Last week Google bought the image management software Picasa. This week Google have announced that Picasa is now available as a free download (it previously cost $29.99). If you’re unsure if this product is right for you, then take a look at my review.

Website: Read my Picasa Review

Website: Picasa

Sigma Corporation Press Release 20/07/04

EX series, large aperture zoom lens designed specifically for use with digital SLR cameras.

F2.8 large aperture standard zoom lens designed specially for use with digital SLR cameras.
The characteristics of digital SLR cameras were taken into consideration when designing the lens power layout. The new advanced lens design corrects various aberrations. This lens provides the utmost correction against lateral chromatic aberration which is a serious problem for digital SLR cameras.

This lens is specially coated to get the best color balance whilst cutting down flare and ghost caused by reflections from the digital image sensor and lens. It has excellent correction for vignetting and superior peripheral brightness is ensured.

Nikon USA have today released a new firmware update for their pro DSLR, the Nikon D2H. Version 2.0 has no less than 20 improvements and fixes, so it’s definitely worth installing!

Website: Nikon USA - D2H Firmware Update

I don’t often feature non-Windows or Mac based products here on PhotographyBLOG. Indeed, I think NewsForge’s review of the image management software imgSeek is the first ever Linux product that has appeared on this website. imgSeek has a rather unique feature to help you find your photos:

“When imgSeek added your pictures to its collection, it extracted the metadata tags and cached thumbnails for easy viewing, but it also calculated the wavelet transform of the image, which is sort of a hash of the visual information in the picture. And that gives imgSeek the unique ability to search through files based on their appearance.

For instance, you can select any image in the browser, right-click on it, and from the context menu choose “Query for similar images.” This query will return every image in your collection with a similar wavelet transform, to an adjustable threshold level.”

Website: NewsForge - imgSeek Review

HP has launched its first ever digital camera in China, choosing the top-of-the-range 5 megapixel PhotoSmart R707 as the inaugural product. According to the brief report on Forbes.com, this is only the beginning for HP, who are aiming to “drive a digital revolution into the home’ in China”.

Website: Forbes.com - HP launches first digital camera in China

DP-Now have posted a First Look at the Samsung Digimax U-CA 3, a 3 megapixel digital camera aimed at the young photographer or the budding photo enthusiast.

“Although the Samsung U-CA 3 is a plastic-bodied camera, the mouldings are of a very high quality and appear to be more resistant to wear and tear than many other cameras in this class. Complementing its cool and trendy ambience, the body is finished in a sparkling metallic paint job. A really cool pouch case is supplied to protect your U-CA 3 anyway.”

Website: DP-Now - Samsung Digimax U-CA 3 First Look

Josh Waller has just reviewed the 3.2 megapixel Pentax Optio 30, which is a simple digital camera aimed at photography beginners.

“Great image quality, thanks to the excellent Pentax lens - the camera produces good colours both inside and outside. Good sharpness, saturation, and low noise as well! The camera has an EXCELLENT macro mode - which I wasn’t expecting, as it doesn’t seem to be especially marketed by Pentax.”

Website: Josh Waller - Pentax Optio 30 Review

Kodak Press Release 19/07/04

Rochester, N.Y., July 19—“Kodak is a very important member of the Olympic Family. It takes a very active role in helping us stage the world’s greatest event. And through its various marketing efforts, Kodak helps us share the Olympic spirit with the world.”

—Jacques Rogge, President International Olympic Committee

When the first Modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896, Kodak, then just 16 years old, was there.  More than a century later, the Olympic Games remain the pinnacle of athletic endeavor - and Kodak, a long-standing Olympic Sponsor, will again be there, this time providing security badges for all participants, digital medical imaging equipment in the athlete?s clinic, and support for the more than 1,000 professional photographers who will capture the drama of the world?s most photographed competition using both film and digital technologies. Indeed, Kodak will digitize all images -including film - for rapid dissemination around the world.

Launched at the start of May 2004, the Ricoh Caplio GX is the new flagship model in the Ricoh digital camera range. The Ricoh Caplio GX has gained a lot of attention because of its unique combination of a 5-megapixel CCD sensor, wide-angle 28mm lens, having the world’s fastest shutter response and start-up times, and an affordable price-tag of ?279.99. Previous Ricoh cameras that I’ve reviewed have offered great handling, but have been rather let down by the image-quality. So has the Caplio GX rectified this crucial problem? Read on to find out.

Website: Ricoh Caplio GX Review

Concord Camera Corp. Press Release 19/07/04

CONCORD CAMERA CORP. WINS COMPUTER TIMES “EDITOR’S CHOICE” AWARD

Concord Eye-Q 4060AF is first Digital Camera to Win Computer Times Award since August 2002

Hollywood, FL, July 19, 2004 - Concord Camera Corp. (“Concord”) (Nasdaq:LENS), a global leader in high-quality, popular-priced digital cameras, today announced that it won the Computer Times “Editor?s Choice” Award for the Concord Eye-Q 4060AF (see full article at http://computertimes.com/jun04edchoiceConcordEyeQ4060AF.htm).

The Concord Eye-Q 4060AF digital camera is the first digital camera to win the coveted Computer Times Editor’s Choice award since August 2002.  According to Computer Times, the Concord Eye-Q 4060AF not only impressed their toughest reviewing editor, but it also “includes an impressive list of high-end features for a very affordable price - a key feature in winning this award. Our hats off to everyone involved in its design and marketing. A job well done,” said Angie Kibiloski, Computer Times.

Kibiloski continues, “This camera has been a treat to use, and I would absolutely recommend it. I have tried many other digital cameras in the past, and have not been terribly impressed. Actually, I quickly become very frustrated with their limitations.  However, the Concord Eye Q 4060AF has met all of my expectations, and exceeded a few as well. Way to go Concord!”

The Concord Eye-Q 4060AF is a 4 megapixel digital camera that fits everyone’s budget with a retail price of only $179.99.  It features a high-resolution 4 megapixel sensor, easy-to-use controls, a 6x digital zoom, preset and automatic settings, a 1.5-inch TFT color LCD screen, auto focus for easy shooting at any range, 16MB of internal memory, AVI video clips, and a macro mode for close up photography.  The camera uses SD/MMC cards, one of the most popular and easy to find storage cards in the market. 
 

As well as news of the new Apple iPod (you know you want one!), Gizmodo are also reporting today that LG Electronics are launching a new 3.24 megapixel cameraphone, which will in turn be released by both SK Telecom (the LG-SD350) and KTF (the LG-KP2500). The new phone actually uses a mechanical shutter instead of a software technique to improve image quality, and it also has a clamshell design. You may be very interested if a) you live in the Far East and b) you answered “Definitely!” to the latest PhotographyBLOG Poll…

Website: Gizmodo - LG’s New 3.24-Megapixel Clamshell Cameraphones

The business website Boston.com have published a review of the new 8-megapixel Nikon Coolpix 8700 digital camera.

“Unfortunately, as cameras move up the ladder in sophistication, the dials, knobs, and appurtenances proliferate. If you’re afflicted with button phobia, you may want to avoid the 8700. On top of the unit are the shutter, mode, voice recording, function, and LCD illumination buttons, as well as power and command dials and a small monochrome LCD, or control panel.”

Thanks to Sanj for the link.

Website: Boston.com - Nikon Coolpix 8700 Review

A brand new PhotographyBLOG Poll has started today - you can find it in the left-hand column of this page, underneath the Navigation links.

This month’s question is: “Will cameraphones be the new digital cameras of the future?”.

The 33rd Photo of the Week contest is now closed.

I have choosen what I think are the best photographs in my opinion. Now it’s your turn to vote for the overall winner of the contest. A Public Poll has been setup on the PhotographyBLOG Forums and you have 7 days during which you can vote for your favourite photo from the ones that I have chosen. Voting will end on Monday 26th July. The Poll will then be closed and the overall winner announced.

Vote now for your favourite image from the Photo Of The Week 12th-18th July 2004 contest

The voting for the 32nd Photo of the Week contest has now finished.

The winner of the contest is “Back In Time For Tea” by Andy Kim. Congratulations!

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

The 34th 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.

PhotoPermit is a new website that aims to help the individual photographer through the potential minefield of being challenged in a public place whilst using a camera. Do you know what your rights are? Have you ever been confronted by someone? PhotoPermit may be able to provide some answers.

“Have you been hassled while trying to make what you thought was an innocuous photograph or video? Have you been threatened? Have security guards demanded that you hand over your film, memory cards, and/or camera? Perhaps snatched them from you? Then this site is intended for you.

Have you been successful in convincing irate parents, confused policemen, and troublesome self-appointed “authorities” to let you go on with your own work in peace? Then this site is especially intended for you, to share your methods and success in making the world a more free one.”

Website: PhotoPermit.ORG

Photo.net have reviewed the new HP Photosmart R707, a stylish 5 megapixel digital camera.

“Overall the camera performed well. There were a couple of things I didn’t like. One I mentioned above was that the viewfinder seemed to be set with a virtual focus distance which was shorter than normal, so I needed reading glasses for a sharp image - something I don’t need with a typical SLR. Not a big deal, and after a while you don’t really notice it. From my observations, most users of this type of camera don’t use the optical viewfinder anyway, they hold the camera at arm’s length and use the LCD screen!”

Website: Photo.net - HP Photosmart R707 Review

The Hungarian website Index Digicam have just reviewed the new 3.2 megapixel Canon PowerShot A75.

Website: Index Digicam - Canon PowerShot A75 Review

Digital Photography Blog have just published a helpful new article called Digital Sports Photography Tips:

“With the Olympics just around the corner I thought it might be fun to do a feature on Sports Photography to help those attending the games capture the best action sports shots, but also help the rest of us who will be watching along from home who will no doubt be inspired to improve our own sports photography.”

Website: Digital Photography Blog - Digital Sports Photography Tips