Epson UK Press Release

Epson® wins four prestigious industry awards for their superior imaging products in this year’s TIPA Awards

The Technical Imaging Press Association (TIPA) has awarded Epson four awards in their annual review of the best products in the photo market.

May 2005 - Epson has swept the board at the TIPA Awards, winning in four categories: Best Prestige Camera, Best Flatbed Scanner, Best A3 Photo Printer and Best Image Storage Back-Up.

TIPA currently has 31 member magazines across Europe, making it by far the largest and most influential photo and imaging press association in Europe. Widely regarded as experts, the editors of the magazines meet once a year to judge the best photographic products available on the market today.

Rollei USA Press Release

Rollei Announces Camera, Software and Lens Bundle to Give Professional Photographers Everything in One Medium Format

—New 6008 AF “Bundle” Includes Single-Lens Reflex Camera in 6x6 Medium Format, Digital Back, Editing Software, and Top-of-The-Line Lens

STROUDSBURG, PA (May 19, 2005) – Rollei, manufacturer of the classic twin-lens 6x6 Rolleiflex, today announced the availability of the 6008 AF “Bundle,” which will be the top-of-the-line offering in a family of products Rollei is rolling out in the U.S.

The bundle includes the Rollei 6008 AF camera, the world’s first auto focus single lens reflex camera in a 6 x 6 medium format;  C1 Pro software for precise workflow that supports all phases of image editing and intuitive operation; and the PhaseOne db20p digital back, which gives photographers film and digital picture taking capability in one package. The interchangeable film packs allow a photographer to shoot film, Polaroid-type shots as well as digital shots.

Photobird have posted their review of the new Olympus mju DIGITAL 500 digital camera (also known as the Olympus Stylus 500), which has 5 megapixels, a 3X optical zoom lens and large 2.5” LCD display.

“The Olympus Stylus 500 should definitely be on your shopping list of possible digital cameras if you’re looking for a tiny, easy-to-use 5 megapixel camera with a large LCD screen. The quality of the photos is excellent and the camera starts up very fast. You may need to take a little more care with this camera due to its construction and susceptibility to scratches, but overall, it’s a great little camera that you’ll be happy to have with you.”

Website: Photobird - Olympus mju DIGITAL 500 Review

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DPNow have started a survey about digital cameras; there’s a 1 gigabyte high performance Panasonic SD pro memory card up for grabs for one lucky winner in the random draw.

“Here’s a unique opportunity to help shape future Panasonic Lumix digital cameras and you could even win a valuable prize for your efforts! Panasonic UK has given Digital Photography Now a unique opportunity to provide you, the reader, with a voice that will be heard by the key digital camera designers and engineers of Panasonic Lumix cameras in Japan. Your views will help shape the design and features of future Panasonic Lumix cameras.”

Website: DPNow - Have your say with Panasonic Lumix

Digital Outback Photo have published an interesting article by Alain Briot on the subject of personal expression in photography:

“I am often asked if the color of a specific photograph is real or not. My answer is always the same. Yes, it is real. The reaction from the person asking the question is usually one of disbelief. They beg to differ. To them the color is not real. To me it is real. Who is right? The answer is we are both right because in the absence of the actual subject to compare the photograph to we are left with our personal memories of this subject and, as we all know, memories are by nature subjective.”

Website: Digital Outback Photo - Literal versus Expressive Representations:
Is this color Real?

The Hungarian website Index Digicam have published their review of the waterproof Pentax OptioWP digital camera.

Website: Index Digicam - Pentax OptioWP Review

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ePhotoZine have published a brief review of the Olympus µ(mju: )-mini Digital SS, a 5 megapixel digital camera with 2x optical zoom lens equivalent to 35-70mm.

“It was an Olympus pocket digital camera that has to take the blame, a few years ago, for getting me into digital photography. That was a two-megapixel model and things have come on a fair stretch since then. This one is less than half the size and has more than twice the resolution! Although the pictures came out a little over sharp for someone who always shoots RAW, the results were nice for a straight out Jpeg.”

Website: ePhotoZine - Olympus µ(mju: )-mini Digital S Review

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DPReview have reviewed the Sony DSC-S90 digicam, which has a 3x optical zoom lens, 32 MB of internal memory and 550 shots battery life.

“There are many 4MP cameras on the market today offering serious competition for the S90 - many of them costing slightly less, many of them boasting a much slicker design. But the Sony has a few things going for it - very fast focus, big screen, manual exposure mode, excellent handling and a very high ‘hit-rate’, with very few shots ruined by camera errors. The nearest competitor is the Canon PowerShot A520, a camera with better photographic control, metal body and a marginally sharper lens, but without the S90’s very fast focus or big bright screen.”

Website: DPReview - Sony DSC-S90 Review

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CNET have just posted their review of the 7 megapixel Casio EXILIM Pro EX-P700.

” The Casio EX-P700 Exilim Pro follows in the midrange enthusiast footsteps of the company’s well-received P600, sporting a new black chassis and a seventh megapixel. Otherwise, and to the P700’s credit, the two cameras are largely similar; they have the same extensive feature set, they capture equally pleasing images, and both feature the surprisingly pocketable design that made the P600 a joy to tote around. However, though its performance is quite comparable to that of other 7-megapixel models in its class, the P700 doesn’t quite match the sprightly response of its predecessor. In addition, Casio still hasn’t addressed the P600’s subpar video capabilities.”

Website: CNET - Casio EXILIM Pro EX-P700 Review

Website: Read my Review of the Casio Exilim Pro EX-P700

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Sigma APO 180mm F3.5 EX DG HSM lens is announced today. The Sigma 180mm macro lens is optimized for digital SLR cameras and has a new lens coating to help reduce flare and ghosting. Available in Sigma, Canon, Nikon-D, Pentax and Konica/Minolta fittings, the Sigma 180mm macro lens will cost £549.99.

Sigma UK Press Release

Digitally optimised telemacro lens with life-size reproduction ratio

· New multi-layer coating for minimising flare and ghost.
· HSM models ensure fast and silent autofocusing with full- time manual focus override.
· Accepts both 1.4X and 2X APO EX Tele-Converters.

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new APO 180 F3.5 EX DG HSM lens.

Project World Photo Day 2005 is rapidly approaching. On June 01, 2005 photographers from across the planet will submit one photo each depicting people and every day life where they live, and as seen through the lense of the camera.

WPD founder Drew Rossman says, “My hope is that we all gain a better, more positive insight into the circumstances that dictate our daily lives, the difficulties, the triumphs, the beauty, the pain, the good and the bad, all of this in just one 24-hour period”.

Pre-registration is still possible and the photos will be available for viewing as they are recieved beginning June 1st.

Website: World Photo Day 2005

Fujifilm UK Press Release

Expanded media card range now offers formats for every device

Fujifilm, the market leader in memory cards for digital devices, has announced the introduction of new media card formats aimed at both the professional photographer and the consumer.

The professional and consumer ranges will feature separate and distinctive packaging, and the extended portfolio means that almost every media card on the market can now be found under the Fujifilm brand - offering customers a straight forward path to whichever format they require.

Fujifilm Professional Media
Every single media card in Fujifilm’s Professional Media range comes complete with a Lifetime Guarantee.

Kicking off the new range, Fujifilm’s High Speed SecureDigital(tm)  (SD) card is available in 60x and 133x speeds.  The 60x speed comes in 256MB, 512MB and 1GB sizes.  The 133x speed card (offering up to 20MB/second transfer rate) is available in 512MB and 1GB sizes, and has undergone a rigorous and specially designed testing process to ensure it can withstand extreme conditions, including a temperature range of -25 to +85 degrees Celsius.  This makes it the perfect format for snow sports and extreme pursuits.

Nikon Coolpix S2 is announced today. The Nikon Coolpix S2 is an updated version of the S1 digital camera (which is only just starting to appear in stores). The main changes to the 5 megapixel Nikon S2 are the addition of a weather-proof body and a sliding lens mechanism. The Coolpix S2 is also slightly bigger and heavier than its predecessor. Release date for the Nikon COolpix S2 is 10th June 2005 and price £299.99 / €448.00 / $429.

Nikon UK Press Release

Nikon UK is pleased to announce the introduction of the COOLPIX S2 which boasts stylish, slim dimensions (it’s just 22mm deep), a bright 2.5 -inch LCD screen and a range of innovative, highly intelligent Nikon functions. 

Great images, whatever the weather
The aluminum exterior of the COOLPIX S2 is both stylish and practical, it provides a splash-proof* water resistance facility for outdoor use which ensures great photographs, even in the rain. Thanks to the 5.1 megapixels and a versatile 35-105mm 3x Optical Zoom-Nikkor ED† lens (35mm equivalent), the COOLPIX S2 guarantees sharp, clear results and faithful colour.

Further evidence that the digital camera market is reaching saturation point as most of the big manufacturers say that shipments will fall or slow considerably compared with the previous year. Even Canon are saying this, so it must be true :-) According to the report on Bloomberg.com half of the population of Japan already own a digicam…

“The rush for digital cameras in Japan had its peak last year, and the U.S. is about a year behind that,’’ said Mitsuhiro Osawa, an analyst at Mizuho Investors Securities Co. who covers precision-instrument makers. About a third of consumers in the U.S. have a digital camera, compared with about a quarter in Europe, he said.”

Website: Bloomberg - Canon, Sony, Olympus Expect Digital Cameras Shipments to Slow

Minox Press Release

The company MINOX GmbH, based in Wetzlar, has broken free from its co-partner, Leica Camera AG, and has made itself fully independent. General manager Thorsten Kortemeier already took over the traditional brand when he acquired 51 percent of the MINOX partnership capital in 2001 – at that time 49 percent were left in the possession of Leica.

Small and adaptable, defying the difficult market environment – this company concept launched four years ago worked. Boasting a high level of flexibility the new MINOX GmbH has been able to systematically expand its activities and also the profits. Primarily known as manufacturer of the famous miniature camera MINOX now focuses on new product lines and special forms of marketing. These small and ingenious MINOX products are in strong demand, also as high quality rewards and advertising gifts. The top seller is the sport optics sector – this is where sales have actually doubled over the previous four years. And just recently, MINOX was presented the German Design Award for its successful binocular development.

Thorsten Kortemeier comments: “It was the right decision to focus on new sales channels and lucrative niche markets. More innovative products will be launched this year securing the ongoing growth of MINOX GmbH.”

DCResource have just reviewed the new Casio EX-Z750 Exilim Zoom, which has a 7.2 megapixel CCD sensor, large 2.5-inch LCD screen and offers a battery life of 325 shots.

“The EX-Z750 has plenty of features to talk about as well. It has tons (and I mean tons) of scene modes that even extend to movie mode. If you want manual controls, they’re all here, though I don’t like the limited aperture choices. Speaking of movie mode, the Z750’s is excellent. You can record high quality VGA (30 fps) video until the memory card is full. Thanks to Casio’s use of the MPEG-4 codec file sizes are small and a high speed memory card is not required. The downside is that Mac compatibility isn’t the best. The camera offers several movie modes and you can edit your “films” when they’re done or grab frames from them.”

Website: DCResource - Casio EX-Z750 Exilim Zoom Review

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The PhotographyBLOG server was upgraded last night, which should result in faster and more reliable performance across the site. There are a couple of issues that I am aware of, notably the inability to upload photos in the Gallery (you can still leave comments on existing photos). Oh, and email is offline too, so don’t try emailing me! If you experience any other odd behaviour, please let me know by leaving a comment in reply to this post.

UPDATE Midday CET: The gallery is now fixed and you should be able to upload photos again. Plus my email is back, which is nice…

Kodak Easyshare V550 and Kodak Easyshare V530 digital cameras are announced today. The Kodak V550 and Kodak V530 both have 5 megapixel sensors, 3x optical zoom lenses and 2.5inch LCD screens. The Kodak V530 camera will be available in July 2005 for US$349. The Kodak V550 camera will be available in June for US$399.

Kodak Press Release

New KODAK EASYSHARE V-Series Digital Cameras Fuse Video and Still Photography; Sleek, Compact Models Smaller than a Deck of Cards

Kodak Pairs Style with Substance in KODAK EASYSHARE V550 and V530 Zoom Digital Cameras; Leave the Camcorder Behind with Built-In Video Capabilities

ROCHESTER, N.Y., May 17—Fresh for the summer season, KODAK EASYSHARE V-series digital cameras were unveiled today in cities around the globe. Two models—each smaller than a deck of playing cards—are designed for trendsetters who seek high-style, compact personal electronics that combine phenomenal quality, performance and simplicity.

Kingston Technology Press Release

Kingston Technology Launches New “Ultimate” Line of SD Cards

Aimed at professional digital users SD Ultimate Cards’ use 133X Speed

[17 May 2005] Kingston Technology today announced the further expansion of its Secure Digital (SD) Card product line with the release of new ultra-performing ‘Ultimate’ SD cards, initially shipping in 512-MB and 1-GB capacities.

The new SD Ultimate cards offer significant performance benefits over the current Standard and Elite Pro lines of SD cards, including 133X super-fast transfer rates of larger size files—ideal for the photographic demands of enthusiasts and professional digital camera users.

Canon USA Press Release

Canon Unveils imagePROGRAF W6400 and W8400 Large Format Printers Combined with New Software Solution  

PHILADELPHIA—(BUSINESS WIRE)—May 17, 2005—Canon U.S.A., Inc. (NYSE:CAJ)—Canon imagePROGRAF W6400 and W8400 Printers with New Proprietary Software Offer Complete Workflow Solution for Creating, Processing, and Printing

Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leading provider of office imaging systems, ink-jet technology and digital photography, today announced the new imagePROGRAF W6400 and W8400 pigment ink large format printers. Engineered to satisfy the most demanding print applications, the recent additions to Canon’s large format portfolio bundle exceptional printing speeds and enhanced image quality with a brand new suite of workflow software. The new W6400 and W8400 printer systems address an expanded spectrum of large format output environments and requirements, including corporate, print for pay and photo retail operations as well as photography and the fine art markets.