US3 Media Press Release

Want to learn how to take better digital photographs, get the most from your equipment, and retouch images on a PC? Doug Harman’s Guide to Digital Photography DVD is an easy to follow visual guide that walks beginners and photo hobbyists through the key steps. A range of digital cameras and digital photo techniques blend with inspirational images to illustrate the basics of digital photography. Beginning with an examination of the types of digital cameras available, the ‘hands on’ programme takes the viewer outdoors to capture a winning shot, then moves into the digital darkroom, where the basics of connecting your camera to a computer, using a printer and image editing are expertly explored.

Kodak UK Press Release

Christmas shopping for friends and loved ones can make even the most experienced shopper break out in a sweat - what to buy the woman who has everything?  The latest survey from Kodak reveals that you won’t go wrong with a gadget – over one in five of the women surveyed would put the latest ‘must-have’ technology item at the top of their Christmas wish list. When Kodak asked women their thoughts on finding a gadget under the Christmas tree, almost 70% of those surveyed said they would be ecstatic or pleased.  Interestingly, technology gifts are popular with all ages and generations – people over the age of 55 are just as likely to put a gadget on their gift list as the 16-24 year olds. The survey also revealed that the digital camera is the item that most people would like to receive, followed by SatNav, mobile phones, MP3 Players and camcorders.

Nokia Press Release

Kellie Hill, 16 from Leicester took one step nearer to fulfilling her dream of becoming a top fashion photographer when she was crowned Young Fashion Photographer of the Year 2006 at Clothes Show Live, in association with Nokia. The competition, in association with Nikon, is a new addition to the show’s renowned Educational Bursary scheme. The award is the first of its kind in the UK and aims to celebrate up and coming British talent within the world of fashion photography. Kellie, from South Croxton, studies at Loughborough High School and was one of twelve finalists whose work was exhibited at the show. Entrants were set the task of creating a picture that encapsulated the world of fashion photography through using their imagination and photographic skills to create and shoot an image that sums up exotic locations, foreign travel and glamorous people.

CameraArts Magazine Press Release

December 6, 2006 - Until December 31, 2006, CameraArts Magazine will be accepting entries for its very first photography contest at The CameraArts Blog. The theme for December will be “People & Portraits.” Only low res jpegs will be accepted, in color or black and white, digital or traditional. Every week during December, we will post the best submissions at http://cameraarts.blogspot.com . ...and that’s not all. For the first week of the New Year, our readers will have a chance to vote on their favorite entries. Three winners will be announced soon afterwards, and each will receive a FREE one-year subscription (or 6-issue renewal) to CameraArts magazine. Photographers will retain all rights to each image and CameraArts will be able to use images for publicity and promotion. One image per person, please!

onOne Software Press Release

Portland, OR - December 6, 2006 - onOne Software, Inc., announces today that Mask Pro 4 – the upgrade to the company’s popular digital image masking plug-in Mask Pro 3 – is now shipping. Mask Pro 4 provides a complete collection of Photoshop® plug-in tools that allow users unprecedented flexibility when tackling the most challenging masking job. And this new version focuses on teaching the user how to best use this comprehensive toolset for masking a wide range of images. As in the previous version, onOne Software’s Mask Pro 4 uses the concept of “keep colors” and “drop colors” chosen by the user and then based on those user selections, the Mask Pro 4 algorithm will remove only those selected colors from an image. One of the strengths of Mask Pro 4 is that when a “drop color” is found in another pixel, Mask Pro 4’s powerful color decontamination technology will remove only that color value from the pixel, leaving that pixel (or pixels) semi-transparent. The benefit to the user is that Mask Pro 4 will virtually eliminate the edge halo effect often seen when masking a transparent object or edge.

AKVIS LLC Press Release

With the release of AKVIS Coloriage V.4.0 for Mac and Win, AKVIS LLC presents the cutting edge technology for automatic B&W photo colorization. The newest version offers yet more flexibility in manipulation of colors on your photo. Now it is possible to change not only the color of the object but its brightness as well; it allows colorizing B&W photos in the colors you wish regardless of the original brightness of the photo. To add color to black and white photos or recolor areas on a photo with AKVIS Coloriage is as easy as handling a coloring book. In fact, “coloriage” means a coloring book in French.

Imaging Resource have reviewed the new Olympus mju 740, which features a 5x optical zoom and 7 megapixels.

“Like its stable mate Stylus 750, the Olympus Stylus 740 has stunningly good looks, but I was disappointed in its performance. Color just seemed unnatural and I came home with far too many blurry images for a camera that has image stabilization. I really wondered if the review unit was just malfunctioning. But it wasn’t a mechanical issue.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Olympus mju 740 Review

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DPReview have reviewed the the Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd (also known as the S6000fd), a 6 megapixel digital camera with a 10.7x zoom lens equivalent to 28-300mm.

“Ultimately the S6000fd’s biggest problem is that - almost without exception - its competitors offer optical image stabilization, something that transforms the usability of the long end of the zoom. I found that too many of my shots - in daylight - came out with camera shake because I didn’t want to shoot at ISO 800.”

Website: DPReview - Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd Review

Website: Read our Fujifilm Finepix S6500fd Review

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ThinkCamera have reviewed the the Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd (also known as the S6000fd), a 6 megapixel digital camera with a 10.7x zoom lens equivalent to 28-300mm.

“Hand somebody an S6500fd and 9 times out of 10 they will think it’s a DSLR. You could probably ask them to change the lens and watch while they try to figure out how to release it (you can’t - like all bridges cameras it’s a fixed lens). I never got them in the same room together but it’s about the same size as the new Nikon D40 with a compact zoom fitted. This is a long way of saying “for a bridge - it’s huge.”

Website: ThinkCamera - Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd Review

Website: Read our Fujifilm Finepix S6500fd Review

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The new Canon EOS 400D (also called the Canon Digital Rebel XTi) is the latest entry-level digital SLR camera from Canon. The Canon 400D builds on the success of its predecessor, the extremely popular 350D, by adding a number of key new features. A 10 megapixel CMOS sensor, 2.5 inch LCD screen, dust protection system, 9 point auto-focus and continuous shooting at 3fps are the main improvements. But in a constantly changing sector of the market, is the 400D still competitive? Read our in-depth review to discover the answer.

Website: Canon EOS 400D Review

Ilford Press Release

Comprehensive range will include ‘Good’ ‘Better’ and ‘Best’ categories using manufactured products from ILFORD and Oji

Marly, Switzerland, 6 December, 2006 – ILFORD, a major player in the development and manufacture of photo quality media for inkjet printing and photographic processes, will launch its new consumer brand, ILFORD Photo Inkjet Paper Range, at Paperworld in January 2007. Building on the success of the ILFORD Printasia range and after making a detailed study of what today’s consumer needs, ILFORD has developed a more comprehensive product offer. “We are excited about introducing our new ILFORD Photo Inkjet Paper Range to the consumer market.  After reviewing what the customer looks for when they buy their paper, we are pleased to offer a truly customer focused product. We have been in the photographic business since 1879 and have a wealth of experience in the Professional and Amateur photographic markets.  This has enabled us to develop a range perfect for any user, whatever their needs”, said Andrew Stewart, Sales and Marketing Director of ILFORD.

DxO Labs Press Release

DxO Labs is announcing today a software special offer of DxO Optics Pro v4.1 with iView MediaPro 3.1. This special offer combines the leading automatic digital image enhancement software with state-of-the-art digital asset management software to streamline the workflow for digital photographers. The DxO Optics Pro v4.1 and iView Media Pro 3.1 software special offer will be available for purchase until December 31, 2006 from the DxO Labs or iView MultiMedia Web sites, www.dxo.com and www.iview-multimedia.com

Intemos Press Release

To celebrate its second anniversary, intemos.com, manufacturers of the DSLRClean™ sensor cleaning system, has launched two new product kits. The DSLRClean™ starter kit, comprising of five DSLRClean™ sensor cleaning swabs and a 10ml bottle of IOptic™ liquid is priced at just £12.95 – the lowest cost sensor cleaning kit on the market. The DSLRClean™ travel kit is designed with the photographic traveller in mind and comes in a clear plastic Ziploc case containing everything the photographer needs to keep their camera, lenses, and sensor clean whilst travelling.

FotoInsight Press Release

Free software from FotoInsight helps to create coffee table style photo books with fully editable covers. Without any prior experience, beginners can present and preserve their own digital photographs in individual, carefully crafted, glossy photo books. The personal, coffee table style photo book is rapidly developing into a very popular photo print product and is about to overtake the traditional 6”x4” print as the most common photographic printed output in British households. Rarely has the development of a consumer product progressed as quickly. FotoInsight of Cambridge, UK launched photo books from an online facility with limited editing features one year ago. Today the company FotoInsight is introducing a revolution in Photo Book creation software – a time saving fade-proof record of precious memories for print. It allows novice and inexperienced users to layout their digital images in full colour double page spread, move, crop and edit pictures to any size and add text freely within the photo book, on the cover and on the book spine.

muvee Press Release

Latest version combines automatic video editing with powerful new personalization features to allow users to create more customized productions

SINGAPORE and NEW YORK – December 5, 2006 – muvee, the pioneer and leader in Instant Personal Video, today announces the release of the latest version of its flagship automatic video editing software, muvee autoProducer 6.  Designed to give users more control over their muvees, this edition introduces new personalization features including customizable styles, more production settings and support for captions and voiceovers. “muvee fans love the automatic video editing capabilities of our autoProducer software but many ask for more control and more ways to add personal touches to their muvees,” said Dr. Pete Kellock, muvee’s founder and CEO.  “With autoProducer 6, we’re giving our users this control while maintaining the simplicity that’s inherent in muvee’s unique approach.”

Acoustica Press Release

(Acoustica Inc, Oakhurst, CA, November 6, 2006) - Acoustica Inc. has released Acoustica CD/DVD Label Maker Version 3.x, which now supports LightScribe Direct Disk Technology™. LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling is a new technology that offers user a simple, no-hassle way to burn professional, silkscreen-quality labels on their CDs and DVDs. Using the same laser that burns data in their disc drives, users burn their data as always, flip the disc over, reinsert it into the drive and burn a precise, iridescent label with their desired text and graphics using the same laser that burns the data – no printer, permanent marker or adhesive labeling is required.

Don’t get too excited - the new Nikon DS-Qi1 is a scientific grade camera, which still provides an interesting glimpse into the future.

Nikon Instruments Press Release

MELVILLE, N.Y., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire/—Nikon Instruments (http://www.nikonusa.com/), a leader in the development of advanced optical technology, today unveiled the Nikon DS-Qi1 Monochrome Digital Camera, an ultra high-quality scientific grade digital camera specifically designed for fluorescence applications and an excellent choice for high speed and high sensitivity applications in quantitative fluorescence imaging. The DS-Qi1 represents Nikon’s new flagship camera in the DS camera lineup. The camera is a monochrome CCD designed specifically for fluorescence applications and features a 1.3-megapixel CCD that accurately captures microstructures at a high resolution of 1280x1024 pixels. The camera accelerates frame rates beyond previous models and improves resolution, expands dynamic range, and reduces noise by using Nikon’s proprietary imaging technology.

ILFORD Photo Press Release

Mobberley, Cheshire. 6 December 2006 - Solving the problem of marrying supply with demand for its products, while extending its strong links with users and retailers, ILFORD Photo offers the ideal solution for ensuring the easy availability of the world’s favourite black-and-white photographic film, paper and photochemistry. ILFORD Photo, the world’s leading supplier of black-and-white photography products, has launched a new service to bring together users and retailers of its products, to the benefit of everyone involved. Called Direct2Dealer, the service is based on a catalogue of the more than 380 products available from ILFORD Photo. The catalogue is being distributed to colleges and universities which run photographic courses, as well as to retailers, and is available free to users by telephoning 0800 234 6484.

Extensis Press Release

Manage This will offer information, resources and commentary on fonts, assets and Extensis happenings.

PORTLAND, Ore., December 5, 2006 — Extensis, a division of Celartem Inc., today officially launched Manage This, a new blog that will include interesting tidbits about Extensis products, employees and inspiration for the creative professional. Manage This can be found at http://blog.extensis.com . Every week, Manage This offers perspectives on current creative and design-related news, as well as updated information on Extensis products and its employees. Manage This also includes links to industry resources and a unique perspective on the creative professional industry as seen from a software developer’s perspective. Extensis’ Jim Kidwell leads the editorial efforts for the blog, with many staffers regularly supplying content.

ePhotoZine have reviewed the Pentax K10D, which offers 10.2 megapixels, shake-reduction, dust removal system, 22-bit colour, three new shooting modes, 2.5 inch LCD screen and 11 point auto-focusing.

“ISO setting go from 100-1600 and the camera has a noise reduction setting that will operate at all speeds. Although it does make some slight difference at high ISOs, the job can be far better done in dedicated software packages. Files taken at speeds up to ISO800 are quite usable anyway, and the ability to select sensitivity speeds in increments of half or third stops gives great leeway.”

Website: ePhotoZine - Pentax K10D Review

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