Wacom Press Release

Wacom’s Graphire Bluetooth Wireless Pen Tablet for Photo and Art Enthusiasts Now Includes Adobe Photoshop Elements 3 and More

Vancouver, WA - Nov. 15, 2005 - Wacom® Technology today announced the inclusion of several additional software programs with its Graphire® Bluetooth® wireless pen tablet. Featuring the control and comfort of Wacom’s patented cordless, battery-free pen and mouse, as well as the freedom of a wireless device, the Graphire Bluetooth offers a 6” x 8” active area and is priced at $249.99. With the addition of Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 3 and PC digital inking programs, Graphire Bluetooth users now can experience even more control and performance. In addition to being a favorite of photo enthusiasts and aspiring digital artists, mobile office workers, educators and students appreciate the variety of tasks they can easily accomplish with the Graphire Bluetooth.

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures Press Release

Camera Phone Shipments to Reach 850 Million in 2009, Driving Triple Growth in the Number of Prints Generated By These Devices

WEYMOUTH, Mass.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Nov. 16, 2005—InfoTrends/CAP Ventures’ latest camera phone and photo messaging forecast shows worldwide camera phone shipments continuing on a strong growth trajectory, climbing from 370 million units in 2005 to 847 million units in 2009.

As an increasing number of users acquire and experiment with camera phones, the volume of images captured, shared, and printed is projected to rise, producing additional revenue for wireless carriers and digital photofinishers alike. InfoTrends/CAP Ventures forecast reveals a 43% CAGR in worldwide camera phone prints between 2005 and 2009, and a more than doubling of photo messaging revenue growth over the same period.

Kodak Press Release

KODAK EASYSHARE Products Win Four Prestigious Innovations 2006 Design and Engineering Awards; Honor Includes ``Best of Innovations’’ Awards for the EASYSHARE-ONE WiFi Digital Camera and the EASYSHARE Photo Printer 500

NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Nov. 16, 2005—Kodak innovation was spotlighted last evening at the International Consumer Electronics Show Press Preview, where the company’s digital products and services won four prestigious Innovations 2006 Design and Engineering Awards. The groundbreaking KODAK EASYSHARE-ONE zoom digital camera and the EASYSHARE Photo Printer 500 were named “Best of Innovations 2006” award winners for the digital imaging and digital imaging accessories categories, respectively, while the KODAK EASYSHARE Gallery Premier Service and EASYSHARE V550 zoom digital camera garnered Innovations 2006 Design and Engineering honors.

O’Reilly Press Release

Sebastopol, CA—“Photoshop Elements 4 is an all-in-one program that can help you improve your photos, keep them organized, and make top-notch prints and truly nifty creative projects,” says Barbara Brundage, who has been teaching people how to use Elements since it first came out in 2001.

“Elements is such a cool program and so much fun to use, but figuring out how to make it do what you want is another matter.” For everyone who has been hesitant to use Elements because they’ve heard how tricky it is, Brundage’s new “Photoshop Elements 4: The Missing Manual” (Brundage, O’Reilly, US $39.95) gets readers up to speed quickly so they can edit, print, and share their photos over the Internet.

onOne Software Press Release

onOne Software Releases Free Genuine Fractals Plug-In Reader for Adobe Photoshop

Free plug-in allows all users of Adobe Photoshop to open and view Genuine Fractals files saved using the .STN file format which significantly reduces the file size of scaled images.

PORTLAND, OR - November 15, 2005 - onOne Software today announced the immediate availability of a free Genuine Fractals Reader plug-in for Adobe Photoshop. The Genuine Fractals Reader plug-in allows any user of Adobe Photoshop CS or CS2 to open and view an image that was scaled using Genuine Fractals and saved with the .STN file extension. The .STN (pronounced “stingâ€) file format, available only through Genuine Fractals, allows users to significantly reduce the file size of their scaled images without sacrificing image quality. The latest version of Genuine Fractals 4.1, released last month, is an image scaling plug-in for Adobe Photoshop that uses a patented, fractal-based algorithm to increase the size and resolution of images with a better retention of detail than other scaling methods available in Photoshop.

Kodak Press Release

New KODAK EASYSHARE-ONE Wi-Fi Digital Camera a Hit; Poised to Be One of the Year’s Hottest Holiday Electronics Gifts

NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Nov. 15, 2005—One-of-a-Kind Camera Enjoys High Consumer and Media Praise; Orange Hotspots, WPA Security Now Supported with Firmware Update

As the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) press preview opened here today to hundreds of the world’s most influential technology and lifestyle journalists, Kodak reported that its new EASYSHARE-ONE zoom digital camera has become a hit just weeks after its initial shipment.

The innovative product—the world’s first Wi-Fi consumer digital camera, and the only camera in the world from which people can e-mail pictures—is winning praise from consumers and media around the world, and is now poised to be one of the year’s hottest holiday electronics gifts.

Luminous Landscape take a look at how to express your own personal view of the world through photography.

“My outdoor photography is a very deliberative process. I have a final print in my mind before I press the button on my shutter cable. The question I ask myself is this: “What do I need to do to help me make that print?” I am forever telling myself to slow down, sweep my eye all around the viewfinder, step back and consider all of the creative possibilities. I like working with a photographic gray card and a mini Macbeth color checker card when I shoot botanical images. Yes, I know I can use the Auto White Balance setting on my Canon 1Ds MkII and then later twiddle with the white balance and other settings in Adobe Camera Raw and get the same result. Performing a custom white balance and taking the pains to try and get the exposure and color “dead on” in the field means I have to slow down. This gives me time to think about the final image I want to craft.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Develop Your Creative Vision

The Hungarian website Index Digicam have reviewed the Kodak Easyshare P850 camera which features a 12x, 36 – 432 mm, image-stabilised, f2.8 – f/3.7, SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON lens.

Website: Index Digicam - Kodak Easyshare P850 Review

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ePhotoZine have just published a review of the Tamron SP AF200-500MM F/5-6.3 Di LD (IF) Lens.

“We found this lens light and compact enough to carry around in a standard camera bag, so for a focal length of 500mm, this has to be an advantage, making it available when needed but not necessary to have a separate carrying bag. The optical performance was up to most uses except perhaps top end wildlife or fast action sports. A handy addition to your kit with a usable focal range.”

Website: ePhotoZine - Tamron 200-500mm Lens Review

DigiCamReview have reviewed the Panasonic DMC-LX1, an 8.4 megapixel digital camera with a 4x Leica optical zoom lens equivalent to 28-112mm, optical image stabilizer and a 2.5 inch LCD screen.

” Image quality is very good, the images have very good colour, saturation, contrast and detail - although with higher than average noise. The camera did a good job focusing even in low light thanks to the focus-assist lamp. I did not notice vignetting in photos, nor did I notice barrel or pincushion distortion. There is a very good range of image sizes, thanks to the multiple choices regarding aspect ratio, and a very good choice of compression options (including RAW and TIFF, which is rare for compact point and shoot digital cameras). The macro mode is good, and provides good detail and colour. Auto white balance and metering seemed to be very good the majority of the time. Red-eye was a problem in some of the photos, and purple fringing was visible in some photos. The movie mode choices are very good, providing the 16:9 aspect ratio and 30 frames per second with sound.”

Website: DigiCamReview - Panasonic DMC-LX1 Review

Website: Read my Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1 Review

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TrustedReviews have reviewed the Canon PowerShot S80, an 8 megapixel update of the S70 which offers a 28-100mm f/2.8-5.3 lens, 2.5 inch LCD screen and Canon’s advanced image processor, DIGIC II.

“The only criticisms I can find are a slight blurring in the extreme corners of the frame at wide-angle, and a hint of over-sharpening on some shots. Despite its wider-than-average short end, the lens does a remarkable job of avoiding barrel distortion. Noise control is excellent at 50 and 100 ISO, and acceptable at 200 ISO. Things do get a bit noisy at 400 ISO, especially on longer exposures, but the results are still usable. All in all, an outstanding performance, and another superb Canon camera.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Canon PowerShot S80 Review

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Nikon have posted record profits and record profits for the first 6 months of the financial year. A 58% increase in SLR sales was the main cause of success, along with a 13.6% increase for compact digicams. So Nikon joins Canon as one of the few digital camera makers that are actually making money - the new Nikon D200 (pictured) should only help even more.

“While we managed to maintain our competitive edge in the high-end SLR camera segment, we were also able to escape from fierce price competition thanks to the launch of new models which met the needs of consumers,” Ichiro Terato, the group’s chief financial officer, told a news conference. “But as competitors in the high-end SLR digital camera market are increasing owing to the entry of consumer electronics makers, we view the prospects for the business climate conservatively,” Terato said.”

Website: Nikon posts record interim profits on camera sales

The Rollei dp6500 has been added to the Rollei website. The Rollei dp6500 is a 6 megapixel compact digital camera with a 3x zoom lens and an optical viewfinder. Video recording up to 320x240 at 24fps and 16mb internal memory are also offered by the Rollei dp6500. Availability and price to be announced.

Rollei Press Release

Compact digital all-round camera with 6 megapixels, 3x zoom lens and 4x digital zoom, video and voice-recording as well as microphone.

• 6 megapixels
• 16 MB internal memory
• Real-image optical viewfinder

The Rollei da5324 has been added to the Rollei website. The Rollei da5324 is a 5 megapixel compact digital camera with a 3x zoom lens and 2.4 inch LCD screen. Video recording up to 640x480 at 30fps and voice recording are also offered by the Rollei da5324. Availability and price to be announced.

Rollei Press Release

Versatile and compact 5.19megapixel digital camera with 3x zoom lens and 4x digital zoom. Video and voice recording through built-in loudspeaker and microphone.

•Large 2.4” TFT color monitor
•32MB internal memory

Pixmantec Press Release

Pixmantec Partners With ETCETERA Consulting To Provide Sophisticated Color Profiles For Canon And Nikon Digital SLRs

Copenhagen, November 15, 2005: Danish digital imaging specialists Pixmantec ApS are pleased to announce the immediate release of RawShooter | Color Engine. A plug?in for both existing and forthcoming RawShooter RAW workflow applications,  RawShooter |Color Engine provides discerning photographers with an excellent alternative to the standard RawShooter profiles. Designed in cooperation with color expert Magne Nilsen of ETCETERA Consulting, RawShooter | Color Engine seamlessly integrates into all RawShooter applications. Built using an advanced architecture, RawShooter | Color Engine delivers a level of sophistication that has yet to be seen in DSLR profile management and thus has the potential or exciting enhancements to come.

PCMagazine considers why digital camera companies are struggling to turn a profit, following the recent spate of negative financial statements from companies like Konica Minolta and Olympus.

“Why Aren’t Camera Companies Making Money? Inexpensive digital cameras are selling like hotcakes, right? So why are so many camera manufacturers losing money and/or pulling out? Lead Analyst Terry Sullivan and Associate Section Editor Kyle Monson chew the fat over the state of the consumer camera industry, where it’s headed, and what it means to you as a consumer.”

Website: PCMagazine - Why Aren’t Camera Companies Making Money?

Shutterfly Press Release

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — (November 14, 2005) — As families across the country plan to share their favorite memory on a photo holiday card, Shutterfly, the leading independent online photo service, today announced Save the Children Greeting Cards. Save the Children is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to making positive change in the lives of disadvantaged children worldwide. Shutterfly will donate ten percent of revenue derived from Save the Children card purchases to the organization. For more information on Shutterfly’s Save the Children cards, please visit www.shutterfly.com/savethechildrencards

“Save the Children is delighted to partner with Shutterfly this holiday season to support many underserved children,” said Lori Redmer, Save the Children’s Associate Vice President, Global Corporate Partnerships. “By simply selecting one of the Save the Children designs, Shutterfly customers not only create a personal holiday card, but also help support our mission of creating lasting change for children in need here in the United States and around the world.”

DIWA member and Spanish website Nuevafotografia have published their review of the Canon PowerShot S2 IS, a 5 megapixel digital camera with a 12x optical zoom equivalent to 36–432mm on a 35mm camera.

Website: Nuevafotografia - Canon PowerShot S2 IS Review

Latest Prices / User Reviews

CNET have reviewed the Kodak Easyshare P850 camera which features a 12x, 36 – 432 mm, image-stabilised, f2.8 – f/3.7, SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON lens.

“Second from the top of Kodak’s lineup, the 5.1-megapixel EasyShare P850 offers more features than you normally find in digital cameras on the Rochester company’s roster. Those features include a 36mm-to-432mm lens (35mm equivalent); image stabilization (for the 12X zoom); manual-exposure adjustments; and controls for contrast, saturation, and even white-balance compensation. Even so, the Kodak EasyShare P850 is comparatively pricey; the 8-megapixel, wide-angle EasyShare P880 costs only about $100 more. Still, the P850 offers enough sophistication and flexibility for enthusiasts while maintaining its EasyShare simplicity for those who may eventually want to graduate to manual adjustments.”

Website: CNET - Kodak Easyshare P850 Review

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DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the Sony Cyber-shot N1, an 8 megapixel digital camera with a 3 inch touch-screen LCD and 3x optical zoom lens.

“The 5 Area Multi-point autofocus system is very quick and thanks to the focus-assist lamp, we had few problems focusing on subjects in low-light conditions. Its tiny flash has a respectable range of approx. 16.4 feet at wide angel and ISO Auto. I found it was quite adequate for shooting portraits in small to medium sized rooms, where your subject(s) are not more than 6 to 8 feet away (when using the mid to telephoto end of the zoom range.) Our indoor flash portraits were sharp with good overall exposure and skin tones looked very natural. When using Macro mode, we found that the flash does an excellent job of “throttling down” to ensure that it doesn’t overexpose the subject.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Sony Cyber-shot N1 Review

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