Corel Press Release

Corel launches its official hunt for the CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3 mascot - Carlos

MAIDENHEAD, UK - 6th June 2006 - Corel Corporation is holding an Egg Hunt for its CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 mascot - Carlos the Chameleon. The official hunt begins on Thursday 08 June 2006 for the UK market only. The hunt will take place over two weeks live from Corel’s web site (www.corel.co.uk). There will be first, second and third prizes all focused around the recently launched CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 software. Existing and non-existing customers are invited to take part in the DRAW. No purchase is necessary to enter.

A number of sites have previews of pre-production versions of the Sony A100 DSLR.

http://www.a-digital-eye.net/?p=154
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/sony/dslr_a100-review/index.shtml
http://www.digit.no/wip4/detail.epl?id=93588
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/sonydslra100/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/AA100/AA100A.HTM
http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/2417/hands-on-sony-alpha-100-dslr.html
http://www.quesabesde.com/noticias/Sony-Alpha-A100,1_2526
http://www.quesabesde.com/camdig/productos/cam2142v.asp (video)
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/alpha100.html

Bob Atkins has taken a look at the new Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F2.8 XR Di lens.

“The initial impression of the Tamron SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical [IF] is that it’s a solid lens. It feels “dense”. Not heavy, but it gives the impression of solidity. The body seems to be made of a composite (plastic) material and the finish is in low-reflectivity black with a gold ring. Both the zoom and manual focus rings are covered in rubber with ribbing to make them easier to grip. The MF/AF switch is located near the lens mount and there is a “lock” button which can be used to lock the zoom at the 17mm position.”

Website: Bob Atkins - Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F2.8 XR Di Lens Review

TrustedReviews have reviewed the 7.5 megapixel, live preview Olympus E-330 DSLR camera.

“Fortunately the superb quality of the images makes up for a few minor problems. The E-330 uses a new “Live MOS” sensor which at 7.2MP is actually smaller than the sensor in the E-300, however the image quality is much improved. Having used both the Canon 30D and the E-330 in the past week, I have to say that although I preferred the handling and performance of the Canon, I prefer the pictures from the Olympus. Although they are slightly smaller in actual pixel size, they are around twice the size in terms of megabytes at the highest quality JPEG setting. I found the colour rendition to be both smoother and more subtle, with better overall saturation. With the relatively low compression there is plenty of fine detail in the default JPEG files, and even more if you shoot in RAW and convert in Photoshop.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Olympus E-330 Review

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DIWA member Steves Digicams have published their review of the new 8 megapixel Sony DSC-W70 digital camera.

“Sony equipped the W70 with a very nice Carl Zeiss 3x zoom lens. It offers a zoom range typical of this class, 38-114mm in 35mm equivalence, providing adequate field of view for interiors and landscapes and moderate telephoto magnification for portraits and distant subjects. The lens produced sharp results throughout its zoom range, with moderate amounts of barrel distortion at wide angle and pin cushioning at telephoto. Chromatic aberrations were well controlled, with little purple fringing present in high contrast areas.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Sony DSC-W70 Review

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Digital Trends have reviewed the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 which combines a 12x optical zoom lens with MEGA O.I.S. in a compact body.

“Vacationers should put the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 on their packing lists. How high on the list depends on your shooting style. If you’re one for pushing ISOs, the FZ7 is not for you. However, if you’re going to stick to ISO 200 and below, by all means give this camera a try. With its amazing lens, compact package, optical image stabilization and manual options, this is a very solid mega-zoom—especially with a street price of less than $350. “

Website: Digital Trends - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 Review

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HP Press Release

The metal, ultra-compact HP Photosmart R967 Digital Camera features a big, 3-inch LCD with a 170-degree viewing angle to make it easy to share photos with friends. The HP R967 produces brilliant photos with 10-megapixel resolution and the powerful HP Precision 30x total zoom, and helps to prevent blurred shots with HP steady photo anti-shake mode. With the latest features such as industry-leading auto in-camera red-eye removal,(1) HP Design Gallery and other HP Real Life technologies, users can easily take brilliant digital photos perfect for printing and sharing.

HP Press Release

Take stunning 7.2-megapixel photos with the ultra-compact, metal HP Photosmart R827 Digital Camera. The HP R827 features an indoor and outdoor 2.5-inch image display and is thin enough to slip in a pocket. With the latest generation of HP Real Life technologies, including industry-leading auto in-camera red-eye removal(1) and HP Design Gallery, users can easily take brilliant digital photos perfect for printing and sharing. The HP R827 Digital Camera also features a unique, internal 3x optical zoom lens that fits into the slim camera body for clear distance shots, and the new HP steady photo anti-shake mode helps prevent blurred photos.

HP Press Release

The easy-to-use HP Photosmart M627 Digital Camera features 7-megapixels and 24x total zoom – 3x optical, 8x digital – to produce amazing-quality photos. The camera also features HP Real Life technologies, including industry-leading in-camera red-eye removal(1) and HP Design Gallery. With the new HP Design Gallery, users can easily capture and edit brilliant digital photos. The small, all-metal HP M627 also features one-button ordering and sharing of photos with HP Photosmart Express.(2)

HP Press Release

The HP Photosmart E427 Digital Camera features 6-megapixel resolution and 5x digital zoom, enabling users to produce true-to-life 4 x 6-inch prints and enlargements up to poster size. Snap photos quickly and easily – frame and view on the large, 2-inch image display of the HP E427.

Kingston Technology Press Release

High-Capacity Cards Ideal for Photographers Who Need to Create Large Files for Reproduction

Fountain Valley, CA – June 5, 2006 – Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, announced it is expanding its line of CompactFlash Elite Pro cards with the addition of a new 8-GB card. The card is an ideal storage choice for studio, catalog and portrait photographers who need to produce large files for catalog reproduction and other commercial purposes. The addition of the 8-GB CompactFlash Elite Pro card completes one of the most comprehensive lines of Flash memory card solutions in the industry — including 512 MB, 1-GB, 2-GB and 4-GB CompactFlash cards. Kingston’s Elite Pro line meets the increased demands of today’s professional photographers by delivering reliability and dependability and providing a memory solution to suit their specific capacity needs.

Sigma Press Release

New 8mm F3.5 EX DG CIRCULAR FISHEYE lens optimized for digital cameras will be available this summer.

Product Summary

* A maximum aperture of F3.5 and minimum focusing distance 13.5cm (5.5“) with a maximum magnification of 1:4.6.
* An angle of view of 180 degrees creates a circular image with 35mm and full frame digital SLR cameras.
* Corresponding AF Mounts :SIGMA, NIKON, CANON, ?, PENTAX (availability of each mount will be announced at a later time)

Samsung Electronics Press Release

SEOUL, South Korea—June 4, 2006—Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest provider of thin-film transistor, liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, will introduce a 3.5” LCD with embedded touch screen, and the first-ever 7” LCD driven by a single chip, at the 2006 Society for Information Display International Symposium and Exhibition(SID) in San Francisco, California, USA. Also at SID, one of the world’s largest events dedicated to displays, Samsung is unveiling widescreen versions of 24”, 27” and 30” monitors for specialty-market, digital information displays, as well as a 21.3” black-and-white monitor with clearer X-ray viewing for medical applications.

HARMAN technology Limited Press Release

Cheshire, England, June 1st, 2006 - HARMAN technology Limited today announced an exclusive distribution agreement with WYNIT, Inc. of Syracuse, NY, for distribution of ILFORD black-and-white photo products. Since HARMAN technology purchased the ILFORD black-and-white business out of receivership in the United Kingdom in February 2005, maintaining first class distribution has been a priority. WYNIT, currently a leading national distributor of computer peripheral and digital imaging products in the photo retail channel, will broaden its expertise in the photo lab sector with ILFORD Photo branded products for North America.

Odyssey Press Release

The world’s only digital enlarger just became better, and taking full advantage of its added facilities is one of the world’s leading photographic colleges.

The Odyssey De Vere 504DS digital enlarger, which has the unique capability to photographically expose the image from a digital file onto traditional black-and-white or colour paper, has been upgraded with a new LCD image processor giving more than twice the resolving power of its original configuration. In addition, new, user-friendly software has been installed to make the enlarger even easier to handle. First to take advantage of the new 504DS is the London College of Fashion which has installed eight systems into its darkrooms where up to 400 students on the College’s specialist fashion photography courses have been taking full advantage of the facilities incorporated in the systems. The 17.2-megapixel processors enable extreme levels of fidelity when printing the results of the students’ work in the studio. “This system is really superb,” comments Nigel Tribbett, the College’s chief photographer who runs the courses.

CameraLabs have just reviewed the new Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens, also comparing it to rival lenses from Sigma and Tamron.

“We personally found VR allowed us to handhold shots taken at 200mm as slow as 1/15 of a second, although obviously it greatly depends on the conditions and your own steadiness. This however was a decent performance, as we’d normally require a much faster shutter speed to avoid camera shake at this focal length - and remember with the cropping effect of a smaller sensor, 200mm on the lens is effectively delivering a 300mm field of view.”

Website: CameraLabs - Nikon 18-200mm VR Lens Review

The-digital-picture.com have just reviewed the new Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM.

“I’m not sure why Canon did not go all the way and make the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens an L-Series lens. An upgraded (metal) lens barrel seems to be the missing component - and the red ring. Also, the accessories included with L-Series lenses are missing - the Lens Pouch LP1219 and Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens-exclusive Lens Hood EW-83J are optional. Since Canon has an L-Series lens on the PowerShot Pro 1, making a non-“EF” L lens is apparently not outside of their definition. This lens certainly has the image quality to be an “L”.”

Website: The-digital-picture.com - Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens Review

Imaging Resource have reviewed the Canon PowerShot A700, a 6 megapixel camera with ISO 800, 2.5 inch LCD and a 6x optical zoom lens.

“Canon is continually expanding its PowerShot A-series cameras, even as they reduce some of their other lines. The new A700, announced just before Spring PMA 2006, is the first step in yet another expansion of the A-series to a new level. This time the expansion is more than about pixels, but includes a longer lens than any A-series previously, reaching to 6x, or an equivalent of 35 to 210mm, making the PowerShot A700 excellent for all-purpose photography.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Canon PowerShot A700 Review

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DigitalCameraInfo have reviewed the Sony DSC-H5 ultra-zoom digital camera, offering a 12x optical zoom lens, 7.2 megapixels and a 3 inch LCD screen.

“The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5 has a great feature set that includes 7.1 megapixels, a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 12x optical zoom lens, an optical image stabilization system, and full manual functionality. This digital camera has the lure of a sexy compact, with its enormous 3-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD monitor and its seven simple scene modes. It also draws design elements from DSLRs such as the protruding viewfinder, chunky measurements, and expanded ISO range. Perhaps one of its best features is an optical image stabilization system, which works wonders in keeping the shakes to a minimum in movie mode and helps keep still images from blurring. This image stabilization system is not a want, but a necessity.”

Website: DigitalCameraInfo - Sony DSC-H5 Review

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This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:

1. No Need To Go Below ISO 200
2. Whether To Weatherproof Or Waterproof
3. Nikon D70 Front Focusing Problem: S-O-L-V-E-D

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, 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.