HP UK Press Release 05/10/04

The HP Officejet 7410 and 7310 All-in-Ones offer uncompromising speed, quality and reliability for the home or small office

London, October 5, 2004. HP today announced the latest products in its high speed All-in-One printer, fax, flatbed scanner and copier range, the HP Officejet 7410 and HP Officejet 7310. The HP Officejet 7410 and Officejet 7310 All-in-Ones are complete printing and imaging solutions, ideal for the busy full-time or part time office professional. Both models offer easy-to-use printing, faxing, scanning and copying in one device that increases productivity and readily fits into available office space.

Features available on both products include up to 4800 x 1200 optimised dpi colour when printing from a computer and 1200-input dpi. HP Photoret IV precision technology with 6-ink colour printing and copying is optional, enabling users to produce true-to-life colour photos and documents . Powerful, fast, black and colour faxing is standard on both new models with or without a PC, at 33.6 kbps.

The HP Officejet 7410 and Officejet 7310 All-in-One printer, fax, scanner and copiers provide professional photo quality colour and laser quality black text printing, plus superior faxing, copying and scanning with time saving features. Both models include superior paper handling and direct photo printing features, as well as built in wired or wireless networking for up to five users.

Kodak Press Release 05/10/04

Kodak Announces Changes in European Manufacturing As Part of Broader Plan to Accelerate Digital Imaging Strategy; Plants in U.K. and France to be affected

Eastman Kodak Company today announced changes at manufacturing sites in England and France, reflecting the increasing popularity of digital photography among consumers and customers.

The actions are part of Kodak’s three-year program, announced in January; to reduce worldwide employment by 12-15,000 and to reduce total facilities square footage by one-third. These actions are part of Kodak’s broader strategy to accelerate growth in its digital businesses and to manage smartly the declining demand for some of the company’s traditional products and services.

“Such actions are essential for Kodak to reinforce its leading position in digital imaging products and services, while sustaining and extending its worldwide leadership in traditional photographic products,” said Etienne Bourgeois, Chairman, Eastman Kodak S.A., and Regional Operations Manager, Europe, Africa and Middle Eastern Region.

DCResource have published a review of the new Panasonic DMC-FZ20 digital camera, which has a 12x optical zoom lens from Leica.

“If there was ever a poster child for “big cameras”, the DMC-FZ20 is it. It’s as large as a digital SLR which means that it won’t be spending any time in your pocket. It’s built of metal and plastic and it feels pretty solid for the most part. It’s got a large grip for your right hand and the massive lens barrel has plenty of room for your left. Most of the controls are well positioned, though I would’ve preferred to have the zoom controller a bit closer to the edge of the camera.”

Website: DCResource - Panasonic DMC-FZ20 Review

Pixory Press Release 05/10/04

Pixory now has full international language support.

With the 3.11 release, Pixory fully supports all languages/scripts in all areas of the application, including: file names, album names, captions, narrative, etc. All langugaes covered by the Unicode 3.0 specification are handled automatically by Pixory, and you can even mix different languages on the same page! The list of supported languages includes, among many others: Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Hindi, Russian, Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, Bengali, Greek, Gujarati, Hmong, Thai, Punjabi, Urdu, Tagalog, Tibetan, Ukranian, and Vietnamese.

Pixory is the easiest and most powerful way to share photos online - it is freeware that will turn your own PC and broadband internet connection into a personal photo album server.

http://www.pixory.com

DigiCamReview.co.uk have just posted a review of the new 4 megapixel Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3.

“The main feature of this camera is the 12x Optical zoom - the camera has a built in 4x Digital zoom which can be switched on and off - the digital zoom basically takes a smaller area of the photo and enlarges it using software to blur the image so that it does not look pixellated. Generally it’s best to avoid using digital zoom as it degrades the quality of the image. If you need to crop an area of your image, or enlarge an area, you can get better results using an image manipulation program on your computer. I’ve included examples below simply to show what these features do - and whilst the digital zoom looks acceptable at the size shown (the last photo), if you printed the images out or viewed the full size versions in the gallery you would easily notice the negative effect digital zoom has on image quality.”

Website: DigiCamReview.co.uk - Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3

Bob Atkins has published an interesting translation of an interview with one of the Canon directors, Mr. Iwashita, with Bob’s personal viewpoint interweaved into the interview text. It doens’t contain very good news if you are one of the people that wish Canon would release a digital version of their popular EOS 3 film SLR:

“It seems that Canon are currently happy with the 3 tier system of DSLRs, the consumer level Digital Rebel, the “prosumer” level EOS 20D and the pro level EOS 1D mark II and 1Ds mark II. There are no current plans to introduce a digital version of the EOS 3. The current 3 tiers don’t really compete with each other and sales are good. There’s no reason to add a 4th level between the 20D and 1D models.”

Website: Bob Atkins - Canon’s Digital Plans

NikonNet Press Release 01/10/04

NikonNet and ‘Legends Behind the Lens’ Honor the Work of Veteran Photographer Jim Richardson

MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/—Call him a photographer for the common man. To award-winning photojournalist Jim Richardson, there is something exciting about small-town America. While many photographers revel in the adrenaline of capturing wars or shooting sports scenes, Richardson’s drive comes from discovering what everyday people do to fill their everyday lives.

This October, NikonNet’s inspiring monthly, “Legends Behind the Lens,” honors the work of esteemed photographer Jim Richardson.  For three decades, Richardson, whose work appears regularly in National Geographic, has combined an uncanny ability to capture beautiful images out of what are often-ignored subjects.  As a freelance photographer and contributing editor for National Geographic Traveler, Richardson has also published several critically acclaimed books.

“NikonNet is pleased to honor the images and extraordinary career of Jim Richardson in this October’s ‘Legends Behind the Lens,’” said Tracy Mack-Jackson, senior manager of Internet Development and Programs at Nikon Inc. “His career is a great example of a photographer who is well-prepared, curious and creative, which allow him to produce captivating images that capture the full range of human emotion.”

DCViews have just reviewed the new slimline 5 megapixel Casio EXILIM Card EX-Z50 digital camera.

“The Exilim series already comprises a number of stylish and extremely compact cameras and it will come as no surprise that the Casio Z50 is no exception in this respect. With a weight of 121g (4.2 oz) it is light and small enough to carry around in your trouser pocket all day without people making funny remarks like “Is that an Exilim Zoom Z50 in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?” The all-metal, magnesium-alloy body has a stylish brushed finish that gives the camera a real quality feel. All controls give the impression that they are built to last and are comfortable to use. “

Website: DCViews - Casio EXILIM Card EX-Z50

ACD Systems Press Release 04/10/04

ACD Systems Announces Fastest Version of Flagship Photo Management Software with the Launch of ACDSee 7

VICTORIA, British Columbia - October 4, 2004 - ACD Systems International Inc. (TSX: ASA), makers of ACDSee photo management software and Canvas technical illustration software, announced today the release of ACDSee 7, the newest version of its flagship photo management software for photography enthusiasts, professionals and corporate users.  Renowned for its speed, ACDSee is used the world over as the leading choice for image viewing and management. New features in ACDSee 7 include a Device Synchronization function, a Context Sensitive Toolbar, advanced search capabilities, RAW format support, MPV and HighMAT support and an Image Comparison tool. ACDSee 7 is available as a standalone product or as part of the ACDSee 7 PowerPack suite.

ACDSee 7 allows users to control their camera’s memory card storage space with a device synchronization function that quickly and efficiently automates the downloading process of images and media.  Through an easy-to-use wizard, users can select which folders their images should automatically be saved to, as well as determine the amount of space that should always be available on a specific memory card.

Plug-in to ACDSee?s Powerful New Performance Tools - ACDSee photoPro and ACDSee Share

VICTORIA, British Columbia - October 4, 2004 - ACD Systems International Inc. (TSX: ASA), makers of ACDSee photo management software and Canvas technical illustration software, today announced the release of ACDSee photoPro, which adds support for color management and RAW formats, and ACDSee Share, for peer-to-peer photo sharing. Based on the core ACDSee photo management technology, both products work as plug-ins that enhance ACDSee?s functionality.

ACDSee photoPro includes 16-bit per channel color support for preserving RAW images at their highest resolution. Users can safely maintain the color integrity of RAW images when converting them into TIFFs or JPEG 2000 formats for use in ACDSee or other image editing software programs. ACDSee photoPro also offers ICM 2.0 color management support that allows users to accurately select monitor and printer color profiles.

ACDSee Share enables users to turn their personal computers into web servers and publish their photos, music and videos in web pages without relying on third party service providers. ACDSee Share?s browser display can be customized with personal banners or corporate logos.
The program also allows users to control who has access to images and the length of time that images are displayed.

ByteSector have published their review of the HP Photosmart 945 digital camera, which features a 5.3-megapixel total resolution and 56x total zoom (8x optical zoom). The HP Photosmart 945 digital camera is available now and has an estimated U.S. retail price of $549.

“Wow! Picture results are fantastic, colour results are not as rich as Canon’s but HP has still done a great job at delivering bright and well contrasted images. The downside is that to get the best results out of this camera you have to use HP’s digital flash feature and this results in noisier images. Don’t get me wrong, the feature is fantastic, it brings out the brighter areas in a dark image such as overcasts and shadows, but the result is an overly noisy picture (in low light shots), for outdoor shots its perfect. Next to the colours, the images are incredibly sharp and detailed (when using Digital Flash); they are well defined.”

Website: ByteSector - HP Photosmart 945 Review

Microtek Press Release 04/10/04

Microtek ScanMaker i900 Wins Hot1 Award from Professional Photographer Magazine

NEW YORK - (Business Wire) - Oct. 4, 2004 Microtek(R) today announced the ScanMaker(R) i900 among the select group of 2004 Hot1 Award winners from Professional Photographer Magazine. This is the second consecutive year that Microtek has garnered the award, with the ArtixScan 120tf multiformat film scanner achieving this honor in 2003.

The ScanMaker i900 is a 3200-dpi, Dual Media flatbed scanner offering a host of exclusive technologies, including Microtek’s PictuRescue(TM) system with DIGITAL ICE Photo Print Technology and ColoRescue(TM). DIGITAL ICE Photo Print Technology reconstructs surface-damaged photos by eliminating rips and scratches, while the ColoRescue automatic color recovery system renews faded colors in both prints and film to their original vibrant tones. With PictuRescue, what normally takes hours of painstaking work now takes only minutes.

Tamron Co., Ltd. Press Release 01/10/04

TAMRON ANNOUNCES THE DISCONTINUATION OF BRONICA SLR CAMERAS

SALES DECLINE IN THE DIGITAL AGE FUELS THE DISCONTINUATION OF BRONICA MEDIUM FORMAT SLR PRODUCTS

Commack, New York, October 1, 2004 - Mr. Morio Ono, president of Tamron Co., Ltd., Ohmiya, Japan and Mr. Takashi Inoue, president of Tamron USA, Inc. announced the worldwide discontinuation of Bronica SLR cameras and accessories as of October 31, 2004. The Bronica RF645 Medium Format Rangefinder will continue to be distributed globally and Tamron USA, Inc. will offer the current rebates on that product line through 6/30/05.

“Since the advent of digital photography, medium format sales have declined at a rapid pace. Imports today are just a fraction of what they were even two years ago,” stated Inoue. “For Bronica, that slip has been faster since our core customer base, portrait and wedding photographers, has adapted well to digital SLR equipment.”

“These photographers are now providing customers with a quality and cost-efficient product that has virtually eliminated their need for the higher quality results that medium format film or digital backs can provide,” added Stacie Errera, Chief Marketing Officer. “While some customers are faithful to the format, the current sales volume and devastating purchasing forecasts cannot sustain the production of Bronica SLR products.”

.

October 4, 2004 - The Plugin Site (www.thepluginsite.com) is proud to announce the PhotoWiz Contest 2004, which is running from October 1 to December 31, 2004. This contest is dedicated to all creatively minded photographers. It offers them the possibility to present the best samples of their work to the public and win a lot of exciting prizes. Everyone is invited to submit his or her photos to this contest.

Time Schedule
The PhotoWiz Contest is conducted in three steps. Every month there will be a new topic for which people can post their photos. In October 2004 participants are allowed to send in their “Best Photo”, in November 2004 we will be looking for the “Best Photo Composition” and in December 2004 the “Best Photo Correction” will be reward. At the end of each month a jury will select the best contributions.

The Prizes
A total of 66 prizes worth more than $6400 are offered to the winners. The 16 best images of each of the three contest topics will receive a prize. Additionally the 16 best participants across all contest topics will get an extra prize. The three best participants will even get a PhotoWiz Gold, Silver and Bronze certificate. Additionally the two images that receive the least points from the jury will get a consolation prize.

Kodak Press Release

September 2004 - Kodak Express outlets across the UK are offering their customers the chance to win a state-of-the-art KODAK EASYSHARE LS743 Digital Camera and Printer Dock and to support UNICEF into the bargain.

Kodak has supported UNICEF for the past 4 years as parts of its worldwide Corporate Contributions programme, raising over $850,000 to-date. This year, through the One Million Smiles campaign, the company is aiming to reach over the $1 Million mark. To support the fund-raising effort, all people have to do is complete the entry form available in-store at Kodak Express outlets and post it to the prize draw address. No purchase is necessary and Kodak will donate $1 to UNICEF for every entry form received. Closing date for entries is 25th October 2004.

GretagMacbeth Press Release 05/10/04

GretagMacbeth’s new Eye-One Display 2 defines new landmarks in automation and performance for display color management.

Photokina 2004, Koln, Germany; September 28, 2004 - For professional photographers and creative professionals, GretagMacbeth, worldwide technological leader in color measurement and management solutions, once again raises the bar and offers a newtrue one-button solution for calibrating and profiling all types of computer monitors - Eye-One Display 2 - introduced here today on Stand A034 in Hall 14.1.

With the current transition from analog to digital photography, the monitor now becomes the “slide” or “original”, making consistent, predictable color a “must have” requirement.  Eye-One Display 2 combines ease-of-use with exceptional performance to achieve the best quality profiles required for today’s digital workflow.

Eye-One Display 2 is the first and only truly automated color management solution: for all monitors supporting the DDC/CI standards, there is no longer a need for manual adjustment of brightness, contrast and monitor white point.  This process is now automatic and, unlike some competitive monitor calibrators, does not require an extra cable - providing a true “one button push” high quality monitor profiling solution.

The German website Photoworld.de have just reviewed the new 5 megapixel FujiFilm FinePix E510 Zoom.

Website: Photoworld.de - FujiFilm FinePix E510 Zoom Review

DCResource have posted their review of the Kyocera Finecam M410R, a 4.0 megapixel digital camera with a high-powered 10x optical zoom and high-speed lens.

“The Kyocera Finecam M410R is an ultra zoom camera whose biggest claim to fame is its stunning continuous shooting performance, and it lives up to the hype. If the image quality was better then I’d be more enthusiastic about this camera, but unfortunately it was not. Photos were fuzzy and soft and colors were dull in many of my real world test photos. In addition, there was mild vignetting in nearly every picture I took. In addition, there was no noise reduction for long exposures, and redeye was above average. One thing that wasn’t a problem was purple fringing.”

Website: DCResource - Kyocera Finecam M410R Review

ImageRecall Press Release 28/09/04

ImageRecall Announces ImageRecall 3.0 Now Supports More Memory Cards And Image Formats Than Any Other Digital Photo Recovery Software Including Raw Image Formats

Release Date: 28/09/2004

The software gives users a backup plan to address the lack of safeguards in the storage and download process of digital cameras including new features to help keep photos safe after recovery.

Photokina -Cologne, Germany-September 28, 2004-Today’s digital cameras make it very convenient for users to take pictures without worrying about the cost of wasting film. However, most of these cameras make it just as easy to accidentally lose those pictures. There is no way to undo ?delete all? on most cameras. Downloading images to a PC is fraught with danger, as well. To help camera users combat these risks, ImageRecall announces ImageRecall 3.0 (IR3) can now recover all image types including all RAW formats. With its new file correction systems, ImageRecall also has the ability to recover and rebuild photographs when corruption occurs. IR3 supports all memory cards and is able to mount recoveries from cards that even Windows is unable to access.

The Norwegian website Akam.no have posted their review of the recently announced Canon PIXMA iP4000 inkjet printer.

Website: Akam.no Reviews Canon PIXMA iP4000 Review