Imaging Resource have posted an early review of the new pocket-sized Sony Cyber-shot DSC-U50, which is aimed squarely at the hip ‘n’ trendy student market. Priced at about $250, the U50 digital camera will be available in early October.

“The U50 offers a few basic exposure options, including a manually adjustable white balance setting, and a 2.0-megapixel Super HAD CCD for good quality images. Though exposure remains under automatic control, the U50’s selection of preset scene modes ought to handle most average shooting situations quite well, and the camera’s tiny size means you won’t miss those candid shots. Its swiveling lens is an added plus, facilitating self-portraits and images shot at what might otherwise be difficult angles.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Sony Cyber-shot DSC-U50 Review

It looks like Epson are set to announce a new range of photo printers very soon. The Japanese website I Love Epson has details of the Epson PX-G900, Epson PX-G800, Epson PX-G700 and Epson PX-V600 printers, along with a slick Flash presentation for the PX-G900. There are also 2 new ink systems mentioned - PX G Ink and PX V Ink. My Japanese is a bit rusty, so for now I’ll leave you to look at the photo of the Epson PX-G900 printer. Obviously there’s no details about price or availability yet…

Website: www.i-love-epson.co.jp

Website: www.i-love-epson.co.jp - Printer Comparison

Website: Photo-i Forums

Here is a translation through Babelfish of the PX G Ink text:

“Glossy efficiency raised with the densification of the resin which wraps around the pigment ink. Furthermore, the highlight part and the like, adopting ?O???X?I?v?e?B?}?C?U which is placed in the place where the ink is little originally. With the print surface as uniform, diffused reflection of light is held down, the beautiful glossy impression is actualized. In addition, because ?O???X?I?v?e?B?}?C?U shows also the function which becomes fixed the pigment securely, it can print normally clearly even with the paper.

* Technology of new pigment PX-G ink

High glossy conversion of the pigment ink was actualized the new ink technology where the Epson PX ink technology evolved, with the densification of the resin which the pigment coating has been done and the adoption of ?O???X?I?v?e?B?}?C?U.”

It sounds like Epson may have solved the “pigment ink with glossy paper” issue that has been a problem with the Epson Stylus Photo 2200/2100 printer.

“Pentax Press Release 25/09/03”

GOLDEN, Colorado (September 25, 2003)?PENTAX digital technology brings new meaning to the term ?all around? in the new Optio33LF digital camera.  With an innovative LCD monitor that swivels 180 degrees horizontally and up to 270 degrees vertically, the Optio33LF features 3.2 effective megapixels and a 3X zoom lens.  This latest PENTAX digital camera gives you the freedom to frame subjects exactly as you prefer, especially from high and low angles.  In addition to the versatile monitor, the Optio33LF features an optical viewfinder.

The Optio33LF hosts a full range of features found on PENTAX digital cameras including a movie mode that records video, a variety of picture and shooting modes, 12 MB of internal memory, built-in auto flash, and a world time function that displays time in 62 cities worldwide.

Included with the Optio33LF is an ACDSee? software package that is designed exclusively for PENTAX digital cameras.  Valued at $150, the package includes ACDSee? 5.0, FotoSlate?, FotoCanvas? and Photostitcher.  ACDSee? digital camera software makes it easy to retrieve, view, manage, print, enhance and share your digital photos. 

The Optio33LF completes the newest line-up of PENTAX digital for the 2003 holiday buying season, which includes three more innovative digital cameras and the first PENTAX digital SLR.  Complete information on all the cameras is available at www.pentaxdigital.com.

The UK website Photo-i are reporting today that Epson are set to release the PhotoPC P-1000 Photo Viewer in the UK on the 1st November. The Photo Viewer allows you to transfer files from your memory cards onto its buil-in 10Gb hard-drive. It has an integrated CF/Micro Drive card slot and Memory Stick, Smart Media, MMC and SD memory cards are supported via an optional adapter.

Rather worringly, though, the Espon press releases says “The PhotoPC P-1000 supports the Jpeg file format, a standard amongst digital camera users. Hmmmm…there’s no mention of Tiff or RAW files. Also the price of the Photo Viewer, at ?499, seems a little high to me, especially as the hard drive is only 10Gb in size.

Website: Photo-i - PhotoPC P-1000 Photo Viewer

The Slovenian digital photography website e-Fotografija have just published their review of the Minolta DiMAGE A1, which seems to have got a positive response from the photography world so far and is looking like a serious contender to the Sony DSC F-828.

Website: e-Fotografija - Minolta DiMAGE A1

e-fotografija have also reviewed the Kodak EasyShare CX6200, which is a 2 megapixel digital camera that costs around ?100 in the UK.

Website: e-fotografija - Kodak EasyShare CX6200 Review

DP-Now have started an interactive review of the Pentax *ist D digital SLR, which is now on sale in the UK.

“Today, to get the Pentax dp-now *ist D show on the road, here are is a collection of sample images and a brief comparison with Canon’s EOS-10D. Scroll down to see pictures of the *ist D and 10D side by side, high ISO comparisons between the two cameras and some general sample shots taken earlier today.”

Website: DPNow - Pentax *ist D Interactive Review

Luminous Landscape has just published a photograph of the soon-to-be-announced Epson Stylus PRO 4000, an A2 sized 8-ink Ultrachrome printer. Unfortunately this product is aimed at the higher-end of the printer market, with Michael Reichmann estimating that it will cost around $2,000…

“In various countries around the world Epson has started demonstrating to dealers their new Stylus PRO 4000 printer. This will be an A2 sized printer able to use sheet and roll paper up to 1.5mm in thickness. It will use 8 inks (with both matte and glossy black inks loaded at the same time) and the inks are Ultrachrome pigment-based as with the 2100 / 2200 / 7600 / 9600 models. Resolution is up to 2880 PPI and droplet size is 3.5 picoliter. Inks are in separate 220ml cartridges.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Epson Stylus PRO 4000 Printer

Canto Press Release 24/09/03

Digital Asset Management specialist Canto also reduces price of Cumulus Single User Edition in company eshop.

Berlin, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo ? September 24, 2003 - Canto, the global leader in Digital Asset Management solutions, today announced the immedate availibilty of a limited Single User Edition called myCumulus for ?19.95. myCumulus offers the same features and functionality as the full version of the popular Single User, the only difference being the number of media assets that users can organize. Canto also announced that the professional Single User is now available in its eshop at a dramatically reduced price of ?69.95.

myCumulus is intended for the home users who want to organize their digital media such as photos, graphics, mp3s or private documents. It can manage two catalogs simultaneously that can contain 2000 assets each, an amount usually sufficient for private use.

?Digital Asset Management started out as an issue for companies,? said Canto?s VP Marketing Sharron Sawyer. ?Now, with a broader use of digital home technologies, people are having trouble finding their private files on their computers. They might not know what DAM is but they need a tool to organize their media, and myCumulus is a good start.?

In the course of focussing increasingly on its solutions and Enterprise business Canto decided to slash the price of the Single User Edition, that allows to manage an unlimited number of assets. Formerly ?89.95, the full version is now offered for download at ?69,95 in Canto?s eshop. Support is not offered for myCumulus, however myCumulus owners will be able to upgrade to Single User full versions for ?49,95. Box versions with printed manuals can still be purchased, the price remaining ?109,95.

Availability - myCumulus and the price reduced Single User Edition are immediately available in Canto?s eshop.

Website: Canto

The new FireWire compact flash reader from Delkin will certainly speed up the transfer of files from your digital camera to your computer. FireWire is one of today?s fastest interface protocols, transferring data at a lighting-fast speed of 400Mb/s. Delkin?s new external tabletop eFilm FireWire Reader/Writer (Reader-24) is uniquely designed for high-end digital photography enthusiasts and professionals who want to dramatically speed workflow. The full contents of high-resolution images from CompactFlash Type I, Type II and Microdrives can be quickly downloaded to a computer in seconds, and you can write back to the card as well. Since the Reader-24 runs on its own power, it doesn’t require any power cables.

Website: Delkin

Extensis yesterday announced the availability of a limited edition Photo Imaging Suite, priced at ?299.99 ex VAT. Consisting of Portfolio 6, Mask Pro 3, SmartScale, Intellihance Pro 4.1 and PhotoFrame 2.5, the bundle offers customers a saving of over ?450 from the recommended retail price of buying all the products separately.

Website: DPNow - Extensis Photo Imaging Suite

Leica have released a new 80 page guide to their range of M and -R lenses. There’s a downloadable PDF file that gives you a taste of what’s in the guide, with the full printed version costing $10 from local camera dealers.

“More than 80 pages will give you sufficient information on the actual Leica M and -R lenses. The Leica philosophy on the optical design, the manufacturing of the lenses and their construction as well as the universal use are other subjects in this book. Besides practical performance proofs of the different lenses you will find a photographical essay on the manufacturing of the lenses in the Leica shop by the fine-art Leica photographer Ralph Gibson. The extensive designed brochure is available at your Leica photo dealer for a nominal charge of $10.”

Website: Leica Lens Book - PDF

It seems that the Pentax *ist D has finally made it from the Pentax factory to the local high street, at least here in the United Kingdom anyway. CameraWorld and Park Cameras are both advertising body only and kit deals, and they even have the camera in stock!

Park Cameras - ?1199.99 body only or ?1329.99 with the 18-35mm lens
CameraWorld - ?1299.99 with the 18-35mm lens

Those prices make the Pentax *ist D slightly cheaper than the Canon EOS 10D, which retails for around ?1299.99 body only. It’s a much better price than the body-only RRP of ?1,400 that Pentax announced at the end of August.

DPReview seem to have started a new feature, as today they have posted 27 sample images from the Minolta DiMAGE A1, ahead of the full review which will be posted within the next 3 weeks. On Monday DPReview posted sample images from the Pentax *ist D.  Here’s what DPReview Editor Phil Askey has to say about the image quality from the DiMAGE A1:

“I have to say that I was surprised at how well the DiMAGE A1 performed, it’s clearly a step ahead of the DiMAGE 7Hi in terms of image quality and is most certainly in the running to be labelled the best five megapixel prosumer digital camera. Resolution, sharpness, tonal balance (with good dynamic range) and color response are all improved. Add to this the A1’s unique image stabilzation which allows you to shoot at much slower shutter speeds and the A1 is a very impressive ‘all in one’ package.”

Website: DPReview - Minolta DiMAGE A1 Sample Images

The German digital photography website Digitalkamera.de has just reviewed the Olympus C-750 Ultra Zoom digital camera, which offers a 4 megapixel CCD and a massive 10x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 38 - 380mm on a traditional 35mm camera).

Website: Digitalkamera.de - Olympus C-750 Ultra Zoom Review

Autumn is nearly upon us (well, here in the UK anyway) and Photo-i are celebrating the changing of the seasons by announcing a new photo competition.

“photo-i is launching an interactive photographic competition which is for you and will be judged by you. The theme is: Autumn ? the changing season. You can interpret it however you like. It could be colourful leaves dancing in the sun to commuters getting soaked on a railway station ? it?s up to you.”

You can read the Rules, find out who can enter and how the competion will be judged on the Photo-i website.

Website: Photo-i - Interactive Competition

Vincent Oliver, editor of the Photo-i website, has completed his review of the Canon Bubble Jet i865 printer, which was recently announced by Canon. He begins his conclusion by saying:

“I have always made a clear distinction between Photo Quality and Photo Capable printers, my general rule of thumb is that no printer offering less than six inks can be true Photo Quality. Well I am going to have to re-think my ratings, because the i865 four ink printer has crossed my quality threshold by producing prints which are as good and even better, than many six ink printers I have reviewed. By bringing the drop size down to 2pl and by using a high resolution (4800x1200) Canon have achieved a remarkable quality in this all round printer.”

Website: Photo-i

Michael Reichmann is a professional wildlife and landscape photographer who runs the popular website Luminous Landscape and who exclusively uses digital cameras. Today he has decided to give you all a glimpse of what’s inside his camera bag.

“A common question, asked by readers and workshop members is ? what’s in your bag? The cameras and lenses that I use are well detailed in articles and reviews on this site. Which ones I bring on any given shoot very much depends on whether I’m primarily after wildlife, or landscapes. Also, whether I’m traveling by air or by car, or if I’ll be doing a lot of hiking when I get there. But, in addition to my camera gear, what accessories, gadgets, gizmos and tools are needed for field work, and which ones are best?”

This could be the start of a long-running series, as photographers around the world decide to tell each other what is contained within their camera bags :-)

Website: Luminous Landscape - In the Bag

DCResource have reviewed the Fuji FinePix A210 Zoom digital camera. The A210 has 3.2 million megapixels and a 3x optical zoom. It retails for $279.99.

“For those looking for a basic camera for good outdoor photos, the Fuji FinePix A210 is worth a look. If you want to delve into more manual features or desire higher performance, then I’d probably go with something else (the PowerShot A70 remains the best in this class, in my opinion).”

Website: DCResource - Fujifilm FinePix A210 Review

DPReview have posted 25 sample images taken with the long-delayed Pentax *ist D digital SLR camera. Here’s what DPReview Editor Phil Askey has to say about the image quality from the *ist D:

“So far the *ist D is looking quite good, there are two sides to the *ist D’s image quality story. Firstly tonal balance and color response are both good, a natural color response and lifted shadow detail with highlight clipping at about the same point as most other digital SLR’s. Noise is also quite low, about the same as the Nikon D100 (which is what we’d expect as they both share the same sensor). The other side is that Pentax has clearly chosen a low sharpening approach, at 100% view most images have a soft look but do sharpen well and can be delivered sharper out of the camera by pushing up in-camera sharpening. Additionally available lenses do mean you’re more likely to be shooting ‘wide open’ and thus have less sharp images as a consequence. Overall the *ist D is looking ‘so far so good’.”

Website: DPReview - Pentax *ist D Samples