Here are the sample photos from our upcoming review of the Fujifilm Finepix F31fd compact digital camera, which adds face detection and infra-red communication to the 6 month old F30 model.

Website: Fujifilm Finepix F31fd Photos

CES 2007: The first new camera of 2007 is the entry-level Pentax Optio E30 digital compact, with 7.1 megapixels, 2.4 inch LCD monitor and powered by AA-size batteries. The Pentax E30 will be available from February, price to be confirmed.

Pentax UK Press Release

4th January 2007 - Pentax introduces the new Optio E30, an entry-level compact which delivers high-resolution pictures. The camera offers a 7.1 effective megapixels and a 3X optical zoom lens and is designed to be high performance, yet simple to operate. The Optio E30 features a Green mode which automates settings and offers users a quick and intuitive way to begin shooting, making the Optio E30 the ideal choice for novices. The Optio E30 is the newest addition to Pentax’s Optio E series range offering world leading optics and a premium photographic experience, in an easy to use package at a competitive price.

CES 2007: The new Fujifilm FinePix F40fd camera offers 8.3 megapixels, 3x zoom lens, 300 shot battery life, Face Detection technology and support for both xD-Picture Card and SD card formats. The Fujifilm F40fd will be available from March 2007. In the UK, pricing and stockists will be announced nearer to the date of retail launch. In the USA, price will be $299.

Fujifilm UK Press Release

Fujifilm is pleased to announce the launch of the FinePix F40fd, the latest in its flagship range of F series compact digital cameras. Featuring Fujifilm’s proprietary Real Photo Processor II, Super CCD HR VI and hardware-based Face Detection, the new model continues the F series tradition of delivering sophisticated technology and compact, straightforward design. Added to this, ISO 2000 sensitivity at full 8.3 megapixel resolution, 3.0x optical zoom lens and 300 shot battery life make it perfect for prolific snappers or enthusiast photographers who need a high-performance take-anywhere digital camera. In a first for FinePix cameras the FinePix F40fd features a dual memory card slot, which accepts not only Fujifilm’s traditional xD-Picture Card(tm) but also the popular Secure Digital (SD) card format.

CES 2007: The new Fujifilm FinePix A800 and Fujifilm FinePix A610 cameras feature Fujifilm’s Super CCD HR and RP Processor together for the first time in the FinePix A series. The Fujifilm A610 and Fujifilm A800 will be available from late February 2007 in the UK, and pricing and stockists will be announced nearer to the date of retail launch. In the USA, the FinePix A610 and FinePix A800 will debut in March 2007 with retail prices of $129 and $179, respectively.

Fujifilm UK Press Release

Fujifilm today announced two new additions to its entry-level A series, the Fujifilm FinePix A610 and Fujifilm FinePix A800. In a first for Fujifilm’s A series, both cameras feature the company’s proprietary Super CCD HR sensor and RP (Real Photo) Processor together, making it possible to capture sharp images and more detail, with less noise. Fujifilm’s ‘Real Photo Technology’ cameras combine lens, CCD and processor, optimised to work together for best results. In another first for Fujifilm’s FinePix cameras, both the Fujifilm A610 and Fujifilm A800 feature a dual memory card slot, which accepts not only Fujifilm’s traditional xD-Picture Card(tm) but also the popular Secure Digital (SD) card format.

The new Fujifilm IS-1 is a compact camera with infrared capability, primarily aimed at the law enforcement, medical/dental and science fields. Priced at $899, the Fujifilm IS-1 IS-1 will be available at select authorized dealers in the United States in February 2007. There are no plans as yet to release the Fujifilm IS-1 in the UK.

Fujifilm USA Press Release

VALHALLA, N.Y.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Fujifilm continues to lead in the area of alternative light photography with today’s announcement of the IS-1 digital camera, Fujifilm’s latest model for capturing images in the infrared light spectrum. The Fujifilm IS-1 was developed for use in the law enforcement, medical/dental and science fields and is a follow-up model to the FinePix S3 Pro UVIR D-SLR. Like the FinePix S3 Pro UVIR, the Fujifilm IS-1 will help law enforcement officers solve crimes by capturing evidence not easily seen by the human eye. It can be used in both the visible and infrared light spectrums, making the evidence-gathering process more efficient and accurate.

An End User’s Champion, Fraser’s Contributions to the Digital Imaging and Desktop Color Industry will be Celebrated in an Upbeat, Inspirational Multimedia Event on January 10

SAN FRANCISCO—Jan 03, 2007—Visual arts connoisseur, proud and humorous Scotsman, masterful musician, tireless digital imaging scientist and author, and peaceful Buddhist with more than a passing fancy for astronomy—Bruce Fraser was a renaissance man whose most outstanding characteristic was his humanity. In recognition of Bruce’s profound impact on shaping the development of digital imaging and color management products, and educating the hundreds of thousand of people who depend on these products in their daily work; Macworld Conference and Expo, the digital imaging and color management industry’s leading vendors, and famed publishing house Peachpit Press are pleased to invite all conference attendees, exhibitors and other interested friends, colleagues and fans to a gala tribute honoring the legendary consultant, author and lecturer Fraser, who passed away December 16. The tribute will be held on Wednesday, January 10, 2007, from 6:00pm - 7:30pm at the Moscone Center in room 134 in the North Hall.

CES 2007: Toshiba enters the personal storage market in North America with new USB 2.0 portable external hard drives. The Toshiba USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive will be on retail store shelves in Spring 2007 at price points starting at $139.99.

Toshiba Press Release

IRVINE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD), the industry pioneer in mobile storage products, will capitalize on its 2.5-inch hard disk drive (HDD) technology expertise and consumer brand leadership with a new line of USB 2.0 portable external hard drives in 100GB, 120GB and 160GB1 capacities. Available in North America, Toshiba’s new personal storage line of 2.5-inch HDDs provides a unique solution for data back-up by enabling automatic power-on and save capabilities for worry-free content management.

Ink2Image Press Release

Ink2Image Announced as Exclusive North American Distributor of Nazdar’s Lyson Products for the Photography and Fine Arts Markets - Former Lyson USA President Tony Martin Establishes New Company

Glenview, IL (January 3, 2007) — Ink2Image, a Glenview, IL-based distributor of digital inks, media, bulk-feed systems, and related products to the photography and fine arts industry, has been appointed by Nazdar as the exclusive North American distributor for Nazdar’s Lyson branded inks and products for the photography and fine arts markets. Shawnee, KS-based Nazdar, the largest manufacturer of screen printing inks in the United States, acquired Lyson in the first quarter of 2006.

CES 2006: Samsung Electronics Press Release

Seoul, Korea - January 4, 2007: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world’s largest provider of thin-film transistor, liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels announced today that it has created the first LCD panel that can produce independent images on each side of a mobile LCD display. Samsung’s new double-sided LCD can show two entirely different pictures or sets of visual data simultaneously on the front and back of the same screen. Other conventional double-sided LCDs can only show a reverse image of the same video data. This new development will replace two display panels with one, thereby reducing overall thickness of mobile products by at least 1mm.

Pandigital Press Release

Pandigital Expands Its Line of Digital Photo Frames with a Stunning 10.4-Inch Model with 256MB of Internal Memory; Following Exceptional Holiday Sales, Pandigital Expands Its Sales Reach by Adding New Retailers

LAFAYETTE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Pandigital today debuts a stunning 10.4-inch Digital Photo Frame following exceptionally strong holiday sales in Q4 2006. Pandigital led U.S.-sales of digital photo frames in Q4 with more than 500,000 units sold at top retailers around the United States. “Pandigital’s break-through product line helped solidify market acceptance of digital photo frames as a great way to view digital images,” said Dean Finnegan, president, Pandigital. “Pandigital frames include the features that let people quickly and easily enjoy their digital photos. This made them one of the hottest must-have gifts for the 2006 holiday season.”

Imaging Resource have reviewed the new Canon G7, which features a 10 megapixel, 1/1.8 inch sensor, DIGIC III image processor, Face Detection, 35-210mm lens and optical image stabilization system.

“The Canon G7 looks and feels like a fine instrument. I mentioned this factor in the Pentax K100 review, where their special lenses just had the look and feel of precision. Early cameras were drafted by engineers on paper, crafted by machinists on lathes and mills, and assembled by skilled workers. They were treasures to own. The Canon G7 gives you a little more of that than most digital cameras, without the price tag of a Leica.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Canon G7 Review

Website: Read our Canon Powershot G7 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

Steves Digicams have reviewed the 7 megapixel, 10x optical zoom Olympus SP-510 UZ.

“The quality of the SP-510’s SHQ images is on par with many 7-megapixel consumer models. Our outdoor shots were sharp with good overall exposure and color saturation. While some may see the extended ISO capabilities of this model appealing, I found image noise was pretty bad in the higher sensitivity settings. ISO 400 and below look very nice with typical traces of image noise. However, ISO 800 and above look very rough.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Olympus SP-510 UZ Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

The winners of the December 2006 PhotographyBLOG Competition have been announced. The theme for December was “Love” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners:

1st Place
“Love, love, love” by Isabelle Bouvier-Whittaker
View this entry

Prize: 1 x 24x24” or 24x18” Canvas Print of a Photo of Your Choice
Kindly donated by Pixel Outpost.
http://www.pixeloutpost.com

In the latest installment of this regular series, we cast the spotlight on members of the PhotographyBLOG Gallery and ask them about their photography. The 25th member to sit in the interview chair is jimmyedmonds.

“Yes, being a Gallery member certainly improves your photography. You can get some great inspiration from it. The comments and advice you get from other members is certainly a big help for anyone.”

Website: Gallery Member Spotlight - jimmyedmonds

Kodak Press Release

Kodak and Sony, Sony Ericsson Enter Into Technology Cross-License Agreements

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Jan. 3, 2007—Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) today announced that it has entered into a technology cross-license agreement with Sony Corporation that will allow each company broad access to the other’s patent portfolio. Kodak also announced that it has entered into a technology cross license with Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB that will allow Sony Ericsson access to Kodak technology for Sony Ericsson’s products. Kodak will also have access to Sony Ericsson’s technology. The license agreements are royalty bearing to Kodak. Additional financial terms were not disclosed.

Dust-Aid Press Release

Bend, Oregon – January 3, 2007 – DUST-AID™, an adhesive-based DSLR sensor clearer, will soon be released to the retail market, offering a unique solution for DSLR camera photographers seeking a safe and easy way of cleaning their dusty sensors. Developed and tested for contamination using scientific FTIR lab testing, DUST-AID was invented by a landscape photographer who primarily works with film but needed digital capabilities for advertising / contract shoots.

Kodak UK Press Release

Proven to provide exceptional colour, detail and quality for more than 100 years

London, 03 January 2007 – Photographers can now produce high quality inkjet prints that deliver exceptional image stability and last more than 100 years* in typical home display conditions, even when displayed without glass, according to Kodak’s Image Stability Behaviour report. (www.kodak.com/go/proinkjet) Offering durability that rivals traditional silver halide printing, Kodak Professional Inkjet Photo Paper, when used with quality state-of-the-art pigmented inks, provides an extended life for inkjet prints due to its exceptional resistance to major environmental factors such as ozone, high humidity, light intensity and excessive heat.

Samsung Press Release

Samsung Samples First 50-Nanometer 16Gb NAND Flash for Solid State Disk and Other High-Density Applications

SEOUL, South Korea—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced semiconductor technology solutions, announced that it is now sampling its 16-gigabit (Gb) NAND flash memory with customers – the first NAND flash using 50 nanometer (nm) process technology. The first samples of this high density NAND flash memory have a multi-level cell (MLC) design with a 4Kbyte (KB) page size to enhance both its read and write features. The new 4KB page function improves the conventional 2KB paging system for MLC NAND flash to double the read speed, while increasing write performance 150%.

JP Distribution Press Release

JP Distribution is pleased to announce the arrival of the Billingham Hadley Digital. The Hadley Digital shares the same styling characteristics and craftsmanship of the entire Billingham range. This compact and versatile bag is capable of holding a Digital SLR with its lens attached and provides a perfect solution for those who want to take just their vital kit with them on a shoot.

Blue Pixel Press Release

Blue Pixel’s Pro Digital Workflow Seminars are the Perfect Complement to Digital SLR Holiday Gifts - Professional Photographers and High-Level Amateurs Will Learn to Maximize Digital Workflow with the Fewest Steps

Annapolis, MD – January 2, 2007 – Excited to use your new digital SLR camera, but confused about where to start? Learn how to get the most out of your digital workflow as talented teacher and professional photographer Kevin Ames kicks off the 2007 leg of Blue Pixel’s popular Pro Digital Workflow seminar series in Chicago on January 7. With just five cities left on this nation-wide tour, Ames continues to teach professional and advanced amateur photographers how to get the most out of their digital photography workflow using the fewest steps for the least amount of work.