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

“On the other hand, the Kodak V610 does some things brilliantly. I very much enjoyed its many conveniences: using the 10x zoom over two lenses, wireless printing, sophisticated in-camera panoramas, Kodak’s Perfect Touch technology, macro shooting, sports shooting, docking it to make prints and recharge, and even selecting Scene modes (something I’m not found of generally).”

Website: Imaging Resource - Kodak Easyshare V610 Review

Website: Read my Kodak Easyshare V610 Review

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Imaging Resource have just reviewed the new 6 megapixel Fujifilm FinePix F470 Zoom digital camera.

“Along with being about as slim as you want a digital camera, the Fuji F470 is extremely light at just five ounces with the battery and memory card. Though the camera’s polycarbonate body has a plastic feel in spots, the generous metal accents give it solid durability. This really is a “take anywhere” camera, and under normal daylight conditions the F470 can capture some great pictures, with the rich color you’d expect from Fujifilm. Though the camera struggled in low-light situations when shooting without a flash, and offers barely any manual control, if you’re using the Fuji F470 just for on-the-go snapshots, it’s a steal at just $279.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Fujifilm FinePix F470 Zoom Review

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This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:

1. Different Horizontal And Vertical Resolutions
2. Digital Dust Revisited
3. Olympus Stylus 710, A Good Choice

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.

Samsung USA Press Release

Samsung Camera Bolsters Feature?Packed Premium Line with Two New Models - Seven MP S700 and Ten MP S1000 Complete the “S” Series Line

Secaucus, NJ (July 20, 2006) – Samsung is pleased to announce the launch of two new “S” Series models within its Premium line of Samsung Digimax digital still cameras.  The seven mega-pixel Samsung S700 and the ten mega-pixel Samsung S1000 are full featured models designed to deliver maximum value, style and performance for digital photographers of all skill and experience levels.  Offering features useful to the entire family, both models boast a crystal-clear 2.4-inch LCD and a 3x optical zoom in both still and movie modes. “The “S” Series cameras are perfect for everyone from beginners to advanced digital photographers,” says Stewart Henderson, National Marketing Manager at Samsung Opto?Electronics.  “With the addition of the Samsung S700 and the Samsung S1000, we have bolstered our already strong and comprehensive range of digital still cameras.  This, combined with the recent launch of our NV Series, enables us to deliver products that meet the needs of a diverse dealer and consumer base.”

SanDisk Press Release

SanDisk Introduces SanDisk Extreme IV CompactFlash - World’s Fastest Cards For Professional Photographers - New Cards Result In Faster Capture of High-Resolution Images and Quicker Card-to-Computer Transfers

NEW YORK, NY, July 19, 2006 – SanDisk® Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) today introduced the new SanDisk Extreme® IV line of CompactFlash® digital film cards for professional photographers. The line is targeted at photographers who require the highest possible performance and the largest capacities for their medium format and high-end digital single lens reflex (SLR) cameras. The SanDisk Extreme IV cards are available in capacities of up to 8-gigabytes (GB)1 and deliver minimum read and write speeds of 40 megabytes per second (MB/sec.)2 making these the fastest flash memory cards in the world. This exceptionally fast card speed is critical when shooting large numbers of high-resolution images. SanDisk also introduced the new SanDisk Extreme FireWire reader that can transfer images from the SanDisk Extreme IV cards to a computer at up to 40MB/sec. for significantly improved workflow efficiency. These new products were announced at a press conference held today at the NASDAQ Market Site in New York City.

Panasonic Press Release

Panasonic today introduced the Lumix DMC-LX2, successor to the DMC-LX1, which has received high acclaim worldwide for its unique 16:9 wide CCD, plentiful functions, and smart design. The Panasonic DMC-LX2 inherits the f/2.8 28mm wide angle LEICA DC lens, 4x optical zoom (equivalent to 28mm to 112mm on a 35mm film camera) and MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) system in addition to an enhanced CCD capable of 10.2-megapixels and larger 2.8 16:9 wide LCD. The Panasonic DMC-LX2 is unique in that it incorporates triple-wide features of 28 mm wide angle LEICA DC lens, 16:9 wide CCD and 16:9 wide LCD. Not only that, the L X2 is further distinguished from other cameras by its full manual controllability with a joystick allowing users to easily enjoy creative shooting. The DMC-LX2 also boasts Venus Engine III high performance image processing LSI to dramatically reduce the noise that challenged the predecessor, realizing image recording at max. ISO 1600 high sensitivity setting at full resolution.

Panasonic Press Release

The New Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ50 is a 10.1-Megapixel, 12x Optical Zoom Digital Camera Featuring Intelligent Image Stabilizer by MEGA O.I.S. and World’s First* Intelligent ISO Control
*For a digital still camera, as of July 19, 2006.
 
Panasonic today introduced the 10.1-megapixel LUMIX DMC-FZ50 with MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) featuring powerful 12x optical zoom (equivalent to 35 mm to 420 mm on a 35 mm film camera) f/2.8 LEICA DC lens, as a successor to the Panasonic DMC-FZ30, which has received high acclaim worldwide. The Panasonic DMC-FZ50 boasts a 10.1-megapixel high resolution CCD for its image sensor and Venus Engine III for the image processing LSI, making it possible to record a image at max. ISO 1600 high sensitivity setting at full resolution.  Furthermore, by dramatically reducing the noise levels that challenged its predecessor, the Panasonic DMC-FZ50 is able to capture 10.1-megapixel full resolution images even in high sensitivity recording.

Panasonic Press Release

7.2-Megapixel Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FX07 with 28mm Wide-Angle LEICA DC Lens*  Featuring Intelligent Image Stabilizer by MEGA O.I.S. and World’s First** Intelligent ISO Control
*35mm film camera equivalent.
**For a digital still camera, as of July 19, 2006.

Panasonic today introduced the new LUMIX DMC-FX07 7.2-megapixel, 28mm wide angle f/2.8 LEICA DC lens with 3.6x optical zoom (equivalent to 28mm to 102mm on a 35mm film camera) and DMC-FX50 cameras, both featuring an Intelligent Image Stabilizer by MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) and Intelligent ISO control. The DMC-FX50 also newly incorporates a 3-inch large LCD whereas the DMC-FX07 pursues further compactness with a 2.5-inch LCD. Inheriting the highly valued 28mm LEICA DC lens in a compact body from its their predecessor, the DMC-FX50 / FX07 cameras allow users to enjoy the benefit of a wide angle lens when shooting indoor group portraits, expansive landscapes, or architectural scenes. To fight against the major cause of blurred images, Panasonic invented the MEGA O.I.S. system taking advantage of its superior lens technology to compensate for handshake – a feature which has long been incorporated into the LUMIX range of cameras. In addition, to also compensate for the other major cause of blurred images – movement of the subject – the FX50 / FX07 cameras are also equipped with the world’s first* Intelligent ISO Control (hereafter I.I.C.) and max. ISO 1250 high sensitivity recording at full resolution capabilities within the advanced image processing LSI Venus Engine III. When set to the I.I.C., the Venus Engine III detects the subject’s movement and adjusts the ISO setting and shutter speed to best suit the subject movement and the light condition automatically. Panasonic’s excellent image stabilizing system allows users to take clear, crisp images in any situation, leaving everything to the camera.

Panasonic Press Release

7.2-Megapixel Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FX50 with 28mm Wide-Angle LEICA DC Lens*  Featuring Intelligent Image Stabilizer by MEGA O.I.S. and World’s First** Intelligent ISO Control
*35mm film camera equivalent.
**For a digital still camera, as of July 19, 2006.

Panasonic today introduced the new LUMIX DMC-FX50 7.2-megapixel, 28mm wide angle f/2.8 LEICA DC lens with 3.6x optical zoom (equivalent to 28mm to 102mm on a 35mm film camera) and DMC-FX07 cameras, both featuring an Intelligent Image Stabilizer by MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) and Intelligent ISO control. The DMC-FX50 also newly incorporates a 3-inch large LCD whereas the DMC-FX07 pursues further compactness with a 2.5-inch LCD. Inheriting the highly valued 28mm LEICA DC lens in a compact body from its their predecessor, the DMC-FX50 / FX07 cameras allow users to enjoy the benefit of a wide angle lens when shooting indoor group portraits, expansive landscapes, or architectural scenes. To fight against the major cause of blurred images, Panasonic invented the MEGA O.I.S. system taking advantage of its superior lens technology to compensate for handshake – a feature which has long been incorporated into the LUMIX range of cameras. In addition, to also compensate for the other major cause of blurred images – movement of the subject – the FX50 / FX07 cameras are also equipped with the world’s first* Intelligent ISO Control (hereafter I.I.C.) and max. ISO 1250 high sensitivity recording at full resolution capabilities within the advanced image processing LSI Venus Engine III. When set to the I.I.C., the Venus Engine III detects the subject’s movement and adjusts the ISO setting and shutter speed to best suit the subject movement and the light condition automatically. Panasonic’s excellent image stabilizing system allows users to take clear, crisp images in any situation, leaving everything to the camera.

Panasonic Press Release

6-Megapixel Panasonic DMC-FX3 with LEICA DC Lens Featuring MEGA O.I.S. and Max. ISO 1600 High Sensitivity Mode

Panasonic today introduced the new LUMIX DMC-FX3, a 6-megapixel camera with f/2.8 3x optical zoom (equivalent to 35 mm to 105 mm on a 35 mm film camera) LEICA DC lens, featuring MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) and max. ISO 1600 high sensitivity mode*.
Panasonic has long led the industry with its incorporation of an optical image stabilization system - MEGA O.I.S. - into even its compact range of cameras. This system produces no deterioration of picture quality and has now become a standard feature for all digital cameras in the market. Now the new Panasonic DMC-FX3 also benefits from a High Sensitivity mode* which allows shooting at a maximum sensitivity setting of ISO 1600*. This mode acts as another anti-blurring measure, in addition to the MEGA O.I.S. system on the DMC-FX3, by suppressing image blur which can be caused by the movement of subjects, and especially benefits indoor photography of children and pets at fast shutter speeds.

Adobe Press Release

Digital Photography Workflow Solution Now Available for Windows® and Macintosh Platforms

London — July 19, 2006 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the public beta of Adobe® Lightroom™ software for the Windows platform, a digital imaging workflow solution for professional photographers. Now available for both the Windows and Macintosh platforms, Adobe Lightroom beta is the efficient new way for professional photographers to import, select, develop and showcase large volumes of digital images. Windows-based photographers now have the opportunity to assist with the development of Lightroom by testing this new beta download and submitting feedback to the Adobe Labs forums at http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom.

The Epson P-4000 Multimedia Storage Viewer allows you to download digital photos and movies onto its 80Gb hard-drive and then view them on its 3.8 inch colour LCD screen. The Epson P-4000 has built-in card slots for Compact Flash and SD memory cards. The Epson P4000 will be of particular interest to digital SLR camera users as it can show a preview of some RAW file formats as well as JPEGs. You can connect the P-4000 directly to a PC or TV and it will even print directly onto compatible Epson printers. In addition the Epson P4000 can play digital music in the form of MP3 and AAC files. So can the Epson P-4000 do all of the things that it claims and do them well?

Website: Epson P-4000 Multimedia Storage Viewer Review

The June 2006 Giveaway has now ended - here are the 10 lucky winners who each win a prize.

Cesar Fandino, Denise Kissinger, Si Johnson, rayhelena at hotmail.com, s.ouarez at seznam.cz have each won a copy of muvee autoProducer 5 (worth $99.95) AND a photoCentric stylePack (worth $19.95) (PC Only)

Rehana Apu, mort friedman joe at joefoxphoto.co.uk, Alexander Vander, Tommy Williams have each won a copy of a photoCentric stylePack (worth $19.95) (PC Only)

Prizes kindly provided by muvee (http://www.muvee.com)

Don’t worry if you didn’t win this time - a brand new contest will be starting soon…

The BBC has today launched its 2006 Photographer 0f the Year contest. First prize is the chance to shoot a photographic story of your choice which will then be displayed on the BBC News website. In addition there will be an extra prize made to the photographer whose image catches the judge’s eye. Here are the themes:

ENTRY DEADLINES: THEMES
2 August - Shelter
9 August - Rock ‘n’ Roll
16 August - Uniform
23 August - Technology
30 August - Love
6 September- Look up
13 September - Final vote

Website: BBC Photographer of the Year 2006

JPG is the magazine of brave new photography, and the 6th issue on the theme “Oops!” has just been published. JPG Magazine is created by nonprofessionals with a passion for imagemaking without attitude. For many of our contributors, this is the first time they’ve ever been published in print.

“Whether it was faulty settings, old film, the random photo on the last frame of film, or the last photo a camera ever took, this issue features some of the finest slip-ups, freak-outs, and happy accidents ever captured on film or pixels. We’re also joined by featured photographer Rion Nakaya, who shares some of her favorite serendipitous moments, and Ryan Gallagher, to talk camera tossing.”

Website: JPG Magazine Issue 6

The new Lexar 133X 8GB CompactFlash will be available in August for the suggested price of $424.99.

Lexar Press Release

Large Capacity and High-Speed Data Transfer Rate Benefits Professionals and Advanced Amateurs Shooting in RAW Format

Fremont, Ca., July 18, 2006 – Lexar Media, Inc., a leader in advanced digital media and accessories, today announced that it has increased the performance of its popular Professional 8GB CompactFlash® memory card to 133X. This performance improves the digital imaging workflow for both professional and advanced amateur photographers working with and managing large files. Lexar’s new card is capable of a minimum sustained data write speed of 20MB per second and is currently available in CompactFlash Type I flash memory card format, the most popular format for today’s digital SLR cameras. “Lexar has encouraged photographers to ‘keep shooting’ while consistently introducing products that improve digital imaging workflow once images are stored on their flash memory cards,” said John Omvik, director of professional product marketing, Lexar.  “Those who shoot in RAW format require a vast amount of storage capacity, but also need reliable high-speed performance at all steps in the digital imaging process. Our new 133X 8GB cards directly address and satisfy both needs and, as a result, are ideal for photographers shooting in all situations,” he added.

DIWA member LetsGoDigital have the first online review of the new Fujifilm FinePix Z2 Zoom, a 5 megapixel camera with a large 2.5 inch scratch-resistant glass LCD screen and a non-extending 3x zoom lens.

“The speed with which the Fujifilm Z2 processes the pictures is great to use. If we look at picture quality, the realistic colours and fantastic performance of the white balance stand out. In particular, the different ISO values are great to work with, a quality that Fujifilm has also scored well with in the past. The pictures have a good strong contrast and great colour saturation that can be seen directly in the prints. If we add the excellent video features, we can only conclude that Fujifilm has once more made a compact digital camera without compromising the picture quality. “

Website: LetsGoDigital - Fujifilm FinePix Z2 Zoom Review

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Steves Digicams 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.

“I was very surprised at how low noise levels were, even at ISO 800. Both ISO 1600 and 3200 are also quite low for a camera in this class, due to the in-camera noise reduction processing. Image detail, however, does suffer a bit, making pictures look a bit “fuzzy” when being viewed at 100%. However, the usefulness of this feature greatly out weighs the negative effects.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Fujifilm FinePix F30 Review

Website: Read our Fujifilm Finepix F30 Review

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Steves Digicams have reviewed the Samsung Digimax L60, which has 6 megapixels, 3x optical zoom lens, MPEG4 video recording and a 2.4-inch LCD screen.

“Image quality was average for a 6-megapixel consumer model. While the majority of our samples were sharp with pleasing color saturation and exposure, the canon shot was a bit troubling. When you view the image to fit your screen (about 30% for my 19-inch LCD set at 1024x768), the image looks good. However, at 100% you can see lots of chromatic aberrations (purple fringing around highlights) and the subject itself looks pixelated. “

Website: Steves Digicams - Samsung Digimax L60 Review

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

“I’m always amazed at what I see in the streets and I like to try and capture those moments whenever possible. I find myself going out hunting for interesting people and the strange things that they do on the streets. “

Website: Gallery Member Spotlight - doyoulikeit