Phase One have released a new version of their popular RAW conversion software, Capture One. The new Special Edition is available now for purchase for $199 (after Dec 31 - $249) at www.pictureflow.com. This includes a free camera profile from Etcetera.cc (by Magne Nilsen). Capture One SE is positioned between Capture One LE (Light Edition) and Capture One, which is the full version.

Website: www.pictureflow.com

Phase One Press Release 19/12/03
New C1 “Special Edition” RAW conversion software breaks price barrier for high-end digital SLR shooters for Mac and Windows

- New C1 SE RAW Workflow software announced at $249 with full “Pro” camera support; special introductory pricing now available on C1 SE for $199 until end of year -

NORTHPORT, NY, December 19, 2003 - Phase One, the world leader in professional digital imaging camera backs and software, is pleased to announce C1 Special Edition (SE) RAW Workflow software, the latest version in the C1 DSLR line of RAW Workflow Solutions which is being rolled-out today.

The extensive feature set of the new C1 SE RAW Workflow software is based on the C1 LE (Limited Edition) version, with the exception of the RAW conversion simultaneous batch limit being raised to 100 images (from 20 in LE) and the addition of the full camera support previously available only in the C1 PRO version. On the Mac platform, RAW conversion support is provided for the full line of Canon digital SLR?s (1Ds, 1D, 10D, 300D, D30 and D60). On the Windows platform, the Nikon D1X and D100 are also supported, in addition to the full Canon DSLR lineup. All C1 versions, including the new C1 SE, provide unlimited batch processing by using the Quick Proof Export function which converts RAW files into high-quality proofs in approximately three (3) seconds each (depending on computer configuration).

To celebrate the release of C1 SE, special pre-release pricing of $199 is now available from the three authorized C1 web sites: www.c1dslr.com, www.pictureflow.com (US) and www.pixource.com (Asia).

CNET have published their review of “the world’s smallest and lightest 2-megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom”, the Minolta DiMAGE X20.

“Looking for style on a budget? Consider this lower-cost addition to Konica Minolta’s deservedly popular Dimage X line. The 2-megapixel X20 lacks the deluxe finish and some of the design and performance virtues of its upper-crust cousins, but it retains several of their other strengths, including a 3X zoom lens and adjustable light sensitivity.”

Website: CNET - Minolta DiMAGE X20 Review

The US magazine Popular Photography has mentioned this website in its latest issue (January 2003), awarding PhotographyBLOG 4 out of 5 stars in the “PhotoBlogs: The Chart” section :-) Thanks to Ed Gerrard and Paul from BytePhoto.com for letting me know. Click on the thumbnail image to view the scanned excerpt from the magazine.

Website: Popular Photography

Ricoh are to set to release a new waterproof digital camera into the Japanse market in January 2004. The Ricoh Caplio 400G Wide will have a 28-85mm lens (35mm film camera equivalent) and 3.24 megapixels. It is is an improved version of the previous Caplio 300G and G4 Wide models. The 400G Wide is waterproof up to one meter for a duration of 30 minutes. It will retail in Yapan for 99,000 Yen (found via Visually Speaking).

Website: Akibalive - Ricoh Caplio 400G Wide

MacDevCenter.com posted an interesting article last week which looks at the possibilities offered by using the Belkin Media Reader and the Apple iPod. Apparently allocating 10 GBs of the iPod’s hard disc for images is enough storage space for well over 7,000 pictures taken with a Canon S400 digital camera.

“Apple has done a good job of letting the world know that you can store thousands of songs in your pocket. Now they can add the claim for thousands of pictures too. For the digital photographer on the go, the iPod can be a valuable addition to the camera bag. It entertains while stuck in airports between flight connections, stores your appointments so you know where to be and when, wakes you up if you oversleep, and stores an entire trip’s worth of photos.”

Website: MacDevCenter.com - iPod as Digital Photographer’s Best Friend

Canon Japan have today said in a statement to Reuters that they plan to introduce no less than 20 new digital cameras during 2004, in a bid to capture 25% of the market. Canon anticipates shipping “at least” 12.5 million compact digital cameras in 2004, a jump of nearly 50 percent from the 8.5 million it estimates for the current year. Those figures do not include Digital SLR sales.

“Takashi Oshiyama, head of Canon’s digital imaging business group, told Reuters in an interview that his firm’s long history building cameras would give it the upper hand against its rivals, many of which have only been making cameras for a few years.

“We have a 67-year history making cameras and there is still lots of technology gathered over that time stored away in the shed,” Oshiyama said at Canon’s headquarters in Tokyo.”

I’m not exactly sure what Canon have locked away in the shed (!), but 2004 is certainly building up to be an exciting and eventful year for digital cameras.

Website: Canon Japan - 2004 Digital Compact Cameras

About.com Photography editor Peter Marshall has published an in-depth guide to taking pictures of Christmas Lights with a digital camera. He explains 3 techniques that you can use - long exposures, combining exposures and flash.

“Larger public displays, floodlit buildings and the like are often easier to photograph than smaller and simpler ones, not least because there is more light. The problem with many small displays is really that the overall lighting is often very low.”

Website: About.com - Holiday Lights - Digital

Congratulations to the long-standing digital camera website Steves Digicams, who have apparentyl just reached the 200 million visitor mark. Yes, you read it correctly, 200 MILLION!! Not bad :-)

Website: Steves Digicams

Nikon user Thom Hogan has joined the Luminous Landscape website as an editorial contributor. His first article looks at the subject of noise in Nikon digital SLR cameras.

“One of the first questions I get asked about every new digital SLR is this: “how noisy is it?” As most digital photographers have learned, resolution generally isn’t the controlling factor in what we perceive as “overall image quality” when we shoot digital. Ctein spoke to this at length in a recent special publication for Photo Techniques, and I agree: one of the reasons why moderate megapixel cameras can produce “better-looking-than-film” 11x14” prints has to do with the better, more controlled tonality of the digital image. That’s assuming, of course, that the digital image isn’t peppered with random noise.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - DSLR Signal / Noise Ratios Compared

The Spanish website Quesabesde have reviewed the 3.2 megapixel Minolta DiMAGE Z1. This digicam has a 10x optical zoom lens, equivalent to a 38-380mm 35mm camera zoom, which in combination with the digital zoom offers a 40X zoom range.

Website: Quesabesde - Minolta DiMAGE Z1 Review

The Norwegian website Akamera.no have reviewed the Canon EOS 300D digital SLR camera.

Website: Akamera.no - Canon EOS 300D Review

The Danish website Akamera.dk have reviewed the Casio QV-R40, a 4 megapixel digicam which has an amazing start-up time of one second and shutter-lag of 0.01 seconds. The Casio QV-R40 currently retails for around $300 / ?300.

Website: Akamera.dk - Casio QV-R40 Review

FotoInside Press Release 18/12/03

CAMBRIDGE, England, December 18 /PRNewswire/—- FotoInside is celebrating Milestone with special offers

The market for real photo paper prints from individual digital image files uploaded over the internet is exploding. FotoInside Limited of Cambridge (www.fotoinside.co.uk) is preparing to celebrate with its providing photo lab current year’s 50 millionth photo print from files uploaded online and delivered within Europe. FotoInside expects this milestone to be taken in December. The European market for sublimation print from digital image files has grown by 353.2% in 2003.

FotoInside’s online photo processing serves a growing number of digital camera users, because desktop printing is expensive, frustrating, time consuming, disappointing and never quite as rewarding as the sound of professionally processed prints being posted through your letterbox.

Processing digital photos from the comfort of your home with guaranteed lasting colours starts from 10p ordering 25 prints or more visiting www.fotoinside.co.uk.

To celebrate the 50m online photo prints FotoInside has secured a special offer for ashampoo’s brand new Photo Illuminator v2. When registering for the http://www.fotoinside.co.uk/illuminator/ (January 2003) promotion readers get a voucher for 5 free prints (reduced postage at GBP0.95) and a GBP20 discount on “Illuminator”. Offer lasts until the end of March.

I missed this interesting but perhaps ultimately pointless article which was mentioned on Slashdot a few days ago, until Ed Krimen emailed me - thanks Ed :-) Would Ansel Adams Have Gone Digital? Personally I very much doubt it, but Richard LoPinto, vice president for SLR camera systems at Nikon Inc, thinks he would have loved digital cameras.

LoPinto is quoted as saying “He shot with a large-format camera and had the patience to stand around waiting for hours for the perfect shot, but he also used our Nikon FM series cameras,” LoPinto continued. “I would like to speculate, and it’s purely my personal opinion, that were he with us today he would be really taken by the technology and would be at the forefront.”

Anyway, I’ll let you read the full article here and make up your own minds:

Website: Fortune.com - Would Ansel Adams Have Gone Digital?

Website: Slashdot

DPReview are reporting today that Sharp have just announced a 6 megapixel CCD, which is exactly the same size as the CCDs used in the current crop of 4 and 5 megapixel digital cameras (1/1.8” type). So expect to see a number of new releases of 6 megapixel compact digicams throughout 2004. DPReview have a photo of the new Sharp sensor and specifications list.

Website: DPReview - Sharp 6 Megapixel CCD

The Slovenian website e-fotografija have posted yet more sample images from a full-production version of the highly-anticipated Sony DSC-F828 digital camera. There are 25 new shots for you to look at, although this time they have been resized for the web and aren’t available as full-sized originals.

Website: e-fotografija - More Sony DSC-F828 ISO Samples

Website: Slovenian Translator

Professional photographer Bjorn Rorslett has just published his in-depth review of the Nikon D2H DSLR.

“Nikon D2H has, pixel by pixel, the best image quality of any Nikon DSLR so far available to the public. Do not let the pixel count mislead you into thinking “small in numbers, small in quality”, because the exact opposite is true. From the D2H emerges digital images with a clarity you should see to believe, provided you manage to get the exposure correct. The camera itself exposes virtually perfect when the lighting is flat or the contrast range within the frame is moderate, so under these conditions absolutely no user intervention with regards to the exposure settings is necessary. However, you do need to be a little more careful under high-contrast situations or when flash is used, because most shots then will benefit from a judicious additional increase in the exposure. Anything from +0.3 to +1 EV can be appropriate.”

Website: Bjorn Rorslett - Nikon D2H Review

A-Digital-Eye and DCResource have both just received a production version of the Sony DSC-F828, and rather than leaving us to wait until they have completed their full review, they have posted a number of sample shots. A few comments about the camera’s performance have also been published by A-Digital-Eye:

“We will say that the F828 does appear from all the shots we have now gone through to do a very impressive job with noise levels, including some very good sky shots with low noise all things considered. We did see some Purple fringing or Chromatic Aberrations in a few shots, but at this point it would be too early to say if the levels are anything unusual. We have many shots where there is no issue except the usual ones such as trying to get the perfect exposure or framing it just right.”

Website: A-Digital-Eye - Sony DSC F-828 Images

Website: DCResource - Sony DSC F-828 Images

The last sh1ft.org project for 2003 will be A Day In The Life .. New Years Eve ‘03.

Starting 12 Noon - December 31st 2003 and going straight through to 12 Noon - January 1 2004, take a photograph an hour to document how you spend the last hours of 2003 and the first hours of 2004.

For more details, please visit sh1ft.org/adayinthelife.

Epson Press Release 16/12/03

LONG BEACH, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Dec. 16, 2003—

Epson Adding Unique Online Component to Successful Traveling National School Program

Advanced amateur photographers and photo enthusiasts across the country will soon have two new programs in which they can learn from the pros how to use the latest digital technology to create the highest quality prints. Based on the success of last year’s program, Epson is offering the Epson Print Academy 2004 traveling school, as well as adding the Online Experience, a new web-based course to provide even more educational opportunities.

Print Academy 2004 will travel to 30 cities on weekends beginning Jan. 31 for half-day sessions, with multiple programs offered in several cities. The program will feature all new content from last year’s program, enabling participants to learn more creative solutions from master photographers and printmakers, watch live demonstrations of the latest digital imaging equipment and learn valuable tips and techniques they can use right away to improve their photography and printmaking.