Nokia Press Release

Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced that its latest high performance multimedia computer, the Nokia N93, has been awarded the European Media Phone of the Year 2006-2007 by the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA), Europe’s largest multimedia press organization. The award is yet another industry recognition of Nokia’s continued commitment to innovation in mobile imaging. EISA commended the still image and video capture quality of the Nokia N93 plus the extensive internet and connectivity options, dubbing the device the “perfect example of a multimedia computer that can fit in your hands.” The judges also singled out the Nokia N93’s video editing and printing capability and its digital music player for particular praise.

snapmania Press Release

Obstacles Blocking Your Otherwise-Perfect Photo? Remove them with snapmania’s ‘Tourist Remover’ - First-ever Online Tool Removes Obstacles from Photographs -

SAN FRANCISCO – August 15, 2006 – snapmania (www.snapmania.com), a leading Web-based digital photo management service, announced the first-ever online tool application that removes unwanted moving objects such as tourists or passing cars from photographs. ‘Tourist Remover’ is a free application, available to users of snapmania’s online photo service that offers a new way to organize and share photos. Tourist Remover’s removal algorithm is fully automatic and requires only 3-10 photos of the same object taken in succession.

ILFORD Photo Press Release

Bringing a full photographic balance to the biennial Photokina show this year will be ILFORD Photo and parent company HARMAN technology, demonstrating how the very roots of photographic imaging are able to accommodate the latest techniques and market requirements. This year’s Photokina exhibition in Cologne (26 Sept - 1 Oct) promises to be the most successful event in the illustrious history of this event, with more exhibitors, more visitors, and more of everything which makes the photo imaging sector tick. Contributing to that success will be a major presence by HARMAN technology and ILFORD Photo (stand C36/38, Hall 10.1) making its first appearance at the show since the company’s reconstruction.

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

“Having no garden and working in an office 5 days a week means that the weekends are my only opportunity to photograph nature. This means that I now appreciate my surroundings more. I can think of nothing better than heading out to the country and spending several hours meandering through forest or field with camera ready to capture landscape or animal.”

Website: Gallery Member Spotlight - rjvc

FixerLabs Press Release

FixerLabs, developers of award winning software for digital image enhancement and enlargement, today released a Windows version of their flagship programme for image enlargement - SizeFixer XL. Based on their patented Super-Resolution technology, SizeFixer XL
can enlarge images to 500 MPixels and beyond with unprecedented levels of quality. SizeFixer XL is a stand-alone ‘upsizing’ tool for serious Photographers and Graphic Designers who demand the very best quality.

DIWA member LetsGoDigital have reviewed the new 10.2 megapixel Sony A100 DSLR camera.

“With 10 Megapixels, the Sony Alpha is at the top of its range. Although, fortunately, more attention is being paid to quality rather than pixels, high numbers always sell well. Luckily, Sony knows how to get a great result from the pixels. The focus, colour reproduction and detailing are good. I have to say that I was not impressed by the noise at ISO 800 and 1600, although I suppose it is acceptable.”

Website: LetsGoDigital - Sony A100 Review

Website: Read our Sony A100 Review

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Camera Labs have reviewed the new 10x zoom, 5 megapixel, compact Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 digital camera.

“Of course packing the equivalent of a 35-350mm lens into a body only slightly larger than a pack of cards inevitably results in some compromises. The TZ1’s lens isn’t particularly sharp in the corners when zoomed-in for example, although it does perform surprisingly well in terms of geometric distortion and coloured fringing.”

Website: Camera Labs - Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 Review

Website: Read my Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 Review

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This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:

1. DSLR Dynamic Range Needs Improvement
2. Digital Shutter Lag Versus 35mm
3. Newbie Seeks Camera That Rocks

[Note: Here are the answers to last week’s questions. I am still one week behind, so if you recently submitted a question, you should receive an answer by next week. Thank you for your patience. – Gary]

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 Fujifilm Finepix F30 attempts to improve on what is already a great camera, the Finepix F11. The F30 offers an increased ISO speed of 3200, longer battery life, new anti-blur and intelligent flash modes, higher resolution LCD screen and a refined user interface. So can the Fujifilm F30 take the F11’s crown of best compact digital camera? Read our latest review to find out…

Website: Fujifilm Finepix F30 Review

Win copies of three new digital photography books, courtesy of Ilex Press, in the PhotographyBLOG July 2006 Prize Giveaway!

On Monday 14th August 2006, 3 names will be randomly selected from the list of PhotographyBLOG Newsletter subscribers.

3 winners will each receive a copy of the Birdwatcher’s Guide to Digital Photography, the Book of Digital Photography and the Digital Photographer’s Guide to Photoshop Elements 4.

Prizes kindly donated by Ilex Press (http://www.ilex-press.com)

All you have to do to enter is subscribe to the PhotographyBLOG Newsletter before August 14th 2006.

Sigma Press Release

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new APO 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC HSM lens. Specially designed for digital SLR cameras with an APS-C size image sensor, this large aperture F2.8 lens has a compact and lightweight construction of 76.3mm (3.0”) in diameter, 132.6mm (5.2”) in length and weighing just 780g (27.5oz) (Nikon Mount). The incorporation of the very latest optical technology gives optimum lens performance providing excellent correction for flare, ghosting and all types of aberrations. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. Four SLD(Special Low Dispersion)glass elements are used for utmost correction of chromatic aberrations. The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) system ensures quiet and high-speed auto focusing with full time manual focus override. The addition of the 1.4x EX DG APO or 2x EX DG APO Tele Converters (optional extras) produces a 70-210mm F4 AF tele-zoom lens and a 100-300mm F5.6 AF ultra-telephoto zoom lens respectively.

O’Reilly Press Release

O’Reilly Releases: “Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography” - The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Your Digital Tools From a Photography Pioneer

Sebastopol, CA—No doubt about it—the allure of the digital camera seduced us all. Yet many photography enthusiasts and professionals still don’t know how to tap into the power and range of today’s digital tools to create compelling photos. That is, until now. In the joyful and long-anticipated “Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography” (O’Reilly, $39.99 US), a master teacher shares how to use digital technology to develop and refine one’s artistic expression.

Ilford Photo Press Release

Having long established its reputation for the production of market-leading black-and-white photographic paper, ILFORD Photo has now taken the whole genre onto a new level of archival and presentational excellence with the fusion of modern digital technology and true silver gelatine printing.

ILFORD Photo has announced the addition of a new paper to its range of specialist black-and-white photo products, which not only represents a major step forward in the production of high quality images, but also utilises the latest advances in digital processing. Called ILFORD GALERIE FB DIGITAL, this 315gsm fibre base baryta paper has been created for printing with digital laser printers, and is compatible with digital printers such as the Durst Lambda and Océ Lightjet models. This is the only paper in the world which utilises ILFORD Photo’s renowned fibre base baryta material, made famous by such products as Ilfobrom Galerie FB and Multigrade IV FB papers, with the ability to be exposed in digital laser printers (Lightjet and Lambda) writing directly from digital files.

DPReview have just reviewed the Kodak Easyshare V610, the world’s smallest 10x zoom digital camera.

“Unusually I’m not going to talk too much about image quality here; it’s not great, but the color is excellent and at the lowest ISO settings it’s perfectly good enough for small (up to, say, 5x7 inches) prints or for viewing on a typical 1024x768 screen. If you’re more demanding, want to produce larger prints or shoot in low light I’d suggest you turn around and walk away now.”

Website: DPReview - Kodak Easyshare V610 Review

Website: Read our Kodak Easyshare V610 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

DCResource have just reviewed the new 10.2 megapixel Sony A100 DSLR camera.

“Being a digital SLR it’s not surprising that noise levels are very low all the way through ISO 400. At ISO 800 you start to pick up some noticeable grain, but the photo is absolutely usable, even at larger print sizes. Two things happen at ISO 1600: one, noise levels increase dramatically, and two, exposure and color saturation both drop through the floor. I’ve seen the same thing on some of Sony’s 2006 Cyber-shot cameras, so I guess they share a similar noise reduction system.”

Website: DCResource - Sony A100 Review

Website: Read our Sony A100 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

Norwegian website Akam.no have published a review of the Fujifilm FinePix F30, which offers ISO 3200, 6 megapixels, 3x optical zoom lens and a 2.5 inch LCD.

Website: Akam.no - Fujifilm FinePix F30 Review

Website: Read our Fujifilm Finepix F30 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

DIWA member and Czech website Fotoaparat have published their review of the new Panasonic DMC-L1 DSLR camera.

Website: Fotoaparat - Panasonic DMC-L1 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

Steves Digicams have published their review of the Samsung GX-1L DSLR, which offers 6-megapixels, five-point wide-area Auto Focus system, three-mode metering system and 8 scene modes.

“We liked the Pentax *ist DL when we reviewed it earlier this year, and we like what is essentially its clone, the Samsung GX-1L, equally well. With a price point that overlaps well into consumer digicam territory, the GX-1L offers a compelling choice to upgraders, providing dSLR versatility and better high ISO image quality in a lightweight and compact package.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Samsung GX-1L Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

Samsung Press Release

Samsung Electronics Develops World’s First 3-inch LCD Screen of VGA Quality for Digital Still Cameras

SEOUL, South Korea—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Aug. 10, 2006—Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world’s largest provider of thin-film transistor, liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, announced today that it has developed the first three-inch LCD panel with VGA (640 x 480 pixels) resolution that directly meets industry interface standards for digital still cameras. Executive Vice President Yun Jin-hyuk of Samsung Electronics said, “Our new LCD panel will make viewing of digital pictures distinctly more impressive on camera screens, personal multi-media players and other products requiring high-image resolution and low-power consumption.”

Olympus follow hot on the heels of Fujifilm by announcing a 2GB xD-Picture Card, available from August and costing £69.99.

Olympus UK Press Release

New from Olympus, the M-XD2GM high-capacity 2GB compact memory media for digital cameras

London, 10 August 2006 - Olympus has announced the introduction of a Type M-series xD-Picture Card™, allowing photographers to take approximately 1000 shots using an 8 mega-pixel camera in HQ mode. This advanced ultra-compact memory card will enable users to take a year’s worth of photo shots and store them onto the same memory card. It will also allow users to keep more videos on their cards without having to worry about filling up the memory.  With a data-storage capacity of 2GB, the M-XD2GM card has the largest memory in the xD-Picture Card™ range to date.