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Monday, November 13, 2006

Fujifilm FinePix S9600ThinkCamera have reviewed the new Fujifilm S9600 (called the FinePix S9100 in the USA), which is a 9 megapixel camera with a 10x zoom lens.

“Another improvement is in the size of the LCD. It’s now a 2-inch LCD monitor with 235,000 pixels and the tilting LCD screen on the Fujifilm FinePix S9600 means you can shoot at any angle, such as close to the ground or above the head. Unlike conventional digital SLRs, it can also be used to compose images which some people will like. It’s nice and clear and I found that even in the bright conditions on Sunday I could still see the image. The Fuji uses an electronic viewfinder to though so if it’s too bright to see the screen you can view your images that way instead.”

Website: ThinkCamera - Fujifilm FinePix S9600 Review

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ThinkCamera have reviewed the new Fujifilm S9600 (called the FinePix S9100 in the USA), which is a 9 megapixel camera with a 10x zoom lens. “Another improvement is in the size of the LCD. It’s now a 2-inch LCD monitor with 235,000 pixels and the tilting LCD screen on the…

Samsung NV3DigiCamReview have just reviewed the 7 megapixel Samsung NV3 digital camera.

“Image quality is good but not brilliant for an ultra compact digital camera - the images have good colour with very high saturation, good contrast, and low noise except at higher ISO settings. The higher ISO settings of ISO800 and ISO1000 were fairly disappointing and lacked colour. Detail seemed lower than expected, and images did appear slightly over-processed resulting in soft looking images. Indoors photos were good, with noise kept fairly low, although there was noticable red eye. Purple fringing was noticed in one of the shots.”

Website: DigiCamReview - Samsung NV3 Review

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DigiCamReview have just reviewed the 7 megapixel Samsung NV3 digital camera. “Image quality is good but not brilliant for an ultra compact digital camera - the images have good colour with very high saturation, good contrast, and low noise except at higher ISO settings. The higher ISO settings of ISO80…

Pentax K100D DSLRSlovenian website Slo-Foto.net have just reviewed the 6.1 megapixel Pentax K100D DSLR camera.

Website: Slo-Foto.net - Pentax K100D Review

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Slovenian website Slo-Foto.net have just reviewed the 6.1 megapixel Pentax K100D DSLR camera. Website: Slo-Foto.net - Pentax K100D Review Latest Prices / User Reviews

Samsung NV10DIWA member and Polish website Fotopolis have just reviewed the new 10 megapixel Samsung NV10 digital camera.

Website: Fotopolis - Samsung NV10 Review

Website: Read our Samsung NV10 Review

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DIWA member and Polish website Fotopolis have just reviewed the new 10 megapixel Samsung NV10 digital camera. Website: Fotopolis - Samsung NV10 Review Website: Read our Samsung NV10 Review Latest Prices / User Reviews

Nikon D80DIWA member and Slovenian website e-fotografija have reviewed the new 10 megapixel Nikon D80 DSLR camera.

“With the D80, Nikon is ahead of the pack again. But that’s just what they do. Compared to Canon, in the amateur and semi-pro class, Nikon always had cameras that were a bit more advanced than the competition. They were, of course, also more expensive. For this reason, the Nikon D80 shouldn’t be compared to the EOS 400D / Rebel XTi or the Alpha 100 and other entry-level cameras. The first clue is the larger body of the D80, offering a far better grip. This is of course true for the photographer who values grip above size. In addition to that, the Nikon D80 has a load of useful features in the menus. For this reason, I recommend the Nikon D80 to all photographers who want something more, not just a mass market entry level camera.”

Website: e-fotografija - Nikon D80 Review

Website: Read our Nikon D80 Review

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DIWA member and Slovenian website e-fotografija have reviewed the new 10 megapixel Nikon D80 DSLR camera. “With the D80, Nikon is ahead of the pack again. But that’s just what they do. Compared to Canon, in the amateur and semi-pro class, Nikon always had cameras that were a bit more…

Kodak Easyshare G600 Printer DockThinkCamera have reviewed the new Kodak Easyshare G600 printer dock.

“If you don’t have a Kodak camera then you may decide it’s not for you - standalone printing doesn’t really work with a compatible camera (though you can plug a PictBridge camera in). Print quality for general pictures is somewhere between pretty good and very good but if you need lots of shadow detail you may be disappointed.”

Website: ThinkCamera - Kodak Easyshare G600 Review

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ThinkCamera have reviewed the new Kodak Easyshare G600 printer dock. “If you don’t have a Kodak camera then you may decide it’s not for you - standalone printing doesn’t really work with a compatible camera (though you can plug a PictBridge camera in). Print quality for general pictures is somewhere…

Epson PictureMate PM 280TrustedReviews have reviewed the Epson PictureMate PM 280 portable home photo-lab.

“Print quality on Epson glossy photo paper is very precise, with well-defined edges and natural colours. The printer automatically enhances shots, independent of source – though you can turn this off – and generally, the enhancements are an improvement. In one or two of our test pictures dark areas were a bit over-dark, but this is nit-picking in what are high-quality images.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Epson PictureMate PM 280 Review

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TrustedReviews have reviewed the Epson PictureMate PM 280 portable home photo-lab. “Print quality on Epson glossy photo paper is very precise, with well-defined edges and natural colours. The printer automatically enhances shots, independent of source – though you can turn this off – and generally, the enhancements are an improvement…

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Gary's ParriesThis week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:

1. Concert Audio For Digital Camera Videos
2. SDHC Write Speed For Digital Camera Videos

Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, inventor, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: garysparries@photographyblog.com , and then, En Garde!

You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.

This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are: 1. Concert Audio For Digital Camera Videos 2. SDHC Write Speed For Digital Camera Videos Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a…

JPG Magazine Issue 6JPG Magazine has recently relaunched, and they are kindly offering a $5-off subscription coupon for all PhotographyBLOG readers. Subscribe to JPG Magazine to get the best photos, features, and interviews delivered right to your doorstep six times a year. JPG is an indespensible resource for every photographer. Plus it looks great on a coffee table. Just use the code PHOTOB or click the following link:

https://www.jpgmag.com/subscribe/PHOTOB

JPG Magazine has recently relaunched, and they are kindly offering a $5-off subscription coupon for all PhotographyBLOG readers. Subscribe to JPG Magazine to get the best photos, features, and interviews delivered right to your doorstep six times a year. JPG is an indespensible resource for every photographer. Plus it looks…

Saturday, November 11, 2006

InvenSenseInvenSense Press Release

SANTA CLARA, November 9, 2006—InvenSense, the leading provider of motion sensing solutions for mobile applications, announced that Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. has selected its single-chip gyroscope for use in its new generation of digital still camera (DSC) models with image stabilization (IS) features. InvenSense’s IDG-1000 gyroscope family utilizes MEMS technology to provide the world’s only integrated dual-axis solution with the smallest footprint at very competitive prices. As DSCs continue to increase in pixel density and optical zoom range, subtle hand movements become problematic, particularly in low light settings, resulting in poor image quality. Camera manufacturers need high-performance, small form factor gyroscopes to measure and correct natural hand jitter in order to provide high-quality pictures.

InvenSense Press Release SANTA CLARA, November 9, 2006—InvenSense, the leading provider of motion sensing solutions for mobile applications, announced that Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. has selected its single-chip gyroscope for use in its new generation of digital still camera (DSC) models with image stabilization (IS) features. InvenSense’s IDG-1000 gyroscope family…

Imagenomic Press Release

Restores Film Grain Effects in Digital Images and Automates Labor-Intensive Retouching with Single-Click Ease - Newly Enhanced Noiseware Plug-in version 4.1 also Released

New York, NY, November 2, 2006—Imagenomic, an independent software vendor specializing in high-performance software tools for digital photography, has announced the release of two new Plug-in products at PhotoPlus Expo this week to complement its award-winning Noiseware™ portfolio. Imagenomic’s Noiseware Plug-ins have also been updated to version 4.1, with new enhancements such as a faster preview mode, an undo/redo feature, and other improvements.

Imagenomic Press Release Restores Film Grain Effects in Digital Images and Automates Labor-Intensive Retouching with Single-Click Ease - Newly Enhanced Noiseware Plug-in version 4.1 also Released New York, NY, November 2, 2006—Imagenomic, an independent software vendor specializing in high-performance software tools for digital photography, has announced the release of two…

Canon SD800 ISImaging Resource have just reviewed the Canon SD800 IS digital camera.

“Like the SD900, the Canon SD800 also features Face Detect focusing in Portrait mode. This is one of those gotta-have features. As soon as you try it, you won’t want to be without it. Slip into Portrait Scene mode with Face Detect enabled and the camera identifies the closest face, focusing on it when you half-press the Shutter button. You can even have the Canon SD800 automatically tag the images with a People category for easy retrieval during playback later.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Canon SD800 IS Review

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Imaging Resource have just reviewed the Canon SD800 IS digital camera. “Like the SD900, the Canon SD800 also features Face Detect focusing in Portrait mode. This is one of those gotta-have features. As soon as you try it, you won’t want to be without it. Slip into Portrait Scene mode…

Nikon D80DIWA member and German website digitalkamera.de have reviewed the new 10 megapixel Nikon D80 DSLR camera.

Website: digitalkamera.de - Nikon D80 Review

Website: Read our Nikon D80 Review

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DIWA member and German website digitalkamera.de have reviewed the new 10 megapixel Nikon D80 DSLR camera. Website: digitalkamera.de - Nikon D80 Review Website: Read our Nikon D80 Review Latest Prices / User Reviews

HP Photosmart R927DigitalCameraInfo have just published their review of the 8 megapixel HP Photosmart R927 digital camera.

“The HP Photosmart R927 is one of this manufacturer’s most feature-rich digital camera models with 8.2 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom lens, and a 3-inch LCD screen. The R927 has a range of manual and automatic modes and controls, along with an on-screen user guide. This digital camera has HP’s Real Life technologies that help to remove red-eye and fix lighting and such. There are also interesting in-camera editing features that can do everything from discolor a photo to slim the subject down. The HP Photosmart R927 retails for $399.”

Website: DigitalCameraInfo - HP Photosmart R927 Review

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DigitalCameraInfo have just published their review of the 8 megapixel HP Photosmart R927 digital camera. “The HP Photosmart R927 is one of this manufacturer’s most feature-rich digital camera models with 8.2 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom lens, and a 3-inch LCD screen. The R927 has a range of manual and…

Fujifilm FinePix F650 ZoomCNET have published the first online review of the Fujifilm FinePix F650 Zoom, a compact camera boasting six megapixels, a 5x optical zoom and super-size 3-inch LCD screen.

“Although Fujifilm was among the first manufacturers to raise the sensitivity of its compact digicams, the F650 oddly tops out at ISO 400. And since it doesn’t come with image stabilization, you’ll have to rely on the flash when shooting in low light. The lack of flash compensation makes flash shooting less versatile than we like. On the plus side, the FinePix did a decent job of balancing fill flash with a desk lamp in our test scene.”

Website: CNET - Fujifilm FinePix F650 Zoom Review

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CNET have published the first online review of the Fujifilm FinePix F650 Zoom, a compact camera boasting six megapixels, a 5x optical zoom and super-size 3-inch LCD screen. “Although Fujifilm was among the first manufacturers to raise the sensitivity of its compact digicams, the F650 oddly tops out at ISO…

Sony DSC-H2Steves Digicams have reviewed the 6 megapixel Sony DSC-H2 ultrazoom camera.

“I was pleased with the H2’s results outdoors. The power of the 12x zoom lens gets you very close to the action, allowing well-composed shots even from the spectator areas at sporting events. The autofocus system and lens combined to produce sharp results, although the Continuous AF did have some difficulty keeping a moving subject in focus. Images were well-exposed and richly saturated right out of the camera, but you can override the degree of sharpness, contrast and saturation using the camera’s menu system.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Sony DSC-H2 Review

Website: Read our Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H2 Review

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Steves Digicams have reviewed the 6 megapixel Sony DSC-H2 ultrazoom camera. “I was pleased with the H2’s results outdoors. The power of the 12x zoom lens gets you very close to the action, allowing well-composed shots even from the spectator areas at sporting events. The autofocus system and lens combined…

Friday, November 10, 2006

Ricoh RR730Ricoh UK Press Release

Ricoh is pleased to announce the release of the new Caplio RR730. This sleek new entry-level digital camera adds more exciting new user-friendly features to its extremely popular RR660 predecessor. The new 7.16-megapixel Ricoh RR730 is slightly lighter and smaller than the RR660, and has a bigger crystal-clear 2.5” color TFT-LCD monitor for even easier viewing.The Ricoh RR730 is the newest addition to Ricoh’s popular, award-winning range of digital cameras, whose outstanding performance, value for money and stylish designs have won them favor around the world from both professional and amateur photographers. The Ricoh RR730 consistently produces amazing, crystal-clear images beyond the level of pictures from other cameras in its class. And with its 3x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom, for a combined 12x zoom, the Ricoh RR730 can effortlessly handle any photographic situation it faces.

Ricoh UK Press Release Ricoh is pleased to announce the release of the new Caplio RR730. This sleek new entry-level digital camera adds more exciting new user-friendly features to its extremely popular RR660 predecessor. The new 7.16-megapixel Ricoh RR730 is slightly lighter and smaller than the RR660, and has a…

Total TrainingTotal Training Press Release

Carlsbad, CA, November 9, 2006 – Total Training™, Inc., a pioneer in engaging and innovative video-based training, today announced two new products for creative and office productivity following the newest software releases from Adobe Systems Incorporated. The products are titled Total Training for Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 Premium Bundle and Total Training for Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional. Total Training for Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 Premium includes helpful tips and tricks from award-winning industry professionals that use these defacto standard applications for design and web publishing. Viewers can browse the indexed lessons on DVDs that cover important topics in Adobe® Photoshop®, Illustrator®, InDesign®, GoLive®, and a workflow series. The updated training series also adds tutorials for Acrobat® 8 Professional software, a new component of Creative Suite 2.3, as well as lessons for Dreamweaver® 8, which is newly bundled with the Suite.

Total Training Press Release Carlsbad, CA, November 9, 2006 – Total Training™, Inc., a pioneer in engaging and innovative video-based training, today announced two new products for creative and office productivity following the newest software releases from Adobe Systems Incorporated. The products are titled Total Training for Adobe Creative Suite…

Fujifilm F31fdFujifilm USA Press Release

Valhalla, NY, November 9, 2006 - More than 73 percent of women and almost 50 percent of men feel uneasy in front of a camera. So says the surprising results of a survey conducted recently by FUJIFILM U.S.A., Inc., which commissioned the study to learn why so many folks are apprehensive when asked to smile for a picture. According to survey respondents, weight and hair style concerns are the main reasons for their “picture phobia.” In fact, 44% surveyed preferred to do laundry, 34% would rather pay bills and 18% would rather visit the dentist than pose for a picture. While some would prefer to steer clear of a photographer altogether, many survey respondents cited factors that would make the picture-taking experience – even the most casual one – more pleasurable. Feeling better about appearance (52.9%), help with hair and make-up (35.9%), having the right clothes (26.3%) and/or including family and friends in the picture (27.1%) topped the list. *

Fujifilm USA Press Release Valhalla, NY, November 9, 2006 - More than 73 percent of women and almost 50 percent of men feel uneasy in front of a camera. So says the surprising results of a survey conducted recently by FUJIFILM U.S.A., Inc., which commissioned the study to learn why…

Leica M8Leica have posted 3 sample images from the new Leica M8 digital rangefinder camera, which has a 10 megapixel sensor, focal factor of 1.33x and an ISO range of 160-2500. There are two full-sized JPGs and one DNG file available to download so that you can check out the image quality for yourself. Also, Magnum photographer Constantine Manos has created a new series of photographs called “American Color” using the Leica M8.

Website: Leica M8 Sample Images

Website: Constantine Manos - American Color

Leica have posted 3 sample images from the new Leica M8 digital rangefinder camera, which has a 10 megapixel sensor, focal factor of 1.33x and an ISO range of 160-2500. There are two full-sized JPGs and one DNG file available to download so that you can check out the image…