The Polish website Fotopolis have today posted their review of the 8-megapixel Sony DSC-F828 digital camera.

Website: Fotopolis - Sony DSC-F828 Review

The Czech website Digineff have published a short review of Version 4 of Neat Image. Neat Image is a digital filter designed to reduce visible noise in digital photographic images. Users of previous versions of Neat Image are entitled to a free upgrade to the latest version of the same edition.

Website: Digineff - Neat Image 4 Review

I bought my Canon EOS 10D digital SLR camera exactly 1 year ago, and in that year I’ve taken nearly 10,000 photographs with it. To help celebrate my first anniversary of ownership, I’ve selected 24 of my favourite images from the past year and presented them in chronological order. There is no commentary or technical information, just the bare 24 photos to look at and (hopefully) enjoy.

Article: Canon EOS 10D: A Year in Pictures

Well, after yesterday’s mixed reaction to the first part of my St. Paul’s Cathedral series, here are 5 more photographs from the same shoot. I’m curious to know if the shadows in these images look “blocked” or not on your monitor? These are the first photos that I’ve edited on my new LCD monitor, which compared to my 3-year old CRT monitor displays a lot more detail in the shadow areas. Having two monitors running side-by-side has made me question which one is showing the “true” colours (if there is such a thing). I think I’m going to have to invest in a monitor calibration device…

You can click on each image to view a larger / better quality version over on my personal website, markgoldstein.co.uk

The winner of the 20th PhotographyBLOG Photo of the Week contest is Gary55 with the entry “TurtleHead”. There are no prizes as such for this contest, but the winning photo is displayed on the PhotographyBLOG homepage for a week, and the winner can display the Photo of the Week logo on their website if they wish.

The 21st Photo of the Week contest is now open. This is a weekly photography challenge where you decide who the winner is by voting for your favourite photos. It’s an open contest with no set theme and you can enter as many photos as you like.

Please note that 3 new rules have been added to the Photo of the Week contest, with immediate effect:

- Only images with 3 or more votes are eligible to win.
- A vote only counts if it is made during the duration of the contest.
- If you rate a photo with 5 or less, please leave a comment explaining why.

Click here to read the full Photo of the Week Rules.

Olympus Japan Press Release 19/04/04

Olympus Introduces The CAMEDIA AZ-1 Compact Digital Camera Featuring The World’s First Mobile Advanced Super View Display for Enhanced Viewing Enjoyment

- World’s first Mobile Advanced Super View Display
- New album functions and 23 Scene Program modes
- Easy operation with new control dial

Olympus Corporation (President: Tsuyoshi Kikukawa) is pleased to announce the introduction of the 3.2-megapixel CAMEDIA AZ-1 compact digital camera with 3x optical zoom. In addition to full range of camera features, the CAMEDIA AZ-1 is equipped with a sharp, clear, Mobile Advanced Super View Display that makes it equally suitable for use as a photo viewer.

With its Mobile Advanced Super View Display and new album functions, the CAMEDIA AZ-1 is an entirely new type of camera that offers “shooting,” “viewing,” and “sharing.” The Mobile Advanced Super View Display offers high contrast and a wide viewing angle, and its incorporation into the CAMEDIA AZ-1 marks the first time that this display technology has been utilized in a digital camera or other such mobile device. The 2.5-inch display has a resolution of 210,000 pixels, and its large size and excellent image quality make it ideal for both reviewing and appreciating photos. In addition, New Album and slideshow functions allow users to organize images in the camera, and there is a Camera Album function that allows images edited on a computer to be uploaded and viewed on the camera. By taking advantage of the large, high-definition Mobile Advanced Super View Display, users can easily use the CAMEDIA AZ-1 as a portable photo album that allows them to share their favorite photos with other people wherever they go.

The CAMEDIA AZ-1 is also equipped with 23 Scene Program modes that allow users to obtain optimum image quality in a wide range of shooting situations. Ease of operation is also enhanced by a new control dial that allows various functions to be selected using only the thumb and forefinger of the right hand.

Steves Digicams have today reviewed the new 6 megapixel Kodak Easyshare DX7630.

“The DX7630 features a Schneider Kreuznach Variogon 3X optical zoom lens with a focal length ranging from 39 - 117mm in 35mm equivalence. The lens produces sharp images throughout its zoom range, but with a bit of barrel distortion and pin cushioning present at the wide-angle and telephoto extremes. The lens is quite fast; with a wide-open variable aperture range of F2.8 (wide) to F4.8 (tele), it will allow for a higher than expected shutter speed and enable you to hand-hold the camera in lighting conditions that might otherwise require a tripod or some other form of camera support.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Kodak Easyshare DX7630 Review

Yesterday DP-Now published a comprehensive review of the Konica KD-420Z digital camera, which is actually exactly the same model as the Minolta G400.

“In most areas, the 420Z is an easy camera to get up and running with. Being quite a small and slim design doesn’t detract from general ease of use as most of the controls are logically placed. The camera is also responsive, with few situations arising where you have to wait for the camera. If there is a weakness, it’s that some settings are hidden away inside the menu system and there is no video-out port for connection to a TV.”

Website: DP-Now - Konica KD-420Z Review

The Danish website have reviewed the Sony DSC-V1 compact digital camera, which features 5 megapixel resolution, 4x optical zoom, flexible exposure control and an infrared laser hologram. The Sony DSC-V1 retails for £399 in the UK.

Website: Digital Magasinet - Sony DSC-V1 Review

The Czech website Digineff have published the first review that I have read of the new 5 megapixel Nikon Coolpix 5200 compact digital camera.

Website: Digineff - Nikon Coolpix 5200 Review

The technology website ByteSector have just reviewed the new 8-megapixel Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 digital camera.

“It is a fantastic camera for a professional because it gives absolute manual control. It has a very high capture resolution and colour depth, there are no distortions or colour issues that have appeared in previous models. If I had the money, I would personally buy it for its advanced applications and the 8 mega pixel resolution. I love the manual focus and zoom rings.”

Website: ByteSector - Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 Review

If you’re interested in buying the new 5 megapixel Sony DSC-W1 digital compact camera when it’s released, then A-Digital-Eye’s excellent report from Japan is essential reading. They’ve also kindly posted some sample images.

Website: A-Digital-Eye - Sony DSC-W1 Report

Website: A-Digital-Eye - Sony DSC-W1 Samples

What better way to start off a new week than with yet another review of the Nikon D70?! This time it’s the turn of the Danish website Akamera.dk to post their review of the new 6 megapixel Nikon D70 DSLR.

Website: Akamera.dk - Nikon D70 Review

An impromptu visit to St.Paul’s Cathedral on Friday evening resulted in some great photographs (even if I do say so myself) of one of London’s most famous landmarks. The beautiful early evening spring light lit up the dome of the cathedral, whilst casting the surrounding buildings into shadow. Despite part of the cathedral being shrouded in cloth due to repair work, I think these photos are some of the best that I’ve taken for a while (with more to follow in the next few days).

And all because of the light…

You can click on each image to view a larger / better quality version over on my personal website, markgoldstein.co.uk

Want to be a successful photographer? Mike Johnston’s “Secrets of Success” article is a good place to start.

“Successful photographers, for the most part, have an excess of personal energy. They can work from down to dusk and want more. They’re restless when they’re not working. They don’t like vacations. Sitting around is not for them. This has been true of Dean Collins, Cartier-Bresson, Norman Parkinson, Robert Capa, Edward Weston, Andy Warhol, Galen Rowell, Eliott Erwitt, Jacques Lartigue, and on and on and on. Lazy, slow, tired, procrastinating photographers without the energy to follow through are not likely to build up the needed momentum.”

Website: Sunday Morning Photographer: Secrets of Success

LetsGoDigital has published its review of the FujiFilm FinePix F610, a 6-megapixel digital camera that was first announced back in November 2003.

“The camera lies comfortably in the hand, although I can imagine that some consumers will have to get used to photographing vertically. The complaints of the slow reactions of a digital camera don’t apply for the FinePix F610; Fujifilm has sorted out that problem. The camera starts up swift as an arrow, even more so considering the optical zoom lens has to be positioned. Also the automatic focus, the fast interval of release and the possibility to shoot 5 images in a very fast speed make this FinePix F610 a rapid guy.”

Website: LetsGoDigital - FujiFilm FinePix F610 Review

Website: Read my review of the Fujifilm FinePix F610

DCResource have just reviewed the new 8-megapixel Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom digital camera.

“The Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom is an 8 Megapixel camera that holds its own against the competition, despite having a lens that doesn’t have as much telephoto power as the competition. Image quality is very good, though expect the above average noise and purple fringing that have become hallmarks of 8MP cameras.”

Website: DCResource - Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom Review

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

DCViews have just published their review of the 6 megapixel Nikon D70 DSLR.

“No doubt thanks to Nikon’s newly developed CCD imaging sensor, images show a wide dynamic range with ample detail in highlight and shadow areas. Resolution and sharpness are excellent even at higher ISO settings where there is low noise and good tonal balance. Colours on the D70 are neutral rather than saturated as is sometimes the case on other consumer models, but should you prefer a bit more punch this can be set in the relevant menu section by changing image parameters to vivid colour.”

Website: DCViews - Nikon D70 Review

Signs are everywhere, telling us what we can and cannot do, where to go, what to pay. But how many do you actually notice and digest? And do they make good photographic subjects? These 6 different signs form the last part of my local high street series.

The Lensbaby is the brainchild of professional photographer Craig Strong, who invented the Lensbabies Flexible Lens Mounting System (to give it it’s full name) in an effort to replace his Holga film camera with a digital equivalent. It is described on the Lensbaby website as “the hybrid love children of an old-fashioned bellows camera and an up-tight tilt-shift lens”, producing photographs with “the same soft, roughed-up look produced by a Holga”. So does the Lensbaby live up to its billing? Find out in my review.

Website: Lensbaby Review