CNET have just reviewed the 3 megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC50 digital camera.

“With top-notch picture quality for its class, excellent close-up features, a burst mode that can grab five shots in two seconds, and versatile shooting options that include a power-saving economy setting and a superfriendly Simple mode, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC50 will appeal to snapshooters who want quality and convenience in a compact package. Unfortunately, significant shutter lag, middle-of-the-pack performance, and a lack of manual controls will send some snapshot photographers looking elsewhere.”

Website: CNET - Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC50 Review

The Norwegian website Akam.no have today reviewed the recently announced HP Photosmart 8150 printer.

Website: Akam.no - HP Photosmart 8150 Review

The October 2004 Competition is now open for entries. This is a monthly photography competition with a specific theme and prizes for the top 3 photos. The winning entries will be decided by a panel of judges. You just have to submit one photograph to the Competition Gallery that best interprets October’s theme, which is “Travel”.

Please make sure that you read the Monthly Competition Rules before submitting your entry. Note that you are only allowed to enter 1 photograph. The competition is worldwide and open to everyone.

You can now start submitting entries to the October Competition here:
October 2004 Competition

The September 2004 PhotographyBLOG Competition has now closed. The theme for September was “Sunrise and Sunset” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery.

The 1st / 2nd / 3rd place winners will be announced on Wednesday 13th September, and the prizes will be sent out shortly after :-)

The voting for the 43rd Photo of the Week contest has now finished.

The winner is “All That Buzz” by etfon911.

Congratulations to the winner!

You can view all of the entries that were submitted in this gallery.

The 45th Photo of the Week contest is now open. This is a weekly photography contest with no set theme and you can enter as many photos as you like.

Click here to read the Photo of the Week Rules.

Bonjour!

After what seems like days of packing, cleaning, unpacking, driving and trying to get a wireless internet connection to work, I’ve finally made it to Paris and am now back online :-) I’ve relocated to Paris from London for at least the next year - the photo above was taken yesterday morning from the apartment’s balcony.

Normal PhotographyBLOG service will now be resumed…

Mike Johnston’s latest Sunday Morning Photographer column, “Mo’ Betta”, considers what the camera manufacturers can do to improve their digital SLRs. Not that much, from Mike’s point of view:

“Personally, with the major exception of dynamic range, I think they’re already there in the Mo’ Bettah department. I.e., for me, cameras have enough megapixels, cameras are responsive enough, cameras are light enough, successive exposures are fast enough, files are big enough, ISOs are high enough. Progress will consist of putting more of these features into the same camera ( and of course making them less expensive).”

Website: Sunday Morning Photographer: Mo’ Betta

Rob Galbraith have just reviewed a new product called the Sensor Brush that cleans the sensor inside a digital SLR camera.

“Finally! A digital SLR sensor cleaner that really works.

The Sensor Brush and its companion Sensor Clean liquid/swab combo, from Canadian company Visible Dust, are the first products of their type we’ve used that can remove dust, dirt and other particles effectively with little chance of either streaking or scratching of the cover glass over the image sensor.

We’ve been cleaning our arsenal of digital SLR cameras since mid-summer with Visible Dust’s new products and couldn’t be more pleased with the results.”

Website: Rob Galbraith - Sensor Brush Review

Steves Digicams have just reviewed the new slimline 5 megapixel Casio EXILIM Card EX-Z55 digital camera.

“The next generation of Casio’s Exilim “Z"oom series, the EX-Z55 offers users many of the features found on past Exilim cameras, but adds 5-megapixels of resolution combined with a high-quality Pentax smc 3x optical zoom lens, and a larger 2.5-inch color LCD. This credit card-size point-n-shoot camera is loaded with features that are usually found only on larger and more expensive cameras. There are 23 pre-programmed “Best Shot” scenes modes that optimize the camera’s settings for specific shooting conditions and users also have the ability to create their own Best Shot scenes using the Register Favorites function.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Casio EXILIM Card EX-Z55 Review

First announced at the end of August, Steves Digicams have recently reviewed the 3 megapixel Casio EXILIM Card EX-S100.

“Casio has again set the standard for the ultra-compact class. The Exilim EX-S100 is by far the smallest zoom-coupled camera on the market (as of 9/2004.) It’s amazing that there’s a high-resolution 3.2-meagapixel imager, 2.8x optical zoom lens, rechargeable battery and a large 2-inch color LCD all packed in its credit card-sized, stylish and durable metal body. “

Website: Steves Digicams - Casio EXILIM Card EX-S100 Review

Steves Digicams have posted their review of the 5 megapixel, 10x optical zoom Kodak EASYSHARE DX7590 digital camera.

“The DX7590s shooting performance was very good. From power-on till the first image was captured measured about 5 seconds. Shutter lag, the delay between depressing the shutter and capturing the image, measured 2/10 second when pre-focused, 6/10 second with single autofocus, and an impressive 3/10 second with continuous autofocus enabled. The DX7590’s autofocus performance is a significant improvement over the DX6490’s ~1 second delay. The shutter lag times include the approx. 1/10 second delay present in the live viewfinder image of both the LCD and EVF.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Kodak EASYSHARE DX7590 Review

Photoxels have recently reviewed the new 5 megapixel Sony DSC-P100 digital camera.

“The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P100 is very easy to use, compact enough to carry with you anywhere at all times, and gives great pictures with point-and-shoot simplicity. With its incredibly fast startup time, fast shutter response, long battery life, and AF-assist illuminator, the P100 is always ready to capture those special moments.”

Website: Photoxels - Sony DSC-P100 Review

Vincent Oliver over at Photo-i has started an interactive review of the new Canon PIXMA iP8500 printer. Vincent is well-known for his excellent printer reviews, so his verdict on the new Canon range will be well worth reading.

“The eyeball close ups are my next test. This is to see the size of the print dot and if there is any gaps in the printing. As previously stated, the high resolution of today’s printers makes this test superfluous, as you can’t see the dot without the aid of a magnifying glass. The ip8500 uses 6144 nozzles to deliver 147 million 2 picolitre drops per second - WOW! This ensures ” grain-free prints of unsurpassed clarity” - I thought grain was normally associated with film. Strange how digital equipment manufacturers still look over their shoulders for film comparisons. “

Website: Photo-i - Canon PIXMA iP8500 Review

Imaging Resource have just reviewed the new 6 megapixel Kodak Easyshare DX7630.

“Low image noise at low ISOs. Also low at higher ISO settings, but a heavy price is paid in terms of image detail. Image noise is present in the DX7630’s images but quite low at the 80 and 100 ISO equivalent settings. As the ISO increases, the noise levels remain fairly low, but that’s because the camera makes a heavy tradeoff with subtle subject detail to suppress the noise in the final images. The net effect isn’t too bad at ISO 200, but the ISO 400 shot looks almost like a watercolor painting in places. - Don’t shoot with the DX7630 at ISO settings over 200 if you care about subtle detail in your photos.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Kodak Easyshare DX7630 Review

Imaging Resource have published the first review on the web of the 7 megapixel Canon PowerShot S70.

“The S70’s exposure system handled my test lighting well, accurately exposing most shots, and generally requiring about the average amount of exposure compensation on those shots that typically require it. Its default tone curve was a little contrasty, but the low contrast option did a good job of preserving highlight detail under the deliberately difficult lighting of my “Sunlit” Portrait test, although the exposure I had to use to accomplish this left the midtones and Marti’s skin tones rather dark. Overall though, a good exposure system with good contrast control.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Canon PowerShot S70 Review

DPReview have posted 21 photos taken with a pre-production version of the new Konica Minolta Dynax 7D DSLR:

“As promised we have today been out shooting with our pre-production Maxxum 7D and have put together a samples gallery of twenty one images including daylight low ISO and indoor high ISO shots. So far the results are impressive, especially low noise at high sensitivities and the very capable Anti-Shake system which allowed us to shoot as slow as 1/2 or 1/4 sec without a tripod (slower speeds do also seem possible but we can’t be 100% confident without proper testing). Otherwise the images have good tonal balance, color response and a conservative approach to image sharpening (perhaps considered soft in appearance).”

Website: DPReview - Konica Minolta Dynax 7D Sample Images

Short Courses have just published a new 130 page guide to the Canon EOS 20D DSLR. The printed version costs $24.95, or you can get an e-book version for $19.95.

“A Short Courses digital photography book for people who own the Canon EOS 20D digital camera and want to get better pictures. This beautifully written and illustrated guide, drawing on the much more comprehensive information on the ShortCourses Web site, pulls together answers to the questions you might have about using the 20D.”

Website: ShortCourses - Canon EOS 20D Photography

HP UK Press Release 05/10/04

HP Introduces Two Top of the Range New Photosmart All-in-Ones for Best-in-Class Printing

HP Photosmart 2710 and HP Photosmart 2610 All-in-Ones offer a stylish answer to print, fax, scan and copy demands

LONDON, 5 October, 2004. HP today announced the launch of two new All-in-Ones, the HP Photosmart 2710 and HP Photosmart 2610. Designed for creative home or home office users, these two All-in-Ones offer a range of high quality print, flatbed fax, scan and copy functions in a compact and sophisticated device.

Both new models offer users integrated home networking with easy set up, enabling fast, multi-user printing, scanning and sharing of photos. The HP Photosmart 2610 and HP Photosmart 2710 All-in-Ones connect to the network using the quick, reliable, built-in 802.3 Ethernet. Additionally, the HP Photosmart 2710 All-in-One connects simply by using the embedded wireless (802.11g) LAN technology for secure, wireless sharing.

The HP Photosmart 2710 and HP Photosmart 2610 enable users to preview, select, edit and print their photos directly from a digital camera without having to connect to a computer. This can be achieved by using the built-in memory card slot or by connecting a PictBridge-enabled digital camera to the All-in-One via the front USB port. By using the memory card slots on these All-in-Ones, users can preview images on the 8.8 cm colour LCD screen on the HP PSC 2710 or the 6.4cm colour LCD screen on the HP Photosmart 2610, and crop, zoom, edit or rotate photos.

HP UK Press Release 05/10/04

Stylish, Fast, Top of the Range, Networkable Home Printer ? No Catch (Not Even Wires)

HP launches new, high quality wireless printing for personal and business use with the HP Deskjet 6840

LONDON, UK, 5 October, 2004. HP today announced the launch of a networkable printer with breakthrough print speeds for the home and small business user. Developed to meet the productivity demands of households containing multiple computers for both business and personal use, the HP Deskjet 6840 offers users a simple solution for quality printing without wires.

Connection to the computer network is straightforward and requires little to no configuration, ensuring that set-up and use are simplified for all users. Users can share the printer among up to five users either within a wired environment through the built-in Ethernet port or by choosing the embedded wireless (802.11g) technology for complete freedom from wires.

High performance is key for home workers and small businesses and the HP Deskjet 6840 delivers 30 ppm printing in laser quality black and 20 ppm in colour. Additionally, a 150 sheet capacity printer tray for few paper changes saves time and money. The option to add a second tray increases capacity to 400 sheets. Two-sided printing enhances productivity further still, while a paper sensor automatically adjusts settings to best suit the paper loaded.