SmartDisk Press Release

FORT MYERS, Fla.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Nov. 3, 2003—SmartDisk Corporation today introduced 40GB and 80GB models of its award-winning FlashTrax(TM) handheld portable multimedia device for offloading and storing digital images and music.

FlashTrax safely stores high-resolution images transferred from any flash memory card onto the built-in USB2.0 hard drive and displays them on a 3.5” LCD that outperforms tiny on-camera screens. By using the sleek control pad, the user can change the image, zoom in, zoom out and pan, or choose a slide show function without the need of a PC. In addition to rapid JPEG view and zoom, FlashTrax can display most RAW format files using the JPEG data typically embedded in such files. The LCD folds to ensure that both the screen and control buttons remain protected while in field use. Images may be viewed on the LCD screen or on any TV using the included remote control. To facilitate portability, FlashTrax includes a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery.

“The Professional Photographers Association has just recognized FlashTrax as one of the hottest new imaging products of 2003,” says Charles Klinker, Vice President-Marketing for SmartDisk. “With our new FlashTrax models, professional photographers will find even more flexibility for field applications.”

A built-in MP3 player makes this device even more attractive—more than 7,000 compressed audio files can be stored and played back through the built-in speaker, or through headphones or external speakers. Various play modes are easily controlled from the user-friendly screen display and control pad, making music selection quick and easy.

FlashTrax also supports video playback of motion picture JPEG files, a format typically used for the short “movies” supported by many digital still cameras. With transfer speeds of up to 480Mbps, FlashTrax can also serve as an external hard drive to transfer, store and access data or act as a simple backup device.

Availability
The new FlashTrax models are available now through retailers and distributors, as well as through the company’s Web site at http://www.smartdisk.com.

The Plugin Site Press Release 03/11/03

November 3, 2003 - The Plugin Site (http://www.thepluginsite.com) is proud to announce Version 1.01 of FocalBlade, a Photoshop-compatible plugin for sharpening your photos for screen display and printing as well as for producing great looking blur, soft focus and glow effects on 8bit and 16bit images. FocalBlade lets you sharpen photos without amplifying noise or artifacts and produces impressive sharpening results even on low quality images. FocalBlade is the second product in our new PhotoWiz product line, which sets a new standard for photo correction tools.

New in Version 1.01
FocalBlade 1.01 can now process huge images with very little RAM and renders up to 10% faster at low RAM. It features better sharpening, because it increases saturation and brightness less when sharpening. There are new Highlights and Shadows sliders on the Fix tab sheet for reducing the sharpening or blurring in the highlight and shadow areas. The White/Black Halo sliders work more precisely and also affect the surface area. Support for grayscale images (8 bit and 16 bit) has been added, too. Version 1.0 displayed a semi-transparent preview when applied on layers in 16bit mode in Photoshop CS. This problem has been fixed in Version 1.01. Smaller enhancements include the usage of the Alt key to move the preview image with the left mouse button, the improvement of the Undo button to remove or restore the sample area and an expanded Tips section in the manual.

The popular photoblog directory website Photoblogs.org has recently undergone a dramatic redesign, with a less cluttered interface and a new way of ranking websites. Photoblogs.org members can now help determine Top 100 rankings by creating their own favorites lists.



PhotographyBLOG is currently languishing in 87th place, so I need your help to boost the ranking :-) All you have to do is create an account at Photoblogs.org and then add this site to your list of favourites.



Vote for this site at Photoblogs.org by adding it to your personal favourites list.

Website: Photoblogs.org

The first ever PhotographyBLOG Photo of the Week contest starts tomorrow.

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. Just make sure that you submit your photos to the Photo of the Week Gallery.

The photo with the highest rating at the end of the week wins the coveted PhotographyBLOG Photo of the Week award, You can then proudly display the Photo of the Week logo on your website. Competition #1 starts on 3rd November 2003 and ends on 9th November 2003.

Please read the Photo of the Week Rules before submitting your entry. The contest is worldwide and open to everyone.

UPDATE 03/11/03
The Photo of the Week contest is now open :-)

See the Contest Entries

Imaging Resource have published their review of the A4 HP Photosmart 7960 printer. Can this new printer compete with the likes of the Canon i950 and the Epson Stylus Photo 950? Read Imaging Resource’s review to find out.

“For $299, HP’s engineers put together a fast 4800-dpi printer using three cartridges with up to eight inks. It includes an LCD monitor, a card reader that can handle 10 formats, a scanner and some intelligent firmware. That firmware can calibrate the printer automatically when you change cartridges, plus print and read a proof sheet to automatically print images from your storage card, among other things.”

Website: Imaging Resource - HP Photosmart 7960 Review

Steves Digicams have reviewed the Fuji FinePix F700, which has a 6.2-megapixel Super CCD SR and is supposed to capture more detail in the shadow and highlight areas of an image than Fuji cameras have previously captured.

“Announced earlier this year (2003) with an MSRP of $599, the Fuji FinePix F700 would have been a good value if the promise of its Super CCD SR had been fully realized. We’re not surprised that the F700’s street price has since fallen to under $400; it simply doesn’t compete well as a 6-megapixel camera at a 6-megapixel price.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Fuji FinePix F700 Review

Website: Read my review of the Fuji FinePix F700

Rob Galbraith has tested the 4Gb Microdrive from Hitachi. The 4Gb Microdrive is relatively cheap compared to other similar storage options, selling for around $499.

“the Microdrive, at any capacity, is no longer universally quicker than competing flash memory CompactFlash cards, as it was in the early days. Durability should be improved, thanks to smart design changes in the latest generation of Microdrive. But again, flash memory Compactflash should still be able to better withstand the jolts typical of on-the-go photography.

What’s left for the Microdrive to really call its own? Price.”

Website: Rob Galbraith - Hitachi 4Gb Microdrive Test

Photoxels have published their review of one of the more popular consumer digicams, the 4-megapixel Canon PowerShot A80, which sells for around $399.

“With its ease of use, advanced features in an entry-level camera, Canon quality optics, DIGIC image processor, and affordable price, the PowerShot A80 continues the A70 tradition of being the best digital camera in the beginner to serious amateur category.”

Website: Photoxels - Canon Powershot A80 Review

Steves Digicams have reviewed the new Casio EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z4U, which packs the first high-resolution 4-megapixel CCD of the EXILIM lineup into a stylish and thin card size body. The EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z4U retails for $399.99 and is available now.

“Most of today’s super-compact cameras use small 1.5-inch LCD monitors. The EX-Z4 utilizes a large 2-inch color LCD monitor which covers almost two-thirds of the back and makes it easier to use in the bright sunlight. Since the monitor is a full 1/2-inch larger than most, the menu text is bigger and more legible.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Casio EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z4 Review

Mike Johnston’s weekly column looks at large format camers this week, oh, and Halloween!

“So that you know where I’m coming from, my two favorite 5x4” view cameras are the Wista 45DX or DXII, and the Arca-Swiss F-line. The latter is like a Honda Accord. I say this as a compliment - I drove a succession of Honda Accords in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, and found them to be very close to “transparent”.”

Website: Sunday Morning Photographer: My Favorite View Cameras

DPReview have tested the resolution of the Sigma SD10 after rumours that this new DSLR didn’t have the same resolving power as it’s older brother, the SD9.

“We’ve just received our review Sigma SD10 (after a little mix-up with the courier) and I’m happy to report that resolution is identical to the SD9. I decided to test this immediately after we read reports elsewhere that resolution was significantly lower because of the use of microlenses. In our own shots of a standard ISO resolution chart we can measure absolutely no difference in resolution between the SD9 and SD10 using the same lens at (almost) the same aperture.”

Website: DPReview - Sigma SD10 Resolution Test

Steves Digicams have reviewed the Kyocera FineCam S5R, which is basically the same as the older S5 model but with added high-speed, full-memory consecutive shooting at approximately 3 frames per second.

“The 5-Megapixel Kyocera Finecam S5R is well-equipped with features that will amaze the beginner and please the advanced user. The “R” in the S5R stands for Rapid and that’s just what it is when shooting in the Continuous mode. The stylish stainless steel body is about the same height and width as a credit card. It’s durability will allow it to survive most bumps and bruises. You will enjoy taking this camera everywhere as it fits easily in a pocket or purse and can be ready in a second to take great pictures.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Kyocera Finecam S5R Review

The first ever PhotographyBLOG Competition starts has just started :-)

This is a monthly photography competition with a specific theme and prizes for the top 3 photos. The winning entries will be decided by a panel of judges. You just have to submit a single photograph to the Competition Gallery that best interprets November’s theme, which is “Autumn Colour”.

Please make sure that you read the Monthly Competition Rules before submitting your entry. The competition is worldwide and open to everyone.

See the Competition Entries

Imaging Resource have published a quick review of the 4 megapixel Pentax Optio S4 digital camera, which is small enough to fit inside an empty Altoids tin. But is it a good camera? Read Imaging Resource’s review to find out.

“As you may have gathered from some of my comments, I was quite impressed with the Optio S4. I’ve become accustomed to seeing significant compromises in image quality and feature sets, in order to cram cameras into ever-smaller packages. To my great surprise although, first the Optio S and now the S4 seem to have avoided almost all such compromise, delivering very good color and image quality, along with a really surprising level of features and special functions.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Pentax Optio S4 Review

ePhotoZine have added 4 new articles to their Techniques section for the month of November. There are two useful Photoshop tutorials, “Using Curves Adjustment Layers to tint photographs” and “How to create a natural looking shadow on a selection”, while “Using your camera’s white balance mode” teaches you how to use the white balance mode to ensure accurate colour in all lighting situations. I didn’t bother reading the rather strange tutorial “Use your web browser as a quick visual cropping guide”...

Website: ePhotoZine - November Techniques

DCViews have posted their review of the Canon EOS 300D / Digital Rebel, with a lot of sample photos to look at.

“Canon have done it again. After releasing the first of many IXUS/ELPH models a few years ago and improving them with each succeeding model, they then produced the EOS D30. A groundbreaking digital SLR, which was followed shortly after by the D60 and 10D, two digital SLRs that really showed the world what Canon was capable of. Now they have again astonished everyone, including the competition, by releasing a truly affordable consumer digital SLR camera. First impressions may deceive but if the camera’s good looks and advanced specifications are anything to go by, we are sure the 300D will be a winner from the start.”

Website: DCViews - Canon EOS 300D Review

26 Things for November 2003 has begun!

Use the next month to hunt for the new items and themes and come back December 1 to post your completed entry.

Check out the new items now and get hunting!

Epson USA Press Release 30/10/03

EPSON INTRODUCES EPSON STYLUS PHOTO R800 PRINTER WITH NEW ULTRACHROME HI-GLOSS INKS

Most Advanced Letter Format Desktop Printer Features Eight Cartridge System for Archival Photographic Prints on Glossy and Matte Media

PHOTOPLUS EXPO, NEW YORK - Oct. 30, 2003- Epson America Inc. today announced the EPSON Stylus Photo R800, a new desktop photo printer featuring new Epson UltraChrome Hi-Gloss pigment inks for archival prints on matte and glossy media.  With an estimated street price of $399, the EPSON Stylus Photo R800 lowers the entry price for photographers and digital artists that want archival prints but do not need a large format printer. The EPSON Stylus Photo R800 is capable of making photo quality prints up to 8.5 inches by 11 inches on cut-sheet paper and up to 8.3 inches by 44 inches on roll paper.

“Photographers want the archival properties of prints made with pigment inks, but are concerned that the colors and gloss will not be as good as prints made with dye inks,” said Parker Plaisted product manager, photo imaging.  “With the EPSON Stylus Photo R800, photographers can be confidant that the Epson UltraChrome Hi-Gloss pigment inks will deliver archival high-quality prints on matte and glossy papers that achieve the colors and gloss level seen in prints with dye inks.”

The Epson UltraChrome Hi-Gloss ink set is designed specifically for photographers and digital artists.  This ink set includes eight individual cartridges and features the new Gloss Optimizer as well as Photo Black and Matte Black ink cartridges.  With an eight channel print head, the EPSON Stylus Photo R800 allows the user to keep the Photo Black and Matte Black ink cartridges in the printer at all times and the printer driver determines which black ink to use based on the paper type selected.  In addition to the traditional cyan, magenta and yellow inks, the Epson UltraChrome Hi-Gloss ink set also includes new red and blue inks to create a Hi-Fi ink set that expands the color gamut.  The color gamut for the Epson UltraChrome
Hi-Gloss ink on glossy paper is up to 22% larger than ink jet printers with standard cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink sets.

PhotographyBLOG has just been added to the list of websites that are supported by News Interceptor.

News Interceptor allows you to be instantly notified when your favorite Web sites emit news of interest. You select your favorite sites from a list of more than 500 sites (this list increases every week) classified into many different categories like Business, Computers, Entertainment, Music, Sports and more. When a news is emitted, a window displays the title and you can, with a simple mouse click, read the entire news in your Web browser. News Interceptor runs in the System Tray and only requires an Internet connection.

Best of all, News Interceptor is completely free to try :-)

Website: News Interceptor

The Hungarian website Index Digicam seem to have got their hands on a Sony DSC-F828! They’ve published an article today which includes various product shots of the F-828. If anyone knows of a good Hungarian-English translator then let me know…

Website: Index Digicam - Sony DSC-F828 Article