OK, OK, I promise that these will be the last Notting Hill Carnival pictures for a while (at least this week anyway).

Notting Hill Carnival Children #16	Notting Hill Carnival #11	Notting Hill Carnival #15
Notting Hill Carnival #9	Notting Hill Carnival #13	Notting Hill Carnival #16

The Slovenian digital photography website e-Fotografija seems to have test samples of all the new digital cameras at the moment! They have just published a First Look at the Minolta DiMAGE A1, including some sample images using the new anti-shake function. Minolta claims that this new system “allows the camera to be handheld with exposures approximately eight times longer than usual. When using the camera at the telephoto setting, approximately 90% of the images recorded will be sharp with a shutter speed of 1/25s.”. e-Fotografija’s test images certainly seem to backup this claim.

Website: e-Fotografija - Minolta DiMAGE A1 Anti-Shake System

Samsung have announced a new addition to their extensive range of competitively-priced digital cameras. the U-CA3 measures 102 x 52.8 x 31mm and weighs a mere 145g. It has a 3.2 megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom.

“As much of a fashion accessory as a digital camera, the silver U-CA 3 is one piece of technology that when you’ve got it, you’re definitely going to want to flaunt it. More akin to the size of a mobile, the super-slim U-CA 3 has a real ‘wow’ factor. It’s sleek, stylish, sophisticated and, above all, small - without compromising on the latest digital camera technology.”

The Samsung U-CA3 is priced from under ?280 and comes with case, PC/Mac compatible software and a 32MB card. It will be available from the end of September 2003.

Website: Samsung U-CA3

Website: Samsung Digital Camera Range

Imaging Resource have reviewed the Fuji FinePix F700, which has a 6.2-megapixel Super CCD SR. As a reminder, the F700 CCD improves image quality by widening the dynamic range, rather than just increasing the number of pixels. This should mean more detail in the shadow and highlight areas of an image than Fuji cameras have previously captured.

“As the first camera to use one of the new “SR” SuperCCD chips, the F700 is cast as the standard-bearer for Fuji’s innovative sensor technology. Fortunately, it appears well up to the task: Its tonal range and to a lesser extent, exposure latitude, do indeed lead the field, and its color is excellent as well.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Fuji FinePix F700 Review

Website: Read my review of the Fuji FinePix F700

Michael Reichmann over at Luminous Landscape has taken a brief look at the best ways of transferring your photos from memory card to computer. Michael highlights the advantages and disadvantages of using PC card readers, Firewire and USB 2.

“Anyone shooting with a digital camera faces the issue of transferring the content of their memory cards to their computer, (usually CompactFlash for those with pro-level cameras).

There are three ways of doing this. If you have a laptop computer then the card can be inserted in to a PC Card adaptor and placed in that slot. Desktop as well as laptop computers may have either Firewire or USB 2 connectors, or both, and there are card readers available for both types of interfaces.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Transferring Memory Cards: Which Way is Best?

Steve’s Digicams have taken a break from reviewing digital cameras by taking a look at the Zenon MagneFlash 57 flash unit. This is a specialized flash that “is ideal for illuminating objects photographed at close range, especially highly reflective objects.” Steve has posted 4 sample photos which compare the Zenon MagneFlash 57 with a regular built-in flash, and the results really do speak for themselves. Nevertheless, here is a quote from Steve’s conclusion:

“A picture is worth a thousand words so if you look at the sample photos above you’ll see about four thousand words of approval for this product. If you you need to do high quality closeup pictures or product photos or you post things on eBay or whatever - this is a simple and very functional lighting system. For the occassional hobbyist the price might be a bit prohibitive but for even the semi-serious user it would be cheap at twice the price.”

Website: Steve’s Digicams - Zenon MagneFlash 57 Review

PhotographyBLOG reader Mike Strock has let me know that Pretec have just announced a 6Gb compact flash card. Yes, you read that right, 6Gb! What’s the catch? Well, the price tag of $4,499.95 might put you off…

Note also that you will only be able to use the full 6GB of space if you own a camera featuring FAT32. If the camera is using FAT16, the standard file system that is used on older or low-end digital cameras, only 2.2 GB of the 6 GB card would be accessible.

Website: Gizmodo - Pretec’s 6GB CompactFlash card

I’m still sorting through my photographs from the Notting Hill Carnival. I took around 1,200 during the 2 days and have “narrowed” the keepers down so far to around 200! My editing skills obviously need some improvement…This selection includes my favourite image so far - the small child in Notting Hill Carnival Children #15. I took about 6 shots of this sleeping child, who was being pushed past in a pram, and this shot was the sharpest and best-composed.

Notting Hill Carnival Children #15	Notting Hill Carnival #14	Notting Hill Carnival #10
Notting Hill Carnival Children #14	Notting Hill Carnival #12	Notting Hill Carnival Children #13

HP have announced UK prices and availability for the new range of printers and scanners that they announced back in August.

Printers
- HP Deskjet 9650 - ?352
- HP Photosmart 7960 (pictured) - ?249
- HP Photosmart 7760 - ?179
- HP Photosmart 7660 - ?149
- HP Photosmart 7260 - ?89
- HP Photosmart 245 - ?149
Available from 15th September 2003.

Scanners
- HP Scanjet 4670 - ?179
- HP Scanjet 4600 - ?149
Available from beginning of October 2003.

Some more Minolta DiMAGE A1 news for you today. The Owner’s Manuals for both the camera and software are now available to download from the Minolta Europe website. It’s available in 9 different languages (found via digicamera.net).

Website: Digit.no - Minolta DiMAGE A1 Owner’s Manuals

CNET Asia are the second website today to take a look at the Minolta DiMAGE A1. They liked the camera, awarding it a rating of 8 out of 10.

“In terms of image quality, the A1 delivered some of the better-looking photos we’ve seen from a 5-megapixel camera. With ISO speeds below 200, we found the images to be relatively clean in a full variety of shots. Disappointingly, we detected slight barrel distortion with the A1 in its widest angle. The colors captured, on the other hand, were always vibrant and the metering generally gave well-exposed shots.”

Website: Digit.no - Minolta DiMAGE A1 Review

Canon Press Release - 08/09/03

Canon launches the Bubble Jet i905D: Dedicated six-colour direct photo printer for ultimate quality and connectability

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, is pleased to announce the launch of the 4800 x 1200 dpi1 Bubble Jet i905D, a six-colour photo printer with unsurpassed print quality and connectability.  With card slots for the most popular brands of memory cards, the i905D is also compliant with the new industry standard PictBridge protocol, allowing it to print directly from any PictBridge compatible digital camera without the need for a PC.

A new built-in colour LCD screen can display image thumbnails and provides an intuitive interface for effortless cropping, paper size selection, photo effects and image orientation. Canon’s advanced MicroFine Droplet Technology print head with 2picolitre (pl) Micro-Nozzles delivers unsurpassed levels of fine detail and smooth gradation. This patented technology enables grain-free printing - particularly for skin tones and sky colours which show up limitations in lesser brands.  The unbeatable photo quality and additional features of the i905D render it a precious tool for any digital camera user who wants the convenience of photo printing without a PC.

“The Bubble Jet i905D is easily the highest quality photo printer in its class,” says Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging in the UK and Ireland.  “It has also been designed to work with a vast array of cameras both now and in years to come”.

Canon Press Release - 08/09/03

Canon’s Bubble Jet i965: World’s fastest photo prints with highest resolution

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, is pleased to announce the launch of the fastest and highest resolution photo printer the 4800 x 2400 dpi1 Bubble Jet i965. Canon’s latest professional series six-ink printer produces a 400dpi full A4 photo in approximately 60 seconds - less than half the time taken by its nearest rival. A 4"x 6” print takes just 21 seconds, making this the ideal printer for demanding photographers. The i965 is compliant with the new direct photo print industry standard, PictBridge.

The i965’s remarkable speed results from patented technologies that allow Canon to get more ink on the page in less time and with more accuracy. Semi-conductor manufacturing techniques are used to create the highest density print head, delivering extremely small droplets from the smallest diameter Micro-Nozzles. The result is a 3072 nozzle print head capable of ejecting up to 73.7 million 2-picolitre (pl) droplets per second. The exacting precision afforded by this advanced icroFine Droplet Technology combines with the six-ink, 1/6 density photo ink system to create grain-free prints with unsurpassed clarity, contrast, colour range and smoothness of tone.

“Professional users not only demand lab quality prints, they want high speed as well” explains Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging in the UK and Ireland. “The great thing for our customers is that the same technical advances that make the i965 the fastest photo printer also deliver the highest quality images”.

Canon Press Release - 08/09/03

Canon Bubble Jet i865 - the business photo printer everyone will want to take home

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, is pleased to announce the launch of the PictBridge compliant Bubble Jet i865 printer.  Building on the popularity amongst business users of its predecessor, the Bubble Jet i850, the Bubble Jet i865 has an additional black ink for higher contrast and astonishing quality photo printing. This will appeal to exacting users looking for unrivalled professional quality printing of borderless photographs. Like all Bubble Jet printers in Canon’s latest range, the i865 is PictBridge compliant, enabling printing via direct connection to any PictBridge compatible camera or camcorder via a USB cable, without the need for a PC. With print speeds of 23ppm mono and 16ppm colour, the i865 is easily the fastest ink jet printer on the market, making it a clear choice for business users.  These record print speeds are achieved through Canon’s advanced MicroFine Droplet Technology print head, which has nozzle density up to seven times that of rival brands.  The result is a print head capable of delivering up to 28 million droplets per second more ink on the page in less time for super fast prints.  With a 2 picolitre (pl) droplet size ejected from Micro-Nozzles, the record speed is matched only by the quality.

“The introduction of additional black ink for photo printing to the world’s fastest Bubble Jet printer will be welcomed by increasingly savvy and demanding users of photo printing,” says Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging in the UK and Ireland.  “At the same time, retaining the standard black ink is critical for our business customers who demand crisp, clean, fast document printing”.

Canon Press Release - 08/09/03

The PictBridge revolution: Introducing the Bubble Jet i455 and i475D Direct Print photo printers

PictBridge compatible Direct Print photo printers keep coming from Canon.

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, is pleased to announce the launch of its latest PictBridge compatible photo printers, the Canon Bubble Jet i455 and i475D.  The two new models have been launched in line with Canon’s position at the forefront of the drive towards complete PictBridge compatibility.  Any PictBridge compliant digital camera can connect and print directly to these compatible printers, regardless of brand and without the need for a PC. The Bubble Jet i455 and i475D replace the Bubble Jet i450 and i470D respectively.

With a print head nozzle density up to seven times that of competing brands and a nozzle apperture size 40% smaller than Canon’s nearest rival, the i455 and i475D use a 2pl droplet size to deliver unsurpassed 4800x1200 dpi* professional photo quality as standard.  The same technology that delivers tiny 2pl ink droplets and the highest nozzle density also makes these easily the fastest printers in their class - both models boast incredible 18ppm mono and 12 ppm colour print speeds.

“Not only do the Bubble Jet i455 and i475D deliver the best quality photo prints and highest speeds in their class,” says Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging in the UK and Ireland, “they embody our commitment to producing cameras and printers that work together with whatever device our customers might have or choose to have in the future.”

The Slovenian digital photography website e-Fotografija have recently reviewed the Canon EOS 300D, Pentax *ist D and the Olympus E-1 DSLRs. They are also testing those cameras with various lenses, which will be published in a few days time. Unfortunately everything is in Slovenian (naturally); they are currently looking for a slovenian-english translator to publish the site in English. Fortunately, there are a lot of sample images to look at from all 3 cameras.

Website: e-Fotografija

Steve’s Digicams have reviewed the very similar FinePix A205 Zoom and FinePix A210 Zoom digital cameras. The main difference between them is the megapixel count - 2 million for the A205 and 3.2 million for the A210. The Fuji FinePix A205 costs $199.95 and the FinePix A210 $279.99.

“Outdoors, the FinePix A210 produces good results, both well-exposed and nicely saturated. The 3X optical zoom lens has enough range, 36-108mm in 35mm equivalence, to provide flexibility in composing your shots and is sharp enough to produce pleasing 8X10-inch prints.”

Website: Steve’s Digicams - Fujifilm FinePix A210 Review

Website: Steve’s Digicams - Fujifilm FinePix A205 Review

Website: Read my review of the Fujifilm FinePix A205

The German website Digitalkamera.de have recently reviewed the Fuji FinePix F700. Fuji claims the the F700 sensor improves image quality by widening the dynamic range, rather than just increasing the number of pixels. This should mean more detail in the shadow and highlight areas of an image than Fuji cameras have previously captured.

Website: Digitalkamera.de - Fuji FinePix F700 Review

Website: Read my review of the Fuji FinePix F700

DCResource has posted its full review of Nikon’s uniquely designed digital compact camera, the Nikon SQ, with product photos and sample images from a production camera.

“To call the Nikon Coolpix SQ ($499) unique would be an understatement. The SQ’s design is stunning, with a square shape (hence the name) and Nikon’s trademark rotating lens.

The SQ is a “boutique camera”, meaning that it’s uniquely designed, expensive and fairly limited in terms of features. It will also be sold only in certain stores.”

Website: DC Resource - Nikon SQ Review

Digit.no, the Norwegian digital photography website, have reviewed the new DiMAGE A1 from Minolta. It will be interesting to see how the A1 does now that the Sony Cybershot F-828 and Canon EOS 300D have been announced.

Website: Digit.no - Minolta DiMAGE A1 Review