Slovenian website Slo-Foto have just posted their review of the competitively priced 8 megapixel Olympus E-300/Evolt DSLR.

Website: Slo-Foto - Olympus E-300/Evolt Review

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The DIWA member and Slovenian website e-fotografija have published their review of the FujiFilm FinePix S5500 Zoom digital camera (also known as the S5100 in the USA), which has a 10x optical zoom and 4 megapixel resolution and is the successor to the popular FinePix S5000 Zoom.

Website: e-fotografija - FujiFilm FinePix S5500 Zoom Review

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Photoxels have published their review of the 7 megapixel Olympus C-70 Zoom (called the Olympus C-7000 Zoom in the USA).

“The Olympus C-7000 is capable of producing very good image quality with very low noise and great detail. It is certainly a perfect outdoors landscape camera where you take your time to compose, focus and fiddle with the controls to get a really superb image..”

Website: Photoxels - Olympus C-70 Zoom Review

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UMAX, better known for their flatbed scanner range, have unveiled 4 new digital cameras; the UMAX AstraCam DV350, UMAX AstraPix 680, UMAX PowerCam Z530, UMAX PowerCam Z432 and UMAX AstraPix 620. They range from a 2 megapixel up to a 5 megapixel model, with an MPEG4 digital camcorder thrown in for good measure.

Adesso Press Release

New sleek, affordable UMAX cameras allow professional, prosumer and everyday photographers to take high-resolution video and pictures in a snap

Walnut, CA (PRWEB) January 19, 2005—Adesso Inc., a leading manufacturer and distributor of innovative and stylish keyboards, digital cameras, mice, touchpads, and input peripherals, today introduced it will distribute new digital video and still cameras from UMAX. In July 2004, Adesso and UMAX announced a strategic distribution alliance, whereas Adesso would utilize its nationwide network of retail, catalog and online sales partners to sell new UMAX digital cameras. Adesso also services and supports the UMAX cameras.

Digital Outback Photo have started to review the large format HP Designjet 30 and HP Designjet 130 printers.

“So far we don’t have a lot of experience. But what we see looks very good so far. Including the prints we have seen at Charlie Cramer’s studio we think that the HP DJ 30/130 is a strong solution for glossy media.

We like the gloss and satin surface quite a bit
Blacks are excellent and deeper than the Epson UltraChrome inks can produce
Some gloss differential (also called bronzing) but a lot less than on the Epson printers with gloss media”

Website: Digital Outback Photo - HP Designjet 30/130 Experience Report

DCResource have posted their review of the new 6 megapixel Konica Minolta Dynax 7D digital SLR camera.

“Speaking of taking pictures, the photo quality was a bit of a weak point at first, but I quickly found a workaround for that issue. While some will disagree with my assessment that the 7D’s images were too soft, I found that bumping up the in-camera sharpening by one stop made things a lot more tolerable. Otherwise image quality was just as you’d expect from a digital SLR: smooth and noise-free, even at high ISOs. And, as expected, camera performance is excellent in all areas, including in burst mode. The one exception is the speed at which the 7D reads and writes to the memory card—it takes quite a while. Along those lines, real USB 2.0 High Speed support would’ve been nice.”

Website: DCResource - Konica Minolta Dynax 7D Review

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Shutterbug magazine have predicted what will happen in the world of photography in the year 2005 and beyond. Amongst other things, they tell us that the megapixel wars will finally end (at last!).

“It’s no secret that digital cameras are already selling like hotcakes at the expense of conventional 35mm and medium format equipment, and this trend will certainly continue. Almost overnight, 7- and 8-megapixel models have become the norm in “prosumer” digicams, but will the megapixel wars continue? In other words, will we see 10- and 12-megapixel compact cameras in the near future? While that may sound like a logical prediction, it’s unlikely, at least based on current technology.”

Website: Shutterbug - A Look At What’s Ahead For Photography In 2005…And Beyond

Last week Canon announced a new entry-level digital camera, the compact 3 megapixel PowerShot A510, available from early Febuary 2004 for £ 199.00 RRP inc. VAT / € 289.99 RRP inc. VAT. They have now released five full-sized sample JPEG images for you to judge the image-quality by (although they were all taken at ISO 50).

Website: Canon PowerShot A510 Sample Images

The Danish website Akamera.dk have just reviewed the 4 megapixel FujiFilm FinePix E500 Zoom digital camera.

Website: Akamera.dk - FujiFilm FinePix E500/E510 Zoom Review

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GetData Software Company Press Release

Kodak Express to Sell GetData Software Company Digital Photo and Video Recovery Software

GetData Software Company, the Australian software development company, has signed a deal for the sale of its RecoverMyPhotos and ExplorerView products through 200 Kodak Express stores across Australia.

(PRWEB) January 23, 2005—RecoverMyPhotos and ExplorerView will be bundled together and will be delivered into Kodak Express stores at end of the start of the second week of December by distributor PhotoThings. RecoverMyPhotos is a digital image, video and sound recovery tool.

RecoverMyPhotos will recover from Flash, Memory Stick, Smart Media or other storage media, including PC hard drives. It will also recover movie and sound files such as AVI, MPEG, MOV and WAV. RecoverMyPhotos displays the list of recovered files and previews pictures for selection and saving.

AdoramaPix Press Release

AdoramaPix Opens its Gates and Will Now Make its Professional Digital Print Membership Services Free to Everyone

25 year old service company that serviced professional photographers now opens its doors to amateur photographers as well, and offers free incentives to place first order online.

New York, NY (PRWEB) January 22, 2005—AdoramaPix opens its gates and will now make its Professional Digital Print Membership Services free to everyone!

After thirty (30) years of serving the professional photography community, first in film and most recently with digital printing, AdoramaPix will now allow everyone to join its On-Line Digital Print Membership Club. Due to the volume of requests of amateur photographers, and the automation of the ordering process via Adorama’s easy-to-use WEB site, Mr. Herman Klein, Director of the Digital Developing Division of Adorama, announced today that AdoramaPix will now allow the public to become free members of its current full digital developing services. Membership fees and minimum print order requirements have been waived. New members are being offered incentives for placing their first orders via the WEB at www.adoramapix.com.

I’ve resolved to get and about and photograph what could be perceived as Paris cliches for myself. The Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, they’ve all been photographed before, thousands of times, right? That thought alone has stopped me from attempting to capture them on film (well, digital). But something that I said on last week’s radio-show has made me think again - “photography is all about your own personal vision”. So it was that yesterday I spent a happy 5 hours or so wandering around the backstreets near the Louvre and Grand Palais, watching the last golden light of the day, before heading across the Seine for some night-shots of the river and the Musee D’Orsay. Just what the doctor ordered for a photographer suffering from stage-fright and photographer’s block, and just what I promised myself I would be regularly doing when we first dreamed of coming to Paris all those many months ago.

Click on the image to view a larger version in a new window.

Following yesterday’s IDC report that the majority of you prefer to print out your photographs, USA Today is running an article urging you to do just that as the best way to preserve your memories.

“By now there are an estimated 54 million digital cameras in American hands, and digital sales have outstripped sales of film cameras for the past two years. An estimated 10 million digital cameras were shipped in the USA just for the holidays, with millions upon millions of pictures snapped at parties and family gatherings in the past month alone. As growing numbers of amateur photographers are discovering, digital technology allows you to delete an unwanted image while it’s still in the camera. Did Junior cross his eyes for the Christmas photo? No matter — just press a button and it’s gone, ready for a retake.”

Website: USA Today - Memories gone in a snap

Digital Camera Info have published their initial impressions of the 5 megapixel, 10x zoom Kodak EasyShare Z740 digital camera.

“The initial headline of Kodak’s Z-line, the EasyShare Z740 targets point-and-shoot users seeking more out of their camera without sacrificing simplistic functionality. Catering to the alternative point-and-shoot crowd, the Z740 emphasizes extended zoom, accessory functions, ease of use and manual options rather then the traditional diminutive measurements, large LCD and rapid video recording rate. Designed for accessibility, the Z740 provides a 10x optical 38-380 (equivalent) all-glass Kodak Retinar zoom lens, 1/2.5-inch., 5.36 megapixel CCD, and Kodak Color Science chip to ensure the highest quality with minimal effort. While the Z740 is currently slated to retail for $499 (USD), the camera is compatible with Kodak’s first ImageLink compliant, Series 3 printer dock. With a one year warranty, the Z740 offers a reliable automatic camera with manual control options and accessory functions that will encourage growth and enable users to utilize the camera while they develop.”

Website: Digital Camera Info - Kodak EasyShare Z740 First Impressions

Konica Minolta have released more detailed information and 3 sample images each for the DiMAGE Z5 and DiMAGE Z20 (pictured) cameras that were announced yesterday.

Website: Konica Minolta Z5

Website: Konica Minolta Z20

DCViews have posted their review of the new 6 megapixel Pentax *ist DS DSLR.

“We took some images with a Nikon D70 with the AF-S Nikkor 18-70mm standard zoom alongside the Pentax *ist Ds and noticed that colours on the D70 appeared to be slightly warmer in tone than on the Pentax. Contrast on the *ist Ds appeared to be a little higher as well, whereas purple colours tended to shift towards blue. Remember though that purple is one of the trickiest colours to render in a natural way, even conventional film has trouble recording this as our eyes see it. Also every brand of digital camera renders different colours in slightly different ways, whereas different lenses can show a slight difference in colour tone with some lenses being warmer than others.”

Website: DCViews - Pentax *ist DS Review

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Western Digital Corp. Press Release

WD ENTERS MINIATURE HARD DRIVE MARKET FOR CONSUMER ELECTRONICS APPLICATIONS

High-capacity 6 GB 1-inch Hard Drives to Ship in Second Calendar Quarter of 2005

LAKE FOREST, Calif. - Jan. 19, 2005 - Serving a rapidly expanding base of customers for mass storage, Western Digital Corp. (NYSE: WDC) announced today that the company will enter the market for miniature hard drives with a family of 1-inch drives that enable a variety of handheld consumer devices, which are experiencing explosive demand.

An increasing number of current applications, such as MP3 players, PDAs, digital still cameras and digital video cameras, rely on 1-inch hard drives. Newly available and future products enabled by innovations in rotating magnetic storage, such as 1-inch drives, have driven demand in the quickly developing market segment that includes combination digital video/still cameras and cell phones.

KW Media Group and Adobe Systems Press Release

Free Photoshop Elements Training Session Offered by KW Media Group and Adobe

TAMPA, Fla.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Jan. 21, 2005—KW Media Group and Adobe Systems announced today that a free Photoshop Elements training session will be held Monday, Jan. 31st from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, Texas. The Photoshop Elements 3 Summit, hosted by Photoshop Elements Techniques newsletter and its companion website, http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com will cover the new features found in the latest edition of the popular Adobe Photoshop Elements image editing software and explore the variety of actions and techniques that it offers.

“This is our first in a series of nationwide Photoshop Elements Summits, and we’re excited about the opportunity to get to know America’s Elements users and offer them a training session specifically tailored to their needs,” said Dave Cross, editor-in-chief of Photoshop Elements Techniques.

The Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 is announced, a 5 megapixel update of the DiMAGE Z3, with a 12X optical zoom lens that is equivalent to a focal length of 35-420 mm on a 35mm camera, and Konica Minolta’s anti-shake image stabilization system.

Konica Minolta USA Press Release

Konica Minolta Introduces the New DiMAGE Z5 Digital Camera

Compact, high-performance 5.0-megapixel CCD digital camera features CCD-Shift Anti-Shake System, 12x optical “Mega Zoom” lens, fastest-in-class Rapid AF, and large, easy-to-view 2.0-inch LCD

Mahwah, NJ (January 24, 2005) – Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. introduces the new compact DiMAGE Z5 – a superb all-round digital camera that offers a built-in 12x optical Mega Zoom lens, Konica Minolta’s proprietary Anti-Shake System, 5.0-megapixel CCD, fast overall response including Rapid autofocusing (AF), and a large 2.0-inch LCD screen for easy viewing. All of these features combine to ensure that photographers won’t miss a photo opportunity and that the subjects of their photos are big, beautiful, and shake-free.

“The new DiMAGE Z5 is the ideal companion for travel photography as well as everyday picture taking,” said Todd Schrader, vice president of marketing for Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. “Sophisticated photographers will appreciate everything this high quality versatile digital camera has to offer. Plus, thanks to the camera’s built-in 12x optical zoom lens and Konica Minolta’s innovative Anti-Shake technology, even novice photographers can easily capture clear, sharp detailed views of the world around them.”

The Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z20 is announced, a 5 megapixel update of the DiMAGE Z10, with a 8X optical zoom lens that is equivalent to a focal length of 36-290 mm on a 35mm camera.

Konica Minolta USA Press Release

Konica Minolta Introduces the Speedy New DiMAGE Z20 Digital Camera

Featuring Fastest-in-Class*1 Startup, 8x Optical “Mega Zoom” lens, 5.0-Megapixel CCD, and Energy Efficient Design*2

Mahwah, NJ (January 24, 2005) – Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc.introduces the new DiMAGE Z20 5.0-megapixel digital camera. Featuring a built-in 8x optical zoom lens, the DiMAGE Z20 is perfect for taking high quality close-up portraits as well as distant scenic landscapes. And with the camera’s Rapid AF with Predictive Focus Control and a 0.5-second (approx.) fastest-in-class startup*1, photographers will be sure to captures those unexpected photographic opportunities.

“In creating the new DiMAGE Z20 digital camera, Konica Minolta engineers have succeeded in producing the ideal solution for both first-time digital photographers and those consumers upgrading from earlier generations of digital cameras,” said Todd Schrader, vice president of marketing for Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. “Nearly all consumers share a common expectation of unparalleled ease-of-use and images of the highest quality. Thanks to the DiMAGE Z20’s powerful built-in optical zoom lens plus its large 1.5-inch LCD screen, composing and taking terrific digital pictures has never been easier or more effective.”