My Dad’s a keen gardener, growing both flowers and vegetables that put the tasteless supermarket varieties to shame (probably because of all the horse-dung that he’s spread on the ground over the years!). His garden also turns out to be a good place to take photographs - these shots were all taken in a quick 30 minute session, accompanied by shouts of “What on earth are you doing now?” from my onlooking family.

Just to prove that PhotographyBLOG isn’t entirely a website about digital cameras, here’s a link to a camera made from a paint can. Yes, you read that correctly, a paint can. Brought to you by Lomography.com, the Paint Can is a pinhole camera, the simplest of photographic devices. Available now for £43.27 / $65 / 65.00 EUR.

“An unbelievably simple tool to literally “paint” your photographic masterpiece. Hand-crafted out of a US-quart paint can, this pinhole camera creates dazzling images on massive large format sheet film with its natural roundness imparting a maniacal barrel distortion. Uses large format film for mind-blowing enlargements. Set includes Can Cam, nylon film changing bag, and 25 pcs of Forte black and white sheet film.

Website: Lomography.com - Paint Can Camera Set

Shuttertalk have just reviewed Pixort, a software program dedicated to helping you sort and select your best images.

“On a recent wedding shoot, I took over a thousand photos - I bracketed a lot, and took many double and triple shots of the same scene just in case one didn’t turn out, or someone important was frowning in the photo. When I got back, I had a tedious task ahead of me - it was quite a pain comparing two photos with a normal image viewer. I had to flick back and forth between them, which was especially hard if they were not taken consecutively.

I notice too that a lot of packages out there focus on the image manipulation (Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, etc.) management and archival of photos (Adobe Photoshop Album, JASC Paint Shop Album), but not many actually focus on the image sorting, selection and rating process. Stepping in to fill the gap, JottoSoft has produced Pixort, which at the time of writing this article, is at Version 1.1.”

Website: Shuttertalk - Pixort Review

Website: Pixort

The Japanese website PC Watch have posted another batch of sample images taken with the Epson RD-1 rangefinder digital camera and a variety of different lenses. Text is in Japanese, but full-sized originals are available for all the images.

Website: PC-Watch - Epson RD-1 Sample Images

Canon Europe have just announced a new range of “designer” printers, dubbed the PIXMA range. Well, they have announced them according to the latest issue of the UK-based Amateur Photographer magazine (10 July 2004) - I’ve been unable to find any other source for them so far. Even the DPReview forums haven’t mentioned them!

In brief, there are 4 new PIXMA printers. The PIXMA iP4000 and iP3000 both have a resolution of 4800x1200dpi and are designed to print up to A4 borderless. Droplet size is 2 picolitres (pl). Both printers feature FINE print heads and are said to print a 6x4 inch print in just 36 seconds. The PIXMA iP4000 has a 5-tank system that includes a dye-based black ink.

There are also 2 entry-level models. The PIXMA iP2000 and iP1500 both have a resolution of 4800x1200dpi and 2 picolitres (pl) droplet size. Both are PictBridge compatible.

Finally, the PIXMA MP750 and MP780 are new multifunctional printers, which can scan, copy and print. The MP780 can also send faxes.

Price and availability are still to be confirmed.

PC Magazine have reviewed the full version of Jasc’s Paint Shop Pro Photo Album 5, which allows you to get your photos from camera to computer and then enhance, organize, and share them with Photo Album’s fast and easy-to-use tools. In other words it’s a direct competitor to Adobe Photoshop Album.

“Although previous versions of Jasc’s Paint Shop Photo Album had a lot to like, we were awfully frustrated with its interface, which was built on a hierarchical folder system. Competing products?namely Adobe Photoshop Album and Picasa?have proven there are better ways. Now Jasc Paint Shop Photo Album 5 has followed their lead, providing a much improved interface.”

Thanks to Sanj for the link.

Website: PC Magazine - Paint Shop Pro Photo Album 5 Review

About Graphics Software also have a review, commenting “Jasc Paint Shop Photo Album 5 allows you to import, organize, enhance, and share your digital photos. The printing and sharing features are exceptional, but there are better solutions for editing and organizing your photo collection.”

Website: About Graphics Software - Paint Shop Pro Photo Album 5 Review

Website: Jasc Software

Lensbabies Press Release 07/07/04

July 7, 2004   Portland, OR.  Lensbabies, LLC, expanded its lineup of lenses to include Original Lensbabies with camera mounts that will fit virtually all SLR bodies.  Lensbabies added Pentax K, Olympus OM, Minolta Maxxum, Canon FD, Universal Screw, Minolta Manual, and Contax/Yashika mount Lensbabies to its existing product line of Canon EF and Nikon F mount Lensbabies.

The Original Lensbaby, is a flexible camera lens that creates a ‘sweet spot’ area of focus which photographers move around the image by bending the flexible lens tubing.  The lens focuses like a mini-bellows on the front of an SLR.  The shooter focuses a Lensbaby by compressing the lens with their fingertips.  Lensbaby photographs have the roughed-up look created by Holga or Diana cameras, but using a Lensbaby on your SLR is convenient, versatile, and enables you to place the subject and the sweet spot of focus anywhere in the image.

All versions of The Original Lensbaby are available for sale now at www.lensbabies.com for $96.

Read my Lensbaby Review

The Slovenian website e-FotoGrafija have tested the Olympus CAMEDIA C-5060 Wide Zoom camera in conjunction with the 0.7x wide-angle convertor, at a Formula One race of all places!

Website: e-FotoGrafija - Olympus C-5060 Wide Zoom and Wide-Angle Convertor Review

Yesterday one of the news stories here on PhotographyBLOG was featured on Slashdot, the immensely popular technology news/discussion site. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that the sudden influx of visitors killed my server, knocking it offline for about 6 hours from 3pm onwards.

We’ve now made some server changes that will hopefully cope better with large traffic increases in the future. Fingers-crossed, touch wood etc.

So apologies to everyone if you visited PhotographyBLOG yesterday, only to find that it had temporarily disappeared…

Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc. Press Release 07/07/04

FUJIFILM’S NEW STUDIOMASTER PRO 3.0 BOOSTS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS’ PRODUCTIVITY BY INCREASING WORKFLOW EFFICIENCIES

Enhanced image preview, editing and ordering features enable photographers to generate additional revenue opportunities while cutting costs and saving time

VALHALLA, NY, July 7, 2004 - As professional photographers manage millions of pictures this busy summer season, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc., announces a new version of its Studiomaster PRO image presentation, editing and ordering software designed to increase workflow efficiencies for photographers and labs. With over 70 years of imaging know-how and close ties to the professional market, Fujifilm understands photographers’ needs to save time and money, while maintaining creative control - and Studiomaster PRO 3.0 does just that.

With Studiomaster PRO 3.0, wedding and portrait photographers can more easily preview and edit images, quickly create and present professional albums to clients and efficiently send print orders to their lab. Based on feedback from previous versions, Fujifilm enhanced many features and added new functionality to Studiomaster PRO so photographers can spend more time behind the lens, instead of in front of the computer.

Epson USA Press Release 06/07/04

NEW EPSON STYLUS? C66 AND C86 INK JET PRINTERS OFFER VIVID,
LONG-LASTING OUTPUT WITH FAST PRINT SPEEDS

Epson?s Latest All-Purpose Printers Include New Photo Kit to Provide Easy and Convenient Photo Printing From Start to Finish

LONG BEACH, Calif., July 6, 2004 ? Epson America Inc. is adding two new all-purpose printers to its award-winning product line that deliver fast print speeds and incredible print quality at affordable prices.  Replacing the award-winning EPSON Stylus C64 and C84, the EPSON Stylus C66 and C86 produce text, documents and beautiful frame-ready borderless photographs, and are available for estimated street prices of $69 and $99, respectively.

Both printers feature Epson?s exclusive and award-winning DURABrite inks, delivering fade-resistant, water-resistant and smudge-resistant results to preserve cherished photos and important documents.  The EPSON Stylus C66 and C86 offer up to 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi with variable sized droplets to ensure incredible quality and detail, as well as a convenient and cost-effective individual ink cartridge system with true black printing on glossy media for more realistic and sharper images.

creativepro.com have taken a peek inside a digital camera, explaining what goes on and what effect the sensor has on image quality.

“Good film photographers often have a very thorough understanding of the nature and properties of particular film chemistries—often going so far as to make their own paper and emulsions. Though digital photographers can’t sit around forging their own image sensors, they can still benefit from understanding some of the rudiments of the image sensor technology found in most digital cameras.

Many imaging problems can be avoided by understanding their cause, and often times imaging troubles are caused by fundamental issues within your camera. In this installment of “Framed and Exposed,” we’re going to take a high-level look at what happens inside your digital camera.”

Website: creativepro.com - Framed and Exposed: Making Sense of Camera Sensors

What is perhaps more interesting than the 4 new Konica Minolta cameras announced today is the rapid product cycle that seems to have been established, by both Konica Minolta and other manufacturers. 1 year ago the DiMAGE Z1 was released, 6 months later saw the launch of the DiMAGE Z2, and now, another 6 months down the line, the DiMAGE Z3 has been announced. Plus the X50 and G530 are both updates of models that were announced within the last year (X20, announced July 17th 2003, and the G500, announced August 7th 2003).

I’m interested to know if you think this is a good thing, giving you more choice as a consumer and ultimately driving down the cost of the older models, or whether you hate the fact that your new camera will be out-of-date in less than 6 months time…

The official press releases haven’t been, well, officially released yet, but the web pages are live for 4 new digital cameras from Konica Minolta. Now, I hate to say that I told you so, but the Z3 that PhotographyBLOG exclusively revealed last week is amongst the new announcements. In no particular order, they are:

DiMAGE Z3
- 12x Optical Zoom
- Anti-Shake Mechanism
- 4 megapixels

DiMAGE Z10
- 8x Optical Zoom
- 3.2 megapixels

DiMAGE G530 (pictured)
- 3x Optical Zoom
- 5 megapixels

DiMAGE X50
- 2.8x Optical Zoom
- 5 megapixels
- Slim Design

The Konica Minolta website has fancy-pants Flash-based presentations for its entire camera lineup:

Website: Konica Minolta

and also a Specifications page for each camera:

Website: DiMAGE Z3

Website: DiMAGE Z10

Website: DiMAGE G530

Website: DiMAGE X50

Also, the Japanese website PCHome already has a preview of the new models:

DiMAGE Z3
DiMAGE Z10
DiMAGE G530
DiMAGE X50

Editor’s Note: The press releases have now been issued by Konica Minolta USA, starting with the Z3…

Konica Minolta USA Press Release 07/07/04

Konica Minolta Introduces the DiMAGE Z3 High-Performance 4.0 Megapixel Digital Camera
New digital camera with built-in 12x optical “Mega Zoom” lens is the first Z-series camera to feature Konica Minolta?s CCD-Shift Anti-Shake System

Mahwah, NJ (July 7, 2004) - Konica Minolta introduces a new addition to the Z-series of digital cameras - the DiMAGE Z3. With Konica Minolta?s unique CCD-shift Anti-Shake System accompanying the camera?s built-in 12x optical zoom lens, the stylish DiMAGE Z3 provides photographers of all levels with very steady and sharp hand-held telephoto shots. Its speed also enables photographers to get those action shots right away with Rapid Autofocus (AF) ? the fastest auto focus in its class*1. The camera?s AF also has a Predictive Focus Control for unmatched high-speed focusing that brings out the very best in the DiMAGE Z3’s superior ability to capture fast moving subjects.

“Photographers will never miss a shot with the new DiMAGE Z3,” said Jon Sienkiewicz, vice president of marketing, Konica Minolta?s Camera Division. “With combined functions such as the Anti-Shake System, Rapid Autofocus capabilities, and 12x optical zoom lens, this digital camera provides advanced amateur as well as serious photographers with the versatility and reliability they need to get the shot right the first time.”

Konica Minolta USA Press Release 07/07/04

Konica Minolta Introduces the 3.2 Megapixel DiMAGE Z10 Digital Camera
Affordable new camera features fastest-in-class startup, 8x Optical “Mega-Zoom,” fast and reliable autofocusing, and energy efficient design

Mahwah, NJ (July 7, 2004) - Konica Minolta introduces an affordable new addition to the Z-series of digital cameras - the DiMAGE Z10. Featuring a fastest-in-class*1 startup time of 0.5 seconds, built-in 8x optical zoom lens, fast and reliable autofocusing with Predictive Focus Control, and an energy efficient design*2 that gives photographers up to 500 frames with the included AA alkaline batteries, the new DiMAGE Z10 is a convenient, fun and easy to use digital camera.

“The affordable new DiMAGE Z10 has been designed to bring high-quality digital photography into the daily lives of novice and advanced amateur photographers,” said Jon Sienkiewicz, vice president of marketing, Konica Minolta?s Camera Division. “Photographers carrying the DiMAGE Z10 with them will have a reliable digital camera to capture those everyday photographic moments exactly as they see them occur.”

Konica Minolta USA Press Release 07/07/04

Konica Minolta Introduces the DiMAGE X50 Digital Camera
New compact and stylish 5.0 megapixel camera features a large 2.0-inch LCD screen, enhanced speed and other design improvements

Mahwah, NJ (July 7, 2004) - Konica Minolta introduces the new DiMAGE X50 5-megapixel digital camera that takes the DiMAGE X series’ concept of “thin, fast and stylish” and adds increased speed.  Compact and lightweight enough to take anywhere and stylish enough to show everyone, the DiMAGE X50 adds the fastest-in-class* startup time, 2.8x non-protruding optical zoom, 5-megapixel CCD, and large 2-inch LCD, to a high quality digital camera in a sleek, compact package.

“The idea behind the design of the new DiMAGE X50 digital camera is to make it fast, easy and fun for anyone to take beautiful, high-quality pictures anywhere, anytime,” said Jon Sienkiewicz, vice president of marketing, Konica Minolta?s Camera Division. “The camera’s 5 megapixel resolution ensures that even amateur photographers can share their casual snapshots as great enlargements.”

Konica Minolta USA Press Release 07/07/04

(Already announced by Konica Minolta Europe In June 2004)

Konica Minolta Introduces Stylish New 3.2-megapixel X-Series Digital Camera
Compact, easy-to-use and affordable new DiMAGE X31 features super-fast start-up speed and a 12x zoom range

Mahwah, NJ (July 7, 2004) - Konica Minolta introduces a new member to the X-series of DiMAGE digital cameras - the new DiMAGE X31. This 3.2 megapixel digital camera combines a fast startup speed, thin and stylish design, and intuitive operation in a very affordable entry-level digital camera model. 

The new Konica Minolta DiMAGE X31 is a user-friendly, compact digital camera equipped with Konica Minolta?s proprietary non-protruding 3x optical zoom that keeps the camera thin, even when the zoom is activated. This new digital camera features 3.2-megapixel high picture quality and is one of the slimmest and lightest cameras in its class. In addition, the camera features a versatile 4x digital zoom in combination with the 3x optical zoom to take pictures at up to 12x total zoom,  as well as the ability to take photos as close as 3.9 inches to the subject without having to switch to a separate macro mode.

The Hungarian website Index Digicam have published a joint review of the new 5 megapixel Nikon Coolpix 5200 and 4 megapixel Nikon Coolpix 4200 compact digital cameras.

Website: Index Digicam - Nikon Coolpix 5200/4200 Review

Imaging Resource have published their review of the 4-megapixel Olympus C-770 Ultra Zoom digital camera.

“Very good color: Good skin tones, good handling of incandescent lighting too. Overall, the C-770 produced accurate, pleasing color, under a wide variety of shooting conditions. Hue was accurate in most instances, saturation appropriate (although strong reds and blues tended to oversaturate slightly), and skin tones looked very natural. As is the case with most cameras I test, the C-770’s auto white balance system had a hard time with the household incandescent lighting that’s so common in the US, but its Incandescent and Manual white balance options did very well indeed. All in all, a very nice performance.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Olympus C-770 Ultra Zoom Review