which is actually good. Looking virtually identical to the FZ30, the Panasonic FZ50 has the same 12x optical (35mm to 420mm in 35mm format) lens as its predecessor but an uptick in resolution (of course), to bring it to the now de rigueur 10 megapixels. Also new on the FZ50 is the Venus Engine III LSI image processor which moves basic camera functions along at a fairly good clip while ostensibly reducing image noise when shooting at the camera’s maximum ISO 3,200 light sensitivity rating.”

Website: ImagingResource - Panasonic DMC-FZ50 Review

Website: Read our Panasonic DMC-FZ50 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

PMA 2007: It seems the build-up to the PMA show has started early this year, as the new Pentax T30 and Pentax M30 compact digital cameras are announced today. The Pentax T30 features 7.1 megapixels, a 3 inch touch-screen LCD display, Face Recognition Auto Focus and Auto Exposure, plus a high ISO Digital Shake Reduction mode. Available in March, the Pentax T30 will cost US $349.95. The Pentax M30 also offers 7.1 megapixels, Digital Shake Reduction and Face Recognition AF and AE in an ultra-slim body. Available in March, the Pentax M30 will cost US $199.95.

The Airport International is a new rolling carry-on backpack from Think Tank Photo 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 stretchable front pocket can also hold a laptop. The Airport International backpack costs $319.00 and is available now.

PortraitProfessional 4 software allows you to dramatically improve a portrait photo in less than ten minutes. Improvements include individual control over all the separate facial features, and natural enhancements to skin just by moving a few sliders. PortraitProfessional 4 has just been released and is currently on offer at $39.95.

Nikon UK has announce their seminar schedule for this year’s Focus on Imaging photography show, which takes place from the 25th February - 28th February at the NEC in Birmingham. Speakers this year will focus on two key areas: Inspiration and technology. Inspiration talks will incorporate a whole host of topics including travel photography from Steve Davey, time lapse and animation from Martin Shann, as well as inspirational talks from Apple. The technology seminars will be led by Nikon experts and partners including Epson, Microsoft and Mitsubishi. Nikon will have an exciting new stand to ensure more hands on contact with the products and the Nikon team will also be on hand to give advice and answer any questions.

Website: Download the Seminar Schedule (PDF)

Pentax have released a firmware update, v1.10, for the Pentax K10D DSLR camera.

The following function has been added in version 1.10
  1. Wireless control of external flash through built-in flash.
  2. Instantly return to centre AF point by one push of button in AF select mode.
  3. Possible to change ISO setting by dial at TV/AV mode.
  4. ISO setting change by dial while the ISO setting is being displayed on the LCD by pushing OK button.
  5. Green button function in M mode is available at TAv mode (Hyper manual).
  6. AV and TV switch by dial at P mode.
  7. Instant return to the default value by green button at strobe light compensation.

The following contents have been corrected.
  1. In rare case, vertical stripe at long time exposure.
  2. Released “B exposure” and show battery empty sign when using B mode.

Website: Pentax K10D v1.10 Firmware Update

ePhotoZine have reviewed the new Canon PowerShot A710 IS digital camera.

“Startup time is fairly speedy considering it has a 6x zoom to unfurl. It takes around three seconds from pressing the on button to being able to shoot. Aperture range is a standard f/2-8-f/8, and while the fastest shutter speed at 1/2000sec may not be spectacular it will cope with most situations. What’s better is that it can do a long exposure up to 15secs. Focussing is quite fast, usually taking only a second to lock onto something, even if it’s dark, when the red spotting beam then comes into play.”

Website: ePhotoZine - Canon PowerShot A710 IS Review

Website: Read our Canon Powershot A710 IS Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

Printerspot have just reviewed the new Canon PIXMA MP600 all-in-one device.

“The Canon Pixma MP600 turned out to be a very impressive all-in-one printer. It offers high quality, fast photo printing, plus copying and scanning capabilities for under $200. It does all this with an easy-to-use interface that makes complex tasks (like two-sided printing) a breeze.”

Website: Printerspot - Canon PIXMA MP600 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews