First announced back in February (and now already superceded by the Optio S50) the Spanish website quesabesde.com have posted their review of the Pentax Optio S40, a 4 megapixel, 3X zoom digital camera sporting a sleek aluminum design.

Website: quesabesde.com - Pentax Optio S40 Review

It was only announced on Monday, but Photo-i have already published some sample prints made with Canon’s new top-of-the-line A4 inkjet printer, the Canon PIXMA iP8500. Vincent Oliver comments “The Canon i9950 printer impressed me and the i990 didn’t, the iP8500 is everything the i990 should have been - unfortunately I couldn’t say anything about this printer at the time of my i990 interactive review. I will give this printer a full in-depth interactive review as soon as it becomes available.”

Website: Photo-i - Canon PIXMA iP8500 Sample Prints

Photoxels have today reviewed the Epson Stylus C86 printer:

“For the best photo prints, nothing replaces a good dedicated photo printer. However, if you print photos only occasionally, the Epson Stylus C-86 Inkjet Printer is quite a good all-purpose printer and will print 4x6 in. photo prints (and even the occasional 8x10 in. photograph). If you are looking for a printer to use for both text and photo printing, check out the Stylus C-86 for a very affordable alternative.”

Website: Photoxels - Epson Stylus C86 Printer Review

LetsGoDigital have launched their coverage of the Photokina 2004 photography trade show, which takes place from Tuesday September 28 to Sunday October 3 in Cologne, Germany. Asu usual, the LetsGoDigital team have pulled out all the stops and produced an easy-on-the-eye website that is available in four different languages.

Website: LetsGoDigital - Photokina 2004

Imaging Resource have reviewed the new 5 megapixel Sony DSC-F88 digital camera.

“The DSC-F88 delivers exceptional capability in a very compact package, with good to excellent image quality, a sharp lens, good color accuracy, lower than average image noise, surprisingly long battery life, and an amazing macro capability. The light weight, smooth profile, and excellent battery life all make the DSC-F88 a superb traveling companion.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Sony DSC-F88 Review

The Slovenian website e-fotografija have reviewed the Sony DSC-P120, a Special Edition black body version of the DSC-P100 digital camera, with a black leather case and 2 InfoLITHIUM batteries supplied. Available now in the UK for £379.00.

Website: e-fotografija - Sony DSC-P120 Review

DCResource is the first website to review the 5 megapixel FujiFilm FinePix E510 Zoom.

“There are many things to like about the FinePix E510: it has good photo quality (though with some issues described below), reasonably fast performance, a wide-angle lens, large LCD display, and support for conversion lenses. The two standout features on that list are the lens and LCD. The lens, which starts at 28mm, is great for indoor shots. Usually you have to buy a conversion lens to cover that much area, but not on the E510.”

Website: DCResource - FujiFilm FinePix E510 Zoom Review

Microsoft have published a new article which is a lot more interesting than the title, “Creating an Optimized Windows XP Digital Imaging System”, first suggests. And when you notice that it’s written by acclaimed author Tim Grey, you know that it’s definitely worth reading if you currently run Windows XP as your operating system.

“Of course, many photographers utilize medium format film to maximize the detail they are able to capture. The size of the file grows with the film. Scanning a 6x4.5 transparency at 4000 dpi yields a file of nearly 200MB in 8-bit, or 400MB in 16-bit.

When these files are optimized with photo-editing software, values for millions of individual pixels must be recalculated. This requires not only storage space for all those pixel values, but computing power to actually crunch the numbers. When dealing with such a significant amount of data, small details affecting overall performance issues can have a significant impact on the time required to perform various tasks. These gains are especially notable for tasks that place a particularly high demand on the system. For example, complicated filters are processor and memory intensive, while file read and write operations call for improved data transfer performance.”

Website: Microsoft - Pixel Performance: Creating an Optimized Windows XP Digital Imaging System

CNET have just reviewed the new 6 megapixel Kodak Easyshare DX7630.

“One of the more affordable 6-megapixel models on the market, the Kodak EasyShare DX7630 continues the line’s tradition of user-friendliness but takes it up a notch with a few manual controls and high resolution. If you’re looking for extensive high-end features, however, you’d best look elsewhere—this has just the basics.”

Website: CNET - Kodak Easyshare DX7630 Review

The Spanish website Foto Imagen Digital has just published a 12-page review of the 6 megapixel Nikon D70 DSLR.

Website: Foto Imagen Digital - Nikon D70 Review

The September 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 September’s theme, which is “Sunrise and Sunset”.

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 September Competition here:
September 2004 Competition

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

The 1st / 2nd / 3rd place winners will be announced on Wednesday 8th September, and the prizes will be sent out shortly after :-)

Epson UK Press Release 01/09/04

EPSON introduces new scanner for amateur photographers and home photo enthusiasts

The EPSON Perfection 4180 Photo is the perfect partner for the photo enthusiast. Whether you want to make enlargements of your favourite images, digitise old films and photos or add new life to faded memories, this scanner is the ideal solution.

September 2004: EPSON unveils the latest addition to its comprehensive range of scanners, the EPSON Perfection 4180 Photo.  Aimed at amateur photographers and home photo enthusiasts who are looking for professional quality and performance, the Perfection 4180 Photo is ideal for those needing high-quality output from a cost effective device. The sleek, compact design adds style and performance to any desktop.

Epson UK Press Release 01/09/04

EPSON announces stylish new compact All-In-One device to address market demand

EPSON launches a new All-In-One device that will appeal to the style conscious, whilst also providing incredible value for money.

1st September 2004: The EPSON Stylus CX3600 comprises a high quality printer combined with scanner and standalone photocopying functionality. It will sit at the entry-level of the EPSON All-In-One printer range.  With its new design it will appeal to the style-conscious, as well as those users seeking value for money. 

The EPSON Stylus CX3600 provides users with some unique benefits such as EPSON DURABrite(tm) inks to ensure laser sharp blacks and vivid, life-like colours that are waterproof, smudge proof and fade resistant for up to 80 years. The inks come in individual cartridges, giving the user more control over the cost of printing.  The product offers print performance of up to 15 pages per minute and a resolution up to 5760 optimised dpi.  The Stylus CX3600 offers exceptional value for money and is ideally suited to home workers, students or small business users.  The CX3600 is stylishly designed and is available in a new compact format.

HP Press Release 01/09/04

Britain’s first National Photo Album unearths hidden photographic treasures

HP is pleased to announce the initial success of the National Photo Album, one of the most ambitious public archiving projects in recent history. Having urged the nation to dust off its old photograph albums and rummage through its attics, HP has been astonished to see people react so positively.

With over 5,000 images already submitted and more than 300,000 hits in the first two months, The National Photo Album has been embraced by the public.  The search has uncovered some hidden gems from the photo albums of members of the public, such as:

- The enchanting image of Big Ben taken during the strikes in the 1970s, when fuel was at a premium and the spot lights had to be switched off
- A chance meeting with George Best relaxing on holiday in Majorca in 1972
- Young twins working a wooden washing machine in 1939
- A boxing match between sailors, to entertain the troops on HMS Emperor of India in 1915

Shortcut Press Release 01/09/04

Shortcut releases new product, Shortcut PhotoPrint

ARNHEM, 01 September, 2004 - Within the next few weeks Shortcut(r) will release its fourth product as part of the Shortcut PhotoSeries, named Shortcut PhotoPrint. At the heart of the PhotoPrint system lays an advanced, sophisticated technology that automatically fine-tunes the printer settings and makes printing as easy as can be imagined.

Often there is a need for certain knowledge of printer drivers and its settings to obtain high quality prints. With Shortcut PhotoPrint it is no longer necessary to understand difficult printer settings or to spill expensive photopaper. PhotoPrint makes printing easy and lets any home user create beatufill high quality print by just clicking the mouse.

This is a gentle reminder that the August 2004 Competition will close for entries today! 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 August’s theme, which is “Sports”.

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 August Competition here:
August 2004 Competition

Steves Digicams have published a First Look at the 4 megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-L1 that was announced yesterday.

“Like most of Sony’s Cyber-shot cameras, the DSC-L1 model has speedy auto-focus and auto-exposure options to snap the best picture the first time. You can quickly select the best setting based on the shooting conditions by choosing from one of seven preset modes, including twilight, snow, beach and candle.

The DSC-L1 also features four newly developed technologies - including a linear focus drive and a compact high-resolution optical system - that combine to produce its ultra-small 3x optical lens. This lets you zoom in for crisp images of a flower or zoom out for a far-away shot of the game-winning goal, all the while staying in sharp focus.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Sony Cyber-shot DSC-L1 Preview

Steves Digicams have published a First Look at the 7 megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V3 that was announced yesterday.

“The built-in flash automatically pops up (OK it doesn’t actually “pop up,” it rotates from closed to open) when needed and has modes for Auto flash, Red- Eye Reduction, Slow Synchro and Flash Cancel. It uses a pre-flash for precise metering of the exposure. It also has auto daylight synchro fill flash for backlit or shadowed subjects as well as dynamic flash white balance for greater color accuracy. The working range for the flash is 1.6 to 11.5 feet (0.5 to 3.5m).”

Website: Steves Digicams - Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V3 First Look

Canon UK Press Release 31/08/04

Canon’s PIXMA iP8500

Professional series A4 photo printing

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, today announces its new 8-ink flagship professional photo printer: the 4800 x 2400 dpi PIXMA iP8500. Canon’s ChromaPLUS technology adds additional red and green inks for vibrant, highly saturated colours. Combined with a FINE (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) technology print head, which generates permanent 2-picolitre ink droplets, this new PIXMA printer produces the ultimate professional photo prints. It also does so in record time - an A4 photo prints in just 34 seconds.

The iP8500 features advanced media handling and Canon’s transparent single ink system, as well as direct photo printing from most contemporary digital cameras and digital video cameras supporting the PictBridge standard.

“The PIXMA range of printers continues Canon’s commitment to superb quality, unfailing reliability and purity of design. The iP8500 perfectly embodies this philosophy,” said Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging in the UK and Ireland. “With industry-leading, professional photo print quality and speed, the iP8500 is the ultimate A4 photo printer.”