News

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Epson has unveiled four new all-in-ones in its affordable Stylus NX line. These include the entry-level Epson Stylus NX115 ($69.99, pictured), Epson Stylus NX215 ($89.99), Epson Stylus NX415 ($99.99), and the flagship of the series, the Epson Stylus NX515 ($149.99). The Epson Stylus NX215 is apparently the industry’s first all-in-one at its price point with memory card slots and a 1.5-inch color LCD screen for standalone photo printing. The Epson Stylus NX415 boasts a 2.5-inch color LCD, claimed to be the largest at its price point, as well as card slots and PictBridge® support. The Epson Stylus NX515 is allegedly the fastest printer in its class (at least for printing black text in default mode) and offers Wi-Fi printing with a simple four-step setup process so users can print wirelessly. The prices quoted are estimated street prices. Availability is slated for June, but Amazon, BestBuy, Fry’s Electronics and Epson’s retail site are already taking pre-orders.

Epson has unveiled four new all-in-ones in its affordable Stylus NX line. These include the entry-level Epson Stylus NX115 ($69.99, pictured), Epson Stylus NX215 ($89.99), Epson Stylus NX415 ($99.99), and the flagship of the series, the Epson Stylus NX515 ($149.99). The Epson Stylus NX215 is apparently the industry’s first all-in-one…

Panasonic has released the Panasonic HDC-TM10 and HDC-SD10, claimed to be the lightest AVCHD format full-HD camcorders in the world. Common features include a 16x optical zoom, touch screen control, iA with AF tracking and Advanced Optical Image Stabiliser. The SD10 and TM10 differ only by their recording format – the SD10 records to SD/SDHC Memory Card, while the TM10 offers 8GB built in memory on top of SD/SDHC Memory Card recording. Moreover, the HDC-TM10 features a Relay Recording function. When the built-in memory being used to record images becomes full, this function automatically switches the recording media to the SDHC/SD Memory Card to provide uninterrupted recording. When using a PC/DVD burner, the data can be automatically merged and saved onto a DVD. The two camcorders will be available from June.

Panasonic has released the Panasonic HDC-TM10 and HDC-SD10, claimed to be the lightest AVCHD format full-HD camcorders in the world. Common features include a 16x optical zoom, touch screen control, iA with AF tracking and Advanced Optical Image Stabiliser. The SD10 and TM10 differ only by their recording format –…

Tom Mackie Images are introducing a two-week workshop within the greatest national parks in the Southwest of the U.S.A. Taking place from the 18th September 2010 – 3rd October 2010, the workshop is designed to support all photographers to take their landscape photography to another level. The workshop kicks off in Las Vegas, with participants departing for the Grand Canyon National Park the next day. Lake Powell, a reservoir on the Colorado River, straddling the border between Utah and Arizona will also be visited on the workshop. Other locations include Monument Valley Tribal Park, Arches National Parl, Deadhorse State Park and Canyonlands National Park, Devil’s Garden and Bryce Canyon National Park. Tuition, accommodation, breakfast, all park entrance fees and transport during the workshop is included in the fee. Flights, lunch, dinners and insurance are not included. Contact +44 (0)1603 465 292 for details.

Tom Mackie Images are introducing a two-week workshop within the greatest national parks in the Southwest of the U.S.A. Taking place from the 18th September 2010 – 3rd October 2010, the workshop is designed to support all photographers to take their landscape photography to another level. The workshop kicks off…

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

We’ve updated our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX1 IS review with 12 RAW samples. The Canon SX1 IS can record .cr2 RAW files if it is updated with firmware version 2.0.0.0. Check our our Canon SX1 IS review to find out what the RAW quality is like from this super-zoom camera.

Website: Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Review

We’ve updated our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX1 IS review with 12 RAW samples. The Canon SX1 IS can record .cr2 RAW files if it is updated with firmware version 2.0.0.0. Check our our Canon SX1 IS review to find out what the RAW quality is like from this super-zoom camera…

Large format photographer David Ward explains how you can improve your photography by not planning ahead.

Olympus has released firmware updates for four of its Zuiko Digital ED lenses. These include the Zuiko Digital ED 90-250mm f:2.8, Zuiko Digital ED 8mm f:3.5 Fisheye, Zuiko Digital ED 18-180mm f:3.5-6.3 and Zuiko Digital ED 70-300mm f:4.0-5.6. The latest firmware versions allegedly improve unstable sequential shooting when using C-AF on the E-3 and E-30.

Website: Olympus Firmware Updates

Olympus has released firmware updates for four of its Zuiko Digital ED lenses. These include the Zuiko Digital ED 90-250mm f:2.8, Zuiko Digital ED 8mm f:3.5 Fisheye, Zuiko Digital ED 18-180mm f:3.5-6.3 and Zuiko Digital ED 70-300mm f:4.0-5.6. The latest firmware versions allegedly improve unstable sequential shooting when using C-AF…

MovieLocker.com is a new website that provides a unique online platform for storing, distributing and selling videos with no initial investment required. This means filmmakers can create their own online video store in less than 5 minutes for free and have guaranteed copyright control with advanced Digital Rights Management software. Users can set the price of their video material, show previews, and utilise MovieLocker’s payment processor to complete transactions.

Website: MovieLocker

MovieLocker.com is a new website that provides a unique online platform for storing, distributing and selling videos with no initial investment required. This means filmmakers can create their own online video store in less than 5 minutes for free and have guaranteed copyright control with advanced Digital Rights Management software…

Jalbum, a photo sharing service and personal web album creator, connects to bloggers around the world by introducing a brand new tool called Jalbum Blog Badge. Any blogger can now conveniently display their photo album news in the sidebar of their blog. The blog badge is automatically updated and shared when an album is published with Jalbum. The Jalbum Blog Badge was launched as Beta in March 2009. Since then, thousands of bloggers have already added the Blog badge to their sites. In addition to a general code to copy-and-paste into blogs, the Blog Badge also comes as plug-ins for leading blog services Wordpress and Blogger.

Website: Jalbum

Jalbum, a photo sharing service and personal web album creator, connects to bloggers around the world by introducing a brand new tool called Jalbum Blog Badge. Any blogger can now conveniently display their photo album news in the sidebar of their blog. The blog badge is automatically updated and shared…

The date and location of this year’s Retail Imaging Show have been announced. This trade show, which is targeted at minilab, consumer electronics, computer/software and AV retailers, will take place on 25 September 2009, in the London Marriott on Grosvenor Square. The 2009 show will include the Pixel theatre, an area which will deliver a timetable of presentations from key manufacturers & industry trend analysts throughout the day. The show timetable will include a complimentary lunch service from Gordon Ramsay & Jason Atherton’s Maze Restaurant. Tickets cost £17.50 each but early birds can take advantage of some ‘pre-paid’ tickets (remember though that this show is exclusive to those working in the imaging trade). Click through / read on for the details.

The date and location of this year’s Retail Imaging Show have been announced. This trade show, which is targeted at minilab, consumer electronics, computer/software and AV retailers, will take place on 25 September 2009, in the London Marriott on Grosvenor Square. The 2009 show will include the Pixel theatre, an…

Fantasea has released the new Fantasea Eyes U/W Optics Line for underwater photographers. These include their BigEye wide-angle lenses, whose universal design and adaptor con?gurations provide a wide angle solution for large zoom lens compact digital cameras and most compact digital camera housings in the market, including Canon, Olympus, Fuji, Ikelite, Panasonic, Sea & Sea, Casio and more. Also belonging to the new underwater optics line are the SharpEye macro lenses, RedEye filters used to restore the red colour absorbed by the water, EyeDaptor adaptors and EyeGrabber lens holders.

Website: Fantasea Eyes

Fantasea has released the new Fantasea Eyes U/W Optics Line for underwater photographers. These include their BigEye wide-angle lenses, whose universal design and adaptor con?gurations provide a wide angle solution for large zoom lens compact digital cameras and most compact digital camera housings in the market, including Canon, Olympus, Fuji…

Jessops has announced the new exclusive to Jessops camera - the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 available in both black or blue. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 is a 12.1-megapixel digital camera with a metal body and a Carl Zeiss branded 5x zoom lens, featuring face detection, Smile Shutter and anti-blink technologies, Dynamic Range Optimisation and HD movie recording. In the UK, the black and blue versions of the camera are available exclusively at Jessops for £239.

Jessops has announced the new exclusive to Jessops camera - the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 available in both black or blue. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 is a 12.1-megapixel digital camera with a metal body and a Carl Zeiss branded 5x zoom lens, featuring face detection, Smile Shutter and anti-blink technologies, Dynamic…

Flying With Fish has announced two travel photography workshops dubbed Travel-Photo BootCamps. The focus of The BootCamps is simple, to force its participants outside of their comfort zone while teaching them how to adapt and succeed. Participants have no idea where they are headed to plan for the workshop - they meet at the airport (JFK and SFO for the East Coast and West Coast BootCamps, respectively), and only learn about the destination when they’ve handed their boarding pass. Upon arrival participants will be briefed on their first assignment and be required to quickly execute it before being handed the next assignment. Deadlines, ground-planning logistics and equipment restrictions are real. The East Coast Boot Camp kicks off on 21 June and costs US$750, whereas the West Coast BootCamp starts on 28 June and costs US$800. Both BootCamps have a maximum capacity of five participants.

Website: Flying With Fish

Flying With Fish has announced two travel photography workshops dubbed Travel-Photo BootCamps. The focus of The BootCamps is simple, to force its participants outside of their comfort zone while teaching them how to adapt and succeed. Participants have no idea where they are headed to plan for the workshop -…

Monday, May 18, 2009

The Nikon Coolpix L100 super-zoom camera has a 15x, 28-420mm zoom lens and is designed to be easy to use for beginners. Scene Auto Selector and Easy modes take the guesswork out of capturing the moment, Sensor-shift Vibration Reduction should keep your shots sharp, and the L100's large 3 inch screen is great for sharing with friends and family. The Nikon L100's is available now in black for a wallet-friendly price-tag of £239.99 / €269.00 / $279.95. Read our expert review to discover if this is the right digital camera for you.

Pentax Imaging Company has announced a third instant rebate programme effective May 15 – May 24, 2009 on select digital cameras. The savings consist of a $20.00 USD instant rebate on the PENTAX P70 and the PENTAX E70 compact digital cameras and a $50.00 USD savings on the PENTAX K2000 digital SLR double lens kit. There is no need to submit or track claims or wait several weeks for a rebate cheque.  More information about the programme and all of these products is available at: www.pentaximaging.com

Pentax Imaging Company has announced a third instant rebate programme effective May 15 – May 24, 2009 on select digital cameras. The savings consist of a $20.00 USD instant rebate on the PENTAX P70 and the PENTAX E70 compact digital cameras and a $50.00 USD savings on the PENTAX K200…

Fujifilm U.S.A. today introduced a collection of new accessories to complement their FinePix digital camera line for Spring 2009. For the Fuji FinePix F200EXR (pictured), the company has announced a leather case ($29.99), an underwater housing that is water resistant down to a depth of 130 feet ($179.99), an HD component cable ($49.99) and a replacement O-Ring Kit and silica grease for the F200 EXR Underwater Housing. ($19.99). For the FinePix Z33WP, Fujifilm has released a silicone case ($14.99), a sport case made of neoprene ($18.99), a weatherproof case ($18.99), a float strap that is claimed to be ideal to help keep the Z33WP camera afloat so you can capture favourite pictures in, around and on the water. ($14.99) and an outdoor accessory kit consisting of the aforementioned silicone case, and float strap plus a neoprene fitted case ($24.99). New accessories for A series FinePix cameras include a fitted case ($9.99) and an AV cable that can also be used with J and Z series FinePix digicams ($8.99). These new items will be available May 2009.

Review: Read our in-depth review of the Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR

Fujifilm U.S.A. today introduced a collection of new accessories to complement their FinePix digital camera line for Spring 2009. For the Fuji FinePix F200EXR (pictured), the company has announced a leather case ($29.99), an underwater housing that is water resistant down to a depth of 130 feet ($179.99), an HD…

BenQ has announced the BenQ C1020 and the BenQ C1220 digital compact cameras. The BenQ C1020 is a ten-megapixel model with a 3x zoom lens, a 2.5” screen, Smile Catch mode and 720x400-pixel video recording with optical zoom.The camera weighs 130 grams, has 15MB of internal memory plus an SD card slot, and is PictBridge compliant. The BenQ C1220 is essentially the same thing fitted with a twelve-megapixel sensor and a different exterior design.

BenQ has announced the BenQ C1020 and the BenQ C1220 digital compact cameras. The BenQ C1020 is a ten-megapixel model with a 3x zoom lens, a 2.5” screen, Smile Catch mode and 720x400-pixel video recording with optical zoom.The camera weighs 130 grams, has 15MB of internal memory plus an SD…

Canon USA is encouraging Americans to visit their national parks and photograph their beauty with its fourth annual Canon Photography In The Parks Photo Contest. The contest is open to any legal US resident that falls into one of two age categories, 13-17 of age (Teen) or 18 or older (Adult) as of 15 May 2009. The organisers invite photography enthusiasts, from May 15th to September 30th, 2009, to enter by submitting their “Inspirational Nature Images,” the theme for this year’s contest. Photos taken at any park or monument in America can be entered through the Canon Digital Learning Center Web site at: www.usa.canon.com/parks. As part of Canon’s Parks Programme, a team of photographers will be touring four National Parks from June through August. At each park, the Canon team will host free photography workshops and provide Canon’s top-of-the-line camera equipment for participants to use at no charge.Winning photographers from the Photography in the Parks Photo Contest will receive a package of Canon photographic equipment. The Grand Prize winner will also receive a trip to a National Park.

Canon USA is encouraging Americans to visit their national parks and photograph their beauty with its fourth annual Canon Photography In The Parks Photo Contest. The contest is open to any legal US resident that falls into one of two age categories, 13-17 of age (Teen) or 18 or older…

To celebrate DxO Optics Pro’s 5th birthday, DxO Labs offers a 25% discount on DxO Optics Pro and DxO FilmPack for the entire month of May. DxO Optics Pro is a piece of software that automatically enhances each photo with respect to the camera, the lens and the shooting conditions. It is also a powerful RAW converter with functionalities like noise reduction, contrast and colour corrections for a wide range of digital cameras. DxO FilmPack is a program that allegedly allows digital photographers to rediscover the styles, colours, and grains of the most famous silver-halide films. The promotional prices are £74.25 for DxO Optics Pro v5.3.3, £149.25 for DxO Optics Pro v5.3.3 Elite and £44.25 for DxO FilmPack.

To celebrate DxO Optics Pro’s 5th birthday, DxO Labs offers a 25% discount on DxO Optics Pro and DxO FilmPack for the entire month of May. DxO Optics Pro is a piece of software that automatically enhances each photo with respect to the camera, the lens and the shooting conditions…

The Sony Alpha A380, A330, and A230 are three new easy-to-use DSLR cameras. The 14.2 megapixel A380 and 10.2 megapixel A330 feature Quick AF Live View for responsive ‘freestyle’ shooting. The 10.2 megapixel Sony A230 is the world’s lightest DSLR featuring an APS-C sized image sensor and in-body image stabilisation. All three models feature a 2.7-inch LCD screen, which can be tilted up or down on the A380 and A330 models, a HDMI terminal and a graphical user interface with built-in on-screen Help Guide. The Sony Alpha A380 costs $850, the A330 $650, and the A230 $550 with the SAL-1855 standard zoom lens. The twin lens kit with the SAL-1855 standard zoom and SAL-55200 telephoto zoom lenses is $1050, $850 and $750 for the A380, A330 and A230 respectively. In the UK, the A230 is priced at £530, the A330 is £610, and the A380 is £720 (all body only).

The Sony Alpha A380, A330, and A230 are three new easy-to-use DSLR cameras. The 14.2 megapixel A380 and 10.2 megapixel A330 feature Quick AF Live View for responsive ‘freestyle’ shooting. The 10.2 megapixel Sony A230 is the world’s lightest DSLR featuring an APS-C sized image sensor and in-body image stabilisation…

Sony have today unveiled 4 new DSLR lenses, a super-slim external flash and colour-coordinated lifestyle accessories. The DT 50mm F1.8 SAM is a light, bright portrait lens offering superb optical performance and inbuilt Smooth Autofocus Motor. The DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM telephoto zoom is an ideal choice for everyday shooting. The DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM telephoto zoom features a maximum focal length equivalent to 300mm. Under development for Autumn 2009, the DT 30mm F2.8 SAM makes 1:1 life-size imaging more accessible. The HVL-F20AM flashgun can be used as an inexpensive trigger for wireless remote flash heads and wireless flash controller for the full-frame A900 camera. In the UK, the 18-55mm will cost £160, the 55-200mm £220, the 50mm F1.8 £160, and the HVL-F20AM is £150. Pricing is still to be confirmed for the DT 30mm F2.8 SAM.

Sony have today unveiled 4 new DSLR lenses, a super-slim external flash and colour-coordinated lifestyle accessories. The DT 50mm F1.8 SAM is a light, bright portrait lens offering superb optical performance and inbuilt Smooth Autofocus Motor. The DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM telephoto zoom is an ideal choice for everyday shooting…