A-Digital-Eye have posted their review of the Samsung Digimax U-CA 3, a 3 megapixel digital camera aimed at the young photographer or the budding photo enthusiast.

“The Samsung U-CA3 is a stylish little camera that features a 3x optical zoom with a 3x digital zoom, resulting in a 9x zoom capability. The lens has a focusing distance of f=5.8-17.4mm (f=38-114 35mm equivalent). The macro lens lets you get real close at 5cm. The lens fully retracts into the camera housing allowing you to easily slip it into the supplied camera pouch, which has a velcro cover strap and a belt-loop.”

Website: A-Digital-Eye - Samsung Digimax U-CA 3 Review

Tetenal Press Release 23/06/04

Tetenal has launched a competitively priced, matte photographic paper Duo Print Paper 176g

Photo print - for every day

Norderstedt, May 2004. With the Duo Print Paper “heavy weight” 176g Tetenal offers an additional paper of photo realistic quality in the successful spectra jet OFFICE PHOTO product line. This matte coated, double sided printable paper has a similar surface to Tetenal’s highly successful paper, Duo Print 130 g which regularly wins the DIMA-Award thanks to its unique photo print reproduction.

With this new “Heavy weight” paper the company still is now going a step further and offers the classic qualities of a high-quality photo printing paper, such as a high weight and a high whitebase with an attractive price per sheet: As little as 18 Cents per A4 sheet, the new material is suitable for all printers (e. g. Canon, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark) and with pigment based inks excellent prints with a high brilliance and long durability - up to 5760 dpi. At the same time, the high weight gives a special significance and a result similar to a conventional photograph.

ImageRecall Press Release 22/06/04

ImageRecall Offers European Digital Camera Users Professional-Grade Photo Recovery with ImageRecall 2.0

The easy-to-use software is now available throughout Europe from ImageRecall’s network of distributors and retail stores.

Winchester, Hampshire, UK -June 22, 2004- ImageRecall announces the European availability of ImageRecall 2.0, a professional-grade photo recovery program that retrieves lost images, data and sound files from flash memory cards. According to the Photo Marketing Association, Europe overtook the Americas during 2003 as the world’s largest market for digital cameras, accounting for 36 percent of all units sold. This increasing popularity can be attributed to recent improvements in picture resolution that make it possible to take digital photos that are the same quality as film. Unlike film however, digital images are subject to losses from accidental deletions, reformatting and random corruptions. With more dependence than ever on digital film for keepsake images and professional shoots, losing digital pictures can be devastating.

Fujifilm UK Press Release 23/06/04

Fujifilm launches Lablinkpro Internet Print Service linking pro-labs with professional photographers

Previewed at this year’s Focus 2004, Fuji Photo Film (UK) Ltd has officially launched LablinkPro, its eagerly awaited advanced internet print service.

Unlike existing internet print services that focus on general consumer retail business, LablinkPro has been specifically designed for pro-labs and professional photographers, linking the two together.

For pro-labs this approach represents the perfect way to tap into the growing professional internet print market, increasing processing levels and making Frontier minilab equipment work harder. Similarly for the LablinkPro photographer the system is designed to reduce processing time and streamline business practices, allowing them to obtain the best possible print quality and speed of service, whilst tying in these individuals to a pro-lab of their choice.

Jessops Press Release

National Photography Week has kicked off, and it runs all the way through to Sunday the 27th. It’s going to be a huge event, and to celebrate, jessops.com has a whole host of events lined up.

For a start, we’ve got some unmissable competitions. You could win a complete digital imaging solution comprising a PC, camera, printer and accessories, or alternatively you could go for our seventh heaven comp where first prize is worth ?30,000. If you don’t fancy that, try your luck with prizes from Fuji, Canon and Powerflash! Pop into your local Jessops store for details.

We’re also running a series of webinars, where you can chat to professionals online about any photo issues, tips or queries. We?ve got some of the industry’s biggest names lined up ready to talk pictures with you. Click here for more details.

You can also enjoy our in-store camera clinics and products days, which are being held up and down the country. Just visit www.jessops.com/photoweek to keep right up to date with everything that we?re doing.

Plus, look out for some great deals on all the latest kit from the world’s leading manufacturers, all on jessops.com! The latest, greatest offers will be updated on our homepage throughout the week - www.jessops.com

Photo.net have published a review of the Canon CP-220 compact photo printer. This is a small format portable dye-sub printer capable of printing 4x6 prints.

“If you need a portable printer, the CP-220 is an excellent choice. During the review no glitches occurred and the prints were generally of high quality. The prints are waterproof and fingerprint resistant which is something that may be very useful if you’re printing pictures at an event (a party for example), plus they can be sent through the mail as postcards. The only drawback to this portable printer is that it does need AC power to operate.”

Website: Photo.net - Canon CP-220 Printer Review

The Hungarian website Index Digicam have published their review of the A4 Epson Stylus Photo R800 printer.

Website: Index Digicam - Epson Stylus Photo R800 Review

Website: Read my review of the Epson Stylus Photo R800

A new report by InfoTrends/CAP Ventures has revealed that most digital camera owners never print out their photos, preferring to share them via email or the web instead. The number of photos taken has risen as digicams have become more popular, but the number of prints made is still the same as in film camera households.

So do you make lots of prints from your digital photos? Or is this study correct in saying that you take more pictures than ever before, but you don’t actually print them out? Leave your anecdotal evidence here…

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures Press Release 23/06/04

Consumer Digital Photo Printing Habits Detailed in New InfoTrends/CAP Ventures Study

(Weymouth, MA) June, 23 2004… A new consumer study from InfoTrends/CAP Ventures reveals clear skies as well as clouds on the horizon for the digital photo printing industry.

The short-term outlook for the photo print industry is good. Among the positive signs are that digital camera users who print photos are taking far more pictures than they ever did with film and printing far more ?enlargements? (larger than 4? x 6? prints). In addition, these users expect their print volumes to increase in the future. On the other hand, excluding a few ultra-heavy users, the average photo print volumes and expenditures for digital camera users are currently no higher than film camera households. In addition, simple digital sharing through e-mail and other methods threatens to undermine the need for photo printing, unless vendors convince consumers that prints are an archival method as well as a sharing vehicle.

DP-Now have published one of the first reviews of the Epson PictureMate inkjet printer.

“If you showed a typical PictureMate photo print to most people they would have no difficulty in appreciating its photo-realistic quality. But to be ultra-critical, our tests show that colour reproduction can stray from the ideal and there is some bronzing of the print surface. There is no doubt that Epson’s excellent dye-based A4 photo printers produce better results, but the PictureMate’s fade-resistance abilities balance things up. Overall, the PictureMate is adequate in terms of print quality but there is definite room for improvement.”

Website: DP-Now - Epson PictureMate Review

Steves Digicams 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 ergonomics of the M410R are good, the controls are well placed and functional, and the menu system is easy to navigate. The 1.5-inch DayFine LCD works great outdoors, even on the brightest of days. When using the LCD or EVF in low-ambient lighting conditions, they “gain up” to increase visibility, which helps you frame your subject in these conditions. One thing Unlike other super-zoom cameras, the M410R’s EVF and LCD do not freeze up or hesitate when the camera is trying to focus. This allows you to easily follow fast-moving subjects during continuous or rapid sequence capture.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Kyocera Finecam M410R Review

The Spanish website quesabesde.com have reviewed the entry-level 3.2 megapixel Olympus CAMEDIA C-160.

Website: quesabesde.com - Olympus CAMEDIA C-160 Review

The Spanish website quesabesde.com have just reviewed the Ricoh Caplio RX, the 3 megapixel successor to the Caplio G4 Wide.

Website: quesabesde.com - Ricoh Caplio RX Review

Website: Read my review of the Ricoh Caplio RX

CNET have reviewed the Olympus D-580 Zoom which has 4 megapixels and a 3x optical zoom lens (also known as the C-360 Zoom in some parts of the world).

“The Olympus Camedia D-580 Zoom shares its lens, sensor, and many other features with its upscale sibling, the Stylus 410. If you want 4-megapixel quality, prefer AA batteries over a bundled lithium-ion cell, and don’t need the Stylus 410’s water resistance, this camera offers a budget-priced point-and-shoot alternative.”

Website: CNET - Olympus D-580 Zoom Review

CNET have posted their review of the Samsung Digimax U-CA 3, a 3 megapixel digital camera aimed at the young photographer or the budding photo enthusiast.

“Our test photos were certainly acceptable, displaying appropriate, even exposures across the board and lots of detail in the shadows, though lighter tones had a tendency to wash out. Our macro results were especially pleasing, with excellent sharpness and reliable automatic focusing. Noise levels were low at ISO 100 but predictably became noticeable at ISO 400.”

Website: CNET - Samsung Digimax U-CA 3 Review

The 3.2 megapixel Ricoh Caplio 400G Wide falls into the waterproof category of digital cameras - you can use it underwater at a depth of 1m or less for up to 30 minutes. As a digital camera it closely resembles other Ricoh cameras in terms of design and features, but it does have the added bonus of a wide-angle 28-85mm lens. It also inherits the speed of the Ricoh Caplio G4, with a shutter response time of just 0.14 seconds, exceeding the speed of a conventional 35mm camera, and a very fast start-up time of 1.9 seconds. There aren’t too many digital cameras that can match this unique combination of speed, wide-angle lens and waterproofness, so does the Ricoh Caplio 400G Wide live up to its billing? Read my review to find out.

Website: Ricoh Caplio 400G Wide Review

Luminous Landscape have published a detailed review of Imageprint 6.0 from ColorByte Software, in conjunction with the Epson 4000 inkjet printer.

“Regardless of what it’s called, a RIP is simply a program that does everything needed to print your image, and it does it in a highly integrated manner. Or at least the latest RIP from ColorByte Software does. It’s called Imageprint 6 , and it is available for Epson 1270, 1280,1290, 2100, 2200, 4000, 5000, 5500, 9000, 9500, 9600, 10000 and 10,600. Roland FJ Series and HP Designjet printers are also supported, as are Iris printers. Postscript as well as raster versions are available.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Imageprint 6.0 & The Epson 4000

Website: ImagePrint

The Hungarian website Index Digicam have posted their review of the new 5 megapixel Sony DSC-W1 digital compact camera.

Website: Index Digicam - Sony DSC-W1 Review

The German website digitalkamera.de have just published their review of the popular 6 megapixel Nikon D70 DSLR.

Website: digitalkamera.de - Nikon D70 Review

DO Labs Press Release 21/06/04

DXO OPTICS PRO ADDS IMMEDIATE SUPPORT FOR NIKON D2H AND CANON EOS 1D MARK II DIGITAL CAMERAS

Paris, France, June 21st, 2004 - DxO Optics Pro, the award wining image correction software application from DO Labs now supports the two most recent high-end Digital Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras from Canon and Nikon, namely the Nikon D2H and the Canon EOS 1D Mark II. Released on May 24, 2004 for both Macintosh and Windows, DxO Optics Pro software automatically eliminates Distortion, Vignetting1, Blur and Lateral Chromatic Aberrations to dramatically improve digital image quality.

A-Digital-Eye have published an enthusiastic review of the Expodisc, which is a filter that goes in front of the lens and is used to set a custom white balance for your digital camera. Prices vary from $79.95 to $159.95 (plus shipping) depending on the filter size.

“Most new digital cameras manufactured today now have a custom white balance setting. Instead of using a grey card or a white sheet of paper to set your custom white balance, simply use the ExpoDisc on your lens aimed at the light source to set the custom white balance. The ExpoDisc has prismatic lens on front to collect light from 180 degrees, allowing it to collect light from all around.”

Website: A-Digital-Eye - Expodisc Review

Website: Expodisc