X-Rite

Grandville, MI — August 4, 2005 — X-Rite (NASDAQ: XRIT) today announced that its award-winning DTP94 colorimeter is now available with EIZO’s new ColorNavigator Version 4 calibration software. EIZO customers who purchase ColorEdge® LCD monitors will now have access to the industry’s most accurate and dependable colorimeter, designed for creating high quality ICC profiles and color proofs. The DTP94 is available immediately at www.eizo.com as an option with EIZO’s ColorNavigator Version 4 software.

“EIZO is known worldwide as one the industry’s leading manufacturers of superior displays,” said Jim Weaver, Vice President of Marketing and Product Development at X-Rite. “We are delighted EIZO has selected X-Rite’s award-winning DTP94 as a color measurement option for its new ColorNavigator software. Graphic arts professionals worldwide will appreciate the DTP94’s 4-channel color filter technology, delivering the widest, most dynamic range of color data precision for LCD displays.”

Kodak UK Press Release

Kodak Helps Improve Productivity with New KODAK PROFESSIONAL Inkjet Photo Paper Rolls

LONDON, August 3 — Responding to the positive response by professional photographers to Kodak’s introduction of professional cut sheet inkjet paper in mid-2004, Eastman Kodak Company today announces KODAK PROFESSIONAL Inkjet Photo Paper in long-roll sizes for professional and advanced amateur (AdAm) photographers. The new inkjet long-roll format will further meet the demands of professional photographers by delivering increased printing efficiencies.

The Plugin Site Press Release

August 3, 2005 - The Plugin Site (www.thepluginsite.com) released Version 1.60 of Plugin Commander. Plugin Commander is a tool for dealing with various image formats, plugins and effect types from various graphics applications. It allows you to manage and preview your plugin, tube and add-on collection quickly and easily. There is commercial Pro Edition as well as a feature-limited Light Edition of Plugin Commander, which is freeware.

IMS Press Release

A NEW WAY TO ELIMINATE DUST ON CAMERAS AND LENSES

StikCap™, a unique product that helps eliminate dust from camera lenses and camera bodies, is launched today by IMS.

A disc of specially formulated sticky micro-weave fabric, StikCap™ is designed to fit inside front and rear lens caps to extract any dust as they are moved about.

StikCap™ is also designed to be used inside body caps to extract dust from the chamber and sensor areas of both traditional film and digital SLR cameras.

StikCap™ lasts for approximately three months and is easy to remove and replace.

Fantasea Line Press Release

Fantasea Line, announces two new camera housings, the Fantasea CP-8, for the Nikon Coolpix 8700 and 5700 digital cameras and the CP-8N for the Coolpix 8800. The CP-8 and CP-8N housings are designed with a unique air lock system for sealing the camera and allowing the water to exert an even pressure on the O-ring, thus increasing the reliability of the watertight seal.

Scoopt Press Release

Snap…send… sell… Citizen reporting made easy.

Scoopt, the world’s first ‘citizen journalism’ picture agency, officially launches on August 4th. Now anybody with a cameraphone can sell their pictures to the press on the same terms as a professional photographer. Scoopt bridges the divide between the public and picture desk.

Using MMS and mobile email technology, Scoopt members can submit photographs straight from the scene—any scene—in seconds. Scoopt then licenses these photos for publication to the mainstream media. Membership is free and without commitment.

DIWA member and Norwegian website Digit.no 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: Digit.no - Canon PowerShot S2 IS Review

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BetterPhoto.com Press Release

BetterPhoto.com™ President Jim Miotke Authors New How-To Book on Digital Photography

BetterPhoto.com, the worldwide leader in online photography education, today announced that President Jim Miotke’s new book, The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Photography, is now available from the BetterPhoto.com website, and from amazon.com.

REDMOND, Washington – August 1, 2005 – BetterPhoto.com, the worldwide leader in online photography education, today announced that President Jim Miotke’s new book, The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Photography, is now available from the BetterPhoto.com website, and from amazon.com.

Konica Minolta have bucked the recent trend by announcing a profit of 1% in the first financial quarter of this year. A move to higher-end cameras and aggressive restructuring helped the company to stay in the black.

” ‘But thanks to a strategic shift to high-end digital cameras, with more than 5 mln pixels, the average retail price of our digital cameras rose some 17 pct in the first quarter from a year earlier,’ public relations department general manager Yuji Suzuki told a press conference.”

Website: Forbes - Japan’s Konica Minolta Q1 net profit rises 1 pct on upturn in digicam prices

In a curious move to say the least, HP are reported to be exiting from the digicam business in Asia and will instead “focus its investment around home photo printing, which is a high-growth area in the region”. The short reports by Forbes and Reuters don’t give too much insight into why HP are changing strategy so dramatically, other than increased competition may be a reason.

Website: Forbes - HP to quit digital camera business in Asia-Pacific

Website: Reuters - HP exiting digital camera business in Asia

Olympus is the latest digital camera manufacturer to report disappointing financial performance in the last quarter, as its net profits tumble by 62%.

“Olympus has blamed its woes in the digital camera market on its failure to launch popular cameras in a timely fashion. As a result, it has been unable to distinguish its products, making them susceptible to discounting. Another problem is its relatively small presence in fast-growing digital single lens reflex (SLR) models, high-end cameras that yield fatter margins and are less vulnerable to price falls than simple point-and-shoot compact cameras.”

Website: Reuters - Weak digital camera sales push Olympus profit down

NikonNet Press Release

NikonNet and ‘Legends Behind The Lens’ Honor the Work of Internationally Acclaimed Travel Photographer Rosanne Pennella

MELVILLE, N.Y., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/—Professional photographers will tell you that to succeed as a pro takes more than skill. One needs dedication, planning and even a little luck. Rosanne Pennella added self-confidence, courage, passion and inspiration to this combination.

This August, NikonNet’s inspiring monthly, “Legends Behind the Lens,” honors the work of admired travel photographer Rosanne Pennella, a woman who took a chance and pursued her passion.

“NikonNet is pleased to honor the images and extraordinary career of Rosanne Pennella in this August’s ‘Legends Behind the Lens,’” said Anna Marie Bakker, General Manager of Communications at Nikon Inc. “She’s been an inspiration for so many years, not only making outstanding contributions in travel photography, but sharing her knowledge and expertise as well.”

Transcend Press Release

Transcend Releases the latest Advancement in SD™ Memory Card Technology, the SuperFast 150X SD™ Memory Card

The growing popularity of high-resolution digital cameras and multimedia devices has increased the demand for faster and better performing Flash Memory Cards. Transcend Information Inc., a world leader in flash memory devices, continues its role as an innovative developer with the release of its 150X Ultra-Performance High-speed Secure Digital (SD™) Cards (up to 2GB), the highest performing SD™ Memory Cards in the world.

X-Rite Press Release

Grandville, MI – August 1, 2005 –X-Rite (NASDAQ: XRIT) today announced that its Pulse™ ColorElite System has received the 2005 PIA/GATF Intertech Technology Award, one of the most coveted awards in the graphic arts industry. The Pulse ColorElite System was selected by a panel of independent judges from a record 52 nominations. This is the second major award garnered by Pulse in the past two months. The award-winning color management solution received the Five Star Award from Photoshop User Magazine in June.

Commenting on the award, James Weaver, Vice President of Marketing and Product Development said, “We are honored to receive the highest recognition for innovation in the Graphic Arts market. We thank all of the judges who evaluated Pulse and will proudly display this award at Print 2005 in September.”

The Spanish website Quesabesde have published their review of the Nikon D50, a new affordable 6.1 megapixel digital SLR.

Website: Quesabesde - Nikon D50 Review

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ePhotoZine have the first online review of the new Sigma 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM lens wide-angle zoom lens for digital SLRs.

” This lens is sharp! At 20mm, resolution tests showed it matched, and at one point even slightly out performed the venerable Canon 17-40mm L. At 15mm it’s a little soft at the edges, although still nice in the centre, but by the time it gets down to the 10mm mark the edges have improved again. In fact, at the wide end, the overall performance was the best in the range. The lens has obviously been optimised for the shorter focal length as there was no distortion there, whereas the 20mm end did have a little pin-cushioning. “

Website: ePhotoZine - Sigma 10-20mm Lens Review

DIWA member and Czech website FotoAparat.cz have published their review of the A4 Epson Stylus Photo R800 printer.

Website: FotoAparat.cz - Epson Stylus Photo R800 Review

Website: Read my review of the Epson Stylus Photo R800

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TrustedReviews have published their review of the 5 megapixel Pentax Optio S45 compact digicam.

“There’s no doubt the S45 is an attractive camera, and thanks to the sandblasted matt metal finish it will stay looking good for a long time. Pentax build quality has always been good and the S45 is certainly no exception. The pressed aluminium body feels very strong, with no creaks or flexing when squeezed. Design and handling are superb, with a comfortable handgrip on the front, easy-to-use controls on the back and that huge LCD monitor. The card slot hatch is separate from the battery hatch and is latched and spring-loaded. The battery hatch is on the base of the camera, but since the tripod bush is right over on the left edge it might be possible to change batteries while the camera is fixed on a tripod.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Pentax Optio S45 Review

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ByteSector have reviewed the new Nikon Coolpix 7900, a 7 megapixel digital camera featuring a 2.0-inch LCD screen, new graphical user interface and a 3x Zoom-Nikkor ED lens equivalent to 38-114mm lens in 35mm format.

“In standard shooting mode, the camera provides enough manual control to please most advanced users, but not so much that it’ll overwhelm a beginner. You get adequate control over the shutter by being able to adjust it +/- 2.0 EV (exposure units) in increments of 1/3 EV. While this isn’t quite the same shutter speed control that many other cameras provide, this feature is good enough in that the camera’s AI typically sets the right exposure automatically. This is more useful if you need to purposely over or underexpose a shot slightly.”

Website: ByteSector - Nikon Coolpix 7900 Review

Website: Read my Nikon Coolpix 7900 Review

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Pocket-Lint.co.uk have published their review of the Fujifilm FinePix Z1 Zoom, a 5 megapixel compact digital camera with a large 2.5inch LCD screen and 3 optical zoom.

“Image quality is excellent, with exposures generally very good, focusing working well (even in low light and despite the camera lacking an AF assist lamp) although some shots had a very slight fuzziness when the camera was working hard in lower lighting conditions and at higher ISOs. However, the SuperCCD HR works well at those higher ISOs (up to ISO 800) and noise is well controlled indeed, less noise is good and sharpness can be tweaked on a PC later if needed.”

Pocket-Lint.co.uk - Fujifilm FinePix Z1 Zoom Review

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