Casio have released a new firmware version (v1.01) for the Casio EX-S500, a 5 megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom and a 2.2 inch LCD screen.

Improvements Provided by This Update
V1.00-V1.01
• Fixed a problem that caused the wrong white balance setting to be registered when saving a user setup.
• Fixes a problem that caused occasional distortion in the upper part of a snapshot recorded during movie recording.

Website: Download the Casio EX-S500 Firmware Update

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Bibble Labs Press Release

Bibble Labs releases version 4.3 Update with support for D50 - Includes support for new plug-in interface to support BPTLens lens distortion plug-in.

Austin Texas (August 11th, 2005) - Bibble Labs today announced the availability of version 4.3 of its popular Raw Workflow software. In addition to adding support for the new Nikon D50, D70s and Espon R-D1 cameras, this version adds a powerful plug-in interface to the program. Simultaneous to the release of Bibble 4.3, Bibble Labs has also released its first free plug-in. Released under the GPL, The BPTLens plugin is designed to quickly and easily remove common types of lens distortion from raw images. By performing its corrections on linear data at the earliest phase of the image pipeline, BPTLens and Bibble are able to deliver the highest quality images possible.

Shutterfly Press Release

PUT YOUR PICTURES ON THE BIG SCREEN WITH SHUTTERFLY’S PHOTOSHOW DVD

Shutterfly Brings Memories to Life with Customized Multimedia DVD

REDWOOD CITY, CALIF. - (August 10, 2005) — Responding to customers’ requests for more options to preserve and share memories, Shutterfly®, Inc., the leading independent e-commerce company specializing in digital photo products and services, today introduced PhotoShow DVD, a product that enables customers to transform their favorite photos into an entertainment experience.

With PhotoShow DVD, Shutterfly enables customers to be the producer of their own multimedia slideshow by helping them pair their pictures with music, visual transitions and special effects. Slideshows are easy to design directly on the Shutterfly website and customers are not required to download special software as part of the order process. Customers and their families can enjoy their DVD slideshow on their televisions in the comfort of their living room or on their personal computers.

Manfrotto Press Release

Manfrotto Introduces the New and Improved NeoTec Monopod - New 685B deluxe monopod offers new features

Bassano del Grappa, Italia (August 10, 2005) – Manfrotto, the world’s leading manufacturer of photographic support products, is introducing the new and improved 685B NeoTec Deluxe Monopod with four new features including a safety lever, foot pedal, leg warmer and suction cup foot. From the NeoTec line of Pro Photo Supports, the 685B is built around an innovative self-regulating mechanism inside the leg that delivers unmatched speed, stability and ease-of-use.

This revolutionary new mechanism allows the user to quickly and easily extend each leg to the desired height by simply pulling downwards. There are no locks, knobs or levers of any kind to contend with. Once the leg is extended into position, NeoTec’s patented internal mechanism automatically locks it there by pushing outwards on the tubing, exerting more locking power and further stabilizing the tripod as additional weight is added.

iView Multimedia Press Release

New research identifies file management as most pressing concern of professional photographers

Half (51 per cent) of professional photographers say file management is the greatest challenge associated with digital photography

• Over a third (35 per cent) of photographers feel the biggest advantage of digital photography is greater control
• One in four (25 per cent) said digital photography’s biggest advantage is that it enables greater creativity

Half (51 per cent) of professional photographers say file management is the greatest challenge associated with digital photography, according to new research from iView Multimedia, makers of the award-winning digital asset management (DAM) application iView MediaPro.

ABI Research Press Release

Camera Phones to Steal Low-End Digital Camera Market within Two Years, Says ABI Research

OYSTER BAY, N.Y - Aug. 10, 2005—Within two years, low-end camera phones will take much of the market share now held by low-end standalone digital cameras. ABI Research principal analyst of global wireless operator research Kenneth Hyers says, “We believe that within the next two years, the quality of a mobile phone camera will be such that people won’t need low-end standalone digital cameras. This will dramatically impact camera sales.”

ABI Research’s new study “Mobile Phone Imaging: Opportunities for Driving Usage of Camera Phones through Click/Send/Print” identifies the drivers for camera phone growth, explains how mobile imaging will evolve, and discusses why camera phones will eventually displace portions of the standalone digital camera market.

The German website Photoworld.de have reviewed the new 10 megapixel Leica Digital-Modul-R digital back.

Website: Photoworld.de - Leica Digital-Modul-R Review

Hungarian website Index Digicam have the first online review of the new HP Photosmart R817, which offers 5 megapixels and a 5x optical zoom lens.

Website: Index Digicam - HP Photosmart R817 Review

Website: Read my HP Photosmart R817 Review

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Imaging Resource have published their review of the Nikon D50, a new affordable 6.1 megapixel digital SLR.

“Now, the Nikon D50 extends most of the capabilities of the D70 down to a lower price point and in a somewhat simplified format that seems intended to capture the hearts, minds, and pocketbooks of the vast “family photographer” market. As you’ll see in the review that follows, the Nikon D50 provides a superb combination of ease of use and advanced features, in a trimmer, more compact package than the previous D70. As the digital SLR market continues to move more mainstream, the Nikon D50 appears perfectly poised to capture a broad segment of it, providing great ease of use without “dumbing down” its capabilities for more advanced users.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Nikon D50 Review

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DIWA member and Czech website FotoAparat have reviewed the Canon PowerShot S2 IS, a 5 megapixel digital camera with a 12x optical zoom equivalent to 36–432mm on a 35mm camera.

Website: FotoAparat - Canon PowerShot S2 IS Review

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DCResource have published their review of the Casio EX-S500, a 5 megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom and a 2.2 inch LCD screen.

“I was disappointed with the majority of the real world photos that I took with the EX-S500. While they’re well exposed, with accurate color and low purple fringing levels, they have major noise and softness problems. Noise levels are above average in the entire photo, while the softness is mostly around the edges of the frame. While some photos were alright, the vast majority turned out poorly. Check out the photo gallery for plenty of examples.”

Website: DCResource - Casio EX-S500 Review

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CNET have posted their review of the new 5 megapixel Olympus C-5500 Sport Zoom digital camera (called the C-55 Sports Zoom in the rest of the world).

“The Olympus C-5500 Sport Zoom is, above all, a good compact camera for the money. Its 5-megapixel resolution, 5X optical zoom, solid build, impressive array of features, and very good image quality add up to a strong all-purpose option for the advanced snapshot photographer. That said, some of its features are compromised; for example, you can’t shoot in burst mode at the highest-quality JPEG setting. That drawback, in addition to some inconsistent shutter lag and focus-time performance, makes this camera less suited for shooting action than the Sport Zoom moniker might lead you to believe.”

CNET - Olympus C-5500 Sport Zoom Review

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DIWA member LetsGoDigital have published their review of the 4 megapixel Canon PowerShot A520 digital camera.

“The Canon Powershot A520 is available in the market for a few months now and is enjoying a lot of attention from the consumer. The camera deserves it too! Despite the low entry character of the camera, the A520 features a huge potency and due to its versatility it offers the user an excellent tool to grow to a higher level of photography. In fact, the Powershot A520 probably encourages the user who has the ability to go further than the usual snapshot, to take the next step: de digital (Canon) reflex camera. For those looking for a digital compact camera with ease of use, and enhanced possibilities for creative photography will find it all in the Canon Powershot A520!”

Website: LetsGoDigital - Canon PowerShot A520 Review

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DigitalCameraReview have published their review of the Kodak Easyshare V550, a 5 megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom lens and 2.5inch LCD screen.

“The V550 is a very well-designed, stylish, ultra-compact, and surprisingly capable five-megapixel digicam. The nifty looking (flat, thin, retro black and chrome) V550 makes it easy for anyone and everyone to take great pictures and it’s small enough to be slipped into the back pocket of a pair of designer jeans or dropped into a chic little clutch. Ergonomics are amazingly good for such a tiny camera with logically placed controls and one of the best user interfaces of any ultra-compact digital camera currently available. The V550 not only looks good, it is a genuinely capable digital camera that produces consistently super images by providing users with a well thought out array of easy to access picture perfecting tweaks and adjustments.”

Website: DigitalCameraReview - Kodak Easyshare V550 Review

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Design Technica have reviewed the new Fujifilm FinePix F10 Zoom, which has an ISO range of 80 to 1600, Super CCD sensor with 6.1 megapixels and a 2.5 inch LCD screen.

“The new 6.3-megapixel FujiFilm FinePix F10 ($399 MSRP) is a rather unassuming digital camera with a silvery metal finish and plain vanilla styling.  Yet looks are very deceiving; this is one of the best performing cameras on the market.  The camera has superb low-light shooting capability, film camera-like response, easy-to-operate controls and menus.  And, of course, great photo quality.  In effect, this is everything a point-and-shoot digicam should be in 2005.  For slightly more than 300 bucks, this camera should be high on the list for those who want effortless picture taking.  That said, the FinePix F10 is not God’s Gift to Photography; there are some annoying flaws we’re happy to point out in the hope that Fuji engineers will take the comments as constructive criticism.”

Website: Design Technica - Fujifilm FinePix F10 Zoom Review

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Yet another sign that film is on its last legs as UK high street retailer Dixons announces that is ending sales of 35mm cameras in its 221 shops. Sales of digital cameras will this year beat those of film cameras by a massive 15 to 1. Dixons may not be the first name that springs to mind when you think of film camera retailers in the UK, but the stats behind the decision are revealing…

“We have decided that the time is now right to take 35mm cameras out of the frame.” In 1989, sales of 35mm cameras peaked at 2.9 million in the UK, but now Dixons says it is an “increasingly niche” market.”

Website: BBC News -  Dixons to end 35mm camera sales

PCMagazine have just posted their review of the new 5 megapixel Konica Minolta Z5 digital camera.

“Like its sibling, the Konica Minolta DiMage Z20, the Konica Minolta Dimage Z5 has a striking design, balanced body, and rugged feel. With its 2-inch LCD screen and electronic viewfinder, you’re able to see subjects in nearly any shooting situation, and the 12X optical zoom brings you close to the action. Unfortunately, compared with our two Editors’ Choice superzooms—the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ15—the Z5 just doesn’t measure up in terms of picture quality, particularly when using flash.”

Website: PCMagazine - Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 Review

Website: Read my Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 Review

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Design Technica have published their review of the Sony DSC-W7, a 7 megapixel digital camera with a 2.5 inch LCD screen, battery life of 380 shots between power charges and 32 megabytes of internal memory.

“Along with superior resolution, the DSC-W7 mirrors the trend in cameras with huge, 2.5-inch LCD screens to frame and review your shots.  We love the bigger screens; they make reading menus much easier, and you have a larger palette on which to compose your photographs.  That said, the DSC-W7 is not without its flaws, especially when it comes to focusing in certain available light situations.  And that Picture Package software is just plain awful.”

Website: Design Technica - Sony DSC-W7 Review

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DIWA member Steves Digicams have published a review of the new Sanyo Xacti Digital Movie C5, which has 5 megapixels, 2 inch LCD screen and can record MPEG4 format movies with VGA resolution at 30 frames per second. The Sanyo Xacti Digital Movie C5 replaces the Sanyo Xacti C1 that I have previously reviewed.

“I was also very pleased with the overall image quality when using the 5M High mode. Outdoors it captured sharp images with good contrast. The exposure and white balance systems did well in a wide variety of lighting conditions, and colors were nicely saturated. There were average amounts of noise in low contrast areas, but almost no CA (Chromatic Aberration) present in high contrast areas. It also does a very good job of exposing the sky, with beautiful cloud detail. Although you can see the noise when viewing an image at 100%, it is very unlikely that you will even see any traces in your prints. In fact, our 8x10-inch prints were great and 4x6-inch prints were awesome.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Sanyo Xacti Digital Movie C5 Review

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DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the Fujifilm FinePix A350 Zoom, a new entry-level 5 megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom lens and 1.7inch LCD screen.

“I found the overall image quality was good when using the 5M Fine mode. Most of our sample images were sharp with good color balance. The exposure system also did well and I especially liked how it captured sky detail. Noise levels were moderate in high/low contrast areas, but we didn’t see much purple fringing (aka Chromatic Aberration) around highlights. However, I was very disappointed with its autofocus system. It failed more often then not in dim lighting and every time the camera tries to lock focus, the LCD freezes up, making it useless if following a moving subject. But thanks to its optical viewfinder, you should have no problems capturing images of the kids running through the house or yard.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Fujifilm FinePix A350 Zoom Review

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