News

Monday, April 17, 2006

Canon Digital IXUS 65DIWA member LetsGoDigital have posted the first online review of the Canon Digital IXUS 60, a 6 megapixel digital camera with a 3x zoom lens, ISO 800, Widescreen (16:9) mode, and 2.5 inch LCD screen.

“In the past, we have seen the small IXUS digital camera struggle a little with capturing images indoors; especially in situations where the effective range of the internal flash wasn’t quite up to par. The Canon Digital IXUS 60 is equipped with a high sensitivity setting, which enables you to use the camera to take photos indoors without a flash. In addition, the high value of ISO 800 should also minimise camera shake; an inexpensive solution to achieve image stabilisation, which is emphasised by the quick button that is positioned on the camera.”

Website: CNET - Canon Digital IXUS 65 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

DIWA member LetsGoDigital have posted the first online review of the Canon Digital IXUS 60, a 6 megapixel digital camera with a 3x zoom lens, ISO 800, Widescreen (16:9) mode, and 2.5 inch LCD screen. “In the past, we have seen the small IXUS digital camera struggle a little with…

Olympus E-330DIWA member and Czech website FotoAparat have reviewed the 7.5 megapixel, live preview Olympus E-330 DSLR camera.

Website: FotoAparat - Olympus E-330 Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

DIWA member and Czech website FotoAparat have reviewed the 7.5 megapixel, live preview Olympus E-330 DSLR camera. Website: FotoAparat - Olympus E-330 Review Latest Prices / User Reviews

Nikon Coolpix P3DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the new Nikon Coolpix P3 camera, which offers 8.1 megapixels, 3.5x optical zoom lens and a 2.5 inch LCD.

“The P3’s shooting performance was average. Power up to first image captured measured just under 4 seconds. Shutter lag measured 2/10 second when pre-focused and 1 second including autofocus, both times including the approx. 1/10 second delay in the live image of the LCD viewfinder. The shot to shot delay averaged about 2.7 seconds between frames without the use of the flash and between 3 and 8 seconds with the flash, depending on subject distance.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Nikon Coolpix P3 Review

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DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the new Nikon Coolpix P3 camera, which offers 8.1 megapixels, 3.5x optical zoom lens and a 2.5 inch LCD. “The P3’s shooting performance was average. Power up to first image captured measured just under 4 seconds. Shutter lag measured 2/10 second when pre-focused and…

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Gary's ParriesThis week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:

1. Large Sensors Just As Noisy As Small Sensors?
2. I Dream Of (A Digital Camera) Jeannie
3. It’s A Mac/Win-Win Situation

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 (unless you request otherwise). 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.

Here are this week’s questions and answers

This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are: 1. Large Sensors Just As Noisy As Small Sensors? 2. I Dream Of (A Digital Camera) Jeannie 3. It’s A Mac/Win-Win Situation Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question…

Friday, April 14, 2006

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1Here are the sample photos from my upcoming review of the new 5 megapixel Panasonic TZ1, a few days before the full review is online. The Panasonic TZ1 is a compact digital camera with an amazing 10x optical zoom lens equivalent to 35mm-350mm on a 35mm film camera, optical image stabilisation and a 2.5 inch LCD screen.

Website: Panasonic TZ1 Photos

Here are the sample photos from my upcoming review of the new 5 megapixel Panasonic TZ1, a few days before the full review is online. The Panasonic TZ1 is a compact digital camera with an amazing 10x optical zoom lens equivalent to 35mm-350mm on a 35mm film camera, optical image…

Matrox TripleHead2GoMatrox Press Release

Matrox brings unique TripleHead support to leading workstations and laptops with breakthrough new product - Matrox TripleHead2Go adds Surround Design to existing systems

Matrox Graphics Inc., the leading manufacturer of professional graphics solutions, is pleased to announce the new TripleHead2Go, a palm-sized box that uniquely allows supports of a Microsoft® Windows® desktop with a stretched resolution of up to 3840 x 1024 across three displays with full acceleration on all displays. TripleHead2Go appears to the system as an ultra-widescreen monitor and simply connects to a computer using a standard analog VGA monitor cable. Using Matrox patent-pending technology, TripleHead2Go then splits the Microsoft® Windows® desktop into three separate 1280 x 1024 screens of information, and displays across three independent monitors. “The flexibility afforded by a Digital Content Creation (DCC) application and the inherently large amount of user interface needed to expose it, demands a correspondingly large amount of screen real estate.” says Caroline Injoyan, product manager, Matrox Graphics Inc. “Matrox TripleHead2Go’s Surround Design feature and TripleHead™ output configuration, effectively meet these needs.”

Matrox Press Release Matrox brings unique TripleHead support to leading workstations and laptops with breakthrough new product - Matrox TripleHead2Go adds Surround Design to existing systems Matrox Graphics Inc., the leading manufacturer of professional graphics solutions, is pleased to announce the new TripleHead2Go, a palm-sized box that uniquely allows supports…

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Apple ApertureApple Aperture 1.1 is available now for $299 and as a free update for current owners of Aperture 1.0. Version 1.1 offers increased computer and camera compatibility. The first Universal version of Aperture, the upgrade allows photographers to run Aperture on both PowerPC-based and the new Intel-based Macintosh computers, including MacBook Pro. Click here for a full list of the new features.

Apple UK Press Release

Universal Version Delivers Improved RAW Quality, Incredible Speed & New Lower Price

CUPERTINO, California—April 13, 2006—Apple® today released Aperture™ 1.1, a significant update to the revolutionary all-in-one post production tool for photographers that runs natively on both Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs. Aperture 1.1 features dramatically improved RAW image rendering and a new set of advanced RAW adjustment controls. Aperture 1.1 also delivers impressive speed gains on any Mac® including desktop performance on a MacBook™ Pro* with image adjustments and searching up to 4x faster. At a new lower price of £219 (inc. VAT), Apple is putting Aperture within reach of anyone shooting with a digital SLR camera.

Apple Aperture 1.1 is available now for $299 and as a free update for current owners of Aperture 1.0. Version 1.1 offers increased computer and camera compatibility. The first Universal version of Aperture, the upgrade allows photographers to run Aperture on both PowerPC-based and the new Intel-based Macintosh computers, including…

Extensis Portfolio 8Extensis Press Release

Free update includes added RAW camera and MS Office support for digital asset management needs. 

PORTLAND, Ore. — April, 12th, 2006 — Extensis, a division of Celartem Inc., today released two free updates to Portfolio 8 – the leading Digital Asset Management (DAM) solution for creative professionals. These updates include two file format support filters, which add support for Microsoft Office allowing users to catalog, find and view files from Microsoft Word and Excel on the Windows platform. Additionally, Extensis has added support for 22 new camera Raw formats on both Mac and Windows versions of Portfolio. Registered owners of Portfolio 8 are eligible to receive the free upgrades immediately through the Extensis website at http://www.extensis.com/portfolio. “These free updates demonstrate Extensis’ commitment to supporting the file formats that matter most to our customers,” said Dan Harlacher, Extensis Portfolio product manager. “We added MS Office support and updated the Portfolio Raw Filter so that our customers can more effectively utilize Portfolio in their daily workflow from cataloging to finding to viewing the files and images that are most critical in their day-to-day business.”

Extensis Press Release Free update includes added RAW camera and MS Office support for digital asset management needs. PORTLAND, Ore. — April, 12th, 2006 — Extensis, a division of Celartem Inc., today released two free updates to Portfolio 8 – the leading Digital Asset Management (DAM) solution for creative professionals…

LetsGoDigitalLetsGoDigital Press Release

LetsGoDigital, the European online magazine on the subject of digital imaging, is proud to present the German online edition of its multilingual photography magazine. By incorporating the German edition in the magazine we welcome the German readers to read our digital imaging news in their native language. At the same time LetsGoDigital becomes one of the largest European online magazines about digital imaging. Starting in 2001 as a solo Dutch online magazine LetsGoDigital soon became noticed and through initializing the English edition the foundation was laid for multilingual publishing. Today LetsGoDigital publishes in six languages; English, Dutch, French, Spanish, Turkish and German and you may expect more from us in the near future!

LetsGoDigital Press Release LetsGoDigital, the European online magazine on the subject of digital imaging, is proud to present the German online edition of its multilingual photography magazine. By incorporating the German edition in the magazine we welcome the German readers to read our digital imaging news in their native language…

Fotolog.bookFotolog Press Release

“Fotolog.book: A Global Snapshot for a Digital Age” Introduces Readers To The Fascinating and Addictive World of Photo Blogging - www.fotolog.com/fotologbook

New York, NY – (April 12, 2006) – Capturing the rise of photo blogging from underground hobby to runaway pop culture phenomenon, Fotolog (www.fotolog.com), the world’s largest photo blogging community, will be the centerpiece of a fascinating new book hitting bookshelves later this month.  The largest collection, in a book, of photographs originally published on the web, Fotolog.book: A Global Snapshot of Digital Age (Thames & Hudson, April 24, 2006, $34.95, 344 pages) reveals how the combination of digital cameras and the web have made it possible for millions of people to document their daily lives, communicate and interact through the power of photographs.

Fotolog Press Release “Fotolog.book: A Global Snapshot for a Digital Age” Introduces Readers To The Fascinating and Addictive World of Photo Blogging - www.fotolog.com/fotologbook New York, NY – (April 12, 2006) – Capturing the rise of photo blogging from underground hobby to runaway pop culture phenomenon, Fotolog (www.fotolog.com), the world’s…

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5TrustedReviews have reviewed the new 6 megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 camera.

“Focusing is also a little sluggish, although I have encountered slower AF systems. In good light and with a high-contrast subject it takes a good half a second to focus, giving a total shutter lag of almost a second. This might not sound like much, but it is definitely toward the slower end of the scale when compared to other current models. In low light it is even slower, but thanks to the AF illuminator it can focus in total darkness at a range of about two metres.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 Review

Website: Read my Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 Review

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TrustedReviews have reviewed the new 6 megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 camera. “Focusing is also a little sluggish, although I have encountered slower AF systems. In good light and with a high-contrast subject it takes a good half a second to focus, giving a total shutter lag of almost a second…

Nikon Coolpix L4DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the Nikon Coolpix L4, a 4 megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom lens and 2 inch LCD.

“The L4 is not what I would call a robust performer. Power up to first image captured measured 3 seconds, much of which is consumed by extending the lens. Shutter lag averaged 3/10 of a second when pre-focused, including about 1/10 second delay in the LCD viewfinder’s live image; autofocus shutter lag averaged 7/10 second. When shooting in single exposure mode, the shot to shot delay measured approx. 3 seconds between frames without use of the flash and between 5 and 9 seconds with the flash, depending on subject distance and battery condition. I also noticed that when using the camera’s red-eye reduction flash mode, the viewfinder blanks during the pre- flash, a critical period of just under one second.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Nikon Coolpix L4 Review

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DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the Nikon Coolpix L4, a 4 megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom lens and 2 inch LCD. “The L4 is not what I would call a robust performer. Power up to first image captured measured 3 seconds, much of which is consumed by extending…

Ricoh GR DigitalePhotoZine have just reviewed the Ricoh GR Digital, an 8 megapixel compact digicam based on the GR Series of 35mm compact film cameras.

“For a compact digital camera, noise levels are quite commendable across throughout the range. The camera produces very clean images between ISO64 and ISO200. At ISO400 there is a slight increase in noise, but the levels similar to that found on most other compacts at ISO200. Things start to get a little messy at ISO800 and above, with high levels of chroma noise present at ISO1600, although both are still very usable due to the noise having a film-like pattern to it. Images taken at ISO1600 benefit from being converted to black & white, where they take on a similar appearance to high speed monochrome film.”

Website: ePhotoZine - Ricoh GR Digital Review

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ePhotoZine have just reviewed the Ricoh GR Digital, an 8 megapixel compact digicam based on the GR Series of 35mm compact film cameras. “For a compact digital camera, noise levels are quite commendable across throughout the range. The camera produces very clean images between ISO64 and ISO200. At ISO400 there…

Canon PowerShot A620DigitalCameraInfo have reviewed the Canon PowerShot A620, which features a 7.1 megapixel sensor, 2 inch LCD screen and 4x optical zoom lens equivalent to 35–140 mm focal length.

“The A620 has big shoes to fill; the 4 megapixel A520 was Canon’s top seller of 2005. It provided bread-and-butter basics and manual functionality at a really good price. The Canon A620 adds a few more megapixels and a few more features; it comes with 7.1 megapixels and a 4x zoom lens, along with the My Colors picture effects mode and a slightly larger 2-inch LCD screen, which flips out from the camera body and rotates to just about any angle.”

Website: DigitalCameraInfo - Canon PowerShot A620 Review

Website: Read my Canon Powershot A620 Review

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DigitalCameraInfo have reviewed the Canon PowerShot A620, which features a 7.1 megapixel sensor, 2 inch LCD screen and 4x optical zoom lens equivalent to 35–140 mm focal length. “The A620 has big shoes to fill; the 4 megapixel A520 was Canon’s top seller of 2005. It provided bread-and-butter basics and…

Olympus SP-320DigiCamReview have published the first online review of the Olympus SP-320, a 7.1 megapixel camera with 3x zoom, 2.5 inch LCD, full range of shooting modes and RAW format.

“Image quality is very good, the images have very good accurate colour, with good saturation, contrast and detail, with fairly low noise except for the higher ISO settings. Images were slightly soft straight from the camera and could benefit from sharpening. Color fringing / purple fringing was quite low, although red-eye did creep in occassionally. The camera did a good job focusing, with low light focusing aided by the focus assist lamp. I did not notice vignetting in photos, nor did I notice barrel or pincushion distortion.”

Website: DigiCamReview - Olympus SP-320 Review

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DigiCamReview have published the first online review of the Olympus SP-320, a 7.1 megapixel camera with 3x zoom, 2.5 inch LCD, full range of shooting modes and RAW format. “Image quality is very good, the images have very good accurate colour, with good saturation, contrast and detail, with fairly low…

HP Photosmart R927The Spanish website Quesabesde have reviewed the new top of the range HP Photosmart R927 digital camera.

Website: Quesabesde - HP Photosmart R927 Review

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The Spanish website Quesabesde have reviewed the new top of the range HP Photosmart R927 digital camera. Website: Quesabesde - HP Photosmart R927 Review Latest Prices / User Reviews

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Fluid MaskThe March 2006 Giveaway has now ended - here are the 3 lucky winners who each win a prize kindly donated by Vertus.

Eugenio Marin Gallego, David Baker and Kristijan Najdovski all win a copy of Fluid Mask (value: $249 / €249 / £179).

Don’t worry if you didn’t win this time - a brand new contest for April has just started!

The March 2006 Giveaway has now ended - here are the 3 lucky winners who each win a prize kindly donated by Vertus. Eugenio Marin Gallego, David Baker and Kristijan Najdovski all win a copy of Fluid Mask (value: $249 / €249 / £179). Don’t worry if you didn’t win…

Canon EOS 350D Digital SLRCanon UK Press Release

Canon announces two new promotions available on EOS 350D, 30D and 5D DSLR cameras

Canon is pleased to announce the launch of two promotions available to purchasers of its EOS 350D, 30D and 5D DSLR cameras: the Canon Extra Promotion – a cash back offer on selected lenses and accessories; and the CompactFlash® Promotion - a CF card available, at no additional cost, for new registrants on CANON iMAGE GATEWAY . Both promotions are offered for a limited time. The Canon Extra Promotion rewards purchasers of selected lenses and accessories (that are compatible with Canon’s EOS 350D, EOS 30D or EOS 5D) with cash rebates. The sum of all available rebates is over £800. Products available under the terms of the offer include EF lenses, extenders, a Speedlight flash and binoculars.

Canon UK Press Release Canon announces two new promotions available on EOS 350D, 30D and 5D DSLR cameras Canon is pleased to announce the launch of two promotions available to purchasers of its EOS 350D, 30D and 5D DSLR cameras: the Canon Extra Promotion – a cash back offer on…

Kingston Technology microSD Memory CardKingston Technology Press Release

Kingston Technology today announced the launch of its 512-MB microSD memory card, further enhancing its rapidly expanding line of mobile memory solutions.  Designed to support current and next generation ‘multifunctional’ smartphones, the new 512-MB microSD offers the increased memory capacity and reduced sized format required to power premium features such as MP3 playback, video-downloads, high-quality cameras and 3-D gaming. Jim Selby, Product Marketing Manager EMEA, Kingston Technology comments, “As more sophisticated smartphones become available, technology-savvy consumers are increasingly demanding larger memory capacities that enable them to download and use content and applications found online. This is in addition to any multimedia content they create themselves.  With today’s advanced video compression techniques, a single 512-MB card can hold several full-length movie downloads.”

Kingston Technology Press Release Kingston Technology today announced the launch of its 512-MB microSD memory card, further enhancing its rapidly expanding line of mobile memory solutions. Designed to support current and next generation ‘multifunctional’ smartphones, the new 512-MB microSD offers the increased memory capacity and reduced sized format required to…

Manfrotto 808RC4 Tripod HeadManfrotto Press Release

Bassano del Grappa (April 12, 2006) – Manfrotto, the world’s leading manufacturer of photographic and video support products, is introducing two new photo heads that offer unique features never before seen in the existing 3-way head market.  The 804RC2 and 808RC4 photo heads combine features of many existing Manfrotto photo heads into two, modernized designs. The 804RC2 3-way head is constructed of a lightweight technical polymer that reduces the weight of the head to a mere 0.79 kg/1.74 lbs. while retaining strength and stability.  The lower profile 804RC2 features a spirit level and a fixed counterbalance spring on the tilt motion to help support varying equipment loads of up to 4 kg/8.8 lbs.

Manfrotto Press Release Bassano del Grappa (April 12, 2006) – Manfrotto, the world’s leading manufacturer of photographic and video support products, is introducing two new photo heads that offer unique features never before seen in the existing 3-way head market. The 804RC2 and 808RC4 photo heads combine features of many…