FujiFilm UK Press Release 18/06/04

Music and images on the move with Fujifilm’s USB memory card reader and MP3 player

18 June 2004

Fujifilm’s extensive range of digital accessories is soon to expand with the arrival of the xD-MP3, a combined USB memory card reader, pen drive and MP3 player based on the company’s xD-Picture Card(tm) memory card format. 

At just under ?40, this smart little gadget can be used to store, transport and transfer all types of digital files, while the built-in MP3 player allows you to listen to music on the move. Simply plug the USB drive into your PC or Mac, and transfer your files in one easy step.

With memory provided by an xD-Picture Card(tm) (capacities available from 16MB to 512MB), this wearable device comes complete with headphones, AAA battery and Roxio software (Windows 98, Me, NT4.0, 2000, XP), which gives you the flexibility to copy, play and burn digital music to CD/DVD, as well as convert music tracks to and from MP3 format for use on the xD-MP3.

The Fujifilm xD-MP3 is available now at an SRP of ?39.99 including VAT.

Are you bored? Is your photography boring? Have you reached a creative dead-end? “Boring Photographs”, the latest article on the Petteri’s Pontifications website, considers what a boring photograph is and how to get out of a rut.

“In the beginning, photography is instinctual. Some are so talented that that’s all they’ll ever need; that, and practice. The rest of us will eventually start to work consciously on what we’re doing, whether it’s through attention to composition through “rules,” dissecting the work of photographers we admire, setting ourselves assignments (“one photo a day, every day, with one lens and one type of film; no more, no less”), joining camera clubs, or submitting our work to Photosig. All of this does exert a pull towards blandness. Most of us succumb to it at one point or another.”

Thanks to panchals for sending me the link.

Website: Petteri’s Pontifications - Boring Photographs

Epson UK Press Release 18/06/04

EPSON launches A4 inkjet with new features to meet the needs of the small/home office

The EPSON Stylus C86 is a new printer designed to improve the quality and cost efficiency of home and small office printing

June 2004 - The EPSON Stylus C86 is the latest addition to EPSON’s range of general-purpose inkjet printers. The EPSON Stylus C86 has been designed to meet the print needs of all kinds home office and small business use.

The new products benefit from EPSON’s latest PhotoQuicker 3.5 and EPSON Web-To-Page software. PhotoQuicker 3.5 allows users to modify and print photos more easily, while Web-To-Page software allows web pages to be automatically condensed to paper size, so the printed version reflects what users see on screen.

Epson UK Press Release 18/06/04

EPSON launches three new printers designed to improve the quality and cost efficiency of home and small office printing

June 2004 - The EPSON Stylus C46, EPSON Stylus C66 (pictured), and the EPSON Stylus C86, are the latest additions to EPSON’s range of general-purpose inkjet printers. All models are ideal for all kinds of home projects and small business use.

The new products benefit from EPSON’s latest PhotoQuicker 3.5 and EPSON Web-To-Page software. PhotoQuicker 3.5 allows users to modify and print photos more easily, while Web-To-Page software allows web pages to be automatically condensed to paper size, so the printed version reflects what users see on screen.

Richard Baylis, Sales and Marketing Manager, Consumer products at EPSON UK, “EPSON is committed to the home printing market and these three new products are a great addition to our existing inkjet range. We are constantly looking at how we can improve the quality of our products and we think this latest range offers great performance through our superior technology and fantastic value for money”.

Steves Digicams are first off the blocks with thier review of the Pentax Optio43WR. This digital camera features 4.0 effective megapixels, a 2.8X zoom lens, and a JIS Class 7 waterproof rating that keeps the Optio43WR watertight even when the camera is rinsed, splashed or submersed in water.

“Its 2.8X optical zoom lens produces sharp results throughout its range, but with noticeable barrel distortion at full wide angle and slight pincushioning at full telephoto. The operation of the optical zoom is smooth and quiet, but not continuous; it moves through its 37-104mm range in 12 distinct steps, more than adequate for composing most shots.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Pentax Optio43WR Review

The Canadian digital photography website Photoxels have published an excellent tutorial about the White Balance feature, which is found on all but the cheapest of digital cameras.

“If you come from the world of films, you may remember using filters to correct for incandescent or fluorescent lighting. Most people don’t bother and their indoors pictures invariably come out with a yellow/orange or bluish cast. In the digital world, these correction filters are no longer necessary, replaced by a feature found in most—even the entry-level—digital cameras called, “White Balance.”

Website: Photoxels - White Balance Tutorial

Imaging Resource have just reviewed the 4-megapixel, 10x zoom Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z2.

“The original DiMAGE Z1 was clearly one of the best long-zoom digicam bargains on the market, a fact that no doubt contributed to its being one of the most popular cameras on the entire IR site last year. The Z2 carries on in that tradition, adding a higher-resolution CCD chip, some expanded continuous shooting and movie mode options, and a few other more minor enhancements, while still selling at about the same price as the Z1 did last year.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z2 Review

HP Press Release 17/06/04

HP to teach eBay marketplace users how to easily capture, share and print high-quality digital photos

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 17, 2004
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HP today announced that it will provide digital photography content and products to the eBay community, sharing expert tips and techniques with the nearly 105 million registered eBay users.

To back this effort, HP will develop the HP Digital Photography Zone area on eBay.com (www.hp.com/go/ebay), which is designed to provide a total digital photography educational experience. The Zone will highlight how digital photography solutions can make it simpler and easier for consumers to capture, share, manage and print digital images at home for their eBay business, as well as their personal use.

Approximately 59 percent of eBay users own a digital camera and the digital images they take are often a vital part of the online buying and selling process. Buyers frequently prefer to see a picture of the product they are considering before making a purchase.

“Together with eBay, HP is leading the charge in delivering a simple and rewarding photography experience for consumers,” said Kathy Stromberg, vice president, Consumer Segment Marketing - Americas, HP. “The HP Digital Photography Zone is an incredible channel to share our digital photography expertise with these consumers and the millions of others who are online and already living in the digital world. Our classes, as well as the innovation of our products and solutions, will empower eBay users to make their postings - and all their digital images - stand out.”

I didn’t have the opportunity to take many photos during my recent visit to Holland, as I was sitting rather gingerly on a bike saddle for most of the 4 days. We did a brief walking tour around the old part of Amsterdam on the final day - I will definitely have to go back for a longer stay.

Fujifilm UK Press Release 17/06/04

Fujifilm’s FinePix F440 Zoom and FinePix F450 Zoom: new standards in compact camera design

Release Date: 17 June 2004

Four and five megapixel resolution and 3.4x optical zoom set a new standard in ultra-compact housing

Fujifilm today announced the FinePix F440 Zoom and FinePix F450 Zoom: five and four megapixel resolutions, with a 3.4 times optical zoom, two inch LCD screen, and housed in a design so small that it can be hidden behind a single Post-It Note.

Borrowing the good looks of their predecessors - the popular FinePix F410 and F420 Zoom - the trim figures of these new models are possible thanks to a newly developed lens structure. The clever lens design makes these cameras’ enviable vital statistics achievable (W 74.5 x H 62.3 x D 21.3 mm and a body weight of just 150g).

Digital Photography Blog have produced a useful guide to histograms, rounding up 10 of the best resources on the Web.

“The Histogram is one of the most useful tools in Digital Photography yet it is one of the least understood and utilized. We’ve searched the web for ten of the best Histogram Tips and Tutorials to help us all to get the best possible exposure for our digital images. These tutorials focus upon both in camera histograms and histogram tools in imaging editing software.”

Website: Digital Photography Blog - Histograms Tips

TheTechLounge has just published the final part of its “Beyond Megapixels” series of articles, which examines current digital photography hardware and gives the author’s views of what is to come in the near-future.

“The average photographer will be relying on the automatic systems of the camera to provide the correct focus, metering and white balance when taking a picture. In difficult or tricky shooting situations, the photographer may choose to manually adjust these settings. Before delving into the specifics of these variables, it is important to first make certain that a camera has the ability to manually control these settings. When you are first purchasing your shiny new camera, you may not think that you?ll ever venture beyond the automatic settings of the camera, but as you become more and more addicted to digital photography there is a great chance that you?ll find yourself wanting more control over the shot.”

Website: TheTechLounge - Beyond Megapixels - Part I

Website: TheTechLounge - Beyond Megapixels - Part II

Website: TheTechLounge - Beyond Megapixels - Part III

Luminous Landscape have just published their review of the 5 megapixel Leica Digilux 2 and Panasonic LC1 digital cameras.

“After just a few hundred frames with the LC1 it occurred to me - using it was like shooting with a real camera, not a computer with a lens attached - which is what so many digicams remind me of. Not to disparage all digicams. Some are very good, and though the paradigm is different, one gets used to it. But for long-time photographers who enjoy the feel of shutter speed knobs and aperture rings and the control that a manual focus ring gives, the LC1 / Digilux twins will feel like coming home again.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Leica Digilux 2/Panasonic LC1 Review

The Hungarian website Index Digicam have just reviewed the Sanyo Xacti VPC-J4 EX digital camera. This is a 4-megapixel ultra-compact camera with a brushed aluminium body, 1.8-inch TFT LCD and zoom lens with a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 37-104mm. The Xacti VPC-J4 EX will be available in 3 different colors.

Website: Index Digicam - Sanyo Xacti VPC-J4 EX Review

The Polish website Fotopolis have today reviewed the new 8-megapixel Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom digital camera.

Website: Fotopolis - Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom Review

Website: Read my review of the Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom

Imaging Resource yesterday published their review of the new Olympus C-765 Ultra Zoom digital camera.

“Overall, the C-765 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-765’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-765 Ultra Zoom Review

ePhotoZine have just published their review of the new Nikon Super Coolscan 9000 ED film scanner.

“The Nikon Super Coolscan LS9000 is a superb machine, though pricey. In commercial terms its cost can be justified in time savings and its multi-format capability.”

Website: ePhotoZine - Nikon Super Coolscan 9000 ED Review

Samsung Press Release

THE DIGIMAX I-PACK RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM ION BATTERY - ANOTHER WORLD’S FIRST FROM SAMSUNG CAMERA

Samsung is proud to announce the world’s first rechargeable Lithium-Ion CR-series battery pack. Known as the Digimax Battery I-Pack, it can replace two conventional AA cells or a single CR-V3 battery in today’s digital cameras while providing the high voltage and low temperature performance they demand. The I-Pack is compatible with numerous cameras yet is specifically designed as a power source for the Digimax series of digital cameras, including the V50, V5, 530, V40, V4, 430, 401, 370, V3, 250 and 202.

“No matter what kind of electronic devices consumers use today, the need for a reliable, long-lasting power source is universal,” said Gary Sutton, Sales manager for Samsung Camera. “With the introduction of the new I-Pack rechargeable battery, we’ve delivered an ideal power solution for the majority of the cameras within the Digimax line.”

Future Image Press Release 17/06/04

CAMERA-PHONES MAKE BETTER PRINTS THAN SINGLE-USE CAMERAS

NOORDWIJK, THE NETHERLANDS, and SAN MATEO, Calif. - June 17, 2004—Prints made from camera-phone images are significantly better than those from single-use cameras - both film and digital - and comparable to those from standalone consumer digital cameras, according to a new study released today.

On the opening day of its Mobile Imaging Summit Europe executive conference, Future Image, Inc., the leading provider of information and analysis on business and technology trends in the imaging industry, announced the results of its evaluation of the quality of consumer prints made from camera-phone pictures. For its report ?4 x 6 Shoot-Out: Are Camera-Phones Ready To Make Consumer Prints??, the research firm photographed six representative test subjects with nine different consumer cameras - four camera-phones, two one-time use cameras (OTUCs), and three point & shoot digital cameras - and evaluated prints of the images made using an online service, retail kiosk, and home printing equipment.

Epson Press Release 17/06/04

Canon, Epson, HP, and Lexmark, Support New ISO Standard that Helps Customers Evaluate Printer and Print Cartridge Yield

- Consensus-driven standard for measuring monochrome toner print cartridge yield is technically robust, international in scope -

- TOKYO, Japan; PALO ALTO, Calif.; LEXINGTON, Ky.; June 16, 2004 -

Canon (NYSE: CAJ), Epson, HP (NYSE: HPQ), and Lexmark (NYSE: LXK), today announced their support of the new International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard, ISO/IEC 19752, for monochrome toner cartridge yield in monochrome laser printers. Canon, Epson, HP, and Lexmark are leading proponents of industry standards and believe a single, rigorous, worldwide ISO standard to measure monochrome toner cartridge yield will help customers more objectively and accurately evaluate printer and print cartridge yield.