Apple have scheduled a news conference for the first day of Photokina 2006, and are remaining tight-lipped about exactly what they will unveiling at the largest photography show of the year. Will it just be an updated version of Aperture, or an entirely new software offering? There have even been rumours of an Apple camera in the past, but rest assured that PhotographyBLOG will be there to bring you the news.

Olympus have gone compact crazy today and announced no less than 10 new FE, mju and SP series cameras, ahead of Photokina 2006 at the end of September. At a rainy press conference in Hamburg, Germany yesterday, we managed to get our hands on all the new models, and you can see exclusive shots of each camera at the end of each article below. Stand-out models include the FE-200, which offers a wide-angle 5x zoom lens, the 10 megapixel mju 1000, and the mju 725 SW, which is waterproof up to a depth of 5ms.

The new Olympus mju 750 and Olympus mju 740 feature 5x optical zooms and 7 megapixels. They will be in UK stores in September, priced at around £260.00 for the mju 740, and £300.00 for the mju 750.

Olympus UK Press Release

London, 23 August 2006 – Photographers who’d like to get a little closer to their subjects should take a good look at the Olympus mju 740 and Olympus mju 750. Both cameras feature a new 5x optical zoom – great for scrutinising objects a bit further away – and a 7.1 million pixel CCD for photos bursting with detail. Remarkably, this extra zoom power has not affected the size, as both models feature a sleek, ultra-compact design and weatherproof* metal body – trademarks of the mju series. To make the most of that more powerful zoom, the Olympus mju 750 also boasts another innovation in the Dual Image Stabilization, for the ultimate safeguard against camera shake. As the photo is taken, a mechanical image stabiliser compensates for camera shake by carefully adjusting the position of the 7.1 million pixel CCD. At the same time, a high maximum ISO value gives further protection against blur – a feature also included in the Olympus mju 740. For exceptional shooting in low light or at night, the Olympus mju 740 and Olympus mju 750 are equipped with BrightCapture Technology, which is now also available in Movie mode.

Olympus updates the popular mju 720 SW with the 7 megapixel Olympus mju 725 SW, which is waterprooof up to 5m depth. From October 2006, the Olympus mju 725 SW will be available in a choice of three colours: Deep Blue, Cherry Red and Titanium Grey, priced at around £300.00.

Olympus UK Press Release

London, 23 August 2006 – With today’s hectic and active lifestyles, photographers need a camera they can truly rely on when the going gets tough. Luckily, being waterproof to 5m** and shockproof to 1.5m*, the Olympus mju 725 SW can pretty much shrug off anything that life throws at it. When Olympus introduced the innovative mju 720 SW – waterproof to 3m – at the start of 2006, it looked like a tough act to follow. However, the new Olympus mju 725 SW is even harder, being waterproof to a greater depth of 5m*. The Olympus mju 725 SW takes its protection from a durably-constructed and yet great looking metal body. Image quality is equally impressive, due to a 7.1 million pixel CCD, coupled with a sharp 3x optical zoom lens (equiv. to 38-114mm on a 35mm camera) and 24 specialist scene modes. BrightCapture technology improves performance in low light– such as when shooting beneath the waves – when the camera’s bright 6.4cm LCD screen also comes into its own. Whether it’s being taken snorkelling in a rock pool, mountain biking over rough terrain, or skateboarding through the city, the Olympus mju 725 SW will deliver great results, regardless of what the photographer demands of it.

The Olympus mju 1000 features a 10 megapixel sensor and will arrive in UK stores in October, priced at around £330.00.

Olympus UK Press Release

London, 23 August 2006 – With the introduction of the Olympus mju 1000, even the most demanding of photographers will be delighted to take pictures packed with 10.0 million pixels worth of detail, using a camera they can simply slip into their pocket. The Olympus mju range is well known for cameras that push the very boundaries of technical achievement, without skimping on the style. The mju 1000 retains the hallmark weatherproof* metal body of its predecessors, bringing it bang up to date with a sophisticated silver finish, beneath which lies a 10.0 million pixel CCD and a 3x zoom lens, that together deliver bitingly-sharp results. The mju 1000 is ideally suited to low light photography thanks to BrightCapture Technology, which boosts its maximum ISO to an amazing 6400**. This brightens pictures, without the need to use flash thereby retaining the atmosphere of the ambient light.

Offering a 3 inch LCD screen, 7 megapixels and weatherproof body, the Olympus mju 730 is the latest update of a classic brand. The Olympus mju 730 is available from October, priced at around £270.00.

Olympus UK Press Release

London, 23 August 2006 – With a luxuriously large 7.6 cm LCD screen, sophisticated illuminated controls and super-slim design, taking photos using the Olympus mju 730 is a real pleasure. The extra-large screen also means that, once the shoot is over, all of your friends can enjoy viewing the shots at the same time. The 7.1 million pixel CCD and precision 3x zoom lens work together to deliver pictures packed with detail – something that can be really appreciated on an LCD screen of this size. And, as with all mju series cameras, the slim metal bodied mju 730 is weatherproof*, so even rain needn’t stop play. But it’s when night time falls that the Olympus mju 730 really comes into its own. Its buttons automatically illuminate, to make locating the controls a doddle, even in the dark. Olympus-developed BrightCapture Technology also increases LCD screen contrast and boosts the ISO value to brighten pictures considerably – now also in the Movie mode for the first time. The Olympus mju 730 proves that it’s often when the lights go down that the fun really starts.

Introducing the 7 megapixel, 10x optical zoom Olympus SP-510 UZ. Expect to see the Olympus SP-510 UZ in the UK in September, priced at around £260.00.

Olympus UK Press Release

London, 23 August 2006 – With an Olympus SP-510 UZ by their side, photographers need never miss the action again. Thanks to its powerful 10x optical zoom lens (equiv. to 38-380mm on a 35mm camera) they’ll be able to reach out to distant subjects and bring them in for closer scrutiny. The 7.1 million pixel resolution means that every detail will be there to see. Should anyone need to delve deeper still, in 3.0 million pixel resolution, a Fine Zoom option can increase the magnification of the optical zoom to a phenomenal 15x. Nothing escapes the gaze of the Olympus SP510 UZ, even when the sun starts to set. Olympus BrightCapture Technology comes into play boosting maximum ISO value to an amazing 4000* allowing the camera to deliver great results even in low-light conditions Energy efficient to the extreme, the SP-510 UZ needs just one set of AA batteries for up to 630** shots. So, what with its powerful zoom, high resolution, great low light capabilities, and energy efficiency, photographers using the SP510 UZ can continue shooting way into the evening. Even if the light fails, they know that their camera won’t.

The wide-angle, 5x zoom Olympus FE-200 digital camera is announced ahead of Photokina. The FE200 is a 6 megapixel model with a 28-140mm lens. The Olympus FE200 will be available from from September 2006, priced at around £200.00.

Olympus UK Press Release 

London, 23 August 2006 – For a wider view, reach for the Olympus FE-200. This ultra-compact, metal clad camera features an impressive 5x zoom lens that stretches from wide-angle – great for landscapes – all the way to telephoto. So, no matter where the photographers are, they can zoom in on the action. And with an intuitive “one button, one function” design and an onboard Help function, the FE-200 is simplicity itself to use. Photographers using the FE-200 will be able to tackle pretty much anything using its 5x zoom lens (28-140mm equiv. on 35mm camera), from breathtaking panoramas to stunning close-ups. Photos are captured in crystal clarity by the camera’s 6.0 million pixel CCD and, with several special scene modes to choose from and no-nonsense “one button, one function” controls, great results are all but guaranteed. There’s even a handy Help function that clearly displays explanations of what camera features do on the large 6.4cm LCD screen. Today’s entry-level cameras need to be small, powerful and easy to use. The FE-200 ticks all these boxes.

The slim 6 megapixel Olympus FE-190 camera is unveiled. The FE190 is an exclusive to Dixons in the UK and will arrive in September, with the price to be finalised nearer that time.

Olympus UK Press Release

Hamburg, 23 August 2006 – Lovers of minimalist design will adore the slender new FE-190 digital camera from Olympus. Measuring just 18.5mm deep, this slim, metal bodied camera can be slipped into a shirt pocket to be taken anywhere. It also features a large 6.4cm LCD screen that makes framing subjects, and viewing shots already taken, a delight. More good news is that the Olympus FE-190 has an equally tiny price tag, so it’s easy on the purse as well as the eye! The ultra-compact FE-190 will draw envious glances wherever it is taken and brings a welcome injection of style to the affordable, entry-level class of digital cameras. Hobby photographers will have everything they need to start shooting and, as the Olympus FE190 has a simple “one button, one function” design, they won’t be hampered by a complicated series of menus to work through to find the functions they desire. Equipped with a high quality 3x zoom lens and a 6.0 million pixel CCD, this tiny Olympus possesses enough clout to deliver outstanding photos – even in large formats.

The entry-level Olympus FE-180 and Olympus FE-170 digital cameras are announced. Both models will be available from September 2006, priced at around £115.00 for the FE170, and £140.00 for the FE180.

Olympus UK Press Release

London, 23 August 2006 – Olympus introduces the FE-170 and FE-180, cameras with 3x zooms that prove that photography is fun. With a no-nonsense “one button, one function” design and a 6.0 million pixel CCD, the Olympus FE170 and Olympus FE180 make taking – and printing – even larger size photos a cinch. There’s even an on-screen Help function included, to give easy-to-understand descriptions of camera settings. Life couldn’t be any easier! With these cameras, once a shot has been taken you’ll want to show it off. This can be done either on their large 6.4cm LCD screens, or by printing copies to pass around. Prints can be made either at home, by connecting the cameras directly to a suitable printer (no fussing around with a PC needed here!), or at countless High Street photo labs. As you’d expect from Olympus, both models look the business. The FE-180 features a metal front and, if your family occasions stretch to water based activities such as sailing or snorkelling, an optional Outdoor Case will soon be available for the FE-170. With the Olympus FE-170 and Olympus FE-180, you don’t have to be a technical whiz, or even own a computer to enjoy producing great quality photos.

Creative join the digital still / movie camera party by anouncing the 5 megapixel Creative DiVi CAM 516, available in Singapore from 31 August 2006.

Creative Singapore Press Release

SINGAPORE - August 22, 2006 - Creative Technology Ltd. (NASDAQ: CREAF), a worldwide leader in digital entertainment products, today introduced Creative DiVi CAM 516, a stylish mini digital camcorder offering video recording in the latest MPEG-4 format and video playback on TV in addition to practical functions such as a 5.1 Megapixel digital camera, MP3 player, voice recorder and webcam - all at an affordable price of S$249.00. The small and trendy Creative DiVi CAM 516 fits perfectly into the palm and comes in 3 stylish colours of Black, Silver and Light Blue.

Refill your used inkjet cartridges with cheaper third-party ink and prepare to pay the price in much shorter fading times, claims a new study by Wilhelm Imaging Research.

HP UK Press Release

LONDON, UK, August 23, 2006 - A new study at the independent testing organisation Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc (WIR) shows that photos printed with refilled cartridges can fade significantly in less than two months, while prints made with original HP inks and photo papers last far longer. Photos printed using original HP inkjet print cartridges on HP media1 had the highest WIR Display Permanence Rating of all inks tested - 73 years. This means that under the standard conditions of the WIR tests it would take 73 years before noticeable fading would occur.2   By contrast, refilled inkjet print cartridges had among the lowest WIR Display Permanence Ratings ever measured in the WIR lab.

BenVista Press Release

AMSTERDAM, August 22, 2006—After a long period of research and development, BenVista is proud to launch the official successor of their digital image enlargement software, PhotoZoom Pro. As of today, PhotoZoom Pro 2 is a fact, and available for both Windows and Mac OS X platforms. Over the past years, PhotoZoom Pro has proven itself to be one of the leading products for digital image resizing, renowned for its patented “S-Spline” algorithm. Now, with PhotoZoom Pro 2, BenVista introduces a new and even more efficient technique: “S-Spline XL”.

Epson UK Press Release

21st August 2006 – Epson, the digital imaging pioneer, will display and demonstrate the latest in photo printing, photo display and projection at Photokina 2006.  The Epson booth is designed to ensure that there is something to interest you, whether you are a professional or amateur photographer, a scrapbooker, starting out in home photo printing or even a home cinema enthusiast. Epson will also host a press conference at Photokina on the 25th September at 16.00 in the Europasaal.  It will discuss Epson’s business strategy and latest technology innovations for the photo industry and launch its latest products for the professional and consumer photo markets.

Now you can obtain a degree in digital photography at the School of Visual Arts in New York, USA.

School of Visual Arts Press Release

On July 19, 2006, School of Visual Arts (SVA) was authorized by the New York State Education Department to offer a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Digital Photography beginning in the fall of 2007. The new one-year degree program addresses the technical needs of experienced photographers who are looking to advance their skills in digital image capture, management and high-quality output, or make a career change into the field of digital photography. The program will be chaired by Katrin Eismann, who is currently on the faculty of the BFA Computer Art Department and the MFA Photography, Video and Related Media Department at SVA. Eismann is a computer artist, author and educator specializing in digital photography.

Pantone Press Release

Pantone showcases innovative products for colour management and large format printing at Photokina 2006

Pantone, Inc., the global authority on colour, will participate at Photokina 2006, running from 26 September to 1 October 2006. This is the first time Pantone will be exhibiting at Photokina and the company will showcase a variety of innovative products for colour management and large format printing. Full information on new PANTONE products will be available during Photokina at Pantone’s booth: No. H050 in hall 04.1. Pantone’s enhanced product portfolio, which will show at Photokina 2006, enables photographers, graphic designers and printers to work more effectively and precisely with colour.

Imaging Resource have reviewed the Nikon Coolpix L3, a 5 megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom lens and 2 inch LCD.

“For an entry-level camera, the Nikon Coolpix L3 has a lot going for it, including a generous 6-megapixel CCD sensor, a sharp 3x Nikkor optical zoom and improved overall ergonomics, making it the slimmest and best looking digital camera I’ve seen that takes AA batteries. For the novice shooter, the Nikon L3 has a very robust feature set which along with Nikon’s D-Lighting, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, Face Priority AF and Best Shot Selector, has 15 scene modes including four with Scene Assist. As a basic snapshooter, the L3 performed well, capturing sharp images with a good dynamic range and punchy color.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Nikon Coolpix L3 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

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

“Despite some image flaws, the NV3’s photos turned out quite well. Noise was nearly nonexistent in the lower ISO settings, becoming a heavy but even grain around ISO 800. We noticed a significant amount of purple fringing along the edges of certain objects, probably due to the camera’s less-than-primo lens. The NV3’s images look decent and will provide acceptable prints, but expect a noticeable halo around contrasting edges.”

Website: CNET - Samsung NV3 Review

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The Japanese site DC Watch seems to have a review of the new 10 megapixel Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX2. Even you can’t speak Japanese, there are lots of sample photos to look at.

Website: DC Watch - Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX2 Review

Website: Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 Review

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CameraLabs have just reviewed the Tamron AF18-200mm F3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD IF lens.

“Unsurprisingly a lens with this kind of focal range is rarely going to perform as well as one with a shorter range, but we were impressed overall by the results possible. Certainly unless you’re into extreme wide or telephoto work, or demand the ultimate quality, you could really be very happy with one of these lenses. Indeed many photographers could fit one and never take it off again – and that’s not only highly convenient but also greatly reduces the potential for dust to enter the camera body.”

Website: CameraLabs - Tamron 18-200mm Lens Review