That’s My Monkey Press Release

Topeka, Kansas – August 22, 2006 – Wedding photographer Bruce L. Snell and travel photographer Michael C. Snell have teamed up to create That’s My Monkey, a web-based resource for fellow digital photographers seeking to refine their craft. Drawing from their
decades of experience, the brothers provide tools and techniques to improve digital photos, workflow and business practices for photographers of all levels. What makes That’s My Monkey different is its point of view. The Snell brothers are both working photographers and speak from experience as they discuss what has worked — and not worked — for them as they’ve approached their respective genres. Through blogs and in-depth articles (many in pdf format for convenient printing and archiving) they offer a virtual “ride along” to other photographers interested in improving their skills. The Snells also sell Photoshop actions that they have created to enhance their own workflows.

Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5 Plus will be available in box and electronic versions in retail stores, PC World, Amazon, Dabs etc and at www.ulead.co.uk for £49.99 starting in late August. Users of DVD MovieFactory versions 3 and 4 can upgrade at www.ulead.co.uk

Ulead Systems Press Release

Consumer DVD Authoring Software Now Adds Wide Range Of Disc Burning Function.

Northampton August 24th 2006 - Ulead Systems, Inc., a 16-year industry leader in video, image and DVD software, today announced Ulead DVD MovieFactory® 5 Plus, an enhanced companion to its market-leading DVD MovieFactory 5 standard version.
“When we released DVD MovieFactory 5 in March, it earned high praise for its ease-of-use and intuitive DVD authoring”, said Eldon C. M. Liu, president of Ulead.  “The Plus version offers additional creative content and templates.  Digital media enthusiasts will appreciate the expanded disc burning functionality, multi-format disc copying, support for music DVDs and Blu-ray Direct-to-Disc burning.”

The Archos 404 is priced at $299.99 while the Archos 604 is $349.99, both available in early September.

Archos Press Release

ARCHOS Introduces 404 and 604 Large-Screen Portable Media Players; Perfectly Designed for Portable Video, New Products Feature Large Screens, Playback of All Standard Video Formats in Full DVD Resolution, TV Recording and Video Download Services Support

DENVER—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Aug. 24, 2006—ARCHOS, Inc., a global consumer electronics manufacturer and inventor of the portable video player, introduced today the latest in portable media players with the ARCHOS 404 and 604 models. The new products are a part of the Generation 4 line of portable media players, announced separately today. The first available in the line, the ARCHOS 404 and 604, play back all standard video formats(1), offer extreme portability and feature the most brilliant, award-winning screens in the industry. The new products will support movie downloads from the popular online video services and recording of content directly from the TV or DVD player(2). The new ARCHOS 404 and 604 are priced at $299.99 and $349.99, respectively, with retail availability in early September.

Kodak UK Press Release

New Porous Technology and Streamlined Portfolio Provide Consumers with a Simple, Truly Universal Inkjet Media Solution

London – August 2006—Eastman Kodak Company today announced changes across its entire line of consumer inkjet papers.  By incorporating porous media technology and streamlining the product portfolio, Kodak has improved the usability of the paper and the overall consumer experience. “Kodak inkjet papers provide a universal printing solution with phenomenal results regardless of what brand of printer or ink are used, and based on our new porous technology, they offer an easier out-of-the-box experience, eliminating the guesswork for the consumer,” said Carolyn Walsh, Product Sales Director Digital, Eastman Kodak Company. “Kodak inkjet papers give all inkjet users an effortless way to get beautiful pictures.”

DigitalSecrets Press Release

DigitalSecrets announces the release of the latest and most elaborate eBook in the DSLR series. The new eBook, DSLR: Nikon™ D200 by Peter iNova and Uwe Steinmueller tackles the 10 MP Nikon D200 camera, revealing its many secrets and disclosing the numerous cutting edge features of the camera in a way professionals and advanced enthusiast photographers will appreciate. Unlike prior eBooks, the Nikon D200 title is in a new screen-filling horizontal format with a great number of interactive images that emphasize, animate, compare and illustrate the science, technology and art of digital photography. Embedded in the pages of the PDF eBook are movies that illustrate sequential operations, complex menu choices and time-lapse scenes shot with the camera.

Imatest Press Release

Gamutvision ICC profile visualization/analysis software released

Boulder, Colorado - August 23, 2006 - Imatest LLC announces the release of Gamutvision, a powerful program for visualizing digital color workflows and color management operations. Gamutvision is much more than just a gamut viewer. You can view gamut mappings and rendering intents in depth, and you can preview the effects of workflow settings and materials on your final output.

lynda.com Press Release

lynda.com Releases Secrets to Selling and Publishing Photography Self-Paced Training for Aspiring Professional Photographers - lynda.com, the company specializing in self-paced career and computer training in digital media and design, announced today the release of Secrets to Selling and Publishing Photography.

Ojai, CA (PRWEB) August 29, 2006—lynda.com, the company specializing in self-paced career and computer training in digital media and design, announced today the release of Secrets to Selling and Publishing Photography. Scott Bourne, a professional photographer with over 30 years’ experience, identifies his tried and true methods for starting and maintaining a successful career as a photographer. In Secrets to Selling and Publishing Photography, Scott explains how to make a profitable living in this demanding field by developing a professional identity, setting realistic goals, getting publicity, finding customers, getting published, and working with agents.

Nikon Press Release

Send images straight from the camera to friends across the world, with Nikon’s exciting new service.

TOKYO – Nikon Corporation is proud to announce COOLPIX CONNECT – an exciting service that’s entirely new and completely free of charge, it lets users enjoy photo sharing over the Internet, without the need for computer setup. Surprisingly simple and available with the COOLPIX S7c, COOLPIX CONNECT allows anyone to take a picture, then send it to friends across the world in mere seconds!

Olympus have released a new firmware version, 1.1, for the mju 810 digital camera, which offers faster start-up speed when using an xD-Picture Card.

Website: Olympus mju 810 v1.1 Firmware

Latest Prices / User Reviews

In a brand new series, we cast the spotlight on members of the PhotographyBLOG Gallery and ask them about their photography. The eighth member to sit in the interview chair is gav_davies.

“Without having had any training in photography, the only way I’ve found to improve is by submitting my photos to galleries such as this and getting constructive feedback from other people. I like the fact that you can upload a photo, and get different peoples perspective on your photos that you may not have thought about.”

Website: Gallery Member Spotlight - gav_davies

Luminous Landscape have quickly reviewed both the new 10 megapixel Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX2 and the ultra-zoom Panasonic DMC-FZ50.

“As can be seen below, ISO 100 is clean, though not without obvious smoothing artifacts when viewed at 100%. (All shots were taken with JPG settings to their lowest levels, and with no post processing). At ISO 200 noise is still suppressed, but artifacting starts to become more noticeable as detail continues to become smoothed over. By ISO 400 noise is evident, though not terrible, as is an even greater amount of detail smoothing and artifacting due to noise reduction (look at the eyelashes). ISO 800 is simply unacceptable to my eye, and 1600 isn’t worth discussing.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX2 Review

Website: Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

Imaging Resource have just reviewed the new 6.1 megapixel Pentax K100D DSLR camera.

“Still among the smallest digital SLRs on the market, the K100D has an excellent feel of quality and a good heft. The grip is well-sculpted, with a reasonable size for most hands, and a comfortable shape. It has more of a flat surface for your fingertips bite into, unlike the *isDL, which had a curved surface where the inside of the grip met the camera body. This curve tends to made holding the camera for long periods rather uncomfortable. The K100D’s grip material is textured and feels hard at first, but press a fingernail into it, and you find a thick, soft rubbery material.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Pentax K100D Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

DIWA member e-fotografija have just reviewed the new 6.1 megapixel Pentax K100D DSLR camera.

“It is because of this that I can make a rather bold claim so early in the review: The Pentax K100D is very suitable to all users of Pentax 35 mm and medium format cameras. It is also suitable for all those who are only entering the DSLR world and want to get an inexpensive camera that is chock-full of features for the advanced user. And finally, I personally consider Pentax DSLRs to offer some of the best, if not the best handling and usability.”

Website: e-fotografija - Pentax K100D Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

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

“Camera performance was about average in most respects. The NV3 is ready to start shooting about 1.5 seconds after you hit the power button. Focus speeds were typical for an ultra-compact, with fairly decent low light focusing performance. Shutter lag wasn’t much of a problem, and shot-to-shot speeds were great as long as you’re not using the ASR feature. The NV3’s continuous shooting mode isn’t worth writing home about, though. The frame rate is sluggish (0.9 fps), and the LCD is blacked out while you’re shooting, which makes tracking a moving subject quite difficult. Battery life is a bit below average.”

Website: DCResource - Samsung NV3 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

CNET have just reviewed the new 6.1 megapixel Pentax K100D DSLR camera.

“The unwashed, pixel-obsessed masses will no doubt complain about the 6.1-megapixel CCD sensor, but it’s still more than enough for letter-size prints, which should be plenty for most casual shooters. Plus, at this price, it’s one of the best bargains in the dSLR market.”

Website: CNET - Pentax K100D Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

CNET have just reviewed the new 6 megapixel Pentax K110D DSLR.

“Based on the body of the *ist DS2, the K100D will feel familiar to current Pentax dSLR owners. Frequently accessed features, including ISO, flash, white balance, and drive mode can be found by pressing the function button, while you can access setup functions with the menu button. A mode dial on the left of the camera top lets you switch shooting modes or select from six scene modes. A choice marked SCN on the dial offers access to another eight scene modes, each with its own explanation.”

Website: CNET - Pentax K110D Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

DigiCamReview have reviewed the Casio EX-Z1000 compact digicam, which offers 10 megapixels, 2.8 inch LCD screen, IS0 3200 and an interesting new Zoom Continuous Shutter mode that allows you to compare a wide angle and a telephoto shot in the same display and to take both shots simultaneously.

“The camera’s image quality is somewhat disappointing - the camera has 10 megapixels which means you should get a lot of detail - however you generally don’t get a lot of detail and I couldn’t see that the results were any better than a good 6, 7 or 8 megapixel digital camera. Even at ISO50 when noise should be at it’s lowest, and detail at it’s highest - detail is lacking and images are generally soft.”

Website: DigiCamReview - Casio EX-Z1000 Review

Website: Read our Casio Exilim EX-Z1000 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

DIWA member and Czech website Fotoaparat have published the first review of the recently announced 10 megapixel Panasonic DMC-FZ50 camera.

Website: Fotoaparat - Panasonic DMC-FZ50 Review

Website: Read our Panasonic DMC-FZ50 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:

1. No Column This Week

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: [email protected], 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.

The Canon 400D (Canon Digital Rebel XTi in the USA) is finally unveiled today, after weeks of rumours and the usual leaks. Offering 10 megapixels, a large 2.5 inch LCD screen and perhaps most interestingly a new integrated dust removal system, the Canon 400D replaces the popular 350D. Apparenty a Canon EOS 350D was sold every 90 seconds in the UK during the first half of 2006 - I wouldn’t bet against the 400D emulating that success. The Canon EOS 400D 18-55 kit will be available from late September 2006 for £719.99 RRP inc. VAT / €1039.99 RRP inc. VAT (Body only £649.99 RRP inc. VAT / €939.99 RRP inc. VAT).

UPDATE: I’ve now added some images from this morning’s UK press conference to the end of this article, showing both the black and silver versions.

Canon UK Press Release

Canon today announces its next generation D-SLR: the Canon EOS 400D. Featuring a 10.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor, new EOS Integrated Cleaning System, larger and brighter 2.5” LCD and 9-point AF, the Canon 400D is predicted to take the lead as the world’s most popular camera. The 400D is positioned above the EOS 350D, currently the fastest selling SLR camera of all time. Canon’s EOS 300D, the world’s first consumer D-SLR, kick started a digital revolution in 2003. “We are now witnessing a mass consumer trend towards D SLR,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. Consumer research shows it is not only existing film SLR owners now switching to digital SLR photography. “On top of the existing 21 million analogue EOS shooters, a completely new profile of consumer is adopting digital EOS and driving growth,” said Jensen. “With European household penetration having only just hit 3%, the question now is not ‘will this market be big’, but ‘how big will this market become’.”