Jun 17: Fujifilm Finepix F440

The Fujifilm Finepix F440 is a 4.1 megapixel (CCD sensor) digital camera with a 3.4x optical zoom lens, xD-Picture card storage and a 154,000 pixel 2.0" LCD display. Its dimensions are 2.9(W) x 2.5(H) x 0.8(D) (inches) and it weighs 5.3oz.

It is expected to ship in August 2004 and to retail for $399.99 (US).

Get the Latest Price on the Fujifilm Finepix F440

For more details of the Fujifilm Finepix F440 read the following excerpts from the press release from Fujifilm announcing the F440 and the F450.

DC Resource reviews the Fujifilm Finepix F440 and writes - 'The Fuji FinePix F440 is a fun and compact point-and-shoot camera that has some features that set it apart from the pack -- in both good and bad ways. First, the good ways. Despite its compact size, the F440 has a 3.4X optical zoom -- a nice change from the usual 3X. That's not a lot of extra zoom, but more zoom is always appreciated by most folks. The second nice feature is the larger-than-normal 2 inch LCD display, which also happens to be bright, sharp, and fluid. The camera starts up quickly, but once there, it's pretty average in terms of performance. Picture quality is very good, and I for one am glad that Fuji is using traditional CCDs again on these lower-end cameras.'

Gizmodo reviews the Fujifilm Finepix F440 and writes - 'But what I can talk about is how well the F440 performs at being portable, being easy to use, and how it impresses even gadget-weary trade show representatives. I'm going to skip to the punchline and say that it does all of those things very well....'

Crutchfield Advisor reviews the Fujifilm Finepix F440 and writes - 'Despite the drawbacks described above, I really enjoyed using this camera. Its tiny build meant that I took it more places (and therefore snapped more photos) than I would have with a significantly larger camera. The pictures are beautiful and are earning me compliments that I, as a very amateur photographer, don't deserve. The F440 (and its higher-resolution sibling, the 5-megapixel F450) are great cameras for snapshot-loving travelers and stay-at-home shutterbugs.'

Digital Camera Info reviews the Fujifilm FinePix F440 Digital Camera and writes:

'With the Fujifilm FinePix F440, the consumer receives a 1/2.5-inch, 4.1MP CCD, with a petite camera body that is small enough to comfortably fit within the user’s pocket. This camera has hybrid capability at the most basic level, with a monaural speaker for real time audio recording. The user can record to the included 16 MB x-D memory card, but will get no internal memory. It is possible to record in up to six different format ratios. The user can control exposure and white balance settings, along with ISO, but otherwise, manual controls are minimal. The power switch is finicky and unresponsive but the other controls are logical and intuitive, small as they may be. There are two separate menus, one for shooting, and the other for overall camera control.'

PC Magazine reviews the Fujifilm FinePix F440 and writes - 'The Fujifilm FinePix F440 is stylish, fun to use, and great for showing off at parties. But its square shape can make for awkward shooting, and the pictures you get are only adequate.

Pros: Bright LCD; 3.4X optical zoom; tiny, fun-to-use, attention-grabbing package; speedy recycle time.

Cons: Mediocre images. Square shape looks cool but isn?t the easiest for holding and aiming; inadequate movie mode. Slow boot time.'

'CNET Reviews' has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix F440 digital camera and writes - 'Picture quality was less than thrilling and not as sharp as most of the recent 4-megapixel crop. While exposures were generally good with sufficient detail in the shadows, highlights tended to wash out, and noise was apparent even at ISO 80. By ISO 250, multicolored noise speckles were prominent enough to provide a texture of their own to most pictures. The Fujifilm FinePix F440's red-eye mode seemed to produce little more than an impressive preflash light show but very little in the way of red-eye reduction.'

PhotographyBLOG reviews the Fujifilm Finepix F440 and writes - 'Overall the Fujifilm FinePix F440 improves on its predecessor in some areas and takes a step backwards in others. If you only need 3 megapixels then the F420 is probably a better choice (if you can find one). If you don't mind the lack of continuous shooting and 30fps movies and would rather have a 4 megapixel sensor and slightly bigger LCD screen, then the Fujifilm FinePix F440 is a great choice.

The Fujifilm FinePix F440 is currently about £40 / $80 / 50€ cheaper than the 5 megapixel Fujifilm FinePix F450 and is identical in every other respect. Only you can decide whether the difference in price is worth paying for the extra megapixel. Having said that, I would suggest that the extra megpaixel doesn't make too much difference, especially if you never print larger than A4 size, and that you therefore choose the cheaper Fujifilm FinePix F440.'

Buy the Fujifilm Finepix F440

Press Release

FUJIFILM ANNOUNCES TWO NEW MINI DIGITAL CAMERAS
Stunning 4.1 and 5.2 megapixel models combine small size with trusted image quality to equal highly portable and reliable cameras perfect for parties and everyday events

VALHALLA, NY – JUNE 17, 2004 – Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., a pioneer in digital imaging technology, today announced the addition of two ultra-compact new models to its award-winning line of consumer digital cameras. The new FinePix F440 and F450 combine Fujifilm's trusted image quality with a new signature slim, square metal body featuring a large, 2-inch LCD screen for easy viewing and sharing. The Fujifilm FinePix F440 offers 4.1 million pixels for capturing clear, life-like images, while the Fujifilm FinePix F450 offers 5.2 million pixels for photographers who want even more imaging power.

“Because the FinePix F440 and F450 fit so easily into pockets and small handbags, they're perfect to take to parties and special events – and with the 2-inch LCD screen, it's easier than ever for consumers to show their friends the picture they've just taken,” said Susan Schaffer, Director, Consumer Products, Photo Imaging Division, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. “Fujifilm is pleased to continue its tradition of packaging accessible leading-edge digital technologies in distinctive designs with these new cameras.”

Top Features
The FinePix F440 offers photographers 4.1 million pixels, as well as a 3.4x optical and 3.6x digital zoom. The FinePix F450 offers users 5.2 million pixels, with a 3.4x optical and 4.1x digital zoom capability. Both cameras offer QVGA movie capture, recording 10 frames/second with sound. The FinePix F440 and F450 offer an easy-to-use range of automatic and manual features that make both the first-time digital photographer as well as the casual hobbyist comfortable.

The cameras run on a rechargeable NP-30 Li-ion battery designed to maximize power efficiencies, and come with an AC adapter. Both cameras use Fujifilm's xD-Picture Card™ storage media. A 512MB card can hold up to 515 4-megapixel (normal) images for the FinePix F440 and up to 409 5-megapixel (normal) images for the FinePix F450. Both models come with a Picture Cradle for easy downloading, battery recharging and for use in PC-cam mode.

Slim Form Factor
The FinePix F440 and F450 fit neatly into most palms, and weigh 5.3 ounces without battery and storage media. The 2.9(W) x 2.5(H) x 0.8(D) inch metal-body design – similar in size to a deck of playing cards – fits easily into pockets and small bags, making it easier than ever to keep a camera nearby for everyday shots. Both cameras also offer a large 2-inch low-temp polysilicon TFT LCD screen, making it easier than ever to view and share images.

Great Prints
Fujifilm digital cameras offer consumers best-quality printed images made from home, at home and at the store. Both the FinePix F440 and F450 offer consumers PictBridge compatibility for fast and convenient at-home printing, without the use of a computer. Now, consumers can use Fujifilm's inkjet paper in nearly any manufacturer's inkjet printer to ensure long-lasting prints with bright colors. Consumers may visit http://www.digitalcameradeveloping.com to find a store near them – or near friends and family across the country – that offers in-store digital camera developing, and to order images from local retailers online.

Availability
The FinePix F440 will be available in August 2004 and sell for approximately $399.99, while the FinePix F450 will ship in October 2004 and sell for approximately $499.99. The FinePix F440 and F450 will ship with FinePix Viewer, ImageMixer VCD2 for FinePix, a 16MB xD-Picture Card, NP-30 Li-ion battery, AC-5VW AC adapter, USB cable, A/V cable, hand strap, and a PictureCradle.

Get the Latest Price on the Fujifilm Finepix F440

Jun 17: GPS Photo Linking

Have you ever been looking through a photo album only to find a picture and have no idea where you took it? GPS Photo Linking might be a technology for you.

'As you are out recording pictures, your GPS receiver is busy making a digital popcorn trail of your movements. Then when you're back on the computer, a topo map or aerial photograph is pulled from a terraserver on the Internet, and your shots show up on the map as clickable links to your photographs.'

Jun 17: Histogram Tips

The Histogram is one of the most useful tools in Digital Photography yet it is one of the least understood and utilized. We've searched the web for ten of the best Histogram Tips and Tutorials to help us all to get the best possible exposure for our digital images. These tutorials focus upon both in camera histograms and histogram tools in imaging editing software. Add your tips, hints and suggested resources in comments below.

Also check out Digital Photography School for more free Digital Camera Tips on All Topics.

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• Histogram - Goldilocks and the Three Histograms - Photoxels gives an easy to understand definition and introduction to Histograms - 'The histogram is simply a graph that allows you to judge the brightness of an image. You can think of the area under the graph as comprising all the pixels in your captured digital image. The left side of the histogram depicts how many "dark" pixels you have captured; the right side, how many "bright" pixels you have captured.'
• About Histograms takes the definition a little further - 'A histogram that shows more weight at the left of the graph represents a dark image, also called a low-key image. A histogram with more weight to the right of the graph represents a bright, or high-key, image. An image with a low-key histogram may be overexposed, and an image with a high-key histogram may be underexposed, though this is not necessarily always the case. Your eye--not a histogram--should always be your final judge. A histogram that shows a large flat area on either end of the graph, however, is most likely in need of some adjustment as you can see from the example below.'



• A Short Course in Using Histograms illustrates this with this graphic (above). Their excellent tutorial gives a range of sample photos with histograms and gives hints on correcting images by using the Histogram tool in photoshop.
• Understanding Histograms - so what does a good histogram look like? This tutorial argues - 'As mentioned earlier, with the possible exception of showing badly blown out highlights there really is no such thing as a bad histogram. They just are.' Some of the most stunning images (and this tutorial has some great examples) have histograms that might indicate real over or under exposure - so as with virtually any photographic 'rule', those associated with histograms are there to be broken.
• Watch Your Histogram agrees with this - 'The overall shape of the histogram does not matter at all as it merely reflects the tonal distribution of the scene you photographed.' but also suggests that a good shape for a histogram - 'the ideal histogram should not indicate any over exposure or highlights are lost (and) not underexpose as you may lose shadow details but also most importantly get more noise. In conclusion the perfect digital exposure is as far to the right that there is no chance of overexposure. Unfortunately the real truth is not that easy.'
• Color Concepts - Histograms is a useful little tool that uses an animated gif to illustrate a variety of sample images and their histograms.
• Photoshop CS Histogram Tutorial is a tutorial exploring the dynamic Histogram tool in Photoshop CS - 'With Photoshop CS, the histogram has become dynamic. This means that, contrary to what happened in previous versions, the histogram will start moving in real-time as we drag sliders and curves in the Levels and Curves filter dialogue windows. Because it moves in tandem with the sliders and curves in those windows, we can immediately see when we are exaggerating or where there is still room for improvement.'
• Using Histograms in Photoshop and Photoshop LE has a similar tutorial for users of photoshop and Photoshop LE.
• Underwater Digital Photography - Histograms - this tutorial focuses on the topic of underwater digital photography, in which they claim the Histogram is one of the best tools available.
• A Practical Guide to Interpreting RGB Histograms has a nice conclusion (and a great overall tutorial) - 'It takes a little practice to be able to identify which parts of the histogram correlate to the different components and tonal range areas of the image. It is a skill well worth learning and not too different from the old black and white zone system. After a while you'll have an intuitive feel for where sky tones, clouds, dark or light earth tones, and bright highlights should fall in your image's histogram. You'll also know how much a 1/3 or 1/2 stop increase in exposure will shift the histogram to the right. Or, exactly how much a 1/3 or 1/2 stop decrease in exposure will shift the histogram to the left.'

• PC Magazine have a good article on Histograms - they write:

  'A search in pcmag.com for the word histo-gram reveals that dozens of cameras have this feature, and occasionally a review notes its disappointing absence. You may have seen these references or come across the histogram on your camera, and wondered what the heck a histogram is and why you should care.

  Histograms are not widely understood, but taking a few moments to learn about them can improve your photography significantly. Histograms can show you clearly and immediately whether your images are overexposed, underexposed, or just right, and help you to make any necessary changes in order to compensate when reshooting the scene.'

So why do we need histograms? The information that they supply is information about under and over exposure. Whilst it doesn't determine the value of an image the histogram informs a photographer of exposure levels of their images which can be a very useful thing - especially when you're on location and trying to assess the value of a shot on your camera's tiny LCD.

Check out some of our other Digital Camera Tips:
- Digital Photography Composition Tips
- Night and Low Light Digital Photography Tips
- Macro Digital Photography Tips
- Taking Images with Camera Phones Tips
- Depth of Field Tips
- Introduction to Photoblogging and Moblogging
- How to Choose a Digital Camera
- Digital Camera Care Tips
- Cleaning your Digital Camera Image Sensor

Jun 16: Canon Wins Four TIPA Awards

Canon Press Release

Canon wins four TIPA awards for best photographic and imaging products of 2004

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, has received four Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) awards for the following products:

• "Best D-SLR Professional Camera 2004" - EOS-1D Mark II
• "Breakthrough Award 2004" - EOS 300D
• "Best 35mm SLR Camera 2004" for the - EOS 30V Date / 33V
• "Best Technology 2004" - DVK-E2 Data Verification Kit software

Canon EOS-1D Mark II: Best D-SLR Professional Camera 2004
The EOS-1D Mark II is the most powerful digital SLR (D-SLR) camera in the world, combining formidable 8.5 frames per second speed with 8.2 Megapixel resolution. The TIPA judges applauded the camera by saying it “has redefined the parameters for high-end digital SLRs. By combining the speed required by the dedicated sports photographer with image quality suitable for demanding commercial photography, the EOS-1D Mark II is able to serve both types of photographer equally well, and was therefore chosen by the TIPA jury as the Best D-SLR Professional Camera.”

Canon EOS 300D: Breakthrough Award 2004
Released in August 2003, the EOS 300D was the first D-SLR camera priced at under £1000. The camera provides consumers with digital camera technology previously only available to professional photographers, including 6.3 Megapixel resolution, seven-point, high-speed predictive auto focus, 2.5 frame per second burst rate, 35-zone metering and DIGIC image processor. The TIPA judges created a new award especially for this camera, declaring, “the introduction of the Canon 300D digital SLR camera will go into history as a milestone event. For the first time, digital SLR-photography became available at a consumer-level price. The TIPA editors decided to give Canon a Special Award to commemorate this breakthrough introduction.”

Canon EOS 30V Date / 33V: Best 35mm SLR Camera 2004
Capable of tracking an object closing at 50kph to up to 8 metres from the camera* and firing off 4-frames per second, both the EOS 30V Date and EOS 33V feature the fastest AF speed and continuous shooting speed in their class. Commending the cameras, the TIPA judges commented: “These new 35mm SLR cameras are ideal for those looking to capture fast action without bulky and expensive add-on motordrives. The latest version of Canon's acclaimed seven point AF system gives maximum flexibility including the proven eye-control on the EOS 30V Date. Robust metal bodies provide durability while quiet operation increases opportunities for discreet photography.”

Canon DVK-E2 Data Verification Kit: Best Technology 2004
Canon’s DVK-E2 Data Verification Kit is designed to work with the EOS-1Ds and EOS-1D Mark II D-SLR cameras – it provides the facility to prove that images taken with these cameras have not been tampered with or manipulated in any way. Commenting on this award, the TIPA judges stated: “Digital photography has an inherent problem with the authenticity of images. Anyone can alter the image, making it impossible to use digital images for forensic photography and other forms of photography where authenticity is vital. Canon’s Data Verification Software solves this problem by adding a ‘seal of authenticity’ to digital images.”

Incredible growth of D-SLR
In March 2004, the total market sales volumes of D-SLR cameras had increased by up to 630% in Western Europe*. “The tremendous success of the EOS 300D has certainly played a role in further driving this market growth,” said Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging UK and Ireland. The EOS 300D sold out across Europe within weeks of its release, and Canon moved quickly to increase production to meet the high consumer demand. Canon digital SLR cameras have already secured the major share of sports and photojournalism worldwide, with the world’s leading wire agencies such as Reuters, Getty Images and AFP choosing Canon professional products for their photographers.

“At Canon, we are delighted and honoured to receive these four prestigious TIPA awards,” said Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging UK and Ireland. “They cement Canon's already-commanding leadership position in the exploding D-SLR market, and reflect our commitment to further developing both digital and analogue photography technology.”

TIPA
The Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) was founded in 1991 as an independent, non-profit publishing group, open to all independent photo and video magazines published in Europe. At present, with 30 member magazines from 12 countries, TIPA is by far the largest photo and imaging publishers’ association in Europe. Once a year, all the members of the Association meet to vote for the “Best Photo and Imaging Products in Europe”.

Jun 16: Beyond Megapixels III

Tech Lounge have just released the third and last part of their Beyond Megapixels series.

'This last installment of Beyond Megapixels contains an overview of camera function, such as metering, white balance and focusing systems, popular filetypes and their usefulness to the photographer, and features that define each digital camera. In keeping with the editorial nature of this series, I will share my preferences and opinions of these aspects when I deem prudent.'

Jun 16: Pentax to develop Camera Phone Parts

Pentax are set to start making Camera Phone components in a bid to expand their revenue sources. NE Asia reports that Pentax will begin the manufacture of 2 to 3 megapixel modules for camera phones by the end of this year.

'The three-year plan calls for establishing divisions in charge of designing and manufacturing digital camera parts for supply to other firms. New operations will include sales of 2- to 3-Mpixel modules for camera phones, according to the officials.'

Also reported is an increased focus by Pentax on manufacturing higher-margin medical equipment and devices.

'Noncamera operations are expected to account for 75% of operating profit for fiscal 2006 if the three-year business plan goes ahead as projected.'

Jun 16: Nikon Ups DSLR focus and retreats from Film

Reuters reports that Nikon will boost production of their successful D70 and are moving towards withdrawing from the compact film camera market.

'In an interview with Reuters, managing director Makoto Kimura said Nikon would raise monthly capacity for the "D70" model to above 90,000 units by September or October, compared to 70,000 when the camera hit stores in March....

Nikon aims to sell one million digital SLRs in the current business year to March 2005, compared to about 300,000 in 2003/04. It expects sales of all digital cameras to reach 7.8 million units, up 44 percent from 5.4 million units last year....

Kimura said Nikon had no plans to stop producing film SLRs, but that it may next year start considering pulling out of the film compact camera business due to a sharp plunge in demand.

"There is still the matter of timing, but eventually we will have to dissolve this business," Kimura said. "There really is no region in the world where you can do good business in compact film cameras anymore."'

Jun 15: Fuji Finepix Square Mini

The Fuji Finepix Square Mini is coming. There aren't too many details yet but the Finepix Website is running a teaser announcing its imminent arrival on the 17th of June. Source

Jun 15: Konica Minolta Dimage X31

The Konica Minolta DiMAGE X31 is a 3.2 megapixel and 3x Optical Zoom update of the Minolta Dimage X21 camera. The Minolta Dimage X31 has a higher resolution LCD and a faster start up time (1.0 seconds) than the X21. It will be released in mid July 2004.

UK/European Readers buy the Minolta Dimage X31

Steve's Digicams reviews the Konica Minolta Dimage X31 and writes - 'The overall image quality in 2048x1536 Fine mode was good. Outdoors it produced nice images, though they were a little soft, and there was an average amount of noise in high/low contrast areas. Indoors it produced similar results and most of our flash pictures were a bit warm. However, the Macro capabilities of this camera are good. Though it does not have a dedicated macro mode, it can cover from 3.9 inches (0.1 m) to infinity at any focal length. I also found that the flash "throttles down" well to ensure you don't over-expose the subject.'

Imaging Resource reviews the Konica Minolta Dimage X31 and writes - 'The DiMAGE X31, while sacrificing a few features and some low light capability to keep the cost down, offers a capable, subcompact digicam at a street price as low as $150. Though the design that once appeared quite small is now looking a little chunky, the X31's compact size, no-nonsense feature set, and novice-friendly menu interface make the it a great "take anywhere" camera, appealing to non-techies as well as enthusiasts.'

PC Mag reviews the Konica Minolta Dimage X31 and writes - 'Our test shots were decent but not impressive. Daylight photos tended to be a bit dark and a little soft around the edges, with some graininess in the shadows. The images did show good whites and highlights and well-reproduced colors (if a little warm). Our flash shots, though well illuminated, were slightly red and suffered from noise and fuzziness. Close-up shots, as near as 4 inches from the subject, were particularly good.'

Digital Camera Review reviews the Konica Minolta Dimage X31 and writes - 'If you want an ultra compact digital camera on a budget, and will be using the camera outside or for macro photos then this camera could be for you, but if you take a lot of indoor photos and want sound on your videos then you may end up quite frustrated with this camera, especially if it struggles to focus. For around £117 (UK) $169 (US) from Amazon this camera offers excellent value for money for an ultra compact 3mp, 3x optical zoom digital camera - unfortunately compromises seem to have been made in order to bring the price down. This camera is worth considering depending on your needs.'

CNET reviews the Konica Minolta Dimage X31 Digital Camera and writes - 'Slim and stylish, Konica Minolta's Dimage X31 adds some panache to the 3.2-megapixel point-and-shoot category. In addition to basic snapshot features and an internal zoom lens, this camera offers some fun features for creative types.

Like its higher-end Dimage X siblings, the X31 is less than an inch thick with a squarish body that slips nicely into most pockets. Even though it's mainly plastic instead of the brushed metal of the more expensive X cameras, its two AA batteries make it a bit heavier than they are--but it's still quite lightweight at 6 ounces.'

For more information on the Konica Minolta Dimage X31 read the following press release from Konica Minolta.

Press Release
Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc.'s DiMAGE X31, a new addition to the DiMAGE X-series of digital cameras, is a 3.2 megapixel digital camera that combines a fast startup speed, thin and stylish design, and intuitive operation in a very affordable entry-level digital camera model. The DiMAGE X31 is packed with creative options that make digital photography fun. Sophisticated technology and responsive performance make this tiny, stylish camera a joy to use.

Product Highlights - Thin, stylish body—the camera is a mere 0.96 inches thick, even with its non-protruding built-in 3x optical zoom lens—making it the ultimate portable digital photography tool. - Amazingly fast start up time—the DiMAGE X31 is ready to use in approximately 1.0 second. - Users get superb images thanks to the 3 megapixels. - Easy to use “launcher type Graphical User Interface (GUI)” with icons and simple buttons. - Konica Minolta's CxProcess™ II high-quality image process technology. - PictBridge compatibility that enables users to print their pictures without a PC. - Additional functions like Framing and Side by Side for even greater creativity. - Macro photography, as close as 3.9 inches, anytime without changing modes.

Features
3x Optical Zoom in a Super-Slim Camera Body
Featuring Konica Minolta's non-protruding zoom lens, the DiMAGE X31's sleek outward appearance is maintained even when the zoom is activated. This revolutionary design uses internal folded optics technology, which means that the slim profile of the camera doesn't have to change at all, even while taking pictures. With 3x optical zoom, the camera is just 0.96 inches thick (0.85 inches thick excluding the camera's LCD monitor) whether carrying it in a shirt pocket or taking pictures. It's geared to be fast, fun, and versatile to match any lifestyle.

Fast Startup
Thanks to folded optics technology, from the moment users switch the camera on, all they have to do is wait approximately 1.0 second and they're ready to take great pictures. Users need never miss a moment of the action; just turn on the DiMAGE X31 and start shooting away.

Easy and Convenient Operation
The DiMAGE X31 also incorporates a launcher type Graphical User Interface ( GUI) menu system. The intuitive controls of the GUI mean that users get a comfortable compact digital camera that does all the work for them. Users simply press the menu button for the user-friendly GUI icons that let them command all of the DiMAGE X31's settings. There are no complicated settings to be made. The controls are simple and few, making the DiMAGE X31 fun to use.

Select functions with the easy-to-use 5-way controller. It's so intuitive that even technophobes will enjoy the X31's range of functions in no time. A few logical operation buttons make the DiMAGE X31 as easy to use as it looks. The icon-based, on-screen menu and 5-way controller combine to give users quick and easy access to a wealth of functions.

Because photos are meant to be admired, the DiMAGE X31 has an independent playback button that brings up pictures instantly.

Take Extreme Close-ups
The DiMAGE X31 requires no macro mode to take photos up to 3.9 inches from the subject. This means users can fill the frame with the incredible details of flowers or other beautiful but small subjects anytime without having to change the camera's shooting mode.

More Functions for More Ways to Enjoy Photographs
Creative functions such as Framing lets users instantly decorate images with frames or borders. Or, users can manipulate and play with their pictures to create unique images. The camera's Side by Side function, which splices two pictures on the left and right halves of the frame, will have people asking, “How did you do that?”

The DiMAGE X31's self-portrait mirror lets photographers make sure they're properly framed before taking self-portraits or “two-shots” of themselves and someone special. The camera's Portrait mode produces more natural skin tones and gives even more detail in things like individual eyelashes and hairs.

Photographers can choose from a range of creative image editing functions for their photos: give them a nostalgic look with sepia or black-and-white options, an arty look with the posterization option, or the painted-portrait look with the soft focus option.

XR Movie
The Extended Recording (XR) Movie mode lets users record longer movie clips onto the camera's Secure Digital (SD) memory card at resolutions of 160 x 120 or 320 x 240 pixels. Just keep on filming until the memory card is full.

Internal Memory
The DiMAGE X31's internal memory stores up to 10 of your favorite photos, which stay there even if the photographer erases the camera's memory card. Viewing these photos requires a special control key combination, so users can keep these images private until they want to share them.

Computer-less Printing
By directly connecting the DiMAGE X31 to a PictBridge*-compliant printer, printouts can be made easily without using a computer. The user can check which image they want to print on the camera's LCD monitor.
*PictBridge is an industry standard established by the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA).

Superbly Clear Images
The Konica Minolta CxProcess™ II image processing technology incorporates characteristics like smooth gradations, natural skin tones, and brilliantly clear colors for images that are more natural and lifelike. The DiMAGE X31's 3.2 megapixels capture fine lines and intricate details for stunning digital images.

Runs on Widely Available AA Batteries
The DiMAGE X31 is powered by two AA batteries (alkaline, Ni-MH). They're available almost anywhere and offer long life, so users never need to worry about running out of power and missing a photo opportunity.

Jun 15: Search Digital Photography Blog

Search Digital Photography Blog or the Whole Web for a specific digital camera, tip or news using the following tool.

	Web Digital Photography Blog

Jun 15: UNEP Canon - Focus on Your World Competition

In our inbox this morning was an email notifying us a photographic competition - 'Focus on Your World' being run by UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and Canon.

'Focus on Your World" will create a visual journal depicting the challenges facing Earth's rich environmental diversity.

The competition, which is the largest of its kind in the world, invites entries from people of all nationalities and ages and is open to both amateur and professional photographers.

The award winning "Focus on Your World" images will be exhibited throughout the 2005 World Exposition (25 March - 25 September), in Aichi, Japan, at the United Nations Pavilion, whose theme is 'Celebrating Diversity'.

The winning photographs will be featured in travelling exhibitions to increase awareness of the environmental issues worldwide. The "Focus on Your World" photo collection is a unique and ongoing visual record of this critical period in the history of our planet.'

Prizes range up to the Gold Prize of US$20,000 so its worth submitting an entry.

Jun 15: PhotonHead Updated

Thanks to Gavin for the tip that PhotonHead has just been updated with some new tips and tutorials to help digital photographers. Worth checking out is their Sim Cam which 'is an online camera simulator designed to teach basic photographic principles.'

Jun 14: Online Photo Processing and Printing

Along with the rise of the digital camera, the past year or so has seen a large number of Online Photo Processing and Printing services appear one the web. Its difficult to sort through the different options - especially when many of them seem to have a very similar online presence and special offers.

We've found a few sites that have tested many of them and have collated them below for your convenience. Feel free to add your own experiences of online photo processing and printing services below in our comments section.

Online Photo Processing and Printing Sites Reviewed
- Online Photo Printing - This site reviews and test which Online Photo Printing Service is best. They write - 'Which online services are good? Now that I have my digital camera, I decided to find out. I sent a batch of digital photos to three services that seem to get good reviews from users, with the intent of comparing the quality of their prints and the features of their online services.'

- Photography Review - reviews a variety of online photo printing options.

- PC Mag's Photo-Printing Reviews - 'Fortunately, ordering prints online is much cheaper and easier than you might think. And almost any digital camera—whether 2 megapixels or 5—is capable of producing prints that will look just as good as any you've gotten from your old film camera. That said, there is some variation in quality depending on the services you use. Some printing services print more accurately, while some do a better job of enhancing photos. Some offer better editing tools, and some are just easy to use'

Online Photo Printing and Processing
- Shutterfly - Shutterfly seem to get some good reviews as an online photo printing service - 'Transfer your digital pictures to Shutterfly. Get your first 15 prints FREE and mailed right to your door.'

- Photo Printing Services Shootout - another review site that looks at some of the photo printing services available online.

- Ofoto - 'Ofoto, Inc. (www.ofoto.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Eastman Kodak Company, is the leading online digital photo developing service. The Ofoto.com site provides consumers with a secure and easy way to view, store and share their photos with friends and family and get real Kodak prints of their pictures. The site also provides free editing and creative tools.'

- Club Photo - 'Today, Club Photo combines the best of both worlds, offering traditional high quality and value with the latest and greatest in photographic technologies. We only use high quality, name-brand paper. We are the only company today to offer a print size optimized for digital camera users. Upload photos from your digital camera to your account so you can share with friends or create personalized prints and gifts.'

- Dot Photo - 'dotPhoto provides the most comprehensive photo printing and image/sound archiving services on the Internet-at prices you'll enjoy. We're the first Web site to accept both image and sound files from digital cameras. And the only site where you can add sound clips to your current and archived digital photos. You can even communicate via "instant voice mail" with friends and family as they view your photo album at dotPhoto. Our goal is to enable both novice and professional photographers to enjoy the full benefits of digital photography.'

- Snap Fish - 'San Francisco-based Snapfish is an independent business unit of District Photo, the world's largest mail-order film processor, with operations in the U.S., U.K. and Canada.'

- EzPrints - 'ez prints is a digital imaging service company that provides individuals and businesses who use digital cameras a family of simple, convenient services for Viewing, Selecting, Ordering and Printing Digital Pictures.'

- Beau Photos - Australian Online Photo Printing Service who also are proud supporters of our site.

- Photo Box - a UK based online photo printing. 'Perfect Pictures Posted Pronto'.

- Blue Yonder - 'Dazzling Fujifilm photo prints from just 15p posted same working day to you or your friends worldwide.'

- Frog Prints - Great photos printed from you digital camera.

Jun 14: Digital Dream Sportsman Sports Camera

The Digital Dream Sportsman Sports Camera is a device that is promoted with the slogal - 'Takes photos and gets you fit.'

I'm not sure how fit you'll get using this camera, but it does seem to take photos and has a real array of other functions including as a webcam, mini personal trainer, pulse taker, pedometer, calorie counter, stop watch, temperature display, calendar, world time clock. It has 8MB (stores 181 stills) of internal memory and shoots up to 27 seconds of video. The Digital Dream Sportsman Sports Camera measures 5.8 x 2.2 x 6.8cm and weighs 85 grams.

Jun 14: Six Megapixel Digital Camera Comparison

PC Mag has an interesting Six Megapixel Digital Camera Comparison. They compare the Casio Exilim EX-P600 (it wins in their comparison with a 4 star rating), the Kodak EasyShare DX7630 and the Olympus Camedia C-60.

Jun 14: Konica Minolta Dimage A2 and Nikon Coolpix 5400 Firmware

Konica Minolta have released new firmware for their Konica Minolta Dimage A2.

DP Review writes - 'Version 1.12 applies several improvements including LCD brightness while using Flex Digital Magnifier, focusing at a specific zoom range and with Flex Focus Point, improved flash metering, EVF timing functionality, improved support for add-on lenses. This firmware can be downloaded and installed by users of the camera by simply placing the firmware update file on a Compact Flash card or transfering it via USB directly to the camera.'

Download Konica Minolta Dimage A2 Firmware 1.12

Nikon Coolpix 5400 Firmware Released

Also released today is the new firmware for the Nikon Coolpix 5400. Check out information regarding this at DP Review - Nikon Coolpix 5400

Jun 14: AK47 - Online Art Photography Magazine

The third issue of AK47 has just been released. AK47 is 'an online art photography magazine' which is this month packed with heaps of digital photography goodness.

Jun 14: DPB takes a Holiday

Things have been quiet over the last few days at Digital Photography blog because we've just had a weekend away in Sydney (this time we went for relaxation not work).

Stay tuned for another big week of Digital Photography News, Tutorials and Reviews - we hope to bring you a review of the new Canon Powershot S1 IS in the next couple of weeks and are looking forward to receiving cameras from Kodak and Casio also.

Thanks to those who have been emailing us with suggestions for Tutorials and Tips recently - we're working on a couple of new collections at present and hope to have them before your eyes in the next few days.

Jun 14: The Camera Phones are Coming!

Megapixel Phones Encroach on Digital Camera Turf is an interesting examination in the Rise of the Camera Phone.

Camera Phone technology still lags behind that of most digital cameras, but some say its slowly (or quickly) catching up with the world's first 3.2 megapixel camera phone to be released by Casio later in June.

'Now many of Asia's leading phone makers -- from Samsung Electronics Co Ltd to LG Electronics Ltd to NEC Corp -- have camera phones with one, two or even three megapixels, bringing them closer to digital camera turf.

South Korea (news - web sites)'s LG, the world's fifth-largest cell phone maker, rolled out a two-megapixel camera phone last month and local rival Samsung, the world's third-largest handset manufacturer, plans to follow suit this month.

But Japan's Casio Computer Co will trump them all when it comes out with the first 3.2-megapixel handset through telecoms carrier KDDI Corp later in June. In terms of pixel count, it will be on par with some of Casio's own cameras.

"The emergence of the 3.2-megapixel phone will have a direct negative impact on the digital camera market from three megapixels on down," said J.P. Morgan analyst Hisashi Moriyama.

"Demand for the three-megapixel category should naturally begin to shift from digital cameras to camera-equipped phones."'

Jun 13: Digital Photography Blog Privacy Statement

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Jun 10: Wearable Digital Camera Helps with Memory Problems

BBC News writes about a 'wearable camera full of sensors could help people with memory problems'.

'The prototype SenseCam takes an instant snap every time it spots changes in movement, temperature or light.

Currently capable of storing 2,000 images on a 128MB memory card, the cam could help people record their days.

The technology has been developed by the Microsoft Research laboratories in Cambridge, UK, and is to undergo tests at Addenbrookes Hospital this summer.

"SenseCam has been designed to act like a black box for the human body," lead researcher Lyndsay Williams told BBC News Online.

"It was something I originally created as a method for helping my family find their keys at home.

"It's so frustrating trying to re-trace one's steps so I build a device which would help find a solution to this problem."

It also seems to be potentially the ultimate way to keep a visual blog, or diary, of your life....

The camera uses accelerometers to detect motion, passive infrared to detect another human being, and digital sensors for light and temperature monitoring.'

Source - 'Black box' cam for total recall

Jun 10: RAW, JPEG and TIFF

Photo.net has a good article on RAW, JPEG and TIFF files.

'There seems to be a lot of confusion among some new digital camera owners about exactly what the difference is between RAW, JPEG and TIFF files. This article is intended to be a very basic guide to these file types and how they are related in a typical digital camera.' Read More - Found via Photography Blog

Also check out Digital Photography School for more free Digital Camera Tips on All Topics.

Jun 10: Nikon TiVo Partnership

Press Release

Nikon and TiVo Partner to Extend the Excitement of Digital Photography Into the Living Room

Professional Photography from Nikon's Portfolio of Award Winning Artist's Delivered to TiVo Series2 Subscribers With Home Network

MELVILLE, N.Y., June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nikon (http://www.nikonusa.com), the world leader in photography, today announced a partnership with TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO), the creator of and a leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVR), to deliver professional photography images from world-renowned artists to all TiVo(R) Series2(TM) subscribers connected to a home network. Beginning today, TiVo Series2 subscribers can view images from Nikon's "Legends behind the Lens" through the home media features. The first in a series of artist's highlighted by Nikon will be Joe McNally, the award-winning photojournalist known for his incredible versatility, technical mastery and use of creative lighting to capture interesting and engaging photographs.

Additionally, TiVo Series2 subscribers who buy a Nikon Coolpix digital camera this Fall will have an instant connection to TiVo home media features through Nikon's PictureProject(TM Software. This new application will make it simple for anyone to easily publish their albums to their Home Theater or TV through TiVo.

"The explosion of the digital photography category has led to many images being viewed on computer screens and laptops, when they really should be shared with the entire family on the TV in the comfort of the living room," said Jerry Grossman, vice president of marketing for Nikon Inc. "TiVo home media features bring digital photography into the living room in a fun and
easy way. We are excited to be able to share our award-winning photography with TiVo Series2 subscribers and the opportunity to expand our brand awareness."

"With home media features from TiVo now included in the service for all TiVo Series2 subscribers, accessing and viewing digital photos on your TV is easier than ever," said Susan Cashen, vice president of marketing at TiVo. "Our partnership with Nikon delivers on our commitment to connect subscribers to all the digital content they love, not just TV."

Each month, TiVo Series2 subscribers will be able to access new images and biographies from Nikon's portfolio of award-winning professional photographers. Additional information about the featured photographers is available at http://www.nikonnet.com.

About Nikon
Nikon...If the picture matters, the camera matters(TM). Nikon Inc. is the world leader in precision optics, 35mm and digital imaging technology and is recognized worldwide for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes the Nikon Total Imaging System of
professional 35mm film and digital SLR cameras, Nikkor optics, Speedlights and System Accessories; 35mm compact cameras; Nikon Coolpix(R) compact digital cameras; Coolscan(R) digital film scanners; Nikonos(R) underwater photographic systems; and Nikon sports and recreational optics. Through the Nikon Spirit Initiative(TM), the company, plays an active role in supporting aspiring and advanced photographers through a variety of philanthropic organizations, educational programs, events and workshops. For more information, dial (800)
NIKON-US or visit http://www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the web's most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.

About TiVo
Founded in 1997, TiVo (Nasdaq: TIVO), a pioneer in home entertainment, created a brand new category of products with the development of the first digital video recorder (DVR). Today, the company continues to revolutionize the way consumers watch and access home entertainment by making TiVo the focal point of the digital living room, a center for sharing and experiencing
television, music, photos and other content. TiVo connects consumers to the digital entertainment they want, where and when they want it. The company is based is Alviso, Calif.

TiVo and the TiVo Logo are registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions. TiVo Series2 is a trademark of TiVo Inc. All rights reserved.

Jun 10: Concord DV2020

The Concord DV2020 is a 5 in 1 digital still, digital video, PC Cam, Digital Voice Recorder and MP3 Player.

In terms of its Digital Still Camera specifications its not a top level camera with only a 2 megapixel sensor, 1.5inch LCD, 16MB internal story and SD card slot but with its other features it might be an attractive option for some wanting a multi feature gadget.

Get more information about the Concord DV2020 from the following press release from Concord.

Camera Corp. Press Release

CONCORD CAMERA CORP. ANNOUNCES CONCORD DV2020 COMPACT 5-IN-1 MULTI-FUNCTIONAL DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA

All-in-One Digital Still, Digital Video, PC Cam, Digital Voice Recorder, & MP3 Player

MPEG-4 Compression for Long-Length, High-Quality Video Recording

Hollywood, FL, June 7, 2004 - Concord Camera Corp. ("Concord") (Nasdaq:LENS), a leader in award-winning high-quality low-priced digital cameras, today announced the Concord DV2020 2 Megapixel 5-in-1 multi-function Digital Video camera. The Concord DV2020 features a 2 Megapixel digital still camera, digital video camera with MPEG-4 compression, PC Cam with instant PC video playing/recording capability, digital voice recorder, and MP3 player - all in one.

The Concord DV2020 was designed with the video photographer and digital photo taking enthusiast in mind. Encased in a sleek aluminum body, the camera's familiar 'video camera' shape and 270 degree adjustable LCD make it comfortable for videographers to take video from any position, whether on the ground or above the head. The high quality 1.5" LTPS LCD is 117k pixels providing a higher LCD quality than the standard digital camera that has an 80k pixel LCD.

The Concord DV2020 includes 16MB of internal storage as well as an SD memory card slot. Video recording time is limited only by the capacity of the SD card. With a 128MB SD card in Normal Mode, 84 minutes of high-quality 17 fps (frames per second) video recording can be captured at a resolution of 160 x 120. 8 ½ hours of voice can also be recorded -- for a convenient always-there digital voice recorder, perfect for meetings, interviews, and lectures -- with or without the video recording feature turned on.

The Concord DV2020 is more than a Digital Video camera, it’s also a 2 Megapixel digital still camera with all of the standard digital camera features that Concord is known for, such as the popular 5 scene mode for no-nonsense optimal exposure settings for different lighting conditions, selectable white balance, center weighted metering, an array of flash settings, and a 2X digital zoom (4X digital zoom for video). In addition, the Concord DV2020 also plays consumer’s favorite MP3 music recorded on a removable SD card, which can be listened to in private with the DV cam’s included earphones. All of these features make the Concord DV2020 the ultimate camera to bring everywhere you go.

The Concord DV2020 is expected to be available in May, 2004 priced at $229.99 SRP through Concord retailers. It is compatible with Windows 98 SE, 2000, ME, XP and Mac OS 9.0. The camera comes with a pouch, earphone, strap, USB and AV cables, 1 Lithium-Ion battery, AC adapter, ArcSoft PhotoImpression software, and User & Quick Start Guides.

About Concord Camera Corp.
Concord Camera Corp. is a global developer, designer, manufacturer and marketer of high quality, popularly priced, digital, instant, Advanced Photo System (APS) and 35mm cameras. Concord markets its cameras worldwide under the trademarks POLAROID, JENOPTIK, CONCORD and CONCORD EYE Q through direct sales offices in the United States, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and France and through independent sales agents. Concord manufactures its products in its vertically integrated manufacturing facilities in the People’s Republic of China. The POLAROID trademark is owned by Polaroid Corporation and is used by Concord under license from Polaroid. The JENOPTIK trademark is owned by Jenoptik AG and is used by Concord under license from Jenoptik AG. CONCORD and CONCORD EYE Q are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Concord Camera Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Jun 10: Canon Powershot S400 - Review

This is was I like - a real digital camera user reviewing his camera after months of living with it, playing with it, sleeping with it..... (you know what I mean)

attaboy is a blogger with a Canon Powershot S400. user review tells of his decision to buy the S400 after weighing up the options, gives some insightful and balanced strengths and weaknesses of the camera and makes a few comparisons to other cameras he's used before.

All in all the verdict for the Canon Powershot S400 is pretty positive from attaboy who speaks like a real person (refreshing) who has a growing love for his little compact digital camera. Here is a taste...

'Three months later, am I happy? Well, the short answer is yes, since I figure I’ve shot some 800 photos since March, which is way way more than I ever would have on my trusty old SLR. The S400 is a great camera, but it’s not perfect. I’d still recommend it though, since I’m pretty sure no digital camera is perfect....

It’s really small and light so you will want to take it places, wine it, dine it, and show it the world. It’s also made of metal and feels very sturdy.

Considering how small and light it is, the picture quality, both in colour and sharpness is excellent. (The Pentax Optio is smaller, with similar features, but the picture quality is noticeably worse.)...

All in all, I can’t say enough about how easy the S400 is to use. It’s actually quite a complicated little beast, but the interface is designed with simplicity in mind. If all you want to do is take a frickin’ picture, it’s easy, but if you want to take a twelve second exposure, compensating for tungsten light and boosting the exposure by two stops, all while locking the focus on the left-hand foreground, well… it’s not as hard as it sounds.'

Read other reviews of this camera.

Jun 10: Hi-Touch Link Print Photo Printers

Press Release - A global leader in digital imaging output, Hi-Touch Imaging Technologies will be demonstrating their new digital photo printing behavior LinkPrint during the Computex 2004, from 1st to 5th June, Taipei. Throughout series of dynamic and static demonstrations, HiTi Photo Printers will bring you the brand new journey of true-color presentation. Hi-Touch Imaging Technologies will also present you the results of 3-years research and development in Thermal Transfer Technology and total solution of digital photo printing.

641PS exclusive LinkPrint™ Technology, brings you a totally new way of digital photo printing

Based on the popular model 640PS (pictured) and featuring the new and exclusive LinkPrint ™ Technology, HiTi Photo Printer 641PS provides the users with a totally new way of digital photo printing. Users can now preview and print directly from mass storage devices, such as image tank, USB hard disk drive, USB drive and etc. throughout the built-in USB port. Users can now freely store the photo taken into their mass storage devices and print them out directly without going through a computer. PictBridge™ direct printing function is also featured in this printer.

640Amphi Revolutionary PVC Card Printing

Another major further step toward a totally different field, Hi-Touch Imaging Technologies is launching its new generation PVC Card Printer ? 640Amphi. Based on the existing commercial printer 640DL and maintaining the same physical appearance as 640DL, 640Amphi is equipped with unique features designed to create output on PVC cards. With dedicated software supplied, it is designed to be a multi-functional printing station for all factory plants, office sites and administration systems with all photo-printing purposes.

Jun 9: Praktica Luxmedia 4008

The Praktica Luxmedia 4008 is a 4.2 megapixel (CCD) digital camera with an 8x Optical Zoom lens from German manufacturer Praktica.

The Praktica Luxmedia 4008 will have a 1.6 inch LCD, shutter speed of 1/2000 – 16s and will take SD/MM Cards.

Expected release date for the Praktica Luxmedia 4008 is June 2004.

Source - Photography Blog - Praktica Luxmedia 4008

Practica Website

Jun 8: StudioLine Photo 2 Review

A Digital Eye has just released a StudioLine Photo 2 Review that is worth a look.

'StudioLine Photo 2 is a photo management system developed to organize, optimize, edit and share your photos....

It’s a sophisticated program that has a lot to offer. It’s fairly easy to use with hints popping up everywhere to guide you thru your steps and it has enough advanced features like RAW file and .psd file support, and EXIF file support that professionals will use it too. Online tutorials get you up and running quickly. With an online price of only $44. or a free 30 day trial, you should give it a try.' Found via Photography Blog.

Jun 8: Record Day at Digital Photography Blog

What a day - In the past 16 hours Digital Photography Blog (DPB) has been flooded with brand new visitors from all over the web. Welcome to those who have arrived here from the Slashdot link up or from the many others who linked up to our Composition Tips.

Records Broken - A big thank you to all who linked up - you helped us achieve a record day here at Digital Photography Blog with just under 50,000 unique visitors in the day as of 4pm this afternoon (up from our normal 3000+ daily visits).

Free Weekly Newsletter - If you like what you're seeing here at Digital Photography Blog we'd love to keep you up to date with the latest in Digital Photography News, Reviews and Tips/Tutorials with our free weekly email newsletter.

Partner with Digital Photography Blog - You may also be interested in partnering with DPB to take advantage of traffic like todays to promote your own product or service. Days like today are becoming a more common occurrence at this site (its the second time in the past month we've been linked up to by Slashdot) and we're proud to be able to offer some attractively priced partnership packages for those companies and individuals wishing to have themselves represented in our our banner position or side columns the next time it happens. Contact us for more details.

Otherwise feel free to make yourself at home, wander through our archives, leave a comment, submit a digital camera user review or support one of our kind sponsors. Thanks again one and all.

Jun 8: Lobster - Photoshop Droplet

Lobster is a Photoshop droplet that creates four new layers from your file: Luminosity (a very specific type of tonality) and Red, Green & Blue Chromaticity (Hue and Saturation). These seperate layers bring new accuracy and control to many parts of Photoshop, such as Histograms, Levels and Curves, Dodging and Burning, Sharpening etc.

Lobster is not a Photoshop plug-in or filter but a Photoshop droplet offering a one step drag and drop operation.

A demo of Lobster is available from FreeGamma.com, where a full version can also be purchased for US$50.

Jun 7: Clifford Ross's R1 - 900 Megapixel Digital Camera

Have you ever been frustrated by the lack of resolution on your digital camera?

Do we have the camera for you. Its a 900 Megapixel beauty called the R1. The R1 900 megapixel digital camera was made by a guy called Clifford Ross who was frustrated by the lack of detail in the images his camera was capturing.

Check out the results of the images from this camera by looking for the bird on this image. If you can't see it look for the little red box in the right hand corner of the picture and click on it for an enlarged view. I bet your latest release 8 megapixel digital camera can't do that!

Prints from the R1 stand at 5 by 10 ft.

'"You can choose to go up to the picture and experience it intimately with a sense of unbroken reality," he says....

Details of the mountain's snowcapped peak — 7 miles from the camera — are in sharp focus, as are individual blades of grass only 30 meters away. When sections of the image are magnified nearly four times, other details are clearly visible: the shingles on a barn 1,200 meters from the camera, a red bird in the grass 45 meters away.' Source

Jun 7: Shooting Raw Digital Images - a Guide

Raw Power: Using Raw Digital Files is a great article from About Photography that examines some of the issues in shooting RAW digital images.

'If you are using a digital camera to produce images for professional use, or want to get the best possible digital images as an amateur, you are almost certain to have bought a camera that produces images in a 'raw' format and be using this for the majority of your work.' Read More

Jun 7: Sensitive Light - Photoblog of the Week

This week's Photoblog of the week goes to Sensitive Light who captured my attention with a stunning example of macro photography titled Lets Fly.

Sensitive Light is owned by Graham Jeffery who started the blog in March 2003 as a place to store his images. He is retired and lives in Hinckley in the middle of England.

I've not yet found what camera/s Graham uses to capture his images (mainly nature and portraits) but whatever it is he uses it pretty well. His blog is perhaps not the best designed technically (it takes a while to load if you're using dial up) but its the photos themselves that are what you're there for and they are pretty good.

Head over to Sensitive Light today.

Jun 6: New Pentax DSLR?

Nikkei Electronics reports that Pentax are planning to introduce another DSLR which will be priced to be more attractive to the Mass Market.

The only problem is that the dates mentioned in the above mentioned article don't match up as the 'new camera' will be shipped by March 2004 (should it be March 2005?) and the article was written on June 4th. We'll post the correct details if and when they come to hand.

The new DSLR from Pentax is expected to cost around 100,000 Yen (approx $900US). This will provide a significantly cheaper DSLR option for Pentax than their previously released Pentax *ist D.

Press Release from Pentax USA
PENTAX PLANS DIGITAL SLR FAMILY EXPANSION

June 8, 2004 (GOLDEN, CO) - PENTAX Imaging Company, a division of PENTAX of America, Inc. has announced it is developing cameras for the entry level digital SLR category. The first introduction is slated for Fall of 2004.

PENTAX entered the digital SLR market in the Fall of 2003 with the popular *ist D digital SLR that offers 6.1 megapixels (pictured), interchangeable lens compatibility, and one of the world’s smallest, lightest camera bodies in the digital SLR category.

PENTAX introduced two DA series designed lenses to match the *ist D CCD size since the 2003 arrival. The PENTAX-DA Zoom 16mm-45mm F4 ED AL shipped earlier this year and the smc PENTAX-DA 14mm F2.8 ED [IF] interchangeable wide-angle lens will ship in June 200

Jun 3: Night and Low Light Digital Photography Tips

Shooting Digital Images at night and in low light situations can produce both stunning and terribly disappointing results. We've searched the net for the best night digital photography tips and tutorials to help us all shed some light (sorry, I couldn't resist) this sometimes tricky aspect of digital photography.

Here are 9 sites on Night Photography.

Also check out Digital Photography School for more free Digital Camera Tips on All Topics.

Get weekly Digital Photography Tips like this via email for free

• RLROUSE has written an excellent guide on Photography At Night - Tips & Techniques which has a series of 20 quality tips ranging from how to be well prepared through to having the right equipment and through to shooting techniques like this one:

  Adjust the ISO setting higher on your digital camera to allow the use of a faster shutter speed. The higher the ISO/ASA, the shorter the exposures you can use (very important for good night-time photography).

• Digital Camera Guide encourages potential night photographers to begin to by asking what they are trying to achieve - 'Do you only need to capture something that is more of a snap shot? Do you want something very dramatic? Is time a factor? If you are using a flash; What is the range it must cover or what is the distance to what you are photographing?' How you answer these questions will determine what approach you'll need to take in shooting.
• Petersens Photographic share their 10 Low-Light Photo Tips (for both digital and film cameras) including this fun one that can give some great results - 'You can get some neat blurred-effect images by hand-holding the camera at a very slow shutter speed�even deliberately move the camera during the exposure. Or, if the subject is moving, mount the camera on a tripod to keep stationary portions of the scene sharp as the subject blurs through it. Experiment with different exposure times, and you'll come up with lots of interesting�and sometimes surprising�images'
• Ephotozine tackles the problem of color casting under artificial lights - 'Once again digital cameras have useful ways around this. Look on the menu of a many digital cameras and there's a white balance control. This is set to auto by default and can be fooled when the lighting is a mixed, so there's an override where you can preset the type of lighting you're shooting in. Some cameras just have a series of presets - shop windows and underground lighting is usually fluorescent, while floodlit buildings, street lamps and interiors of stately homes will often be tungsten. Some of the more advanced models have a manual setting where you point the camera at a white part of the scene so it can tell what colour light is reflected and compensate perfectly. You can take the shot and preview to check you're happy with the colouring. You don't have to filter the light to obtain daylight colouring, sometimes it's more effective if you include a colour cast.'
• Adobe gives some helpful tips on Photographing Fireworks - 'Shutter speed controls how long light is allowed into the camera. It is also known as �exposure.� The best fireworks pictures have an exposure time between 2 and10 seconds. If your camera doesn�t do that, try using the �nighttime� or �fireworks� features.' They also suggest using a tripod, a low ISO setting and experimenting with different aperture settings (too big and the fireworks will be all white and too small and they will be hard to see.
• DP Review has a good, although a little complicated for me at this time of night, tutorial on Removing 'Night Spots' (noise) from digital images shot at night.
• Lightning Photography is not specifically written for digital photography, but will give some good insights for anyone wanting to attempt to capture the beauty of a storm.
• School of Photography has a whole series dedicated to the topic of Night Photography. Part 1 examines equipment and camera controls, Part 2 looks at techniques for correct exposure and Part 3 talks about using a flash and other special effects.

So there you have 9 Night and Low Light Photography Online Resources. By no means is it an exhaustive list. Suggest your own tips, experiences and resources below in comments.

Check out some of our other Digital Camera Tips:
- Digital Photography Composition 101
- Macro Digital Photography Tips
- Taking Images with Camera Phones Tips
- Depth of Field Tips
- Introduction to Photoblogging and Moblogging
- How to Choose a Digital Camera
- Digital Camera Care Tips
- Cleaning your Digital Camera Image Sensor
- Histogram Tips

Jun 3: What's Next for Digital Photography?

PC Mag asks the question What's Next for Digital Photography?

'So let me describe what I see happening over the next couple of years for the consumer camera market. The 8MP sensor will become the low-end standard among snapshot all-in-one cameras. Improvements will come from support circuitry that improves image quality, contrast, and color. I'm told that some of the new processing chips coming down the pipe are phenomenal.

The 5MP sensor will hold the pocket-camera category steady. Most experts see the 5MP sensor as one of the best CCDs you can get, and most people would find it optimal. Samsung is talking about putting this many pixels in camera phones, but unless they use a Foveon CMOS chip, which because of its architecture reduces file size by about 70 percent, the files will simply be too large to be practical on a phone cam....

What we haven't yet seen in still cameras, and what I expect to see emerge in both the pro and semipro environments, is the 3-CCD still camera. This would immediately triple the resolution of the camera (depending on how you calculate resolution).

Jun 3: Nyko Digi-Cam SP Game Boy Camera

Have you ever wanted to use your Game Boy to take digital images?

No - neither have I.

None the less we now can with the brand new Nyko Digi-Cam SP Game Boy Camera. Its 'holds 20 images, has a built-in sun filter and a spycam mode with motion detection.'

Source - Gadget Madness via Gizmodo.

Jun 2: Kodak Professional Inkjet Photo Paper

Press Release
New KODAK PROFESSIONAL Inkjet Photo Paper Delivers Exceptional Color, Detail and Quality for Pros, AdAm Photographers

Universally Compatible with Dye, Pigmented Ink Printers; Instant Drying Media

Rochester, Jun 01 -- Eastman Kodak Company today introduced KODAK PROFESSIONAL Inkjet Photo Paper for professional and advanced amateur (AdAm) photographers. The high quality, instant-dry paper, available in glossy and lustre finishes, is compatible with all inkjet printers and represents the first KODAK PROFESSIONAL branded inkjet- media in the market.

Featuring a true photographic base with high-quality pulp and state-of-the-art paper chemistry, the new instant-drying cut-sheet inkjet photo paper delivers outstanding image quality, whiter whites, accurate flesh-tone reproduction and a wide color gamut. With a range of recommended and custom color profiles developed for popular inkjet printers, the paper delivers a bright, saturated color and sharp detail. The competitively priced paper will appeal to commercial, portrait/social and AdAm photographers.

“Our new professional inkjet paper applies Kodak’s history and expertise in silver-halide paper technology and color science,” said John Blake, General Manager, Professional Output Group, Digital and Film Imaging Systems, Eastman Kodak Company. “The new paper blends consistent color reproduction with the outstanding quality of KODAK prints as we continue to advance our broad portfolio to meet the needs of pros and AdAms.”

KODAK PROFESSIONAL Inkjet Photo Paper offers a number of features:

Instant dry photo paper
Works on ALL inkjet printers – works with both pigmented and dye-base inkjet printers
Excellent glossy uniformity
255 g/m2, 9mil; Resin coated (true photo base) paper
KODAK PROFESSIONAL paper backprint and unique package design
Available in gloss (F) and lustre (E) finishes
Custom color profiles available for optimal print quality (visit www.kodak.com/go/proinkjet)

The new paper comes in 20 (MSRP US$14.99), 50 (MSRP US$34.99) and 100- (MSRP US$59.99) count 8.5 x 11-inch packages, as well as a 20-count 13 x 19-inch package (MSRP US$49.99). KODAK PROFESSIONAL Inkjet Photo Paper in glossy and luster finish will be available at photo specialty retailers in June, in the United States, Western Europe and Australia.

Jun 2: Pentax Plans to Withdraw from Film Camera Market

Image Resource is running with a story that Pentax is preparing to stop making both compact and SLR film cameras later this year. The News has come from messages posted by Pentar (the Official Russian Distributor of Pentax) on their website in a message to dealers of Pentax products.

Following is part of the initial message translated from Russian to English:

'Due to the rapid expansion of the worldwide digital market, and the sharp decline in the film camera segment, Pentax announces plans to reduce manufacture of compact and single-lens reflex film cameras in the coming months. Pentax will continue production of professional medium-format film cameras. Pentax will also continue production of binoculars.

With this announcement, Pentax becomes the first company from the so-called "Big Five" photographic brands, which will completely focus on digital cameras of various types (including professional SLR and consumer digital cameras), and also production of hybrid photo/video cameras.'

A second clarifying message was later posted saying:

'Pentax plans to completely phase out film cameras, but this will happen gradually. Compact zoom film cameras, SLR film cameras, lenses and accessories will still be sold until the end of 2004.' - Source

It will be interesting to watch this story to see if it is just a localized move from Pentax in Russia, or if it is a policy that is about to be rolled out globally. We'll keep you up to date on this breaking story as up to date information comes to hand.

UPDATE - Pentax Head office in Japan have denied this story to be true. As of yet there is no explanation of how or why the information was posted on the Russian site.

Similar news is also just in that Nikon are planning to withdraw from segments on the film market.

Jun 2: Carry FotoBar

Taiwanese company CARRY has released the FotoBar which is a device that provides a way to burn data directly from memory cards onto CDs and DVDs.

It also is capable of hooking up to a PC via USB and acting as a card reader and CD/DVD burner. Source - Gizmodo

Following is a list of features of the FotoBar including:

1 - Standalone One touch Burn-to-Disc function
2 - Burns CD-R / RW, DVD+/-R and DVD+/-RW
3 - Plays MP3, JPEG, MPEG-1 (VCD), MPEG-2 (DVD) and MPEG-4 (DivX) file formats without PC

4 - HI-SPEED USB 2.0 Standard
5 - Easy to use "Plug-n-Play"
operability with Multi-session (max 1000 times
6 - Supports Photo Thumbnail, Rotate, Zoom in /out, Delete, and Auto TV slideshow viewer functions
7 - Supports video Play, Pause, Stop, Forward, Backward, Repeat, Volume
8 - Upgraded new version of firmware via memory cards
9 - xD-Picture Card reader (optional)
10 - Supports NTSC / PAL TV outputs
11 - Compatible with Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and Linux OS

CARDS SUPPORTED
SecureDigital (SD)
MultiMedia Card (MMC)
Memory Stick (MS)
Memory Stick Pro (MS Pro)
SmartMedia TM (SM)
MicroDrive
CompactFlash Type I (CF I)
CompactFlash Type II (CF II)
(Optional) xD Picture Card

Jun 1: What is the Best Email Image Size?

Photoxels asks the question What is the Best Email Image Size?

Of course it depends on a number of factors including end purpose (printing or display) and perhaps depends partly upon your internet access (and that of the receiver of the images) - ie dial up or broadband....

Photoxel makes some useful suggestions on the optimum image size for emailing.

Check out some of our other Digital Camera Tips:
- Digital Photography Composition 101
- Night and Low Light Digital Photography Tips
- Macro Digital Photography Tips
- Taking Images with Camera Phones Tips
- Depth of Field Tips
- Introduction to Photoblogging and Moblogging
- How to Choose a Digital Camera
- Digital Camera Care Tips
- Cleaning your Digital Camera Image Sensor

Jun 1: Sony DSC-T1 Wins TIPA Award

The Sony DSC-T1 has just been awarded with the TIPA Europe's Best Digital Consumer Compact Camera Award.

'In judging the recent awards, the editors of the association's 30 member magazines agreed that the slim and stylish T1 "has some hugely impressive features which afford the photographer unprecedented levels of control". The award, from the top photographic and imaging titles in Europe, is a winning endorsement for the breakthrough design and optimised engineering behind this superb Cyber-shot camera. " We are of course delighted with the TIPA jury's decision in awarding Sony this TIPA prize," said Diederik Nederlof, General Manager of Sony Digital Imaging Europe.'

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