The first ever PhotographyBLOG Competition starts on November 1st, which is just a couple of days away from now!

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.

The popular photoblog directory website Photoblogs.org has just 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. Photoblogs.org’s database currently holds listings for 2,389 photoblogs in 49 countries and 24 languages, so if you’re ever short of photographic inspiration, this is the place to go :-)



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

Website: Photoblogs.org

Michael Reichmann has published a great article on his Luminous Landscape website which clearly explains how to use contrast masks in Photoshop to open up the shadow areas of an image. This looks like a brilliant and relatively simple technique that you will use again and again.

“Given that digital cameras have a dynamic range of 5-7 stops (about the same or slightly greater than transparency film), one often finds that the shadow areas of a frame are rendered darker than one would wish. What to do?

The solution is to use what is called a contrast mask. This is now done digitally, but it is nothing new. It’s been around since the early years of the 20th Century. This used to involve the production of a B&W negative copy of the original which was then placed in superimposition with the positive while a print was made. This caused a flattening of the contrast as shadows received extra exposure while highlights were held back.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Understanding Contrast Masking

Canon have released a new version of firmware for the Canon EOS 10D DSLR.

This Firmware update (Version 2.0.0) incorporates the following changes:

- PictBridge support*
Improvements or corrections to the following:
- The release time lag when using Microdrives
- C.Fn-04 AE lock operations
- Exposure compensation display errors when using the Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2

*PictBridge is a new industry standard for direct printing that allows you to print images without using a computer by directly connecting digital cameras and digital camcorders to a printer, regardless of the devices’ brand and model.

This firmware update applies to cameras with firmware versions 1.0.0 or 1.0.1. It is not necessary to perform this update on cameras that already have version 2.0.0 firmware.

Website: Canon EOS 10D Firmware

It seems that the Nikon Coolpix 3700 announced a couple of days ago will only be sold through the high street retailer Dixons in the UK, according to DP-Now.com. This explains why Nikon UK have declined to issue a press release for the new digicam. I wonder what Jessops, the largest UK photographic retailer, thinks of that!

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

“Another of the X20’s unique features is its lack of an optical viewfinder. The 1.6-inch color TFT LCD monitor serves as its viewfinder as well as its information display, menu access and review display. Thankfully Minolta has used a good color LCD with an anti- reflection coating so it’s easier to see when used outdoors. We were pleased with its brightness, contrast and color rendition in all but a few outdoor environments.”

Website: Steve’s Digicams - Minolta DiMAGE X20 Review

DCResource are the second website this week to review the Fuji FinePix S7000, which is the successor to the popular FinePix S602 model. The S7000 uses Fuji’s 4th Generation Super CCD HR with 6.3 Million Effective Pixels output and 12.3 million recorded pixels. It costs around $799.99 and is available now.

“The Fuji FinePix S7000 is a camera with a lot of potential that was ultimately a let down in the image quality department. In what seems to be a trend lately on their cameras, Fuji is processing and compressing their images to death, causing higher than average noise and other digital junk. I can live with a little “grain” in images, but when it starts eating away at details, it’s too much.”

Website: DCresource - Fuji FinePix S7000 Review

Website: Read my review of the Fuji FinePix S7000

CNET have published their review of the tiny Canon PowerShot SD10 (also known as the Digital IXUS i in some countries). The SD10 has a street price of $349 in the USA and ?299 in the UK.

“It’s fitting that Canon’s latest Digital Elph, the 4-megapixel SD10, debuted during New York’s Fashion Week at the runway show of Patricia Field, costume designer of Sex and the City. Great-looking and available in several classy finishes, this Canon is just as fashionable and expensive as the Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo shoes that play such a large role in the life of Carrie Bradshaw, SATC’s lead character. The SD10 also takes some darn good pictures. But with a fixed 39mm focal length, this camera, like designer pumps, is more about style than utility. If you want it, shop smart and don’t pay retail.”

Website: CNET - Canon PowerShot SD10 Review

CNET have reviewed the 5-megapixel Sony Cyber Shot DSC-P10, which was first announced way back in February just before the PMA 2003 trade show.

“The diminutive, bullet-shaped DSC-P10 travels nicely in a purse or a jacket pocket. With its portability, its 3X zoom lens, and its easy-to-understand controls, the camera should appeal to a wide range of buyers who need 5-megapixel images from a pocket-friendly point-and-shoot. But the P10’s average image quality, sluggish low-light performance, and ho-hum feature set prompt us to suggest that you check out some of the alternatives before ponying up the bucks.”

Website: CNET - Sony Cyber Shot DSC-P10 Review

Well, it looks as if Epson may be releasing the printer that was announced in Japan a few weeks ago to the rest of the world. jasonB over on the DP-Now Forums has spotted a new printer on the Epson USA website. The A4 Epson Stylus Photo R800 printer, which uses UltraChrome pigment inks, will cost $399 and will ship in February 2004! At last, an A4 printer that uses archival-quality inks :-)

Here are the specs:

- Product Available February 2004
- Epson UltraChrome? Hi-Gloss pigment ink for archival quality glossy and matte photos lasting up to 80 years
- Eight individual cartridges, including matte black ink and gloss optimizer
- World’s first 1.5-picoliter droplets and up to 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi for unsurpassed clarity and detail
- Prints a 5” x 7” color photo in as fast as 45 seconds and black text at up to 17 ppm?
- True BorderFree? photo printing in popular photo sizes (4” x 6”, 5” x 7” and 8” x 10”)
- Print directly on ink jet printable CD/DVDs
- Fast connectivity with built-in USB 2.0 High Speed and IEEE 1394 FireWire

Website: Epson USA - Epson Stylus Photo R800

Photo.net have published a new article called “Caveat Emptor - Buyer Beware”, which looks at the possible pitfalls associated with buying camera equipment, both new and old, and also selling.

“What’s so hard about buying new equipment? You search the internet, find the lowest price, fill in the order form, give your credit card info, then you sit back and the item appears on your doorstep a few days later. Right? ...well, maybe, sometimes, if you’re careful…”

Website: Photo.net - Caveat Emptor - Buyer Beware

PhotographyBLOG is about to move servers from the US to the UK.

Please do not add any comments / pictures etc for the next couple of hours :-)

UPDATE 09:05 29/10/03
The server move is now complete! If you encounter any problems then please let me know…

I haven’t received a press release from Nikon UK yet, but several websites are reporting the announcement of a new addition to the Coolpix range. The Coolpix 3700 has a very different design from previous Coolpix models, with a brushed aluminium body that’s both slim and lightweight. The 3.2 megapixel 3700 features a 3x optical zoom that is equivalent to 35-105mm lens on a 35mm camera.

LetsGoDigital has the best preview of the 3700:
Website: LetsGoDigital - Coolpix 3700 First Look

Other sites that have the news:

Website: DPReview

Website: Imaging Resource

I’ve now received the press release from Nikon:

Nikon(R) Announces The New, Compact 3.2-Megapixel Nikon Coolpix(R) 3700

Latest Addition to Coolpix Digital Line-Up Combines Style, Sophistication and Simplicity

MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/—Nikon expanded its popular Coolpix line of digital cameras today with the announcement of the new Nikon Coolpix 3700, a sub-compact digital camera with an advanced feature set, small size and refined style.  The Nikon Coolpix 3700, with its precision 3x Optical-Zoom Nikkor lens and 3.2-megapixel resolution, delivers pristine images (2,048 x 1,536-pixel) and will appeal to digital photographers who value portability, image quality and style.

“The Nikon Coolpix 3700 is engineered to shoot in style,” said Jerry Grossman, vice president, marketing, Consumer Digital Products and Compact Cameras for Nikon Inc.  “Our designers have combined the trademark Coolpix ease-of-use features and traditional Nikon quality with a new sophistication and high-end feel that speaks exceptionally well to digital photographers looking for a unique experience with their camera.”

Literally 10 minutes ago DPReview published their extensive review of the Pentax *ist D, which is on sale in you local shop now. Can the new *ist D compete with the more well-established DSLRs like the Canon EOS 10D, Fuji S2 and Nikon D100? Is it worth paying more or should you buy the Canon EOS 300D? Find out in DPReview’s review…

“Overall I was very pleased with the *ist D’s image quality. The *ist D’s images have a very film-like appearance with both a neutral color and tonal balance. Colors are excellent, very faithful to the original scene and never look over-saturated, tonal balance is also good, images straight out of the camera are generally punchy enough to be published immediately.”

Website: DPReview - Pentax *ist D Review

Nikon UK Press Release 28/10/03

Nikon has announced three new film scanners to replace the current range. The Coolscan V ED and the Coolscan 5000 ED, replacements for the Coolscan IV and 4000 respectively, will go on sale at the beginning of November 2003, whilst the Coolscan 9000, the successor to the Coolscan 8000, will become available in the Spring of 2004.

Nikon has an enviable reputation in the film scanner market and these new introductions feature improvements on the current models such as enhanced scanning speed and image quality.

The Coolscan V ED will have a rrp of ?549.99 and the Coolscan 5000 ED will be ?1099.99. Price for the Coolscan 9000 is to be confirmed.

Nikon Press Release 28/10/03

Super Coolscan 9000 ED
Engineered to meet the exacting standards of imaging professionals, the SUPER COOLSCAN 9000 ED is designed to handle a broad range of film formats such as 35mm, 120/220, 16mm, 6 x 7, 6 x 9 film, electron microscope and more. True 4,000 dpi optical resolution, 16-bit A/D conversion of the input signal and a 16-bit output combine to deliver brilliant, colour-true images.

Users in fields such as advertising and studio photography who regularly work with 120/220 format films will value the SUPER COOLSCAN 9000 ED?s versatility and superior scan quality. Photo enthusiasts who own medium-format cameras will also appreciate this high-performance, high-quality scanner.

A true optical resolution of 4,000 dpi and 16-bit A/D conversion allow the SUPER COOLSCAN 9000 ED to produce images of incredible overall quality, and a broader dynamic range helps reveal the details concealed within the darker portions of a scene. Multi-sample scan capability of as many as 16 passes ensures faithful reproduction with smoother gradation. Newly developed high-quality 3-line CCD sensors contribute to high image quality, as well as fast scanning (35mm: 40 seconds; 6 x 9: 185 seconds).

Driving the unmatched performance of the SUPER COOLSCAN 9000 ED are Nikon?s exclusive core technologies. Scanner Nikkor ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass lens elements offer superior edge-to-edge sharpness, definition and contrast, and superb colour fidelity. The scanner also employs Nikon?s proprietary rod dispersion LED illumination ? no maintenance, no warm-up time, and no risk of heat-related damage to films. For consistently accurate representation of colour on monitors and prints, the SUPER COOLSCAN 9000 ED features the Nikon Colour Management System (Nikon CMS). The ability to manipulate colour data in multiple RGB colour spaces results in extremely high precision. These technologies form the backbone of a premier optical system that produces images of amazing quality.

The SUPER COOLSCAN 9000 ED also features unparalleled image restoration capabilities. Digital ICE4 Advanced?, the newly upgraded digital image correction technology, consists of Digital ICE? (Image Correction & Enhancement), Digital ROC? (Reconstruction Of Colour), Digital GEM? (Grain Equalization & Management), and a newly added component, Digital DEE? (Dynamic Exposure Extender). The SUPER COOLSCAN 9000 ED?s exclusive Digital ICE Professional? is now also compatible with Kodachrome film. For brightness and colour saturation adjustment that?s one-touch simple, Scan Image Enhancer is also on board.

All of these highly advanced features and capabilities, complemented by an IEEE 1394 interface for high-speed image transfer, come together to form the SUPER COOLSCAN 9000 ED ? the new king of the desktop film scanning realm.

Nikon Press Release 28/10/03

Super Coolscan 5000 ED
Designed for use by imaging professionals, the SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 ED offers 135/IX240 film scanning at an amazing 20 seconds per image (including image transfer to display) - at 4,000 dpi true optical resolution. Highly accurate colour reproduction and representation of detail are made possible by the 16-bit A/D converter and 16-bit output channel.

The SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 ED targets primarily business users such as professional photographers and photo finishers, who require superb image quality and high-speed scanning capability. Private users of 135/IX240 format cameras - advanced amateur SLR photographers, for example - will welcome the scanner?s speed and image quality. Users who deal with numerous slide mounts and uncut film rolls will appreciate the increased ease of use and productivity afforded by optional accessories like the SLIDE FEEDER SF-210 and ROLL FILM ADAPTER SA-30. The SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 ED offers the performance and efficiency to make it the ideal digital archiving solution.

The scanner?s 16-bit A/D input conversion enables a significantly broader dynamic range. It also works with the 16-bit output and the Multi-sample scanning feature to reveal details hidden in shadowy and highlighted portions of a scene, while virtually eliminating noise. Super-fast 20-second scanning and enhanced image quality are supported by newly developed high-quality 2-line CCD sensors.

At the heart of the SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 ED?s excellent performance are Nikon?s exclusive core technologies. The scanner incorporates Scanner Nikkor ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass lens elements for superior edge-to-edge sharpness, definition and contrast, as well as outstanding colour fidelity. The employment of LED illumination enables the stable, precise provision of light with no risk of heat-related damage to films. Furthermore, the LED requires neither maintenance nor warm-up time. And for consistently accurate representation of colour on displays and prints, the SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 ED features the Nikon Colour Management System (Nikon CMS). Colour data can be manipulated in multiple RGB colour spaces, for unprecedented accuracy. These core technologies are what set Nikon COOLSCAN series scanners apart from the rest.

By simply attaching the optional ROLL FILM ADAPTER SA-30 to the SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 ED, batch-scanning of uncut film rolls comprising up to 40 frames becomes possible. The optional SLIDE FEEDER SF-210 lets you scan up to 50 mounted slides, giving you time-efficient, high-quality scanning capability.

The SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 ED also features unparalleled image restoration functions. Digital ICE4 Advanced?, the newly upgraded digital image correction technology, consists of Digital ICE? (Image Correction & Enhancement), Digital ROC? (Reconstruction Of Colour), Digital GEM? (Grain Equalization & Management), and the brand-new Digital DEE? (Dynamic Exposure Extender). There?s also Scan Image Enhancer, which offers one-touch brightness and colour saturation adjustment.

With fast, easy image transfer thanks to the USB 2.0 interface, the SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 ED is an extremely powerful, extremely fast, extremely efficient desktop film scanner that will augment your productivity and give you scanned images that will take your breath away.

Nikon Press Release 28/10/03

Coolscan V ED
An economical, friendly, high-performance film scanner, the COOLSCAN V ED is designed to be easy to operate, even for first-time scanner users. A true optical resolution of 4,000 dpi and 14-bit A/D input conversion allow the scanner to produce scans at a level of quality previously only available with higher-priced models. Scan speed is also surprisingly fast ? the COOLSCAN V ED can scan an image in only 38 seconds (including image transfer and display).

Users who wish to print out images of films of scanned images or attach them to email, and also those who are involved in, or wish to begin, archiving of old and new films in digital image form ? as well as personal or business web-page designers ? will find the COOLSCAN V ED both simple to operate and long on quality. Flatbed scanners don?t measure up when it comes to image quality. Further enhancing the value of the COOLSCAN V ED is a lineup of accessories that makes possible the scanning of various film types, including 35mm strips, slide mounts and IX-240 cartridges.

High-resolution scanning at 4,000 dpi enables the production of strikingly detailed images. The 14-bit A/D input conversion and 8-/16-bit outputs deliver true, vibrant colour. To ensure excellent overall image quality, the COOLSCAN V ED incorporates a high-quality CCD sensor.

Nikon?s exclusive core technologies figure largely in the surprisingly high overall performance of the entry-level COOLSCAN V ED. The most important component in high-quality scanning is the lens, and the Scanner Nikkor ED glass elements employed in the lens effectively reduce chromatic aberration and image distortion. This results in superior sharpness and contrast. Nikon?s own LED illumination technology means no maintenance, no warm-up time, and no risk of heat-related damage to films. The Nikon Colour Management System offers consistent colour representation on monitors and prints.

The COOLSCAN V ED also features high-grade image enhancement technology. Digital ICE4 Advanced?, the new and improved digital image correction function, consists of Digital ICE? (Image Correction & Enhancement), Digital ROC? (Reconstruction Of Colour), Digital GEM? (Grain Equalization & Management), and the brand-new Digital DEE? (Dynamic Exposure Extender). And Scan Image Enhancer makes brightness and colour adjustment one-touch simple.

Add a plug-and-play USB 2.0 interface to facilitate image transfer and you?ve got an affordable film scanner which offers the operational ease you?d expect, and the quality your images deserve.

Steves Digicams have reviewed the Fuji FinePix S7000, which is the successor to the popular FinePix S602 model. The S7000 uses Fuji’s 4th Generation Super CCD HR with 6.3 Million Effective Pixels output and 12.3 million recorded pixels. The electronic viewfinder has been upgraded from 103,000 pixels to a much-higher resolution 235,000 pixels and now uses the xD-Picture Card format instead of SmartMedia that the S602 Zoom used. The Fuji FinePix S7000 costs $799.99 and is available now.

“Replacing the S602 Zoom at the top of Fuji’s consumer digicam product line, the FinePix S7000 Zoom ups the ante in terms of resolution to 6.3 megapixels while retaining the high quality 6x optical zoom lens, high resolution electronic color viewfinder, high-speed shutter and VGA movie mode of its predecessor. While it can be used as a simple point-n-shoot in Auto or Scene mode, the S7000 will appeal most to experienced photographers who will benefit from its advanced exposure control and optics.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Fuji FinePix S7000 Review

Website: Read my review of the Fuji FinePix S7000

The Slovenian website e-Fotografija have reviewed the stylish and affordable 5 megapixel Olympus CAMEDIA C-5000 Zoom, which relaces the older C-4000 Zoom model and features a more compact design that is almost 20% smaller than its predecessor. The C-5000 has a full range of exposure modes, including Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, full Manual control and 6 preset Creative Scene modes. It has a built-in flash with 7 different modes and also accepts an external flash via its hot shoe.

Website: e-Fotografija - Olympus CAMEDIA C-5000 Zoom Review

Website: Slovenian Translator